Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 897: The Hidden Karma of the Sword Emperor

At the peak of a snowy mountain stood a lonely, unnamed grave.

There were no offerings, no mourners, only a stone tablet buried under a thick blanket of snow.

Zhao Changhe and Sisi stood hand in hand before the grave in silence. Neither harbored any real resentment toward the Sword Emperor. After all, his appearance had been like a shooting star—fleeting and leaving little trace behind. If anything, his sword arts had been of great benefit during Zhao Changhe’s formative years. The method of accumulating force in layered waves had laid the foundation for the unstoppable momentum of Zhao Changhe’s saber art.

In his days wandering across the jianghu, Zhao Changhe had drawn from many schools of thought, and the Sword Emperor was a major influence.

The bitterness of old grudges had long since faded. That said, while the Sword Emperor himself had made little impression, his lineage had been an ever-present companion in Zhao Changhe’s cultivation. From the moment Zhao first set foot into the world, the Snow-Listening Pavilion had been entangled with him. Though they had never harmed him directly, he had fled their pursuit on more than one occasion. Their presence had shaped many of his early trials.

Now, being buried beneath the snowy peaks felt only fitting for a legacy named Snow-Listening.

This particular lineage had always been a strange one. From Han Wubing, to Shi Wuding, to Snow Owl, and finally to the Sword Emperor. Their methods were all about control and consumption. They felt more like a parasitic hive than a sect of sword cultivators. By that logic, the Heavenly Dao, in the world of cultivation, should be a demonic cultivator, as His brand of cultivation was hardly what one would call righteous.

Zhao Changhe crouched down, brushed the snow off the gravestone, and carved two lines into the tablet:

The ancient Sword Emperor’s grave

To commemorate the fateful bond of Changhe and Sisi.

He spoke aloud, “Since it’s a monument for us, let it be inscribed. The others won’t be upset about it. These days, no one holds on to that much hatred.”

Sisi’s eyes sparkled as she read the inscription. Smiling like spring, she said, “Whatever you say.”

Zhao Changhe stood, took her hand again, and was about to speak when he suddenly paused. “Hm?”

Sisi stiffened slightly. At that very moment, the same vision appeared in both their minds—a scene from the distant past, like those once seen within the Heavenly Tome. Upon the vast, desolate earth, an old man swung his sword.

One horizontal stroke. One vertical stroke.

The horizontal stroke split heaven and earth. The vertical stroke shattered the cosmos.

Is this a remnant of the Sword Emperor’s will lingering here? Did it reveal itself after sensing our genuine gratitude?

What they saw now was far more vivid than the Heavenly Tome’s prior simulation. That had merely been a replica, a model that required effort and comprehension to learn from. This, however, reached directly into the spiritual sea. It was like a master bestowing a technique.

Zhao Changhe did not know what Sisi might have gleaned from the vision. But for him, this was a revelation.

Just hours ago, he had been forging Dragon Bird, infusing it with Void-Shattering Star Iron, with the intent of creating a saber that could sever space itself. But that was Dragon Bird’s nature, not his. He did not possess a technique to match it, and had it not been for the harmony between master and weapon, their power would not have aligned.

He had been searching for his path toward the Other Shore, and Jiuyou’s method of creation did not resonate with him. Deep down, he was seeking destruction, not genesis.

And now, was this not precisely the answer he had longed for?

The vertical and horizontal strokes were certainly created as sword techniques, but who was to say they could not be executed with a saber?

Zhao Changhe’s heart surged with emotion. He instinctively reached for Dragon Bird, only to grab at air. Right. I sent Ling Ruoyu off to run errands earlier, and Dragon Bird was curled up with her.

He shook his head and laughed softly. Then, pressing his palms together to imitate the edge of a saber, he swung his arms downward.

A blade of energy erupted, vanishing into the far reaches of the world, so distant it defied measurement.

Shhhk!

Somewhere on the far horizon, a mountain peak was sliced cleanly across the top.

The cut was so perfect that, for a moment, the peak appeared unchanged.

Then, slowly... it crumbled into dust, dissolving into the void.

Sisi stared at him, stunned. He... didn’t even use a weapon. Is his power really this terrifying now?

Zhao Changhe shook his head and looked down at the edge of his hand. “It’s only a breakthrough in technique. It brings me closer to creating a better final strike, but I still haven’t found the key to the next realm. Well, I’m getting closer.” 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Sisi scratched her head, and her fingers bumped into her Miaojiang-style crown, glittering with ornaments.

