Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 220: Traveling Together With the Fire Serpent of Yi

After blocking Wang Daozhong’s path, Vermillion Bird looked toward the direction that Zhao Changhe was in before letting out a soft sigh.

She really wanted to follow and watch over him throughout his journey, but that was a bit difficult. For one, it was rather inappropriate with her identity as Vermillion Bird. And to make things more complicated, her normal identity hidden beneath the mask could not disappear for too long, so even disguising herself as the Fire Serpent of Yi to follow after him would be a lot of trouble.

Actually, Vermillion Bird knew that Wang Daozhong would not take action under normal circumstances. If it were discovered by the Demon Suppression Bureau and the Cui Clan that he was the one to kill Zhao Changhe, the Wang Clan would be in heaps of trouble. Therefore, he had only come to oversee things and was unlikely to personally intervene. However, Vermillion Bird did not want to take any chances. Her first reaction was to force him back before deciding on anything else.

But forcing him to retreat was only a temporary solution. If Wang Daozhong truly decided to disregard everything and shamelessly take action against Zhao Changhe as someone on the Ranking of Earth, then what could she really do?

Screw it, I’ll just have to follow him. Anyway, he’s heading north, Black Tortoise is also in the north, so I can make use of this situation to go and look for Black Tortoise as well.

As for my true identity... I’ll just have to go back and make a brief appearance and make some arrangements first. Going north was also a part of my plans to begin with, so this isn’t that bad.

Zhao Changhe slowed down his horse, and after about half the time it would take to brew a cup of tea, the sound of wind rushing came from behind him.

When he turned around, he saw that it wasn’t Vermillion Bird, but the Fire Serpent of Yi.

Zhao Changhe felt that this was normal. Vermillion Bird would not have the time to keep following him around all the time. That would not make sense. “Little serpent, has the venerable finally decided to let you interact with me more?”

Vermillion Bird was speechless. “Who are you calling a little serpent? I’m older than you, you know?”

“Little serpent sounds cuter. Should I call you old snake instead? Or would you rather just give me your real name? We’re quite familiar with each other now, aren’t we?”

Vermillion Bird replied irritably, “Do what you will.”

“Is that your real name? Then... Little willie?”

Vermillion Bird sent out a kick to his lower back.

Zhao Changhe leaned back on his horse and her leg swept past his face, a fragrant breeze brushing past his nose.

Actually, he was intentionally teasing her and planning to catch her leg. However, he found that her speed was much greater than he expected, and he ended up grabbing at the air.

A hint of amusement flashed in Vermillion Bird’s eyes.

That’s all you’ve got and you dare tease me?

Seeing Zhao Changhe seemingly doubting his life choices after he failed to catch her leg, Vermillion Bird leisurely remarked: “As the Fire Serpent of Yi, I am a one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Did you really think that I’m whatever random person? Save your flirting. I’ll go back and make a report. I’m afraid that the saintess might want to bite you to death after getting word of this.”

Zhao Changhe muttered, “I was just joking around. Look at how nervous you are.”

“We’ve only met twice and you don’t even know what I look like, yet you keep on trying to flirt with me,” Vermillion Bird said leisurely. “I don’t understand why the saintess is so deeply in love with a lecherous bastard like you. It really just doesn’t make sense to me. Well, I’m just here to understand your shortcomings and report them all to the saintess so that she can see your true colors.”

“Well, then you don’t have that much work ahead of you. I’m full of shortcomings from head to toe.”

“Such as letting me walk beside you while you ride on your horse?”

Unable to hold back his laughter, Zhao Changhe said, “Then why don’t you come up and ride with me?”

“Nice try.”

“Never mind then,” Zhao Changhe got off the horse and walked with her. “It would indeed be impolite of me to continue riding my horse while you walk beside me.”

Vermillion Bird tilted her head and glanced at him. “So, do you feel burdened by having me around?”

“To be honest, a little.”

Underneath her mask, Vermillion Bird’s brow furrowed and her gaze turned slightly hostile.

If it were not for me helping you, you might already have been killed by Wang Daozhong! Yet you have the nerve to call me a burden?!

But then Zhao Changhe continued, “Sometimes people are quite contradictory... I enjoy the freedom of riding alone, wandering freely for three thousand li. But at the same time, I fear the loneliness that comes with it. Having someone accompany me on my journey isn’t a bad thing, regardless of gender or strength.”

Vermillion Bird found herself believing his words. Zhao Changhe was obviously someone who enjoyed making friends, though he did not have many. It was not because he was solitary, but because he was selective about his companions.

It was like this back in the Wang Clan’s banquet hall, where the only person he drank together with was Situ Xiao.

Zhao Changhe added, “But it would be better if you were a man. At least there would not be such issues with riding together, and you would not be slowing me down.”

Vermillion Bird laughed. “Was it not the same for the saintess back then?”

Zhao Changhe was stunned for a moment.

She’s right. When Luo Qi was still a “man,” things were indeed much easier and more comfortable. Things only really became awkward once I knew she was a woman.

