Chaotic World Book-Chapter 444 - 431 The Way of Sword and Blade Acknowledging Their Master

Chapter 444: Chapter 431 The Way of Sword and Blade Acknowledging Their Master

Fortunately, Sword Spirits were ultimately just that, and their way of thinking differed from that of real humans. Essentially, they just followed the "character settings" and reacted accordingly without true contemplation.

At first glance, they seemed incredibly powerful, but they were different from humans after all... Even the strongest weapon needed a formidable master to wield it before it could reach its full potential.

After observing for a moment, Tang Wanju suddenly struck with her sword.

A continuous net of sword energy surrounded the area where swords and blades clashed, as if creating a deep aquatic domain.

In the midst of an exhilarating exchange of blade and sword, they suddenly found their movements becoming sluggish, as if trapped in the deep sea, surrounded by pressing waters, making it increasingly difficult to exert any force.

Without needing instructions from Tang Wanju, Zhao Changhe, with his keen sense of battle, grabbed the handle of Dragon Sparrow immediately.

It felt like grabbing the ponytail of a girl. Dragon Sparrow, infuriated and trembling, was caught in such a grip that it couldn’t move, allowing the Ancient Sword to land several strikes.

Zhao Changhe could even conjure up an image of an unlucky soul being pulled aside in a scuffle, being kicked by another while it couldn’t retaliate... The sense of deja vu was too strong.

Seizing the opportunity, Tang Wanju reached out and also grabbed the Ancient Sword.

Taking advantage of its length, Dragon Sparrow slashed once satisfactorily and then stopped attacking, but it continued to tremble.

Ancient Sword: "..."

Dragon Sparrow: "..."

Tang Wanju frowned as she looked at the trembling sword in her hand and whispered, "It refuses to submit to me, struggling to break free. I must suppress it with all my strength, and cannot use it against an enemy, or else it might harm me during combat. Strange, how was Xuanwu able to command it?"

Zhao Changhe replied, "Dragon Sparrow is the same. Initially, Old Cui let me try the blade just to see if it would let me use it. In the case of Xuanwu, he must have some connection with the sword, barely able to wield it... In any case, it’s far from true recognition as its master."

"Did Cui Wenjing also suggest that you let Dragon Sparrow recognize you as its master sooner?"

"I was advised to do so back at Yanmen. But I simply can’t find the way; Dragon Sparrow ignores me completely when I try to communicate, how can I get it to recognize me..." Zhao Changhe said with a headache as he pinched his forehead: "During the battle with Maitreya, I had to beg and plead every time I wanted to throw it, thankfully it was compliant. Otherwise, it would have been even more problematic."

After pondering for a moment, Tang Wanju decisively said, "During your recovery period in the next few days, focus on this."

With an awkward expression, Zhao Changhe asked, "No more lessons then?"

Tang Wanju responded indignantly, "Forget it. You’re just not cut out for it, a complete monkey."

Zhao Changhe didn’t continue to wheedle and instead asked directly, "As an important government official, you know more about these matters. If I want to gain control of Dragon Sparrow, do you have any suggestions?"

Tang Wanju felt as though she was a prince consulting his minister, and her heart was filled with complex emotions. After a long silence she finally spoke softly, "Both these weapons are fit for an emperor. Initially, Dragon Sparrow was willing to recognize you because it sensed your Six Harmonies Divine Skill... The meaning of Six Harmonies Divine Skill to Dragon Sparrow isn’t about the inheritance of a certain person; it doesn’t recognize that. What it truly acknowledges is the concept of Unification of Six Harmonies, the converging of all streams into the sea within the Divine Skill."

Zhao Changhe had a moment of realization, "I see... I wondered why it refused to recognize even Old Xia, refusing Xia’s inheritance... Turns out it’s unrelated to the inheritance; it’s all about the meaning."

"Yes..." Tang Wanju hesitated slightly and then said, "You told me before that His Majesty had a conversation with you... I don’t know when you met with His Majesty, but do you feel that after that, Dragon Sparrow’s recognition of you increased?"

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment and shook his head slightly, "I don’t know, it’s true that Dragon Sparrow has become closer to me, but I haven’t felt any significant transformative moment. It’s like when people grow closer over time."

"It must be related... You fought against the barbarians in the north and quelled the Demon Sect in the south, always walking on the path of clearing the world. Dragon Sparrow would naturally grow to recognize you more. But there’s a key element missing... you have no desire to be Emperor."

Tang Wanju didn’t know if suggesting this meant she was leading him to become the Emperor, but it seemed to be the truth.

After all, weapons were just that, and their recognition of a master didn’t necessarily require the master to be stronger than they. Just as a horse does not need its rider to run faster than itself in order to be mastered.

In the past, one could say that Dragon Sparrow looked down on a mere Mystical Gate martial artist. But now, Zhao Changhe had made a Secret Realm Breakthrough, and in a sense had touched the Heaven and Earth Bridge. Compared to ordinary humans, this was a qualitative change, and although not as powerful as Dragon Sparrow, it should have been enough to meet the standard of recognition.

His other aspects were also imposing; carrying the well-being of the people on one side, and in the realm of martial arts, he could harness the idea of all rivers flowing into the sea for his use. His unruly and dominating nature was ingrained, and his recent organizing of the hunt for Maitreya was a very typical role of a central organizer, all of which was very much in line with Dragon Sparrow’s aesthetic.

The only reason he could not be considered a master was that he did not have the heart of an emperor.

So, in fact, Dragon Sparrow was willing to heed most of his commands. It appearing to begrudgingly assist him was actually it following orders.

There was just a little something missing from full recognition...

Uh, why did that sound a bit like her own situation, Tang Wanju thought.

