Chapter 393: My Faith

Chapter 393: My Faith

Zhao Changhe realized a grave problem.

When they only wished to spite one another, it was actually a boon. Not only would no real harm pass, but it could even serve to bolster his cause—the friction acting as a sudden catalyst to prompt an otherwise hesitant heart into the fray.

Yet that was not a true battlefield of jealousy; it was fairer to say he was merely a convenient foil for their bickering.

When true envy reared its head, matters would turn genuinely perilous.

Only when confronted with a lethal dilemma like "Choose her or choose me" did the arena become a blood-soaked field of slaughter.

This was directly proportional to the depth of affection. The more deeply one loved, the less one could tolerate the existence of another, and the less willing one became to watch a paramour stray. If mishandled, the entire endeavor would shatter, leaving nothing but ruin.

The prouder the woman, the truer this held. *Why must I vie against them endlessly? Why must I endure the mockery of being deemed a hidden mistress? What makes you so grand that I cannot simply leave?*

The sudden urge to strike him was the very manifestation of this sentiment. Encounter a slightly more unstable soul, and one would swiftly follow in the tragic footsteps of Makoto Itou.

Yet this also signified that Huangfu Qing was now truly confronting her feelings, acknowledging that she did, in fact, care.

Regardless of how prettily she spoke, she had never admitted to it before this day; her lips were every bit as stubborn as Tang Wanzhuang’s, but now she had entered the game.

He knew not whether this would later devolve into "Choose her or choose me," or leap directly to "I am leaving."

Though Zhao Changhe found such matters an immense headache, he could never bear to let a woman who clearly loved him utter those words, "I am leaving." Yet resolving such a predicament was not something that could be achieved through mere silent complacency.

The first step was to be obedient and let her vent her ire; there was no reasoning with a woman in the heat of anger, but once the wrath subsided, things would fare much better...

Huangfu Qing meted out her blows, growing angrier with every strike: "Has the Sacred Sect not treated you well enough? The Holy Maiden loves you so, defying the Venerable One’s severe punishments just to be shameless with you. I, too, have accompanied you in kisses and sleep, touching you everywhere, and what is the end of it? Ah?"

Baoqin sliced two pieces of melon, sharing one each with Tang Wanzhuang and Cui Yuanyang. The three women’s eyes shone with absolute brilliance.

*How did you touch him? Do tell in detail.*

Regrettably, no details were offered from that quarter: "...Knowing full well the Yang family’s march south was arranged by us, you persuaded them to defect, handing Xiangyang over to Tang Wanzhuang and ruining our grand design! What has Tang Wanzhuang ever given you, ah?"

Zhao Changhe was resolutely determined not to argue while her anger burned, choosing to settle it later.

Tang Wanzhuang, nibbling her melon, could no longer endure listening: "This Master did not meddle in Xiangyang’s affairs at all. What do you mean, 'handed over to Tang Wanzhuang'? If one must speak of it, the one holding the greatest practical power in Xiangyang now is the Blood God Sect. The new prefect must tread carefully around Xue Canghai, otherwise nothing can be accomplished. Is the Blood God Sect not comprised of your Sixiang Sect’s men? Surely you do not believe that allowing it to fall into the hands of the Wang family would have been better for you than it is now? What manner of intellect dares discourse on grand designs..."

Huangfu Qing acted as though she heard nothing, continuing her blows: "And the Blood God Sect—knowing full well they are our subordinates, you poached them nonetheless. Do you take us for easy prey?"

Zhao Changhe finally replied, "Can that truly be called poaching... I would never allow the Blood God Sect to betray you."

"Is it not? Does the Blood God Sect not heed your word?"

"But I heed yours."

Huangfu Qing choked on her words, her small fists frozen mid-air. After a long pause, she sneered, "If I bid you slay those foxes next door, would you strike?"

"You know that is not what I meant." Zhao Changhe lowered his voice. "The situation in Xiangyang may seem complex, but to put it plainly, it merely shifted from the hands of the Wang family into yours."

"Why do you lower your voice? Do you lack the courage to let Tang Wanzhuang hear?"

"Walls have ears. The one I guard against is not Wanzhuang, but others... Wanzhuang understands the reality of things." Zhao Changhe continued, "When Yang Bugui spoke here just now, you heard the words I uttered; nothing was concealed. It is not as if I am only saying this now."

Huangfu Qing’s heart stirred.

This was indeed true... They had all been eavesdropping on his conversation with Yang Bugui. He had plainly stated that he had no desire to help Tang Wanzhuang mend the realm, wishing rather that she would withdraw into retirement. In essence, he remained more inclined toward a change of dynasty, believing Xia Longyuan to be unfit; he did not speak one way to her face and another behind her back.

Thus, sincerity was the ultimate masterstroke. If duplicity were uncovered, the carriage would truly overturn.

"The matter of the Night Emperor’s token is indeed inconvenient for Wanzhuang and Yuanyang to overhear. Shall we speak inside?" Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Changhe finally guided Huangfu Qing from the courtyard into the chamber.

Miserably, since moving into the Yang estate, he had never once stepped into this room... This sensation of having every spoken word overheard from all directions was truly unendurable.

