Chapter 185: 178 One Hundred Points

Tang Zhao took Yi Zhixin and Xi Yan up to the second floor. Since he hadn't brought Gui Ye along, he didn't need to hand over a Spirit Envoy; Xi Yan put her little goldfish into a box and handed it to Long Yuan for safekeeping.

Upon reaching the second floor, he saw the lamps burning bright. A woman sat by the window, her dark hair like clouds, her appearance moving. Although her expression was cold, it could not hide a trace of melancholy.

As soon as Xi Yan saw her, she said loudly, "It really is you, Ju Tianxuan! Why are you hiding here? What have you been doing all these days? Are you not going to manage the chaos in Maze City?"

Tang Zhao's heart stirred: Ju Tianxuan, is she the new number two on the Rune List pushed by Long Yuan?

Long Yuan seems to hold Beichen in high esteem and also has the SevenStarHead. Is Ju Tianxuan the Tianshu Head?

The Seven Stars were originally led by Tianshu, but after the Tianshu Head rebelled back then, although there was a new Tianshu Head, the order of the SevenStarHead had been adjusted internally, seemingly with Tianshu at the lead. No wonder Long Yuan pushed this generation's Tianshu onto the list.

Ju Tianxuan showed a helpless expression and said, "Xi Yan, calm down. I just rushed over from White City and haven't even sat down yet. These are troubled times, and we are also exhausted from running about."

She had a splitting headache. The Sword Province Road had not been peaceful these past two days. It was said that a great change had occurred at Jiu Yuan. Although she was not responsible for investigating Jiu Yuan, she had still heard quite a bit of wind, and the situation was not optimistic. She felt more and more that Maze City needed to change its strategy and establish someone to take overall control, so she traveled day and night to Maze City, only to find she was a step late; a matter of no small consequence had already broken out here.

"Originally, Long Yuan's rule in Maze City was to only monitor, not interfere. Their little disciples were just following the rules. If I don't come, there is no one to manage Maze City, but once I arrive, it is naturally different."

Xi Yan said, "You all have such big hearts, and you still don't interfere? Just sit and watch a murderous maniac kill people? If this kind of cruel murderous maniac kills ten people each, and ten murderous maniacs just mix in, wouldn't Maze City be killed empty? By then, only ghosts will go to your Rune Assembly."

Ju Tianxuan asked them to sit down, poured tea for both, and said, "Xi Yan, stop spouting nonsense and letting this friend laugh at us. Ten murderous maniacs? Why don't you say a hundred murderous maniacs are hiding in Maze City, and only one can walk out alive? Sigh, logically speaking, everyone in Maze City is a Talisman Sword Master, and everyone is a decent person. There are only three or four days in total, what kind of chaos could happen? If we do too much and interfere with everyone's freedom, it would be counterproductive. Even if they really start fighting, we have subtle means to adjust."

Tang Zhao asked curiously, "Could Long Yuan's original means be adjusting the layout of Maze City?"

Ju Tianxuan nodded and said, "Just as you saw today, Maze City is called a maze, but the hub for adjustments is with me. If there are those who are too hostile, I can move them away at any time. Secret coordination is more appropriate than front-stage intervention."

Xi Yan said, "Then you can't control this kind of murderous maniac."

Ju Tianxuan said, "Yes. Who knew there would be such a scoundrel! How can there be so many people in the world harboring evil intentions?"

She thought of the headstrong Camel Gentleman, thought of Jiu Yuan which was said to have been smashed into a giant pit, and then thought of this Yi Zhixin who committed perversions under Long Yuan's very nose, and felt nothing but indignation.

"We will never tolerate such things! We must hang this thief's head at the city gate, execute him to clarify the law, and never show leniency! If there are any others who break the ban, this thief will be the example! Those who knowingly break the law clearly do not hold Long Yuan in their eyes. Do they really think we can't find where their sect gates are? Not to mention small factions like Huagu Tower, even if the Seven Great Factions commit a crime, we will not spare them! Anyone who hinders Long Yuan from holding a good Rune Assembly is a mortal enemy of my Long Yuan!"

