Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 19: Watching the Wind

Night time, at the pool behind the mountain.

The waterfall roared and splashed all around. The water was exceptionally cool and clear.

The waning moon was reflected in the pool, shivering amidst the rippling waves.

It did not snow today. The skies were clear, the moon was bright, and a fragrance wafted from the pines and cypresses surrounding the pool. Nothing needed to be said. Anyone could see that this place was deeply romantic.

Zhao Changhe and Luo Qi walked through the snow and stood by the edge of the pool. For a while, no one said anything. Both of them felt that talking would ruin the tranquility of the sight.

Shortly after, however, they started feeling uneasy.

Why am I enjoying this with him?

It’s not like we’re lovers.

Luo Qi crossed her arms and cast a sidelong glance at Zhao Changhe before finally breaking the silence. “Do I bathe first or do you want to attempt your breakthrough before that?”

I keep feeling like the word “breakthrough” used in this context has some other meaning... Zhao Changhe murmured, “You bathe first. I’ll go train somewhere far away to warm up.”

Zhao Changhe ran into the forest behind as if he was fleeing from some monster. In no time, his figure disappeared amidst the trees.

Luo Qi’s mouth twitched. Boss Zhao? A tyrant? You’re just a na?ve kid who hasn’t seen much.

Normally, when Luo Qi snuck out to bathe, she would strip, enter the water, and be done in jiffy. However, now that she knew that Zhao Changhe was nearby, she remained where she was with her hands by her waist for a long while.

She was frustrated.

Even though she clearly knew that Zhao Changhe was not peeking, she felt like she was undressing in front of him.

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Why do I need you to keep watch? You’re such a nuisance...

After some time, Luo Qi shouted hatefully, “Don’t go where I can’t see you! Heaven knows where you’re hiding. Find somewhere where I can see you face me with your back. Show me the back of your head, it’ll make me feel more at ease!”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Yes...I’ll...show you...the back of my head.

Are you inviting me to look at you?

While Zhao Changhe hesitated, not knowing what to say, Luo Qi shouted, “Hurry up! Did you really plan to hide somewhere to peek at me!?”

Zhao Changhe sighed. “I’ve never heard such a request before.”

I wasn’t going to peek, I really wasn’t. But now that it’s come to this, I have no other option but to take a look. What can I do?

He sauntered out from behind a pine tree and squatted behind some snow-covered shrubbery, revealing just the back of his head, which now faced the pool.

Luo Qi indeed eased up a bit, nodding in satisfaction, and began to undress.

Zhao Changhe squatted with his hands in his pockets. With the Back Eye, he could clearly see a jade-white figure emerge under the moon amidst the snow. It was as bright as moonlight and as fair as snow.

Layers upon layers of cloth were wrapped around Luo Qi and covered the important parts. She carefully looked at the back of his head and slowly undid them.

Unexpectedly, she isn’t flat. They’re not big, but she’s not flat.

Zhao Changhe began tracing out their shape with his hands. Nevermind, a virgin like me won’t even know what cup size she is. If it’s not A, it should be a B. I thought she was able to dress as a man because she doesn’t have much of a chest, but it turns out she does, and they’re bound up so tightly... Isn’t it tiring?

He saw Luo Qi rub her Adam’s apple and its prominent shape began to wane considerably. She rubbed her face and the manly features of her face disappeared, revealing the typical oval face, cherry-red lips, phoenix eyes, and sharp eyebrows of a woman. If she walked around like this and said she was a man, no one would believe her.

Luo Qi was able to trick others into thinking she was a male because she wore a disguise at all times. Zhao Changhe found it embarrassing that in front of such a beautiful scene, he was thinking about whether he could learn such techniques of disguise to make it more convenient to travel in the future...

Thinking this, he wanted to slap himself on the face. Fucking useless. But what am I gonna do other than be a useless person? Don’t tell me I should actually just turn around and throw myself at her?

Luo Qi had reached the first layer of the Profound Gate. She could kill Zhao Changhe with a single slap. Furthermore, how was he going to spend the rest of his days with her if he actually did that...

Zhao Changhe’s nose twitched and he put his hands in his pockets. Suddenly, he started to regret having this cheat of his.

Whatever. There’s always someone useless. Why can’t it be me...

But... She’s so pretty. Under the moonlight, in the pool surrounded by snow... She was already pretty even with the disguise on. Now that I see her real face, she’s downright devastating.

