The two stepped out of the great stone hall and began their journey.
Following the method Cai Zhao had described, whenever they encountered a trigram diagram on the iron walls, they adjusted the hexagram lines accordingly. After traveling for most of an hour, they gradually saw fewer corpses and bones along the way, until eventually, there were no traces of anyone having passed through at all.
"Looks like no one has taken this path in over a hundred years," Mu Qingyan remarked, lightly brushing two fingers against the iron wall before looking up at its top. "Earlier, the dust on the walls we passed varied in thickness, and the cobwebs showed signs of being broken and re-spun. But here, the dust and cobwebs are completely undisturbed."
Cai Zhao agreed.
Noticing the girl's solemn expression, Mu Qingyan gently reassured her, "Don't worry. It seems we're on the right path."
"I'm not worried about whether we're right or wrong—I'm worried about stumbling upon the remains of my ancestor," Cai Zhao said with a bitter smile. "If we were on the wrong path, that would be one thing. But since this is the right one, what chance did my ancestor, who left these markings, have of surviving?"
From the current situation, the two privately concluded that one of Cai Zhao's ancestors from Fallen Blossom Valley must have stumbled upon this underground palace by chance. Though they had deciphered its pathways, their circumstances were dire, forcing them to leave hints of an escape route in the wall carvings.
Given that none of Fallen Blossom Valley's descendants had ever heard of this, it was highly likely that ancestor had perished here.
Mu Qingyan continued to console her, "Zhao Zhao, try not to dwell on it. Didn’t you say earlier that Sect Leader Mu Donglie might have been benevolent and charitable? Maybe he let your ancestor leave unharmed."
Cai Zhao: "...You sound more sincere when you're lying."
As they spoke, an iron wall suddenly appeared ahead, clearly marking the end of the path, with a branching corridor to the left and right.
They had encountered a similar situation before entering the great stone hall, and they had explored both sides, only to find dead ends. But now, they had the guidance of the map.
"This doesn't make sense. According to the map, we should be able to keep going straight ahead," Cai Zhao said, pulling out a silk handkerchief on which she had recorded the map using charcoal from a fire starter.
Mu Qingyan frowned, studying the wall intently for a long moment before carefully running his hands over it. Suddenly, his expression relaxed. "Here." He reached up and pressed something high above, then bent down and pressed another spot at waist height.
The familiar sound of mechanisms activating came from behind the wall, followed by the clanking of iron chains. A small door slid open in the iron wall, and both of them felt a surge of excitement.
To guard against traps, Cai Zhao dangled a silver chain in the doorway for a while before they cautiously stepped through.
They had assumed the door would lead to an exit from the underground palace, but the moment they crossed the threshold, their surroundings opened up dramatically.
Beneath their feet was soft, earthen soil, while above them stretched a bright, crystalline ceiling. Somehow, mirrors had been arranged to refract sunlight from the surface down into the underground space. The air was fresh, with a faint breeze brushing against their faces, making it feel as though they were outdoors.
"This... is this a vegetable garden?" Cai Zhao stared in astonishment at the small, fenced plots of land, where traces of withered, ashen plants still remained.
Mu Qingyan twitched his lips. "Vegetables are usually planted in neat rows. These plants are arranged more artistically—it must have been a flower garden."
Skirting the expansive gardens, they passed several pavilions and waterside terraces. Beneath these structures, a winding stream had once flowed, though it had long since dried up, revealing colorful stones at its bottom.Cai Zhao bent down to pick up a couple of colored stones, only to realize with astonishment that what she held were priceless gemstones.
On the western side, they came across a small menagerie—three or four gilded peacock cages, seven or eight silver rabbit hutches adorned with agate, and sand-gold birdcages inlaid with jadeite. There were even bamboo-woven cages for chickens and ducks... Sadly, all the birds and rare beasts inside had long turned to skeletons.
"Now I believe that when Patriarch Mu Donglie ruled, the Demonic Cult was at the peak of its manpower and resources," Cai Zhao said, her eyes dazzled by the cages. "Even ten thousand rabbits wouldn't be worth as much as one of these hutches!"
