Who among the gangsters wants to fall in love?

Chapter 453 The Desert is Cold
In March, the yellow sand surges like waves, and a scorching wind sweeps across the sand and soil, resembling a misty golden fog drifting leisurely along a golden sea.

The sand had not yet settled, and the sun was blazing. Two riders and three people arrived from the east. The raised hooves scattered the dust on the desert, but could not dispel the desolation at the end of the ancient road.

All three were wrapped in sand-proof cloaks and wore hoods. As the horses galloped, a wisp of white hair could be faintly seen under the hood of the leading man.

Zhao Wumian raised his hand to shield his face, slightly raised his eyes, looked at the blazing sun in the sky, and frowned.

"It's only March, and the Western Regions are already this hot... Is this the environment where Meng Po has lived for a long time?"

"You don't need to keep bringing up that woman Hu."

Luo Chaoyan sat in front of Zhao Wumian. Her body was frail, and even though she sat motionless on the horse, she still broke out in a light sweat.

She wiped the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief, bent down to take a water bottle from her saddlebag, and handed it to Zhao Wumian.

Zhao Wumian didn't stand on ceremony and gulped down the water. The slightly warm sweet water felt refreshing and soothing as it went down his throat. After a few sips, he handed the water bottle to the Empress in front of him before gazing at the end of the yellow sand.

In the distance, the outline of a small town could be seen. Zhao Wumian had inquired beforehand and learned that the town was called Huangshayi, which means "post station in the yellow sand". It was simple and straightforward, neither elegant nor based on any classical allusion.

The name given by people from the martial arts world... is the town of people from the martial arts world.

Once you pass this town, you have officially entered the Western Regions, and the imperial court can no longer interfere.

No matter where you commit a heinous crime—whether in the Central Plains, the grasslands, the Nanzhao Kingdom, or anywhere else—you can come here, change your ways, and start over.

As the de facto head of the current Detective Division, Zhao Wumian knew that many notorious criminals with bounties of ten thousand taels of gold were hiding in the Western Regions. This ordinary Sha Town alone must be a place where dragons and tigers roam.

However, for Zhao Wumian now, there is neither a Crouching Dragon nor a Fierce Tiger in the martial world... only himself.

He withdrew his gaze, gently spurred his horse, and continued galloping towards the town.

Ji Zihuai also held the water bottle, her moist, pink lips pressed against the rim, sipping slowly without saying a word, as she was too hot to speak.

She followed behind Zhao Wumian on horseback, leaving two lines of discontinuous hoofprints on the sand behind her.

Huangshayi was a large-scale settlement, housing over ten thousand people.

Many lost souls from the martial world come to Huangshayi in an attempt to start anew. So many that this small town has opened more than ten inns and countless brokerage firms.

But even more Jianghu people died at Huangshayi. The compacted loess soil here has long since turned into black soil, seemingly dirty, but in reality, it is all stained with blood.

"My lord~ Western Region women, northern barbarian women, southeastern Japanese women, Central Plains courtesans, each with their own unique charm~ Why not give them a try~"

"A fine sword, the family heirloom of Xue Linglong, a swordsman from the Central Plains, is no imitation. Xue Linglong's head is here!"

Before even entering the town, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares could already reach my ears.

Zhao Wumian raised an eyebrow slightly. Xue Linglong was a notorious outlaw in the Central Plains in recent years, with dozens of lives on her hands. She robbed the rich to help herself, but left no innocent people alive, which is why she was wanted.

Now that they've come to the Western Regions, they've been double-crossed instead. They've only got what they deserved, but this Western Regions... the Valley of Villains lives up to its name.

Amidst the clamor and noise of the streets, the three led their horses into the town. The bustling inn became almost imperceptible, and a moment of silence ensued. Countless eyes were fixed on them from tea stalls, wine tables, brothels, inns, and alleyways.

Their gazes, whether fierce or cold, all sent chills down one's spine.

Luo Chaoyan frowned, a sense of unease rising within her as she stepped alone into a pack of wolves. Even she knew... they were being watched.

The Western Regions are not a good place. If you don't have the skills to start over, you're just asking for trouble.

There are no laws here, only unspoken rules of the underworld that have been established over many years of rampant growth.

As soon as Zhao Wumian entered the town, someone came forward with their head held high. The outlaws in the town saw that he was the first to act and immediately looked away, returning to their usual noisy hawking.

The man approached and tossed out a token with flame patterns on it.

Zhao Wumian recognized it as the mark of the Holy Church... He was slightly speechless, not expecting to encounter people from the Holy Church so soon after arriving in the Western Regions, but this was not surprising.

