Chaotic World Book
Chapter 178 - 174 Sisi Returns Home

Chapter 178: Chapter 174 Sisi Returns Home

During this period, Zhao Changhe felt as if he had returned to his early days in Beimang.

When alone, he hid in his house, immersed in the Heavenly Book, and gradually learned the Sword Emperor Techniques from basic to advanced levels.

Whenever Tang Wanzhuang visited, he would prepare paper and grind ink while she added a touch of fragrance with her red sleeves, writing sword techniques and drawing diagrams.

There was no combat, only swords settling.

There was no need to listen to the qin, for his heart was already at peace.

It was just like the days when he left home to practice swords with Master Sun and returned home to eat with Sisi.

He had originally thought that his entry into the Worldly Society would be among bandits, with his mind tense and situations urgent. However, looking back, he realized that it had been his most tranquil and settled period.

When the accumulation reached a certain point, it would flow like a rushing river, cascading down from the heavens.

"Your writing is getting better," Tang Wanzhuang said as she ground the ink, watching the smooth characters emerge from his brush with a joy similar to watching a child make progress.

She hadn’t really taught Zhao Changhe calligraphy, merely offering some tips on brush techniques and structure for aesthetic purposes. She hadn’t delved into detailed teaching.

Zhao Changhe wasn’t interested in this field, and his comprehension here was quite poor. Sometimes he couldn’t understand a single sentence even after a long explanation, dumber than Tang Buqi in his childhood, enough to infuriate any teacher with detailed teaching, entirely different from his aptitude in martial arts.

But having learned was still having learned; he could clearly feel his handwriting becoming more skilled and smooth and could sense a tranquility settling within him, his previously restless sharpness becoming more restrained.

Aesthetically speaking, Zhao Changhe had considerable differences from her; his written structure was rough and bold, indicative of a life far removed from the refined elegance of a prince, yet also hinting at the restless recklessness hidden beneath his tranquil life.

But that was Zhao Changhe.

"You said she was leaving in a couple of days, and it’s been seven or eight days now, is that okay?" Zhao Changhe continued writing the Sword Manual, asking casually.

"I said that offhandedly, just to urge you to hurry up. She doesn’t have a fixed time to leave. You’re learning an entire system of sword techniques, it won’t be quick. I know you’re smart, but you’re not a deity."

"And what about you? You told your nephew ten days, and it’s about that time now," Zhao Changhe asked. "These past days you’ve appeared and disappeared unpredictably, suddenly showing up to keep me company or draw something, then disappearing. Is there so much to explore in the tomb? Aren’t you afraid to enter it?"

"It’s not about the tomb... we’ve always been preparing to reseal the tomb, and preparations are almost complete," Tang Wanzhuang sighed. "What mainly occupies my thoughts is the Maitreya Sect."

Zhao Changhe paused with his brush and turned to look at her.

Tang Wanzhuang calmly said, "The Maitreya Sect in Gusu has been dealt with recently, but a storm is brewing throughout Jiangnan. Some things have become inevitable."

"So you simply chose to stay in Gusu? This place is more convenient than the capital, then?"

"Actually, there’s not much I can do. The Demon Suppression Department only manages affairs of the Worldly Society. I can’t command troops to attack and conquer. Besides gathering more intelligence to relay back to the capital, all I can do is watch helplessly."

Tang Wanzhuang’s eyes lacked color, somewhat hollow as she stared at the inkstone, like watching the storm clouds over Jiangnan, knowing where they come from but unable to do anything.

Although the affairs of the Worldly Society significantly indicate the distribution of power, they don’t align perfectly. No matter how much the Demon Suppression Department does, it ultimately can’t affect the bigger picture.

Zhao Changhe suddenly asked, "Is the Emperor really handling affairs? Or showing his face?"

"He is, but not much."

"Is he more often in seclusion?"

"Yes..."

"Does he know the situation at least?"

"He knows and has issued some orders, but they’ve had little effect. Not to mention, just the general laziness of the officials and the laxness of the army alone are not things that can be reversed with a few orders right now. Moreover, many are paying lip service while waiting for the right moment, not necessarily obeying the Emperor’s commands."

Zhao Changhe continued writing the Sword Manual, "Since you know it’s this bad, and the Emperor isn’t completely ignoring it but it’s still useless... what good is your insistence? You might as well claim Suzhou and Hangzhou for yourself and become a warlord."

Tang Wanzhuang stared wordlessly at his profile, not expecting this answer. "Do you know what I mean by the right moment?"

