123: Chapter 121: Only the Magistrate is getting beaten up 123: Chapter 121: Only the Magistrate is getting beaten up Zhao Changhe felt that this young lady was becoming increasingly tsundere.

He wasn’t the inexperienced newcomer he was when he first arrived in this opulent place; he could somewhat understand Yue Hongling’s inner turmoil at the moment.

The current atmosphere clearly indicated a pursuit of a romantic relationship with her, even if she verbally called it “just a stepping stone.” But having just expressed the hope to someday brandish swords together and traverse the world, they were now rehearsing arm in arm, racing towards that relationship; she probably hadn’t been prepared for this.

But…

the way she tilted her head and lowered her gaze was truly captivating.

No longer the deeply ingrained heroic and valiant image in his mind, that fleeting blush on her cheeks and her dodging eyes were like the moon reflected in the water, which, until now, had hung high in the sky and was suddenly rippling with tender light.

Zhao Changhe didn’t even know how much of what he said today followed the script, and how much was sincere.

Nor did he know if pressing a little further right now would indeed offer a real chance…

This was Yue Hongling.

The person he respected the most in this world, the reflection of his dreams.

Even though she was slightly younger, he was willing to address her as “big sister,” and had no intent whatsoever of disrespecting her.

He could jest freely in front of Tang Wanju, but with Yue Hongling, he didn’t dare.

Without the crowd’s instigation, he might never have spoken those words before.

But at this moment, he truly wished to hold her in his arms.

“Why are you staring at me instead of looking for the bow?” Yue Hongling finally couldn’t endure his gaze any longer, she turned around angrily, “I told you it was just a stepping stone earlier!

Our relationship is like after a…”

“I know,” Zhao Changhe interrupted her outburst, softly saying, “Let’s go, we should find Wan Dongliu…

No, let’s find Tang Buqi instead.

Not only to borrow a bow but also to have him coordinate.

Chi Li is not easy to kill, and with the Tang family here able to command the Demon Suppression Department, we have an advantage.”

Returning to the main point, Yue Hongling’s mind somewhat regained peace, but she couldn’t muster her usual quick wit, “Why not find Wan Dongliu?

He’s the real local power here.

Plus, I saw he genuinely wanted to kill Chi Li earlier.”

“It’s hard to gauge Wan Dongliu…

whether he wants to kill Chi Li because of the Alien Clan, or it’s just revenge for disrupting his territory, it’s hard to say.

With the Magistrate overseeing, he might not really do anything…

Regarding the Alien Clan and Maitreya Sect matters, I trust the Demon Suppression Department.”

Yue Hongling’s eyes danced over his face and she lightly laughed with a nod.

The feeling of having someone to strategize with…

was quite nice.

Tang Buqi’s residence wasn’t difficult to find; he lived directly in the Wu Family’s local estate in Yangzhou, enjoying it like a vacation.

Right now, he was lounging in the garden, with two maids feeding him grapes.

Upon hearing of Yue Hongling and Zhao Changhe’s visit, Tang Buqi was in a good mood, “Please let them in.”

He had a hand in stirring the pot at the banquet, intertwining himself with Yue Hongling’s affairs, but with my aunt, it should be over.

Aunt, this is all I can help you with.

The two were quickly led into the garden.

Seeing Tang Buqi lounging on a chair, sipping grapes from a maid’s hand, Zhao Changhe felt a burst of envy, “Damn, being born to a good family means doing as one pleases.

How do you entertain your guests, just lying there?

I want grapes too.”

Tang Buqi glanced at Yue Hongling and spoke leisurely, “Everyone has their own grapes.

Some grapes Tang doesn’t even dare to dream of.

Let’s see if you have the skills to taste the good ones.”

Yue Hongling: “?”

Tang Buqi continued, “Miss Yue, I’m four years older than this lad.

Do you know what it means when he keeps calling me ‘big nephew’?”

Yue Hongling was startled for a moment, “I don’t know.

A joke perhaps?”

Zhao Changhe glared at Tang Buqi who paid him no mind and went on, “Tang has an aunt who is a beauty unmatched, with unparalleled talents and looks.

This guy keeps calling me ‘big nephew,’ guess what he’s after?”

Zhao Changhe’s teeth were almost crushed with frustration, Damn it, I was just bragging for fun, are you trying to get me killed!

But then Yue Hongling paused, suddenly laughed, “That’s nice!

Your aunt is…

Oh, I know now, it must be Tang Sect Leader.

Hmm…

indeed a perfect match, very good!”

Tang Buqi’s eyes bulged out, almost choking to death on a grape.

Zhao Changhe couldn’t bear to watch and turned his head away.

