Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 49: Borrow Your Head

Zhao Changhe suppressed his rage at his failure. There still remained some malevolence in his eyes as he strode to where the trap was.

It was a trap within the stronghold, right beside the training grounds. Zhao Changhe personally asked someone to dig one here and said that no one would ever expect there to be traps in such a place. Yue Hongling was standing by the side then and heard everything... None of them thought that they would catch a fish with it.

However, Yue Hongling instructed the bandits to remove the spikes underneath the traps so that the traps would solely be used to capture enemies. This intruder was lucky. If there were spikes below, she would have been pierced into a sieve, so how would she struggle like she was now?

Zhao Changhe walked to the side to take a look. A group of bandits stood around the deep pit with spears, jabbing them downward one after the other. A sword shone in the pit, however, and no matter how many spears were thrust down, they could not hurt her one bit.

The intruder’s blade also appeared to be a valuable one. Numerous spears had been split apart by it, leaving only short staves in the hands of the bandits. Still, there were just too many people. With waves upon waves of attacks coming at her, the intruder could not escape.

Zhao Changhe was speechless. It’s like looking at a bunch of fucking birds pecking at each other. She’s already trapped inside and this is the best you guys can do? It’s been a full hour and you’re all still struggling to run her through?

You at the bottom as well. From your sword art and valuable sword, you must have obtained some high-level inheritance. You’re probably also at the second or third layer of the Profound Gate for internal arts. With such a cultivation, when you step on a trap, shouldn’t you feel that something is off and immediately use movement art to maneuver away? How did you fall into a random fucking pit? Are you like Yue Hongling back when she had sword qi running amuck inside her?

Did a dog teach you this way of dealing with enemies and unforeseen circumstances?

“Boss!”

“The boss is here!”

“Look at how aggressive this woman is!”

The bandits ceased their attacks to move aside and formed a straight path for Zhao Changhe to walk through. With this short pause, cold sword qi burst from the hole. The intruder almost made it out of her situation.

Unfortunately, a sanguine moon suddenly appeared, accompanied by a soft harrumph. A saber shone through the air and the sword was deflected back into the hole with a deafening clang.

Zhao Changhe stood by the side of the hole and looked down. A young lady glared at him with her head raised. Her eyes spoke of an unwillingness to submit and betrayed some terror.

She was rather haggard. From head to toe, she was drenched with dripping sweat. It looked as if the hole she was in had cold water on the bottom, as per Yue Hongling’s advice. Even though it’s warmer in spring, it’s still pretty cold. Will she be able to endure this with her cultivation?

Zhao Changhe was extremely irritated and could not be bothered thinking so much about it. He immediately said, “I’ll give you two options. One: you continue resisting and we roll a huge boulder into the hole. You’ll be turned into paste and we’ll use you to fertilize the flowers.”

The young lady’s face, which had an expression indicating her unwillingness to submit, suddenly went stiff.

It’s over. I thought I could hold on for a while longer. Once elder brother realizes I’m missing, he’ll definitely come looking for me, but this...

The faces of the bandits by the side were all flushed with excitement. They had been in a stalemate for an hour, but it was actually this simple.

Zhao Changhe continued, “Two: you throw your sword out and surrender. I’m in need of a new stronghold mistress.”

The woman’s face was red with rage. “Just crush me! I’d rather die than surrender.”

“Tsk. You’re incapable, but you sure have a temper.” Zhao Changhe began loosening his belt. “It doesn’t look like your sword arts are at the point where you can deflect even drops of water. I just woke up and didn’t have time to pee. I’ll send you a whole stream.”

The woman was stupefied. “You lowlife! No, wait—wait a moment...”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t pee! I—I’ll surrender.”

The bandits: “...”

How did we not think of doing this? No, wait, would it have even worked?

The woman murmured, “You—you can’t touch me. I’m with the imperial court.”

Which fucking rich family has this woman just come running from to be this na?ve? One of the imperial court’s people? We’re fucking bandits! Who do you think we play with if not people from the imperial court?

Seeing her helplessly throw her sword out, numerous scenes—the sort one would find in erotica—flashed through the bandits’ minds.

To Zhao Changhe, someone from the imperial court was of use to him, but not that much. This woman’s naivete made him want to laugh. Her temper had faded away significantly compared to just moments before.

He picked up her sword and sized it up for a while. “You guys go back to what you’re supposed to do. If there’s nothing wrong, don’t come and bother us.”

The bandits made eyes at him as they left. Afterward, Zhao Changhe struck one of the woman’s acupoints and picked her up. “Let’s go, young lady. My hut’s open for you.”

“You can’t make me your mountain mistress,” the young woman said angrily. “Wait till my brother arrives. He’ll slaughter your entire stronghold!”

“Oho, you have a backer?” Zhao Changhe found the whole thing to be truly amusing. “Enough, woman. I’m not a good person, but I’m also not a child lover. I have absolutely no interest in that body of yours. It’s just that I haven’t met anyone related to the imperial court. There are some matters I would like to clarify.”

The woman was unafraid of death. “Whatever you ask, I won’t answer.”

“Tch.” Zhao Changhe sneered and made a motion that looked like he was going to take off his belt.

The young woman’s expression changed dramatically. “You dare!?”

“I said that if you surrendered, I wouldn’t pee on your head. I never said I wouldn’t do something else, did I?”

“You lowlife! Shameless! Utterly shameless!”

Of course, Zhao Changhe just wanted to scare her a little. Before anything happened that needed to be censored, however, someone suddenly knocked on the door. “Boss, boss!”

Zhao Changhe furrowed his brow. “What happened?”

