Chapter 175: Take Care Of Yourself To Take Care Of The World

Chapter 175: Only by Caring for Yourself Can You Care for the World

Not only had Sisi left, but the Sword Emperor's Tomb itself was also due to be sealed away from the world once more.

This was a principle Zhao Changhe had proposed long ago—the Sword Emperor's Tomb could not remain exposed forever; if someone stumbled in by accident one day and the Sword Emperor rose, it would be an utter tragedy. Moreover, Maitreya might rise in rebellion, and Gusu was the front line; if Maitreya ever occupied it, who knew how much trouble he could stir up.

Tang Wanzhuang deeply agreed.

Recently, Sisi had been here to assist the Demon Suppression Bureau in this task, surveying spatial nodes to see how to re-hide the tomb in another dimension.

The Demon Suppression Bureau had done similar things before and had experience, and Sisi was even more familiar with the tomb's prohibitions, saving the Bureau a great deal of painstaking survey work. Today was precisely the time to carry it out, so Sisi withdrew directly after her success, without even saying goodbye to Tang Wanzhuang, because she had already said her farewells.

It seemed she had stayed only to wait for Zhao Changhe's latest sword manual.

Or perhaps just to see him once and utter a harsh word like "I will take you as my slave?"

No one knew.

When they had fallen out a few days earlier, Zhao Changhe hadn't felt anything particularly special—he had expected her to stir up trouble, and his own severance of ties was a natural reaction. What was there to feel?

The only regret was that he had no one to tease and flirt with, but Tang Wanzhuang's elegant companionship was no less delightful, overshadowing that regret. Yet when Sisi truly left, Zhao Changhe found his mind often drifting to those expressive eyes, the way she had seemed both annoyed and wistful, wanting to speak but holding back.

And so he knew—he was, after all, regretful.

The same treasure hunt, the same conflicts—he had hoped to see another Xia Chichi, but she was never Chichi.

"Rumble!"

The tremor ahead jolted Zhao Changhe from his reverie.

Looking out, at the site of the former sword pool, a hundred members of the Demon Suppression Bureau had formed a formation, relying on the array diagrams gradually carved over these days and various objects of unknown purpose, constructing a massive spell formation.

Tang Wanzhuang stood at the core of the formation, holding a divine sword, hovering low in the air, her robes fluttering.

—She truly could hover, though whether she could actually fly at full power was unknown.

Not only could she hover, but what she was doing now was equally fantastical.

A soft, watery light spread around her, extending outward and linking with the preset array nodes. Suddenly, a vast energy erupted and trembled at the center; with a rumbling sound, the watery light filled the sky, and the refracted light created a spatial dislocation. The passage seemed to twist, and the channel was no longer visible.

At the pit's location, the watery light reappeared—whether it was real water or a mirage, no one could tell.

Tang Wanzhuang's lotus feet touched the center of the water, like a goddess treading the waves, or like a lotus born from the water, transforming into a peerlessly beautiful woman stepping out of the mortal world.

Zhao Changhe believed he might never forget this scene for many years—it was the most fantastical and beautiful sight he had seen since his transmigration.

But looking at the surrounding Demon Suppression Bureau members, none showed any admiration; instead, they all knelt on one knee and said solemnly, "Chief, take care of your health."

Just as Tang Wanzhuang set foot on solid ground, she suddenly stumbled, then clutched her chest and coughed violently. As she coughed, blood visibly appeared, with drops of crimson on her snow-white chin.

Zhao Changhe instinctively rushed over and supported her: "What's wrong? Is it overexertion?"

Tang Wanzhuang gasped, gently wiping the blood from her lips. She looked down at where Zhao Changhe's arm supported her—it was proper—and said nothing, only whispering, "Help me back."

The subordinates exchanged glances, somewhat startled, but said nothing. They quietly rose and watched as Zhao Changhe helped Tang Wanzhuang slowly descend the mountain.

Baoqin stood not far away, still holding a gesture as if to step forward and help, staring blankly as the man supported her mistress and left, unsure whether to follow.

......

