Chapter 212: Fierce Tiger Fighting A Rabbit

Chapter 212: A Tiger Hunting a Hare

The little rabbit was sneaking a bite, while the little tiger was in a meeting.

Xia Chichi held a secret meeting with Wang Daoning, the head of the Wang family, in the inner hall. They briefly exchanged preliminary views on an alliance. Apart from a tacit agreement not to discuss Zhao Changhe much, it could be considered a pleasant meeting for both sides.

For the Wang family, the Four Symbols Sect was also a very suitable external ally. Its reputation was not as low as the Maitreya Sect, nor was it as unsavory as colluding with the barbarians. Their demands did not conflict, and their goals were quite similar, making them indeed fitting allies.

Looking at their amiable demeanor, who would remember that just a few days ago, Wang Daozhong had been injured by the Vermilion Bird?

"If the Vermilion Bird Venerable is in Langya, feel free to visit the Wang family for a cup of wine," Wang Daoning said as he personally saw Xia Chichi out, sighing in a conversational tone. "The Venerable is also a bit too cautious..."

Xia Chichi smiled. "It's not that I don't trust the Wang family, but the Venerable has many matters to attend to."

"How about this: in a few days, I'll have Daozhong or Zhaoling pay a return visit to the Four Symbols Sect?"

"I will report to the Venerable and see what she thinks. Ah, Patriarch, please stay, no need to see me out."

Wang Daoning didn't stand on ceremony and called to his son, "Escort the Saintess out."

Wang Zhaoling smiled and made a gesture of invitation.

An elderly man nearby watched Xia Chichi leave the inner hall and whispered to Wang Daoning, "If there are survivors of the Luo family, Xia Chichi seems to be one of them. She still bears the surname Xia."

Wang Daoning sighed. "Among all the doubts, the surname is the most meaningless. Anyone can be named Xia. Besides, if it were true, she wouldn't still call herself Xia. Just like Zhao Changhe doesn't claim the surname Xia, and everyone finds that natural. The more openly the character 'Xia' is displayed on her face, the less likely it is."

"What if everyone is overthinking it, and it actually is?"

"Perhaps, but it no longer matters. You've never understood the root of this matter. The root lies in how many people are willing to acknowledge it, not who is real or fake. When Tang Wanzhuang and Cui Wenjing both identify Zhao Changhe as such, then he is Zhao Changhe."

"The Emperor hasn't spoken himself, has he? What use is their identification?"

"Don't you know that the crux of this matter lies in the time after the Emperor's passing? Otherwise, why do you think Cui Wenjing and Tang Wanzhuang allow Zhao Changhe to train in the martial world instead of finding ways to bring him back to the capital? Zhao Changhe's own unwillingness is one thing, but their desire to delay until the Emperor's death is the more important aspect."

The old man smacked his lips. "But Xia Chichi is still a valuable asset, isn't she?"

"Hmm..."

"She defeated Yang Bugui in one move, and Zhaoling only barely gained the upper hand when going all out. This girl has a boundless future. Zhaoling hasn't been betrothed yet..."

Wang Daoning sighed. "I've considered this too, but regardless of whether the Four Symbols Sect has thought about Xia Chichi's identity, they would never agree to betroth their Saintess. Drop this matter, or it will ruin the alliance."

"These sect affairs are truly foolish."

"Foolish?" Wang Daoning muttered to himself. "Perhaps what they believe is actually true..."

The old man: "?"

Wang Daoning shook his head and changed the subject. "Since Zhao Changhe refuses to cooperate, he can no longer be kept. But he cannot die here, nor can our people make a move. We must sever all ties with the Wang family... Contact the Listening Snow Pavilion. Act after Zhao Changhe leaves Langya."

"Yes."

Over there, Wang Zhaoling was seeing Xia Chichi out. Before they had gone far, Xia Chichi asked, "Is Zhao Changhe not done yet?"

Wang Zhaoling calculated the time. "He should be about done. Miss Xia wants to see him? You two... haven't been apart that long, have you?"

Xia Chichi pretended to be indifferent. "Just asking."

Wang Zhaoling gave a wry smile. "Then come with me."

A flicker of regret passed through his eyes.

He truly had no interest in Cui Yuanyang, but Xia Chichi stirred something in him.

During the martial contest, when her mask split in two and her disheveled hair flew, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty beneath, it wasn't just Wang Zhaoling who was stunned. Many in the arena were captivated. Wang Zhaoling dared say Xia Chichi would face many suitors from now on.

But he had too many considerations. His birth wasn't his birth, the contest wasn't just a contest, and even liking a girl couldn't be spoken aloud.

...

In the ice cavern, Zhao Changhe didn't kiss for long before pulling away from Cui Yuanyang's lips.

Hugs and kisses were enough. This was, after all, enemy territory. Who had the mood to do anything more?

