Chaotic World Book
Chapter 308 - 301 Room Fire Pig…

That’s the Xuanwu!

Not only is her cultivation renowned throughout the world, but only one other in the Four Symbols Sect, Vermilion Bird, can remotely discuss her understanding of their teachings. Even she could only analyze what nature this curse inscribed had; to deduce its exact contents would take years of meticulous study. Yet Zhao Changhe got it just by touching it.

Knowing just the rudiments is still knowing—it’s the difference between zero and one!

His understanding of the Azure Dragon overshadowed even her, Xuanwu?

Seeing her dazed expression, Zhao Changhe didn’t dare take advantage, carefully withdrawing his hand and waving it in front of her, "Hey..."

"Ah..." In her confusion, San Niang somehow blurted out, "That fast?"

Zhao Changhe: "?"

San Niang suddenly snapped back to her senses, her eyes darting around, and chuckling, "No worries, taking tens of breaths is already impressive."

Zhao Changhe: "¿"

San Niang nudged him, "Hey, how does it feel?"

Zhao Changhe replied grumpily, "What do you want me to say?"

Although it felt good to touch, could I really say that?

San Niang realized her words might have sounded ambiguous and coughed dryly, "I mean, how did you do it? Does your head hurt? What about the depletion?"

"Grasping this stuff really hurts the head, like having a spike driven into my soul, unbearable. As for depletion, it’s not too bad, maybe because your wound was too superficial."

San Niang looked down at her arm; it was merely a shallow cut, barely bleeding, the kind that would heal naturally within a few days without treatment. Now it looked as good as new, without a trace.

Even a superficial wound can be considered a divine art. This ability could make a lot of people in the sect kneel in awe, even simpler than Maitreya swaying the crowd.

San Niang hesitated.

This must be a forbidden technique of the Azure Dragon, one of the core pursuits of the Four Symbols Sect. Not sure if he would share it...

Then she heard Zhao Changhe say, "Let’s go, to the village. I’ll write down some insights for you... but I’m not sure if they’ll be helpful. It feels very mystical and hard to convey verbally, but let’s give it a try."

Finishing, he took the lead crawling through the passage, adding, "If you want to transport this coffin back, you can also ask the village brothers to lend a hand; more people make it easier."

San Niang dumbfoundedly watched his back.

Another freebie?

It wasn’t about giving it for free; it felt so natural, as if it was meant to be.

San Niang looked down at herself, still wearing his jacket.

This guy was quite the gentleman, not taking any undue advantage, leaving her with no way to vent her embarrassment but to act as if nothing happened.

And then, she really acted as if nothing had happened.

San Niang smirked, following him out, "Why are you rushing to climb out? Wait for me!"

"Splash!" The two emerged from the Shuilian Cave, sealed the array map at the entrance, and stepped out of the pond.

A group of men by the water was about to undress, hands on their belts, staring flabbergasted at the pair walking on water.

Zhao Changhe was equally flabbergasted, "What are you doing here?"

The bandits stuttered, "Ba-bathing. Boss, what were you doing?"

We wanted to bathe, we haven’t taken off our clothes yet, and you? Why are you down to just your underwear, what were you doing?

A brief silence followed, everyone’s gaze turning to San Niang’s attire.

Zhao Changhe’s jacket covered San Niang’s graceful figure so completely that no curves were visible.

The onlookers’ expressions slowly turned to "I get it," filled with sorrow, heartache, and pity.

Indeed, the boss was not human.

San Niang, covering her sleeves, was expressionless.

San Niang didn’t stay here overnight.

That very day, she returned to the village. Zhao Changhe wrote an abstract mantra that he wasn’t sure could cultivate magic, and San Niang wrote a letter introducing the bandits in the village to join the Blood God Sect.

The two exchanged letters, feeling like boys and girls in a classroom passing notes to each other, without saying a word from beginning to end.

It wasn’t until they had swapped the letters that Zhao Changhe called out to a bandit, "Liuzi! Come here!"

The bandit scurried over, sneaking a glance at San Niang’s stern face, and whispered, "What are your orders, boss?"

"It’s bitterly cold here, not suitable for living. I will also leave soon, and no one will be here to teach you. It would be a waste of your prime years. I’ll give you some travel money and you head south to Wushan and seek refuge with Xue Sect Hierarch. Take this letter. He will take you in and might even offer some good positions."

