With the official stance settled, peace returned to Nine Conch Mountain.
The Cai couple had intended to spend more time with their daughter, hoping to remedy her views on marriage while showing off their own loving relationship. However, they soon received a carrier pigeon message from Ning Family Fortress—Old Madam Ning had once again "felt her time was near" and wished for her daughter's family to visit.
"How many times is this now?" Cai Zhao counted on her fingers.
"Third time," Ning Feng sighed.
After Old Hero Ning passed away, Old Madam Ning's temperament changed drastically.
In her youth, she had been detached from worldly affairs and disliked crowds, but now she feared loneliness most of all, longing for her children and family to be by her side every day.
In her younger days, she had been devoted to ascetic practice, urging her children to renounce the world and fulfill her own wishes. But now, seeing the desolate and sparsely populated Ning Family Fortress, she regretted daily that her husband's surname and unparalleled skills had no heir, fearing that their legacy would vanish. Who would remember, a hundred years from now, that there had once been a great hero in the Martial World, master of mechanisms, formations, medicine, and swordsmanship?
Ning Feng sometimes marveled at how remarkable her parents were—someone as open-minded and wise as Old Hero Ning had fallen for a woman as fussy and stubborn as Old Madam Ning.
This time, Cai Pingchun and his wife planned to stay longer and had already sent word to Fallen Blossom Valley to have their son, Cai Han, brought directly to Ning Family Fortress.
Before their departure, Ning Feng grabbed her daughter’s ear and nagged incessantly—don’t stray from the right path, don’t act recklessly, and most importantly, don’t associate with the vile fiends of the Demonic Cult. Listen to your elders.
Cai Zhao was exasperated: "Aren’t you embarrassed saying that, Mother? Have you ever listened to a single word from your elders in your life? The more Grandmother forbade you from doing something, the more you did it. You nearly got Auntie’s Hanging Temple torn down—and you still have the nerve to lecture me..."
Such petty bickering didn’t faze Ning Feng in the slightest: "Well, your mother was lucky! The moment I stepped out of the house, I met your aunt! Why should I listen to my elders? I just listened to your aunt! Do you have that kind of luck? Do you? Do you?!"
Cai Zhao conceded defeat: "If I’d known this, I’d have just stayed home. None of this would’ve happened."
"Enough nonsense! Behave!"
While mother and daughter bickered, Cai Pingchun remained deep in thought.
After his wife finished yelling and left, he called his daughter aside and asked quietly, "In your opinion, will Mu Qingyan truly punish the ones who slaughtered the Chang family?"
Cai Zhao shifted uncomfortably. "Though his face and name were fake, the way he treated Uncle Chang didn’t seem false. He’ll probably punish them. I think we can drop the investigation into the Chang Family Fortress massacre—since it was the Demonic Cult’s doing anyway, let their new leader kill a few people to establish his authority." She deliberately avoided saying his name, as if to reinforce her resolve to cut ties.
Cai Pingchun said, "The Demonic Cult is treacherous—we can’t take their word for it. We’ll need to investigate this thoroughly later and not let the killers off lightly. In two months, it’ll be the first anniversary of Brother Chang’s death. We grew up together—I never imagined it would end like this." He sighed. "Your master and I discussed bringing Brother Chang’s ashes to the Chang Family Cemetery so his family can be reunited."
After a pause, he added, "Others may forget, but our family owes Brother Chang a great debt. We must pay our respects sincerely. You’ll go ahead first to prepare the Chang family’s ruins—arrange coffins, offerings, and everything needed for the burial."
Cai Zhao agreed and asked, "Should we try to find the real Young Master Chang?"Cai Pingchun pondered for a moment before saying, "Forget it. Since our nephew from the Chang family cannot practice martial arts, dragging him back into the Martial World would do more harm than good. Let’s follow Brother Chang’s wishes and allow him to live leisurely in the countryside as a scholar."
Cai Zhao nodded, then looked up to see her father frowning deeply. "Father, is there something else on your mind?"
Cai Pingchun hesitated. "When you tidy up the Chang Family Cemetery, take a careful look around..."
"Look for what?" Cai Zhao was puzzled.
Cai Pingchun seemed to struggle with his words. "In the early spring before the Battle of Mount Tu, I once followed your aunt into the Chang Family Fortress. At the time, your aunt and Brother Chang were discussing important matters in the study, so I wandered around the fortress and ended up at the vast Chang Family Cemetery on the back hill. A few months ago, after the bicentennial memorial ceremony for the Ancestor, I went to the Chang Family Fortress again to investigate some clues and found myself back at that cemetery..."
"Father, stop beating around the bush—that’s such a bad habit of yours!" Cai Zhao pressed impatiently.
