131: Chapter 129: Please Enjoy 131: Chapter 129: Please Enjoy Zhao Changhe found himself quite strange, as he had truly harbored some desire previously, especially after being kissed by an imposter, he really wanted to kiss the real one.

But after holding her like this, those messy thoughts gradually disappeared.

Although she was as soft and warm as jade, he couldn’t muster much fanciful thoughts, instead feeling more and more at peace.

Perhaps he was just too tired.

Only Yue Hongling could evoke such a sense of dependency in him.

Yue Hongling also found herself very strange.

Being held like this, she felt no repulsion at all.

Her earlier struggles did not break free, and she didn’t know if it was because her shoulders were sore or if she was playing hard to get.

But being held in such a manner, she felt peaceful as well, just like in the Secret Cave, when he was solidly guarding in front of her, an inexplicable sense of safety in her heart.

Perhaps, after braving the trials and tribulations alone in the Worldly Society, she was finally tired?

She didn’t know, but lying quietly in his arms, she truly felt at peace.

From afar came the crowing of a rooster, and the eastern sky began to show the first light of dawn.

It was getting light.

The man and woman who had been embracing quietly inside finally began to slowly separate.

Yue Hongling turned around, gently pushed against Zhao Changhe’s chest, and looked up into his eyes.

His gaze seemed to have just returned from a trance, and had just regained clarity.

Yue Hongling truly hadn’t felt any of his desires, and didn’t know if in his heart, he held the vision of the ideal heroine or just a stubborn dream of a youth.

It seemed as if only now did he begin to have some regrets, his throat moved as he tried to lean down for a kiss.

Yue Hongling’s eyes flashed with amusement, and she quickly pressed her hand against his mouth, “I said just a hug.”

Zhao Changhe felt a desire to cry out of regret.

Finally, Yue Hongling couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Such a child.”

Zhao Changhe pouted and promptly pecked at her hand, which was pressing against his mouth.

Yue Hongling drew back her hand as if shocked and glared at him angrily.

Yet Zhao Changhe didn’t advance; instead, he seemed refreshed, as if he had experienced some kind of elevation.

He leisurely turned and sat down at the table to pour himself some tea to drink, “You always call me a child…

Hmm, I suddenly remembered a topic we touched on a while back.”

Yue Hongling pursed her lips and wiped her hand on the side of her trousers before sitting down next to him, casually taking the tea he had just poured and drinking it, “What topic?”

“The next time we meet in the Worldly Society, what I should call you.”

“Isn’t it already Miss Yue?

Or behind the back incessantly calling you sister, to the extent that even the Heavenly Girl from the Demon Sect has heard it?”

Zhao Changhe glanced at her and said with a smile, “That’s now, but if I were to answer that question now, I’d have a different response.”

“Oh?”

“I hope the next time we meet, I will blurt out ‘Hongling’ without thinking.”

Yue Hongling’s heart skipped a beat, but she still put on an amused, shaking head expression, “Hey, did you have a breakthrough just now and suddenly gained some inexplicable confidence?

You’re still at the Fourth Layer after all.”

“What you care about isn’t really that, maybe consider it a prerequisite?” Zhao Changhe laughed, “Then please, Miss Yue, protect me once more.”

Yue Hongling paused, “What are you planning to do?”

Zhao Changhe took out a few elixirs to enhance Blood Qi, “Now that I’ve broken through the Fourth Layer of both External Skill and Inner Strength, my Dantian is stable, and my True Qi is vigorous, it’s the peak time for Blood Qi in the morning.

My External Skill cultivation has always been slightly higher than my Inner Strength.

Now that my Inner Strength has reached the standard, I can continue to push through and aim for a breakthrough in External Skill.

Now should be the time for the Fifth Layer.”

Yue Hongling suddenly thought he was crazy.

You were just in so much pain, and most people would feel traumatized and take some time to relax.

And you’ve just completed Dual Cultivation…

um, finished Dual Cultivation, and by conventional thinking, you should be done with training and doing something else.

But this fellow was already thinking of making another breakthrough, and even Yue Hongling couldn’t keep up with his train of thought.

He was just like a wolf that could never be sated…

no wonder his cultivation speed was like this.

But the surging Blood Evil from before was already so painful, would there be another bout during his breakthrough?

Zhao Changhe slowly swallowed the elixirs that assisted Blood Qi, and said in a low voice, “Don’t look so serious…

I have a lot of experience with the Blood Evil Skill.

It just acted up, and now the Evil Qi has been vented and is very calm, so it shouldn’t happen again.

Last time I was joking with Cui Wenjing when I broke through the Fourth Layer of External Skill.

It was similar, also not long after an episode in the wild, I think the feeling will be similar this time.”

Yue Hongling said, “I do believe that you won’t be like before, but I’m curious, is there something making you so urgent?

Your martial arts practice has only been for a little over half a year.”

“Are you talking about the distant past or the recent?”

“What do you mean by distant or recent?”

“If it’s distance you’re talking about,” I want to catch up to you sooner.”

Yue Hongling stopped speaking; the phrase “catch up to you” was full of ambiguity at this moment, unsure whether it referred to the person or their power, but she didn’t want to clarify it.

In her heart, she thought that if it was about the person, there might be another Cui Yuanyang…

At this thought, her mood finally felt a bit awkward for the first time.

