Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 711: All Are Actors

Zhao Changhe seemed unaware of the shifting shadows behind him, and Yue Hongling was equally oblivious. The two walked hand in hand for a while before realizing that the sun was setting. They climbed onto Snow-Treading Crow together and soared southwest, their pace leisurely and unhurried.

The best part about having a flying horse was not just the novelty of flight—it was the freedom of hands-free travel. Snow-Treading Crow’s ability to fly meant that Zhao Changhe could relax, enjoy the view, and, of course, indulge in some affectionate moments with Yue Hongling.

For Yue Hongling, it was her first time riding a flying horse. Sitting right in front of Zhao Changhe, she curiously leaned into the experience. She faced the rushing wind, feeling an exhilarating freedom. “Flying feels amazing.”

“Mm-hm,” Zhao Changhe responded absentmindedly.

The chilly wind tugged at Yue Hongling’s hair, sending it streaming behind her in wild, untamed waves. Sitting behind her, Zhao Changhe wrapped an arm securely around her waist, his head tucked to avoid her flying hair. He rested his chin on her shoulder, their faces close together, enjoying the moment in comfortable silence.

Yue Hongling, unable to resist sharing her thoughts, said, “I never realized flying at high altitudes required cultivation. Without proper training, the wind pressure and air currents would be unbearable. And Snow-Treading Crow is only flying slowly right now. If we went faster, it’d be even harder to manage staying on.”

“Mm-hm.”

“But I don’t see you circulating any internal energy to ward off the wind. Is your face made of iron? Well, I suppose it is.”

“The wind avoids me,” Zhao Changhe replied lazily. Almost as if on cue, Yue Hongling noticed the wind rushing toward her face disappear. Her streaming hair settled down, falling softly against her back.

She was startled. “How are you doing this? Just how much can you do now?”

Zhao Changhe sidestepped the question. “Do you want the wind back? You seemed to enjoy it blowing in your face.”

“You seem to be the one who was enjoying it.”

“Oh, I do, actually.”

“...Get lost. Go find Sisi. She’s probably the only one shameless enough to put up with you.”

“Sisi, huh... It’s hard to say if she’s still as clingy to me as she used to be. Distance and time have a way of dulling things.”

Yue Hongling squinted at the setting sun in the distance, her voice dropping to a softer tone, “Oh? And what about you? Do you still feel the same about her as you did? Or was it never really about affection, just a conquest?”

Zhao Changhe shook his head. “When she saved me from the blood pool, it created a bond that can’t be severed. As for conquest—that’s more about the dynamic between the Central Plains and the Spirit Tribe. It has to be that way. The barbarian tribes only fear strength, not virtue. If you give them too much leeway, you’re just inviting trouble. I need them to fear me... but that’s about them. It has nothing to do with the relationship between me and her.”

Yue Hongling’s lips curled into a faint smile. “So do you still think about her?”

“I do, though not often,” Zhao Changhe admitted. “Honestly, I don’t think about anyone very much in my day-to-day life. It’s not because I’m heartless. It’s just that there’s always something to do, so much so that I barely have time to catch my breath, let alone dwell on personal feelings. But if you want to call me heartless, I won’t argue...”

Yue Hongling chuckled. “Who’s calling you heartless? Do as you like.”

Zhao Changhe found her words peculiar, unsure if she was jealous or subtly asking on Sisi’s behalf. He decided not to overthink it, leaning over to plant a quick kiss on her cheek.

Yue Hongling flinched slightly and playfully scolded him, “You’re like a little puppy.”

“Aren’t I, though?”

“Funny, I heard someone call you a pig.”

“What? Who told you that? There’s someone in the Four Idols Cult who you’re that close to? Who?...”

Yue Hongling doubled over with laughter. “You just admitted it yourself!”

Zhao Changhe’s face turned red, and he reached out to tickle her in mock revenge. The two began another round of playful wrestling in mid-air.

Snow-Treading Crow: “...”

The horse bore it silently. Do you two seriously love to play fight that much? Well, whatever, I’m just a horse. I don’t need to bother myself with your nonsense.

The sun gradually set, its last sliver disappearing behind the horizon. At the same time, the crescent moon began to rise, casting a soft, silvery glow. Sun and moon briefly shared the sky.

Snow-Treading Crow approached a nearby mountaintop, its hooves hovering just above the summit. The trees below swayed in the night breeze, their shadows casting eerie shapes across the ground.

The couple, seemingly tired from their antics, sat entwined on the horse, stealing a quiet kiss under the night sky. The scene of the forest at dusk, paired with the gentle mountain breeze, seemed to evoke a deeper intimacy, and for a moment, they were utterly lost in each other.

As the night deepened, shadows layered and thickened, creeping closer to the couple without their notice. Yue Hongling’s sword rested at her waist, while Zhao Changhe’s weapons were stored in his storage ring.

Suddenly, the shadowy tendrils surged forward, poised to pierce both of them through in a single swift strike.

