Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 805: Still Young

Zhao Changhe sat cross-legged in what had once been his wedding chamber, studying the introductory manual that Ying Five had given him.

For the upcoming battle in the secret realm that Ying Five had invited him to, learning spatial techniques in preparation was not actually necessary. The fight itself did not require an understanding of space. Yet, Ying Five had insisted he master the basics before they set out.

His learning of the basics of space was not for this battle but for Jiuyou.

The space around Jiuyou would undoubtedly be chaotic. Without a grasp of spatial arts, forget about finding her within a month, even a hundred years would not be enough.

But the battle Ying Five was heading into had nothing to do with Jiuyou. These were two separate matters. So why teach him this now instead of after the fight?

The only possible reason was that Ying Five was not sure he would make it out alive. He was preparing for the worst, making sure everything was in order before stepping into battle.

If that was the case, then he knew exactly what he was up against. And he was walking in fully expecting to die.

Is it really that dire? I am first on the Ranking of Heaven, no? With me here and with Ying Five’s own hidden strength, just what kind of enemy would force him to prepare for his own death? If it’s that difficult, then why not wait until he’s reached an even higher level? Why is he in a hurry?

And if it’s that difficult, why not call for reinforcements? If I were to bring my wives into the mix, we could probably just storm in and crush whoever it was with overwhelming force. Unless...

Just like Zhao Changhe himself, Ying Five had a reason he had to go now. Perhaps there was a specific agreement—a duel, or a situation where he could only bring one companion.

Ying Five must have his own story...

But whatever that story was, the man had shown unwavering loyalty. And Zhao Changhe would not let him share the fate of Yuxu and Li Shentong. Two people suffering that were two too many.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Zhao Changhe shifted his focus and sent his consciousness into River of Stars. freeweɓnovel~cѳm

Inside, two young girls were fighting. He was entirely unsurprised by the sight and casually stepped forward, grabbing each of them by the collar and lifting them apart. “Sparring is fine when there’s nothing going on. But we’re about to face a real battle. Save your strength.”

Dragon Bird sat cross-legged in the air, arms crossed, cheeks puffed up in a pout. “Fighting here doesn’t drain our strength. You’re just here to see River of Stars. You never care about me. You’re so biased! You’re such a scummy man!”

Zhao Changhe tilted his head in exasperation.

...Where the hell did you learn the term ‘scummy man’? Wait, does our relationship even warrant that word?

He did not know whether to laugh or cry. “I actually have an important matter to discuss with River of Stars. What are you even getting jealous about? Once the battle is over, I’ll play with you, alright?”

Dragon Bird huffed. “You’re always fighting. The gaps between your battles are tiny, and even then, you spend them with your harem. There’s barely enough time for them, let alone for me. What’s the point of promising to play with me later when you’re just running from one woman to the next like it’s a damn festival schedule?”

Zhao Changhe sighed helplessly. “There’s always an end to battle... Wait a minute, aren’t you the one who used to be the most excited about fighting? You used to jump into fights on your own even when there was no need, and I couldn’t even hold you back. Did killing Timur make you lose your edge?”

Dragon Bird froze for a moment. “Huh. That’s a good point... So, who do we cut down next?”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Weapon spirits and their wielders share a connection. It seems like that influence runs deeper than I thought. Back when I was constantly itching for battle, Dragon Bird was the same. Now that I feel weary and long to spend more time with my loved ones, even Dragon Bird seems less bloodthirsty.

Of course, it could also be because I’ve been seeking out River of Stars more often lately, so she’s feeling neglected. Before, she lay dormant in a shrine for years without complaint. But now? She has something to compare against, and that contrast probably stings.

Zhao Changhe ruffled her hair. “This time, we drink the blood of ancient demon gods. Timur was nothing. The path of war for my Dragon Bird is far from over. One day, you’ll even cleave open the sky itself.”

Dragon Bird tilted her head, staring at him for a long while. “You sound... so old now.”

Zhao Changhe frowned. “What? That wasn’t an old man thing to say. It was an inspiring speech!”

“Before, you used to argue with me like a kid. Now you talk all gentle, like some... creepy little bug. And what’s worse, I can tell you actually mean it.”

