Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 542: Tentacle Type

He contributed too damn much...

Even if Lady Three could have won the battle on her own, the fact that the people of Taiping Island remained safe made a huge difference. Many of the pirates had family and loved ones on the island. Zhao Changhe not only saved Hua Zhenming from his blunder but also granted the pirate crew an immense favor. It was as if a divine hand had grabbed Hua Zhenming as he was about to fall into the abyss, pulling him back from the brink.

Even the bearded old man’s attitude toward Zhao Changhe changed. He bowed deeply, showing his respect. “Thank you, Mister Zhao... The Heavenly Origins Pirates will never forget your kindness.”

“Now isn’t the time for celebration or thanks,” Zhao Changhe said. “You pirates are quite the slippery bunch. You should have another secret base or two, right?”

Lady Three let out a long breath, worried that he might bring up who the superior was, but he turned out to be quite sensible. “Yes, we do. But since this place was attacked, it’s unclear whether there’s a traitor among us or if the Sea Emperor can truly see everything in the ocean. If it’s the latter, then it won’t matter where we go.”

Zhao Changhe said, “The Sea Emperor definitely can’t perceive everything happening in the ocean. Xia Longyuan mentioned that even he still needs to place eyes on others to see...”

He hesitated, not mentioning that the Sea Emperor might even need the Heavenly Tome to see. He continued, “Anyway, if the Sea Emperor could perceive the entire ocean, he’d be invincible by now. We could all just give up and go to sleep. There would be no point in resisting. In other words, it’s unlikely that your base was directly discovered by him. Either some member of the Sea Tribe stumbled across this place, or there’s a traitor. In any case, if you move now, even if there’s a traitor, they might not have time to relay the information.”

The bearded old man seemed to want to say something, but stopped himself. Did he just say he talked to Xia Longyuan?? Is he serious or is he just bluffing?

But considering Zhao Changhe’s great deeds, he did not question it further and nodded. “You’re right. We’ll move immediately.”

Zhao Changhe turned to Lady Three and said, “I can still sense the direction that the crystal core fled in. Should we go after it?”

Lady Three gave him a strange look. Since when did you start consulting me with such respect? Is this you giving me face in front of others?

She played along, taking on the air of a leader, frowning as she said, “So much time has already passed. Can we still catch up to it? Why didn’t you say this sooner?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “It’s injured. We’ve only spent a moment talking. It hasn’t gotten far.”

Lady Three immediately said, “Let’s chase it then! Uncle Hai, take the crew and move. We’ll catch up with you later!”

Before her words even finished, she shot off like a cannonball, disappearing into the distance.

“Hey, that’s the wrong way!” Zhao Changhe called out, helplessly chasing after her. “This way!”

Lady Three: “...”

The bearded old man and Hua Zhenming exchanged looks. Surveying the chaotic battlefield, they both felt as if this battle had been a dream, and the outcome even more so.

You two clearly knew each other all along. Why did you pretend not to know Zhao Shouyi earlier?

* * *

Lady Three followed Zhao Changhe, skimming over the waves at incredible speed. Her beautiful eyes occasionally glanced at Zhao Changhe’s feet, and she seemed to want to say something several times but stopped herself.

Zhao Changhe kept his eyes looking straight forward. “What is it?”

Lady Three finally spoke, “When I was at the second layer of the Profound Mysteries, I couldn’t travel on water for this long, let alone fight underwater without being affected by the water. Don’t tell me you’ve reached the third layer of the Profound Mysteries?”

“No,” Zhao Changhe replied. “Traveling on water and fighting underwater are two different things. I was able to fight underwater like normal thanks to some... help. As for running on water, I learned some techniques from Hua Zhenming about harnessing the power of the sea, and I combined it with what I had already learned from Wanzhuang.”

Lady Three fell silent.

Zhao Changhe was curious. “What’s wrong?”

Lady Three responded, “Not everyone can just learn someone else’s techniques from a single fight like you did. Only geniuses or those with precious artifacts can do that. Don’t share this with just anyone.”

Zhao Changhe smiled slightly. When did you become so sharp?

She was not wrong, though. The pages of the Heavenly Tome that Zhao Changhe carried were things that he had not even disclosed to Yue Hongling until they were close enough. It was only after their relationship deepened that he let her in on the secret, and to this day, she remained the only one who knew. Shelly was far from close enough to him for him to tell her about it.

