Chaotic World Book

Two people, both heavy with their own troubles, slept restlessly. The next day, when the menial worker came to deliver steamed cornbread, just as he knocked on the door, both of them sprung up from the bed like springs at the same time. Then they each steadied their minds before turning to look at each other. Zhao Changhe laughed, "Morning."

Luo Qi ignored him, immediately looking down at his body. The blanket was still tightly wrapped around him. He let out a sigh of relief and didn't respond.

Zhao Changhe couldn't be bothered with him either and hopped off the bed to open the door. He took the steamed cornbread inside and saw Luo Qi sitting on the edge of the bed, tidying his slightly disheveled hair.

That posture... was inadvertently seductive.

A jump went through Zhao Changhe's heart, and he turned his head to change the subject, "Damn it, haven't brushed my teeth, nothing feels right."

Luo Qi lazily said, "For someone with a country bumpkin background, you sure talk like you're from a well-off family, understanding even the use of willow twigs for brushing teeth, eh?"

While nibbling on the steamed cornbread, Zhao Changhe glanced over, "You know too? Willow twigs, isn't that just for the servants... uh, sorry."

"What's there to be sorry about? You've said enough nonsense to offend me, haven't you? You call me a country bumpkin, and I say you're a born servant, we're even." Luo Qi gave him a glance, "Let's go, you practice your skill, I've still got to suffer to get meat for you to eat."

"Uh, about last night..."

When Luo Qi reached the doorway, he looked back with a smile, "What you said was too naïve, I'm afraid it's unachievable. However... I'll think of another idea, we'll see."

Actually, this smile was a bit electrifying, but Zhao Changhe seemed oblivious, nodding, "There's always a way."

Straight men are like this, causing Luo Qi himself not to notice the increasingly unintentional feminine charm he was showing, taking the steamed cornbread and leaving for his mission.

In fact, Zhao Changhe was deliberately avoiding looking.

Who cares if it's a man or a woman, it would only affect the speed of my cultivation.

Once Luo Qi left, he went straight to the martial arts arena. The original plan was to practice Blood Evil Skill in the morning and saber technique in the afternoon, but he felt that he was also running the Blood Evil Skill while practicing saber technique, which made the progress of Blood Evil Skill seem a bit fast. He didn't know whether there was a problem, or whether he should seek advice from Instructor Sun.

"Fast? To what extent? Use the Blood Evil Skill energy transfer method and hit me with a punch to try it," Instructor Sun said carelessly.

Zhao Changhe asked cautiously, "Full strength?"

"Of course full strength," Instructor Sun rolled his eyes, "You think you can actually hit me solidly?"

Zhao Changhe felt it made sense and squatted into a horse stance with his fist pulled back to his waist.

The circulation of blood qi from Blood Evil Skill surged within his body, and Zhao Changhe could feel his muscles brimming with power, fierce and ruthless.

With a shout, Zhao Changhe hurled a heavy punch with all his might.

He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but as he launched the punch, the scenery before his eyes seemed to turn red...

Instructor Sun raised his hand nonchalantly to block, and Zhao Changhe felt an indomitable force rushing towards him, making him stagger several steps backward before he could barely stabilize himself. The sense of power that had been brimming quickly faded, and the blood-red illusion in his eyes disappeared, as if deflated.

Zhao Changhe felt a bit of admiration and apologized with a smile, "Indeed, you are the instructor."

Instructor Sun, with his hands behind his back, said indifferently, "Your progress... is indeed a bit fast. But there's no special reason for it. You have decent comprehension, and more importantly, your physique is excellent, full of blood qi, perfectly suited for Blood Evil Skill. Strange, how did a poor villager like you get such good nourishment? How was this body nurtured?"

He didn't let Zhao Changhe see the slight tremble of the hand behind his back.

Too careless. I casually blocked, not expecting him to be so fierce... This is just too exaggerated.

Zhao Changhe thought if it came to bodily nutrition, not even your Sect Hierarch compares to a modern average office worker, let alone that I also sport a love for exercise, making my physique naturally better than my fellow students, it seems. Speaking of which, the "Eye Behind" hasn't proven useful so far, so it turns out that this physical quality is my biggest advantage?

"Of course, there's another reason, you've retained your primordial yang, full of vital essence, it's overflowing... really what you'd call vigorous blood qi," Instructor Sun didn't know whether to praise or mock, examining him from head to toe, ultimately letting slip, "You're nineteen already, right? So pitiful."

"Damn," Zhao Changhe retorted with his neck stuck out, "Does jerking off count as not losing primordial yang?"

"To death, looking from the outside, it seems similar, but according to martial arts principles, it doesn't count for much unless you do it too frequently... Damn, why am I talking about this with you?"

Zhao Changhe, "..."

Instructor Sun expressionless, "Now, with your situation, your Blood Evil Skill is close to beginner level; polish it well this month and try breaking through the First Layer. Actually, once you break through the First Layer, you would be approaching the Mystical Gate."

"One Mystical Gate in a month?" Zhao Changhe was somewhat incredulous. Thinking of Luo Qi who had been proud of reaching the First Layer at sixteen or seventeen, he wondered if hearing this news would make him spit blood.

"That's how Demon Skills are; you'll learn about the price later. Although even among Demon Skills you're faster than others, it's still within an understandable range," Instructor Sun said blandly, "Alright, your progress in the cultivation technique is indeed much faster than in saber technique; you can't neglect that. The three moves I taught you yesterday, the straight cut, horizontal slash, and turning-back slash, have you practiced each of them a few times?"

