Cai Zhao sprang up like a shrimp to bow. "Greetings, Uncle Zhou. Wishing you good health and prosperity, Uncle Zhou."
Zhou Zhizhen patted Cai Zhao's head with an amused smile.
Compared to the domineering, nouveau riche Song Shijun, Zhou Zhizhen carried himself with the noble bearing of someone from an old, scholarly family steeped in tradition. Chang Ning had no choice but to stand up as well and offer a proper bow.
Having heard about the Chang family's circumstances, Zhou Zhizhen offered sincere words of comfort to Chang Ning. He even took out a jade cicada as a token, telling Chang Ning that should he ever face urgent difficulties in the future, he could present this token to anyone at Jade Pendant Mountain Manor for assistance.
"Uncle Zhou is truly a man of his word," Cai Zhao beamed. "He never deals in empty pleasantries. Senior Brother Chang, what are you waiting for? Take it, take it quickly!"
Although her mother Ning Xiaofeng disliked Zhou Zhizhen almost as much as she did Qi Yunke, Cai Zhao felt differently. Both Qi Yunke and Zhou Zhizhen were elders she greatly admired—especially when they arrived bearing armfuls of gifts.
Chang Ning silently accepted the jade cicada and stepped aside.
"Uncle Zhou, you've grown thinner again. I know Grandmother Zhou hasn't been well, but you're not young either. Don't focus solely on caring for her and neglect your own health," Cai Zhao said with filial concern.
Zhou Zhizhen was visibly pleased, his eyes brimming with affectionate amusement. "Zhao Zhao has grown so thoughtful. You're truly an adult now. Having never left Fallen Blossom Valley before, I worried you might struggle away from home. But it seems my concerns were unfounded. How I resent your Uncle Qi for acting first—otherwise I would have taken you back to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor myself. Becoming my disciple wouldn't have been any worse than studying under Grandmaster Qi. I wonder if little Zhao would have agreed?"
Cai Zhao feigned a sigh. "To be honest with you, Uncle Zhou, just look at that shabby little town below Nine Conch Mountain, then think of the bustling markets surrounding Jade Pendant Mountain Manor. Where do you think I'd rather have studied?"
Zhou Zhizhen stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "Exactly! How could our Zhao Zhao possibly be satisfied with this dreary little town of Azure Tower?"
Just then, two handsome young men with similar features approached from a distance, calling out, "Uncle! Uncle, come quickly! We've met the Liu brothers—you must see their family heirloom sword!"
As the two youths drew near, the taller one spotted Cai Zhao and grinned. "Oh? Little Zhao Zhao has grown up!"
The slightly shorter one winked mischievously. "Though she hasn't grown much taller. I reckon she'll still need a stool to reach the counter when running errands for vinegar..."
"Can't you speak properly? If not, go practice before opening your mouths again!" Cai Zhao immediately lost her temper.
Zhou Zhizhen shook his head with a chuckle. "Yuqian, Yukun, stop teasing Zhao Zhao. Aren't you too old for this? Very well, I should go meet your Uncle Liu now. Let's be on our way."
As the Zhou uncle and nephews departed, Chang Ning couldn't contain his curiosity. "Master Zhou was your aunt's fiancé? But I heard... I heard that he..."
"That he's long been married with children, right?" Cai Zhao showed no surprise. "We all know that."
"Uncle Zhou's wife is his mother's own niece, from the Min family. She trained with everyone at Jade Pendant Mountain Manor in her youth—my aunt knew her too. Oh, their son is Zhou Yuqi, two years older than me."
Even with all his experience navigating the harsh realities of human relationships, Chang Ning found himself stunned by this revelation.Cai Zhao continued on her own, "The year my grandparents passed away, my aunt was only ten, and my father was even younger. Remembering his friendship with my grandfather, Old Master Zhou personally brought my aunt and father to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor and accepted my aunt as a nominal disciple."
