A Decade of Nightscape Lights

The mountain wind grew fiercer, the night frost colder.

There were two groups that came to "invite" Chang Ning and Cai Zhao.

One group was led by Ouyang Kexie and Chen Qiong, consisting of sect disciples. Cai Zhao recognized a few faces from the training grounds—their expressions were grave, tinged with hesitation.

The other group was unfamiliar, having just arrived on the mountain. They were said to be the "under-the-table forces" cultivated by "Qi Zong" outside the sect. Dressed uniformly in dark gray short robes and fully armed, their faces were grim and their movements silent. Their leader was a tall, lean man in his thirties with a strikingly familiar hooked nose.

Cai Zhao paused, unable to resist murmuring, "This man looks so much like the one from yesterday, just with a slightly shorter philtrum..."

Chang Ning had naturally noticed as well and whispered back, "Probably brothers."

The shorter-hooked-nose man suddenly turned his head, his venomous gaze piercing straight at Chang Ning.

Cai Zhao silently added, "...Definitely brothers."

Chang Ning remained unfazed. "I’ll reunite them soon enough."

Dai Fengchi walked between the two groups, brimming with self-satisfaction. Perhaps the docile compliance of Chang and Cai had eased his wariness, so he occasionally turned to glare at them.

Hearing whispers behind him, he snapped, "No whispering between you two!"

Cai Zhao blinked. "Then we’ll speak loudly."

Dai Fengchi: "..."

He raised his voice. "Enough of your sharp tongue! This matter is grave—Master is furious. To prevent collusion, neither of you is to speak a single word!"

Cai Zhao sighed. "Collude about what? Second Senior Brother, don’t fabricate crimes."

Dai Fengchi pointed at her nose. "Then why were you two wandering the mountain in the dead of night?!"

Cai Zhao: "Couldn’t sleep, so we took a stroll. Is that forbidden?"

Dai Fengchi shouted, "Then why is Serene Abode empty? Where are your maids? Don’t tell me you weren’t planning to flee?!"

Cai Zhao replied calmly, "After dinner, I sent Furong and Feicui to take the dog I just bought back down the mountain. I can’t raise it properly, so I’m returning it to the shop. They probably returned too late—the Iron Chain was already closed, so they decided to stay in town for the night."

Dai Fengchi was momentarily speechless before resorting to brute authority. "Regardless, no talking between you!"

Chang Ning said coolly, "And if we insist?"

Dai Fengchi half-drew his sword with a sharp hiss. "Today, the tables have turned. You won’t be acting high and mighty anymore!"

Chang Ning’s figure blurred—suddenly, he stood before Dai Fengchi. Before the latter could even gasp, a faint clang echoed, and Chang Ning had already returned to Cai Zhao’s side like a ghost.

Dai Fengchi stumbled back several steps in panic.

"If I wanted to act high and mighty, what could you do about it?" Chang Ning said.

Humiliated, Dai Fengchi angrily tried to draw his sword—only to find it stuck. Forcing composure, he coughed lightly and attempted to sheathe it. "Master has urgent matters to discuss. I’ll let this slide for now."—But the sword wouldn’t go back in either!

By then, many had realized Chang Ning had pressed his palm against Dai Fengchi’s sword earlier, denting both blade and scabbard to lock them together.

Soft snickers rose from the crowd, and one voice deliberately "murmured" loud enough to hear: "Even if Senior Brother Song were gravely injured, he’d never embarrass himself like this!"Dai Fengchi's face turned as purple as an eggplant, burning with shame and indignation. Fortunately, his lackey Cui Sheng scurried over to give him an out, offering his own sword: "Ah, senior brother, you took the wrong sword! This one is yours, no wonder it felt awkward, hehe..."

Dai Fengchi snatched the sword from Cui Sheng, muttering curses under his breath.

At this moment, Ouyang Kexie spoke up: "Fengchi, take the lead at the front." No matter how unsightly Dai Fengchi's behavior was, he was still a direct disciple of the sect—humiliation had its limits.

Dai Fengchi strode forward with forced composure, leaving only muffled grumbles in his wake.

Cai Zhao edged slightly closer to Chang Ning: "Do you think this fool’s been replaced?"

The corner of Chang Ning's lips curled. "Is he even worthy of that?"

Cai Zhao nodded. "I thought the same." Young Master Qian's cultivation was weak, and each body swap required considerable rest and delay. Those people would surely be meticulous about whom they replaced—someone as frivolous as Dai Fengchi wouldn’t even catch their eye.

Ahead, against the night sky, the majestic silhouette of Dusk Micro Palace emerged, ethereal amidst the clouds.

