Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 99: Maitreya Cult Targeted

Of course, whether or not this thing was truly a page from the Heavenly Tome was a different matter. After all, on the surface, it appeared to have no aura at all. It did not even feel as important as a good sword. Basically, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary sheet of gold foil.

Han Wubing and Xia Chichi noticed it but did not pay much attention to what was inside the cushion. Han Wubing went straight to the walls of the sword chamber to choose a sword, while Xia Chichi teased Zhao Changhe, “You don’t happen to want to take that cushion with you, do you?”

“No,” replied Zhao Changhe as he opened the cushion. He held the gold foil in his hand and examined it repeatedly. He found nothing special about it or on it, not even a single word. He chuckled and said, “In any case, this is an ancient item. I suspect that it might be quite valuable. I’ve decided to study it further later.”

Xia Chichi said, “I can’t tell. Even if it is a divine object that has hidden its aura or returned to its original state, it still looks quite disappointing. Perhaps it was used for chanting scriptures or something like that.”

Zhao Changhe chuckled, realizing that she might be right. The Tome of Troubled Times is so powerful. If this page truly does belong to the Heavenly Tome just like it did, how could it end up as a sheet of gold foil without even the slightest hint of an aura coming from it? I might have just been overthinking things.

“Screw it,” he said as he casually stuffed the gold foil into his pocket. “Since we’re here, and both of you have made gains, I can’t just leave empty-handed. At least this way, I also got to take something away with me. It can even serve as a memento.”

Xia Chichi bit her lower lip and stole a glance at Han Wubing, who was focused on selecting a sword. She leaned in close to Zhao Changhe’s ear and whispered softly, “Did you really not gain anything at all?”

Zhao Changhe was taken aback for a moment and asked, “What do you mean?”

Xia Chichi’s voice grew increasingly sultry as she continued, “Were you not afraid that I would fully take on the role of saintess and forget about you? Isn’t that why you went and risked your life to protect me? Because you wanted to impress me?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “Well, I did not have the time to think about all that. I just acted on instinct.”

“You were that worried about me? Even though you knew that there were many powerful experts of the Four Idols Cult present, you still dared to take the risk and disrupt our plans. Was that also instinct?”

“You are their superior. This was a matter of mutual understanding. Would you really just let me be attacked?”

“Who knows? I could’ve thought that since you already have Cui Yuanyang, you may have changed your mind and want to harm me instead.”

Zhao Changhe was speechless for a moment. “While my senior brother’s chest isn’t that big, he has always had a good brain. I feel that he would know better.”

Xia Chichi glared at him with a mixture of annoyance and anger. “You really do seem to have some issues...”

“Ah?”

“Since we’re already having this discussion... Is it true that you only take the initiative when I’m crossdressing?”

“What? No, don’t misunderstand! It’s because there are others present. Uhm...”

Xia Chichi did not let him speak any further. She wrapped her arms around his neck and tiptoed to give him a deep kiss. “Your senior brother’s chest... Why don’t you touch it? They’ve grown a little since back then...”

Han Wubing pulled out a sword and examined it, his face expressionless.

In fact, the sword chamber, as a place where its owner spent years contemplating the sword, was likely to contain hints of its owner’s sword intent gathered within. For swordsmen who were truly intent on mastering the sword, it was possible to comprehend some profound techniques or, at the very least, grasp some ancient sword principles just by staying inside.

At this moment, Han Wubing was beginning to sense something. This was a true stroke of luck for him. The other two who were present were not swordsmen, and although Xia Chichi used a sword, she did not have the heart of a swordsman. Because of this, they could not really perceive anything substantial; at most, they could maybe feel that there was something special about the place.

However, Han Wubing felt that this might not be the most significant point of his presence here this time... No, he felt that the greatest significance of his presence here was to help the saintess of the Four Idols Cult retain her integrity.

He did not know if the Four Idols Cult would also investigate this area, but if they did, would he have to save the lives of this hot-tempered young man and woman again?

After looking around, Han Wubing was quite satisfied with the sword he had in his hand. It was made of an excellent material, incredibly sharp, and it looked very low-key. Although it lacked any spirituality, he felt that he did not need such a thing.

Clack!

Han Wubing deliberately sheathed his sword loudly, alerting the couple who were in the middle of their passionate kiss. “Seriously, you two, if you don’t go out now, I’m afraid the Four Idols Cult might really go crazy.”

*

In fact, the Four Idols Cult had not gone crazy just yet, but the Maitreya Cult had.

Back in the real world, Tang Wanzhuang was trying to rescue Xia Chichi but was intercepted by the Maitreya Cult. As a result, she could only watch as the prince charming disappeared together with the damsel in distress, and her brow furrowed in frustration.

She had originally given Zhao Changhe a very straightforward task. In theory, everything should have been over the moment that he disrupted the ceremony being carried out by the Four Idols Cult with a single arrow. After that, once the Four Idols Cult pursued him, she would step in to rescue Xia Chichi. It was a perfect plan.

All of the unexpected changes were caused by the members of the Maitreya Cult who knew nothing and recklessly interfered. Who knew if the Maitreya Cult had secretly manipulated everything, even causing the divine sword to inexplicably target Xia Chichi? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She spoke through clenched teeth, “Capture every single one of the members of the Maitrey Cult! Do not let a single one of them escape!

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Wu Weiyang and her other subordinates from the Demon Suppression Bureau appeared from all directions and rushed toward the members of the Maitreya Cult who were still by the lake.

The members of the Maitreya Cult were bewildered.

Why are there so many people from the Demon Suppression Bureau here?

