When Cai Zhao returned to the tea shop, Li Yuanmin had already found lodging for the sect disciples at a familiar small inn. It was said the innkeeper had once worked odd jobs at the Grand Beginning Temple.
Standing before this humble little inn, watching Li Yuanmin warmly usher the Azure Tower Sect disciples inside—even helping the waiter carry luggage—Song Yuzhi frowned slightly and murmured, "I never imagined the Grand Beginning Temple's influence had waned so much that even Wuan City, just two days' journey away, holds no sway for them."
Whether it was the Azure Tower Sect or Vast Heaven Gate, within the thousands of miles under their influence, simply flashing the identity of a sect disciple would ensure one was treated as an honored guest at any time. There was no need for such accommodations.
Cai Zhao smiled faintly. "Third Senior Brother is overthinking it. No matter how fallen the Grand Beginning Temple may be, it's not so powerless that Wuan City would disregard them. I think this Uncle Li Yuanmin, though seemingly rash and impulsive, is actually kind-hearted and unwilling to throw his weight around, disturbing common folk in the dead of night."
Song Yuzhi's brow furrowed. "Where did you go earlier? You came back looking like you'd been in a fight."
Young Lady Knight Cai calmly smoothed her slightly disheveled hair. "I ran into a stray cat that insisted on blocking my way. In the end, I convinced it with virtue." Without waiting to see if Song Yuzhi would accept such nonsense, she strode inside.
After a rough night in the dim and shabby inn, the exhausted group slept until noon.
Dai Fengchi and Qi Lingbo, accustomed to comfort, couldn't bear it and clamored to change inns. Ding Zhuo and Fan Xingjia, rubbing their sore shoulders, tacitly agreed—they weren’t fussy, but their bodies were used to refined and comfortable living.
Song Yuzhi was the first to notice Cai Zhao was missing. Upon asking the waiter, he learned she had risen at dawn, leaving word that she was returning to the Chang family ruins and would be back soon. Glancing at the Azure Tower Sect disciples—Li Yuanmin and the others—still debating where to move, Song Yuzhi quietly slipped out of the inn.
The mountain path was rugged. Passing through the silent, charred remains of the Chang family stronghold, Song Yuzhi found Cai Zhao in the deserted graveyard on the back hill.
She had clearly been searching the gravesite for some time—her clothes were wrinkled, her face pale.
This time, Song Yuzhi asked nothing. Silently, he spread an oilcloth over a flat stone and carefully laid out the food he had bought in town: a small jar of warm millet porridge, fragrant steamed dumplings filled with meat, and crisp pickled vegetables drizzled with sesame oil.
Having lived in luxury since childhood, this was his first time serving someone, and he fumbled, nearly spilling the porridge.
Cai Zhao, who had left on an empty stomach at dawn, was ravenous. She rolled up her sleeves and dug in, chuckling between bites. "I thought Third Senior Brother would scold me first for going out alone. I didn’t expect you to be so considerate today."
Song Yuzhi replied earnestly, "I know—even if Zhao Zhao ran into the Demonic Cult, it wouldn’t be a problem."
Cai Zhao ignored that remark, biting into a meat-filled dumpling. "I didn’t think Third Senior Brother would let me eat by a graveyard. I remember on our way to the Nether Bamboo Grove, you wouldn’t even settle for a wobbly table."
Song Yuzhi fell silent. "...I shouldn’t have only thought of myself and neglected others. Back then, tired and hungry as I was, I still insisted on finding a proper place to dine. That was wrong of me."The third young master of Vast Heaven Gate, Song Yuzhi, had been as elegant as orchids and jade since childhood, his talents far surpassing those of his peers. From the strands of his hair to the soles of his shoes, he was meticulously cared for. Though his parents and master held high expectations for him, in daily life, they indulged his every whim without the slightest resistance. From childhood to adulthood, others had always accommodated his habits; he never needed to consider anyone else's preferences.
It was only recently, after repeatedly hitting walls with Cai Zhao, that he gradually came to a realization.
From daily care to the matter of the marriage contract, he had fallen far short of Mu Qingyan. No wonder the girl felt no attachment to him.
Compared to the reluctance, hesitation, and pain in her eyes when Mu Qingyan was mentioned, the way she looked at him—even when smiling—was always rational, clear, and devoid of any lingering affection.
Though Song Yuzhi had no experience in matters of love, he knew this situation was far from ideal. Even if his late mother's Reasoning Heaven Garment was flawless, human emotions could not be calculated by reason alone. If Cai Zhao utterly despised him, no amount of reason would help.
