CHAPTER 568: CHAPTER 552: THE WIND DOESN’T STOP

Crying shark tears was useless, as the two of them didn’t even know where to go.

Sailing across the ocean without a compass, relying solely on stars made determining precise bearings impossible. Unable to find the way back, they could only wander aimlessly, hoping to find a more habitable island to heal their wounds before making further plans.

Moreover, although San Niang looked imposing, she was not built for endurance. If she persisted too long, her ribs would hurt, and no amount of male affection was a cure for that. She was simply incapable of navigating a shark for a long voyage.

In fact, they hadn’t been intimate for long; despite claiming to be "able to multi-task", it was nonsense. The shark started rebelling after just a couple of kisses, almost throwing the pair, who were trying to shock it into submission, into the air.

Pushing Zhao Changhe aside, San Niang sternly subdued the shark, then beat up Zhao Changhe, "I’ve recovered, and you still want to take liberties with me? You stinking pig."

With his hands stuffed in his pockets, Zhao Changhe stood to the side looking pitiful. ’You might as well keep feigning illness,’ he thought.

Fortunately, their luck wasn’t too bad; before San Niang reached her endurance limit, the rain began to let up. The mist wasn’t so dense, and a glimmer of daylight broke through the murky sky, boosting visibility.

As the fog cleared, the outline of another island came into view in the distance. It looked much larger than the previous desolate island, and there were trees.

Delighted, San Niang urged the shark through the waves.

Getting closer, they could see coconut trees, a sign that water was near. Coconuts could also be fashioned into all kinds of everyday utensils...

Zhao Changhe was ecstatic, feeling a sense of relief as if he had been reborn after a disaster. The human psyche is strange that way; despite the fact that they were still stranded and trying to survive, it felt like salvation had come.

It’s like going from living under a bridge to having ten square meters; you’re still toiling away, but it’s an improvement...

Neither of them considered that the better and more habitable the conditions, the more likely it was for ’pigs’ to cause trouble.

They both flew onto the island using their qinggong, impatient to get there, and found a flat spot. Zhao Changhe immediately drew his Dragon Sparrow to start chopping trees with great enthusiasm.

Ultimately, the burden fell entirely on the Dragon Sparrow.

Thankfully, it was a precious sabre that would not nick or dull even after a thousand battles. Chopping down a tree was no problem at all.

Looking back, San Niang had already gathered a pile of twigs and dry grass and, using her True Qi, dried them and ignited them with a "snap."

Huffing and puffing as he sawed planks, Zhao Changhe wondered, "Where did you get a fire lighter?"

San Niang replied, "Once I regained my True Qi, I could use the ring."

"... You have a storage ring too?"

"You think you’re the only one with it?" San Niang chuckled, "By rights of inheritance, your ring should belong to me."

Zhao Changhe pondered; yes, his ring belonged to the Ancient Xuanwu. But, wait, why should the Ancient Xuanwu’s belong to you?

Humming as she added twigs to the fire, San Niang said, "Let it be, consider it a gift from me, it’s not wrong for a Room Fire Pig to use Xuanwu’s belongings."

I figure it’s not wrong for the Room Fire Pig to use anything from Xuanwu.

Zhao Changhe didn’t vocally agree, instead focusing on cutting planks.

San Niang’s eyes flickered, and she disappeared into the trees behind her, emerging later in her own clothes. The previous cute and form-fitting outfit was replaced by a vestment robe that Zhao Changhe had never seen before.

The vestment robe was clearly of the same type worn by the Vermilion Bird, indicating it was a standard garment within the Four Symbols Sect. Unlike the Vermilion Bird’s bright red, San Niang’s was a heavy, serious black and blue, emphasizing a Xuanwu’s silent dignity.

Zhao Changhe’s lips twitched and he focused on chopping wood, choosing not to look any further.

San Niang giggled as she tied her hair into a ponytail, "What’s the matter, do I look majestic?"

Indeed, clothes make the man, and dressed like this, she really was pretty. But regal as the clothes might be, her giggling made her seem like a Jenny—no attire could salvage that. And a ponytail, like she’s trying to look youthful or something.

