The gentle spring breeze of April carried a soothing warmth, lulling people into a drowsy comfort.
After enduring the major upheavals of the false sect leader and the Demonic Cult's invasion, the Azure Tower Sect had finally returned to its former tranquility. The training grounds buzzed with activity under the blazing morning sun. Song Yu stood firm, shoulders squared, his movements agile as he swung his sword—rocks split apart, dust billowed, and the disciples erupted in thunderous cheers.
This perilous journey involving the Demonic Cult could be considered a complete success. By sheer "coincidence," Song and Cai had obtained a treasure and escaped unscathed from the strife-ridden Demonic Cult. Upon their return, Song Yu had even regained his former strength, delighting Qi Yunke so much that he ate an extra bowl of rice—after all, for any sect, a chosen disciple cultivated for ten years was of extraordinary importance.
Heaven smiled upon them, and joy filled the air, yet the disciples couldn’t shake an eerie sense of discord lingering over Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff—Junior Sister Cai, who had always been cheerful and amiable, had suddenly changed her temperament.
The first to bear the brunt of her ire was Fourth Senior Brother Ding Zhuo.
As the young hero who had been stood up twice, Ding Zhuo felt justified in his indignation. During a small gathering hosted by Zeng Dalou, he muttered a sarcastic remark at Cai Zhao, implying that he must indeed be a nobody since he kept being forgotten.
He had expected Xiao Cai Guniang to laugh it off as usual, clasp her fists in apology, and reschedule their duel. But this time, without a word, she slammed down her chopsticks, coldly grabbed Ding Zhuo’s sleeve, and dragged him all the way back to his residence, ordering the gates to be guarded and no one allowed inside.
About two or three incense sticks later, Cai Zhao emerged with an expressionless face, her moonlit gown billowing with an air of unapproachable defiance. No one dared to ask what had happened. Ding Zhuo, meanwhile, remained secluded in his room for three full days. When he finally reappeared, he was cloaked in melancholy, his usual arrogance diminished by half.
No one knew what had transpired in the Bamboo-Splitting Pavilion, but according to disciples who eavesdropped, the clashing of swords had echoed incessantly. Servants who later cleaned up reported shattered sword fragments scattered everywhere—clearly, the two had fought fiercely, and likely more than once.
No one knew the outcome of the duel, nor dared to ask. All they knew was that when Cai Zhao pushed open the door to leave, she coldly tossed a remark at Ding Zhuo, who was sprawled on the ground: "Is martial arts just a performance for others? In a life-or-death fight, who’ll wait for you to bathe, burn incense, and ask if your mouth hurts or if you’re too full? If Fourth Senior Brother keeps posturing like this, he’ll be stuck in his own little world forever!"
The silver lining was that Ding Zhuo began actively participating in sparring sessions with his peers and even expressed to Qi Yunke his desire to venture down the mountain for real-world experience. The downside? The disciples now had one more senior brother to "motivate" them.
The second to cross Cai Zhao’s path was Song Yu.
Truthfully, Song Yu had no interest in the outcome of the Bamboo-Splitting Pavilion duel—he was merely looking for an excuse to visit the Camellia Longevity Abode.
"How did your match with Fourth Junior Brother go the other day, Zhao Zhao?" Song Yu asked stiffly.
Cai Zhao looked surprised. "After fighting side by side in the Nether Bamboo Path, do you really not know?"
Of course Song Yu knew.
Cai Zhao had always been slightly stronger than Ding Zhuo, but she had previously only trained within Fallen Blossom Valley. It wasn’t until the Demonic Cult stormed Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff that she gained real combat experience. Yet that encounter had been brief, and with Li Wenxun and others watching over her, she had been confident of her safety—unlike this recent journey to the Nether Bamboo Path, where she had faced life-and-death battles firsthand.The followers of the Demonic Cult had no regard for martial ethics. After enduring numerous overt and covert attacks during their perilous journey, Cai Zhao's martial skills had naturally advanced by leaps and bounds. According to Song Yu's estimation, before venturing into the Nether Bamboo Path, Cai Zhao could defeat Ding Zhuo within 170 to 180 moves. After returning from the Nether Bamboo Path, she could likely defeat him in around a hundred moves.
