Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 764 (1): Wandering Divine Sense

Huangfu Qing’s expression said it all—she was very tempted. It was clear now that her earlier distraction had been due to serious contemplation of this possibility.

Her status was not an issue. While the empress dowager personally leading an army might not be appropriate, she could simply continue using her other identity. With the status of the cult in the empire, all it would take was one decree from her useless disciple, and Venerable Vermillion Bird could be formally appointed as the overall commander. There had been times when she thought that identity had outlived its usefulness, but now, it seemed more valuable than ever.

As for the concern that she had been out of the military for too long? That was not a real problem either. Zhao Changhe was the one who truly had zero experience, and yet people still wanted to put him in charge. If he could manage it by relying on his subordinates, then how much faster would adapt someone like her, with actual training and expertise?

In terms of familiarity with the main commanders, Zhao Changhe only had a slight edge by knowing Cui Yuanyong better. But Huangfu Shaozong? That was her own brother. No one knew him better than she did.

And then there was the Blood God Cult, one of the strongest forces in the war effort. They had originally been her own minions before the damn pig lured them away. Taking them back under her command would be seamless.

The only real challenge would be adjusting to the ranks of other officers. She would need to spend the next few days immersed in military affairs, meeting the chain of command, taking over authority, and getting up to speed with ongoing operations.

That did mean missing out on a rare New Year’s moment with her man. But surprisingly, that did not bother her. She believed this indeed suited her.

She had been hesitating over whether to volunteer for the position, worried that Zhao Changhe or Tang Wanzhuang might reject the idea, making it awkward for her. But before she could even suggest it, he had spoken first.

Zhao Changhe really had learned to account for everyone’s feelings. He was growing into a true leader. And since it had been his suggestion rather than hers, no one would reject it outright. They would only consider it in terms of feasibility. And the more they thought about it, the clearer the answer became: Who else but her?

There were still veteran generals in the imperial court, but this war would inevitably involve Profound Control Realm combat. Ordinary generals simply would not be able to shoulder the burden. If the Great Han Empire had any one person in the Ranking of Heaven with supreme battlefield prestige, it was not Zhao Changhe; it was Vermillion Bird. She had ruled the battlefield for years. Even Black Tortoise had never matched her reputation in war.

“It should be you who leads the campaign, Mother” Xia Chichi said, exchanging a glance with Tang Wanzhuang. When she saw Tang Wanzhuang nodding as well, she immediately made the decision. “I’ll draft the imperial decree shortly. At tomorrow’s court assembly, we’ll make the appointment official. Mother, you can head to the military camp this afternoon. Shaozong can start familiarizing you with the command structure.”

This damn disciple is really getting too cozy with Tang Wanzhuang. So now you two are a perfectly coordinated ruler-minister duo, huh? Huangfu Qing rolled her eyes but did not care. At least I still have a man.

She bit her lip and shot Zhao Changhe a sultry look.

She was going to be very busy for a while... but once this was over, she would reward him properly.

* * *

For all that this was supposed to be a family banquet, the entire meal had been about state affairs. It was as if the world’s fate could be decided over a casual dinner conversation. Of course, detailed military strategy, such as troop movements and battle routes, could not be finalized over a meal. Those things would have to be discussed thoroughly with the generals.

As the banquet concluded, Huangfu Qing wasted no time in dragging Xia Chichi off to draft the decree. Xia Chichi, who had been looking forward to spending some time with Zhao Changhe after their long separation, had no choice but to go along with her.

Meanwhile, Baoqin, who had still been sitting at the table with a dazed, blissful smile, and feeling like she had ascended to the peak of her life just by sitting at the head table, was abruptly yanked away by her mistress. Tang Wanzhuang had tolerated this embarrassment for long enough. We were expecting you to contribute, and all you did was sit there giggling. The empress is probably still laughing internally. She may have originally thought you to be a serious rival, but now it’s clear that you’re just an airheaded brat.

And so, in the end, Zhao Changhe found himself left with just Yue Hongling, wandering the palace grounds. Eventually, they walked side by side, gazing up at the stars, as they made their way to the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

“You’re usually so easygoing and rarely hostile toward anyone, so why do you always glare at Chichi?” Zhao Changhe asked casually as they strolled after dinner, the conversation as light as their footsteps.

Yue Hongling replied just as offhandedly, “Everyone has one or two people they just don’t see eye to eye with. Nothing unusual about that. I was thinking earlier... If it weren’t for you, she and I might have been lifelong rivals. But then she went and became the empress out of nowhere, so now I can’t even consider her an opponent.”

“Based on the martial concepts we discussed before, the four idols can be opposed yet also complementary, ultimately part of a single whole. Even if you and Chichi clash at times, in the end, you’re likely to reconcile, whether I’m in the picture or not.”

“Maybe. What do your qi observation abilities tell you?”

“I can’t see anything that clearly. The best I can tell is a vague sense that certain two people share a deep connection and will have lasting entanglements in the future. Nothing more specific than that. And honestly, that feeling applies to just about everyone at that dinner table,” said Zhao Changhe with a smirk. “But if I were to make use of my ability to observe qi veins, one thing is obvious, Chichi’s dragon qi is extremely rich now. She’s truly solidified her hold on the throne. Even if we lose the upcoming war, it won’t mean the downfall of the dynasty.”

