Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 644: The Four Idols Cult Is Not

The two would absolutely not sit still and wait—that much was certain. Finding the location of the duel was not difficult. After all, how far could they have gone from the capital? The energy signature of a battle between two powerhouses who were worthy of being on the Ranking of Heaven was not exactly subtle.

It did not take long before they detected a surge of energy to the northeast of the capital. They streaked toward it, and from a distance, they saw Zhao Changhe and Vermillion Bird standing opposite each other on the edge of a rugged, rocky outcrop.

The two women crouched behind cover, peering out. The first words they caught were of Vermillion Bird’s cold, detached voice, “How’s your injury? You better not say that I’m bullying the wounded if you lose.”

Oh, just admit you’re worried about him. You seem to be more worried about him than we are. Though I guess you weren’t with us when we fought the Sea Emperor’s flood dragon body. We watched as he was almost crippled by the Sea Emperor, yet he completely recovered soon after.

Nevertheless, Zhao Changhe had just stabbed himself with his own saber, using his blood to temper the divine sword, and now his chest was still bloody. His bloodied torso looked undeniably gruesome at the moment.

Zhao Changhe laughed casually and said, “You don’t need to worry about me, venerable. My body’s a bit unusual. My defenses are average, but my recovery ability is excellent.”

Vermillion Bird said coldly, “Is that why you constantly end up looking like a reckless fool?”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“No matter what, letting the followers see their Night Emperor covered in blood day after day isn’t very fitting.”

Zhao Changhe nodded: “Alright, I’ll try to bleed from a different spot in the future.”

Vermillion Bird: “?”

“Are you worried about my future image, Venerable?”

“Presumptuous!” she snapped, flicking her cloak back. Her gaze sharpened. “Someone who’ll be on their knees in a few moves has no need to worry about image.”

Zhao Changhe smiled faintly. “Venerable, please.”

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“What about your weapons? I always fight bare-handed. Will you do the same?”

“I won’t use River of Stars. It would suppress you too much. That would be a hollow victory. I’ll use Dragon Bird only... Venerable, please.”

Only Dragon Bird? But where is it even? Is he giving me the first move as well?

Even if it were a playful spar between lovers, such an attitude rubbed Vermillion Bird the wrong way. Does he think I really don’t dare hit him?

Lady Three frowned from her hiding spot. Even if Zhao Changhe had broken through to the third layer of the Profound Mysteries, he was still no match for Vermillion Bird. Using River of Stars would have given him a good chance at winning, but limiting himself to Dragon Bird? Is he sure about this? One mistake and he could lose badly.

Swish!

Vermillion Bird wasted no time. She lunged forward, her claw streaking for Zhao Changhe’s throat.

Snowflakes drifted through the air.

The deadly flames swirling around her talons churned through the falling snow—a scene of tragic beauty, laced with lethal intent.

Every time Zhao Changhe saw Vermillion Bird strike, he could not help but admire how perfectly she embodied elegant violence. It was breathtaking.

He drew his fist back to his waist, muscles coiling like springs. Then, with a thunderous shout, he launched his fist forward.

He did not even draw Dragon Bird, choosing to fight with his bare fists!

It was not a typical Black Tortoise’s Fist... Lady Three had never taught him the complete routine of her own fist art. His punch bore little connection to the style of the Four Idols Cult’s Black Tortoise. She merely taught its intent and had him practice punching the waves under the sea to comprehend the force of water. It was less of a Black Tortoise’s Fist and more of a punch from Hai Pinglan.

Even back then, when Hai Pinglan had watched his strikes, he thought that Zhao Changhe’s punches were just like his.

But this punch, beyond its tsunami-like violence and raw power, contained something more.

The Heavenly Sea-Suppressing Palm of the Wang Clan, as well as the Wind and Lightning Palm of the Divine Brilliance Sect.

The essence of all three was different, their cultivation techniques distinct, and their force applications varied, but they shared one intense similarity: an overwhelming, ferocious dominance. When his fist struck, claps of thunder boomed as roars of the wind and sea resounded, and it felt as though the very space around them was collapsing. Snowflakes spiraled wildly, caught in the surge of force, forming a pillar of explosive energy that burst forth like a shockwave.

Although Vermillion Bird’s flames were fierce, they seemed powerless in the face of this ferocious pillar of energy...

