Chapter 161: Exchange

Chapter 161: Exchange

This exchange with the Blind Girl was perhaps the most extensive one yet, and no longer shrouded in mist as before—finally, they began to touch on concrete details.

Zhao Changhe was not surprised. This woman had dragged people from the present world into this one for a purpose, not merely to watch the show. As long as he demonstrated enough value, she would only tell him more and more, gradually unveiling her ultimate goal.

In theory, the Eye in the Back was his greatest cheat, possibly containing qualitative leaps like "Clairvoyance," but Zhao Changhe had never deliberately honed this cheat—using it to peek at baths was enough. The main reason was that he felt it was a gift from the Blind Girl; if he ever turned against her, it might be taken away, so he couldn't rely on it.

Moreover, she knew everything he did—was it because the Book of Chaos overlooked the world, or because she had eyes on him?

The thought sent chills down his spine.

That said, he harbored strong aversion and wariness toward her, and the Blind Girl should know that. Did she truly not care? Did she really think the future would unfold as she wished?

Time would tell!

Zhao Changhe stretched comfortably and found that his external injuries no longer hurt much.

The imperial medicine was indeed formidable, even better than the Cui family's. The sword qi had left him riddled with wounds, yet after one night of application, they were mostly healed. He recalled how Yue Hongling had once suffered a shoulder wound that troubled her for days and affected her combat...

But perhaps this wasn't entirely a good thing—the little game of who would apply the medicine, the maid or the chief, seemed to be disappearing...

Zhao Changhe sighed and stepped outside to look. Sisi was standing by a cluster of flowering trees, quietly gazing at the blossoms.

Whether it was the fake Yue Hongling, the fake maid, or the true face revealed yesterday, the common thread was that they were all lively, mischievous types, and very seductive. But now, alone with the flowers, she seemed serene and graceful, yet somehow tinged with a hint of desolation and melancholy. The contrast was stark, more pronounced than any change of disguise.

Zhao Changhe glanced at her still-exposed slender waist, pursed his lips without commenting, and stepped forward. "Why are you standing here alone looking at the flowers?"

Sisi sighed. "Besides you, who else here am I familiar enough to talk to? It's good enough that they don't cause trouble for me pretending to be a maid... So of course I'm alone."

"Uh... where did you sleep last night? You had no place to sleep before, nodding off in my room."

Sisi finally turned to look at him, a hint of mockery in her smile. "How rare—you actually care about where your maid sleeps."

Zhao Changhe felt a twinge of guilt. "I was too exhausted last night, covered in wounds, my mind in a fog... I should have spoken to the Tang family about this..."

Sisi's gaze swept over him, recalling how he had been drenched in blood and barely intact yesterday. She decided not to throw a tantrum and snorted. "When you're out and about, there's no room for such fuss... I was actually planning to sleep in your bed, but then you'd call me slutty again, so forget it."

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Then I'll say it straight."

Sisi: "?"

"Stop showing your waist, okay?"

Sisi suddenly laughed, her voice coquettish. "You think I dress like this to please you?"

Zhao Changhe said, "No..."

"Actually, yes." Sisi pressed closer instead, whispering, "Master, do you like it?"

This time it was Zhao Changhe's turn to be stunned.

"Want to touch?"

"..."

"Tch, just a lecherous little man, pretending all day." Sisi's expression suddenly changed. "I'll show my waist to whoever I want. Who are you to me? Do you really think you're my master?"

Zhao Changhe said helplessly, "You resent me for thinking you're wanton, but why don't you care about others' opinions? To them, you're just a seductress. Why bother?"

"Because others are others, and you are you." Sisi replied curtly, but then seemed to feel that was a bit too much, so she turned back to look at the flowers. "Fine, since you said so, I'll change clothes later. But I still think..."

"What?"

"That you just don't want others to see me, and you're making an excuse."

"..." Zhao Changhe fell silent.

Sisi's beautiful eyes sparkled, and she said teasingly, "Actually, by Central Plains standards, I really am quite wanton. Master, why not try a little harder? Maybe tonight you can play with your maid."

Zhao Changhe said sternly, "I've seen more waists than you have, kissed more than you can imagine, and they were all pure goddesses. Your little act is nothing."

Sisi was surprised. "You've seen many like that?"

"Hmph." Zhao Changhe said, "Actually, none of that matters."

"Then what does?"

"It's that you want to control me—that's the main contradiction between us. My disrespect and teasing all stem from that."

Sisi opened her mouth, then her head drooped, as if she had just remembered that she had indeed made the first move...

Suddenly, they had nothing more to say, and stood awkwardly watching the flowers together.

After a long while, Zhao Changhe said, "Alright, considering you tried to block Maitreya's strike, let's call it even. We're friends now."

Sisi said, "Then tell me about the Dragon Sparrow. I've fulfilled the condition of showing my true face."

"Is it really your true face?"

"Yes."

"The Dragon Sparrow is the founding emperor's saber, imbued with his imperial dominance and battle intent. It brooks no disrespect. If you speak to it politely and smile, it might let you use it without jumping at you. As for why I have techniques from a hundred schools—there's nothing to find, because I've abandoned them all now."

"Imperial saber..." Sisi murmured. "This emperor is truly remarkable—he has already touched upon divine and demonic powers. With such an emperor, why has the realm become so chaotic..."

Zhao Changhe said, "Do you know much about divine and demonic powers?"

Sisi shot him a glance, didn't answer, and didn't continue asking. Speak politely and smile to use the Dragon Sparrow? Perhaps—lifting it might be possible, but making it unleash its power was impossible.

After all this, both sides were still hiding things.

Sisi sighed, suddenly feeling it was all rather pointless—herself, and him too.

Zhao Changhe suddenly said, "By the way... you want Central Plains martial arts, and I want to learn something from you. How about we exchange some knowledge?"

Sisi was surprised. "What do you want?"

"Lightness skill and disguise technique."

Sisi smiled faintly. "You seem to know a lot, but for now, I'm only interested in the Spring Water Sword Intent and the Spirit Fox Saber Intent. Would you dare to exchange the Spring Water Sword Intent?"

"No, but the Spirit Fox Saber Intent is fine."

"One for one. You can choose either lightness skill or disguise technique."

Zhao Changhe didn't hesitate. "Disguise technique."

Sisi was a bit surprised. "I thought you'd want lightness skill—isn't that more important?"

"Lightness skill has many sources, but such a miraculous disguise technique is probably unique. Besides, lightness skill is the core of the Thief Sect. The Thief Saint may be generous with you, but that doesn't mean he allows it to be passed on... Disguise technique is less critical, relatively speaking." Zhao Changhe smiled. "Actually, if I want to sound nice, there's another reason."

"What?"

"That bit of Spirit Fox Saber Intent is just superficial—it's not enough to trade for lightness skill. I don't want to shortchange you."

"Strictly speaking, that bit of superficial knowledge isn't enough for disguise technique either." Sisi's eyes sparkled. "Can you add something more?"

Zhao Changhe was amused. "What else do you want?"

"You've mentioned something about a Murong a few times, and a maid who knows disguise. I want that story."