Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 224: Two Pigs

While they said that they would head to Ancient Sword Lake, the two of them left the city very slowly.

The two little piggies strolled leisurely down the main street of Sword Lake City, curiously looking at the stalls and the bustling shops on both sides of the street. Despite being seasoned travelers, they found themselves captivated by the novelty of it all.

Zhao Changhe had never really taken the time to explore the streets of this world, whether it was in Qinghe, Gusu, or Yangzhou. During his time in Gusu, whenever he was presented with the option to either stroll through the streets or enjoy the lakeside, he always chose the latter.

As for Vermillion Bird, it had been many years since she had moved around like a young girl in this manner. Whenever she had her Vermillion Bird mask on, overwhelming killing intent would emanate from her, silencing the entire street. Let alone window shopping like they were doing right now, she could never even enjoy a leisurely stroll.

But now, as they walked through the streets, whenever people's gazes fell on them, they were not filled with fear but instead smiled at them with goodwill.

It felt strange to her. While she did feel relaxed and comfortable, she also felt a bit embarrassed. After all, they were full-grown adults, yet they were wearing pig masks, and most mistook them for a couple. She was not used to having such friendly smiles directed toward her.

But then again, since no one could tell who was behind the masks, what was there to really be embarrassed about?

So only the feeling of relaxation and novelty remained.

They wandered through the vibrant streets of Sword Lake City. Although its streets were not as grand as those of the capital, Sword Lake City did have its own charm. For example, a pancake stall by the side caught their eye. The way they made the pancakes was very different from those of the capital, with theirs being quite thick, resembling buns, with a delicious fragrance wafting from them.[1]

"Hey," Vermillion Bird nudged Zhao Changhe with her elbow. "We haven't had breakfast yet. We've been walking around since early morning, and it's already almost noon. You do know that skipping breakfast is bad for martial artists, right?"

"Are you craving those pancakes?" Zhao Changhe interrupted.

"No, I'm just reminding you..."

But before she could finish speaking, Zhao Changhe had already dashed off to the pancake stall. "I'd like two, please!"

Vermillion Bird strolled over. "I didn't say that I wanted to eat this. You're the one who chose the food here."

"In that case, I'll just get one?"

Before he even finished speaking, the pancake in his hand had been snatched away.

"Why do you get to eat and I don't? I'm confiscating them."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

She slightly lifted her pig mask, and then took a bite of the pancake, not minding the heat, before quickly pulling the mask down to cover her face again.

Zhao Changhe shook his head and chuckled. He turned around to throw some silver toward the stall, then grabbed another pancake to munch on as he walked.

Vermillion Bird said casually, "I heard someone say that after you left the south, you were broke. But now, seeing as you're even able to stay in inns and buy things, it's as if you've got endless money. Where did you get all of the money from?"

Zhao Changhe asked curiously "How come you're so well-informed? I only remember complaining about having no money to Xuan Chong."

"Well, you were on a boat owned by the Cao Gang, and there were plenty of our people on board."

"...Alright, you guys really gather every bit of information, huh?"

"Well, it seems like we didn't even gather enough. For example, I don't know where the money you have now came from. Did Cui Yuanyang give you more money?"

"No, it was your saintess."

"..." Vermillion Bird suddenly felt that the pancake in her hand was no longer as appetizing.

That little brat's giving away the holy cult's money to support a man?!

"Just kidding, hahaha," Zhao Changhe laughed. "I only lost the banknotes, not the silver coins. While I still do have some money, there's not much left. I'll have to look for a way to make some more money soon."

"If you make a joke like that again, I'll beat you up."

"Yesterday, you called me big brother so sweetly, yet today you're repeatedly threatening to beat me up. Oh, by the way, how does your holy cult make money? Do you recruit followers and take their offerings?"

"We have our own streams of income, and most of them are proper businesses. It's just that nobody knows that we're the ones running those businesses," Vermillion Bird said leisurely as she nibbled on her pancake. "The extent of our holy cult's influence and power isn't something that you can figure out just by asking a few questions. Our underground influence is beyond your imagination. So, how about joining us? We can offer you a good position. You'll always have good food and drinks, and you won't have to worry as much about your martial arts training. As for the issues with your meridians, we can mobilize our forces to help you remedy them. Having the support of a powerful force like ours would grant you a much easier life as opposed to what you're doing now, struggling on your own."

"Just give me Chichi."

"You should already know to not even bother with that. We're not like the Maitreya Cult, we don't use beauty to seduce people," Vermillion Bird said contemptuously. "And you shouldn't stare at me like that either, I know what kind of disgusting thoughts are swirling in your head. The venerable ordered me to follow you to gain a better understanding of you, not to hand myself over to you, so get rid of those vile thoughts."

Zhao Changhe really did not know whether to laugh or cry. "I didn't say anything. You're just imagining things on your own. Even if I did have such thoughts, how would you know?"