Liuzi held the tightly sealed letter with skepticism, "When did the boss have such influence in front of Xue Sect Hierarch?"

Zhao Changhe, keeping a straight face, responded, "Am I not influential enough now?"

Liuzi did believe that Zhao Changhe, whose name was known throughout the land, did have some influence. Xue Sect Hierarch would likely be happy to take in these bandits who were originally well-connected with the Blood God Sect anyway. As for the promise of good positions, he just took it as the boss bragging.

Liuzi sheepishly stowed the letter, asking, "In this harsh winter, where are you going, boss?"

"Is there anywhere in the world that can’t be home?"

"Boss, it’s fine to fool the brothers, but don’t fool yourself. The brothers have experience now; they guessed that the boss might be dumped by his new wife again..."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

San Niang: "..."

Zhao Changhe, with a dark face, ordered, "Pick four dark-skinned ones to help with a task before we go."

"What task?"

"Carrying a coffin."

No one knew why those carrying the coffin needed to be dark-skinned, and San Niang didn’t either. While Liuzi went to pick people, bewildered, San Niang finally spoke up with a sigh, "Now I understand why Vermilion Bird always contemplates killing you."

Zhao Changhe, holding his forehead, responded, "Let’s have a proper conversation, don’t always learn from that fierce woman."

San Niang spoke languidly, "I am lazy by nature and not so violent. You better not use this tone with Vermilion Bird. She spared you in the past because of your star chart, but it’s hard to say now; a bad mood might cost you your head. Don’t joke with her. Save your jokes for the Winged Fire Snake instead of irritating Vermilion Bird."

Zhao Changhe also felt that San Niang was quite mild... He had thought several times that she would lash out, but in the end, nothing happened. It seemed she was genuinely upset, even missing her usual smile. It wasn’t that she wasn’t angry; she seemed to miss the time to express it...

Typical of her.

Even though she burst out killing someone when they first met at Yellow Sand Market, perhaps that was necessary intimidation to establish her persona. Otherwise, considering her nature that even contemplated killing a Hu chieftain with such indolence for years, if someone’s neck was stuck in front of her, she’d probably be too lazy to cut it.

She and Vermilion Bird were complementary: one fiery, one mild. In internal matters, Vermilion Bird handled personnel and wars, while San Niang managed finances and rituals, often shirking duties. She used the excuse of searching for the Xuanwu Secret Realm in the Northern Border to hide in Yellow Sand Market and wouldn’t come out, which really bothered Vermilion Bird when she needed to consult San Niang.

Zhao Changhe even wondered if Vermilion Bird’s ferocity was provoked by this good sister; she wasn’t necessarily so vicious originally...

San Niang added, "Do you know what good the final decipherment of Azure Dragon Secret Realm does for both me and Vermilion Bird?"

Zhao Changhe replied, "It complements what the Four Symbols Sect has lost."

"Not only that," San Niang slowly explained, "The Five Elements overcome and generate each other. The Four Symbols aren’t just opposites but intermingle. For example, Xuanwu’s station belongs to Southern Dipper, which governs birth. It corroborates with the Rejuvenation Technique we’ve just deciphered. Likewise, although Vermilion Bird governs death, she is revived by the fire, signifying life. Your solution benefits both me and her greatly. If I can step into the Third Layer Secret Treasure because of this, you will have been a great contributor."

Zhao Changhe scratched his head, not understanding why San Niang was bringing this up.

Then, San Niang pulled out a fiery red pig face mask: "This is Room Fire Pig. Don’t assume it’s under Vermilion Bird’s command; it’s directly under me."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

San Niang stuffed the mask into his hands, "You don’t have to join the sect, but I’ll give you this identity, which doesn’t require you to obey anyone but brings convenience. Whenever you encounter trouble that can’t be avoided by a simple disguise, use this identity, and my Four Symbols Sect will support you."

She added with a wink, "And it will help you get closer to the Winged Fire Snake, right?"

Upon finishing, she finally resumed her usual, cheery demeanor, sauntered away with hands behind her back, and chuckled, "I heard that in Sword Lake City, wearing a pig face is quite fitting, hehe."