As Chang Ning’s words reopened old wounds that had long scabbed over, Cai Zhao felt a dull ache in her heart.
In her youth, she had asked her aunt more than once if she ever regretted exchanging her rare and extraordinary talent for just a few years of peace in the jianghu. Cai Pingshu replied, “In two hundred years of the vast world, there have been countless heroes. How can there be so much talk of regret? If it felt right at the time, you just do it.”
Young Miss Qi’s temper was indeed fierce. Not only did she leave in a huff, but she also knocked over several plates of snacks on the table. Bai jade cakes, green pear pastries, kumquat yogurt, cherry mille-feuille… a colorful mess scattered across the table. Cai Zhao, who had been too busy putting on an act with Qi Lingbo to eat earlier, could only sigh and pick up the fallen snacks to munch on. Even as she hastily filled her stomach, she didn’t forget to savor the flavors.
How to put it… It wasn’t that they tasted bad, but like those grand imperial banquets with lobster, roast goose, and duck – while the ingredients were plentiful, the dishes lacked both distinctiveness and warmth. She immediately felt a bit disappointed in Qingque Sect’s master chefs.
Chang Ning had expected Cai Zhao to be furious upon hearing about Yin Sulian’s words. To his surprise, he saw Cai Zhao slowly compose herself and even start eating the snacks. After waiting for a while, seeing Cai Zhao holding a piece of mille-feuille, frowning and tasting it carefully without speaking, he suddenly asked, “Did you find half a cockroach in it?”
Since their first meeting in the plum forest, whether facing Qi Lingbo’s bullying and threats, Zeng Dalou’s fence-sitting, or even Dai Fengchi’s intimidation, this young girl had maintained a playful attitude and warm words, showing remarkable composure. Chang Ning couldn’t help but want to provoke her.
Cai Zhao’s rosy cheeks still bore a smile: “Don’t worry, Senior Brother Chang.”
“What am I not to worry about?”
“Even if I become friends with Senior Sister Qi, I won’t let her dig out your heart’s blood.”
Chang Ning’s expression changed abruptly, though his face full of sores mostly concealed it. He slowly said, “What do you mean by that, Junior Sister?”
Cai Zhao replied, “I mean that Senior Brother Chang needn’t deliberately sow discord. I know what kind of person Lady Sulian is, but I’ll be staying at Qingque Sect for three years. There’s no need to burn bridges now. However, since she insulted my aunt, there’s no need to force a friendly facade either.”
After hearing this, Chang Ning’s face – and his sores – remained expressionless.
“Leaving aside the entanglements of our elders, Senior Sister Qi just has that kind of temper. Uncle Qi has said before that his daughter behaves well for days after being scolded, and even longer after being beaten, but Lady Sulian always protects her — otherwise, Uncle wouldn’t have avoided introducing her to my aunt all these years. But Senior Brother Chang is different. Our North Chen Six Sects are closely connected. Unless one betrays their master and sect, we can’t just beat or kill someone we dislike. Take Lady Sulian, for instance. My aunt has said that this lady won’t do good deeds but can’t do truly evil ones either; she just annoys people with her mouth. My mother says that if things get really bad, a good fight should settle it.”
Despite this earnest speech, Chang Ning seemed unaffected. Instead, he asked, “If you know all this, why come to Qingque Sect? Aren’t there other places in the North Chen Six Sects you could go? Couldn’t you find a more peaceful place to become a disciple?”
Cai Zhao couldn’t admit that she had been escorted here by her parents, so she said, “Harmony brings wealth, you know. As long as it’s not a big deal, letting others say a few words is fine. If every shop in Luoying Town had such a quick temper, how could they do business? Besides, there are no smooth paths in this world. You make the path smoother by treading it.”
Chang Ning’s smile was cold as he looked at her for a moment. “You didn’t come here willingly. You were forced. I guess Sect Leader Qi and your aunt arranged your discipleship years ago, and your parents are just carrying it out. Even if you were unwilling, you couldn’t resist.”
Cai Zhao’s expression cooled: “Senior Brother Chang, I sincerely want to get along with you.”
Chang Ning: “So do I.”
Cai Zhao, with a cold face: “In any case, I’ll protect you well during these days of the ancestor’s memorial. I won’t let Senior Sister Qi dig out your heart’s blood. When Sect Uncle Qi is free, we can go our separate ways.”
Chang Ning sneered, “Junior Sister Cai doesn’t need to force herself. After all, the entire Chang family is dead. What difference does one more make!”
Cai Zhao felt this person was simply sick. Even the most diplomatic shopkeeper couldn’t handle a customer intentionally looking for trouble. She let out a huff and turned her back, cradling her teacup. Chang Ning also huffed, turning his back in the same manner.
At that moment, a young, enthusiastic voice came from outside—
“…Come this way, Mrs. Cai, be careful. There’s a lampstand at this corner, don’t bump into it. Oh, who put this bonsai here? It’s already so crowded, are they trying to trip the guests? Valley Master Cai, don’t worry, it should be right here. I asked Senior Brother personally, and he said Junior Sister is in this side room.”
