Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 757: Heroes Should Not Die Young

Since the Sea Emperor could die, the Dao Lord could too.

Gods can die.

However, Jiuyou had never imagined such a death before. She simply could not comprehend why someone would willingly dissipate a lifetime of painstaking cultivation for something like this. How was this any different from suicide?

Perhaps his foundation was not entirely destroyed. With some time and meditation, he might be able to restore his strength. He was, after all, in a better state than Han Wubing, whose foundation had been completely shattered. But how long would that take? Yuxu was already old. Once his power was scattered, his condition might be even worse than that of his old friend Ye Wuzong. His remaining lifespan was practically nothing. Would there even be enough time to cultivate again?

This is suicide! You spent your whole life in bitter cultivation—was it all for this?

Yet he was smiling.

It was not just a faint smile but one filled with true joy. In the end, he even burst into hearty laughter. It was the laughter of someone whose lifelong burdens had been completely lifted, of someone who had been granted true liberation.

Zhao Changhe picked up Yue Hongling from the ground. She, too, had finally let go of her tension, and now that she was in her man’s arms, she no longer forced herself to stay conscious, immediately slipping into deep sleep. Zhao Changhe quickly checked her condition and, seeing that she was in no real danger, carried her over to Yuxu. He lowered his voice and said, “Senior...”

Yuxu chuckled weakly. Though his voice was frail, his spirit remained strong. “I must thank you for your righteous aid, King Zhao. I am deeply grateful.”

“That’s not what I meant—”

“Oh, this was my own matter. Naturally, I had to fight for it myself. I already feel bad enough for dragging all of you into this and causing such injuries.” Yuxu trembled as he reached into his robe and pulled out a small jade bottle. “This medicine will be of great help in healing Lady Yue’s internal injuries...”

Zhao Changhe shook his head, speechless. He did not take the bottle. “Keep it for yourself. You talk as if you don’t have internal injuries of your own. If anything, I should be giving you medicine.” frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

With that, he flicked a jade bottle from his storage ring, letting it land beside Yuxu. He hesitated, wanting to say something, but in the end, he remained silent.

It was Li Shentong who spoke up instead, “Old man, can you still walk?”

Yuxu attempted to stand and found that he could. He smiled and replied, “I still have some strength left. Not too bad, better than I expected.”

A rare hint of a smile appeared on Li Shentong’s face. “I’ll go with you to Kunlun for a few days. You can brew wine for me.”

“So you’re finally admitting my brewing skills are better than yours?”

“I concede, I concede. You win. Look at you getting all smug over it. But winning means you have to brew more, you know that, right?”

The burly man clasped the old Daoist’s thin, withered arm and helped him rise into the clouds. With an easygoing air, they departed together.

From start to finish, Li Shentong never said a word about Yuxu’s injuries. It was as if how long he could live did not matter, and what mattered was only whether he could still brew wine before kicking the bucket.

Nor did he say much to Zhao Changhe. Perhaps he felt a little guilty for “tricking” Zhao Changhe into coming to Chang’an, though Zhao Changhe himself did not mind.

Watching their departing figures, Zhao Changhe knew there would be no issues borrowing men for the northern campaign. No further words were needed. When the time came, Li Shentong would be there.

This jianghu... truly isn’t bad.

Zhao Changhe watched as the two figures disappeared into the distance. When he turned back, the outside world had returned to its usual bustle. The disciples of Louguantai, who had been inexplicably sent to Chang’an earlier, now hurried back.

Zhao Changhe exchanged a knowing smile with Huangfu Qing but paid no attention to the returning Daoists. Without waiting any longer, he picked up Yue Hongling and swiftly disappeared.

The sky was beginning to brighten. In the marketplace, vendors had set up their stalls, and golden, spinning monk-tops glimmered under the morning sun. Children played with them in delight, their laughter filling the air. It seemed the Dai Clan’s sales network in the area was quite formidable...

With Yuxu’s departure, Chang’an’s Daoist sects collapsed overnight. Yet, rather than taking advantage of the void, the Buddhist sects found themselves in even greater turmoil, unable to seize the opportunity. Both Buddhist and Daoist factions had crumbled, leaving Guanlong without any major powerhouses, except for Jiuyou’s faction.

