Chapter 214: Having A Saber and Wine, Why Need Nobility

Chapter 214: With Blade and Wine, Why Need Nobility?

The so-called celestial book possessed a spirit—either like Dragon Sparrow, merely a spark of consciousness without life, or, if it were a living being, Zhao Changhe now believed the Blind Woman’s probability was as high as eighty percent. The phrase “once unsealed, I’ll kill you first” sounded exactly like a blustering threat.

Toward the Blind Woman who had inexplicably dragged him into this world, Zhao Changhe was naturally seething with anger. If he couldn’t beat her, couldn’t he at least annoy her from another angle?

If it really was her, she likely had some crucial purpose, and such annoyance would probably have to be endured.

Moreover, Zhao Changhe doubted the celestial book had unsealed itself due to “intense humiliation”… Some things couldn’t be solved by tapping into potential—like math: if you don’t get it, you don’t get it; would humiliation make it click? If those words were merely an excuse the Blind Woman had concocted, perhaps the truth was that smearing it actually worked.

Whether his guess was right or wrong, he had to try again.

If he was completely mistaken, and a loli actually burst out of the celestial book in fury and stabbed him to death, so be it.

Zhao Changhe stared nervously at the gold leaf. It remained silent and unresponsive, just like the first time he had smeared it.

He let out a breath, washed it off again, and tucked it back into his bosom.

The two women watched him as if observing performance art, baffled and confused.

“Ahem.” Zhao Changhe went to untie Cui Yuanyang’s ropes. Once freed, she didn’t fly into a rage; instead, she sat there blushing, stretching her limbs.

Earlier, curiosity had overwhelmed her, but now her face burned hotly, feeling that witnessing such a thing exceeded her tolerance.

Brother Zhao wasn’t a good man—he had deliberately shown her this…

After that seal, she was truly his possession now…

Then Zhao Changhe returned to the bed, wrapped his arms around the little white tiger, and said in a low voice: “Judging by the Vermilion Sovereign’s attitude, I feel the obstacles between us aren’t as severe as I once imagined. There’s still hope—I’ll work hard…”

Xia Chichi lazily dressed herself, and Cui Yuanyang realized that her acupoints had been unsealed who knows when, meaning the latter half had been entirely her own active compliance…

Xia Chichi said languidly: “Don’t underestimate the Sovereign’s stubbornness over doctrine. Her current friendliness toward you is for some unknown reason—it’s only superficial. Don’t think she’s changed her nature. I fear that when the time comes, the most ruthless person wanting to kill you might be her… That’s why I’ve never dared to truly give myself to you—afraid of crossing her bottom line. Do you blame me?”

Zhao Changhe shook his head: “I only blame myself for not being strong enough.”

Xia Chichi smiled faintly and kissed him lightly on the cheek: “You’re already very strong. Especially for someone like me, who watched you start from scratch, it’s like witnessing a miracle rise. Changhe, do you know…”

“Hmm?”

“A man’s strength is a kind of aphrodisiac… If you had been mediocre, I don’t know if I would have abandoned you. Even if not, it would only have been condescending care, not willing to be toyed with like this. Does that make me sound mercenary?”

Zhao Changhe shook his head: “Isn’t that normal? If that were the case, never mind whether you abandoned me—I wouldn’t have the face to see you either.”

Xia Chichi smoothed her hair and said softly: “If you become strong, not only will the Sovereign’s thoughts change, but even that deadpan scheming rabbit eavesdropping on us right now—even if you devoured her this instant, her father wouldn’t say a word.”

Cui Yuanyang: “…”

“Tang Wanzhuang, Yue Hongling—aren’t they both looking down on you with expectant postures? In my eyes, they’re not worthy. I serve you willingly; how dare they look down on you?”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

“If there’s anyone who has the right to expect, it’s only me, your senior brother. I look forward to the day when Tang Wanzhuang kneels in obeisance and Yue Hongling clings to you like a little bird—what a scene that would be.”

With that, Xia Chichi finally tidied her attire, gracefully got off the bed, casually pinched Cui Yuanyang’s cheek, and as the latter glared, she turned back with a light laugh: “The Sovereign has sent me a message—I must go. I await the day you stride into the Four Symbols Sect and openly demand to marry the Saintess.”

