Chaotic World Book
Chapter 177 - 173: Prohibitions and Shackles

Chapter 177: Chapter 173: Prohibitions and Shackles

Zhao Changhe begrudgingly went to wash his face, cursing himself for teasing too much and making it difficult for the other party to save face. Just like that, the pleasant company he had was gone.

It wasn’t something that could be settled with a calm mind or self-cultivation; his words had touched on the very topic they should have avoided.

It could be said that one of the main reasons why Tang Wanju hoped Zhao Changhe would become a prince was because of Zhao Changhe’s clear rejection of the arranged marriage, which aligned with her own desires. A couple of flirtatious remarks probably wouldn’t have mattered much—a 28-year-old lady was not so easily flustered, and could even throw back a few playful comments. But such topics were indeed taboo.

Upon reflection, Zhao Changhe regretted his words, afraid not only of losing this current bout of good company but also of a more serious Tang Wanju in future interactions...

He sighed as he finished washing his face and returned to continue writing. Just as he sat down, the fragrance of incense wafted by, and Tang Wanju entered again.

Zhao Changhe: "?"

"Do you know how to draw?" Tang Wanju asked with a stern face.

"...No."

"A sword manual must have illustrations, not just techniques and text. If you can’t draw, how do you plan to manage that?"

"I’ve drawn examples of the Blood Evil Saber Technique before; they were crooked and looked terrible, but they should be fairly accurate."

"Missing by a tiny bit can lead to a huge error. What do you mean by ’should’? This is for an exchange of Gu Technique with the Ancient Spirit Clan. If you make a mistake, it could be a big issue. Are you confident that you can draw without any flaws?"

"Uh..." Actually, Zhao Changhe felt that the Heavenly Book could recognize any flaws, but he wasn’t entirely sure of that either, and he couldn’t really explain it. It was better to keep silent.

Tang Wanju threw him a sword: "You demonstrate, and I’ll draw."

Sniffling, Zhao Changhe dutifully got up to demonstrate.

There might have been a chance for a hands-on drawing lesson, but alas, it was gone, wuu wuu wuu...

Tang Wanju sat at the table, turning to watch Zhao Changhe practice his swordplay. Her pretty face tried to maintain its stern look, but slowly she could no longer hide the astonishment in her eyes.

This fellow, who was as clumsy as a bear when playing the lute, she had thought would be just as brutish when practicing swordplay—a delicate weapon. Surprisingly, he moved with such grace. Aside from a bit of rawness, there weren’t many problems. At the very least, he had thoroughly grasped the basic movements of the Sword Emperor’s beginner swordplay, capturing its essence.

She kept thinking that even if it was only a beginner’s sword technique— and even if someone had carefully fed him the moves—for someone who had only practiced with a broadsword, to be able to learn so much in one night showed extraordinary talent indeed.

Given enough resources and opportunity, he could really become the next Xia Longyuan, whether in terms of martial prowess or status.

The beginner sword technique wasn’t long, and soon Zhao Changhe finished his demonstration. Tang Wanju snapped out of her reverie, only then realizing she hadn’t drawn a single stroke.

Zhao Changhe peeked at her work.

Tang Wanju subtly covered the paper and said calmly, "Drawing doesn’t happen that quickly. Dance it again... no, twice more, and I’ll continue drawing."

Zhao Changhe eyed her suspiciously. Tang Wanju’s face grew warm; she knew this cunning bear wasn’t easily fooled—clever as he was in crime-solving. And don’t think she was lost in thought just looking at him...

Fortunately, Zhao Changhe did not dare to continue teasing her this time and honestly stepped back, resuming his demonstration.

Tang Wanju exhaled and quickly started to draw.

By the time Zhao Changhe finished his additional two demonstrations, Tang Wanju had just completed her work, timing it with precision as if it were a designed program.