But just as the attack was about to land, the couple abruptly separated. The strike whistled through the space between them, missing entirely. With a sharp cry, Snow-Treading Crow bolted, its hooves pounding the air. A crisp clang rang out as Yue Hongling unsheathed her sword, and Zhao Changhe’s broad saber gleamed in his hand. In perfect synchronization, they slashed at the shadow, cleaving it apart.

The severed shadow recoiled, its controller’s energy signature momentarily exposed. Without hesitation, the couple tracked the source, their blades slicing through the air. In two swift motions, they cornered the attacker, confining him between them.

Back on the mountaintop, the mass of shadows writhed and stabbed upward, but they struck only air. Zhao Changhe, Yue Hongling, and Snow-Treading Crow had long since left their original positions.

Snow Owl hesitated for a moment, then shook his head with a sigh. “You’ve been acting this whole time. From visiting your subordinates to being affectionate on the back of your horse, you put on a show of complete ignorance, keeping up the charade for four or five hours straight.”

Zhao Changhe smirked. “Well, you’ve spent your whole life as an assassin. Your patience is second to none. You wouldn’t have made your move unless you were absolutely certain. And if you didn’t strike, you’d keep lurking in the shadows. Living like that—always on edge, looking over my shoulder, unable to even properly embrace my wife—I’d rather not. You might be able to endure that kind of life, but I can’t. So, of course, I had to lure you out for a decisive encounter. Otherwise, do you really think I’d be so desperate to start nibbling on her while on horseback?”

Yue Hongling and the blind woman: That’s exactly what I think.

Snow Owl, however, did not respond to that. Instead, he asked, “It’s easy to observe whether someone is fully alert from their muscle tension and energy flow. From what I saw, you and Yue Hongling genuinely weren’t prepared. How did you know when I’d strike?”

“Take a guess.” Zhao Changhe smiled faintly. The truth was, having his Back Eye made it incredibly easy. He could monitor everything happening within several li as if it were laid out before his eyes. It was not some vague sense of danger but an actual, detailed awareness of every movement. Naturally, Snow Owl could not detect any signs of tension or vigilance—it was simply not necessary.

Snow Owl’s efforts, in Zhao Changhe’s perception, looked like a stage play where a veteran actor poured their heart into their performance, completely unaware the audience was already aware of the ending. Of course, Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling were also playing their roles on the stage. He wondered if Snow Owl felt the urge to applaud their act.

Seeing as Zhao Changhe was not going to give him a proper answer, Snow Owl did not press him further but instead asked, “How did you know I was plotting against you?”

This time, Zhao Changhe answered, “Well, shutting or isolating the space would naturally create the impression that your side has completely retreated. Most would focus on when the space might reconnect, leading them to overlook the possibility that anyone could still be within the space. Both you and Dark Oblivion are adept at concealment. For all I know, you were probably on the mountain peak within the secret realm, watching those monk’s clumsy antics as they tapped and knocked all over the spatial barrier. Regardless, based on my experience, there was at least an eighty percent chance you stayed behind. Otherwise, your prior efforts would have been meaningless.”

Behind him, Yue Hongling’s expression tightened. She felt a bit embarrassed. When they were at the mountain earlier, even she had been preoccupied with the separation of space and had not considered the possibility of someone staying behind. Thankfully, Zhao Changhe’s reasoning had given her a nudge, and she quickly adjusted her thinking.

“If someone stayed behind, they would only have two possible objectives: either to take control of the temple’s Buddha or to eliminate me directly,” Zhao Changhe continued. “That’s why I chose to visit my old brothers and drink with them far from the temple—separating these two potential targets. If something were to happen at the temple, it would’ve happened already. But since it didn’t, it became clear that the target was me.”

Snow Owl finally spoke, “Correct. The Buddha can be dealt with at any time, but the opportunity to track King Zhao does not come often. The fact that you don’t consider yourself a primary target made it even more likely you wouldn’t be prepared. It was the best chance. Between the two, the Buddha could wait.”

Zhao Changhe sighed. “So it seems I’ve saved the Buddha from another calamity.”

Snow Owl’s tone remained indifferent. “Not necessarily. Killing you first and then dealing with the Buddha is still a viable option.”

Zhao Changhe raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you usually someone who relies on ambushes rather than direct confrontation? Are you really going to break your streak for me? Well, a bit of masculinity does suit you, you know?”

Snow Owl’s face did not betray any emotion. “It’s only because you have convinced me it might be worth the effort.”

Clang!

Yue Hongling’s sword suddenly intercepted a silent attack, but the force behind it was so immense that she was forced to retreat several zhang, landing on a treetop below.

Simultaneously, Snow Owl’s figure flickered, and the tip of his blade was already aimed at Zhao Changhe’s throat.

Zhao Changhe shifted, attempting to sidestep the strike, but found himself a fraction of a second too slow.

Snow Owl’s attack, initially appearing as expected, suddenly accelerated midway. It became unnaturally fast, and his aura surged explosively. Everyone had been hiding their true strength, but Snow Owl’s concealed power far exceeded expectations—this was not the level of someone merely in the third layer of the Profound Mysteries.

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This single miscalculation led to disaster, allowing Snow Owl’s sword to ruthlessly slice across Zhao Changhe’s throat.