Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 252: His Game

Seeing Zhao Changhe’s gaze that held a hint of admiration, Xia Longyuan’s hint of madness remained uncontained, and ferocity lay within his eyes. “Although our goals may differ, wanting to go home is just as good. Let me ask you this, when you want to go back, will you kneel down and beg them to send you back, or will you step on their faces and tell them that you can walk out on your own? And let me ask you this, why should I just accept being brought in here like a prisoner? What right do they have?!”

Zhao Changhe looked at his gray hair, feeling slightly moved.

He might be from the same era in the modern world, just that he was thrown into this world decades earlier, stirring up his own extraordinary storms. No matter how he manipulated the winds and clouds, he was still fundamentally someone who had been away from home for decades and could not return.

Of course, he did not really seem to want to go back, but neither was he a rebel. This man was a hero above all, seeking to trample on the world and replace those above.

However, despite their differing motives, the challenges they faced were remarkably similar.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath and responded earnestly, “The latter.”

Xia Longyuan burst into laughter. “Well said! I thought you would not even dare to say it out loud!”

Zhao Changhe sighed. “It’s indeed a bit difficult. I’m not as powerful as you, senior. What do I do if lightning strikes my head?”

“They wouldn’t do that! People like you are one in a million, how could they waste you? Besides, they aren’t as strong as you think.”

“Are they really not?”

“The fall of the heavenly dao, the collapse of the era, the twilight of the gods—none of those are fake. Where are the gods and Buddhas who truly manipulate the world? They’re just a bunch of weak old farts pretending to be gods. What’s so great about them?” Xia Longyuan sneered. “The blind woman is a prime example. Either she is just a spirit or her power is sealed. I’m telling you, she’s just a piece of trash who knows how to put on airs. Do you think she can do anything to me?”

There was silence all around, with nothing but the wind blowing and rain slanting. The golden foil on his chest remained motionless, and the blind woman, wherever she was, remained silent too.

Zhao Changhe suddenly remembered that he had accidentally grabbed the blind woman’s hand.

It was different from when he grasped Huangfu Qing’s hand. Huangfu Qing had a liking for him and was not wary, but what about the blind woman? They had only met briefly back then.

And the substance he’d been wiping... never mind.

This only proves that Xia Longyuan is right. The blind woman is actually extremely weak. And he is implying that the blind woman is just one example, with many more to follow, such as... the Sword Emperor, maybe? That’s right, isn’t the Sword Emperor a typical example of the gods and Buddhas waiting to awaken?

Xia Longyuan referred to them as a bunch of rotten bones in a graveyard. Well, it’s not like I’d be able to fight against them even if they’re weak right now. Even he himself staggered under their blows.

Actually, some think that he has hidden injuries, and that might actually be the case...

“My declaration of war began when I destroyed the Buddhists years ago. I did not destroy their temples, but the true Buddhas. What could they do about it? I have done many similar things across the years.” Xia Longyuan finally regained his calm demeanor and continued to stroll. “When I don’t care about the empire, descendants, or women... I have no weaknesses. The Wang Clan, the Maitreya Cult, the Four Idols Cult, all of their actions are just a good piece of drama to me.”

“I understand your thoughts. But...” Zhao Changhe hesitated for a moment. “But senior, since you don’t want the empire, why not just pass it on to someone suitable? After all...”

“You mean you can’t stand the chaos and the suffering of the people? Just as you pointed at the beggar when we began our conversation?”

“Yes. I do admire your ambitions, but when it comes to this specific point... If you don’t want to manage it, then give it to someone who does. This drama isn’t worth watching.”

“It’s quite strange to me that you would have such thoughts,” remarked Xia Longyuan. “When you came to this world, did you not feel detached? Just like when reading a book or watching a movie, the joys and sorrows of this world should have nothing to do with you. You’re not a person of this world, so why bother caring so much?”

Zhao Changhe’s heart stirred. He had indeed experienced this kind of detachment, but not to such an extreme extent—it had never been to the point of being apathetic.

—If you find the beggar unsightly, just kill him.

This thought did not result from some enlightenment; rather, it was simply his genuine intention. Xia Longyuan had no interest in philosophical enlightenment when it came to those whom he deemed mere ants.

