Chapter 647: Rollover

Chapter 647: Crash and Burn

At least San Niang had been beaten for speaking up on his behalf, so Zhao Changhe couldn’t just stand by and watch. He had no choice but to steel himself and dart over, trying to mediate.

By the time he got close, the earlier battle, blazing with demonic flames, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, two women were wrestling on the grass. Vermillion Bird was straddling San Niang’s waist, slapping her hand back on San Niang’s rear, sending ripples through the flesh: “Thought you were all lazy and aloof, above worldly affairs? Stealing, stealing, stealing a man!”

Xia Chichi leaned in nearby, watching Vermillion Bird in silence, her eyes clearly saying: That boomerang can hit you too. Thought you were all proud and dignified? Stealing, stealing, stealing a man?

Zhao Changhe hesitated, reaching out a hand to pull Vermillion Bird away: “Um… actually, what San Niang said was pretty reasonable…”

Vermillion Bird glared at him: “You have no say in this! Is it about being reasonable or not? Did I tell you to learn forging from her so you two could hook up?!”

San Niang struggled and yelled: “We didn’t hook up while I was teaching him forging! We hooked up first, then I taught him forging!”

Vermillion Bird: “…”

You’re so righteous about it—should you put your hands on your hips or something?

San Niang shouted again: “Xia Chichi, you traitor! I helped you deal with that dumb bird, and you just sold me out for no reason?”

Xia Chichi tilted her head.

It wasn’t for no reason. Changhe had talked me into a corner, so I dragged you out to shift the fire.

And aren’t you the one who stole my man? Not exactly undeserved.

San Niang said: “What’s so great about a flat-chested, no-ass little yellow-haired girl? If you hadn’t met him first, who’d even look at you? Don’t think you’re the big shot here.”

Vermillion Bird blinked, the force of her slaps easing by seven or eight tenths. That felt so good—Xuan Wu was the most objective after all!

Xia Chichi stomped her foot: “Old woman, I’ve put up with you long enough! Lazy and fat, and you still think you’re charming, huh?”

Vermillion Bird was delighted. Well said—I didn’t teach you for nothing.

Zhao Changhe stood dumbfounded. Once the argument veered into this territory, he really had no idea how to interject.

San Niang snorted: “Why don’t you ask my Changhe who’s prettier?”

All three women turned to look at Zhao Changhe. He took a step back, instinctively raising a hand to cover his face.

This was the ultimate form of the harem battlefield.

Zhao Changhe could only force a smile: “All pretty, all pretty.”

“Oh?” San Niang suddenly flicked her finger.

A water screen appeared before everyone’s eyes. On it, San Niang was curled up on Zhao Changhe, tugging his sleeve and asking: “Hey, who’s better in bed—me or Qing’er?”

Zhao Changhe covered his face: “You might as well ask who’s prettier. Who asks something like that?”

The water screen rippled, then was edited. The next scene showed Zhao Changhe saying: “You’re a venerable master—why compare yourself to a subordinate?”

San Niang said: “True. That one’s ugly, weak, and stupid—no point comparing.”

In the screen, Zhao Changhe didn’t answer that line.

Outside the screen, San Niang narrated: “He tacitly agreed.”

Vermillion Bird’s hair began to turn into flames.

Zhao Changhe stepped back again, cold sweat pouring: “She’s taking it out of context, editing it… I, I fucking…”

Before he could finish, the water screen showed San Niang asking again: “Who’s prettier, me or the Saintess?”

Outside the screen, Xia Chichi instantly turned her head, glaring viciously at Zhao Changhe’s profile.

Zhao Changhe retreated three more steps.

In the screen, he had already spoken: “Chichi is young, so she can’t match San Niang’s charm and allure…”

It was as if a crow flew across the sky. The wind howled, snow fell, and the scene froze in a tragic tableau.

San Niang was still pinned face-down, straddled, her head slightly raised, eyes darting around. Vermillion Bird and Xia Chichi stared at Zhao Changhe’s face with extremely dangerous expressions. Zhao Changhe cautiously backed away.

As he retreated, he suddenly turned to run, but the master and disciple had already pounced. Zhao Changhe crouched, covering his head: “She took it out of context—believe me!”

“Bang, bang, bang!” The ground shook.

The new Night Emperor of the Four Symbols Sect, not yet announced to the followers, had perished.

The unexpected gain was that the awkwardness among the three women had suddenly dissipated, all united against the man.

Turtle Turtle had won a complete victory.

