After a brief rest and a satisfying meal, the group of four prepared to set off, with the entrance to their journey located in the mountains behind the small courtyard. Cheng Bo activated a mechanism, and an inconspicuous boulder began to creak and groan, soon revealing a dark, gaping hole beneath it. Below lay an endless-seeming underground passage.
Bidding farewell to Cheng Bo, the four proceeded down the pitch-black tunnel, holding lanterns aloft.
Shangguan Haonan looked around, noting the smooth ground, the circulating air, and the neatly stacked square bluestones lining the walls. Unable to resist, he asked, "Was this tunnel built by Shaojun before? Truly impressive craftsmanship." The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that he had chosen the right master.
Mu Qingyan neither confirmed nor denied.
Song Yuzhi remarked, "It must be. Mu Shaojun only emerged from Huanglao Peak four years ago and was away from home for over a year. His time in the Demonic Cult totals exactly three years. With Nie Zhe constantly watching him like a tiger eyeing its prey, building such a tunnel in three years is no small feat." Ever since planning to infiltrate the Nether Bamboo Grove, he had been gathering information on Nie Zhe and the Demonic Cult.
Mu Qingyan snorted coldly.
Cai Zhao glanced at his stern, chiseled profile and whispered to Song Yuzhi, "Why is he suddenly upset?" Just moments ago, he had been in high spirits, but after lingering in the courtyard, his mood had darkened.
Song Yuzhi sighed understandingly. "With the imminent reclaiming of the cult's power, perhaps it's the apprehension of returning home."
Mu Qingyan abruptly turned his head, his gaze sharp.
Cai Zhao whispered even softer, "I don’t think he’s the type to feel apprehensive about returning home."
Song Yuzhi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, then maybe he ate something that didn’t agree with him just now."
"..." Cai Zhao reevaluated this upright senior brother. "Senior Brother, do you dislike Mu Shaojun?"
Song Yuzhi stood as straight as a pine, his expression righteous. "Why would you think that, Junior Sister? Shaojun is generous, having readily agreed to lend me the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower. I’m grateful to him—how could I possibly dislike him?"
Cai Zhao: ...
Mu Qingyan suddenly turned around. "What are you two talking about?"
Song Yuzhi replied, "Junior Sister asked if I dislike Shaojun. I said Shaojun has agreed to help me with my troubles, and I’m grateful beyond measure—how could I dislike him? Isn’t that right, Shaojun?"
Mu Qingyan’s face was icy.
Song Yuzhi lowered his head. "Junior Sister, don’t you agree?"
Cai Zhao: "Heh, heh, this tunnel is really well-built."
After walking for a while, Cai Zhao carefully examined the gaps between the bluestone bricks lining the tunnel walls and concluded, "It seems neither Senior Brother nor Chief Shangguan were correct earlier. This tunnel was likely dug by the Mu ancestors but had been abandoned for many years. Shaojun merely restored it on the original foundation, which would only take a year or two."
Mu Qingyan’s brows relaxed slightly as he uttered two words: "Wrong."
Song Yuzhi turned to praise her. "I’ve long heard that your maternal grandfather was a master of mechanisms and construction. Truly remarkable."
Cai Zhao beamed. "My grandfather is amazing! The wooden birds he makes can fly, the brass water clocks announce the time on their own, and there’s even a long iron pipe leading to the bottom of a well. Just open the tap, and well water flows straight into the house."
Song Yuzhi smiled charmingly, praising the profound knowledge of the Ning family and the exceptional discernment of his junior sister. Cai Zhao, who adored her family, swelled with pride at his compliments. She feigned modesty for a few words, and the mutual flattery between senior brother and junior sister grew quite lively.
While they were enjoying themselves, someone was not.Mu Qingyan frowned with a mocking tone, "Isn't it a family legacy? Back in the day, Zhao Zhao's mother single-handedly blew up three main mountain gates of Vast Heaven Gate. That year, Qinglian Furen's bridal procession had to enter through a side gate."
Song Yuzhi (knowing who Mu Qingyan was referring to): ...
Cai Zhao (also knowing who Mu Qingyan was referring to): ...
