Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 315: Witch of Troubled Times

Zhao Changhe hurriedly leaped out through the window and was immediately greeted by a bright flash of sword light.

Behind the spinning Chichi, it was as if there was a white tiger projection pouncing on its prey. Her sword shimmered with an icy aura, the aura forming the shape of an ice dragon. The ice dragon shattered into countless fragments under Tarantula’s parry, scattering in all directions.

A true clash between a dragon and a tiger truly was a magnificent spectacle. In terms of the visual spectacle alone, Chichi was the one who could bring out the most impressive display among his companions.

Clang!

Their swords clashed, and Tarantula’s resolve wavered as she suddenly went from being the hunter to becoming the hunted. Having only hastily raised her sword to block the strike, how could she possibly withstand Chichi’s long-prepared strike?

With just one strike, Tarantula’s blood and qi were thrown into disarray, and even her poisonous mist became chaotic as she rapidly retreated using the force from the impact.

Previously, Xia Chichi had struggled to even block a single strike from her, being forced to retreat immediately. Yet, after just a single night, their roles had reversed, and now it was her who had to retreat from just a single strike.

Fortunately, she was a formidable expert who had even made it onto the Ranking of Man. Moreover, her ranking was not low either. If someone weaker were in her place right now, Xia Chichi’s strike might have just forced them to stay there forever rather than retreat.

Of course, it was not like she was no longer in any danger. In a battle between experts, even falling into a slight disadvantage would be difficult to recover from, especially since she could not outrun Xia Chichi with her movement arts!

“I was wondering which young master it was from the Four Idols Cult who had come, but it turns out that it was actually their saintess who came,” said Tarantula gravely as she fought and retreated. “There’s no enmity between us. You’ve already completed your mission by killing my subordinate, so why are you pursuing me so relentlessly?”

Xia Chichi continued her assault while advancing swiftly. She laughed coldly as she said, “When you coated your body in poison and secretly harmed me, was there any enmity between us? And what did I do to you when you tricked me into seeking out Tian Lingzi? And just now, you even ambushed me! You did all that, yet you say there’s no enmity between us?!”

“Indeed,” replied Tarantula. “That is simply how everyone acts in Kunlun. None of that was true enmity. It’s all about one’s strength. You won’t be able to defeat me quickly, and this is my territory. At my call, my subordinates will gather and surround you. In the face of such a force, even you won’t fare well, so why not just stop?”

Xia Chichi chuckled and said, “You make a fair point.”

While she said that, she was actually wondering why Tarantula had not called for backup yet. Although she did have the upper hand at the moment, once the other party called for her subordinates, she would be the one who would have to run. So why had she not done so? Was there some plan that she was trying to avoid ruining?

Tarantula continued, “In Kunlun, fists are what decide what is right. At the moment, your fist is bigger than mine, so I shall concede. Tian Lingzi and I have discovered a secret realm. We’re willing to share it with you and turn this hostility into a friendship. What do you think, saintess?”

If it were solely up to her, Xia Chichi would have scoffed at sharing. She had not come here to look for some secret realm in the first place. But then, she thought of Zhao Changhe, and she recalled how he seemed to be searching for something.

As she hesitated, she suddenly saw Dragon Bird approach from behind Tarantula. It approached menacingly, yet as quietly as falling snow.

Tarantula doesn’t sense it!

Xia Chichi pretended to be unaware and simply questioned Tarantula. “Tell me more about this secret realm. What’s in it? Is it where you got the gourd?”

“Yes, the gourd you took an interest in was something we found in its outer area. There are definitely many much more valuable treasures further in...” Tarantula was halfway through her explanation when she suddenly felt a sharp warning in her mind. She quickly tilted her head to the side, narrowly avoiding having her head cleanly sliced off by a broad saber. However, the saber still managed to graze her neck, leaving a deep, bloody cut along the side.

Tarantula held a thin needle between her fingers. She had been planning to use it for a sneak attack when Xia Chichi lowered her guard. But she now flung it backward to fend off the attacker while trying to increase the distance between them.

However, Zhao Changhe did not dodge. He took the needle straight to the chest.

With a clear and crisp sound, the needle was blocked by the golden foil beneath his clothes, failing to penetrate. Meanwhile, Dragon Bird once more swept toward Tarantula’s neck.

Xia Chichi cooperated extremely well with him. The tip of her sword wove a web, blocking all of Tarantula’s escape routes.

From Tarantula’s perspective, as the saber came slashing right at her, it seemed as if the entire space around her had been frozen. Wind stopped, snow ceased to fall, and the branches of the trees nearby became completely still.

It was as if hell had descended upon the world.

Clang!

Tarantula desperately blocked the saber coming at her neck with her own sword. Her sword was a treasured item, and it managed to remain intact, but the terrifying force from the impact sent her sprawling to the side.

Xia Chichi’s sword was already waiting on the other side. Tarantula could not dodge this time, and Iceheart effortlessly pierced through her chest.

“What a filthy couple...” Tarantula spat a mouthful of blood mist. “I shall be waiting for you in the Nine Springs!”

