Cai Zhao had originally intended to support Yang Xiaolan, but Mu Qingyan dragged her away by force, leaving Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue to deal with the lackeys of the Four Stallions Gate.
"...You, who have loving parents, still want to watch the tragic scene of a father and daughter turning against each other? Have some sense—do you think Xiaolan isn’t miserable enough already? Hurry up, let’s go save your Senior Sister Lingbo!"
Cai Zhao angrily shook off his grip. "Let go! I can walk on my own!"
Mu Qingyan said calmly, "You already know where the underground palace is. Are you trying to ditch me and face Qi Yunke alone?"
Cai Zhao tossed her head. "This is my business, none of yours. Sect Leader Mu is peerless in cunning—ordinary people can easily fall into his schemes. I’m truly afraid, so it’s better we part ways."
Mu Qingyan replied, "I won’t deceive you again. Without my help, you won’t stand a chance against Qi Yunke alone."
Cai Zhao sneered. "Help? Who knows what other schemes you have in mind? Sect Leader Mu’s calculations run deep—I can’t guess, nor dare I. In any case, I can’t trust you anymore—"
"I found Mu Zhengyang’s remains," Mu Qingyan suddenly said.
Cai Zhao froze, then retorted, "So what?"
Mu Qingyan continued, "They were in the cave passage on the other side of the Hanhai Mountains, where you escaped. He was killed by your aunt—half his body was nearly split open by the Bright Sun Blade."
Cai Zhao clenched her teeth. "He deceived my aunt so cruelly—he deserved to die! Mu Qingyan, let me tell you, if you ever do something so heinous—"
Mu Qingyan cut her off. "I won’t follow Mu Zhengyang’s example."
He fixed his gaze on her. "I won’t follow Mu Zhengyang’s path—pushing things to the extreme, severing my own fate and the life of the one I love."
Cai Zhao stood stubbornly ahead, silent.
Mu Qingyan took a step forward, enunciating each word. "Whether you believe me or not, I can’t stand by and watch you walk the same lonely path your aunt took, facing enemies alone."
Cai Zhao turned her head away and sprinted off without another word.
Following Song Yuzhi’s directions, the two entered a secluded path behind a round white marble flower bed. Winding left and right, they triggered a mechanism and descended hard, square stone steps into the unknown depths of a dim chamber. The slender corridor was paved with gleaming purple-gold bricks, and high above, crystal bowls holding eternal whale-oil lamps hung from the vaulted ceiling.
"Old Yin Dai certainly spared no expense," Mu Qingyan muttered to himself. "Where did he get so much money? Righteous sects can’t openly amass wealth, can they?"
Cai Zhao ignored him.
Mu Qingyan answered his own question. "No wonder he took Guo Zigui as his last disciple—it wasn’t just to spite Old Master Zhou. Hmm, makes sense. The Guo Family was once the wealthiest in Jiangdong, but after the couple passed, only a few hundred taels of silver were found in the entire estate—someone must have gradually emptied it."
Cai Zhao still paid him no heed.
Mu Qingyan went on, "Recruiting assassins, hoarding vast wealth, building secret chambers—Old Sect Leader Yin was truly a man of his time, a perfect match for Nie Hengcheng."
Finally, Cai Zhao couldn’t hold back. "My aunt should have killed Yin Dai first. Without him, many people’s fates would have been different."Mu Qingyan spoke softly in consolation, "True villains are easy to eliminate, but hypocrites are hard to eradicate. When your aunt killed Nie Hengcheng, the world cheered. But if she were to kill the Azure Tower Sect's Sect Master Yin Dai, do you think the public wouldn't drown her in their spittle? She was in a difficult position indeed."
Cai Zhao had never met Yin Dai in person, but through the revelations of recent events, she realized that behind every tragedy, Yin Dai's shadow seemed to loom.
"What if Master hadn't schemed to kill Yin Dai back then? What would the world be like now?" she couldn't help but wonder.
Mu Qingyan sneered mockingly, "Naturally, he'd be surrounded by descendants, with successors to carry on his legacy, all rivals eliminated, and the world praising his brilliance—Sect Master Yin would be living the high life!"
The kind, the righteous, the brave warriors, the proud, the resolute, the decisive heroes—defeated or in hiding, dead or crippled—while Yin Dai, like a parasitic maggot lurking in the shadows, continued to thrive robustly.
The thought of the mastermind behind countless schemes ultimately stealing the fruits of victory and enjoying longevity and honor sent a shiver down Cai Zhao's spine.
The two cautiously advanced along the slender corridor, wary of traps and mechanisms.
"About killing Yin Dai, I think Master did the right thing," Cai Zhao whispered. "But he shouldn't have harmed so many innocent people—Uncle Zhou, Venerable Fakong, your father, and Uncle Chang, along with the people in the stronghold... They were all good people. They didn't deserve to die like that..."
Mu Qingyan smiled, but an unshakable malevolence lingered between his brows. "Yes, they didn't deserve to die like that."
Hearing the hatred in his voice, Cai Zhao suddenly thought of something. "...What did you do to that Blood Orchid? Did you poison it?"
"Something like that. I used a golden needle to introduce something into its stems and roots."
Cai Zhao stopped and looked up. "The Seven-Insect Seven-Flower Soul-Chasing Pill? Won't Master notice? If he discovers he's been poisoned while cultivating the Purple Star Sutra, he might have already expelled it."
Mu Qingyan chuckled. "The Seven-Insect Seven-Flower poison has been used in our sect for two hundred years. Every victim was a martial artist, every one of them highly skilled. The poison only acts up when activated—it doesn't interfere with cultivation or meditation at all."
"Patriarch Mu's family legacy is truly profound," Cai Zhao remarked, not without sarcasm.
Mu Qingyan gave a hollow smile. "No need for formalities between family."
"Here!" Cai Zhao found a white stone lotus bud resembling a wall lamp on the brick surface. With a forceful twist, the left partition slowly opened, revealing a spacious interior.
Cai Zhao flicked the silver chain on her left wrist, whipping it around wildly. Seeing no traps, she eagerly rushed forward—only to be yanked back by Mu Qingyan, who grabbed the back of her robe and pulled her like a sack.
Cai Zhao scowled. "What are you doing? There are no traps ahead!"
In the dim light, Mu Qingyan's handsome face twisted slightly. "...I refuse to watch your back again."
Cai Zhao froze, suddenly realizing that since their reunion, he had deliberately avoided letting her walk ahead of him.
"Why are you like this?" she asked, puzzled.