Chang Ning suddenly whispered, "When I expose the impostor later, don’t say a word."

Cai Zhao was startled, but before she could question him, the front hall of Dusk Micro Palace swung open its doors. Inside, hundreds of crystal mirrors were embedded into the white jade walls, their bright lights converging through ingeniously designed lenses into a single, colossal beam.

Having spent the last few hours either in a dungeon or trudging through dark mountain paths, Cai Zhao could barely keep her eyes open against the sudden brilliance.

The hall was solemn and imposing. The fake Qi Yunke sat high at the head, his face sallow, coughing intermittently.

To his right stood a disciplined row of unfamiliar gray-clad swordsmen. To his left sat Madam Sulian, Qi Lingbo, and Yin Shi’s death guards. Dai Fengchi, who had just entered, eagerly took his place among them.

Moreover, Lei Xiuming, Li Wenxun, and their disciples had also arrived—in short, nearly everyone from the sect was present.

The moment Cai Zhao stepped into the hall, Chang Ning followed closely behind. Suddenly, the fake Qi Yunke abruptly called out—"Senior Brother Chen!"

Chen Qiong, who had been quietly trailing Cai Zhao and Chang Ning, abruptly struck. His right palm shot toward Chang Ning’s left flank, carrying a thunderous force, while his left foot swept up to kick Chang Ning’s abdomen.

Chang Ning tilted his shoulder to evade, his left hand chopping down like a blade onto Chen Qiong’s wrist while his right deflected the kick. But then Ouyang Kexie leaped into the air, raising two fingers to strike downward at Chang Ning’s face.

Chang Ning lifted his left arm, the force of his palm sweeping aside Ouyang Kexie’s strike—but in doing so, his wide sleeve slid down to his elbow, revealing a pale, slender forearm.

"Enough," the fake Qi Yunke commanded.

Chen Qiong and Ouyang Kexie immediately withdrew, retreating several steps.

Once they stopped, the two exchanged a glance, both inwardly shaken—to onlookers, it seemed they had retreated at the command, but in truth, they had been forced back by Chang Ning’s overwhelming palm force. Even without Qi Yunke’s order, they would have had no choice.

The exchange had been lightning-fast, leaving Cai Zhao no time to even cry out. She hurriedly asked Chang Ning, "Are you alright?"

Chang Ning shook his head, slowly pulling his sleeve back into place.

Cai Zhao turned to the fake Qi Yunke. "Master, what is the meaning of this?" She played the part of a clueless young girl, feigning ignorance.

The fake Qi Yunke ignored her, turning instead to address the group. "Have you both confirmed it?"

From among the gray-clad figures emerged a middle-aged woman dressed like an ordinary wealthy townswoman.

The woman bowed her head. "It’s confirmed—he is definitely not the Young Master."The fake Qi Yunke gave a loud laugh and turned to Chang Ning, shouting sternly, "You little impostor, how dare you pretend to be the son of Great Hero Chang! What exactly are you scheming by sneaking into our sect with such elaborate efforts?"

Li Wenxun, who had arrived late, frowned and asked, "Sect Leader, what exactly is going on here? Back then, it was you who brought this Chang Ning up the mountain. Even though Junior Brother Lei raised doubts, you were the one who firmly insisted he was the orphan of the Chang family. Why are you suddenly reversing your stance now?"

The fake Qi Yunke looked awkward, but Yin Sulian quickly interjected, "This little impostor is cunning beyond measure. It's only natural we were deceived for a time. Now that the Sect Leader has uncovered the truth, we must punish this scoundrel properly!"

Li Wenxun ignored her and instead cupped his hands toward the fake Qi Yunke. "Sect Leader, please explain this matter to everyone."

Yin Sulian was left hanging, her displeasure evident.

However, she was well aware that although Li Wenxun belonged to the outer sect, ever since the deaths of Cheng Hao and Wang Chuan of the Qingfeng Trio, most of their disciples and influence had fallen under Li Wenxun's control. Thus, she dared not show him any disrespect.

The fake Qi Yunke cleared his throat. "At the time of the Chang family massacre, I was so grief-stricken that I lost my composure and failed to investigate thoroughly before bringing this impostor up the mountain. But in the days since, this scoundrel has acted recklessly, behaving with arrogance and violence, frequently assaulting our sect's disciples. How could he possibly be a disciple of a righteous sect?"

Zeng Dalou, standing nearby, couldn't help but speak up. "Master, didn't you say back then that he had been frail since childhood and suffered a great family tragedy, so his temperamental behavior was understandable?"—Back when Chang Ning had gone on a rampage in the outer sect, Zeng had wanted to reprimand and discipline him, but Qi Yunke had insisted it wasn't necessary.