"Where's Baoqin?" Helping Tang Wanzhuang to her waterside pavilion, Zhao Changhe suddenly realized it was improper to enter a lady's boudoir; it would be best to hand her over to the maid. But looking around, he saw no Baoqin, not even any rough servants in the pavilion.

"I don't live here permanently; there are no dedicated maids in the courtyard. They are all temporarily assigned and don't stay here," Tang Wanzhuang said softly. "Just help me inside. It's nothing—why be so attached to appearances?"

Zhao Changhe thought it over and decided there was no need to be overly fastidious, so he helped her into the boudoir.

—This was the first time in Zhao Changhe's life he had entered a woman's boudoir. Half an hour earlier, he would never have imagined that the first woman's boudoir he would ever enter would be Tang Wanzhuang's...

Smelling the natural fragrance in the room, Zhao Changhe inexplicably felt nervous, his face unconsciously reddening. He dared not look around at the furnishings and quickly helped her to the bed to sit against the headboard. Turning his head, he saw a teapot on the table nearby; he deftly poured a cup of water and handed it over: "Want a drink?"

Tang Wanzhuang shook her head slightly: "If I drink, I'll cough... Rest is enough."

"Your condition is too severe. What medicine would help? Is there any in the room? I'll find it."

"It's useless..." Tang Wanzhuang said softly. "It's just that the exertion was too intense, triggering the lung meridian. It's not exhaustion or injury—rest will suffice."

No wonder she had ranked higher than Maitreya before her breakthrough, and after breaking through, she still fought on par with him—she simply dared not exert herself too much, or she would cough herself to death before anyone else could strike.

From what he had just witnessed, her full power was truly terrifying... Zhao Changhe had originally imagined "re-sealing the tomb" as merely hiding it or setting up illusions to make it unfindable, but this was actually folding and twisting space, truly re-isolating the dimension.

Even with the help of the formation and multiple people, her power as the core was too strong.

It was a pity she couldn't act recklessly; otherwise, Zhao Changhe thought she might be able to go straight and cut off Maitreya's head... No wonder all factions were cowed by the title of number one on the Heavenly Ranking—if Xia Longyuan went berserk, who could withstand him?

But then again, with the realm in decay, relying on personal martial power to kill enemy leaders was not a fundamental solution.

These thoughts ran through Zhao Changhe's mind, and for a moment he didn't know what to say. He could only say, "Then you should rest more. I think besides the intense exertion, you've also been overthinking—that must have an effect."

Tang Wanzhuang was silent.

Of course it had an effect, a great one.

Zhao Changhe said, "You tell me to calm my mind and learn qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I think you should take it easy yourself. Don't bother with the Jiangnan Maitreya Sect. Just listen to some qin music, read some books, and rest well."

Although Tang Wanzhuang knew full well that this fellow was always glib and flirtatious and no child, she still inexplicably felt like a child being lectured by an adult who had suddenly grown up... She couldn't help but find it amusing and deliberately asked, "Listen to qin music? Played by whom? Baoqin or you?"

Zhao Changhe said calmly, "If you want to hear me play the qin like a clumsy bear, then I'll play for you, to amuse you—that's all."

Tang Wanzhuang was startled and looked at his expression with some curiosity.

Zhao Changhe's face was expressionless: "You always say others are like children, but I think you're the child. First take care of yourself, then you can nurture others, then you can care for the world. Look at the people of the Demon Suppression Bureau—I wonder, if the Great Xia lost you, how many of them would still be willing to fight for it?"

Tang Wanzhuang suddenly said, "And you?"

"I don't intend to fight for the Great Xia, but as long as you are here, at least I won't oppose it. So live well, Chief."

Tang Wanzhuang's beautiful eyes lingered on his face for a long while, then she coughed softly and said in a low voice, "Then... play the qin for me."

Zhao Changhe was taken aback, and Baoqin poked her head in from the doorway.

Without even turning her head, as if she knew Baoqin had arrived, Tang Wanzhuang asked, "Are the qin strings ready?"

"...They've been ready for a while." Baoqin glanced cautiously at Zhao Changhe: "If he plays, won't they break again...? Let me play for you, miss. Baoqin plays very well now!"

Tang Wanzhuang smiled faintly: "Even broken strings can be understood as music. What does quality matter? Go, bring the qin."