Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 664: The Qinghe Sword's Original Master

There was no need to overthink things. In order to figure out if the fire in the forge could actually be used to melt Dragon Bird, Zhao Changhe did not actually need to listen to anything she said, he just needed to observe her reaction. If Dragon Bird could truly not be melted in this forge, she would have simply scoffed dismissively and lazily boasted. But seeing as she got worked up, then it was clearly hot enough.

Still, it was curious. Xia Longyuan had used the Southern Li Fire, yet this fire, seemingly of an entirely different nature, was also strong enough to work. What exactly was this fire’s origin and properties?

Forget it. A test will reveal the truth...

Cui Wenjing watched intently, practically holding his breath, as Zhao Changhe drew out the fragments of the Qinghe Sword. The usually composed and refined patriarch now looked visibly tense, his features slightly contorted—a far cry from his usual dignified self.

Zhao Changhe cast him a sidelong glance. “With all due respect, Uncle, your presence here might actually be a hindrance. You weren’t present when the four divine swords of the mountains and rivers turned on their supposed masters, but trust me, if you had been, you’d probably have gotten cut down too. My guess is that’s why you didn’t go yourself. You must have already suspected as much.”

Cui Wenjing remained silent. He had indeed refrained from going precisely because of such premonitions. While others deluded themselves into thinking the swords belonged to their families, Cui Wenjing had always been clear-headed: the four divine swords no longer recognized their so-called masters. What confidence did anyone have in claiming ownership? If the swords saw Xia Longyuan as a destructive force, why would they not see the four aristocratic families the same way? Sword spirits did not play favorites.

“Since you know the sword spirit isn’t exactly fond of you, it’s best you don’t stick around here. This doesn’t require particularly advanced cultivation to handle. If we’re comparing it to Dragon Bird, I managed that one on my own back then. It wasn’t as troublesome as forging River of Stars...”

Dragon Bird: “?”

Realizing his slip, Zhao Changhe immediately pressed his finger to the ring, suppressing Dragon Bird’s burgeoning outrage. “Anyway, Yangyang being here is enough. Uncle, you should go attend to the family matters. There’s a mountain of things for you to deal with. Hey, hey, stop hopping around! You’re higher-level than River of Stars, okay? Isn’t that enough for you?”

Cui Wenjing: “...”

Zhao Changhe sighed with mock sorrow. “Previously, your Qinghe Sword was dormant. You don’t know its true nature. I suggest you temper your expectations, because once it’s fully active, you might want to wring its neck... uh... its hilt.”

Cui Wenjing glanced impassively at his daughter. “That’s fine. I’ve raised something like that before.”

Before Cui Yuanyang could stomp her foot in protest, he turned and left, his parting words echoing behind him: “I’ll guard the ancestral hall personally and wait for your good news.”

As her father disappeared from view, Cui Yuanyang shrank slightly, her voice uncertain. “Am I really enough for this?”

It seemed her earlier silence had been due to self-doubt.

“These things always seem mysterious and daunting until you actually deal with them. Once you’ve created a couple of them, it’s as routine as laying eggs.” Zhao Changhe deftly placed the broken fragments of the Qinghe Sword into a crucible, watching as they began to heat and glow red in the fire. “It’ll take a while. Don’t rush. I’ll meditate in the meantime.”

Cui Yuanyang nodded and obediently said, “I’ll keep watch over the fire.”

Zhao Changhe patted her head with a contented smile, but his focus quickly sank into the Heavenly Tome. “Hey, blind woman...”

“?” The blind woman replied with an exasperated tone, “Are you serious? You just told Cui Yuanyang you were going to meditate, and now you’re calling me? If she finds out, what do you think I’ll look like in her eyes?”

Zhao Changhe was genuinely shocked. “Wait, you actually care about that?”

The blind woman replied icily, “What can I say, your reputation precedes you. Who wouldn’t be cautious around you?”

Zhao Changhe’s expression turned strange as he stared down at the fire without responding.

It was normal for others to be wary of him—but not for her. She was essentially the spirit of the Tome of Troubled Times, a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao. With her being representative of the Heavenly Day, she should be far removed from mortal concerns. She should not care about human relationships or opinions. After all, people curse the heavens all the time, shaking fists and blaming storms for their bad luck. Should she really worry about her reputation?

Besides, isn’t she just a book? Who the hell cares about a book’s reputation?

He could not deny, though, that the blind woman was becoming more human. She used to be an untouchable presence—a figure suspended in the celestial void. Now, there was a certain... groundedness to her. Whether that was good or bad, he was not sure.

The reason for her transformation was obvious. As the Heavenly Tome grew closer to completion, she grew stronger as well. In truth, the blind woman was likely the most powerful entity Zhao Changhe had ever encountered; indeed, it was not Xia Longyuan, but her. She was the endgame of Xia Longyuan’s ambitious quest for ascension. And now, as this “boss” became even stronger, he could not help but feel uneasy, especially knowing it was his own actions driving her growth.

He stayed silent, but the blind woman spoke again, her tone cold and sarcastic, “You’re hiding in this secret realm, free of danger, yet you’re not using this downtime to devour your little rabbit. Instead, you’re wasting time pestering me. Why?”

Zhao Changhe, surprised, asked, “Wait, how did you know the reason I didn’t act before was me being wary of danger?”

