Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 552: The Wind Never Stops

The shark’s tears were of no use, because even the two on its back had no idea where they were headed.

Navigating the vast ocean without a compass or other navigational instruments, relying only on the stars, made it nearly impossible to determine an accurate course. Even if they wanted to return, they would not know the way. All they could do was wander aimlessly, hoping to find an island more hospitable, where they could fully recover before deciding what to do next.

Besides, despite Lady Three’s impressive display, she would not be able to ride the shark for long. Prolonged strain made her ribs ache, and no amount of kisses from Zhao Changhe could fix that. She simply could not sustain steering the shark for an extended period.

It was not long before her claim of being capable of multitasking would be proven nonsense. After just a few kisses, the shark started acting out, nearly tossing its love-struck riders into the ocean.

Lady Three pushed Zhao Changhe away, angrily subdued the shark, and then gave Zhao Changhe a good thrashing. “I’ve already recovered. Do you really think you can still take advantage of me, you filthy pig?”

Zhao Changhe stood off to the side, hands clasped, looking aggrieved. Maybe she should just pretend to be weak again...

Fortunately, luck was on their side. Before Lady Three’s strength ran out, the rain began to lighten, and the fog thinned. Dim light filtered through the overcast sky, and visibility gradually improved.

As the fog lifted, they spotted the silhouette of another island in the distance. This one looked significantly larger than the desolate rock they had left behind. Most importantly, it had trees.

Lady Three was elated, and she urged the shark toward the island.

As they drew closer, they could see the distinctive shape of coconut trees. Coconuts meant coconut water, and they could also be used to make cups and bowls. It was as if their everyday needs were falling into place.

Zhao Changhe was equally elated. He felt a sense of deliverance, light at the end of the tunnel. It was funny how the human mind worked. They were still stranded, surviving on an island, yet it felt as though they had been rescued.

It was like going from living under a bridge to getting a ten-square-meter room—it was still tough, but it felt like a vast improvement.

At this moment, neither of them realized that the more comfortable the environment became, the more likely it was that Lady Three would end up being claimed by the “filthy pig.”

The two of them could hardly wait, using their movement arts to leap ashore, searching for a flat patch of land. Zhao Changhe immediately drew Dragon Bird, enthusiastically chopping down trees.

In the end, it was Dragon Bird that took on all the heavy lifting.

Fortunately, it was a saber that had endured countless battles without so much as suffering a nick. Chopping down trees posed no problem.

When Zhao Changhe turned to look around, Lady Three had already gathered a pile of dry grass and wood, using her true qi to dry them. Then, with a snap of her fingers, she lit a fire.

Zhao Changhe continued sawing the wood into planks, glancing at her curiously. “Where did you get a firestarter?”

Lady Three replied, “With my true qi restored, I can access my storage ring.”

“...You have one too?”

“Did you think only you had one?” Lady Three giggled. “Technically, your ring should belong to me by right of inheritance.”

Zhao Changhe blinked in surprise. Oh, right. The ring I have originally belonged to the ancient Black Tortoise. Wait, why does it belong to you just because it used to belong to the Black Tortoise?

Lady Three hummed to herself as she added more wood to the fire. “Fine, consider it a gift from me to you. It seems fitting enough for the Fire Pig of Shi to use the Black Tortoise’s belongings.”

Mm-hm, and I don’t see anything wrong with the Fire Pig of Shi enjoying the Black Tortoise, Zhao Changhe thought to himself. But instead of responding, he kept focused on chopping planks.

Lady Three’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she vanished into the nearby woods. When she reappeared, she had changed out of his oversized coat and was now wearing something new. The innocent charm of her being wrapped in his loose outerwear was gone, replaced by an elegant robe that Zhao Changhe had never seen before.

The robe was clearly in the same style as Vermillion Bird’s—something identifiable as part of the Four Idols Cult’s regalia. But while Vermillion Bird’s attire was bright red and fiery, Lady Three’s robe was dark, with interwoven black and blue patterns. It was heavy, solemn, perfectly embodying the Black Tortoise’s silent majesty.

Zhao Changhe glanced up at her, lips twitching, before turning his attention back to chopping wood.

Lady Three tied her hair into a ponytail, smiling. “What’s wrong? I look dignified, no?”

Yes, people do say clothes make the person, and in this case, she certainly does look dignified. But while the garments are majestic, her bright smile makes her look like a squirrel. Even an empress’s robes couldn’t change that. And what’s with the ponytail? Is she trying to look youthful now?

