Chapter 192: Is This What You Meant By Being Afraid?

Chapter 192: Is This What You Call Fear?

The two of them traveled without further conversation and soon arrived at the city’s stronghold of the Four Symbols Sect.

This was not a branch of the Four Symbols Sect, merely a temporary base like the one in Sword Lake City, occupying a large compound. It was primarily where Chi Chi’s subordinates, including the Azure Dragon Protector, Elder You, and others, were stationed.

When they saw a woman in a Vermilion Bird ritual robe wearing a Fire Serpent of Wings mask leading Zhao Changhe in, Elder You and the others’ eyes nearly bulged out.

The Vermilion Bird shot them a glare, and Elder You and his men broke out in a sweat, bowing their heads in silence.

The Vermilion Bird said, “Protector You, are the Venerable and the Saintess present?”

“…” Elder You wiped his sweat: “The Saintess is out on business. The Venerable, the Venerable should be in the inner courtyard, I suppose?”

The Vermilion Bird was quite pleased with Elder You’s quick wit. She turned to Zhao Changhe and said, “Ask them about Cui Yuanyang’s whereabouts. I’ll go to the inner courtyard to report to the Venerable and see if she has anything to say to you. Don’t just leave on your own—that would be rude, and if the Venerable gets angry, it won’t be pretty.”

Zhao Changhe said helplessly, “Do I look like someone so discourteous? Go ahead.”

Under the watchful eyes of Elder You and the others, the Vermilion Bird slipped away to the inner courtyard. She put on her Vermilion Bird mask, thought for a moment, then found another ritual robe with slightly different patterns and changed into it, examining herself in a bronze mirror.

The Fire Serpent of Wings mask covered the entire face, even the lips, hiding everything.

The Vermilion Bird’s own mask was half-faced, ending at the tip of the nose in a bird’s beak shape, with lips below as if painted with rouge.

“Seductive lips… what a strange description.” The Vermilion Bird muttered to herself in puzzlement: “What does that word even refer to?”

Whatever it referred to, the meaning was clearly a compliment, so it was fine. If someone could talk like that, they should say more.

The Vermilion Bird admired herself for a while longer before leisurely strolling out.

When she reached the hall, she heard Zhao Changhe’s raised voice: “Chi Chi is going to kill Yang Yang?”

Elder You said, “Uh, we’re also worried about the Saintess. We wanted to ask the Venerable to cancel this mission. Cui Yuanyang is surrounded by experts now; unless we’re willing to fight a hard battle… but there’s no need for that.”

“Oh?” The Vermilion Bird walked out coldly, her voice carrying its usual lazy seductiveness but laced with bone-chilling cruelty: “Whether there’s a need or not, is that for you, Elder You, to decide?”

“No, no.” Elder You and the others knelt in a clatter: “We are worried about the Saintess. Even if this mission succeeds, it will be hard for her to escape. If it must be carried out, we beg the Venerable to go and provide support.”

Amid the kneeling figures, Zhao Changhe standing there was extremely conspicuous. The Vermilion Bird’s gaze fell on him, somewhat surprised by his calm demeanor: “You have nothing to say?”

Zhao Changhe had been startled at first, but quickly calmed down.

How could Chi Chi actually strike? Besides, this mission seemed strange; he suspected the Vermilion Bird wasn’t serious about it, likely another test of Chi Chi’s old feelings for him.

Hearing the Vermilion Bird’s question, Zhao Changhe said, “I trust that your sect wouldn’t want its own Saintess to be a fool who insists on dying when she knows it’s impossible. Based on my understanding of Chi Chi, if this mission can’t be completed, she’ll naturally give it up. There’s no need for excessive worry. If I have something to say to the Venerable, it’s about something else.”

The Vermilion Bird said coldly, “Speak.”

“If you’re willing to send your painstakingly cultivated Saintess into danger to die just to test whether Chi Chi has old feelings for me, then you’re so muddled about priorities that I’m truly disappointed in the Venerable’s vision.”

The Vermilion Bird stared at him with icy eyes, and Zhao Changhe met her gaze coldly.

The Vermilion Bird suddenly wanted to walk behind him to see if he was sweating.

Did he feel a pang in his heart?

You said you were afraid of me… and this is it?

For Chi Chi’s safety, you dare to rebuke the person you fear most in your heart?

“I have my own considerations. Don’t think everything revolves around you—so presumptuous.” The Vermilion Bird finally spoke flatly: “Of course, to be safe, I will leave immediately to provide support. As for you…”

She paused: “Fire Serpent of Wings told me some things. I have questions for you. You can come with me, and we’ll talk on the way. Let’s go.”

With that, she flicked her sleeve and strode out first.

Her attitude was still cold, but the result was acceptable. Zhao Changhe was genuinely drenched in cold sweat and obediently followed: “Where’s Fire Serpent of Wings?”

