Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 214: I Have My Saber and I Have Wine

The Heavenly Tome had a spirit. It could be like Dragon Bird, just having some spirituality but not actually alive. Or it could be a true living being, in which case Zhao Changhe was about eighty percent sure that the blind woman was the spirit. The threat of him being the first it killed after being unsealed sounded like a toothless bite.

Of course, Zhao Changhe was still holding back a lot of anger toward the blind woman who had inexplicably dragged him into this world. If he could not defeat her, could he not at least outsmart her from another angle?

If she really was the spirit of the Heavenly Tome, she probably had a very important purpose, and she could probably endure such provocations.

Furthermore, Zhao Changhe did not quite believe that the Heavenly Tome would start unsealing itself due to some humiliation it experienced... There were some things that were simply set to happen in the first place. If you, for example, don’t know certain concepts in math, can you suddenly grasp them just because someone makes you feel embarrassed? Of course not. If that claim was merely an excuse made up by the blind woman, then perhaps the truth was that smearing the page did have some use.

Regardless of whether his speculation was correct or not, he had to try again.

If he was completely wrong, and an angry little girl jumped out of the Heavenly Tome after it was unsealed and stabbed him to death, then so be it.

Zhao Changhe nervously watched the golden foil. It remained calm and unresponsive, just like the first time he had smeared it in such a way.

He sighed and washed it again with water, then carefully placed it back into his chest pocket.

The two women watched him as if they were watching some performance art, utterly puzzled and perplexed.

“Ahem.” Zhao Changhe went to release Cui Yuanyang, and Cui Yuanyang, now freed, did not explode in anger as he initially expected. Instead, she just sat there with a flushed face, stretching her body that had fallen a bit numb from being bound to the chair for some time.

Just moments ago, she had watched everything with genuine curiosity without thinking too much about it, but now her face was burning with embarrassment. She felt that she had just witnessed something a little bit beyond her tolerance level.

Big brother Zhao is a baddie. He deliberately made me watch everything... After witnessing that, it’s as if I’ve completely accepted my fate as being his...

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe simply went back to the bed and embraced the little white tiger, whispering softly, “I feel like with Venerable Vermillion Bird’s attitude, there aren’t as many obstacles between us as before. There’s still hope. I’ll try my best...”

Xia Chichi chuckled and started to put on her clothes. Cui Yuanyang just realized that she did not even notice when Chichi’s acupoints had been unsealed—had she willingly participated since the beginning?

Xia Chichi lazily remarked, “Don’t underestimate the venerable’s stubbornness when it comes to our doctrine. If she’s being a bit nicer to you now, there is definitely a reason for it, and it’s most likely superficial. Don’t think that she’s changed out of nowhere. I’m afraid that the person who might want to kill you the most in the end is her.... That is also why I’ve never dared to truly give myself to you. I am truly afraid of crossing her bottom line. Do you blame me?”

Zhao Changhe shook his head. “I can only blame myself for not being strong enough.”

Xia Chichi smiled slightly and gently kissed him. “You’re already very strong. You’re especially impressive to me, because I’ve known you from the beginning. It’s like I’m witnessing the rise of a miracle. Changhe, do you know...”

“Hm?”

“A man’s strength is also a kind of aphrodisiac... If you were weak, it’s possible that I would have already abandoned you. And even if I didn’t, I would probably only care for you condescendingly, and I would never let you play with me like this. Do you think I’m shallow for this?”

Zhao Changhe shook his head. “Isn’t that normal? If I was really that weak, let alone whether or not you would abandon me, I doubt I would even be able to face you myself.”

Xia Chichi stroked his hair and whispered softly, “If you become strong enough, not only might the venerable’s thoughts change, but even if you enjoy that sly little rabbit who’s eavesdropping on us, her father would not say a word of protest.”

Cui Yuanyang’s jaw dropped.

“Aren’t Tang Wanzhuang and Yue Hongling both looking at you expectantly while being in condescending positions? To be honest, in my eyes, they aren’t even qualified... How dare they act so high and mighty?”

Zhao Changhe was speechless.

“If we’re to talk about being expectant, only I, as your senior brother, can look at you expectantly. I look forward to the day when Tang Wanzhuang kowtows and prostrates herself in worship and Yue Hongling acts all submissive toward you. What a scene that will be, hehehe.”

As Xia Chichi spoke, she finally finished adjusting her attire. She gracefully got out of the bed, then casually pinched Cui Yuanyang’s face. As Cui Yuanyang glared at her angrily, Xia Chichi turned around with a light smile. “The venerable just sent me a message. I must go now, but I’ll be waiting for the day you boldly stride into the Four Idols Cult and openly ask for my hand in marriage.”