Shangguan Haonan, cheerful (knowing who Mu Qingyan was referring to): "Oh, is that so? I’ve never heard of this."
"No, no, no!" Cai Zhao hurriedly explained, "My mother had a grudge against Vast Heaven Gate—no, she had a grudge against Qinglian Furen. Because of one of Qinglian Furen’s terrible ideas, my aunt was seriously injured..."
Song Yuzhi looked at her.
Cai Zhao: ...
Shangguan Haonan was overjoyed: "I’ve long heard of Yin Qinglian’s cunning schemes. Many of our sect’s experts fell victim to that woman’s plots. Miss Feng’s mother did well to give her a taste of her own medicine! Being carried in through a side gate—people would think she was just a concubine! Hahaha, hahaha..."
Demonic Cult members, Demonic Cult spirit. As a descendant of the Demonic Cult’s high-ranking leaders, he naturally rejoiced at the misfortune of their enemies.
"Well, yes, yes, yes!" Cai Zhao flailed her hands in panic. "My mother had a grudge against Qinglian Furen—no, actually, it was against Old Sect Leader Yin. Because before... Old Sect Leader Yin tricked my aunt..."
Not long before Qinglian Furen’s wedding, the Big Dipper Six Sects planned a joint attack on Nether Bamboo Grove. Yin Dai actually made Cai Pingshu, who was under twenty, lead the charge—this terrible idea was Yin Qinglian’s doing. Ning Xiaofeng was so furious she nearly went to Azure Tower Sect to dump sewage and release venomous snakes!
As soon as she finished speaking, Song Yuzhi’s expression grew even more peculiar.
"..." Cai Zhao realized she had misspoken again.
Shangguan Haonan was even happier. Having grievances with Azure Tower Sect and Vast Heaven Gate—by extension, they were practically allies. He boomed, "Miss Feng needn’t explain. Vast Heaven Gate, that old fool Yin Dai—none of them are good people! Young Master Song, don’t you agree?"
Song Yuzhi opened his mouth, unsure how to respond.
Mu Qingyan smiled, "Yes, Young Master Song, don’t you agree?"
Song Yuzhi snorted.
"...Let’s just stop talking and keep moving," Cai Zhao said weakly.
Only Shangguan Haonan was left scratching his head.
The four continued forward, the deep tunnel silent around them. Mu Qingyan’s lips curled slightly.
After more than half an hour, the four emerged from the tunnel to find the sky already dark, with faint stars visible.
Shangguan Haonan looked around in surprise, "We’re actually here!"
Cai Zhao turned back. Behind them were layers of towering mountains, from which faint sounds of battle could be heard. Her heart clenched, "You Guanyue has already launched his attack—those are the sounds of battle from storming the pass. Does that mean we’ve already crossed Moonlit Pass?"
Shangguan Haonan cheered, "Not just Moonlit Pass—we’re already beyond Retreat Pass now!"
Song Yuzhi, quick-witted, immediately said, "We must be close to the secret entrance Altar Lord Shangguan mentioned?"
Shangguan Haonan’s joy was evident, "Exactly." He pointed to a slope ahead, where a cluster of sharp stone pillars stood halfway up the mountain. "The entrance is right there."
As the saying goes, the mountain may seem close, but the journey is long. The distance, though seemingly short, took the four quite some effort to traverse quietly.Shangguan Haonan turned the mechanism with a sorrowful expression, revealing a dark tunnel behind a sharp rock. He said, "Entering from here leads directly to Paradise Palace."
Mu Qingyan clasped his hands in a feigned gesture of courtesy. "Young Master Dai, you may stop here. Once I reclaim the sect's authority and open the treasure vault, I will lend you the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower. You can wait here for the main forces to arrive."
Song Yuzhi turned his head. "The path ahead is perilous. Zhao Zhao and I should wait here for Altar Lord You and the others."
Mu Qingyan immediately countered, "It would be safer for Zhao Zhao to follow me. Truthfully, there aren’t many formidable fighters left in Paradise Palace now."
Song Yuzhi raised an eyebrow. "If that’s the case, why does Young Master Mu insist I stay behind?"