Song Yu, after all, was not skilled in conversation and eventually had to ask directly: "How many moves?"
Cai Zhao: "Seventy-eight."
"So fast?" Song Yu was slightly surprised.
"I drew the Bright Sun Blade. Fourth Brother cherishes his 'Long Sky' sword too much and didn’t dare to clash with me head-on." Cai Zhao shrugged.
Song Yu: "...It was just a sparring match among fellow disciples. Was drawing the Bright Sun Blade necessary?"
"I was doing Fourth Brother a favor. He’s too particular—he’d suffer in a real fight."
And so, the conversation ended.
Even someone as aloof and stern as Song Yu could sense his junior sister’s lack of interest in chatting. In the past, the cheerful girl would have rambled on about everything from storybooks to new dishes in the kitchen.
Left with no choice, Song Yu tried to keep the conversation going: "Have you read all the scrolls I sent you?"
"I’ve read them. They were quite entertaining, even more so than storybooks. Third Brother, do you have any more?"
"..." Song Yu hesitated. "Junior Sister, don’t you have anything to say to me?"
Cai Zhao paused. "Actually, I do. Come with me, Brother."
She tugged at Song Yu’s sleeve and led him outside, through the corridors and flower beds, to a pavilion in the backyard of Camellia Longevity Abode. A long bamboo tube was mounted on the pavilion.
Standing on her tiptoes, Cai Zhao peered into the distance. "I knew it—they’d be here at this time."
The elevated position offered a clear view of two figures whispering in the bushes below. It was Qi Lingbo and Dai Fengchi. Though only their heads were visible, their voices were inaudible.
Cai Zhao pushed Song Yu toward the bamboo tube, gesturing for him to lean in and listen—somehow, the tube was designed to carry Qi Lingbo and Dai Fengchi’s conversation clearly.
"...Didn’t I tell you yesterday to make Second Brother eat more? You look even thinner today," Qi Lingbo’s voice came through.
Dai Fengchi sighed but said nothing.
"Why must we meet here? Why doesn’t Second Brother come to Jade Exquisite Abode to see me anymore?"
"My current situation is awkward. I don’t want to drag you into it."
"Second Brother was deceived into helping that impostor—it’s not like you willingly acted as his accomplice. I’ve already explained everything to Father, and he said he doesn’t blame you at all."
"Master is kind and generous—of course he wouldn’t blame me. But what about our fellow disciples? Even Third Brother noticed something off about that impostor, while I remained oblivious."
"Third Brother grew up by Father’s side. Even I, his own daughter, don’t know Father as well as he does, let alone you, Second Brother, who was raised by your mother. Don’t blame yourself—it pains me to see you like this."
"Lingbo, I understand your kindness. But it’s better if we keep our distance from now on. We’re not children anymore. If you get too close to me, Third Brother won’t be happy."
"Unhappy? Hmph! Third Brother has never cared about me. It wouldn’t matter if I were close to anyone—even if I died one day, he’d probably be the last to know!"
"Don’t say such things. After all, you two are... Ah... Your mother raised me with kindness. I can’t bring harm to you. Though my martial skills are lacking, if you ever need me, I’d brave a thousand cuts without hesitation! May heaven strike me down if I break this vow! But... it’s better if we meet less from now on."Qi Lingbo hesitated for a long while before speaking, "...Second Senior Brother, Mother often tells me these days to be clear about marriage matters."
"Why would the mistress say such things?"
Qi Lingbo replied, "Mother says that marriage is like drinking water—only the drinker knows if it's warm or cold. She wants me to understand whether boundless honor and power can truly compensate for cold neglect and lonely solitude."
"The mistress... the mistress said that?" Dai Fengchi's voice trembled. "Junior Sister, I... hey, wait for me, Junior Sister, wait for me..."
The sound of footsteps faded as the two walked away.
Song Yu set down the bamboo tube and looked at Cai Zhao.
Cai Zhao looked back at him.
After a long silence, Song Yu finally spoke, "Did you make this bamboo tube?"
Cai Zhao nodded. "After the first time I saw them talking there, I stayed up all night cutting bamboo to make it. The distance is just right—any farther and the sound wouldn't carry."
