Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 725 (2): Before Controlling the Galaxy, Control Yourself

Perhaps it was the effect of the Heart-Bonding Gu, but at dawn’s first light, the two of them opened their eyes at the exact same moment.

It felt as though, in opening their eyes, they were seeing through each other’s gaze, synchronized in the moment. Both blinked in surprise, then smiled at the same time.

Sisi leaned softly against Zhao Changhe’s chest, her voice barely above a whisper, “Do you think it’s just an illusion because of the Heart-Bonding Gu? I’ve never felt this close to you before...”

Even during their time hiding by the burial ground, after Yue Hongling had left and the two of them had spent half a month together in shameless intimacy, she had never felt this level of connection. But now, something had shifted, something felt entirely different.

Zhao Changhe brushed her nose lightly with his finger. “The gu didn’t create the bond, the bond came first. It’s because we already had the bond that the gu could deepen it. Don’t confuse cause and effect.”

Sisi pouted and leaned closer to whisper in his ear, “Do you want that thing you always used to ask for? A ‘good morning something’?”

“No thanks,” Zhao Changhe said with a chuckle. He sat up, pulling her with him, and began helping her with her robe. “By the way, how does this thing go on? What kind of robe even is this?”

Sisi could not help but laugh. “You’re good at taking it off, but you can’t figure out how to put it back on, huh?”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Sisi chuckled as she gracefully dressed herself, then asked, “Do you want to eat something?”

“What’s the rush?” Zhao Changhe said, scooping her up in his arms and placing her gently on the seat by the mirror. Picking up a comb, he added, “I don’t know how to braid your little fancy styles, but I can at least get your hair in order.”

Sisi stared at his reflection in the mirror, momentarily at a loss for words.

This was something only a husband would do for his wife.

She had often joked about being his maid and calling him “master,” and she had long since resigned herself to the role. But his actions now seemed to say plainly: There’s no maid and master here. That’s just a game—we’re husband and wife.

This moment came at a time when the Spirit Tribe faced its greatest crisis, and Zhao Changhe had been the one to pull them back from the brink. His contributions to her and her tribe were immeasurable. If he chose to deepen his dominance over her and the Spirit Tribe, they would have offered no resistance. In fact, many would have been more than willing.

Yet instead of asserting control, he became gentler, as if he felt he owed her something.

It was all because of that gu and the words he overheard. His heart had softened into something tender and gentle, completely disarming her.

“You...” Sisi murmured, watching him through the mirror as he combed her hair. “Aren’t you afraid that I’ve been pretending this whole time?”

“Hmm?” Zhao Changhe laughed. “What do I have to lose? The feeling of being treated as a benefactor? I don’t care about that.”

Sisi pouted and asked, “Then what do you care about?”

“You,” Zhao Changhe replied softly, his hands moving gently through her hair. “I’ve said something like this before, though I don’t know if you remember.”

“What was it?” Sisi asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I don’t care about the Spirit Tribe or anything else. The only one I want is you.”

Sisi lowered her head with a soft “Mm.”

“Hmm... I just realized, your long, flowing hair looks beautiful as it is. You don’t need to braid it into those intricate styles of yours,” Zhao Changhe remarked, tilting his head to admire her. He added with a grin, “But this loose style doesn’t really suit all the ornaments of your Spirit Tribe—it makes you look more like a heroine of the Central Plains.”

Sisi chuckled and said, “A heroine of the Central Plains wouldn’t look like this. They usually tie their hair up to keep it out of the way during battle. The hair ties are plain and rough—sometimes they just rip a strip of fabric from their clothing to use. I’ve tried that look before, and I hated it. It felt awkward, and I looked terrible. Absolutely hideous.”

The mirror suddenly reflected Yue Hongling’s impassive face. “Go on, I’m listening.”

Sisi immediately turned, flashing a sweet smile. “Big Sis Yue, are you feeling better?”

Yue Hongling’s gaze flicked between the two of them, clearly surprised at how quickly Zhao Changhe seemed to have recovered. Her injuries were largely external—strained muscles and bones—and, though painful, did not involve her soul, meridians, or organs. They were far easier to treat compared to Zhao Changhe’s extensive and varied wounds. Yet, here he was, looking as though nothing had happened, while she still felt every ache and twinge.

Yue Hongling asked with suspicion, “When did your dual cultivation become so miraculous?”

Zhao Changhe turned to Sisi and asked, “Hey, could she use the same gu?”

Sisi shook her head. “She can’t. This kind of gu requires the practitioner to not only understand gu arts but also raise the gu themselves. It’s extremely rare and usually nurtured from childhood. Even I only have this one because I’ve been raising it since I was little. You would need years to learn and cultivate one of your own.”

Zhao Changhe sighed with regret. Given how effective the Heart-Bonding Gu was, having one for everyone would practically be a cheat code. But of course, cheats like this always came with restrictions. It seemed the world would not allow such power-ups to be handed out freely.

“Hey Blindie,” Zhao Changhe called out jokingly, “what if I subscribe to premium? Can I still get one? How many 648s[1] would I need to buy?”