But then she heard Zhao Changhe continue, “If it’s proximity…”

His muscles began to knot impressively, Blood Evil was condensing once again, the fierce and unmatched Evil Qi surged tumultuously, swiftly giving the illusion that the room had turned into a blood-soaked battlefield.

“…I’m about to challenge someone, Fourth Layer is definitely not enough, Fifth Layer is more like it.”

As his words fell, Blood Evil condensed in the air, reaching Mystical Gate Fifth Layer.

Yue Hongling felt as though she was witnessing a miracle unfold before her eyes, her heart couldn’t help but surge with excitement.

Such a scene truly could stir up a martial artist’s passion and blood, it was just too cool…

If it wasn’t for the fact they were on the same side, Yue Hongling would have been tempted to challenge him herself.

Zhao Changhe introspected for a moment, then smiled radiantly, “The ‘protector’ I spoke of doesn’t refer to this breakthrough, but to that challenge.

Sister Yue can have some breakfast on the side, just keep the blindsighted troublemakers at bay.”

Yue Hongling felt she might see something very interesting and didn’t ask who it was, but instead asked, “Why now?”

Zhao Changhe stood up, “External Skill is different from Inner Strength.

After breaking through the Mystical Gate, Inner Strength still needs to accumulate, but External Skill yields immediate results.

And the Blood Evil Skill is especially different — right after the breakthrough, when the Evil Qi hasn’t faded, fighting power is at its wildest.

Moreover, I just held you, so I’m perfectly at peace emotionally.”

Yue Hongling couldn’t be bothered with the latter half of his explanation, “I think there’s more to it than that?”

“Indeed…

it’s mostly because, if we wait another two days, he’ll have accomplished everything, so I need to give him a bit of a setback…

Although it may not have much to do with me, I’m quite annoyed and want to let him know not everyone is in the dark.

At the very least, there’s a score to settle, for him to enjoy.”

…

The morning in Yangzhou still carried an air of chaotic military unrest.

Passersby hurried by without daring to look up, for fear of being dragged away as members of the Maitreya Sect.

Street vendors had ceased their businesses for the time being, leaving the streets deserted.

Only near the Mingyuelou was it still bustling, because that area was the territory of Cao Gang.

Cao Gang’s Young Master Wan Dongliu actively cooperated with the Demon Suppression Department to capture members of the Demon Sect, and even cleaned up a large group within Cao Gang, including high-ranking members.

This pleased the Demon Suppression Department greatly.

With the assistance of the local power, their task became much easier.

Thus, the Cao Gang’s venues remained undisturbed by the military, and pedestrians came and went as many port workers ate porridge and steamed buns nearby.

Wan Dongliu leisurely sat on the top floor of Mingyuelou, having breakfast, hosting Daoist Xuan Chong who had been staying with him, as well as Tang Buqi who came to mooch a meal.

The three of them idly talked about the Magistrate’s assassination attempt and the Maitreya Sect’s foreigner-related issues, and chuckling over Zhao Changhe’s embarrassing actions during last night’s dinner, as if the upheaval in Yangzhou had nothing to do with them.

Tang Buqi also glossed over the fact that the Maitreya Sect and the foreigners had been framed, angrily condemning the Maitreya Sect as villainous for killing officials and showing blatant disrespect to his Tang family.

“You didn’t see it, thanks to my intervention yesterday, with a move of the Spring Water Transmission, I managed to save Zhao Changhe from under Fa Yuan’s blade…”

“Well you guys are even now; he saved you from Ba Tu before.”

“That Ba Tu, even without him, I would have been fine.

My Tang family has many secret techniques, what does he know?”

“…Yes, yes, Brother Tang, great talent.”

“Huh?” Xuan Chong suddenly pointed towards the end of the long street, laughing, “Isn’t that the main character we were just talking about?”

Wan Dongliu turned to look, and through the thin morning mist, a large man carrying a heavy blade was emerging step by step from the fog.

Everywhere he passed, the vendors fell silent, the pedestrians refrained from speaking out, even those eating porridge carefully controlled themselves to not make a slurping noise.

The imposing aura and sense of oppression were indeed startling.

Where was the embarrassing figure from last night’s banquet that everyone was talking about?

The bragging Tang Buqi suddenly shut his mouth.

Zhao Changhe looked obviously more imposing, feeling that if he were to thrust his sword again, he’d be split into two by that blade.

“He seems to have made a breakthrough.” Xuan Chong sighed, “This Blood Qi and Evil Qi, the nickname given by Maitreya Sect is not wrong, isn’t he the very image of an Asura?

Wan Dongliu was somewhat distracted and replied casually, “Yeah, indeed.”

Tang Buqi leaned out, “Seems like Yue Hongling isn’t with him…

they were together last night…”

The two exchanged glances as if Tang Buqi hadn’t said anything, he continued, “Wonder where Zhao Changhe is heading this early morning.

Is he just passing by here?

Should we invite him up for a sit?”

As they were discussing this, they saw Zhao Changhe stop at the base of Mingyuelou, look up at the three people on the railing, and with a loud laugh that carried down the long street, “Beimang’s Zhao Changhe formally challenges the Hidden Dragon, Wan Dongliu.

Brother Wan, I kindly ask for your instruction!”

Wan Dongliu’s expression changed subtly, and the street fell eerily silent.