This martial arts competition lasted a whole day, starting from the moment Situ Xiao broke through the door.
Led by Situ Xiao and Zhao Changhe's family, the rules of the competition became completely irrelevant. After that, everyone who came out to fight could fight whoever they wanted. They could compete with people of the same level if they wanted to suppress their skills, or they could see how many people they could beat with their absolute strength if they didn't want to suppress their skills. Anyway, the highlight was the freedom and casualness.
The so-called method of determining rankings by wins can easily become a vague rule if there is no host responsible for counting. People will forget about the game as they play, and who will know who has won how many games
So even this rule was thrown away. Anyway, apart from Zhao Changhe, no one else was so jealous and eager for that treasure.
None of them are at the bottom of the world. Those who can ascend to the level of a hidden dragon are all gifted. Except for a certain Zhao, who else can be troubled by meridian problems? If there can be some powerful qualitative change in the meridians, perhaps everyone will be jealous, but if it is said to be a "slight expansion", they are basically not very interested.
What people really care about is the fight itself.
This is the true meaning of mutual confirmation, exchange and sharpening, without any utilitarianism or purpose, and it is the real meaning of martial arts discussions among young people.
Situ Xiao couldn't help but join in again and the fight got heated. In the end, everyone had dinner together and got drunk.
Zhao Changhe sighed regretfully.
He really wanted to participate. He was probably the one who wanted to participate the most. Not only was it extremely valuable for training, but he could also review the game with the Heavenly Book by fighting with everyone... It was a pity that he couldn't participate and even had to grit his teeth and give up a reward that was so important to him.
Xia Chizhi did not attend the dinner and left early.
Everyone has limitations in their status and no one can do whatever they want without restraint.
Zhao Changhe sat there drinking alone. Wang Zhaoling came over with a wine pot and poured him a glass: "Want to chat?"
Cui Yuanyang next to him pricked up his ears.
Wang Zhaoling glanced at her without giving her any face, and continued to say to Zhao Changhe: "Just the two of us, shall we go out for a walk?"
Choi Won-young tried to keep up.
Wang Zhaoling said helplessly: "You can continue to pretend to be distant in front of others, and don't let your father down. My Wang family sees that it's nothing, but other people see it. In a sense, this is also Uncle Cui's spur to Brother Zhao. Although I don't think Brother Zhao needs this spur, you should understand Uncle Cui's thoughts..."
Cui Yuanyang: “…”
"Originally, you two shouldn't have participated in the competition, but..." Wang Zhaoling looked at the palm of his left hand, shook his head and laughed: "Since you have the ability, you should do it. I need to become famous and get drunk. I should show off my martial arts skills to the world. Otherwise, wouldn't it be great to indulge in sensual pleasures? Who have you been training so hard since childhood?"
Cui Yuanyang asked: "Hey, why are you talking about religion now?"
"It's just that I feel it's boring today... Maybe everyone else is very interesting, but I'm the clown." Wang Zhaoling smiled: "Look, even now, Situ is singing and drinking, even Xuan Chong is laughing loudly, and what are we doing? It's boring, really boring. I suddenly understand why Brother Zhao is unwilling to admit his identity."
Zhao Changhe finally said, "But you still have to do your work?"
Wang Zhaoling was silent for a moment, but still made a gesture of invitation: "Walk for a while?"
"Okay." Zhao Changhe stood up. This time, Cui Yuanyang pouted and finally didn't follow him.
The summer night was hot, but the Wang family's home was cool.
Surrounded by artificial streams, waterfalls cascaded down from the rockery, splashing water, and pavilions scattered around. The refreshing wet air made Zhao Changhe feel like he had returned to the waterside pavilions of Gusu, rather than the land of Qi and Lu.
The noise of drinking in the banquet hall gradually faded away, as if from another world.
Even the contrast between the exciting battle just now and the green lotus in the pavilion in front of him seemed like a world away.
Wang Zhaoling leaned on the railing of the pavilion, looking at the lotus leaves in the pond below, and said after a while: "You said that someone worked hard to protect this country, while we are just scheming and pursuing our own interests... But why didn't you help her? Are you afraid of being involved in a bigger storm, or are you just doing it for your own benefit?"
"Both." Zhao Changhe said calmly: "Of course, the more important thing is that I have no desire to protect the Xia Dynasty. It has nothing to do with me. Admiring loyal ministers and good generals is one thing, and putting yourself in it is another." Wang Zhaoling nodded: "We all analyzed that you have this attitude. It should be said that it is quite obvious. You don't hide it."
"That's right." Zhao Changhe said, "So what do you want to talk to me about?"
"Have you ever thought that many of the current problems are caused by your majesty himself? If it were a different family, the so-called troubled times might end quickly?"