In fact, from the beginning, Xia Longyuan had always seen the world as nothing more than a reality show playing right before his eyes. In his eyes, those of this world were no different from characters in a show or NPCs in a game. Whether they were the gods from the previous eras or the White Tiger Saintess. His train of thought had been consistent: “Let me try this,” then “Is it effective?”

When facing the White Tiger Saintess, it was as if she was not even a woman to him, just a clue to be tested, a piece that might just fit in the puzzle he was trying to solve.

His pursuit of martial arts excellence, his ambition to conquer the world—he was treating this entire world as a game, a game with level-up mechanics, warfare, management, and strategy. Eventually, however, the game became dull and tasteless to him, so he stopped playing it and began playing with the gods and Buddhas instead.

When referring to the gods and Buddhas overlooking everything, Xia Longyuan seemed like pretty much one of them. They were all the same.

Except... perhaps the daughter he unexpectedly ended up with, he seemed to care for her just a bit. It was as if she proved his mark of existence in this world.

Seeing Zhao Changhe’s silence, Xia Longyuan continued, “I don’t want the empire, but I still have use for this position. I can openly destroy the Buddhists, watch Ying Five and the others fight over alternate spaces, observe the Sea Clan behind the Wang Clan, and observe the Night Emperor behind the Four Idols Cult. I can follow whatever lead I want. If I did not have the position I had, would I not still have to organize a force to do my bidding? Wouldn’t that be redundant?”

Zhao Changhe was still silent.

Xia Longyuan said with a smile, “The throne is still useful to me, so I won’t give it to you, nor to Chichi. You can continue carrying the saber on your back and continue playing around, it’s quite interesting to see all sides play their parts.”

Zhao Changhe finally said, “I never wanted it either.”

Xia Longyuan said, “Then why the sour face? Do you disagree with my thoughts?”

“Well, while I understand your thoughts rationally, I can’t agree with them emotionally.”

“Is it because the people are innocent?” Xia Longyuan smiled. “Or is it because someone is coughing?”

“They aren’t NPCs. The waters of Jiangnan flow red with blood, the winds of the northern frontier blow over white bones. Tang Wanzhuang coughs up blood that stains her robes, the Huangfu Clan experiences tragedy after tragedy. I can’t treat them all as merely some scenes or events in a movie.”

Xia Longyuan looked at him silently. Zhao Changhe stared back into his eyes calmly and continued, “I admire you very much, senior. However, I believe we have different paths.”

A smile emerged on Xia Longyuan’s lips. “I never expected our paths to align. Why do you think I’m telling you all this?”

Zhao Changhe said, “Because we share the same enemies, and you’re showing me the way, perhaps impatient with my slow pace.”

“Isn’t that enough? How you see me has nothing to do with me.”

“...”

Xia Longyuan did not care about Zhao Changhe’s attitude toward his actions at all. He casually tossed a blood-colored fruit toward Zhao Changhe. “As long as you know you’re slow... Actually, compared to how I was in the past, you’re actually quite fast. However, with how the current situation is, your speed is insufficient. I had planned to teach you a few moves, but now that seems unnecessary... Our paths may seem similar on the surface, but they differ fundamentally. The Six Harmonies Art is just barely suitable for you, and my other cultivation techniques are not suitable for you at all. “

Zhao Changhe took the fruit, somewhat astonished. “What’s this?”

“Since I find your pace to be slow, so of course I’ll give you a boost. This fruit enriches blood and nourishes vicious qi; it’s suitable for your Vicious Blood Art. This is the kind of thing that you were originally looking for in Jiangnan, not that worthless bead. Unfortunately, the issue with your meridians is truly a bit of a headache. I don’t have the time to help you find things that will help you with that. Wasting my divine art with such rubbish aptitude, yet you still dare discuss the dao with me. It’s ridiculous.”

Zhao Changhe held the fruit in his hands, at a loss for words.

“You have your path, so go ahead and pursue it. I’m also curious to see what you can achieve.” Xia Longyuan finally turned around and walked away leisurely. “If you find me disagreeable, then come and kill me yourself.”

Ahead of Zhao Changhe lay the boundary of the capital; it was neither far nor close.