Chapter 820: What Can Be Done After Being Tied Up

Chapter 820: What Can Be Done When Bound

In truth, at this moment, Piaomiao had also emerged from her dazed state, now fully lucid, face-to-face with Cui Yuanyang, tightly entwined by the chains.

They were utterly inseparable, so Zhao Changhe could only bind them together.

Lucid as she was, her aura remained ferocious, brimming with explosive aggression, ceaselessly writhing and twisting. Cui Yuanyang could even see her slightly contorted face—that cold, beautiful countenance now twisted like a venomous woman's.

The heart demon dominated her thoughts; at this moment, Piaomiao was a fiend driven by hatred.

Had she awakened earlier, Zhao Changhe could not have bound her so easily... Fortunately, he had taken advantage of her daze to tie her up; no matter how aggressive she became, she could not break free from this peculiar artifact.

"How dare you bind me... Once I escape, I'll leave you both in pieces!"

Cui Yuanyang attempted to communicate: "Sister..."

Before she could finish, the demonized Piaomiao interrupted: "Who is your sister! I will devour you—you have no reason to exist!"

Cui Yuanyang sighed with some headache. This sister wouldn't even spare herself. Judging by Piaomiao's struggling strength, she felt the chains might not hold for long. If Zhao Changhe couldn't resolve things in time, once Piaomiao broke free, Brother Zhao wouldn't be able to defeat her...

"Why aren't you speaking!" Piaomiao struggled angrily. "Aren't you good with words, good at playing weak?"

"...So deep down, Sister knows that many of my weak displays are feigned. It's just that you're too kind—even knowing it's an act, you still can't bear it."

"That was my foolishness. I should never have had such forbearance!"

Cui Yuanyang shook her head and said nothing. She knew Piaomiao was merely venting her malice; there was no point in debating with this demonic state.

"Why aren't you talking? Are you waiting for Zhao Changhe to kill me and save you?"

"No," Cui Yuanyang replied calmly. "Brother Zhao won't kill you... If he wanted to, he would have the chance now, but..."

"Clang!" Longque once again parried the sword light of the Snow Owl from behind, shielding Cui Yuanyang's body thoroughly.

Cui Yuanyang continued: "But his mind is only focused on protecting us."

"He's only protecting you," Piaomiao sneered. "Carrying you like this is nothing but a burden. His chances of survival are slim... and he must bear the risk of a sudden strike from me once I break free. So either he abandons you, or he dies here. Which do you think he'll choose?"

Cui Yuanyang simply said: "He won't abandon me."

"If he doesn't abandon you, he dies, and then you die too. Why is your tone so calm?"

"To die with him, on his back—what is there to be uncalm about?"

Piaomiao was stunned, and even her desperate struggles eased by a third.

Cui Yuanyang said calmly: "Actually, I would rather he cast me aside, so he could escape... But I know he won't do that. Saying it is useless, and he'd only scold me. So it's better to wait quietly and trust that he can resolve this."

Piaomiao snapped back to herself, enraged: "Someone who swore solemn oaths could still break them, betraying trust and killing an ally with his own hands! You don't even have an oath with him—why should you trust him!"

"He is Zhao Changhe, not Ye Wuming."

At the mention of that name, Piaomiao's fury flared even more. Just as she was about to lash out, she felt a sharp, piercing assault on her soul.

Behind them, the Snow Owl of Mara had been in pursuit all along. Mara's soul invasion was area-wide, and both Zhao Changhe and the two women were enduring it together.

Bound by the chains, the two could not resist, only hoping the chains were tight enough to block Mara's invasion.

But before the soul waves could touch the chains, a surge of blood-red energy washed over and neutralized them, preventing their approach.

At the same time, Zhao Changhe let out a muffled groan, blood trickling from his eyes—a sign of severe soul damage.

He had diverted part of his soul to help them resist, leaving his own defenses insufficient, and his soul was wounded.

Cui Yuanyang whispered: "Sister, your earlier rebuttal was wrong. You said he was only protecting me, but he truly is protecting you too. Deep down, you believe that too."

After saying this, she seemed unable to hold on any longer and began to sink into slumber.

Piaomiao wanted to retort, but there was no one to listen... The object of her conversation was asleep, and with no target for her malice, she was forced to quiet down. While secretly struggling against the soul-binding chains, she kept an eye on Zhao Changhe's battle.