Zhao Changhe said: "Maybe. But can I ask Brother Wang a question?"
"Please say."
"With your majesty's strength, you had to rely on the cooperation of all families, which eventually led to the aristocratic families and powerful sects each controlling their own territory. I don't believe that someone like him would not want to suppress everything, but cannot do it, right?"
"Of course. There are always things that need to be compromised. Not everything can be decided by individual force."
Zhao Changhe said: "Being the best in the world may not decide everything, but being the best in the world can deter many things. If he throws all his weight around and insists on taking Maitreya's head, I don't think Maitreya can stand it. The Hu shamans dare not enter the pass, not because they are afraid of the Yanmen garrison commander, but because of him. There are still many loyal ministers and generals who are still fighting for their lives, and they still have expectations for him. The curtain of chaos has not been completely opened, not because of the effectiveness of the Tang leader's papering, but because he is still alive."
Wang Zhaoling said: "Yes."
Cui Wenjing also taught Cui Yuanyang a lesson. Did you really think that the emperor didn't care about anything and Tang Wanzhuang was the only one who could support the government? Did you read the story
"Your father is only ranked tenth on the Heavenly Ranking. Even if he hides his strength, it is unlikely that he can defeat the Great Shaman of the Hu people. I don't think the Wang family can defeat the Cui family now. You even endured Situ's provocations and didn't dare to turn against the Shenhuang Sect. You are so frustrated. If you really succeed, wouldn't it be another situation where the branch is strong and the trunk is weak? I don't think he may be as good as the one who went wrong as rumored."
Wang Zhaoling shook his head slightly: "Brother Zhao is taking it for granted. The affairs of the court are not calculated in this way. As for my performance, I am afraid that Brother Zhao also has some misunderstandings - in our eyes, no matter how powerful the sect is, they are all common people. The economy and military have nothing to do with them. I am not afraid of Situ, and my father is not afraid of Li Shentong. Rather than saying that I dare not offend Situ, it is better to say that I am taking advantage of the situation, and Situ has achieved what I want."
"Okay..." Zhao Changhe paused and suddenly asked, "But why are you in such a hurry?"
This time Wang Zhaoling remained silent and did not answer.
A smart person would stop at the right time, so Zhao Changhe didn't continue.
No matter from which angle you look at it, the Cui family's approach is more in line with the true thinking of aristocratic families. The Wang family's move is very inexplicable. Even if they really want to replace Xia, why can't they wait a few years? There must be a reason behind it. If they really let them take over, it is really unknown whether the chaotic world will end faster or another wave will arise.
Of course, they were only at the first stage of testing the world, and it was still unknown whether they would proceed to the next step. It was precisely because of this stage that Wang Zhaoling talked to Zhao Changhe and tried to gain his favor. If it really came to the stage where his intentions were exposed, I'm afraid Zhao Changhe would not dare to step into Langya.
In other words, it is possible for the Wang family to stop their actions. Zhao Changhe wanted to give it a try. He felt that Wang Zhaoling was not a bad person...
But Wang Zhaoling slowly spoke: "Who doesn't want such a beautiful country? Whether it is slow or urgent, there are reasons for it, no need to say more. I know what Brother Zhao is thinking, but there is no need to say it. Although I was aroused by the passion of martial arts just now, it was only temporary. You don't want the position of the crown prince, but I do."
Zhao Changhe: “…”
Yes, if the Wang family succeeds, this guy seems to be the prince.
"Everyone has their own aspirations, that's all." Wang Zhaoling suddenly smiled and said, "Hey, do you think I'm qualified?"
Zhao Changhe nodded: "If nothing else, his demeanor is still acceptable."
Wang Zhaoling laughed, "Since you said that, I'll give you a reminder. In fact, my family has discussed whether to assassinate you, as long as it is not revealed that it was the Wang family who did it... So far, the consensus is to fight for it first, but Brother Zhao's current performance, I'm afraid you and I will really be enemies from now on, and it is very likely that we will fight to the death."
Zhao Changhe found it interesting: "Then why did you tell me?"
“I’m telling you, you don’t have any evidence to say that my Wang family did it. Are you going to go and cry to Cui Yuanyang?” Wang Zhaoling said with a smile, “As for why I told you… you can think of it as our family’s inertia, to establish a good relationship. If things fail in the future, you can leave a trace of my family lineage, how about that?”
Zhao Changhe's eyes widened: "You think so highly of me? I have no right to decide this matter."
"This is called investment. Whether it can pay off depends not only on vision but also on luck." Wang Zhaoling patted Zhao Changhe on the shoulder and said, "I'm giving you the treasure that expands your meridians. I'm doing this favor myself. Why should I give it to Xia Chichi and Cui Yuanyang?"
(End of this chapter)