…

Afternoon. The Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Zhao Changhe, his face bruised and swollen, sat with his hands tucked in front of the furnace, letting his Blood Asura Body heal itself.

The three women sat stiffly beside him, watching the furnace.

Regardless of whether San Niang’s earlier words were objective or just defending the man, now that Vermillion Bird had been unmasked and survived the humiliation, their elbows had all turned inward. The doctrine naturally gained a new interpretation. They beat him up, sure, but now their man was the new Night Emperor. Even the original Night Emperor couldn’t change that.

When everyone becomes a traitor together, it’s no longer betrayal—it’s destiny.

Besides, the debate had been reasonable. They themselves could replace the ancient Four Symbols. Their faith had never been in a specific entity, but in a symbol. When every attribute of that symbol could be applied to their man, then he could naturally become the embodiment of that symbol—let alone the fact that he had “gone further.”

But there were still differences. The first issue was: does the blazing sun count as the night sky? This required a fundamental change in doctrine. Among them all, only the former Vermillion Bird had truly considered these matters for the sect; the other two were just slackers. Now that Vermillion Bird had surrendered, the question was how to modify and adapt—and they had to force themselves to believe it.

“Theoretically speaking…” Vermillion Bird finally spoke: “The sun is indeed one of the stars, just appearing at a different time from the Four Symbols. But Changhe’s imagery emphasizes that the sun, moon, and stars can coexist in the sky—this is undeniably true. So we can simply add this direction to the doctrine. When it encompasses the sun, moon, and stars, that is the complete sky. Focusing only on ‘night’ is too narrow.”

“As for the Milky Way preceding the Four Symbols… With this swollen-faced bastard as the center, naturally he should come first. Theoretically, there’s no problem. But emotionally, making everyone accept it would be abrupt. Our sect’s name is still the Four Symbols, not the Milky Way…”

San Niang said: “If we want to modify it, we need to do it gradually and subtly. We can align it with the name of Chichi’s dynasty, making it the state religion representing the starry river. That way, both logic and reality match, making it easier for the followers to accept without changing the sect’s name.”

Xia Chichi said: “Changing the sect’s name isn’t impossible. The Four Symbols Sect is just a name for this era. In ancient times, there was no Four Symbols Sect—only the Night Emperor’s ministers… But there’s no need to stir up trouble. Keeping it unchanged is more stable.”

Vermillion Bird nodded: “No need to change. The current situation matches ancient times: the Four Symbols as the Night Emperor’s arms, with the Azure Dragon acting in the mortal world, carrying out the human emperor’s duties. And the best part now is that people like Tang Wanzhuang may not truly accept Chichi—they accept Changhe. As long as we establish that Chichi is merely acting on Changhe’s behalf, everything unifies. There will be no more barriers or conflicts of interest… With them, it’s just…”

Vermillion Bird paused, not finishing the sentence.

Just what? Factional strife?

No—harem politics.

But whether it was factional strife or harem politics, the hidden dangers in the foundation of this new dynasty, born from chaos, had vanished.

When the Four Symbols Sect and the Demon Suppression Division truly merged, stabilizing the ruling foundation, Zhao Changhe no longer needed to worry about the subsequent ceremonies. Vermillion Bird, who had managed the sect all her life, could handle everything clearly, linking the doctrine to him and adapting it to the state religion’s identity.

What Zhao Changhe had to do was shift his gaze beyond the capital, to the shattered and chaotic land, and figure out how to piece it back together.

“Hey, say something. Why are you playing dumb?” Vermillion Bird kicked Zhao Changhe.

If there was one biggest difference between the current Four Symbols Sect and the old one, it was that the most devout high-ranking members no longer had any reverence for the Night Emperor.

Zhao Changhe said: “I’m thinking about how to help you break through to the Imperial realm.”

Vermillion Bird was taken aback.

Right—he had said this before, which could be seen as a promise and a carrot for the Vermillion Bird Venerable. But if he already knew that Huangfu Qing was Vermillion Bird when he said it, then it wasn’t a carrot—it was genuine.

“Can you really do it? Just with that Southern Brightness Lihuo Fire that appeared from who knows where?” Vermillion Bird asked curiously. “That fire is strong, but the source isn’t here. Even if we find the source, I might not be able to subdue it. Our cultivation isn’t about directly absorbing the fire…”

Zhao Changhe clasped his hands: “Qing’er and I… there’s one thing we’ve never done. Want to give it a try?”

Vermillion Bird’s brows shot up.

I’ve been working hard, diligently considering how to elevate you to godhood and adapt the doctrine, and all you’re thinking about is how to get into my pants?