Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 267: Scheming Couple

Just a moment ago, Batu had not even considered daring to swing his saber at the person ranked forty-first on the Ranking of Man, someone who had already begun unlocking the Profound Mysteries.

But in the instant that he swung his saber, the fighting spirit within his heart was ignited and replaced all other thoughts.

These days had been too oppressive, causing him to feel like biting back at anyone who dared to even come near him.

A once reckless and simple-minded brute had been tormented to the point where his eyes now bore a sinister glint. A lion of the Grasslands, licking its wounds as its bloodshot eyes filled with hatred glared at the hostile crowd around it, its pent-up fury finding no release.

All it took was a trigger, and all that fury came rushing out.

My own uncle was an expert on the Ranking of Earth! I’ve seen plenty of strong warriors since I was a child! What does it matter if he’s on the Ranking of Man? Can’t he still be pierced by a blade?

Bang!

The broad saber viciously clashed against Hu Lie’s scimitar.

Hu Lie did not even have the time to deal with him properly. He just casually flicked the broad saber away as Zhao Changhe’s saber was already approaching from his side, while Yue Hongling’s sword was coming at him from behind. He especially could not treat Yue Hongling’s sword lightly. He did not have the time to be bothering with Batu at this moment.

However, even though it was just a casual flick to Hu Lie, Batu felt a surge of tremendous force rushing toward him, causing his meridians to go into disarray. Unable to contain it, he spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered backward.

But instead of being alarmed, he laughed madly through bloodstained lips. “Haha... Hahaha... This is it!”

He was not completely unable to resist the other party’s attacks. He had not been instantly defeated! This proved that he could fight and he was not simply courting death by attacking Hu Lie.

All the hard work I’ve put into myself to reach the level I’m at today was not in vain! I have not put to shame the treasures left to me by my uncle!

“Khan!” Only then did Batu’s loyal guards finally realize what was happening, and they rushed forward to catch him. “What’s going on...”

“They planned to kill us. If things go the way they want, none of us will return to their homes!” Batu pointed with his saber. “We must take him and his men down!”

A battle cry erupted as Batu’s guards clashed with Hu Lie’s subordinates.

Meanwhile, Hu Lie simultaneously parried Yue Hongling’s and Zhao Changhe’s blades. Seeing the mess that had erupted, he almost lost his breath and spat out a mouthful of blood.

They had originally come out here to set a trap and try to capture Yue Hongling. However, it somehow ended up turning into a battle where both sides had almost equal numbers. Moreover, he found himself caught under the coordinated attacks of a scheming couple. He could not understand how the situation had so swiftly gone awry.

How dare Batu do this?! He has not even secured enough food for his tribe to survive through the winter. Does he think that Yue Hongling will provide him with grain or what?!

Hu Lie did not have the room to think too much. It was already beyond his expectations that Batu could withstand a blow from him, let alone that this scheming couple would actually be so strong as to place him under such great pressure. Their relentless attacks made it impossible for him to divert his attention.

Even though he had already tried to overestimate Yue Hongling’s strength, he still had not anticipated that she would be this powerful.

When Yue Hongling stormed into the Black Wolf Khan’s tent and killed the Black Wolf Khan, it certainly sounded like an impressive victory. However, they were in the Grasslands and they knew the situation in much more detail than what was described by the Tome of Troubled Times. It had not actually been as epic as depicted by the tome.

At that time, the forces of the Black Wolf Khan were mostly away, and there were only a few guards around his tent. Furthermore, the Black Wolf Khan was arrogant and complacent, thinking that a mere young lady on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons was simply walking to her own death by trying to face him. He probably even went as far as to imagine a whole series of obscene scenarios after capturing her. It was said that he even greeted the enemy with a smile when he came out of his tent to face her.

If the Black Wolf Khan truly had such a mindset when he faced Yue Hongling, then Hu Lie felt that he could understand why a distinguished expert such as him, who was also on the Ranking of Man, had ended up getting his head chopped off right in the middle of his camp. Yue Hongling was not necessarily stronger than the Black Wolf Khan back then. She merely took advantage of his underestimation of her and certain circumstances to be able to kill him. This was why she only replaced the Black Wolf Khan on the Ranking of Man, which was sixty-eight. She was not judged by the Tome of Troubled Times to deserve a ranking higher than that.

There were twenty-seven ranks between the sixty-eighth and the forty-first on the Ranking of Man. Moreover, these rankings were no longer based on potential like they had been on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons; they were purely based on strength and achievements. A gap of twenty-seven ranks in these conditions was almost an uncrossable chasm. Furthermore, as someone who had unlocked the Profound Mysteries, he should have had an even greater advantage in such an environment!

However, to his surprise, in actual combat, he could not feel such a gap at all. In fact, Yue Hongling’s skill was at around the level of those who were just a few ranks lower than him. After over three months of roaming in the Grasslands on her own, which included countless battles and countless escapes, her sword had become even more refined and flawless. In the midst of this storm of sand that the sun barely penetrated, she was like the evening glow.

She was a powerful opponent who would require considerable effort from him even in a fair one-on-one battle! If it were not for her performance being hindered by the sandstorm, Hu Lie had no doubt that she would have been able to escape from their encirclement. Their plan seemed to have little significance. as the people he brought were simply not strong enough to stop her!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The powerful collisions of the long sword and scimitar echoed incessantly. Yue Hongling retreated slightly, but then Hu Lie’s spiritual sense clearly perceived a broad saber moving toward the back of his head domineeringly.

