Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 36: A Tiger Roaring in the Mountains

Beimang was not a mountain range that stretched for thousands of li. It was just a mountain. Ever since the Blood God Cult acted on a large scale and set themselves up on the mountain, there had been no other forces present.

However, in the surrounding areas, there were other small mountains and forests which other bandits occupied. Even in the city neighboring the mountain, there were a few “great” men. Collectively, they could be called the hegemons of the Beimang mountain road.

However, the last time there had been anything impressive about Beimang was in the previous era. Today, it was desolate and out-of-the-way. The probability of a truly great man arising from these parts was relatively small. Like Luo Qi when she pretended to be the senior disciple in the outer sect, one could be proud of themselves and proclaim that they were someone prominent simply by breaking through to the first layer of the Profound Gate.

So how could there be many great and valiant men around?

As Zhao Changhe went down the mountain, he suddenly thought that there was nothing interesting about this place anymore. The pond was too shallow; the level of people here was too low. He could not even meet anyone on the Rankings of Troubled Times. When will I be able to see those mysteries the blind woman spoke of?

It was convenient for him to cultivate here, but he did not know at what level and when it would be suitable for him to leave.

As the thought faded away, what was happening on the mountain road came into view.

The blockade had been kicked down and everything was out of place. A few bandits were hanging upside down from a tree. As they swayed to-and-fro, the snow on the branches swooshed down, landing on a certain part of their body and causing them to shriek in pain. The men stood by the side and laughed.

There were two youths wearing short jackets made of coarse fabric obediently standing by the side of the road. Zhao Changhe reckoned they were the people that had been stopped at the blockade. They were at a loss as to what to do as they watched these hooligans beat each other up. Zhao Changhe forced back his laughter while looking at their expressions.

“Tsk tsk. Becoming the 250th Hidden Dragon by beating someone at the second layer with a first layer cultivation sounds a bit impressive, but is that all?” Over on the other side, the big man in charge laughed heartily. “I’m also at the second layer. Have him come out. Let’s see how grand he is!”

One of his lackeys, as if playing a supporting role in a comedy, added, “Pft, how seriously do you think they fought? It was just a gang squabble. For all we know, his opponent could have gone easy on him. What’s so impressive about fighting someone with a higher cultivation? If it was a real fight, could he win a battle like that with just three attacks? Does he think we’re stupid!? Does he dare to have a real fight to the death with someone outside with his shitty first layer cultivation?”

“Of course he doesn’t. He hasn’t even seen his lackeys hanging on the trees and he’s already too afraid to do shit. Hahaha... He’s even setting up blockades like other people. I’m gonna die from laughter.”

“Indeed, there’s no more need to set up a blockade today.” A booming voice suddenly came from the mountain. Everyone turned to look in its direction and saw a figure dash through the air. A shining saber appeared and severed the ropes holding the bandits hanging upside down, letting them fall to the ground. They picked themselves up, pleasantly surprised. “Boss!”

“Zhao Changhe, you’ve finally come!” Someone pointed at him and laughed. “Oi, 250th Hidden Dragon, do you dare to fight with—”

Before the man finished speaking, he looked to the side and suddenly quietened down.

He realized that his boss had a grave expression on his face. It was darker than the bottom of a pot and had none of that brazenness when he called for Zhao Changhe to come out.

The man then looked at the ropes Zhao Changhe severed and his heart suddenly began to quiver.

Could I even see his saber clearly just now? No...what if that was my neck? Would I still have my head?

“Being officially titled an idiot is already annoying enough. I can’t believe there are so many actual idiots in this world that haven’t been recognised yet.” Zhao Changhe lazily dug his ear with his finger and shot his hand out to point at the big man in charge. “It’s like you don’t have a brain. Do you really think you can enter the rankings just by defeating me? If you don’t know what the Ranking of Hidden Dragons means, can you go home and refer to a dictionary? You believe everything others say and even make up a fake situation where I managed to beat someone with a higher cultivation because they let me...”

Even though the big man urgently dodged away, some earwax still smeared itself on his face.

He flew into a rage and held out his saber. “Zhao Changhe! You are too aggressive! Do you really believe that no other people live in Beimang?”

“Tch. You can’t even dodge that... If the great men of Beimang are all this lame, then it’s truly disappointing.” Zhao Changhe yawned. “Alright, fellows. I didn’t sleep well last night. I want to hurry back and catch up on sleep. All of you can come at me at the same time.”

“You bastard!” The big man was no longer able to restrain his anger and wildly slashed at Zhao Changhe.

