Walking less than a hundred paces east from the bamboo cottage, the three arrived at a two-story building with whitewashed walls and black-tiled roofs. Compared to the surrounding thatched huts and bamboo cottages, this small building was noticeably more refined.
Cai Zhao couldn’t help but ask, "I haven’t seen Second Brother Shi yet. I wonder if I’ll have the chance to meet him later."
"No," Shi Tieqiao flatly refused.
Cai Zhao grew worried. "Could it be that Second Brother Shi’s injuries from back then were too severe, and he... he..."
The young girl’s large eyes were filled with concern and sorrow, like mist gathering in a bright sky.
Shi Tieqiao was momentarily dazed, thinking how much those eyes resembled Cai Pingshu’s. It was precisely because of such eyes, always brimming with hope, that the blood-soaked Martial World of those days didn’t descend into utter darkness.
He smiled. "Don’t worry, he’s fine. Seven or eight years ago, after recovering from his injuries, he set sail to find his beloved. Two or three years ago, he sent a letter saying he already had children and kept begging me to come back for a visit, but I wouldn’t allow it."
Cai Zhao’s eyes lit up. "I know about this! Is it that very formidable and beautiful female pirate captain?"
Shi Tieqiao laughed. "That’s her. My second brother has the temperament of a mischievous monkey. I always knew he couldn’t stay put here, so when he first entered and later left, I never told him the way in or out."
He sighed. "Your aunt was right. As long as we know each other is safe, what does it matter if we’re apart?"
Entering the small building, a strong, bitter scent of medicinal broth greeted them. Shi’s eldest daughter-in-law was silently bustling about inside.
Cai Zhao noticed the brand-new burial clothes laid out nearby and understood the meaning behind Shi Tieqiao’s earlier words, "Have your wife prepare"—they were making funeral arrangements for someone on the brink of death.
Ascending to the second floor, Shi Tieqiao hurried ahead, carefully helping the person on the bed sit up and motioning for Mu and Cai to sit opposite the bed.
The ailing man had graying hair, his face lined with wrinkles and sorrow. His once-lively eyes, likely playful in his youth, were now dull from years of worry and fear.
He scrutinized Cai Zhao carefully, his face lighting up with joy. "This must be Zhao Zhao. You look so much like your mother. How is your mother lately? Does she still go out to play every now and then? When I heard she married Brother Xiaochun, I was utterly shocked..."
Mu Qingyan suddenly looked up.
Cai Zhao was both surprised and amused. Most of the old acquaintances she had met so far saw Cai Pingshu in her face, but this was the first to mention Ning Xiaofeng. She smiled. "My mother is doing well, though she doesn’t go out much to play anymore. Before, she had to accompany my aunt while she recovered from her injuries, and later, she had to arrange my grandfather’s funeral. My grandmother often seeks her out, and with my little brother... there’s a whole host of things for her to manage."
The ailing man sighed. "Xiaofeng has grown up. Everyone has grown up. Back then, I said I’d take my parents to travel the famous sights of the world—I failed. I said I’d carry Xiaofeng on my back at her wedding—I broke my promise. Ah, I’m truly useless!"
He turned to Mu and Cai. "Do you know who I am?"
Cai Zhao looked utterly bewildered.
Mu Qingyan said, "Senior must be the seventh disciple of the late Sect Master Yin—Guo Zigui."
Shi Tieqiao was startled. "How did you guess?"
Mu Qingyan replied, "Just now, Senior Guo referred to ‘Brother Xiaochun’ and ‘Little Sister Xiaofeng.’ Among the notable North Star disciples of that time, the only one younger than Cai Gu but older than Madam Ning would be Senior Guo."
In truth, there was also Li Yuanmin, who had just entered the Grand Beginning Temple back then and was even younger. But at the time, he was just a little brat with no chance to be involved in any conflicts.Mu Qingyan continued, "Back then, Old Sect Leader Yin was wary of Heroine Cai's influence, so his disciples rarely interacted with those close to her. Only Elder Guo, due to certain connections, had known Madam Ning since childhood."
The bedridden man sighed, "You're right. I am Guo Zigui."