The imperial court has never cared much about the Ancient Sword Lake. They didn’t give a damn about this place for years! What are they doing here today?

Even if First Seat Tang decided to come here, why the fuck didn’t she come out in the open like a tourist? The Demon Suppression Bureau clearly set up all these agents around the lake because they were planning an ambush! Did they know that the Maitreya Cult would come here? Did they set up the trap to eliminate us?

Regardless, the forces that the Maitreya Cult had brought with them this time were not weak, and even their cult leader had come this time. With their cult leader confronting Tang Wanzhuang, the other members thought that they would still be able to escape.

But in the end, just as they were about to retreat, those from the Four Idols Cult suddenly came charging at them from the bamboo forest with fire in their eyes. They headed straight for the members of the Maitreya Cult as if they were seeking vengeance for a great injustice.

Those from the Maitreya Cult were utterly stupefied. The Demon Suppression Bureau and the Four Idols Cult were actually joining forces?

Had the sun risen from the west today?

When they realized that Xia Chichi had disappeared after being “abducted” by Zhao Changhe and Han Wubing, the members of the Four Idols Cult, who were well-informed and knew that there was a dimensional space at the bottom of the lake, quickly deduced that their saintess had somehow been transported to the other space. Since searching the forest had become futile, they turned back to head toward the lake, intending to find her at the bottom of the lake.

As they emerged from the bamboo forest, they witnessed a group of experts from the Demon Suppression Bureau engaging in combat with those from the Maitreya Cult.

The Four Idols Cult immediately began to suspect that something unusual had happened with the divine sword that they had been searching for over the years. After all, the divine sword had never behaved like it had today. In other words, the Maitreya Cult had clearly done something to cause all this. Thinking this, they decided to apprehend the members of the Maitreya Cult to interrogate them thoroughly and figure out how to access the dimensional space at the bottom of the lake

With that in mind, they roared in unison and rushed toward the members of the Maitreya Cult.

Those from the Maitreya Cult were now in a complete state of despair. They now had the unfortunate distinction of being the first group in the history of the Great Xia Empire to be besieged jointly by forces belonging to the Demon Suppression Bureau and a demonic cult. Not only that, but it was a life-or-death situation with both sides determined to absolutely eliminate them.

“What saintess? We never captured your saintess! You Wanqing, you must be out of your mind! Shit!”

“How are we supposed to know why that damn sword went crazy? The only reason why we even know when that sword can be summoned is that we followed you guys!”

“We really have no idea where your saintess has gone!”

“We have nothing to do with that Zhao Changhe guy!”

Fwshsh!

When Xia Chichi emerged from the lake, the first thing she saw was the chubby man, whose rear end had been partially sliced off by the sword earlier, surrounded and being attacked by Elder You and several others. A few moments after she appeared, a sword pierced his heart.

The chubby man numbly turned his head to look at Xia Chichi who had come out, and he said, “I told you it had nothing to do with us.”

After saying that, he died with a heart filled with grievances.

Elder You and the others were too lazy to bother with him. They did not have that great of a relationship to begin with. If it was a misunderstanding, then so be it, there was nothing that could be done now that he was dead anyway. They were pleasantly surprised as they rushed to the surface of the lake to meet Xia Chichi. “Saintess! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Xia Chichi shook the sword in her hand. “The Maitreya Cult used some weird trick to make the sword pursue me, but I tamed it with my own means.”

Elder You and the others were overjoyed when they heard this news. The fact that the saintess was unharmed was already a cause for celebration, and now they had even unexpectedly completed their mission! She truly was their destined saintess!

Some had initially imagined scenarios of the two men doing all kinds of things to their saintess after abducting her into the small dimensional space, but seeing as the sword was now in their saintess’ possession, they quickly dismissed those thoughts. It was clear that even if those two hooligans attempted anything, their saintess would have been able to retaliate and stop any untoward intentions.

“What about Zhao Changhe and Han Wubing?”

“They ran away the moment they saw that I subdued the divine sword.” Xia Chichi looked toward the lakeside, her expression rather strange.

Why are there so many people from the Demon Suppression Bureau? What’s going on?

And over there...is that Tang Wanzhuang?!

The members of the Maitreya Cult all met with a terrible fate. Some of them died, while some others were captured by the Demon Suppression Bureau. Even their leader, Maitreya, was forced to flee in a sorry state. While he might have been able to manage if he were only facing Tang Wanzhuang, he could not withstand the combined assault of so many agents.

Tang Wanzhuang did not go after Maitreya. Instead, her beautiful eyes stared at Xia Chichi who had just emerged. Her thoughts were inscrutable.

As Xia Chichi met Tang Wanzhuang’s gaze, a sudden realization crossed her mind. Did she come here for the “prince”?

This woman is truly beautiful, and she is also an official of the empire. Will Zhao Changhe really keep himself off of her?

A sense of regret suddenly overcame her. Is it too late for me to take on the identity of a prince now? Why is she still staring at me? Could it be that Tang Wanzhuang wants to kill me? That would be an act of rebellion!

As these thoughts raced through her mind, Elder You, who was standing nearby, urged her. “We should leave! I have no idea why Tang Wanzhuang is in a daze, but if we don’t leave, those of us here will soon be surrounded by the Demon Suppression Bureau!”

It seemed as if Tang Wanzhuang heard his words, and a sly smile emerged on her face. “Everyone, listen up! Seize the members of the Four Idols Cult!”

As soon as she voiced out her order, everyone from the Four Idols Cult shouted in panic and fled as fast as they could.