Chapter 201: Husband and Wife

Chapter 201: Husband and Wife

The farce ended abruptly; the stage was smashed, and there was no more show to watch.

People didn’t know how previous Hidden Dragons had behaved, but they found that this batch was not easy to deal with.

In their imaginations, faced with such a situation, everyone would use their own means to enter, at most showing off like Xuan Chong while expressing dissatisfaction—displaying style without offending the host too deeply.

That way, others could still enjoy the show.

But unexpectedly, starting with Situ Xiao—or rather, even without Situ Xiao, Zhao Changhe was already drawing his blade—they all had the same idea: to go straight for breaking the door, trying to end this farce outright.

Ji Chengkong also slapped the Wang family’s face directly, nearly tearing down their plaque. Of course, he didn’t dare go too far; he didn’t actually take it down, or he might lose his life. But the crooked plaque already made the Wang family’s face burn with shame.

Then Xia Chichi and Zhao Changhe, chatting and laughing, simply smashed the door to pieces.

Who was going to play the monkey for you?

Zhao Changhe’s “smash it and be done with it” seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

But what puzzled people was that after the stage was dismantled, no heavyweight from the Wang family came out to take charge. Only a steward-like figure slowly walked to the door, surveyed it for a moment, and said coolly, “Go find a craftsman to make a new door, hang the plaque straight, and finish it within today.”

Then he even clasped his hands and bowed to Zhao Changhe, Xia Chichi, and Xuan Chong: “It was just a game, gentlemen. Let it be a laugh. The young master has been waiting for you all in the banquet hall for some time. Please.”

Zhao Changhe and Xia Chichi exchanged a glance, thinking that this at least showed some semblance of a great family’s etiquette—Cui Yuanyong gave that impression, at least. What was the Wang family playing at earlier?

They said nothing, just smiled faintly, and walked in side by side.

Xuan Chong: “…”

Wasn’t I supposed to come with them? Now who am I, and where am I?

The broken door was no longer closed. The Hidden Dragons arriving later looked at the hole in surprise, presented their invitations normally, and everything returned to the appearance of a regular banquet.

But those who had witnessed the earlier scene stamped their feet, regretting they couldn’t go in to watch the live show, feeling that the banquet itself would be even more interesting.

Inside, Zhao Changhe and Xia Chichi walked side by side. Xia Chichi’s face behind her mask was beaming with joy: “Hey, isn’t this the first time since we left Beimang that we’ve walked openly side by side?”

Zhao Changhe’s expression turned nostalgic, and he said softly, “Yes.”

If there was any time in this world that felt most like “home,” it was that month or two living with Chichi. After that, no matter where he stayed, it never gave him the same feeling.

Unfortunately, they were separated afterward. The lover he had first confirmed a relationship with didn’t grow distant with time as he had imagined, but instead became the most hidden one due to sect issues—even walking openly side by side had become a joyful thing.

He didn’t know if that day’s “test result” from Zhuque would loosen the bonds between him and Chichi, but at least today, they were meeting as guests of the Wang family’s banquet, and no one could say anything about it.

He had to resolve this matter…

These thoughts turned in his mind, but he joked aloud: “Why are you here so early? Not what I imagined. I thought you’d be the last to arrive, making a grand entrance. That would suit your name too—‘Chichi’ means late, how stylish.”

Xia Chichi pouted and lowered her voice: “I just knew you’d come, so I wanted to see you early. Before the banquet starts, I might get a few more words with you. Once it begins, who knows what will happen? What’s the point of putting on airs?”

Zhao Changhe felt warmth in his heart and whispered, “I didn’t expect the Wang family to actually invite you. I wouldn’t have dared to think that before. To the court, you’re a rebel. For the Wang family to openly invite a rebel to a banquet is already arrogant enough. And you actually dared to come—aren’t you afraid five hundred axemen will spring out from the tents?”

“Why should I be afraid? The Wang family is so big, inviting both black and white under heaven’s eyes, just to trap a mere seventh-level Mystic Gate little demoness? How boring.” Xia Chichi said, then switched to telepathic transmission: “Your identity as a prince is becoming more real in everyone’s eyes. It’s more likely they want to kill you than trap me… Of course, the possibility is still small. Your movements aren’t secret; if they wanted to kill you, they wouldn’t need this.”

“Uh…”

“The great Xia families are said to be scholarly, but since this world rose from the ruins of martial arts, they still have a strong martial arts and rivers-and-lakes spirit. If you look at this matter from a rivers-and-lakes perspective, it’s not so strange. A martial arts magnate inviting both black and white is common…” Xia Chichi said leisurely. “In storybooks, some might even think this shows boldness.”