Cai Zhao's mouth fell open. As she looked at the terminally ill man before her, her heart ached with sorrow.
In Ning Xiaofeng's memories, the missing Guo Zigui should have been that dashing golden youth leaning against the bridge in the setting sun—a carefree and perpetually cheerful young man who never took anything seriously.
"I'm from Jiangdong. Little Sister Xiaofeng's maternal grandparents lived just one alley away from my family home." Guo Zigui seemed lost in thought. "Whenever we two met as children, it would inevitably stir up such a ruckus that everyone would be exasperated..."
Shi Tieqiao suddenly snorted coldly. "You were supposed to join Jade Pendant Mountain Manor. If not for Yin Dai's meddling, you wouldn't have ended up like this!"
Guo Zigui whispered, "My mother couldn't bear to have me too far away, so my father had already spoken with Old Manor Lord Zhou about letting me idle my days away at Jade Pendant Mountain Manor. But then... when I was ten, my master suddenly came to Jiangdong and proposed taking me as his closed-door disciple."
Shi Tieqiao's face showed disdain. "Though the Guo family of Jiangdong wasn't particularly renowned in the martial world, they were among the wealthiest families in the land, with countless shops, workshops, and mines under their name. Yin Dai was coveting their wealth and trying to extend his influence into Jiangnan!"
"Brother Shi, don't say that," Guo Zigui said weakly.
Cai Zhao had never heard this story before. It was likely a painful memory for Ning Xiaofeng, hence never mentioned.
Mu Qingyan, however, had come across this episode during his exhaustive research into past events and knew the details well.
"Typical of Yin Dai's methods," he remarked sarcastically. "He threw a grand banquet, lavishing praise before Jiangdong's elders and martial arts veterans about how the Guo family had supported Azure Tower Sect over the years, showering them with gratitude. Then he proposed taking Elder Guo as his closed-door disciple to 'cement their bond.'"
Shi Tieqiao's face darkened with anger. "Some even egged him on, fanning the flames until the Guos found it impossible to refuse—as if declining would seem like they were leveraging their past favors. Old Manor Lord Zhou kept silent, or else he'd have offended Yin Dai."
"Sect Leader Yin was actually that domineering?" Cai Zhao was astonished.
Having grown up under Qi Yunke's laid-back leadership, Azure Tower Sect had become much milder—it was hard to imagine its former aggressiveness.
Mu Qingyan chuckled. "So you can imagine how furious Old Yin must have been when your aunt suddenly emerged to dominate the martial world."
"Furious? More like shocked, resentful, and utterly helpless," Shi Tieqiao added with vindictive satisfaction.
As they talked and laughed, some color returned to Guo Zigui's face, and his eyes regained their spark.
Cai Zhao quickly said, "After you disappeared, everyone assumed you'd met with misfortune. Now that we know you're still alive, countless people will rejoice."
Guo Zigui shook his head. "I didn't disappear—I fled for my life. Had I stayed, my master would have purged me from the sect immediately."
Cai Zhao was shocked again, wondering what sect rule he could have broken to warrant such severity.
Guo Zigui seemed unwilling to elaborate and changed the subject. "Zhao Zhao, tell me about the sect. I know the Eighth Junior... ah, actually your master is older than me. The Eighth Junior is sect leader now—what about his senior brothers?""Except for the cooks, everything in the sect is..." Cai Zhao noticed he was at his limit and chose lighter topics. "You know my master's temperament—lenient with himself and even more so with others. Nowadays, Azure Tower Sect disciples love gathering to gossip and watch the excitement. The melon seed shells they spit out daily could fill a large basket. Thankfully, there's Elder Li Wenxun, or the sect rules would have completely slackened."
Guo Zigui seemed wistful. "Oh, that's truly different. When I joined the Azure Tower Sect, our master disciplined us very strictly..." His tone shifted, tinged with sorrow. "So my first six senior brothers are all gone, aren't they?"
Cai Zhao thought of Qiu Renjie's tragic suicide and after a long pause replied, "...Elder Lei Shibo is still here, grumbling daily in the medicine hut about the quality of his pills."