Mu Qingyan ignored her and strode forward in silence. Cai Zhao had no choice but to follow.
A glow appeared ahead. Pushing open a half-ajar stone door, they found themselves in a massive circular training chamber. At its center was a meditation lotus platform carved from a single piece of jade—Qi Yunke sat cross-legged upon it, with a dark, unremarkable stone placed beside him: the stolen Purple Jade Golden Sunflower."Master!" Cai Zhao hadn't expected to find him so easily.
Only half a month had passed since they parted at Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, yet Qi Yunke's appearance had drastically changed. His once kind and gentle face was now completely altered—hollow cheeks, prominent cheekbones, and a sinister, fanatical glare between his brows. Cai Zhao couldn't believe this was the same 'Uncle Qi' who had lovingly doted on her for over a decade.
Qi Yunke glanced indifferently at the two of them. "You've finally arrived. Yang Heying and Song Xiuzhi are truly useless—they couldn't even hold you back for half a day."
Just as Cai Zhao was about to speak, a muffled, whimpering sound from a woman caught their attention. They turned to look.
Opposite the Lotus Platform stood two iron frames, one to the east and one to the west. The first frame held the unconscious Qi Lingbo—Cai Zhao sighed in relief to see her still alive. The other frame restrained Yin Qinglian, her hair disheveled, a cloth gag silencing her screams, leaving only desperate whimpers.
A little over a month ago, when Cai Zhao, Song Yuzhi, and Fan Xingjia had bid farewell to Qinglian Furen before leaving Azure Tower Sect for Vast Heaven Gate, Yin Qinglian had been quietly reciting scriptures with a faint melancholy. Her skin had been fair and delicate, her beauty radiant, her attire immaculate—she could easily pass for a woman in her twenties.
Now, the middle-aged woman before them was tear-streaked, haggard, her face lined with wrinkles, her once-prized jet-black hair half-grayed.
Yin Qinglian struggled wildly, as if desperate to reach Qi Lingbo just a few yards away, but her bound limbs rendered her efforts futile.
The sight startled Cai Zhao, and she instinctively moved to untie Yin Qinglian. Qi Yunke flicked a pebble from his fingertips, sending it cracking into the ground in her path.
"Master!" Cai Zhao cried out. "If you want to kill her, just do it! Why torment her like this?"
Qi Yunke replied coldly, "I won't kill her. I want her to live—to watch the most important people in her life die one by one. Just as I once had to watch your aunt become crippled, suffer illness for over a decade, and finally take her last breath."
Cai Zhao forced out the words, "Master... do you really think Aunt would be happy seeing this?"
Qi Yunke lifted his gaze to the massive domed ceiling above, his voice venomous. "Your aunt spent her entire life sacrificing herself. I only hope Yin Dai rots in the afterlife, forced to witness his daughter's suffering."
Desperate, Cai Zhao pleaded, "Master, are you really going to kill Senior Sister Lingbo? She's your own flesh and blood!"
Qi Yunke's tone was detached. "Lingbo has a foul temper and worse character, but that's not a crime worthy of death. Unfortunately, she was born as Yin Dai's granddaughter. Consider this my apology to her—she'll pass away in her sleep, spared from witnessing this tragedy."
Mu Qingyan couldn't resist interjecting, "If you hate the Yin family so much, why spare Song Yuzhi? Isn't he also Yin Dai's grandson?"
"Even now, you're still like this!" Cai Zhao nearly stamped her foot in frustration.
Qi Yunke's eyelids lifted, his gaze locking onto the strikingly handsome face he had loathed for half his life. In an instant, his eyes blazed with fury, as if he wished he could tear the man apart with his bare hands.He closed his eyes and said calmly, "Sect Leader Mu is truly cunning. I did suspect 'Chang Ning's' identity before, but I never imagined it was actually you in disguise. I had never met you before and didn’t take a mere fledgling like you seriously. I thought you had already perished from Nie Zhe and Sun Ruoshui’s schemes. The poison of Plain Seed Incense and Thousand-Seeking Wood is supposed to be incurable, yet you managed to survive. Consider yourself lucky."
He continued, "As for Yu Zhi, he’s different. He grew up by my side since childhood—not only is he exceptionally talented and outstanding in appearance, but his character is noble, upright, and principled. Zhao Zhao marrying him is the most suitable match."
Mu Qingyan, who had been smiling all along, suddenly darkened his expression. "Bullshit! Keep dreaming! Suitable? Upright? Once I’ve dealt with you, old fool, I’ll go slaughter that spineless Song weakling!"
"Please mind your language, Sect Leader Mu," Cai Zhao rolled her eyes.
Mu Qingyan shot her a glare. "You’d better pray for that Song fellow’s safety first."
As he spoke, he pulled out a strangely shaped black bone whistle from his robes. "Sect Leader Qi, if you can’t take it anymore, just groan." With that, he placed the whistle between his lips and began to blow. The eerie, shrill melody was haunting, as if it could tug at one’s soul, teetering on the edge of snapping.
Cai Zhao watched nervously. Upon hearing the whistle, Qi Yunke’s breathing abruptly changed, his face turning an unnatural purplish-red as his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably. After a moment, he said grimly, "You poisoned the mother plant of the Blood Orchid?"
"Indeed."
Mu Qingyan continued blowing the whistle, intensifying the effects of the Seven Insects and Seven Flowers poison. At the same time, he channeled his Inner Force, his sleeves billowing as the energy surged forward in waves, pressing against Qi Yunke in an attempt to force him to resist with his own power and hasten the poison’s spread.
Cai Zhao didn’t dare blink as she watched.
Qi Yunke closed his eyes and focused his energy. A faintly glowing shield appeared around him, deflecting Mu Qingyan’s attacks. As the shield weakened, Mu Qingyan’s sleeves fluttered more violently, his energy growing stronger. Cai Zhao was already preparing to rush over and untie Yin Shi and her daughter.
Just then—
A metallic crack echoed through the air.
Qi Yunke let out a deep, resonant laugh, followed by a loud crash as his shield shattered. Several invisible energy blades shot forth in a sudden counterattack. Mu Qingyan, unable to dodge in time, grunted as he was slammed against the stone wall, clearly struck by multiple heavy blows.
"You’re not affected by the Seven Insects and Seven Flowers poison?" He leaned against the wall, a trickle of blood slowly seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Cai Zhao gasped and hurried over to support him.
Qi Yunke chuckled darkly. "Oh, I am. But I was born with the 'Heavenly Fire Dragon' constitution."
Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan exchanged bewildered glances—so what?
Qi Yunke continued, "The 'Heavenly Fire Dragon' isn’t just an exceptionally rare cultivation aptitude—it also has another advantage."
He smirked mockingly. "Once the 'Heavenly Fire Dragon' cultivates to the point of fully unblocked meridians, it becomes immune to all poisons. Your ancestral Seven Insects and Seven Flowers poison was wasted on me. Hahaha…"
Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao were stunned, completely caught off guard.
Before they could react, Qi Yunke suddenly activated a mechanism beneath the Lotus Platform. A half-foot-thick stone wall slid straight toward Mu and Cai, nearly crushing them.Cai Zhao quickly supported Mu Qingyan as they retreated backward. Unexpectedly, just as the stone wall was about to crash into them, it suddenly rotated slightly, locking into protruding stone wedges on either side with a sharp click, sealing the two inside a small fan-shaped stone chamber.
"Impervious to all poisons? The Celestial Fire Dragon can actually be impervious to all poisons? How did I never know this?" Mu Qingyan muttered to himself.
Cai Zhao channeled her inner energy and struck the stone wall repeatedly with her palms, frustration evident in her voice. "...I didn’t know either. Aunt never mentioned it. With the Demonic Cult’s vast resources, how could you not know?"
Mu Qingyan sighed gloomily. "The Celestial Fire Dragon’s innate talent is already one in ten thousand. Out of a thousand Celestial Fire Dragons, only one can break through the barriers. And out of a hundred who overcome those barriers, only one can fully unblock their meridians. Who knew they could also be impervious to all poisons?"
"Speaking of which, what about Qi Lingbo? Isn’t she also a Celestial Fire Dragon?"
Still striking the wall, Cai Zhao replied, "That was just flattery for Yin Shi and her daughter. The Celestial Fire Dragon depends entirely on chance. Maybe Senior Sister Lingbo is just ordinary, with mediocre talent."
After delivering over a dozen strikes, she finally cracked a thin fissure in the stone wall.
Qi Yunke’s voice came through the gap. "Don’t worry, Zhao Zhao. Once I master my divine skill, I’ll deal with that dog Mu first, then arrange a grand wedding for you and Yu Zhi."
Hearing this, Mu Qingyan immediately found his strength, abruptly rising from the corner and gathering his energy to fight back.
Cai Zhao held him back worriedly. "Rest a little longer. Internal injuries are no joke."
Before Mu Qingyan could respond, a familiar voice suddenly echoed from outside the wall—
"Master, Master, so you’re here!"
The fierce battle atop the Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff raged on, with the advantage gradually shifting to Li Wenxun’s numerically superior forces.
Zhou Zhixian and her group struggled to hold their ground, their defenses weakening.
Li Wenxun said coldly, "Lay down your weapons, and I’ll spare your lives."
"Spare my foot! This old Daoist has already died once—I’ve endured the agony of flesh and bones being torn apart. Do you think your threats scare me?" Yunzhuan Daoren cursed loudly.
Master Juexing exchanged a glance with Zhou Zhixian. If they were defeated, some would have to stay behind to cover the retreat while the rest escaped through the last Iron Chain Winch back to Wind Cloud Peak.
Suddenly, the sound of clanking chains echoed from the cliff’s edge as a lean, upright old nun leaped down.
Zhou Zhixian and the others cried out in joy—"Shijing Yuantai!"
Shijing Yuantai stood at the cliff’s edge, robes fluttering in the wind. Behind her, seven or eight figures of varying appearances descended the Iron Chain.
Some were dressed like shopkeepers, others like fishermen. There was even a middle-aged woman from the marketplace, wielding two large axes as if she’d just stepped out of a butcher’s shop—each one distinct and unordinary.
Had Cai Zhao been present, her jaw would have dropped. These were the same uncles and aunties who haggled over every penny with her, yet now their eyes gleamed with sharp focus, their auras refined and powerful—clearly a group of hidden masters.
Master Juexing’s eyes lit up. "Shopkeeper Wang, Boss Chai, Fishmonger Fang, Butcher Liu, and even Tofu Xishi… What brings you here? You… you know martial arts?"
The middle-aged woman from the marketplace glared. "Hey, baldy, drop the ‘old’ from my name!"
Li Wenxun’s expression darkened. "So this is it. Back when Cai Pingshu dealt with those bandits, thieves, and street ruffians, many of them vanished without a trace. I thought they’d died, but instead, you changed your names and hid in Fallen Blossom Valley."The fishmonger stepped forward, "Thanks to Heroine Cai's blessings, we survivors have enjoyed over a decade of peace. Today we come seeking guidance, hoping our fists and feet haven't grown rusty."
Li Wenxun said arrogantly, "Very well, let's begin!"
"Master, Master! So you're here!" Zeng Dalou came running in, sweating profusely. "It's chaos outside! The Yu brothers are fighting to the death, and that Miss Yang is even more terrifying—she's locked in mortal combat with Sect Leader Yang. I saw the door wide open here and came to check—Master, what should we do now?!"
Qi Yunke had earlier disrupted the Inner Force gathered in his dantian while countering Mu Qingyan and was now regulating his breath. "No matter. Once I break through this final barrier, these clowns will be nothing."
Zeng Dalou nodded repeatedly but lingered by the Lotus Platform, unwilling to leave. "Master, you don't look well. What can this disciple do for you?"
Qi Yunke looked at Zeng Dalou's concerned face and recalled how Cai Pingshu had found him years ago—thin, small, covered in scars, with frostbitten hands and feet, like a dying sick monkey.
He sighed softly. "Fetch the Clear Heart Pills from that shelf over there and give me two."
Zeng Dalou cheerfully complied, circling the Lotus Platform to retrieve the pills.
Just as Qi Yunke relaxed slightly, he sensed a faint movement of air behind him. Instantly, he tensed his energy, but the blade had already pierced an inch into his back. With a furious roar, he struck back with immense force.
The sound of shattering bones echoed as Zeng Dalou was flung like a ragged sack against the stone wall.
Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao witnessed this heart-stopping scene through a crevice in the rock.
Cai Zhao was frantic. "If only we had a 'Storm of Thunder' right now, we could blast through this wall and escape."
Mu Qingyan scoffed. "Don't be foolish. Detonating a 'Storm of Thunder' in an underground chamber like this would shatter the walls, but the ceiling would collapse too. We'd both be buried alive."
Qi Yunke remained seated motionless on the Lotus Platform.