Cai Pingchun gave a bitter smile. "Ah, you child! Well, the truth is, even I’m not entirely sure. I just felt something was off."
"Were there new graves added?"
Cai Pingchun shook his head. "It’s been over a decade. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all natural. A few new graves wouldn’t be strange."
"Were there any unusual tombstones?"
"The Chang family has always adhered to the Daoist principles of simplicity and restraint. Whether it’s the tombstones or the burial items, everything is clean and plain—nothing out of the ordinary."
"Then what felt off?" Cai Zhao couldn’t think of anything either.
"Your father doesn’t know either." Cai Pingchun gazed ahead. "That year, Nie Hengcheng seemed to have mastered some Demonic Art and was launching attacks everywhere, his influence blotting out the sky. The brothers who stood by your aunt, the heroes of the Big Dipper Six Sects, suffered heavy casualties, leaving only a pitiful few. At the time, I was at a complete loss. I stood for a long time on the stone steps south of that cemetery, growing more and more despondent the longer I thought about it. I remained there until sunset, when your aunt called me back to splash cold water on my face to clear my mind. Only then did I feel slightly better."
"A few months ago, I returned to that cemetery. Around the same season, in nearly the same spot, I stood there again until sunset." A perplexed expression crossed Cai Pingchun’s face. "I kept feeling something was wrong, but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Ah, if only your grandfather were still alive—he would’ve noticed it immediately."
Finally, he said, "In any case, Zhao Zhao, just take a look when you go. If you don’t notice anything, it’s fine. Maybe your father is just overthinking things."
Cai Zhao nodded solemnly.
Unlike her impulsive mother, she knew her father was steady and thoughtful—he wouldn’t bring something up lightly. Since he spoke so seriously, there must be something truly unusual that was hard to articulate. She would have to pay extra attention when the time came.
"After paying respects to the Chang family, your mother and I will take you to First Grade Pavilion for roasted pigeon, then to Ning Family Fortress to visit your grandmother," Cai Pingchun said affectionately, looking at his daughter. "And Han."
"With such a haphazard approach to apprenticeship, my master won’t be happy," Cai Zhao giggled.
"Then invite your master along for roasted pigeon, and then to see your grandmother—she’s always praised him for being honest and kind over the years."
"Hahahaha, Father, you’re really not kind at all! That year, when Mother had just escaped from Hanging Temple, Grandmother still wanted her to become a nun. So Mother made up a story about already having a sweetheart. Since Aunt had already revealed her true gender, Mother had no choice but to rope in Master to play along for Grandmother’s sake. But who knew Master couldn’t lie? Within the time it took to drink a cup of tea, he spilled everything about Mother with a loud clatter—hahahaha... From then on, Mother and Master have been at odds." Cai Zhao clutched her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.Recalling the past, Cai Pingchun couldn't help but smile.
However, what his daughter didn't know was that the feud between Ning Feng and Qi Yunke had actually started even earlier than that incident.
These two—one was Cai Pingshu's most beloved younger sister, the other her most trusted sworn brother. The former worried the latter would compete for Pingshu's affection, while the latter couldn't understand why Pingshu would endlessly tolerate such a willful and spoiled girl.
Later, as the situation grew increasingly dire, to protect Ning Feng, Cai Pingshu had no choice but to hide her away and fight alongside Qi Yunke more often. Even now, whenever Ning Feng thought of this, she would cry in frustration, deeply resenting her own inability to help and hating Qi Yunke even more for being capable yet letting Pingshu face Mount Tu alone.
In the carriage on their way back, Ning Feng was still worried: "Zhao Zhao's luck is a bit worse. My mother met my father as soon as she entered the Martial World and never suffered hardship in her life. As for me, I met Sister Pingshu right away, so I didn’t have to either. But poor Zhao Zhao—the moment she stepped out, she ran into a Demonic Cult heretic lying in wait at Nine Conch Mountain..."
Cai Pingchun's lips twitched. "Zhao Zhao isn't a rabbit."
"Don't interrupt," Ning Feng said. "It's your fault. If you and Qi Yunke hadn't insisted back then that the demon was the Chang family's orphan, Zhao Zhao wouldn't have taken him as one of her own. Now all the misfortune has fallen on one person—is there no justice in this world?!"
Hearing this, Cai Pingchun also grew anxious and couldn't help saying, "Isn't it too late to send her away for apprenticeship now?"
...
"If only they hadn't sent their daughter to Azure Tower Sect so late, I wouldn’t be in such pain now!" Song Shijun complained incessantly while directing servants to pack for their return journey.