He pressed his lips together. "After rising this morning, I sent a carrier pigeon to my father, asking him to withdraw the betrothal with Master."
Cai Zhao ignored this remark, focusing on her meal.
Song Yuzhi glanced around. "Is there something strange about the Chang family's graves? Did Uncle Cai say something to you?"
Before Cai Zhao could respond, he added, "If it's inconvenient for you to speak of it, there's no need."
Cai Zhao smiled. "There's nothing I can't say. My father mentioned that when he came here to investigate the clues of the Chang family massacre, he felt something was off about the graves on the back mountain. I searched for most of the day but found nothing. Perhaps my father was overthinking it."
Song Yuzhi stood and walked around the area.
The graveyard spanned about half a mile, with tombstones arranged in rows from north to south according to the year of death.
Apart from the ancestral graves that were inconvenient to relocate, the earliest belonged to Chang Haosheng's parents. They had already been elderly and frail when Chang Family Fort was built, passing away shortly after and being buried here.
Next was the grave of one of Chang Haosheng's uncles, who had died in the campaign against the Nether Bamboo Grove. Buried beside him was his wife, who had passed away years later from illness. A small tombstone nearby marked their two children who had died young.
Following that were the graves of three of Chang Haosheng's elder martial uncles.
In their youth, they had been renowned heroes who roamed the Martial World. Owing a debt to the elder Chang, they later retired to the Chang family, and Chang Haosheng had addressed them as uncles since childhood.
Adjacent to them were the graves of several loyal retainers and disciples of the Chang family, all of whom had died defending the clan.
The newest grave belonged to Chang Haosheng's wife, Madam Xue.
Song Yuzhi examined them carefully but found no signs of disturbance. The arrangement followed seniority, and the tombstones were uniformly neat and identical—nothing out of the ordinary.
"When the Demonic Cult slaughtered the Chang Family Fort, they focused on burning and killing everything, leaving no survivors. They didn't bother with this graveyard, which is why it remains intact," Cai Zhao said, sipping her hot porridge with a sigh. "Right now, we have no leads. Unless we dig up the graves, I can't see anything unusual."
Song Yuzhi turned to her. "Then I should go down the mountain and find out which bone-setting clinic is the best."
"?" Cai Zhao was puzzled.
"If your father hears about this idea, he'll break your legs. As your senior brother, I may not have many skills, but finding you a good clinic is within my abilities."
Cai Zhao burst into laughter. "Third Brother, you've learned to joke!"
Song Yuzhi sat down opposite her. "It's been a long time since I've seen you laugh so heartily."Cai Zhao set down the porridge jar and sighed softly, "...Why do people have to grow up? There are always so many troubles when you're older."
Song Yuzhi looked puzzled. "On the way to the Nether Bamboo Grove, we passed by a shop. I remember you saying that no matter how you tried to hide those romance storybooks as a child, your mother would always find and confiscate them. That seemed to trouble you greatly."
Cai Zhao burst into laughter, her voice as clear and cheerful as a child's. "I never thought someone as rigid and dull as Third Brother would recognize those books at a glance. It gave me quite a fright."
In that shop, she had been pretending to browse casually, trying to get closer to the shelves. Yet Song Yuzhi had taken one look at the covers and rattled them off like an expert—
"Ah, they actually have The Scarlet Apricot Returns Late by the Wall . This is the old edition by Master Miaobi, quite rare indeed."
"This must be Three Thousand Delights of the Golden Tower , part of a set of eight volumes. Pity they're missing two here."
" The Charming Widow's Romance is definitely incomplete. The full version isn't this thin."
At the time, he had looked genuinely confused. "Why hide them? I have plenty of these. If Junior Sister Zhao Zhao likes them, I can send some over." Since childhood, his father and brothers had thoughtfully provided him with all sorts of enlightening materials.
Back then, Cai Zhao had been thoroughly embarrassed. Though she wanted them, she couldn't bring herself to say so. Later, Song Yuzhi forgot all about it, and she couldn't muster the courage to ask.
Now, reflecting on it, Song Yuzhi regretted sending those roundabout excerpts of classical texts. A crate of storybooks would have been far better. He saw nothing wrong with them—it was just that back then, he'd been wholly devoted to cultivation, undistracted, and burdened by a troublesome fiancée. After flipping through a volume, he'd tossed it aside.
Watching Song Yuzhi's nonchalant expression, Cai Zhao suddenly thought of someone else.
That person had always disapproved of her reading such frivolous material, adamant about burning down every disreputable bookshop in the world. If he knew she'd dabbled in romance storybooks, he'd surely throw a fit.