Her voice faded, and she vanished out the window.

White-robed, sword at her side, she departed under the moonlight.

She was clearly a proud swordsman, with none of the seductive enchantress from moments ago.

Cui Yuanyang stared blankly after her, feeling this might be the most multifaceted sister she had ever met.

Not just her—even Zhao Changhe felt he hadn’t fully understood Xia Chichi yet.

After all, they had parted as youths, each walking different paths. Even he couldn’t tell which face he showed to the world was his true self, let alone Chichi…

Speaking of which, this little rabbit before him also hid several faces.

Seeing his gaze fall on her, Cui Yuanyang instinctively shrank back and said with a placating smile: “Yuanyang is still young…”

Zhao Changhe said irritably: “What do you think I’m going to do?”

“Isn’t it? You deliberately tied me up to watch…”

“Hmph, I was giving you some basic sexual education, so you won’t be deceived by others in the future.”

Cui Yuanyang blushed and spat: “You’re just being lewd yourself.”

Zhao Changhe pinched her cheek too, pulling it left and right: “I never claimed to be a good man—I warned you. Now that you’re here, you can’t run even if you want to.”

Cui Yuanyang let him pinch her, staring fixedly at him, and after a long while said: “Brother Zhao…”

“Hmm?”

“This trip, my father actually sent me to meet you on purpose. He doesn’t want you to forget me, and neither do I. So I took the initiative to entice you into doing shameful things—do you think I’m scheming?”

Zhao Changhe twitched his mouth: “I think your father is more scheming—wants to have it both ways. But considering you’re from the Cui family, I suppose that’s just standard practice.”

Cui Yuanyang said: “From our last time together, you’ve shown a dislike for aristocratic families.”

“Yeah…”

“Including the Tang family?”

“Including the Tang family.”

Cui Yuanyang seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then added: “But even if you dislike them, you could still play along with the Wang family for the benefits. Why refuse so directly, potentially landing yourself in great danger?”

Zhao Changhe looked at her with some surprise and chuckled: “Cater to the powerful, play along? That Zhao Changhe wouldn’t be Zhao Changhe. Would Yuanyang really like that?”

Cui Yuanyang tilted her head in thought: “I don’t know. As long as it’s Brother Zhao, I think I’d like it. Besides, if you were to cater to anyone, it would be my family first—when would it ever be the Wang family’s turn!”

Zhao Changhe laughed despite himself.

“If it were anyone else in your position, never mind inheriting the throne—at least ruling a fiefdom would be easy. But Brother Zhao doesn’t seem to have ever considered it?”

Zhao Changhe kneaded her round face: “I have my blade and my wine—I don’t need nobility.”

Cui Yuanyang let him knead her, and the slight seriousness that had just gathered in her eyes gradually softened into pure tenderness.

Xia Chichi said a man’s strength was an aphrodisiac.

But Cui Yuanyang felt that this wild, rebellious spirit was her aphrodisiac—it had been since they first met. It was the complete opposite of the environment she had grown up in, carrying a fatal allure.

“I want to run away from home again.” Cui Yuanyang slowly buried her head in his chest and murmured: “I won’t be able to stay long this time. After discussing the wedding with the Wang family, I have to go back. But I feel like I haven’t even started anything—I just met Brother Zhao, and I still want to wander the jianghu with you, to see the northern deserts, to see Jiangnan.”

Zhao Changhe rubbed her head: “The wind rises at Yanmen in the north, and the Maitreya sect runs rampant in Jiangnan—the world has already changed.”

Cui Yuanyang’s romantic notions were shattered, and she laughed helplessly, but said nothing more, just leaning against his chest, savoring his presence.

The world had changed, but he had not. How wonderful.

“If Brother Zhao wants to leave Langya, I’ll have Uncle Luya set up some decoys. By the time you’re a thousand li away, the Wang family won’t know where you are. Or you could travel with my convoy back to Qinghe and then change course—no one would find you.”

Cui Yuanyang’s eyes held a hint of expectation as she spoke. Going to Qinghe would be nice—she could stay there and play for a long time.

“No need.” Zhao Changhe grinned: “I’ll be staying here for a few more days. There’s still something I haven’t finished.”