Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 608: The Appearance of the Asura, Jiangnan Pacified

Upgrading Snow-Treading Crow was far easier than upgrading Dragon Bird.

Dragon Bird required a forge, intense flames, and the repeated process of smelting, refinement, and reforging. These were conditions that they were simply unable to meet ever since returning from the Eastern Sea.

Helping a horse grow stronger or evolve, on the other hand, needed pretty much nothing more than food.

Of course, Snow-Treading Crow would not be eating raw dragon flesh directly. Zhao Changhe retrieved the herbs he had obtained on Skyrim Island and had the Tang Clan procure some additional ingredients. Combining these with dragon flesh, dragon blood, and Blood Ao meat, he refined them together into a mixture. The process took no more than a quarter of an hour. He then blended the mixture into the finest horse feed and coaxed Snow-Treading Crow to eat.

Snow-Treading Crow munched away on the feed that Zhao Changhe prepared, snorting as it chewed. Soon, its eyes turned red.

The redness that its eyes took on was not the same blood-red hue that Zhao Changhe’s eyes would take when he leaked out vicious blood qi. Instead, it was a manifestation of its very life force and bloodline undergoing transformation.

Crimson veins traced patterns beneath its black coat, its muscles swelling and pulsing. The horse hooved the ground anxiously, looking as though it might bolt at any moment.

Zhao Changhe placed a calming hand on Snow-Treading Crow’s forehead, and a faint golden qi seeped from his palm.

The anxious steed gradually settled. The golden qi mingled with the blood qi, sinking into its soul, its limbs, and every fiber of its being.

Lady Three and Xia Chichi crouched nearby, watching with wide eyes. Awe was evident on their faces.

It’s really working...

As someone who was worshipped as a god by a fair number of people, Lady Three was herself a vessel of divine inheritance, albeit one whose powers of faith had yet to fully manifest. One might expect her to be unshaken by miracles. And yet, even she had never witnessed something as astonishing as altering the very essence of a creature. This was beyond the realm of mortal possibility.

At this moment, Zhao Changhe seemed more like a god than she did. And the effort appeared minimal, unrelated to his cultivation.

The two women exchanged a glance. They both thought the same thing: If such “miracles” are wielded well, is there even any need for the Night Emperor’s sword? He could become the Night Emperor himself. But no matter what, we’ll still have to deal with one formidable, unyielding woman.

“Hey, about Venerable Vermillion Bird...” Xia Chichi began hesitantly.

Lady Three knew where this was headed and chuckled. “Alright, I’ll give it a try. That woman is hard to handle.”

Xia Chichi asked cautiously, “Any ideas, Aunt-Master? Is there anything I can do to help?”

When she needs something, it’s aunt-master. When she doesn’t, it’s old woman. Lady Three ground her teeth silently but smiled on the surface. “Nothing specific. I’ll have to see her first and adapt to the situation accordingly.”

Xia Chichi’s eyes widened in shock. “You can actually adapt to changes?”

Lady Three: “?”

Xia Chichi instinctively assumed a defensive stance, bracing for a kick.

But Lady Three, after a long internal struggle, forced a smile. “If I can find a way to persuade Vermilion Bird to agree, will you follow my lead?”

Xia Chichi thumped her chest. “Aunt-Master, if you succeed, whatever you say goes.”

“Stop thumping your chest. I can hear the echo.”

“?”

Lady Three grinned and wrapped her arm around Xia Chichi. “It’s a deal, then. Whatever I tell you to do, you’ll do it without excuses, understood?”

Xia Chichi shivered slightly. Compared to the schemes of these women, even copying scriptures seemed less terrifying. Nevertheless, she agreed without hesitation.

Lady Three flashed an innocent, almost childlike smile.

A knock came at the courtyard gate. “The Marquis of Wu[1] orders us to report to the Asura King.”

Zhao Changhe, focused on channeling dragon qi into Snow-Treading Crow, nearly lost his concentration. When did Tang Buqi become the Marquis of Wu? Is he going to become the King of Wu soon?

Neighhhhhhhhhh!

Just as four men stepped into the courtyard, they were met with the piercing whinny of a horse. Before their eyes, a magnificent black steed reared up on its hind legs, letting out a resonant whinny before leaping skyward.

Red and gold veins rippled across the horse’s sleek body, forming the shape of a dragon. The dragon’s head blended seamlessly with the horse’s as it roared toward the heavens.

Zhao Changhe sat astride the horse, gripping the reins and laughing heartily. “Hahaha! It worked!”

It was not clear who he was talking to, but his laughter echoed from the air. “Look at Snow-Treading Crow, so easy to care for! Now look at you...”

Wu Weiyang and the others stared, dumbfounded.

What... is that... the fuck?! Is this your idea of caring for your steed?!

From within his storage ring, Dragon Bird seethed with indignation. “I’ve never even eaten a single blade of grass, and you dare say that?”

“Uh...” Zhao Changhe hastily tried to soothe it. “I didn’t mean it that way...”