Their exchange had been through soul communication; though it seemed lengthy, in reality it was but a moment. Zhao Changhe's flight and his clash with the enemy had only lasted a single exchange, and he hadn't gotten far.

But Zhao Changhe's condition was not good.

The greatest harm came from Piaomiao's earlier palm strike... His ribs were nearly broken, severely affecting his combat ability—otherwise, he might not have needed to flee.

In her violent rage, Piaomiao inexplicably felt a flicker of undeserved guilt, which was quickly drowned out by overwhelming malice and hatred.

Yet, regardless, Piaomiao's insight remained. She could tell that Zhao Changhe's escape was not aimed at reaching a safe place... Within the demonic illusion, there was no safety. To be safe, he would have to leave this secret realm, but carrying a burden made spatial travel difficult. A single moment of delay could spell extreme danger.

Thus, Zhao Changhe's flight was merely a process to try and recover from his injuries. His Blood Demon Undying Body, combined with the Spring Return Art, had miraculous effects for rapid healing.

This man, seemingly fleeing, was actually plotting a counter-kill!

Truly admirable in his valor.

But Mara's mode of existence differed from conventional battles. The fight against Mara's clone in Chang'an was hardly representative... Piaomiao doubted whether Zhao Changhe truly understood that what they faced in Chang'an could not be considered Mara's "clone"—it was merely one of its myriad manifestations.

Every person could be Mara.

Just like Piaomiao now, bearing Piaomiao's appearance and using her techniques, yet altering her nature and twisting her original will—she was Mara.

Every breath of air, every part of the environment here could also be Mara. He transforms freely.

Such a flight held little meaning for Mara.

Indeed, as Zhao Changhe ran, he noticed the scenery before him seemed to shift. He entered a valley filled with birdsong and floral fragrance.

Twilight fell, the setting sun cast its glow, and a woman in black robes and black veil stood quietly by a sea of flowers, gazing at them with closed eyes—her eyes unreadable.

Ye Wuming.

Zhao Changhe abruptly halted. This time, he truly couldn't tell whether this Ye Wuming was an illusion conjured by Mara or the real Ye Wuming waiting here.

In theory, it was Mara's doing... but the possibility of the real Ye Wuming appearing was not nonexistent.

Either way, a single slash would tell. If it were the real Ye Wuming, he couldn't kill her anyway, so what was there to fear?

Without a word, Zhao Changhe slashed at her... Though the blade struck true, it was like cutting water—no damage at all.

Ye Wuming spoke: "Is this your current strength? How disappointing."

Zhao Changhe didn't answer. He brushed past her and ran straight ahead.

Ye Wuming raised a hand, and a heavy curtain of night seemed to fall from the sky, blocking his path, impenetrable.

Such power—this should be the real Ye Wuming...

Zhao Changhe finally spoke: "Not blocking me anymore? When I get back, we can chat on WeChat. No time for nonsense now. Oh, and by the way, hold off Mara behind me."

Ye Wuming looked behind Zhao Changhe.

Without turning his head, Zhao Changhe's omniscient vision clearly saw four figures emerging from behind—the Four Symbols of antiquity.

"Go," Ye Wuming said. "With the Four Symbols holding the rear, they won't catch up. As for these things, I'll explain slowly."

"Alright." Zhao Changhe, carrying Piaomiao on his back, followed her into the garden. He noticed the scenery was very similar to the herbal garden he had seen at Ying Wu's place.

Judging by this template, it seemed like he had traveled back to ancient times—the Night Emperor's rear garden?

Zhao Changhe walked alongside Ye Wuming for a while, with no interest in sightseeing. He said directly: "Speak. What's the situation?"

Ye Wuming leaned closer, studying the person on his back, and chuckled softly: "This is the clearest moment to separate Piaomiao and Cui Yuanyang, and also your best chance to kill her. Why didn't you? Taken a liking to her?"

Zhao Changhe said: "What reason would I have? She was driven to heart demon by Mara, not truly turned into this."

Piaomiao: "..."

Ye Wuming said, "What if I told you she'll stay like this forever, never able to change back?"

"I don't believe it. Worst case, I'll go find those bald monks from the Buddhist sect to study it—right up their alley."

"Before that, she'll have already broken free of the Heart-Soul Chains and taken your life." Ye Wuming sneered. "Do you really think the Heart-Soul Chains are some unbreakable law?"

