Now that everything had been laid out so plainly, the weight that had hovered over Zhao Changhe’s heart finally lifted. He tentatively reached out to embrace her. She did not resist. In fact, she even leaned her head naturally against his shoulder. Zhao Changhe could not help but exhale in relief. Ye Jiuyou heard it clearly and chuckled. “So, you think the dust has settled? That you’ve just accomplished some grand feat?” Zhao Changhe replied, “Haven’t I? Do you have any idea what kind of being you are? If this doesn’t count as a grand feat, then what does?” Ye Jiuyou laughed. “Piaomiao is not inferior to me, yet you weren’t with her.” “That’s because she was in Yangyang’s body, or at least something like that. It feels completely different. If I met the original, ancient Piaomiao directly, I’d probably feel the same as I do now. Besides, you’re way fiercer.” “Fiercer? When have I ever been fierce to you? Just say that it’s because I’m a villain, while Piaomiao’s a good being. If you went after her and something went wrong, at worst, she’d frown at you. As for me, I’d grind your bones and scatter your ashes into the wind.” She speaks with such menace, yet somehow it all sounds quite... adorable. Zhao Changhe could not help but laugh. With her still in his arms, they sat casually by the window, looking out at the blooming trees beyond. To sit with a woman in one’s arms, her head resting on his shoulder, chatting while admiring the flowers, it felt like romance in its purest form. Zhao Changhe reflected for a moment and realized that scenes had been rare in his life. Come to think of it, the only time he had properly pursued someone from start to finish... had been with Ye Jiuyou. It was surreal. The only woman he had ever courted properly turned out to be the greatest demon lord of this era, and perhaps the last. Even now, holding her in his arms, he could still feel the bone-deep chill of her body—the aura of a true villain. Yet, at the same time, she felt like a cool, soft, fragrant pillow, an utter delight to have in his arms. Ye Jiuyou then said, “You know, when you first said you were planning to pursue me... the shock I felt was about the same as witnessing the end of an era. It was just that absurd. If anyone, no matter who it was, had told me that there would be someone who would pursue me, I would never have believed them. It’s just that unbelievable. You were filled with such pure lust-driven insanity, but... strangely, I wasn’t angry.” “Was it the novelty?” “Partly. I was curious. I wanted to see what you’d do next.” Ye Jiuuyou sighed. “Once a woman starts thinking like that, she’s already halfway done for, especially when the man is someone like you. You know, one who’s danced through a sea of women and knows them all too well.” “I won your heart with sincerity, thank you very much.” “Yes, yes.” Ye Jiuyou laughed. “You won.” “I really won?” Zhao Changhe leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She did not resist, and to his surprise, her cheek even felt warm. Zhao Changhe was suddenly delighted—Ye Jiuyou could blush? That soft rosy hue on her face... No one would believe it was her. The kiss on her cheek naturally turned into a kiss on the lips. Ye Jiuyou closed her eyes, slightly parted her lips, and received it gently. The kiss was fragrant and sweet, cool to the touch. His hand slipped beneath her robes again, coming to rest on her dudou. It felt absolutely wonderful. Ye Jiuyou no longer thought of it as being overly forward. Rather, she welcomed his caresses, lounging in his embrace, her voice almost teasing. “I brought you here today to make a statement. If Li Boping isn’t a complete fool, he’ll probably start drafting the marriage contract soon...” Zhao Changhe simply replied with an “Mm-hm.” She was clearly stating this not out of necessity, but as a declaration. It was a show of her stance. It felt like a young woman boasting to her lover. A curious kind of pride. Ye Jiuyou continued, “My mind was a mess yesterday, so I didn’t get the chance to say this. What you guessed... it goes far beyond what’s carved on the inscription. The markings merely recorded my origin. You pieced together the entire picture. Assuming your guesses are all correct, what do you plan to do next?” Zhao Changhe absentmindedly moved his hands around, replying casually, “Ideally, I’d want to talk with Ye Wu—” Before he could even finish a single sentence, he was cut short. “If you’re thinking of her, then keep your hands to yourself.” “...It’s not about wanting her. How can we avoid her when it comes to this?” Zhao Changhe chuckled wryly. “Fine, fine. She refuses to show herself anyway. Let’s just pretend she doesn’t exist. As for what I plan to do next, I plan to meet up with the Sword Emperor. He’s plotting something. I want to see if I can get involved.” “I have some idea of what the Sword Emperor is planning,” Ye Jiuyou said thoughtfully. “But this matter... Ye Wu...” She trailed off, stuck mid-sentence. Zhao Changhe