He added, "Third Junior Brother and Zhao Zhao were both present at the time."

Hearing this, Cai Zhao suddenly realized that Song Yuzhi was nowhere to be seen tonight.

The fake Qi Yunke glared at Zeng Dalou and said sternly, "This is not your place to speak. Silence yourself and step back!"

He turned to Li Wenxun. "At the time, I didn’t want to make a scene, but I secretly sent people down the mountain to investigate. Eventually, we found this person—Senior Brother Lei, you once visited the Chang family in the past. Come and see if this is the right person."

Lei Xiuming examined the woman carefully. "Indeed, she was the nanny in Brother Chang's household. Later, when the mountain stronghold was finally completed, Brother Chang decided to move his entire family into the mountains to live in seclusion, cutting off all paths. The nanny’s parents, husband, and young children were all in the city, and she refused to abandon them. So Brother Chang gave her a generous sum of silver and didn’t take her into the mountains."

The fake Qi Yunke nodded. "At that time, Brother Chang’s son was about two or three years old, wasn’t he? Tell us, were there any distinguishing marks on Brother Chang’s son?"

The woman replied, "The young master was frail from birth, but fair and clean, with no distinguishing marks. However, in the month before the Chang family moved into the mountains, Madam Chang suddenly had a fit of madness—she knocked over a brazier in the house and scalded the young master’s left arm… Ah, the entire patch of skin was gone. Though he recovered, it left a large scar—" She gestured with her fingers, indicating a mark about three or four inches in size.

The fake Qi Yunke declared, "Just now, everyone saw for themselves—this impostor has nothing on his left arm!"

The hall erupted in uproar—earlier, they had all watched intently as Chang Ning fought, and indeed, when his sleeve fell back, his left arm was pale and slender, with well-defined muscles. Whether there were minor scars was unclear, but there was certainly no large burn mark.Li Wenxun hesitated, "Can we really decide based solely on the words of this woman? The swordplay he used was indeed the 'Willow Catkin Swordplay' created by Great Hero Chang himself."

The fake Qi Yunke sneered, "He can put on a show to deceive the disciples, but when faced with top-tier experts, his act falls apart. Earlier, when Senior Brother Ouyang and Senior Brother Chen attacked him together, were those moves also from the Chang family's martial arts?"

Li Wenxun fell silent.

The techniques Chang Ning had just displayed—his bizarre footwork and ruthless, forceful palm strikes—were definitely not Chang Haosheng's skills.

Cai Zhao glanced at Chang Ning, her expression saying, 'You've been exposed.'

Chang Ning remained unperturbed, even with a hint of amusement in his eyes. "After all this talk, what exactly does the Sect Leader intend to do?"

The fake Qi Yunke raised his voice, "So you finally admit you're an imposter! Good! Now, tell us—who are you really?"

Chang Ning's expression turned playful. "First, I never admitted to being fake. Second..." He scanned the room, his gaze finally settling on the fake Qi Yunke. "Speaking of fakes, there's more than one or two imposters in this hall, isn't there?"

While others were puzzled by his words, the fake Qi Yunke's heart skipped a beat. He immediately bellowed, "Guards! Seize this little thief and bring out the Soul-Locking Pipa Hooks!"

Two gray-clad men stepped forward. With a clatter of iron chains, the crowd saw them holding a pair of enormous, sinister-looking iron hooks. Each hook was half a foot long, with barbed tips designed to prevent removal. The hooks bore dark red stains and a foul stench, remnants of countless experts' collarbones they had pierced in the past—chilling everyone to the core.

Cai Zhao was stunned. "This... this seems excessive. We haven't even confirmed who he is yet. Is such brutality necessary?"

"What's excessive about it?!" Dai Fengchi shouted. "This little thief is clearly up to no good, infiltrating our sect with sinister motives. If we don't capture and interrogate him thoroughly, who knows what disaster he might bring in the future?!"

Qi Lingbo giggled mockingly, "Now you're scared, aren't you? Don't worry—if this little thief kneels and kowtows to apologize, I might just let him go. Hehehe..."

Cai Zhao retorted, "Senior Sister Lingbo, stop joking. Since when do you have the authority to decide whether he's released? I’m not saying we shouldn’t capture him—I’m questioning whether such a vicious torture device is necessary!"

Ignoring Qi Lingbo's flushed face, Dai Fengchi gloated, "These Soul-Locking Pipa Hooks were personally overseen by Sect Leader Yin. They’re perfect for this fool who’s courting death! Hahaha..."