“If you suck at metaphors, just don’t use them.” He grabbed her and shoved her spirit back into the saber. “I’ve never seen anyone who hates kindness so much they ask to be scolded. How’s that? Do you feel better now?”

Dragon Bird’s blade trembled. “Scummy man!”

Zhao Changhe ignored the sulking weapon. He turned to look at his left hand, where River of Stars still dangled, quiet and motionless. Those deep, ink-black eyes simply stared up at him. She neither struggled nor said anything, in protest or otherwise.

See? So well-behaved.

Setting her down gently, he placed both hands on her soft cheeks and gave them a light squeeze. “Why are you so quiet? Last time, you wouldn’t shut up.”

“I only talk a lot when you ask me about things,” River of Stars replied flatly. “I don’t like yapping like that broken saber.”

“Fair enough. Anyway, I seem to have started sensing space. I’ve picked up some beginner-level techniques. I thought I’d see if I could gain more insights from the essence of space within my sword.”

“I’m a sword. My abilities don’t include the manipulation of space like what that Ying Five dows. I exist to kill.”

“That’s exactly what I need.”

River of Star’s tiny fingers clutched his hand tightly. “Stop that. I’m a sword, not a ball of dough.”

Zhao Changhe was about to respond when, suddenly, the little girl vanished. In her place, there was only the vast night sky, boundless and majestic.

The words “vast,” “boundless,” and “majestic” were all descriptions of space itself.

Hm... If kneading dough could be considered a metaphor for manipulating space, then why not?

Zhao Changhe closed his eyes, merging his consciousness with the night sky. Bit by bit, insights surfaced within him.

* * *

When he emerged from meditation, the first thing he saw was Ying Five standing at the edge of the space, hands clasped behind his back, stepping lightly on the water’s surface. His gaze was fixed on the gray, murky boundary beyond, lost in thought.

Sensing movement, Ying Five turned and glanced at Zhao Changhe. “That was quick. Do you have questions?”

“No, I’ve pretty much grasped the basics.”

Ying Five stared at him in disbelief. “You’ve... pretty much... What?”

“Uh, well... if you mean mastery, then obviously I’m nowhere near your level.”

“No, I mean what fucking basics have you grasped? You’ve only been meditating for half an hour. This is space. Space! Not throwing rocks at people!”

“Too much theory is pointless. Real comprehension comes through combat.”

Ying Five: “?”

When did I teach you any practical combat applications?

“You said this place was your wedding chamber?”

“Yeah.”

“So... does that mean your wedding night finished this fast too?”

Zhao Changhe’s expression did not change. “If we’re talking about that, then half an hour is enough to send a bride to her grave. You wouldn’t know, of course.”

Ying Five’s face went blank.

“Alright, alright.” Zhao Changhe slung an arm over Ying Five’s shoulder in a casual half-embrace. “I had help. I wasn’t doing this alone... Shall we go?”

Ying Five staggered slightly from the pull, then was shoved forward into another spatial bridge. Zhao Changhe followed right behind him.

“You actually really did figure it out?” Ying Five felt as if he were in a dream. “Wait, you weren’t alone? You were just meditating here! Who the hell were you with, your other personality?”

“My daughter.”

Ying Five: “???”

Zhao Changhe grinned. “Anyway, who’s the opponent? Should we wait for my wives to get here and just gang up on them?”

“No need. Sometimes, having too many people isn’t a good thing.” Ying Five composed himself, then continued slowly, “The road ahead is dangerous. If you choose to stay behind, I won’t blame you.”

Zhao Changhe simply shrugged. There was no need for words.

As the two passed through several more spaces in silence, they finally reached the last boundary. Ying Five pressed his palm against the void, speaking in a low voice, “Earlier, I told you that I have a secret technique that allows me to locate adjacent spaces based on those already discovered and construct pathways between them. But these neighboring spaces can’t be too far apart, or my perception won’t be able to reach them. That’s why I need to explore as many known secret realms as possible if I want to uncover more.”

Zhao Changhe nodded in acknowledgment.

