Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 898: Plotting Against Ye Wuming

Yue Hongling had been surveying the witchcraft array alongside Ye Jiuyou and Piaomiao when she heard about the so-called intruder foolish enough to trespass on sacred grounds. To her astonishment, it turned out to be her own disciple. The moment she stepped out and saw who it was, she did not know whether to laugh or cry. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

This is a restricted area related to the Heavenly Dao, so it naturally has world-class defenses laid down by Jiuyou and Piaomiao and even further enhanced by the witchcraft system unique to Miaojiang, yet this little girl thought she could just prance around it?

Yue Hongling had half a mind to punish the girl for her reckless behavior, but when she saw the red rims of Ling Ruoyu’s eyes, a clear sign that she had been crying recently, any harsh words died in her throat.

Her heart softened. The way the girl clung to her for comfort, like a vulnerable child, was utterly endearing.

It was rare to see Ling Ruoyu like this. Normally, she was all strength and swagger, the spitting image of Yue Hongling herself, or so people said. But even Yue Hongling had moments of weakness, moments where she yearned for someone to walk beside her through storms.

So far, Ling Ruoyu only ever showed this side of herself to Yue Hongling—never to Zhao Changhe or Ye Wuming.

It was a strange feeling... She felt happy about it, but that happiness was tinged with a faint sense of guilt, as if she were stealing something that did not belong to her.

To hell with that. I’m the one who raised this child. What does Ye Wuming matter?!

Shaking off the thought, Yue Hongling held her disciple close with a warm smile. “That’s enough crying, Yu’er. I’ll take you on a little tour. Witchcraft might seem scary at first, but once you’ve seen enough of it, it’s just another thing to face. Come tell me about your adventures with your master’s husband.”

“I want to sleep with you tonight, Master.”

“Alright, alright...”

“...Master, does growing up in that area always hurt like that?”

“I don’t remember it hurting. But then again, I’ve always trained my body.”

“But I train my body too...”

“Ah, but we normally grow up gradually. What you experienced just now was like aging a couple decades in the span of minutes.”

“Will having a small chest make it harder to feed a baby?”

“Uh... probably? I wouldn’t really know. When I got you, you were already five or six years old. I never had to breastfeed...”

“Then when are you and Master Zhao going to have one? I want a little junior sister.”

“Oh? So now you’re teasing your master?”

The two of them left arm in arm, laughing and chatting. Their high ponytails bounced in perfect sync as they walked away. Ye Wuming stared daggers into their backs, feeling like she might break her teeth from clenching them so hard.

As if I need Yue Hongling to be the one to give my daughter the birds and the bees talk! But they really do look perfect together... They even have their hair tied up the same way.

Ugh... What the hell am I doing?

Every time her thoughts were drawn to these people, she found herself forgetting to pay attention to the rest of the world. It was as if her usual multi-core processor mind would downgrade to a single-core processor. Lately, she had failed to pay attention to any promising new talents rising through the rankings. There was even a battle for a place on the Ranking of Man that happened the other day that she had not recorded.

It made sense for Ruoyu to distract her, but why was it that every time she looked into anything related to Zhao Changhe, the same thing happened?

Ye Wuming rubbed her temples, her chest tight with irritation.

At the sacrificial altar, Ye Jiuyou tilted her head slightly, eyes drifting toward the hidden presence of Ye Wuming. A faint smile tugged at her lips.

Beside her, Piaomiao’s voice sounded in her mind, “If there’s any aspect of the world’s laws that Ye Wuming still lacks, wouldn’t it be witchcraft?”

When it came to Ye Wuming, only direct transmission was safe. They were not like that silly girl Ling Ruoyu who blurted everything out loud.

Ye Jiuyou replied in kind, “Her weakness does indeed lie in witchcraft... For a long time, she’s gone out of her way to avoid anything involving the Spirit Tribe, afraid of drawing the attention of the Heavenly Dao. That someone like Ruoyu, with such a sturdy foundation, could fall prey to it suggests that Ye Wuming’s system has no connection to witchcraft whatsoever.”

“In that case, there are probably also things from my side that she has avoided.”

“Indeed, and even though she’s got a mastery of her own when it comes to qi veins, her applications differ from yours. At the very least, she can’t do what you do, like helping get someone pregnant... You stand apart from both the Night Emperor and myself.”

Ye Jiuyou’s deliberate choice to cite pregnancy as her example carried a hint of veiled frustration. Piaomiao feigned ignorance, keeping her tone professional as she continued, “So if I integrate witchcraft with certain attributes unique to me, it might just be enough to ensnare Ye Wuming...”