Zhao Changhe chuckled, cupping her face in both hands and giving her cheeks a gentle squeeze. “What’s this? Acting cute again?”

Sisi pouted. “Your cultivation stuff’s getting beyond me. I give up. I’m happy with my Profound Control Realm. It’s not like you need me in battle. My job is just to be beautiful.”

Compared to little Yangyang, who once did not even know what she had command over when reaching the Profound Control Realm, Sisi was at least clear that she commanded wind. She had progressed gradually and steadily. To this day, she was still just a standard Profound Control Realm cultivator, so much as the term “standard” could be applied to this level of power.

“My pretty little maid only needs to worry about looking good and pleasing her young master,” Zhao Changhe teased her, cupping her face and kissing her gently. Then he chuckled. “By the way, ever since the Spirit Tribe’s secret realm disappeared, have you still been able to raise those exotic beasts?”

“Unfortunately not. The environment’s changed and nothing takes to the new soil. Now, only the ordinary beasts remain. We’ve also abandoned the old Spirit-Controlling Technique that allowed us to channel a beast’s energy into our body. However, we still practice the Beast-Controlling Technique; it’s still practical. As for the gu, they’ve been phased out too, but our witchcraft and curses are still being refined.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. “That’s how it should be. It’s a unique tradition distinct from the Central Plains. It would be a shame to let it all fade.”

Sisi tilted her head. “So what was that sword intent just now?”

Zhao Changhe’s gaze returned to the gravestone. He stood in contemplative silence for a moment before murmuring, “The Sword Emperor wasn’t a demon god that this world birthed naturally. He was a construct, a creation brought into being by the Heavenly Dao. In other words, he had a different origin than the rest. But even so, he was still his own person, not some Heavenly Dao clone or puppet. He had his own thoughts, his own path. That final cross-strike was not a technique given to him by the Heavenly Dao but one he made on his own. At the moment of death, he glimpsed the source.”

Sisi turned to study his profile. She did not quite grasp the full meaning of what he was saying, as it was beyond her level of cultivation, but it did not matter to her. She simply liked being beside him and listening to his voice. It made her feel at peace.

Of course, Zhao Changhe was not actually trying to discuss cultivation with her. He was sorting through his own thoughts aloud. “If the Heavenly Dao hadn’t interfered, the Sword Emperor’s path may have ended in rebellion. We’ve come to believe that the Setting Sun Ravages the Sky he unleashed back then was aimed at Ye Wuming, but I’m not so sure if that really was the case. He left only the ordinary inheritances in that false tomb, but kept the essence of his path out here, beyond the Heavenly Dao’s reach. In his heart, he was genuinely hoping that someone would one day carry it forward. We were really lucky that Hongling inherited his legacy. That time at Kunlun, when he tested her with his sword, it must’ve been genuine.”

Sisi asked, “Do you think that thirty years ago, when he died, he intentionally chose to leave the world?”

“Maybe. He didn’t fully display his power back then. He probably held back, which means that the legacy we just received might very well be a spike driven into the Heavenly Dao’s side, a gift left behind by the Sword Emperor to subvert Him from within.” Zhao Changhe sighed. “No wonder he once ranked third among demon gods, even higher than Piaomiao. He was no ordinary man. The Heavenly Dao keeps trying to control these brilliant souls... but in the end, all He earns is rebellion.”

Sisi said, “Then, if I hadn’t given him a gravestone, maybe this never would’ve happened.”

“This was a bond born of your kindness, though... I feel like I reaped all the benefits.”

“You’re the one who carved those words,” Sisi said with a grin. “And anyway, what’s mine is yours, and what’s yours is mine, right?”

Zhao Changhe smiled gently and bowed again before the grave.

Sisi bowed as well, following her husband’s lead.

A breeze swept across the gravestone as if returning the gesture.

Thus, the karmic thread of the Sword Emperor’s tomb was at last laid to rest.

“Come on,” Zhao Changhe said, taking Sisi’s hand. “Show me the Dali of today.”

* * *

While Zhao Changhe and Sisi paid respects and settled old debts in the snow, Ling Ruoyu, sent off on her errand, wandered around with Dragon Bird strapped to her back. She strolled aimlessly through the streets, enjoying the foreign sights and sounds that were so different from the Central Plains.

She had been here once before as River of Stars, but back then... not only were her memories hazy, but as a sword, she had no appreciation for culture or scenery. Only now, as a girl with her own body and spirit, could she take it all in with wide-eyed delight.