"You can imagine what it was like back then. With my grandparents gone early and my granduncle off enjoying himself who-knows-where, the situation in Fallen Blossom Valley wasn’t great. Fortunately, Old Master Zhou was kind. Not only did he care for and protect my aunt and father in every way, but he also upheld the marriage engagement promised back then."
Chang Ning, utterly lost, picked the most obvious question: "Did your aunt not like Master Zhou?"
"How could she not? In his youth, Master Zhou was one of the most handsome young men in the martial world, born into a prestigious family, and his martial prowess was unmatched among his peers. The only one who could rival him was Sect Leader Song of Vast Heaven Gate, but in terms of reputation, Master Zhou far surpassed him. Why wouldn’t my aunt like him?"
"Then why didn’t Swordswoman Cai marry Master Zhou?"
Cai Zhao scratched her ear, her fair, delicate earlobe flushing pink. "I only know bits and pieces of this. At first, it was probably because they were too young. Later, Nie Hengcheng started his reign of evil, and everyone was too busy fighting the Demonic Cult to think of anything else. And then... my aunt was hanging by a thread, barely clinging to life. How could she marry and have children then?"
"Whatever the reason, the marriage didn’t happen, and there must have been some lingering resentment. Yet your family holds no grudge against Zhou Zhizhen? And you’re still so close to the Zhou family!" Chang Ning began to wonder if he was being too cynical—maybe they were just that open-hearted and magnanimous.
"Why should there be any grudge?" Cai Zhao said matter-of-factly. "Of course I’m close to the Zhou family. I’m going to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor in the future."
Chang Ning: "...Why are you going to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor? Haven’t you already joined Azure Tower Sect as a disciple?" Was the Cai Family so worried their daughter might stray that they’d make her take two masters? Were Valley Master Cai and his wife really that meticulous?
Cai Zhao patiently explained, "I’m not going to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor to study. I’m going to live there for the rest of my life."
Chang Ning: "??"
"I’m going to marry into the Zhou family. Not only was my aunt betrothed to Master Zhou since childhood, but I was also betrothed to Zhou Yuqi from a young age."
Chang Ning’s expression looked as if he’d been slashed across the face.
"Senior Brother Chang, why aren’t you saying anything?" Cai Zhao waved her hand in front of his face.
Chang Ning’s eyes narrowed as if he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.
"Oh, so Junior Sister Cai is here enjoying herself! We’ve been searching all over for you." A familiar, sweetly girlish voice rang out as two young maidens approached gracefully.
On the left, dressed in lotus-pink palace attire with a pearl-studded golden hairpin, was the stunningly beautiful Qi Lingbo, truly more radiant than flowers. On the right, a refined and dignified maiden in pale violet gauze silk smiled gently, her demeanor as serene and pleasing as a clear, flowing stream.
The maiden on the right bowed slightly. "It’s been a while, Zhao Zhao. How have you been lately?"
Muttering 'not again,' Cai Zhao stood and returned the greeting. "It’s good to see you, Sister Xinrou. I’ve been well." She then briefly introduced Chang Ning—the maiden was Min Xinrou, niece of Madam Min of Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, the same age as Qi Lingbo and a year older than Cai Zhao.Chang Ning, perhaps still reeling from the earlier shock, couldn’t be bothered to engage with anyone. He merely lifted his eyelids, exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries, and then sat silently to the side.
Qi Lingbo, well aware of Chang Ning’s foul temper, didn’t want to stir up unnecessary trouble. She quickly linked arms with Min Xinrou and giggled sweetly, “Sister Xinrou and I hit it off right away. After chatting, I found out not only are you and Sister Xinrou old acquaintances, but you’re also betrothed to her cousin, the young master of Jade Pendant Mountain Manor. Oh dear, why didn’t you mention it earlier, Zhao Zhao? Had I known, the three of us sisters could have had such fun together!”
Cai Zhao gave a half-smile. “Since arriving at Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff, I’ve seen Senior Sister Qi three or four times—either fighting or arguing. When would I have had the chance to speak properly with you?”
Qi Lingbo’s face stiffened as she struggled to hold back her temper.
