Chapter 213: In Front Of The Rabbit

Chapter 213: The Rabbit Before the Eye

Zhao Changhe chased after her, but before he could go two streets, a flash of red crossed his vision, a fragrant breeze brushed his face, and Zhuque stood before him.

Zhao Changhe: “…You’re not really telling me the Four Symbols Sect kidnapped Yangyang, are you?”

Zhuque said coolly, “Give me your hand. I need to check if there are any aftereffects from your contact with that sea mud.”

Zhao Changhe was stunned.

Seeing his dazed look, Zhuque grew impatient and directly reached out, pressing a finger to his brow.

After a moment, she withdrew her hand, somewhat surprised: “It has indeed improved your meridians, and it seems to have healed some hidden injuries… This is greatly beneficial to your condition.”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

You actually came just to verify if I’d been tricked?

Zhuque mused for a moment: “You refused to cooperate with the Wang family in the martial contest. Now they hold no goodwill toward you, yet they let you use their treasure without a fuss—they must already consider you a dead man in their hearts. Staying in Langya is actually safer for you; they wouldn’t dare act so openly here. Even if someone else tries to kill you, they’d probably have to protect you… But once you leave, you must be cautious. Best to set up some decoys to cover your tracks.”

Zhao Changhe’s expression grew even stranger. After a long pause, he said, “Understood. Thank you for your concern, Venerable One.”

Zhuque said coldly, “Who’s concerned about you? It’s just that until your situation is fully understood, your life belongs to my Four Symbols Sect. If anything proves wrong, I’ll kill you myself.”

Zhao Changhe: “Yes, yes, yes.”

“What’s with that tone?”

“Nothing, nothing. My wife was captured by your sect’s saintess, and I’m going to rescue her.”

Zhuque said, “Chichi acted rashly this time, fighting in public and revealing her true face… Though there were no consequences—her identity was never truly hidden anyway—you should understand that this was emotional and extremely irrational. Whether or not there are sect constraints, this kind of hot-headed romance is detrimental to cultivation and to action.”

“…But I think Chichi was so cool, like I’m seeing her for the first time.”

Zhuque didn’t bother to reply to that and continued, “I’ll have Chichi go back and reflect. You should reflect as well. Both of you have great ambitions; you shouldn’t wallow in this. This is a well-meaning admonition.”

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment, then bowed: “Thank you for your kindness, Venerable One.”

“Your tone sounds like you’re saying, ‘I know I’m wrong, but I’ll do it again next time.’”

“I just think, since your sect reveres the Four Symbols, why go against the Two Principles? Following heaven and responding to man—that should be the meaning of the Four Symbols.”

Zhuque let out a soft laugh: “Say that when you’re qualified to discuss the Four Symbols’ doctrine with me. For now, it’s just laughable.”

Zhao Changhe said nothing.

Zhuque drifted away: “I’ll give you half an hour to say goodbye. Chichi has other important matters; her cultivation is far more significant than wasting time on such trivial nonsense.”

Zhao Changhe watched her graceful retreating figure and scratched his head.

Zhuque was still as stubborn as ever, but this time Zhao Changhe felt her genuine concern for Chichi as an elder, not just the sect’s impersonal discipline.

She even showed a bit of concern for him, Zhao Changhe.

Suddenly, the terrifying Zhuque in his mind felt a little like a girlfriend’s parent… How strange.

But Zhao Changhe knew that Zhuque’s care for Chichi was real, while her attitude toward him was purely due to that bizarre astrological influence. Once she discovered it had nothing to do with her Four Symbols Sect, she might turn on him even more viciously than the Wang family.

But what that situation actually was, he didn’t know either… The Celestial Book could analyze even a scoop of ice cream to determine what physical changes it might bring and what the end result would be—why couldn’t it analyze this technique?

Headache.

The Four Symbols Sect’s base in Langya was easy to find. Zhuque and Xia Chichi had come alone and were staying at an inn.

Zhao Changhe leaped across rooftops, peering into rooms lit by lamplight. Soon he found Xia Chichi’s room. Glancing in from outside, he froze.

Inside, Cui Yuanyang was tied to a chair, twisting and struggling with muffled cries. The ropes were bound with exquisite skill, perfectly accentuating the little rabbit’s not-so-prominent curves, and her struggles made them ripple and surge, suddenly turning seductive.

Her mouth wasn’t gagged, and she was cursing: “You only know how to bully me! If you’ve got the guts, go fight Tang Wanzhuang! So what if she’s at the seventh level of the Profound Barrier? Give me a few more months, and I’ll beat you to death, wuwuwu…”

Xia Chichi stood with arms crossed: “I’ve never met Tang Wanzhuang. What’s that got to do with me? But you—do you know I was watching when he escorted you home back then?”

Cui Yuanyang: “?”

“Actually, after that, whoever he found, I couldn’t really blame him, because later I told him to go find someone myself.”

Cui Yuanyang: “???”

“But you!” Xia Chichi grabbed Cui Yuanyang by the collar. “You’re the only one before all that. A proper young lady from the Cui family—have you no shame?”

