Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 472: Finally Facing Zhao Changhe

Sixth on the Ranking of Heaven, the master of the Snow-Listening Pavilion, Snow Owl.

Since Bashan Sword Hut was just a front for the Snow-Listening Pavilion, Zhao Changhe had initially assumed that Shi Wuding was Snow Owl. He had found it odd that Shi Wuding’s strength did not seem to match someone on the Ranking of Heaven. But now it seemed that Shi Wuding was not Snow Owl after all.

Shi Wuding is actually acting under someone else’s orders? That really knocks his prestige down a few pegs.

Zhao Changhe cast a curious glance at Shi Wuding. Something about his actions did not align with someone simply following orders. Moreover, if Snow Owl had been watching this situation unfold, why had he not intervened? Why had he let things reach such a critical point, even allowing the bone sword to be stolen? Was it because he overestimated Shi Wuding’s strength? Had he rushed over only after realizing something was wrong, but by then, it was too late?

It sort of made sense...

In any case, the figure ranked sixth on the Ranking of Heaven had been drawn away by the Thief Saint, which seemed to indicate that the bone sword was very important to him. At least now Zhao Changhe would not have to face an opponent who was on the Ranking of Heaven.

As for the current situation... Zhao Changhe’s gaze shifted to the cave. He had a nagging feeling that the atmosphere inside was not quite right.

Having been in this world for less than two years, Zhao Changhe had already encountered more secret realms than most people would see in two lifetimes. With his unique sense, he could now feel the subtle intertwining of two realms. Even the pages of the Heavenly Tome in his ring were reacting faintly, as if a new page was nearby, waiting to join its siblings.

It seemed that even though the bone sword had been taken and the forced breach of space had not been completed, Shi Wuding’s actions had still weakened the boundary between realms. If Zhao Changhe could find the right point, he might be able to enter.

However, that point would be hard to locate. It reminded him of the volcano at Kunlun. From the outside, the crater looked like any ordinary volcanic basin, and who could have guessed that jumping in would lead to a small secret realm harboring the Eternal Heart Flame? They had searched for three days and found nothing, even though the barrier was just a thin layer away. And then there was that time he had spent three days stuck inside the volcano with Huangfu Qing.

Just where is the entry point?

“Hey, blind woman.”

The blind woman: “?”

Whether or not she heard him, Zhao Changhe continued to speak silently to her through his mind, “Do you want the third page of the Heavenly Tome or not?”

Who really is in control here? The blind woman had manipulated many people into chasing after the Heavenly Tome, but it was the first time she had seen someone take the initiative like this. She almost laughed in exasperation and said, “Let me remind you again, it’s you who wants the Heavenly Tome.”

“Stop pretending. Tell me how to enter, or else I might just have to take special care of the pages of the Heavenly Tome I have.”

“Go ahead then!” the blind woman retorted coldly, then fell silent.

Though it seemed like she had stormed off in anger, Zhao Changhe still sensed a faint hidden node, a sort of entry point. It was likely located in the depths of the cave, possibly right against the furthest cave wall. This was not surprising, given the formation and bone sword had been drilling into this place for a while, making it the weakest spot for a dimensional boundary breach. However, this was definitely not the proper entrance to the secret realm, so stepping through could lead to an unpredictable outcome.

Why is everyone I meet a tsundere? Aren’t they supposed to be out of style?

* * *

Zhao Changhe’s mental exchange with the blind woman took only a brief moment.

Meanwhile, Shi Wuding stood frozen in place, looking somewhat dazed. Perhaps he was reflecting on the same questions Zhao Changhe was pondering—specifically, how everything had fallen apart—or maybe he was simply in shock, seeing his long-planned grand scheme unravel before his eyes.

Frost Hawk and the other sword slaves were standing silently, their gazes fixed on Han Wubing, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

“I really do love the sword.”

Who among them didn’t?

They were all sword practitioners from a young age. For them, swordsmanship had become nothing less than their very life. Moreover, in this world, martial strength was everything. It was their currency, their means to survive. Losing that was far worse than modern people losing their phones or the internet. Frost Hawk even wondered whether he would have the will to live if his sword was taken from him.

Zhao Changhe recalled the scene in the sword chamber beneath Sword Lake, where he and Chichi were lost in their quiet exchange, while Han Wubing had eyes only for the room full of swords. It was as if they were his very reason for being.

Sword slaves supposedly lacked self-awareness...

Yet, in most moments, it was clear that they still had their own will... Now, for instance. For example, Frost Hawk could make his own decisions at this moment; he could even choose to cripple his own cultivation if he wanted to.

But the four white-clad swordsmen, standing there in the cold, did not drop their swords. None of them had the resolve to turn themselves into powerless husks.

Cutting off one’s own arm to survive might sound easy, but sometimes it was harder than dying.

And yet Han Wubing had done it without hesitation, his expression unchanging.

Even Yue Hongling couldn’t help but feel a wave of admiration for Han Wubing’s decisiveness, but Zhao Changhe had no interest in getting caught up in such sentiment. In the midst of this tense moment, he quietly began moving, then suddenly dashed forward, grabbing Han Wubing and pulling him along. As they bolted, Zhao Changhe sent a quick message to Yue Hongling, “Hongling, retreat.”

