Chapter 430: You Have a Hard-to-Tell Secret, Right?

Chapter 430: You Have an Unspeakable Secret, Don't You?

Third Mistress had come primarily to bring news regarding the Nightflow Sands.

The current news was: there was no news.

For the first time, Ying Wu was completely without a single clue regarding an object, and the main headquarters had spent several days flipping through ancient texts only to find absolutely nothing.

Of course, it could also be that time was too short, as it had only been a few days... but Ying Wu already had a premonition that this time there really might be nothing, because with those previous things, even if he did not remember clearly, he always had a faint impression that they ought to exist, whereas this time he had not the slightest impression.

They were bandit brothers, not true all-knowing masters of the world's rare treasures, and just the secret realms they themselves needed to find were countless, so how could they possibly know everything?

Since there was no clue about the Nightflow Sands, there was no reason for Third Mistress to stay here waiting indefinitely; the grand Venerable Black Tortoise surely had other matters to attend to.

For instance, returning to Yellow Sand Hamlet to sleep.

Now, as the chief of Yellow Sand Hamlet, she lived in extreme comfort, being the sort of existence to whom Batu, the King of Mounan, would send gifts and tribute from time to time...

Furthermore, there was a matter Third Mistress had always kept hidden, unwilling to share with anyone... when Batu's envoys arrived at Yellow Sand Hamlet, they all called her "godmother."

When had her status become so lofty... once she had been both triumphant and utterly bewildered, but after her mind spun through hundreds of turns, she finally calculated it out: Batu's meaning was that Zhao Changhe was his godfather...

Putting aside how shameless that wretched dog was, how on earth could he revere Zhao Changhe to such an extent? She could not figure it out.

How could she dare tell anyone this? Third Mistress was here to watch a spectacle, not to become one.

Since teaching would only bring misfortune, it was better to flee; at any rate, without the Nightflow Sands, knowing how to forge swords was useless, so she would wait until it was found.

Over there, Zhao Changhe, hearing that the Venerable Black Tortoise had been scared away by his visit, walked over to Third Mistress's guest courtyard in utter speechlessness and asked, "What did you want with me?"

Third Mistress pulled a stiff, tortoise-like face: "This seat does not know the method of sword forging."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

I didn't even ask you?

"Oh, what I mean is, there are no clues regarding the Nightflow Sands."

Zhao Changhe: "I didn't ask you that either..."

Third Mistress said, "You told Vermilion Bird, which means you told me. Vermilion Bird wants to find it, which means I want to find it. No, wait, who she looks for is none of my business..."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Third Mistress said, "In any case, our search for clues about the Nightflow Sands yielded nothing. Since the Nightflow Sands cannot be found, your so-called method of sword forging is not an urgent matter for the moment, so there is no need to seek guidance from this seat. This seat is leaving."

Having said that, she grabbed her bundle and prepared to slip away.

Zhao Changhe was thoroughly speechless: "Why are you running away in such a fluster..."

"Who is flustered? Do not slander me with your bloody accusations. This seat is calm, composed, and unmovable as a mountain."

"Yes, yes, yes." Zhao Changhe tucked his hands into his sleeves and said, "I didn't intend to learn sword forging right now anyway. Not only is there no news of the Nightflow Sands, but the main thing is that my comprehension of the Astral intent hasn't even crossed the threshold... sword forging must be integrated with that, so learning just the forging method alone is meaningless. Actually, if you're willing, just letting me read that ancient manual on sword forging would do it. You also relied on a legacy text, it's not like something you realized on your own, so why would I need you to teach me?"

"Oh, there's that trick too." Third Mistress calmed down completely, lazily smoothing her hair: "Then it's fine. Didn't I say this seat is unmovable as a mountain?"

"Hey, Third Mistress..."

"Call me Venerable Black Tortoise." Third Mistress pointed to her mask: "My identity here is a masked one, don't call me out of turn."

Zhao Changhe said, "What I wanted to say was just to take off the mask and chat. We're already so familiar, yet you're still wearing a mask."

It was mainly because Third Mistress's form was lazy and charming, fitting the template of a slightly coquettish proprietress, which was very pleasing to the eye. For example, just now, that motion of smoothing her hair brought a rolling wave of her figure, which was originally very enticing, but wearing a mask made the feeling vanish completely.

Frankly, speaking of masks alone, Vermilion Bird's was the most beautiful—that half-face firebird and blazing red lips could itself become a sort of erotic attire, possessing a natural charm. Black Tortoise and Chichi's tiger face lacked this flavor entirely; Black Tortoise's truly felt solemn, while Chichi's was a bit simple-minded...

Regrettably, he dared not fantasize about Vermilion Bird at all; that one would truly kill a person.

"I won't take it off." How could Third Mistress know what he was thinking? She replied in utter speechlessness, "I'm already about to say goodbye, yet you're still talking about taking off the mask to chat. How boring."

"I want to learn about the situation with Batu in Mounan. How is he doing now?"

Touching upon the exact sore spot, Third Mistress said testily, "Batu gained quite a bit from Hu Lie, and now he might even be about to break into the Secret Treasury realm. Don't go treating him like a common big dummy in the future, or you'll suffer for it. If he really breaks into the Secret Treasury, he might well be the first creature in history to break through to that realm while still hiding on the Hidden Dragon Rank, and his ranking isn't even high. This fellow is truly a dog..."

"I have never dared to look down on that guy, despite his burly appearance." Zhao Changhe smiled. "But this won't stay hidden. Next time someone on the Mortal Rank dies, the succession list certainly won't leave out the Secret Treasury breakthrough. The Chronicle of the Chaotic World isn't blind... uh..."