Then again, the more solemn and majestic the clothes, the more they made one think of the contrast of holding her naked in one’s arms, tempting without even trying.

Zhao Changhe had good reason to suspect that Guigui was tempting him on purpose. Why else wear something that screamed defiance?

But no matter, the priority was to get work done.

Zhao Changhe labored over his woodwork, constructing the shelter, while San Niang didn’t bother him anymore. She got the fire going well, caught fish and shrimps, picked coconuts, and prepared a proper dinner.

To an outsider, this would look like domestic bliss of a couple sharing chores, striving for a happy future together.

The blind man believed so, but this couple had a ten-year age difference that in any written story could portray a child driving a large vehicle.

Unabashedly indifferent to propriety, suitable for teens, late twenties, and even those past thirty. Rabbits or tortoises, it’s all game.

Is it really just about being good-looking?

But seriously, there was nothing mismatched about the scene. On the contrary, it looked quite fitting. This simple life of one building a house and the other cooking was indeed comforting to watch.

The blind man had gained new respect for Zhao Changhe’s reliability during this ordeal. He had once traveled thousands of miles to deliver Yuan Yang; that venture bore some resemblance to this one, but back then he was somewhat naive, while now he had truly matured.

So much so that the tortoise might just overtake the rabbit.

The blind man knew that Guigui couldn’t hold out against this... women who have been through adversity from a young age, no matter how carefree they seem on the surface, are often deeply wounded inside. In their dreams, what they desire most is a home, a person to shelter them from the storm.

This experience was like an impeccably aimed Divine Arrow, striking deep into the heart.

She had deliberately dressed in the vestment robe of the Four Symbols Sect to assert her status as the "boss," a warning to Zhao Changhe but perhaps also her own final struggle and resistance... While in fact, as fragile as paper-mâché, it might be an aphrodisiac instead.

It looked like the followers of Emperor Ye were headed for a complete rout.

The blind man stroked his chin, pondered a moment, then made a little adjustment.

"Dinner’s ready," called San Niang. "You can’t finish the house so quickly; take a break."

Wiping sweat from his brow, Zhao Changhe joined her, "I’m just worried it might rain again and want to finish as soon as possible."

"We’ll work on it together after we eat," San Niang handed him a sea shell, "Try it."

Seeing San Niang’s expectant expression, Zhao Changhe’s heart also softened.

It’s just like getting off work and coming home to find someone has cooked dinner waiting for you.

Perhaps everyone feels the same, having wandered in the Worldly Society for so long, who wouldn’t want a home?

San Niang’s cooking skills were also particularly good, the things she grilled were truly delicious...

"Is it good?" San Niang kicked him with her foot, her meaning clearly being, "Hurry up and praise me."

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but laugh, "Yes, yes, yes, the sea shells are delicious, as is the sea turtle."

"What turtle..." San Niang realized, then lazily laughed, "Hey, I have awoken, you won’t have a chance anymore."

Zhao Changhe didn’t argue, but continued to eat.

San Niang’s beautiful eyes lingered on his face for a long time, and she said nothing more, focusing on eating her fish.

After a while, Zhao Changhe finally found a topic to bring up, "Since there’s nothing wrong, shall we talk about the Bandit Brothers?"

This was just like a couple’s idle dinner table chat.

"What’s there to say..." San Niang muttered, "I am in charge of making money for the Four Symbols Sect. I come from a pirate background, and I’ve also been involved in the construction of a country, so I guess I’m an expert on how to trade and plunder. Ying Wu’s Brotherhood has also turned to business in recent years, so naturally, there’s overlap... But when I met Ying Wu, I didn’t reveal that I am Xuanwu, just mentioned I was a descendant of an old friend who came to visit. Initially, I intended to use him, they are very wealthy, and we’re not close."

Zhao Changhe said, "And what happened afterward?"