Xia Chichi was prepared. She pushed forward with her left palm, and a white tiger phantom roared out, creating a violent wall of air that cleared away the blood mist.

Tarantula’s eyes dimmed, and a green gas began seeping out from her body. It seemed as if she was withering, and within moments, she looked a lot more like a woman in her late fifties.

Xia Chichi instinctively began wiping her hands on her pants. Damn, this is who I touched for days?

Zhao Changhe looked over and said, “She’s ranked fifty-eighth on the Ranking of Man? She much weaker than Hu Lie, but he’s only ranked fifty-first, which isn’t that much higher.”

Xia Chichi shot him a glance. “Hu Lie? Who did you fight him with?”

Zhao Changhe fell silent.

“You’re saying that Yue Hongling is much stronger than me, right?” Xia Chichi ground her teeth. “Which is why, despite Hu Lie being so powerful, you still managed to win, is that right?”

“No, no, no.” Zhao Changhe smiled apologetically. “I remember now. It’s probably just because Hu Lie was an expert who had unlocked the Profound Mysteries a while before and had experience. On the other hand, Tarantula hasn’t even unlocked the Profound Mysteries. Actually, I really don’t understand how she’s got such a high ranking...”

“Poison relies on catching others off guard. If you don’t know who she is, her blood mist and green gas can easily catch you off guard. It was through ambushing others using poison that she was able to earn such a high rank. But since we knew who she was, her threat was reduced by at least half,” Xia Chichi said nonchalantly. “This is why individual cultivation is paramount. Once you’re prepared for these underhanded tricks, they aren’t of much use...”

As she spoke, her face suddenly turned pale.

Fuck, I got poisoned again... When?

Zhao Changhe inspected himself and found poison infiltrating his body as well. He realized that he had underestimated Tarantula. She truly was someone who was incredibly difficult to guard against.

When the fuck did we get poisoned?

Well, she did manage to become ranked fifty-eighth on the Ranking of Man. She’s definitely got her tricks... It isn’t a big problem, though. It’s nothing a kiss can’t fix...

Wait... While the ambush on Hu Lie wasn’t announced by the Tome of Troubled Times because he didn’t die, what about Tarantula?

As Zhao Changhe leaned in to kiss Xia Chichi, he suddenly realized something. He quickly spun around with Xia Chichi in his arms, narrowly avoiding another thin needle that grazed his ribs. It tore his clothes but failed to penetrate his skin.

At the same time, the supposedly dead Tarantula suddenly sprang up, darting away with several swift leaps and quickly disappearing from their sight.

The young couple tried to chase her, but the poison slowed them down. They could only watch helplessly as she disappeared into the alleyways.

“That’s what you get for underestimating someone ranked fifty-eighth on the Ranking of Man!” Xia Chichi huffed and playfully punched him

Zhao Changhe grinned apologetically. It’s my fault? While not finishing her off was our mutual mistake, you had the last strike on her.

Never mind, I should just let her vent.

To be fair, Chichi’s sword penetrated her heart, and Tarantula’s body even shriveled up. She looked like she could not be any deader than that. This probably has something to do with her poison arts. It actually seems worth studying if I get the chance.

Just as these thoughts were hovering in his mind, a very short scream could be heard from Tarantula faintly in the distance. It seemed that she had fallen into someone’s hands.

Zhao Changhe felt a little horrified in his heart. He lost any thought of kissing Xia Chichi and quickly used his Rejuvenation Art to remove the poison from Xia Chichi’s body. “You’ve finished your mission here. It would be best for you to leave now. This place is full of dangers, and even a slight lapse could be fatal. Tarantula’s situation is unclear...”

But Xia Chichi shook her head. “We have no enemies here. Whoever dealt with Tarantula isn’t after us, but they are likely after the secret realm. Don’t you want to see what happens next?”

Zhao Changhe asked: “What other evil plans do you have?”

“Tian Lingzi should have no idea that Tarantula has fallen, so he will be continuing with his plan. We should return to the restaurant and wait for an opportunity... If the secret realm has what you’re looking for, then great. If not, why not give it to the person who killed Tarantula? Tian Lingzi tried to trick me, how can I not at least stab him to relieve my anger?!”

The corners of Zhao Changhe’s mouth twitched. She really is a witch of troubled times. But why does she suit my tastes so well?

Her thoughts made sense, though. As his identity as Wang Daozhong was still under wraps, the other side knew nothing. The show had only just begun.

Zhao Changhe hurried back to the restaurant. As soon as he got back, he heard Tian Lingzi sigh and say, “Gang Leader Qian, since you don’t believe that we didn’t steal anything, why don’t you join me in exploring the secret realm?”

Gang Leader Qian was stunned. He had devised countless ways to pick a fight with Tian Lingzi, just waiting for the other party to flip the table over from anger. But then now he just threw this offer out of nowhere?

Tian Lingzi smiled gently and said, “What do you say? The secret realm was never something I could monopolize. I was planning to develop it in collaboration with the Thieves Guild, but... since you’re already here, there’s no reason I can’t just work together with you instead.”

Gang Leader Qian slammed the table. “Are you being serious?”

Tian Lingzi smiled slightly. “Of course.”