Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 495: If You Can Still Find Me

It was not until Sisi played A Phoenix Seeks His Mate that Zhao Changhe realized why he had been feeling strangely numb all day, as if he were under anesthesia. It was only now that he realized that it was probably because the Pain Transfer Gu was still in effect.

It certainly made him more vigorous, and the mental pleasure was undeniably still there, but in comparison, the physical pleasure was lacking.

Was all the pleasure being transferred to Sisi instead? What the hell...

With a sigh, he got dressed and stepped outside helplessly. “That gu of yours...”

As soon as he stepped out, the maids immediately kneeled down, not daring to look up. Their earlier giggles and lighthearted attitudes were nowhere to be seen.

Zhao Changhe’s words got caught in his throat as he glanced at Sisi.

Dressed in formal attire, Sisi looked even more stunning than before, but Zhao Changhe was in no mood to admire her at the moment. He frowned and said, “I get why they kneeled down in a formal situation before, but there’s no need for them to be so tense on an everyday basis. Let’s not make it seem as if you’ve just replaced the person lording over you. If you do, then what would have been the point of everything we’ve done?”

Sisi gestured for the maids to stand, smiling. “I didn’t tell them to do it. They’re kneeling out of genuine reverence. Who told you to put on such a spectacular display?”

She paused, then leaned closer to his ear, whispering, “Do you really... not want to dominate me?”

She lingered on the word “dominate,” and her tone was seductive enough to send shivers down his spine. Zhao Changhe gulped and remained silent.

Sisi giggled softly and murmured into his ear, “Master, it’s time to eat...”

This is unbearable. Can’t she flirt with me some other time? Yue Hongling’s watching from inside. She’s just putting me in a tough spot.

Zhao Changhe sighed helplessly, “So how do I remove this gu? I can’t just have my sensations permanently transferred to you for the rest of my life, can I? How am I supposed to manage?”

Sisi pouted, slightly disappointed, and sighed. “It only lasts for a day. It’s not a permanent thing. Since I gave it to you last night, it should die off on its own by tonight.”

Zhao Changhe glanced at her, unsure whether to feel relieved or a little let down.

The gu was actually kind of interesting, and he had not fully explored it yet. For example, if he touched himself, he wondered what she would feel.

Feigning nonchalance, Zhao Changhe rubbed his chest a little.

Sisi’s eyes went wide.

Zhao Changhe could not help but chuckle.

At that moment, Yue Hongling casually stepped out, tidying her clothes and tying her ponytail. “Is there food?”

Sisi clutched her chest. “Yes... The grandest banquet awaits, welcoming our pair of sacred envoys.”

“And your hand is on your chest... for what exactly?” Yue Hongling asked.

“...It’s the etiquette of our Spirit Tribe. It is meant to show our respect.”

Yue Hongling looked at the two of them suspiciously, trying to discern any hint of mischief. Finding nothing, she said, “We really don’t need or want some grand ceremony. Honestly, we’d prefer a simple meal in a small room with just a few of us.”

Sisi smiled slightly, “Today’s ceremony is a must. I know you two may not enjoy it, so you may simply stay in a small room at the back and have a private dinner. It’s a high-class way for the sacred envoys to participate without having to be wholly present. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to join you.”

“Alright then,” Yue Hongling replied with some interest. “We’ll have our own meal and watch your grand ceremony from there.”

In truth, if they were regular guests at a grand bonfire festival, watching the young men and women of the Spirit Tribe singing and dancing, Yue Hongling and Zhao Changhe would have likely been interested in joining in. But in this particular setup, neither of them felt entirely at ease.

From their private room, they observed the ceremony outside. At the foot of the mountain, a vast expanse was lit by fire stretching for miles, with countless members of the Spirit Tribe solemnly praying and chanting. Though there was singing and dancing, it had an intense, almost shamanistic feel to it. The religious ritual cast a shadow over any sense of victory and celebration.

Leaning against the mountainside with a cup in hand, Yue Hongling sipped her drink and watched for a while before sighing. “Boring.”

Zhao Changhe wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. This was their favorite position. Hearing her sigh, he smiled and said, “If it were just a regular victory, you might have gotten the lively celebration you were hoping for. But this feels different. Eh, well. It might be like this today, but after a day or two, they'll probably be celebrating as you thought they would.”

Yue Hongling replied, “It’s not just the atmosphere... it’s hard to explain. Seeing them all kneeling makes me question what we were fighting for in the first place.”

She pouted in frustration. “I’m not as cultured as First Seat Tang.”

“Then don’t try to explain it,” Zhao Changhe said, half-amused, half-exasperated. “My dear big sister... You’ve been getting more and more jealous lately.”

“Well, would you rather me be jealous or indifferent?” she asked, leaning back against him with a calm curiosity.

Zhao Changhe was caught off guard by the question, then finally replied, “Hmm... I think I like you the way you are now.”

Yue Hongling rolled her eyes. “Are you just asking for trouble?”

