The summer sun soared high

When they saw Fang Buping, he was in a room thick with the smell of medicine, sealed against every draft. His face was pale, and he looked miserable. His days, however, were quite comfortable. He was reclining in the fragrant, soft embrace of a maid, who fed him medicine a spoonful at a time. Another young maid fanned a brazier beside them, keeping the room pleasantly warm.

Several cult members surrounded him as well, presumably his trusted lieutenants. They were drinking warm wine nearby, laughing and joking with young maids in their arms.

From the look of things, he probably lived much the same way when he was uninjured. That was why Instructor Sun believed that once you attained a certain standing, you might no longer work quite so hard.

Zhao Changhe walked in with a smile and cupped his hands. "How are you feeling, Helmsman?"

Fang Buping weakly raised his head from the maid's embrace. A flash of dark jealousy flickered through his eyes.

He was genuinely furious. Losing the credit for Luo Zhenwu was one thing, but the credit for the treasure had also fallen into those two's hands, making his incompetence all the more conspicuous. It was as though they had been put on this earth specifically to oppose him. He knew Zhao Changhe's supposed backer might not actually be able to look after him, but that did not mean he could bully him at will, either. Who knew whether the Saintess might retaliate someday? Yet he simply could not help himself.

Damn it, even that so-called backer had only soared to the heavens in a single step because she had snatched the treasure from him.

This was what it meant to burn with jealousy.

He dared not do anything else, but he could cause some trouble with Zhao Changhe's money and provisions and watch him run himself ragged. What could Zhao Changhe do about that?

Seeing Zhao Changhe politely visiting and asking after him, Fang Buping forced a smile as well. "Not dead yet. Stronghold Chief Zhao..."

"Yes?"

"You're a wanted man, yet you abandoned your post and entered the city without permission. If you cause trouble for our cult's great mission of spreading the faith, can you bear the responsibility?" Fang Buping said slowly. "Considering that you began as an ignorant villager and then became a bandit, I won't hold this against you for now. In future, request permission and report more often. Don't act on your own initiative."

Beside them, Wang Dashan's heart nearly leaped into his throat. He feared Zhao Changhe would lose his temper and draw his saber on someone.

There are Blood God Cult members everywhere. If you kill someone, we'll be hacked to death right here too...

Yet Zhao Changhe merely smiled casually. "There are actually quite a few people who started out as ignorant villagers and bandits."

Fang Buping's expression changed slightly. Only then did he remember that Xia Chichi and Zhao Changhe came from essentially the same background. Mocking Zhao Changhe for that was scarcely different from pointing at Xia Chichi's nose and cursing her... Backer or no backer, if the Four Symbols Cult learned that he had slandered their Saintess, they would flay a layer of skin off him.

At that thought, he quickly plastered on a smile. "One should still read, of course. Stronghold Chief Zhao, you haven't read much of the cult's scriptures yet, have you? Since you're here, take a few books back to study."

"Of course." Zhao Changhe's smile was warm and pleasant. "Besides the cult's scriptures, I was also hoping to get a few history books to read. Oh, right. I'm qualified to learn our Holy Cult's lightness arts now, aren't I?"

"We're all brothers in the cult. Naturally, you are." His momentary guilty conscience kept Fang Buping from trying any more tricks. He waved listlessly. "Liuzi, take our guest to the study. Give him Bloodflight Without a Trace for the lightness art. Choose whatever other scriptures and histories seem suitable."

The cult member who had led Zhao Changhe inside gestured. "This way, Stronghold Chief Zhao."

Zhao Changhe nodded with a smile. "Thanks, brother."

Wang Dashan watched as though he had fallen into a dream. Was this really Zhao Changhe?

Wait, didn't you come to get money and provisions? Now you're acting like everyone's the best of friends, without mentioning money even once. What are you planning?

The so-called study was actually right next to the bedroom. Zhao Changhe followed the cult member inside and examined the shelves. The door remained open, and Fang Buping could still see his back from a distance.

Fang Buping stared darkly at Zhao Changhe's back, then glanced at Wang Dashan and asked coldly, "What exactly did Zhao Changhe come into the city for, risking arrest?"

Under his icy gaze, Wang Dashan shuddered. He would never dare defy the helmsman. Offering a cautious, ingratiating smile, he said, "Our stronghold has run out of money and provisions..."

"As expected." Fang Buping sneered.

It was difficult to put obstacles in the way of scriptures and techniques, but the branch's allocation of money and provisions truly was the helmsman's decision. No one could fault him for it. If Zhao Changhe dared ask, he would make sure Zhao Changhe came away with his nose covered in dust.

He said indifferently, "Your name is Wang Dashan?"

"Uh, yes."

"Report the stronghold's affairs to the branch more often... You should understand that anyone can be a stronghold chief..."

Wang Dashan's eyes lit up. He smiled ingratiatingly. "I-I hope you'll look after me, Helmsman."