If the blind woman had simply crushed Jiuyou right then and there, the entire Guanlong region could have been settled with a single decisive battle. But ironically, the worst performance on the battlefield had been hers.

She appeared to have restrained Jiuyou, but in reality, it had done little to stop her. Jiuyou effortlessly broke free from the supposed bindings and retreated with a playful, lilting laugh. “My dear big sister, if I were your heart’s inner demon, then anyone in this world might be able to conquer me except for you. So don’t waste your efforts.”

The blind woman had never expected to hold her for long. Her goal was simply to prevent Jiuyou from rescuing the Dao Lord. Seeing Jiuyou slip away, she did not bother pursuing and instead said indifferently, “So, are you planning to return and play the noble young lady of the Li Clan? Given the current situation, there is no longer any backing from Buddhist or Daoist sects. Without you, the Li Clan will either become the lapdog of the northern barbarians or be wiped out in a single stroke by the Han. Are you sure you still want to wade into these muddy waters?”

Jiuyou smirked and asked, “And if I choose to continue? Will you come after me again, just for his grand unification?”

“The matter of who unifies the world is none of my concern except in one case: if you deliberately provoke me.” The blind woman’s voice was cold. “Zhao Changhe’s northern campaign is inevitable. If you attempt to stab him in the back, I will consider it a provocation. And I will act.”

Jiuyou was momentarily stunned but soon burst into laughter. “So, if I stab him, it’s an offense against him, but why would that be a provocation against you? Ha... very well, very well...”

A faint vein seemed to twitch on the blind woman’s forehead, though how a soul could even have a pulsing vein was anyone’s guess.

Technically speaking, Jiuyou’s involvement in the struggle for dominance had nothing to do with her. But Zhao Changhe had personally asked for her help just a few days ago, and she had agreed. Not because she cared about his conquest but simply because she refused to let Jiuyou have her way in anything. Could she really argue that point word by word? That would be ridiculous.

She had no interest in further debate. With a turn, she started to leave, her voice calm yet carrying a sharp undertone, “Gods can die—even you and I. Don’t assume I have no means to deal with you. When the time comes, it won’t be me who kills you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Jiuyou’s teasing voice called out from behind, “Oh? So you’ve found a man and are now pinning all your hopes on him to do what you cannot? I know how that mindset works. Plenty of households fall apart because of unrealistic expectations like that. The pressure can be too much for the man, you know? Be careful, this isn’t a healthy dynamic.”

Oh, so you’re a relationship counselor now, huh?

The blind woman nearly stumbled mid-step. Annoyed beyond words, she could not be bothered to argue any further. Without another word, she vanished from sight.

Even Jiuyou was not entirely sure how things had ended up like this. Their conflict touched upon the fundamental nature of this world—the two opposing aspects of the heavenly dao. It was as lofty and profound as anything could be, yet somehow, the conversation had inexplicably veered into discussions of men and women.

Perhaps it was just amusing to strike at her supposedly high-and-mighty big sister from this angle...

She did not dwell on it for long. With a light twirl, she drifted back to the Li Clan estate.

From the perspective of worldly conflicts, she would undoubtedly ensure the survival of the Li Clan, driving a wedge into the unification of the divine land.

As for the affairs of gods and demons... Jiuyou gazed westward. Papiyas was gravely wounded. The Dao Lord was dead. On the surface, it seemed like a resounding victory for Zhao Changhe and the blind woman. But in a certain sense, was it not an even greater victory for her?

Zhao Changhe’s focus was now on the north. This vast expanse of the Western Region, was it not hers for the taking?

* * *

Zhao Changhe did not return to the embassy. Instead, he slipped into the hidden base of the Metal Ram of Gui of the Four Idols Cult.

This was a matter of healing and recovery, and he could not risk doing it in someone else’s territory.

Laying the blood-soaked Yue Hongling onto the bed, he and Huangfu Qing exchanged glances. A mix of helplessness and admiration flashed between them.