Cai Zhao muttered, "Wow, if Second Senior Brother hadn’t mentioned it, I would’ve thought these hooks were a Demonic Cult torture device. Who knew they were Sect Leader Yin’s brilliant invention? Truly unexpected."

Yin Sulian snapped, "What are you implying?!"

Cai Zhao replied innocently, "I was merely expressing my admiration for Sect Leader Yin’s ingenuity."

Yin Sulian seethed in silence.

Fan Xingjia stared at the hooks, wide-eyed, tugging urgently at Lei Xiuming’s sleeve.

Lei Xiuming sighed and clasped his hands toward the fake Qi Yunke. "Sect Leader, the Soul-Locking Pipa Hooks are excessively cruel. Once used, even if the victim survives, they’ll be permanently crippled. I urge you to reconsider."

Dai Fengchi sneered, "Uncle Lei, what exactly are you suggesting? Calling them 'excessively cruel'—are you subtly criticizing the late Sect Leader Yin’s methods?"

Fan Xingjia couldn’t hold back. "Earlier, the Sect Leader said Eldest Senior Brother had no right to speak. Does that mean Second Senior Brother gets to keep interrupting?!"

Dai Fengchi stepped forward, furious. "You insolent brat! How dare you reprimand me?!"

Fan Xingjia shot back, "Second Senior Brother just disrespected Uncle Lei. Where’s your sense of seniority now?"Dai Fengchi stepped forward, grabbed Fan Xingjia's arm, and twisted it behind his back. Fan Xingjia, being less skilled in martial arts, immediately cried out in pain. Before anyone could react, Cai Zhao swiftly moved in, first kicking Dai Fengchi in the ribs, forcing him to release Fan Xingjia.

Then, Cai Zhao lowered her left shoulder and executed the move "Flourishing Branches," circling to Dai Fengchi's right side. She swept his left knee, sending him to the ground, then twisted his right arm behind his back—now it was Dai Fengchi's turn to howl in pain.

Yin Sulian stood up abruptly, exclaiming, "Cai Zhao, what do you think you're doing?"

Cai Zhao replied, "Whatever Second Senior Brother was just trying to do to Fifth Senior Brother, I thought I'd do the same."

Qi Lingbo shouted, "Second Senior Brother was just playing around with Fifth Senior Brother!"

Cai Zhao smirked. "What a coincidence—so am I." She applied more pressure, and Dai Fengchi felt as if a mountain were pressing down on his shoulder, unable to rise, groaning in agony.

Fan Xingjia, rubbing his sore arm, hid behind Lei Xiuming, secretly delighted at Dai Fengchi's suffering.

Truth be told, Dai Fengchi hadn’t always been this domineering. But ever since Song Yuzhi was severely injured, he had acted as if he were the next sect leader, strutting around arrogantly and refusing to tolerate even the slightest dissent from his juniors.

Cai Zhao asked patiently, "Second Senior Brother, having fun?"

Qi Lingbo was nearly in tears. "Let him go!"

Li Wenxun had seen enough and barked, "Enough! All of you, step back!"

Cai Zhao released Dai Fengchi with a smile and retreated a few steps. Dai Fengchi staggered back to Yin Sulian and her daughter.

As the younger disciples dispersed, Li Wenxun shot Qi Yunke a puzzled look.

Cai Zhao knew why Li Wenxun was confused—why hadn’t the sect leader intervened in the squabble? Simple: the imposter wasn’t experienced enough to know how to handle three vastly different disciples with the appropriate demeanor.

Earlier, when dealing with Chang Ning, Li Wenxun had already grown suspicious of his attitude. To avoid further exposure, the imposter had chosen silence as the safest option.

Yin Sulian’s chest heaved with anger as she sneered, "Cai Zhao, how dare you act so brazenly at a time like this? That little thief impersonated the Chang family’s son to infiltrate the Azure Tower Sect—he’s most likely a heretical villain from the Demonic Cult. By colluding with him, you’ve disgraced Fallen Blossom Valley’s reputation. If I strike you down here today, it would only be purging our ranks!"

Cai Zhao remained calm and unhurried. "Madam, what nonsense are you spouting in the middle of the night? Was it me who brought him to Nine Conch Mountain? Was it me who insisted he was the Chang family’s orphan? Have I uttered a single word in his defense?"

"As for 'colluding'… Hah. On my very first day at Nine Conch Mountain, my master personally entrusted him to me. Many elders know this. How is it my fault now? If Madam is too drowsy to think straight, I can fetch some enlightening texts to help clear your mind."

At Cai Zhao’s veiled threat, Yin Sulian immediately deflated and sat back down sullenly.