Cui Yuanyang twitched the corner of her mouth, almost wanting to laugh.

This elder sister was really amusing.

Actually, they’d already fought in the carriage earlier. Now she was picking a new angle to fight again. It wasn’t about before or after at all—it was clearly because she was jealous from what she’d just seen.

But that kiss I used to tease him—wasn’t that something you taught me?

Suddenly I feel a bit sorry for her…

No… Cui Yuanyang suddenly realized—this was the White Tiger Saintess, one of the top figures of the younger generation. She wouldn’t be so petty as to tie someone up just out of jealousy and give them a lesson. She couldn’t really do anything anyway. What was the point? There must be a deeper purpose…

Just as she was about to probe, a very faint tapping came from the window. Xia Chichi immediately let go of Cui Yuanyang’s collar, straightened her clothes, and said, “Come in.”

Zhao Changhe slipped through the window and said helplessly, “Why are you tying up Yangyang?”

Xia Chichi asked in surprise, “Why are you so late? I was worried I’d have nothing to talk about while tied up with this one.”

Cui Yuanyang: “…”

Zhao Changhe sighed, “I was stopped by Venerable Zhuque. We talked for a bit.”

Xia Chichi tensed up: “She didn’t give you a hard time, did she?”

“No, she was actually pretty nice to me… And she really does care about you.” As he chatted, Zhao Changhe quietly edged over, trying to untie Cui Yuanyang.

“Stop!” Xia Chichi yanked him back.

Zhao Changhe was speechless: “What are you—mmph mmph mmph—”

Xia Chichi stood on tiptoe, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed him passionately.

Cui Yuanyang’s mouth fell open, her mind blank.

So you tied me up here just to do this in front of me and see how I feel?

And here I thought you were pitiful just now. How vicious!

Cui Yuanyang struggled violently: “Witch! Shameless!”

“Mmph mmph mmph…” Zhao Changhe waved his arms, also feeling it was cruel, but tragically, he couldn’t overpower Chichi.

In no time, Xia Chichi had him pinned, and with a “thud,” he fell onto the inn bed. Even his acupoint-shifting technique was useless.

Cui Yuanyang sobbed, “Witch, how dare you! Your Venerable One will kill you!”

Xia Chichi said leisurely, “I’m not really doing anything. Little kid, watch and learn.”

Cui Yuanyang watched helplessly as Xia Chichi replicated the ear-kissing move, her hand even reaching down…

She had to admit, the woman was truly seductive. Even as a woman watching, her breath quickened. She didn’t know how she herself had looked in the ice cave, but imagining it now, she felt foolish…

Refusing to admit defeat, she said bitterly, “Once you’re gone, I’ll do it ten thousand times, just to spite you!”

“As long as I don’t see it, what do I care? Right now, you’re the one dying of anger, neener neener neener~”

Cui Yuanyang was about to have a breakdown.

But Xia Chichi, in her triumph, didn’t notice that the “patiently enduring” Zhao Changhe had somehow secretly unblocked his acupoints. Taking advantage of her distraction, he struck back with two “paps” of his fingers, immobilizing her.

"?" Xia Chichi was stunned: "I clearly paid attention to your acupoint shifting..."

Zhao Changhe said expressionlessly: "I forced the acupoint open..."

Xia Chichi finally realized: "Your meridians have widened... at least doubled!"

It was over. Of course she wouldn't use too much force to point his acupoints, just enough based on his original strength. She had momentarily forgotten that he had just widened his meridians. Who would have thought the first time it came into play wasn't to trick an enemy, but against her.

"You're rebelling!" Zhao Changhe unleashed the Clear Ripple Acupoint-Brushing Hand and began to strip her armor.

The little tiger who had miscalculated was miserably stripped into a white tiger. Whether Zhao Changhe forgot or not, he didn't untie Cui Yuanyang... but even though she was still bound, Cui Yuanyang was no longer angry, instead watching with great interest.

Who was in charge—the feeling was just different!

Look at that little enchantress, legs together, being lifted, making those sounds... Still at the Seventh Gate of Xuan Pass, still at the Sixth Hidden Dragon, isn't she just the same, hmph...

Speaking of which... so this is how it's done?

The little girl had finally attended the most important demonstration lesson of her life.

"Do you dare do it again?"

"Boo hoo, I was wrong..."

Hearing Xia Chichi's voice, there was no grief or indignation at being counterattacked; instead, it grew more coquettish. Cui Yuanyang curled her lip—truly a demon cult enchantress!

After who knows how long, the commotion over there finally stopped.

"Have you been holding it in for a long time?"

"Mm..." Zhao Changhe's voice was extremely comfortable.

"Hey, what are you doing? How do you wipe this stuff?"

Cui Yuanyang craned her neck to look, and saw Zhao Changhe grab a piece of gold leaf to wipe something...

"Oh, nothing. I've been wanting to patch it up, but there was no stock. Now that I finally have some, can't let it go to waste..."