His icy gaze felt like countless sharp blades. "Dalou, I've treated you well, and Ping Shu saved your life. Now, as I seek vengeance for her, you dare stand in my way? Has your conscience been devoured by wild dogs?!"
His rage was palpable. The last three words—"devoured by wild dogs"—were roared with Inner Force, reverberating deafeningly through the vast chamber. Yin Qinglian collapsed in agony, her eardrums nearly ruptured.
Zeng Dalou coughed up mouthfuls of blood. "This disciple cannot stand by and watch you commit a grave mistake, driving Shiniang to her doom."
"You…" Qi Yunke seemed to realize something, his voice disbelieving. "For a woman like Yin Qinglian—selfish, cold-blooded, and pretentious—you would betray me and Ping Shu?!"
Zeng Dalou struggled for breath. "I know you and Heroine Cai gave me a second life. Had you commanded it, I would have given my life without hesitation! But… but…"
His smile was bleak. "But whom the heart loves is beyond even one's own control. I cannot watch her and her daughter die. Master, if only you had understood your own heart sooner… if only you had understood sooner."
The implication of his final words struck Qi Yunke, leaving him momentarily stunned.At that moment, a burning scent reached his nose. He abruptly looked down and saw a fist-sized cloth-wrapped iron shell placed beneath the Lotus Platform's mechanism. The thin fuse had just burned to its end—
Before Qi Yunke could reach out to snuff the fuse, a muffled bang sounded as the cloth bundle exploded.
The noise was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough to cause a brief ringing in the ears. The explosion was similarly measured—just powerful enough to rupture the mechanism beneath the Lotus Platform. The spring snapped, the gears failed, and the stone wall slowly slid open...
Unable to obtain the devastating 'Storm of Thunder,' Zeng Dalou had painstakingly gathered this small amount of black powder. The force of the explosion was barely equivalent to smashing the mechanism with a knife hilt, yet it caught Qi Yunke completely off guard.
The stone wall swung open, and Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan quickly stepped out, just in time to see Zeng Dalou breathe his last.
Qi Yunke could no longer remain seated. He rose slowly from the tilted and shattered Lotus Platform, descending step by step. "It seems I won’t be able to continue my training unless I detain you. Zhao Zhao, I’m afraid I’ll have to injure you. Don’t worry—you’ll recover in time."
Mu Qingyan and Cai Zhao knew that at this point, their only option was to fight their way out.
Both drew their weapons—the sword 'Not Full' and the Bright Sun Blade.
The Qinghong Jian soared into the air as Song Yuzhi drew Baihong in a reverse grip, curving the blade to strike back. The tip of the sword trembled slightly—this was the fourth stance of the Song family’s Sixteen Forms of Cloud Piercing. The move was swift and precise, striking true. With a sharp hiss, blood sprayed as Song Xiuzhi’s right palm and collarbone were pierced clean through. His sword clattered to the ground, and he collapsed to his knees.
The sect disciples watching from the sidelines—Zhuang Shu, Ding Zhuo, and others—cheered in unison. For a moment, it felt as if they had returned to carefree days of the past, when brothers-in-arms would sling arms over each other’s shoulders and laugh while watching the sect’s top disciple, Song Yuzhi, demonstrate his exquisite swordsmanship. If Li Wenxun hadn’t been on patrol duty, the disciples might even have brought out walnuts and melon seeds to snack on.
But now...
"Is this... Cloud Dispels Mist?" Song Xiuzhi gasped, struggling to hold himself up.
Song Yuzhi nodded.
Song Xiuzhi gave a bitter smile. "I practiced this move for a long time, yet I still can’t match you. Back when everyone praised Maozhi’s martial prowess, I secretly took pride in knowing my swordsmanship was better than his. Who would’ve thought... Ah, never mind. What do you plan to do with me?"
With a sharp crack, the Twin Parent-Child Axes finally locked onto Yang Heying’s sword.
By now, Yang Heying was exhausted. He cast a pleading look at his daughter, but Yang Xiaolan remained unmoved. Channeling her Inner Force through both arms, she wrenched the axes apart—Yang Heying’s sword snapped in two.
Yang Xiaolan crossed the axes in one hand and struck Yang Heying’s abdomen with a backhanded palm strike, shattering his dantian!
Yang Heying crumpled to the ground, terrified out of his wits.
Yang Xiaolan stepped closer. "Don’t worry, Father. After you’re gone, I’ll raise Tianci well. He was born weak and can’t cultivate advanced martial arts. I’ll have him taught to read and write, so he can live a peaceful life in the countryside."
Yang Heying slumped against the wall, limbs immobile, tears streaming down his face. "Xiaolan, I’m still your father! Blood is thicker than water! You’ve already crippled my cultivation—just imprison me! Xiaolan, Xiaolan, do you remember when I took you to see the lanterns as a child...?"
Yang Xiaolan’s expression remained cold as she continued, "As for the leadership of the Four Stallions Gate, I’ll take it. There may be many elders who oppose me, but that’s fine—I’ll defeat anyone who stands in my way. They turned a blind eye to your misdeeds all these years; they have no right to suddenly act righteous when I claim the position. Don’t you agree, Father?"
Yang Heying grew increasingly terrified. "You—you wretched girl, you really mean to kill me! How dare you—ah...!"
The Twin Parent-Child Axes traced a deadly arc, descending with the force of wind and thunder.
Yang Heying let out a final scream as his throat was slit, blood gushing forth. His eyes widened in disbelief—until his last breath, he couldn’t believe he would die at the hands of the daughter he had always dismissed.
You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan had just finished dealing with the Four Stallions Gate’s lackeys when they arrived in time to witness this scene.
Even these high-ranking Demonic Cult leaders couldn’t help but be shocked.You Guanyue murmured, "I thought the girl was just spouting empty threats, but she actually killed her own father with her own hands."
Yang Xiaolan knelt before Yang Heying's corpse and kowtowed heavily three times, her forehead bleeding.
She said softly, "For the sake of our father-daughter bond, I'll leave you with a whole body and not sever your head."
Turning around with tears in her eyes, she continued, "May I ask the two elders to move my father's body and these two heads to the pavilion ahead? I will return later to collect them."
"Of course, of course," Shangguan Haonan eagerly stepped forward, examining Yang Heying's body repeatedly before raising his thumb in exhilaration. "Young Heroine Yang, swift in vengeance and unburdened by false reputations—truly someone destined for greatness! If you ever need help in the future, just send word. As long as it doesn’t violate our sect’s rules, I’ll do everything in my power to assist!"
