Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 751: I Can Help You Get Her

The blind woman flushed crimson. There was no way she was voicing that thought aloud. Right now, she only wanted to leap out and strangle Jiuyou with her own hands.

My transcendent dignity and lofty presence... you wretched harlot, you’re tearing them apart!

The exchange in the spiritual sea flickered by in an instant.

To the gathered officials in the grand hall, “Qin Jiu” was simply smiling as he replied, “This humble monk follows the Buddhist path and has no intention of starting a family. Please, let us not discuss marriage alliances any further.”

Vermillion Bird, Yue Hongling, and even the blind woman let out a synchronized sigh of relief. Their expressions noticeably improved.

Vermillion Bird even leaned back into her chair, lazily sipping her tea, her thoughts drifting. Good boy. Tonight, you may request some... previously unused positions.

Meanwhile, in the depths of Zhao Changhe’s soul sea, the blind woman finally released her grip on his yin spirit’s collar. Her closed eyes seemed to sweep over him in assessment.

She was rather satisfied—not that anyone should misunderstand. She was referring to his yin spirit’s growth, of course. Once upon a time, Lady Three had cradled his spirit, rubbing it between her fingers. It had been like a little mouse toyed with by a cat. Now, however, his yin spirit had become nearly indistinguishable from his physical self. It was now solid, stable, and powerful.

This was the Profound Control Realm. His yin spirit had fully matured. At his current level, if he acquired the right treasures for support, he too could achieve the so-called “persisting yin spirit” that those other powerful figures demonstrated.

More than that, his Profound Control Realm felt... different. It was far more solid than what would have been warranted right after a breakthrough. That vast, starry expanse of his spiritual sea made the blind woman fall into contemplative silence.

Meanwhile, Jiuyou was speaking. “You are a layman, are you not? Or do you intend to become a monk?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “That remains to be seen. I can’t exactly let myself be tied down just yet, can I?”

Jiuyou tilted her head slightly. “But you did kiss my hand. A Buddhist disciple... behaving so frivolously... and now you intend to walk away without taking responsibility?”

“Pfft—!” Someone in the hall sprayed their tea. The entire chamber erupted into an uproar.

Vermillion Bird and Yue Hongling’s faces turned ashen. Inside Zhao Changhe’s spiritual sea, the blind woman furiously grabbed him by the throat and shook him back and forth.

“That’s what you get for pouting your lips! That’s what you get! Why didn’t you just kiss a pile of cow dung instead?!”

Zhao Changhe really wanted to argue. Her hand was the only thing left in front of me! Do I even need to say what you were thinking at the time? She practically forced me into it! Now you’re blaming me for the whole thing?!

But now was definitely not the time to be quarreling with the blind woman. A whole audience was watching him...

His mind whirled, and he quickly cleared his throat and put on a puzzled look as he said, “Miss, what do you mean? Last night, while I was traveling alone through the dark alleyways, a woman did appear and stopped me in my path, tugging at my sleeve. I had no desire to entangle myself with her, and in my attempts to escape, it was inevitable that some accidental contact occurred...

“But the Li Clan of Longxi is a long-standing aristocratic family that has given our empire generations of marquises and dukes. A young lady of such upbringing, one raised in an aristocratic household, well-versed in etiquette and decorum... How could she possibly be the sort to loiter in alleyways like some wandering courtesan? Miss, you are a beautiful and intelligent person. But we are not suited for each other. There is no need for you to sully your reputation for the sake of a wandering rogue like myself. It simply is not worth it.”

Vermillion Bird narrowed her eyes and took a sip of tea, passing a cup to Yue Hongling.

Inside his spiritual sea, the blind woman’s grip on his throat relaxed, shifting instead to straightening the collar of his robe.

She gave him a gentle, motherly smile. “You’ve grown up...”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Meanwhile, it was Jiuyou’s turn to be stunned. Her small lips parted slightly, momentarily at a loss for words.

For once, she actually looked... adorably bewildered.

She might be a demon god of death and oblivion—someone who could force Zhao Changhe to flee in a direct confrontation—but when it came to verbal sparring? She was absolutely no match for the now battle-hardened Zhao Changhe.

Watching her expression shift, the blind woman felt a surge of satisfaction.

Jiuyou ground her teeth for a long moment before finally squeezing out a sentence through clenched jaws, “Very well. If one day you do decide to take monastic vows, be sure to send an invitation. I imagine many would be quite eager to witness the ceremony.”

Zhao Changhe smiled and said, “That is a matter for the future. But should I ever choose to marry instead, I might consider you. Though by that time, I imagine you will already be wed to someone else.”

Jiuyou’s face began to turn an ominous shade of blue. The way this conversation had played out... it had completely cemented the narrative. Now, no matter how the rumors spread in Chang’an, the outcome was clear: Jiuyou had thrown herself at someone, only to be rejected.

At this rate, the gossip might evolve into something even more scandalous. According to this version of events, it was only a matter of time before people started saying she had already been played with and then left behind like a discarded garment. She could already see the future headlines.