"The result was Ying Wu had a lot of loyalty," sighed San Niang, "When I told him that mother had died, Ying Wu was silent for a long time, saying that of their old brothers, he was the only one left, and the others were all descendants who inherited the title. He said it was good that I came, it was like the brothers were together again. Then, without even asking what I had done or what capabilities I had, he directly let me take the third chair, giving me high permissions to access their years of information and use their money as I wished. With such loyalty, I truly didn’t want to betray him, so I just used both identities, there’s no conflict."

"Ying Wu is indeed loyal..." said Zhao Changhe, "I think he actually knows your identity but doesn’t care."

"Uh... maybe, I’ve still been playing along in front of him, maybe he’s just enjoying the show," San Niang became somewhat unsure of herself, touching her chin, "This won’t do, I can only enjoy watching others be played..."

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but smile wryly, "So you went to Yellow Sand Market because you found information about Xuanwu related clues from their records."

"Exactly, otherwise how could I have run into you, my nemesis?"

"I had thought that your purpose in going there would have something to do with the nomads."

San Niang thought for a moment, "Actually, it does... what, are you worried about Ba Tu?"

"Mhm... Ba Tu’s military might be acceptable, but their top-tier combat power is lacking, and now that you’ve come here, if the Northern Desert armies invaded again, I don’t know how he would hold up."

"You, you just worry too much." San Niang hummed, "Let Tang Wanju have the headache, she isn’t playing with you, why are you bothering?"

Zhao Changhe glanced at her and fell silent.

What a sour thing to say...

San Niang also seemed to realize her tone was off, and stopped speaking with a hum.

Nowadays, truly, any little thing could make the atmosphere turn strange; whether talking about Ying Wu or Ba Tu, the subject could become twisted, and it was she who twisted it.

Annoyed, San Niang threw the fish bones far into the sea.

...

The night deepened.

The sound of woodworking on the island became clearer.

After dinner, the man and woman worked together, Zhao Changhe supporting the beams and pillars, while San Niang inserted wooden planks.

The snug little couple was joyously watching a small house take shape. The satisfaction was unmistakably written all over their faces, they laughed like blooming flowers upon seeing each other’s dirt-smudged faces.

It wasn’t until they were discussing building a wooden bed together and inadvertently looked up at each other that they seemed to both start thinking about an issue.

Under those stone slates the previous day, the environment really didn’t allow for much.

But now there was a wooden hut, and a bed inside. The new house was just built, warmed by the bonfire.

Could this be akin to the wedding chamber?

Even if it wasn’t, it was easy to become such.

Actually, the thought had already flashed through their minds while eating, but they both suppressed it and did not dwell on it. Now that the house was taking shape, they had to confront this issue.

"You..." San Niang took a long time to grind her teeth before she finally blurted out, "I am the superior, you sleep on the floor."

Without a word, Zhao Changhe lay straight onto the bed, "I’m really not up to it, I need to sleep, I’ve no strength to deal with you, what are you afraid of?"

San Niang suspiciously asked, "Really?"

Zhao Changhe did not answer, but soon there was a faint sound of snoring.

He was indeed exhausted. He had nearly collapsed while fighting the shark, and now he had been pushing himself all day; he was fortunate not to faint during the building.

San Niang stared blankly at his peaceful, sleeping face, serene like an ungrown child.

San Niang hesitated for a moment, then lay down beside him fully clothed and closed her eyes. She also needed rest, worn out from the day and with pain under her ribs, her medicine long gone, relying only on rest for self-healing.

Fortunately, her Xuanwu Body wasn’t just strong in defensive power, but also had a formidable recovery power. Who else with a broken rib could bounce back just one day later, so energetic to beat up sharks? If she could get a good few days of rest, she would be enough to return; she didn’t need ten days or half a month...

Half-asleep and half-awake, San Niang mused hazily—actually, not going back didn’t seem that bad... if the sky fell, it was none of her damn business.

She turned over, hugged the human pillow beside her, smacked her lips, and fell into a deep, sweet sleep.

The waves lapped soundlessly, the night was silent.

On the distant sea, a fleet was sailing, "Captain, we’ve spotted an injured shark ahead... suspect there may be people in this sea area."