Cai Zhao and Fan Xingjia emerged from the inner room like rain-soaked quails, their heads bowed low.
Fan Xingjia, ever the loyal friend, quickly explained why they had sneaked in through the back door and took full responsibility for the mistake. Cai Zhao added, "Master, we really didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation with Shiniang, and we won’t tell anyone."
Qi Yunke was both exasperated and amused. "Enough, I understand. Besides, there’s nothing in what Shiniang and I just discussed that can’t be shared with others. Sigh, everyone already knows the situation anyway." His voice was weary, tinged with resignation. After being ambushed by Wu Gang and controlled by the Soul Confusion Needle for days, Qi Yunke now looked noticeably thinner, as if even his white hairs had multiplied.
He leaned back slowly against the cushion. "Xingjia, what did Lei Shibo say about Dalou’s injury?"
Fan Xingjia replied, "Lei Shibo said the needle’s poison has seeped into the bones. Eldest Brother will need at least half a year to recover."
Qi Yunke sighed. "As long as he can recover, that’s what matters. Dalou has suffered greatly this time... Zhao Zhao, how is your father doing now?"
"He was practically bouncing around yesterday, but my mother refused to believe Lei Shibo’s diagnosis. She wailed and insisted he stay in bed a few more days. Lei Shibo was furious." Cai Zhao covered her mouth, stifling a laugh.
"Xiaofeng has never liked listening to doctors," Qi Yunke smiled faintly. "Zhao Zhao, you played the greatest role in rescuing your father so quickly this time. It’s a pity that at such a young age, barely a month after joining the sect, you had to endure hardships traveling outside. If Ping Shu knew, she’d surely yell, ‘This master is nothing but trouble—run while you can!’..."
Fan Xingjia burst into laughter, and Cai Zhao giggled too. "Master, you nailed it! That’s exactly what Auntie would say."
The three of them shared a lighthearted moment until a disciple announced the arrival of Song Shijun and Zhou Zhizhen.
Qi Yunke sensed they had something important to discuss and motioned for Cai Zhao and Fan Xingjia to leave. However, Song Shijun stopped Cai Zhao. Realizing their intent, Qi Yunke allowed her to stay while Fan Xingjia withdrew.
Once alone, Song Shijun couldn’t contain himself. "Zhao Zhao, the other day at the medicine hut, you mentioned that the Thousand Faces Sect disciple was already dead. Is that true?"
Without missing a beat, Cai Zhao replied smoothly, "Of course it’s true. The Demonic Cult didn’t trust him at all and fed him a controlling poison. After I brought him down the mountain, he succumbed to the toxin shortly after. There was no time to bring him back. Without an antidote, naturally, he died."
"That’s typical of the Demonic Cult," Qi Yunke remarked. "It’s better this way—no further trouble. Shijun, don’t dwell on it. Besides, the Snowscale Dragon Beast Saliva Zhao Zhao brought back has been quite helpful for Yuzhi. Have you thanked her properly?"
Song Shijun grumbled unhappily, "What’s the point of empty words? When I return this time, I’ll pick out a proper treasure for Zhao Zhao. That’s real gratitude."
Cai Zhao brightened at this. "Thank you, Sect Leader Song. It’s a shame there wasn’t more of the saliva left—otherwise, Third Brother might have fully regained his strength."
Song Shijun’s face darkened with worry. "That small amount was enough to nourish Yuzhi’s meridians. The Snowscale Dragon Beast’s nature is cold, and the Netherworld Chill Yuzhi suffered from is the most extreme yin-cold energy. More saliva wouldn’t have helped. I just don’t understand how your aunt treated Old Shi back then—even your parents don’t know the details. Yunke, you spent the most time with Cai Pingshu. Maybe if you think harder, something might come back to you."Qi Yunke gave a bitter smile. "I wasn't around when Brother Shi had his accident, so I truly don't know anything about it."
Song Shijun had no choice but to turn to Zhou Zhizhen. "Hey, why aren't you saying anything?"
Zhou Zhizhen looked grave, pondering for a moment before speaking. "Zhao Zhao, are you absolutely certain you didn't go to the Great Snow Mountain in the far north?"
"Of course not," Cai Zhao replied with innocent honesty. "The Snowscale Dragon Beast saliva I brought was obtained from that Thousand Faces Sect disciple. Since the saliva is the bane of the Body Transformation Art, the sect members have always secretly stockpiled it to guard against each other. This time, I managed to acquire their entire collection."
"That makes sense," Song Shijun nodded. "The more deceitful people are, the more they distrust each other. That Body Transformation Art is truly sinister—unless the user dies, it's practically flawless. Besides, the Great Snow Mountain in the far north is extremely distant. Even if Zhao Zhao rode day and night, a round trip would take months. There's no way she could return in just a few days."
