Chaotic World Book

Tang Buqi's words were both persuasion and a test.

Seeing Zhao Changhe sipping his drink with a pensive expression, a flash of surprise finally crossed Tang Buqi's eyes.

So, you've actually considered succeeding to the throne... Otherwise, you would simply say "Persuade me, this damned fellow, what's it to me."

Times have changed... even him with his bushy brows and big eyes.

Little did he know that at this moment, Zhao Changhe was thinking about Xia Chichi beside him, unsure of her views on these matters. Stealing a glance, Xia Chichi had been quietly sipping her wine, seemingly very interested in the friendship between Zhao Changhe and Tang Buqi, uncertain if she had pondered over these issues.

He smiled subtly, "Don't argue with your aunt, she's not blindly loyal."

Tang Buqi angrily said, "If this isn't blind loyalty, what is? Even asking any old farmer by the roadside would reveal that this dynasty is at its end. Doesn't she know? Even if not talking about carving out a realm for dominance, shouldn't she at least consider her own future a bit, rather than accompany it in martyrdom?"

Zhao Changhe remained silent.

Tang Buqi grew more agitated as he spoke, "Or is it that you're still dreaming, expecting Xia Longyuan to awaken? Stop dreaming. It's not a matter of capability but of mindset. With his way of thinking, even if he intervenes this time, what about the next?"

Zhao Changhe sighed and gestured with his hands, "Alright, alright, you're just rehashing the argument you had with her to me, aren't you? I'm not your aunt; what's the use of telling me all this?"

Tang Buqi said, "You are her uncle! If there's anyone in the world who could persuade her, it would be you. Who else am I supposed to talk to?"

Zhao Changhe blinked, really wanting to say "Sweet, call me 'uncle' one more time," but the sharp glares from the beautiful eyes on either side of him, sharp enough to cut through someone, made his whole body tingle.

He cleared his throat twice and slowly said, "If you're not talking about carving out a realm, just wanting Wanzhuang to secure her own safety, then she wouldn't have argued with you. She won't let her family be martyred, rest assured."

Tang Buqi stared intently at him, coldly saying, "So you think she'll martyr herself!"

Zhao Changhe pressed his lips together, of course... Before leaving, he repeatedly warned that woman not to engage in desperate fights with anyone. Who doesn't know her temperament?

"Why so?" Tang Buqi was genuinely puzzled. "Why would someone as clever as her be stupider on this matter than even an old farmer?"

"First," Zhao Changhe retorted, "keep your disdain for farmers to yourself, without farmers you'd be eating crap right now."

"..."

"Secondly, Buqi, have you ever had an ideal you'd give your life for?"

Tang Buqi paused and fell silent.

Perhaps not now... If he ever had one, it'd be the dream of sweeping through the Worldly Society, admired by All under Heaven, hence he once sang and sobbed, feeling his cause was lost. But such things, one suffers for a while, cries a bit, and that's it. Are they worth dying for?

On the contrary, for Tang Buqi, those who sacrifice their lives for such causes were somewhat understandable. Countless swordsmen in the Worldly Society faced opponents they knew they couldn't defeat, for the sake of faith, for justice, or to prove their Sword Dao, shining that momentary brilliance. He himself had struggled with the decision of whether or not to risk his life.

The Worldly Society gradually faded. As he focused on the whole world, those stories seemed forgotten.

"Now I am no longer passionate about the Worldly Society. Is she still?" Tang Buqi asked.

"What does it have to do with the Worldly Society?" Zhao Changhe said. "Huangfu Yongxian held Yanmen loyally; what do you think he did it for? For Great Xia? Loyal to Xia Longyuan?"

"For the people?"

"At first, yes, but later it took on many more meanings. Having fought there his whole life, with the blood of countless comrades nourishing the fort, surrounded by the spirits of relatives and children. Asking him to abandon it would be more tormenting than death." Zhao Changhe sighed. "Wanzhuang is the same; she has poured her heart and soul into this country, from a young girl to now, her entire life's meaning lies here. How can you ask her to give up? Not to mention, suggesting she support a rebellion to carve out her own realm is akin to telling her to die."

Tang Buqi silently drank, understanding but unsure of what to do.

Zhao Changhe said, "No more needs to be said, how many high-end fighters do you have here, above the Human List level?"