Hu Lie grit his teeth.

There’s also this brute who’s using a broad saber. I originally thought that I could easily overpower him, but when I tried to counter his attack with my scimitar, I could only force him back a few steps. I thought that he was some kind of berserker, so how is he employing this kind of silent sword art now?! Where did this fucking freak come from?

Swish!

As he drew his scimitar back, he suddenly flicked it toward Zhao Changhe’s left rib, equally silent and inconspicuous in the midst of the sandstorm.

Moreover, this was a strike from someone on the Ranking of Man. It was so fast and cunning that even if you could see it, it would still be difficult to defend against.

Zhao Changhe, however, seemed to be able to see everything clearly. He gracefully evaded the strike, while Yue Hongling’s sword rushed toward Hu Lie’s throat once again.

“Huh?” Hu Lie gave up the pursuit to deal with Yue Hongling’s strike. Unable to hide his surprise, he said, “You there, you know my saber art?”

Zhao Changhe remained silent. Obviously, he had never seen Hu Lie’s saber art before, but he had studied Chi Li’s saber art quite extensively, at least enough to understand the basics. Since they were using the same weapons, there were bound to be similarities—after all, there are only so many ways people can use a weapon. Although the applications of a scimitar or curved saber might seem mysterious and unpredictable to someone who has not faced one before, enough study will allow anyone to get used to them.

With a flick of his wrist, Dragon Bird emanated a bloody glow, indicating that it had been covered with the power of Scattering the Gods and Buddhas.

A single saber cut across the sky, like a sword piercing through the heaven, splitting the swirling yellow sand in half.

The sword of Avici, the pursuit of ten thousand souls![1]

Whoosh!

Hu Lie stepped back to retreat, unexpectedly hesitating on how to deal with the saber strike while facing Yue Hongling.

Zhao Changhe could not help but admire his keen perception and rich combat experience. The other party was not underestimating him despite the clear disparity in their levels, making him a truly difficult opponent.

Suddenly, Zhao Changhe’s heart thumped, and he thrust his saber backward.

Under the cover of the chaotic yellow sand, one of Hu Lie’s subordinates had silently attempted to ambush him. However, as if Zhao Changhe had eyes in the back of his head, he was the one who struck first. He made use of the longer reach of Dragon Bird to directly stab through the assailant’s chest.

At the same time, Yue Hongling thrust her sword into the nearby yellow sand, causing blood to splatter. She turned her head back in amazement at Zhao Changhe’s move, silently acknowledging how much he had grown during their time apart.

He was actually capable of posing a threat to someone ranked forty-first on the Ranking of Man, making the opponent wary of his prowess. At the same time, he was also able to effortlessly deal with an ambush, demonstrating experience that did not match how long he had been in the jianghu.

Right, he’s already become quite the renowned expert himself. With our strength now nearly being comparable, perhaps we can really roam the world together...

The sandstorm intensified, and Hu Lie’s figure became barely visible. His voice echoed from within the yellow sand. “What’s your name?”

Zhao Changhe’s voice echoed through the sandstorm. “I’m Zhao Changhe from the Central Plains. Please enlighten me, Your Excellency Hu Lie!”

Batu gaped. You motherfucker...

He looked at Hu Lie’s subordinates, who were already engaged in battle with his. He knew that there was no turning back.

Hu Lie’s voice faintly echoed through the sand. “So it’s you. Yue Hongling and Zhao Changhe, huh... Names renowned throughout the world. Indeed, it’s not just a fluke. But unfortunately, I’m done testing you. Your keen senses and impeccable skills are admirable, but when it comes to the Profound Mysteries, you still know nothing. This patch of sand shall be your burial ground.”

As his voice echoed, it became increasingly resonant, reverberating all around, growing increasingly deafening, stirring up the sand even more, casting everything in darkness.

“Can you not see anything? Are you having trouble even breathing?” Hu Lie’s voice continued to echo. “Without opening the bridge between heaven and man, unable to sustain yourself with the innate breath, unable to establish a connection between heaven and earth, you are still merely mortal. Perhaps, if not for this sandstorm, you could have escaped. Unfortunately, choosing to return here and attack us was your biggest mistake.”

Zhao Changhe quickly tore off two pieces of cloth from his clothing, wet them with some water he had, and handed one of the pieces of cloth to Yue Hongling for her to use to cover her nose and mouth.

They could still barely breathe earlier, but now that the sandstorm had intensified to such a level, they truly were at risk of suffocation if they did not do anything.

Now, the only issue was visibility.

Earlier, they were already unable to see their opponents. But now, all they could see was sand. In such an environment, they could not even see their own fingers.

In this kind of environment, if Hu Lie could still see, how were they to fight him?

Moments later, Yue Hongling’s voice reached Zhao Changhe’s ears. “I have already gotten a glimpse of the Profound Mysteries. Although I have yet to break through, I can actually see him. I was pretending to be unable to see just now to make him think that I actually could not see.”

Zhao Changhe cursed inwardly.

“Why do you think I turned around and entered the sandstorm? Your big sister here isn’t stupid.” Yue Hongling chuckled. “You go first. In this situation, it does not all come down to strength. If he misjudges my capabilities, I might just be able to turn the tables on him.”

Zhao Changhe sighed and then transmitted his voice back to her, “In that case, might as well double down on that.”

1. Avīci is one of the Buddhist hells (naraka). Those reborn in Avīci are those guilty of killing their parents, or—as is clearly relevant in this case—killing an arhat or spilling the blood of a Buddha. ☜