Guo Zigui laughed. "Sixth Brother loved looking handsome. Once dressed up, he'd always head where the crowds were. How could he bear staying in the medicine hut every day? Is he injured and avoiding people?"
Cai Zhao lied, "Just a scar on his face. I think it looks quite dashing, but he refuses to show himself."
Guo Zigui shook his head. "If it were just a scar, Sixth Brother would have healed it long ago. There must be other injuries." Knowing Lei Xiuming's medical skills and temperament, he vaguely guessed his limbs or features might have suffered irreparable damage. "But as long as he's alive—able to mix medicines, refine pills, and grumble at people—it means he can at least move freely... Ah, that's enough."
Cai Zhao fell silent.
Suddenly, Guo Zigui's face twisted in agony. His pallid skin flushed a ghastly purple, and his emaciated body convulsed into a ball. Shi Tieqiao moved like lightning, expertly pressing acupoints on his body.
Guo Zigui's pupils dilated as he babbled deliriously—"Father, why won’t you visit me? Take me home! I don’t want to stay here, I don’t want to train, it hurts, it hurts! Mother, don’t cry, I’m fine... The sect has everything, my senior brothers take good care of me, I’m not suffering, really not..."
The childlike terror in his voice gradually gave way to forced reassurance, like a little adult, making Cai Zhao's heart ache.
Guo Zigui gasped, his ramblings growing more incoherent, as if his parents stood before him while he played the role of a homesick son hiding his hardships. He spoke in broken fragments—
"Eldest Brother and Second Brother were the kindest... often sneaking me treats from town... afraid I’d cry at night, they kept the lamps lit... Fourth and Fifth Brothers kept to themselves but never bullied me... Third Brother was Master’s future son-in-law—strict, but if I obeyed respectfully, he’d guide me... Sixth Brother and I were closest... Mother, next time you see that shiny satin, save some for him, don’t forget..."
Shi Tieqiao massaged his acupoints, finally pressing hard on the crown of his head, channeling a surge of profound Inner Force into him. Guo Zigui abruptly regained half his clarity.
Cai Zhao was horrified—she knew Shi Tieqiao was resorting to desperate measures, sacrificing Guo Zigui's Vitality to briefly rouse him.
Guo Zigui's eyes flew open, locking onto Cai Zhao with an unnatural flush on his cheeks. "Zhao... Zhao Zhao, take something out for me. No, no!" he begged.
Cai Zhao quickly agreed.
Guo Zigui pointed to a familiar-looking longsword hanging by the bed—its scabbard and hilt resembled one Cai Zhao had seen on Lei Xiuming’s wall. "This... was the sword Master gave me when I joined. Please... take it back for me!"Cai Zhao was slightly startled—since their meeting, Guo Zigui had always spoken softly and gently. Only these last five words were uttered with resolute determination, exceptionally firm.
Guo Zigui spoke word by word: "I have disgraced our sect and am unworthy to be my master's disciple. Please help me return this sword, as if I have left the sect on my own. From now on, I am no longer a sect disciple!"
Cai Zhao seemed to understand and responded.
Guo Zigui then pointed to a small box on the opposite table. "Give this to your mother. The Jiangdong Guo..." His expression twisted in pain. "Guo Jing is gone. This is all I have left, consider it a belated dowry for your mother, to make up for her childhood spent accompanying me in mischief and trouble."
Cai Zhao held back her tears and nodded firmly.
After these two requests, Guo Zigui visibly withered, as though his inner Vitality had completely dissipated.
His voice was faint as a thread: "One last thing... Please scatter my ashes in Jiangdong... over my parents' graves."
Cai Zhao was shocked: "Senior Guo, why say such things? No matter how severe your internal injuries, with rest and care, you can recover."
Guo Zigui smiled weakly: "I've been dragging out an ignoble existence for years. Living like this is worse than death. Zhao Zhao, don't try to persuade me." He turned, eyes pleading: "Brother Shi, my wishes are fulfilled. Let me go... let me go!"