Zhao Changhe also realized this, thinking to himself, why do I always encounter such proudly stubborn characters?

Following this line of thinking, it would be impossible for him to ever fully gain Dragon Sparrow’s allegiance because he truly had no desire to be Emperor.

"Forget recognizing a master. If Dragon Sparrow is actually willing to help, even if it’s just showing off a bit of pride, then it’s fine..." Zhao Changhe’s words trailed off mid-sentence as he suddenly stopped and stared in shock.

In front of him, Tang Wanju knelt down gracefully and spoke softly, "Greetings, Crown Prince."

Zhao Changhe quickly went to help her up, but in that instant, he felt Dragon Sparrow in his hand stop trembling.

Kneeling on the ground, Tang Wanzhuang had a slight smile at the corner of her mouth. She also noticed that the ancient sword in her hand had stopped trembling.

The spirit of the sword, after all, wasn’t human... and could be deceived.

Zhao Changhe was momentarily stunned but still helped Tang Wanzhuang up first. He mumbled for a while and even played along, saying, "My subject, please rise."

He felt so awkward that his scalp tingled, but the sword truly became quieter.

Tang Wanzhuang stood up, pursed her lips, and a faint blush appeared on her face.

This time it was an act, to fool the sword, and she could still convince herself. But... it seemed like if she pushed him into power, there would eventually come a day when she truly had to do so.

The thought alone made her so embarrassed that she could scratch her feet. How could she kneel down then!

Zhao Changhe was also looking at her with a strange expression, and neither of them spoke for a long while.

After a good while, Tang Wanzhuang finally pursed her lips and said, "Do you feel very smug? Do you get a kick out of it?"

"I just feel my scalp tingling..."

"Shh..." Tang Wanzhuang raised her index finger, "They are sentient, don’t blabber recklessly."

"Who cares about that." Zhao Changhe shrugged and smiled, "If it doesn’t recognize its master, then so be it. As long as it still recognizes a partner and can uses its power as a normal sword, that’s fine... Even if it doesn’t want to exert even that much, if it suits, it stays; if not, it goes. Can I actually change my thoughts just to cater to a sword?"

Tang Wanzhuang watched him silently, without a word.

Speaking thus, Zhao Changhe casually threw both the sword and the dagger into his ring, "You two calm down, too."

Even though he’d "given away the secret," the sword hadn’t acted up again. It miraculously really calmed down inside the ring.

Tang Wanzhuang turned her head, "Why bother doing this?"

"Because I can’t bear to." Zhao Changhe reached out and gently stroked her slightly flushed cheek, "The Tang Wanzhuang in my heart is pure as jade, she can’t be kneeling to anyone, and mustn’t kneel from now on... not even to Xia."

Tang Wanzhuang had a smile in her eyes; she actually had been exempted from kneeling. When entering the imperial court, she even had a seat arranged, although that was due to physical reasons, but she truly had never kneel. After pacifying Jiangnan, her status would probably entitle her to "enter the palace without hastening, and ascend without being named."

But with Zhao Changhe saying this, she still deliberately said, "If you want me not to kneel to others, then you should sit in that position."

"Even kneeling to me is not allowed." Zhao Changhe whispered in her ear, "Unless... in a special place, then it is permissible..."

Tang Wanzhuang fiercely grabbed him, "Zhao Changhe!"

"See, you can’t even do that, so how could you kneel..." Zhao Changhe chuckled softly, "Have you thought it through? Do you still want this Crown Prince?"

Tang Wanzhuang choked up a bit, and stubbornly said, "Of course I do."

"Then... behave yourself, keep to the unspoken rules." Zhao Changhe leaned down and kissed her, murmuring to himself, "I must admit, that feeling really is euphoric..."

"Psh, do you think you, as a mere Crown Prince, have the right to touch me? Don’t you float away!... Mmm mmm mmm..."

Amidst the ruins, the man and woman kissed with complex emotions, each seemingly rethinking what they truly desired.

Footsteps sounded from afar.

The house had been demolished, such a disturbance naturally attracted the attention of the guards in the residence. Tang Buqi led his troops over, but from a distance, he abruptly stopped them, holding back his personal soldiers, "It’s nothing, go back..."

Auntie still stubbornly said it was not... Damn it, an auntie just a few years older was one thing, but now to have an uncle three years younger, how were they to live with that...

The couple was startled awake.

Tang Wanzhuang gently pushed Zhao Changhe, breathing heavily and whispering, "Go back and ponder the matter of the sword recognizing its master... Once it does, your combat power will soar, it will greatly help your journey, it’s not time for heroics."

She paused, then added, "I’ll take Bao Qin with me today."

Zhao Changhe was startled, "Why are you leaving?"

"The matter of Maitreya, I must return and report, that’s one reason. More importantly..." Tang Wanzhuang sounded somewhat helpless, "I feel that being here this time, I’m a side effect to you... your concern for me surpasses that of healing and practicing martial arts. You have more things to do, you shouldn’t indulge in these... otherwise, I would turn into a femme fatale that brings disaster to the nation, which is not my intention."

Zhao Changhe scratched his head.

When Tang Wanzhuang became a femme fatale... why did that sound somewhat appealing?

"Actually, I’ve always felt that romance really doesn’t suit you. Bao Qin was right from the start, just like a bear trying to embroider." Tang Wanzhuang laughed at herself, "Perhaps when we are gone, and you roam alone, challenging the world with your blade, that’s when you become the Blood Shura Zhao Changhe that truly captivates our hearts... What an irony."

Tang Buqi watched from a distance and suddenly felt it made sense.

No wonder he found it disagreeable when he saw him and his aunt being so sticky with each other. So that’s what it was!

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