Min Xinrou parted her rosy lips with a light laugh. “Zhao Zhao is just as amusing as she was in childhood, no wonder Uncle adored you so. Ah, what a pity Brother Yuqi isn’t here, or else the three of us childhood playmates could have properly reminisced. I’ve always urged Brother Yuqi—even if it weren’t Old Ancestor Bei Chen’s bicentennial memorial ceremony, just the fact that Zhao Zhao is here should have been reason enough for him to come. Alas, the old madam’s health worsens by the day, and the physician insists a descendant must remain by her side. There was simply no other choice…”
“What does it matter?” Cai Zhao replied flatly. “Brother Yuqi and I will have a lifetime to glare at each other—whether we meet now or later makes little difference. Sister Xinrou, on the other hand, should seize every chance to see him while you can. Once married, visiting your natal home won’t be an issue, but you can’t exactly drop by your cousin’s house every day. Though, Sister Xinrou, if your marriage ever turns sour—say, your husband bruises your eyes, splits your head open, or kicks you out to sleep on the porch—do let me know. I’ll make sure to avenge you…”
“What on earth are you saying?!” Qi Lingbo finally snapped, while Min Xinrou’s face turned as pale as her dress.
Cai Zhao remained perfectly composed. “Sister Xinrou visited Fallen Blossom Valley three times with Uncle Zhou. The first two times, we ‘compared’ martial skills. The third time, we switched to verbal sparring. Sister Xinrou, why don’t you tell Senior Sister Qi—whether it was fists or words, did you ever win against me even once?”
Min Xinrou lowered her delicate neck, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Zhao Zhao is far more clever than I, excelling in both martial arts and wit. But those were just childish antics. Now that we’re older…”
Cai Zhao cut her off, turning directly to Qi Lingbo. “You heard her, Senior Sister. Whether fists or words, I won every time. So, why bring this defeated opponent to me? Did you think adding her would help you reclaim your dignity?”
Unable to endure the barrage of mockery, Qi Lingbo burst out, “Don’t think just because you’ve bested me and Sister Xinrou, you’re invincible! Even a hero needs allies—Sister Xinrou has Madam Min and the old madam backing her, and I have my mother and martial brothers supporting me. Hmph, did you know? I’m also betrothed to Third Brother…”
“Oh, I never would’ve guessed,” Cai Zhao remarked dryly. “If not for Eldest Brother desperately stopping him at noon today, Third Brother was determined to punish you.”Seeing Qi Lingbo nearly choking with rage, Min Xinrou quickly intervened, "Alright, alright, we're all sisters here. There's no need to quarrel over mere words."
Qi Lingbo took a deep breath and sneered, "Cai Zhao, it doesn't matter if you offend me, but you shouldn't offend Xinrou-jiejie. After all, Madam Min is your elder. If you keep bullying her niece time and again, do you think she'll treat you kindly in the future?!"
"Why wouldn't she?" Cai Zhao seemed genuinely surprised. "Since shijie brought up the Min Family, let's discuss this properly. The Min Family may not have much skill, but their ambitions are grand. They often flaunt the name of Jade Pendant Mountain Manor to provoke powerful enemies. And when they do, they lose every time, requiring rescue each occasion. Not to mention my great-uncle, even my aunt has saved Old Master Min and his two brothers three or four times. Later, when the Demonic Cult tried to capture the Zhou Family's women as leverage, my aunt also rescued Madam Min and her niece."
"Such great kindness doesn't require the Min Family to repay it with extreme gratitude. Just treating me well after I marry into the family will suffice." Cai Zhao casually waved her handkerchief.
"But... but the Zhou Family also has kindness toward the Cai Family. I know your aunt and father were raised by Old Master Zhou," Qi Lingbo persisted stubbornly.
"When your father suffered a qi deviation during training, it was my aunt who went through great hardships to save him. Yet I don't see shijie holding back when scolding me. Ah well, the Big Dipper Six Sects are united—no need to calculate so precisely."
