Chaotic World Book

The dust settled, and only then did Zhao Changhe and Xia Chichi begin to treat their injuries.

San Niang was right to scold them; both severely wounded, yet they still had the leisure to watch family dramas and read tattered books, as if they had all the time in the world. Indeed, munching on melons is a primal human instinct, deemed more vital than healing.

Zhao Changhe paid a heavy price for indulging in this entertainment.

Thanks to the recovery ability of his Blood Asura Body combined with the Blood Demon Undying Body, Zhao Changhe now fears injuries to his divine soul and perhaps internal wounds too, but oddly, he is not very concerned about external ones. Crushed by the Sea Emperor, his bones shattered and muscles burst, it seemed horrendous, but it was just an external injury. Always self-healing and setting his own bones, he thought he was incredibly tough and nonchalant.

But he had forgotten that the scabbing over a wound, combined with dried blood, would make his clothes stick to it like torture when peeled off. It was unspeakably painful.

Zhao Changhe wailed as he tore off his clothes, almost ripping out tears, feeling more pain than if his bones had been crushed.

Xia Chichi, on the other hand, was even worse off. Zhao Changhe had at least received a dowry while gorging on melons. As for Xia Chichi, it was unclear what she had been doing when the aftereffects of the injury inflicted by Wang Daoning surged up so viciously she fainted on the spot.

San Niang, busy offering sacrifices at a grave, kept her eyes straight ahead, "I do not acknowledge her as Sect Hierarch."

Rubbing his cheek, Zhao Changhe moved over, cradling Xia Chichi in the crook of his right arm, and cautiously glanced at San Niang. Seeing her still turned away, he quickly bent down and kissed Xia Chichi, feeding her an elixir.

The medicines he had brought were used up long ago on the deserted island. Now, this medicine came from the dowry given by Hai Pinglan. Being quite skilled in medicine himself, Zhao Changhe quickly discerned the purpose of various medicines and promptly used them on Chichi.

He did this right beside San Niang... which was kind of... well, it's good that she couldn't see with her back turned...

But he had forgotten that under normal circumstances, one cannot see behind oneself in the Third Layer Secret Treasure. However, if one deliberately extends their Five Senses, they can possess a surveying vision similar to his, not much worse than his "cheating" ability.

With an emotionless face, San Niang "watched" as Zhao Changhe took her dowry and kissed it into Chichi's mouth. Her fists clenched with a cracking sound, "Can't you feed her with your hand?"

"Ah?" Zhao Changhe jumped in surprise. "You can actually see..."

"Is this about whether I can see or not! I'm asking why didn't you feed her with your hand!"

"...My right hand is holding someone, and my left hand is disabled and can't move."

San Niang: "..."

The excuse was too reasonable, and San Niang found herself at a loss for words, almost steaming with anger.

If Vermilion Bird were here, would you dare to kiss Chichi in her presence? Am I being too old-fashioned...? After stewing for a while, San Niang finally choked out, "Don't kiss me with the mouth that kissed her, thinking I'm not resentful..."

"Ying..." Xia Chichi woke up.

San Niang immediately shut her mouth.

Xia Chichi, unclear about their argument but catching the last few words, seemed to perceive the Venerable one's temper flaring. Assessing the situation, she guessed she was being held by Changhe, and the Venerables were displeased again.

So Xia Chichi tried to offer a smile, "Venerable..."

San Niang looked skyward, "How do your injuries feel?"

Chichi checked internally, "The Medicine God's gift from Changhe is effective. I'm much better now..."

San Niang's fists clenched with a crackling sound. Was that really Changhe's medicine?

"Hmm, since you're much better, why don't you get off the man?" San Niang suddenly turned around, her words sharp and severe, "Is this how Vermilion Bird taught you? As a Holy Daughter, to lie in the arms of a stranger?"

Zhao Changhe covered his face, speechless, while Xia Chichi felt like crying.

She had always known that Master Xuanwu was carefree, barely interfering in sect matters, and had seemed easy to talk to. How come when it came to her, even he was so fierce... Could it be that the rotten rule forbidding the Holy Daughter from love and affection was so important?

She could only try to explain, "Changhe is not a stranger anymore, Venerable. You personally welcomed him into the sect, making him your direct subordinate, the Room Fire Pig."

San Niang choked up, then angrily retorted, "Should the Holy Daughter be gnawed on by a pig!? What happened to the distinction between higher and lower ranks?"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

You're absolutely right, a Room Fire Pig can only gnaw on the Venerable, and needs to put in a hearty effort at that, isn't it?

Xia Chichi suddenly became assertive, propping herself up from Zhao Changhe's arms and said seriously, "A Venerable should not insult their own banner."

San Niang: "..."

The two stared at each other, eyes wide and small until Zhao Changhe finally raised his hands to mediate, "Well..."

San Niang crossed her arms and gave him a sideways glance, "Is it your place to speak?"

Zhao Changhe sighed, "This subordinate would like to ask, how can the Holy Daughter become a Sect Hierarch? As one of the Twenty-Eight Constellations, this subordinate should be qualified to know such major affairs of the Sect, right?"

