Young Master Qian was drying his hair in the courtyard when he suddenly heard a burst of angry shouting and commotion from the main house. Soon after, a handsome young man with water droplets still clinging to his cheeks was unceremoniously chased out.
Young Master Qian gasped in shock, "Xiao Cai Guniang was bathing, and you were inside? That's... not proper."
—His words implied that although his professional domain might be unconventional, his moral standards were anything but low.
Mu Qingyan shot him a glance, "Even the men touched by brothel girls probably haven't seen as much as you. I don't see anything improper about it."
Young Master Qian: ...
Watching Mu Qingyan's tall retreating figure, he cursed inwardly—how could such a venomous person exist in this world!
Shortly after, Cai Zhao emerged from the house fully dressed. Spotting Young Master Qian in the courtyard, she casually asked for his name.
Eagerly, Young Master Qian explained that his master, Qian Miansou, had found him on a day buried deep in snow, hence his name was...
"So your name is Qian Haoleng (Very Cold)? Your master has quite a literary flair." Cai Zhao nodded approvingly.
Young Master Qian stiffened, "...No, my name is Qian Xueshen (Snow Deep)."
Cai Zhao immediately lost interest, "Oh, your master's literary flair is passable, but rather lacking in poetic charm."
Qian Xueshen: ...
Damn it, isn't 'Snow Deep' more poetic than 'Very Cold'? Truly, such venomous people exist in this world!
Just then, Cheng Bo came to invite them for dinner.
The spread was lavish and exquisitely prepared—the crispy skin duck seemed freshly out of the oven, emitting delightful crunching sounds between teeth; the Eight Treasure Reed Chicken glistened temptingly; the roasted piglet paired with fresh sweet-and-sour berry sauce was rich yet not greasy, practically melting in the mouth; the jade vegetable heart stuffed with shrimp was refreshingly crisp; and there was even a bowl of scallop and shark fin soup so delicious one might accidentally swallow their tongue.
In this remote mountain valley, no one knew where Cheng Bo had managed to procure such delicacies.
Mu Qingyan barely ate himself, instead busily serving Cai Zhao dish after dish, watching the girl's cheeks puff up with food, his face radiating paternal affection. Unfortunately, this little ingrate was quick to forget favors—once full, she simply wiped her mouth and prepared to leave.
"Thank you, Mu Shaojun, for aiding us in our time of need," the girl said solemnly with a cupped fist salute—having heard Cheng Bo address him this way earlier. "Now that we're fed and rested, we'll take our leave. There's no need to see us off."
Grabbing Qian Xueshen, who was still gnawing on duck neck, she turned to go.
Mu Qingyan quickly stood, "Let me accompany you to Great Snow Mountain."
Cai Zhao paused, turning her head with suspicion and wariness, "How did you know I'm going to Great Snow Mountain?"
Mu Qingyan chuckled lightly, "Because our hearts beat as one—"
"Let's go." Without another word, Cai Zhao grabbed Qian Xueshen by the scruff again.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell the truth—I guessed," Mu Qingyan pressed a hand on Qian Xueshen's shoulder, causing such pain that the latter involuntarily sat back down.
Mu Qingyan explained, "After leaving Azure Tower Sect, there are only two options—either seek help from others or find a way to break the Body Transformation Art. But Evergreen Temple, Hanging Temple, Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, even Fallen Blossom Valley—all lie south of Nine Conch Mountain. Only Great Snow Mountain is to the north. When we reached that five-way crossroads near Azure Tower Town, you chose the northern path without hesitation. That's how I knew you were heading to Great Snow Mountain."
—Had the girl not been so repulsed by Qian Xueshen's disheveled state that she reluctantly agreed to rest at this bamboo grove, they would already be well on their northern journey by now.Cai Zhao eased slightly: "Good that you understand. The journey to the Great Snow Mountain is long, and I can’t afford any more delays. I must set off now." As she spoke, she reached to grab Qian Xueshen by the back of his neck again.
Mu Qingyan held onto the still-hissing Qian Xueshen and, for once, spoke earnestly: "Don’t rush, Zhao Zhao. Hear me out. This is your first time leaving Fallen Blossom Valley, and you don’t know the depths of the Martial World. Going to the Great Snow Mountain isn’t like walking from one end of town to the other to buy a box of rouge. That barbaric land is full of rough, ruthless people and dangers at every turn. The slightest misstep could land you in peril."