“The secret realms I know of definitely don’t include Jiuyou’s location. So when you asked me to find her, I had no way of doing so. But the space before us now is the last unknown space I could locate using the secret realms I’ve been to until now. If we gain control over it, we can use it as a stepping stone to search for more, which may eventually lead us to Jiuyou.”

“You already said that. You don’t need to repeat yourself.”

“And you believe me just like that? What if this is a trap? What if I’m luring you in to kill you?”

“If you’re the one setting up the trap, then I’ll go in.”

Ying Five laughed. “Then come on in, step into my little plot to have you killed.”

With that, he stepped forward into the spatial bridge.

It seemed that the conversation itself had been part of the process of constructing the pathway. Of course, he could not have built it in advance. Had he done so, an enemy could have invaded from the other side, and that would have been a real joke.

Zhao Changhe had to admit that this level of skill was impressive. His so-called basic grasp of space was indeed really basic. At the very least, he could not just casually weave together a transdimensional bridge in the span of a few words.

He stepped through.

The moment Zhao Changhe arrived in the new space, his entire body tensed, every hair standing on end.

It was a world of ice and snow. Blinding white and piercing blue dominated everything, creating an almost unbearable visual overload. The sheer brightness made it nearly impossible to see clearly. And then... there was the cold. Zhao Changhe could not even remember the last time he had actually felt cold. His cultivation had long surpassed the need to worry about minor things like air temperature. Yet, here he was, feeling an unbearable chill that seeped into his very bones, threatening to freeze his flesh solid. Even his soul felt like it was turning to ice.

But worse than the cold was the whispering. A dreadful sense of oppression settled in his mind, as if there was a devil murmuring at the edge of his perception. A constant barrage of spiritual assaults clawed at his consciousness—delusions, hallucinations, an endless tide of negative emotions swelling like a storm within him.

He had barely stepped in, and this was just the outer edge of the space. What would happen if they ventured deeper?

No wonder Ying Five had said that bringing too many people would not help. If he had observed this place beforehand and understood its nature, he would have known that every person would have to endure its effects alone. No matter how many people came, they could not shield each other from the influence of the area itself. If someone lost focus or succumbed to the madness, it would not be a simple matter of turning back. It could spell the permanent loss of them.

At the same time, by all logic, this place should have been perfect for Lady Three.

It was not just because ice was an aspect of water but because the spiritual assaults here felt eerily similar to what he had experienced at sea. This was just like the Sea Emperor’s domain.

The difference was that the ocean was just too vast. Even though the Sea Emperor was powerful, his influence had been spread over such a massive area that its intensity had been diluted. Back when Zhao Changhe had fought the octopuses and water constructs, they had only been extensions of the Sea Emperor’s will, not his true body. The Sea Emperor had refrained from personally taking action, wary of Xia Longyuan’s gaze. As a result, even Zhao Changhe, whose resistance to mental or spiritual assaults was not particularly noteworthy, had managed to endure it.

This... was far different.

This secret realm’s size was anybody’s guess, but it certainly was not as large as an entire ocean. With a smaller coverage area, the intensity of the spiritual pressure had increased a hundredfold. Even with Zhao Changhe’s current cultivation, he was struggling to withstand it.

Everything about this place mirrored his experiences at sea. By all logic, this should be the perfect environment for Lady Three. With her having taken on the Sea Emperor’s legacy, she would be the most suited to dealing with this place.

Yet, Ying Five, who was practically family with Lady Three, had deliberately chosen not to bring her.

“You’re wondering why I didn’t invite Lady Three here, aren’t you?”

Ying Five’s voice pulled Zhao Changhe from his thoughts.

Turning his head, Zhao Changhe saw that even Ying Five’s face had taken on a faint bluish tint. Clearly, even he was struggling against the sheer cold, forcing himself to endure it.

“This place is the extreme north of the original heavenly realm. It’s a land of deep mystery. If my guess is correct, the ancient Black Tortoise was mortally wounded here.”

Zhao Changhe’s heart skipped a beat.

“To be precise, it was severely injured here. It managed to escape, but it didn’t survive for long afterward. So, while it may not have died in this place, it was killed by something from here.”

