Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 18: The Winter Solstice

Looking at the metal staff in his hand and then at the beads of sweat on Zhao Changhe’s forehead, Instructor Sun could tell how much hard work the youth had put into his saber training. This was not mere talent. In the last twenty days, other than sleeping, eating, and occasionally sneaking out to take a bath, Zhao Changhe had spent every minute of his time training.

There was just that one day where Zhao Changhe had lost focus, and for that, he had punished himself by practicing a move three thousand times.

This attitude toward training was something Instructor Sun had never seen in all his years teaching bandits. He felt like there was a tiger chasing him from behind as if its life depended on it.

How much could one’s features change in just twenty days? At most, some stubble could grow out. But Instructor Sun could clearly feel that Zhao Changhe’s face was calmer and more resolute; his eyes now held a faint brilliance and his gaze was occasionally filled with a vicious hostility.

His muscles were also firmer and had greater definition, overflowing with manly beauty.

Such were the bandits’ aesthetic standards. Together with the fierce, manly scar on Zhao Changhe’s face, everyone accepted him as the most handsome man in the Beimang Mountain Stronghold.

On the other hand, no one paid much attention to the one surnamed Luo who lived with Zhao Changhe. People appeared to avoid him. If he did not live together with Zhao Changhe, some people would have been trying to take liberties with him. Of course, no one dared to do that now. There were rumors going around that Luo Qi was Boss Zhao’s secret lover. If that was the case, they might have already done the deed by now.

The people in the stronghold who were not willing to submit to Zhao Changhe, which included a number of senior disciples, ended up black and blue at his hand. In addition, Instructor Sun supported him when the people on top wanted to give him trouble. As a result, Zhao Changhe was now basically a hegemon in this “starter village”—he was able to do whatever he wanted and even had his own gang of henchmen.

It was also because of this that he did not just learn the saber, but also barehanded fighting techniques. After all, he could not so much as touch his saber when fighting with other disciples.

Looking at the wine gourd fastened to his waist...Zhao Change no longer needed Luo Qi to buy wine for him. Everyday, he could fill his wine gourd with the alcohol that other people offered to him as tribute. Unlike him, they were not wanted criminals that could not leave the stronghold. Naturally, they would go to the city to have some fun. Most that ran out of money would resort to swindling. It was quite possible that the only person left on the mountain today was Zhao Changhe.

The man himself didn’t really think about anything else, and he was ecstatic from having passed the test. He raised his head and gulped down his wine.

Instructor Sun took a strong liking to manly men like him. He felt an affinity with them. “Changhe, it’s about time. When you return tonight, you can attempt to break through to the first level of the Vicious Blood Art. See if you can advance to the first heavenly layer. I’ve already told you the main points to look out for. I believe you remember them?”

Zhao Changhe cupped his fists in excitement. “I remember.”

“This medicine will help you with your breakthrough.” Instructor Sun’s words seemed to have some other implication as he passed Zhao Changhe a pill. “Go. I hope by tomorrow, you can start learning the Vicious Blood Saber.”

*

“Yo, handsome little tyrant, you’re back?”

At the wooden hut, Luo Qi was back early today. She brushed the chair dramatically, inviting Zhao Changhe to sit down.

Zhao Changhe sat down in an imposing manner and broke out in laughter. “Did something good happen today? Come and share the joy.”

“How did you know it’s something good rather than something bad?”

“You only put on a show like that if you’re in a good mood. When you’re in a bad mood, you look at me sternly as if I owe you eight million things. You think I still don’t understand you?” Zhao Changhe took the wine gourd from his waist and poured some wine for Luo Qi. “Come and drink. Someone brought me this wine today. It’s quite invigorating.”

“Are you saying the wine I buy for you isn’t invigorating enough?”

Zhao Changhe gnashed his teeth. “Senior~Martial~Brother!”

What I mean is, don’t show me that womanly side of yours. What I want to see right now is the man named Luo Qi. Please.

“Hmph.” Luo Qi showed a bit of a temper. She looked at Zhao Changhe’s wine gourd and held back from smiling.

Regardless of whose wine was in that gourd, the gourd was the same one she had given him. It was the cheapest and most ordinary kind of gourd, but Zhao Changhe had not swapped it out for another one.

“How could anything good have happened?” Luo Qi groaned coldly. “Again, I heard people talking about me being your secret lover. Are you enjoying this? Why the fuck is this place like this? We’re clearly all men here. How can they think up such things?”

Zhao Changhe lowered his head and sipped his wine.

What do you know? You’ve never entered group chats for fans of a novel in the real world. They’re even more of such people there.

“Also, how can someone as boorish as you be considered a handsome man?” Luo Qi slammed the table in anger. “Look in the mirror. Do you think you’re worthy of being called handsome?”

Zhao Changhe answered honestly. “I already looked in the morning. My reflection was so handsome it woke me right up.”