"Eavesdropping is wrong."
"Oh."
They stared at each other again.
Moments later, it was Song Yu who broke first. "Why did you bring me here to listen to this?"
"No particular reason. What does Third Senior Brother think?"
Song Yu pondered for a moment. "My engagement with Lingbo—"
"No need to explain, Third Senior Brother." Cai Zhao turned and walked away, waving casually behind her. "I've loved eavesdropping since childhood, but I've never cared for explanations."
From then on, the Azure Tower Sect had one more gloomy figure—Song Yu.
The third to cross Cai Zhao's path was a group of people.
The situation at Myriad Waters, Thousand Mountains Cliff had grown delicate—entanglements between Song and Cai, Song and Qi, Qi and Dai—so intricate and unpredictable that the hundreds of disciples in the sect couldn't resist gossiping. The milder ones exchanged knowing glances and jokes, while the worse ones indulged in crude remarks.
Yet somehow, more often than not, just as they finished their laughter-filled discussions, they'd turn to find Junior Sister Cai squatting nearby, smiling as if she'd been listening for who knew how long. After dusting off her skirt and standing up, she would then 'request instruction' from her fellow disciples.
And they couldn't refuse—because if they did, she'd fight them anyway. After being soundly thrashed without explanation, they'd hobble back together, bruised and sore for days.
If they'd been gossiping about her, the beating might have been justified. But the infuriating part was that even when the disciples were merely discussing the elderly romance between the widowed kitchen auntie and the flower-growing uncle from the back hills, they'd still get beaten.
If you knelt and begged for mercy, she'd beat you for 'lacking backbone as a disciple of the North Star's leading sect.'
If you lay down and resigned yourself—'just hit me then'—she'd beat you for 'never having heard such a request and wanting to fulfill it.'
And if you'd been beaten just the day before, she'd say, 'A scholar changes his views in three days—let this junior sister see if today's senior brother is stronger than yesterday's,' before proceeding to beat you all over again.
When the disciples wailed and complained to Zeng Dalou, Cai Zhao would insist it was all 'sparring.' What harm could come from fellow disciples sparring? It was all a misunderstanding, leaving Zeng Dalou with nothing to say.
When they tearfully appealed to Song Yu, he'd darkly scowl and beat them again, calling it 'mending the fold after the sheep are lost.'
After this chaotic period, the Azure Tower Sect became eerily quiet. The disciples buried themselves in martial training, too afraid to gossip, leaving Cai Zhao with no one to spar with. She felt the world had grown as lonely as snow.
One day, while wandering the mountains, she found herself in the back hill's stone forest, where she noticed Uncle Li Wenxun standing motionless, staring blankly at the towering stone steles.The stele forest was built against the mountainside, surrounded by overgrown weeds, desolate and cold, further dampened by the gloomy humidity and howling ghostly winds.
With such feng shui, the inscriptions on the steles naturally did not commemorate heroic deeds but rather recorded the vile acts of Azure Tower Sect’s past disciples—those who betrayed their masters, harmed fellow disciples, practiced forbidden arts, defected from the sect, and, of course, colluded with the Demonic Cult...
Cai Zhao quickly clasped her hands in salute. "Li Shibo."
Li Wenxun gave a hum and pointed to one of the blank steles. "Qiu Renjie’s deeds shall be inscribed here. What do you think?"
Cai Zhao froze for a moment before realizing his meaning.
Li Wenxun continued, "Qiu Renjie betrayed the sect, colluded with the Demonic Cult, and plotted against the sect leader. He deserved to be executed by a thousand cuts before the entire sect. Letting him take his own life was too lenient."
Cai Zhao recalled that this Li Shibo also oversaw the sect’s disciplinary laws and involuntarily shrank her neck.
"Criminals are left to rot in the wilderness, their wicked deeds exposed to the world, while the heroic spirits of martyrs are enshrined in Dusk Micro Palace. Only then can justice be served!" Li Wenxun turned to her. "Zhao Zhao, though you are only nominally part of the sect, you must always remember our sect’s laws."
Sweat beaded on Cai Zhao’s forehead as she hastily agreed.
