Chapter 162: The Rebel Zhao Ming Society, Serving the Imperial Power

"It really is one of the Nine Tripod Maps—but why does this thing look so off???" Chu Danqing dug up an item from beneath a broken water jar in Bai Xiaohe's natal home.

Her natal family had been empty for over a decade, leaving the place in utter ruin.

No one ever came here, making it perfectly hidden—perfect for concealment.

One of the Nine Tripod Maps was an Excellent-grade item, yet it carried a negative status.

And it was severe—but its effect was extremely powerful.

—

【Pulao Scroll · Coastal Realm】

【Type: Equipment · Scroll】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Deep Sea Roar (Passive): Regenerates 50 mana per second out of combat】

【Whale Song Ensnare Soul (Passive): Movement speed reduced by 50% on land】

【Equipment Requirement: None】

—

【Nine Tripods of the Realm】

【Set: 9 pieces—Inactive】

—

（Note: Once equipped, individual pieces cannot be removed; all set pieces must be equipped to activate set bonuses, or return to the Paradise and spend 1, 00 Paradise Points per piece to unequip）

Chu Danqing watched his trial task change from (0/9) to (1/9).

This proved the Pulao Scroll · Coastal Realm was not merely a Sea-Subduing Map—it was also part of the Nine Tripod Maps.

It represented the maritime domain of the Da Shuo Dynasty, depicting a dragon-son with a body shaped like a winding river and sea route, its head flanked by sharp horns, wings on its back, and a long tail.

"Fifty mana per second after combat ends—that's three thousand mana per minute." Chu Danqing liked it.

But then he saw the 50% movement speed penalty on land—and that once equipped, it couldn't be removed.

"If not for the out-of-combat condition, this would be incredibly valuable." Chu Danqing sighed and chose to equip it.

With the Pulao Scroll · Coastal Realm, Chu Danqing now had enough mana to sustain all his summons.

Summoning them all for protection was a no-brainer.

As for the halved movement speed, he didn't mind much.

He was never fast or agile to begin with; with the Speedstep Boots, Clear Wind Talisman, and Flowing Cloud Ring—three items adding 30 movement speed total—even after the 50% penalty, he still moved faster than barefoot.

Low base stats meant percentage penalties hit less hard.

So the impact on Chu Danqing was minimal—while for melee, assassin, or warrior disciples, it was a fatal flaw.

There was a way around it: fly.

The negative passive only applied to land—if you moved by flight, the penalty vanished.

"The other eight Tripod Scrolls probably aren't like this." Chu Danqing thought—if they were, the full set's bonus might manifest in two ways.

Either the negative passives are reduced or removed entirely, or—as with the Three Rings—the set effect fuses them into a single Fine-grade item.

Chu Danqing leaned toward the latter. A series of A-rank difficulties yielding one Fine-grade item wasn't implausible.

After finishing his preparations, Chu Danqing summoned all his minions.

With so many, the space grew cramped.

"As planned, Ghost Mother, take the Ghost Infants into my shadow." Chu Danqing said. The Ghost Mother, clad in black and crimson robes, gathered all forty-nine Ghost Infants into her arms.

Then she dissolved into a crimson-black shadow and slipped into Chu Danqing's shadow.

Now Chu Danqing gained full protection from the Ghost Mother and Ghost Infants—and any attacker striking from behind would face them directly.

"Next, Son of Heaven—enter the edict and stand by." Chu Danqing continued.

The Son of Heaven rolled up the restored edict, and the ten Yellow Turban Warriors followed him inside.

Chu Danqing reached out, caught the falling edict, and hung it on his chest.

Frontline enemies would now be handled by the Son of Heaven and the Yellow Turban Warriors.

As for intimidation and close protection, Da Bao and the Beast-Mask Soldiers were enough.

The Ghost Mother and Son of Heaven were already powerful—adding a surprise ambush would make them even deadlier.

Chu Danqing operated openly—but his enemies wouldn't necessarily do the same.

If enemies used ambush and assassination, why couldn't Chu Danqing turn their own tactics against them?

"Now, find the ledger." Chu Danqing quickly reviewed his thoughts: "One of the branches involves Bai Xiaohe possessing a Tripod Map."

"So the lead provided by Yang Wenju should contain one too."

"Next, investigate Ge Da's true identity—digging deeper might yield benefits." Chu Danqing quickly settled on his next two leads.

As he pondered, he boarded his war chariot, planning to visit Liu Bai first.

Liu Bai surely knew the truth. Chu Danqing's rescue of Yang Wenju and Bai Xiaohe had drawn them closer.

Perhaps he could extract something useful.

Otherwise, he had no leads—Bai Xiaohe clearly knew little about her husband, Ge Da.

Upon arriving at the Liu residence, after the gatekeeper announced him, Liu Bai personally came out with Yang Wenju to greet Chu Danqing.

Yang Wenju's family assets had been seized; he now resided temporarily at the Liu estate.

After being brutally beaten and nearly killed, Yang Wenju had grown far more cautious, leaving only worthless trinkets from his ancestral home.

The yamen runners and constables thus turned a blind eye.