Zhao Changhe honestly said, "I originally set a goal of one thousand times, but as I chopped, I forgot to count. I figure I'm not far off. "

"One thousand times for real?" The trainer's eyes nearly bulged out, but he managed to stay cool and pointed at a wooden post, "See that mark in the middle? Chop right there for me, let me have a look."

Zhao Changhe drew his saber.

"Whoosh!" The saber gleamed as it struck the mark the trainer pointed at, not exactly seamless, with a slight deviation. The trainer took a deep breath and muttered to himself, "Not bad."

Zhao Changhe said, "It's not too good, felt like I could practice a bit more today."

Still pretending to be humble? You think when I said 'not bad' I meant your chopping was good? I'm just relieved your talent for the saber path is average, not as outrageously defiant as the Blood Evil Skill, otherwise, it'd just be too much.

The trainer relaxed considerably, "Actually, speaking of talent, yours isn't all that high, it's barely better than mediocre. After all, this is just a basic Horizontal Slash, an ordinary woodcutter could achieve this after a few days of chopping. How could a true saber prodigy not get it right after practicing a thousand times? The problem is, you know you're not accurate, but you can practice a thousand times, most people can't."

Zhao Changhe: "Err…"

"If, after learning the Blood Evil Saber Technique, you can still keep up practicing a thousand times every day, your accomplishments will exceed my expectations," the trainer said leisurely, "Of course, most people, once they learn an advanced saber technique and advance to the First Layer of Mystical Gate, would become quite the significant figure. By then, with bowls of wine and chunks of meat, and a bunch of saucy women, not many retain the diligence to practice. I don't know how you'll turn out."

Zhao Changhe wasn't sure how he would be in the future either. But at the moment, he was really serious, almost putting his whole heart and soul into it. It wasn't just for getting stronger to go home; he truly found joy in this kind of pursuit.

It was like playing games back in the day, dying over and over again in front of a BOSS, yet stubbornly refusing to give up, cursing as the server shut down for maintenance without wanting to leave. It was somewhat similar now, damn it, can't get that spot right? I refuse to accept it, keep chopping, I must get past this "BOSS" someday how I want it.

It was the same with the Blood Evil Skill, he found pleasure in the process of growing stronger and also somewhat enjoyed the reverence of those around him.

In the Martial Arts Arena, Zhao Changhe's voice grew louder and heartier, and soon he blended in with everyone else.

The scholarly air from his university days was fading without him realizing it, being replaced by a thicker bandit-like presence.

But it had been only a few days…

Born to be a bandit.

"Slap!" As dusk fell, and after a day of practice, Zhao Changhe sheathed his saber and heavily patted a bandit's shoulder next to him, "When we can go out and have fun, I'll treat the brothers to drinks!"

The bandit grinned sheepishly, "Naturally, we all should treat Boss Zhao to drinks. Just for the gusto you showed when you stabbed Luo Zhenwu to death, you deserve a toast from us."

"Eh? Were you there that day?"

"We certainly weren't there, but in the past few days we've heard from the fellow brothers within the sect who were involved, Boss Zhao, you're quite famous in the Worldly Society now."

"Hmm? That shouldn't be, one dead Luo Family pup, just a gust in the Worldly Society, who'd take it to heart?"

The bandit whispered mysteriously, "They say, maybe a decade ago, the current old Emperor went on a tour, stayed with the Luo Family on the way, and that old turtle, the Manor Master of the Luo Family, bootlicking the Emperor, sent his wife to serve the guest…"

Zhao Changhe paused for a moment, chewing over the words several times, "Could it be…"

The bandit clapped his hands, "That's right, Luo Zhenwu might be the Emperor's seed! That's why the Royal Family has been looking after the Luo Family! Like that day, inside the Luo Family there were hidden imperial experts, if it hadn't been for Vermilion Bird Venerable taking action, how could it have been successful… Boss, which family has the imperial experts hidden in their home?"

Zhao Changhe held back for a while, and finally blurted out one word, "Fuck!"

That's weird, the way the Manor Master and his son spoke to each other, didn't seem like how you'd treat a Prince, was it just a son instead? Could it be a mistake... or had they grown accustomed over the years as father and son?

The bandit said, "Before, everyone whispered about the Luo Family's connection with the Royal Family, but no one could clarify what the relationship actually was... It's not that they didn't understand, they just didn't dare to say! Now, well, we belong to the Holy Sect, opposing this rotten Imperial court, killing that damned Prince, why should we cover for them?"

Zhao Changhe sighed. He had thought this was a core secret he'd have to join the sect to inquire about, yet here it was, unexpectedly unfolding before him.

Indeed it was a secret before, but after the event, the Blood God Sect would hate not to proclaim it to the world.

So that blow of his at the time, seemed to be... kind of epic.

"It's just the Emperor's illegitimate son, the fame won't last long, people will stop mentioning it in a few days." Zhao Changhe said with false modesty, trying to end the conversation.

But the other guy's eyes widened, "Just an illegitimate son? No, Boss, you really don't get it, the Crown Prince is already dead, the Emperor has no sons left."

Zhao Changhe's motion to walk away froze, and he was dumbstruck.

————

PS: Adding an update to wish everyone a Happy New Year~ May everyone be healthy in the new year, healthy, healthy.