"I just know!"

"Alright, alright." Zhao Changhe could not refute her. He really misunderstood things a little bit. After all, with Venerable Vermillion Bird sending the Fire Serpent of Yi his way, how could he not even entertain the possibility that she was being gifted to him?

That was why he was being so flirtatious before.

But upon further thought, it seemed reasonable that the Four Idols Cult did not use women to seduce people. While they were called a demonic cult, they were all quite proud.

Well, at least there's no need to worry about Chichi being sent out on such missions. This Miss Fire Serpent is quite proud too. I don't think she would just flirt with anyone out of nowhere. Well...in a way, she's already flirted me up. Should I suddenly pretend to be a gentleman and ask her not to address me as big brother anymore?

Zhao Changhe could not be bothered to dwell on this any further, so he simply chuckled and said, "Why are you so eager to persuade me to join your cult? Your venerable is still investigating the situation with my star chart. What if it turns out that I'm not suitable to join your cult at all?"

Vermillion Bird thought to herself that she was now also considering having him join the cult for reasons other than his star chart... However, she could not say that, so she just said, "Then once you run out of money while you're out in the world alone, what are you going to do? Rob people?"

Before she could finish speaking, someone suddenly blocked their way and said, "You two little piggies seem quite rich, using a couple silver just to buy pancakes. Why don't you give us everything you've got?"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Vermillion Bird: "..."

Seeing the bewildered look on the two people wearing a pig mask, the other party, who had clearly come to rob them, chuckled and said, "Did you two little lovebirds come to Sword Lake City thinking that it's a romantic place to enjoy yourselves? Have neither of your elders told you that Sword Lake City is very chaotic?"

Zhao Changhe and Vermillion Bird seemed to have finally realized what was going on, and they could not help but feel an indescribable sense of incredulity.

We're actually getting robbed in the city... Oh, I've heard that Sword Lake City is a mess and quite chaotic. It's just that I've never experienced it before. I would never have expected my first encounter with it to be like this.

Although he was wearing a pig mask, Dragon Bird was still clearly on Zhao Changhe's back. Is it because there have been more people trying to look like me that my saber has lost its deterrent power?

Zhao Changhe noticed the silence from the girl beside him, the cheerfulness coming from beneath the mask earlier suddenly turning serious. The killing intent in her eyes seemed like they could freeze the souls of anyone who met her gaze.

Wait, she's at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate!

Zhao Changhe silently pulled her back and stepped forward, standing between her and the robbers.

"Haha? Do you really think that carrying a broad saber on your back suddenly makes you Zhao Changhe?" The other party laughed loudly. "Do you really think you'll succeed in playing the hero with so many of us here? Hahaha..."

His laughter was abruptly cut off.

The muscular pig-masked man with the broad saber on his back suddenly moved. With agility that did not match his appearance, he instantly appeared in front of the leader of the robbers, gripping his neck with one hand.

The man attempted to defend himself, but only caught the afterimage of Zhao Changhe's hand. His neck was gripped tightly and his whole body was then lifted off the ground. "You came at just the right time. Now, hand over your money. It's been quite a while since I last did this. It feels quite nostalgic now, actually.”

Vermillion Bird's killing intent disappeared instantly, replaced by a chuckle.

This guy is really amusing.

Nowadays, more and more people were starting to see Zhao Changhe as a righteous hero, forgetting his origins. He was originally a bandit, one who did not hesitate to fight back when threatened.

The face of the man being held up by his neck turned purple. The young men who accompanied him drew their weapons and surrounded Zhao Changhe, shouting nervously, "Who do you think you are to cause trouble in Sword Lake City? We're the men of Seventh Lord Sha from Kangle Gambling House!”

"Never heard of him," said Zhao Changhe. He stretched out his left to lift the speaker up as well, as if the weapons pointed at him did not even exist.

He then banged the heads of the two men he was holding together, causing both of them to instantly faint.

Rubbing his fists, Zhao Changhe walked toward the others.

They could hardly believe their eyes when they saw the pig-masked man wreak havoc. They collectively shouted, "Please think things through. Even Han Wubing was forced to run for his life from here. Who do you think you are to cause trouble in Sword Lake City so wantonly?"

Zhao Changhe was stunned, his eyes suddenly turned sharp.

Interesting... I never would have thought that what seemed like a common act of bullying would involve Han Wubing! So Han Wubing has already left... and he apparently fled for his life!

Originally, apart from Iceheart, which had been at the bottom of Ancient Sword Lake, there was not really anything else special in Sword Lake City. How could they have had the time or inclination to experience the so-called chaoticness of Sword Lake City? Zhao Changhe had simply left right after finishing his business in the city. But now, upon returning, it seemed that he had unexpectedly stumbled upon something interesting.

1. The pancakes being referred to here are jianbing, a traditional Chinese street food, though I believe that there is a variation in terms of the one they're actually eating in this scene. ☜