By now, Huangfu Qing’s mood had improved considerably. Weighing it thus, Zhao Changhe’s essence remained closer to the Sixiang Sect. This realization brought to mind his various virtues—how he gave things to the Sixiang Sect entirely without recompense, acting no differently from one of their own... Then she recalled that he was, in truth, one of their own, the Constellation of Shi Huozhu. Though none had taken it entirely to heart, he truly held that mantle. Leaving aside his taming of the Blood God Sect, even if he truly defiled Tang Wanzhuang, could that not be hailed as the Sixiang Sect’s Shi Huozhu uprooting the Chief of the Demon Suppressing Bureau?

The thought brought a flicker of amusement; it was well worth considering... Why should she maintain her elegant poise there, while I am reduced to a bed-warming maid?

I shall let you know what it truly means to warm a bed.

Lost in her stray thoughts, she entered the room. The moment Zhao Changhe closed the door, he turned and caught her in his embrace. "Qing'er..."

The second step: sweet words.

"Who permitted you to call me by such a nauseating name?" Huangfu Qing gave a faint struggle.

Sensing the lack of force in her resistance—wholly unlike the fury of her blows moments prior—Zhao Changhe’s mind grew entirely at ease. He held her fast, refusing to let go, and murmured softly, "It was difficult to speak outside, but I am, after all, your Shi Huozhu."

*What a strange accord of minds; you thought of this as well...*

Yet she heard Zhao Changhe continue: "For lovers within our Sect, what need have we for the mundane world's parental dictates or matchmakers' words? If we must speak of a matchmaker, the Venerable One is both our elder and our grand go-between..."

Huangfu Qing nearly burst into laughter. *Yes, yes, yes, I am my own elder and grand go-between... To think you are willing to acknowledge Zhuque as an elder now. Wait, that makes me your stepmother.*

Yet those words held genuine merit. When pairing within the Sixiang Sect, why involve the rules of the mortal world? Did it possess a single copper coin’s relevance? The only disadvantage lay in the fact that Zhao Changhe’s identity as Shi Huozhu could not be lightly exposed; otherwise, they could openly inform that dead rabbit that internal matters of the Sixiang Sect were none of her concern...

Viewed from this angle, it was more a case of the Sixiang Sect’s hidden Shi Huozhu not only uprooting the Chief of the Demon Suppressing Bureau, but also conquering the daughter of a pinnacle noble house, while they merrily used their status as a talking point. How foolish.

Every ounce of Huangfu Qing’s displeasure dissolved into thin air.

Seeing the ghost of a smile grace her lips, Zhao Changhe bowed his head, planting a gentle kiss upon her brow. "Come, let us speak of this token."

The third step: tender companionship.

Zhao Changhe seated himself by the table, pulling Huangfu Qing onto his lap. With his arm circling her waist, he raised the token before her eyes for her scrutiny. "This is indeed the Night Emperor’s token... If I truly wished to use this to deceive the Venerable One into making me the Holy Son, combined with her prior suspicions regarding my astral signs, there would indeed be a chance of success. But while I might deceive the Venerable One, since it is you who asks, I have no desire to lie. This token does not bear immense significance; it is akin to you drawing a personal jade pendant. It can represent you, Huangfu Qing, but it cannot represent Yi Huoshe."

Hearing this made Huangfu Qing even happier. This token truly possessed the power to deceive; not only her alter-ego Zhuque, but likely Sanniang as well would be hoodwinked if she came. Yet he still chose not to use it for unfair advantage—and for whose sake?

Huangfu Qing leaned softly against his chest, her prior wrath entirely forgotten, as she asked in a low murmur, "Where exactly did you obtain so many things related to the Night Emperor and the Blood God?"

"The Blood God’s medallion was purely a gift from Ying Wu. My deepest affinity with the Blood God actually stems from learning the Blood Fiend Technique; beyond that, there is little else. Conversely, my bond with the Sixiang Sect is something I myself cannot fathom. It feels as though wherever I walk, I stumble into something related to the Sect. Even returning to Beimang to indulge in nostalgia allowed Sanniang and me to discover the true tomb of Qinglong and find the Rejuvenation Mantra."

Huangfu Qing gazed intently at the token, reflecting that for this current era, it still bore a powerful weight. At the very least, it proved an exceptionally dense affinity and compatibility with the Night Emperor.

—If the Sacred Sect required a Sect Master, what manner of person would be fit for the mantle?

Zhuque and Xuanwu shook the contemporary world with their might, yet neither possessed the desire to contend for the position of Sect Master. It was not due to a lack of ambition or a sisterly bond that stayed their hands, but rather because the tenets of the faith would not recognize them.

Otherwise, who could that slacking, dead turtle possibly stop? If she, Zhuque, wished to assume the mantle, she could have done so at whim... The reason she refrained was the lack of universal recognition; once undertaken, it would require iron-fisted suppression, and she would then have to reckon with Sanniang’s presence. Thus, after much deliberation, choosing the stability of the Sect above all, Zhuque did not vie for this shred of personal authority.