Zhou Zhizhen sighed. "I don't doubt Zhao Zhao's words, but... alas, I fear Zhiqin may have encountered trouble at the Great Snow Mountain."
At this, the other three were shocked—though one's surprise was genuine, while another's was feigned.
Zhou Zhizhen continued, "Last year, Zhiqin's son Yulin died away from home, but Zhiqin refused to say where it happened. Soon after, he set off on a long journey with Dongfang Xiao, saying he needed to clear his mind. He didn't even attend the centennial memorial of our ancestor."
"Given his grief over losing his son, I couldn't bring myself to press him. But when Zhixian was attacked on her way back this time, the elders urgently summoned Zhiqin to protect the manor. After questioning the Dongfang family's old servants, we learned they might have gone to the Great Snow Mountain in the far north."
"What of it?" Song Shijun asked, puzzled.
"Zhiqin used to send monthly carrier pigeons to report his safety, but this month, there's been no word." Zhou Zhizhen frowned deeply. "If I'm not mistaken, Yulin must also be buried at that Great Snow Mountain. Otherwise, why would Zhiqin travel all the way there?"
Qi Yunke offered comfort. "They say the Great Snow Mountain is treacherous. Give it more time—perhaps Brother Zhiqin is simply delayed by storms and can't send word yet."
Zhou Zhizhen nodded.
Cai Zhao lowered her head without changing expression, secretly pleased.
On her way back from the Great Snow Mountain, she had already decided that the fewer people knew about the situation there, the better—to protect Qian Xueshen, the Snow Woman, and the five young beasts. It was a shame she couldn't expose Zhou Zhiqin and the others' true nature, but since they'd each met gruesome ends, it still avenged the Tao family's grudge.
As she left Qi Yunke's quarters, she ran into Ding Zhuo approaching. Cai Zhao greeted him and tried to leave, but Ding Zhuo stopped her, once again proposing a martial arts duel.
Cai Zhao groaned. "Again? You already know my capabilities."
Ding Zhuo remained solemn. "Duels are for exchanging techniques and broadening knowledge, not determining winners or losers. As long as it's an honorable match, the outcome doesn't matter. Legend has it that when the founding master of Clear Wind Temple faced the Whirlwind Palm Feng Zhouhan in their duel—"
"Alright, alright, senior brother, enough lecturing. I agree," Cai Zhao hastily conceded.
They scheduled the duel for half a month later.
Five more days passed, and Cai Pingchun fully recovered. Lei Xiuming jokingly threatened Ning Xiaofeng that if she dared question his diagnosis again, he'd 'add something' to Cai Pingchun's medicine to make him "rest a while longer."To prevent any further mishaps, Zhou Zhizhen insisted on personally escorting the Cai Family back to Fallen Blossom Valley this time, accompanied by over a dozen martial monks sent by Evergreen Temple to assist Juexing Zen Master. The journey should be safe now.
At the moment of parting, Cai Han looked as glum as a little old man. When Cai Zhao asked him why, he pouted with his chubby face: "Mother said Aunt Zhao had foresight—she insisted on making Sister practice martial arts back then, and now it’s proven endlessly beneficial. Once we return, she’ll also push me harder to train."
Cai Zhao laughed. "Training is tough, but at least you won’t have to eat vegetarian anymore. That’s a good thing, right?"
Cai Han wore an indignant expression. "Sister, you don’t understand. Grandmother suddenly had an epiphany—she’s been feeding me delicious food every day on this trip. Staying with the Ning Family was actually quite nice. It’s all the Demonic Cult’s fault for stirring up trouble and making my future miserable—from now on, I’m sworn enemies with the Demonic Cult!"
Cai Zhao: "...Alright."
The next day, Song Shijun was also preparing to depart. Before leaving, he kept nagging his son, repeating the same line over and over: "If you can’t fully recover, just return to Vast Heaven Gate. Your father will take care of you for life."
Song Yuzhi expressionlessly shook off his father’s hand. "Your son has only suffered a loss in strength, not become a cripple. Father, you should get more sun and think more positively."
In the following days, the Martial World remained peaceful, and life within the sect was tranquil.
Cai Zhao finally moved back to Camellia Longevity Abode. Just as Qi Yunke had promised, the place was comfortable and scenic, but she still felt too listless to muster any energy. When the kitchen steamed perch with scallion oil and forgot to add ginger slices, she silently ate it anyway.
Fan Xingjia asked why she seemed so absent-minded. She replied, "I’m worried."
"Worried about what? What’s there to worry about?" Fan Xingjia didn’t understand.
Cai Zhao said, "There’s a fluffy little duck—quite good-looking but with a terrible temper. I took care of it for a while, only to realize one day that it wasn’t a duck at all, but a big white goose with its nose in the air. A goose is fine, but it insists on venturing out into the world. Ah, I’m just worried—what if someone roasts and eats it?"