Even Dragon Bird was enthralled. While the saber was strapped like a giant plank across Ling Ruoyu’s back, a translucent, twin-pigtailed girl emerged in illusory form, clinging onto her like a lazy cat being carried around. Her curious eyes flitted everywhere. “You know... I’ve been here so many times, and I never noticed how fun it actually is.”

“Could you not sit on my back? It’s weird.”

“You’re literally carrying me on your back, though.”

“I’m carrying a saber. Carrying a person just feels weird, like I’m carrying my wife or something. Get back inside the blade if you want to talk.”

“No one can see me anyway. Who’d even know you’re carrying your—wait, no. I’m not your wife. You’re my wife.”

“Since when did a wife carry her husband on her back? If you don’t go back inside, you’re acknowledging that you are my wife.”

Dragon Bird grumbled to herself and slipped back into the blade. Seeing that, Ling Ruoyu exhaled in relief.

Even if, technically, she was still carrying Dragon Bird on her back, and it was still kind of like carrying her wife on her back.

To be fair, no matter how humanlike the two of them had become, they were still sword and saber at heart. They had little interest in clothing or food, but anything related to combat or cultivation caught their attention like fire to a moth. It did not take long for them to notice a sacrificial altar by the edge of Erhai, surrounded by markings of strange witchcraft entirely different from anything that could be found in the Central Plains. The entire witchcraft array stretched over an area easily ten li wide.

One glance and Ling Ruoyu immediately recognized that this must be the witchcraft site, which was supposedly going to be used to locate the Heavenly Dao, mentioned by her aunts. With curiosity blazing in her eyes, the young girl dashed over.

Just as Ling Ruoyu got close, she was blocked off by a guard. “This is a sacred ground for witchcraft. No unauthorized persons are permitted entry.”

Dragon Bird helpfully translated, “They don’t sell soy sauce here.”

Ling Ruoyu ground her teeth. “Shut up.”

The guard sneered, “Little brat, did you just tell me to shut up? Who do you think you are?”

“...”

Ling Ruoyu bolted, circling around and attempting to climb over the wall where no one was watching.

The moment she crossed the boundary, an unfamiliar and powerful force descended upon her. She could not stop herself from aging rapidly.

It was a witchcraft curse that accelerated time. But what she felt first was a strange tightness in her chest... and then, before her eyes, her chest swelled visibly.

Had her master or parents been here, perhaps they would have explained gently that this was just a part of growing up. But the poor girl had no clue. Her face went pale in terror. She was more frightened than the time she turned into a bunny in the Hall of Heroes. “Birdy, help me!”

Dragon Bird peeked over, her voice tinged with envy. “Isn’t this a good thing? Who’s the kind soul helping you out—wait, something’s not right...”

Ling Ruoyu’s chest was not the only thing that had grown. She had gotten taller, too. Her youthful features were now tinged with the grace of a mature woman. She now looked eerily similar to Ye Wuming.

Dragon Bird’s eyes widened in horror. “Help! Somebody help!”

Neither of them had any idea how to deal with something like this. In a panic, they completely forgot what they had come here for—so much for buying soy sauce.

Suddenly, the sound of movement came from above. “Prime Minister Tang is inspecting this area today, and someone dares sneak around? Seize her!”

Ling Ruoyu shouted, “Prime Minister Tang is my aunt!”

“You look older than Prime Minister Tang, you liar. Seize her!”

Ling Ruoyu: “...”

To be fair, if they saw Prime Minister Tang’s nephew, they’d probably think the same thing.

No, wait, I don’t want to be this old... Help!

From afar, a calm, clear voice rang out, “Ye Wuming? What are you doing here?” Tang Wanzhuang’s voice grew closer at startling speed. “Stand down. None of you are a match for her.”

The guards withdrew, but not without a few disbelieving stares. This woman looks like she’s on the verge of tears. Is she really that strong?

Ling Ruoyu gazed tearfully at the airborne Tang Wanzhuang. She had never found her aunt so beautiful. “Aunt, save me...”

Tang Wanzhuang nearly fell from midair. “Ruoyu?!”

Of course, it’s her. That ridiculous thing on her back is definitely Dragon Bird. Tang Wanzhuang caught her gently. “So you were cursed... This area has multiple layers of overlapping witchcraft defenses. I didn’t expect you to trigger this one.”

Ling Ruoyu felt like her face was already covered in wrinkles. Her voice trembled. “Can it be reversed?”

“Witchcraft is simply another form of energy. Before reaching the Profound Control Realm, it’s difficult to distinguish. But after that, it’s far easier to deal with.” Tang Wanzhuang placed a hand on her forehead, and a cool stream of true qi flowed into her.

