Tome of Troubled Times
Chapter 872 (1): The Girl Who Braves the Wind and Waves

Chapter 872 (1): The Girl Who Braves the Wind and Waves

Zhao Changhe now knew why Yue Hongling had taken this girl as her disciple. This girl was like a second Yue Hongling—or perhaps, a second Zhao Changhe.

She’s so much like how I was in those early days when I stood alone on Beimang, challenging the heroes of the world.

With me here, no matter which enemy comes, they’d only be sending themselves to their death. But this girl doesn’t know that... and, more importantly, she isn’t counting on the help of some ancient, mysterious senior she barely knows. An eccentric like that offering a single moment of guidance is already a rare grace. She’d never expect more.

She doesn’t know any saber arts. She doesn’t even know whether Dragon Bird would respond to her call, whether she could wield its true power, or if it would betray her at the worst moment, as it did at Sword Lake. Even though she said all that, she doesn’t dare treat Dragon Bird as a reliable trump card.

What she’s relying on... is herself and her sword alone.

Just as Ling Ruoyu had reasoned, most enemies were lying in ambush in the north. Any force giving chase now could only rely on individual masters with superior agility or happenstance proximity. Their arrivals would be staggered. As the factions varied, coordination was unlikely.

At her current speed heading downstream, she would reach the Yangtze in less than two days. Her enemies did not have the time to organize a full blockade. All they could do was arrive one by one, to be cut down in turn.

Unless the Marquis of Wu, Tang Buqi, was a complete fool, he would have already sent someone to rendezvous from the north. At the very least, she should have contact within a day.

And if Dragon Bird’s infamous power truly deterred all but the boldest, even Ranking of Earth experts would hesitate to come.

The more brazenly she shouted, “come and claim it,” the fewer who would dare respond.

All that was needed... was the courage to shout it, the spirit to stand alone against ten thousand.

And Ling Ruoyu had that spirit.

She even hoped to use this journey to test her sword.

The ancient senior’s earlier guidance had opened her eyes. She did not need overwhelming strength to win battles. With keen experience and sound technique, even a simple feint could trick a Profound Mysteries cultivator into having his own arm cut off.

She stood at the bow of the ship, hair whipping in the wind, silently replaying that duel in her mind, deep in thought.

Zhao Changhe wandered off to grab a gourd of wine, then leaned lazily against the side of the boat, sipping as he watched his little disciple standing like a banner at the prow, her hair blowing in the wind.

After a while, he called out, “Before you put on this display of heroic resolve, shouldn’t you maybe tend to your injuries first?”

The girl’s blazing sword heart was quenched on the spot by the ancient god’s realistic words. Ling Ruoyu slumped beside the rail and begrudgingly dug out a pill from her storage ring and swallowed it.

Zhao Changhe sniffed the air and squinted. “Wait, what was that pill? Your master is the Sunset Divine Sword Yue Hongling, and that’s the best she gives you?”

Ling Ruoyu looked genuinely confused. “Senior, how could you possibly know everything about my master just by reading a bit about her? My master’s not any good at alchemy.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

You’re right, she’s not, but your aunt is. Do you not know that the world’s top healer, the Azure Dragon Empress Xia Chichi herself, is your aunt? For this kind of minor injury, any one of her pills would have you back on your feet before the tea got cold.

You’re telling me Hongling never asked Chichi for medicine? Doesn’t she care about you?

As if reading his mind, Ling Ruoyu added, “Master said that Her Majesty is fine otherwise, but she sometimes acts like one of those clueless emperors in old books, always obsessed with refining pills. I feel like Master doesn’t really approve of such behavior.”

Zhao Changhe nearly choked on his wine. “Mm-hm.”

Sure. It’s definitely not your master badmouthing her love rival behind her back. Chichi’s practically immortal. She doesn’t need longevity pills. If she’s refining anything, it’s to prepare for future battles. Do you think your master doesn’t know that? What the hell kind of feeling are you talking about then?

Forget it. Zhao Changhe rummaged in his ring, pulled out a small bottle, and tossed it over. “Your trial-by-sword idea? I approve. But first, pull yourself together. Otherwise, the whole thing’s pointless.”

To be honest, Zhao Changhe was out of medicine himself. He had used up the last of it on Ye Jiuyou. The one he had just given her was something he had hastily whipped up on the spot. By now, his Rejuvenation Art could gather ambient beneficial elements into rudimentary medicine. Though what he had given her were not properly refined pills, they were more than enough for the superficial wounds she had.

Zhao Changhe felt like one of those old wandering monks rubbing grime from beggars’ backs, and he was quite pleased with himself. On the other side, the young girl had accepted the bottle, pulled the stopper, and taken a sniff—only for the rich vitality radiating from within to stun her completely. “This is...”

“Ah, a random old pill. It’s pretty old, but it’s probably not expired. You should take it.”

