A Decade of Nightscape Lights

Early in the morning, Cai Zhao sensed something off about Chang Ning.

After last night's banquet, he had been listless and quiet, remaining subdued even through washing up and bedtime.

But from the moment he rose at dawn today, Chang Ning seemed like a different person—not only was he spirited and smiling at everyone, but he also addressed the Cai couple with repeated terms like "your humble nephew," "this junior," and "Uncle and Aunt," his manner both respectful and sincere, his gaze filial yet tinged with hidden sorrow. Cai Zhao inwardly declared him a master of acting.

She took a step back and asked her younger brother, "Xiao Han, don’t you think this guy changed way too fast?"

Cai Han lifted his chubby face from his porridge bowl. "Don’t be upset, Sister. Maybe he just dislikes you and those people from the Azure Tower Sect. He’s still very polite to elders."

Cai Zhao considered throwing her brother away.

Ning Xiaofeng pulled her daughter aside and whispered, "Ning’er seems nothing like what you described. Even after his family’s tragedy, he hasn’t lost his manners. From now on, don’t go around calling him ill-tempered or difficult behind his back."

Cai Zhao protested, "Mother, he wasn’t like this yesterday! He was ruthless when arguing with Qi Lingbo!" (And hadn’t spared her either.)

Ning Xiaofeng shot her daughter a look. "Who could stay calm facing Yin Sulian and her daughter? Clearly, Brother Chang is principled in his grudges. He must have told his son plenty about the despicable Yin family!"

Cai Zhao: "..."

The five of them tidied their attire and filed out, splitting into three groups upon reaching the Facing Sun Hall, the largest structure in Dusk Micro Palace.

At the very front of the main hall stood an altar laden with fresh flowers and fruits. On either side of the altar were three black lacquered armchairs adorned with golden seven-star patterns. By now, the sect leaders of the Qi, Song, Zhou, and Yang factions had already taken their seats. Cai Pingchun approached, cupped his hands toward the four, and sat in the third seat on the right—one of the six chairs remained empty.

Whether Song Shijun had been drunk as a turtle or a toad last night, he now sat opposite Qi Yunke with dignified solemnity, his bearing so imposing it seemed as if this were his own Vast Heaven Gate. When he noticed the empty seat beside him, he sneered and deliberately glanced at Qi Yunke, his eyes conveying, "It’s about to start, and the Grand Beginning Temple still isn’t here. What do you have to say for yourself, Sect Leader?"

Qi Yunke pretended not to see.

While the main hall was arranged thus, the right annex hosted external guests like Evergreen Temple, Hanging Temple, and the Sand Tiger Gang. The left annex naturally accommodated the families and disciples of the Big Dipper Six Sects. From afar, Ning Xiaofeng spotted Yin Sulian at the very front of the left annex, basking in the adulation of a crowd of women—how could the heroic Ning Xiaofeng tolerate such an infuriating sight? Of course not!

Immediately, she grabbed her son and strode forward to confront her old rival.

Cai Zhao hesitated. With Chang Ning beside her—his face covered in sores that could scare half a dozen children—he was neither a disciple of Fallen Blossom Valley nor Azure Tower Sect. Where should they go?

"Stand wherever you want. Who dares to complain?" Chang Ning said indifferently.

Cai Zhao mocked, "Oh? Young Master Chang, done pretending to be humble, gentle, and universally adored?"

Chang Ning gave her a sidelong glance. "Or would you prefer I tell your parents that we had a huge fight yesterday, parted on bad terms, and you only agreed to protect me out of obligation?"

Cai Zhao promptly shut up.

Just then, Fan Xingjia found them, explaining that Zeng Dalou had already instructed them to join the Azure Tower Sect disciples for the ceremony. As the three spoke, Qi Lingbo and Dai Fengchi approached, walking gracefully one after the other.Fan Xingjia's brow twitched—when these four met, it was like flint striking sparks, instantly setting off a fiery explosion.

Qi Lingbo saw them and smirked. "Oh my, I heard Zhao Zhao and Brother Chang were staying next door to each other last night. You two really hit it off, didn't you?"

Cai Zhao didn't answer, instead looking around. Qi Lingbo frowned. "What are you looking at? Didn't you hear me talking to you?"

Cai Zhao turned back. "I was looking for Brother Song. His fiancée spends all her time coming and going with other men, yet he's so broad-minded..."

