Chaotic World Book

Tang family's large ship.

The fleet had been waiting at Pirate New Island for Zhao Changhe, who had previously disappeared while chasing the Water People. Despite professing "absolute loyalty," Hai Qianfan had not bothered to search at all. On the other hand, the Tang family's fleet was frantically searching everywhere, as if they had lost their father.

Officially, they were merchants of the Tang family heading to Penglai, but in reality, they were the Guard Private Army dispatched by Tang Wanju for Zhao Changhe to use at sea, and everything they did was based on Zhao Changhe's commands. From the perspective of the Aristocratic Family placing their bets, this meant the Tang family was fully bound to Zhao Changhe, sharing both their fortunes and misfortunes.

Of course, the people of the Tang family knew what was really going on, so they all looked rather unfavorably at the enchantingly attractive and slightly mature woman Zhao Changhe had brought back with him unexplainably.

San Niang had to appreciate their favor, as, after all, they had rescued the residents of Taiping Island from the hands of the Sea Race, showing great kindness to San Niang. So, despite being very upset with Tang Wanju, San Niang still had to put on a smiling face when the Tang family crew looked at her with eyes like those sizing up a seductive home-wrecker. Eventually, she simply hid away in a cabin to study the few Crystal Cores she had at hand.

Tang En didn't bother with that mistress and was using a very resentful tone to speak to Zhao Changhe, "Your Highness, please don't do this. We wouldn't say anything if you were the first to rush into battle, for Blood Shura's fighting style is such. But should someone of Your Highness's stature be chasing after defeated foes alone? Your safety concerns so many… not to mention, if something were to happen, I'd lose my head when I get back. Are you trying to force me to become a pirate on the sea?"

Zhao Changhe was somewhat at a loss for words—the Xia family father and daughter had already recognized each other, and you all still cling to this 'Your Highness,' making it quite awkward...

"Wanzhuang wouldn't do that… could she be incompetent?"

"You got it backwards. If I really lost her lover, it's either the son who would kill me or the chief."

"…"

Tang En didn't want to elaborate further, only saying, "What's the situation over here now… I see the pirates acting up, is there internal conflict? Should we do something?"

"Mm, just cleaning house… let's not get involved," Zhao Changhe said, "In these past days interacting with the pirates, did you ask about the location of the island we're searching for? That's our main mission here."

"I asked Hua Zhenming, and he said he didn't know…" Tang En said, "Logically, the Tianyuan Pirate Group should be the most familiar with all kinds of strange unknown places at sea. Many kingdoms may not even be as knowledgeable as them. If even they don't know, then it's really difficult to find."

"Why not ask me?" Changkong's voice came from nowhere, "The information of the Pirate Group is basically shared among us. Your Majesty also relies on these channels to control a great deal of maritime affairs."

Zhao Changhe turned to look, and there stood Changkong alone on a small boat, gracefully arriving.

Everyone was outside on the deck speaking, and they hadn't particularly concealed their voices. It was quite normal for someone of Changkong's ability to overhear. Zhao Changhe didn't mind and asked, "Would you be willing to share information with us?"

Changkong gracefully boarded the ship, took a look around, and sighed, "Nice ship… I initially thought that by sharing technology from the Four Symbols Sect and the Wang family, our shipbuilding skills should be the best in the world, yet I didn't expect the Tang family's ship to be a notch above ours."

"The Four Symbols Sect themselves aren't skilled in this technology, just managing to get some relatively mainstream blueprints for the pirates. As for the Wang family, do you think they would give you their best technology?"

"That makes sense…" Changkong said while his eyes kept glancing at the ship and the bed crossbows, seemingly unwilling to look away.

Zhao Changhe knew his intention, "If you want this technology, no chance."

Changkong: "… What if we pay? Any amount will do."

"No amount will do," Zhao Changhe promptly turned his head and said to Tang En, "Make sure to hold firm on this, no matter what the incentive, we're not selling."

Tang En smiled and responded, "Yes."

Changkong sighed, "The young master is not someone from Xia Country, why bother?"

"How do you know I'm not someone from Xia Country?"

"What about the clue to the island the young master is searching for? Don't you want it anymore?"

Zhao Changhe sighed, "Let's keep things separate. We are, after all, your significant support in this fallout with the Sea God, and the place we are looking for might even be related to the Sea God. Not to mention, it's somewhat ungenerous, but I don't think Admiral is that kind of person…"

Changkong smiled, "Does Young Master Zhao know me well? Before, why were you so sure I would cooperate with you to kill Hai Qianfan, calling it a 'single move'? I still don't understand, how do you know my thoughts?"

San Niang perked up her ears in the cabin.

"Last night, you stopped that general who was passing on messages. There's only one explanation for that kind of behavior: you were actually protecting him. When I consider the pirate faction as a hypothesized traitor, it all becomes clear. Moreover, during the breaking of the formation earlier, the words you spoke were actually reminding me, we don't need to fight the Water People to death; just sinking the ship would suffice… clearly, you're one of us, or at least not one of the Sea God's people."

"Is that all? You dare to bet on that?"

"Ah? Is bragging considered betting?"

"…"

"Finding out you didn't cooperate would just mean I blew hot air, losing a bit of face. If it wouldn't affect the substance either way, then why not play the part?"

San Niang couldn't help but laugh and cry in the cabin, and Changkong was also rendered speechless with laughter, "Turns out you were just bragging all along."

