Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 32: How Can the Setting Sun Be Late to Rise

“You want this blade of mine?” Vice Branch Master Huang rattled his saber. He felt the whole thing to be a little laughable. “If you really beat me, you can have both my position and this piece of junk. But where are you getting your confidence from? Do you really believe that you’re on the same level as her just because you two lived together?”

Zhao Changhe did not argue with him and grinned. “Please impart your wisdom onto me.”

The two of them made their way to the courtyard. A group of disciples surrounded them solemnly and the atmosphere quickly became austere. Someone at the first layer of the Profound Gate fighting someone at the second layer was not uncommon. However, did this beginner, who had only been cultivating for a measly month, have the ability to battle someone of a higher cultivation?

Since Zhao Changhe dared to fight the vice branch master, he was, of course, confident in himself. He was no longer that ignorant boy who just arrived in this world.

He was deeply familiar with how low-level martial arts were at the level of the first and second layer of the Profound Gate. There was nothing fundamentally different about the two; one had more strength and could react faster, but not by much. Now that he had begun practicing internal arts, he could make up for this disparity and his adversary had no way of knowing this. This asymmetry in information made his enemy underestimate him; this would be Zhao Changhe’s key to victory.

What was difficult was finding a way to use his internal force while ensuring that the others did not notice...

Thankfully, he did not lack practice. Zhao Changhe had fought every single day in the stronghold, even with the senior disciples of the sect, until he had gained the titles “Boss Zhao” and the “Little Tyrant.” He had good experience with actual combat. Moreover, with Vice Branch Master Huang staying in the city all day doing nothing but playing with maids and drinking with women, just how much valiance could he still display?

Yue Hongling could fight those with higher cultivation and Luo Qi’s name had sent shockwaves throughout the lands under heaven... If I don’t dare to try, how can I meet again with them in the jianghu? I might as well go home and work on a farm!

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath. With a single step, he attacked.

His saber streaked through the few zhang[1] between him and the vice branch master. Everyone present only saw a flash; Zhao Changhe’s vicious blood surged wildly as his scarlet saber reached the left side of Vice Branch Master Huang’s neck.

“Such a fast saber!” A considerable number of people were terrified. “What the hell, you’re telling me he’s only been training for a month and he’s that good?”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me he’s trained for three years...”

“Are there really such geniuses in the world? Those two even stayed in the same building...”

Vice Branch Master Huang’s smirk vanished and his expression turned serious. The speed of Zhao Changhe’s saber made him break out in cold sweat. The next moment, he dodged to the right and he hurriedly raised his saber to the left to block the attack. He attempted to use his second-layer cultivation to imbue his steel saber with a crushing weight and knock away Zhao Changhe’s blade.

Once their blades met, it was clear for all to see that the victor had been decided.

By the side, Branch Master Fang sighed. His expression was dignified. “Old Huang has lost his edge. He shouldn’t have been this passive...”

Zhao Changhe’s blade, which was fast as lightning and looked unstoppable, suddenly halted in midair, while Vice Branch Master Huang’s saber swung over heavily. It looked like he was trying to chop in half a massive pile of cotton.

A fraction of a second later, Zhao Changhe’s blade had slid to the side of the vice branch master’s saber like a slippery fish and thrust toward his wrist.

“This is one of the moves of the Vicious Blood Saber Art. But no one uses it, right?”

“The Vicious Blood Saber Art is a free and open saber art. It has some more elaborate techniques, but they don’t fit in with the rest. It takes a ridiculous amount of work to blend them in well, who the hell would practice that much?”

“Just how long has he been training?”

‘He controls his blade like it’s his own arm. Has he only been training for a month?’ As the thought surfaced in Vice Branch Master Huang’s mind, he urgently pulled back his blade.

Then, he realized that he was not just pulling back his saber; unconsciously, he was actually taking a step back himself.

Zhao Changhe grinned and kicked him straight in the gut.

There was none of the flashiness of Zhao Changhe’s saber technique just now in this kick. An unmatched, berserk vicious blood force surged forth.

Vice Branch Master Huang felt that he had cultivated the Vicious Blood Art to the second level in vain. There was no way he could muster up the same amount of power as Zhao Changhe, even though they both used the same technique and the latter had lower cultivation.

He was flung back a good few zhang. It was like he was soaring through the clouds as he smashed into the walls of the courtyard and dropped to the ground.

He coughed as he bitterly curled up on the floor. “Give...give me a Blood Settling Pill... My vicious blood qi is in a mess...”

Not one peep could be heard in the courtyard.

They all practiced the same Vicious Blood Art and the same Vicious Blood Saber Art, yet someone at the first level had just defeated someone at the second level, and in just three moves!

The Vice Branch Master could not even find the initiative to attack!

Not even Zhao Changhe had thought it would be this simple. He had not even used his internal force...

Instructor Sun was right. Practicing saber arts was indeed no less important than cultivating. Zhao Changhe had practiced every single move one thousand times, then one more thousand, and then one thousand more. His saber had now finally blossomed, and its bloom was resplendent!

Zhao Changhe pointed his saber at the branch master. “Branch Master, have I won this battle?”

Looking at Zhao Changhe, with his eyes red and full of malice from using the Vicious Blood Art staring at him, Fang Buping felt his heart skip a beat. He felt like this violent man was about to cut him down any moment.

Fang Buping took a deep breath and tightly gripped the handle of his reclining chair. “Not bad. In accordance with the rules of the cult, today, the position of vice branch master is yours.”