"Destined for greatness?"
For the first time since Madam Zhuo's death, tears streamed down Yang Xiaolan's face. "I’d rather never achieve greatness, never be known at all, if only those who loved and cherished me could still be alive and well."
Shangguan Haonan froze, his raised thumb slowly lowering.
At the Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff, the tide of battle turned after Shijing Yuantai and others joined the fray.
In terms of seniority, Shijing Yuantai was of the same generation as the Three Elders of Qingque. Her cultivation was profound and seasoned, and with no need to protect the younger nuns, she could now unleash her full prowess.
Yunzhuan Daoren and Zhou Zhixian flanked Ouyang Kexie from both sides. Seizing the moment when Yunzhuan Daoren entangled the enemy’s hands with his horsetail whisk, Zhou Zhixian pierced his ribs and then sealed his acupoints, capturing him alive.
Master Juexing swung his Buddhist Staff with a fierce whoosh, finally spotting an opening to shatter Chen Qiong’s shoulder.
Seeing their numbers dwindling, Situ Hui knelt in surrender.
Li Wenxun, severely wounded in multiple places, surveyed the scene and realized the battle was lost.
With a bitter smile, he said, "No need for you to act. I’ll do it myself." Suddenly, his eyes blazed with fury. "I was not wrong! I sought vengeance for my master, my uncles, and my senior brothers! For over a decade, the world forgot them—but I never did!"
With those words, he raised his right palm and shattered his own crown of the head, collapsing lifeless.
The crowd sighed collectively. Zhuang Shu arrived moments later, falling to his knees before Li Wenxun’s body and wailing in grief.
Master Juexing stood dazed for a moment before suddenly exclaiming, "Oh no!"
Tofu Xishi jumped in fright. "What’s wrong, baldy?"
"Quick, we must help my niece—no, Amitabha, this monk is still clinging to worldly ties… We must hurry to aid Young Benefactor Cai!" Snatching up his Buddhist Staff, he dashed off.
Qi Yunke, embracing oneness and preserving originality, stood alone at the center, wielding two exceptionally long ropes against Cai Zhao and Mu Qingyan.
Only now did Mu Qingyan realize the depth of Qi Yunke’s inner force. The two ordinary ropes writhed like agile dragons in his hands, yet without a sound, ghostly and unpredictable.
Cai Zhao attempted to sever the ropes with her Bright Sun Blade, but the moment the blade touched them, an overwhelming inner force repelled it, numbing her arm.
Mu Qingyan could still withstand a few direct exchanges, but Cai Zhao was forced to circle the periphery, searching for an opening.
After a brief skirmish among the three, Shangguan Haonan, You Guanyue, Yang Xiaolan, Song Yuzhi, and others arrived.
Shangguan Haonan, ever the brawler, lunged to grab one of the wildly thrashing ropes. The instant his hand made contact, it felt like seizing a red-hot branding iron—with a sharp crack, he was sent flying backward.You Guanyue hastily drew out his Ghost Head Hook, attempting to engage the long ropes in a skirmish. However, one of the ropes coiled around his hook, and with a slight twist, the steel hook—infused with Mystic Iron—was crushed as if molded from mud or paper.
You Guanyue had been just a fraction too slow in releasing his grip, and three of his fingers were instantly shattered by the force.
Qi Yunke flicked the rope disdainfully, sending the crumpled hook clattering aside—all while his other rope continued to fend off Mu and Cai.
Yang Xiaolan watched for a moment before shouting, "Sect Leader Qi's Inner Force is profound! Let's attack together!"
Truthfully, everyone had the same thought. Along with the few remaining Nether Sect members, over a dozen fighters rushed forward at once.
Qi Yunke laughed heartily. With an unfathomable exertion of strength, the two ropes in his hands whirled into countless overlapping rings, ensnaring each opponent separately.
Two Nether Sect members failed to escape in time. Once caught in a ring, the rope tightened, snapping their necks back-to-back with a sickening crack that echoed eerily beneath the brick dome.
"Leader Li! Leader Qiu!" You Guanyue cried hoarsely. "Yan Laosan, run!"
Yan Laosan reacted swiftly, nearly escaping the rope's range when its tip suddenly lashed out from nowhere, striking his back with a sharp snap. The single blow shattered his spine, reducing the towering man to a limp heap as he died on the spot.
Such terrifying power left everyone aghast.
Only Yang Xiaolan remained fearless, fending off the overlapping rings while declaring, "Sect Leader Qi, I know your martial prowess is unmatched, but what you're doing is wrong! You shouldn't be doing this!"
Qi Yunke inwardly sneered, intending to crush the girl's crown of her head in one strike.
Song Yuzhi, sensing the danger, swiftly swung his sword to intervene. Yet, the rope meant for Yang Xiaolan somehow curved around and struck the back of his head, lashing his left forearm with a sharp crack.
His arm bone snapped with a sickening crunch, and Song Yuzhi staggered back in agony, his arm hanging uselessly.
Mu Qingyan scoffed inwardly, cursing Qi Yunke for still showing Song Yuzhi mercy at a time like this.
Seizing the moment, Yang Xiaolan locked a section of the rope with her Twin Parent-Child Axes, attempting to sever the encircling loop. But just as she twisted with both hands, the rope suddenly jerked in reverse, coiling around her entirely.
As Yang Xiaolan teetered on the brink of suffering the same fate as the two Nether Sect leaders, Qi Yunke unexpectedly met her gaze—and something stirred within him.
When he first met Cai Pingshu, she had been around Yang Xiaolan's age—similarly small and unremarkable in appearance, yet her eyes shone with a righteous calm, naturally exuding an air of chivalry.
Unconsciously, Qi Yunke hesitated for half a beat. The rope, poised like a venomous serpent to constrict Yang Xiaolan, slackened just enough for Shangguan Haonan—who had just scrambled up from the wall—to roll forward and drag her out from below, tumbling free of the deadly loop.
Master Juexing and the others soon arrived, drawn by the sounds of battle.
Daoist Yunzhuan took in the scene of carnage and roared, "Qi Yunke, have you lost your mind? I once respected you, yet now you reveal yourself as this vile and ruthless? Today, we will rid the world of your wickedness!"
"Then by all means, try," Qi Yunke replied impassively, his Inner Force still restrained like the radiant sun in a clear sky—deceptively smooth, yet brimming with power.The long ropes trembled again as the previously injured fighters withdrew from the battle, replaced by Zhou Zhixian and others. The rope circles slithered like venomous snakes lurking silently in a swamp, ensnaring people unnoticed.