burst into laughter. “You won’t let others say her name, but you can’t get around it either, can you?” Her name literally meant “nameless.” Yet in this world, there was no great matter that did not, in some way, revolve around that name. Ye Jiuyou sat in silence for a moment before grumbling, “She warned me not to get involved, and she said I wasn’t qualified at the time. What makes her think she is? Just because she’s Ye Wuming?” Zhao Changhe thought for a moment. “You’re probably stronger already than you have ever been, right?” Ye Jiuyou nodded. He was not referring to her recent frailty from her transformation, but to her surpassing her former self. She had attained true understanding, thereby breaking past the barrier that once held her back. While she had not yet fully ascended to the next realm, if there was a realm beyond the third layer of the Profound Control Realm—one might call it the Heavenly Dao Realm—then at this moment, she had at least taken half a step into it. Perhaps Ye Wuming was also at this level, just that she had consolidated her cultivation and had achieved greater mastery. If she had already reached the next realm, there would have been no need for such elaborate maneuvering, and her earlier confrontation with Ye Jiuyou would not have felt so evenly matched. It certainly had not shown Ye Wuming as overwhelmingly superior in terms of cultivation. So, if Ye Wuming was qualified to be involved in these matters, then by now, Ye Jiuyou undoubtedly was as well. It just might be a little more dangerous for her. And with Zhao Changhe now commanding a formidable war-goddess squad, that danger was something they could afford to take on, or so it seemed. Ironically, the weakest link now seemed to be himself; while the others at the second layer of the Profound Control Realm could team up into the Four Idols Formation, what about him? Ye Jiuyou seemed to think the same, and could not help but laugh. “So in the end, the most useless one is you, little brother.” Zhao Changhe’s mouth twitched. The number one on the current Ranking of Heaven, the man most involved in battles with ancient demon gods, had actually become the weakest link in his own party. And yet, there was an obvious and immediate solution, one that both of them were acutely aware of. He could engage in dual cultivation with Ye Jiuyou. Her first time was not just symbolic; it held real power. Before, he had avoided it, not wanting their relationship to become transactional or opportunistic. But now that they were in a proper relationship, there was no reason to hold back. Ye Jiuyou sensed the slight increase in the boldness of his caresses, but feigned ignorance and deliberately changed the subject, “Actually, you’ve already come into contact with it in the past, but the Spirit Tribe’s territory is something that really needs to be taken more into consideration. We both know that place isn’t part of the native world, but rather a sealed, independent realm formed from the body of a powerful being. You know that I once tried to awaken it and turn it into a corpse puppet. If I’d succeeded, I could’ve swept across the world unchallenged.” “You really are the big bad villain,” Zhao Changhe said, giving her a pinch. Ye Jiuyou retaliated by pinching him somewhere rather intimate. “You sided against me in that matter, and I haven’t even settled the score. And all for that little fox from the Spirit Tribe?” The two of them traded pinches, then both doubled over in laughter and mock pain. Zhao Changhe was the first to concede, easing up his grip. “You should count yourself lucky we stopped it back then. At the time, you probably didn’t have the strength to control that kind of being. Ye Wuming’s warning likely stemmed from that very concern. Now the real question is, what is the Sword Emperor trying to do?” Ye Jiuyou released him as well. “Based on the inscription and your deductions, we can reasonably assume it’s an external entity. It should be an invader sealed within the Heavenly Tome by the original Heavenly Dao. A being like that doesn’t perish entirely. It likely has a revival protocol of some sort, a set of conditions that, once met, would reawaken it. What the Sword Emperor and the others aim to do is probably to facilitate that awakening. As for what follows, and whether they plan to gain power from it or collaborate with it to break through this prison, that depends on each person’s intentions.” Zhao Changhe blurted out, “Vermillion Bird and White Tiger converge in the southwestern wilderness.” Ye Jiuyou blinked. “What’s that?” “It’s an ancient phrase I found in the Spirit Tribe’s texts. In theory, they shouldn’t even have a concept of the Vermillion Bird or the White Tiger. Still, this line should somewhat pertain to the revival of that invader. But whether those terms refer to cardinal directions, to time, to constellations, or even to people, I’m still not sure.” “Time and direction already align,” Ye Jiuyou said solemnly. “Once we arrive and see