Lady Three and Xia Chichi exchanged a glance, their thoughts converging on why Zhao Changhe had chosen to fight—and to fight in this particular manner.

Having fought alongside Zhao Changhe many times, they knew his strength and capabilities well. Vermillion Bird, however, did not. Deep down, perhaps there was a hint of disdain, a subconscious belief that she was stooping down to indulge a lesser man. Even if she did not consciously think this way, her subconscious likely whispered it.

Xia Chichi might have believed Zhao Changhe was merely showcasing his strength. But Lady Three understood better—he was telling Vermillion Bird that the man she saw as beneath her could, in fact, stand above her!

Boom!

The energy pillar collided with the flaming claw, resulting in a thunderous explosion.

Vermillion Bird’s expression remained unchanged. Her claw continued its path undeterred, her fingers piercing through the swirling force.

The energy pillar, forceful enough to shatter stone, crumbled in her grip like fragile tofu.

Yet, the flames that seemed poised to be extinguished by the force did not dissipate. Instead, they flowed along the currents of energy, igniting a path to Zhao Changhe’s fist.

Snap!

Zhao Changhe’s fist shifted to a pointed hand strike, sword qi flashing from his fingertips. The sword qi sliced through the flames, aiming straight for the center of her palm.

They exchanged a flurry of blows at close range, the rapid crackle of strikes filling the air. Finally, they clashed palm-to-palm and slid apart. Though Zhao Changhe’s energy failed to faze Vermillion Bird, her flames had also been deflected and scattered.

They seemed evenly matched.

As Zhao Changhe retreated, his blood and qi churned slightly. He used the backward momentum to regulate his breathing, but in that brief instant of introspection, Vermillion Bird vanished from his sight.

His heart jumped. He pushed off with his foot, accelerating his backward movement.

A claw swiped past his nose, missing by a hair’s breadth. Zhao Changhe swiftly raised his hand to block, his back pressed against a rocky outcrop. Vermillion Bird’s mask loomed before him, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“Your strength is impressive,” she said, her voice low. “But you’re still a little lacking...”

A subtle fragrance drifted to his nose, igniting a sudden flare of heat in his chest.

It was the flame of desire.

Zhao Changhe understood this all too well. The flame she wielded was not just external, it also burned within. That inner fire, the heart flame, had once been harnessed by Vermillion Bird herself, helping her break through to the third layer of the Profound Mysteries. This heart flame was not limited to anger—it was a fire that ignited rage, jealousy, and desire.

Earlier, Wang Daoning had been consumed by the flames of rage and jealousy. At this moment, Zhao Changhe was ensnared by the flame of desire. It was an affliction for him alone to endure.

A thousand distracting thoughts surged through his mind. How could he fight while his heart was so unsettled?

Vermillion Bird’s teasing voice, like a lover’s whisper, drifted to his ears, “Are you trying to stir up vicious blood qi? It won’t work on me...”

Her slender hand pressed lightly against her abdomen. “It looks like you’re going to lose...”

“Oh, really?” Zhao Changhe suddenly smiled.

Vermillion Bird’s heart skipped a beat. The hand she had been using to restrain him was now caught in his firm grip, barely a cun away from pressing fully against his abdomen. His eyes were clear, sharp—utterly free of the haze of desire.

At the same moment he seized her wrist, Zhao Changhe’s right hand moved.

A broad saber materialized out of nowhere, descending toward Vermillion Bird’s shoulder bearing the weight of a mountain.

Her wrist held fast, dodging was impossible at such close range. Vermillion Bird’s left hand shot out, lightning-fast, to strike the flat of the blade.

The massive saber’s close-quarters strike left little room for finesse. It was a contest of raw strength. Vermillion Bird was confident—she had just exchanged blows with him and knew his strength, formidable though it was, still fell short of hers.

But the instant her palm hit the saber, she knew something was wrong.

It did not feel like she was striking a weapon. Instead, it felt like she was striking the sky itself.

It was neither here nor there, neither tangible nor distant. Though her strike connected, her force was absorbed completely, like a hand sinking into a river of sand. The sky continued to descend with an unrelenting weight, pressing down on her like a mountain.

Instinct drove her into one final struggle. She twisted her body, trying to slip free of the crushing force. But Zhao Changhe anticipated her move. His foot shifted slightly, and with a firm tug on her wrist, he spun them both, slamming her against the rocky outcrop.