In truth, the more imposing her appearance was, the more it reminded him of holding her bare and kissing her, and it made her all the more alluring.

Zhao Changhe had reason to suspect she was trying to seduce him. After all, why else choose an outfit that practically begged for an overthrow of authority?

But in the end, he shook off those thoughts and focused on building them a shelter.

As Zhao Changhe diligently cut and prepared planks for the construction of a shelter, Lady Three tended the fire, caught seafood, and even gathered a few coconuts. She prepared a meal that was far more delicious than Zhao Changhe’s attempts at survival cooking.

If an outsider were to witness this, they would have no doubt mistaken them for a young couple, each doing their part and working together to build a life.

And the blind woman certainly thought so. To her, they looked like a mismatched pair, their ages separated by about a decade. It was almost like watching a child ride a bike too big for them.

Yet, it seemed as though Zhao Changhe was truly just unfazed by age differences. Seventeen? Barely but ok. Late twenties? Great. Over thirty? Still great. In his heart, the rabbit may be ahead of the tortoise, but that was just because the rabbit happened to get a head start.

Does it all just come down to good looks?

But in all honesty, there was not anything mismatched about the scene. In fact, it was quite the opposite; everything looked quite harmonious. The way they split the tasks—one building a home, the other cooking—was the very picture of a comforting image, one that looked just right.

This time, Zhao Changhe’s actions made even the blind woman see him in a new light. He truly was dependable. Years ago, when he crossed a thousand li to help Cui Yuanyang, it was a similar situation. But back then, he had still been a bit naive. Now, he had truly grown into his own—a true man.

It seems the tortoise is about to overtake the rabbit.

The blind woman knew that Lady Three would not be able to hold out for long... A woman who had wandered from a young age, no matter how carefree and indifferent she appeared on the surface, had a heart riddled with scars. Deep down, her greatest wish was simply for a home—a place or a person that could shield her from life’s storms.

This experience was like an arrow aimed with perfect precision, striking directly at her heart.

Wearing her Four Idols Cult robe now was Lady Three’s way of asserting her authority. It was a last, desperate attempt to resist her own feelings. But in truth, the resistance was paper-thin; it might as well have been an aphrodisiac, heightening the attraction instead.

The followers of the Night Emperor, it seems, are destined to be utterly defeated.

The blind woman thoughtfully stroked her chin and decided to make a small intervention.

“Dinner’s ready!” Lady Three called. “Building that shelter won’t be quick. Take a break for now.”

Zhao Changhe wiped the sweat from his brow and approached. “I’m just worried that it’ll start raining again. I’d rather get it done soon.”

Lady Three handed him a shellfish, smiling. “We’ll finish it together after we eat. Here, try this.”

Looking at the hopeful expression on Lady Three’s face, Zhao Changhe felt a warmth blooming in his chest. It really felt like coming home after work, with someone waiting for him, dinner ready.

Perhaps everyone had that same longing. After wandering the world for so long, who would not long for a place to call home?

And Lady Three’s cooking just so happened to be exceptional, far better than anything Zhao Changhe had made. The food tasted heavenly.

“Well? How is it?” Lady Three nudged him with her foot, her expression clearly saying, “Hurry up and compliment me.”

Zhao Changhe could not help but laugh. “Alright, alright. The shellfish is delicious, and the sea turtle is even better.”

“Turtle[1]? What turtle...” Lady Three realized what he meant and lazily laughed. “Well, I’ve recovered now, so you won’t have any more chances.”

Zhao Changhe did not argue, focusing on his food.

Lady Three’s eyes lingered on his face for a long while before she, too, focused on her food, falling into silence.

After a while, Zhao Changhe finally found a new topic to break the silence. “Since you’re feeling better... Can you tell me about the Mounted Brigand Brotherhood?”

This felt like the kind of casual conversation a couple might have over dinner.

“There’s not much to tell,” Lady Three replied, poking at her fish. “In the Four Idols Cult, I handle money. Having experience as a pirate, as well as having been involved in the establishment of a nation, I know a lot about trade and pillaging. You could say I’m something of an expert. Ying Five’s Mounted Brigand Brotherhood has shifted toward legitimate business over the years, so naturally, we intersected. But when I first met Ying Five, I didn’t tell him I was the Black Tortoise; I simply said I was visiting as the descendant of an old acquaintance. Originally, I was only planning to use them, since they were wealthy. I wasn’t that close to them.”

“And then?”