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Dai Fengchi's face flushed slightly.

Qi Lingbo held him back, forcing a smile. "Second Brother and I grew up together, as close as siblings. I've long regarded him as my own brother, and he sees me as his sister. Others might misunderstand, but we shouldn't harbor suspicions among ourselves. Our relationship is pure and aboveboard, with nothing to hide. But Zhao Zhao, yesterday you said you'd protect Brother Chang, which made me wonder..." She drew out the last syllable, waiting for Cai Zhao to take the bait.

"Oh." Cai Zhao remained utterly unmoved.

Suppressing her irritation, Qi Lingbo continued sweetly, "If Brother Chang recovers quickly, that's fine. But what if it takes a long time—one year, two years, three... By then, when Zhao Zhao marries into Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, what will become of Brother Chang?"

Having endured this nonsense long enough, Cai Zhao was about to retort when a pale, slender hand rested on her shoulder. Chang Ning stepped forward.

"By then, Zhao Zhao will naturally take me along to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor," he said with a smile.

Qi Lingbo thought she'd misheard. "What did you say?!"

Dai Fengchi & Fan Xingjia: ????

Cai Zhao: "..." Since when was this decided?

"The late Old Sect Leader Yin once said that protecting the weak is our unshirkable duty. How could there be a time limit of one, two, or three years? If I'm unlucky and don't recover quickly, would Zhao Zhao abandon me? No, that's absolutely impossible!"

Chang Ning's voice brimmed with pure sincerity, more convincing than any stage performance. Qi Lingbo's earlier "brother-sister" act was already nauseatingly sanctimonious, but Chang Ning outdid her.

The others were dumbfounded. Cai Zhao's face remained expressionless.

"After Zhao Zhao goes to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, I'll help her entertain guests during the wedding ceremony and pour the Nuptial Wine in the bridal chamber. Later, I'll share meals and practice martial arts with Zhao Zhao and her husband. I've heard Young Master Zhou is warm-hearted and exceptionally kind. I'm sure he wouldn't mind my presence. Don't you agree, Sister Qi?"

"That... that might not be appropriate. Young Master Zhou might take offense..." Qi Lingbo stammered.

"Absolutely not," Chang Ning said firmly. "Sister Qi just said Zhao Zhao and I hit it off immediately. I regard her as my own sister, and she sees me as her brother. Others might misunderstand, but we shouldn't harbor suspicions among ourselves. My relationship with Zhao Zhao is pure and aboveboard. Since Young Master Zhou is a true gentleman, why would he object?"

Qi Lingbo & Dai Fengchi: ...

Cai Zhao's blood boiled: ╰_╯ Damn you all to hell!

Fan Xingjia began wiping sweat from his brow.Chang Ning's eyes were pure and innocent: "Senior Sister Qi, surely you wouldn't stop interacting with Senior Brother Dai just because you got married, would you?"

Qi Lingbo gave an awkward smile.

Chang Ning grew even more sincere: "And Senior Brother Dai, given your deep bond with Senior Sister Qi, you could be like me in the future—sharing meals and training sessions with Junior Sister Qi and Senior Brother Song. Senior Brother Song is so broad-minded, I'm sure he wouldn't mind!"

Dai Fengchi's mind began to wander.

Since childhood, he had known Qi Lingbo was betrothed to Song Yuzhi. Though the thought pained him, it always seemed like something so far in the future that he didn't need to dwell on it. But after Chang Ning's vivid description, he realized his future might be even worse than Chang Ning's, and he grew anxious and uncertain.

Fan Xingjia stared blankly at the sky—imagining the proud and restrained Song Yuzhi watching his wife laugh and chat intimately with her childhood friend and senior brother during meals made him dizzy.

Cai Zhao tugged at Chang Ning's sleeve and whispered threateningly, "That's enough. Any more and you'll overdo it."

Chang Ning yanked his sleeve back forcefully. "We're just getting started."

He raised his voice again, speaking with gentle enthusiasm and spouting nonsense, "Senior Sister Qi, Senior Brother Dai, you have a long life ahead of you. You should think about where to live—it must be close by. Living far apart just won't do..."

Deep down, Dai and Qi knew Chang Ning's words were absurd. But one had spent years as a devoted admirer, never considering his own future, while the other, accustomed to being adored and flattered, couldn't bear to let go of her handsome, proud, and exceptionally skilled fiancé. Each had their own insecurities, so neither could bring themselves to refute Chang Ning.

