Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 59: Han Wubing

This was absolutely a very experienced assassin.

If his first attack had been directed at Cui Yuanyang, then Zhao Changhe, who had been storing up his energy for his own attack, would have been able to lop his head clean off.

However, he had first gone for a feint by attacking Zhao Changhe. When they crossed blades, Zhao Changhe naturally moved back and took up a defensive stance to protect his vitals. However, by then, the assassin had already borrowed the power of his attack to strike toward Cui Yuanyang. After all, Zhao Changhe was not very experienced either. Once he hesitated and reacted a moment too late, it meant that Cui Yuanyang was as good as dead.

Zhao Changhe did not have time to adjust to the situation. However, nobody could have expected that the moment the assassin turned around, Zhao Changhe shot a sharp stone out of his left hand. It was almost like the assassin gave himself up as a free target by turning around. The stone hit his shoulder with a dull thud.

The assassin’s arm went numb, and he could not hold his sword steadily anymore. Cui Yuanyang was not a complete idiot and, upon seeing this, the glare of her sword swept over. Her blade deflected the assassin’s weapon and then proceeded to slit his throat.

The assassin died with tears in his eyes. Before he died, he had never thought that he would fall by the hands of a little white rabbit.

Zhao Changhe’s sneak attack was something that even Yue Hongling had reproached him for, saying he had no honor. Secretly shooting stones while retreating—this was a dirty trick Zhao Changhe used to deal with his enemies. But who could have thought that the assassin would turn around and become an easy target?

As he watched from the side, the youth’s mouth twitched.

Zhao Changhe’s back was drenched in cold sweat; they had avoided a disaster. He did not dare to relax one bit, however, and fixed his gaze on the youth’s hand.

The youth shook his head and finally made a move.

His sword flashed over, but it was not targeted at Zhao Changhe or Cui Yuanyang. The remaining people from the Cui Clan all fell at the same time, shrieking miserably in pain.

The rain from the hole in the ceiling washed away the blood. The ruined temple, originally empty and still, was now filled with corpses.

There were tear stains on Cui Yuanyang’s cheeks. She carefully hid behind Zhao Changhe and stuck her head out to look at the youth in black. If Zhao Changhe had no idea where he came from or what he was thinking, then neither did she.

The youth sheathed his sword and finally spoke, “Even though these people aren’t surnamed Cui, they are indeed with the Cui Clan. As for how they are related, Young Lady Cui should be clearer than me.”

Cui Yuanyang bit her lower lip and did not answer.

The person suddenly laughed. “The one who said ‘first come first serve’ and not to bother others was a boorish mountain bandit, while the people who said this place was reserved and tried to drive us out were working under a prestigious family. Ha...Hahahaha...”

His laughter got wilder and louder until it shook the roof tiles.

Cui Yuanyang pitifully tugged at Zhao Changhe’s shirt. Her head was practically about to drill into his armpit.

Zhao Changhe finally said, “May I ask for your name?”

The man slowly stopped laughing and returned to his unperturbed state, his face as still as a dead man’s. “Han Wubing.”

People who gave such simple introductions were typically well-known. Now, whenever Zhao Changhe told people his name, they would all know who he was. After all, in this world, there was no way anyone could have never seen the Tome of Troubled Times before. To enter the rankings once was to be known throughout the world, even at the idiot rank 250.

For this person to introduce himself like this without fear of Zhao Changhe ridiculing him clearly meant that both of them were at about the same level.

Han Wubing, the 87th Hidden Dragon, was ranked just slightly higher than Zhao Changhe. His cultivation was also a little higher, at the fourth layer of the Profound Gate.

His occupation: bounty hunter.

In reality, the Tome of Troubled Times never displayed everyone’s name in a ranking. However, whenever it appeared, there were people that recorded it down and collected everything into a manual to be sold. Whenever there were changes in the rankings, these types of grifters would be celebrating because that meant they could sell a newer version of the manual.

Zhao Changhe did not know why people paid money for such manuals when anyone could write down and arrange the rankings by themselves. In any case, he had bought one because, after all, he had not seen the Tome of Troubled Times before coming to this world.

“So it’s Brother Han.” Zhao Changhe cupped his fists. “I am Zhao Changhe.”

“I know. I already knew who you were before you even stepped through those gates. I’m thoroughly familiar with what you look like...I looked at your portrait pretty carefully.”

Han Wubing only said this and no more, but anyone could tell that he had more to say.

He was a bounty hunter, so what did he intend to do after getting familiar with the portrait of a wanted criminal?

Cui Yuanyang tensed up again. She sensibly let go of Zhao Changhe’s shirt and retreated half a step, afraid that she might hinder Zhao Changhe.