Yue Hongling... always said the least and fought the hardest.

She had broken through to the Profound Control Realm before Zhao Changhe, yet she was the one covered in wounds. Among everyone, Yue Hongling’s combat power was probably the lowest. And yet, it was her sword that delivered the decisive, final blow.

This fight had nothing to do with her. She did not even know Yuxu. And yet, she had fought as if it were her own battle. Perhaps, when facing someone consumed by demonic corruption, that was simply what she was meant to do.

By comparison, Huangfu Qing had taken a more reserved approach in this battle. Aside from some minor internal injuries, she was by far the least wounded of them all. But that was only natural; no one could expect a venerable of the Four Idols Cult to lay down her life for the Daoists. If not for her dear husband, she would not have even participated.

Of course, there were consequences for fighting so recklessly. Going against a second-layer Profound Control Realm expert was no joke. If it was not for the formation they had set up, allowing them to share the burden, Yue Hongling would not have simply collapsed into unconsciousness. Her injuries would have been far more severe. And yet, perhaps it was precisely this reckless abandon that had allowed her to grow at such a legendary pace.

“How are you planning to heal her?” Huangfu Qing drawled, her tone laced with a hint of sour amusement. “This time, you’ll have to dual cultivate, won’t you? But she’s unconscious. How are you going to force it on her?”

Zhao Changhe sighed and said, “Aren’t you a venerable of the Four Idols Cult? Maybe next time, you should join the Maitreya Cult instead.”

Huangfu Qing smirked and replied, “And why do we always think this way? Do you seriously not know?”

“For a venerable of the Four Idols Cult, shouldn’t your first thought have been the Rejuvenation Art?” Zhao Changhe flipped his palm, and a gentle green light emerged, glowing with boundless vitality as he pressed it lightly against Yue Hongling’s forehead. “Just stand guard for me.”

Huangfu Qing watched, fascinated. The seemingly infinite life force within the green light stirred something deep in her own understanding of life and death, shaking her to the core. “The Azure Dragon’s Rejuvenation... it actually gives me insight as well.”

Zhao Changhe rolled his eyes. “The four idols are all interconnected. You should know that by now.”

“Then why is it that Chichi has learned a little of everyone’s attributes except for my fire, despite training under me for so long?”

A brief silence followed. Then, Zhao Changhe finally spoke, his tone heavy with meaning: “Maybe if you weren’t so harsh on her, things wouldn’t be like this.”

They chuckled, but the humor quickly faded as the green light enveloped Yue Hongling. Her external wounds healed almost instantly, and the furrow in her brow smoothed out. The chaotic qi in her meridians settled as if it had never been disturbed. Though she remained unconscious, she now looked perfectly fine.

This was the effect of the Rejuvenation Art after having broken through to the Profound Control Realm. It had become so potent that medicinal treatments were practically obsolete.

Huangfu Qing watched with admiration. “If you used this on Yuxu, could he live a few more years?”

“You’ve changed your opinion of him now?”

“A hero always earns respect, no matter who they are. A man like him shouldn’t have such a short life. If he does, then heaven is unjust.”

“Yuxu actually isn’t injured. If anything, his only injury came from Li Shentong knocking into him...” Zhao Changhe shook his head. “What he needs is to rebuild his cultivation, and that’s something I can’t help with. But if he happens to meet Wubing, he might gain some insight from him. Speaking of which, Wubing has been missing for quite a while now... I wonder where he’s gone. Maybe he’s in Kunlun too...” His voice trailed off, and he said nothing more, focusing entirely on treating Yue Hongling.

Huangfu Qing did not interrupt him. She simply sat cross-legged nearby, meditating and recovering while keeping watch.

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe’s mind delved into the Heavenly Tome, pulling insights for further cultivation of the Rejuvenation Art. At the same time, he spoke softly, his words reaching through a connection only they shared. “Blindie, how’s your battle going?”

“Don’t bother me. I’m trying to decide how to phrase this announcement of the Tome of Troubled Times.”

“If you’re already writing, can you do me a favor? Don’t worry, it won’t break the rules.”