Xi Yan hummed and said, "What's the use of being fierce with us? I hope you do what you say."

Ju Tianxuan let out a breath and said, "I didn't mean to target you. On the contrary, you have performed a great service. I shall report to the sect and credit you for your merits. If nothing else—one hundred points of extra credit for each of you is a must."

Xi Yan said happily, "That's not bad!"

Tang Zhao's heart stirred, and he said, "Are these one hundred points treated the same as other scores? What if it exceeds the full score?"

Ju Tianxuan was surprised; she didn't expect this young man to be so confident, and said, "If it exceeds, it exceeds. Once you exceed it, you will undoubtedly be the one topping the list. Xi Yan—"

She said to Xi Yan, "I know Xi Yan's abilities. If we talk about martial arts, I'm afraid you are the best in Maze City. I am planning to form a thunderous force to set things right, but unfortunately, my manpower is currently all in Sword Province and... it's not handy for the moment. Is Xi Yan willing to serve as the sharp sword that settles the peace of a city?"

Xi Yan pointed at herself and said, "Me? I can take action, but is this okay? I am an outsider. If I do it, what will you do?"

Ju Tianxuan sighed, "I have some private matters and cannot let others know I am here, so I cannot appear in public. You two shouldn't spread it when you go out either. It's not asking you to watch the streets all the time, just notify the disciples to ask you to take action when there are villains that others cannot handle. How about I count it as one hundred points for every trouble you solve?"

Xi Yan's heart stirred. If there were really ten murderous maniacs hiding, wouldn't she easily get a full score? She hurriedly pointed at Tang Zhao and said, "This brother is also very capable. Let him join me. We will get fifty points each for every strike."

Tang Zhao hurriedly tried to decline. It wasn't that he was unwilling to take action, but there was no need to dilute Xi Yan's reward. He was confident he had already obtained more than the full score, so any extra points would be wasted.

Ju Tianxuan looked Tang Zhao up and down and suddenly asked, "Are you from Zhuoyu Villa? Your Manor Master is famous for raising cranes?"

Tang Zhao secretly kept his guard up and said, "My mentor, Manor Master Xue, likes raising cranes."

Ju Tianxuan's expression tightened slightly, "If that's the case, I'm afraid you need to be careful these few days."

Early the next morning, Tang Zhao saw with his own eyes Yi Zhixin hanging on the city tower, with white paper written with his crimes. A generation of perverts had been nipped in the bud before he could stir up any wind or waves. He then put this matter aside.

He tracked this demon not out of personal grudge, but as a private individual pursuing justice for the public. Since the culprit had been brought to justice, he didn't care about what happened afterward.

Xi Yan also set her mind at ease. After saying goodbye to Ju Tianxuan, she and Tang Zhao formally introduced themselves to each other. It turned out this girl was Yun Xiyan of Feitian Cave. Feitian Cave was a first-class faction under the Seven Great Factions, and its Rune Formula inheritance was a system of its own. However, she did not like Rune Formulas; she had practiced martial arts since she was young, learned a good hand of swordsmanship, and after growing up, became a Sword Student, only one step away from being a Sword Guest. When it came to Rune Formulas, she wasn't very bright.

She couldn't say she was completely ignorant; Feitian Cave originally had a series of secret Rune Formulas, and as the daughter of the sect leader, she had learned a few tricks, but they were just "three axes"—she knew how to do them, but didn't understand them. Putting the orthodox Thousand Questions in front of her, she could only stare blankly, her mind a complete void.

Fortunately, her martial arts were outstanding, and she thought of using the rules to copy the answers. Therefore, she hurried all the way and arrived at Maze City three days early, intending to roll up her sleeves and do a big job.

Who knew that after entering Maze City, she had just chosen a room to enter when she saw a pool of blood and flesh on the ground. Yun Xiyan had extraordinary martial arts, but her courage was not great, and she was even more afraid of these strange and eerie things. She was so scared she jumped three feet high, and her screams could be heard half a street away.

When Yi Zhixin was enjoying the screams of those he frightened, he would never have thought that he would fall into someone else's hands.

