Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 367: Undercover Agents

Zhao Changhe admitted that his face had been slapped by the Tome of Troubled Times.

One moment he was saying that Da Zhou was overhyping Tang Buqi, and the next moment, the tome went on to praise Tang Buqi.

However, Zhao Changhe was not upset about being proven wrong. On the contrary, he was very happy and even took a big swig from his wine gourd.

He could still vividly remember Tang Buqi crying drunkenly in the past. Yet as it turned out, gold naturally sifted from sand, and his name now shone brightly above the world.

Furthermore, with Maitreya’s defeat at Taihu Lake and Tang Wanzhuang launching a counterattack, would they still come to attack Xiangyang? The western and eastern fronts were different, and it was unclear what the impact of that battle would be.

Now, he was even more eager to communicate with someone from the Demon Suppression Bureau. He hoped that Da Zhou really was from the bureau. Logically, those from the Demon Suppression Bureau likely also wanted to communicate with their superiors, making it easier for them to discern the situation.

Zhao Changhe quietly followed Da Zhou through several twists and turns into an alley filled with the fragrant aroma of braised duck. The sight that welcomed him was not the small shop or workshop he had imagined, however; it seemed that the entire alley belonged to Da Zhou.

The entire city seemed bleak, and this place was no exception. It was relatively quiet, with few customers, but there was no need for direct sales. Da Zhou instructed his workers to pack some of the braised ducks and deliver them to various restaurants, taverns, and wealthy households.

With a fixed clientele, his business seemed to be less affected by the city’s downturn.

Everything seemed normal, and Zhao Changhe waited patiently.

As night fell, Da Zhou finished his work, changed into more refined clothes, and swaggered out of the alley. Zhao Changhe suspected that this was the opportunity he was waiting for and followed him happily.

“Oh~ Big brother Zhou is here! Little Red Peach misses you...”

“I didn’t come here for Little Red Peach. I came to see fourth brother.”

“The fourth lord is in the first flower hall. He’s been waiting for big brother Zhou to join him.”

Zhao Changhe watched from a distance as Da Zhou was ushered into the brothel by the madam, feeling speechless.

Why is it always a brothel... Forget it, this time, I won’t be visiting it directly. Previously, I had to pose as a customer because my movement art was average and my saber was too big. But now, I can simply have Dragon Bird be stored in the ring and my movement art has already reached a level where I can sneak around much easier.

Zhao Changhe noted the flower hall Da Zhou entered, gracefully climbed onto the roof, and quietly hung down to peek through the window.

Sure enough, as he had expected, Da Zhou did not go to the brothel for pleasure.

Opposite him sat another man, probably the so-called “fourth brother,” and there were no women around. It was just the two of them drinking together in the private room.

“The bureau chief won against Maitreya, is there any more recent news?” Da Zhou asked.

As expected, he’s from the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Zhao Changhe felt his intuition was spot on. However, the title “fourth lord,” which the brothel madam had used to refer to the other man with Da Zhou, reminded him of Ying Five’s organization.

The fourth lord replied, “The battle just ended. Even if they send carrier pigeons, those wouldn’t arrive immediately. You’re more anxious than I am.”

Da Zhou said, “Seeing the Tome of Troubled Times flash made me excited... The chaos that Maitreya has been raining down upon Jiangnan is finally showing signs of being quelled. How could I not want to return to the old days, living peacefully, coming here to listen to music in peace? Now, everything is a mess, business is bad, and it’s hard to enjoy the music.”

The fourth lord was silent for a moment, then sighed. “That’s why the bureau chief thinks that we can’t deal with Maitreya. If their heavenly maidens come to bewitch us, we’d just follow them blindly.”

Da Zhou: “...The reason why I wasn’t sent to deal with Maitreya is that I’ve always been here doing business. It’s different from you. With so many brothels under your control, wherever you stay is the same. Why were you sent here?”

The fourth lord complained, “I don’t even like women. How would Maitreya’s heavenly maidens be able to bewitch me? The bureau chief understands nothing.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Da Zhou said, “Enough idle talk. From my observations over the past few days, Lu Shiheng is unlikely to side with Maitreya. Instead, he shows signs of wanting to establish himself independently, especially these days. He’s been taking advantage of the potential movements of the Maitreya Cult as an excuse to conscript soldiers without regard for spring plowing. His rebellious intentions are clear as day. Has this been reported to the Demon Suppression Bureau?”

“No, the reports all say that Lu Shiheng is actively preparing for battle and is loyal to the empire.” The fourth lord chuckled. “The bureau chief has long suspected the Xiangyang branch of the Demon Suppression Bureau to be unreliable, which is why we need extra intelligence from the secret investigation division. This confirms the bureau chief’s suspicions were correct. The Xiangyang branch has indeed been compromised. Anyway, I’ve already reported this to the bureau chief for her consideration.”