Mu Qingyan stiffened. "Young Master Dai’s health is delicate, unlike Zhao Zhao’s robust vitality. I’m only thinking of your well-being. You should recognize a good intention when you see one."
Song Yuzhi scoffed. "Young Master Mu claims to be a good man? Hah, that’s enough to make people laugh their teeth out."
Mu Qingyan replied coolly, "Laughter doesn’t make teeth fall out. More likely, they were knocked out by someone babbling nonsense after overeating."
"You’re the one spouting nonsense, calling Zhao Zhao, a young lady, 'robust vitality.' You might as well say she’s 'built like a bear.'"
"I’ll say what I please. Zhao Zhao never fusses over trivialities. Only petty, narrow-minded men harp on such things—"
"Enough," Cai Zhao sighed deeply. "Let’s talk less and move faster."
The four of them entered the tunnel again, where layers of chilling air surged toward them. Clearly, this passage was buried even deeper underground than the previous one.
The tunnel was silent and cold, with no one speaking.
Shangguan Haonan opened his mouth several times, only to be stifled by the solemn and eerie atmosphere. He had never suffered much in matters of the heart—his only hardship being Nie Zhe’s unwanted advances—so he had no idea how to break the silence now.
As they neared the end of the tunnel, just as Shangguan Haonan was about to speak despite the risk of glares, Mu Qingyan suddenly stopped and turned. "First, let’s discuss the situation inside Paradise Palace."
Shangguan Haonan nearly wept with relief. He knew the new lord was reliable! He knew the new lord wouldn’t let personal emotions interfere with important matters!
Mu Qingyan continued, "Nie Zhe is jealous of talent, so the sect has been in decline for over a decade. Of the Seven Stars Elders, only three remain: Elder Tianshu Lu Fengchun, Elder Yuheng Yan Xu, and Elder Tianji Hu Fengge. Among them, only Hu Fengge was personally promoted by Nie Zhe and can be trusted."
Cai Zhao couldn’t help asking, "This Elder Hu is a woman?"
"Yes," Mu Qingyan said. "She was originally one of the orphans Nie Hengcheng recruited into the Heavenly Dipper Earthly Fiend Camp, known for her exceptional insight and ruthless methods. After the Battle of Green Gauze River, when Nie Hengcheng’s faction was nearly wiped out, Nie Zhe promoted Hu Fengge as his right-hand woman."
"Seems like a formidable opponent," Song Yuzhi remarked. "Do you know her cultivation level?"
"Don’t worry about her today," Mu Qingyan said briskly. "She likely isn’t in Paradise Palace right now."
Song Yuzhi narrowed his eyes. "How do you know that?"
Mu Qingyan replied, "I just do."
Seeing the two about to clash again, Cai Zhao quickly interjected, "What about the other two elders? Whose side are they on? What’s their cultivation level? If they’re anything like the elders from back then, we won’t stand a chance."
Elder Tianxuan was only captured and killed after Cai Changfeng gave his life.Elder Kaiyang was only captured after successfully ambushing the Twin Elders of Green Peak with the combined efforts of the crowd;
Elder Yaoguang and Cang Huanzi, the leader of Grand Beginning Temple, inflicted heavy losses on each other, allowing Yin Dai to seize the opportunity and kill them;
Former Elder Tianji, Duan Jiuxiu, was someone Cai Zhao had personally faced—and even then, it was when his cultivation had greatly diminished after severe injuries;
Then there was Elder Tianquan, Chou Baigang, who was secretly killed by Nie Hengcheng. Just the fact that he endured under Nie Hengcheng’s watch for decades speaks volumes about his capabilities.
A faint smile flickered in Mu Qingyan’s dark eyes. “Zhao Zhao, don’t worry. The Seven Stars Elders each have their strengths, but not all of them are top-tier experts. Take Elder Tianxuan, for example. In terms of martial prowess alone, he was far inferior to Cai Changfeng of Fallen Blossom Valley. However, he excelled in poisons and hidden weapons. Cai Changfeng, wanting to force him to reveal the antidote, held back during their duel and ended up fatally poisoned by a concealed needle.”
Cai Zhao felt a pang of sorrow and lowered her head with a soft hum.