Cai Zhao leisurely added, "In any case, if the Min Family treats me poorly in the future, they'll be heartless ingrates. If Uncle Zhou doesn't stand up for me, I'll certainly complain to all the uncles and elders of the martial arts world."
Qi Lingbo was left speechless with anger, while Min Xinrou could only force an awkward smile to mask her unease.
Chang Ning looked up at the sky.
He had initially wondered why Cai Pingshu, knowing full well her conflict with Yin Sulian, would still send Cai Zhao to the Azure Tower Sect. Wasn't she afraid her beloved niece would be bullied? He thought Cai Pingshu was too naive—not everyone remembers favors.
Now he realized he was the naive one.
With someone like Cai Zhao—smiling sweetly but striking ruthlessly—if Yin Qinglian and her daughter dared bully her, she'd probably dig up the Yin Family ancestral graves overnight and plant a field of dogtail grass in their place.
Seeing Qi Lingbo still fuming, Min Xinrou gently patted her back to soothe her while tearfully saying, "Zhao Zhao-meimei, don't be angry. It's all my fault. Please don't take it out on Lingbo-meimei. Whatever the mistake, it's mine alone. If you're upset, you can hit or scold me. I never should have... I never should have confessed my admiration for Cousin during your aunt's memorial last year..."
Qi Lingbo seized the moment to interject, "How can this be your fault?! Xinrou-jiejie, you're so gentle and lovable—everyone adores you! I'm sure Young Master Zhou must like you too..."
Min Xinrou hastily interrupted, "No, no, no! It's entirely my one-sided affection. Cousin only sees me as a younger sister! In any case, Zhao Zhao-meimei, please don't blame me for my foolish devotion."
Hearing the words "younger sister," Cai Zhao's jaw tightened imperceptibly, her smile growing colder. "How could I blame Xinrou-jiejie? We've known each other since childhood—our bond is extraordinary, closer than ordinary sisters."
Noticing the icy glint in Cai Zhao's eyes, Min Xinrou began to feel uneasy.Qi Lingbo, however, was oblivious to the mood and pressed on bluntly, "Between honest folk, there's no need for pretense. Since Xinrou's feelings are known to you, why not both marry into the Zhou family? You could address each other as sisters and support one another—wouldn't that be wonderful?" Whether the idea succeeded or not, as long as it caused Cai Zhao discomfort and disgust, Qi Lingbo would be satisfied.
Cai Zhao gave her a dismissive glance. "Since my bond with my senior sister is even stronger, why don’t you marry into the Zhou family with me? That way, we can stay together every single day—wouldn’t that be even more wonderful?!"
"You—you—you’re spouting nonsense!" Qi Lingbo nearly exploded in fury.
Min Xinrou understood Cai Zhao far better than Qi Lingbo did and knew she had already been provoked. She desperately tried to pull Qi Lingbo away, but the latter stubbornly refused to budge.
Cai Zhao sneered. "My aunt showed kindness to Old Madam Min, to the Min father and son, and to Madam Min most of all—if not for my aunt, Madam Min would have either been seized by that Elder Tianshu to serve as a cultivation furnace or become some Altar Lord’s twenty-eighth concubine! And now, after all that, you still want to call me ‘sister’? Is this how you repay kindness?"
"Martial artists give aid without expecting repayment—who else goes around flaunting their good deeds like you? Besides, there’s also Young Master Zhou to consider. He’s so filial to his grandmother and mother—wouldn’t he want to take good care of the Min Family and Xinrou? Why don’t you ask yourself: if Young Master Zhou had to choose, would he pick you or Xinrou?!" Qi Lingbo wobbled as Min Xinrou tugged at her but refused to leave.
Cai Zhao let out a cold laugh. "It seems Senior Sister is determined to help Xinrou. The Min Family, being so upright and honorable, would never forget a debt of gratitude. Xinrou wants both to marry into the Zhou family and repay kindness—fine then."
