Tome of Troubled Times
Chapter 828: Soft Rice is Really Delicious

Chapter 828: Soft Rice is Really Delicious

“Where are we?”

Zhao Changhe regained his senses only to find himself standing atop a strangely familiar mountain range. Beneath him flowed a mighty river, waters surging relentlessly eastward.

He turned slightly, noticing close beside him a fairy-like figure clad in pristine white, quietly gazing down at the rushing waters below. Her robes fluttered softly, and her delicate features were bathed in ethereal grace. Her eyes, misty and introspective, heightened a beauty both familiar and unfamiliar.

Familiar, because he had just seen her within the scenes from the stone wall. Indeed, mere moments ago, he had been teasing this very woman, whose eyes had been stubbornly shut in playful denial, feigning ignorance as he brushed against her intimately.

Yet unfamiliar, for the woman he knew had been shrouded in corruption and turbulent malice, obscuring her true nature. He had only ever glimpsed this original version of her through visions. And in those visions, she had been remote, dreamlike, and untouchable.

Now, for the first time, he stood close enough to see her true visage clearly. This was not the childlike face of Yangyang, but rather the visage of a Yangyang fully grown, breathtakingly elegant and astonishingly beautiful. This was a being whose beauty could dazzle souls.

This was Piaomiao.

But was this the Piaomiao he knew, pulled in alongside him by the Soul-Capturing Mirror, or was this the ancient Piaomiao herself, in her own time? If it were the latter, they would be complete strangers, and trouble was inevitable.

As if sensing his stare, Piaomiao slowly lifted her gaze from the river and turned to him, her eyes flickering with a complicated, unreadable emotion. “This place... You should already be familiar with it.”

Zhao Changhe exhaled softly in relief. The tone of her voice confirmed this was indeed the Piaomiao he knew, the one who had just desperately cried out, “Zhao Changhe, be careful!”

Dispelling strange, awkward feelings, Zhao Changhe admitted cautiously, “It does look familiar, though I can’t quite put my finger on it. Is it perhaps something I once saw in the Atlas of Mountains and Rivers?”

“This is Beimang. You’ve lived here before.”

“But the Beimang I know doesn’t have a river...” Zhao Changhe trailed off abruptly, realization dawning upon him. “This is the ancient Beimang!”

“Correct. The river is the Luo River.” Piaomiao’s voice was calm, tinged with nostalgia. “The very heartland of this realm, the burial ground of ancient emperors, the convergence point of humanity’s dragon qi. I was born from the Luo River and I called this place home.”

“No wonder it feels familiar. The visions I’ve had of you took place here... even that bath—” Zhao Changhe’s words faltered suddenly. Oddly enough, he had been able to say anything to the corrupted, wrathful Piaomiao, yet now faced with her original, pure form, such teasing became impossible.

He glanced sideways at Piaomiao and saw that she still wore the same unreadable expression, but she said nothing.

Quickly shifting topics, Zhao Changhe said, “It looks like you’ve recovered from your corrupted state.”

“Mm-hm.”

“Thank you for saving me earlier.”

“No need for thanks,” she answered lightly. “Besides, I didn’t exactly succeed. We now find ourselves facing an even greater problem.”

Zhao Changhe glanced around uneasily. “We were absorbed by the stone wall, the Soul-Capturing Mirror. So why are we standing here, at Beimang’s Luo River?”

“Because despite of what you claimed aloud, that your aim was merely to sever my corruption, deep down, your subconscious wished to resolve my feud with Ye Wuming. The mirror simply revealed your innermost desires,” Piaomiao explained softly. “In truth, I am the same. I said I only wanted to trace back my corruption, yet how could I not wish to see Ye Wuming again?”

“Are you saying the mirror can enable time travel?”

“We’re the ones traveling through time.” Piaomiao sighed softly. “The mirror simply brought us where our hearts truly wished to go.”

Zhao Changhe fell silent, his heart sinking.

They were trapped. By deviating from their original purpose and interfering further than intended, they had effectively lost their way back home. Drifting lost through time’s endless current was incredibly dangerous.

No. There was a way back. The Soul-Capturing Mirror of this era would naturally serve as their pathway home. Yet the mirror of this era existed in the heavenly realm, whereas here, they stood firmly rooted in the mortal realm.

Zhao Changhe asked, “Do you know how to reach the heavenly realm from here?”

Piaomiao remained quiet, clearly preoccupied with complex thoughts of her own.