“And then there’s Elder Kaiyang…” Mu Qingyan glanced at Shangguan Haonan.
Shangguan Haonan gave a bitter smile. “Young Master, feel free to speak plainly. My parents have already told me most of it.”
Ironically, the Shangguan couple had no idea they were related to a high-ranking figure in the Demonic Cult until adulthood. It was only after Elders Kaiyang and Yaoguang, in a drunken whim, dragged them out to be married and ordered them to produce offspring as soon as possible.
Fortunately, the young man and woman were both gentle and honest by nature, and after marriage, they lived in harmony. However, they harbored no deep affection for Elders Kaiyang and Yaoguang, so they didn’t hesitate to tell their son the truth.
Mu Qingyan spoke bluntly, “Elder Kaiyang’s successful ambush on Cheng Hao and Wang Dingchuan of the Azure Tower Sect was partly due to his expertise in traps and meticulous planning, but Yin Dai’s deliberate indulgence also played a role.”
Song Yuzhi’s voice turned icy. “Young Master Mu, choose your words carefully.”
Mu Qingyan fixed his gaze on him, his smile chilling. “Has Young Master Song heard of Li Wenxun, the Azure Tower Sect’s outer sect steward? How do you think his martial skills compare to Qiu Renjie, who was recently captured by the Azure Tower Sect?”
Cai Zhao’s heart jolted—she had already guessed part of the truth.
Mu Qingyan took a step forward, enunciating each word. “The Azure Tower Sect’s rule is to select the most outstanding disciple as the next sect leader. Among Yin Dai’s disciples, Qiu Renjie may be the best, but if you combine all the disciples of the Twin Elders of Green Peak, the most exceptional was never Qiu Renjie. Li Wenxun often lamented his deceased senior brothers, saying their insight and cultivation far surpassed his own. Qiu Renjie isn’t even Li Wenxun’s equal, let alone those deceased senior brothers!”
Song Yuzhi’s face paled.
Mu Qingyan took another step forward, his mockery undisguised. “Back then, Cheng Hao and Wang Dingchuan were inferior to Yin Dai, so Yin Dai became sect leader. Now, since Qiu Renjie is inferior to the Twin Elders’ disciples, shouldn’t the next sect leader be one of their disciples? But would Yin Dai allow that?”
Cai Zhao murmured, “Of course not. To make his daughter the sect leader’s wife, he shamelessly forced Madam Sulian to break off her engagement and remarry.”
Mu Qingyan nodded and continued, “After Cheng Hao and Wang Dingchuan died, Yin Dai had the perfect excuse. Over the following years, under the pretense of avenging the Twin Elders, he repeatedly incited their disciples to charge recklessly into the Nether Bamboo Grove. What a pity—so many brave and loyal men, fueled by naive fervor, shattered like eggs against stone, never suspecting the scheming behind their sacrifices.”"Some martial arts elders felt that such a sacrifice was too devastating, needlessly burying the promising talents of the Azure Tower Sect. But Yin Dai slammed down a heavy accusation, repeatedly emphasizing the profound debt to their master, claiming that disciples who didn’t seek revenge were simply ungrateful. If Qi Yunke hadn’t emerged later, surpassing all his peers, and if Yin Dai hadn’t gained an outstanding new disciple, Li Wenxun might not have survived."
This revelation sent cold sweat trickling down Song Yuzhi’s back, while Cai Zhao was utterly horrified.
She couldn’t help but think that, given the sinister and shadowy schemes of Yin Dai and his daughter back then, it was nothing short of a miracle that her aunt had managed to survive unscathed until her final battle with Nie Hengcheng.
On one hand, Song Yuzhi refused to believe his grandfather could be so vile and treacherous; on the other, he faintly sensed that Mu Qingyan’s words held truth. Struggling to maintain composure, he said, "This is merely Mu Shaojun’s one-sided account. Given the long-standing enmity between your Demonic Cult and the Big Dipper Six Sects, it’s hardly surprising you’d speculate this way about Old Sect Leader Yin."
Hearing the weakness in his words, Cai Zhao inwardly shook her head and spoke up, "Let’s get back to the main topic."