Yet this was no permanent solution. A snake cannot journey without a head; the Sect would eventually need to choose a Master.

Xia Chichi was deemed worthy of cultivation for the role because she embodied both Qinglong and Baihu—an affinity and inclusivity of the four symbols that surpassed both her own and Sanniang’s.

But if one shifted their gaze from Chichi to Zhao Changhe, one would discover to their astonishment that in this regard, no one resembled a Sect Master more than he. His affinity and compatibility were absurd to the point of ridiculousness; one could even say Chichi’s affinities were linked to him.

If this token could not represent the Night Emperor’s faction, it was more than sufficient as a token of leadership for a mortal sect that worshipped the Night Emperor. Had she, Zhuque, obtained it, she could have directly commanded that dead turtle to kneel; the same held true had Sanniang acquired it... Likewise, if Chichi held it, she could assume the mantle of Sect Master this very hour.

As for him, since he bore the name of Shi Huozhu but had never truly received the techniques and legacy of the Sixiang Sect, it remained somewhat difficult to reckon.

Huangfu Qing pondered for a moment, then asked softly, "Aside from this token, is there anything else?"

In her heart, she secretly thought that if there existed some manner of technique—even a highly unorthodox one—she might well elevate him toward the position of Sect Master. In any case, his competitor was his own woman; Chichi would likely care little and would instead be overjoyed that they could finally be together openly...

Huangfu Qing curled her lip slightly.

Then she heard Zhao Changhe speak: "There is an incomplete sword blade, containing a sword intent of the celestial stars. Indeed, it matches what you said about my star map exceeding the portions encompassed by the Night Emperor. This was an achievement the Night Emperor wished to attain in his later years, but did not live to complete."

Huangfu Qing’s heart leaped. She turned to look at him, her expression exceedingly complex.

To say he lacked the legacy of the Night Emperor’s techniques—was this very item not precisely that?

Though it was not a traditional inheritance... the path he trod was the very road the Night Emperor had left unfinished. He walked that same path, and the sword of the Night Emperor’s uncompleted Dao had fallen to one currently journeying along it. The symbolic meaning was so dense it virtually overflowed the heavens.

There was no need for anyone’s legacy. If he himself could forge a path through this sky, why could he not take the place of the old?

The Sixiang Sect worshipped the origin of the starry vault, not specific personages. Figures were mere symbols, much like how they could casually dub themselves Zhuque and Xuanwu without excessive reverence. To put it plainly, the Night Emperor was but a manifestation of the firmament. If he could speak for this heaven, would he not be the Night Emperor? And why then must the Sixiang Sect worship someone from the previous epoch whose survival remained unknown?

"What's wrong?"

"You say you listen to me... but you clearly want us all to listen to you, and on our knees at that."

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Do you know why I never wanted to use these things to trick the Four Symbols Sect into revering me, but instead have always tried to distance myself?"

"Hmm?" Huangfu Qing was indeed a bit curious about this: "I wonder too, why don't you use these to try to command the Venerable?"

"Because that would mean if someone else got them, what then? I hate imagining you and Chichi kneeling to others..."

"Oh... such a jealous one." Huangfu Qing couldn't help but laugh.

"But the Vermilion Bird Venerable in my understanding should be someone who doesn't care about such external things at all; what matters is the kind of person who obtains them. If anyone dared to use this to try to command her, they'd probably die without knowing how. I wouldn't be so thick-headed as to do that."

Huangfu Qing was extremely pleased in her heart. She, as the Vermilion Bird, truly cared more about who obtained it. As she had just thought, even if it was Zhao Changhe who got it, she was still considering that he hadn't learned the sect's techniques and wasn't suitable... If an outsider had gotten it, they would have killed and taken the token long ago. Using an external object to command me? Are you still dreaming?

This young man actually understands me so well—me as the Vermilion Bird, not as Huangfu Qing.

He said one of the most beautiful sights in the Vermilion Bird's heart, eh...

"But now, it's you who obtained it. The Venerable has examined what kind of person you are through many tests..." Huangfu Qing's voice gradually became seductive, soft and gentle: "In this matter, I know the Venerable's thoughts and can make decisions for her. The token and the sword—none of us dare to touch them carelessly, because none can bear that karmic consequence... But if you want to forge this sword, it will be the top priority for our sacred sect to assist with all our might. If the sword is completed, perhaps the Venerable might truly recognize you as the sect leader..."

As she said this, Huangfu Qing's eyes shimmered, growing even more alluring: "Do you want... to have the Vermilion Bird Venerable kneel before you?"

This enchantress...

Zhao Changhe admitted that this single sentence made his heartbeat quicken by three beats.

Huangfu Qing giggled softly and took the initiative to kiss his lips: "Never mind the Vermilion Bird Venerable... Don't I also hope that the man I love... stands above all beings?"

Why was she unwilling to reveal the Vermilion Bird's identity?

Because right now, he really wasn't qualified enough.

But if that day truly comes, when you can ascend to the pinnacle of all beings, speaking for the myriad stars, you will be my faith, and I can use my own spine as your stepping stone.

And she, Tang Wanzhuang... could she?