Tang Buqi replied, "Three or four, Wu Weiyang is now of the Human List caliber too, though he hasn't fought against those on the List, hence he's not ranked."

Zhao Changhe said, "Assign them all to me; I must go to the capital. "

Tang Buqi pondered for a moment.

"How's that? Can't bear to part with it? Does it affect your grand enterprises in Jiangnan?"

"..." Tang Buqi slammed the table, "Are you out of your mind? They're now generals commanding troops. If I let them leave the army to head north with you, wouldn't people wonder what I'm up to or think I'm trying to seize power? Is it so easy to just assign them to you?"

"Uh..."

"Let's leave it at that. Go stay at home for now. Your horse is still there, you should go and fetch it. Within an hour, I'll have them all go to meet up with you."

Zhao Changhe stared at him intently, "Within an hour, you'll have to fire them by force... Don't you care about being questioned?"

Tang Buqi downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp, slammed the bowl onto the table, and turned to leave, "As long as this ensures the safety of my stupid aunt, the enterprises in Jiangnan can be forsaken."

Tang Family Water Pavilion.

Zhao Changhe stood by the stable, caressing the long-missed Wuzhui.

Wuzhui, kept in the Tang family, was fed till its coat shone and it looked stout and strong, and was often taken outside for gallops, muscular and fierce. It seemed to have a much better time than when it had followed Zhao Changhe, when it often didn't even get enough to eat, not to mention the frequent escapades and rushed travels without even the chance to wash.

But upon seeing Zhao Changhe, Wuzhui's eyes clearly showed delight.

Living a pampered life, the noble horse didn't prefer it; it loved to gallop across the world and charge through battlefields with this trouble-making master.

"Horses can feel, how much more can human beings?" Zhao Changhe sighed quietly, unsure if he was referring to Wanzhuang or Buqi.

He too was reluctant to part with Wuzhui, but now a problem lay before him; Wuzhui could no longer keep up with him.

Now in his cultivation, a single move in his Qinggong made him much faster than Wuzhui. Previously, it was about conserving energy, but if the speed difference was too great, the value of conserving energy diminished. Not to mention that his next goal was aimed at flying, further on people like Xia Longyuan were already performing Divine Descents; what use was there for a horse then?

Just like Tang Buqi, who was enmeshed in politics and thus drifted from the Worldly Society, Wuzhui also represented drifting from the Worldly Society.

But thinking back to the old days in the Worldly Society, the green shadows were dense like clouds, hundreds of horses neighed freely.

Those youthful days, stepping out from Beimang, had already become a watershed of the era.

San Niang poked her head out, "Are you reluctant to leave this horse?"

"Yes, it's all my youth," Zhao Changhe replied.

"Virtuous," San Niang said, "Dragon Sparrow can ascend, have you ever thought the horse could too?"

Zhao Changhe was stunned, "What do you mean?"

"You have dragon meat and dragon blood in your ring, and you possess the Heavenly Book. With all magic deriving from it, couldn't you try to evolve it into a flying Dragon Horse?"

It made sense to Zhao Changhe.

The world isn't fragmented; there are transitional steps. If humans can embark on a transcendental path, why can't horses? Never mind dragon meat; there was still some unused Blood Turtle meat in the ring.

After crafting his Blood Shura Body, he hadn't used much of the third page of the Heavenly Book, the Life Path; wouldn't it be perfect to find a Magic Skill from it to upgrade the horse?

Concentrating on the Heavenly Book, indeed he found the related Magic Skill. With dragon meat and Blood Turtle meat available, other required materials wouldn't be hard to find either, especially with the current strength of the Tang family.

He could also channel Dragon Energy to the horse; the compatibility between dragons and horses in this respect was surprisingly high. Dragon Energy wasn't even necessary for Chichi, Zhao Changhe himself had plenty, reluctantly so, and could directly bestow it onto the horse.

Zhao Changhe was overjoyed and hugged San Niang tightly, planting a kiss on her cheek, "To have an elder is to possess a treasure..."

"Get lost!" San Niang snapped irately, "Who are you calling old!"

Chichi, hiding to the side, gave a thumbs up, agreeing.

Come to think of it, if Wuzhui learned to fly before Zhao Changhe did... When the time came and he rode the Dragon Horse carrying Divine Weapons and descended from the heavens, whether on the battlefield or love field, he would be invincible.