Zhao Changhe replied, "That hasn't happened yet. We should at least find a safe place to study it first. Why the rush? You, Ye Wuming, are the most patient of all, willing to lay plans for years. When did you become so impatient? Are you trying to tell me you're just an illusion of Poxun?"

Ye Wuming chuckled softly. "Then guess—am I an illusion or not?"

Zhao Changhe said, "Too lazy to guess. First, tell me why you came to find me."

"I think you're weaker than I expected. I want to make you a bit stronger." Ye Wuming raised two fingers. "Before, you let me point at your brow to directly channel enlightenment. Do you still dare now?"

"What's there to fear? I can't beat you anyway. If you wanted me dead, you'd have killed me long ago." Zhao Changhe closed his eyes, wearing an expression that said, "Come on, ravage me." "Do it."

Piaomiao desperately wanted to shout, "Zhao Changhe, how can you be so stupid? This is fake, fake! Just like that Sisi before—no matter how real, how powerful, how natural the conversation seems, it's all conjured by your own mind, with no flaws! If that finger really touches you, you'll surely become Poxun's avatar!"

Was it just because the opponent was Ye Wuming that he'd turned so foolish?

Unfortunately, bound by the Heart-Soul Chains, no soul transmission could escape.

Forget it. Whatever. If you want to die, die. When you're dead, the Heart-Soul Chains will be released anyway.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, she heard a piercing scream from "Ye Wuming." His abdomen had been run through by the Star River Sword in Zhao Changhe's left hand, at some unknown moment.

Piaomiao was stunned. He had seen through it? Had he been playing dumb just now?

Amid the scream, "Ye Wuming's" body dissipated. There was no blood, only the sensation of soul ripples dispersing, as if the damage wasn't too severe.

Having struck successfully, Zhao Changhe saw no real harm and didn't press further. He fled again, narrowly avoiding the silent ambush of Xuexiao in the air.

From afar came Zhao Changhe's laughter: "It's rare to get such a close chance to study how to hit your physical form. How could I miss testing it? I've learned my lesson. Until we meet again."

Poxun's furious voice followed: "How did you see through it this time?"

"Not telling you." Zhao Changhe laughed and sped away. "If Poxun only has such petty tricks, he's hardly a threat. No wonder back when he hadn't fully awakened, he didn't dare face Hongling directly—turns out he's just this!"

He wouldn't tell him that the sword aura of Yue Hongling within Xuexiao had been sensed all along, a clear indicator—wherever the sword aura was, there was Poxun and Xuexiao. No need to guess. And there was an even clearer clue... The demonized Piaomiao hated Ye Wuming to the bone. If it were truly Ye Wuming appearing, Piaomiao's struggle would have been far more violent. But just now, there was barely any reaction—clearly, that wasn't Ye Wuming at all...

It seemed Poxun's direct combat ability wasn't much; he relied on such mental illusions to deceive. As long as one recognized them as fake, it wasn't hard to fight.

The reason he'd played along was that his previous two attacks on Poxun had failed to hit a physical form—a strange pattern. A rare chance to study it up close was not to be missed.

The result of his study: Poxun might have no physical form at all... or rather, he didn't exist in the external world.

He had always existed within one's own mind. The entire battle was against one's own heart.

As long as one's own heart stood firm, no demon could invade, and no harm could be done. That was why Xuexiao had been causing trouble all along—because Xuexiao was the one who could actually inflict real damage.

This might be the easiest demon lord to fight, yet also the hardest, because almost no one has a heart without flaws. Zhao Changhe's own rounds of combat had relied on cheating.

Moreover, since Poxun wasn't external, how could one harm him? No wonder his earlier attempt to tear space apart had been useless... He'd deliberately tested a method of turning the intangible into the tangible just now. Poxun screamed, but seemed to take little damage...

How was he supposed to fight this?

If only he could free the Heart-Soul Chains for use. Once he found the right opportunity to strike with that intangible-to-tangible technique, then bind the heart-monkey with the chains, that should be the best solution. But the Heart-Soul Chains were currently binding Piaomiao and couldn't be freed...

As he pondered, Zhao Changhe moved with agile grace, flashing several times in succession, heading straight southeast.

That direction should lead to Xiangyang... Earlier, Yuancheng had disrupted the spatial barrier, making it impassable, but Yuancheng said it would only last for a while. He didn't know if it had reconnected by now... If he could get support from the ancient Golden Buddha there, he might find some ideas.

