Chapter 49: Borrowing Your Head For A Use

Chapter 49: Lend Me Your Head for a Moment

Zhao Changhe, simmering with the fury of failure, the remnants of bloodlust still smoldering in his eyes, strode heavily toward the trap site.

This was a trap within the stronghold, right beside the training ground. Back then, Zhao Changhe had ordered it dug himself, saying no one would ever expect a trap in such a place. Yue Hongling had been listening nearby at the time... Little did he imagine that this very trap would indeed catch a fish.

But Yue Hongling later had the spikes inside the stronghold’s traps removed, leaving them only to trap enemies. The night raider was lucky—if this had been before, they’d have been skewered like a sieve by the spikes below, let alone still holding out...

When Zhao Changhe reached the edge and looked down, a gang of bandits surrounded the deep pit, thrusting spears down in a relentless rhythm. Sword light flickered in the pit, and no matter how many spears stabbed down, they couldn’t touch a single hair on the person below.

The opponent’s sword seemed to be a fine blade; many spears were snapped clean off as soon as they struck, leaving only bare, half-length staves in the bandits’ hands. But there were too many people, charging forward in waves, and the trapped person couldn’t break out.

Zhao Changhe was speechless. Just from this scene, it was a pathetic clash of amateurs.

You’ve got someone trapped in a pit, and this is all you can do? You’ve been poking away for nearly half an hour?

And the one down there too—judging by the sword technique and the blade, they must have some noble lineage, likely at the second or third level of the Mystic Gate in internal cultivation. With that level, shouldn’t they have sensed something wrong the moment they stepped on the trap and leaped away with lightness skill? How did they fall in? Were they also messed up by internal sword energy like Yue Hongling?

Who taught them such combat experience and adaptability?

“Boss!”

“The boss is here!”

“Let’s see if this little wench still acts tough!”

The crowd parted to let Zhao Changhe through. In that brief gap, a chill sword aura surged upward, nearly breaking free.

A blood-red moon suddenly appeared, a blade’s light descending from the air. With a deafening clang and a faint grunt, the sword light tumbled back into the pit.

Zhao Changhe stood at the edge, looking down. A young girl glared up at him, her eyes filled with defiance and a hint of fear.

The girl looked quite miserable—drenched all over, water dripping from her head and face. It seemed she had fallen into the pit, triggered a mechanism, and been doused with icy water. Even in early spring, it was still cold; could her cultivation withstand it?

Zhao Changhe, still seething with irritation, couldn’t be bothered to think much. He said bluntly, “I’ll give you two choices. One: keep resisting, and we’ll roll a big rock over and push it into the pit. Then you can turn into spring mud to nourish the flowers.”

The girl’s defiant expression froze.

Damn. She thought she could hold out a while longer. If her brother found out she was missing, he’d surely come looking. But this...

The bandits around them blushed.

They’d been stuck for half an hour, and it turned out to be that simple.

Zhao Changhe continued, “Two: throw out your sword and surrender. I’m in need of a wife to keep as a hostage in the stronghold.”

The girl’s face flushed crimson. She roared, “You might as well crush me to death! I’d rather die than surrender!”

“Tsk, not much skill, but plenty of temper.” Zhao Changhe began to untie his belt. “Your swordplay isn’t watertight yet. I got up to pee earlier but didn’t have time. Let me give you a farewell gift first.”

The girl was stunned. “You pervert! No, wait, wait a moment...”

“Hmm?”

“Don’t pee! I... I surrender.”

The bandits around: “...”

Why didn’t we think of that?

No, wait—how could that possibly work?

The girl muttered, “You... you can’t touch me. I’m with the imperial court.”

Was this little girl fresh out of some golden nest, playing around? Naive as that.

Imperial court? How convenient—we’re bandits, and playing with imperial court people is our specialty.

As the girl weakly tossed her sword aside, everyone’s minds already conjured up countless steamy tales.

The imperial court connection meant something to Zhao Changhe, but not much. The girl’s naivety, however, made him want to laugh, easing some of his earlier irritation and violence.

He picked up the girl’s sword, examined it for a while, then said, “You all go back. Do what you need to do. Don’t bother me unless it’s important.”

The bandits exchanged knowing glances and dispersed. Zhao Changhe tapped the girl’s acupoints, then hoisted her up. “Come on, little girl. Follow me inside.”

“You can’t make me your hostage wife,” the girl fumed. “When my brother comes, he’ll slaughter your entire stronghold!”

“Oh, so you’ve got backing, huh?” Zhao Changhe found it amusing. “Enough, girl. I’m no saint, but I’m not a lolicon either. I’ve no interest in your scrawny figure. I just haven’t seen anyone from the court in a while, and I have some things I want to know.”

The girl looked resigned to death. “I won’t say a word, no matter what you ask.”

“Hah.” Zhao Changhe snorted and made as if to undo his belt again.

The girl’s expression changed drastically. “You dare!”

“When you surrendered, didn’t you think that thing might not end up on your head, but somewhere else?”

“You’re disgusting! Shameless! Unscrupulous!”