it with our own eyes, I’ll know. After all, both Vermillion Bird and White Tiger are already there. If they want to conduct an experiment, it won’t be difficult. The real question is, do you want it to awaken?” Zhao Changhe fell silent. A being comparable to the Heavenly Dao... what would its return bring? The most immediate consequence would be the destruction of the Spirit Tribe’s ecosystem. Thankfully, preparations had long been underway. Sisi had been steadily relocating them to Miaojiang. By now, the migration should be nearly complete. But then, could this external entity that invaded this world be reasoned with? Could it be bargained with? If it turned hostile, what would the cost be? And how would Sisi and the others react? Wait, what about Lie? Is he the one orchestrating this? The Sword Emperor and Wubing must already be in the know, but what exactly are the roles that they’re playing in all this? And Ye Wuming... Just what is she thinking? “No matter what,” Zhao Changhe muttered, “we need to go and see, only then can we judge.” He stared out at the blue sky and drifting clouds, playing out countless scenarios in his mind, saying nothing for a long while. Ye Jiuyou leaned against him, quietly accompanying him as he watched the scenery. Seeing him sunk so deep in thought, she suddenly smiled. “There’s one thing you should be grateful for.” “That Ye Jiuyou is yours now, standing on your side. Otherwise, hmph—your headache would be three times worse.” Zhao Changhe could not help but laugh. That was true enough. If, hidden within this affair, was a villainous BOSS scheming to turn that being into a corpse puppet... and that boss was Ye Jiuyou, things would indeed be several times more chaotic. She had already made plans in the past, and she likely had contingencies still lying in wait. If she chose to go all in, the resulting mess would make anyone’s head throb. But now, the most troublesome boss had become his ally, and she was even currently nestled in his arms, with his hand casually resting on her softest spot. He had been so lost in thought that he had forgotten to move. Ye Jiuyou stared absently at the azure sky. In a low voice, she said, “Back then, I wanted to turn that being into a corpse puppet so I could slaughter all life and extinguish heaven and earth. That’s what I truly intended... Do you think I’m evil?” Zhao Changhe replied, “That was your character arc, or rather, the modified version. If we go by the original setting of this world, since this world was derived from you, you never really had a reason to annihilate it.” “I did have a reason,” Ye Jiuyou said quietly. “Even in the previous era, I felt nothing in this world was worth existing, not even myself. Awakening, seeing through illusions, gaining insight... None of that mattered. Without you by my side, I would only feel like I was trapped in a prison, the heavens and earth a furnace, refining us into the shape it desires. Compared to Ye Wuming or White Tiger, I would’ve been even more extreme. Ye Wuming might still wish to preserve the human realm, but I would’ve razed it all.” A single line sprang to Zhao Changhe’s mind. I know not the height of the azure sky, nor the depth of the yellow earth; I feel only the moon’s chill and the sun’s warmth, burning away my fleeting life.[1] Strangely, it suited Jiuyou well. But truth be told, she was not alone in this. Ye Wuming, Piaomiao... They were all the same. Piaomiao’s heart was filled with hate. Ye Wuming might wear the calm of still waters, but beneath it raged a violent undercurrent. The Sword Emperor’s tomb had been steeped in vicious qi. What hatred did he carry to have left such a mark upon death? Demon gods were manipulated by the Heavenly Dao. As for mortals, how much better were their fates? The mortal realm had languished in chaos for generations. And in the end, was it not all just the cold moon and burning sun, scorching human life to dust? “So...” Zhao Changhe murmured, “If the heavens are unjust, then I will forge my own path.” Should there be no Heavenly Dao, I shall become the Heavenly Dao. Should there be neither Sun nor Moon, I shall fill their place.[2] The same words had echoed through his heart from the very beginning—his vow as a fledgling martial artist, the embodiment of his path in cultivation, and even now that he was facing a literal, sentient Heavenly Dao. Whether metaphor or reality, the essence remained unchanged. What was the Heavenly Dao to him? Ye Jiuyou gazed at him for a long moment, then suddenly broke into a radiant smile. “So that’s why you said we’re perfectly suited for cooperation. You and I, we’re the same kind of person. We’re born to defy all order. It’s only that we walk different paths.” Zhao Changhe snapped out of his reverie and smiled. “Then what path are you on now?” Ye Jiuyou leaned in and said seductively, “I don’t know what my path is. I haven’t explored it yet. It’s quiet and winding, and there’s no one to ask for pointers. Will you walk it with