"Right, the main issue is what matters," Shangguan Haonan chimed in, oblivious to the suddenly heavy atmosphere. "Who cares about the Big Dipper Six Sects tearing each other apart? Let’s focus on Elder Yuheng and Elder Tianshu instead."
Cai Zhao smiled wryly.
The Demonic Cult had simple, blunt fools like Shangguan Haonan, while the Big Dipper Six Sects harbored scheming, ruthless figures like Yin Dai and Qiu Yuanfeng, who harmed their own. Sometimes, the world was just absurd like that.
The corners of Mu Qingyan’s lips curled slightly, but he refrained from further taunting Song Yuzhi and continued, "Though Elder Yuheng disapproved of Nie Hengcheng’s autocratic ways, he admired his ambition and talent, remaining somewhat neutral. But he couldn’t stand Nie Zhe’s behavior. After a fierce argument with Nie Zhe a decade ago, he left the sect and vanished without a trace."
Shangguan Haonan quickly interjected, "Who could stand Nie Zhe anyway?"
"As for Elder Tianshu..." Mu Qingyan pressed his lips together and shook his head. "The only reason he’s lived comfortably to this day is thanks to four words: ‘sailing with the wind.’ If we succeed, he might be the first to pledge allegiance and offer congratulations."
Cai Zhao nodded. "So, the ones we really need to watch out for are those so-called Ten Tigers, Six Leopards, and Four Sky Hounds."
Shangguan Haonan grinned, his tanned, rugged face radiating youthful energy.
"This time, I’ll actually say something nice about the Big Dipper Six Sects. A few months ago, Nie Zhe suddenly lost his mind and sent his elite forces to ambush them. Some groups got lucky and found their targets absent, but the rest suffered heavy losses."
"Of the Ten Tigers, Qiu Ba and Qian Xiaosen died beneath Hidden Beauty Gorge, while the Li Erhe brothers fell outside Vast Heaven Gate. Among the Six Leopards, Yu Kan and Yan Ying were killed outside Jade Pendant Mountain Manor, and Ying Cailong was crippled. As for the Four Sky Hounds, the Earthshaker Hound Chen Li and his brother were trapped in the Azure Tower Sect—no one even knows if they’re still alive..."
Cai Zhao’s heart skipped a beat. "That Earthshaker Hound Chen Li—did he have a huge hooked nose?"
Shangguan Haonan corrected her, "Wrong. Have you met Chen Li, Miss Feng? His hooked nose was slightly shorter, while his brother’s was longer."
Cai Zhao chuckled awkwardly. "Haven’t met him, just heard about him. Their looks... were quite distinctive."
—Oh, she had met them. One brother had died by Mu Qingyan’s hand, scaring Qian Xueshen half to death, while the other, after the effects of the Snowscale Dragon Beast’s saliva wore off, had led a breakout attempt only to be killed by Li Wenxun.Shangguan Haonan completely believed Cai Zhao's words and nodded, "Oh, the noses of those two brothers are indeed quite prominent."
Mu Qingyan shot a teasing glance at the young girl.
Ignoring him, Cai Zhao counted on her fingers, "Four of the Ten Tigers are dead, half of the Six Leopards can still move, and three of the Four Heavenly Hounds remain. Hmm, the odds don't sound great."
Mu Qingyan said, "The three hounds will definitely be by Nie Zhe's side, the six tigers will be guarding the passes, and the three leopards are manageable. So we'll strike as soon as we enter—don't let Nie Zhe escape."
Song Yuzhi finally spoke, his expression gloomy, "Earlier you insisted on reclaiming the sect's authority openly and honorably. Why resort to such underhanded sneak attacks now?"
Mu Qingyan replied indifferently, "Because this isn't the only secret passage. Nie Zhe has controlled Paradise Palace for over a decade—who knows how many escape tunnels he's dug? If I besiege him openly, he'll slip away quietly, and I'll have to hunt him down across the land later."
Song Yuzhi pressed, "If this passage exists, why didn't you lead a large force through it to capture Nie Zhe in one move?"
Mu Qingyan sneered, "Because Paradise Palace isn't Azure Tower Sect's Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff, where anyone can come and go as they please, casually crippling so-called 'heaven's favored ones' along the way!"