After this inexplicable reprimand, she returned dejectedly to Camellia Longevity Abode, resuming her peaceful routine of training, fishing, reading novels, and occasionally "sparring" with fellow disciples.
Gradually, she seemed to forget that sarcastic person—the one who always gave her a headache.
Time flitted by, and over a month passed in the blink of an eye. The day to pay respects to the Chang family was approaching.
As the saying goes, disciples serve their elders. Of Qi Yunke’s seven direct disciples, except for the eldest, Zeng Dalou, who remained to manage sect affairs, the other six were dispatched ahead to Chang Family Fortress to prepare for the grand ceremony.
Once Qi Yunke joined Zhou Zhizhen and Cai Pingchun, the three sect leaders would proceed together to pay homage, showing respect for the late hero Chang Hao.
On the day of departure, the six disciples led by Dai Fengchi, along with over a dozen skilled inner and outer sect disciples, bid farewell to Qi Yunke and descended the mountain.
The Chang family’s ancestral home was originally located in a town at the foot of Wu’an Mountain, where they were a prominent local clan. Later, to escape Nie Hengcheng’s slaughter, Chang Hao built a hidden fortress in Wu’an Mountain and moved his entire family there.
Grand Beginning Temple was not far from Wu’an Mountain, so upon arrival, the Azure Tower Sect disciples first sent their name cards to pay respects to the current sect leader, Wang Yuanjing.
After the tragedy of Wu Yuanying, Grand Beginning Temple had struggled to hold its head high in the Martial World. Whenever they showed their faces, people would openly mock them, either lamenting Wu Yuanying’s past heroism or cursing Qiu Yuanfeng’s shamelessness, leaving the temple’s disciples deeply embarrassed.
After Wang Yuanjing succeeded as sect leader, he chose to keep a low profile, intending to wait out the storm.
When Dai Fengchi’s name card arrived, Wang Yuanjing happened to be in the middle of alchemy and couldn’t leave, so he assigned a disciple to guide the Azure Tower Sect up Wu’an Mountain. The youngest of the Yuan-generation, Li Yuanmin, eagerly volunteered to accompany them.
Wu’an Mountain stood there for all to climb, yet the location of Chang Family Fortress within it had remained unknown for a decade. Wu’an Mountain was vast, and searching inch by inch would be like finding a needle in a haystack.
However, after the formations around Chang Family Fortress were broken, the path became clear.
Led by the Grand Beginning Temple disciple, the group found the ruined and burned remains of Chang Family Fortress in a mountain valley.The sky had darkened by then. Under the dim, flickering light, the ruins of broken walls and tiles sprawled across the ground, silently recounting the tragic fate of the once-prosperous Wu'an Chang clan, now utterly destroyed.
Li Yuanmin sighed, "This place was ravaged beyond recognition by those Demonic Cult scoundrels. They set it ablaze, and the fire burned for days before finally extinguishing—nothing was left. Later, we gathered whatever charred remains we could piece together and buried them together in the cemetery on the back mountain."
Though Dai Fengchi's cultivation was mediocre, his manners were refined. He immediately praised Grand Beginning Temple for its benevolence and generosity, making the disciples of the temple, who had lost face earlier, feel their honor somewhat restored.
After this exchange of warm and flattering pleasantries, the disciples of both sects headed together to the back mountain cemetery, where the remains of the Chang clan were buried. Soon, Chang Hao's ashes would also be interred there. But as they rounded the mountain wall, they were met with an eerie sight—a crowd of armed figures stood solemnly before the bare tombstones, their expressions reverent. Despite their numbers, the scene was deathly silent, broken only by the occasional mountain breeze.
Among these ghostly figures stood a tall, slender young man in black robes.
Pale moonlight spilled from the edge of the mountain wall, piercing through the sparse stone forest and casting a faint, elongated glow over the desolate graveyard. The young man stood with his back to the light, his features sharp and striking, exuding an air of cold authority.
Upon seeing the large group, he showed a flicker of surprise before his gaze cut through the crowd, landing squarely on a spot behind Song Yu.
Cai Zhao's chest tightened painfully, and she quickly lowered her head.
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