As Cai Zhao listened to Chang Ning's increasingly outrageous remarks and was about to drag the troublemaker away, a cold, haughty voice suddenly rang out—piercing through the air—"What are you all doing here?!"

Everyone turned to see Song Yuzhi, his expression stern, frowning at them.

"Third Senior Brother, you're finally here!" Fan Xingjia looked as if he had seen a deity descending to save the world, his eyes nearly welling up with emotion.

Dai and Qi wore complicated expressions and remained silent.

Cai Zhao thought to herself, If you'd arrived any later, Chang Ning would have spun tales about your fiancée and senior brother until the end of time.

Chang Ning, ever the instigator, smirked. "Ah, Senior Brother Song is here. We were just discussing the future—"

"We were just chatting, nothing serious!" Cai Zhao yanked Chang Ning behind her, glaring at him to stop his nonsense.

Song Yuzhi stared at her for a moment before turning to Fan Xingjia, reprimanding, "The eldest senior brother is too busy to attend to everything, which is why he sent you, Sixth Junior Brother, to fetch Junior Sister Cai and Junior Brother Chang. Yet here you are, idly chatting. The ceremony is about to begin."

Fan Xingjia didn't dare argue and could only murmur an apology.

"Enough. Let's get in formation," Song Yuzhi ordered finally.

Everyone complied, even Chang Ning, who was nudged into nodding by Cai Zhao.

For today's ceremony, disciples from each sect wore their respective sect's attire. Those from Azure Tower Sect donned white robes with silver trim and green sashes, while Vast Heaven Gate wore crimson garments embroidered with golden suns. Disciples of Jade Pendant Mountain Manor wore wide-sleeved robes in light blue, adorned with silver landscapes, and Four Stallions Gate sported yellow martial attire with black embroidery of four stallions. Only Fallen Blossom Valley stood out—since their ancestors advocated natural simplicity, they wore whatever they pleased.

Fortunately, Fallen Blossom Valley had the fewest disciples, so their eclectic attire didn't stand out too much.Arriving at the Azure Tower Sect's contingent, Cai Zhao met her fourth senior brother, Ding Zhuo, for the first time.

The young man appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, his skin a light honey hue, clearly the result of years of martial training under the sun. With handsome features and an upright, sharp demeanor, he exuded an aura as piercing as an unsheathed sword. Cai Zhao greeted him with a respectful bow, to which Ding Zhuo silently cupped his hands in return before turning away to stand at attention, ignoring everyone else.

Given that she had Chang Ning—a troublemaker prone to unpredictable outbursts—by her side, Cai Zhao dared not stand too close to the disciples of other sects. She tugged at Chang Ning's sleeve and positioned them at the very back of the side hall. It finally dawned on her why Fan Xingjia always kept the two of them separate from others, and she couldn't help but grumble at Chang Ning, "With acting skills like yours, why don’t you go perform on stage?"

Chang Ning raised an eyebrow. "So eager—are you afraid I’ll actually follow you to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor?"

Cai Zhao rolled her eyes. "Follow me, by all means! Once we’re there, I’ll pick a strong, formidable girl from the manor to be your wife, so you’ll always have someone to protect you. How about that?!"

Chang Ning scowled. "Save your ‘Young Mistress’ airs for after you’re married. You talk as if this marriage is a sure thing!"

"My mother and Uncle Zhou have already agreed—how is it not a sure thing?" Cai Zhao pondered for a moment. "It was the same back then. There was a lot of opposition to my aunt’s engagement to Uncle Zhou, but once Old Master Zhou insisted, no one dared to complain."

Hearing this, Chang Ning gave a strange smile. "Don’t celebrate too soon. What if this Zhou fellow isn’t as good as you think?"

"Nonsense!" Cai Zhao flared up. "You’re slandering my elders again—have you forgotten our agreement so quickly?"

"Look." Chang Ning pointed toward the front of the left side hall. Cai Zhao swallowed her words and followed his gaze.

Ning Xiaofeng stood there with a faint smile. Whatever she had just said had left Yin Sulian red-faced and unsteady on her feet, with the alluring Sha Shi Furen of the Four Stallions Gate supporting her. After provoking Yin Sulian, Ning Xiaofeng turned to the Zhou family’s female relatives and juniors, chatting amiably and wittily, eliciting laughter from everyone.