As the leader of the Western Regions, the Holy Sect commands all military forces, including Huangsha Post Station.

He exchanged a glance with the two women, and then heard the man laugh and say, "Judging from your appearance, is this your first time in the Western Regions?"

"That's true." Zhao Wumian smiled slightly, indicating his interest in making contact with the Western Regions Holy Sect.

The man glanced at the long sword at Zhao Wumian's waist again, "You are a Jianghu person."

"Even if ordinary people wanted to come to the Western Regions, they would only die on the way."

“Not at all, not a fraction of the difference.” The man’s smile grew even brighter. “Since you’re a member of the martial world, you should know that the Western Regions aren’t a place you can come and go as you please, especially…”

He paused slightly, glancing at Luo Chaoyan and Ji Zihuai. "You also brought two ladies with you."

"What do you want to say? Do you want money, or do you want your life?" Zhao Wumian lost his patience and asked immediately.

"I don't want money, and I don't want my life..."

The man then glanced at the white horse behind Zhao Wumian. To ride such a fine horse, one must possess at least two of the following: martial arts skills, social status, and wealth.

So he said softly, "You've heard of the reputation of the Western Regions Holy Sect... We can give you a chance to worship the Fire God. If you're interested, I'll take you to a branch immediately to undergo the Fire God's test."

The Holy Sect, though called a martial arts sect, is essentially an evil cult, and naturally worships deities... The Fire God is to the Holy Sect what the Candle Dragon is to the Jiuli, and the Heavenly God is to the Shaman.

Zhao Wumian understood... He had thought this person came with ill intentions, but unexpectedly, he came to preach.

Indeed, isn't that what cults are all about... expanding their followers, sucking blood, and feeding back to themselves? Zhao Wumian had long heard about the Holy Cult's practices.

Luo Chaoyan's eyes lit up slightly, and she gently tugged at Zhao Wumian's sleeve.

With Zhao Wumian's martial arts skills, it would be easy for him to infiltrate the Holy Sect under an assumed name.

Having a holy religious identity would be of great use to them on their upcoming journey to the Western Regions.

When roaming the world, one doesn't need to be bound by formalities. As long as it's convenient and doesn't violate principles, finding a convenient identity is the best choice.

Secondly... with Meng Po, a high-ranking figure within the Holy Sect, protecting him, he might even become one of Meng Po's disciples, a male servant who polishes the zither or something, adding a touch of romance to his relationship with that little Hu girl...

Luo Chaoyan could imagine the astonished expression on the little Hu girl's face when Zhao Wumian met Meng Po with his followers from the Holy Sect.

Compared to the former, Zhao Wumian was perhaps more interested in the latter...

Since there's no harm in it, I might as well play along for now.

Luo Chaoyan's idea was not unreasonable; in fact, it could be said to be very suitable for this trip to the Western Regions. Zhao Wumian was well aware of his wife's thoughts, but he did not immediately agree. Instead, he asked her:

What if I have absolutely no interest in the Holy Church?

Upon hearing this, the man was not angry, but merely sighed softly.

"I've seen plenty of proud and arrogant江湖人 (jianghu people) like you... Anyone who comes to the Western Regions is a powerful and influential figure in the martial arts world, but if they miss this opportunity..."

The man gestured with the corner of his mouth, indicating to those around him, and said:

"Without the protection of the Holy Church, most martial artists would end up like Xue Linglong... You are a married man, and it's normal to be proud, but you should at least consider your two wives..."

"Are all the women in those brothels truly willing to stoop down and serve their clients?"

As soon as he finished speaking, all sorts of people around them—drinkers, prostitutes, beggars—looked at him subtly, their eyes slightly cold, their hands hidden in their sleeves, seemingly holding some kind of concealed weapon.

The Holy Sect is not a prestigious sect, but now that they have their eyes on Zhao Wumian's two horses... if they cannot recruit them into the sect, they should naturally resort to the rules of the Western Regions.

If you want something, you have to use your skills to get it.

Zhao Wumian slightly raised his eyes, a strand of white hair under the hood brushing against his eyes... He squinted at the person.

But the man was unwilling to take unnecessary risks and continue preaching, so he asked again, "What brings you to the Western Regions?"

"Killing, seeking revenge."

"Oh? Who do you want to kill? What grudge do you seek? The Holy Sect is the leader of the Western Regions. Whoever you want to kill, the members can find for you."

Zhao Wumian raised an eyebrow slightly, "Really?"

"By the God of Fire, there is no falsehood in this. Now that you've joined the sect, we're brothers." The man laughed heartily and patted his chest.