Situ Hui, who had just defected, sought to atone by charging at the forefront. But as the surrounding rope loops tightened around him, he found no escape no matter how he dodged. The ropes coiled around him like a viper baring its fangs. Overcome with terror before he could even cry for help, his neck snapped with a sickening crack.
Daoist Yunzhuan realized that ever since being trapped in this web of ropes, every step forward met with dense resistance. Swinging his horsetail whisk desperately, he resolved to wound Qi Yunke even at the cost of his life. But after just two steps, a rope lashed sideways against his crown, shattering his skull in an instant—brains splattered as he fell dead.
—The last disciple of the once-renowned Clear Wind Temple, Yunzhuan, who had survived Nie Hengcheng's massacre and the erosion of desolate years, ultimately met his end here.
"Daoist!" Master Juexing cried in grief and fury as he lunged at Qi Yunke.
With a flick of his wrist, Qi Yunke looped a massive rope around both the monk and his Buddhist staff. Juexing strained against the steel staff to prevent the noose from tightening, but Qi Yunke exerted slight force—and the sturdy staff abruptly bent in half.
As Juexing was about to be strangled alive, Cai Zhao wailed, "Master, that's my uncle!"
Qi Yunke froze as memories flooded back—
That year, he, Cai Pingshu, and their tagalong Ning Xiaofeng had spent all their silver helping a village of widows and orphans. Starving and freezing in a ruined temple, watching Ning Xiaofeng shiver from hunger, they debated robbing the rich to feed the poor.
Then Master Juexing—his face hidden behind a scruffy beard—had sauntered in cheerfully with two jars of wine and four roast chickens. Under the starlight and the gaze of crumbling Buddha statues, the four feasted until satisfied.
Qi Yunke's heart softened. He coiled the rope around Juexing and hurled him down the corridor. That fall should keep the monk down for hours, he thought.
Zhou Zhixian seized his moment of distraction to strike with her sword, but the hovering ropes seemed to have eyes—one lashed out, cracking against her spine. Agony shot through her as she crashed to the ground, paralyzed from the waist down.
Staring at Zhou Zhixian's crumpled form, Qi Yunke vaguely recalled how, when Old Woman Min had spitefully harassed Ping Shu, Zhou Zhizhen had only turtled his neck in false filial piety. Only young Zhou Zhixian had consistently defended Ping Shu.
Irritation surged within him. If he'd resolved to embrace the Demon's path, why hesitate now?
A great fire, a great flood—cataclysmic disasters. Let them all perish together and be reborn anew in the next life!
With sudden force, Qi Yunke sent two ropes whirling like endless venomous vines, encircling everyone. Crack after crack—a martial monk's limbs shattered, two Jade Pendant Mountain Manor disciples' skulls crushed, Tofu Xishi's left leg bones splintered, an old fisherman's ribs snapped...
"Enough!" Shijing Yuantai, seeing ordinary masters couldn't withstand even half a move from Qi Yunke, shouted to prevent further casualties. "No more solo fights! Form groups to face him together!"Qi Yunke no longer held back, his long whip flying out. Shijing Yuantai dodged in time, and the whip struck the white marble dome, shattering the massive stone slab instantly, sending debris flying.
Amid the swirling dust, Mu Qingyan saw Cai Zhao leaping high toward Qi Yunke. He quickly tapped his foot against the jade wall and soared over, catching the girl by the waist and pulling her back. Taking advantage of the chaos as rubble rained down and the others fought desperately, the two ducked behind a stone wall.
"What are you trying to do?!" Mu Qingyan growled in a low voice.
Cai Zhao's eyes were red. "You saw it—Master has gone mad, beyond reason. He still holds some affection for me. As long as I don’t use lethal moves, he won’t strike to kill! I have to—"
"You have to what?!" Mu Qingyan's eyes were faintly red at the corners. "Are you trying to imitate your aunt, using the Celestial Demon Disintegration Art to instantly unleash your inner force and perish together with your master?!"
"What else can I do?!" Cai Zhao burst into tears.
Mu Qingyan took a deep breath and grasped her shoulders. "Listen to me. Back then, your aunt had no choice! Yin Dai stood by idly, Qi Yunke was indecisive, Mu Zhengyang harbored evil intentions, and the others couldn’t help. She had no one to rely on—she had to perish with Nie Hengcheng. But you’re different. You still have me! You still have me!"
"You? What about you?!" Cai Zhao shoved him away, sobbing. "You’re no saint either! If not for you, none of this would have happened! Right now, I only expect you to help fight Master—don’t think our grievances are settled! You deceived me so cruelly, and I won’t forgive you so easily! Get away from me!" She tried to rush out again.
Mu Qingyan pressed her down firmly. "Fine, fine, you don’t have to forgive me—it’s all my fault! But if you and Qi Yunke end up destroying each other, who in this world will keep me in check?! Even for revenge’s sake, you can’t charge in alone!"
"After all this talk, do you have a plan?" Cai Zhao struggled in vain, furious.
"Of course there’s a plan. First, we need to get close to him." Mu Qingyan leaned in and whispered, "Here’s what we’ll do—I’ll keep him occupied, and you pretend to be injured and move in..."
Cai Zhao stared blankly. "Will that work? You’re not planning to use the Celestial Demon Disintegration Art too, are you?"
Mu Qingyan’s eyes were as clear as the moon, his laughter bold and unrestrained. "Perish together with Qi Yunke, leaving you to marry that Song fellow? Dream on. Even if Heaven wills it, I won’t!"
Cai Zhao ran his plan through her mind and found it feasible. "Alright, let’s do it."
Before charging out, Mu Qingyan pulled back the girl, her face full of reckless courage, and spoke word by word: "No impulsiveness, no recklessness—stick to the plan. Remember what we agreed on before? If you don’t die, I won’t die. If I live, you must live too. We won’t abandon each other—we live or die together."
Of course Cai Zhao remembered. Every single word. Recalling happier times, her heart ached, and she turned her head away. "I’ve forgotten all of it! Not a single word remains!"
The two rushed out. In the circular hall, Qi Yunke stood like an invincible demon god, seemingly undefeatable for eternity. Around him, those still able to move helped each other retreat from the domed training chamber.Cai Zhao took a deep breath, channeling her energy into her right arm and slashing with all her might at the long rope. Even as her arm trembled violently from the impact and her palm bled from the force, she refused to let go. A flash of golden-red blade light streaked through the air, and a large section of the rope was indeed severed by her strike.