Still, it was not like he had intended to say anything. Who’d have thought she would suddenly be so perceptive when it comes to martial arts and figure all this out from a single offhand comment? She’s usually so clueless...

His mind raced, but what he said aloud was, “I don’t usually tell others this... It’s only because it’s you...”

Lady Three’s expression grew even stranger. She kept her head down and pressed forward without responding. People think I’m slow, but did you honestly forget how I played the flirty innkeeper when we first met?

Lady Three had lived as a pirate, a bandit, and an innkeeper dealing with all sorts of shady characters. She had heard more sweet, insincere words from men than Zhao Changhe had heard normal words in his lifetime.

Oh god, he wants to seduce me! He didn’t have this attitude when I was trying to charm him before. Is it because he saw me fighting seriously that he’s suddenly interested? This guy is weird... Is he a pervert?

Oh right, now I remember.

I already suspected this even back in Kuaiji. He has unresolved meridian issues, and dual cultivation can help alleviate that. Yet despite having women around him who were clearly in love with him, like Tang Wanzhuang, he never engaged in dual cultivation with them. Especially with Tang Wanzhuang, I don’t think they’ve ever even gone past kissing and touching.

Back then, I thought that he might have... a certain dysfunction down there. Otherwise, with Tang Wanzhuang being one of the most beautiful women in the world, how could any man resist going further with her after getting that close?

He’s probably putting on a show of being a playboy to cover up the fact that he has... issues. Well, that explains it.

Lady Three’s expression turned flirtatious again. “Piggy, you’ve done an excellent job this time. How should I reward you? Do you want to become my su~perior?”

The way she said “superior” was like a hook being slipped into someone’s heart, drawing it out.

Zhao Changhe’s heart skipped a beat, pounding uncontrollably. He did not dare turn his head to look at her, instead straightening up and saying seriously, “That’s not necessary. It’s my duty as the Fire Pig of Shi to relieve you of your worries, venerable.”

Lady Three giggled, “Very good, very good. Now you’re starting to act a little more like our Four Idols Cult’s piggy.”

Zhao Changhe almost said, “And now you’re finally acting like Shelly again.” During the battle, she had been incredibly fierce, like a wild and mature version of Yue Hongling—someone who gave off a feeling of reassurance and reliability.

Who would have thought Shelly could seem reliable... so incredible?

He did not say any of this, only asking, “Could the venerable impart me with some insights on controlling water? It would be useful for fighting at sea.”

Lady Three gave him a quick glance. “Some things can only be learned through action~ not words~”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Words can help too...

Lady Three’s expression suddenly grew serious. “If you really want to learn, then you’ll have to stop relying on that underwater cheat of yours. Go to the deep sea and practice throwing punches—or face a giant wave head-on and punch through it. Do that every day for a year, and you’ll understand.”

Zhao Changhe was taken aback and then bowed sincerely. “I humbly accept your teaching.”

“This is your reward.” Lady Three sidled up to him, smiling. “Piggy, do you want anything else?”

Zhao Changhe nearly stumbled into the sea.

My dear Shelly, we’re running on waves here, not strolling down the street!

Just as his frustration was peaking, he suddenly noticed a change. “It’s stopped.”

Lady Three immediately pulled away as if she had been electrocuted, suddenly remembering that they were in pursuit of an enemy.

In the distance, a small island appeared. With a loud slap, a tentacle as thick as a human torso wrapped around the island. Soon after, more tentacles emerged and followed, writhing as they bound the island completely.

A massive octopus head emerged, its eight limbs anchoring it to the center of the island. Its tentacles seemed to have countless eyes all over, watching Zhao Changhe and Lady Three approach with a cold gaze.

Just the impact of this eldritch sight was enough to drive away all thoughts of humor. Even from a distance, a feeling of nausea and dread crept into their hearts. It was not just a visual impression—there was an actual spiritual assault coming from it. A normal martial artist may have gone mad just from looking at it.

The two exchanged a glance, both stopping several li away, their expressions turning serious.

Zhao Changhe suddenly found himself wondering if the so-called Sea God was this massive octopus. The sheer malevolence of this creature fit every imaginable notion of an evil god.Nôv(el)B\\jnn