Mu Qingyan looked uneasy. "Pavilions, terraces, streams, rockeries, flower gardens, and a menagerie... This seems to be the backyard of a residence."
Cai Zhao was puzzled. "Who would live underground?"
As they pressed forward, an elegant and exquisite small palace came into view.
Walls of white jade, a roof of golden tiles, carved beams and painted rafters... Under the refracted light from the crystal ceiling, the refined grandeur of this little palace remained undimmed even after more than a hundred years.
Entering through the back door, they first arrived at the bedchamber.
If Nie Zhe's inner chamber exuded extravagance and decadence, this one was a dazzling display of jewels and finery that radiated noble elegance, making one forget worldly cares upon seeing it.
On the enormous and exquisitely carved golden-veined coral bed lay two pillows side by side, with two pairs of soft-soled silk slippers—one large, one small—placed beneath it.
The dressing tables, carved from jasper and coral, were also arranged in pairs. The polished silver mirrors stood at different heights—the shorter one scattered with hairpins, earrings, and other feminine ornaments, while the taller one held several white jade boxes containing men's hair crowns, jade hairpins, and dragon-phoenix waist ornaments.
Beyond these, everything from chairs and tables to couches, cups, and even the washing utensils in the side chamber were arranged in pairs.
The only oddity was the four palm-sized golden rings embedded near the base of the chamber walls, each intricately engraved with pomegranate blossom patterns.
"Did a married couple live here?" Mu Qingyan frowned in confusion. "Historical records never mentioned Patriarch Mu Donglie taking a wife. If he had a family, why did he pass the patriarch position to his nephew instead of his own child?"
On this matter, Cai Zhao was particularly insightful. "Who says marriage guarantees children? Let me tell you, the busiest doctor in Fallen Blossom Town isn't the one treating injuries or rare diseases—it's the one helping struggling couples conceive!"
The handsome young man looked uncharacteristically bewildered. In his mind, even unmarried couples could have children—how could a married pair need medical help to conceive?
Room by room they explored, from the bedchamber to the banquet hall, the study to the music room, growing increasingly certain that this palace belonged to a married couple. The master of the house was unclear, but the mistress must have been gentle yet resilient.
She loved misty rain-themed poetry, kept notes on gardening, wore three-fingered tortoiseshell picks when playing the zither, and could split a single silk thread into nine strands for embroidery, patiently stitching landscapes of heaven and earth.
Cai Zhao stood before the embroidery frame, straining to make out the pattern. Though the silk hadn't decayed in a century, its colors had darkened. Mu Qingyan glanced at it and declared, "Two crooked-neck podocarpus trees."
Cai Zhao saw it too. "They're not crooked-neck podocarpus—they're welcoming pines! A variant of podocarpus. I'll take you to Evergreen Temple someday—they have the most magnificent welcoming pines in the world!"Then she was puzzled, "Could this lady be from Evergreen Temple? But Evergreen Temple doesn't accept nuns either."
Mu Qingyan frowned slightly, as if recalling something.
Only after thoroughly examining the entire palace did the two discover a hidden inner chamber in the study.
It was called hidden, but in truth, it was merely concealed by bookshelves and a beaded curtain.
Inside stood a tall shrine, with the faint scent of incense still lingering. Enshrined within was neither a Taoist patriarch nor any celestial or demonic deity, but a foot-tall jade statue of an elderly immortal.
The jade statue exuded an immortal aura, with a slightly raised horsetail whisk, its appearance strikingly familiar—Mu and Cai had just seen it moments ago.
Cai Zhao was startled: "So this couple worshipped Old Ancestor Bei Chen."
At that moment, Mu Qingyan suddenly reached out toward the jade statue of Old Ancestor Bei Chen. Cai Zhao was so alarmed that she quickly grabbed his arm, "No, no, no! There's plenty of gold and silver treasures outside, very valuable. Let's not desecrate the ancestor's noble spirit."
Mu Qingyan chuckled, "Look at what's beneath the ancestor's jade statue."
