Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 382: Ying Five's Next Collaboration

Tang Wanzhuang felt that the illusion she was experiencing was something she had conjured up in her mind. From the fact that Zhao Changhe had not known that she had seen someone in the illusion, it seemed that whether she responded or not did not matter—he would not know about it anyway.

So she decided to enjoy herself.

Since she could not properly experience the kiss in reality, why not do so inside the illusion?

Unlike last time when her mind was a complete blank and she had been stunned silly, this time she found the experience to actually be quite pleasant.

So this is what it feels like... She had heard that dual cultivation was very enjoyable. His treatment, which incorporated elements of dual cultivation, indeed made her soul feel comfortable and her meridians feel nourished.

Moreover, he was so gentle with her, acting with great caution.

No wonder I ended up envisioning him in the illusion, hehe.

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe, in the midst of the kiss, wanted to scratch his head in curiosity. Strange, why is she so compliant today? She was so insistent on being called master earlier, and she even threw me into the water, but now she’s being so compliant. When I probed her, she just let me do it.

I never thought she’d be so obedient.

Is it because she had coughed badly and felt like she was dying, so she decided to just let it be?

Whatever her reason, this time Zhao Changhe did not just settle with the surface. He fully experienced the kiss—soft, sweet, and a hint of coolness.

Compared to Chichi, Hongling, and Huangfu Qing, each of whom was much more straightforward and strong-willed than Tang Wanzhuang, he had never encountered someone so gentle before...

Baoqin stood at the edge of the hall with her guqin. She rubbed her eyes and sleepwalked out, then walked back in disbelief.

Then she stood there, mouth half-open, petrified.

This is the main hall! Miss, you, you, you... Even if you want to kiss a man, can’t you do it somewhere private?!

What are you doing?!

Baoqin turned around and firmly blocked Li Sian, who was about to enter to report on matters. “You can’t go in!”

The loyal and brave Baoqin was quite clever.

Actually, Li Sian had a good idea of what was going on inside without even having to go in himself. He honestly found it strange too—the previous night, they at least had the sense to do it discreetly inside the secret room. But today, he could only attribute it to the heat of love that all their usual wisdom was thrown out the window.

He had no intention to barge in recklessly and make a fool of himself, so he just whispered to Baoqin, “It’s nothing serious. I just came to report to the bureau chief about the cleansing of the Demon Suppression Bureau. Starting with the department heads, half of them are problematic, so we’re really short on people now. I simply wanted to ask the bureau chief to transfer some people over to the branch here. That’s all, I’ll take my leave.”

Tang Wanzhuang’s voice came from inside, “Go ask Cult Leader Xue if there are any cult members from the Blood God Cult willing to work for the Demon Suppression Bureau.”

Li Sian was dumbfounded. “The Blood God Cult, working for the Demon Suppression Bureau? The supposed demons we’re supposed to be vanquishing? Wait, bureau chief, you’re awake?”

Zhao Changhe’s voice followed, “There’s no rush. Let me speak with Cult Leader Xue first. Hm... I’ll visit Mister Li later this afternoon. Excuse me for now...”

Li Sian, curious but not overly concerned, smiled and said, “Then I shall welcome you at the Immortal Palatial Garden.”

“Entertain him somewhere else!” Tang Wanzhuang’s voice suddenly rose, “What are you planning by receiving him at the Immortal Palatial Garden?”

Li Sian: “...”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

The sound of footsteps could then be heard fading as Li Sian left, leaving the two inside the hall. Tang Wanzhuang was still leaning against Zhao Changhe’s shoulder, the two of them gazing at each other.

Tang Wanzhuang assumed Zhao Changhe, like last time, was dutifully focusing on the treatment. She felt calm, accepting that if there was a first, a second would follow. After a moment of internal reflection, she found her condition to have improved slightly and softly said, “Aren’t you going to let go of me?”

Zhao Changhe thought, Now that you’re feeling better, can’t you get up by yourself? I’m not holding you down.

Of course, it would be utterly foolish to utter this aloud. He instead gently helped her sit up, wisely avoiding any mention of kissing or embracing, and asked earnestly, “Are you feeling better now?”

“Much better.” Tang Wanzhuang also felt a sense of relief. As long as they did not talk about such an awkward topic, she could simply pretend as though nothing had happened. “I need to meditate for a while, you...”

“I’ll go find Li Si’an.”

Tang Wanzhuang did not ask why, instead sending him a glare and saying, “Don’t go looking for girls.”

Zhao Changhe could not help but laugh, and he instinctively ruffled her hair, “Alright, alright, if I do want to, I’ll go look for the girl in the bamboo building behind Myriad Flowers Tower.”

Tang Wanzhuang’s eyebrows shot up, and Zhao Changhe quickly dashed off.

As he passed Baoqin at the door, he ruffled her hair too, turning it into a bird’s nest, “Baoqin, you’re cuter and cuter...”

Before he finished speaking, he was already gone in a flash.

The two women looked at their disheveled hair, their faces stern, and not knowing what to say.

After a long while, Baoqin almost burst into tears. “Miss, that brute of a stink bear is a far cry from the elegant and valiant man you’ve wished for since childhood. He even breaks the strings of a guqin!”