“You’re not going to tell her that? Everyone’s been carrying this heavy burden, worrying about the fate of the empire.”

“I can’t just go around saying things like that. It would make people complacent. Even I have to remind myself that my vision isn’t always reliable.”

Yue Hongling chuckled but did not respond.

Zhao Changhe sighed and said, “I’ve been cultivating for too short a time. It feels like I have to learn everything, but I never have enough time to go deep into anything. Take spatial techniques, for example. I know I need to study them, but I always end up putting them aside. You, on the other hand, are purely focused on the sword. Your path is much clearer.”

Yue Hongling shook her head and said, “It’s actually the same. Before, when I studied qi veins with you, it was to expand my sword intent, to make my sword omnipresent. Now, I also want to study space, not for its own sake, but so that my sword can cut through spatial barriers and strike anywhere. Everything I learn is still in service of the sword. You should approach it the same way. You’ve already outgrown the limits of the Vicious Blood Saber Art. Your saber now cuts across the galaxy. Every seemingly unrelated skill you learn is just to enhance that one strike. If you see it that way, you won’t feel scattered. In the end, it all serves that one saber move.”

Zhao Changhe smiled and nodded. “You’re right.”

By then, they had reached the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Zhao Changhe took Yue Hongling’s hand and led her inside. “If you want to comprehend space, this place will serve you well. I also want to test myself. I want to see how much I’ve improved since stepping into Profound Control Realm.”

Yue Hongling followed him in, her gaze sweeping over the celestial canopy. Her heart trembled at the sight.

This was her first time witnessing a place that condensed the entire world within a single domain. This was a sanctuary where one could observe or even reach anywhere in the world without leaving the premises.

It was obvious that Xia Longyuan had been chasing after the blind woman’s abilities. Since he could not yet achieve omnipresence through sheer personal power, he had built this secret realm to assist him. In essence, he was already very close to the blind woman’s level. The moment he surpassed the need for the secret realm and could move freely on his own... He would become the second blind woman.

In the past, Zhao Changhe had only been able to grasp some vague astral intent within this place. But back then, he had yet to break through to the Profound Control Realm, so his yin spirit had been unstable and he had been unable to project it outside his body.

But now... perhaps it was time to try.

Yue Hongling’s focus was different from his, and they did not linger together. Instead, each found a separate platform to meditate upon, immersing themselves in their own insights.

The blind woman stood with her arms crossed, watching with cold detachment. In truth, the dynamic between these two was the purest. They walked the same path, one of martial arts and chivalry, side by side as kindred spirits. It was an effortless, natural companionship, making it enjoyable to witness.

But if time were turned back, to the time before Zhao Changhe had truly won Yue Hongling, what would have happened if Papiyas had asked him about his deepest desires? Would it then have been Yue Hongling? A half-unclothed figure, smiling softly?

Even when a true soulmate was right in front of them, a man’s mind still could not escape such thoughts. How tedious. Only after they had settled into the comfort of an old married couple would he finally return to simplicity.

Zhao Changhe had no idea he was being silently judged. His mind had long since sunk into the depths of the celestial canopy beneath the temple.

The first thing he wanted to test, now that he had his yin spirit, was whether he could roam freely outside his body, just as those so-called demon gods did. If he was no longer bound to his physical form, could he now, with the aid of this celestial projection, descend upon a distant location as Xia Longyuan once had? novelbuddy.cσ๓

He had already mapped this celestial dome to its corresponding points on the land below. He did not dare test something too distant just yet. After a moment’s hesitation, he extended a finger and touched a specific point.

It was the height of the New Year festivities, and in the military camp, Xue Canghai and a band of Blood God Cult members were butchering pigs and sheep, drinking heavily, and making enough noise to shake the city walls.

“Bah! I saw the saint’s potential from the start!” Xue Canghai bellowed, slamming his wine bowl on the table. “That so-called chase back in the day—was that really a chase? No! That was me tempering him! Right, Old Sun?”

Instructor Sun had his hands tucked into his sleeves. “Yes, yes, of course.”

Tempering, my ass. You nearly killed me back then, too. You only lost track of him because he tricked you with a diversion. And now you’re claiming credit?

“What’s with that tone?” Xue Canghai gave him a dissatisfied glance. “Wasn’t I obvious enough? Back then, I let Yue Hongling go on purpose because I knew she had ties to the saint. Clear enough for you?”

The entire Blood God Cult: “......”

Xue Canghai grinned. “It’s New Year’s. Everyone gets a fifty-coin red envelope.”

The murmurs quickly turned into half-hearted agreement, “...Right, yeah, the cult leader was so obvious about it!”

“Exactly!” Xue Canghai took another swig of wine, looking smug. “And later on, I knew Venerable Vermillion Bird was bound to belong to the saint too, so I threw my lot in with him from the start! I wasn’t scared of betraying her. I was just getting ahead of the curve! And look at us now! Back then, we didn’t even dare breathe in her presence. But now? Now we can stand tall in front of her! We’re directly under the saint’s command! Even Venerable Vermillion Bird has to give us face!”

“Yes, yes, of course,” they chorused.

Just then, someone silently descended and sat down beside him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Old Xue, pass me some wine.”

“Who the hell sits down next to me without announcing himself, you motherf—Saint?!”