Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 496: Respect Power, Embrace Virtue

This time, they did not make any promises; it was simply not necessary.

There was no need to discuss settling down, starting a family, or living a conventional life. Zhao Changhe had never planned for that, and their path had always been about traveling the world together.

When one was tired of flying, they would need a place to land.

Just like now, with her nestled against him, neither of them moving from the position the entire time.

He held her, his chin resting on her shoulder, listening as she shared her insights, feeling a deep sense of peace.

She, nestled in his embrace, felt just as much at peace.

“This banquet really isn’t to my liking. Why don’t we head back once we’re full?” Yue Hongling stared down at the bonfire for a while, then pursed her lips. “It’s really boring. We might as well go back and dual cultivate.”

It was hard to tell whether she was truly bored or if, after being in his arms for so long, she simply wanted to feel even closer but found this setting inconvenient.

Zhao Changhe grinned. Hearing this kind of talk felt as routine as discussing daily chores now... But it was still early, and the Pain Transfer Gu was still active, so it would not be particularly satisfying for him.

Extending his senses, he spotted Sisi standing near a statue, holding a staff, sternly addressing her maidens. It seemed she was setting up a personal guard, picking out sharp and trustworthy women. The serious, disciplined look on her face was entirely unlike her.

Zhao Changhe stretched his hand and gave his own backside a smack.

Yue Hongling raised an eyebrow in confusion.

In the distance, Sisi suddenly covered her buttocks, glancing around with surprise, and her serious demeanor vanished instantly.

Yue Hongling, unaware of any of this, asked, “What are you doing?”

”Ah.” “Uh...” Zhao Changhe coughed awkwardly. “A mosquito bit me.”

He then pinched himself.

Sisi nearly jumped.

Zhao Changhe stifled a laugh, finally understanding why Lady Three always seemed to be grinning to herself. Some things really were just privately amusing.

Still clueless, Yue Hongling mused aloud, “Never mind. We just dual-cultivated, and I don’t want to seem insatiable. I’m not Sisi, pretending to be someone else.”

Zhao Changhe: “Ermm...”

Honestly, he was the one feeling unfulfilled. With the gu transferring most of his sensations, he had not been as satisfied as usual. If it were not for the real benefit that it brought him for his injuries, he would hardly feel like the whole afternoon was worth it.

Yue Hongling moved out of his embrace, smiling as she said, “Thinking about it, maybe it’s best if I leave. They’ll probably need you here—you’re the true sacred envoy, after all. I have no patience for this stuff, so I’ll just head back to rest and consolidate my breakthrough to the second layer of the Profound Mysteries.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. She had a point. Yue Hongling was disinterested in all political aspects, preferring to go back and rest. She could afford to be absent, but he needed to stay on hand to deal with anything that came up.

Already, with his heightened senses, he overheard people discussing the possibility of the saintess becoming their queen, wondering, “What will the sacred envoy say?”

So, Sisi wants to be queen? Interesting.

Having eaten her fill, Yue Hongling gracefully left to rest and recover. As soon as she left, Sisi slipped in, giving Zhao Changhe a sulky glare. “What are you doing?”

“Huh?”

“Don’t ‘huh’ me,” Sisi muttered, biting her lip as she moved closer. “Got the nerve to tease me but not to go through with it, huh?”

Zhao Changhe looked up at the sky.

Sisi’s voice was soft and seductive as she asked, “Do you like my outfit today?”

He sneaked a glance and had to admit that her formal attire added a sense of regal dignity that was quite different from her usual look of a mischievous temptress, when her midriff was bare and so was her feet.

With the staff in hand, she had an additional sense of authority.

“Is this your royal robe?”

“More or less... Anyway, did you overhear their conversations?”

“Hm?”

“Well, what do you think? Do you approve?”

Zhao Changhe was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. “Do you really need to wait for my approval? I already told you I wouldn’t control you. You should make your own decisions.”

It should have been a reassuring statement, yet Sisi’s eyes held a fleeting hint of disappointment before she forced it back, murmuring, “But I’m willing to listen to you, Master.”

Zhao Changhe asked, “Really?”

Sisi sighed. “Yes.”

She realized she was reaping the bitter fruit of her own half-truths. This was the backlash of having once tried to control him—now Zhao Changhe did not quite trust her words, always assuming there was some hidden agenda behind them.

But at this moment, she truly meant it. A man who had willingly suffered so much to save her... Which woman would not be moved by such a person?

Yet she could not blame him for not trusting her. This was nothing more than the outcome of crying wolf too many times.

A woman who had been acting and playing games from the very moment they met, and again after they reunited... Sisi was not even sure herself if there was still some part of her trying to manipulate him.

“Then just do it,” Zhao Changhe said. “I hadn’t thought it through before, but seeing it now, it makes sense... And while a monarchy may seem backward, when compared to the tribe system, it’s a significant step forward. There’s no reason for you to hold back.”

Sisi: “?”

What is he talking about? Backward? A step forward?

Zhao Changhe explained, “Now I get why this banquet feels so heavy. It’s actually a precursor to your coronation, isn’t it?”

“Yes, the ancestral and divine rites, the prayers... Everything is done. We’re only waiting for the sacred envoy’s word.” She pointed toward a statue. “See that statue over there?”

Zhao Changhe nodded. It was an abstract statue, a combination of various animals. It did not seem to be an ancient artifact—likely a new creation. The original statues from the previous era were probably destroyed in the collapse of the era.

