Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 191: During Our First Encounter

Zhao Changhe was dumbfounded for a moment before managing to blurt out, “So your name is also Wang Daozhong...”

As soon as these words came out of his mouth, not only did Wang Daozhong’s mouth hang open in surprise, but even the surrounding Daoist priests turned their heads away, their shoulders shaking with their suppressed laughter. Some of the younger Daoists could not help but burst out into giggles.

Meanwhile, underneath her mask, Vermillion Bird’s face was involuntarily twitching with amusement.

The atmosphere in the Daoist temple seemed to change abruptly, and Wang Daozhong, who had clearly been intending to question and trouble the Daoists due to the presence of someone from the Four Idols Cult, had completely lost his imposing demeanor. Even he could not help but feel a bit awkward, saying, “So, your name is really Wang Daozhong? And you’re also from the Wang Clan of Langya? Which branch are you from? I don’t remember the Wang Clan having branches in Zhao Village.”

“Ahem...” Zhao Changhe finally cleared his throat after a long pause. “Well... Ahem, it seems that I misspoke. What I meant to say was that it was you, senior, who played a significant part in dealing with the barbarian! I merely relied on your reputation. The mere threat of your presence was enough to scare away the barbarian! I am truly in awe!”

Wang Daozhong’s lips twitched slightly, but he managed to force himself into keeping a deadpan face.

If they were to speak honestly, then He Lei had indeed been somewhat intimidated by Wang Daozhong’s reputation. So, should he be proud of that?

To outsiders unaware of the truth, Wang Daozhong’s actions could easily be seen as heroic. The man had come to the aid of his neighbors, driving away the barbarian who had come to cause trouble! Perhaps many would even admire him, praising him as a hero of the nation.

But why doesn’t it make me feel good at all? Am I supposed to thank this guy for what he did just now?

The hatred from He Lei’s side would likely fall on him. Who knew if that rough and fierce barbarian would even realize anything later on? In any case, in the short term, he would undoubtedly regard the Wang Clan, especially Wang Daozhong, as a great enemy, further tying the Wang Clan to the Great Xia.

The Wang Clan seemed to be placed in an awkward position this time.

Wang Daozhong was not sure if this impostor had considered the consequences of his actions beforehand. In any case, it was not appropriate for him to express his anger toward Zhao Changhe in public, or even to express it at all. He could not just go and say that he had no intention of dealing with the barbarian from the beginning, could he?

Zhao Changhe had indeed thought things through, and he even had more malicious thoughts. He had hoped that the Tome of Troubled Times would help out, perhaps by flashing an announcement stating that Gui Chen and Wang Daozhong teamed up against He Lei. If that actually happened, then it would have permanently maligned the Wang Clan’s reputation. Unfortunately, the Tome of Troubled Times was uncooperative.

Stupid tome!

Both sides stared at each other, and in the end, Wang Daozhong chose to confront Zhao Changhe by targeting the Four Idols Cult. “If I’m not mistaken, this mask and this fiery red robe should belong to the Fire Serpent of Yi from the Four Idols Cult, right? May I know what is the meaning behind Young Hero Zhao protecting her?”

Zhao Changhe sighed and said, “Senior, why are you like ordinary people like Xuan Chong, judging people based on their appearance? It’s not like this attire is something that only a single person can wear. To be frank, everyone knows that I don’t have many quirks, but I do have this particular one. You know, back in Beimang...”

You mean when you had someone disguise herself as Yue Hongling?

This thought crossed everyone’s minds, including Wang Daozhong’s.

You really enjoy yourself when it comes to this quirk, huh?

In fact, Wang Daozhong did not believe it at all. He wondered if he should just lift the woman’s mask to take a peek... But Gui Chen was standing right next to him, watching him closely, so he refrained from doing so.

Moreover, he also knew that Zhao Changhe was just giving him a way out, hoping to de-escalate the situation. Because in the current situation, the Wang Clan was not really willing to provoke the Four Idols Cult for no reason. Suddenly picking a fight with such a force would be utterly inexplicable and might even cause onlookers to laugh at them. After all, the Wang Clan was just intending to test the waters and see if they should declare independence. They had yet to do anything, so if they suddenly rejected the barbarians from the north and exterminated the demonic cults within, acting more loyal to the Great Xia than even Tang Wanzhuang...

They would really be reduced to a laughingstock if such an event were to play out.

Wang Daozhong took a deep look at Zhao Changhe, focusing on Dragon Bird on his back before saying meaningfully, “As expected of a person who can carry such a saber, you are truly outstanding. Seeing is indeed believing.”

Zhao Changhe smiled warmly. “This is just a fake saber, but the young lady from the clan that has the real saber is on her way here. Senior, are you not afraid of the exact same thing that just happened to the Taiyi Sect happening to her? I sincerely suggest that you go meet up with her. If something goes wrong, it won’t be easy for the young lady of the Wang Clan to get married in the future.”

Wang Daozhong remained silent, staring at Zhao Changhe for a long time before suddenly disappearing into the night.

Zhao Changhe breathed a sigh of relief.

From behind, Vermillion Bird keenly noticed that the back of his clothes was slightly damp.

Whether it was due to the pressure from drawing the bow earlier against He Lei or the tension of confronting a prominent figure from the Wang Clan, she could not tell. But either way...he had not even flinched. Not once.

Gui Chen stepped forward and respectfully expressed his gratitude. “The Taiyi Sect thanks you, young hero and...hmm...heroine, for your assistance. If there’s anything you need in the future, please don’t hesitate to let us know.”