“It’s because this side of you feels more... real, like a wife.”

She huffed but did not argue with him calling her his wife. Instead, she said, “But what if I feel like leaving again?”

“Hm?” Zhao Changhe was dumbfounded. “You’re not fully recovered yet. At least wait until you’re fully healed before going anywhere.”

Yue Hongling laughed, “Of course, I’m not saying I’ll leave right now. I’ll obviously stay until I’m fully recovered, and besides, I have plenty of martial arts insights I want to test with you. But honestly, you don’t seem surprised by the idea that I might want to leave again.”

“Well, should I be? You’ve never been one to stay in one place for long. Seeing something like this, something that doesn’t quite align with your heart, it’s only natural for you to feel the urge to leave.” Zhao Changhe tilted his head and kissed her on the cheek. “But don’t run off too fast. I haven’t spent much time with you this time, and most of it was in battle. Now that everything’s settled, I want to spend some quality time with you.”

“I thought you’d be eager for me to leave so you could enjoy your maid all to yourself.”

“.....Hey, where did that come from? To be honest with you, I don’t dare get too involved with her. I couldn’t even handle that Pain Transfer Gu she used on me. If she uses some Heart-Bonding Gu on me out of nowhere, I’d be done for...”

Yue Hongling chuckled. “Poor thing, so close yet so far.”

Zhao Changhe did not deny his desire to have her. With Sisi’s allure, who would not be enchanted by her? Perhaps only a eunuch would be able to refrain from doing so. It was strange to discuss such things so openly with his own woman, especially after she clearly admitted to being a bit jealous. Yet, with Yue Hongling, it felt perfectly natural.

Yue Hongling did not dwell on the topic either, instead saying, “So, would you like to hear about my experience with the second layer of the Profound Mysteries?”

“Yes.”

The blind woman, listening from afar, was moved to tears. Finally, you two are getting to business.

Yue Hongling said, “Honestly, I was at least three steps away from the second layer of the Profound Mysteries. But after meeting you, I covered those gaps in such a short time.”

“What were those three steps?”

“The first was my physical foundation; my body was far from tempered enough, and my blood and qi were lacking. But with the baptism of the Heavenly Blood Jade, that was resolved,” Yue Hongling explained. “As for you, it’s the opposite. Your physical training is already solid, but your internal energy still needs work.”

“Mm-hm.” Zhao Changhe nodded. “I understand that myself. What’s else?”

“I’m getting there,” Yue Hongling said. “After reaching the second layer of the Profound Mysteries, I noticed that internal and external power start to merge, with the power of my body and my internal energy flowing together, indistinguishable from one another. Perhaps when this stage is complete, I can start to approach the third layer of the Profound Mysteries.”

Zhao Changhe paused, realizing the insight was invaluable as it provided a roadmap for his path ahead.

So I can’t just cultivate internal and external energy separately but must merge them into one seamless flow? If that’s the case, then I might have an advantage. The Six Harmonies Art is fundamentally designed for something like that.

“That covers the physical foundation. The second step is a broader understanding of martial arts. This time, watching you act has had a profound effect on me. We talked about it before: the idea of the individual’s sword versus the sword of the world, right? Now my sword intent has expanded. Once my perspective widened, I found myself at the threshold of the second layer of the Profound Mysteries, almost there but not quite. For you, it’s a similar journey—from relying solely on brute strength to developing a more refined sword intent. You’re on a path that’s becoming broader as well.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “I’ve felt that too. What’s the third step?”

“The third is an insight I gained from that page. Is it the setting sun illuminating a solitary bird, or is a goshawk challenging the setting sun? This may represent moving from sensing and utilizing the energy of heaven and earth to controlling and mastering it. Like ascending toward the heavens, gradually looking down from above,” explained Yue Hongling. “The first two steps are more tangible. Once you achieve them, you’ve achieved them. But for this last insight, perhaps you can rely on that page?”

Zhao Changhe thought to himself that this page, representing the path of life, was likely the most aligned with his cultivation path, even more so than the second page he got that was related to nature.

The first step, improving his internal energy, might also be closely linked to this page.

That was probably why the blind woman kept steering him toward Miaojiang.

But perhaps the second page was a prerequisite for this one. Otherwise, he might have ended up like Duoluo and Shi Wuding, taking on some monstrous state.

Yue Hongling continued, “By the way, the sword arts you taught me... The more I practice them, the more I feel they’re converging with the fragmented techniques I picked up in the past. From what Venerable Duoluo mentioned, the sword arts we practice seem to be techniques of the Sword Emperor. What you taught me might be from his earlier years, while the fragments I found seem to reflect his later insights. When I head back, I’d like to explore some old secret realms again. I might uncover something new.”

Zhao Changhe snapped out of his reverie and asked, “Where is that?”

Yue Hongling bit her lip, her voice barely a whisper, “If... if you can find it on your own, then...”

Zhao Changhe blinked in surprise.

Yue Hongling murmured, “Maybe then, I won’t be able to leave, even if I want to...”