Zhao Changhe laughed heartily. “Good. Now that I’m the vice branch master, I have authority over how grain and money are distributed. Wang Dashan!”

Wang Dashan was scared witless. “Y—yes?”

“What’s with that voice? You’re the vice stronghold master, speak louder!” Zhao Changhe pointed in the direction of the storehouse with his saber. “Bring a few of our brothers to take three hundred taels of silver, three carts of corn, and half of the meat to support the development of the Beimang Mountain Stronghold. Act with care. Do not take everything. Leave a bit for our brothers in the city. Don’t be so miserly as to forget how to conduct yourselves.”

Fang Buping looked unwell.

Zhao Changhe strode to the wall of the courtyard and fed Vice Branch Master Huang a Blood Settling Pill. “On behalf of Cult Leader Xue, I have to manage the Beimang Mountain Stronghold well. The responsibility of distributing money and grain should still be taken up by Vice Branch Master Huang.”

In his pocket, Zhao Changhe did not just have that single Blood Settling Pill he refrained from using before. Now, he had seven to eight pills. They were secretly given to him by Instructor Sun before he left. Vice Branch Master Huang never thought that the first person to assist him would be Zhao Changhe rather than Fang Buping. He ate the pill and remained silent for a long while before saying quietly, “Thank you. The saber is yours.”

He was also a bandit, and to his merit, he acted frank and straightforward.

Zhao Changhe showed him no courtesy as he picked up his hefty steel saber. Delighted, he tested out the blade before securing it to his waist. Then, he turned around, picked up the books, and smiled at Fang Buping. “Branch master, if you have no other orders, then this is where I take my leave.”

Fang Buping took a good number of deep breaths. If he had not been injured right now, he would have split Zhao Changhe in twain with no regard for the aftermath. However, he was injured to the point of being bedridden and feared that Zhao Changhe would be the one to do exactly that. Judging from the indescribable speed of Zhao Changhe’s saber, even if everyone here were to try and save Fang Buping, they would not make it in time.

Fang Buping desperately tried to stifle the rage in his heart and forced himself to maintain his indifferent tone. “Stronghold Master Zhao, you are valiant. Our holy faith is fortunate to have obtained such a great general. However, since you have joined the cult, there are some rules that you need to be aware of.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Please tell me about them, branch master.”

“The mountain stronghold does not belong to you. It is one of the organizations of the branch in charge of obtaining riches and resources. You must always keep this in mind. Every month, the stronghold is to keep half of everything it gains, and the other half will be handed to the branch. If imperial troops or orthodox forces are about to lay siege to the stronghold, you are not to act alone and you must report to me for further orders. Stronghold Master Zhao, you must keep these matters in mind, or else you’ll cause trouble for the Head Altar. If that happens, the Four Idols Cult won’t swoop in to protect you. The internal administration of our Blood God Cult still has autonomy in this regard.”

Zhao Changhe smiled. “I understand, naturally. Of course, if there really are imperial troops or orthodox forces coming to weed us out, I hope the branch can send reinforcements.”

“Naturally” Fang Buping really did not want to see Zhao Changhe’s glowing smile, and he waved his hands loathsomely. “Go now.”

Zhao Changhe saw Wang Dashan and the others pushing carts from afar and waved at them. “Brothers, let’s return to the mountain!”

At the same time, golden light flashed through the sky.

It had not even been fifteen minutes since the Tome of Troubled Times had last appeared. Something like this happening was extremely rare. Practically everyone under heaven was looking up at the sky wondering just which ranking had changed.

It was the Ranking of Hidden Dragons again.

Twelfth month, Slight Cold. Zhao Changhe, at the first layer of the Profound Gate, defeated someone at the second layer within three bouts. His potential is laudable.

There is a new addition to the Ranking of Hidden Dragons. Rank 250: Zhao Changhe.

It’s over. This stupid fucking ranking thinks I’m an idiot[2]. There wasn’t even a fancy comment at the end like with Yue Hongling and Xia Chichi. It’s like the tome doesn’t even think I did anything amazing.

After all, it was a low-level battle between those at the first and second layers of the Profound Gate. Such battles were not uncommon. It was just that claiming victory in three bouts was more difficult. In reality, with what strength Zhao Changhe had now, entering the Ranking of Hidden Dragons was not good. He was not strong enough and now he had roused the envy of others. Rising stars who entered the tail bit of the ranking did not live for very long.

Most people in the world took a glance and did not care too much, but some of them felt that the name Zhao Changhe sounded a little familiar...

A thousand li away, in a secret area, Xia Chichi, who was cultivating in the lotus position, opened her eyes and looked at the sky. The corners of her mouth curved up with delight.

“Are you chasing me on the ranking to remind me of something? Are you trying to send your love through vying for rankings? Hehe.”

“To be honest, I’ve long since known that no matter how much later than me you rise, there will be a place for us in the Tome of Troubled Times shining in the sky.”

“The Ranking of Hidden Dragons isn’t the end. There are still the Rankings of Heaven, Earth, and Man waiting for us.”

How can the setting sun be late to rise?

If Xia Chichi could do it, why not Zhao Changhe?

In some other part of the city, Yue Hongling stood atop a tall building and quietly watched Zhao Changhe ordering his subordinates to carry the resources from afar.

At that moment, Zhao Changhe’s words suddenly surfaced in her mind: “I didn’t come to this world to fool around in the countryside.”

1. One zhang is 3.3 meters ☜

2. 250 is used to refer to an idiot in Chinese ☜