"If one doesn't brag while alive, then what's the point of living?" Zhao Changhe defended righteously, "Aren't you the same?"

Changkong said, "How am I the same? Why do you all always say I'm like you?"

This time, Zhao Changhe wasn't joking. He turned and leaned on the railing of the ship, looking out over the vast sea and sky, suddenly saying, "You are a martial artist, a genuine one."

Changkong was taken aback.

"You wanted to prove your knowledge, to make a name for yourself in Central Earth, not wanting to silently remain anonymous as one of the world's foremost Second Layer Secret Treasure experts, dominating the East Sea for your whole life without renown... Even Wang Daozhong is admired by the entire world, yet I think you are much stronger than he is."

Changkong: "..."

Zhao Changhe said, "I can feel that you truly wanted to compete with me. The concept conveyed by the tip of the knife resonated so deeply that in that moment, you thought of nothing else but to fight this one battle."

Changkong fell silent for a moment, standing shoulder to shoulder with him, leaning on the ship's rail, looking out at the sea.

After a long while, he spoke softly, "I'm not content. It seems I roam the Four Seas, but in reality, I walk in brocade at night. If there were no Chaotic World Book, it would be alright... but with this thing, it truly stirs people's hearts."

"So, it's called the Chaotic World Book, huh..."

"Mm," Changkong replied, "I know I can't make any more breakthroughs. My talent only goes so far, and I'm nearly fifty now, no longer having the confidence to advance further. I once thought, if the Human King from the Chaotic World List is just so, then I, too, could return to dominate and gain the world's admiration... but I must admit, I'm no match for you. This life will just be this way, and honestly, I should just focus on my affairs at sea."

Zhao Changhe asked, "Just like that, you lost your fighting spirit?"

Changkong laughed, "Facing reality is not disgraceful. You are very strong."

Zhao Changhe remarked, "So, you see, don't you also want to perform miracles in front of others, just like I do?"

Finally, Changkong burst into laughter, "Alright, alright, indeed the same."

Zhao Changhe turned to Tang En and said, "Some wine?"

Tang En went below deck to fetch wine, leisurely remarking, "Youth must achieve fame, and the wine must intoxicate, right?"

Zhao Changhe pointed at him, laughing, "You actually knew I meant to get wine."

Tang En also laughed, "A martial artist's heart is the same, isn't it?"

The noise of the men drinking boisterously carried across the deck planks, sent far off by the sea breeze, uninhibited.

San Niang thought to herself in the house, who shares this heart with you, what making a name across the world, sleep is better.

But listening to the sounds of the men drinking and laughing freely, the pirate and horse bandits' blood in her couldn't help but stir. She pushed the door open with a "clang" and went over to Zhao Changhe, slamming the table, "I want to drink too."

Zhao Changhe handed her a bowl of wine, which San Niang tilted back in one gulp.

Changkong watched San Niang drink freely, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes, "She really resembles her..."

San Niang put down her wine bowl and glared, "What is it, you still have a crush on my mother?"

Changkong honestly said, "Back then, I was young, having lived too much at sea, even a pig appeared clear-eyed and handsome, let alone your mother... You can ask any of the old brothers, which one didn't admire your mother; it wasn't just me."

San Niang: "..."

Zhao Changhe asked, "Was your rebellion against the Sea Emperor related to this?"

Changkong sighed, "Young Master Zhao is truly clever... Indeed, the Sea Emperor was the chief culprit in the events of those years. I actually suggested that the Princess could go back and reconcile with His Majesty. After all, blood is thicker than water."

San Niang kept silent.

Although she had guessed as much from Changkong's attitude and actually preferred this answer, for some reason, San Niang found herself not feeling the joy she had anticipated but rather very calm.

Likewise, while Changkong said this, it was evident he didn't really hope for the father and daughter to reconcile, quickly adding, "Honestly, at the very beginning, we didn't know the details of this matter, but when the Sea God began to show miracles and preach, we've always resisted this so-called faith in the Sea God. His Majesty wanted to erect temples, and we even clashed with His Majesty over it."

"Oh?" Zhao Changhe grew interested, "Why? Logically, men who make their living on the sea fear storms. If the Sea God could truly show miracles, it should be easy to gain believers."

"What's the use?" Changkong said flatly. "Believers are saved, non-believers receive 'Divine Punishment'... Then please tell me, how is this deity different from an invading enemy? Those who surrender are ennobled, and those who resist have their clans exterminated, is that not the same? We have already had our nation destroyed once; back then, we did not want to surrender, which is why we fled to the sea. Are we supposed to surrender now just because we changed places?"

Tang En paused, deep in thought.

Changkong continued, "Commoners may have no alternative, but why should we, as martial artists, entrust our lives to others' protection? We should conquer the storms ourselves, conquer the ocean. Right or not?"

San Niang's wine bowl paused at her lips, suddenly unable to speak.

If that were so, isn't the faith in the Four Symbols Sect also a joke?

Although the doctrines differ...

Fundamentally, isn't it also relying on others?

Turning to look at Zhao Changhe, who was grinning widely, clinking bowls heavily with Changkong: "Well said, well said, cheers to you!"

San Niang absentmindedly watched the men drinking, suddenly thinking, no wonder Zhao Changhe always said his biggest awkwardness with the Four Symbols Sect was that he couldn't establish faith.

What he believed in was always nothing but his own strength.