Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 703: Snow Owl

Whether it was the Western Regions or Xiangyang, neither should have been where Zhao Changhe was at this moment.

Snow Owl finally understood why Yue Hongling, usually as cautious as a fox and even more like an assassin than himself, had walked so brazenly into such an obvious trap this time. It was because her boy toy had arrived, and they wanted to turn the ambush against them!

Having someone to help truly changed the game, especially when said boy toy was this capable.

The key was not just about her confidence—it was that Zhao Changhe was undeniably formidable. For instance, his ability to conceal himself from detection, even while lurking nearby, was astounding. Snow Owl, skilled as he was, had not noticed a single trace of his presence. Such concealment of his strength and aura required perfect command of every shred of power and every breath, a feat beyond most people’s imagination.

If Zhao Changhe were to, at this moment, proclaim himself invincible beneath the Profound Control Realm or say that while he might not be on the Ranking of Heaven, he was first on the Ranking of the Wild Cards, few would dare argue.

After all, he was the very person who had defeated two Profound Control Realm enemies, Desolate Calamity and Hidden Wind, in back-to-back battles. Regardless of how much help he had gotten from divine artifacts or how much the victory was bolstered by luck, it was undeniable that he had achieved victory. And speaking of the divine artifacts, he still had those very divine weapons on him right now, did he not?

Take this saber strike, for example...

Zhao Changhe did not even bother responding to Snow Owl’s words. His saber descended on Snow Owl as though the Milky Way were cascading from the nine heavens, unstoppable as it surged toward the ocean!

Clang!

Snow Owl raised his sword at an angle, half to parry and half to redirect the force away.

However, having just dodged the powerful arrow that had shot past just moments ago, his posture was not properly adjusted for such maneuvers. He was not particularly known for his strength, so being forced to contend in raw power left him at a severe disadvantage. The overwhelming force of the strike erupted upon impact, and his attempt to redirect it failed. The vicious blood qi Zhao Changhe had imbued into the attack surged into Snow Owl, invading his body and leaving him wracked with discomfort.

Zhao Changhe, following Vermillion Bird’s advice, had focused on perfecting his manifestation of the Milky Way as his primary move, complemented by the unique properties of the Vicious Blood Art, creating a unique saber intent that had come into its own with this strike. This strike revealed the results of his efforts. It was also likely the first time Zhao Changhe had truly crossed blades head-on with an established Ranking of Heaven powerhouse—and he clearly had the upper hand!

Snow Owl, a veteran of the Ranking of Heaven, could not withstand the power of this blow and had to rely on his agility to retreat and absorb the impact.

But retreating was not going to be easy in this situation.

Yue Hongling, her combat intuition possibly even surpassing Zhao Changhe’s, had already predicted Snow Owl’s movements the moment Zhao Changhe swung his saber. As Snow Owl attempted to withdraw, her sword was already waiting for him, pointed right at his back. There was no room for escape!

Fortunately for Snow Owl, he was not fighting alone.

Dark Oblivion’s prison of shadows transformed into countless shadow spears, all converging on Yue Hongling’s back, aiming to skewer her before her sword could strike Snow Owl.

Zhao Changhe, seeing the imminent danger, moved without hesitation. As his saber clashed with Snow Owl’s sword, his left hand flung out River of Stars, a cascade of sword qi intercepting the shadow spears.

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If the strike that dispersed the shadow spears had instead been aimed at Snow Owl, it might have killed him outright.

But Snow Owl, as one of the world’s top assassins, had his own means. His figure shifted unnaturally, and in the next instant, the couple’s sword and saber passed through his body, striking nothing but an afterimage!

His real body reappeared a li away, fleeing swiftly. “They’ve all been saying that Zhao Changhe is a true dragon of this generation. It seems they weren’t wrong... Hah...”

Zhao Changhe stared in shock at the afterimage before him, which still bore the expression Snow Owl had right before escaping.