If he'd tried to take land deeds or property titles, escape would've been impossible.

"Young Master Chu, please enter—I've already prepared fine tea, waiting for your arrival," Liu Bai warmly ushered Chu Danqing inside, launching into casual chatter.

When the small talk waned, Liu Bai asked bluntly: "Young Master Chu, you just went to retrieve the Sea-Subduing Map, didn't you?"

He spoke plainly; Chu Danqing didn't hide it: "Correct. The Sea-Subduing Map is in my possession."

"Good." Liu Bai exhaled in relief. "If those vermin got hold of it, they'd open even more smuggling routes."

"But I wonder—whose orders are you carrying out? My Liu family has been longtime allies with Ma Xiang. Perhaps we can assist."

Liu Bai's words were a direct probe into Chu Danqing's origins.

"When His Late Majesty ascended the throne, I saved him and followed him into power. Later, I crushed the Three Mountains bandits and joined the campaign to pacify the northwest unrest." Chu Danqing smiled.

This was indeed his established identity—though in this world, he was no longer the mastermind, merely a peripheral participant.

"After His Late Majesty passed, I resigned my post and returned home to resume my wandering sorcerer's trade."

"Now, do you know who I am?"

Liu Bai paused, thinking—but had no clear recollection. Aside from his wandering sorcerer persona, many others shared similar fates.

All had been close retainers of the late emperor; after the new emperor's ascension and the Empress Dowager's regency, these loyalists were purged.

To Liu Bai, Chu Danqing's "resignation" sounded more like an escape.

But then—how to explain the heavy cavalry at the port?

Too many inconsistencies.

"And you? A martial champion?" Chu Danqing countered.

Liu Bai was certainly tied to Ge Da's hidden identity.

"Since Young Master Chu asks," Liu Bai's smile vanished, his expression turning grave.

"Heaven's Qingbeidou, a thousand peaks unite as wind and cloud surge."

"Banner rolls the western wastes, eternal glory shines with sun and moon."

He recited two lines—leaving Chu Danqing utterly baffled, though his face showed no reaction.

Da Bao's claws had already unsheathed—but seeing Liu Bai make no move, he slowly retracted them.

Beside them, Yang Wenju turned pale, clearly terrified.

"Y-You, Brother Liu—you're from the Zhao Ming Society???" Yang Wenju stammered.

He was frightened for two reasons: first, the Zhao Ming Society was a rebel faction.

Second, Da Bao's claws had emerged—he'd thought a fight was imminent.

"So Ge Da is one of you too—and Ma Xiang as well?" Chu Danqing had never met Ge Da and didn't know who Ma Xiang was.

But he followed the thread anyway.

"Precisely. The wicked Empress now rules; Da Shuo trembles in turmoil."

"First she slaughtered the reformists to block change, then stripped the Emperor of power while indulging in luxury and debauchery."

"The Zhao Ming Society rebels not against the realm—but to purge its corruption," Liu Bai declared firmly.

Chu Danqing nodded: "And then?"

He didn't understand why Liu Bai had suddenly revealed his identity.

Liu Bai spoke from the Zhao Ming Society's perspective; Chu Danqing believed the first two claims—but doubted the last.

The smuggling line in Lin Yuan City was the Empress Dowager's personal treasury—the funds flowed directly to her, no deception possible.

Otherwise, how could Jia Simou, Qiao Huaiyuan, and others act so brazenly? Heavy cavalry had arrived—and yet Jia Simou sat unmoved, clearly confident in his own backing.

"Young Master Chu, you acted with righteous urgency, rescuing Brother Yang and Bai Xiaohe—freeing them from peril."

"Such a blade drawn in aid is not the act of a villain."

"The Society's leader, by the Emperor's command, came to Lin Yuan City to pilot reform."

"Ma Xiang stands in the open; the leader operates in shadow, using this wrongful case to weaken the wicked Empress."

"Simultaneously restart the reforms to restore the great Shuo dynasty's cosmic order."

"But when we arrived, our leader's whereabouts were leaked by a traitor within the sect—we ask Master Chu to escort our leader into the city," Liu Bai stated his request.

The Zhao Ming Society noticed that the wrongful cases of Yang Wenju and Bai Xiaohe made an ideal breakthrough point; if successful, it would inevitably strike at the Empress Dowager's entire network of influence.

At the same time, Chu Danqing also activated a side quest.

【Side Quest: Escort Zhao Ming Society's leader, Chen Jiunan, into Lin Yuan City before nightfall in three days】

【Trial Difficulty: A-Rank (Hero)】

【Trial Reward: Paradise Points ×10000, Attribute Points +4】

【Trial Failure: Paradise Points -20000, Random Attribute -1】

After glancing at it, Chu Danqing accepted the quest.

"Of course no problem—but what's in it for me?"

"Yang the Scholar and Bai Xiaohe are penniless; I'm after their gratitude."

"But your Zhao Ming Society is wealthy and powerful—don't expect me to work for free," Chu Danqing was willing to aid the weak, but he would never labor for a powerful faction without compensation.

(End of Chapter)