142: Chapter 138 Huqiu Sword Pool 142: Chapter 138 Huqiu Sword Pool Huqiu Sword Pool was considered neither particularly important nor unimportant to the Tang family.

Originally, due to the legends from the previous epoch, the place was highly valued, almost like a forbidden land.

However, after decades and centuries without any discoveries, naturally, people stopped taking it seriously.

Today, it was still nominally a forbidden area, but in reality, many Tang Family youngsters went swimming there without anyone caring, and the guards were quite lax.

Because of this, ordinary guests couldn’t visit, and even common servants couldn’t go, but it was a simple matter for Tang Buqi to give an order.

Tang Buqi had just returned, and by custom, he should first meet his parents.

He had planned to take Zhao Changhe there after finishing.

Seeing Zhao Changhe’s impatience, he thought it wasn’t a big deal and tossed him a badge, “Take my badge, and no one will stop you.

Get someone familiar to guide the guest there.”

The servants looked at each other in confusion before a maid hesitantly said, “I’ll take Young Master Zhao there.”

Tang Buqi didn’t care much, waved his hand dismissively, “I’ll go see my parents first.

Tonight, I’ll take you to a nice place…

uh, never mind.”

He habitually wanted to invite people to “nice places,” but speaking of it seemed to bring up some concerns, so he stopped midway and left somewhat sullenly.

Zhao Changhe watched his figure disappear, feeling that his great-nephew might be experiencing some changes in his mentality…

If this truly spurred him to strive harder, that would be a good thing.

His great-nephew was not a bad person, just a bit too reckless and naive…

uh…

Although he had always mocked Tang Wanjuang without deeper intentions, watching her in her work attire, coughing as she hunched over documents, was akin to witnessing Chancellor Zhuge in action, inevitably drawing his admiration and regret, often rendering him unable to speak harshly in her presence.

He should help out a bit…

Even though this task of being a secret agent was perfectly completed and he could report back the next time they met.

As he walked, lost in expansive thoughts, and followed the maid up to the “Huqiu” on the back hill, Zhao Changhe suddenly felt a slight sense of incongruity.

Why did this maid lead the way in silence?

Even if your aristocratic family looks down on us worldly folks, surely you don’t lack all decorum?

At least I’m a guest brought personally by your young master.

Along the way, if not flattering, at least some casual chit-chat, an introduction to the scenery, or a tale of Huqiu Sword Pool should be expected, right?

Just as he was thinking this, the maid spoke up, “Young Master Zhao, you have a good relationship with our young master, don’t you?”

That’s more like it.

Where had you been all this time?

Zhao Changhe didn’t think much of it and casually replied, “It’s okay.”

The maid paused again, seemingly searching for some awkward small talk, and after a while, she said, “Huqiu is a famous spot in Gusu, reputedly having an emperor buried here from the last epoch.

Have you visited before, Young Master?”

“…This is now your family’s backyard, famous spot my foot, who could have visited?

If you can’t chat, don’t bother.”

The maid bowed her head and fell silent.

Zhao Changhe chuckled to himself, finding topics of his own volition, “Historical narratives vary, no one could possibly know them all, and I only know some legends.

I’m not very familiar with this aspect.

Speaking of the emperor’s tomb, which emperor is it?”

He thought to himself that according to current world beliefs, it was the tale of King Helü of Wu, but here it was unclear.

To his surprise, the maid said, “It is said to be a Sword Emperor, apparently not an earthly monarch.”

“So, is it the Sword Emperor buried here?”

“I’m not sure, I’m just a maid.”

“…”

“In any case, our Tang Family has searched for a long time, neither the emperor’s tomb nor any sword has been found.

Early on, people even tried to comprehend the sword at the nearby Thousand People Rock, but no one succeeded, and now people use the rock to hang their laundry.”

“Thousand People Rock is what, massacred thousands?”

“It’s said to be where the Sword Emperor imparted sword techniques and laws.”

Zhao Changhe scratched his head, unaware if there really was a Thousand People Rock in the modern world…

A modern person could hardly be an infallible encyclopedia without relying on search engines.

But by general knowledge, both King Helü’s tomb, and the Thousand People Rock, should not correspond to any Sword Emperor.

Of course, there also wasn’t any Emperor Ye.

The lore from the last epoch differed significantly from the present reality, akin to histories that had ventured down alternate paths.

Indeed, he soon saw a vast stone platform along the way, unclear if it could hold a thousand people, and no one drying quilts either.

Instead, several Tang family youngsters were on it, drinking and cheerfully pointing at the surrounding scenery.

Zhao Changhe shook his head and ignored them, urging the maid peeking at the young masters to hurry, “What’s there to see here?

If you want to attract the eye of some Tang family heir, we can talk about that later.”

Reluctantly, the maid continued to lead the way, pointing to a gorge beside them, “Actually, we’re almost at the Sword Pond.”