Cai Zhao looked and only then noticed two thin jade slips pressed under the statue. Since both the statue and the slips were white, an ordinary person wouldn't have noticed unless they were as sharp-eyed as Mu Qingyan.
Mu Qingyan carefully lifted the statue and extracted the jade slips. Beside him, Cai Zhao was also excited—something so solemnly placed beneath the ancestor's shrine must be either a treasure map or a secret manual of some peerless martial art.
But when Mu Qingyan opened it, he let out a surprised "Huh?"—"It's a marriage certificate."
"Marriage certificate?" Cai Zhao was stunned.
Mu Qingyan spread the jade slip marriage certificate on the table, and the two examined it together. Engraved upon it were the words:
"On this joyous day, the auspicious ceremony is concluded, and a blessed union is sealed. Poems sing of harmonious love, and elegant verses praise virtuous matches. May our bond be as steadfast as mandarin ducks, united in heart until white-haired old age, never wavering in this vow. This covenant is solemnly made, pledging eternal fidelity to one another."
Below were the names of the newlyweds: first, the bold and forceful strokes of "Mu Donglie," then the graceful and elegant handwriting of the bride, inscribed with the name "Luo Shiyun."
Mu Qingyan murmured to himself, "So Mu Donglie, the leader of the Demonic Cult, really did marry. But who is this Lady Luo..." Before he could finish, he noticed the strange, unsettled expression on the girl beside him.
"What's wrong?" He narrowed his eyes. "Do you... do you know who this Luo Shiyun is? Where have you heard of her?"
Cai Zhao stammered, "I-I haven't heard of her, this... but I think I know who she is."
Her words were disjointed, yet Mu Qingyan's heart stirred. "The founding ancestor of Fallen Blossom Valley was first surnamed Niu, then Gu, and later, the surname became Luo, didn't it? She... is she from your Fallen Blossom Valley?"
After a long hesitation, Cai Zhao slowly nodded. "Probably. But this is a long story. Should we go outside to talk?"
Hearing that Mu Donglie had married a woman from Fallen Blossom Valley filled Mu Qingyan with inexplicable joy.
Smiling, he pulled the girl to sit down. "The leader of the Demonic Cult married your ancestor, and you really want to discuss this outside? It's better to talk here. Take your time—there's no rush."
Cai Zhao sighed. "Actually, there isn't much to say."
Like all long-established sects, Fallen Blossom Valley kept genealogical records of its ancestors' achievements and anecdotes. Some entries were detailed, others brief; some meticulously recorded, while others were glossed over ambiguously. Put nobly, it was to prevent future generations from emulating misdeeds; put kindly, it was to keep family shame from spreading.For example, a 'demoness' like Gu Qingkong.
Over two hundred years, the Sun family of Fallen Blossom Valley had flourished, with no fewer than one hundred and fifty names recorded in the ancestral records. Naturally, Cai Zhao couldn’t remember them all, especially since most who ventured into the Martial World were men.
Yet among this vast array of ancestors, a few women stood out prominently. Aside from the incomparably heroic Cai Pingshu, the second most renowned was 'Luo Shiyun.'
"What achievements did this Luo Shiyun have?" Mu Qingyan frowned.
Cai Zhao sighed. "She was said to be the most dignified, virtuous, and talented woman in Fallen Blossom Valley over those two hundred years—and also the one who married the best. My mother often held her up as an example to scold me."
Coincidentally, Luo Shiyun also grew up in Jade Pendant Mountain Manor and was betrothed to the young master. However, while Cai Pingshu struggled within the household, Luo Shiyun thrived effortlessly.
Her future mother-in-law, Lady Zhou, treated her as her own daughter, personally instructing her for several years before passing away. After Luo Shiyun married into the family, there were none of the typical conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
When the old master and mistress of Fallen Blossom Valley passed away, their only son was still young. Luo Shiyun had to manage half the household on behalf of her younger brother.
With her own mother gone early, her young sister-in-law clung to Luo Shiyun even more than she would have to a mother. This sister-in-law later married into Vast Heaven Gate.
