Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 61: Path Filled With Thorns

Early morning. The night rain finally cleared up.

The entire mountain was wet. Water dripped from the leaves onto Cui Yuanyang’s rabbit hat, turning it into a complete mess.

Zhao Changhe held her hand as they raced through the mountain forest. They traversed the entire mountain throughout the night, never taking the mountain roads, and continued running toward another mountain. They specially chose paths that no one took.

Cui Yuanyang never complained once and obediently let him take her by the hand. She allowed the thorns and brambles of the mountain forest to rip her cute clothes into a mess.

She didn’t voice any complaint and simply followed Zhao Changhe. However, the choice she wanted to make was apparent from this attitude she took—she was not willing to choose the first option.

She had left her home to seek out Zhao Changhe because she was attracted by the excitement of the jianghu and all its conflicts, and also attracted by the wildness that was so different from the refined and cultured bearing of her clan members; it was the impulsive decision of a young lady in her rebellious phase.

When her impulsiveness vanished, and after she experienced more, she would naturally realize how stupid she was to make that decision. It was good that Zhao Changhe did not disappoint her. Otherwise, if he had really had his way with her in eighteen different positions, she did not know how much she would regret it.

When they were blocked by imperial troops in the city, she realized just what kind of trouble she brought to other people; when Zhao Changhe ruined his own name to protect her reputation, she finally learned how to be grateful.

Now, it was the same. If she were to follow Zhao Changhe to faraway lands, then she would have no other choice but to marry him in this life. But had she thought it over?

Before this moment, it had never even crossed her mind.

Once she began thinking over it, she realized that she did not know. At the very least, she had no way of casually making such a decision right now.

Yangyang wanted to go home. She missed her parents, her brother, that beautiful horse of hers, Black Peony... She did not want to wander the outside for a year, nor did she want him to pull her in bed and have his children.

She was still a child herself.

However, Cui Yuanyang knew that the second option was filled with obstacles. Even if Zhao Changhe spoke indifferently and made light of them, it was far more dangerous than changing their path and heading somewhere else.

She could not possibly say out loud, “I want to go home. Let’s brave this danger.”

They were practically strangers that had met by chance. Zhao Changhe had done more than enough for her. He hadn’t even taken the regular secret martial arts manuals from her, so what justification did she have for asking him to brave such a danger and bring her home? That piece of cake? Zhao Changhe had no need to involve himself in all this and could have long since left to faraway lands.

Zhao Changhe knew what she was thinking and rested throughout the night in silence. The following morning, he immediately led the small rabbit out of the cave.

Cui Yuanyang resigned herself to him and followed him out of the cave. When she realized they were heading in the direction of Qinghe, her heart trembled for a moment, as if a stone had fallen from the sky and created ripples in the Qing river[1].

In reality, with how naturally brave and valiant Zhao Changhe is, he always finishes what he starts. From the start, was he always willing to walk this path filled with thorns?

Han Wubing already knew that Zhao Changhe would bring Yangyang home no matter what.

However, Yangyang still harbored great curiosity.

The morning sunlight pierced through the forest canopy and shone on Zhao Changhe’s face. The scene looked beautiful; it was more perfect than a sculpture of a master.

“Tired?” Zhao Changhe suddenly asked. Even he did not know how long they had been running.

Cui Yanyang was gasping for breath but managed to answer, “I’m fine.”

“Yes... In any case, you’re also at the third layer of the Profound Gate and practice a first-rate movement art. You can endure this.” Zhao Changhe said, “Let’s take a break. We can’t enter the city to rest and eat. This biscuit may be unpalatable, but you’ll just have to put up with it.”

Cui Yuanyang looked at the coarse biscuit he took out. Not only was it unpalatable, it was even a bit dirty... However, she did not say much about it; she took the biscuit and began nibbling on it.

Zhao Changhe smiled. This girl is way cuter than that rich young lady I imagined her to be.

He strode to a small creek, drank his fill, and plucked a few large leaves to carry some water back. “Here you go.”

Cui Yuanyong took the water and was a little curious. “Why aren’t you drinking from your wine gourd? Are you out of wine?”

Zhao Changhe smiled. “There’s still some wine remaining, but I have to drink it sparingly.”

Cui Yuanyang thought that he was saving it for when a craving for wine struck and said no more, lowering her head and continuing to eat her biscuit.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew over, carrying a stench from the mountains.

Cui Yuanyang did not know what it meant. Aren’t mountain winds normal? She continued eating in silence, her head filled with all sorts of thoughts.

Zhao Changhe raised his head, glanced at her, and smiled. “You continue eating. I’m going to the back to pee. Don’t turn around.”

Cui Yuanyang frowned. “Who’s going to peep at you!?”

Suddenly, her face turned bitter. How am I going to pee... I haven’t peed since last night...

Right, now that he’s gone to pee, shouldn’t I also take the chance to relieve myself? Cui Yuanyang had already forgotten that he told her not to turn around and took a look at where he was.

The next moment, she saw Zhao Changhe leaping forward with his steel saber in hand. In front of him was a fierce tiger that pounced in his direction.

The two of them converged in the air.

The tiger’s roar echoed through the mountain forest and shook the grasses and trees.

Cui Yuanyang had dropped her biscuit and rapidly covered her mouth with her hands.