“Indeed,” Ye Jiuyou affirmed, her gaze drifting to the altar. Upon it sat a bronze vessel of eerie design, within which a single strand of hair floated amid a miasma of dark, malignant energy.

Days ago, she had beckoned Piaomiao aside, whispering, “Let me show you something interesting.” This was that “something.”

It was Ye Wuming’s hair.

Even though Ye Wuming had theoretically taken the Heavenly Tome as her body, much like her daughter Ling Ruoyu was River of Stars, both bore bodies independent of their origins. The Heavenly Tome and the sword served as anchors. As expected of a mother and daughter, they existed through similar principles. This was also the inspiration behind Ye Jiuyou and Piaomiao’s suggestion to turn River of Stars into Ling Ruoyu way back when.

In that fateful battle thirty years prior, Ye Jiuyou had secretly acquired this strand of hair, smuggling it into the Abyss of Jiuyou and nurturing it with layers of malicious and depraved laws—her old specialties.

Witchcraft required a physical link to the target. Ordinary rituals would fail against a being like Ye Wuming. But with Sisi conducting the rites over thirty years and laying out an array ten li wide, one designed to touch the level of the Heavenly Dao itself, it was almost certain that it would be effective when used on Ye Wuming. Among the various branches of witchcraft were notorious rites of lust and intoxication. It was just a matter of which to choose.

And if they feared Ye Wuming’s level was too high, then Ye Jiuyou’s sacrificial refinement on top of the witchcraft acted as a second layer of insurance. Adding Piaomiao’s specialty, specifically her influence over the qi veins of the mountains and rivers, and the result was another layer of insurance that basically guaranteed an effect at the level of the karmic laws.

Ye Jiuyou and Piaomiao exchanged glances, and both felt certain that their chances of success were exceptionally high.

However, there was still one last dilemma before them—timing. Should they act before the final confrontation with the Heavenly Dao, or after?

Striking early would mean sowing discord within their own side before the external threat had been resolved. If the plan succeeded, all might be well, but should it backfire, should it drive Ye Wuming into full hostility, then they would be courting disaster with no one to answer for the fallout.

On the other hand, if they waited until after the Heavenly Dao had been vanquished, they would face the uncertainty of having Ye Wuming as a non-ally during the battle. Would mere unspoken coordination suffice?

This matter could not yet be shared with Zhao Changhe. That man, with his infuriating righteousness, would undoubtedly oppose any attempt to “topple” Ye Wuming through such methods.

But this was their vengeance. Why should he get to ruin it?

“I’ll speak further with Wanzhuang,” Piaomiao said with some hesitation. “Your temperament... is still somewhat dark at the root, and your thinking may not be entirely sound. Wanzhuang has governed this world for many years, and her perspective is the most objective.”

At that moment, Zhao Changhe approached with Sisi at his side. “What are you two discussing?”

Ye Jiuyou quickly cloaked the bronze vessel with a flick of her sleeve, her voice light and unbothered. “Naturally, we’re reviewing the preparations and seeing if we missed anything. You two are back already? I thought you’d have yourselves at least one round...”

Sisi beamed, utterly unfazed by the innuendo. “We went to pay our respects to the dead. Of course, for some people, doing such things before a grave is part of the thrill, but Changhe’s not into that.”

Zhao Changhe coughed. “Could we keep the conversation focused? How’s the witchcraft array coming along?”

“I’ve been surveying the area these past few days,” Piaomiao said. “I believe everything is ready. We can begin whenever you give the word. What do you think?”

That question, of course, was not about using witchcraft against Ye Wuming. It referred to tracing the Heavenly Dao.

Zhao Changhe hesitated. In theory, the sooner they could locate the Heavenly Dao, the better. The Heavenly Dao had clearly sustained injuries thirty years ago. It was plausible that He had yet to fully recover and was still nursing His wounds. Striking now could permanently eliminate the threat.

Even if the Heavenly Dao had already healed, it would still do them well to find Him first. After all, passive defense was a fool’s strategy. Sooner or later, the other side would act. It was better to seize the initiative.

However, there was no way this tracing would go unnoticed. The Heavenly Dao would definitely sense it, and the action of trying to locate it may even end up as the spark for the final war.

At the moment, he had only just begun to touch the Other Shore. His relationship with Ye Wuming remained unresolved. So, was this truly the right time to ignite the flames of the final war?