The fake Qi Yunke coughed lightly again. "Zhao Zhao, don’t be disrespectful to your master’s wife."

Cai Zhao bowed respectfully. "Master’s reprimand is just. However…" She raised her head, her gaze probing. "You and my aunt swore brotherhood and entrusted each other with your lives. Do you truly believe someone she raised would collude with the Demonic Cult?"

The imposter would have loved to rid himself of Cai Zhao, this thorn in his side, but the real Qi Yunke’s unshakable reputation of "boundless loyalty to Cai Pingshu" was too ironclad to overturn. He could only mumble, "I know you wouldn’t conspire with the Demonic Cult. Enough now, step back."He then added, "Guards, seize this impostor pretending to be the Chang family's orphan!"

"Wait!" Chang Ning suddenly raised his voice. "I never admitted to being an impostor." He shot Cai Zhao an annoyed glance, which she pretended not to notice.

The fake Qi Yunke said, "The Chang family's nanny has already testified. How could this be false?"

Chang Ning replied leisurely, "The nanny herself isn't fake, but that doesn't mean her words aren't false."

"What do you mean?" The fake Qi Yunke's expression changed.

Chang Ning continued, "What if she was coerced into lying about the burn scar on my arm? Actually, I'm suggesting it was Sect Leader Qi who coerced her."

The fake Qi Yunke grew angry. "You must be truly desperate to spout such nonsense! Brother Chang and I were as close as siblings—why would I frame his son?"

The disciples also began shouting, accusing Chang Ning of being delusional.

"Because—" Chang Ning dropped a bombshell with deliberate calm, "you're not the real Sect Leader Qi. You're an impostor."

His words struck like a hammer, shocking everyone in the hall. All eyes turned to the fake Qi Yunke.

Yin Sulian paled in shock, while Ouyang Kexie and Chen Qiong's expressions changed dramatically. Cai Zhao also played along, feigning surprise.

Li Wenxun slowly raised his hand, signaling Zhuang Shu to lead twenty outer disciples to block the front hall's exit, cutting off Chang Ning's retreat.

Meanwhile, the short man with the hooked nose subtly exchanged glances with his followers, and the gray-robed men quietly dispersed, waiting in silence.

Lei Xiuming grabbed Cai Zhao's arm. "Zhao Zhao, is Sect Leader...?" He wanted to ask if the sect leader's face bore traces of disguise.

Cai Zhao shook her head. "It's not a disguise."

The fake Qi Yunke sighed in relief. "Senior Brother Lei, if you don't believe me, feel free to touch my face. See if there's any makeup or mask."

But Chang Ning interjected, "Who said anything about a disguise? To dare stir trouble in the world's foremost sect and attempt such a grand deception—do you think mere ordinary disguises would suffice?!"

Li Wenxun asked gravely, "What do you mean by that?"

Chang Ning replied, "Has Elder Li never heard of the Thousand Faces Sect's Body Transformation Art?"

Most younger disciples looked bewildered, but Li Wenxun and the others seemed to have some knowledge of it.

Lei Xiuming exclaimed in surprise, "Body Transformation Art? I thought that was just a fictional legend! Can there truly be a technique that completely transforms one person into another? Weren't they exterminated ninety years ago?"

"Yes, it exists," Chang Ning stated boldly. "The last surviving disciple of the Thousand Faces Sect is currently imprisoned by this fake Sect Leader Qi in the same dungeon where Elder Kaiyang was once held!"

His words were like cold water splashed into boiling oil—the crowd erupted in shock.

Li Wenxun stepped closer to Chang Ning. "How do you know about that dungeon?" That prison was a secret from previous generations, known to fewer than five people in the sect. Even he only had a vague idea of its location.

"Perhaps the immortals told me in a dream." Chang Ning tilted his head, his handsome features composed. "Why ask so many questions, Elder Li? Just bring the prisoner here for interrogation—or would you like me to tell you the dungeon's exact location?"

Li Wenxun, filled with doubt, turned to the fake Qi Yunke.

By now, Chang Ning had voiced everything Cai Zhao had originally intended to say.

After a stiff pause, the fake Qi Yunke suddenly heaved a long sigh, his face pained. "So this is the truth. This traitor's scheme runs deeper than I imagined!"

Zeng Dalou asked blankly, "Master, what do you mean?"The fake Qi Yunke stood up and cupped his hands toward Li Wenxun and the others: "Recently, the Demonic Cult has repeatedly succeeded in sneak attacks. Feeling something amiss, I secretly sent people to investigate. A few days ago, we finally learned that the Demonic Cult had actually captured a disciple from the Thousand Faces Sect..."