Luo Qi: “?”

Look in the mirror, my ass! I was lying on your shoulder when you woke up, and you lifted me up to the side. Bandit!

Zhao Changhe immediately thought of his little act this morning and thought it was not very appropriate. He hurriedly changed the topic of conversation. “Today is the Winter Solstice. Do you have anything festive planned for the occasion?”

Luo Qi wanted to reply but stopped herself.

Why are you asking me? Do I look like I’m your wife?

What’s most frustrating was that she actually did have plans.

Zhao Changhe did not know what Luo Qi was muttering under her breath as she put on a blank face and took out a pot of tang yuan[1] from a cupboard. “I bought this in the city today. I reheated it when I was back and scooped some up. Anyway, it’s tradition in the Luo Family Village to eat tang yuan during the Winter Solstice. Was it the same in the Zhao House?”

Zhao Changhe asked curiously, “From what you’ve said, I take it that you know the traditions of other places? Just how many places could you have possibly visited?”

“What if I heard it from other people? They eat dumplings, but I’m too lazy to make any.” Luo Qi filled a bowl with rice balls. “I don’t even think you like eating dumplings anyway. What you want to eat is married women.”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

I don’t think I’ve offended you today. Why are you acting like you just ate a load of gunpowder... I don’t even want to eat you up, what more married women...

Oh, I did make a faux pas this morning... Nevermind, I’ll just quietly eat my glutinous rice balls.

Luo Qi’s mood worsened as she cast Zhao Changhe a sidelong glance.

In actuality, it had nothing to do with being offended or not. Luo Qi was simply not used to this family-like feeling of celebrating a festival together with someone else. Zhao Changhe, though, was not sensitive to this, and acted as if everything was a matter of course. He did not even thank her.

Do I look like I’m your fucking wife?

Zhao Changhe ate his tang yuan and talked like how a husband would talk to his wife about what happened at work during dinner. He naturally added, “I passed the fundamental saber art test today, so Instructor Sun plans to teach me the Vicious Blood Saber. I’ll need to keep up with cultivating the Vicious Blood Art, or else I won’t be able to draw out the power of the Vicious Blood Saber. That would be no good. Instructor Sun says that I can attempt to break through to the first heavenly layer tonight.”

It was too much like the dynamic between a married couple.

Luo Qi got even angrier at the fact that her “husband” was about to reach the first heavenly layer after less than a month of training.

Why am I even alive?

“How are you able to learn the Vicious Blood Saber so soon?” Luo Qi felt sour just listening to her own words. “Wouldn’t you have to learn an introductory saber art first?”

“Instructor Sun said that with how hard working I am and my knowledge of how to train, an introductory saber art will not be worth learning. That sort of progression is for mediocre people...”

Luo Qi furrowed her brows.

Zhao Changhe raised his hands in surrender.

“Just attempt your breakthrough. Why do you need to tell me? I can’t help you either.” Luo Qi chewed her tang yuan and said stiffly, “In any case, after you eat, go and train while the food is warm in your belly. It’ll be good for you. I’ll do the same and take a bath.”

Zhao Changhe finally stopped eating and looked at her. He wanted to speak but stopped himself.

Luo Qi said with a blank face, “What? If you have something to say, then say it.”

Zhao Changhe hesitated before saying, “I’ve been thinking. When you go to take a bath next time, don’t go alone. If by some chance someone bumps into you... ”

Luo Qi replied in a bad mood. “Who else is going to go to the pool in the middle of the night? I have a feeling you want to take advantage of an opportunity to do something...”

“What use do I have for this opportunity?” Zhao Changhe interrupted her and said, “Just because you didn’t bump into anyone before doesn’t mean you won’t bump into someone later. Next time, I’ll keep watch for you. Anyway, I can cultivate anywhere.”

Luo Qi poked at a rice ball with her chopsticks. It slipped away.

She continued angrily poking at the rice ball. “I’m a guy. It’s not a big deal if someone bumps into me. This is none of your damn business.”

This damn tsundere. Zhao Changhe thought for a moment then spoke from another angle. “Then think of it as helping me.”

Luo Qi cast him a perplexing gaze. “Help you satisfy your curiosity in watching a man bathe?”

“Fuck.” Zhao Changhe was frustrated. “The Vicious Blood Art, at the end of the day, is a demonic art. There are some risks to attempting a breakthrough even if it’s just to the first level... So if it looks like I’m about to lose my mind, kick me into the cold water of the pool...”

Luo Qi finally skewered the rice ball and lifted it up with her chopstick. She stuck it in her mouth and smiled, her mood clearly improved. “I knew you needed my help. In that case, I’ll make the effort to assist you.”

1. Chinese dessert made of glutinous rice balls served with syrup. Traditionally eaten during the Lantern Festival. ☜