The saber pressed against her neck, his hand braced on the stone, his body pinning hers down. The pressure was absolute, leaving no room to escape.

The air froze.

“What was that...?” Xia Chichi’s voice was a gasp of disbelief from a distance. “When did he gain such power?”

Lady Three answered calmly, “Night Flowing Sand... That strike was not due to his strength alone. It’s the power of his newly reforged Dragon Bird. That foolish bird thought only River of Stars carried the essence of the starry sky, but she missed the day he reforged his saber. She misjudged Dragon Bird, seeing it through yesterday’s eyes. Changhe’s move was clever. He used none of the Night Emperor’s techniques, yet the strike that defeated Vermillion Bird mirrors the power of the night sky suppressing her.”

Xia Chichi’s eyes narrowed. “But how did he overcome her heart flame? Don’t tell me it was Tang Wanzhuang’s Ice Heart Sutra[1] that saved him...”

“...He’s simply cheating. His Ice Heart Sutra can’t truly counter Vermillion Bird’s heart flame. He’s been secretly using leaves of the Dragon Soul Tree to shield his heart.” Lady Three did not mention one crucial detail to Xia Chichi: Vermillion Bird was unaware of Zhao Changhe’s hidden cards, but Zhao Changhe knew all too well that Huangfu Qing and Vermillion Bird were one. He had accounted for everything. Much of the outcome of this duel was due to a difference in information, not a lack of strength on Vermillion Bird’s part.

If both sides had equal information and fought again, Vermillion Bird would surely win. But in a real battle, who gets a second chance? Many great warriors fall with regrets, their trump cards unused—like the Sea Emperor, who died a frustrated death before he could unleash his full power.

A loss was still a loss.

Even if this was just a sparring match, such that even the Tome of Troubled Times did not flash, a defeat remained a defeat.

Snowflakes drifted gently around them. On the edge of the rocky outcrop, Vermillion Bird leaned back against the rocks, Zhao Changhe pressing against her, his saber now put away. Their bodies remained close, eyes locked.

Though the saber was gone, Vermillion Bird did not try to break free. Their breaths came slightly faster, unconsciously synchronized.

Zhao Changhe’s gaze dropped to her lips—those fiery, seductive lips were right there, a mere tilt of his head away from a kiss.

Her eyes were a turmoil of emotions. After a long pause, she whispered, “Judging by the look in your eyes, does the mighty god intend to take liberties with his subordinate?”

His gaze lifted from her lips and he asked, “Do you admit defeat?”

Vermillion Bird answered bluntly, “Yes, I lost. According to our wager, I’ll submit to your command.”

Saying it aloud brought a quiet sense of relief.

She had not expected him to win. Though he had bent the rules a bit, the path he offered was graceful, a step she was ready to take.

This outcome had long been a possibility in her heart as Huangfu Qing. Why else entrust him with the Night Emperor’s sword? Why send Lady Three to teach him the ways of forging?

She had just not expected it to happen so soon.

But then Zhao Changhe asked, “How should I command you?”

Vermillion Bird’s voice was calm. “The four idols are the embodiment of their respective idols—the left and right hands of the god. If you think of this as mere servitude, your vision is disappointingly narrow.”

He shook his head slightly. “I have no desire to command the Four Idols Cult or anyone within it. I already told you that I only seek aligned interests. I don’t care to be anyone’s god. If there’s something I do desire...”

He paused, his voice steady. “Since we first met at the Luo Family Village over two years ago, I have admired you, Venerable Vermillion Bird... Everything I’ve done wasn’t for power or position. It was merely to have a taste of your lips.”

From a distance, Xia Chichi’s jaw dropped.

What the FUCK?!

Even Vermillion Bird was stunned. “You... you...”

Zhao Changhe lifted her wrist, guiding her palm to his chest. “My life is in your hands... If you don’t wish it, a burst of your energy will end me.”

He leaned in slowly, his lips descending toward hers.

“Wait... wait a—”

Her protest was cut off as his lips met hers.

Her hand pressed against his chest, capable of obliterating him with a mere pulse of energy, yet not a smidgen of energy flowed into her fingers. She pushed lightly, hesitantly, caught between resistance and surrender.

From her hiding spot, Xia Chichi gaped, speechless.

1. This might be the same as the Moonglade Sutra, but I’m not completely sure. ☜