Still, Zhao Changhe understood the risks clearly and said, “I strongly advise against meddling with karma any further. Seriously... If you confront Ye Wuming now, you’ll probably still lose. Even together, we don’t stand a chance. I propose we head straight for the route back without interfering in any past events. Nobody can predict the chaos caused by further tampering.”

A lengthy silence followed before Piaomiao murmured softly, “But what if I could sabotage her plan?”

Zhao Changhe paused. Here, he and Piaomiao existed only as souls. He was without the Heavenly Tome or the Back Eye. Ye Wuming might indeed be unaware of their presence, leaving room for covert interference.

Yet, Zhao Changhe had consumed enough time-travel fiction to fear its consequences. Merely adjusting Piaomiao’s corruption had already landed them in a massive predicament, so what further disasters might unfold from even deeper meddling? The thought brought a chill down his spiritual spine. If altering history meant returning to an unrecognizable world, one where everyone he knew was gone forever, he would never be able to forgive himself.

But the mirror had illuminated their true desires, and he had ended up here precisely because his subconscious wanted to help Piaomiao resolve her grievances. Would refusing to act now betray his heart?

Seeing him deep in thought, Piaomiao spoke calmly, “At this moment, I am forging the sword beneath the waters. When the sword is complete, the heavens will collapse. We have very little time left to make our choices.”

Zhao Changhe suddenly clapped his hands together. “Wait! There’s something we might be able to do that will benefit us both, doesn’t alter any karma significantly, and might even help you let off some steam, while also collecting a bit of interest along the way.”

Piaomiao asked curiously, “What might that be?”

Zhao Changhe smiled and said, “The Soul-Capturing Mirror is also in the heavenly realm. Since we’re destined to go there anyway, why don’t we swing by Ye Wuming’s palace and steal her lotus platform?”

Piaomiao’s eyes sparkled slightly, her typically expressionless face suddenly blossoming with a hint of innocent delight reminiscent of Yangyang.

Indeed, it was a brilliant idea.

Very few people in the world could successfully steal from the Night Palace, but Piaomiao was one of them, provided that Ye Wuming was not around.

As for whether stealing the lotus platform might provoke Ye Wuming to retaliate and kill, that did not warrant much consideration. If Ye Wuming would slaughter friends over something minor like this, she would already be despicable beyond redemption. Besides, her intentions to annihilate all demon gods were abundantly clear; stealing the lotus platform would hardly make a difference.

No longer hesitating, Piaomiao stopped glancing at her past self submerged beneath the Luo River, deeply immersed in forging the divine swords. Instead, she took Zhao Changhe’s hand firmly and sped eastward.

In a single instant, they had crossed from the Luo River to the shores of the Eastern Sea, traversing thousands of li effortlessly, without the slightest stir.

Zhao Changhe secretly admired her prowess. Piaomiao was undeniably stronger than he was right now. His earlier guess had been right: Skyrim Island truly was a boundary between the mortal realm and the heavenly realm. But then, why had Piaomiao stopped her travels there?

Lost in thought, Zhao Changhe suddenly heard a voice resonating from the sea ahead. “Greetings, revered god.”

A massive tortoise floated on the sea’s surface, cautiously eyeing Piaomiao on the shore, seemingly anxious. “To what do we owe the honor of your presence?”

With an icy, indifferent expression, Piaomiao replied, “Where I choose to go requires no explanation to you.”

The giant tortoise tried to smile appeasingly. “Of course, you may go wherever you please... but your companion here...”

Zhao Changhe pointed incredulously at himself. “Me? Since when has the sea become restricted territory? When did ancient... Er, when exactly did this rule start?”

The giant tortoise explained, “Normally, there would be no such rule, but lately, things are different. The Sea Emperor is currently in seclusion, preparing for a potential disaster. Moreover, the Realm Severance is currently in place, and travel between realms is prohibited from the time being. Surely, revered god, you are aware of this... Your companion is strong indeed, but we must know his origins clearly, or it would be difficult to explain.”

The phrase “lately, things are different” clearly indicated that the top-tier demon gods had already sensed the impending catastrophe. Evidently, the Sea Emperor was preparing to face it. Zhao Changhe realized that ascending to the heavenly realm was not quite straightforward right now, given this “Realm Severance,” yet Piaomiao appeared entirely unconcerned.

Still pondering what suitable identity he could claim for himself, Zhao Changhe suddenly heard Piaomiao coldly state, “He is one of mine. Who are you to question him? The very fact that I have wasted breath speaking to you is already a show of respect toward the Sea Emperor and the Dragon Emperor. Do not test my patience. Step aside!”

As her words echoed, a storm howled between sea and sky, purple qi billowing fiercely.

