Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 431: Bonding with the Sword and Saber

Fortunately, sword spirits were ultimately just spirits of swords. Their thought process fundamentally differed from those of humans. They acted based on their inherent nature rather than actual reasoning.

Although they might seem overwhelmingly powerful, they were still different from humans. No matter how strong a weapon was, it required a skilled expert to wield it for its full potential to be brought out.

Tang Wanzhuang observed for a moment before suddenly drawing her sword.

A dense web of interconnected sword qi wove itself around the space where the sword and saber clashed, creating an atmosphere that felt like a deep underwater domain.

The sword and saber, in the midst of their heated battle, suddenly began to slow down, as though they had been submerged in deep water, with increasing pressure that made it more and more difficult for them to move.

Without needing a word from Tang Wanzhuang, Zhao Changhe, with his keen battle instincts, immediately grabbed Dragon Bird’s hilt.

It felt almost like grabbing the ponytail of a stubborn girl. Dragon Bird trembled wildly in frustration, but Zhao Changhe held it firmly in place, preventing it from moving.

Taking advantage of its opponent’s situation, Dragon Emperor managed to land a few more hits on it.

Zhao Changhe could almost picture Dragon Bird as a poor kid being pulled out of a fight, getting sucker-punched by its opponent while trying to kick back but failing miserably. The mental imagery was so vivid that it made him chuckle.

Tang Wanzhuang seized the opportunity and reached out, grabbing the ancient sword.

Taking advantage of its opponent’s situation, Dragon Bird made use of its longer reach to land a final slash on the ancient sword before it stopped attacking, though it continued to tremble.

Dragon Emperor: “...”

Dragon Bird: “...”

Tang Wanzhuang frowned at the sword trembling in her hand and muttered, “It doesn’t submit to me, and it’s trying to break free. I have to suppress it with all my strength, so I can’t use it in battle. It might even turn against me during a fight. Strange, how does Black Tortoise manage to control it?”

Zhao Changhe responded, “Dragon Bird is the same. Back at Yanmen Pass, Old Cui had me try to wield it, but only to see if it would accept me. Black Tortoise must have some connection with this ancient sword, allowing her to barely use it... but there’s still a long way to go before either of these blades fully acknowledge a master.”

“Did Cui Wenjing advise you to make Dragon Bird submit to you as soon as possible?”

“He’s been telling me that since Yanmen, but I have no idea how to go about it. I’ve been trying to communicate with Dragon Bird, but it just ignores me. How am I supposed to make it submit?” Zhao Changhe rubbed his head in frustration. “During the battle with Maitreya, I was practically begging it to help. Thankfully, it cooperated. Otherwise, I’d have been in some serious trouble.”

Tang Wanzhuang thought for a moment and then decisively said, “During your recovery, this will be your main task.”

Zhao Changhe, trying to act cheeky, asked, “No more lessons?”

Tang Wanzhuang, annoyed, replied, “Forget it. You’re not suited for that. You’re just a cheeky monkey.”

Zhao Changhe, sensing her frustration, got serious. “You’re a high-ranking official in the court. You know more about these matters than I do. Do you have any advice on how I can have Dragon Bird submit to me, or at least how to bond with it?”

Tang Wanzhuang felt a strange mix of emotions. It was as though he was truly the crown prince, and he was consulting a trusted minister. After a moment of silent contemplation, she finally spoke in a soft tone, “These weapons are both imperial in nature. The reason Dragon Bird accepted you in the beginning was that it sensed your Six Harmonies Art. Do take note, however, that this was not because it recognized you as some successor but because it recognized the essence of the cultivation technique. The main concept behind the Six Harmonies Art is the six directions converging to one point, many rivers converging into one sea.”

Zhao Changhe’s face lit up with realization. “So that’s why... I always wondered why Dragon Bird did not care much about Old Xia. It was not recognizing his legacy. It was responding to the underlying concept!”

“Yes,” Tang Wanzhuang hesitated slightly before continuing, “You mentioned that His Majesty spoke to you... I’m not sure when that happened, but after your encounter with him, did you feel like Dragon Bird’s acknowledgment of you deepened in any way?”