“Branch Master Fang has come. He says that the intruder from the imperial court must be handed over to the branch. We are not to do anything to her. Those are the rules.”

“Fuck him!” Zhao Changhe laughed coldly. “Can he fly? How is he here so soon? Someone must have sent word at least an hour ago. It’s so clear that he’s come to purposely snatch away my women for himself and only found out that she was with the imperial court after arriving. Who’s he trying to deceive?”

The one outside the door did not dare to speak.

“Enough. Where is he?”

“He’s on the mountain road and is about to arrive at the stronghold.”

“I understand. I’ll bring this woman to him myself.”

The person outside spoke no more.

Zhao Changhe turned to look at the woman. Her face was pale as she returned his gaze.

“Heh, you should know what’ll happen after you surrender.” Zhao Changhe pulled her out the door and dragged her outside the stronghold.

“Zhao Changhe! It was my mistake to think you were a real man! You should not bend the knee to curry favor with this branch master... Eh?”

Before she finished speaking, the young woman realized her acupoints were unblocked. Her sword, which had been confiscated, was also forced into her hand.

“Are you fucking stupid? Who told you that there’s only one gate in the stronghold? This is the rear gate!” Zhao Changhe waved his hand. “Hurry up and run. With how stupid you are, you should train for another three years before asking First Seat Tang for a mission. Don’t think that every bandit you meet will be as willing to talk reason as I am.”

The young woman was dumbstruck as she looked at him. “You... You know who I am?”

“Aren’t you the one First Seat Tang sent?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Well, there you go.” Zhao Changhe said impatiently. “In any case, I don’t care who you are, who sent you, and why you’re here. I won’t do something that despicable. When you said you were with the imperial court, I actually did intend to ask you about some matters. Since we don’t have time anymore, hurry up and run. I still have things to do, so piss off.”

The woman said, “You—your branch master is at the fourth layer of the Profound Gate. You’re not even at the third layer yet. Once he finds out you let go a prisoner from the imperial court, what’re you going to do...”

“Eh? You’re only realizing this now?” Zhao Changhe chuckled. “Enough. I have my ways. Just don’t stay here and get in the way of my business.”

The young woman lowered her head and pursed her lips. After stammering for a while, she suddenly took out two moist medicinal pills from her pocket. “This pill will assist you in breaking through to the third layer. Thank you. I—I’ll immediately find someone to help you!”

She then stamped her feet and flew away. She knew that at her current skill level, she would only be a hindrance to Zhao Changhe, so she went to get reinforcements instead.

Zhao Changhe was at a loss for a moment. Her movement art was both elegant and incomparably nimble. She was absolutely from a prestigious background. Just what kind of powerful family would let such a naive child come here to die? I swear to go—hold on, wait a second... Cui Yongyuan is nearby. He’s from a distinguished family and has a little sister.

He lowered his head in silence and looked at the medicinal pill in his hand. No way. Is this medicine from the Cui Clan?

He raised it to his nose and took a whiff. Immediately, he felt something stir in his dantian.

It was obvious this was a pill for internal arts cultivators. It was of use to the Eight Blind Gates and not the Vicious Blood Art... He was now using the qi from this internal art to support his use of the Vicious Blood Art. Could I try breaking through again?

I don’t even care anymore. Fang Buping is at my doorstep.

Zhao Changhe dropped the pill into his mouth and devoured it. As the qi in his dantian began to swirl, he strode to the Hall of Virtuous Rebellion.

Wang Dashan and the others were currently inside laying food and drinks on the table to welcome Fang Buping before he graced them with his presence. They were all dumbstruck as they looked at Zhao Changhe. “Boss, what happened to the girl?”

Zhao Changhe casually walked up to Wang Dashan and smiled. “I’ll tell you what happened to her in a while. I first need to borrow something from you.”

Wang Dashan did not know what he meant and just smiled. “What’re you saying? Boss, you can take whatever you want. Why speak of borrowing? What do you want?”

“I want to break through to the third layer for the Vicious Blood Art. I have everything in order, but I’m just short of something to boost my vicious blood qi.” As Zhao Changhe spoke, he suddenly drew his saber. “I’ve specially come to borrow your head!”

Swoosh!

His saber swung over in a blur and bright-red blood gushed forth.

Wang Dashan’s head flew away with a stunned expression plastered on it.

He—he dares to kill me?

Branch Master Fang is already here...

Everyone present was overwhelmed with horror as they looked at Zhao Changhe. He did not spare any effort to hide the vicious red color of his skin. They all cowered and their legs began to tremble.

Zhao Changhe observed his rumbling dantian. The effects of the medicinal pill were simply terrifying. The qi in his body whirled around, surging through at an incredible rate across his meridians and into his acupoints. He hadn’t intended to open the third Profound Gate for internal arts—the Danzhong acupoint, located at the center of the chest—yet, before he even realized it, he had already broken through.

At the same time, killing intent spewed forth from him as vicious blood qi rushed to his heart meridians and assaulted his consciousness. Qi and blood rushed like a wild current toward the flesh and skin that they had failed to permeate during his prior breakthrough attempt.

His qi, roaring from just having broken through to the third layer, automatically acted to fuse with the vicious blood qi, imbuing his pained flesh and skin with what felt like a loud boom.

Zhao Changhe looked to the sky and roared. He suppressed the intense, sharp pain from his breakthrough and split the large board hanging in the Hall of Virtuous Rebellion with his saber, laughing. “We claim to carry out the will of heaven, yet we have no will. We speak of virtuous rebellion, yet we have no virtue. What use is there for me to stay here!? We’ll meet again someday!”