Chapter 421: Chapter 420 Nan Zhao City
Listening to Yang Fei’s teasing, Wang Lei didn’t respond, but he looked up to watch the woman in red leave, making no effort to hide his gaze.
Once the woman disappeared at the end of the road, Wang Lei turned to Zhao Changgong and asked, "Why are you pursuing her?"
Zhao Changgong said, "Qi Hongshao stole something important from Giant Sword Manor."
Wang Lei’s expression changed slightly, it really was her.
After ten years, he hadn’t expected her to become such an extraordinary beauty.
But how had she fallen to such a state?
Although the Qi Family wasn’t one of the Eight Great Forces, it was a powerful family just below them, having allegedly acquired a special cultivation technique during the war that destroyed the Taoist sects, which quickly led to their rise.
As a daughter of the Qi Family, how could she be a thief, let alone provoke Giant Sword Manor?
Wasn’t this just looking for trouble for the Qi Family?
"What did she steal?" His thoughts flashed quickly, but Wang Lei didn’t forget to inquire aloud.
Zhao Changgong’s expression changed several times and then he said, "If I tell you, can I live?"
Wang Lei frowned.
Yang Fei had killed all of Giant Sword Manor’s subordinates cleanly, thoroughly offending Giant Sword Manor. Releasing Zhao Changgong wasn’t that just asking for trouble?
Zhao Changgong seemingly realized he had asked a redundant question and sarcastically said, "I know I am certainly going to die today, but before I die I want to die with clarity. If I answer your question, could you tell me who you are? Your attire looks like it’s from the outside world, but your abilities are extraordinary and you are so young, it’s impossible that you grew up on the outside."
Wang Lei thought for a moment and said, "My name is Wang Lei."
Zhao Changgong’s expression shifted, a hint of confusion appearing on his face, "Wang Lei? That name sounds familiar, somewhat rings a bell."
"Langya Wang Family," Wang Lei stated.
Zhao Changgong was moved and said, "You are from the Wang Family? Wang Lei... right, are you that genius of the Wang Family from those years?"
Wang Lei said, "I have already answered your question."
Knowing that Wang Lei would not disclose any more information, Zhao Changgong did not press further but with a resigned expression said, "Meeting you is also fate, I don’t feel wronged by my loss."
"I don’t want to hear nonsense," Wang Lei said coldly.
Zhao Changgong said, "I can’t escape. Since I’m going to die anyway, as Zhao Changgong, I am not one to cling to life. I will certainly not tell you this secret."
Having said that, he unexpectedly committed suicide with his sword.
Yang Fei could have prevented it, but seeing such a valorous act, he had a measure of respect and didn’t intervene.
Wang Lei frowned slightly, muttering to himself, "What exactly is it that she risks angering Giant Sword Manor just to obtain it?"
Yang Fei laughed and said, "Just chase after her and ask, then you’ll know."
Wang Lei looked in the direction the woman in red had gone, shaking his head slowly, "Things have changed, today’s interference was me repaying a bit of past connection. Since she didn’t recognize me, let’s not meet again. Besides, my intervention was also because Zhao Changgong was too arrogant; had he not attacked us, I wouldn’t have needed to..."
"Come on, I hadn’t even made a move and you already had your knife out. Clearly, it was for that woman in red called Qi Hongshao. Tsk tsk, no need to explain, Brother Lei, you’re a man with a story, I get it," Yang Fei teased, laughing.
Seeing him say this, Wang Lei didn’t bother to explain further but instead flashed a knowing smile, saying, "Let’s go, you just complained about being tired, and here someone brought us horses, so no need to grumble now. But first, we should change our clothes, otherwise entering the town in our current attire will be too conspicuous and could bring trouble."
Including Zhao Changgong, Giant Sword Manor had a total of nine people and nine horses. Although two horses had been killed and several had run away, there were still four horses lingering nearby.
The three of them first changed into long robes and ancient attire, and conveniently searched the bodies for some copper coins and gold and silver valuables. Then, they selected three good horses, calmed the frightened animals, mounted, and set off along the official road.
As an old man nearing his end, Xu Jian had observed the recent skirmish and deepened his understanding of the strength of the two young men, Yang Fei and Wang Lei.
Sitting on horseback, Xu Jian sighed, "Being young is wonderful."
Yang Fei and Wang Lei glanced at him, as if they had just remembered that the man beside them was over one hundred thirty years old.
"That’s why I can understand the elder’s desire for immortality," Yang Fei said.
Xu Jian replied, "You’ll understand when you reach my age."
Wang Lei said, "I believe the meaning of life is not in immortality, but in its richness. If there is no passion, no pursuit, and no love, then immortality would also be a form of torture."
Xu Jian laughed, "That sounds nice, but who doesn’t covet the bustling life of this world?"
Yang Fei waved his hand, "Let’s not talk about this." He then turned to Wang Lei and asked, "Brother Lei, tell me your story. I’m really curious why you decided to leave the Hidden Sect World back then."
Wang Lei replied, "Haven’t I already told you?"
Yang Fei shook his head, "That doesn’t count, there must have been something very important that happened that made you decide to leave, even at the cost of changing from the Wang Family’s prodigy to its outcast."
Wang Lei remained silent.
Seeing his reluctance, Yang Fei dropped the joking tone and smiled, "Never mind, if you don’t want to talk about it, let’s see who rides better, come on!"
He whipped his horse, and the steed neighed and surged forward.
Wang Lei seemed to understand Yang Fei’s intentions and hurriedly followed after him.
Xu Jian followed behind with a chuckling smile, muttering, "Youth is truly wonderful."
After chasing for more than half an hour without catching up to Qi Hongshao, the terrain suddenly flattened out, and a majestic wall made of tamped earth enclosed a bustling town that appeared in their vision.
There were no skyscrapers, only ancient buildings from ancient times in the Divine Continent.
The city gates were wide open without any soldiers guarding them.
Although Yang Fei and Xu Jian were mentally prepared, they were still somewhat shocked to see such authentic ancient buildings and towns before their eyes.
A moment later, Yang Fei couldn’t resist asking, "Is there no military guard for such city walls? By the way, does this place have a state?"
Wang Lei shook his head, "No, but there is a City Lord. The city is open during the day, but at night, the gates are closed and guarded. It’s not to prevent enemy attacks, but to protect the citizens from wild animals that might come out of the woods."
Xu Jian sighed, "From what you say, this place indeed seems like an ideal place to live."
After a moment, Wang Lei said, "According to the records, when the Taoist Sect still existed, this truly was a paradise on earth. All the powers followed the rules, and people here lived very happily."
Xu Jian expressed surprise and asked with a smile, "Did things change after the Taoist Sect was destroyed?"
"Without the restraint of the Taoist Sect, powerful clans and Sects began to exploit resources, and life became harder for the common people," Wang Lei explained.
Yang Fei added, "It is inevitable. Human civilization has developed for thousands, even longer, of years. Countless systems have existed and have continuously been refined. But no matter how perfect a system is, it needs people to adhere to it. Human nature is complex and greedy, so these systems only really hold sway over the weak, and to the powerful, they are virtually nonexistent."
"Nan Zhao City."
While talking, they had arrived near the city gate, where three big characters hung.
Previously, Wang Lei had briefly explained the distribution of power here. Yang Fei and Xu Jian still remembered that this place was located in the southern part of the Hidden Sect, Nan Zhao City being the southernmost city, not large, with a population of less than a hundred thousand, under the jurisdiction of the Nangong Family.