"With great difficulty, I rescued this person from the Demonic Cult and only yesterday confined them in the dungeon, planning to properly explain everything to my fellow disciples at an appropriate time. Never did I expect this traitor would discover my tracks and turn around to accuse me!"

Chang Ning clapped his hands slowly: "Well said, well said. Who would have thought an impostor like you could be so quick-witted, coming up with new excuses so swiftly."

Qi Lingbo was left speechless. "W-what does this mean?"

Cai Zhao kindly explained, "It means that even though he captured someone from the Thousand Faces Sect, and even though he never mentioned it before, he's still the real one—definitely not an imposter."

Fan Xingjia thought so too but didn't dare say it.

Lei Xiuming asked Chang Ning, "Does the Body Transformation Art leave any marks?"

Chang Ning replied, "No marks at all. The Body Transformation Art is formless and incredibly subtle. Unless the impersonator voluntarily dispels the technique or dies, there are no flaws to detect."

Li Wenxun said coldly, "If there are no flaws, must we kill Sect Leader Qi to verify whether your words are true or false? Do you take us, the Azure Tower Sect, for fools?"

The fake Qi Yunke said, "Senior brothers, why not ask me about matters concerning our sect? See if I can answer."

Before Lei Xiuming could speak, Chang Ning interjected, "Since you deliberately replaced Sect Leader Qi, you would naturally have spies around him to gather details about his daily habits and preferences. Moreover, each of you elders has separate responsibilities and isn’t particularly close to Sect Leader Qi in daily life."

Hearing this, Lei Xiuming couldn’t help but glance at Yin Sulian. He thought that in an ordinary marriage, the wife would naturally be the best at discerning whether her husband was real or fake. But this couple quarreled constantly and spent eleven months out of the year living apart—their intimacy was no better than that between fellow disciples.

At this moment, Yin Sulian was pale and trembling. If the man before her was an imposter, what should she do?

If others mistook Qi Yunke, it would merely be a case of foolish disciples or poor judgment among peers. But if she, as his wife, mistook her husband—or worse, had intimate relations with an imposter—even if the real Qi Yunke didn’t hold it against her, her reputation would be ruined, leaving her ashamed to face others.

Thankfully, they hadn’t lived together these past few months.

Thinking this, she no longer wanted to stay here.

Grandma Mao understood the fear in her eyes and immediately had Yin Shi’s guards surround her and her daughter, preparing to leave early.

Suddenly, Cai Zhao called out loudly, "Master, when I was ten and you came to Fallen Blossom Valley for Auntie’s birthday, what gift did you bring?"

Lei Xiuming perked up, and like everyone else, turned to observe the sect leader’s reaction.

The fake Qi Yunke showed a flicker of panic in his eyes but quickly composed himself. "I didn’t bring just one gift—there were many. I just don’t recall which one Ping Shu liked best."

Cai Zhao narrowed her eyes. "Master, you’re mistaken. That year, there was heavy snow, and all your luggage was buried on the way—you arrived at Auntie’s empty-handed."

The fake Qi Yunke sighed. "Zhao Zhao, I know you’re trying to exonerate this imposter, but don’t talk nonsense."

Dai Fengchi seized the moment to interject, "Exactly! Master is busy with affairs—how could he remember trivial details from years ago? Seventh Junior Sister, are you trying to help this thief—"

Yin Sulian, exasperated, hissed under her breath, "Fengchi, shut up!"

Dai Fengchi turned his head blankly, unsure what he’d done wrong.

Even Yin Sulian now harbored suspicions about the fake Qi Yunke. He suddenly leaped high into the air and struck directly at Li Wenxun.

Li Wenxun instinctively raised his palm to counter, and the two exchanged a measured blow.

The fake Qi Yunke staggered back several steps, coughing up blood, and slumped onto the armrest, panting heavily. "Words can be faked, techniques can be faked—but can our sect’s internal martial arts also be faked? Senior Brother Li, can’t you tell whether I’m real or not?"Li Wenxun stared at his own palm—just moments ago when their palms met, the other's inner force was pure and harmonious. Though somewhat weak, it was undoubtedly the sect's genuine inner energy.

The fake Qi Yunke, with a solemn and indignant expression, struggled to his feet with Zeng Dalou's support: "If any of you senior brothers still have doubts, we can have a proper spar after I recover from my injuries. But today, we absolutely cannot let this impostor and traitor escape! Someone, seize him!"

At this point, Lei Xiuming had nothing more to say.

Ouyang Kexie and Chen Qiong dared not act against the fake Qi Yunke—what if he was the real one? Li Wenxun also thought it safer to apprehend Chang Ning first.