Zhao Changhe suddenly laughed. “Actually, it all depends on how you perceive things. When Yue Hongling and I rode together, it felt completely natural. There was no awkwardness between us.”

Vermillion Bird sneered and said, “If it was not for the fact that you wanted to tease me as soon as we met, it would not have been a big deal to share a ride. Those of the jianghu are used to being on the road, and there are not many taboos between us. But with your mindset, what should have been normal became dirty.”

“True, I got carried away,” Zhao Changhe admitted. “In that case, let me be proper now. Would the young lady be fine with mounting my horse? You can sit behind me, and I won’t even touch you.”

Vermillion Bird said, “If I sit behind you, aren’t you afraid of me suddenly attacking you?”

Zhao Changhe smiled. “Not at all. If the Four Idols Cult really wanted to kill me, Venerable Vermillion Bird would have already done it long ago. Come on, get on the horse.”

With that, he got back on his horse and patted behind him, signaling for her to join him.

Vermillion Bird did not hesitate and gracefully mounted his horse, sitting behind him.

In her eyes, Zhao Changhe seemed like a child, making a big deal out of nothing.

Zhao Changhe also felt much more at ease. He rode forward leisurely and said, “Speaking of burdens, there is actually one more thing”

Vermillion Bird paused. “What?”

“If you’re unwilling to reveal your true appearance, at least change your mask or consider using a disguise... Walking around everywhere with the mask of the Fire Serpent of Yi not only inconveniences me, but also puts you at risk of trouble from the righteous forces. You should be used to living with your true appearance, and only wearing a mask when representing your cult for important matters, right?”

Vermillion Bird admitted to herself that he had a point. Unfortunately, she could not reveal her true appearance and did not possess any mystical disguise arts, so she could only consider changing to a mask that had nothing to do with the Four Idols Cult. But in reality, it would still be strange for a normal person to wear a mask in public.

Seeing her silence, Zhao Changhe roughly guessed what she was thinking and said with a smile, “Do you want to change your mask?”

“Mm-hm.”

“Then let’s go and buy you a mask!” Zhao Changhe laughed and urged the horse to go faster. “Hold on tight!”

Snow-Treading Crow let out a long neigh and sped up.

His Back Eye saw that the Fire Serpent of Yi maintained an extremely stable posture. She did not even lean back slightly when the horse suddenly accelerated, revealing that there was no chance that he would be able to have her collide with him if he suddenly stopped the horse.

Zhao Changhe was a little puzzled.

He never considered for a second that this person could be Vermillion Bird. Her voice was different, and even her scent was different. Most importantly, he simply did not believe that Vermillion Bird would play along like this. However, in his mind, the Fire Serpent of Yi was at about the same level as Wan Dongliu, roughly being at the sixth or seventh layer of the Profound Gate. This was because she had not appeared on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons, so even if she was at the sixth or seventh layer of the Profound Gate, she should still be inferior to Wan Dongliu.

But from her kick earlier, and her control of her body, it seemed like she was an expert, and a really skilled one at that.

He could not help but ask, “Hey, what’s your cultivation level?”

Vermillion Bird casually replied, “The ninth layer of the Profound Gate.”

“Damn!” Zhao Changhe cursed. “And you say that you aren’t on any of the rankings?”

His voice was muffled by the rushing wind, but his frustration could be sensed as he seemed to realize that he was the actual burden between the two of them, not her. Vermillion Bird found this quite amusing.

“I really have not appeared on any of the rankings. Hm, I’ve been unlucky enough to be challenged by some of those on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons, being turned into a stepping stone for their rise to fame. It’s honestly quite pitiful...”

“Your tone doesn’t sound the least bit pitiful to me, you’re clearly joking.”

“You thought you were bringing along a Cui Yuanyang, but it turns out you got a Yue Hongling. You thought you were the big brother, but it turns out you're just a stinky little brother,” Vermillion Bird said casually. “Anyway, the main reason the venerable sent me to follow you is to protect you. Otherwise, if you die, with the situation involving your star chart still unresolved, the venerable wouldn’t sleep well at night. Do you really think I was sent to follow you just to get to know you? Don’t flatter yourself.”

“If Wang Daozhong really came to kill me, even you couldn’t protect me,” Zhao Changhe grumbled with a sour face. He then fell silent again, focusing on riding his horse.

Vermillion Bird was too lazy to argue with him and remained silent, leisurely enjoying the wind as they rode.

The feeling of riding a horse alongside a young man unexpectedly felt quite refreshing to her.

The wind blew past her ears, bringing a sense of comfort.

In fact, it had been many years since she had relaxed and traveled so freely. Every trip she made over the past years was for important matters involving the cult, they were urgent and filled with hostility, and she would always have to be on alert.

But alas, the mask on her face blocked out the wind, causing her to be unable to feel a thing on her face, making it all seem fake.

In this life, she wore masks wherever she went, no matter the identity.