Han Wubing’s gaze landed on Cui Yuanyang’s face. Zhao Changhe remained calm and took half a step to the side, blocking him from Cui Yuanyang. He did not let even a strip of her clothing enter Han Wubing’s sight.

Han Wubing sighed. “There is a reward for slaying Young Lady Cui, but I don’t kill such people... There’s no need to be so nervous.”

Zhao Changhe said indifferently, “So the one you want to kill is me?”

“Everyone thinks I’m a bounty hunter, but this is a misconception. The Tome of Troubled Times doesn’t state one’s occupation. This is something the people who arrange those books have added in themselves. No doubt this is because I have claimed all sorts of bounties from both demonic and orthodox forces.”

“Doesn’t that make you a bounty hunter?”

“I travel the lands under heaven to test my sword. But I don’t steal, and neither do I loot. So where do I get my money? From all sorts of bounties. Most of them are from the scum of the jianghu, or helping those in the underworld kill their enemies. With such people, I can both test my sword and also obtain what I need to continue wandering the jianghu. That’s all. If you really want to call me a bounty hunter, then I guess you’re not wrong. But my priorities differ from those of a bounty hunter.”

Zhao Changhe’s mouth twitched. From the looks of it, he and Han Wubing were a match made in heaven. Their rankings were about the same, Zhao Changhe’s strength was slightly lower than his—was he not most naturally suited for Han Wubing to test his sword with? With the arrest order from the authorities, Zhao Changhe was pretty much considered scum in the jianghu. And as for money, the demonic cult offered a generous sum of one thousand gold pieces for his head.

Knowing what Zhao Changhe was thinking, Han Wubing replied indifferently, “I indeed came to find you. However, I didn’t expect us to meet on the road... Your mastery over saber arts is good. It’s one of the best out of everyone I’ve faced with a similar cultivation level. I really want to have a good battle with you, but now is not the time.”

“Why? Because I said first come first serve and didn’t bother you?”

Han Wubing’s gaze once again landed behind Zhao Changhe. His indifferent expression suddenly turned gentle. “Because of that line, ‘you’ll pay for ruining the jianghu of my heart.’ Young Lady Cui is not someone who should fall by the hands of vile people. I hope you can take her home safely. After that, we can duel. Do you dare accept this offer?”

Zhao Changhe thought this was a little interesting.

Zhao Changhe, Yue Hongling, Cui Yuanyong, and Han Wubing all had a jianghu they held in their heart. And while this jianghu of theirs was not exactly the same thing...it did not differ by that much.

Han Wubing cupped his fists and bowed. “Though, of course, if you are willing, then I will pick a location and you must go there.”

“About a thousand li south-east of Qinghe there’s a lake known as the Ancient Sword Lake. It just so happens that I have matters I must tend to there. Brother Zhao, by the time you finish your journey it should be around the start of summer, no?”

“I think that’s about right.”

“Then we shall meet at the start of summer by the Ancient Sword Lake.”

With these words, Han Wubing cupped his fists, said no more, and left.

Cui Yuanyang stuck her head out from behind Zhao Changhe, “The legend about the sword at Ancient Sword Lake is most likely fake. My family has sent many people to investigate and they’ve never found anything.”

Han Wubing did not stop walking. “I know. By the time I arrive there, it’ll be time for the Qingming festival[1]. I’m going there to pay my respects to a deceased friend.”

“Who put up a reward to kill me?”

“I don’t know, but the reward is quite large... My apologies. At the end of the day, this jianghu isn’t the one in your heart.”

His voice faded away and soon, he disappeared.

Zhao Changhe turned around and pulled out Cui Yuanyang, smiling. “I feel like he isn’t the kind of guy who likes to hear himself speak. However, he said a lot today because of you. Everyone you meet really likes you.”

Cui Yuanyang did not say anything and was lost in thought as she looked at the corpses around the temple.

Zhao Changhe helped her put on her rabbit hat, which had fallen off during the battle, and gently told her, “Don’t be so hung up on this. This place is dirty. Let’s find another place to rest at.”

Cui Yuanyang said in a low voice. “When all of us met here, I never thought out of you, me, Han Wubing, that unknown assassin, and the Cui Clan’s people, the ones at the lowest level would be the Cui Clan.”

Zhao Changhe patted her on the head. “It has nothing to do with you.”

Cui Yuanyang tilted her head and looked at him. “You’re also suddenly gentler. Are you comforting me because I was almost assassinated just now, or because of that line I said?”

Zhao Changhe smiled and did not answer.

Cui Yuanyang understood what he meant and suddenly smiled brightly. “But the jianghu I wish to see—you’ve already shown it to me just now.”

1. A traditional Chinese festival where people visit the tombs of their ancestors to make offerings and clean their tombs. More information here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qingming_Festival ☜