This was Zhao Changhe’s first time seeing Snow Owl’s face. Despite having been famous for years, Snow Owl appeared to be a young man, tall, handsome, and with eyes calm and serene. There was no trace of the ferocity one might expect from a top-tier assassin; rather, there was an air of gentleness about him.

But as the afterimage dissipated, its shifting features warped into a sneer, a hint of mockery and hidden malice surfacing at the edges.

Zhao Changhe had no time to dwell on it. He swung his sword and saber together as he decisively charged toward Dark Oblivion, who had also just decided that it was time to retreat.

Yue Hongling had also redirected her sword, thrusting it straight toward Dark Oblivion.

Dark Oblivion, who had been fully committed to the battle alongside Snow Owl moments ago, now found himself abandoned. His supposed ally had not even bothered to stall the enemy, leaving him muttering curses under his breath. Completely unwilling to continue the fight, he dissolved into the shadows of the rocks behind him, vanishing without a trace.

However, just as he merged with the shadows, River of Stars flashed. It plunged into the nearby rocks with a sharp clang. Although it seemed to strike only stone, blood seeped from the rock, and a muffled groan echoed, ethereal as though coming from another dimension.

It had landed a hit!

Previously, Dark Oblivion had been suppressed by Vermillion Bird as her element naturally countered him, leaving him weakened with residual eternal flames clinging to his form. This was why he had been unable to display the full strength of a Profound Control Realm demon god, as well as why Yue Hongling did not dare to take the bait alone. Nevertheless, while the residual flames that clung to his body diminished his strength considerably, it had not caused lasting harm—akin to a thorn in one’s flesh rather than a debilitating injury.

But this time, the strike from River of Stars was different. Its unique properties inflicted real, devastating damage. The sword, embodying the night and darkness, rendered shadows powerless before it. Had Zhao Changhe fully grasped its potential and pinpointed Dark Oblivion’s exact location, this attack might have ended him outright.

Zhao Changhe, knowing he had underperformed, felt slightly embarrassed but still tried to murder the man with a verbal jab. “You actually dare call yourself Dark Oblivion? Why not just call yourself Shady Knife?”

Yue Hongling looked at her man with a mix of awe, joy, and a tinge of complicated emotions. “You... you’ve surpassed me.”

Indeed, the Zhao Changhe of today was stronger than her.

She had only recently broken through to the third layer of the Profound Mysteries, while Zhao Changhe clearly seemed ready to break into the Profound Control Realm.

Their gazes met, and countless memories flickered through their eyes. So many shared moments, so many emotions.

The Buddha: “...”

The Buddha stood silently to the side. Ever since it had punched Yue Hongling away earlier, it had been in a daze. Now, it resembled a golden statue, glowing brighter than any lantern yet utterly ignored by the couple lost in their own world.

From within Dragon Bird, a female voice suddenly spoke, “Don’t forget to retrieve the arrow! Do I have to remind you every single time, you wasteful fool?”

Yue Hongling: “?”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“Next time, if you can’t hit your target, then just don’t shoot. Just watching you waste all these valuable resources makes my heart ache.”

The intense moment between the two finally broke. Zhao Changhe shot back irritably, “Do you even know how to shoot[1]?”

“Speak properly.”

“You’re just a kid, you wouldn’t understand!”

“...”

Yue Hongling stared at Dragon Bird in surprise. “Your saber can actually talk? And it’s a girl... Can she come out? My sword also seems to be developing a spirit. Maybe I could use it as a reference.”

Zhao Changhe thought to himself that Yue Hongling’s achievement was the truly remarkable one here. His sword and saber spirits had been cultivated with external guidance, but Yue Hongling’s spirit was being birthed purely through her countless battles. Her sword itself had some history, of course—after her old one broke, she had chosen a replacement from the Spirit Tribe’s ancient treasures. Its durability must have helped her wield it this long, but for it to transition from lifeless to sentient? That was a genuine feat.

He suddenly reached out, grabbed the Dragon Bird’s “hair,” and yanked its spirit out of the saber.

Dragon Bird: “?”

