According to the ancient texts collected in Fallen Blossom Valley, the original Dusk Micro Palace was merely a few simple houses Old Ancestor Bei Chen built for secluded cultivation. As disciples and servants gradually increased, the dwellings expanded, accumulating into grand halls. At that time, Nine Conch Mountain was abundant with Spirit Stones—gold was as common as dirt, white jade piled like mountains—so even the simplest structures exuded solemn magnificence, radiating an immortal aura.
Entering the bustling inner hall, guests clustered in small groups, some laughing heartily over old times, others whispering in hushed tones. From afar, Cai Zhao spotted her future master seated rigidly at the head of the hall, his square-jawed face sternly righteous as he received yet another wave of visitors—her aunt Cai Pingshu once described this sworn brother as "clearly cut out to be a reclusive grandmaster, yet forced to entertain guests daily like a courtesan from the Spring Blossom House."
Since retreating to heal her injuries, Cai Pingshu had rarely interacted with the Martial World, maintaining contact only with a handful of close friends. Qi Yunke was among this select few, visiting Fallen Blossom Valley nearly every year. Each time, he either carried cages of beautiful songbirds or cats, or stuffed his wind-battered robes full of snacks young Cai Zhao loved but wasn't usually allowed to eat.
In her naive childhood, Cai Zhao once thought Qi Yunke might become her uncle by marriage. Only later did she learn he was already wed with a daughter, sharing with Cai Pingshu a bond of true friendship and life-and-death loyalty. Embarrassed by her narrow-mindedness, she resolved to read fewer romance novels about elopements.
Following Zeng Dalou forward, Qi Yunke spotted her like a drowning man seeing rescue. He hastily excused himself from the endlessly chatty Zhang San Lisi and called out loudly: "Little Zhao'er's here! Come quick! Your parents and brother have already had three rounds of tea—where have you been?"
Cai Zhao stepped forward with dignified grace, kneeling in salute: "Greetings, Uncle Qi. My apologies for the trouble. The scenery at Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff was so captivating I lingered to explore."
Qi Yunke chuckled: "No getting lost this time, eh? Remember when you disappeared at the town lantern festival? Your aunt and I searched half the night! Thank goodness there are no child traffickers in Fallen Blossom Town, or you'd have cried buckets!"
Cai Zhao refused to concede: "I wasn't lost! I was helping that old man mind his sugar painting stall! I've always had a good sense of direction! Besides, you and Auntie always had endless conversations I couldn't understand..."
Qi Yunke's expression suddenly dimmed, eyes glimmering with sorrow: "Yes... endless conversations back then. Now... who do I share those words with?"
Cai Zhao fell silent.
A beautiful middle-aged woman seated beside Qi Yunke grew impatient at her husband's delay. After smiling at four or five richly dressed guests, she called sharply: "Enough now. The child can go play elsewhere. Yunke, return and catch up with these elders!"
Qi Yunke's head throbbed at his wife Yin Sulian's voice.
Cai Zhao whispered: "Uncle, are they your friends?"
"Friends my foot!" Qi Yunke hissed back conspiratorially. "They're all Yin family relatives and old connections—every single one counts as my elder! This socializing is exhausting me!"
As Yin Sulian called again irritably, Qi Yunke had no choice but to lead young Cai Zhao toward the ordeal ahead, his square face radiating solemn dignity: "Come, Zhao'er. Let your master introduce you to your elders..."Cai Zhao glared angrily at Qi Yunke. These days, elders were truly shameless—clearly too lazy to deal with those people himself, he had to drag her out as a shield.
Qi Yunke grinned broadly and began introducing the guests one by one. The elegant middle-aged woman was naturally the current sect leader’s wife, Yin Sulian. Cai Zhao obediently bowed in greeting, and as she lowered her head, she caught sight of the hem of Yin Sulian’s skirt spread across the velvet carpet—luxurious fabric dotted with golden stars, the edges adorned with pearls as large as thumbs.
Yin Sulian was the same age as Cai Pingshu, but unlike the latter, who had grown increasingly frail and haggard over the years, she was impeccably maintained. Her skin was fair and delicate, her features refined, making her appear no older than her twenties. Her attire was dazzlingly ornate, with a pair of priceless emerald cat’s eye earrings swaying at her ears—proof of her comfortable life.
She gave Cai Zhao a haughty glance and sniffed, "So this is Zhao Zhao? Who does she even take after? Your aunt and mother were decent-looking, but this child somehow missed all the right marks."
Qi Yunke frowned. "Nonsense. Zhao Zhao clearly resembles both Ping Shu and Xiao Feng—in fact, she’s even prettier than them."
Yin Sulian raised an eyebrow, her smile faintly mocking. "How rare. I never thought I’d hear you admit any flaw in Cai Pingshu."
Qi Yunke scowled. "A girl’s merits aren’t necessarily in her looks. What matters is her character and ability—"
Zeng Dalou quickly stepped in to mediate. "Master, Madam, Junior Sister Cai mentioned earlier that she’s hungry. Why not let her have some refreshments first before introducing her to the elders?"