Shi Tieqiao's eyes filled with sorrow as he ceased the flow of Inner Force and slowly withdrew his palm from the Baihui point on Guo Zigui's head.
Guo Zigui instantly collapsed like an emptied leather raft, lifeless and limp, his murmurs barely audible. "Father, Mother, your unfilial son is coming... It was I who caused your deaths..."
After a faint whimper, Guo Zigui breathed his last.
Cai Zhao could no longer hold back, and hot tears streamed down her face.
Mu Qingyan sighed softly and stood up to assist Shi Tieqiao in repeatedly stimulating Guo Zigui's dantian and meridians with Inner Force.
Only after confirming that Guo Zigui had truly passed did Shi Tieqiao call for his eldest daughter-in-law to methodically arrange the funeral affairs.
Martial artists were not particular about elaborate rituals. When Cai Pingshu had passed, her body was only kept for three days before burial—this was to accommodate those who came to pay their respects. Otherwise, according to Cai Pingshu's own wishes, death was like a lamp extinguished; the sooner one was buried, the sooner they could reincarnate, without unnecessary fuss.
Under the guidance of Shi's eldest daughter-in-law, the servants efficiently washed, combed, dressed, and prepared Guo Zigui's body, stuffing his mouth with white rice before laying him on an iron stretcher covered with fragrant flowers and plain cloth, then sending him into the brick kiln for cremation.
Watching the thin blue smoke rise slowly from the kiln, Shi Tieqiao could not hold back his tears, choking with emotion. "Poor child... He wasn't even forty this year. Never married, never had children, never even courted anyone!"
Cai Zhao was deeply saddened but forced herself to change the subject to distract him: "Senior Shi, what sect rule did Senior Guo violate that made Elder Yin Dai insist on taking his life?"
Shi Tieqiao angrily replied, "What sect rule?! He was merely captured by the Demonic Cult and couldn't endure the torture, so he surrendered. Earlier, you examined Brother Zigui's body. Ask him why Brother Zigui suffered for ten years without recovery!"
Mu Qingyan, pleased with the word "examined," answered amiably, "Senior Guo's meridians were forcibly severed one by one with brutal techniques, and his dantian seemed to have been repeatedly ground by True Qi, leaving it severely damaged."
Shi Tieqiao lamented bitterly: "Zigui was timid and afraid of pain since childhood—hardly the type to charge into battle. Yet Yin Dai, that old fool, for the sake of face, insisted that 'all Seven Stars disciples must avenge the Grand Beginning Temple,' forcing Zigui to go!"Mu Qingyan frowned. "What do you mean by 'avenging Grand Beginning Temple'?"
Cai Zhao asked in confusion, "Where exactly was Uncle Guo captured alive?"
Shi Tieqiao wiped away his tears and plopped onto a stone stool, frustrated. "Grand Beginning Temple overestimated themselves and provoked the Demonic Cult. First, their sect leader Cang Longzi died tragically, then their eldest disciple Wu Yuanying perished on Cauldron Peak Mountain, followed by their leader Cang Huanzi perishing together with the Demonic Cult's Yaoguang. Not long after, even their last remaining elder, Cang Qiongzi, had his legs severed by an ambush from Yaoguang's subordinates."
"I know this part!" Cai Zhao quickly raised her small hand. "My mother told me—it wasn’t that Grand Beginning Temple overestimated themselves. Before that, didn’t my aunt break Chen Shu’s Five Venoms Palm and rescue many Grand Beginning Temple disciples among the captives? Yin Dai felt humiliated and went to provoke Grand Beginning Temple instead..."
Shi Tieqiao sighed. "That silly girl Xiaofeng—she talks when she shouldn’t and stays silent when she should! It wasn’t entirely Yin Dai’s provocation. Your aunt had already humiliated Grand Beginning Temple during the Six Sects’ grand competition, so they were already holding a grudge."
Mu Qingyan curled his lip disdainfully. "What happened next? Did Yin Dai lead the charge for revenge?"
"Exactly!" Shi Tieqiao said irritably. "After Grand Beginning Temple suffered one disaster after another, that old fool Yin Dai couldn’t save face anymore. He ordered the elites of the six sects to storm the Nether Bamboo Path to vent their anger!"