Cai Zhao: "I know. The first time my aunt traveled the Martial World alone, she nearly fell victim to a shady inn. But so what? There’s a first time for everything. Before last night, I’d never single-handedly stormed a mountain to rescue someone either—but I did it anyway, and I succeeded. You have no idea how I managed to evade the pursuit of my martial uncles without harming them..."
"If you had just killed that fake Zeng Dalou in public, the elders of the sect wouldn’t have come after you at all," Mu Qingyan pointed out bluntly. Then, eyeing the girl’s expression, he cautiously added, "...You did kill that fake Zeng Dalou, right...?"
Cai Zhao narrowed her eyes: "How did you know I’d kill Zeng Dalou?"
Mu Qingyan: "Your father was clearly betrayed by someone close to him. In the Azure Tower Sect, the people he was close to were few—aside from Sect Leader Qi, there was only Zeng Dalou."
"Then why couldn’t it have been my fake master who did it?"
"If you had just told your father that Sect Leader Qi was injured and poisoned, needing rest, and then he suddenly saw 'Sect Leader Qi' perfectly fine running down the mountain, he’d have been suspicious. Even if not, he’d have sensed something was wrong and raised his guard. So it had to be Zeng Dalou—isn’t that obvious?"
Qian Xueshen, who had been rubbing his shoulder, couldn’t help but glance at Mu Qingyan.
Hmm. The young man was tall, handsome, with striking, radiant features... but he really didn’t know how to speak tactfully.
Cai Zhao suppressed her irritation: "And how was I supposed to confirm Zeng Dalou was an imposter? What if he was just bribed, like Manager Chen? If I’d killed the wrong person, my martial uncles would’ve demanded my life in return."
She recalled how resolute and solemn she had been when bidding farewell to Song Yuzhi the night before.
"That’s even more obvious—the real Zeng Dalou knew your father since their youth. During the Battle of Green Gauze River eighteen years ago, he was also in the rear guard. He would’ve known that the 'Flower Picking Leaf Plucking' technique involves striking from the side. So how could he have left such a glaring flaw in the Yue Lai Inn massacre? The one who ambushed your father must’ve been wearing Zeng Dalou’s face, but it couldn’t have been the real Zeng Dalou." Mu Qingyan said this as if it were the most natural conclusion.
Qian Xueshen couldn’t help but look at Mu Qingyan again—this wasn’t just poor phrasing; the man’s brain wasn’t working right.
Cai Zhao took two deep breaths and forced a polite smile: "Young Master Mu is indeed extraordinarily wise. Nothing escapes your notice. As for a mere mortal like me, I only know how to charge in and out by brute force..."
She tightened her grip and yanked Qian Xueshen’s neck, dragging him along. Grimacing, he rose to follow, only to be pressed back down onto the table by Mu Qingyan. Qian Xueshen couldn’t hold back a pained cry—his shoulder and neck seemed to be sprained.
"Someone as clever as you, Zhao Zhao, wouldn’t rely on brute force alone," Mu Qingyan said sincerely, genuinely admiring. "I just didn’t expect you to bring this man along—thankfully, Song Yuzhi helped."Cai Zhao turned her head inch by inch: "How did you know Song Yuzhi helped me?"
"With your skills, escaping alone wouldn't be a problem. But bringing Qian Xueshen out as well—that must have required assistance," Mu Qingyan said.
Qian Xueshen opened his mouth but said nothing, lowering his head to rub his neck.
—Only someone destined to be single for ten lifetimes could say something so deserving of kneeling on a washboard.
Mu Qingyan continued, "Yin Dai is as cunning as a rabbit with three burrows. I suspect he left people or secret passages in the sect—secret passages being more likely. He gave both the Qinghong Jian and Baihong Jian to his eldest daughter, meaning most secrets were likely told to Qinglian Furen. Therefore, Song Yuzhi must know them too."
"But Zhao Zhao, don't think Song Yuzhi helped you out of goodwill. He'd already noticed something amiss with Sect Leader Qi. After I exposed the Thousand Faces Sect, he must have realized his father, Song Shijun, would soon arrive in a precarious situation. Yet, if Song Shijun questioned Sect Leader Qi's authenticity based solely on my words, it would be too presumptuous. Worse, it might make the Martial World suspect Vast Heaven Gate of scheming for the North Star's leading sect position."
"Now that you've publicly exposed the fake Zeng Dalou, confirming the Body Transformation Art's return, Song Shijun can rightfully question Sect Leader Qi when he arrives at Nine Conch Mountain—how could anyone not doubt him when even his closest disciple is an imposter?"
