Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 752 (1): Ye Wuming

Zhao Changhe’s spiritual sea was in utter turmoil.

His yin spirit desperately clung to the frenzied blind woman, urging, “Blindie, let it go... Pay attention to her wording! She just said that she’s only guessing that you’re by my side, but she’s not certain. She’s testing the waters. If she was sure, this wouldn’t be how she’d be acting. Don’t give yourself away! Come on, calm down, please~”

The blind woman thrashed violently in anger. “Who does she think she is?! Helping someone else get me? What nonsense! Watch me go out there and kill her! Let’s see who’s getting who!”

Zhao Changhe hurriedly agreed, “Yeah, yeah, we don’t need her help anyway...”

The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. The blind woman turned her head, her closed eyes seemingly looking at the spot where Zhao Changhe had grabbed her wrist. Then she lifted her face as if gazing at him, her expression blank.

Zhao Changhe cautiously let go. “It’s not like I haven’t grabbed you before. What’s with that look? Ugh, just stay irritable. It suits you better. When you go all cold and expressionless, you remind me too much of Jiuyou, and that’s not a good thing...”

She’s not good, you’re much better. This was the unspoken implication. Whether the blind woman caught it or not, only she knew. In truth, Zhao Changhe had no intention of fawning over her. No matter what his subconscious desires whispered, wanting someone and liking them were two different matters. Deep down, he was no different from Xia Longyuan. His grudge against the blind woman still lingered.

But everything was relative. Compared to Jiuyou, the blind woman was undeniably more of an “ally.” And when facing a common enemy, a few pleasant words would not hurt.

The blind woman sneered. “What do you mean, we don’t need her help?”

“It’s just a figure of speech... It just means that I won’t entertain her nonsense. Just watch how I handle this. I’m about to get some answers, so don’t lose your cool and ruin the act.”

The blind woman remained silent.

As it turned out, her earlier concern that Jiuyou might detect her presence had been an overestimation. Right now, Jiuyou truly had no idea. To her, Zhao Changhe merely seemed lost in thought. After a brief pause, he responded, “I won’t lie, I’m quite interested in this offer. But I wonder, what kind of help you can provide, and what kind of price do you expect in return?”

The blind woman’s face twitched. She did not speak, but an odd feeling swelled within her. She knew Zhao Changhe was just baiting for information. But still, he was sitting there, discussing how to obtain her with another person... and she had to listen to it.

This must be how Huangfu Qing felt back when she was openly told that he liked Venerable Vermillion Bird and talked about how to get her... Unbelievable.

And then Jiuyou’s next words made it even worse. “The price depends on how much you love her.”

Zhao Changhe did not bat an eye. “I do like her quite a bit. But if you’re talking about trading my life, my soul, or anything of that sort, forget it. Gaining her that way wouldn’t be my experience—it would be meaningless.”

The blind woman bit her lip, struggling to process her outrage. She had so many things she wanted to say, but she did not even know where to start.

She suddenly had the urge to sit down with the Venerable Vermillion Bird and ask, “How the hell did you survive this kind of nonsense?”

“Heh...” Jiuyou chuckled softly, then said, “I only need one external item from you.”

Zhao Changhe’s heart stirred. “You want my sword?”

“Indeed... What is the name of your sword?”

“Winter’s Longing—a longing never to be forgotten.”

River of Stars: “...”

The blind woman: “...”

Even Jiuyou was at a loss. “Alright, alright, I get it. You can’t stop thinking about her. But her name has nothing to do with winter. What kind of nonsense is this?”

Zhao Changhe had the urge to ask Jiuyou what the blind woman’s real name was, but it was not the right moment. If he asked now, it would only make it seem like their relationship was distant—so distant that he did not even know her name. That would not be a good look.

So, instead, he turned directly to the blind woman and asked, “Hey, Blindie. Given our relationship, isn’t it about time you told me your name? Keeping it secret is making things really awkward for me here.”

“Wuming[1],” she replied indifferently. “A god born of the primordial world. I have neither a surname nor a given name. Any name one bears is either self-proclaimed or given by others, no different from a mere title. That’s why many ancient demon gods have names that sound more like epithets. Eventually, it became a trend. Even those who ascended through cultivation started naming themselves in the same fashion. I call myself Wuming, and others address me as such.”

Zhao Changhe thought to himself, Yeah, right. Like hell you’re nameless...

But he let it go for now. He believed he would pry the truth out of her sooner or later.

Still, aside from her obviously bogus claim of having no name, the other information she provided seemed accurate. Titles like Desolate Calamity and Underworld Guide were more of a classification of their cultivation paths than actual names. Speaking of ancient demon gods, isn’t Underworld Guide one of Jiuyou’s subordinates? The same one I killed?