Before Jiuyou could explode in fury, Zhao Changhe swiftly turned to address the entire hall, “Papiyas has been lurking in Chang’an. His presence does not threaten only the Buddhist sects. His perversion of doctrine, his preaching of the demonic path—these are dangers to everyone in this hall. I trust that many of you have attended his sermons... Do you feel good about that?”

A long, collective exhale spread through the hall. It was so synchronized that it created a visible mist of breath in the air. The sight was almost theatrical in its grandeur. This was far more entertaining than any stage play. No matter how famous the actors, no performance could compare to what was unfolding here today.

At long last, someone finally broke the silence. The first to speak was Wei Changming, “Indeed. That fiend harbored sinister intentions. All of us were almost deceived by him. Had that happened, who knows what disaster might have befallen us in the future?”

Zhao Changhe nodded slightly. “Then this is not merely a matter for the Buddhist sects; it is a matter for all of Chang’an. If the young lady possesses knowledge regarding Papiyas, I urge her to share it openly, so that we may all work together to eradicate this menace.”

Throughout the hall, many officials internally cheered. Brilliant!

Not only had he deftly sidestepped that embarrassing situation, but he had also redirected the conversation back to the real issue: Papiyas.

They had all heard of Zhao Changhe’s origins. He had been nothing more than a mountain bandit, a ruffian steeped in the ways of the jianghu. And yet, watching him maneuver this exchange so effortlessly, they finally understood why Tang Wanzhuang had once taken such an interest in him. She must have seen this potential in him even back when he was still just some outlaw in the wilderness.

Jiuyou stared at Zhao Changhe for a long moment, her expression unreadable, shifting between light and shadow. Who knew what she was thinking?

At last, she slowly said, “Very well. But this is not a matter that can be discussed in public. If you have the courage, Mister Qin, then follow me.”

Without another word, she turned and disappeared through the rear of the hall.

As her graceful, shapely figure vanished into the corridor, all eyes turned to Zhao Changhe. Then, just as quickly, they turned to Vermillion Bird and Yue Hongling.

Most of them did not truly comprehend Jiuyou’s power. They did not realize why following her required courage. Instead, they had a different assumption. They all knew this “Qin Jiu” was actually Zhao Changhe, so if courage was required... it was probably because these two women were going to beat him senseless afterward.

But to everyone’s surprise, instead of jealousy or suspicion, the two women smiled. A rare moment of absolute trust—radiant, confident. Vermillion Bird and Yue Hongling whispered to him, grinning like blooming flowers, “Go ahead. We’ll be watching. If she dares to make a move, we’ll tear the whole place apart. We’re not afraid.”

Even the blind woman offered her support, in an uncharacteristic display. “Go on. If she tries anything underhanded... I’m here.”

Zhao Changhe clasped his hands toward the gathered nobles and ministers, then strode after Jiuyou without hesitation. Vermillion Bird, sipping her tea leisurely, stretched out in satisfaction and turned to Li Boping with a relaxed smile. “For now, let’s set aside the matter of marriage alliances. But judging by the esteemed officials’ sentiments, it seems the discussion of jointly resisting the northern barbarians can still proceed? Then let us continue with that. How shall we collaborate in the future?”

Li Boping could say nothing of consequence. He could not decide anything without guidance from his so-called ancestor. He could only stall. “The previous conversation was quite tiring. For now, let’s drink tea and wine, and speak only of poetry and leisure.”

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe had followed Jiuyou out of the rear hall.

Outside, a light snow was still falling. Ancient pines and cypress trees stood tall and proud, their branches weighed down by snow yet refusing to bow.

Jiuyou stood before a pine tree, hands clasped behind her back, gazing into the distance. She did not turn as she spoke, her voice drifting through the cold air, “She chose you as her agent. What price did you pay?”

Zhao Changhe feigned ignorance. “Who are you talking about?”

Jiuyou frowned slightly, puzzled. “I cannot sense her presence. That is... unusual. Has she lost her physical form?” She seemed to contemplate for a moment before shaking her head and saying, “It doesn’t matter. She must exist in some form by your side.”

Zhao Changhe remained silent.

So... she hasn’t noticed the blind woman’s existence? That means the blind woman is still a tier above Jiuyou.

But right now, that distinction hardly seemed relevant. Whether Jiuyou could sense her or not, she had already reached her own conclusion.

Sure enough, Jiuyou continued, “Papiyas revealed your desires—I saw them clearly. And to think... it was her. You actually love her? Hahaha... A silent, shadowed night. A heart unmoved by the heavens. And yet she of all beings, would resort to seducing a man to make him serve her? Hahaha... Hahahahahaha...!”

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Zhao Changhe: “...”

The blind woman: “???”

What the hell are you talking about?! I swear—

Jiuyou suddenly turned.

She locked eyes with Zhao Changhe, her lips curving into an enchanting smile laced with a dangerous, insidious allure. “If your deepest desire is to have her... that means you haven’t succeeded yet. That makes sense. She would never be so easily won, but I can help you... No one understands her weaknesses better than I do. So tell me... Do you want her?”