Zhao Changhe nodded to himself. Tang Wanzhuang might seem delicate with her constant coughing, but she was actually a ministerial figure who never needed anyone to worry about her. The Demon Suppression Bureau always had both overt and covert operations. For instance, Zhao Changhe himself was a secret agent. Judging by Da Zhou’s long-term business activities here, he must have been an undercover agent for years. No one would ever suspect that someone like Da Zhou, who had been making braised ducks for so long, was a spy.

Given the current situation in Xiangyang, Tang Wanzhuang had long faith in the branch of the bureau and had activated her covert network.

“Let’s report this matter first then,” Da Zhou said. “Damn, Maitreya hasn’t been subdued, and now others are starting to move on with their rebellious thoughts. When will this chaos end?”

The fourth lord replied, “Don’t think too far ahead... By the way, I have some new information from the west. Do you want to hear it?”

“What news?”

The fourth lord laughed. “Wang Daozhong went to Kunlun and, on the first day, visited a brothel. Then, he chased after a handsome young man after finding the women uninteresting. The news from Kunlun has been spreading for days and has finally reached this place. Should we report this to the chief?”

Da Zhou almost spat out his drink. “Are you sure that’s Wang Daozhong? Doesn’t he have a wife and children?”

“Got bored, I suppose. It’s quite common among aristocratic families...” said the fourth lord. “But that’s not the most important news. The real news is that Wang Daozhong helped the Four Idols Sect capture Yang Qianyuan from Kunlun, causing the stance of the Yang Clan of Hongnong to become ambiguous.”

Da Zhou massaged his temples and said, “If I were the bureau chief, I’d probably be coughing up blood by now.”

“However, it seems that because Wang Daozhong broke Kunlun’s rules by capturing Yang Qianyuan, he was later attacked by the people of Kunlun and had to flee in a hurry,” the fourth lord sighed. “Kunlun truly is a treacherous place. Even someone on the Ranking of Earth had to flee in a panic.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

The story of Wang Doazhong had been pieced together, forming a story worthy of a ballad.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The fourth lord went to open it, and the person at the door whispered, “Fourth brother, we’ve received a carrier pigeon message from the bureau chief. She’s already on her way to Xiangyang and advised caution. With too many pigeon messages, there’s a risk of exposure. It would be best to stay hidden and avoid any actions, as well as withdraw.”

Both men were stunned, and even Zhao Changhe, who was eavesdropping outside, was equally shocked.

It sounded more like Tang Wanzhuang sneaking in alone rather than leading an army to support Xiangyang.

If she’s deduced from various clues that the Maitreya Cult is planning to attack Xiangyang, she should have dispatched troops for reinforcement. Why is she coming alone?

Could it be because of Da Zhou and this “fourth brother” reported Lu Shiheng’s rebellious intentions? Is that why she decided to come personally?

She might be able to do something about him, but doing that doesn’t quite fit her style. If she personally ran to every place where she heard rumors of rebellion to act as a mediator, she’d tire herself to death.

What could be her real reason for coming here?

Zhao Changhe felt relieved that he had not headed straight to Gusu. Otherwise, he would have missed her. Now, regardless of her purpose, staying here would allow him to act as an advance scout.

Inside the flower hall, the two men were staring at each other with uneasy gazes. With the bureau chief advising them to stay hidden or even withdraw, how could they continue drinking and discussing matters?

Da Zhou hurriedly excused himself. “I need to go back and make arrangements. You can leave anytime. Since the bureau chief has said so, you should just leave quickly. The brothel is just a business. If it’s lost, then so be it.”

The fourth lord saw Da Zhou off and scratched his head in confusion. What could the bureau chief have learned that we haven’t? She seems unusually tense.

While he was hesitating, there was a knock at the door. A scholarly-looking person walked into the room. He was a middle-aged man with an elegant demeanor and a long beard. He entered with a warm smile.

The fourth lord jumped in shock, cold sweat streaming down his face. “City... city lord?”

It was Xiangyang’s city lord, Divine Sword of Xiang River Lu Shiheng.

“Who would have thought that the Demon Suppression Bureau would have spies here? And it’s even more surprising that it would be our dear Mister Sian,” Lu Shiheng said with a chuckle. “Who would’ve thought? Who would’ve thought...”

Sian took a deep breath, “What are you talking about, city lord...”

Lu Shiheng replied warmly, “Nothing much... It’s just that I would like you to cooperate with Xiangyang in some matters.”