The heart of a woman is as unfathomable as the ocean depths; you thought she was embroiled in a Chaotic Scene with Cui Yuanyang, but now she might be hastily trying to clear her association with you.

Yet, to Tang Buqi’s ears, what a magnanimous woman, where in the world would he find another!

Tang Buqi was on the verge of tears, finally coughing out the grape, gasping for air, “What brings the two of you here?

Did you come specifically to feed me some sustenance?”

Zhao Changhe asked, “Got any good bows?”

“Why should I give it to you?”

“Are you going to deal with Chi Li or not?” Zhao Changhe asked impatiently.

Tang Buqi jumped to his feet and immediately ordered those around him, “Go, borrow the best bow from Uncle Wu!”

He hurriedly smoothed out his slightly disheveled clothes.

“How do we do it?

Should I go and call for people?”

“Don’t rush, let’s wait until late at night.

It’s still the end of the ‘Xu’ hour, our dinner was a bit early…” Zhao Changhe said, “We suspect they’re hiding in the Magistrate Mansion.

This is not quite an appropriate task for the Tang family and the Demon Suppression Department.

If you could just provide some cover and support from the outside, that would be enough.”

Tang Buqi hesitated, “You…

you can’t go and kill the Magistrate.”

Zhao Changhe gave him a sidelong glance, thinking, what can you even do?

But he decided not to say anything after all.

This was where their objectives differed from the Tang family’s.

It was also for reasons like this that the tasks were difficult for Tang Wanju to undertake; it was all very typical.

He was actually planning to kill that damned official if the opportunity arose, especially if Chi Li wasn’t there.

He didn’t want to return empty-handed.

Taking down the Magistrate would be quite satisfying in its own right.

“Alright, it’s still early.

How about finding us some quiet rooms first?”

Tang Buqi’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two.

“You…

what do you need quiet rooms for at this hour?

It doesn’t seem proper…”

Yue Hongling couldn’t take it any longer and snapped, “I need to tend to my wounds again!”

“Cough.” Tang Buqi awkwardly turned to Zhao Changhe, “And you?”

Zhao Changhe’s face was expressionless.

“I need a private quiet room.

Watching you eat grapes got my spirits riled up, might need to take care of something on my own, so if there’s any peeping in the quiet room, our friendship is over.”

Yue Hongling turned her head aside, and Tang Buqi said speechlessly, “Who’s going to watch that…

Alright, follow me.”

Of course, Zhao Changhe needed the quiet room not for what Tang Buqi was thinking, but because he wanted to pay homage, now that they were about to confront Chi Li.

He trusted that Tang Buqi wouldn’t peek; he wasn’t so bored.

Inside the quiet room, Zhao Changhe took out the gold foil.

Sure enough, a whole host of images appeared repeatedly on the gold foil.

There was the scene from the day before when Tang Buqi’s sword thrust was parried by his own strike.

There were images of himself with Ba Tu, including the moment he rescued Tang Buqi from Ba Tu’s blade, and the ensuing battle with Ba Tu.

There were also the confrontations between Chi Li and Yue Hongling, and the entire process of him throwing his knife into the fray.

As for earlier battles, they had been replaced.

But something was missing…

such as the battle between Ba Tu and Tang Buqi, and the scene where Xuan Chong saved Tang Buqi, intercepted by Chi Li.

Clearly, only battles he participated in would be shown; the gold foil wasn’t a recording device but a recorder of his own fights.

The battle between Yue Hongling and Chi Li was recorded because he had intervened significantly, thus the gold foil recognized him as a participant and registered the entire process.

The battle between Ba Tu and Tang Buqi was first disrupted by Xuan Chong, and since he ultimately saved someone without even drawing a blade, he wasn’t considered a participant in their duel, hence why the full fight wasn’t shown, only the moment of the rescue.

The internal logic was rather clear.

He had been uncertain before, but now it seemed that the throw of his knife was truly worthwhile.

He couldn’t understand their battles…

but this slowed-down replay allowed him to study to his heart’s content.

Sooner or later, there would be no difference between him and them.

Watching Yue Hongling’s striking and cool figure wielding her sword, Zhao Changhe was engrossed in learning, gradually becoming transfixed.

This curved saber of Chi Li’s…

I wonder if there’s a bit of a spatial aspect to it, or is it purely the illusion technique he talked about?

The strike formed a circle yet seemed to close directly back to the starting point, bizarrely fast…

As time approached the ‘Zi’ hour.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door outside the quiet room, and Tang Buqi’s anxious voice rang out, “How can it take so long just to deal with yourself?”

“…” Zhao Changhe put away the gold foil.

“It’s about time, we can go now.”

“Go your ass!” Tang Buqi exclaimed urgently, “The Magistrate has been assassinated, Yangzhou is in chaos!”