As soon as her words fell, she left through the window.

Clad in white, with a sword at her side, she walked away under the moonlight.

Where in the world did that flirtatious enchantress from earlier go? What’s with her suddenly looking like a proud swordswoman?

Cui Yuanyang watched her leave blankly, feeling that this might be the big sister that she knew the best, yet also the least.

Not to mention Cui Yuanyang, even Zhao Changhe felt that he did not fully understand Xia Chichi.

After all, the experiences of their youth were far different from one another. He could not even distinguish which side of himself was the real one, let alone understand Chichi’s true nature.

Right, doesn’t this little rabbit also have different sides to her?

Noticing his gaze, Cui Yuanyang subconsciously shrank. She forced a smile and said, “I’m still young...”

Zhao Changhe said angrily, “Huh? Do you think I’m planning to do anything to you?”

“You aren’t? You deliberately left me tied up so that I would watch everything...”

“Hmm, I was just giving you a lesson so that you won’t be fooled in the future.”

Cui Yuanyang turned red and spat out, “You’re clearly enjoying being obscene.”

Zhao Changhe pinched her cheeks. “I was never a good person to begin with. I warned you before, but you didn’t listen. Now, even if you want to run, I won’t let you.”

Cui Yuanyang let him pinch her and stared at him steadily. After a while, she said, “Big brother Zhao...”

“Hm?”

“In fact, me going on this trip was pretty much my father intentionally arranging for us to meet. He does not want you to forget about me, and neither do I. So I took the initiative to...get close to you. Do you think I’m scheming?”

Zhao Changhe smirked. “You’re scheming? I think it’s your father who’s truly scheming with how he’s playing both sides. But considering that you’re from the Cui Clan, it’s understandable.”

Cui Yuanyang remarked, “Since the last time we met, you’ve been showing that you don’t like aristocratic families.”

“Mm-hm...”

“Does that include the Tang Clan?”

“Yup.”

Cui Yuanyang breathed a sigh of relief, then continued, “Actually, even if you don’t like them, you could have still lied to the Wang Clan and made peace with them. There are many benefits to doing so. Why refuse them so directly? You’re only putting yourself in danger that way.”

Zhao Changhe looked at her with some surprise and said with a smile, “Flattering the powerful, deceiving others, and ingratiating myself to the strong? That’s simply not who I am. Would you really like me if I was like that?”

Cui Yuanyang tilted her head and thought for a while before saying, “I don’t know, but as long as it’s you, I should be fine with it. Besides, if you were such a character, the first one you’d pander to would be my family. We’d be the first to benefit, so why not? There’s no way that the Wang Clan would stand to benefit first.”

Zhao Changhe chuckled helplessly.

“If I were in your position, not to even mention inheriting the throne in the future, it would be a very simple matter to seize some power and directly proclaim myself a king. But it seems like you don’t even consider that an option, huh?”

Zhao Changhe rubbed her small, round face. “I have my saber and I have wine. I have no need to become a king.”

Cui Yuanyang let him rub her face, her serious gaze gradually turning soft.

Xia Chichi said that a man’s strength was a kind of aphrodisiac.

But Cui Yuanyang felt that this wild and untamed nature was her aphrodisiac. It had been so since the day they met. It was completely opposite to the environment she grew up in, and it thus exuded a fatal attraction to her.

“I feel like running away from home again,” Cui Yuanyang slowly buried her head in his arms and muttered. “I won’t be able to stay out for long this time. I have to go back to negotiating my brother’s wedding with the Wang Clan. But it feels like I haven’t gotten to do anything yet. I’ve only just gotten to meet up with you again, and I still wander around the jianghu with you, go and see Mobei, as well as Jiangnan.”

Zhao Changhe rubbed her head gently, “Winds are rising to the north in Yanmen, while Maitreya is running rampant in Jiangnan. The world is already changing.”

Cui Yuanyang felt all her romantic ideas shattered. But she did not say anything more. She simply leaned against him, enjoying his company.

The world may have changed, but he hasn’t. That’s good enough for me.

“If you want to leave Langya, I can ask Uncle Lu Ya to help you set up some diversions for you. By the time you’re a thousand li away, the Wang Clan won’t even know where you are. Or you can go back with my convoy and take a detour through Qinghe. Nobody will be able to find you there,” Cui Yuanyang suggested, her eyes showing a hint of anticipation. It would be great if he could go back with her to Qinghe. They could have a lot of fun there.

“No need.” Zhao Changhe grinned. “I’ll stay here for a few more days. There are still some things I need to take care of.”