"The current order under the Xia Dynasty still has its deterrence, but he’s old and rumors say he might be in trouble. Others are restless but can wait a few years. The so-called right moment is the day he dies when there’s no successor. Wouldn’t that cause great chaos?"

"Looks like you know everything."

"I also know that, if looked at coldly, it would be a good thing for the Maitreya Sect to revolt now, without waiting for the right moment. Great Xia is not completely out of breath yet; it is still possible to extinguish the Maitreya Sect."

"Why say ’look at it coldly’?"

"Because ultimately, the common people suffer."

Tang Wanju fell silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "So why do you say I’m useless? No matter how bad it is now, it’s better than a chaotic world."

Zhao Changhe sighed, "But it’s useless, the tide of events is like a tide, how can an individual stop it? It’s like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, only to be crushed by the wheels."

Tang Wanju stared intently at the inkstone for a long time before saying, "There always has to be such people."

After finishing, she seemed not to want to talk more about it, standing up to sort out the manuscript that Zhao Changhe had just finished writing. "Your set of swordsmanship already belongs to the Secret Treasure Level. Can you perform it?"

"Barely to mimic its form, but it’s not powerful, enough for a drawing though." Zhao Changhe did not continue the topic, shifting it, "Relying on my own power to organize a branch of swordsmanship is now impossible. I can’t understand the more advanced techniques with my current skills. It might have to stop here... I wonder if it’s enough for Sisi."

"If it’s not enough, it’s still better than her sneaking around learning on her own, and besides, this also has an endless future, a stable source. It’s just a big disparity compared to her secretly learning the sword seal..."

"The sword seal isn’t hers," Zhao Changhe said. "Without tricks, by normal exploration and gaining strength, this thing should rightly be yours; the distribution should also be decided by you. She knows that, otherwise why would she scheme."

"Having possessed it and then losing it, not many can perceive clearly..." she said. "Do you need to talk to her yourself? You haven’t seen each other for many days, I see no need for such pettiness. She has really been honest recently."

Except she dares not kiss me.

Tang Wanju slightly curled her lip invisibly; she truly dared not.

Why should she dare?

"I’m not being petty, just doing the best I can... Anyway, I really can’t handle it going forward. Today, I’ll go with you to see her, ask if she has any more needs."

......

"I have no needs." When she saw Sisi, her expression was calm, "If the sword seal were given to me, with my current knowledge in martial arts, I couldn’t solve such a systematic swordsmanship. If I handed it to the elders in my family to solve, I would lose my control and dominance. Looking at the result today, it turns out to be in my best interest. I got what I wanted, and I’m still in charge for the aftermath."

Zhao Changhe looked into her eyes, once enchantingly seductive like peach blossoms, brilliantly bright like stars, now hidden in the depths, blurred and unclear.

Her facial expression remained cheerful, but it was no longer the forced smile of pretending to be a maid, nor the bright anticipation of listening to stories. She appeared very formal... right, very businesslike.

It used to be Tang Wanju who was businesslike, now it was her.

"Having obtained this object, I should leave." Sisi sighed, "I’ve been away from home for a long time, and I miss it actually... Divine Continent is not a good place; the men here are more annoying than one another."

"..." Zhao Changhe was too lazy to contradict her, not sure what his own feelings were, just asking, "If I solve a higher level of swordsmanship later, how should I give it to you?"

"I will come to find you." Sisi smiled slightly, "Rivers flow ceaselessly, unstoppable. I believe as long as I enter Divine Continent again, I can hear news about where you are anytime."

Zhao Changhe said, "What about you? Do you special realm people not enter the Chaotic World Book?"

"Possibly, otherwise the Heaven, Earth, and Human List might need to change... But I have entered Divine Continent, and the Chaotic World Book knows me, perhaps next time it will include me." Sisi’s smile sharpened, "Zhao Changhe, don’t let me catch up with you..."

Zhao Changhe did not understand the meaning of this at the moment, "If you catch up, then you catch up; what about it? There are many ahead of me..."

"Heh... I’ve been a maid for so long, taken advantage of due to my lack of strength, just pretending. If I gain power..." Sisi paused, her face suddenly regaining her former seductiveness, "I wouldn’t mind having an extra slave to wash my feet."

With that, she turned and left through the tomb’s passage, "You do like to keep things official, right? There it is."

Zhao Changhe watched her enchanting departure, feeling that she was being haughty...

Like children saying they are cutting off their friendship, then both sulking.

The watching Tang Wanju thought, Zhao Changhe himself was too.

She always felt that these two were outstanding figures from their respective clans. The aftermath sparked by this "severing of ties" might lead to even greater turmoil.