By all logic, Jiuyou should be itching to tear him apart. The fact that they could sit here and have a civilized conversation was nothing short of a miracle.

The blind woman added, “Just say it’s River of Stars and be done with it. It’s not mine. What does her rivalry with the Night Emperor have to do with me? Those are separate matters. What are you thinking? Even if you give River of Stars to her, it has nothing to do with me.”

Now Zhao Changhe was thoroughly confused. Are you messing with me again?

Based on Jiuyou’s attitude, and his own previous speculations, Blindie should very well be the Night Emperor. They were supposed to be complete enemies. He was 99% certain that she was the Night Emperor... and now she says this?

Then again, if Blindie really is the Night Emperor, why did she just watch me “usurp” the title without saying a word? Not only have I taken the title of Night Emperor, but I’ve also swiped every last one of her former subordinates. The entire Four Idols Cult is now in my hands.

If she truly was the Night Emperor, there’s no way she’d be able to tolerate this. She would have gone berserk long ago. Moreover, if she really is the Night Emperor, why hasn’t she reclaimed the four idols to serve her instead of letting them follow me? That part is indeed a bit odd.

While Zhao Changhe was lost in thought, Jiuyou continued, “No matter how you try to declare your love for her, it’s pointless. This sword wasn’t something you created yourself. It already has a name—one that is inevitably connected to the starry sky.”

Zhao Changhe had no choice but to answer, “The sword’s name is actually River of Stars. But I won’t give it to you.”

“Why not?” Jiuyou asked. “If you hand it over to me, I can teach you how to obtain her. I’ll even throw in information about Papiyas as a bonus. That’s not an unreasonable deal.”

Even if you only asked for a scrap of paper, I wouldn’t dare give it to you—Blindie is watching. Moreover, River of Stars isn’t just any sword; she’s practically my precious little daughter. You’re dreaming if you think you’re taking her from me.

Zhao Changhe answered truthfully, “The sword has a spirit. She is like a daughter to me. I would never give her to anyone. Choose another condition.”

River of Stars: “...”

Even Jiuyou was momentarily stunned. “A sword spirit is not a person. She doesn’t even have emotions like that. Why are you acting like some doting father over a weapon?”

“Just because something isn’t human doesn’t mean that it can’t have emotions,” Zhao Changhe countered. “Technically speaking, neither you nor the Night Emperor are human. You’re both primordial gods, embodiments of entire cosmic laws. And yet, your rivalry and your hatred is deeper and more personal than anyone else’s. If hatred exists, then so does love. And more importantly, it doesn’t matter how River of Stars sees me. I see her as my daughter. That alone is reason enough. I will never give her to anyone.”

Little Starry sat there, arms crossed, her dark eyes blinking in astonishment.

It was not just her. Both the blind woman and Jiuyou were momentarily dumbfounded. The room fell into an odd silence.

After a long pause, Jiuyou finally spoke again, slowly. “This sword embodies the will of the Night Emperor, yet it is broader than her will. I desire it to glimpse the truths within. But if I cannot have the sword... there is another option.”

She hesitated briefly, then smiled—a half-mocking, half-predatory smile.

“Then I’ll take you instead. You are the new Night Emperor. The sword’s will is your will.”

Zhao Changhe looked up at the sky as if lamenting the absurdity of it all. “So we’re back to this again. Listen, you seem like a nice person, but not just anyone gets to enter my household.”

A flicker of hostility flashed through Jiuyou’s eyes. “Obtaining you has nothing to do with that kind of possession. You will be my puppet, drained of every last bit of knowledge in your mind under my control. Yuxu, Vermillion Bird, Yue Hongling—they won’t always be around you. Ye Wuming won’t be either. If you ever give me an opening... you will learn the true meaning of regret.”

It was a plain, undisguised threat—one filled with murderous intent.

Yet, Zhao Changhe’s mind latched onto only two keywords.

Ye Wuming.[2]

And you say you’re not the Night Emperor?

Jiuyou turned away. “Since our negotiations have failed, consider this so-called diplomatic mission over. The feud between Hu and Han may seem like the center of the world to you, but to me, it’s nothing more than a battle between ants. The more chaotic, the better. As for your dreams of a unified divine land... as long as I exist, that will remain an unattainable fantasy.”

From beginning to end, Jiuyou never confirmed whether the blind woman was actually present. She restrained her attacks again and again, never making a move. But the breakdown of negotiations was absolute.

From this moment on, Jiuyou was a true enemy.

As for why things had fallen apart—was it because of the blind woman? Or was it because of Little Starry?

1. Wuming (无名) literally means nameless. ☜

2. Ye (夜) means night. Shocker, I know. ☜