"What did you say?!" Veins bulged on Song Yuzhi's forehead.
Mu Qingyan let out a cold laugh, his expression haughty and disdainful.
Shangguan Haonan stood frozen, utterly bewildered by how the conversation had suddenly turned contentious.
Cai Zhao stepped in to mediate, "Third Senior Brother, Young Master Mu didn't mean it like that..."
Though she knew the sarcastic devil absolutely meant it that way, she pressed on regardless, "If the frontal assault on the passes isn't loud, large, or fierce enough, Nie Zhe would suspect Young Master Mu has another plan and prepare for a sneak attack on Paradise Palace... Right?" She glanced at Mu Qingyan.
Mu Qingyan's long, ink-dark brows framed his handsome face, half-hidden in shadow. He studied Cai Zhao for a moment before saying, "No need to rush to mediate. With a battle imminent, I know what's at stake." With that, he turned and left in a sweep of his sleeves.
Cai Zhao was so furious she felt her chest churn violently.
Shangguan Haonan activated the exit mechanism, and the four of them filed out.
As they took in their surroundings, a thick wave of perfumed air assaulted them—a blend of floral, woody, and musky scents so potent that even Cai Zhao's keen sense of smell nearly suffocated for a moment. At the same time, she noticed the softness beneath her feet and looked down to see the floor covered in several inches of pure white long-haired carpet, made from who-knows-how-many rare animal pelts.
The room was extravagantly decorated, dripping with opulence. The curtains were strung entirely with South Sea pearls, the bed was sandalwood inlaid with mutton-fat jade, and even an ordinary incense burner was studded with thumb-sized glittering gemstones.
This level of garish taste could only be rivaled by Vast Heaven Gate's Sect Leader Song.
After a quick scan of the room, Mu Qingyan frowned, "This... is Nie Zhe's private chamber?"
Under everyone's puzzled gazes, Shangguan Haonan looked utterly aggrieved, nearly shedding tears of a tough man, "That bastard Nie summoned me privately several times... always with ill intentions."
He wiped his eyes and declared resolutely, "But rest assured, Young Master, thanks to my fierce resistance, that scoundrel Nie has never succeeded!"
Mu Qingyan's expression was complicated.
Song Yuzhi offered a dry compliment, "Altar Lord Shangguan is truly... a paragon of chastity and virtue..."Cai Zhao patted Shangguan Haonan on the shoulder, comforting him, "Cheer up. The fact that Nie Zhe was willing to let you in on such a secret tunnel shows he’s truly sincere about you—completely smitten with your... uh, physique."
Shangguan Haonan grew even more aggrieved at these words. "Am I supposed to thank him for that?!"
Cai Zhao gave a dry chuckle. "Well, no need for that."
"Quiet, someone's coming," Mu Qingyan swiftly sidestepped to one side in a low stance, while the other three also scattered to find hiding spots.
Separated by a central hall and two folding screens, the outer area was a spacious reception room.
After a series of uneven footsteps, several people entered the reception room.
Though they were some distance away, Mu Qingyan and the other three possessed extraordinary cultivation, their senses far sharper than ordinary people's. Thus, the voices from the reception hall reached their ears with perfect clarity.
"Hmph! That little bastard Mu Qingyan—we should have rooted him out back then!" a shrill middle-aged man's voice rang out.
A calm woman responded, "Didn't you want to root him out over a year ago? Oh, you did—desperately so. Yet even when the young master Mu was severely wounded and poisoned, you still couldn’t catch him."
"Keep yapping, and I’ll throw you back into your courtyard! Once the Feather Transformation Sect falls and Mu Qingyan captures you and your son, let’s see if he’ll show mercy to women and children!"
The woman replied, "If it were just me, death wouldn’t matter. But I can’t bear to see my son, Si’en, suffer. Poor Uncle was a hero in his time, unrivaled under heaven. Now, all that’s left is Si’en, his only bloodline, to offer incense for him in the future."
"Li Ru, shut your mouth! I’m not dead yet! Uncle’s incense will be offered by me!" the man snapped.