A weight settled in Zhao Changhe’s chest.

“Lady Three inherited the Black Tortoise’s power. But her cultivation is still far below what the Black Tortoise once had. I strongly suspect that this place would suppress her abilities. And even if I’m wrong, caution is always the wiser choice. Anyone else could come but not her.”

“I agree,” Zhao Changhe said, taking several deep breaths and forcing his body to adjust to the cold. He then asked in a low voice, “Have you been here before?”

“Nope. Had I tried before I broke through, I would have died instantly. I probably wouldn’t even be able to stand here.”

Zhao Changhe frowned. “Then how do you know all this?”

“Many years ago, I once came across the outer boundary of this realm—not from this direction, but somewhere else. Just touching the outer edges of this place nearly wiped out my entire group. Lady Three’s mother was among those who barely survived. That experience was what made her want to withdraw from the jianghu and retreat to Jiangnan.”

Zhao Changhe paused. “Based on Lady Three’s age, that must have been at least thirty years ago... How old were you back then? What kind of cultivation did you even have to be getting involved in something like this?”

“It wasn’t that bad. I may not have talent like yours, but to the world, I was considered a genius.”

“Fair.”

“But in the end, I was still young and ignorant. Back then, I didn’t realize that the deeper parts of this place were far more dangerous. I assumed the danger was only around the outskirts. Years later, once I had attained power worthy of the Ranking of Heaven, I thought I was strong enough to face it. I tried to return to avenge my fallen brothers,” Ying Five said. “But that did not go as planned. The first time we found this place, it was in the desert. But when I went back, it was gone. It was as if the entire secret realm had been moved. Looking back, that was probably a good thing. If I had actually found it then, I would have just courted death a second time, and probably successfully.”

Zhao Changhe said slowly, “So for thirty years, you’ve been searching, building an intelligence network across the divine land, scouring every secret realm, and through it all, you had only one goal, which was finding this place. Even your base has always been in the desert of the Western Regions, where mounted brigands roam across thousands of li, all for this. Even the fact that you’re treading the path of space was for this.”

All this time, the seemingly easygoing, business-minded, always-smiling Ying Five was actually the biggest madman of them all.

For thirty years, every move he made, every breath he took, were all in pursuit of one thing. He scoured every secret realm in the world just to find a single one. It was no different from searching for a needle in the ocean. And yet, he had done it for thirty years. And the most insane thing was that he had succeeded.

“Hmm... That last part isn’t quite right. I already had some knowledge of space before this. It was because I had a slight understanding that the obsession took hold. That’s when I became certain—I had to find it.” He exhaled deeply, his breath crystallizing in the cold. “Maybe you wonder why I’m in such a hurry. The answer is simple. I’ve waited for thirty years. I can’t wait any longer.”

Zhao Changhe said nothing.

Ying Five continued, “I know this isn’t rational. That’s why I didn’t tell you the full truth. Because if I did, you might try to convince me to wait. But you’re not just some reckless jianghu wanderer anymore. You have responsibilities. You have people depending on you. You can’t just charge into hell on impulse like before. But you are you, and I am me. And I can’t wait. I can’t risk this place being discovered and tied into something even worse, whether it’s the forces here or those stronger demon gods like Jiuyou. If that happens, there will never be a day for my revenge. So, yes. I deceived you.”

Zhao Changhe smirked and said, “You could have waited until after the battle to say all this. Aren’t you afraid I’ll be pissed and just walk away?”

Ying Five smiled back. “You said that if I led you into a trap, then you would walk into it. You already suspected I wasn’t telling the whole truth, yet you still said that. So I had to tell you. If you want to walk away, there’s still time.”

Zhao Changhe suddenly burst into laughter. He reached into his ring, pulled out Dragon Bird, and hoisted it onto his shoulder. With a broad grin, he strode forward. “If I walk away now and you go crazy and die here, who the hell is gonna help me find Yangyang? Let’s go. Judging by the environment, I suppose we’re dealing with the eighth-ranked demon god, the Frost Chi. And I really want to see... what kind of creature could have wounded the ancient Black Tortoise.”

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