Cai Zhao studied the women. "That’s Aunt Zhixian of the Zhou family, Uncle Zhou’s cousin. Her twin blades are legendary. Years ago, her fiancé was killed by the Demonic Cult’s treacherous scum, and she vowed never to marry. Brother Yuqian and Brother Yukun lost their parents early and were raised by Aunt Zhixian." She turned back. "What’s your point?"

Chang Ning clasped one hand behind his back and said leisurely, "This morning, while chatting with your mother, I noticed she harbors resentment toward Sect Leader Qi but holds Master Zhou in high regard."

Cai Zhao was puzzled. "What’s wrong with that? Uncle Zhou is a genuinely good person."

Chang Ning countered, "Is Sect Leader Qi not a good person then? Your mother has always blamed him for not standing by Heroine Cai in life and death, and for marrying Madam Sulian, who had conflicts with Heroine Cai. But think about it—didn’t Master Zhou do the same? He was Heroine Cai’s fiancé, yet he neither stood by her nor married a woman from the Min Family, who also had grievances with Heroine Cai."

Cai Zhao’s thoughts tangled. "Uncle Zhou was tied up with other matters back then, and my aunt deliberately kept him in the dark... You’re still slandering my elders!"Chang Ning gave a cold smile. "I'm saying this for your own good. If you don't want to hear it, I won't say more. Watching a thousand plays or reading ten thousand storybooks in Fallen Blossom Town can't compare to experiencing the myriad facets of the world outside!"

"No amount of worldly experience outside could compare to your pack of wolves and tigers!" Cai Zhao retorted angrily. "I've only known you for two days, and already I've wanted to punch you three times and tear you apart four times in my heart!"

Hearing this, Chang Ning deliberately leaned his face closer, taunting, "Then hit me, go on, hit me! Don't hold back!"

Cai Zhao was so furious she nearly did strike out, but forcibly restrained herself. "Your face is already so ruined, I'd be afraid of dirtying my hands!"

Thus ended their nth argument, yet neither dared stray too far from the other. They stood back-to-back in anger, fortunately in a secluded corner where no one noticed them.

Suddenly, a thunderous cannon blast echoed from outside the hall, as startling as a mountain collapsing. Everyone inside jumped in shock.

In that instant, without thinking, Cai Zhao instinctively pulled Chang Ning behind her to shield him—only to hear Zeng Dalou's loud announcement from the main hall: "Venerable Fakong of Evergreen Temple has arrived!"

A benevolent old monk with a snow-white beard stood at the entrance, flanked by six vigorous middle-aged martial monks.

"Your arrival brings great honor to our humble sect!" boomed Qi Yunke's hearty laughter as the five sects of North Star rose together to greet the newcomer. Among the assembled guests, only Shijing Yuantai of Hanging Temple remained seated.

Song Shijun laughed heartily. "Brother Yang was just saying Venerable Fakong might not make it in time, but I insisted he would! The Venerable's word is as solid as a mountain—if he says he'll come, he'll arrive punctually! See, Brother Yang, wasn't I right? Hahahaha..."

Yang Heying quickly voiced his agreement.

Venerable Fakong smiled gently. "The bicentennial memorial of our ancestors—I could never miss such an occasion. It warms my heart to see you all in such fine health after all these years."

After brief pleasantries, the group proceeded inside. Venerable Fakong first exchanged greetings with Shijing Yuantai. Following polite deference, the elder monk by ten years took the honored seat on the right side of the hall.

Only then did Cai Zhao relax her guard. Turning her head, she found Chang Ning's beautiful, luminous eyes quietly watching her. Flushing, she said, "So that was just a ceremonial cannon for honored guests—I didn't know and got startled... What are you looking at!"

"I spoke arrogantly earlier. I apologize, Zhao Zhao." Shedding his previous sharp hostility, he offered a sincere apology. To be fair, when not deliberately provoking others, Chang Ning naturally exuded an elegant, tranquil charm. His voice now held particular gentleness. "I have a terrible temper. Next time I anger you, scold me harshly."

Being broad-minded by nature, Cai Zhao shot him an amused glare. "There'll be a next time? If you spout nonsense like that again, I won't even bother scolding—I'll just beat you up directly!"

Chang Ning's face brightened with a radiant smile. "That works too."