Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 46: Meetings Come and End

Clang!

As his saber met a sword, Zhao Changhe was sent sliding back a few zhang. He lunged forward with a single step and supported himself with his saber, stopping himself from going backward any further.

As he looked up, he saw Yue Hongling gently raise her sword to deflect the small stone he had secretly shot toward her while he was sent flying backward. She leisurely sheathed her sword.

Both people looked at each other, smiling.

“Your saber arts are getting better and better. I’m surprised you could actually withstand Setting Sun Ravages the Sky.”

“That’s because you let me, big sister. You didn’t fight seriously.”

“All I did was suppress my qi. I didn’t hold back when it came to sword arts. This move of mine has innumerable variations. You have no idea how many people hold grudges toward me for that reason... Your improvement is indeed fast.” Yue Hongling laughed. “That said, you’re brave and valiant. When you raise your saber, you’re an unstoppable force. Why did you resort to dirty tricks? Who taught you to shoot stones while you’re losing?”

Zhao Changhe spoke shamelessly. “After learning these concealed weapon arts, wouldn’t it be a waste if I didn’t use them? Big sister, you taught me well.”

“Pfft. I have never taught you to fight in such a shameless, dishonorable way. Why don’t you throw dust in my eyes while you’re at it!”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes lit up, like he thought of something. After a while, he said, “I do indeed have a pouch of dust... We’re training, so I naturally won’t use it on you.”

“...don’t tell others I’ve trained you before when you travel in the future. I’ll be too ashamed to show my face to them.”

“Winning is more important. The Tome of Troubled Times thinks similarly.”

The two of them spoke as they returned to the hut. However, their steps gradually became slower and slower until they eventually stopped in silence.

Yue Hongling had been here for half a month. She could not keep staying here and endure the pain of pretending to be a mountain mistress.

Zhao Changhe constantly made sure to maintain a normal relationship with Yue hongling and absolutely avoid, at any cost, any ambiguity about who they were to each other like what had happened with Luo Qi. He hoped that this would allow her to be more at ease while Yue Hongling lived here.

Yue Hongling had indeed stayed longer than she had expected. Her two or three days had turned into four, then half a month... However, in the end, she had to leave. This sparring match today was basically enough to tell her that it was about time. Zhao Changhe was only waiting for her to say her farewells now.

These past few days, Zhao Changhe knew just how much he had improved. To say that he had been reborn would not be an overstatement.

Putting aside the martial art guidance he received and his newly acquired concealed weapon arts, his use of saber arts in battle was enough to justify saying that he was basically a different person altogether.

In the past, he thought himself strong in battle and able to fight people with higher cultivations... Just what kind of small fry have I been fighting in this countryside place? Have I ever seen anyone use high-level techniques? Have I experienced any changes I’m satisfied with? Just how many marvelous techniques from the myriad clans and sects have I seen fused together? Just how many illustrious fighting philosophies have I seen in battle?

All this experience could not be replaced by just practicing at home.

His battles in the past would never give him such experiences. Only Yue Hongling, the Second Hidden Dragon, known through the lands under heaven, someone that Instructor Sun could not hold a candle to, could give him this.

It was clear for all to see how impressive Zhao Changhe’s improvement was when it came to saber arts and fighting capability.

Yue Hongling even gave him other saber art manuals. Thanks to them, he thoroughly broke out of the narrow scope of the Vicious Blood Saber Art. He began to see just how vast the lands under heaven were; he saw the arts of each clan and sect and began to incorporate them into his own understanding of saber arts.

Zhao Changhe knew there was no longer much of a point in continuing to spar with Yue Hongling. No matter how much experience she had accumulated wandering the jianghu, it was still the experience of a single person. What use was there in only fighting the same person? The jianghu was vast, filled with millions of warriors all waiting to meet him.

She had taught him how to pinpoint an enemy’s position using his hearing and other senses. How could he not long for a day where he could step into the jianghu by himself and use that ability?

Yue Hongling’s desire to fill in the gaps in his experience to redeem herself was now truly fulfilled. It was time for her to return to the jianghu.

This was where they would part.

The two of them stopped outside the building and looked at each other, waiting for the other to say something. In the end, no one said anything.

After a while, Zhao Changhe found a clumsy reason to speak. “Tonight is the Lantern Festival, why don’t you celebrate...”

Yue Hongling, who was filled with a strange feeling of farewell, was amused by his words. She wanted to say something but her expression suddenly changed.

A second after he sensed she felt something was wrong, Zhao Changhe turned to face the courtyard wall. “Who are you!?”

Yue Hongling smiled contently. Zhao Changhe had really mastered everything she taught him. In the past, even if he heard the subtle sounds his enemies made in the wind, he would have thought it was just that—the wind. Now, however, he was skilled enough to pick up that an enemy was approaching them.

Zhao Changhe, as he was now, was ready to wander the jianghu.

A big, rough man appeared atop the courtyard wall with an amazed expression. “I never thought a little second-layer kid like you would be able to sense me when I'm not deliberately revealing my presence.”

Zhao Changhe asked indifferently. “Who are you? I don’t like people who make a show out of being polite.”

The big man smiled. “I am Lin Feihu from the Black Tiger Gang. Has a little baby like you heard of me before?”

Zhao Changhe had, in fact, heard of him. After being here for so long, how could he not have heard of the notable figures from neighboring regions? Lin Feihu was the leader of the Black Tiger Gang, which engaged in looting and other shady businesses, and a cultivator at the fourth layer of the Profound Gate.