"What difference would it have made if Junior Sister had come to Azure Tower Sect a few years earlier? What exactly is Father in pain about?" Song Yuzhi stood to the side, his brow slightly raised, calm and composed.
Song Shijun waved the servants out and lowered his voice. "Yuzhi, be honest with me—what exactly happened between you and Lingbo? During your recovery, she only visited you once or twice and barely said a word each time. Did you two have a falling out? Are you calling off the engagement? If you are, tell me now, and I’ll handle it immediately—make sure it’s done cleanly, without giving the Martial World any reason to gossip!"
"Father." Song Yuzhi's eyes showed disapproval.
"Fine, fine, I won’t bring it up again. Handle Lingbo’s matter yourself." Song Shijun flapped his wide sleeves. "You and Lingbo have never gotten along—you’d even argue over a piece of pastry. I never thought you were suited, but your mother and her sister insisted on the match. Ah, a forced melon is never sweet—marriage shouldn’t be like this. But you and that Cai girl seem to get along quite well!"
"Father?" Song Yuzhi wondered what his father was getting at.
Song Shijun paced the room, unable to contain his excitement. "To be honest, when I heard about that girl’s birth years ago, the thought had crossed my mind. Three years ago, after Cai Pingshu passed, I secretly hoped her parents would hurry up and send her to Azure Tower Sect. Who knew they’d wait three years to act? It nearly killed me with frustration!"
"Cai Zhao has only been at Azure Tower Sect for a few months, yet she was willing to follow you into danger at the Demonic Cult. That shows her feelings for you are anything but ordinary. If she’d come three years earlier, with you two as senior and junior disciples spending every day together—wouldn’t that have been even more ‘extraordinary’!" Song Shijun waggled his eyebrows at his son, his tone eager.
"Father!" A vein throbbed violently on Song Yuzhi's forehead."Alright, alright, I'll stop now." Song Shijun knew when to quit, sighing wistfully. "Ah, Yuzhi, you never saw Cai Pingshu in her prime. That year, she wanted to celebrate Ning Feng's fifteenth birthday in the famous flower fields of Yu City—you know Yu City, right? That was the Demonic Cult's southern stronghold!"
"And then Cai Pingshu casually wrote ten large characters: 'Cai Pingshu will visit here in three days,' and had them posted on the city walls. Hahaha, the Demonic Cult's den in Yu City was thrown into chaos, but what could they do? Within three days, the cult members evacuated completely, not daring to leave a single person behind. Ning Feng held her banquet and frolicked in Yu City for a full seven or eight days. Only after they left did the Demonic Cult dare to sneak back—now that's what I call living a life of true glory and power!"
Watching his father's intoxicated expression of 'though I cannot reach it, my heart yearns for it,' Song Yuzhi sighed helplessly, "Father..."
"Fine, fine, I've said my piece. Yuzhi, you'd better be smart about this. Ah, if it weren't for your second brother causing so much trouble lately, I'd have stayed longer. Maozhi is too impatient—how can the leadership of the six sects be achieved in a single day? Xiuzhi can't keep Maozhi in check either, so I'd better hurry back."
Song Shijun flicked his sleeves and swaggered out the door, grinning broadly. "Brother Yunke, let's skip the farewell banquet. If I get drunk again, I'll have to stay another day..."
On the way down the mountain, Song Shijun suddenly grew worried and beckoned Pang Xiongxin to his sedan chair. "Sixth Brother, why don't you stay in Qingque Town? Give Yuzhi a few pointers."
Pang Xiongxin chuckled. "What's gotten into you, Sect Leader? The Third Young Master has been mature beyond his years since childhood, with a clear mind. His words and actions are even more reliable than yours in the eyes of the elders." Having grown up in Vast Heaven Gate, he was very close to the Song family.
Song Shijun sighed. "Even the best swimmers drown. I'm just afraid Yuzhi is too calculated, and it might backfire."
"What do you mean, Sect Leader?"
Song Shijun explained, "A girl like Cai Zhao, when it comes to marriage, will either follow her parents' example of mutual love and life-or-death trust or find someone like Zhou Zhizhen's foolish son, who can be easily controlled—Yuzhi is stuck in the middle."
"So if Yuzhi is truly interested in the Cai girl, he has two paths now. Either quickly break off the engagement with Lingbo and wholeheartedly treat her well, or lay everything out honestly to both sets of parents and show sincerity."
"As long as Cai Pingchun and Ning Feng aren't blind, they'll know my Yuzhi is a hundred times better than the Zhou boy. How long can a marriage last if the wife is stronger than the husband? That girl seems filial—if her parents agree, and she isn't deeply in love with the Zhou boy nor dislikes Yuzhi, the marriage will naturally work out."
