Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 194: Vermillion Bird Shows Her Might

“Let me tell you something though...” Xia Chichi leaned over and said mysteriously. “Although older women might have thicker skin, which man doesn’t prefer someone younger and more tender? As long as you’re willing to let go of the pretense of being a noblewoman and do what you must to get your big brother Zhao, wouldn’t it be simple?”

Cui Yuanyang leaned back slightly. “Are you trying to trick me? How could you possibly help me with getting together with him?”

Xia Chichi was itching with rage and grabbed Cui Yuanyang by her collar. “You were the one who said our biggest enemy is that woman, and now you’re suspicious of me? You act like a stupid child when it comes to everything else, so why are you so sharp in this regard? What are they teaching you in the Cui Clan? Courtship tactics?!”

Cui Yuanyang asked, “Then why are you helping me?”

“Because he dares to mess with old women but not you. No matter how flirtatious you are, what will happen to you?!” Xia Chichi sneered. “What a waste.”

Sounds of scuffles came from inside the carriage.

The guards did not dare to eavesdrop on the young lady’s conversation, but they could not just disregard the commotion and rushed over. “Miss!”

Cui Yuanyang was panting and shouted from inside, “Don’t come in. I don’t believe it... Wuwuwu...”

The guards: “...”

Inside the carriage, Xia Chichi flipped Cui Yuanyang over, then slapped her bottom again and again, feeling immensely satisfied as she did so.

You dare act cute, seduce my man, and resist me?!

“Aren’t you a little piece of waste?”

Cui Yuanyang said, “You slept with him. Who isn’t a waste compared to you...”

Xia Chichi: “...”

“What is it like sleeping with a man?” Cui Yuanyang, now limp and helpless, stopped struggling and actually humbly asked for advice. “I heard that sleeping together makes babies. How come you don’t seem to be having a baby?”

Xia Chichi’s tone turned icy, “After all those days you spent on the run with him, camping out in the wilderness, did you never sleep together?”

Cui Yuanyang was puzzled and, after a while, asked, “Lying down on the same bed and quilt doesn’t count, does it? Do you have to be covered with the quilt, like how hens hatch their eggs?”

Finally unable to hold herself back, Xia Chichi burst into laughter.

She leaned down and mischievously blew gently into Cui Yuanyang’s ear. She then watched as the faint red blush that was on Cui Yuanyang’s face quickly spread to her earlobes, making her look extremely cute and adorable.

Xia Chichi then lightly licked her ear.

Cui Yuanyang shuddered, tensing up instantly while her eyes widened in surprise.

Xia Chichi chuckled and whispered softly into her ear, “Next time you see him, just do this and you’ll find out...”

With a playful smile, Xia Chichi jumped out of the carriage, leaving Cui Yuanyang staring blankly, her mind completely empty.

Lu Ya watched her warily as she snorted and turned to leave.

A clear male voice came from the distance, “Brother Lu, I’ve come to assist you. There have been traces of barbarians in our territory. Have you noticed anything unusual on your journey?”

Lu Ya glanced at Xia Chichi before turning to face Wang Daozhong, “Thank you for coming to assist us, Mister Wang. Our journey has been smooth so far.”

Wang Daozhong soon appeared next to the convoy, frowning as he looked at Xia Chichi. “Who is this?”

Cui Yuanyang jumped out of the carriage and quickly grabbed Xia Chichi’s arm. Then, she obediently said, “Hello, Uncle Wang.”

Seeing Cui Yuanyang’s attitude, Wang Daozhong realized that there was no need for him to even bother asking, so he nodded and said, “The world has been a mess recently, so do be careful on your journey. I still have other matters to attend to, so I will be taking my leave.”

As an elder and prominent figure in the Wang Clan, he certainly would not lower his status to accompany a little niece. He was already showing them great respect just by coming and alerting them personally.

Once he was away, Cui Yuanyang snorted lightly and muttered, “They know that the world is a mess, yet they’re throwing a birthday banquet with so much fanfare? Hypocrites.”

Lu Ya cleared his throat and said softly, “Be careful of what you say.”

“I’m not afraid of him.” Cui Yuanyang, holding Xia Chichi’s arm, smiled sweetly. “Sister Luo, are you going to Langya too? Let’s play together then.”

Huh? Who are you going to play with? How are you going to play? What games are you playing?