According to the ancestral records, within a few years, Luo Shiyun effectively controlled three of the Big Dipper Six Sects.
First, there was her childhood sweetheart and husband, famously henpecked in the Martial World, who obeyed his wife’s every word.
Next was the young master of Fallen Blossom Valley, still losing his baby teeth. As his elder sister stood in place of a mother, he never questioned Luo Shiyun’s decisions.
Lastly was the young master of Vast Heaven Gate, who inherited his position early. Though highly skilled in martial arts, he was gentle and indecisive. When elders in the family looked down on or suppressed him, he would sulk alone in his room until his wife saw him. She would then write a tearful letter to her family, and Luo Shiyun would storm over to demand answers.
The old sect master of Azure Tower Sect once joked that during those years, whenever the six sects held meetings, Luo Shiyun practically made all the decisions single-handedly—while he, the nominal leader, was merely a figurehead.
This history made many self-proclaimed 'real men' uncomfortable. Yet Luo Shiyun handled affairs with fairness, strict rewards and punishments, and an undeniable authority that commanded respect.
Though she scolded all the Song men—except her brother-in-law—as if they were dogs, and meddled in Vast Heaven Gate’s affairs by playing factions against each other, she also healed the deep rifts left by the previous generation of the Song family, averting imminent internal strife.
Though her sweeping reforms in Fallen Blossom Valley angered many Luo elders, within a few years, she handed her younger brother a thriving and well-ordered estate.
Though she had her husband firmly under her thumb, Master Zhou himself was content, and the entire Zhou family obeyed without question. Under her influence, Jade Pendant Mountain Manor rose to prominence in the Martial World, commanding universal respect.
—Luo Shiyun was a peculiar figure in the ancestral records of these families. They wanted to praise this remarkable woman, yet their words were awkward and grudging.
Mu Qingyan laughed after hearing this. "Did the Yin father and daughter take inspiration from this Madam Luo, hoping to follow her example? Pity their plans were cut short—what a shame."
"My mother said the same thing!" Cai Zhao also laughed.
Mu Qingyan: "Her name was Luo Shiyun—did she have a sister named Luo Shiyun?"
"I don’t know," Cai Zhao sighed. "I only know Madam Luo’s younger brother was named Luo Shi’an. There’s no record of whether they had any other siblings."Her gaze dimmed, "Then in the records of subsequent generations, it was clearly written: 'Four years after the chaos of Gu Qingkong subsided, misfortune befell Fallen Blossom Valley when another wicked woman emerged.'"
Mu Qingyan blurted out, "Gu Qingkong disappeared 160 years ago. Four years later would be exactly 120 years ago, which coincides with when Sect Leader Mu Donglie abdicated and retired. So, so..."
"So I'm afraid this must be the other witch from Fallen Blossom Valley." Cai Zhao sighed repeatedly while looking at the jade marriage document. "Senior Gu Qingkong merely had a bad temper, enjoyed opposing the Six Sects, and occasionally beat up elders. But this one—she actually married the leader of the Demonic Cult. I wonder if her parents died young from anger because of her."
Mu Qingyan's eyelid twitched, and he hurriedly said, "Don't talk nonsense. Anyone with decent cultivation wouldn't die so easily from anger." He changed the subject, "Let's search this shrine again. If we don't find anything unusual, we should continue looking for a way out."
Cai Zhao shot him a glare and silently began examining the shrine. As an inexplicable rage rose within her, she knocked over a white jade box with a sweep of her hand. When the lid flew open, a bundle of dazzling golden objects spilled out.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a large coil of slender golden chains—one end fitted with a lock, the other with a large round loop.
"What is this? It doesn't look like something to hang around the neck..." Cai Zhao was laughing when she suddenly caught sight of the familiar patterns on the chains. Her expression changed drastically.
Mu Qingyan, quick-witted, immediately realized what it was. But before he could speak, Cai Zhao erupted in fury.
"Bastards! You Mu family are all bastards!" She hurled the white jade box at Mu Qingyan's head while simultaneously forming her palm into a blade, slashing toward him with chilling force.
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