Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 213: The Renewed Rabbit

Zhao Changhe chased after her, but before he could get two streets from the Wang Residence, a flash of red appeared before him, accompanied by a fragrant breeze.

Vermillion Bird was blocking his path.

“...The Four Idols Cult isn’t actually kidnapping Yangyang, right?”

Vermillion Bird said calmly, “Hold out your hand and let me check if there are any sequelae from your contact with the marine clay.”

Zhao Changhe was stunned.

Seeing his dumb expression, Vermillion Bird impatiently reached out and directly pointed her finger at the point between his eyebrows.

After a moment, she withdrew her finger with some surprise. “Your meridians seem to have truly improved, and it appears that some of your hidden injuries have been alleviated... It looks like it was greatly beneficial to your situation.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Are you really here to verify whether I’ve been cheated?

Vermillion Bird pondered for a moment and said, “By refusing to cooperate with the Wang Clan in their martial arts competition, you’ve earned their ill will. However, they do not seem to care that you used their treasure, suggesting that they may already see you as a dead person. Being in Langya actually keeps you safe, as they would not dare to act so blatantly here. It will only be after you leave that you will have to be extra cautious. It’s best to set up some traps and conceal your movements.”

Zhao Changhe’s expression became increasingly strange, and it took him a while to respond. “I understand. Thank you for your concern, Venerable.”

Vermillion Bird said coldly, “Who said I’m concerned about you? Until your situation is clear, your life belongs to my Four Idols Cult. If it’s proven that certain speculations are wrong, I will personally kill you.”

Zhao Changhe nodded like a chicken. “Yes, yes.”

“What’s with your attitude?”

“Nothing, nothing. It’s just that my future wife was abducted by your cult’s saintess, and I need to go rescue her.”

Vermillion Bird said, “Chichi acted rashly in the martial arts competition and revealed her true face in front of others. Although there have been no actual consequences to this, her identity cannot really be hidden anymore. You should know that her actions were driven by her emotions and were highly irrational. It can be said that regardless of any of the cult’s restrictions, relationships like yours that are driven by passion are detrimental to cultivation and decision-making.”

“...But I thought Chichi was really cool, just like when I first met her.”

Vermillion Bird ignored his comment and continued, “I will have her reflect on her actions, and you should reflect on yours too. Both of you have grand ambitions, so you should not indulge in such trivial matters. This is well-intentioned advice.”

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment, then bowed and said, “Thank you for your kind intentions, Venerable.”

“From your tone, it sounds like you know you’re wrong but you would do the same thing given the opportunity.’”

“I just feel that since your esteemed cult honors the four idols, why avoid the principles of the two polarities? Following the will of heaven and accommodating the people is the embodiment of the four idols.”

Vermillion Bird chuckled dryly. “You should save those words for when you’re truly qualified to discuss the purpose of the Four Idols Cult with me. The way you are now, your arguments are nothing but a joke.”

Zhao Changhe fell silent.

Vermillion Bird floated away. “You have half an hour to bid farewell. Chichi has other important matters to attend to. Her cultivation is much more important than being entangled in such trivial matters.”

Zhao Changhe watched as her graceful figure departed and scratched his head.

Vermillion Bird still maintained her stubborn attitude, but this time Zhao Changhe felt that her concern for Chichi was more like that of a senior who cared about her protegée rather than just due to the constraints set by the cult.

She even showed a hint of concern for him.

Suddenly, the terrifying image that he had of Vermillion Bird in his mind changed, and for some reason, he started seeing her as a caring guardian of the bride’s family....

He found it particularly puzzling.

At the end of the day, Zhao Changhe also knew that Vermillion Bird’s caring attitude toward Chichi was genuine, while her attitude toward him was purely due to the peculiar incident with his star chart. If she were to find out that he had nothing to do with the Four Idols Cult, then forget about helping him, she might turn even more ruthless than the Wang Clan toward him.

But what exactly had happened back then? He did not know either... If the Heavenly Tome could even analyze the changes in his physique and the ultimate goal of that lump of ice cream, why could it not analyze that cultivation technique?

His head hurt.

The headquarters of the Four Idols Cult in Langya was easy to find. Vermillion Bird and Xia Chichi were the only two people there.

Zhao Changhe traversed the rooftops and walls nearby, passing by one lit-up room after the other. He soon found Xia Chichi’s room. As he glanced inside, he was dumbfounded.

Inside, Cui Yuanyang was bound to a chair, writhing and struggling. Her movements highlighted her modest curves in an exquisite manner due to the rope that bound her to the chair. She suddenly became even more alluring as a result.

Her mouth was not sealed, and she was cursing, “You always only bully me! If you’re so tough, then why don’t you go and fight Tang Wanzhuang! Being at the seventh layer of the Profound Gate isn’t that impressive! Let me practice for a few more months and I’ll beat you up! Wuuuu...”

Xia Chichi crossed her arms and said, “I’ve never even seen Tang Wanzhuang, what does she have to do with me? But you, do you know that I watched him escort you home back then?”

Cui Yuanyang shut her mouth.

“To be honest, I can’t blame him for finding someone else afterward. After all, I told him to go find someone else myself.”