Sisi said, “That’s the Ancestral God statue, and our sacred temple is there. If you agree, we can head over, make the announcement, and then create a spectacle of light around the statue. After that, I’ll be crowned. Perhaps, to Xia people, this might seem a bit hasty.”

“More or less, but it’s all the unnecessary formalities that are what’s ridiculous,” Zhao Changhe remarked. “Even now, we still need some flashy spectacle?”

“There are still conservatives and those who resist change. We need something to silence them, or else there might be bloodshed. They may not fully believe in such phenomena, but their tribes certainly will.”

“Fair enough,” Zhao Changhe nodded, then took her hand. “Let’s go. Let’s get this coronation over with. Hongling already thinks this whole setting is boring. The sooner it’s done, the sooner we can celebrate tomorrow with songs and dancing. Wouldn’t that be better?”

Sisi glanced at his hand holding hers and smiled sweetly.

It was not about him making a move on her. They had simply grown so close that it had become second nature.

When they arrived at the statue, a number of the tribespeople were already waiting. As soon as they saw the two approach, they kneeled in reverence.

Zhao Changhe noticed that the eyes of some still held a trace of defiance. Sisi had not fully explained this—it was not necessarily stubborn conservatism or rebellion against her specifically. In fact, they seemed to respect Sisi, but the discontent seemed to be directed at him, the sacred envoy... Is it because I’m from Xia?

He thought of the Xia reinforcements still camped at the base of the mountain, none of whom had been allowed to ascend. That was likely the root of the issue.

Zhao Changhe felt a pang of annoyance. The affairs of tribes and nations could not be resolved solely through kindness or benevolence.

Kindness is easily forgotten, there are always those who see it as something they naturally deserve. They probably feel resentful at being ordered around, or perhaps because their saintess was taken by a man from Xia like me.

As these thoughts passed through his mind, Sisi stepped forward, raised her staff up high before the statue, and declared loudly, “The sacred envoy conveys the will of the Ancestral God. From this day onward, the Spirit Tribe shall be recognized as a nation!”

At the same time, she had arranged for some of her maids to do something behind the scenes with the statue, and radiant light burst into the sky, illuminating the night.

Some in the crowd frowned and glanced at Zhao Changhe.

Where’s the supposed will of the Ancestral God? Such tricks, who do they think they’re fooling...

Just as someone was about to speak up, Zhao Changhe, with a calm expression, quietly connected the third page of the Heavenly Tome he got to the statue.

Suddenly, the light revealed images of dragons, phoenixes, qilins, vermillion birds, black tortoises, and even their tribe’s sacred beast, the Blood Ao. A primordial vitality and immense power spread across the land.

Those who had been frowning were left utterly speechless, their words stuck in their throats.

The area in front of the temple fell into complete silence. It was as if a domino effect of silence rippled through the crowd—from the mountaintop to the middle of the mountain and down to the base. The entire Spirit Tribe, tens of thousands of people, kneeled in stunned silence, all eyes fixed on the miraculous phenomenon in the sky.

Why were they called the Spirit Tribe? It was not because of the Blood Ao nor the gu.

It was because they were in communion with the spirits of beasts.

This vision of auspicious beasts—if this was not a sign from the Spirit Tribe’s ancestral god, then what was?

After being stunned for some time, an elder finally called out, “We obey the divine decree!”

Instantly, a wave of voices echoed up and down the sacred mountain, “We obey the divine decree!”

Sisi raised the staff high.

“All hail Her Majesty!”

“All hail Her Majesty!”

“Your Majesty, please enter the sacred temple!”

Boom!

With a rumbling sound, the grand golden doors opened, revealing a vast hall filled with dazzling luminous pearls, illuminating the space as brightly as daylight.

Sisi, with her long gown trailing behind her, slowly entered, followed by a retinue of followers, each kowtowing with every step.

Zhao Changhe glanced around and saw that the temple was filled with statues of various sacred beasts. At the center, there was a throne made of pure gold, gleaming brightly.

Sisi whispered, “This temple was once used by our chieftains for important rites. Ever since the forbidden land enslaved us, the temple has remained closed... for fear of offending the forbidden land.”

Zhao Changhe thought to himself, That’s not what I wanted to know—I’m wondering how a small tribe like yours has such luxury. All this gold, these luminous pearls... It’s just amazing. Perhaps this is what it means to be a king.

With a quick decision, he strode forward and boldly took a seat on the central throne.

Bestowing favor indiscriminately only makes people take it for granted. One must have authority. The reverence they showed when I was pretending far exceeded what they show now, it’s ridiculous.

Sure enough, as he was seated high on the throne, watching the Spirit Tribe members kowtowing as he and Sisi entered, he could tell none of them dared to object. Not a single one spoke up.

Sisi looked surprised for a moment, then seemed to understand, a small smile appearing on her face. She kneeled before him. “May the sacred envoy bestow his blessing.”

Zhao Changhe said coolly, “Everyone else, wait outside.”

At that moment, only Sisi was inside. The others were still before the entrance of the temple. Hearing his command, they looked up in shock.

Zhao Changhe raised his hand and, with his Crane Controlling Art, activated the stone door’s mechanism.

With a deep rumble, the doors closed, leaving the people kneeling outside, watching as the man sat upon their sacred throne and their newly crowned queen kneeling before him, slowly lowering her head.

Boom!

The stone doors sealed shut, blocking their view entirely.

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