The giant tortoise was instantly overturned by the surge of purple qi, rolling in the sea helplessly like a flipped snail. Meanwhile, Piaomiao whisked Zhao Changhe away in a flash, heading swiftly into the distant ocean.

Zhao Changhe nearly wept tears of joy.

“He is one of mine...”

This tortoise was clearly a powerful guardian beast under the Sea Emperor’s command, yet even the casual release of Piaomiao’s aura sent it tumbling...

Living off someone’s strength truly feels amazing. Speaking of which, it looks like Piaomiao is actually one of those domineering CEO types, which matches really well with Yangyang. Typically, dominating figures would have a delicate “green tea bitch[1]” by their side...

His idle thoughts barely flickered by when the two arrived at a vast altar in the ocean. An enormous dragon statue pierced straight into the sky, its aura powerful and majestic, guarded on all sides by dragon sentinels exuding absolute authority.

Zhao Changhe stroked his chin thoughtfully. This location was rather familiar: It was precisely where Xia Chichi had activated the Azure Dragon Seal and was teleported to Skyrim Island. Back then, the Sea Emperor had transformed into a giant dragon, and Xia Longyuan and others had battled fiercely.

But by Zhao Changhe’s era, the magnificent altar had long fallen into ruin, leaving only a broken and dilapidated statue. Now, standing before its original grandeur, he recognized it as the Azure Dragon’s altar, the “Dragon Emperor” Piaomiao had referred to. Besides being the Human Emperor, he also commanded the dragon race, seemingly allied closely with the Sea Emperor.

Hovering outside the altar, Piaomiao projected her voice clearly across the entire area, “Inform Azure Dragon that Piaomiao seeks passage to Skyrim Island.”

Several giant dragons approached respectfully. “Greetings, revered god. The Night Emperor has ordered that the Realms Severance remain in effect.”

Zhao Changhe covered his face with his palm. Are you seriously bringing up that blind woman in front of Piaomiao? You’re clearly begging for trouble.

Piaomiao sneered, “It is daytime now. She’s the Night Emperor. Does her jurisdiction even extend to this time?”

The dragons stared, bewildered.

What are you talking about? Since when was the title to be taken literally? She’s still essentially the Heavenly Emperor. Also, wait, aren’t you supposed to have good relations with the Heavenly Emperor? Why do you seem so hostile?

A giant dragon awkwardly attempted to appease her, “Revered god, you share the strongest alliance and friendship with our Dragon Emperor. Surely you have his token or decree?”

Piaomiao replied coldly, “We met just yesterday, and I forgot to ask him for it. If you recognize our friendship, why hesitate to grant me passage?”

The dragons glanced awkwardly at each other, clearly distressed. Azure Dragon was the Human Emperor, whose relationship with Piaomiao was uniquely complex. He was both supervised and favored by her, yet in certain ways, she also acted as his advisor. Mere alliance could not encapsulate their intricate bond. With Piaomiao personally leading someone toward Skyrim, none dared defy her will. Offending Piaomiao was tantamount to risking severe repercussions from Azure Dragon, consequences none of them could bear.

But without an official decree, how could they just allow entry? Piaomiao was known to highly respect established order, so such reckless disregard for protocol was unprecedented. Could she be an impostor? Could it be Papiyas in disguise?

Piaomiao calmly stated, “If it’s truly troublesome, then I shall open the way myself. If Azure Dragon seeks accountability later, I shall bear responsibility.”

She finished speaking and decisively pulled Zhao Changhe straight through the cluster of dragons, placing her hand lightly upon the altar. Instantly, a brilliant rainbow pierced the skies, illuminating a magnificent, multicolored heavenly gate.

None of the dragons dared to stop them; the guards might as well have been mere decoration.

Witnessing the authority of the fourth-ranked demon god, Zhao Changhe felt tears welling up yet again. Compared to this awe-inspiring force, what was his supposed first place on the Ranking of Heaven even worth? Exactly whom had he spent the past few days with? Without witnessing the ancient era firsthand, he would never have been able to imagine just how overwhelmingly powerful she was.

Piaomiao transmitted a message telepathically, “This gate to the heavenly realm no longer exists in your era. Hold tight to me. Keep your mind pure; excessive distracting thoughts will prevent your passage.”

Zhao Changhe steadied his thoughts obediently, gripping her hand tightly as they ascended the rainbow into the heavens.

Countless dragons stretched their necks, gazing not at Piaomiao but at the man whose hand she held.

Good heavens... Piaomiao is actually holding hands with a man?

At this very moment, a furious shout echoed from afar, “Stop right there!”

