With a flick of annoyance, she leaped up and sent Ling Ruoyu stumbling backward. “Are we that close? Who the hell are you calling Birdy?” Ling Ruoyu froze. Right... Since when were we that close? Where did that nickname even come from? And why does this whole situation feel oddly familiar... She collected herself and smiled sheepishly. “So, uh, I wanted to ask about King Zhao’s stories.” Dragon Bird perked up immediately. “Now that I know! What do you want to hear? The time he beheaded an enemy general with me in hand, or when he escaped certain death thanks to yours truly? Let me tell you, without me, Dragon Bird, Zhao Changhe would’ve been nothing but a joke—” “...I was asking about King Zhao, not you.” “His stories can’t be told without me! What battle didn’t he fight with me? Fine, sure, he did use a bow every now and then, and a few underhanded sneak attacks with River of Stars—” “That’s not who I was asking about either...” Ling Ruoyu muttered, unable to help herself. “River of Stars wouldn’t stoop that low...” She regretted it immediately. From what her master had let slip over time, River of Stars was probably the superior weapon in terms of refinement. King Zhao only used Dragon Bird more often because it suited his overwhelming, frontal-combat style, not because River of Stars was inferior. But here this so-called divine saber was, slandering its old comrade behind its back! How dare you, thick-browed traitor?! “What do you mean, wouldn’t stoop that low?!” Dragon Bird put her hands on her hips, clearly incensed. “Do you think you know River of Stars? Do you think you know Zhao Changhe? If you know so much, why are you bothering to ask me?” Ling Ruoyu felt a twinge of guilt and scratched her head. “...Okay, fair.” “Now say it. Say River of Stars is only good for stabbing people in the ass. Otherwise, no stories for you.” Ling Ruoyu looked deeply wronged. “River of Stars is only... Ugh, that’s just crude. Do I have to say it?” “Since when do people in the jianghu get squeamish about a little foul language?” Dragon Bird scoffed. “You know your so-called King Zhao? Back when he was running a mountain bandit stronghold, his mouth was filthier than a gutter. It was only when he decided to court Tang Wanzhuang that he started pretending to be all noble and refined. He even fooled himself.” So he really did court Prime Minister Tang... A crack split through the pedestal Ling Ruoyu had built for her idol. She asked hesitantly, “So those rumors about him being a stronghold master... are they actually true?” “Of course they’re true. He even had a stronghold mistress.” “A stronghold mistress? Who?” Had lightning struck her, it would have felt far gentler. Her idol collapsed entirely, and he had taken her master’s aura of aloof, unattainable nobility right down with him. “Hey. Hello? Lingling? Ruoruo? Yuyu? You still in there?” Dragon Bird leaped out of the blade, waving a hand in front of her dazed face. “Don’t tell me you had a crush on my master and you just realized you’re in a love triangle with your own master?” “Wh-what?!” Ling Ruoyu snapped back to reality, springing up like a startled cat. “It’s nothing like that! I’ve never even met him! I just admire him as a legendary hero!” “Then why are you so obsessed with his stories?” “Who isn’t obsessed with King Zhao’s stories? In all of Great Han, is there anyone who doesn’t care?” Ling Ruoyu huffed, her face still burning. “I just thought... I don’t know, his name always sounded... familiar. I used to think it was because I admired him, but now I guess it’s because he’s my master’s... well....” “You found his name familiar?” Dragon Bird suddenly leaned in, intrigued. Dragon Bird pointed at herself with excitement. “And what about me? Do I feel familiar too?” Ling Ruoyu gave her a sidelong glance full of suspicion and judgment. Dragon Bird exploded. “What the hell was that look?!” “N-no, that was a look of familiarity,” Ling Ruoyu immediately backed up, grinning awkwardly. “Of course, I feel close to you. I mean, you’re the saber of my master’s husband, after all...” Dragon Bird said nothing. The twin-pigtailed girl’s brow furrowed, two fingers tapping her chin as she scrutinized Ling Ruoyu up and down. After a long pause, she finally spoke, “Say it. Say that River of Stars is a small fry.” Ling Ruoyu blinked. “Excuse me?” “If you don’t, I’m going back to sleep.” “River of Stars is...” Ling Ruoyu struggled for a long time, but just could not force the words out. “My master says a true swordsman doesn’t speak ill of others behind their backs. Forgive me, but I must decline.” “Oh? And where was that swordsman's pride when your master was talking trash about Xia Chichi behind her back?” Ling Ruoyu groaned and tugged at her own hair, her worldview beginning to collapse around her. “Hold on, just because you say my master was some stronghold mistress doesn’t make it true! Even if she was, it must’ve been in the past. My master is pure as a snow lotus atop Tianshan, proud as a lone goose flying into the sunset, her sword heart’s clear, and her spine is unbending! There’s no way she’s the kind of woman you—” “All right, all right. Keep dreaming.” Dragon Bird gave her a final glance, then vanished back into the saber. Weird...There’s nothing remotely similar about her. No aura, no essence, not