Tang Wanzhuang wanted to retort that she did not like him, but for some reason, what came out of her mouth was, “He doesn’t break them anymore...”

Baoqin wore a blank expression. Is that really the point you’re trying to make?

“Ahem.” Tang Wanzhuang cleared her throat and stood up, smoothing her hair. “I’m going to meditate. Stand guard for me.”

Baoqin felt her whole life had become shrouded in gloom.

* * *

Immortal Palatial Garden, Heaven Room One, no girls.

Li Sian was brewing tea with elegant movements, exuding a temperament similar to Tang Wanzhuang. Watching him, Zhao Changhe thought to himself that perhaps he should learn how to make tea as well. Ever since being around Tang Wanzhuang, he felt the need to learn so many new things, something he never considered while wandering the jianghu, where his sole focus was learning martial arts and increasing his cultivation.

It was a completely different lifestyle.

But he had to admit, this refined demeanor could indeed be very attractive. It was a kind of temperament that others unconsciously wanted to imitate.

Li Sian picked up a cup of tea using tea tongs[1] and handed it over. “Your Highness, please.”

Zhao Changhe pursed his lips, not even bothering to refute the title of “Your Highness” anymore. He accepted the tea, took a sip, and found it pleasantly fragrant.

He rarely drank tea in this world, preferring wine, but now he found the taste of tea to be somewhat interesting as well.

Li Sian smiled slightly and said, “Thank you for saving me, Your Highness.”

Zhao Changhe waved his hand. “It was simply what I should do. Resisting the temptations and threats that Maitreya sent your way is no easy feat.”

Li Sian chuckled and said, “There were other reasons as to why I was able to achieve that. To be honest, I myself don’t hold much confidence in my loyalty and ideals, so I don’t believe I deserve such praise.”

Zhao Changhe replied, “Regardless of the reasons, I only care about the results.”

Li Sian nodded. “What brings Your Highness here? Are you here to help First Seat Tang raise funds?”

Zhao Changhe was surprised. “You actually guessed that.”

“People say I’m wealthy, and most seek me out for that very reason. Even the Maitreya Cult wanted to control me for my money,” said Li Sian. “However, the bureau chief is ultimately too polite to ask for too much, afraid to ask for the funds to resolve the issues in Xiangyang. You, on the other hand, seem like you might be much more straightforward and demanding?”

Zhao Changhe said, “Well, I didn’t come here to ask you for money.”

Li Sian was surprised. “Then what did you come here for?”

“I’m looking for the fifth lord,” said Zhao Changhe. “The fifth lord’s vision is not limited to worldly affairs, so he does not mind his brothers working with others. For Example, Li Four[2] joining the Demon Suppression Bureau does not seem to bother him.”

Li Sian clapped his hands and laughed. “As expected, nothing escapes Your Highness.”

“You didn’t really try to hide it,” Zhao Changhe sipped his tea, looking slightly embarrassed as this was his first time asking someone for money.

With his head slightly lowered, he continued, “I came to request you to contact the fifth lord for me and ask him if I can borrow some money. There’s a major secret realm in Kunlun that I have not had the chance to tell him about.”

Li Sian smiled and said, “Actually, the fifth lord has already mentioned that if Xiangyang is short of resources, he would provide it... without charging you any interest.”

“No interest?” Zhao Changhe was taken aback. “That’s very generous of him”

Li Sian said leisurely, “You said it yourself: the fifth lord’s vision is not limited to worldly affairs, so he certainly does not care about lending you resources. Since it is what Your Highness needs, simply use it as you see fit. The returns we expect in the future carry value far beyond money.”

Zhao Changhe asked, “So, if I’m understanding this correctly, I can go to him whenever we’re in need of funds, not just for this emergency in Xiangyang?”

Li Sian’s eyes gleamed with deeper meaning. “Trust me, if you wanted to care not just for Xiangyang but for the entire world, there would be more than just the fifth lord willing to finance you.”

The first face that flashed in Zhao Changhe’s mind was Cui Wenjing’s stern face.

Indeed... Old Cui would even be willing to spend his last penny.

He did not voice this thought; instead, he cupped his hand and said, “Then I give my thanks.”

Li Sian smiled and said, “We do have a proposition for collaboration that we would like to discuss in detail with Your Highness.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Maitreya?”

“Correct,” replied Li Sian. “Maitreya is now beyond recovery. We believe that once Your Highness and First Seat Tang have returned to good health, you will sweep through Jiangnan. And within Maitreya’s base, there must be a major secret realm... one with gods and Buddhas within. How we handle this matter still requires careful consideration.”

Zhao Changhe felt that Maitreya was truly done for this time.

When you are strong, nothing matters. But once you show signs of defeat, sharks come from everywhere and begin circling around you.

With the almost certain existence of a major secret realm within their stronghold, the first to take an interest would be none other than Ying Five. And with a figure on the Ranking of Heaven involved, Maitreya himself was no longer an issue.

The only thing to be wary of now was the higher existences behind him.

1. If you’re wondering, tea tongs or tea tweezers do exist. ☜

2. Just a simple note that the Si (肆) in Sian and Si (四), which means four, are pronounced the exact same in Chinese. ☜