Zhao Changhe once again tried to look, but Tang Wanju wouldn’t let him, instead she collected the drafts and assembled them into a booklet, leaving emotionlessly: "I need to take this to settle Sisi’s heart."

Zhao Changhe remained silent for a moment, then said softly, "Yes, otherwise she’ll worry."

Tang Wanju suddenly stopped, turned back with a light laugh: "Is this why you stayed up all night studying sword seals?"

Zhao Changhe sighed: "Why would I be so petty... Since I promised to exchange the sword moves with her for knowledge and Gu techniques, I must honor my word."

"Just now, it wasn’t apparent. Every time I brought up Sisi, you changed the subject."

"Once what needed to be done was completed, that was enough. What’s the point of talking about it all the time? Especially the way you said it, it seemed like you were trying to stir up my sympathy. Even if a child says they won’t be friends anymore, they don’t reconcile that quickly. What are you thinking... To set me up with a wife and break off ties with you? I have a girlfriend; there’s no need for this."

Tang Wanju: "..."

Actually, she wasn’t trying to set him up with a wife, and if she were, the first choice would be Cui Yuanyang, not someone from the Alien Clan.

However, her behavior indeed made it easy for others to think that way. Tang Wanju was too lazy to argue.

"Go on, then. I’ll try to come up with a couple of high-level sword skills." Zhao Changhe paused, shifting the topic: "I feel like writing them out won’t be a problem, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to execute high-level techniques."

Tang Wanju gazed at him for a long moment, then slowly said, "You can... as long as you don’t treat this as a task, but as a learning process for yourself. Don’t be too quick to decline learning swordplay. You’ve once integrated my Spring Water Sword Intent into your own sword intent. Why can’t the Sword Emperor Techniques become part of your saber technique? You have too few ultimate skills—if you could transform the Sword Emperor’s Ultimate Skills into saber skills, they would be unrecognizable to the world, which would compensate for your weakness."

Tang Wanju left, and Zhao Changhe felt a bit of a headache.

He had thought about her words before, but the main issue was the great difficulty. Blending a trace of sword intent was different from integrating ultimate skills into sword moves.

But Tang Wanju was right; no matter how hard it was, he had to conquer it.

Even if the Mystical Gate Third Layer-level ultimate skills altered by the Heavenly Book were no longer regarded as such, his current repertoire was sorely lacking—beyond activating a frenzied BUFF, he had no big moves. Once he acquired real signature ultimate skills again, his combat effectiveness could double.

"Let’s do it," Zhao Changhe secured the doors and windows and once again took out the gold foil.

He didn’t go straight for the high-order swordsmanship, still starting from the basics and slowly working his way up, learning little by little.

Such things simply couldn’t be skipped; without mastering each level in turn, it was impossible to understand the higher concepts.

It hadn’t occurred to Zhao Changhe at the time, he just wanted to transform sword techniques into saber techniques. However, this systematic learning process was, in fact, a thorough study of the sword techniques from beginning to end. He was essentially learning the complete system of the Sword Emperor, and by the time he was able to convert sword to saber, he had already clearly learned all the sword moves, sword intents, and the principles of swordsmanship.

By then, he would truly possess the Sword Emperor Inheritance.

And Tang Wanju, who was clearly a swordsman, hadn’t even thought of touching the sword seal, solely to keep the inheritance undiluted and focused on him.

Inside the tomb of the Sword Emperor, Sisi sat hugging her knees by the dog hole, gazing absent-mindedly as the Demon Suppression Department’s agents carefully surveyed the area, her thoughts drifting off who knows where.

The dog hole was no longer that; the space had been expanded to allow normal walking. It wasn’t dark anymore either; some of the restrictions had been broken, and illuminating the place with bright pearls was no longer a significant issue, giving the place a much less eerie feel.

In reality, Tang Wanju hadn’t laid any restrictions on her. The door was right behind her, and she could leave anytime.

But Sisi was waiting for the sword manual.