She slapped the table. "How about this: I’ll be the principal wife, and you’ll be the concubine. I’ll eat while you serve me, I’ll wash my feet while you fetch the water, and once you enter the household, we’ll rename you ‘Dai Zi’! From then on, you’ll be ‘Min Daizi’—how does that sound?" [*]
Even Min Xinrou’s resilient spirit couldn’t endure such humiliation. With a choked sob, she covered her face and fled in tears. Qi Lingbo stood dumbfounded before finally turning her gaze back to Cai Zhao.
Cai Zhao smiled sweetly. "If Senior Sister Qi ever decides not to marry into the Song Family, you’re welcome to come to our Jade Pendant Mountain Manor. Just change your name to ‘Qi Daizi,’ and you’ll fit right in."
Qi Lingbo stomped her foot furiously, flicked her sleeve, and stormed off with a stiff expression.
Only after everyone had left did Cai Zhao sit back down, muttering coldly, "Those two—one a true villain, the other a hypocrite—might as well be sisters from different parents!"
Chang Ning waited for Cai Zhao to calm down before speaking slowly. "Aren’t you always lecturing me about ‘harmony brings wealth’? Why are you so worked up now?"
Cai Zhao: "I can be ‘harmonious’ with anyone—except those who’ve wronged my aunt. The entire Min Family owes her a debt. I don’t expect them to remember her kindness, but the least they could do is refrain from cursing her behind her back!"
"If the Min Family is so despicable, why did your aunt betroth you to Zhou Yuqi? Throwing a lamb to the wolves?" Chang Ning mocked.
Cai Zhao grew agitated. "Perhaps my aunt felt guilty toward Uncle Zhou." She still remembered the look in Cai Pingshu’s eyes as she lay dying, gazing at Zhou Zhizhen—full of regret.
[*] "Dai Zi" is a derogatory term implying servitude, often used to mock someone as a lowly attendant or subordinate."She has nothing to feel guilty about toward Master Zhou." Chang Ning gave a light scoff. "Zhou Yuqi is two years older than you. Counting backward, that means Master Zhou married immediately after the Battle of Tu Mountain and had a son the following year. Even if your aunt was in poor health and couldn't marry or bear children, he didn't need to be in such a hurry!"
"Because it was my aunt who personally persuaded Uncle Zhou to marry as soon as possible."
Chang Ning was caught off guard and surprised once again.
Cai Zhao sighed, "No matter how much Old Madam Min pleaded or pressured, Uncle Zhou originally refused to marry Madam Min. It was only after my aunt earnestly persuaded him that he agreed. Didn't Great Hero Chang tell you any of this?"
Chang Ning muttered gloomily, "My father didn't even mention this."
Cai Zhao smiled faintly. "My mother said that at the time, Old Master Zhou was already on his deathbed, and his final wish was to see Uncle Zhou married. But even then, Uncle Zhou refused to agree. Uncle Zhou is a good man. Three years ago, he watched by the sickbed as my aunt took her last breath. He cried until he fainted and later fell seriously ill."
Chang Ning fell silent.
For someone like Zhou Zhizhen, with such profound internal martial arts, it was rare to fall ill, let alone faint. It showed just how deeply grieved he had been.
"I understand now," he suddenly realized. "Why Old Master Zhou insisted on seeing his son married before his death. If he hadn't insisted, given how deeply Master Zhou loved your aunt, after the old master passed, no one could have pressured him to marry again."
"Yes, so my aunt always felt guilty toward Uncle Zhou." Cai Zhao sighed softly. "Our grandparents passed away early, and Old Master Zhou took care of my aunt and father for many years, treating them as his own. As for Uncle Zhou, my aunt said when they first arrived at Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, though he was young, he looked after them meticulously. He even personally delivered the charcoal for warmth every time, never letting my aunt suffer the slightest grievance."
She sighed and continued, "So when Uncle Zhou proposed continuing the engagement, my mother agreed before my aunt could speak."
Chang Ning glanced at Cai Zhao. "Your mother was afraid your aunt would be put in a difficult position, so she agreed first."
Cai Zhao shrugged helplessly. "In my mother's eyes, nothing in the world matters more than my aunt."
"What if you marry the wrong person?"