“What’s wrong with killing for your fellow disciples? Even if you’re being pragmatic, it’s beneficial for you to truly commit to the sect. Isn’t that a win-win situation? Just say it.”

“The Holy Sect Leader, Shen Tu is not guilty,” Zhao Wumian said softly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the town fell into a deathly silence.

sough----

The wine banners fluttered in the wind.

Ji Zihuai frowned slightly, not expecting so many people to be paying attention to them... clearly they wanted to get a share of the pie from the Holy Church.

The man paused for a moment, then his face darkened, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, and he suddenly shouted, "Attack!"

His voice was deafening; under the influence of his internal energy, it even broke the wooden pole used to hang wine banners on the street, showing that he was also a master of internal martial arts.

The two words traveled far, but no one answered. The man turned around in confusion and saw that the Western Region followers, who were hiding in the shadows and dressed in disguise, were all standing there in a daze for some reason.

A thin line of blood appeared on their throats, and crimson blood flowed down their necks. They stood there, already dead.

He was beheaded, yet his body remained balanced, his head still hanging from his neck. Thump—

Someone fell from the roof to the ground, their body dismembered...

The man looked at the long sword at Zhao Wumian's waist in horror... He even killed the hidden agents. When did he draw his sword?
Zhao Wumian had questions to ask, so he spared the man's life.

"Where is Shen Tu's innocence?"

The man's teeth chattered. "The leader is preparing for the fire-worshiping ceremony, praying to the fire god for a great victory in the eastern campaign..."

"That's in the City of Fire Worship."

Baihuo City, the largest city in the Western Regions, is also the headquarters of the Holy Church.

Zhao Wumian nodded knowingly, then asked softly, "Where is Meng Po?"

"No, I don't know..."

Zhao Wumian didn't ask any more questions. He led his horse and the two women past the man and headed deeper into the town.

Huangsha Post Station remained deathly silent. On both sides of the street, countless people stared in horror at Zhao Wumian and his two companions.

The deathly silence continued until Zhao Wumian had gone far away, at which point human voices slowly began to emerge.

"What a fierce tiger! Outsiders who dare to attack the Holy Church happen every day, but I've never seen anyone kill more than a dozen so swiftly and decisively."

The followers of the Holy Sect breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Zhao Wumian retreat and not kill him, but their hearts immediately tightened again.

Countless people suddenly rushed at him with knives, and within a few moves, he was hacked to death and his body was looted.

It wasn't because they had a grudge against the Western Regions Holy Sect, but because they wanted to take this opportunity to make a quick buck from the sect's followers.

Although the Holy Sect is the leader of the Western Regions, if the hyenas see an opportunity, they will not hesitate to gnaw on a few pieces of dragon meat.

This is the Western Regions.

"Why don't you put on a show for that believer? That would make it easier for us to operate within the Holy Church."

On the street, Luo Chaoyan glanced back at the direction of the town entrance, then turned back and asked curiously.

"Shen Tu is innocent, yet he dares to ask me to disguise myself as a follower?" Zhao Wumian sneered, calmly saying:
"Why go through all this trouble to kill him?"

"Oh?" Ji Zihuai asked with interest, "Even if you could use your status as a member of the Holy Sect to have some fun with Meng Po, it wouldn't matter?"

Zhao Wumian remained silent.

The master and apprentice immediately burst into laughter... What did it matter whether Shen Tu was worthy or not? Zhao Wumian's murderous intent stemmed from that person's foul mouth, secretly saying that he wanted to send them to a brothel.

If he hadn't said those words, Zhao Wumian might have actually played along with Meng Po, indulging in a bit of worldly fun.

But now they've gone so far as to kill him... The master and apprentice immediately grinned.

What Western Region women? In my husband's heart, they are not even as good as one of them.
whee.

Zhao Wumian glanced back at the town entrance and noticed that the Holy Sect members had been hacked to death. Although he had expected it, he still couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

The Western Regions are too chaotic, with no respect for hierarchy or etiquette; it's the purest form of survival of the fittest.

They don't listen to reason, they only talk about martial arts, and things have gotten so chaotic. No wonder the Detective Division has so few spies.

Those who are weak are exploited and killed on the streets as soon as they arrive in the Western Regions, while those who are strong are already famous in the Central Plains.

For example, Zhao Wumian's right-hand men in the Detective Division, Yan Jiu, and Ji Jianming.

He was strong enough to survive in the Western Regions, but once he revealed his martial arts skills and moves, his identity was naturally exposed.

If you really want to send a spy, you can only find a master who is not well-known in the martial arts world, help him commit a few major crimes, package him as a notorious villain in the Central Plains, and hide him in the Western Regions.