Fang Buping smiled, then closed his eyes without another word.

Zhao Changhe, seemingly studying the bookshelves, curled his lips into a smile.

Sure enough, not everyone was Luo Qi. This Wang Dashan was thoroughly unreliable.

"Stronghold Chief Zhao, will these do?" Liuzi brought over a stack of books.

Zhao Changhe leafed through them, mainly taking a look at the so-called Bloodflight Without a Trace, then smiled. "These are plenty. Thanks, brother."

He strolled out holding the stack of books and addressed Fang Buping as though he had only just remembered something. "There's another important matter I came to discuss with you, Helmsman."

Fang Buping said indifferently, "What is it?"

"I've heard the old brothers in the cult say that our Holy Cult prizes martial prowess above all, and strength is king. Positions within the cult can be settled through challenges, as long as the challenge is open, aboveboard, and witnessed. Is there anything inaccurate about that?"

For a moment, Fang Buping did not understand his intent. "The Holy Cult does indeed have such a rule."

Then realization dawned, and he chuckled. "Could Stronghold Chief Zhao be planning to challenge me? The cult's rules forbid taking advantage of someone's plight to challenge an injured man, or everything would have descended into chaos long ago. If that is your intention, we can discuss it again in a few months."

"Not at all. I still have some shame. How could I bring myself to challenge an injured man who can't even get out of bed?" Zhao Changhe's smile slowly faded, and he declared loudly, "However, I am very interested in the position of deputy helmsman responsible for allocating money and provisions. With all our brothers here and Helmsman Fang as witness, I, Zhao Changhe, challenge the deputy helmsman. Do you dare accept?"

Every cult member present changed expression. Wang Dashan's face went white.

This Zhao Changhe...

Although the elites had already withdrawn, anyone capable of becoming deputy helmsman had to be at least at the Second Level of the Profound Pass. Zhao Changhe had only practiced martial arts for a little over a month, and supposedly had broken through to the First Level of the Profound Pass barely a dozen days ago. They all practiced the Blood Baleful Art, so he had no advantage in cultivation technique. Where on earth did he find the nerve?

He certainly had guts...

But even if he could win the challenge now, was he really unafraid of the endless misery the helmsman could inflict once he recovered in a few months? When you stood beneath low eaves, why insist on holding your head so high?

Fang Buping stared at Zhao Changhe as though he were an idiot for a long while. Then, struggling with his injured body, he laughed between coughs. "Hey, Huang, did you hear that? Stronghold Chief Zhao wants to challenge you. I'll serve as witness. Will you accept?"

A burly man who had been watching the show with a maid in his arms stood up and laughed. "Since Stronghold Chief Zhao is in such a sporting mood, of course I'll play a few rounds with him. Hahaha..."

Zhao Changhe's expression remained calm. Holding his saber point-down, he cupped his hands in salute. "Please instruct me, Deputy Helmsman Huang."

Deputy Helmsman Huang drew a heavy steel saber and smiled. "So no one can say I'm bullying a junior, how about I give you three moves?"

Zhao Changhe's eyes brightened at the sight of that heavy steel saber. Just as he was about to speak, golden light suddenly flashed overhead.

Everyone froze, then looked up at the sky.

Sure enough, the Book of Troubled Times had delivered a new entry:

"Twelfth month, Minor Cold. Xia Chichi, Fifth Level of the Profound Pass, trod the Azure Dragon's pool and comprehended White Tiger's Edge. Alone, she fought twenty-eight Four Symbols Cult members of the same level and shattered the Twenty-Eight Mansions Formation, shaking the Four Symbols Cult from top to bottom."

"Change to the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

"Thirteenth Hidden Dragon: Xia Chichi."

"The summer sun soared high; why did it rise so late?"

Silence fell over the room. Fang Buping and the others stared at the sky in horror, unable to speak for a long while.

They had guessed Xia Chichi would become the Saintess, but they had not expected her to be such a monster. With her actual cultivation merely at the Fifth Level of the Profound Pass, she had dropped straight into thirteenth place among the Hidden Dragons. A whole bunch of people at the sixth and seventh levels ranked below her! In other words, the Book of Troubled Times judged that those sixth- and seventh-level cultivators could not have accomplished her feat, or that the achievements which earned them their places were less difficult than hers!

What if her actual cultivation rose higher, to the eighth or ninth level?

This was not merely enough to shake the Four Symbols Cult from top to bottom. It was more than enough to shock the entire world!

Zhao Changhe sighed softly.

She was, in truth, a woman who practiced even while resting and sleeping... She should never have remained nameless and obscure. She should have risen long ago.

The summer sun soared high; why did it rise so late...

He withdrew his gaze, the tip of his saber trembling slightly, and chuckled. "Deputy Helmsman Huang, don't look so wary... I, Zhao Changhe, have my own saber. I don't live off a woman. There's no need to give me three moves. I do rather like that saber of yours, though. How about putting it up as the stake?"