"Ah, but Yuzhi refuses to take either path."
Pang Xiongxin hurriedly asked, "Why is that?"
Song Shijun looked desolate. "Holding back, playing it cool, showing no emotion, taking his time—waiting for the water to carve its own channel, so he can achieve twice the result with half the effort. That's what his mother taught him."
"That does sound like the Madam's style, but there's nothing wrong with that approach," Pang Xiongxin nodded repeatedly. "The Cai girl's engagement was decided too early. Many things weren't thoroughly considered, and it's not too late to change."
Song Shijun shook his head and said nothing more.
On Nine Conch Mountain, inside Hanging Sky Dock, Song Yuzhi stood by the window, gazing out.
A servant boy brought tea, smiling. "The Sect Leader really worries about you, Young Master. He turned back three times after just one step."
Song Yuzhi smiled faintly. "Father is overthinking things."He closed the scroll. "Take these notes to Camellia Longevity Abode and deliver them personally to Junior Sister Zhao Zhao."
The servant boy accepted the order and left.
The tall, handsome young man stood by the door. The blazing sunlight filtered through the tree branches, illuminating his sharp, proud features with dazzling brilliance.
Watching the servant depart, a faint smile played at the corners of his lips.
Within the scroll were records he had personally transcribed—tales from the Martial World filled with slaughter, betrayal, estranged couples, sworn brothers turning against each other, even kin shedding one another's blood.
For the first fifteen years of Cai Zhao's life, her understanding of the Martial World had come solely from Cai Pingshu's accounts, supplemented by romantic novels and theatrical performances.
Now, he would gradually reveal to her the other side—the petty, calculating face of the Martial World.
Zhou Yuqi's martial skills and talents were unremarkable, which had never been a secret.
According to Jade Pendant Mountain Manor's rules, this meant the next manor lord might not necessarily be him. In other words, all Zhou clan members of this generation had a chance to compete for the position. Yet ironically, this mediocre Young Master Zhou had an exceptionally capable fiancée.
Though this fiancée had previously been little-known in the Martial World, word was spreading about how she single-handedly broke through the heavily guarded Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff. Many now knew the Cai Family had produced another extraordinary woman.
Song Yuzhi had observed most of the Zhou clan's younger generation. Without meaning to disparage them, as long as Cai Zhao didn't slack off too much, none of the Zhou youths would be her match in three years' time.
Thus arose an awkward situation.
If Zhou Yuqi relied solely on his own abilities, he couldn't inherit the manor lordship. But with Cai Zhao's intervention, he could.
And Cai Zhao would undoubtedly intervene.
This meant the future Young Mistress Zhou would face three dilemmas:
First, the gossip—that Young Master Zhou was mediocre and incompetent, relying entirely on his wife for advancement (though this was true);
Second, among the Zhou clan members who originally had a chance to compete for the position, even if some accepted the outcome willingly, there would inevitably be those who resented it;
Third, the question of who would truly wield authority in Jade Pendant Mountain Manor—if Zhou Yuqi, some would object; if Cai Zhao, others would still protest.
Over the long years, under such triple pressures, how could the Zhou family remain harmonious? How could the couple maintain marital bliss? To keep peace, Cai Zhao would inevitably have to compromise and yield.
Song Yuzhi gazed at a formation of geese flying high above, his cold, profound features breaking into a radiant smile that made the maids passing beneath the corridor blush.
Just like between him and Qi Lingbo, Cai Zhao and Zhou Yuqi weren't destined for a happy marriage either.
Someone as clever as Zhao Zhao would surely understand.
If she hadn't considered it before, he would enlighten her step by step.
Zhao Zhao would gradually realize that in this vast world, among the Big Dipper Six Sects, only the two of them were truly suited for each other.
Water flows downward; wind blows where it will. Winter gives way to spring; ice melts into water. Such is the natural order of things.
By following this inevitable course, what in this world cannot be achieved?
Outside Qingque Town.
Pang Xiongxin was still trying to persuade: "I witnessed with my own eyes how Miss Cai single-handedly stormed Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff that night—truly like a blazing eagle! But let's be honest, before Third Young Master was injured, he was slightly superior to Miss Cai. Judging by this, among the Big Dipper Six Sects, who could be more deserving than our Third Young Master? Don't worry, Sect Leader, I believe this can succeed."
Having delivered this blunt advice, the straightforward man quickly made himself scarce.
Left alone in the sedan chair, Song Shijun sighed deeply. Having mingled in the mortal world for years, he knew well that matters of the heart often defied logic.How can I make my son understand that marriage cannot be calculated step by step like this?
Because there will always be people in this world who insist on making life difficult for themselves.
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