Vermillion Bird shifted her gaze away from Zhao Changhe’s back, stepping aside and gesturing for the courtesy not to be extended to her. “I have not done anything, so there’s no need to extend such gratitude toward me.”

Gui Chen glanced at her mask, smiling slightly, and saying nothing more.

The Taiyi Sect was a righteous sect and had clashed with the Four Idols Cult in the past. Although there had never been any deep-seated enmity between the two forces, Gui Chen understood the Four Idols Cult better than others.

That robe isn’t a robe for those at the level of the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Venerable Vermillion Bird, just what are you up to?

Zhao Changhe said, “There’s no need to be so polite. With the incident involving the barbarians, I’m honestly really worried about Yangyang. Whether the Wang Clan sends someone to assist her or not, I would still much prefer to help out myself. Since you’ve got many people, then could you have some of them help me figure out the path that the Cui Clan took?”

“Of course.”

Suddenly, Vermillion Bird remembered something, and her heart skipped a beat. Isn’t it about time for Chichi to face Cui Yuanyang? She wouldn’t actually be planning to kill her, would she?

She became anxious and said quickly, “Instead of going around to investigate the Cui Clan’s whereabouts this late into the night, wouldn’t it be better to go to the city and inquire at our holy cult’s base? We’re more likely to find out her whereabouts there.”

Zhao Changhe was overjoyed and said, “That sounds good. Thank you.”

The two of them hurried down the mountain. Zhao Changhe remembered something as they were moving, “Since you’re under Venerable Vermillion Bird and she sent you to ask me questions, does that mean she is in the city at the moment?”

Vermillion Bird said, “So what if she is? Since she sent me to ask you questions, she certainly would not kill you for no reason”

“What if my answers displease her?”

“Then you won’t be recruited into the cult, what else can happen? As you said, apart from your connection with the saintess, you haven’t offended our holy cult. Even if outsiders call us a demonic cult, we don’t just randomly kill people for no reason.”

“That’s true, but considering the huge gap in cultivation, I can’t help but feel uneasy when facing her. What if she doesn’t play by the rules...”

Vermillion Bird fell silent for a moment, then asked, puzzled, “He Lei and Wang Daozhong are both prominent figures on the Ranking of Earth, yet you dared to confront them. Although Venerable Vermillion Bird is ranked higher than them, it’s not like she’s invincible. Why are you so afraid of her?”

“Well, I actually was really scared just now. I even broke out in a cold sweat.”

“Scared? As if I’d believe that. You merely felt some pressure. If facing someone on the Ranking of Earth while you’re just at the fifth layer of the Profound Gate does not even leave you feeling pressured, then are you still human? In any case, that was not true fear. I doubt that you are actually as afraid of Vermillion Bird as you say you are, much less to the point where you’re even afraid to see her.”

“Well... perhaps,” Zhao Changhe remarked. He thought for a while and added, “It’s just that several characters have left a significant imprint on my mind when I first entered the jianghu. It would probably be difficult for such impressions to fade even for a long time.”

“Who?”

“People such as the gallant and righteous Yue Hongling...Tang Wanzhuang, who is sustaining the empire despite her ailing body, and...Vermillion Bird, who slaughtered and decimated an entire clan. In a sense, Vermillion Bird represents the epitome of strength in my mind, and my impression of her is more tangible than my impression of Xia Longyuan himself.”

The expression under Vermillion Bird’s mask was quite strange. After a while, she said, “So, you actually are afraid of her.”

“Yeah,” Zhao Changhe did not deny it. He admitted somewhat ruefully, “I am indeed afraid of her. So far, she’s the one I fear the most.”

“Then why do you think she’s beautiful?” Vermillion Bird finally took the opportunity to ask.

“It’s a kind of beauty, isn’t it?” Zhao Changhe chuckled somewhat self-deprecatingly. “It has nothing to do with the face under the mask. That eerie mask, those sensual lips, the severed head in her hand, the dripping blood.... It’s the other side of the jianghu, eerie, cruel, and powerful. It is definitely frightening to behold, but one must admit that it is truly beautiful. Well, maybe there’s just something wrong with my brain.”

Vermillion Bird secretly thought: Did you just learn that from Tang Wanzhuang? Where did this cultured side of you come from?

But then she heard Zhao Changhe add, “You’d better not tell Vermillion Bird about this. If she doesn’t ask, then don’t mention it. But if she insists that you tell her about our interactions, then do you think it wouldn’t be a problem?”

“It should be fine to say.” Vermillion Bird then said teasingly, “Just to be honest, aren’t you afraid that she’ll take it as a kind of pursuit or admiration?”

“No, she won’t.” This time, it was Zhao Changhe’s turn to look at her strangely. He shook his head and said, “Venerable Vermillion Bird’s demeanor is far from being so vulgar. Such words are irrelevant to gender, and she should naturally understand that.”

You sure are holding me to high standards... Vermillion Bird found it somewhat amusing and asked, “Then why did you say that it would be better not to tell her?”

“I would lose face, you know. And if she thinks that I’m afraid of her and uses it against me, it could lead to unnecessary trouble.”

Vermillion Bird did not know whether to laugh or cry. She wanted to say that there was no need to overthink things. Even if he had not said such words, her true self would still hold power over him. What face do you think you can lose in front of me? If I stand before you with my real identity, do you even have the right to talk to me?

But she then saw Zhao Changhe laugh heartily as he quickened his pace and said, “But I guess that she likely would hold some power over me regardless. She is naturally proud and discerning. Whether you say it or not won’t make much of a difference. I’m curious though, when she truly stands before me, will I still feel the palpitations that I had back then?”

“And if you do? Will you kneel?”

“If I do, then one day, I’ll brave through that pressure and rise again!”