even a hint of resemblance. Just a little dim, maybe. But really, is there any maiden in the world who isn’t a little dim? That’s just how girls were. Obviously, only I’m the pinnacle of brilliance. Dawn broke, the light just beginning to spill across the courtyard. Zhao Changhe gently peeled away the octopus-like limbs of the girl wrapped around him and sat up to get dressed. In truth, last night had been... a bit of a tragedy. For all her competence in other areas, Baoqin was not a martial prodigy. Her natural aptitude was only average at best, and her cultivation had progressed slowly. In spite of all the assistance, she still had not reached the Profound Control Realm. Her soft, delicate body was thus no match for his present might, and in the end, it was only her signature “trash talk technique” that had coaxed him to completion. Then, she promptly passed out, falling fast asleep. Honestly, she’s probably be better off with Wanzhuang. Wanzhuang’s body is delicate too, and she’d need support. Baoqin fits that role perfectly. Now, the little maid was out cold. The energy exchanged during their dual cultivation was circulating automatically in her body. Maybe, just maybe, it would be enough to push her through the final threshold. Still, reaching the Profound Control Realm required insight, and he was not sure what her “insight” might be. He had gotten up early not because he was restless but because he sensed someone approaching. It was Wan Dongliu. Old Wan was an old friend, and they had not seen each other in ages. It would be downright rude to stay holed up all morning like a young man bewitched by a vixen. He had already shown rare restraint by not disturbing the night. If Zhao Changhe still avoided him come morning, it would be a gross betrayal of brotherhood. As expected, just after he had tidied himself up and stepped into the courtyard, he saw Wan Dongliu outside the gate with a tray of wine and breakfast pastries. Zhao Changhe smiled and opened the door, ushering him inside. “Still alive, I see. You’ve reached Profound Control... so what’s with the silver beard?” “It was already turning white before I broke through,” Wan Dongliu sighed as he stroked his beard. “Not all of us cultivate at your pace. And even you had to rebuild from scratch to purge your latent flaws.” “I rushed to the third layer too fast. If reaching the Profound Control Realm was all that was needed, I wouldn’t have needed to redo everything step by step. Otherwise, what hope would Hongling and the others have?” Zhao Changhe poured him a cup of wine and grinned. “So what brings you by at dawn?” “What, am I interrupting your night of passion with your maid?” “Hey, don’t put it like that... Baoqin’s the Chief Secretary now.” Wan Dongliu chuckled. “Only you would try to put everyone on equal footing. No one else buys it, not even her. Some things don’t shift so easily, you know.” Zhao Changhe gave a small smile. “Some habits are carved into the bone from childhood. Hard to change.” “And maybe that very defiance... is why your sword now points at the Heavenly Dao?” Wan Dongliu’s voice turned quiet. “That refusal to let anything stand above you and decide your fate?” “So you’ve heard about that.” “I am a senior member of the Four Idols Cult, you know. It’s our job to know about Night Emperors—ancient or current.” He smiled slyly. “River of Stars appeared in the Eastern Sea recently, didn’t it? That news came from my waterway networks. It’s a setup. Between that and Buqi’s birthday banquet, with all the big names gathering... something’s going to happen. The two venerables have been planning this for a while. With you here, it’s all the better.” Zhao Changhe raised a brow. “So the grand schemer behind all of this is still the Four Idols Cult, huh?” Wan Dongliu laughed. “Naturally.” “But from the sound of it, you don’t actually know where the real River of Stars is?” “Well, the one found in the Eastern Sea is River of Stars, but it’s only the blade. Its sword spirit is gone, and this was confirmed by Venerable Black Tortoise. This whole plan? It’s bait. Either the spirit comes to reclaim the body... or some current-era evil comes to seize it. Either way, it’s just a shell, so there’s no real danger. We’ll be the ones lying in wait.” “One of many goals, I presume?” “Of course. Always more than one bird with a stone. If no spirit shows, we’ll see what the others plan to do with the sword. Baoqin knows quite a bit about this too. That pouch of hers carries a significant piece of the puzzle. Too bad the two of you were too busy rolling around in bed to discuss it.” The door opened. Baoqin stepped out slowly, hair swept up in the style of a married woman, graceful and composed. The way her bun[1] was done—bold and unmistakable—it might as well have shouted from the rooftops. It had the same shameless energy as an empress rubbing her belly in public for attention. Wan Dongliu’s expression twitched, but he did not comment. Baoqin glided over, refilled Zhao Changhe’s cup, and muttered under her breath, “You didn’t ask... I figured there’d be time to tell you. I was going to say something this morning, but look at you, knowing everything already...” 1. In Southern China, a bun tied at the top of the head is a hairstyle traditionally associated with married women. ☜