Yin Sulian snorted. Qi Yunke sighed helplessly and handed Cai Zhao a plate of pastries from the table. "Go to the side room in the back hall and snack on these for now. There’ll be better food once the banquet starts, alright?"
Cai Zhao accepted the pastries with a carefree grin. But as she turned to leave, she spotted several familiar figures approaching and paused mid-step.
"Father, Mother, I’ve come with my martial brothers." Qi Lingbo was dressed in fresh attire—a water-red skirt embroidered with dark gold thread, paired with peach-colored gemstone hairpins and waist ornaments that made her lovelier than flowers, her beauty radiant. Even Dai Fengchi beside her was momentarily stunned.
A few steps behind them, a tall, lanky youth moved sluggishly and silently—none other than Chang Ning, his face still covered in festering sores.
Yin Sulian’s eyes brightened. "Oh, my Lingbo is here! Why the sudden change? You always complained such outfits were too cumbersome for martial arts."
Qi Lingbo shot Cai Zhao a glance and smiled. "I only dressed plainly for training convenience earlier. But after seeing how well Junior Sister Cai was dressed, I thought I’d follow suit. Junior Sister Cai, you’re here too?"
As she spoke the last word, she gave Dai Fengchi a meaningful look. He smirked, his right hand brushing lightly against his left sleeve before flicking outward. A faint metallic chime rang out as a sharp glint shot straight toward Cai Zhao’s face. The crowd barely glimpsed what seemed to be a blade—it looked as though Cai Zhao would be drenched in blood on the spot.
Amid the gasps of horror, Qi Yunke roared and was about to strike in rescue when the glint halted half a foot from Cai Zhao’s face. In the next instant, it swiftly retracted back into Dai Fengchi’s hand. Only then did the crowd realize it was a small dagger—its hilt attached to a chain, which Dai Fengchi had used to yank it back.
Though the chain had aided him, the strength and precision required for such a maneuver were still remarkable.
Qi Yunke erupted in fury. "What in the world are you doing?!"Qi Lingbo giggled sweetly, "Father, don't be angry. It was just a little joke. Earlier, Senior Brother and I met Junior Sister Cai in the plum grove and hit it off immediately. We decided to prepare a welcome gift for her. Senior Brother, show Father what we've got!"
Dai Fengchi removed the thin chain and presented the dagger with both hands. The crowd craned their necks to see—the hilt was intricately inlaid with gold filigree and rubies, while the blade gleamed like a ripple of emerald water. It was indeed a rare treasure.
Seeing her husband's displeasure, Yin Sulian quickly interjected, "Isn't this the gift Fengchi received from Yu Zhi's father? It's one of his most cherished possessions. To think you'd part with it for Zhao Zhao's sake after her long journey. Isn't that right, Yun Ke?!"
Qi Yunke's anger hadn't subsided, but with guests present and his wife intervening, this wasn't the time to lose his temper. He could only let out a cold snort.
This was exactly what Qi Lingbo had anticipated. Smiling, she turned to Cai Zhao, "Junior Sister, you weren't frightened, were you? You... uh..." Having suffered a setback in the grove earlier, she had conspired with Dai Fengchi to teach Cai Zhao a lesson by giving her a good scare.
To her surprise, Cai Zhao remained unfazed. "I knew Senior Brother and Senior Sister wouldn't actually harm me. There's nothing to be frightened about. Elders, rest assured, I'm perfectly fine."
Qi Lingbo let out a disappointed "Oh."
Qi Yunke's voice was heavy with disapproval. "Fengchi, Lingbo may be immature, but you should know better. What if you hadn't stopped in time and actually hurt Zhao Zhao? How would you explain yourselves?! Have I ever taught you to act so recklessly...?"
Dai Fengchi flushed and immediately bowed to apologize.
"Enough, enough!" Yin Sulian cut in. "You know Fengchi's character better than anyone. He wouldn't have played this joke if he weren't absolutely certain! And Zhao Zhao said herself she wasn't frightened. Besides, not only is Chang Ning alone and helpless now, but so is Fengchi. Don't just dote on Chang Ning—show some care for Fengchi too... Zhao Zhao, come here. This dagger is for you. Take good care of it."
Qi Yunke suppressed his anger and slammed the table forcefully.
Cai Zhao stepped forward to accept the dagger, turning it over in her hands. "It truly is a fine blade. Thank you, Senior Brother and Senior Sister. I'll treasure it."
Qi Yunke took a deep breath and pulled Chang Ning forward. "This is your senior brother Chang Ning. He's three years older than you. He... alas, his family... Dalou must have told you already. It's fortunate your aunt has already passed, or she would have been furious to hear what happened to Haosheng's family. The Demonic Cult is truly outrageous."
Cai Zhao looked at Chang Ning. The young man was tall and slender, but his face was a ghastly sight.
Qi Yunke continued, "Chang Ning, come meet Zhao Zhao. She—"
"I've already met Junior Sister Cai earlier," Chang Ning said.