She had never left the saber before. Now, suddenly exposed to sunlight, she squinted, shielding her eyes awkwardly as if unaccustomed to the brightness.

Yue Hongling examined her in amazement. “She, she looks... quite mixed.”

Zhao Changhe paused, trying to decipher her comment, then almost burst out laughing when he understood.

Dragon Bird shot her a glare. “What do you mean by that?! This is the result of taking the best out of everyone! What would a rustic woman like you know?”

Yue Hongling chuckled and teased, “Do I share a part in that best of yours?”

Dragon Bird froze, her voice suddenly hesitant. “...Yes.”

Yue Hongling smiled sweetly and patted her on the head. “Then call me Mom.”

Dragon Bird was utterly stunned. She had never left the blade before, so her mind was already in a whirl, and now Yue Hongling’s playful banter left her completely at a loss. Wait, if I’m a mix, then I guess calling her mom...

“Rustic woman, huh? Did you learn that from Xia Chichi?” Yue Hongling sighed. “Well, that auntie didn’t teach you well. Your mom will teach you from now on.”

Dragon Bird was utterly dumbfounded. Are they going to all be picking fights because of me?

Zhao Changhe, however, felt a subtle shift in Yue Hongling’s words. She had never been one to argue over such things, but this time...

Could it be that with destiny having brought us together here, she no longer wants to leave?

He suddenly asked, “Are you tired?”

Yue Hongling looked at him for a long while before smiling faintly and responding, “You’re overthinking it.”

“You don’t get to decide that.”

“Didn’t your big sister ever tell you that a woman’s words aren’t to be trusted?”

“No.”

The Buddha: “...”

Are these two not done yet?

“Buddha!” The sound of people rushing through the air came from afar—Yuan Cheng, Yuan Xing, and the others had finally arrived. They stared at Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling, looking as if they were in a dream.

Isn’t this the secret realm within our temple? Why are you two here?

Dragon Bird, with a quick swoosh, slipped back into the saber. Zhao Changhe finally sighed and said, “It’s a long story. Let’s return to the temple, and I’ll explain.”

Yuan Cheng composed himself and ordered the monks, “Prepare a vegetarian feast and guest accommodations for King Zhao.”

Zhao Changhe said, “There’s no need for all that. Do you have a hot spring here? That’s what I’d really like right now...”

Yue Hongling kicked him in the leg and stormed off with a huff.

Meanwhile, far away on a distant mountaintop, Snow Owl stood in his pristine white robes, gazing silently toward the battlefield. It was not clear what he could see from this distance.

Dark Oblivion stumbled out of the shadows, blood dripping from his body, his voice filled with resentment, “Why didn’t you hold out for a bit longer? If you’d endured one more strike, I could have wounded Yue Hongling!”

Snow Owl’s gaze shifted from the distant battlefield to Dark Oblivion. His calm expression betrayed a trace of something peculiar as his eyes fell on the blood dripping from the other party. “I... was just wondering if your death here would be reported by the Tome of Troubled Times.”

Dark Oblivion’s heart skipped a beat. “You...”

Without warning, the tip of a sword pierced through Dark Oblivion’s chest, straight into his heart.

Snow Owl’s face remained serene. “Chaos and shadow always lose to light because they are inherently too fragmented. You and those old corpses like Desolate Calamity are nothing more than decaying remnants. What use do you have, tell me?”

Dark Oblivion stared in disbelief at the sword embedded in his chest. “You... You were holding back earlier now... Was I your real target this whole time?”

Snow Owl did not answer, continuing in the same voice, “I’ve been thinking things through carefully... The only purpose of beings like you is to give shape to chaos and destruction during apocalyptic times. You’re essentially avatars of the so-called Primordial Demon God... But now, your historical role has lost meaning. Your demonic intent shall be passed on to today’s generation. Your mission... ends here.”

1. The line here is actually a rather famous line from a well-known story in Chinese literature titled Senior Oil Vendor (卖油翁) by Ouyang Xiu (欧阳修) of the Song dynasty. ☜