After a long moment of contemplation, Zhao Changhe finally said, “Let’s not rush. I’ve caught a glimpse of the Other Shore, though just a faint trace for now. Let’s see if anything more emerges over the next few days.”

Ye Jiuyou and Piaomiao exchanged a glance, both smiling. “Very well. We’ll continue our preparations. When the time comes, everything will be ready to proceed.”

Having said that, they remained where they were, motionless.

Zhao Changhe cast them a suspicious look. Do these two top-tier powerhouses really need to sit here like a pair of idle noble ladies nibbling on fruit? To anyone who doesn’t know better, they’d look more like Ling Ruoyu and Dragon Bird playing house...

“What’s with that expression on your face?” Ye Jiuyou teased, lips curling into a sultry smile. “Aren’t we just giving you and Sisi some space? All these years apart, and all you do is visit some graves?”

Zhao Changhe could tell they were up to something, but no matter how he turned it over in his head, he could not figure out what. He left reluctantly, throwing glances back every few steps. After all, witchcraft was not his domain. He could not tell a thing even if he stood there watching. It was better for him to just leave it to the experts.

* * *

Night at the Dali Royal Palace.

Ling Ruoyu curled up beside her master, chatting in bed. Meanwhile, Ye Jiuyou and Piaomiao had quietly summoned Tang Wanzhuang, the three of them engaged in covert scheming. As for Zhao Changhe and Sisi, after years apart, they were, quite naturally, doing what lovers do.

Sisi’s skill in the bedroom was unmatched. Even now, she remained unrivaled in how she pleased a man. She was, in Zhao Changhe’s heart, a goddess of seduction.

Only Ye Jiuyou could barely compare in that regard, but given her status and pride, she could never truly let go. She simply could not match Sisi’s unrestrained passion. Ye Jiuyou had once thought that Sisi should inherit her mantle. In truth, she ought to be taking lessons from Sisi on how to truly surrender herself.

There had been a time when Zhao Changhe feared that indulging in Sisi’s charms would dull his edge as a martial cultivator and bury his heroic heart in a pit of lust. But now, such fears were long gone. In fact, within this dual cultivation, he could better comprehend the subtle tug he felt today, his fleeting glimpse of the Other Shore.

Ye Wuming’s spacetime, Ye Jiuyou’s chaos and creation, the Sword Emperor’s extreme destruction, perhaps all of them embodied karma, illusion and reality, or other laws. What always remained absent was yin and yang.

Ye Wuming and Ye Jiuyou needed to fuse to be complete. The Sword Emperor was even more imbalanced, the embodiment of solitary yang. If he had to define the greatest difference between himself and the top three demon gods, it was yin and yang in harmony, jointly used.

The last part, jointly used, was likely the true key to commanding the Heavenly Tome.

Ye Wuming had failed at this. She had only managed to merge with the Heavenly Tome, never truly commanding it. There would always be a missing thread.

In his daze, Zhao Changhe wondered if it was truly necessary for the two sisters to fuse? Could he act as an intermediary of yin and yang and serve as a conduit between them?

That thought was perhaps a bit self-indulgent. Zhao Changhe did not dare verify the thought at the moment, though perhaps he could invite Jiuyou and Piaomiao to test it out someday. Hopefully, they don’t find the suggestion too off-putting...

Sisi’s voice whispered sweetly in his ear, “Master... I can’t go on anymore...”

Zhao Changhe paused his rhythm, lowering his head to kiss her gently.

Sisi melted under his affection, smiling like spring rain. “Many of the sisters are nearby tonight. Would you like to...”

“No need. They all know we haven’t seen each other in years. They’re giving us time alone on purpose. I’m not so insatiable. Isn’t it enough just to hold my Sisi close and sleep in peace?”

Sisi giggled. “Are you sure? Maybe you should check what time it is...”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

He extended his divine sense outward, and sure enough, the sky had already begun to lighten.

They had been at it all night.

Zhao Changhe let out a laugh and pulled her into his arms again. “In that case, let’s have a bit of morning exercise.”

“Ah... not so fast...”

At that very moment, under the faint glow of dawn, Ling Ruoyu emerged from her master’s warm embrace. After a quick wash, she felt refreshed and spirited. She slung Dragon Bird over her shoulder and tucked River of Stars into her robes before sprinting toward the queen’s bedchamber.

She knew the queen was also one of her aunts. After all, her master’s husband had surely stayed there last night. If she wanted to deliver her love letter to him, that would be the place to go. Her Aunt Tang had even given her a token allowing her to pass freely through the palace, so she did not need to worry about accidentally barging into any witchcraft.