“So, you mean to say I could go by myself from here?”

The maid stopped talking again.

At the Sword Pond, there was a guard, lazily lax, who stopped them idly: “Sword Pond is a critical area, not a place for young men and women to whisper sweet nothings.

Why do we always get these clueless ones?”

Yangyang’s face flushed red, and Zhao Changhe pointed at his nose, “Where do you see me resembling a Tang family servant, sneaking around with a maid to profess love in the back mountain?”

The guard looked him up and down, becoming a bit more cautious, “Sir, you possess a heavy Evil Qi.

Who are you?”

Yangyang put her hands on her hips, “He’s Bloodthirsty Shura Zhao Changhe!

The young master’s friend!

The young master gave him a pass!”

Zhao Changhe glanced at her, thinking, maybe my reputation does have some benefits after all?

He didn’t bother explaining further, simply showed the pass and indeed, the guard didn’t stop him.

Zhao Changhe walked straight into the Sword Pond, and Yangyang quickly followed by his side.

“Hey,” Zhao Changhe glanced at her, “you’ve done your job, go do whatever you need to do.

Weren’t you interested in the young master drinking and reciting poetry just now?”

Yangyang fidgeted at the edge of the pond, “It wouldn’t be nice for me to just leave like this; you’d say I’m ill-mannered.”

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but smile, “Speaking of which, the Tang family’s atmosphere isn’t bad at all.

Suspecting that servants and maids are lovebirds yet not beating them to death, you even make jokes about it?”

Yangyang responded, “Tang family does have quite the literary atmosphere.”

Zhao Changhe felt this was a non-sequitur.

Literary atmosphere had nothing to do with this matter.

How many profoundly cultured families are much more strict and brutal regarding these things?

He decided it was a trivial matter not worth probing further, as he was here to check out the Sword Pond.

Thus, he ignored Yangyang and continued to sense the surrounding pool.

If the pond contained Evil Qi, Tang family’s gentle Sword Intent could actually be less sensitive to someone steeped in his type of Evil Qi, but even after walking around the pool for quite a while, he felt absolutely nothing.

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment, pulled out silver notes and other items that shouldn’t get wet, placed them on a stone at the side, and with a plop, dived into the water.

Regardless of whether Yangyang was there or not, gold foil and Dragon Sparrow were always with him, no matter how heavy.

Now his ability to see under water had improved compared to the time he fought underwater while escorting Yangyang, thanks to the progress in his Six Harmonies Divine Skill, which not only clarified his underwater vision but also allowed him to fully harness Inner Strength for better protection and breathe under water for much longer.

However, even after a meticulous examination under water, except for discovering a narrow water channel leading to the mountain stream, he found absolutely nothing else—no trace of Evil Qi.

It seemed like it would be the end of it if he didn’t dig deeper, since nothing else was turning up.

Zhao Changhe wasn’t discouraged.

That was to be expected; the Tang family had been here for generations without discovering anything, so why should he expect to find something immediately?

Things take time.

Digging further might be futile—they had already done so…If there were an Otherworldly Space, it might require a specific method to open, similar to the rituals of Spirit Communication recorded by the Four Symbols Sect…Besides, it might not be here at all.

While pondering this, Zhao Changhe moved upstream.

Just as he was about to break the surface, he got a sudden fright.

A pair of delicate feet played in the water above him, nearly giving him a direct hit to the face.

Looking closely, it was Yangyang leisurely washing her feet while humming a tune.

Zhao Changhe, somewhat annoyed, moved aside and came out next to her, “What are you doing here?”

Yangyang seemed startled by his sudden appearance, “You—it was that quick?”

“It’s not that big here.

I’ve been underwater for half the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

What’s quick?” Zhao Changhe said irritably, “You knew I was down there, and you still washed your feet?”

“The pond isn’t that clean to begin with, were you actually going to drink it?”

“…”

“It’s so hot today, and with the cool pond right here, who could resist not soaking a bit?” Yangyang defended herself boldly, “You went in for a bath yourself, and now you won’t let anyone soak their feet, isn’t that a bit overbearing?”

“Alright, alright, I’m overbearing,” Zhao Changhe said dryly, circulating his power to dry off, picked up the silver notes and put them back in his pocket, “I’m going back to eat with Tang Buqi now, you continue soaking your feet.”

Yangyang, not daring to leave him alone, reluctantly got up, wiped her feet, and followed him back to the manor.

Watching Zhao Changhe striding ahead, Yangyang couldn’t help but chuckle softly to herself, finding him amusing.

Zhao Changhe, seeing this smile fully from behind, also curved his lips into a slight smile.

Who says this Huqiu Sword Pool adventure was fruitless?

Isn’t this a discovery?

And you thought you could trick me into believing you’re just a normal maid…do I look like Tang Buqi?