Yue Hongling snapped out of it and fled swiftly.

Even though Shi Wuding was injured, the two of them were not in great shape either. A full-on fight was a path to certain death, and the best move now was to run while they could. The philosophical reflections could wait until later.

But no sooner had they made their move than Shi Wuding, seemingly lost in thought, snapped back to reality. His face hardened as he unleashed a sword strike straight toward Han Wubing’s back, apparently unwilling to let his former sword slave escape this way.

Zhao Changhe swiftly pulled Han Wubing behind him and swung Dragon Bird furiously, “Shi Wuding, have you no shame?!”

Yue Hongling matched his movement seamlessly, Dragon Emperor flying at Shi Wuding’s neck.

Shi Wuding was indeed growing weary. These two fought with such perfect synchronization that it was as if they practiced together every night. Their movements flowed so naturally that one always anticipated the other’s next action.

He did not say anything in response, though. No matter what, if he could not kill the “traitor” under these circumstances, then the Sword Hut would lose all its credibility in the jianghu.

Shi Wuding’s sword energy surged, sweeping all three of them into its range. “What are you all standing around for? Seal off their escape routes!”

Frost Hawk and the other sword slaves swiftly moved to block their path.

Zhao Changhe noticed something curious about Shi Wuding. There was a strange sort of pride in him. Whenever he fought, Frost Hawk and the others never joined in. They only blocked the opponent’s escape paths, never involving themselves in direct combat, even now.

It seemed that, despite everything, Shi Wuding still held onto some shred of pride as a swordsman. Of course, as a top-ranking master, one of the elite of the Ranking of Earth, it would be disgraceful to rely on others to gang up on a few juniors.

But this gave Zhao Changhe an opportunity. If all the sword slaves were focused on blocking their rear, and Frost Hawk was positioned on the side near the cave, then the entrance ahead was wide open, a path waiting to be taken.

Shi Wuding struck out with his sword, and Zhao Changhe signaled to Yue Hongling with his eyes. Together, they pulled Han Wubing into a defensive stance, appearing to retreat.

Shi Wuding, expecting them to flee backward, swung his sword to cut off their escape in that direction.

But Zhao Changhe’s movement defied his expectations—what should have been a retreat suddenly reversed, as if violating the laws of physics, turning into a forward dash. Yue Hongling, instead of countering from behind as expected, withdrew her sword. The pair, along with Han Wubing, bolted straight for the cave entrance.

Shi Wuding stared in disbelief. Are they seeking death? He immediately realized something was amiss, however, and shouted, “Stop them!”

Frost Hawk took a diagonal step, thrusting his sword to block the cave entrance.

But then, a dragon suddenly appeared—Dragon Emperor was already flashing toward his face.

Frost Hawk angled his body to parry. Being ranked thirty-third on the Ranking of Man, he managed to hold off her strike without being forced back.

But Zhao Changhe’s massive saber silently closed in on his chest.

Just as Frost Hawk was about to dodge, his mind went blank for a split second, as if his thoughts had been abruptly severed.

In this world, there are no gods, no Buddhas, and no self.

Since discovering the truth about these sword slaves, Zhao Changhe had been pondering something throughout the battle—his No Man’s Land[1].

What is No Man’s Land?

Can these sword slaves still be said to have a self?

What’s the difference between when I’m in a state of extreme bloodlust and them?

Is it the act of surrendering all thoughts to sword intent, to vicious qi, to killing? Or is it forgetting the “self” entirely for the sake of something greater, wielding the sword for something beyond oneself?

If Bloodied Mountains and Rivers can manipulate external vicious qi by stirring my own, affecting even others’ blood and qi, then could No Man’s Land induce a brief state of “no self” in an opponent, especially in those who have experienced similar battles?

What exactly does it mean for one to be without self? What kind of hell does that represent?

When I can make my opponent lose their sense of self with a single strike... then hell will manifest, as it should.

This must be the saber intent of the second layer of the Profound Mysteries.

At last, Zhao Changhe was seeing his path.

Frost Hawk’s mind returned to normal, but his chest ached—blood was spraying out.

He looked down at his inexplicable chest wound, then looked at Zhao Changhe and the others who had broken through with a single strike. It all seemed like a dream. He had no idea how he had died.

Shi Wuding rushed to his side but did not even spare him a glance, charging straight into the cave.

But when he looked inside, the cave was empty, save for a broken formation glowing faintly on the ground.

“Where are they?!” Shi Wuding’s furious roar echoed through the cave. “They can’t just have vanished! Search everywhere!”

Frost Hawk gave a bitter smile as he collapsed to the ground.

The sky above flashed with golden light.

In the middle of the fourth month, after nearly a year of searching, Frost Hawk finally faced Zhao Changhe... and Zhao Changhe cut him down with one strike.

A figure on the Ranking of Man has fallen.

The rankings shall now be adjusted accordingly.

1. Just a reminder that the name of this technique may be literally translated as “no self in heaven and earth.” ☜

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