Zhao Changhe thought of similar examples in his own world and nodded.

Indeed, it wasn’t strange.

But it also showed that Xia Longyuan’s deterrent power was truly invisible here. The queen, as a member of the Wang family, knew Xia Longyuan’s condition better than most—perhaps it was even worse than imagined… Or perhaps the Wang family’s move was also sending a message to the world, which was quite malicious.

Xia Chichi glanced at the Wang servant leading the way ahead, then at Xuan Chong, who was lagging behind admiring the scenery. “Can you use telepathic transmission now? It’s not easy to talk on this road; someone might be eavesdropping. With telepathy, the chance of interception is much smaller.”

Zhao Changhe did know the method of telepathic transmission—it was similar across schools. He had once skimmed through the Maitreya Sect’s “Extreme Bliss Sutra,” which was a complete system and naturally included it. It involved using internal energy to bind sound, a subtle application of internal arts that external muscle-bound men couldn’t manage.

But before, his internal cultivation wasn’t sufficient to use it. Now that he had broken through to the fifth level of internal arts, he didn’t know if he could. He tried: “Hello? Hello?”

Xia Chichi: “…”

“Oh, it really works.” Zhao Changhe said happily, “So the fifth level is enough. That crappy manual said you needed the seventh.”

Xia Chichi rolled her eyes at him: “Normally, you’d need around the seventh, but the technique you’re using… is his inheritance, of higher quality.”

“Uh…”

Speaking of Xia Longyuan’s technique, Xia Chichi’s expression grew more melancholy. She sighed, “From the Wang family’s behavior… he, he might really be on his last legs…”

Zhao Changhe pursed his lips.

No wonder Chichi seemed a bit down. He could imagine the complexity in her heart right now. No matter how much she hated him, he was still her biological father.

And the only person she could confide in was him, Zhao Changhe.

“I don’t know if I should find a chance to go to the capital and see him…” Xia Chichi said softly. “I feel like it’s actually easier for me to go to the capital than for you. If you go, it would stir up a storm. Your cultivation… isn’t ready yet.”

Indeed, Chichi understood best what he was thinking. Without a certain level of strength, it really wasn’t suitable to enter the capital. Zhao Changhe had to say, “If you don’t go storming the palace or anything, just poking around the edges for information shouldn’t be a problem. But I don’t think you’ll be that obedient. Don’t end up getting caught as an assassin rebel—that would be hilarious.”

Xia Chichi laughed. “We’ll see. I’m still hesitating.”

Zhao Changhe hummed in acknowledgment. “If the situation is right, and I go to the capital… I’ll take a look for you.”

Xia Chichi didn’t stand on ceremony. “Then hurry up and train. Are you stuck in a honeypot now? What happened to that trait of constant hard training that attracted me back then?”

“I’ve been training all along, never stopped. Now Chief Tang wants me to slow down. Playing the zither and painting are also forms of cultivation, and they’re quite effective. It’s not just playing around.”

“And women?”

“…At least for now, my first time is still intact, waiting for you to take it.”

Xia Chichi shot him a glance from behind her white tiger mask, her eyes full of charm. “Your first time was already between my legs long ago, wasn’t it? Who cares! Alright, alright, don’t start spouting nonsense just because you’ve learned a bit of telepathy…”

Whose nonsense was worse? Zhao Changhe found it both amusing and exasperating.

If that counted as a first time, his right hand had taken it years ago…

The young couple, rarely together, felt they had endless things to say. But unfortunately, no matter how big the Wang family’s estate was, walking from the gate to the banquet hall didn’t take long. Soon, the servant leading them stopped and bowed: “The banquet is ahead. The young master has been waiting for you all for some time.”

They both sighed and stopped talking, the same thought crossing their minds: If only the Wang family were bigger…

“Hidden Dragon Sixth, White Tiger Saintess Xia Chichi, arriving—”

“Hidden Dragon Eighteenth, Bloodthirsty Asura Zhao Changhe, arriving—”

The guards outside announced their names, making Zhao Changhe wish he could find a mask to put on himself.

The Wang family’s formal airs were so cringeworthy.

But as soon as they stepped through the door, before they could see the hall clearly, a discordant voice rang out coldly: “The Wang family disregards background, inviting all Hidden Dragons under heaven—a grand gesture. We won’t spoil the mood with talk of righteous versus demonic. But wearing masks and hiding your faces at a banquet is far too rude. Is this the quality of demonic cult scum?”

Before Xia Chichi could respond, Zhao Changhe spoke first: “Which idiot is that? Mind your own damn business!”

Xia Chichi’s expression, which had turned icy cold behind her mask, instantly softened into a grin.