"See? Vast Heaven Gate hasn't lifted a finger yet reaps the spoils."
There was some truth to this. From Qian Xueshen's perspective as an insider, since he'd already been taken by Cai Zhao, the plan to replace key figures in the North Star factions was clearly compromised. The fake Qi Yunke's exposure was only a matter of time.
At this critical juncture, whoever stepped forward to stabilize the situation would gain immense prestige and power. Meanwhile, Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, still recovering from the Demonic Cult's ambush, couldn't act as swiftly as Vast Heaven Gate.
In this whole affair, who suffered? Naturally, Azure Tower Sect and Fallen Blossom Valley, whose sect leader's whereabouts and survival remained unknown.
Who benefited? Naturally, Vast Heaven Gate, the first to arrive with the strength to challenge the fake Qi Yunke and his faction.
But facts aside, stating it so bluntly...
Qian Xueshen silently continued rubbing his shoulders and neck.
Cai Zhao's expression darkened. "Reaping the spoils? Are you saying I and those imposters are the clam and the snipe?"
Mu Qingyan pondered. "It sounds amusing, but judging by the outcome, it's not entirely untrue."
Cai Zhao laughed in anger. "Hahaha, indeed amusing. But what's truly amusing is that I shouldn't trust my own martial brother yet should trust the Demonic Cult's young master! Farewell!"—This time, she didn't even drag Qian Xueshen along, storming out the door in fury.
The flung door slammed heavily against the frame.
Mu Qingyan stared blankly at the doorway, silent for a long while.
Qian Xueshen stood up with a sigh. "Young Master, forgive my bluntness, but you can't speak to young ladies like that."
Mu Qingyan slowly turned to him.
Qian Xueshen adopted a mentor's tone. "Right now, her father is missing. All this talk of factions and power struggles means nothing to Xiao Cai Guniang compared to her father's safety. So, Young Master, you shouldn't have said that."
Normally, Mu Qingyan would now ask Qian Xueshen how to phrase things better.
But was Mu Qingyan normal?No.
Qian Xueshen’s vision blurred as Mu Qingyan flicked his sleeve, sending him flying with a surge of powerful force. He landed heavily two zhang away, collapsing like a dead dog on the ground.
Now it wasn’t just his shoulders and neck that hurt—his entire body felt as though his bones had shattered.
……
Cai Zhao fumed silently in the bamboo grove, repeating "anger brings no fortune" twenty times before finally calming down. She had only taken a few steps when she turned her head and saw Mu Qingyan following her.
She closed her eyes briefly, steadied her emotions, then faced him with a solemn bow and clasped fists. "Earlier, I was disrespectful to the Young Master. No matter what, you’ve helped me greatly, and I shouldn’t have lost my temper with you."
Mu Qingyan caught the distance in her tone, his gaze dimming slightly. "It was my poor choice of words earlier. Don’t be angry, Zhao Zhao. In my heart, you are truly remarkable."
Cai Zhao shook her head. "Truthfully, I could have left long ago after recovering. These past days, you’ve taken many risks with me, and I’m deeply grateful. But this is enough."
She felt she had made herself clear and brushed past Mu Qingyan, intending to take Qian Xueshen and leave immediately.
But after only a few steps, a fierce gale suddenly swept up behind her, accompanied by the piercing cry of a bird.
She whirled around to see Mu Qingyan standing calmly in place, his gaze steady. Behind him, on the rooftop, two enormous Golden Feathered Great Pengs had just landed—one white-feathered, one gray-feathered. Their heads were noble, their bearing proud, each standing as tall as two men. Their powerful wings spread wide with a sharp gust, spanning three to four zhang.
Such magnificent, mythical creatures—Cai Zhao had only heard of them in stories from her aunt.
She gaped upward, stunned.
Mu Qingyan spoke slowly. "Even if you ride nonstop without rest, it would take nearly ten days to reach the Great Snow Mountain. But on my Golden-feathered Giant Pengs, you can arrive in two or three."
"But they only obey you, don’t they?" Cai Zhao pressed her lips together.
To her surprise, Mu Qingyan shook his head. "Not long after I recovered, I secretly gave Cheng Bo one of your garments. They already recognize your scent. Once I introduce you properly, they’ll heed your commands."
Cai Zhao lowered her head, silent for a long while, before muttering, "Just lend me one. That’s enough."
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