Fan Xingjia thought for a moment, then suddenly paled in horror. "You’re not eyeing Lei Shibo’s ducks, are you? Please don’t! If you want to eat duck, ask someone to buy it from the market. If you touch Lei Shibo’s ducks, he’ll fight you to the death!"
Cai Zhao was speechless. She patted Fan Xingjia and walked away with a sigh.
That day, she sat alone in the quiet meditation hall for a while longer, the echoes of recent arguments and laughter still lingering in the air.
Finally, she made up her mind. Spirits lifted, she hurried back to Camellia Longevity Abode with her skirts fluttering, only to find her maids standing under the eaves, their faces flushed with shy excitement.
She walked over and saw Song Yuzhi standing in her courtyard, hands clasped behind his back.
Inviting the strikingly handsome Third Senior Brother inside, Cai Zhao personally served him tea. Unexpectedly, Song Yuzhi suddenly remarked, "Zhao Zhao, you seem much livelier today. Have you finally decided to go to the Demonic Cult?"
Cai Zhao nearly banged her head on the table in shock. She quickly rose to close the windows and doors, then pulled Song Yuzhi into the inner room to talk.
"Third Senior Brother, watch your words," she said solemnly. "A disciple of a righteous sect has no business going to the Demonic Cult for no reason."
Song Yuzhi looked at her calmly. "You may not know this, Zhao Zhao, but while the Martial World has been quiet these past few days, the Demonic Cult has been unusually active. Branches everywhere are recalling their members—this suggests something has happened in the Nether Bamboo Path."
Cai Zhao’s heart tightened.Song Yuzhi continued, "When I was young, my mother told me that most leaders of the Demonic Cult before Nie Hengcheng bore the surname Mu. However, Nie Hengcheng's overwhelming power and long reign caused people to gradually forget this fact. Chang Ning is a descendant of the Mu family, isn't he?"
Cai Zhao remained silent for a long while before nodding. "When I descended the mountain this time to find the Snowscale Dragon Beast's saliva, he helped me tremendously and even saved my life. If all goes well for him, then so be it. But if he falls into misfortune, I must at least repay his kindness."
She looked up. "Are you going to stop me, Third Senior Brother?"
Song Yuzhi shook his head. "I want to go with you."
"???" Cai Zhao was stunned, never expecting to hear such words. "You... why would you go? Ah, Third Senior Brother needn’t worry about me. I can protect myself."
Song Yuzhi gave a self-deprecating smile. "With only half my cultivation remaining, how dare I claim to protect others?" He paused. "I want to find Chang Ning to borrow something from him."
"What thing?"
"The Purple Jade Golden Sunflower."
Cai Zhao looked puzzled. "What’s that? I’ve never heard of it."
Song Yuzhi explained, "It’s a treasure of the Demonic Cult, said to have been passed down from the era of Old Ancestor Bei Chen. It has the effect of calming the mind and preventing qi deviation during cultivation."
"Why does Third Senior Brother need this?" Cai Zhao was still confused. "My aunt says that qi deviation during cultivation mostly occurs due to insufficient comprehension or similar flaws—essentially, one’s own shortcomings. Relying on external means to avoid qi deviation may lead to hidden dangers even if the cultivation succeeds. Only cultivation achieved through natural progression is truly reliable."
Song Yuzhi raised his well-defined brows slightly. "Well said. Your aunt’s insight is indeed extraordinary. But I’m not seeking the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower for cultivation—I need it to heal."
Finally understanding, Cai Zhao asked, "Can the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower help restore your cultivation?"
"Indeed."
"How can you be so certain?"
"Because your aunt once used it to restore Shi Xia’s cultivation."
"..." Cai Zhao was dumbfounded. After a long pause, she stammered, "No—how do you know about something even I wasn’t aware of?"
Song Yuzhi replied, "An elder in my family once forcibly recovered after being struck by Netherworld Chill, only to succumb to qi deviation and pass away shortly after. Yet Shi Xia not only survived the Tushan War but lived in seclusion with his brother only after Nie Hengcheng’s death."
"These past days, I’ve reviewed all records from a decade ago. That year, after Shi Xia was afflicted by Netherworld Chill, Heroine Cai brought him to the Azure Tower Sect for help, but no one in the sect could offer a solution. So Heroine Cai left with him again. Yet, within a month, Shi Xia had fully recovered and even participated in the siege against Elder Tianji, Duan Jiuxiu."
"I meticulously examined all events in the Martial World during that month, but aside from the usual conflicts between righteous and demonic factions, nothing stood out. However, after pressing Li Shibo for details, he recalled one thing—around that time, Grandmaster Wang Dingchuan captured several Demonic Cult members attempting to infiltrate Nine Conch Mountain. Under interrogation, they revealed they were guards of the Demonic Cult’s treasure vault. Heroine Cai had recently stolen their treasure, the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower, and they had to recover it before Nie Hengcheng discovered its loss—or they would be sent to the God Devouring Platform."