After a long pause, Song Yuzhi murmured, "Without troubles, how could we appreciate the comfort of happy times?"
Cai Zhao was silent for a moment. "You're right, Brother."
Having eaten their fill, the two clumsily gathered up the oiled paper wrappings.
Cai Zhao stood. "Let's head down the mountain. Back then, my father was determined to find the murderer who slaughtered Great Hero Chang's entire family. Maybe he was just overthinking it."
Song Yuzhi agreed. "Nie Zhe was still in power in the Demonic Cult then. The killers must have been his lackeys. Now that the Cult has a new leader, they'll surely be purged. Though it's a pity we can't personally avenge Great Hero Chang's family, in a way, the blood debt has been settled."
"Yes, absolutely right." Cai Zhao gazed at the sky and murmured, "He would never show mercy."
Song Yuzhi knew who the girl was thinking of but said nothing.
Upon descending the mountain, they found Li Yuanmin had already taken the Azure Tower Sect disciples to the largest and most refined inn in Wu'an City, its grand facade spanning seven or eight doorways.
By the time Song and Cai arrived, the inn servants were busy carrying trunks and cases.
Qi Lingbo, seeing her fiancé return with Cai Zhao, shot them a cold glance, snorted, and haughtily turned away.
Dai Fengchi was about to sneer something when Fan Xingjia pulled him back. "Let it go, Second Brother. Junior Sister Lingbo has been inseparable from her for years—what good could come of provoking Zhao Zhao?"
Dai Fengchi had no choice but to shut his mouth.At this moment, the plump innkeeper approached with an apologetic smile. "Our clean upper rooms are plentiful, esteemed heroes may stay as they please. However, for the two lady warriors... well, our establishment originally had two quiet and elegant embroidery rooms. Though slightly more expensive, they're most suitable for female guests. Unfortunately, one is currently under renovation. Might the two ladies share one room?"
Ding Zhuo looked puzzled. "What's the difference between upper rooms and embroidery rooms? Can't our junior sisters stay in upper rooms too?"
The innkeeper, ever professional, explained tactfully: "Young master may not know, but young ladies are delicate. Daily washing, bathing, and grooming can be quite inconvenient. Staying a day or two is fine, but if it's for half a month or more, comfort is preferable—those two embroidery rooms each contain a fine private bathroom."
Qi Lingbo, who had been complaining about various inconveniences, brightened upon hearing this.
Dai Fengchi immediately declared: "Lingbo has been frail since childhood and has suffered greatly on this journey. Naturally, she should have this embroidery room."
Song Yuzhi frowned. "Since when has Junior Sister Lingbo been frail? Zhao Zhao is even younger than her—has she not endured hardships on this journey? Why not have them share a room..."
"I absolutely refuse to stay with her!" Qi Lingbo nearly jumped up in protest.
Cai Zhao wasn't keen either.
Just then, a waiter stepped forward to remind them: "Manager, isn't there another one in the back?"
The innkeeper suddenly remembered. "Ah, my memory fails me! Actually, there's another newly renovated embroidery room in the west wing of the backyard. It's just a bit secluded, and the furnishings are slightly simpler..."
Cai Zhao interrupted with a smile: "No matter. I'll take that one." She glanced at the group. "Senior Sister Lingbo is delicate—I ought to yield to her whenever possible."
Pointing to two luggage chests on the ground with crabapple leaf patterns, she told the waiter: "These two, carry them over for me." Without waiting for her fellow disciples' reactions, she briskly headed toward the backyard.
Passing through the central courtyard and winding around the backyard, Cai Zhao followed the waiter's directions to a small two-story building. The ground floor was a crude storage room, while the upper floor housed a refined three-room embroidery suite.
The young Miss Cai, who aspired to become a general manager someday, had considerable insight into inn operations. She faintly sensed something odd about this building's layout—it neither maximized efficiency nor seemed cost-effective. But exhaustion weighed heavily on her, and she couldn't be bothered to ponder further.
Climbing the creaky stairs to the second floor, Cai Zhao found the room already prepared: tea, pastries, a small charcoal stove, and fresh bedding. In the inner bathroom, a steaming bathtub awaited, alongside newly polished bamboo utensils gleaming with tung oil.
Finally, the waiter presented a warming nest, from which he produced a bowl of fragrant wontons—translucent wrappers floating in clear, rich chicken broth, revealing tender pink shrimp filling within.
Naturally, it was garnished with vibrant green scallions.
After everyone left and the door was securely closed, Cai Zhao sat at the table staring at the bowl of wontons for a long while.
With a resigned sigh, she said: "Come out."
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