Qi Yunke hesitated. "Also in the plum grove earlier?"
Chang Ning nodded, and Zeng Dalou immediately tensed up again.
Qi Yunke paused briefly before his expression darkened. "Lingbo, did you bully Chang Ning again earlier? Have you forgotten my warning? If there's a next time, I'll—"
Yin Sulian interrupted her husband with a laugh. "What kind of father scolds his own daughter without even hearing the full story? Look at Zhao Zhao and Chang Ning—they're both perfectly fine, not a scratch on them..."Upon hearing the phrase "your face is fine," Cai Zhao couldn't help but glance at Chang Ning's disfigured visage. Chang Ning remained utterly unperturbed, even offering her a faint smile. Despite the grotesque poison sores marring his face, his eyes shimmered with a clarity so mesmerizing it could melt one's bones.
"...Even if Lingbo was mischievous in the past, she wouldn’t act recklessly on such an important occasion," Yin Sulian turned to Cai Zhao. "Zhao Zhao, isn’t that right?"
"Yes, yes! Father, we were just joking around!" Qi Lingbo hastily defended herself. "Junior Sister, say something!"
Cai Zhao inwardly scoffed, wondering where this Senior Sister Qi got the confidence to assume she would meekly play along.
Seeing Zeng Dalou's conflicted gaze, Cai Zhao nodded. "Though I’ve only just met Senior Sister, I can already tell she’s honest, simple, and sincere—a truly genuine person."
Zeng Dalou: "...Junior Sister Cai, you only needed to give a perfunctory reply to save face for the mistress and her daughter. No need to go all out with such blatant lies—no one would believe that."
Qi Yunke, torn between anger and helplessness, sighed. "Fine, if you truly think so, then in the future—"
"Uncle, I truly do think so," Cai Zhao said earnestly. "If you don’t believe me, watch this." Before the words fully left her mouth, her right hand flicked, and the delicate dagger in her grip hummed softly. A surge of energy erupted, sending the blade shooting toward Qi Lingbo like an arrow through the air.
A shrill scream tore from Yin Sulian’s throat. The dagger’s momentum was far more menacing than Dai Fengchi’s earlier throw, its force pressing down like an invisible weight. As it hurtled toward her daughter’s face, Yin Sulian nearly fainted. Qi Lingbo stood frozen, unable to move. Qi Yunke was too far away, leaving only Dai Fengchi nearby to raise his palm in a desperate attempt to intercept.
Yet, just as the dagger was mere inches from Qi Lingbo’s nose, Cai Zhao suddenly swept her left palm through the air. The blade abruptly veered, tracing a graceful arc before obediently returning to her hand as if pulled by an invisible thread.
Silence blanketed the hall. Guests paused mid-conversation, their attention riveted on the scene. In the stillness, a crisp clink echoed—Qi Lingbo’s pearl hairpin had fallen to the ground. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead.
Only Chang Ning remained unruffled, watching with keen interest.
Yin Sulian, drenched in cold sweat, shrieked, "Cai Zhao! What are you doing?! Were you trying to kill Lingbo?!"
"Just a little joke, Aunt and Senior Sister. No need to panic." Cai Zhao grinned, playfully twirling the dagger.
Qi Lingbo’s limbs were ice-cold, her throat clenched tight. It took her a long moment to force out words. "Y-you... didn’t you say you barely knew any martial arts?!" Even with her meager skills, she could tell how formidable Cai Zhao’s move had been—both in power and precision, it was no less impressive than Dai Fengchi’s.
Cai Zhao blinked in feigned surprise. "Senior Sister must be mistaken. When did I ever say I couldn’t fight?"
"You—you said in the woods that—that—!"
Chang Ning kindly supplied, "What Junior Sister Cai said was that she dislikes learning martial arts, not that she can’t ."
Qi Lingbo’s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "Exactly! You said you hate learning martial arts!"
"What does disliking it have to do with whether I can fight? Even if I hate it, I still had to learn," Cai Zhao replied innocently.
Qi Lingbo fumed. "And you said your parents never taught you martial arts!"
"They didn’t," Cai Zhao agreed cheerfully. "But my aunt did."Qi Lingbo trembled with rage, unable to speak. Dai Fengchi wanted to intervene but had no solution. Yin Sulian's face turned ashen, while Qi Yunke sighed and rubbed his forehead. Only Chang Ning watched Cai Zhao with a beaming smile.
Cai Zhao lightly tapped her right palm on the ground, fingers curling slightly. The hairpin on the floor snapped up with a crisp sound, flying straight into her grasp.
Everyone except Qi Yunke and Chang Ning stared in wide-eyed astonishment.
With a gentle smile, Cai Zhao walked over to her, leaned in slightly, and carefully secured the hairpin in place. Her voice grew even softer: "Uncle, you see I was right—Senior Sister is so honest. She believes whatever people say without a second thought, never even considering deception."
Qi Yunke replied expressionlessly, "Hmm, you and Lingbo are both honest children." Even he didn't believe his own words.
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