Chapter 16: Uproar (1/2)

The Zhuque Street was filled with crowds walking to and fro. Sitting in the carriage, Wang Chong parted the curtains and looked outside. There were a lot of blue-eyed red-bearded Hu among the crowd.

With a glance, Wang Chong saw the eagle-eyed Turks, the small physical frame but combative Ü-Tsang people, the Silla and Goguryeo people who were similar to the Han but with a differing disposition, the massive red, brown and golden-haired Westerners, people from the Abbasid Caliphate and the Charax Spasinu…

Looking at these foreigners from many different locations, an indescribable sensation emerged in Wang Chong’s heart. Regardless of which parallel world he was in, the Great Tang remained as the same prosperous and powerful Great Tang.

Its doors were always opened to welcome the entire world. Even when it was fighting with other countries, it never tried to expel the Hu from their lands.

In this parallel world, it was without a doubt the center of the world. But it was a pity that…

Wang Chong’s heart ached and he soon came back to reality.

The Zhuque Street was where most of the foreigners gathered and as such, it was the best place to search for the two Sindhu monks from the Western Regions.

However, Wang Chong wasn’t here to try his luck. After all, luck was something unreliable. Wang Chong was here to look for someone.

In the entire Zhuque Street and the eastern regions of the capital, no one could know the foreigners more than that person.

The Great Tang in his previous life, due to its ‘arrogance’, passed by the opportunity with the precious ‘Wootz steel’. As such, the Wootz steel that reached Great Tang was extremely few.

It could have boosted the strength of Great Tang Empire significantly.

Wang Chong was here to right this mistake.

‘Learning the strengths of others to wield it against them’, these words originated from a person called Wei Yuan in his world. Humans can be classified by their races, but the same does not apply for technology, especially for Wootz steel.

As long as he can steer the destiny away from the tragedy in his previous life, Wang Chong did not care where his strength came from.

Jyaa!

The carriage made a turn, bringing Wang Chong and his sister into an isolated alley.

“Yo, isn’t this Young Master Chong?”

The moment Wang Chong brought his younger sister in, the person behind the counter lifted his head and a smiling chubby face could be seen. The fat man shot a wide grin at Wang Chong, revealing his golden tooth.

This was a normal pawn shop. The business didn’t seem to be doing well and the fat man was the only person inside the shop.

However, Wang Chong knew that the fellow was overflowing with money.

‘Shut for three years, only to open for another three years of upkeep’, the phrase was used to describe a person like this. He specialized in trading with the foreigners and scions in the capital.

Whoever who lacked money would bring their personal belongings to pawn it here, especially the foreigners. In a foreign land, they found themselves lacking connections to tide them through difficult times. As such, they would have no choice but to pawn their personal belongings here.

As such, this fat man, nicknamed ‘Big Golden Tooth’ possessed the greatest intelligence on the foreigners in the capital.

Wang Chong had ‘loitered’ about the capital and made unseemly friends such as Ma Zhou and the rest. However, this wasn’t completely devoid of its benefits.

‘Big Golden Tooth’ was one of the useful ‘friends’ Wang Chong had made.

Even though his heart ached, Wang Chong gritted his teeth and pah, he threw a silver ingot on the table. The services of ‘Big Golden Tooth’ was never free. He had to ‘part with his flesh’ every time he wanted his assistance.

“I am buying information. There are a few Sindhu monks who had arrived in the capital. Bald and dressed in a cassock, they should be easy to recognize. I want to know where they are.”

Wang Chong spoke.

“Hehe, Young Master Chong sure is straightforward and generous, as expected of the grandson of Duke Jiu… Un? Sindhu monk? What is Young Master Chong looking for them for? Those fellows speak in weird accents and they often jump ahead to preach to the others whenever they get a chance. I think it would be best for Young Master Chong to avoid contact with them.”

“Furthermore, it is already too late for Young Master Chong to look for them. These fellows had already returned back for Sindhu a few days ago.”

Big Golden Tooth fondled the silver ingot with a smile as he spoke to Wang Chong with a lowered head.

“What?”

Upon hearing these words, Wang Chong’s heart beat furiously and his eyes widened, “They’ve returned?”

His words had created billowing waves in Wang Chong’s heart. Wang Chong had expected for the two monks to come to Great Tang, but never would he imagine that they had already returned.

“Indeed, they left with the city west’s White Agate Jewelry Shop’s merchant carriage. If Young Master Chong needs for look for them, you can leave by the city west and follow the main path. Perhaps you might be able to catch up to them.”

Big Golden Tooth said.

Wang Chong shook his head. After heading west from the capital, one would find himself surrounded by endless mountains and desert. A three-day journey was more than sufficient for them to pass through Yumen Pass.

The world is vast, how could he locate a specific carriage that carried the two foreign monks?

Big Golden Tooth’s words were only an attempt to console him.

“Thanks.”

Wang Chong left the pawnshop in extreme disappointment. Looks like he wasn’t fated with the Wootz steel!

“Let’s go! We’ll return home!”

The siblings hopped onto the carriage and headed back home.

…

The sky was already dark by the moment they returned back to the Wang Clan Residence. The entire residence was brightly illuminated with lanterns, but it gave it a forlorn impression.

“Hold it right there!”

Right after the Wang siblings carefully pushed open the entrance gates and prepared to return back to their room, a cold bellow suddenly echoed from the main hall.

“Crap!”

The two siblings froze. They slowly turned over and saw two candle lights in the main hall. Under the illumination of the light, a frosty face appeared, and it was staring coldly at the two siblings.

“Mo…Mother!”

Wang Xiao Yao’s body trembled. She fearfully turned around and addressed her.

“Mother!”

A look of discomfort also appeared on Wang Chong’s face. A reason why he took the effort to roam around outside, making the trip to Big Golden Tooth’s pawn shop, was to avoid facing his mother. He didn’t expect that he would still end up getting caught by her.

Looking at the frosty face on his mother’s face, she had probably waited for a long time for them to return. It was clear that the news regarding the Vast Crane Pavilion had already reached her.

“You two rascals. Where did you two go today?”