Tome of Troubled Times
Chapter 810 (2): Piaomiao

Chapter 810 (2): Piaomiao

This was not even Jiuyou deliberately exerting pressure. It was merely a byproduct of her long presence here. Her normal aura alone had shaped the land into this oppressive, chaotic wilderness.

The mountains spread out before him chaotically, distorted and overlapping, creating illusions wherever he looked. The landscape was disorienting; paths twisted and blurred, making it uncertain whether any direction he chose would actually lead him to his destination.

This was Ye Jiuyou’s true nature. Utterly different from the young lady of the Li Clan who had once been easily subdued by Ye Wuming, or the soul fragment that had ambushed him within the secret realm of the tngri.

At that time, Jiuyou’s main body had likely been locked in confrontation with Ye Wuming. Thus, the soul fragment she had dared send out had been weak, minimally powered. Had she sent a stronger fragment, Ye Wuming would have undoubtedly obliterated her. As a result, Zhao Changhe had unwittingly gained a rather easy advantage.

Far ahead, he saw two distinct peaks. Atop each sat a solitary figure in meditation. Zhao Changhe gazed at them for a moment before choosing one. As for getting there, it was no major feat. With his strength, unraveling such spatial chaos posed little trouble. It took minimal effort to discern the real path.

Cui Yuanyang and Piaomiao watched silently as Zhao Changhe slowly approached, pushing through wind and snow. Perhaps to conserve strength for a potential battle, he chose neither flight nor teleportation. Instead, he steadily trudged forward, step after measured step, through thick layers of snow and the oppressive aura that permeated Jiuyou’s realm.

Though seemingly slow, Zhao Changhe’s pace quickly brought him to the mountaintop. He raised his head to meet the gaze of Piaomiao, who sat cross-legged in quiet contemplation. He then softly called, “Yangyang, I’m here.”

Piaomiao silently stared back at him.

From the moment Zhao Changhe had learned of Cui Yuanyang’s disappearance until now, precisely thirteen days had passed. The speed was simply astonishing, and it had been achieved only by Zhao Changhe’s relentless determination and near-suicidal risk-taking.

Despite the gentleness in his voice, Zhao Changhe stood several zhang away, Dragon Bird gripped firmly in hand, pointed diagonally toward the snowy ground in a gesture of vigilant readiness, displaying that he was fully prepared for battle.

Within her spiritual sea, Cui Yuanyang was anxiously rolling around. “We had a deal! If he arrived within one month, you’d let me take control of the body first!”

Piaomiao inwardly soothed her, “Just wait a moment. I’d like to exchange a few words with him first.”

Seeing no immediate response, Zhao Changhe spoke again, this time with calm certainty, “You’re Piaomiao.”

“Yes,” she replied evenly. “Greetings, King Zhao.”

King Zhao... Zhao Changhe paused thoughtfully, tasting that ever-unfamiliar yet authoritative title.

Piaomiao was the embodiment of humanity’s collective destiny. Unlike other demon gods, she deeply valued worldly duties and responsibilities. In her eyes, Zhao Changhe was, first and foremost, the cornerstone upholding the Great Han, a key figure ensuring the people of the divine land could live in peace.

Although the voice was clear and cold, devoid of emotional inflection, it still unmistakably belonged to Yangyang. Yet somehow, it felt utterly foreign, as if it belonged to someone else entirely.

Zhao Changhe let out a soft sigh, clasping his hands in a respectful salute. “You and I should’ve been friends.”

Piaomiao calmly replied, “We can still be.”

Zhao Changhe shook his head and stated plainly, “Revered god, you’re occupying my wife’s body. Until that issue is resolved, friendship between us isn’t possible.”

Piaomiao said matter-of-factly, “This is the reincarnation of my spirit and therefore my body to begin with. Even Yangyang herself acknowledges this.”

“She might, but I do not.”

“So you intend to kill me to restore your wife’s freedom?”

Zhao Changhe did not answer.

Piaomiao continued, unperturbed, “I am the embodiment of humanity’s destiny, protector of the Great Han itself. As long as your path remains righteous, I’ll be an unwavering ally who’ll never betray you. Would you truly sacrifice this support merely for selfish desires, King Zhao?”

Zhao Changhe said plainly, “When the world descended into chaos, you weren’t there. We reclaimed this land ourselves. When the northern barbarians invaded, you weren’t there. We drove them back ourselves. Thus, I’ve come to believe that the prosperity of the divine land rests solely upon us: myself, Chichi, Wanzhuang, and everyone in the world. Never upon demon gods. Or perhaps you’d rather be called a deity, or the spirit of humanity, or something like that? Even then, it makes no difference.”

Piaomiao said softly, “Then you believe I should become like the Frost Chi? No form, no consciousness, and nothing more than a vague, passive sentience? Is your desire truly to scatter all the gods and Buddhas into nothingness?”

“You watched my battle against the Frost Chi?”

“Yes.”

He remained silent a moment before responding, “Indeed. But you’re different from the Frost Chi. You harm no one; instead, you strive for peace, even suppressing destructive demons for humanity’s sake. You coexist with Yangyang peacefully, and I don’t believe you are bullying her just because you’re stronger. I truly don’t want to hurt you. I’d much prefer friendship. But this relationship cannot and should not be founded on divine protection; instead, I’d rather see you as someone journeying the world in pursuit of justice.”