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment and shook his head slightly. “I’m not sure. Dragon Bird has gotten more comfortable with me over time, but I can’t pinpoint any single, dramatic shift. It feels more like our relationship is just growing stronger naturally.”

“It’s likely related. Your actions of defending the north from the barbarians, and subduing a demonic cult in the south, are all steps toward clearing the chaos from the world. Dragon Bird has likely come to appreciate you more for this. But one crucial element is missing. You have not shown any desire to become emperor.”

Tang Wanzhuang was not sure if she was inadvertently pushing him toward the path of an emperor, but she did believe in her words.

A weapon ultimately remained as an instrument. For it to choose a master, it did not need its master to be stronger than itself, much like a horse did not require its rider to be able to outrun it.

In the past, it might have been understandable if Dragon Bird was unwilling to acknowledge a mere martial artist at the Profound Gate. But now, Zhao Changhe had already broken through to the Profound Mysteries, having come into contact with the bridge between heaven and earth. He had already fundamentally transformed himself. Although he was still not at Dragon Bird’s level, compared to ordinary people, he had undergone a qualitative change, which should meet the criteria for recognition.

Beyond martial prowess, Zhao Changhe possessed a magnanimous spirit, concerned for the well-being of the people. His ability to unify different martial arts, embracing the concept of merging myriad rivers into one, and his domineering nature hidden beneath his calm exterior also aligned with Dragon Bird’s preference. His recent role in organizing the attack on Maitreya, where he acted as a central figure, further matched Dragon Bird’s sense of purpose.

The only thing holding back full recognition was his lack of desire to become an emperor of any kind.

This was why Dragon Bird obeyed most of his commands, like when it helped during the battle against Maitreya. It has actually been following orders, not just begrudgingly helping him.

Tang Wanzhuang could not help but feel that what she was describing could also apply to herself.

Zhao Changhe, too, came to a similar realization, thinking to himself, Why is it that all these powerful beings around me are so stubborn?

If this understanding was correct, then Dragon Bird might never fully submit to him, simply because he really had no desire to rule.

“Forget about recognizing a master,” Zhao Changhe said dismissively. “If it’s willing to help out, that’s enough, even if it’s a bit stubb—”

He abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening in shock.

In front of him, Tang Wanzhuang gracefully knelt down, softly saying, “Greetings, Crown Prince.”

Zhao Changhe immediately rushed to help her up, but in that split second, he suddenly noticed something—Dragon Bird had stopped trembling in his hand.

Tang Wanzhuang’s lips curled into a slight smile as she, too, realized that the ancient sword she held was no longer shaking.

“They’re just weapons, after all... They’re easy to fool,” Zhao Changhe thought, still in disbelief. He stood there for a moment, processing the situation before hurriedly lifting Tang Wanzhuang to her feet. “P-Please rise, my loyal subject,” he awkwardly muttered, going along with the performance.

The words felt so cringe-inducing that his scalp tingled, but the sword and the saber became eerily calm in response.

Tang Wanzhuang stood up with him, glancing sideways and blushing faintly. She had justified this little act as necessary to trick the weapons, but deep down, it hit her: if she continued down this path of pushing him toward leadership, there might come a day when she would have to kneel to him for real.

The mere thought of it made her want to cringe with embarrassment. How could she ever kneel like that?

Zhao Changhe, equally conflicted, met her gaze with a similarly bewildered expression. Neither spoke for what seemed like an eternity.

Finally, Tang Wanzhuang broke the silence, a playful smirk on her lips. “Feeling proud of yourself? Was it thrilling?”

“I just felt a shiver down my spine...”

“Shh...” Tang Wanzhuang raised a finger to her lips. “They can sense it, don’t speak carelessly.”

“Who cares.” Zhao Changhe chuckled, his usual carefree nature taking over. “If they won’t recognize me as their master, so be it. As long as they see me as a companion and perform their basic functions, that’s enough. If even that fails, I’ll just part ways with them. I’m not about to change who I am just to wield a weapon.”

Tang Wanzhuang gazed at him in silence, her expression softening.