As these thoughts flashed through Xia Chichi’s mind, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.

Vermillion Bird’s eyes were as bright as stars in the distance, and they gleamed emotionlessly.

I’m done for. Why didn’t you come and see me when I was spanking her just now? Of all times, you come now when we’re smiling together, was all that acting I did for nothing?

“Watch out!” Lu Ya drew out his longsword and said sternly, “It’s the Four Idols Cult’s Vermillion Bird! Protect the young—”

Before he could finish speaking, however, Vermillion Bird disappeared.

“What the...”

A short distance away, there was suddenly the sound of energy clashing and Wang Daozhong’s roar rang out, “Vermillion Bird! There are no grievances between us, so why are you attacking me?!”

Vermillion Bird’s languid and seductive voice spread far and wide, “You bullied my Fire Serpent of Yi. Do you think you can just do whatever you want to my subordinates?”

“I didn’t even touch a single hair on her bo—ughhhhh!” A muffled groan followed. It was unclear what kind of injury Wang Daozhong suffered as his voice gradually faded. “You vengeful demon... I will remember this!”

Zhao Changhe stood by the side of the road with his arms folded. He raised his head and looked at the crimson sky in the distance, silently mourning for Wang Daozhong.

Everything had happened so suddenly that Lu Ya had not even decided whether he should go and help or not when the battle already seemed to have ended.

He was secretly shocked as well. Wang Daozhong was a prominent figure on the Ranking of Earth. Although there was a gap in their rankings, they should still have been considered to be within the same level, yet he could not even withstand a few moves against Vermillion Bird.

Vermillion Bird’s strength is truly terrifying. If she were to attack us...

Just when he was taut as a stretched bowstring, he saw the young lady, whom he had been anxiously protecting, dart out of the convoy and rush into the arms of a man by the side of the road, “Brother Zhao!”

Lu Ya: “...”

There is no way I’m getting paid by the Cui Clan for this one.

If Vermillion Bird attacks again right now, will the young lady even be able to survive?

To his horror, Vermillion Bird really did appear again. And this time, her cold gaze was fixed on their young lady’s back.

Zhao Changhe immediately turned around, holding Cui Yuanyang tightly in front of him and shielding her from harm.

Vermillion Bird stared at his back fiercely. Surrounded by sword lights that flashed like lightning, Lu Ya rushed toward her with his sword in hand. “Venerable Vermillion Bird, don’t tell me you’re here to bully a little girl. Your opponent is me!”

Vermillion Bird’s eyes gazed directly past him, seemingly looking at someone behind him. Her voice was icy as she said, “Is this how you plan to kill her? To have her send herself into a man’s arms and expect her to just die out of nowhere?”

Lu Ya: “?”

Pah!

Vermillion Bird did not even spare him a glance nor draw her weapon. She just slapped his sword aside, diverting the direction he was going in, then simply stepped to the side. It was as if she were merely dealing with a child. “Annoying!”

Then, before the Cui Clan guards could close in, she darted around like a phantom and grabbed the woman who called herself Luo Qi by the neck. Then, they disappeared into the distance.

As Chichi was being carried away, her cursing faintly echoed, “I’ll teach you a lesson when I see you again, you little vixen!”

A moment later, she screamed, “This is a misunderstanding! I even made a move just now, why didn’t you come earlier...”

Zhao Changhe raised his head to watch his lover being carried away, his expression twitching as he could not utter even a single word.

Right, since Vermillion Bird still harbors thoughts of recruiting me into their cult, then Chichi shouldn’t be punished too severely for her old affection toward me... Maybe I might even come to hear some good news?

Cui Yuanyang finally lifted her head from his arms, her eyes shining brightly, “Big brother Zhao, your first reaction was to protect me...”

Zhao Changhe looked at the group of trembling Cui Clan guards, and said helplessly, “You silly girl, do you not value your life? That was Vermillion Bird just now!”

“But...” Cui Yuanyang looked at his face steadily. “As long as you’re here, I don’t see anyone else...”

Zhao Changhe stood there in silence, his heart melting instantly. Any nervousness or embarrassment, any unfamiliarity from not seeing each other for a long time, and any from being surrounded by onlookers all disappeared instantly.

Only the little girl’s watery eyes remained, a gaze that was softer than the moon.