Cui Yuanyang bit her lower lip, a little disappointed. In her eyes, the Wang family was hardly enemy ground. She was even here to discuss her brother's wedding. The dark place, the solitude of a man and woman alone, had instead given the girl a sense of anticipation and suggestion. But before she'd even had her fill of kissing, Brother Zhao wanted to slip away.

Zhao Changhe had just sat up straight, about to lift Cui Yuanyang and set her aside, when the little rabbit suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, "Brother Zhao..."

"Huh?" Zhao Changhe said. "This is the Wang family's place. We should first... huh? Huh?"

His ear was gently licked.

Zhao Changhe shuddered violently, stunned senseless.

Seeing that his reaction was as intense as her own when Xia Chichi had kissed her, Cui Yuanyang found it amusing. She then took his earlobe into her mouth and curled her tongue around it.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath. "You... are you asking for trouble, little girl!"

Cui Yuanyang blinked, still holding it in her mouth.

The next moment, the timid Brother Zhao transformed into a fierce tiger. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her savagely.

This time, it was unprecedented in its roughness. Before, he had always been gentle, softly nibbling at her little mouth. Now, he directly breached her defenses, prying open the little rabbit's pearly white teeth.

Cui Yuanyang's mind exploded. She experienced a dizzying suffocation again, more intense than before, more disorienting. The heat surging from within her seemed capable of burning the ice cavern to ashes.

Not only that, but the place where he had earlier tested if it had grown bigger was now also covered without any restraint.

The rabbit was indeed not small anymore...

Zhao Changhe himself hadn't expected that, after Chichi, the one he'd make the most progress with would be Yuanyang.

The allure hidden beneath her cute exterior was so proactive it made one completely forget her age.

Actually... she wasn't that young anymore. In this world, many her age were already married.

"Brother, Brother Zhao... mmm..." Cui Yuanyang finally pushed at him in a bit of panic. Was he going to take her right here? The little rabbit wasn't ready yet...

Zhao Changhe pulled back, panting. "Silly girl, do you know now that some provocations can't be made lightly?"

"I, I was licked like that before, and I wasn't this fierce..."

"?" Zhao Changhe nearly exploded. "Who licked you like that?"

Cui Yuanyang paused, then suddenly giggled.

A knock came from outside the door. "Brother Zhao, are you done?"

Zhao Changhe shouted, "Wait a moment!"

Seeing him frantic as if about to burst, Cui Yuanyang grinned and wrapped her arms around him again. "It's Sister Chichi..."

Zhao Changhe instantly went limp, feeling almost drained. "Silly girl..."

"Bang!" The door was kicked open. Xia Chichi stormed in furiously. "Wait a moment? What do you mean, wait a moment!"

The two sprang apart. Cui Yuanyang lowered her head to straighten her rumpled clothes. Xia Chichi, enraged, lunged at her. "I knew it! Die!"

The ice cavern shook as the sounds of a scuffle rang out.

After a while, Zhao Changhe fled out the door with his head in his hands. Wang Zhaoling stood at a distance, hands tucked in his sleeves, watching his disheveled state with a blank expression. His tone was cool. "Brother Zhao doesn't need to mediate inside? Don't let things get out of hand."

Zhao Changhe felt that Wang Zhaoling, who had always been composed, was showing a hint of hostility for the first time... Was he being too sensitive?

He didn't think much of it and said awkwardly, "I tried to break it up, but even Yuanyang hit me."

Wang Zhaoling: "..."

"Ah, haha..." Zhao Changhe changed the subject. "Well, from my analysis, this Ice Profound Sea Mud isn't for expanding meridians. It's for repairing hidden injuries in the body."

Wang Zhaoling was startled for a moment, his thoughts returning to the matter at hand. He nodded and said, "No wonder... because this substance has always been used by clan members with congenital deficiencies. They naturally belong to the 'unhealthy meridians' category, so it was considered a means to expand the meridians. It seems its actual uses are broader."

Zhao Changhe seized the opportunity to ask, "Do you have a dedicated place for mining this substance? Or do you search for it aimlessly?"

"There is a certain direction. We have related islands in the sea, responsible for mining some ores, while also searching for this substance." Wang Zhaoling said, "Brother Zhao, do you mean you want to go and have a look?"

Zhao Changhe said, "Can I go?"

Wang Zhaoling pondered for a long while, then slightly shook his head: "I'm sorry, Brother Zhao. Since you are not cooperating with us, you are merely an outsider. The Wang family's mining grounds are not suitable."

"Then forget it."

Just as they were conversing, Xia Chichi walked out with a defeated rabbit in her hand, gritting her teeth and saying, "Miss Cui has been kidnapped by our Four Symbols Sect! If Zhao has any guts, come and rescue her!"

After saying that, with a "whoosh," she leaped over the wall and vanished into thin air in an instant.