Qi Yunke frowned, flicking the rope open with a sharp snap that lashed against Cai Zhao’s right hand. The pain was so intense that her fingers felt as though they had shattered, forcing her to release the hilt of the Bright Sun Blade, which flew from her grip. Meanwhile, Shijing Yuantai pressed forward with her inner force, attempting to seize the rope.
At that moment, an opening appeared in Qi Yunke’s defenses. Mu Qingyan abandoned ‘Not Full’ and struck out with both palms, hitting Qi Yunke squarely in the back from a distance.
Qi Yunke grunted in pain and tried to use the shorter rope to strangle Mu Qingyan. To his surprise, Mu Qingyan didn’t evade. Instead, he grabbed the rope with his hand, allowing it to coil around his left arm and tear through his flesh, blood dripping steadily to the ground.
With the deadlock rendering any techniques useless, the two resorted to a pure contest of inner force.
Qi Yunke’s back ached, and his palms grew numb. He thought to himself, This Mu brat’s cultivation is truly remarkable.
Cai Zhao swung her silver chain and attacked again. Qi Yunke, already occupied with Mu Qingyan and Shijing Yuantai, had no room to spare. He struck the girl heavily with the rope, hoping to knock her unconscious.
Cai Zhao cried out in pain and plummeted from the air, rolling to a stop beside him, completely unconscious.
Seeing the girl lying motionless at his feet, Qi Yunke felt slightly relieved and turned his full attention to the other two.
Mu Qingyan emptied his mind, recalling word by word the ‘Innate Qi Preservation and Regulation Art’ his father Mu Zhengming had taught him. Starting from his dantian, he circulated his inner force throughout his body, cycling it endlessly without a single drop leaking out.
Qi Yunke sensed a sudden shift in the inner force transmitted through the rope—no longer domineering and fierce, but a pure, righteous, and gentle force that emphasized persistence and overcoming hardness with softness.
A man of discernment, Qi Yunke thought, Whoever created this inner force technique must be extraordinary. If mastered to perfection, it would rival the legendary completion of the Purple Star Sutra, allowing a mortal to attain divine cultivation.
As the two engaged in their fierce inner force battle, the chaotic energy around them sent debris flying, lifting and smashing anything movable.
Meanwhile, Shijing Yuantai continuously circled the periphery, launching intermittent attacks—always striking once before retreating, never giving Qi Yunke a chance to counter. This forced Qi Yunke to divert part of his focus to deal with her.
Just as his frustration peaked, he suddenly felt a cold sting in his abdomen, followed by an unfamiliar, searing pain deep within. He looked down—only to see Cai Zhao, who had somehow regained consciousness, holding a Cicada Wing Blade, thrust straight into his vital organs.
This was the second time the girl had attempted to kill him. The first time, he knew she had deliberately avoided his vital organs. But this time, she aimed directly for his dantian!
“I’m sorry, Master!” Cai Zhao’s eyes brimmed with tears. She was seriously injured and weak all over. Qi Yunke’s earlier strike had nearly knocked her out, but she had feigned unconsciousness as part of their prearranged plan.
Qi Yunke, suddenly grievously wounded, found the hidden flaws in his inner force—suppressed due to his incomplete mastery of the Purple Star Sutra—erupting violently. Countless chaotic currents, like venomous snakes, rampaged through his body, gnawing at his meridians.He roared at the sky, his madness erupting as he struck out with both palms, sending Shijing Yuantai flying with a resounding crash. Then, with a swift motion of his left hand, the Bright Sun Blade on the ground flew straight into his grip, and he raised it to strike down at the girl. Mu Qingyan was horrified, his eyes nearly splitting from fury as he leaped forward like a madman. With one hand, he deflected the Bright Sun Blade, and with the other, he pulled the girl to safety.
Qi Yunke swiftly changed his stance, one hand flicking the long rope to entangle Mu and Cai, while the other twisted his wrist, transforming a blade technique into a sword thrust aimed at Mu Qingyan from the left. With Cai Zhao in his right arm, Mu Qingyan couldn’t dodge without exposing her to the strike. He had no choice but to endure the blow.
Cai Zhao felt warmth on her face. Reaching up, she realized it was blood dripping from Mu Qingyan’s chest.
The Bright Sun Blade had pierced straight through his shoulder and chest.
Watching Mu Qingyan take the blow for Cai Zhao, Qi Yunke momentarily lost focus. Over the past half-hour, the two had exchanged over a hundred moves, and he knew full well Mu Qingyan’s skill—avoiding this strike should have been effortless.
As if waking from a long, unending nightmare, Qi Yunke murmured dazedly, “So… you’re not Mu Zhengyang…”
Gripping the hilt embedded in his chest, Mu Qingyan snarled through the pain, “Of course I’m not Mu Zhengyang, and Zhao Zhao isn’t her aunt either! Snap out of it! If you truly kill Zhao Zhao, how will you ever face Cai Pingshu in the afterlife?!”
Staggering backward, Qi Yunke felt his chest churn with chaotic energy, his inner force raging wildly through his dantian, threatening to rupture his meridians.
Fighting to control his unraveling mind, he lashed out wildly at the sky, sending rubble crashing down. The entire jade palace trembled under his assault.
Qi Yunke knew—he was succumbing to demonic deviation.
In his frenzy, he scrambled across the ground until he spotted the still-unconscious Qi Lingbo. A single thought consumed him: if he drained his daughter dry, he could break through the Third Heavenly Layer. There was still time to salvage everything. Stumbling, he lunged toward her.
Realizing his intent, Cai Zhao struggled free from the ropes binding her and, dodging the hail of falling debris, threw herself forward.
Mu Qingyan clutched his wound with one hand and grabbed Cai Zhao with the other. “Zhao Zhao, don’t! He’s already lost to demonic deviation—draining Lingbo won’t save him now!”
Cai Zhao shook him off resolutely. “I can’t stand by and watch an innocent suffer!”
Qi Yunke seized Qi Lingbo and pressed his palm to her forehead. Just as he began, Cai Zhao flung herself at his arm. He flung her aside. Already severely injured, Cai Zhao could only scramble forward clumsily, collapsing at his feet as she screamed hoarsely:
“Master, think of Auntie! She would never want this!”
“Master, remember Auntie!”
Qi Yunke froze, his thoughts scattering. Slowly, his grip on Qi Lingbo loosened.