Piaomiao looked at Zhao Changhe with some confusion, not understanding why he wasn't returning to Ye Jiuyou's side but heading to some unknown southeast... Could it be that returning to Ye Jiuyou in such a sorry state would be a loss of face?

Men's minds were truly strange... Piaomiao clearly saw the wound on Zhao Changhe's chest split open, blood gushing out. The injury that had barely healed was torn open again in the recent battle and violent flashes. He seemed to be gradually grasping the truth about Poxun, but his condition was worsening. She really didn't know what he was stubbornly holding on for.

Zhao Changhe took a few ragged breaths, then sent his soul into Piaomiao's consciousness to take a look.

The two women appeared before him, tightly bound by chains, their forms even more alluringly outlined. Zhao Changhe couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat, then suppressed his restless thoughts, convinced that the conversation he'd imagined with Ye Wuming just now was consistent with reality—in this state, the distinction between Piaomiao and Cui Yuanyang became clearer, making it the most likely time to separate them.

Ye Jiuyou's suggestion to come with Piaomiao to find Poxun seemed to have been the right move... Even if it was dangerous, if it helped separate the two, it was worth it.

The reason he preferred going to Xiangyang over returning to Ye Jiuyou's side, besides saving face, was that Buddhist methods might offer some reference for such matters.

Seeing Zhao Changhe staring at her, Piaomiao finally couldn't hold back and snapped, "Keep staring and I'll gouge your eyes out!"

Zhao Changhe came to his senses and asked, "How are you now?"

"Bound like this, what 'how' is there to speak of?" Piaomiao said coldly. "If you have the guts, untie me."

Zhao Changhe said, "You seem less fierce than before? Earlier, you wanted to kill without a word. Now at least you can talk a bit."

Piaomiao sneered. "Just saving my strength. You'll die at Poxun's hands eventually. In those rounds just now, you relied on cheating. If you can't see through it yourself, you'll slip up sooner or later."

"That's true... But since I landed that hit just now, he won't dare organize a second attack anytime soon. I'll figure out a new trick later. For now, I can catch my breath and look at you." Zhao Changhe sighed. "I say, even if you've fallen into demonhood and become a revenge-driven killer, you should treat everyone equally. Why do you seem to hate me the most? Just now, Xuexiao's sword was almost at your back, and your first reaction was to attack me!"

Piaomiao fumed, "Of course I hate you more! Ye Wuming is first, then you!"

"Why?"

"You know why!"

Zhao Changhe choked. Was it because he'd seen everything, plus those intimate moments? The normal Piaomiao kept it bottled up; the demonized Piaomiao wanted to kill.

Could it even be said that he was partly responsible for Piaomiao's demonization? But was it his fault?

Thinking this, he sighed helplessly. "I was going to free you and use the chains on Poxun... But now I can't. You're more dangerous than Poxun."

Piaomiao struggled. "Don't pretend to be kind!"

Zhao Changhe, wounded and exhausted, felt his temper rise. "Once you're demonized, you don't know what's good for you. You're far worse than the original Piaomiao. In your current state, do you really think I wouldn't dare hit you?"

Piaomiao sneered. "If you have the guts, kill me. I know you just want to do Ye Wuming's bidding!"

"..." Zhao Changhe snapped, "Do you women not realize that in this bound state, besides being killed, there are other fates?"

Piaomiao was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Zhao Changhe made a clawing gesture. "What do you think?"

"How dare you!"

"Idiot, I'm fleeing for my life now and have no time! If I ever get a moment's leisure, see how I'll discipline you!" Zhao Changhe viciously pinched her cheek. Piaomiao glared at him.

But then Zhao Changhe sighed, ignoring her, and bent down to gently kiss the soul of the sleeping Cui Yuanyang. His voice softened: "Sleep well. When you wake up, everything will be fine..."

With that, his spirit swiftly withdrew, and at the same time, Longque slashed forward, cleaving through the air.

A strange wraith that had been approaching was shattered into nothing.

Ahead lay boundless darkness, countless crimson eyes gleaming in the night.

These were the ancient beasts and residual souls corrupted by Poxun over these days, along with a few ancient Buddhist and Daoist guardians and vajras he had managed to claim, as well as assassins from the Listening Snow Pavilion.

Poxun's power flourished at night, and now it was all pouring out.

Zhao Changhe, instead, laughed.

The more urgently they tried to stop him, the more it proved they didn't want him heading southeast. That direction truly could connect to Xiangyang, and that ancient Buddha was still there!