Zhao Changhe’s expression turned grave. This was a real pain in the ass.

Thinking about how he had arrogantly hung up that board and waited for people to challenge him, Zhao Changhe realized that he had been overly arrogant. He thought that stronger cultivators should have been more familiar with the workings of the Ranking of Hidden Dragons, but to his surprise, there really were idiots who did not. You’re at the fourth layer of the Profound Gate, yet you come to challenge a second layer? Have you no shame?

As he thought this, Lin Feihu fixed his gaze on Yue Hongling and laughed heartily. “I heard that the stronghold mistress here looked like Yue hongling. It’s really as the rumors say! Woman, what future do you have with this little baby? Why don’t you come along with me!”

At the same time, his hands stretched out like a hawk spreading its wings and he pounced toward Yue Hongling with one big hand ready to grab her.

“....”

Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling’s eyes went wide.

I thought you came to challenge me for my spot on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons, but this is what you decide to do? Oh, wait, you’re right. You technically are challenging someone on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons.

Swoosh.

As a sword flashed across, the sky was filled with a scarlet glow.

Zhao Changhe’s mouth twitched and he put back the saber he had just drawn. Lin Feihu had offended Yue Hongling. He wanted her for himself, but how in the world could a man like him possibly snatch her away...

“Y-you... You’re the real fucking Yue Hongling... Fu...cough!” Gang Leader Lin covered his throat with his hands as he staggered backward. Before he could even finish his sentence properly, he fell down and took his last breath, dying with an incredulous expression.

As he died, he kept trying to understand why the real Yue Hongling was here... How could Yue Hongling possibly be the stronghold mistress...

Zhao Changhe stood by the side with his hands clasped in silence.

I say. Why do you people keep courting death like this...

Yue Hongling sheathed her sword. She did not know what to say before, but after killing the idiot that interrupted them, she was in a good mood. “It looks like it really is time for me to leave. By this point, that stupid board you hung up is not doing anything, but my presence here has started attracting trouble for you.”

Zhao Changhe felt all of this to be a pain in the ass. “It’s likely that these people have been sent here by Fang Buping to instigate things... If you’re here, you can cut down all these troubles. If you leave, won’t I be in a miserable position?

“What’re you scared of? It’s just a lowly branch master targeting you.”

Zhao Changhe did not respond.

“I must leave one way or another, and if I find an excuse to do that, then you should shut up about it.” Yue Hongling’s tone was gentle. “During my time here, I knew what you were doing... Both of us were embarrassed when I came here, but you always did your best to avoid any more of those situations and never took the chance to have your way with me. Zhao Changhe, you are honest and upright...you’re a truly heroic person. But you know that I cannot stay here, much less as the stronghold mistress. My heart cannot bear it.”

Zhao Changhe sighed. “I’m not as upright as you say. After all, don’t I still want you to stay and have fun at the festival tonight?”

“Festival after festival—just how many festivals are there? Since our time together ends here, what benefit is there in delaying any longer?”

Yue Hongling returned to the building, and when she came out, she was dressed in those red robes she was so fond of, with her traveling bag by her side.

That bandit-like stronghold mistress appearance faded away like mist. It would never be seen again.

Zhao Changhe remained where he stood, not uttering a single word.

Yue Hongling strode out. When she passed Zhao Changhe, she casually patted him on the shoulder. “I’m going, stronghold master. The waves of jianghu surge. I hope that your heart remains as it is in the future. When the time comes, when fate brings us together once more...we can celebrate the Lantern Festival together!”

Zhao Changhe stood on the mountain peak in silence as he watched that red-cloaked heroine travel far, far away. He suddenly realized he hadn’t seen that black-maned horse of hers at all. She probably left it in the city for someone to take care of it for when she left.

She never belonged here.

Her leaving looked sudden, but in actuality, she could have left any time she wanted. This past half a month was already long enough. If other people knew of what she did, like Cui Yuanyong for example, their jaws would drop to the floor.

He thought that familiarizing himself with Yue Hongling would subvert the image he had of her in his heart. However, the more he got to know her, the more he realized she was, in fact, exactly the Yue Hongling he idolized. His initial impression of her never shattered.

Hearing of a raid from a demonic cult, she traveled a thousand li to warn the village.

On the road, she saved a youth and pushed him to learn martial arts.

She thought he had met with misfortune and searched for him across the lands.

She found him, guided him, and succeeded in training him.

Then, she left.

Free and easy.

Zhao Changhe was glad that the first thing he had seen in jianghu was the chivalrous Yue Hongling. Regardless of what evils he had seen in this bandit’s nest of a demonic cult and how low the people around him were, the glow of the setting sun would always shine on the horizon—and that was where his jianghu was.

Was Zhao Changhe really honest and upright? When there was a beauty in his home, did he really have no other thoughts?

Of course he had other thoughts.

It was only that he did not want to stain this jianghu dream of his.

Zhao Changhe turned around. Dusk had come and gone and a full moon rose above the willow trees.

The Lantern Festival? That has nothing to do with me... After these few days of specialized training fusing my internal and external arts, the third layer of the Profound Gate is not that far off anymore.

She says she doesn’t belong here? She’s right. And neither do I.

Once I reach the third layer of the Profound Gate, it will be time to take my saber and leave Beimang.