Chapter 710: Where My Heart Finds Peace

Chapter 710: Where the Heart Finds Peace

The couple stood before an invisible spatial barrier, frowning as they studied it.

The scene was particularly intriguing—at first glance, the distant view seemed to stretch on, yet it was no longer as clear and immediate as before, carrying a hazy, dreamlike quality. Clearly, it was no longer unified; an invisible barrier had severed the connection, splitting the two sides into separate dimensions.

Many monks were tapping along the barrier, some leaping into the air to strike higher points, searching for any small passage.

But against this boundless void, how long would such tapping take? You couldn’t even finish searching a single neighborhood’s space, let alone a span of a thousand miles... Yuan Cheng, after employing some special probing senses, finally reached a conclusion: most likely, there was no small door. The two ends were completely sealed off.

Now this secret realm was an independent pocket realm, its scope limited to a single mountain peak and a modest flat entrance at its base.

This was the realm’s original form... The vast expanse before had come from other spaces connecting to it. The monks themselves were unfamiliar with the realm and lacked the energy to explore it thoroughly; a single glance had failed to reveal the problem, nearly leading to disaster.

Zhao Changhe suddenly wondered: could this be Snow Owl’s way of sending Yue Hongling away like a plague, preventing her from causing trouble in the rear any longer?

Yue Hongling was pondering the same question, her expression rather odd: “If they had this ability to separate spaces earlier, could I have been trapped in a small space and unable to get out?”

Zhao Changhe’s heart skipped a beat, but he shook his head: “These are different abilities. The power to independently carve out a space like this—they probably don’t have it. But there’s someone else who might.”

Yue Hongling asked curiously, “Who?”

“Ying Wu.” Zhao Changhe recalled how Ying Wu had restrained Li Gongsi, who couldn’t break free no matter how he struggled. Back then, Ying Wu had shed his usual gentle, smiling businessman’s demeanor, revealing a fierce, predatory gleam that marked him as a true bandit.

But Ying Wu’s main base was also over there... This matter might become even more complicated when they reached the destination.

He thought for a moment and asked Yuan Cheng, who was frowning in contemplation beside him: “Master, how much do you know about these spatial matters?”

Yuan Cheng replied, “Not deeply versed, but I know a thing or two.”

“As I understand it, the current situation is that we can’t cross over, but the other side can reconnect at any time. This place is no longer safe to stay. Yet you’re still here pondering instead of retreating immediately—do you think you can create a barrier to prevent them from coming again?”

“Exactly so,” Yuan Cheng said. “If we hadn’t known about this before, it would be one thing. But now that we do, there are ways. Such actions are difficult to perform consecutively; the spatial turbulence and backlash are unbearable for the other side as well. They won’t be able to reconnect in the short term—it would violate the laws of heaven and earth.”

So there’s a cooldown too? Zhao Changhe chuckled: “Do you know how long this cooldown lasts?”

“I don’t know, but I do know we can use this opportunity to amplify the chaos and indefinitely extend the time before they can reconnect.” Yuan Cheng sighed. “What I’m truly hesitating over is how far to go—whether I should make a complete severance. Since these two spaces were originally one, would artificially cutting them off be an affront to heaven and earth?”

Zhao Changhe was taken aback, studying Yuan Cheng with some surprise. He hadn’t expected the old monk to think this way.

On the other hand, if a complete severance were made, it would likely mean an irreconcilable conflict with Ying Wu, who was clearly doing the opposite. For now, Ying Wu was still an ally. Until Zhao Changhe fully understood what the other party intended, he had no desire to turn hostile over nothing. So he said, “Don’t go to extremes. Just delay it.”

Yuan Cheng nodded: “I was thinking the same. Since the King of Zhao agrees, that’s for the best.”

Zhao Changhe considered for a moment: “Since this place is what it is, I have other matters to attend to. I’ll take my leave now.”

Yuan Cheng pressed his palms together in a bow: “The temple owes you a debt of gratitude for your aid.”

“No need to see me off. You have plenty to deal with here. I have brothers I need to visit.” Zhao Changhe waved his hand, took Yue Hongling’s hand, and left the mountain.

Yue Hongling asked quietly, with some curiosity: “You’re just leaving like that?”

Zhao Changhe replied impassively: “What else? Nothing else to do. I’d like to spend time with you, but it’s inconvenient in a temple.”

“Tch.” Yue Hongling gave him a strange look but played along casually: “Then where to?”

“How about going to drink with the brothers from the stronghold? They’re working in the city defense office now—should be a decent place.”

“Sure. I miss them too.”

They chatted idly as they strode away.

On the surface, it seemed like nothing was left to do, so they left. But Yue Hongling felt that this matter had ended halfway without any real resolution, which wasn’t like Zhao Changhe’s style.