People who have never gone face to face with a ferocious tiger leaping at its prey come up with all sorts of ways to slide away from its attack. However, once they faced the real thing—a massive beast weighing a few hundred jin pouncing at them with imposing strength—most would blank out and be paralyzed by fear.

At this very moment, Cui Yuanyang’s mind was blank. The sword arts she had practiced since she was a child had all but disappeared.

As Zhao Changhe was in midair, she saw the saber in his hand take on a scarlet luster. A mournful, red glow struck toward the tiger’s forehead.

Scattering the Gods and Buddhas!

From the start, he had never once thought about avoiding the battle. He was afraid that if he dodged away, Cui Yuanyang, who was behind him, would get injured. Thus, he immediately used his ultimate technique to attempt to fell the fierce tiger before him.

Bang!

She did not know if his saber hit its mark. However, blood splattered in all directions and the force of the impact sent Zhao Changhe tumbling through the air. Very quickly, he swayed his hips while falling and kicked off a tree behind him, shooting forward like an arrow.

The tiger was bleeding from its forehead and roared as it turned around, forcefully throwing itself at Zhao Changhe while the latter was still flying.

Zhao Changhe turned in midair. The tiger hit only thin air as a saber streaked across its waist; blood surged and filled the sky.

Thump!

Zhao Changhe landed in front, and slid forward a few steps, carried by the strong inertia, before stabilizing himself. He turned around and saw that the tiger was thoroughly dead.

Witnessing this scene, Cui Yuanyang thought that Zhao Changhe was really like a god.

How could a fierce tiger match up to him!

“Ah, I told you not to look. I thought I’d be able to kill it in one shot, but I underestimated it. Fucking hell, the tigers here are even more powerful than the ones in Beimang.” Zhao Changhe picked up the tiger’s corpse weighing a few hundred jin and strode back, smiling. “Since we’re running through the wild, we’re bound to encounter some wild beasts. It’s still better than having to deal with masters. We even have meat to eat afterward. Everything’s fine. You continue eating. I’ll see if we can roast some meat.”

Cui Yuanyang asked with utmost curiosity, “Did you hunt tigers often back in Beimang?”

“Eh, I’ve never hunted before. Back then Luo—uh, my good friend was the one who hunted. However, he only rarely bumped into one. It was winter then. Even though tigers don’t hibernate, they don’t really move around much, so you can’t really find them.”

Zhao Changhe smiled with exultation as he cut open the tiger. “When he brought back a tiger, the whole mountain stronghold cheered as if it was the new year. Instructor Sun personally flayed it, tanned the hide, and made it into a seat cushion. The one I sat on in the Hall of Virtuous Rebellion, actually. I don’t know if you’ve seen it before... Oh, you haven’t been in the Hall of Virtuous Rebellion. I only brought you into my room...”

Cui Yuanyang sat by the side, rested her chin on her hand, and listened to him rattle on. She had no idea what he was saying.

“Eh? Why do you keep staring at me?”

“Oh, oh... It’s nothing. I—I need to pee. Don’t turn around!” Cui Yuanyang hopped away like a rabbit and disappeared like a puff of smoke into the shrubbery behind Zhao Changhe.

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Even though I can’t see you behind the shrubbery, can’t you take off your pants after you squat down...

Why is it another white tiger[2]... This can’t be right. Has she not grown any yet?”

“Ah!!!” Cui Yuanyang suddenly cried out in fear.

Zhao Changhe abruptly stood up. “What happened?”

“There—there’s a snake!”

“...” Zhao Changhe grabbed her sword and accurately threw it into her hand. “Show it the Cui Clan’s sword arts. You don’t expect me to help you right now, do you?”

Cui Yuanyang unsheathed her sword and cut down the snake. Immediately after, she glared suspiciously at Zhao Changhe. “You... How did you know where my hand was?”

“I can hear where you are. I can hear you, damn it!” Zhao Changhe’s face was completely red. He was not in the mood to roast tiger meat anymore. “We’ve rested enough, hurry up and finish your business. Let’s go!”

The small white rabbit pulled up her pants and caught up with him. “Zhao Changhe! It turns out you are a scoundrel!”

Zhao Changhe turned around and made tiger claws with his hands. “Any more nonsense and I’ll lay you in eighteen different positions!”

“You’re all talk and no action.”

“Didn’t you just call me a scoundrel? Is your head made of straw?”

“Hmph.” The young lady seemed to have completely forgotten what she was so suspicious about before and very naturally grabbed his hand. The two of them activated their movement arts and continued wildly rushing ahead.

Zhao Changhe’s time leading a beautiful young lady through the mountains while hiding his identity passed just like that—dull and uninteresting.

If he could pick, Zhao Changhe would have preferred to cross paths with snakes and tigers like this everyday. It would have been nice if they only had to deal with such things on their way to Qinghe.

Unfortunately, there were not only mountains leading up to Qinghe. After traversing the mountains for three days, they had to cross a vast plain.

The creek they were following along flowed down from the mountain and gradually converged into a river ahead. There were many ships floating on the river, and the air was filled with the songs of fishermen.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath.

They would be most easily captured while crossing the river. And from then on, it would be difficult to hide their tracks.

Tigers were dangerous, but humans.... Humans were far more terrifying.

1. Qinghe literally means Qing river, he 河 means river. ☜

2. Reminder that this is slang for hairless female genitals. Zhao Changhe said the same thing about Luo Qi when they went to the pool behind the mountain. ☜