Even now, Chang Ning remained calm and composed, only casting a quick glance at Cai Zhao.

Cai Zhao understood the meaning in his eyes and felt utterly disheartened—just as he had predicted, even her direct exposure was futile.

The gray-clad men and sect disciples formed two layers of encirclement, slowly closing in on Chang Ning.

Naturally, Chang Ning wouldn't submit to capture. With a long laugh that echoed through the hall, shaking everyone's eardrums, his wide sleeves fluttered like drifting clouds. Darting east and weaving west, he miraculously slipped through the dense encirclement and leaped onto the beams, gliding like a bird between the jade walls and rafters. From above, he shouted, "You silver-tongued hypocrite! I'll go to the dungeon and drag that person out, presenting him before all the heroes of the world. Let's see how they'll react to the Azure Tower Sect secretly harboring a Thousand Faces Sect disciple!"

A gust of wind swept by as the western window shattered, and Chang Ning had already escaped through it.

"Not good! Hurry to the stone wall dungeon!" Even the fake Qi Yunke panicked now. "If the Thousand Faces Sect disciple falls into the hands of the heretical villains, the consequences will be endless!"

Gritting his teeth, Li Wenxun, along with Ouyang Kexie and Chen Qiong, led the disciples in pursuit toward the northern rear mountain.

The gray-clad men also followed under the command of the short, hook-nosed leader.

Meanwhile, the Yin family guards quietly escorted Yin Sulian and her daughter away through the back door.

Amid the chaos in the hall, no one noticed Cai Zhao's absence.

...

The night was pitch black, ink spilled across the sky, with even the faint starlight and moonlight obscured by the chilling, needle-like drizzle.

Cai Zhao gathered her breath and sprinted straight to the Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff, only to find the patrolling and cliff-guarding disciples lying unconscious on the ground. A tall, straight figure stood at the cliff's edge.

Hearing her approach, he turned and said, "I knew you'd come looking for me here. Those fools all went to the northern rear mountain, didn't they? With all their fanfare, they didn't even leave enough patrolling disciples—let's go quickly."

As he reached to activate the iron chain winch, Cai Zhao's cold voice stopped him: "I won't go with you. Leave by yourself."

Chang Ning's pale, jade-like fingers froze on the dark mystic iron mechanism. He turned: "Haven't you given up yet? You saw it yourself earlier—the Thousand Faces Sect's Body Transformation Art is flawless. Unless you peel off that layer of skin, no one will be convinced! Listen to me, let's leave the mountain. With my help, we'll find your father eventually!"

Cai Zhao replied, "I should thank you for testing a dead end for me, making me abandon hope. Since this path is blocked, I'll have to find another way. I still can't go with you. And you should listen to me—leave the mountain by yourself."

Chang Ning sensed something amiss in the girl's tone and forced a smile: "You knew long ago I wasn't Chang Ning. You said you believed Great Hero Chang wouldn't easily trust villains, that I'm not a bad person..."

"Is the Nine Provinces Treasure Scroll Pavilion's collection as vast as the ocean?" Cai Zhao asked.

The young man suddenly stiffened, like a frozen jade mountain."I knew all along you weren't Chang Ning, but I thought you might be the descendant of some recluse with unspeakable circumstances—since Great Hero Chang harbored such hatred for the Demonic Cult. It wasn't until yesterday that I discovered you're actually one of them."

"Nine heavens with ninefold mountains, ten directions with endless seas—none compare to the Nine Provinces Treasure Scroll Pavilion where the Demonic Cult hoards its texts." The girl's voice was sweet yet carried an indescribable aloofness.

"Not only are you from the Demonic Cult, but you're someone of significant standing within it. The Nine Provinces Treasure Scroll Pavilion is the sect's most guarded scripture repository—even the Seven Stars Elders cannot enter without permission. When Nie Hengcheng died suddenly without arranging his succession, it's said the current acting leader Nie Zhe doesn't even know its location."

She stood gracefully in the wind and rain. "My aunt made several nighttime expeditions to the Nether Bamboo Path in her time, so I happen to know some secrets."

"So," the young man's gaze darkened, "when you heard me mention rumors about the Thousand Faces Sect at the mountain's base, you already knew my origins."

Cai Zhao: "Correct."

Something elusive tugged at the young man's thoughts. Suddenly, his eyelids flickered slightly: "You... you used me to locate the dungeon?"

Cai Zhao slowly wiped rainwater from her cheek and murmured, "Mm."

"Someone of Elder Kaiyang's stature would be heavily guarded—no doubt those Soul-Locking Pipa Hooks were used on him. So he couldn't have escaped alone," she said.

