Only the younger generation remained on the spot.
Song Yuzhi raised his eyebrows and said, “Three years ago, when Lady Cai passed away, my father and elder brother came to pay their respects.” His tone implied that Cai Zhao was pretending not to have met his father.
Cai Zhao replied seriously, “When my aunt died, I was bedridden with a high fever for over half a month. I missed even her funeral and didn’t see any of the visitors who came to offer condolences.”
Song Yuzhi, surprisingly candid, thought for a moment and said, “Lady Cai’s heroic efforts saved the martial arts world from disaster. Her untimely death is truly regrettable.”
Cai Zhao remained silent, turning her head away.
Song Maozhi grew impatient. “My father is the Master of Guangtian Gate. You’re so young, yet you speak so disrespectfully. Who taught you such manners?” He cared little for Cai Pingchu’s sacrifices for the martial arts world.
“My aunt taught me,” Cai Zhao replied. “She raised me since birth and said that the world has too many rules. Having a conscience is more important than following rules. With a good conscience, lacking manners is just a minor issue.”
Song Maozhi exploded in anger. “Are you saying I have no conscience?”
Cai Zhao was surprised. “No, no, of course not. I just thought Young Master Song lacked manners.”
Everyone: …
Song Maozhi roared, “What did you say?!”
Cai Zhao pointed to a small stone tablet half-hidden in the grass. “The tablet clearly states, ‘Visitors, please dismount and stop your vehicles here.’ Even Master Song has already left his palanquin, yet you’re still on horseback.”
Song Maozhi sputtered, then shouted, “My father and Sect Leader Qi are as close as brothers. He doesn’t care about such trivial—”
“My aunt and Sect Leader Qi were sworn siblings,” Cai Zhao interjected. “Yet even my parents didn’t dare to put on airs.”
For several generations, the Qingque Sect leaders had been easygoing and informal, so the tablet’s rules hadn’t been strictly enforced for decades. However, Song Maozhi couldn’t say this outright.
“… Sect Leader Qi is generous. He wouldn’t fuss over such trifles!”
“That’s not the point,” Cai Zhao countered. “If you enter a shop and the owner says, ‘It’s our honor to have you here, Young Master Song,’ would you take it literally and not pay? My future master is just being polite. When the host is courteous, how can the guest be so presumptuous? How can one take advantage of a gentleman’s kindness?”
Song Yuzhi, standing nearby, didn’t intervene but observed Cai Zhao with slightly narrowed eyes.
The young girl, only fifteen, had fair skin and dark hair, her beauty fresh and bright. Yet she put on an air of maturity and righteousness, creating an oddly amusing contrast.
“This is none of your business!” Song Maozhi was losing his composure.
Cai Zhao thought Song Maozhi was not only inconsiderate but also not very bright. “Young Master Song, you’re confused. I’m joining the sect in a few days—my future sect, my future rules, my future master—how is this not my business?”
“But you’re not a Qingque Sect disciple yet!”
“Young Master is talking nonsense again. If you saw your betrothed drinking at a brothel, would you think, ‘We’re not married yet, so it’s not my concern’?”
“That’s different! The engagement is set, only the ceremony remains!”
“My discipleship is also set. The elders have exchanged letters for years, and everything is arranged. Only the ceremony remains. How is it different?”
“You… you…” Song Maozhi trembled with rage on his saddle, nearly losing control.
Little Cai Han, with academic curiosity, objected: “Sister, how can women drink at brothels? I heard from Scarface Uncle from the back mountain that only men can visit brothels and drink there.”
Cai Zhao lovingly patted his head. “Scarface Uncle is an honest man. In his days roaming the jianghu, he only knew about killing, robbing, and occasionally massacring entire families. He’s quite simple and honest. There’s a lot he doesn’t know about the world. In reality, anyone who wants to drink at a brothel can do so—whether they’re men, women, neither, or both. It doesn’t matter.”
Young Cai Han nodded, seemingly enlightened.
Honest and simple…
Simple…
Simple…
Sim…
A cool breeze rustled a few leaves, leaving the disciples standing there speechless.
Song Maozhi’s eyes nearly popped out. “Your Cai family harbors criminals and evildoers…”
“Second Brother!” Song Yuzhi quickly stopped his brother from further embarrassment. “Sister Cai must be referring to Sun Dingzhou, known as the Purple-faced Scar Guest, who could determine fate with a single palm strike. Although he robbed, he only took from the unjust. Though he killed, his victims were always unforgivable villains.”
Cai Zhao continued to educate her little brother while patting his head: “Xiao Han, remember this: if you don’t understand the whole story, don’t be quick to lose your temper. You’ll only make a fool of yourself.”
Cai Han agreed obediently, further infuriating Song Maozhi. Song Yuzhi hurriedly changed the subject.
“The family Sister Cai mentioned that was massacred must be the Qiu family of Sichuan. It was a shocking incident at the time. The five Qiu brothers and their gang were notorious for their evil deeds, kidnapping and harming local people. To ensure their fortress’s security, they kept no women or children inside. Any women they abducted for their pleasure never lived beyond two days.”
The surrounding disciples listened quietly as Song Yuzhi spoke.
He continued, “At that time, the former leader of the Demon Sect was in a standoff with our Northern Chen faction. Neither side dared to make a move. If it weren’t for Hero Sun risking his life to destroy the fortress and eliminate the bandits, who knows how much more the local people would have suffered? … Second Brother, you should dismount now.”
Song Maozhi, stunned by the story, unconsciously slid off his horse.
Song Yuzhi turned to Cai Zhao, his gaze intense: “The Purple-faced Scar Guest disappeared from the jianghu nearly ten years ago. No one knew his whereabouts. So he was hidden in Luoying Valley.”
Cai Zhao sighed, “Scarface Uncle killed many evil men, naturally making many enemies. When Father brought him to Luoying Valley, he was gravely wounded, barely clinging to life. I was only five or six then and often chatted with him.”
The previously silent Song Xiuzhi spoke softly, “We often hear people mention Hero Sun. I never expected he had already retired from the jianghu, leaving old friends and acquaintances to remember him.”
Cai Zhao replied calmly, “Scarface Uncle once told me when drunk that he now has no wife, no children, no parents, and no enemies left. As for friends, having them or not makes no difference to him.”
The hidden sorrow behind these words was profound.
Song Maozhi, for once, didn’t argue. He silently handed his jewel-encrusted riding crop to an attendant and stood aside without a word. Song Xiuzhi’s eyes showed pity, but he dared not interrupt.
“Since Hero Sun wished to retire from the jianghu and hide in Luoying Valley, is it appropriate for you to reveal this?” Song Yuzhi stepped closer, his handsome eyes as cold and clear as the moon.
Cai Zhao replied indifferently, “There’s nothing inappropriate about it. Two years ago, Scarface Uncle’s old wounds flared up, and he passed away.”