Ling Ruoyu hesitated. “We’re complete strangers, senior. Why are you being so generous?”

“Well, your master and I—”

“Please refrain from speaking lightly of my master.”

Zhao Changhe nearly choked. What, now even speaking the truth’s not allowed? “And if I do?”

Ling Ruoyu’s face was perfectly composed. “I am grateful for your assistance, senior. But should you show disrespect to my master, I will defend her honor, even if it costs me my life.”

“Haha... Fine, fine.” Zhao Changhe laughed. “You’re the one who woke me, so let’s just call this a stroke of fate. I’ll lend you a hand or two, then we’ll call it even. But go heal up. The next one tailing you is already less than ten li away. If you keep dawdling, you’ll be calling me to save your life soon. We’ll see how proud you are then.”

He can detect enemies from ten li away? Ling Ruoyu’s heart trembled. Without another word, she sat down to heal and swallowed the pill.

It dissolved the moment it hit her throat, spreading warmth through her limbs. The wound in her abdomen began to close visibly, and her exhaustion faded as strength flooded back into her body.

A miracle drug like this should not even exist in the mortal realm. On the black market, it could perhaps even reach the price of a city, yet this ancient senior had just tossed it to her like a piece of candy.

Truth be told, of all the dangers on this journey, perhaps the greatest was this inscrutable ancient demon god. After all, she had no idea what exactly it was that he was after.

Yet strangely, her sword heart sensed no ill intent from him. She sensed neither ambition nor expectation of repayment; just a quiet, genuine goodwill.

She sensed no lust, either. There was no hint of that sort of impurity in his aura, and it likely had not even crossed his mind. In fact, it felt like he was... finding enjoyment in watching her grow. The better she performed, the happier he seemed.

Am I his disciple or something?

Other than a suspicious fixation on her master, there did not seem to be any other explanation. He already treated her like a disciple...

Is this something I’m qualified to get involved in? The girl recalled her master’s sharp, unforgiving stare and involuntarily shivered.

Well, good luck, senior... Worst case, I’ll take a few beatings and try saying a few good words for you when the time comes.

* * *

“Qian Qishen of the Nine Rivers Sect requests a duel!”

Bang!

Ling Ruoyu parried with her blade, then lashed out with a sharp kick, sending the man flying straight into the Grand Canal.

Dawn had not yet broken, yet that was already the third challenger.

“The Five Tigers of Huaiyang seek instruction from Lady Ling!”

“All of you, just come at once...”

Ling Ruoyu still had not drawn the unreliable Dragon Bird. Word of her single sword holding off multiple foes quickly spread, further convincing others that either the sacred saber’s power had been depleted, or it did not recognize her as a legitimate wielder. With that, the sacred saber was no longer considered a threat, and the attempts to snatch it turned into a full-on treasure hunt.

Every dark faction across Jianghuai began to swarm toward Ling Ruoyu. But that was exactly what she wanted, a gauntlet to test her sword.

She had just turned sixteen. Her cultivation was respectable for her age, certainly, but her time in the world had been short. Her practical combat experience, as well as her understanding of swordplay, still lagged even behind the likes of Cui Yuanyong from back then, let alone her master or her master’s husband. Her title as the first hidden dragon felt... inflated. It seemed as though it was just a fluke, or a result of the Heavenly Tome’s blind favoritism.

However, this string of trials along the Grand Canal could make up for a full year of travel.

From afar, another boat approached. At its bow stood Wan Dongliu, overlord of Jianghuai and leader of the Cao Gang. He stared blankly at the fierce duel on the nearby deck and at a familiar figure leaning against the railing, gourd of wine in hand.

In his mind, a voice transmission echoed. “Don’t cause trouble. I’m training the kid.”

Wan Dongliu stroked his graying beard and glanced between the dashing youth at the prow and the familiar, still-young face at the stern. Then, with a face as if he had swallowed a handful of unripe plums, he waved a hand. “Turn back. We’re not getting involved.”

His men were stunned. “But gang leader, we were commissioned by the Marquis of Wu to help protect the sacred saber... If we leave now, how will we explain ourselves?”

Wan Dongliu muttered, “Since when do a few coins from that little junior of a marquis count for anything?”

His subordinates: “?”

“Let’s go. With that person here, no one’s touching that saber.”

His subordinates, not realizing whom he was referring to[1], could not help but say, “But Ling Ruoyu’s only at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate. How could she possibly fend off all the dark sects of Qingxu, Jianghuai, and beyond?”

“I don’t want to protect that saber anymore, so what are you going to do to me? Someone’s fishing. Anyone who takes the bait is an idiot. If we don’t leave now, that shameless bastard might actually bait me into stepping in and helping the girl train. He may have no shame, but I’ve still got some left.”

1. He actually uses a pronoun here, but in Mandarin Chinese, the word for “him” and “her” sound the exact same and can only be differentiated in writing. ☜