"I distinctly heard you say Elder Kaiyang died during a failed escape attempt. That means someone helped him. It makes sense—he and Elder Yaoguang were Nie Hengcheng's most trusted lieutenants. With one dead, the other would naturally try to rescue him. Therefore, certain members of the Demonic Cult would know that dungeon's location."

The young man said coldly, "Not every Demonic Cult member would know about that dungeon."

The girl tilted her head gently, as delicate and radiant as peach blossoms. "I could only try my luck. I didn't expect you'd actually know."

Fury simmered beneath the young man's composed facade. "Had you asked me directly, I would have told you."

The girl: "This way was more certain."

The warmth in the young man's chest gradually cooled.

He remembered that afternoon—her room warm and soft, she'd invited him to sit by her bed, her fluffy hair and rosy cheeks visible as she gazed at him with tender trust. Had it all been an act?

"You knew this would happen today too?" A chill ran through him.

The girl lifted her face slightly, letting fine rain caress her skin. "From yesterday till now, only you've revealed yourself. They don't know I was also in that courtyard yesterday afternoon. They dared bring Young Master Qian up the mountain for two reasons: their future plans, and... they intend to eliminate you. You've left too many clues—though of course, you never cared about being exposed as an impostor."

The young man snapped, "I didn't care because I thought you didn't care either."

The girl nodded. "Before, when my father was safe, I truly didn't care who you were—I cared nothing about Martial World affairs. But now with my father's life hanging in the balance, there are many things I care about."

"Tonight caught both sides unprepared. I didn't expect them to find a way to eliminate you so quickly; they didn't expect us to locate both the dungeon and Young Master Qian so soon."

His mind in turmoil, the young man seized her arm. "We'll settle your deception later. This place is crawling with danger—you can't stay here. Come down the mountain with me now!"The girl remained motionless, speaking softly, "If I go down the mountain with you tonight, it will confirm the crime of colluding with the Demonic Cult. Even if you help me rescue my father, Fallen Blossom Valley will still be accused of conspiring with the Demonic Cult."

The young man's jaw tightened. "Then why don’t you just join us outright?"

"Like the Thousand Faces Sect?" The girl's gaze was icy.

Struck where it hurt, the young man fell silent for a long moment.

The girl forcefully pried open his grip on her arm. "Even if the righteous factions had long despised the Thousand Faces Sect, had Thousand-Faced Demon Butcher not lost his mind and led the entire sect to join the Demonic Cult, they might not have been annihilated."

"Fallen Blossom Valley doesn’t belong to me alone. It belongs to my aunt, my father, my mother, and all the others in the valley—they’ve all suffered at the hands of the Demonic Cult, carrying deep-seated hatred and blood feuds. They loathe it to the bone."

"With the ancestors of Fallen Blossom Valley watching over us for generations, I cannot selfishly lead the valley down a path of no return—even if it concerns my father’s life."

The young man’s heart grew colder. Staring into the girl’s resolute eyes, he couldn’t help but say, "If you stay here, aren’t you afraid they’ll silence you?"

The girl gave a faint smile. "Furong and Feicui should have reached Azure Tower Town by now. By tomorrow morning, they’ll send out letters far and wide, informing Venerable Fakong, Uncle Zhou, the Song Clan, Daoist Yunzhuan, and other heroes of the Martial World that disciples of the Thousand Faces Sect still remain and that my master could be replaced. Soon, everyone will gather at the Azure Tower Sect."

"When a secret is no longer a secret, there’s no need to kill me."

The young man curled his lips mockingly. "You’ve thought of everything. I underestimated you."

Cai Zhao nodded. "You’re absolutely right. So you’d better leave quickly. They must have realized you’re not in the stone-walled dungeon and are probably rushing here now."

The young man gripped the chain links behind the end of the Iron Chain, turning back with a cold expression. "If that’s the case, why did you come here tonight? Hurry and leave before someone sees you entangled with me, a member of the Demonic Cult!"

Hearing distant shouts and the sound of many footsteps approaching from behind, Cai Zhao stepped forward and activated the Mystic Iron mechanism with a sharp click . The Iron Chain’s machinery roared to life with a deafening noise.

She shouted to the young man suspended on the chain, "—I was afraid you’d keep waiting for me!" With that, she turned and ran in the opposite direction, vanishing into the night.

The Iron Chain shot out like a sword piercing the clouds, the young man hanging from it as if riding the wind, his wide sleeves billowing like a bird soaring over an endless abyss.

—If only she hadn’t shouted that last line.

He thought dazedly.