“But you know I act not from heroism but from my innate purpose.”

“There’s no difference, and even if there is, it’s meaningless to me.”

“I cannot relinquish this body now, as I must exact my vengeance first,” Piaomiao spoke firmly. “I’ve already promised Yangyang that after killing Ye Wuming, I’d willingly dissolve my own consciousness, returning full control to her.”

“It sounds nice, but killing Ye Wuming might prove impossible.”

“Precisely. And so, we face an irreconcilable impasse. If you’re unwilling to wait, your only option is to kill me. But you should know that I won’t wait idly for my death, and right now, you cannot defeat me.”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes narrowed slightly as he asked thoughtfully, “In theory, the awakening of one’s previous incarnation should merely mean remembering past memories and regaining former powers. Have you ever wondered why it’s instead resulted in two souls that are simultaneously distinct yet inseparably united within one body?”

Piaomiao said, “I know that Ye Wuming’s behind this. Only through such conflict would you feel driven to kill me, fulfilling her ambition to eliminate the demon gods. If Yangyang and I fully merged, she would become Piaomiao herself, and you would never bring your blade down upon her neck.”

“Since you’re fully aware that Ye Wuming deliberately engineered this discord to turn us into enemies, then why is it that you’re still playing into her hands? Is hatred alone reason enough?”

“Then do you have another suggestion? Should I simply abandon my vengeance and willingly fade away? I’m sorry, but that’s impossible.”

“No, that’s not my intention. If you willingly vanish, wouldn’t that also serve Ye Wuming’s ends?” Zhao Changhe shook his head. “What I’m suggesting is something else. If we can separate your consciousness, allowing you to exist independently, our conflict will vanish completely. Not only that, but Ye Wuming would find herself with yet another relentless enemy. Wouldn’t that be like delivering a solid slap to her face?”

Piaomiao shook her head softly. “It sounds simple enough, but it’s not achievable.”

Zhao Changhe replied firmly, “I know it’s challenging, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. I’m merely proposing a direction to strive toward. I say this to emphasize my stance. We do not need to be enemies. After all, we’re both just pawns manipulated by someone else. Instead, we should work together to disrupt her schemes. I’m glad you’re willing to communicate. I hope you’ll seriously consider my proposal.”

A faint smile touched Piaomiao’s lips. “She can hear you, you know. You’re openly conspiring against her.”

“Even if she stood right before me, I’d say exactly the same thing,” Zhao Changhe declared calmly. “In fact, I’d deliver my message directly to her face. I refuse to kill Piaomiao. If she has the guts, then she better do it herself.”

Piaomiao’s smile deepened. “You speak confidently... but if we fail to separate entirely, what then?”

“That’s no different from asking who I’d rescue first if my wife and mother both fell into a river. It’s pointless hypothetical nonsense, unnecessary to consider unless it actually occurs. All we must do is act. No matter how difficult the path is, we have to keep pushing forward. Yangyang’s father didn’t believe I could enter the Ranking of Man in three years, yet here I am, number one on the Ranking of Heaven in less than that time. None of you believed I’d reach this place within a month, yet it only took me thirteen days. I’ve accomplished many feats people claimed impossible, and I believe this won’t be my last.”

Piaomiao finally fell silent, offering only a gentle, thoughtful smile.

Zhao Changhe said, “If there’s nothing more you have to say, revered god, may I speak with Yangyang now?”

Piaomiao closed her eyes. After a few quiet breaths, her eyes reopened. Those formerly serene eyes abruptly sparkled with vibrant, playful warmth. Her subtle smile transformed into a broad, bright grin as she leaped from her seated position and eagerly threw herself into Zhao Changhe’s embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. “Big Brother Zhao!”

From her corner within their shared spiritual sea, Piaomiao watched in embarrassed silence. If you two are going to speak, just speak. Must you behave like this? I can fully sense everything you do! It’s as if I myself am clinging to him...

Before Piaomiao could even finish her inward complaint, her eyes suddenly widened in shock.

Zhao Changhe cupped Cui Yuanyang’s small face and kissed her deeply and fiercely. “Yangyang...”

“Big Brother Zhao, I missed you so much...!” Cui Yuanyang choked out between kisses, tears filling her eyes. “I thought I’d never see you again...”

“I missed you too. Trust me, your husband will find a way to bring you back.”

They held each other tightly, their passionate embrace deepening as they lost themselves completely in their kiss, heads turning and shifting eagerly. The relentless snowstorm around them seemed to melt beneath the intensity of their reunion, flakes transforming into warm droplets of rain.

Meanwhile, trapped helplessly within their shared spiritual sea, Piaomiao was nearly convulsing in disbelief, her eyes rolling back from sheer embarrassment. If it were possible, she would willingly dissolve into nothingness right now.

Before experiencing this firsthand, how could she have ever imagined such overwhelming sensations? Why did it feel like bolts of lightning coursing wildly through her mind?

Are Zhao Changhe’s lips the Axe of Tngri?!

Across the mountain peak, Ye Jiuyou watched gleefully from her meditative perch, nearly tumbling down in laughter at the spectacle.

Let’s see how high and mighty you remain now, Piaomiao! You stopped me from meddling earlier, didn’t you? Go ahead, interfere again!