Her response was deadpan. “I’ve been with you for over two years. Do you really think I don’t know your character? I probably understand you better than the little rabbit beside you.”

Zhao Changhe paused and then said, “But look at this place. There’s no bed, and the atmosphere isn’t great. At the very least, I’d need some grass or something to work with. What even is this mess?”

The blind woman was speechless.

Alright. Maybe I don’t know you as well as I thought.

Zhao Changhe said, “You probably already know why I called you. Just now, I scanned through the Atlas of Mountains and Rivers and came across something resembling this place. It referred to the Abyss of Infernal Flames, Dwelling of Infernal Oblivion. Could Infernal Oblivion be the name of the demon here? But what struck me was that the way it’s recorded is different from the usual styles of the Spirit Tribe or the far east. Typically, those records describe specific regions within the same world, but this one reads more like it’s describing a secret realm.”

The blind woman replied, “So what?”

“Does this mean there were secret realms in ancient times too? Or is it referring to another world, perhaps a celestial or heavenly realm?”

“Of course there were,” The blind woman said, sounding genuinely surprised. “Are you telling me you still haven’t noticed that this world doesn’t have any missing bits? The geography here is identical to your so-called hometown, the Zhao House or whatever. So where do you think those so-called spatial fragments fit in?”

Zhao Changhe was speechless. “...”

The blind woman continued, “You know that in ancient times, the Azure Dragon was the human emperor, ruling over the Central Plains, while the Sea Emperor ruled the oceans. But where do you think all the other gods and demons resided? Sure, some lingered in the mortal world, but do you think they all just found caves to squat in? Do you think the Night Emperor was hiding in some palace like you, napping in the empress dowager’s quarters?”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“Naturally, there are other realms, many of them, where gods and demons resided, with environments entirely different from the mortal world. The reason our history is a mix of regular human history and the history of gods and demons is that, after the collapse of the previous era, the records of these realms got mixed together. Is that so difficult to understand?”

The blind woman sounded thoroughly exasperated.

“I thought that after wandering around for two or three years, you might have developed some profound insights into the world. But no, instead you’ve come up with this ridiculous, ignorant question! Have you left your brain somewhere during your trips?”

“Uh... could you slow down on the insults?” Zhao Changhe asked cautiously. “Then why is it that other realms ended up so fragmented, while the mortal realm remained so intact?”

“Because I protected it.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

In just a few short moments, he had been rendered speechless three times. Zhao Changhe began to suspect that he had really forgotten his brain somewhere.

The blind woman coldly added, “Otherwise, this world would have long been reduced to nothing—there would be no talk of revival from the ashes. Now, what else do you want to ask?”

“Nothing...” Zhao Changhe muttered. He had called her to confirm his suspicions, and it was worth the scolding. This revelation was critical. It expanded his understanding far beyond the narrow confines he and Xia Longyuan had previously believed in. This realm was just a fragment of a greater whole. In some sense, the entirety of the divine land could even be considered one massive secret realm.

Xia Longyuan had only scratched the surface of secret realms, never connecting them into a larger narrative. His inability to break through to greater heights was undoubtedly linked to his incomplete understanding. Now that Zhao Changhe had grasped this broader view, even if it came with harsh rebukes, it was not too late. After all, knowing too early would not have been useful anyway.

With this perspective, Ying Five’s efforts to piece together secret realms suddenly seemed far more intriguing. Of all people, Ying Five likely had the most comprehensive knowledge of and the most insight into these matters.

“Big Brother Zhao,” Cui Yuanyang’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “It’s melting... It’s working!”

Zhao Changhe opened his eyes and focused. The broken fragments of the Qinghe Sword had been completely melted, blending and reforming within the crucible.

Without hesitation, Zhao Changhe grabbed Cui Yuanyang’s hand. She opened her mouth to question him, but before she could speak, her mind was overwhelmed by a sudden roar. Her consciousness was swept into the metal, guided by Zhao Changhe’s presence.

In the next moment, it felt as if the two of them had traversed endless time and space, ultimately finding themselves standing hand in hand by a vast, rushing river.

This was Zhao Changhe’s third time forging a blade or sword, and just like the previous two times, it was a unique experience. Dragon Bird already possessed a spirit and the spirit only needed to grow. River of Stars had no spirit and required one to be born. Qinghe’s spirit was extinguished, demanding a complete reconstruction. Each situation called for a different approach.

In principle, a sword spirit never truly died. A spirit was born from intent, and if that intent was rediscovered, the spirit could reassemble itself. For this reason, only Cui Yuanyang and her brother could complete this task, though their understanding lacked the fullness needed to truly revive the sword. To make up for any gaps, there was a supplementary method: the Heavenly Tome’s page of karma, which could trace the origins of the Qinghe Sword’s creation.

This approach served two purposes: to revive the Qinghe Sword, and to allow Zhao Changhe to glimpse the ancient history he sought.

Before them, the vast river shimmered with purple qi. Within the haze of the qi, a faint humanoid figure flickered, ethereal and elusive.

“Is this the original master of the Qinghe Sword?” Zhao Changhe murmured, astonished.

He squinted at the figure in the distance, and his heart skipped a beat.

Why... does it look an awful lot like Yangyang?