Piaomiao’s expression turned frosty, not even glancing back. “Sea Emperor, what wisdom do you wish to share?”

A muscular figure, bare-chested and wielding a trident, flew rapidly toward them. “Piaomiao, you’ve injured my ocean patrol god and trespassed into restricted territory. Are you openly insulting my Sea Tribe?”

The Sea Emperor...

Zhao Changhe subtly tilted his head, quickly altering his appearance to resemble someone vaguely like Wang Daozhong. Showing his true face to the Sea Emperor was out of the question as it would create far-reaching karma. Using a face from the Wang Clan could at least temporarily misdirect any future issues.

Yet, Piaomiao spoke indifferently, “I belong to the lineage of humanity. Why should I concern myself with creatures of scales and horns?”

The Sea Emperor sneered, “Azure Dragon also has scales and horns, yet he became the Human Emperor!”

“That’s exactly why he and I can form alliances, unlike you. If you’re capable, come ashore and rule both land and sea.” Piaomiao continued pulling Zhao Changhe upward. “To achieve that, you’d first have to sever your alliance with Azure Dragon, rather than waste your breath arguing with me.”

“You can ascend, I won’t stop you, but leave this man behind!” The Sea Emperor unleashed a fierce spiritual assault, targeting Zhao Changhe. “Ascending to heaven from the mortal realm grants immeasurable fortune! Not just anyone can do as they please!”

Zhao Changhe clenched his fists, about to retaliate, but Piaomiao had already enveloped them in purple qi.

Boom!

Powerful spiritual fluctuations spread outward while the Sea Emperor spewed a mouthful of blood as he was thrown violently backward.

Piaomiao’s demeanor remained unchanged, her tone still emotionless as she said, “You’re overestimating your strength.”

Enraged, the Sea Emperor roared, “Piaomiao, you’re truly willing to become an enemy of the entire Sea Tribe for the sake of some random man?”

Piaomiao replied blandly, “You lack even the courage to break ties with Azure Dragon, so why bother shouting at me?”

“You!” The Sea Emperor sputtered furiously. “You’ve always been indifferent and detached from worldly affairs. Could your abnormal behavior today be because you’ve fallen for a man?”

Piaomiao said nothing in reply.

From the onlookers’ viewpoint, their clasped hands spoke clearly enough.

Zhao Changhe had ridden Piaomiao’s coattails from start to finish, neither uttering a single word nor lifting a finger. Effortlessly, Piaomiao led him through layers of the Sea Tribe and the Dragon Tribe’s protection, ascending easily toward the gate to the heavenly realm.

As they approached closer, Zhao Changhe could not help but glance at the wounded Sea Emperor below.

Was it possible that the Sea Emperor’s weakened state at the collapse of the era was due primarily to injuries inflicted by Piaomiao? Well, that doesn’t matter much. None of these events can significantly alter karma at this point. Even Piaomiao’s blatant provocations won’t matter, considering only a few days remain until the collapse of the heavens. Even if the Sea Emperor seeks revenge, time will run out before he can act.

This is probably why Piaomiao is acting so arrogantly. Even if the Sea Emperor attempts revenge in the present timeline, Piaomiao would hardly give a damn.

Speaking of which, even if this world’s ocean isn’t as vast as Earth’s, it surely still dwarfs the landmass, right? With that being the case, why is the Sea Emperor’s strength so inferior to Piaomiao’s?

As if hearing his inner thoughts, Piaomiao spoke quietly, “Mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas are all under human dominion. At present, at least half the oceans belong to Azure Dragon. In your era, even the Sea Tribe revere you. It’s similar for me... Therefore, you must not be foolish. If you falter, I shall weaken too.”

“I’m not the Human Emperor.”

“You surpass the Human Emperor...” Piaomiao paused slightly, tilting her head away. “The Human Emperor and I... are merely your wings.”

Zhao Changhe turned toward her, but Piaomiao kept her head turned away, avoiding eye contact.

Does she mean she and Chichi would serve as my wings? That sounds suspiciously like a confession...

“Clear your mind,” Piaomiao reminded softly.

Zhao Changhe quickly restrained his thoughts, stepping through the magnificent, iridescent gateway.

A brand-new realm then unfolded before his eyes.

1. “Green tea bitch” is Chinese slang for a woman who does her best to look innocent but is in fact dishonest and cunning. Piaomiao actually calls Yangyang “green tea bitch” a few times, but we have opted to change it to “vixen” and the likes due to the fact that she has no way of knowing the term. It apparently stems from such women often appearing in commercials for green tea. ☜