From what she knew of him, there was definitely something still buried here. Probably not a good place to discuss it, so she didn’t ask and followed him away.

...

“Boss! Big Sister!” At the city defense office, Liuzi and a group of brothers welcomed their leader and his woman with great joy.

When it came to “Big Sister,” these old bandits recognized only Yue Hongling. She had been their big sister from the start, and still was. What’s more, the boss had come hand in hand with her to visit—everyone was genuinely delighted.

As for the boss sending a horse to save everyone, there was no need for thanks; it was only right.

The so-called city defense office was a department that was neither military nor governmental. Back then, the yamen and the Demon Suppression Bureau had both been purged of many of Lü Shiheng’s people. The Blood God Sect maintained order but didn’t join the yamen; the army was insufficient, so the Blood God Sect helped with city defense but didn’t join the military. This had created a temporary multi-functional entity handling military defense, patrols, and even some demon-suppression and thief-catching duties. At that time, Xue Canghai held sway over Xiangyang. Later, when Xue Canghai led his men north, the remaining Blood God Sect members were few and weak, and the office’s functions shrank to something akin to a security patrol team. The new prefect gave them official status and a salary.

These men had been useless as mountain bandits and equally useless at legitimate work, just coasting through life. But unexpectedly, they turned out to be quite suited for patrol and security. Day after day, they strutted around town, puffing out their chests, beating up anyone who caught their eye, and keeping the peace so thoroughly that crime vanished. Yet they dared not bully the common folk, because they knew the boss wouldn’t protect them if they did—after all, the boss had once abandoned them, but that was not something to tell others... Anyway, they had no grand ambitions. Living on a salary with wives in their arms was good enough for a lifetime.

Ironically, this behavior earned them great respect from the people of Xiangyang, who praised that all of King Zhao’s men were indeed chivalrous. The more praise they received, the more they felt bound to act conscientiously—a bitter irony. By now, they would even voluntarily go out in the bitter cold to secretly protect the people during temple fairs, transforming from ghosts into men.

The brothers bought braised duck and sliced beef, set out wine, and feasted their boss and big sister. Seeing them like this, the couple felt deeply gratified. Zhao Changhe drank and laughed: “I never thought you’d bring me such face. Any interest in coming to the capital? The various departments there are short-handed.”

Everyone waved their hands: “If you’d said that half a year ago, boss, maybe some would have gone. But now, who wants to leave home and family?”

Zhao Changhe chuckled: “So this place has become your home?”

“Isn’t it? Brothers are here, wives and kids are here. If this isn’t home, what is?”

The speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling exchanged a glance, both feeling a stir in their hearts. They said nothing more.

Liuzi asked, “Boss, are you cultivating immortality now? The story of a mount saving people sounds so fantastical, but it happened to us. We’ll be able to brag to our grandchildren for a lifetime.”

Zhao Changhe laughed: “Let’s say it’s that.”

Liuzi said, “They say when one attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Why haven’t we ascended?”

“Before, you didn’t have foundation-building techniques, only some martial skills. The techniques I know either aren’t suitable or belong to others and can’t be passed on casually. I only taught you a bit of Yellow Sand Blade, which wasn’t much use. Now that resources are abundant, that’s no longer a problem.” Zhao Changhe pulled out a booklet. “This is my punishment copy—no, wait—this is a manual I personally transcribed from some Four Symbols Sect techniques, covering multiple categories. See which one suits you and choose for yourselves. From now on, you’ll count as members of the Four Symbols Sect. Don’t betray it, or I won’t be able to answer to others.”

Liuzi was overjoyed: “Thank you, boss! How could we betray? We’re your chickens and dogs!”

“Pfft...” Yue Hongling sprayed out her wine.

He wanted dogs, but not your kind...

The feast was a joy for host and guest alike. The couple didn’t stay overnight. As the afternoon sun began to set, they took the black steed and left Xiangyang.

Yue Hongling looked back at the city behind them and said softly, “I thought we were just visiting them, but I found myself quite moved.”

Zhao Changhe held her hand and smiled: “Where the heart finds peace, that’s home.”

Yue Hongling’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at his face: “You... when will you come home with me? I mean, to Sunset Manor.”

Zhao Changhe was startled, but Yue Hongling turned her head away: “Aren’t you going to propose? Or do you just want to eat and wipe your mouth without taking responsibility?”

Zhao Changhe was ecstatic: “I’ll go! I definitely will!”

Yue Hongling smiled faintly, said nothing more, and walked beside him, hand in hand, leading the horse toward the western sunset.

Behind them, their shadows gradually lengthened, beginning to twist in a strange, sinister way, until, unnoticed, they took on the shape of a demonic face.