Zhao Changhe nonchalantly tossed both the sword and the blade back into his storage ring. “You two cool off in there.”

Even though the spirits had “caught on,” they remained calm, as if they were genuinely reflecting on things while resting inside the ring.

Tang Wanzhuang tilted her head. “Why go through all of this?”

“Because I can’t bear it,” Zhao Changhe said, gently brushing his hand across her slightly flushed cheek. “In my heart, you are as pure and unyielding as jade. You shouldn’t kneel before anyone. From now on, no more kneeling, not even to Old Xia.”

Tang Wanzhuang’s eyes sparkled with amusement. She had never been one to kneel. Even in the imperial court, she had special privileges, like being granted a seat due to her condition. She was even exempt from kneeling due to her health. With this recent success in pacifying Jiangnan, her rank and status would likely increase even more, possibly granting her the rare distinction of entering court without having to bow.

But hearing Zhao Changhe say such words, she could not resist teasing him, “If you don’t want me kneeling to others, why don’t you take the throne yourself?”

“You’re not allowed to kneel to me, either,” Zhao Changhe leaned in and whispered in her ear, grinning mischievously. “Unless... it’s under some special circumstances, then maybe I’ll allow it...”

Tang Wanzhuang fiercely grabbed him by the collar. “Zhao Changhe!”

“See, you can’t even agree to this, yet you’re talking about kneeling,” Zhao Changhe chuckled softly. “Have you thought it through? Do you still want me to be the crown prince?”

Tang Wanzhuang choked for a moment, then stubbornly replied, “Of course I do.”

“Then behave yourself. There are unspoken rules, you know,” Zhao Changhe lowered his head, kissing her gently. He murmured, “I must admit, it did feel quite thrilling...”

“Bah, you think being the crown prince gives you the right to act on it? Don’t get cocky... mmph, mmph...” Tang Wanzhuang’s protests were muffled as they kissed amidst the wreckage around them, their emotions complicated, each feeling a slight shift in what they truly wanted.

Amidst the ruins, the couple kissed passionately, each wavering slightly in their own ambitions.

In the distance, footsteps approached.

With the house practically demolished, it was not long before the guards came to check on the commotion. Tang Buqi personally led the group, but from afar, he stopped abruptly, holding back his soldiers. “Never mind, return to your posts...”

Tang Buqi’s thoughts raced. Hmph, my aunt was still pretending that nothing was going on. Damn it, it’s bad enough to have an aunt only three or four years older than me, but now I have to deal with an uncle who’s younger than me by three years?! How am I supposed to live with this?

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe and Tang Wanzhuang were startled back to reality.

Tang Wanzhuang gently pushed Zhao Changhe away, her breath still uneven as she whispered, “Go back and focus on having your sword and saber recognize you as their master. Once you succeed, your combat strength will surge, which will help you greatly in your upcoming journey. This is not the time for heroics.”

After a brief pause, she added, “I’ll be leaving with Baoqin today.”

Zhao Changhe blinked in surprise. “Why are you leaving?”

“The matter with Maitreya needs to be reported, so I have to return for my duties. That’s one reason.” Tang Wanzhuang’s tone grew more helpless. “But more importantly... I think my staying here has been a hindrance to you. Your thoughts about me have outweighed your focus on recovering and training. You have bigger things to accomplish, and you shouldn’t get lost in all this. If I continue to stay here, I might just become the attractive courtesan that ruined the country, and that’s far from what I want.”

Zhao Changhe scratched his head, amused by the thought. Tang Wanzhuang as a femme fatale? Somehow, that sounds oddly appealing.

“I’ve always felt that romance doesn’t really suit you,” Tang Wanzhuang said, laughing at herself. “Baoqin was right—seeing you get all lovey-dovey is like watching a bear try to embroider. When we’re not around, and you’re riding all by yourself, cutting your way through the world with your saber, that’s when you’re truly the Blood Asura Zhao Changhe that many have come to admire. Isn’t that ironic?”

From a distance, Tang Buqi watched the scene and suddenly felt like everything made sense.

No wonder it bothered him whenever he saw his aunt cozying up with Zhao Changhe—that was exactly it!