As a brilliance flashed across Zhao Changhe’s eyes, his lazy attitude vanished in an instance and he leapt forward with the swiftness of a rabbit.

The people by the side saw his saber flash once more as a deafening clang rang out. Zhao Changhe, to their surprise, did not run or hide. He met his enemy head on with his saber.

In that instant, Zhao Changhe’s vicious blood qi surged wildly. Everyone around felt like they were assaulted by a palpable killing intent. Even the falling snow appeared to claw at them. Zhao Changhe’s eyes were blood-red, filled with unrivaled malice.

Clang!

The big man’s attack was unexpectedly deflected far away. His hands turned numb.

Overwhelmed, he wanted to run away. But where could he hide?

Zhao Changhe changed his chop into a slash and nimbly shaved off the hair on the top of the man’s head. It was exactly enough to reveal his scalp without injuring him.

Everyone present was speechless.

It was just three moves before... What about now? One attack? Does it even count as one and a half?

The big man stood where he was, drenched in cold sweat. His eyes rolled upward. He really wanted to see what had become of his head, but he didn’t have a mirror or anything like that.

Zhao Changhe swung out his left hand and slapped him in the face. “You dare to think about the Tome of Troubled Times with your shitty strength? Men!”

Wang Dashan, who was standing by the side, said, “Here!”

“Search them and bring back whatever belongings and weapons these people have on them. Hang them upside down like they did with our men. We’ll see what to do with them after one day and one night.”

“One...day and one night? But in this snowy weather, they—they’ll die...”

Zhao Changhe suddenly turned to glare at Wang Dashan. “Did you not see that his saber was headed for my neck just now? If he chopped my head off, don’t you think I would have died!? Why are you getting so distressed over hanging them by their feet for a while?”

Wang Dashan retreated a step, not daring to make a sound.

Zhao Changhe strode toward the roughest tree on the side of the mountain road and carved out a piece of its bark. On this piece, he engraved the words, “Zhao Changhe’s saber is most valiant in Beimang. Two hundred taels of silver for one duel. The seat of the Hidden Dragon is here and waits for someone to claim it.”

After he finished writing, he strode back up the mountain. “We’ve gotten some extra money today and I just thought up how we can make some income. Let those two kids go. A great man doesn’t bully the innocent.”

Wang Dashan chased him from behind. “Boss, your wanted posters are still up. Isn’t that too risky?”

“Are you an idiot?! If even these random goons know where I am, then who can we still deceive? What use is there in hiding? I might as well tell everyone where I am! Even if the authorities come knocking, I can deal with them.”

“...does that mean that we’re not going to rob travelers anymore?

“I don’t care whether heaven has a dao. I follow my own heavenly dao!”

Wang Dashan and the others did not understand what he said and went to hang their enemies on trees and collect their things. The two youths in short-jackets looked perplexedly at Zhao Changhe as he strode back up the mountain. One of them said in a low voice, “He’s like a tiger roaring in the mountains, silencing all the beasts. How can such a person just be a mere bandit or low-level disciple of the Blood God Cult... Seriously...”

The other person said, “And he’s only reached the measly first layer of the Profound Gate, yet his strength reaches even the nine layers of heaven.”

“Strength has nothing to do with cultivation. Hidden Dragon—heh. The Tome of Troubled Times doesn’t lie.”

“Aren’t you also one? Are you praising yourself?”

“Shhh. Speak softer.”

“Hey, do you think the Tome of Troubled Times will appear again with him defeating someone at the second layer with only one attack?

“The tome doesn’t appear for no reason. Without any fundamental change in one’s accomplishments in battle, the tome won’t record anything... Actually, he secretly used internal force in his winning attack. He’s truly reached the first heavenly layer for both internal and external arts. In reality, the disparity in strength between him and his opponent today was not as great as it was in the other battle. He may look boorish on the outside, but he’s actually pretty crafty. His internal force was very well concealed. I almost couldn’t pick it out.”

“If that’s the case...then I know what to do.” The one walking behind held their chin and said, “Alright. Show’s over. I’m here to catch wanted criminals. If you want to appreciate his talents, then you can find Yue Hongling in the city by yourself. I want to see what explanation he has to give when the authorities come.”

The one in front shook their head, “I’m afraid that you might act on your own and fall by his hand...”

The eyes of the one behind widened. They could not believe what they were hearing. “How could that be possible!”

“In any case, you’re at a critical juncture in breaking through to the third layer of the Profound Gate. Why don’t you stay in the city for two months and see what to do after your breakthrough?”

“Oh... Then we’ll just let him run rampant for two months. These types of people are really fun...”