me?” “...?” Zhao Changhe was slow to register. Since when is a path of slaughter considered quiet and winding...?Wait. That tone... is she flirting? Ye Jiuyou’s eyes turned hazy. “You’ve been rubbing the same spot for so long. Aren’t you tired of it? I know I am.” It had been a while since Ye Jiuyou’s chaotic tendencies reared their head, and this one came out of nowhere. The sudden gearshift from somber discussion to seductive teasing caught him completely off guard. Clearly, her emotional trigger points were not like anyone else’s. Unlike last night, where he held back out of hesitation, today, there was no need to. So long as Ye Jiuyou was willing, they could do it right here. If Li Boping found out, he would probably feel so humiliated it would rival Cao Cao bedding Zhang Xiu’s aunt,[3] but so what? The difference in power between the two sides was beyond measure. Then, Ye Jiuyou said softly, “You really think I brought you here today just to make a statement?” “Yesterday, you held yourself back from your desires. Do you think I didn’t?” She kissed his cheek, her lips trailing toward his mouth as she whispered, “But today, there’s no need to hold back. I brought you here to declare to the world... that you have conquered me.” “If it were just about making a statement, why bring you to the bedchamber?” Ye Jiuyou laughed lightly. “The meaning was clear the moment we walked in. Honestly, I thought you’d understand. You should’ve thrown me onto the bed the moment the door closed... but you sat there with me, admiring the flowers and the moon. I got caught up in it too, and didn’t press.” “And then, of course, we ended up talking about weighty things again... Maybe people like us were never meant for carefree moments under the moon and flowers.” She undid his belt with practiced ease, her voice low and soft. “So let’s not talk anymore. Just spoil me and help me forget the things weighing down my heart.” Zhao Changhe could no longer restrain himself. He flipped her onto her back, tearing at her clothes. Unlike the night before, Ye Jiuyou made no move to dominate. She let him take the lead. Her long skirt parted, revealing the snow-white dudou that covered the hills of her chest, like the sacred snow-capped mountains where she had once meditated in seclusion. The sapphire necklace nestled atop it, glimmering like frozen tears atop a glacial peak—stunning and enigmatic. White might not have seemed her color, but at this moment, it provoked a desire so intense it was almost painful. Daylight cast every detail into sharp relief, creating a scene far more vivid than last night’s fumbling in the dark. Zhao Changhe bent down. Ye Jiuyou arched her neck, feeling his touch, and murmured with amusement, “Aren’t you men strange? You insist we wear a dudou, only to want to take it off.” Zhao Changhe had to admit that this was indeed a philosophical quandary. “Then I won’t take it off.” Whether removed or not, it offered no defense. Her snow-pale peaks changed shape under his hand, and the powerful goddess born of darkness lay obediently beneath the canopy, supple and yielding. Her body stretched within the pink gauze like the petals of a white lotus appearing atop a pond. A trace of blood seeped quietly from that pond, blooming like a red lotus. Zhao Changhe paused, even though he had known this moment would come. He felt a rush of triumph, more intense than he had expected. Who would have thought that one day he would be with her ? Ye Jiuyou held him close and whispered, “As I thought... pain makes one feel real.” Zhao Changhe kissed her gently in reply. “So can other things.” “I’ve lived for countless ages... and never once did I imagine I’d willingly give myself to a man. If you ever betray me, your death will be ugly. Very, very ugly.” Zhao Changhe did not answer with words; his actions spoke for him. Soon, Ye Jiuyou could not even form complete sentences. Just as she wished, passionate ecstasy made her feel alive, and it made her forget everything that weighed on her. She had never expected, though, that it would feel this good. No wonder people say it’s a drug, and that indulgence ruins cultivation. But for them, it had always been a tonic. Endless, bone-deep cold poured into Zhao Changhe’s limbs and bones, from flesh flesh to spirit, so intense it nearly sent him soaring. 1. This is an excerpt from Short Bitter Days (苦昼短) by Tang dynasty poet Li He (李贺). ☜ 2. Note that this is slightly different from previous translations as the previous instance of this was actually a line that the ancient Black Tortoise had written: “Should there be neither Sun nor Moon, the King shall make his own!”. ☜ 3. Zhang Xiu was a general and warlord of the late Eastern Han. He had his headquarters in Chang’an, hence the relevance to this specific scene, and clashed with Cao Cao (the de factor ruler of the country) on several occasions. Cao Cao took the widow of Zhang Ji (Zhang Xiu’s uncle) as a concubine at one point, which made Zhang Xiu understandably angry. ☜