The blind woman did not even bother replying. What kind of lunatic are you? People usually fear things like the Heart-Bonding Gu or Life-Bonding Gu as if they were venomous snakes, and here you are treating it like a power-up in a game!

Yue Hongling, having pieced together that Zhao Changhe’s recovery involved some rare gu, crossed her arms and did not press further. Instead, she said with a faintly sour tone, “Are you two out of things to do? Sitting here brushing hair—what’s next, drawing on each other’s eyebrows?”

Yue Hongling usually had a carefree “do whatever you want, I’m heading off to the horizon” attitude. This uncharacteristic sarcasm caught Sisi’s attention, and she found it both amusing and rare. “Big Sis Yue, could you actually be here to remind us about business?”

“What else?” Yue Hongling huffed. “Am I the queen, or are you? I’ve never seen anyone lazier. You’re uninjured, perfectly fine, yet you cling to your man and refuse to let go, while I, the one who’s injured, am left to pick up the slack!”

Sisi stared at her for a moment, a spark of understanding lighting her expression. Oh, so Big Sis Yue really does want to compete now.

Suppressing a grin, Sisi rose gracefully and walked to the table. Pouring a cup of tea, she turned with an elegant bow and offered it to Yue Hongling. “Big sis, please have some tea.”

Yue Hongling suddenly felt awkward, glancing quickly at Zhao Changhe to gauge his reaction. He said nothing, simply watching the two of them in silence.

Sisi leaned in close and lowered her voice. “Big sis, we’re on the same team here. If we don’t stick together, how are we supposed to handle the Four Idols Cult? That place is practically a nest of vipers. If we’re not united, they’ll play us like fools. That would be a disaster...”

Are you not the same person who just called my Central Plains-inspired look “hideous”? And now you want an alliance? Yue Hongling did not know whether to laugh or cry. She was not used to the subtle “palace intrigue” maneuvers, let alone such overt calls for an alliance.

But the more Yue Hongling thought about it, the more sense it made. Living as a carefree loner was fine, but if she intended to stay by Zhao Changhe’s side and settle down, she would have to face reality. What was she supposed to do, call Xia Chichi “big sister”? Who was Xia Chichi, anyway? Yue Hongling had once let her off in Beimang, but now the woman was sitting on the throne, looking all regal. Was that supposed to make her untouchable?

The truth was that Yue Hongling and the Four Idols Cult were natural enemies in every way, yet they had somehow never crossed paths. Why? Because Zhao Changhe’s ambiguous relationship with Xia Chichi had caused Yue Hongling to deliberately avoid the cult’s sphere of influence during her adventures. Similarly, the Four Idols Cult had refrained from escalating their grudges against her due to her connection with Zhao Changhe. It was a strange balance—a mutual acknowledgment without direct interaction.

Her sole encounter with Xia Chichi had been during the Luo Qi incident. Her impression of Black Tortoise was tied to the other party being an innkeeper at Huangsha Market, and she had never even met Vermillion Bird. Given her and the cult’s dynamics, this lack of direct conflict was oddly out of place.

Yue Hongling had a nagging feeling that her story with the Four Idols Cult was not over. There was more beneath the surface, waiting to reveal itself.

She took a sip of tea, her thoughts swirling, then set the cup down quickly. Adopting a serious tone, she said, “While you two were sleeping, people kept coming to me with reports, disturbing my rest and asking me to heal them. Now that you’re fine, stop sitting here brushing hair and painting brows. Go do something useful.”

Sisi’s smile widened, her eyes curving into crescent moons. “Aside from the corpse-controlling demon god, the rebellion and spy situation were all part of my plans. My guards have everything under control. Big Sis Yue, you can rest now.”

Zhao Changhe raised an eyebrow. “Those little maids of yours?”

Sisi replied confidently, “Our tribal system is very different from that of the Central Plains. Those so-called maids or personal guards of the saintess are actually key figures selected from various tribes to train in the sacred temple. They’re protectors, each with their own networks and influence. They’re my strongest supporters and the foundation of my power. In fact, if it weren’t for the unforeseen appearance of the corpse-controlling demon god, this whole rebellion would have been part of my plan to dismantle the old structure and place them in critical positions across the Spirit Tribe’s royal court.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. The rebellion at the sacred mountain had already demonstrated Sisi’s formidable control over the tribe. Most of the tribes followed her orders without question. The temporary chaos was simply due to the inexperience of her young guards. The framework of her plan was solid. Even the infiltration of spies into the Spirit Tribe seemed to have been part of her trap. If not for Underworld Guide’s unexpected interference, this would have been a masterful centralization of power.

“So...” Sisi finally asked, voicing the question she had held back for so long, “What exactly was that corpse-controlling demon? And what did you strike with the divine axe in the end?”

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment before standing up and saying, “I suspect the Thief Saint came here with a specific plan in mind. This may just be a single chapter of a much grander story unfolding throughout Kunlun. Let’s check on your master and see what he has to say.”

1. This is, or maybe was, usually the maximum top-up price for Chinese games. ☜