"Starting a war out of spite—ridiculous," Cai Zhao remarked.
Shi Tieqiao raised his voice. "Exactly! Your aunt strongly opposed it at the time, saying that if they stormed the Nether Bamboo Path, Nie Hengcheng would surely be prepared—but would Yin Dai listen to her?"
"And then, to lead by example, Yin Dai sent all seven of his own disciples?" Cai Zhao scoffed.
Shi Tieqiao grumbled, "That’s right."
"So that’s how it was." Mu Qingyan swept the dust at his feet with a branch and looked up. Catching Cai Zhao’s meaningful glance, he casually changed the subject. "Who exactly participated in the assault on the Nether Bamboo Path that year?"
"Almost all the younger generation went," Shi Tieqiao recalled. "Among the Azure Tower Sect’s three elders, Cheng Hao and Wang Dingchuan had already died in the battle to capture Kaiyang, so Azure Tower Sect sent the most people. Jade Pendant Mountain Manor and Four Stallions Gate also sent many, since their old sect leaders had been severely injured by Nie Hengcheng..."
Cai Zhao interjected, "Were they injured testing Nie Hengcheng’s Demonic Arts?"
Shi Tieqiao confirmed and added, "Fallen Blossom Valley was naturally led by your aunt, along with us brothers. Yang Yi from Four Stallions Gate hesitated for a long time before finally sending his son. Grand Beginning Temple was led by Wang Yuanjing—ah, everyone pitied their heavy losses and deliberately placed them at the rear."
He racked his brain. "Who didn’t go that time... Hmm, Brother Yun Ke and Xiao Chun were injured and couldn’t go. My second brother was chasing after his sweetheart and hadn’t returned. Qiu Yuanfeng was still recovering from injuries sustained at Cauldron Peak Mountain, so he didn’t go. As for the others... I can’t remember..."
The smoke above the brick kiln darkened, signaling Guo Zigui’s remains were being cremated. Worried Shi Tieqiao would be upset if he saw, Cai Zhao quickly asked, "Since they stormed the enemy’s lair, Nie Hengcheng must have pulled out all the stops. Were our losses heavy?"
"Actually, not too bad, because Nie Hengcheng was in seclusion at the time." Shi Tieqiao chuckled. "After breaking into the Nether Bamboo Path, we split into... Well, I don’t know how many groups. Our brothers charged ahead with Ping Shu, fought mindlessly for a while, and then came back.""Zigui wasn't so lucky," he sighed. "His senior brother Feng Yuantu actually took good care of him, arranging for him to stay behind with the Grand Beginning Temple group so he could flee at the first sign of trouble. But somehow they got lost during the fighting and stumbled into a pitch-black mountain valley to the west. The place was full of towering stone pillars, caves and cliffs like a maze, with snarling lion and leopard stone carvings covering the ground like demons from hell. Terrified out of his wits, Zigui got separated from the Grand Beginning Temple group. Feng Yuantu died in that battle - he was an honest man, what a pity."
"Ah, in hindsight, Zigui should have stayed with us. Though we charged at the front lines, the moment Ping Shu drew her Bright Sun Blade and stood against the wind with that awe-inspiring presence, even ghosts and gods would retreat! Unless Nie Hengcheng himself showed up, no one in the Demonic Cult could withstand a single blow from her! We just followed her charge - exhilarating, absolutely exhilarating!"
Recalling those passionate days, Shi Tieqiao straightened his back, eyes shining. "Lu Chengnan later admitted he deliberately sent Zhao Ba and Han Yisu to avoid our path, afraid his fellow disciples would be killed. Hah, hahaha!"
But as he raised his head and saw the thick black smoke rising from the kiln, his mood plummeted.
Weeping, he continued, "Old Master Guo was a kind man. When my brothers and I were young and being hunted by enemies, fleeing to Jiangdong, it was the Guo family who took us in. Though Zigui was always careless, he had a kind heart since childhood. When he learned we brothers suffered internal injuries, he wanted to buy up all the ginseng and tiger gallbladders on the market."