"Timing suggests Heroine Cai seized the treasure shortly after leaving with Shi Xia."
"...What happened afterward?" Cai Zhao pressed.Song Yuzhi said, "There was no later."
"You mean the matter was just dropped like that?" Cai Zhao couldn't believe it.
"Of course not." Song Yuzhi replied, "At that time, Nie Hengcheng was at the height of his power. How could he tolerate the Demonic Cult's treasure being taken right under his nose by Heroine Cai without him even noticing? Yet afterward, the Demonic Cult made no further attempts to reclaim it, and no one came after Heroine Cai again. If I had to guess, after Hero Shi recovered, Heroine Cai must have returned the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower, and Nie Hengcheng never realized it."
Cai Zhao found it strange: "Even if Nie Hengcheng didn’t notice, wouldn’t someone else have mentioned it?"
A subtle expression crossed Song Yuzhi’s solemn and heroic face. "...Because it involved Heroine Cai, Grandmaster Wang Dingchuan never told Elder Yin or anyone else. The matter was quietly settled."
"Oh." Cai Zhao held her teacup, seeming to understand.
Song Yuzhi continued, "Heroine Cai was an upright and honorable person. Even if it belonged to the Demonic Cult, she wouldn’t have kept their treasure for herself. Once the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower had served its purpose, it’s very likely she returned it."
Cai Zhao nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, that’s exactly the kind of person my aunt was."
"Which is why I need to make a trip to the Demonic Cult—to ask Young Master Mu to lend us the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower." Song Yuzhi frowned slightly. "I hope he’s willing to lend it."
"Of course he should be willing!" Cai Zhao hurriedly said. "He owes you a favor for taking your Snow Lotus Pill."
"Truthfully, holding favors over others isn’t the proper way," Song Yuzhi murmured, his sword-like brows lifting slightly. His starry eyes dimmed, his expression melancholic, like the bright moon sinking into a deep, dark pool—serene and cold, so breathtaking it made one’s heart skip.
Cai Zhao pressed a hand to her chest and urged, "When traveling the Martial World, you can’t afford to be prideful. Restoring your strength is the most important thing—everything else can wait. Uh, but can we go together?"
Song Yuzhi arched an eyebrow, his melancholy vanishing instantly. Calm and composed, he asked, "Do you know how to get to the Nether Bamboo Path?"
Cai Zhao immediately fell silent.
"Or were you planning to ask random people on the street for directions?" Song Yuzhi pressed.
Cai Zhao looked up at the ceiling—
"Excuse me, uncle, do you know which way the Demonic Cult’s headquarters is?"
"Madam, could you tell me how to get to the Nether Bamboo Path? Nether—Bamboo—Path—did you hear me? ‘Nether,’ not ‘pancake’..."
The mental image was so painful it made her heart ache.
Song Yuzhi retrieved a small scroll from his sleeve and unfolded it for Cai Zhao. "This is a route map I drew after studying the records. It avoids many of the treacherous caves along the way."
Cai Zhao: "..."
Song Yuzhi then casually pulled out several gold-embossed silver notes from his robes. "And there’s no need to worry about travel expenses."
Cai Zhao: "..."
She picked up the teapot and poured him a fresh cup with utmost deference, grinning obsequiously. "Third Senior Brother, let this tea serve as wine—may our journey be smooth and safe!"
Later, Cai Zhao and Song Yuzhi left the mountain half a day apart.
The former left a note saying she wished to follow in her aunt’s footsteps and travel the Martial World alone to broaden her horizons.
The latter instructed his personal attendant to relay that, due to his incomplete recovery, he was in low spirits and wished to take a trip to clear his mind—and perhaps seek a way to restore his strength.
They met outside Qingque Town.
Cai Zhao fretted, "Do you think people will suspect we left together?"
"No." Song Yuzhi was utterly composed. "I deliberately waited until everyone noticed you were gone, had lunch with the other disciples, and only then did I leave."
"That’s good." Cai Zhao still felt uneasy and kept glancing back.Song Yuzhi asked, "What's wrong?"
Cai Zhao rubbed her head. "Uh, I think I forgot something."
...
Ding Zhuo emerged from the inner chamber with a faint smile. "Fifth Junior Brother, could you prepare a fragrant bath for me tomorrow?"
"Of course, of course. So tomorrow is the day of the martial contest? Congratulations in advance." Fan Xingjia wiped the sweat from his forehead. "But Senior Brother, there's a small matter you should probably know about."
"With the contest imminent, there's no need to trouble me with trivial matters. It might distract me."
"...This is something you have to know."
"Fifth Junior Brother, you're being unreasonable. What could be more important than my martial contest tomorrow?"
"Your opponent ran away."
OpenNovel