Agony wracked his body as his meridians began rupturing one by one. The peerless inner force that had once filled his dantian now fled in all directions, leaving his heart hollow—he slumped to the ground, then collapsed onto his back.
Why was even Zhao Zhao opposing him? He only wanted to avenge Ping Shu.
Let the Demonic Cult and the North Star all turn to dust. Then, in a world cleansed anew, Zhao Zhao and Yu Zhi could rebuild their sect, raise children, and grow old together.
Dizziness washed over Qi Yunke as the nightmare that had haunted countless midnight hours resurfaced.
Light and shadow swirled before him. Massive, bloodstained doors swung open one after another. Behind each lay one of Ping Shu’s murderers—Yin Dai, Yang Yi, Yin Qinglian, the Mu from the Demonic Cult—all of whom he had eliminated.
Yet… why was there one final door in the deepest chamber?
His heart pounded as he pushed it open. For a moment, his breath stopped.
Inside stood himself.Qi Yunke lay on his back, tears streaming down his face as he murmured, "We promised... to become righteous heroes together, to turn the tide when all seems lost... I broke that promise..."
He had been bewitched by the celestial beauty of the Yin family's young mistress, seduced by the immense power Yin Dai promised, intoxicated by vanity and sweet words—completely forgetting his original vow.
Cai Pingshu saw through it all. She said nothing and went alone to Mount Tu.
Suddenly, he became sober—clear-headed for the first time in years.
Only now did he realize he had been ill for over a decade.
Ever since Cai Pingshu became crippled, he had contracted a disease that appeared lucid but was in truth madness.
Yet no matter how many heinous and unnatural deeds he committed, he could neither bring Cai Pingshu back to life nor return to those golden days of youth more precious than treasure.
"Zhao Zhao," Qi Yunke suddenly spoke, his tone unusually gentle, "marry whomever you wish in the future. As long as you're happy every day, nothing else matters."
Cai Zhao lay dumbfounded in the rubble.
"And that Mu fellow..." Qi Yunke continued, "it seems not everyone surnamed Mu is a scoundrel or heartless betrayer."
Mu Qingyan cursed inwardly at the old fool, woodenly untangling the rope coiled around him with one hand.
"One more thing." Qi Yunke hesitated. "Bury me..."
Before he could finish, the largest supporting beam of the dome fractured and crashed down. The entire circular training chamber collapsed like paper. Gritting through excruciating chest pain, Mu Qingyan lunged to pull Cai Zhao from danger.
Along with the domed underground palace, the Twin Lotus Pool Palace built above it also crumbled. Broken pillars, jade steps, silks and jewels, along with a rain of shattered tiles and bricks, collapsed endlessly like an unprecedented deluge of doom. Tiny humans could only struggle desperately to escape.
After what felt like an eternity, the falling debris finally ceased. Daylight streamed through the shattered dome above, and despite the thick scent of blood, the breeze carried the fresh aroma of lake water. The survivors felt as if reborn into another world.
Cai Zhao crawled out from the rubble, finding Mu Qingyan unconscious beside her.
When the massive stone had fallen, he had shielded her completely in his embrace. She emerged without a scratch, while Mu Qingyan suffered countless impacts from falling debris, worsening his injuries.
Terrified, Cai Zhao clutched Mu Qingyan's broad shoulders, calling his name frantically while pressing and tapping his acupoints.
The pale-faced youth finally stirred weakly, lips parting without sound.
Elsewhere, Shangguan Haonan was the first to awaken. Yang Xiaolan helped him dig You Guanyue out from the rubble.
You Guanyue lay motionless, clearly severely injured. Despite Shangguan Haonan's frantic slaps and shakes, he remained unconscious.
Understanding the urgency, Yang Xiaolan immediately went to find Lei Xiuming and Fan Xingjia despite her own injuries, while Shangguan Haonan collapsed over You Guanyue, wailing in despair—"Guanyue, you can't die like this! We promised to become in-laws in the future, and you haven't even had children yet! Wuwu... It's all my fault for being too slow earlier, making you get half-dead saving me. How can I ever repay this kindness! Don't worry, if you really leave like this, I'll take good care of Xing Er for you! My fourth wife position is still vacant—I originally planned to save it for Chou Cuilan to make it symmetrical! But now I've decided to give this last spot to Xing Er, for no other reason than our brotherly bond... Wuwu... Rest assured, I'll definitely take good care of Xing Er from now on!"
"Go die!" came a faint voice.
Shangguan Haonan looked up in confusion, his hair disheveled. "Guanyue, was that you speaking? Are you thanking me? No need for formalities between brothers."
You Guanyue mustered all his strength. "Go die! Who's thanking you?!"
Shangguan Haonan wiped the spit from his face, crying tears of joy.
Cai Zhao had been weeping, but seeing these two clowns, she couldn't help but burst into laughter. She noticed movement from the young man in her arms and quickly lowered her head. "What did you say? Speak louder, I can't hear you."
"I said," Mu Qingyan gasped weakly, using all his strength, "make those two idiots shut up already. They're utterly embarrassing!"
Cai Zhao completely dissolved into laughter, holding him tightly. "After surviving death, this is the first thing you say to me?"
Mu Qingyan also began to laugh. After a moment's thought, he said, "No, I have many things to say to you."
"Tell me, I'm listening," Cai Zhao replied, holding him as they leaned against a pile of boulders. Both were severely injured and unable to move, so they simply stayed nestled together, waiting for Lei Xiuming and Fan Xingjia to bring help.
Mu Qingyan whispered, "I've always thought the day we met was inauspicious—not only was it the dead of winter, but it was right before the ceremony to commemorate the dead..."
"What dead people? That was your ancestor, Old Ancestor Bei Chen."
"I never knew him. Don't interrupt—because our meeting day was unlucky, we've faced many hardships along the way. To ensure smooth sailing in the future, we should hold a joyous occasion to counteract it."
Suppressing a smile, Cai Zhao teased, "What joyous occasion? A housewarming?"
She expected the great Cult Master Mu to be furious, but he had developed some patience recently. He chuckled, "Sure, you can move to the Meditation Abode, or I'll move to Fallen Blossom Valley. What does Young Lady Knight Cai say?"
Hearing his labored breathing, Cai Zhao knew he was seriously injured.
After a moment's thought, she said, "Young Lady Knight Cai believes... this proposal is acceptable."
"Acceptable?" Mu Qingyan seemed doubtful.
"Mmm, acceptable." The girl pressed her cheek against his pale, bloodstained forehead and suddenly felt everything become clear. "As long as we're together, any way is fine."
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