"He was soft by nature, completely unsuited for martial arts, disliking violence. He should have remained a nominal disciple at Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, living an idle life. Yet somehow he became the closed-door disciple of the Azure Tower Sect leader, thrust into the spotlight with no way out."
"When Ping Shu rescued Zigui, he'd been tortured beyond recognition - so what if he surrendered? So what if he signed a surrender document? He never harmed anyone! Not everyone can be a great hero! I suspect when Yin Dai learned Zigui survived, he deliberately spread word that 'Any Azure Tower disciple showing the slightest weakness or surrender will face death!'"
"He was hoping Zigui would quickly kill himself outside to preserve his reputation! Leaving Zigui unable to return home - Zigui, Zigui, 'hoping for the son's return.' Poor Old Master Guo died of grief not long after."
Shi Tieqiao grew increasingly distraught, alternating between cursing Yin Dai as an old bastard and pitying the Guo family.
Cai Zhao listened with a heavy heart, weeping along with him.
But Mu Qingyan knew Yin Dai's acceptance of Guo Zigui as a disciple wasn't simple - it was part of the North Star faction's internal power struggles.
Yin Dai was indeed shrewd and capable, his cultivation surpassing all six sects. At that time, the Azure Tower Sect dominated alone - the Song family of Guangmen were his relatives, Grand Beginning Temple's leader Cang Huanzi his closest friend, Four Stallions Gate's Yang Yi his subordinate. The Big Dipper Six Sects were quietly moving toward unification.
He even subtly encouraged his second daughter to approach Zhou Zhizhen, the only son of the Zhou family. Though whenever he hinted at "young people getting along" during banquets, Old Master Zhou would tactfully evade the subject.
Later, when Cai Pingshu and her brother lost both parents, Yin Dai planned to adopt them as sect leader. But Old Master Zhou used the marriage contract Cai's grandfather had publicly written on his deathbed to solidify prior arrangements, taking the siblings away first and thwarting Yin Dai's plans.
Yet Yin Dai wasn't one to accept defeat. Soon after, he personally went to Jiangdong with great fanfare to accept Guo Zigui as his closed-door disciple.
Even Old Master Zhou didn't dare oppose him directly.Mu Qingyan suddenly understood Cai Zhao's feelings toward Zhou Yuqi. If Old Master Zhou hadn't acted first, someone with Cai Pingshu's temperament and talents growing up in the Azure Tower Sect would have faced unimaginable treatment.
Of course, he would never admit that his leniency toward Zhou Yuqi stemmed from the failed marriage arrangement between Zhou Yuqi and Cai Zhao.
The fire in the brick kiln burned fiercely for two full hours, from dawn until high noon.
After opening the kiln, Shi Tieqiao's eldest son led people in carrying out the iron stretcher. With tears in his eyes, Shi Tieqiao personally collected the ashes, finally placing them into a jade-inlaid rosewood box which he then handed to Mu and Cai.
"Zhao Zhao, give my regards to your parents, and light an incense stick for your aunt on my behalf. Tell her we’ve lived well in Secluded Village." Shi Tieqiao's eyes brimmed with tears. "I remembered her words—children and grandchildren will have their own blessings. When my time comes, I’ll have them dig up the gold and manuals, letting them decide whether to stay or leave. Then, I’ll go underground to reunite with her and our brothers."
Cai Zhao solemnly agreed.
After drinking a cup of medicinal wine, both Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan fell into a deep slumber.
When they awoke again, they found themselves in the blacksmith’s shop of Peach Blossom Village. The door was tightly shut, and on the table, there was a prepared dinner, along with Guo Zigui’s sword, Ning Xiaofeng’s dowry, and a small bundle containing an urn of ashes.
Stepping outside, villagers asked, "Why did the Qiao couple leave so suddenly? Are you their relatives? Who’s taking over the shop?" and so on.
Mu and Cai understood—the Shi couple had gone into hiding once more. They wondered where the couple would next set up a blacksmith’s shop, or perhaps, with the skills of Shi’s elder daughter-in-law, open a fragrant and bustling snack shop.
OpenNovel