"My mother said, 'If the marriage doesn't work out, just marry again. It's just a matter of changing families—no big deal. If you don’t want to marry, you can always return to Fallen Blossom Valley and take a husband there. It’s not like it hasn’t happened before.'"
This time, it was Chang Ning's turn to sigh.
He had no understanding of romantic love, so he couldn't judge whether Cai Pingshu's guilt—"I can't marry you, but I'll urge you to marry someone else"—was normal or not. He just felt inexplicably frustrated.
"Enough of that. Let's talk about Zhou Yuqi. After all, he's the one you're going to marry. What's he like?"
A faint, almost inappropriate smile appeared on Cai Zhao's face. "He's quite decent—refined, gentle, and kind to others."
"What about his martial arts?"
Cai Zhao blinked her big eyes. "Considering the ties between our families... well, it's hard to say who's better."
Chang Ning narrowed his eyes. "If we disregard family ties, and you went all out?"
"I'd make him roll away within a hundred and thirty-eight moves."Chang Ning detected the delight in Cai Zhao's tone and couldn't help but laugh. "Is Zhou Yuqi treating Min Xinrou particularly well? You've been giving him the side-eye for a while now, haven't you?"
"Ah, actually Jade Kirin isn't a bad person. He's always been very accommodating to me. My mother says Uncle Zhou was the same way before—it's not that he has ulterior motives, but that he was raised to be too refined and gentle. So he's always been tender and protective toward women, unable to bring himself to scold or hit them—but that's not a big deal. If he can't bring himself to do it, I'll handle it."
Chang Ning was left speechless.
After a moment of contemplation, he turned to face Cai Zhao solemnly and, for the first time in his life, began to offer earnest advice—
"Marriage is no trivial matter after all. Now that your aunt has passed away, breaking off the engagement wouldn't be a big deal. Master Zhou dotes on you so much—if you say you don't want to marry Zhou Yuqi, he would surely agree. The Min Family would have their wish fulfilled, and the Zhou and Cai families wouldn't fall out. Calling off the engagement wouldn't hurt anyone."
Cai Zhao looked astonished: "Why call it off? I never said I didn't want to marry Zhou Yuqi. I'm willing to marry him—where did you get the idea that I'm unwilling?"
Chang Ning: ...
"I've thought it through—marrying Zhou Yuqi is quite good. First, he can't beat me in a fight, and Uncle Zhou always has my back. I can do whatever I want at Jade Pendant Mountain Manor. Hmph, that old woman from the Min Family was nasty to my aunt back then, and Madam Min is even worse. I’ll make sure to 'serve' them both properly later. If they dare use filial piety to control me, I’ll crush them with gratitude!"
"...So you’re actually going there for revenge?"
"Ah, 'revenge' sounds so harsh—better to resolve grievances than to create them. Second, Jade Pendant Mountain Manor has beautiful scenery and bustling markets. The surrounding towns have everything you could want—it’s even livelier than Fallen Blossom Valley. I thought about it when I was little: living in Fallen Blossom Valley before marriage and Jade Pendant Mountain Manor after—perfect!"
"Wealth and luxury are fleeting; upholding justice is the true path," Chang Ning retorted mechanically, feeling like he had used up a lifetime's worth of righteous speeches tonight.
"Does upholding justice contradict enjoying prosperity and excitement? Besides, your father has hoarded who knows how much gold and silver—how can you say such things with a straight face?"
"..."
"Third, the Zhou family is quite amiable—well, those who aren’t can’t beat me anyway. The older uncles were close to my aunt back then, and now Yuqian and Yukun are close to me. Uncle Zhou agrees with everything I say, and since Jade Kirin can’t beat me in a fight or an argument, once the doors are closed, Jade Pendant Mountain Manor will be mine to rule! What do you think, Senior Brother Chang?" The more Cai Zhao thought about it, the brighter and more satisfied she felt.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother Chang, why aren’t you saying anything again?" Cai Zhao began waving her hand in front of Chang Ning’s face.
"...I need some quiet."
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