She had just flashed the token and got within sight of the bedchamber when the unmistakable sounds of passion drifted faintly from the room.

Ling Ruoyu: “...”

Ling Ruoyu cast a sidelong glance at the palace maids stationed around the bedchamber. All of them had retreated far away, their faces flushed crimson. After serving the queen for so many years, none of them had ever imagined that she could be like this. The sounds spilling from the room are just downright debauched, and they’ve been at it all night! There was barely a break, and now they’re at it again? How is her voice not hoarse yet? Is this the freedom of someone in the Profound Control Realm?

“How did I even survive back when I was still River of Stars?” Ling Ruoyu slumped over a stone table just outside the palace, whispering to Dragon Bird.

Dragon Bird scratched its head. “I’ve got no idea how I got through those days either... And I was around even longer than you.”

The truth was, deep down, both girls understood. Back when they were still sword and saber, they had not cared about or even understood this sort of thing. Only now, having tasted life as human girls, did they finally grasp the embarrassment of such a situation. Truly, being human was overrated. Perhaps it was better to have remained as sword and saber...

“What now?” Dragon Bird, perched on Ling Ruoyu’s back, craned her head curiously. “Are you just gonna wait here?”

“What else can I do?” Ling Ruoyu replied with a sigh. “Wanna spar or something to kill some time? The sun’s almost up, so they should be done soon...”

Dragon Bird perked up. “That’s not a bad idea! But if we fight out here, we’ll wreck everything. These buildings won’t survive our power.”

“That’s easy.” Ling Ruoyu placed River of Stars on the table. “You used to barge into my sword space all the time to pick fights. Now it’s even better. River of Stars has a fully formed self-contained space. Let’s go in there and go wild.”

With that, the two girls vanished into River of Stars in unison.

The palace maids saw nothing but a saber and a sword resting side by side on the table. The black sword vibrated faintly from time to time, humming softly.

The activity inside the palace, meanwhile, had finally settled. Sisi, thoroughly worn out, found her escape route. “Master... The girls are fighting outside...”

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “What are they doing? Never mind Ruoyu, if Dragon Bird needed something, she could’ve just called me.”

“I think that they’re too embarrassed to face you after... this kind of thing.”

“Dragon Bird is still a saber, you know.”

Sisi giggled. “And Ye Wuming is still a book. Do you think she’s been watching us all night? I wonder if she’s feeling... warm and damp now.”

Ye Wuming: “?”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Sisi gave him a lazy shove. “Go on and take a look. I’m going to sleep. I’m exhausted, thanks to you...”

Zhao Changhe did not press the matter further. He got dressed and stepped out, curious to see what the two girls were up to. After all, it was not like his disciple needed to be that eager for morning greetings.

What he saw was unexpectedly entertaining. The space inside River of Stars had become a self-contained space, a cosmos of swirling starlight. The two girls stood upon constellations, and each strike they exchanged hurled stars across the void. It was pure chaos within this small world.

They were having the time of their lives, and even when they noticed him watching, they did not stop.

Zhao Changhe sighed, then reached out and flicked River of Stars’ blade. “Hey...”

Ling Ruoyu’s voice called out from within, “Just a second, Master Zhao, I’m about to pin Dragon Bird down!”

Dragon Bird had her tangled in a grapple. “As if! I’m not the same Dragon Bird from a few days ago!”

The two of them were now rolling through the void, yanking each other’s hair, limbs flailing, locked in a ridiculous scuffle.

Zhao Changhe had enough. With a flicker, he leaped into River of Stars himself, grabbing one girl in each hand and hoisting them up. “Are you two done yet?”

Dragon Bird yelped. “How can you just enter River of Stars like that?!”

Ling Ruoyu added, “You should’ve at least said that you were coming in...’”

Zhao Changhe looked exasperated. “It’s fine when you said stuff like that before, but when you say that now, it sounds weird. Anyway, what are you two doing loitering outside my room at the crack of dawn?”

At that, Ling Ruoyu finally remembered her mission. She fumbled in her robes and pulled out a slip of paper. “Mom told me to give this to you. I hid here to deliver it discreetly.”

Meanwhile, outside the sword, when Ye Wuming saw Zhao Changhe dive into the River of Stars, she did not think much of it at first. But a few seconds later, realization struck her.

Damn it!

I planned to reduce that letter to ashes the moment Ruoyu handed over the love letter. But now that they’re inside the sword, how am I supposed to do that? Doesn’t this mean that he’s going to be able to read what’s in that letter?

Just what the hell does that letter even say?