Third Mistress said, "The man has a sufficient supply of resources now, and his platform is different. He might even break into the Second Secret Treasury faster than you."

Saying this, her beautiful eyes sized Zhao Changhe up and down for a moment, then she suddenly reached out to place her hand on his pulse to examine it for a while, her gaze turning rather strange: "Everyone says you are lustful."

"Hmm? Who understands me so well... no, who the hell is slandering me?"

Third Mistress ignored this and said thoughtfully, "Your meridians are still quite poor... even worse than an ordinary martial artist who has practiced since childhood. Among the Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Ranks, you are definitely the most lacking in this regard."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

"Although the dual cultivation method cannot completely alter meridian issues, it is beneficial for improvement. Accumulating over days and months should always bring some betterment, yet you haven't improved in the slightest, completely unchanged from when I first saw you... do you actually know how to dual cultivate at all?"

Zhao Changhe opened his mouth, but said nothing.

Heaven could bear witness that ever since he dual cultivated with Yue Hongling back then, he had never dual cultivated again in all this time... Huangfu Qing refused to for some reason, and over here with Tang Wanzhuang, it had never been for real.

Third Mistress said, "If it were any normal man who possessed a dual cultivation technique, had an actual meridian issue that needed solving, and had a mutually affectionate woman by his side, they would probably spend every spare moment dual cultivating. Being like Maitreya and his lot is what's normal, alright... not to mention this is where Maitreya resided, with a vast pile of items to assist in such matters, yet you haven't even gone to search whether there are more techniques. What is the matter with you? Do you still want to break into the Second Secret Treasury or not?"

Zhao Changhe hung his head and remained silent.

Third Mistress suddenly let out a breath, that slight fluster from earlier long since flown to who knows where, as she reached out unceremoniously to pat his shoulder: "In truth, you have an unspeakable secret, don't you? You look like a rogue wandering through flowers, but it's actually just a facade... you only dare to steal a kiss and dare nothing else, and in the end, they even think you respect them, their maiden hearts fluttering..."

Zhao Changhe's face was awash with tears.

Anything else could be explained, but having captured Maitreya's headquarters and not even planning to search for a more complete cultivation technique—this point was truly hard to wash clean. Could he tell her that he had already completed it using the Heavenly Book and didn't need it?

But then again, while he didn't need the Great Bliss Art, Maitreya possessed many other techniques and saber arts, which he could indeed ponder over carefully during these few days of recuperating from his injuries, especially the related spiritual secret techniques, which could be studied more deeply. Furthermore, Maitreya's side ought to have many pills and medicines to assist in cultivation, the kind where eating one would increase several years of internal energy, which surely existed, and he could ponder that as well...

With the place being as busy as a marketplace these past few days, he had actually forgotten this layer entirely.

Third Mistress looked at him sympathetically: "I think you should spend less time pondering about sword forging, Nightflow Sands, or Cloud Sun Leaves. Those things are still a hundred thousand miles away from having anything to do with you. What you truly ought to consider are your own meridians and body tempering, otherwise if Batu catches up to you, you won't even be able to be a godfather anymore..."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

"Alright, I should leave." Third Mistress patted his shoulder once more and handed over a sword: "I didn't teach you sword forging, so I'll give you a sword to use first. This sword is actually quite well-suited for your use, as long as you don't let your saber pick a fight with it."

Zhao Changhe looked down, and it was the ancient sword Dragon Emperor.

"This..."

"I asked you before if you wanted to become the Venerable Azure Dragon; Chichi surely wouldn't mind you taking over her duties... anyway, it doesn't matter if you don't do it. You are ultimately our household's Boar of the Chamber Constellation, so you still possess the qualification to borrow the sacred sword. Take this sword and use it for now, and when you forge the Sword of the Night Emperor in the future, return this one to me."

Third Mistress completely cast aside all matters in her heart, picked up her bundle, and walked away leisurely.

Leaving Zhao Changhe standing alone on the spot, the ancient sword Dragon Emperor in his hand trembling violently, while the Great Xia Dragon Phoenix inside his ring buzzed loudly. Third Mistress had not been gone for even half a cup of tea's time, yet his saber and sword were already on the verge of fighting...

The wound on his chest still hurt, and he could not suppress it at all.

"This turtle, how could she just leave without helping to clean up the aftermath? I can't suppress it..." Zhao Changhe grew anxious and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Master, save me!"

"Whoosh!" Tang Wanzhuang appeared by his side, her expression looking quite satisfied.

This fellow, upon hearing that Black Tortoise had come to visit, had hurriedly pulled up his trousers and run over, making her think he also had a private affair with Black Tortoise. Yet after eavesdropping for so long, it could be confirmed that there really was none.

Compared to this, what did a fight between saber and sword amount to? Tang Wanzhuang indicated she was very calm.

"Clang!" The Dragon Phoenix flew out of the ring on its own accord, and the ancient sword also broke free from Zhao Changhe's hand. One saber and one sword began clashing against each other in midair with a series of loud rings.

Saber light and sword qi erupted with wild fury, and after a few exchanges, the courtyard was utterly demolished.

Tang Wanzhuang broke into a cold sweat.

As the grand third on the Earth Rank and the Chief of the Demon Suppression Bureau, she discovered that she could not separate this pair of weapons!

Ordinarily, the Dragon Sparrow is so well-behaved, and this ancient sword is perfectly normal in Third Lady's hands—how did they become like this when paired together!