Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 803 (2): Journey to the Western Regions

As they spoke, they arrived at the inner hall, where Zhao Changhe was momentarily stunned to find Yuxu sitting opposite Li Shentong, playing a game of chess.

For supposed enemies, they sure do not look like it. Honestly, calling them ‘friendly rivals’ feels off too. They’re more like bickering lovers—keep fighting long enough, and who knows, they might just end up in bed together.

Zhao Changhe kept his thoughts to himself, but neither Li Shentong nor Yuxu even acknowledged his arrival. Both of them were too absorbed in their game.

Watching them for a while, Zhao Changhe noted that Li Shentong’s injuries had recovered well. Aside from his missing arm, everything else had healed. But his strength was returning sluggishly. As a body cultivator, losing an arm meant that even if his cultivation recovered, his combat prowess would never return to its peak.

Likewise, though Yuxu’s foundation had not been damaged, and he could regain his strength, his age was catching up to him, and his recovery was as slow as a turtle’s crawl.

With a sigh, Zhao Changhe took out the Taiji Diagram and handed it back to Yuxu. “Senior, your diagram... A few days ago, when the Four Idols Cult was studying formations, and during my own breakthrough, we relied heavily on it. I owe you my thanks.”

Yuxu did not take it. “Keep it. I can sense your tension. You’ve clearly got more trouble ahead. You might need it. An old Daoist like me won’t be fighting on the front lines anymore. What use do I have for it?”

Zhao Changhe said, “Can’t you still use it for self-defense? Besides, this artifact can’t reach its full potential in my hands the way it would in yours. Keeping it with me is like letting a bright pearl get covered in dust.”

“Your duty now is to safeguard the world from the chaos of gods and demons. This is your responsibility. We’re secluded in Emei, and we don’t even have anything valuable on us anymore. No one is going to go out of their way to kill us,” Yuxu said calmly. Then, tossing a Daoist scripture over to Zhao Changhe, he added, “Read it when you have time. The two polarities give birth to the Four Idols[1]. And yet, the new Night Emperor of the Four Idols Cult claims that yin and yang have little use to him. That’s enough to make the entire world burst out laughing.”

After that, he simply folded his arms and focused back on the chessboard, saying nothing more.

Zhao Changhe tilted his head in exasperation. Why does that last sentence sound like he’s implying I’m the damn patriarch of the Four Idols Cult?

Li Shentong also tossed over a book on body cultivation. “Here, take it. But let me warn you, physical resilience should always be your last line of defense. It should only become something you rely on after all other protections have failed. Don’t go around using your body as a shield at every turn, or you’ll end up like other people, losing limbs and whatnot.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“Now get lost, don’t bother us. I swear, today I’m going to beat this old Daoist into the ground.”

Even many li away from Emei, Zhao Changhe’s expression was still twitching slightly. He had been worrying about these two and their injuries for so long, only to find them lounging around, playing chess like they did not have a care in the world.

And honestly, he was kind of jealous. Who knew when his journey would finally come to an end?

Zhao Changhe reined in his horse and looked back. Further south from Emei, he would be able to see Sisi... He missed her terribly. But if he went now, it would only be a fleeting meeting before he had to leave again. Would that not only add to the sorrow of parting?

A thousand li away, Sisi was cultivating in the sacred temple when a sudden warmth stirred in her heart. She smiled sweetly. “He’s thinking about me, and so intensely, too... He’s afraid that if he comes just to leave again, it’ll only make my heart ache more. And if he indulges in intimacy, I might misunderstand and think he only seeks to satisfy his desires... He actually worries about that?”

She rose gracefully, turned to kneel before the statue of the ancestral god, and whispered a prayer, “My husband embarks on yet another perilous journey. Ancestral God, please protect him, grant him victory over his foes, and bring him back to me, forever and always.”

* * *

Zhao Changhe led Snow-Treading Crow forward, arriving outside an opulent complex of buildings with a distinct Western Regions architectural style. Holding the reins, he slowed his pace, eyes widening as he scanned his surroundings.

This was Ying Five’s base of operations.

Back when he had arrived by divine descent, he had not had the leisure to observe his surroundings. He had gone straight into Ying Five’s chambers. But now that he was seeing it from the outside, he was utterly at a loss as to what he was seeing.

How the hell is this supposed to be a bandit stronghold? This place is as extravagant as a royal palace.

Towering warriors patrolled the area, their hands resting on the blades at their waist, their eyes fixed sharply on the lone traveler leading his horse toward their gates. In the distance, music drifted from within the hall. The music was quite distinctive, in a style completely different from those of the Central Plains.

Sweeping his divine sense inward, Zhao Changhe caught a clear image. There was a group of exotic dancers draped in nothing but silk veils, their slender waists twisting gracefully as they performed. Ying Five lounged on a plush seat, sipping grape wine, eyes half-lidded as he watched the dance unfold. Even his attire had changed, now resembling that of a wealthy Western Regions merchant rather than the rogue Zhao Changhe once knew. Only that ever-present, affable “money-making” grin remained unchanged.

“Stop right there.” The guards, already half-unsheathing their blades, blocked Zhao Changhe’s path. “The fifth lord is entertaining honored guests today. No outsiders allowed.”

Zhao Changhe smirked. “And how do you know I’m not one of those honored guests?”

The guards hesitated. They were not sure if he truly was an important guest, but judging by his demeanor, he was likely connected to their leader’s dealings in the Central Plains. One of them asked cautiously, “State your number.”