Yun Xiyan cared most about her face. First, she lost her composure from being scared, and she hated it deeply in her heart. She tracked him all the way and found Yi Zhixin, but she forgot her main business of copying the answers.

Fortunately, there was still time.

Yun Xiyan patted Tang Zhao and said, "Brother Tang, I think your ability is especially suitable for stealing answers. Why don't we team up? You distract others, and I go upstairs to copy the answers. With my ability, even if I get discovered, who can catch up to me? After a round, getting a full score won't be hard."

This plan... does it sound a bit familiar?

Is this a high-end version of the duo from Senluo Gate?

Tang Zhao couldn't help but laugh, "Didn't Sister Yun promise to take action for Long Yuan? One hundred questions for one action, does this still require stealing answers?"

Yun Xiyan said, "Don't laugh at your sister. Unless there are really ten murderous maniacs, my test paper is still worrying. I've only copied three hundred questions so far."

Tang Zhao didn't need to steal answers, but stealing answers was one of the rules after all. He actually didn't mind participating in the game. Playing around as a partner with Yun Xiyan was nothing; after all, his senior brother hadn't arrived yet, and cooperating with this sister was also pleasant.

However...

The news Ju Tianxuan revealed made him feel uneasy, especially when his fellow sect members hadn't arrived yet, he really had no heart for leisure.

He politely declined, "I'm afraid I can't go with Sister Yun. I still have some private matters these two days, so I have no heart for stealing answers for the time being."

Yun Xiyan felt deep regret. She wasn't completely ignorant either, and said, "Is it what Tianxuan told you? Someone wants to cause you trouble? That won't do, I'll come help you too."

Tang Zhao smiled, "No need for Sister Yun's help for now. I will fortify my lair, and I can block ordinary enemies. If it really doesn't work, I will ask Sister to take action."

Yun Xiyan said, "Alright then. If you really need my help, don't be polite. You say this Ju Tianxuan, she reveals what she reveals, why is she still being secretive, saying half and hiding half? When asked who it is, she is hesitant; she is not a friend at all."

Tang Zhao thought to himself that she wasn't a friend to begin with, and said, "Maybe she has her concerns. But precisely because she has concerns, I have a guess."

Yun Xiyan said, "That's right, you know your own enemies. Now that the light and dark are reversed, you are here to ambush the other side, so you surely won't suffer a loss. Then I'll go first. You focus on guarding against enemies, don't let it delay your copying of answers. I'll find some live answers for you later. In the end, let's both sit at the front."

Tang Zhao smiled, moved by the girl's generosity, and thought: I haven't put pen to the long scroll yet, I wonder if I can share answers with others?

This seems to depend only on the judgment of the Spirit Envoy.

His Gui Ye probably has a flexible moral bottom line, but Yun Xiyan also has a Spirit Envoy, a normal one, which might not be able to cooperate like this. This matter seems to need more thought.

Tang Zhao added, "If Sister Yun has any tough nuts to crack, I can help."

After the two parted ways, Tang Zhao returned to his base. Because the streets changed, finding his original house was not easy. Tang Zhao searched all the way and turned three streets before finding it.

Entering the house, he saw that everything was safe and sound. Gui Ye was lying in the house fast asleep. Seeing Tang Zhao return, it said, "Why did you just come back? Where did you go? I've been on pins and needles all day."

Tang Zhao said, "Went to catch a bastard, and incidentally gathered some news. Now I can finally do the real work." As he spoke, he adjusted the overall defense of the house and added a lot to it. Then he buried his head in writing questions, so as to get the reinforced sharp weapon as soon as possible.

Seeing that Tang Zhao was safe and sound, missing neither arms nor legs, Gui Ye retracted his head and prepared to sleep again.

As Tang Zhao wrote, he poked its Turtle Shell with his brush and said, "Gui Ye, since you are from Longyuan, do you know who this year's Libationer is?"

Gui Ye was taken aback and said, "I remember it being a wandering, idle Sword Smith. Why?"

Tang Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "I suspect he means me harm."

---Author's Note---

The chapter number in the previous chapter was wrong, and it's not easy to change, so please just bear with it.