Ling Ruoyu quickly felt her youthful self return and let out a long sigh of relief.

Then she happened to glance down—her hard-earned curves were gone. She could not help but feel a little wistful.

Dragon Bird sighed too. Looks like we’re back to square one.

Seeing her crestfallen expression, Tang Wanzhuang laughed. “What’s wrong? Are you missing how you looked just now already?”

“Well...”

“It’s a good sign,” Tang Wanzhuang said meaningfully. “It just means you’re a late bloomer. As you grow older, your body will develop naturally. Not everyone is like... certain people, who stop growing no matter how much time passes.”

By “certain people,” she clearly meant Xia Chichi. As a loyal minister of the Great Han, she could not criticize the empress too directly.

Ling Ruoyu beamed. “Thank you, Aunt!”

Tang Wanzhuang sighed. “But for a moment, I truly thought I was looking at Ye Wuming. You were all the way in the capital, weren’t you? Why are you suddenly here?”

“Master Zhao brought me,” Ling Ruoyu said. “He and Aunt Sisi went off to pay respects somewhere...”

“I see. Then what are you doing here?”

Ling Ruoyu glanced around. Seeing no one nearby, she lowered her voice. “I actually came here to see you, Aunt.”

Tang Wanzhuang blinked in surprise, then chuckled. “You came all this way just for me?”

“If I said I wanted to play matchmaker for my parents... would that make you angry?”

“Why would I be angry?” Tang Wanzhuang’s interest was piqued. “That’s a good thing. So, what’s your plan?”

It looks like Birdy’s instincts were right. Tang Wanzhuang really is the sort who’d happily tie women to Master Zhao if it helped.

“I was thinking of forging a love letter to Dad from Mom... I should be able to write the thing, but as for how to word it... I have no idea.”

Tang Wanzhuang pressed her palm to her forehead, speechless. I thought that this girl had some grand plan, but this is all it was? And she even has the nerve to say it out loud?

Ye Wuming could perceive all things under heaven. She even tracked rookie fighters just starting out and added them to her rankings. As her daughter, Ling Ruoyu likely had half of her mother’s attention on her at all times. Was saying this out loud no different from conspiring under Ye Wuming’s nose?

No matter what she wrote, Ye Wuming would probably turn it to ash before the ink dried.

But on second thought, maybe this could be a test to see how she would respond.

If the letter was not too ridiculous or shameful and instead proposed something more traditional like a proper courtship or marriage proposal, how would Ye Wuming react?

Would she incinerate it on the spot or... hesitate?

It might actually be worth trying.

Tang Wanzhuang reached into her sleeve and pulled out a pencil and note paper and handed them to Ling Ruoyu. She then whispered in her ear, “Write something like this...”

Ye Wuming had already been eavesdropping, of course—but just then, Zhao Changhe slashed his palms together to form a saber and split the boundary between heaven and earth.

Ye Wuming’s gaze snapped toward the distant mountain and her expression shifted.

So... the Sword Emperor left behind traces of his sword intent after all. And it even managed to escape my perception. What a strange and unexpected karma.

What truly stirred her heart, however, was the fact that Zhao Changhe had actually managed to glean a key—a glimpse into the mysteries of the Other Shore—from this.

Even the Sword Emperor himself had never reached that level. Yet Zhao Changhe, through this external whetstone, had sharpened the edge of his own blade.

This wretched man’s talent truly is terrifying. How in the world did I manage to pick someone like him from all the souls on Earth?

...Wait. What was Tang Wanzhuang just telling Ruoyu to write?

Ye Wuming turned her attention back only to see Ling Ruoyu slip the folded note into her River of Stars space. The contents vanished from sight.

Ye Wuming nearly choked on her own fury. That spatial trick for storing clothes inside a blade? She was the one who had taught it to her daughter! And now the girl had turned around and used it to hide... a love letter?!

Furthermore, it was a letter written in her name. To Zhao Changhe!

She was just about to rush over and yank the girl by the ear when Ling Ruoyu suddenly broke into a run and threw herself into the arms of a woman in red. “Master, master! Yu’er missed you so much!”

Ye Wuming watched as Ling Ruoyu dove into Yue Hongling’s embrace like a fledgling bird returning to the nest. She bit her lip and ultimately did not go out to make a scene.

Forget it, the little brat will have to take the letter out eventually when she gives it to Zhao Changhe. And the moment that letter appears, I can just burn it instantly. No need to ruin my own face like this.