Number... Zhao Changhe’s lips twitched. “Zhao Four.”

“Pfft—” Inside the hall, Ying Five, who had been leisurely enjoying his wine while secretly observing Zhao Changhe’s antics, suddenly spat out his drink, choking and coughing violently.

The guards froze, eyes going wide.

Among the Western Regions’ mounted brigands, most had serial numbers that started in the thousands, like livestock markings. The first hundred were reserved for their earliest Central Plains allies. As for the first nine, they were the most senior, people who had been with Ying Five since the beginning. Most of them had long perished, with their numbers passed down to successors.

So, while being Zhao One to Four did not necessarily mean more authority than, say, Zhao Two Hundred Fifty-Three, these numbers still carried an aura of prestige, marking the founding elite.

The problem was... Zhao Four did not exist. The number four belonged to Li Sian.

“You... you dare impersonate one of our own?!” The guard’s hands trembled as they gripped their hilt. “Do you realize the consequences of your actions?”

Zhao Changhe blinked. “Wow. You guys sure take this seriously.”

From within the hall, Ying Five’s voice rang out, laced with amusement. “Hey, if you’re bold enough to call yourself Zhao Four, then I’m bold enough to recognize it. Li Sian can pack up and leave.”

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Zhao Changhe chuckled. “Fifth Brother, you are loyal and righteous, a good man to have as a brother.”

Ying Five was silent for a moment before smiling and saying, “You were always meant to be the only honored guest today. There’s no need for these games.”

The only honored guest... At those words, the guards on either side instantly stepped aside, bowing deeply to reveal a long red carpet stretching toward the grand hall’s center. “Welcome, honored guest.”

“I’m not playing games.” Zhao Changhe casually handed his horse to a guard and strolled in. “I just checked on Yuxu and Li Shentong... Their injuries are still far from healed, and it’s hard to say how many years it’ll take for them to fully recover. The old members of the Ranking of Heaven are dwindling. Seeing you still standing strong, I couldn’t help but sigh.”

“So you’re deliberately entangling your karma with ours, linking your destiny with the Mounted Brigand Brotherhood, even if just a little. Are you intending to protect me?”

“Mm... I don’t know about that. The senior figures who work with me tend to meet unfortunate ends. I’d rather not let it happen again.”

Ying Five burst into hearty laughter.

Zhao Changhe stepped into the hall, his entrance accompanied by that laughter. His gaze swept across the dazzling display of riches shimmering in the grand hall. Music and dance filled the air, and soft white fabric barely veiled the spring scenery of the women performing.

Ignoring it all, Zhao Changhe walked straight to a seat beside Ying Five, picked up a slice of Hami melon, and took a bite. Casually, he remarked, “Weren’t you supposed to be the abstinent type? You used to chase after Vermillion Bird, but didn’t you eventually lose all interest? Or is that not the case? Do you still have lingering thoughts?”

Ying Five rolled his eyes. “You really can’t tell? This is all arranged for you.”

As he spoke, a Hu dancer slid closer, demurely lowering her eyes as she poured wine for Zhao Changhe. The sheer fabric on her body barely concealed anything, leaving little to the imagination.

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “Lady Three would fight you to the death over this. You’re not that much older than her, but by seniority, you’re technically her uncle. So does that make me your nephew-in-law?”

“She wouldn’t care. She’s fine sharing with her sisters from the cult, so why would she mind a little indulgence here and there? Relax. When men entertain guests, it’s none of their business. I won’t say a word to her. Just enjoy yourself.”

“She would care,” Zhao Changhe replied with a knowing smile. “Call them off. I don’t need this.”

Ying Five raised a brow. “Have you changed?”

“I never liked this sort of thing in the first place. So no, I haven’t ‘changed’...” Zhao Changhe sighed. “And even if I had, Yangyang’s situation weighs heavily on my mind. How could I be in the mood for this? Honestly, I don’t know why you’re testing me like this out of nowhere, but this method is giving me a headache. We’ve worked together for so long. Do you still not understand me?”

Ying Five took a sip of his wine, watching Zhao Changhe with an amused look before suddenly laughing. “Alright, alright. Everyone, take your leave.”

The music stopped. The dancers quietly retreated, and the grand hall fell into silence.

Ying Five leaned back and spoke leisurely, “I trust your strength, your intellect, your instincts, and your will. The only thing I don’t trust is your resistance to beauty. You say I don’t understand you? Go ask the world, who doesn’t see you that way?”

Zhao Changhe sighed in exasperation. “Why this test? Does it have to do with our enemy?”

“I don’t even know who the enemy is yet. But I do know that Papiyas is still in Kunlun. There’s a chance he’s involved... You might argue that you already beat him in Chang’an, but that was different. A soul fragment is just a soul fragment. A battle in his domain will be very different from one outside it. You’re experienced enough to understand without me spelling it out.”

“So Papiyas really was just a soul fragment back then, huh. No wonder he didn’t die completely.”

Ying Five smirked. “I’ve been thinking. When it comes to your raw power, your battle intuition, your survival instincts, and your sheer will... there’s nothing to criticize. If there’s anyone who can truly counter you, it would be one of two things. One—beings like Papiyas, who can awaken your inner demons. That one’s obvious.”

Recalling the illusion Papiyas had conjured, Zhao Changhe sighed. “I won’t deny it. And the second?”

“Women.”

1. This is a quote from The Book of Changes, though the translation is slightly modified to fit the context of this book. ☜

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