Zhao Changhe was only trying to scare her. Just as he was about to up the ante, a knock came at the door. “Boss! Boss!”

Zhao Changhe frowned. “What is it?”

“Captain Fang is here. He says since we’ve captured someone from the imperial court, the stronghold can’t handle it on its own. It must be handed over to the branch. That’s the rule.”

“Damn it!” Zhao Changhe sneered. “Can he fly? Getting here that fast? Someone must have tipped him off half an hour ago. He just wanted to come and snatch a woman to play with. Only when he got here did he realize she’s from the court. He’s putting on an act!”

No one dared to answer from outside.

“Fine. Where is he?”

“On the mountain path, almost at the stronghold.”

“Got it. I’ll bring the woman over myself.”

The footsteps outside faded.

Zhao Changhe turned to look at the girl. She stared back at him, pale-faced.

“See what surrender gets you?” He pulled her out the door and headed toward the stronghold’s entrance.

“Zhao Changhe! I thought you were a real man! Groveling and fawning to your captain like this—you don’t deserve... huh?”

Before she could finish, she found her acupoints already released, and her confiscated sword was back in her hand.

“Idiot. Who told you this stronghold only has one gate? This is the back door!” Zhao Changhe waved his hand. “Go now. With your stupidity, you’d better train with Chief Tang for another three years before taking on missions. Don’t think every bandit you meet will be as easygoing as me.”

The girl stared at him dumbly. “You... do you know who I am?”

“Not sent by Chief Tang?”

“No.”

“Then it’s settled.” Zhao Changhe said impatiently, “I don’t care who sent you. I won’t stoop to such low tricks. If you were from the court, I might have asked you a few things. Since the timing’s bad, forget it. Get lost. I have things to do. Don’t waste my time.”

The girl said, “You... your captain is at the fourth level of the Mystic Gate. You haven’t even broken through the third. If he finds out you let a court prisoner go, what will you do...”

“Oh? Now you’re thinking clearly?” Zhao Changhe laughed. “Fine. I have my own plans. Just don’t get in my way.”

The girl lowered her head, lips pursed, muttering for a long time. Then she fished two wet pills from her pocket. “These pills can help you break through to the third level. Thank you. I... I’ll go find someone to help you right away!”

With that, she stamped her foot, turned, and flew away. It was clear she knew she was just a hindrance and was off to get reinforcements.

Zhao Changhe was taken aback. Her lightness skill was graceful, swift, and flawless—definitely from a prestigious family. Which prestigious family would let such a naive child go on a mission like this? Truly... Wait... Nearby prestigious families—Cui Yuanyong had a sister.

He looked down at the pills in his hand, speechless. Cui family’s medicine?

He brought them to his nose, sniffed lightly, and felt a stir in his dantian.

Obviously, this was an inner alchemy pill, aiding the Eight Refinements of Xia Ji, not the Blood Fiend Art... but for now, he was using the Eight Refinements of Xia Ji as a supplement and catalyst for the Blood Fiend Art. Could he give it a try as well?

No matter, Fang Buping had already arrived.

Zhao Changhe tilted his head back, swallowed a pill, let the energy in his dantian begin to spin, and strode toward the Assembly Hall.

Wang Dashan and the others were setting out wine and dishes in the hall, welcoming Fang Buping for his guidance visit. When they saw Zhao Changhe enter, they all froze: "Boss, where's that woman?"

Zhao Changhe walked forward casually, smiling: "We'll talk about the woman later. I want to borrow something from you."

Wang Dashan, not understanding his intent, laughed: "Listen to you, Boss—if you want something, just take it. Why say 'borrow'? What is it you need?"

"I want to break through to the third level of the Blood Fiend Art. Everything is ready, I only lack the push of Blood Fiend energy." As Zhao Changhe spoke, he suddenly drew his steel blade: "I've come to borrow your head!"

"Shua!"

The blade's gleam flashed, blood sprayed.

Wang Dashan's head flew into the air, his eyes frozen in shock and disbelief.

He... how dare he?

Sect Leader Fang had already arrived...

The entire hall was stunned, staring at Zhao Changhe's undisguised, savage bloodlust. Everyone's heart trembled, their legs shaking.

"Boom!" Zhao Changhe looked inward at his dantian. The pill's effect was terrifying—the energy swirled into a vortex, racing through his meridians, opening his acupoints. The third inner gate, the Tanzhong acupoint, which he hadn't planned to break through, suddenly burst open.

At the same time, murderous intent surged, Blood Fiend energy rushed into his heart meridian, straight to his spiritual platform. His blood and qi surged like a tide, viciously crashing into the fascia that had been blocking his progress.

The inner energy he had just broken through was decisively summoned, merging with the Blood Fiend energy. The fascia, amidst excruciating pain, blasted open.

Zhao Changhe let out a roar to the sky, drowning out the intense agony of the breakthrough. He raised his blade again, shattering the plaque of the Assembly Hall, and laughed as he strode away: "You speak of the Way but have no Way, you call it righteousness but have no righteousness—what use is it to keep you? Until we meet again!"