After struggling alone in Divine Continent for a year, enduring much hardship, it was all for this purpose—how could she leave...

Zhao Changhe promised her, he wouldn’t deceive her.

Footsteps sounded from behind, and Tang Wanju sat down next to her and handed her a booklet: "He’s very efficient; the first set of basic sword techniques is ready, I’ve brought it to show you. He’s probably working on the advanced ones now, and today we might get three sets done. In three days, at least one complete branch should be available, will that be enough?"

"I don’t know, I’ll have to see..." Sisi took the booklet, flipped it open, and glanced over it, her expression quickly turning peculiar.

Why did the illustrations in the sword manual look exactly like Zhao Changhe?

"What is this supposed to mean?" Sisi asked emotionlessly. "Are you mocking me? After cutting off our friendship and goodwill, you want to bring back his face for me to ponder night and day?"

Tang Wanju smiled, "Since he was demonstrating and I was drawing, I subconsciously completed it with his image. If it bothers you, just erase the face."

"..." Sisi fell silent for a moment, then promptly tucked the booklet into her chest, continuing to sit without speaking.

Tang Wanju sat in silence as well, seeming to have nothing to do, simply keeping her company.

Sisi cast her a curious glance, looked again, and after a long while couldn’t help asking, "Why...why haven’t you restricted me?"

Tang Wanju replied, "Because in reality, we’re similar people. Anyway, I’m not busy, and once my temper cools down, there’s no need to stay angry, is there?"

That didn’t seem to explain why she hadn’t placed any restrictions, truly not afraid of stirring up trouble? Sisi kept staring at her, finding nothing but acknowledging her beauty.

"Why do you say we’re similar? In what way are we alike?"

"For the sake of Great Xia’s goals, I wouldn’t care about the lives and deaths of people from the Alien Clan. To you, are we not Alien Clansmen? What essential difference is there between you and me? It’s just that I’ve lived a bit longer, and I don’t act without considering the consequences." Tang Wanju softly said, "From this perspective, even if you really did seduce and deceive Changhe, it would be quite normal. But you didn’t, so it’s hard for me to dislike you."

Sisi pursed her lips.

She knew they weren’t really the same; their core values were completely different... But Tang Wanju’s willingness to say so still made it pleasant to hear; only a fool would argue.

"I asked about your past actions. You’ve always been extremely shrewd, yet your plans this time lacked foresight, not even considering something so obvious as people being outside, believing mere figurines could block us. That’s because you feel you’ve betrayed Changhe’s trust, and in your confusion, you just wanted to explain." Tang Wanju kindly patted her shoulder: "After all, you’re just a young girl."

Sisi looked a little indignant, but she knew Tang Wanju was right. She really had been confused at the time, only caring about her rationale without considering the consequences—she felt like an idiot in hindsight.

Why hadn’t restrictions been set? There seemed no need to elaborate.

Such measures would be condescending, sparking only resentment and defiance in the other party, who would desperately try to break free, or if unable, still want to bite you. This approach was especially prone to complications.

And the high road?

Feelings are the real restriction, the heart is the shackle.

Sisi was smart; she understood what Tang Wanju was doing, yet surprisingly found that despite feeling Tang Wanju was overthinking things, she couldn’t bring herself to resist.

After all, not being restricted was a favor, being misunderstood as romantic was better than being controlled by force.

Sisi could only resentfully curse: "I didn’t fall for him! If I really liked him, I wouldn’t have put him in danger! I just made a friend, and we Ancient Spirit Clan value loyalty, so I was confused, unlike you people of Divine Continent who are heartless and ungrateful!"

Tang Wanju let out a laugh lacking any sound: "Oh."

Sisi glanced at her sideways: "You’re twenty-eight and have never had a man, acting like you understand all about love? I think you probably understand even less than I do! I dare to kiss, do you?"

Tang Wanju’s smile froze on her face.

PS: No more tonight, more tomorrow~