A sinister, cackling voice chimed in, "Sect Leader, there’s no need for such worry. Elder Hu is fighting valiantly outside. From the battle reports these past few hours, both sides have had their victories and defeats. By the time they exhaust themselves fighting their way to Paradise Palace, they’ll be spent arrows—easy for us to finish off! Hahaha..."
Another voice added, "Elder Brother is right. Sect Leader, ease your mind."
Nie Zhe sighed. "Thankfully, I have all of you guarding me. That gives me some peace."
Suddenly, a clear, bright voice interjected, "So, Sect Leader, you’re hoping Feng Ge and Mu Qingyan will weaken each other, leaving you to reap the rewards? Feng Ge has been utterly loyal to you!"
Mu Qingyan, who had been listening calmly, suddenly frowned. He glanced back at Shangguan Haonan, jerking his thumb toward the hall with a look that said, How did he get here?
Shangguan Haonan looked utterly bewildered and shook his head vigorously.
Nie Zhe seemed both furious and ashamed. "I did hope for that! Of course I know Feng Ge’s loyalty, but given the situation now, do you have any other ideas?!"
"Of course. Step down as Sect Leader, return power to the Mu family, and retire from the Martial World."
"Bullshit! Even if I were willing to step down, would that little bastard Mu Qingyan let me go? Don’t be fooled by his jade-like appearance—his heart is black as pitch! Skinning people alive, burning them at the stake—he’s never hesitated!"
"Well, you did send people to spy on him. Naturally, he had to make an example."
"Yu Huixin, whose side are you on?!" Nie Zhe shrieked.
Yu Huixin sighed. "If the feud can be resolved, I urge the Sect Leader, Madam, and the young master to leave quickly through the secret passage. Over the years, I’ve found a secluded paradise where we can live in peace. Wouldn’t that be better?"
"Bullshit, bullshit! I, the mighty Sect Leader, fleeing without even a fight? I’d be utterly humiliated! With Feng Ge here, she’ll surely hold off that brat’s assault!"
Li Ru cut in, "Fifth Brother, don’t waste your breath. He’ll never give up power and wealth."
Yu Huixin persisted, worried. "But what about Feng Ge? Are we just going to let her fight to the death?!"
"She won’t die. She’s formidable." Nie Zhe scoffed. "Ah, if only Uncle had lived a few more years. He could have personally trained Si’en in martial arts. Then the Divine Sect would have nothing to do with the Mu family! Hmph! It’s all that bitch Cai Pingshu’s fault—that vile whore, that wretched spawn! Thank heavens she died early. Otherwise, if she’d fallen into my hands, I’d have stripped her naked and thrown her into the pigpen for all the brothers to—"Cai Zhao could not endure her aunt being subjected to such filthy insults. With a swift motion, she sliced through the beaded curtain and leaped forward directly.
The crowd, seeing a beautiful and youthful lone girl, was more stunned than frightened.
It was no wonder they misjudged her—Cai Zhao had indeed spent the past fifteen years sheltered in Fallen Blossom Valley, untouched by the storms of the Martial World. When she looked at people, her large eyes were clear, her expression pure and serene.
—Only heaven knew she was a sweet-faced but ruthless creature who would dig up ancestral graves and still complain her hands hurt!
Well, and Mu Qingyan knew too.
A gap-toothed man with a lecherous grin sauntered up to Cai Zhao, reaching out to touch her. "What a pretty little girl, let me—"
Smack!
The heavy sound of flesh striking flesh rang out. Before anyone could see how Cai Zhao had moved, the man was already flying through the air in a flat arc, like a badly kicked shuttlecock, before thudding headfirst into the wall and collapsing to the ground.
His head was bleeding, his cheek split and swollen, and the dull sound of cracking ribs echoed from his chest.
Cai Zhao frowned slightly and let out a soft sigh, like a refined young lady pleased with her flower pruning.
"Was I too rough?" She tilted her head slightly.
Mu Qingyan appeared leisurely, his smile captivating. "Who said that? Our Zhao Zhao is the gentlest and most amiable."
"That’s not wrong," Song Yuzhi chimed in.
It was rare for these two to agree on anything—only Shangguan Haonan stood there, dumbfounded.
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