“What??”

“But you!” Xia Chichi grabbed Cui Yuanyang’s collar. “Are you, the young lady of the Cui Clan, trying to lose all your dignity?”

Cui Yuanyang’s lips twitched and she actually felt like laughing.

It’s really fun to be around this big sis.

Actually, they had already argued in the carriage previously, and now she was just looking for another subject to argue with her about. She was clearly just triggered by jealousy over what had happened back in the Wang Clan.

But wasn’t what I did something you taught me yourself? Why does she suddenly feel a bit pitiful...

No, wait... She’s the White Tiger Saintess, a prominent figure among the younger generation. She wouldn’t do something as trivial as tying someone up for being jealous and just to give them a lesson. There must be a deeper purpose behind it.

Just as he was about to formulate a question, there was a faint knock on the window. Xia Chichi immediately let go of Cui Yuanyang’s collar and straightened her clothes. “Come in.”

Zhao Changhe slipped in through the window and said helplessly, “Why did you have to tie her up...”

Xia Chichi asked in surprise, “Why did you come so late? I was worried that I’d run out of things to talk about with this little brat.”

Cui Yuanyang: “...”

Zhao Changhe said helplessly, “I was stopped by Venerable Vermillion Bird.”

Xia Chichi became nervous. “Did she give you a hard time?”

“No, she was actually strangely nice.... Actually, I feel that she genuinely cares about you.” Zhao Changhe chattered on while sneakily trying to untie Cui Yuanyang.

“Stop!” Xia Chichi pulled him back abruptly.

Zhao Changhe was speechless. “What are you—mmmmf...”

Xia Chichi tiptoed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him passionately.

Cui Yuanyang’s mouth dropped open in shock.

So you tied me up here just to do this in front of me?! So that you could see how I would feel?! I actually felt a bit sorry for you just now, but you’re just outright evil!

Cui Yuanyang struggled violently. “Witch! You shameless witch!”

“Umhf...” Zhao Changhe flailed his arms, feeling that it was indeed cruel to be doing this in such circumstances. Tragically, however, he simply did not have the ability to beat Chichi...

In less than a moment, Xia Chichi subdued him and threw him onto the bed. Even his acupoint manipulation technique was rendered useless before her.

Cui Yuanyang said, “You witch, if you actually dare, your venerable will beat you to death!”

Xia Chichi said leisurely, “I’m not really doing anything, little brat. Just watch closely and treat this as a lesson.”

Cui Yuanyang watched helplessly as Xia Chichi teased his ears while her hand reached down to find something.

Admittedly, the tigress was truly enchanting and alluring. Even as a woman watching from the side, her breath quickened. She did not know what she looked like back in the ice cave, but she imagined it was worse than this.

Refusing to admit defeat, she said angrily, “I’ll do it ten thousand times after you leave, just to spite you!”

“As long as I can’t see it, what’s there to be angry about? See, you’re the one who’s angry now, aren’t you?”

Cui Yuanyang almost felt like she was going to have a breakdown right then and there.

Xia Chichi was feeling smug, but she did not notice that Zhao Changhe, who had been enduring everything silently, had quietly unsealed his acupoints while she wasn’t paying attention. He then countered with a swift two-finger technique to subdue her.

Xia Chichi was stunned. “I know I took account of your acupoint manipulation....”

Zhao Changhe’s face was expressionless. “That was then, this is now.”

Xia Chichi finally realized what was going on. “Your meridians have expanded... at least doubled!”

She had not exerted a lot of strength on his acupoints, as she knew that his meridians weren’t particularly strong and too much force could damage them. It had flitted past her mind that he had just expanded his meridians. In the end, the first time it came to be of use was not to cultivate or trick an opponent but to get back at her.

“The tables have turned!” Zhao Changhe brushed his hand over her, sealing her acupoints while stripping her down.

The little tiger who had made a tactical error was tragically stripped bare.

Whether Zhao Changhe had forgotten or intentionally did not release Cui Yuanyang from her bindings. Oddly, however, she no longer seemed angry and even watched with great interest despite still being tied to a chair.

Whoever was in control made all the difference!

Look at this little witch being held up by her legs, hmph... She’s still only at the seventh layer of the Profound Gate, and she’s just the sixth hidden dragon, and yet she thinks she’s all that great? Hmph...

So this is how it’s supposed to be, huh?

The little girl felt like she was attending the most important demonstration class in her life.

“Do you still dare?”

“Uwaaahhh, I was wrong...”

Hearing Xia Chichi’s sobbing voice, which rather than turning furious from having the tables turned on her became even more alluring, Cui Yuanyang pursed her lips. She’s truly a witch of a demonic cult!

After who knows how long, the commotion finally ceased.

“Have you been holding it in for a long time?”

“Mhm...” Zhao Changhe’s voice was extremely content.

“Hey, what are you doing? Why are you using that to wipe?”

Cui Yuanyang leaned over to have a look, only to see Zhao Changhe using a golden foil to wipe something...

“Oh, it’s nothing. I’ve always wanted to give it a touch-up, but unfortunately, there was no stock. Now that I finally have some, I can’t neglect it...”