It's unbelievable that a martial arts master has to suffer such injustice. You should know that doing this kind of work usually takes five years after another five years... A master's strength is already top-notch in the martial arts world, and very few people are willing to do this dirty and tiring work.

In any case, Zhao Wumian was unwilling.

If not handled properly, the spy could truly become a villain from the Western Regions, completely letting loose and living a carefree life.

Fortunately, although such people are few, they still exist... even if they seem foolish to most people.

But the world is never short of fools.

In front of the wine shop, someone smiled at Zhao Wumian and said, "You have quite the murderous aura. This place is too hot. Having too much killing intent is not good for your health. Why not have a cup of wine to cool off?"

Zhao Wumian glanced to the side and saw an old woman in red sitting in front of the wine shop counter, her withered hands holding a folding fan, beckoning to him.

A red lantern hangs in front of the wine shop.

Zhao Wumian glanced around the wine shop a few times, then tied his horse outside, went inside, and sat down.

"Alright, let's try the wine from the Western Regions, it won't be a wasted trip."

"Wine from the Western Regions must be served in a luminous cup, but our shop is small and doesn't make much profit, so we don't have that."

What do you have here?

"It has everything."

Ji Zihuai and Luo Chaoyan also sat down at the table, curiously looking around. The layout of this wine shop was indeed in the style of the Central Plains.

Upon hearing this, Luo Chaoyan couldn't help but smile, "It has everything, but no luminous cup... Then what do you mean by 'it has everything'?"

"This is the wine you would like to drink, sir."

Zhao Wumian glanced at it sideways, finding it amusing, and said, "Tell me about it."

"Judging by your appearance, sir, you are from Jiangnan. Naturally, you should drink Jiangnan wine... Tinglan." The old woman tossed a pot of wine over from afar.

"At the end of the year, a lonely young woman came to the old woman's wine shop, specifically asking for the Marquis's wine."

Zhao Wumian raised his hand to take it, his eyebrows slightly raised. Seeing that his identity had been revealed, this person must be one of the secret agents left in the Western Regions by the Detective Division.

But this is not the same person Zhao Wumian knows. Judging from his age... he probably came to the Western Regions during the reign of Emperor Taizu Gao.

Sixty years have passed, and the Detective Department may not even have her file.

Zhao Wumian pulled out a wine cup, poured the wine with a gurgling sound, and asked, "Who is that young lady...?"

"As expected, it is indeed Meng Po of the Holy Sect."

Zhao Wumian was speechless... He should have taken Meng Po with him to the capital for the New Year. It would have been more lively and fun, and she wouldn't have been so lonely that she had to come to the wine shop in the middle of the night to pass the time.

He asked softly, "Have you heard any news about Meng Po lately?"

Ji Zihuai and Luo Chaoyan simultaneously gave a soft hum, toying with their wine glasses.

"As a martial arts champion, Meng Po's whereabouts are not something ordinary people can know, but..." The old woman changed the subject and continued:

"She sent intelligence about Wen Wuzheng to Xiliang. Now that Yumen Pass has fallen, the news has finally reached this old woman and is now in the Marquis's hands."

Zhao Wumian lifted the wine pot and noticed a line of small characters written on the bottom.

He chuckled, placed a silver ingot on the table, and stood up to bow.

"The matter in the Western Regions will be resolved in less than a month... Afterwards, would you like to return to life in the Central Plains, sir?"

"This old woman is getting on in years, how many more years can she live? The Western Regions are quite nice. Although they are chaotic, they have their own rules for survival."

The old woman sat at the counter, calculating accounts.

Since the old woman was unwilling, Zhao Wumian naturally had no reason to force her.

He bowed slightly, then gave another salute to show his respect, picked up the wine jug, and mounted his horse.

"So eager to leave?" Luo Chaoyan sat down in front of Zhao Wumian, her tone slightly dissatisfied... She felt that her husband seemed to miss that little Hu girl too much.

Zhao Wumian gently spurred the horse's belly, and the horse's hooves kicked up fine dust on the yellow earth.

"Now that we know Wen Wuzheng's whereabouts, why hesitate?"

"Don't we take a break or two?" Ji Zihuai asked.

"Killing him won't require me to conserve my strength..."

After a few words, the three quickly left Huangsha Post Station, heading towards the crimson sunset, and disappeared into the vast yellow sand.

They suddenly arrived at Huangshayi, caused a great disturbance, leaving the town in chaos, and then suddenly left...

Huangshayi, Huangshayi.

It was just a post station in the desert...

(End of this chapter)