“Ying Five turned out to be incredibly loyal.” Lady Three sighed. “When I met him, I told him my mother had passed away. Ying Five was silent for a long time, then said that all the old brothers were gone except for him. All that was left were descendants who had inherited their names. He said it was good that I had come—it felt as if the brothers were back together again. He did not even ask what I’d done or what my skills were. He simply gave me the third seat, granting me significant authority. I could access all their records from over the years and use their money as I pleased. Given that kind of loyalty, I really couldn’t bring myself to betray him. So, I’ve used both identities. There isn’t any real conflict between them anyway.”

“The fifth lord truly is a man of honor,” Zhao Changhe said thoughtfully. “I’m pretty sure he knows who you really are but just doesn’t care.”

“Maybe. I still play on a show in front of him, though, so perhaps he’s just having fun watching and laughing behind my back,” Lady Three muttered, a touch of uncertainty creeping into her voice. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “That won’t do... I can’t let him outdo me in that.”

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “So, you went to the Huangsha because you found clues in their records that pointed to something related to the Black Tortoise?”

“Of course. Otherwise, how else would I have run into a troublemaker like you?”

“I initially thought that you went there since you had some connection to the northern barbarians.”

Lady Three considered for a moment. “I do, actually. Why, are you worried about Batu?”

“I am, in fact. Batu certainly does have the numbers on his side, but his top-tier fighters are lacking. And now that you’re here, if the armies of the Mobei come down again, I’m not sure how he’ll hold them off.”

“You always worry too much about things that aren’t your business,” Lady Three huffed. “Let Tang Wanzhuang deal with it. She hasn’t even let you have her, so why are you acting like her devoted lackey?”

Zhao Changhe glanced at her but remained silent.

Wow, that was a pretty jealous comment...

Lady Three realized her tone was off, and she let out a grumbling noise before falling quiet.

Recently, it seemed as though any topic they discussed somehow twisted into something awkward. Even when they were talking about people like Ying Five or Batu, it always ended up in a strange place... and she was always the one leading it there.

Frustrated, Lady Three flung a fishbone far out into the sea.

* * * n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

As night deepened, the sounds of woodwork became more distinct on the island.

The man and woman, having finished their meal, worked together on their shelter. Zhao Changhe positioned the beams while Lady Three set in the planks.

The small couple worked side by side, smiling with satisfaction as their little cabin gradually took shape. The joy on their faces was evident, and they laughed like children as they looked at each other’s dirt-smeared faces.

It was all laughter and merriment until they started discussing how to put together a wooden bed, and their eyes met by chance. Suddenly, they both seemed to realize something.

Last night, under that makeshift stone shelter, there was no way anything could happen.

But now there was a wooden cabin, and inside it, a bed. The newly built shelter, the warmth of the fire—it all seemed to point to something more.

Is this a wedding chamber?

Even if it isn’t, it would be easy for it to become one.

The thought had crossed both their minds even during dinner, but they had both pushed it down. Now, with the shelter completed, they could not avoid the question any longer.

“You...” Lady Three hesitated, grinding her teeth before finally blurting out, “I’m your superior. You sleep on the floor.”

Zhao Changhe did not say a word. He simply lay down on the bed, stating plainly, “My spirit is weak. I need proper sleep. I don’t have the energy to do anything to you. What are you worried about?”

Lady Three eyed him suspiciously. “Really?”

Zhao Changhe did not respond. Instead, his breathing evened out, and a hint of soft snoring emerged.

He really was exhausted. He had stumbled during the shark attack and had pushed himself through the entire day. It was a miracle that he had not passed out during the construction.

Lady Three stared at his sleeping face, which looked so peaceful and innocent—almost like that of a child who had not yet grown up.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally lay down beside him, still clothed, and closed her eyes. She needed rest too. After an exhausting day, her ribs were aching again. The medicine had long run out, and rest was the only way left to heal.

Luckily, her body was not just resilient in defense but was also excellent when it came to recovery. An ordinary person with broken ribs would not be up fighting sharks the next day, but Lady Three was practically back to full strength after just one day. A few more days of proper rest, and she could be on her way again—half a month was far more than necessary.

In her half-awake state, Lady Three’s thoughts wandered—Honestly, maybe we don’t even need to leave... Whatever happens, what does it have to do with me?

She rolled over, wrapping her arms around the human-shaped pillow beside her, a faint smile on her lips as she drifted into a sweet slumber.

The waves gently lapped against the shore, the night as quiet as could be.

Far out at sea, a fleet of ships sailed steadily onward.

“Captain, we’ve spotted an injured shark in the distance... There may be other people in these waters.”

1. Just a small note that the Chinese character for turtle and tortoise are the same. ☜