"...," San Niang struggled for a while before conceding, "Originally, the concept was that only one who embodies all Four Symbols can be the Sect Hierarch."

Zhao Changhe said, "Isn't that a joke, though? If someone embodies all Four Symbols, wouldn't they be called Emperor Ye instead of Sect Hierarch? Emperor Ye is a divine being, while the Sect Hierarch is merely the divine's spokesperson. Does the Hierarch need to be like a god too?"

"That's why I said it was just the original concept, passed down from many generations ago."

"No wonder the Four Symbols Sect was so ineffective before, setting goals for itself that were unattainable castles in the air. Couldn't they be more realistic?"

San Niang remained expressionless, "Are you here to consult the Sect's teachings or to give unsolicited advice?"

Zhao Changhe offered a sheepish smile, "So it's still thanks to the current Venerable's wisdom and martial prowess..."

Suddenly, San Niang found that despite his obedient subordinate façade in front of others, she could scold and rebuke him however she liked, and he would still have to smile and apologize. That seemed quite satisfying...

Looking into the foolishly clear eyes of a certain outsider, San Niang, despite the grief of her father's death and the frustration of being directly confronted, felt her mood inexplicably lighten. She said leisurely, "But since one can become the Sect Hierarch, they must possess abilities beyond the four Venerables, abilities that we do not have, to be recognized. Even ignoring the doctrine, reality also requires this. It's unrealistic for one to embody all Four Symbols, but at the very least, they must embody two, right?"

Both Zhao Changhe and Xia Chichi nodded, "Indeed."

San Niang continued, "Chichi embodies Azure Dragon and White Tiger, which we are ecstatic about, but her understanding is too superficial, suitable only for a temporary position as Holy Daughter. To become a Sect Hierarch, she must at least match the understanding of either me or Vermilion Bird in one of those aspects. Is this requirement too high?"

Xia Chichi honestly replied, "It's right too."

San Niang asked, "Had you achieved that previously?"

Xia Chichi replied, "I hadn't."

"On this sea voyage, why does Vermilion Bird value it so much, and why did I travel thousands of miles from beyond the border? I didn't come to find my father; I came for you," San Niang sighed and said, "We hope that you can make enough breakthroughs during this opportunity, maybe even surpass us… We've been waiting for a Hierarch for too long. Chichi, do not disappoint us."

Xia Chichi carefully said, "If I become the Sect Hierarch, would that mean I am no longer forbidden from marriage? I saw nothing in the doctrines about how the Hierarch should be."

San Niang choked up, then angrily retorted, "Is that all you care about?"

Xia Chichi shrank back.

Originally, it wasn't about that. But being constantly pressured by these two fierce women, anyone would rebel, and now it really was about that.

San Niang exclaimed in anger, "When you truly deserve to be the Sect Hierarch, discuss it then. If you can convince everyone at that time, even I will kneel before you. You'd be free to jot down whatever you'd like about the Sect Hierarch in the doctrines, and nobody would dare to object!"

With that, she stormed off, her sleeves flapping, "This place is where the spirit of the Azure Dragon first emerged and gathered. Focus on your insight here, without distractions! And you, Room Fire Pig, come with me!"

The Venerable was angry, and inside, Xia Chichi actually felt more at ease.

As she watched Room Fire Pig follow the Venerable helplessly into the woods to be scolded, she clenched her fist secretly. Don't worry, Changhe, as I immerse myself in the spirit of this place, I am already picking up feelings. It won't be long before I meet the requirements and marry you magnificently, freeing you from the clutches of these fierce women!

It must be said that this place was truly a Holy Land. Leaving other factors aside, just the rejuvenating spirit of the Azure Dragon's vegetation was enough to significantly heal the internal wounds that would have otherwise required a long recovery time. Regardless of anything else, Xia Chichi felt that Zhao Changhe's Rejuvenation Technique might reach Great Success here.

Xia Chichi also knew the Rejuvenation Technique, having learned the abstract elements Zhao Changhe had copied for San Niang. She was the only person in the entire Four Symbols Sect who could divine any meaning from it, a unique privilege of the Azure Dragon's Holy Daughter. Xia Chichi closed her eyes and decided to start with the rejuvenating aspect of the plants, gradually perceiving the comprehensive laws of the Azure Dragon, confident that this attempt would yield significant rewards.

Although the Venerable might verbally abuse her, her heart was still very kind towards her... She really did wholeheartedly hope for her improvement. One must not fail to appreciate such sincerity.

In the small woods.

Zhao Changhe's collar was grasped firmly, pinning him against a tree. The Venerable, who was supposedly very nice to the Holy Daughter, shook him fiercely while yelling, "I protect her safety, teach her cultivation techniques, hope for her progress, and support her as Hierarch, yet in the end, she calmly asks me how she can be together with my man, and I can't even argue! Can I not beat this little wretch to death? She's infuriating me!"

Zhao Changhe couldn't quite tell who was the more pitiful of the two; it almost seemed easier to combat the Sea Emperor...