“Her mission is complete, so she’s off doing other things. Why do you ask about her?” The Vermilion Bird flew off, sneering: “Don’t tell me you’ve taken a liking to her?”

Zhao Changhe chased after her, exasperated: “I’m not sick. I don’t even know what she looks like—who could fall for her? Fall for a snake? I mean, Venerable, I understand that high-ranking members of your sect can’t casually engage in romance, and there have been incidents that made you wary for ten years. But you don’t have to be so jumpy about everything. It’s not necessary.”

The Vermilion Bird acted as if she hadn’t heard a word, as if he had no right to advise her, and continued: “She said Wang Daozhong came looking for trouble, and you stood in front of her to confront him. Why?”

Zhao Changhe said helplessly, “She was just following orders to ask me a few questions. She hadn’t done anything wrong, so why should she be attacked? Because of her Four Symbols Sect identity? I don’t see anything wrong with that identity. Compared to the Wang family, the Four Symbols Sect might not even be the villain.”

The Vermilion Bird finally fell silent. She flew aloofly for a while, then suddenly grew impatient: “You’re too slow.”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

The Vermilion Bird suddenly reached out and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. Before Zhao Changhe could even think of resisting, he was seized, and then they sped away like the wind, vanishing beyond the city in an instant.

In the wind, the Vermilion Bird’s sneer came faintly: “So weak, and yet you have the nerve to speak so boldly in front of me?”

Zhao Changhe, held by the fateful scruff of his neck, simply folded his arms and didn’t struggle or retort.

Indeed, she was much more efficient at traveling. Getting there early to mediate—he hoped nothing would go wrong. At this moment, he didn’t care about saving face.

The gap in cultivation was too great. Although Tang Wanzhuang’s taught lightness skill had significantly made up for his shortcomings, compared to the Vermilion Bird, it was almost as if he had none.

Including her grab and lift—he hadn’t even had time to think of dodging. Too fast.

Truly the person he considered the strongest and most fearsome.

But this meeting, strangely, wasn’t as frightening as before. He wasn’t sure why… Her attitude was still very aloof, yet he inexplicably felt she wasn’t looking down on him as much. Before, her gaze had swept over him like an ant; now, at least he wasn’t an ant—more like a cat being carried.

Her attitude seemed the same, equally contemptuous. Was the difference in his own mind?

Maybe it was because he had become somewhat famous now? Or because he had grown familiar with Tang Wanzhuang? Tang Wanzhuang was actually ranked one higher than the Vermilion Bird, and if she recovered from her illness, she should be considerably stronger. After getting to know her, looking at the Vermilion Bird no longer inspired that awe of looking up at a mountain.

Then the Vermilion Bird suddenly said, “If I invited you to join the sect and take a seat, would you be willing?”

Zhao Changhe snapped back to reality, surprised: “What kind of seat?”

“There are still vacancies among the Twenty-Eight Mansions. If you take a corresponding constellation, you can learn the related techniques. Moreover, the Twenty-Eight Mansions are high-ranking within the sect, with considerable authority.”

For example, the Fire Serpent of Wings position was vacant, and the mask hadn’t even been issued.

Zhao Changhe thought of Wan Dongliu’s sudden strike like a water snake, and his final slippery escape like an earthworm—both offensive and defensive seemed stronger than his own Canal Guild skills.

But he still shook his head: “I’m sorry, Venerable, but I won’t join the sect.”

He could clearly feel the hand gripping his neck tighten, and the killing intent around him became tangible: “Why? Do you look down on my Four Symbols Sect?”

“No. I already told Fire Serpent of Wings—I don’t have any faith in gods. Logically, the Venerable shouldn’t think I’m suitable to join the sect.”

The Vermilion Bird fell silent.

On that point alone, he was indeed somewhat unsuitable. But his other views were very fitting, especially his long-term goals—he could almost be considered a kindred spirit.

As for faith, it could be gradually cultivated; that wasn’t a big problem.

But since he had no faith, he naturally wouldn’t want to join the sect. Why would a well-known wandering hero burden himself with a demonic sect identity? That was perfectly normal.

What attitude to take toward him was a problem. Forcing him to join was absolutely inappropriate, and luring him with benefits was also unsuitable—someone who could be lured could also betray, and he wasn’t a kindred spirit. The Four Symbols Sect basically didn’t do such things.

That was why the Four Symbols Sect would rather go without than lower standards, and their numbers were far fewer than the Maitreya Sect. They mainly relied on subordinates and external members, like the Blood God Sect, to supplement manpower. The core membership had always been small. The reason they hadn’t casually brought Zhao Changhe into the Four Symbols Sect back then was mainly this, not entirely because they looked down on him.

This matter still needed consideration.

Just as she was thinking, dust rose in the distance ahead.

Cui’s family convoy was there, and from afar, two young women could be seen walking side by side, smiling warmly.