“You just wanted to show off in front of others, didn’t you?” Dragon Sparrow snapped. “Just how did I end up with such a vain master?”

“Ah, you know me so well, Dragon Bird.”

“And another thing! I don’t need your care. I’m already strong enough! Not like that useless creature that needs an upgrade! Look at it—it can’t even talk back to me. It’s got no spirit!”

Indeed, Snow-Treading Crow had yet to develop the actual intelligence to reply. However, Zhao Changhe did not mind. Although the horse could not speak, it understood him perfectly. Having absorbed his dragon qi, they were now of one mind. A slight squeeze of his legs, and Snow-Treading Crow knew exactly where he wanted to go. They had achieved perfect unity between man and horse.

Who needs more than that?

“Alright, alright.” Zhao Changhe patted the hilt of his saber, as though stroking an angry cat. “I’m not just showing off; I’m making a statement. Tang Buqi was right—ambition needs fertile ground. Even Cao Cao once only aspired to be the general of the Han dynasty. If you possess overwhelming power, the ambition of others will be subdued.”

Dragon Bird, despite its intelligence, could not quite grasp the deeper implications of Zhao Changhe’s words.

“What is that?”

“A flying horse?”

“Flying horse? No, this is a dragon horse!”

Zhao Changhe rode Snow-Treading Crow in a wide arc over Gusu, the black steed gliding through the air. Countless soldiers and civilians stared up in stunned disbelief.

The horse did not fly particularly high. Keen-eyed onlookers could clearly see the intricate patterns on its muscular frame—the black coat interwoven with dark red dragon markings. The sheer aura of power emanating from the steed sent waves of fear through the crowd. The timid found themselves trembling, unable to remain standing.

Before long, someone dropped to their knees, bowing in reverence. “A divine being...”

Like a domino effect, more and more people kneeled, their voices rising in a chorus. “The Asura King protects us...”

What had begun as a simple show of strength now resulted in Zhao Changhe unwittingly gathering a surge of faith and devotion. This was entirely unexpected.

Tang Buqi stood with arms akimbo before his official residence, shaking his head slightly. With a casual wave of his hand, he commanded, “Execute them.”

“Yes, sir.” His burly guards seized two envoys and dragged them toward the gate.

The envoys struggled and shouted, “Marquis of Wu, you must not execute envoys!”

Tang Buqi raised an eyebrow. “Envoys? What envoys? Did anyone see any envoys?”

The officials surrounding him shook their heads. “No... I mean, we received word that envoys from Longyou and Jinzhong were on their way, but no one saw them arrive. Perhaps they met the Asura King on the road and some kind of... accident happened?”

Tang Buqi nodded. “That must be it. Now, let’s continue discussing maritime trade with Penglai. Everyone, inside for tea.”

The envoys’ bodies were swiftly removed, leaving no trace behind.

Zhao Changhe observed this small drama from a distance, a faint smile on his lips. If he wanted to handle them quietly, he could have done so indoors. Dragging them out for execution was a message to him. Who would have thought that he and Tang Buqi would one day communicate through such unspoken signals? Life truly did take strange turns...

He guided Snow-Treading Crow back to the ground, his gaze falling on Wu Weiyang and the others, their mouths still agape in shock. Zhao Changhe’s smile was as warm as spring sunshine. “Well, Weiyang, it’s been a while! And these are...?”

Wu Weiyang quickly recovered. “Colleagues from the Demon Suppression Bureau, as well as experts recruited by the Tang Clan from Jiangnan...”

When he reached this part, he hesitated. In the presence of someone who was riding a motherfucking flying dragon horse, the term “experts” seemed laughably inadequate. After a pause, he continued, “...all of whom now serve as generals under the Marquis of Wu.”

Zhao Changhe nodded slowly. “Generals of the Marquis of Wu’s army.”

His tone was laced with irony. Wu Weiyang bowed his head, unwilling to say more, and murmured, “We are now at Your Highness’ command.”

“I don’t have time to linger in Gusu,” Zhao Changhe declared. “Waiting for you an hour was already a waste. We leave immediately for the north. I’ll ask my questions along the way.”

Wu Weiyang exhaled, realizing his back was slick with cold sweat.

Who could have imagined that the young man he had once assessed in an inn outside Beimang would one day show such an overwhelming presence, a dragon-like majesty that made it hard to breathe?

Zhao Changhe’s sudden return from the seas and swift entry into the current upheaval struck like the bolt of a siege crossbow piercing straight into the heart of the battlefield, the impact he might bring to these troubled times uncertain.

But for now, his appearance alone had secured stability in Jiangnan. His deterrent power was no joke.

For so long, Tang Wanzhuang had struggled alone to hold up the crumbling edifice of the empire, a task that could only crush her in the end.

Yet here stood an unyielding pillar of support—her staunchest ally.

1. The Marquis of Wu Commandery (吴侯) is a historical and honorary title associated with imperial China. ☜