How could such a beautiful woman disguise herself and hide away in a shitty place like the Luo Family Village? Why was she the head of the external disciples? It makes no sense...

Zhao Changhe was lost in thought and did not even think about that beautiful scene anymore. There’s nothing good to see, anyway. I can’t even get a piece of her. Other than blue balling myself, what use is there?

Might as well train and be done with it.

He actually took the horse stance and began training, completely ignoring Luo Qi.

...

“Not bad. You did good.” Luo Qi enjoyed her bath, reapplied her disguise, then appeared beside Zhao Changhe with a smile. She patted his shoulder. “I thought you were going to show your bestial side.”

Not pretending anymore, are you?

Zhao Changhe was speechless. “If I wanted to show you my bestial side, I could have done it back in our room. Why would I do it out here in the cold?”

“Heh...” Luo Qi’s sharp eyebrows rose. “You really think you can do as you want just because we’re in the mountain stronghold?”

Zhao Changhe then remembered that she was stronger than him... He looked at Luo Qi with her reapplied makeup covering up her beauty and felt it was a pity. The moment she took off her disguise was like the clouds clearing up to reveal the moon; her beauty was forever etched into his heart.

He could not restrain himself and purposefully put his arm around Luo Qi. He was courting disaster. “Even if I was to show you my bestial side, I wouldn’t necessarily be able to defeat you. I say, senior martial brother, when are you going to dress as a girl for my entertainment?”

“Fuck off. Why don’t you do something for my entertainment?” Luo Qi kicked him a few meters away and folded her arms with disdain. “Do what you came here for. Cut the bullshit. How was your warmup?”

I warmed up so much that I freakin’ roasted myself.

Luo Qi grabbed her arm and sized up Zhao Changhe, “I know that at the highest levels of the Vicious Blood Art, your blood begins to surge throughout your entire body, and you become incredibly rash. At the first level, will you really lose your mind to that extent?”

Zhao Changhe said, “I don’t know. Instructor Sun didn’t explain it to me clearly, but I could tell that there was going to be some danger involved. If I do it alone, I’ll definitely lose myself. That’s why I came here. I originally wanted you to watch over my breakthrough and splash some water on my face if something went wrong. But now, I’d rather you kick me into the water.”

Luo Qi laughed coldly, “Why does this sound like some kind of aphrodisiac?”

“There’s no end to your nonsense, is there...” Zhao Changhe knew what she was thinking and purposefully said, “You’re jealous that I can attempt a breakthrough in just a month, aren’t you?”

“Yes. That’s definitely it. Yes, yes.” She grinned. “I’m truly so envious of this marvelous martial art that requires you to have someone else present to kick you into the water while you break through to the measly first level. What’s even more terrifying is this dreadful vicious qi that can be dispelled with cold water. Oh, I'm so scared. Let’s start. Allow me to see just what kind of martial art this is.”

She reached for his shoulder. However, Zhao Changhe, who saw physical touch with Luo Qi as no different from his left hand touching his right and thought nothing of it, unexpectedly avoided her grab this time. It was unthinkable.

Luo Qi’s eyes widened in shock.

Zhao Changhe laughed apologetically. “I suddenly feel like I don’t need you here to watch over me. Why don’t you go back and rest?”

This only stirred up Luo Qi’s temper. “You helped me keep watch, so I’ll watch over you in return. It’s just how it should be. Are you even a man? So sensitive!”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

He wanted to come to the pools to attempt his breakthrough because he wanted Luo Qi to watch over him. He wasn’t here because he wanted to keep watch for her while she was bathing, much less see her naked.

As he was right now, Zhao Changhe suspected he would not be able to keep calm during his breakthrough... That said, the Vicious Blood Art did not require one to have a calm mind. After all, it was different from internal arts.

In some sense, perhaps this hot-blooded state might actually be favorable?

Zhao Changhe did not know if he should laugh or cry. He shook his head, then took the horse stance and began channeling the Vicious Blood Art.

Affairs between the sexes were, in the end, not that important. Zhao Changhe needed to adjust himself and not let it take up too much of his thoughts... Instructor Sun’s thoughtful expression during the day suddenly surfaced in his mind. Zhao Changhe had a bad premonition and kept thinking that his breakthrough this time would not go over so smoothly.