Hearing this familiar shopkeeper’s tone, Cai Zhao immediately felt goodwill towards the person outside.
Since coming to Qingque Sect, she had encountered nothing but arrogant young misses, biased senior brothers, clueless sycophants, and one sarcastic neurotic. She had almost thought there were no normal people in the sect.
The voice outside quickly approached, and soon the door was pushed open. A medium-built young man with a round face and dimples entered, accompanying Mr. and Mrs. Cai Pingchun.
“Father, Mother, you’re here!” Cai Zhao stood up with a smile. “I thought I’d only find you at the banquet. This must be Fifth Senior Brother, Senior Brother told me about you. This Wanshui Qianshan Cliff is so vast, earlier I… Ouch!”
Ning Xiaofeng gave her daughter a flick on the forehead: “What do you mean vast? It’s your heart that’s too big! How dare you run around in a strange place you’ve just arrived at? Many major martial arts sects have forbidden areas and secret places. What if you had stumbled into trouble?”
Chang Ning stood dumbfounded, staring at the red mark on Cai Zhao’s forehead.
Cai Pingchun kept a stern face, ignoring his daughter, and turned to say, “Thank you, Nephew Fan. This child is inconsiderate and has caused trouble for you and Dalou.”
Fan Xingjia laughed heartily, “Valley Master Cai, what are you saying? Any shortcomings in hospitality are the Qingque Sect’s fault, how could we blame the guests? Besides, Little Junior Sister will soon become a disciple. We’ll all be family then, so it’s no problem for her to walk around Wanshui Qianshan Cliff. Mrs. Cai, please don’t scold Little Junior Sister.”
“Alright, your master is right. Among all the disciples, Xingjia has the best temperament,” Ning Xiaofeng said with a smile. As she turned her head, she saw a tall young man with a face full of sores slowly standing up by the table, his beautiful eyes fixed intently on her fingers that had just flicked her daughter’s forehead.
“And this is…?” Ning Xiaofeng looked towards Fan Xingjia.
Cai Zhao quickly interjected, “This is Chang Ning, Uncle Chang’s…”
Cai Pingchun let out a soft “Ah”: “It’s Brother Chang’s son. We’ve heard about what happened to your family…”
He was at a loss for words, unsure how to comfort this young man whose entire family had met with tragedy.
Knowing Chang Ning’s identity, Mr. and Mrs. Cai’s attitude towards him became especially gentle.
“Mother, where’s Xiao Han? Where did you leave him?” Cai Zhao looked around but couldn’t see her younger brother.
“What do you mean, ‘leave him’?” Ning Xiaofeng said. “Your great-aunt and uncle are here today. You might be able to avoid them, but doesn’t Xiao Han need to pay his respects? Come on, let’s go greet the elders!” She reached out to pull her daughter along.
“They’ve both become monks, why are we still calling them great-aunt and uncle… Hey, hey, Mother, slow down! Senior Brother, Senior Brother Chang, come with us too.” Cai Zhao was dragged a couple of steps before remembering she couldn’t leave Chang Ning behind. She quickly reached back with her left hand, grabbing Chang Ning’s sleeve, and the group moved out like a chain.
Fan Xingjia, following at the back, caught sight of Chang Ning lowering his head, the corners of his mouth slightly turned up.
…
Outside, the noise of the crowd was deafening.
Over the past two hundred years, the Qingque Sect had been led by about ten generations of sect leaders, with tenures varying in length. The longest lasted over thirty years, while the shortest was just three hours. Except for two instances of father-son succession, the rest were all master-disciple inheritances. After so many sect leaders with different tastes constantly adding and removing things, the current decor of Muwei Palace was truly a mix of various styles.
Above Cai Zhao’s head hung an elegant, cold, and transparent crystal chandelier—a legacy of the fourth sect leader. Merely three feet away, beneath the white jade beam, loomed a massive chandelier left by his son, the fifth sect leader. This extravagant piece boasted eighteen branches of red-gold dragons chasing phoenixes, adorned with rubies and a porcelain flower basket in pastel enamels. Cai Zhao, standing below, mused for a moment that this son might as well have been adopted.
Looking down, he faced a sea of shining heads—men and women, young and old, some kind-faced, others stern.
Feeling dizzy, Cai Zhao hastily bowed to the elderly nun and middle-aged Zen master before him. “Greetings, Master Jingyuan and Master Juexing. It’s been long since we last met. I hope you’re both in good health and all is well with you.”
Master Jingyuan, over sixty, stood tall and lean. Decades of austere discipline had etched a fierce expression on her face, enough to frighten a group of mischievous children. At that moment, young Cai Han quietly hid behind Master Juexing, not daring to make a sound.
Ning Xiaofeng then introduced Chang Ning. The Chang family’s tragedy was well-known throughout the martial arts world. Even the usually unsentimental Master Jingyuan softened her expression, while Master Juexing repeatedly expressed his condolences for Chang Ning’s family.
However, Chang Ning maintained his usual cold and detached demeanor.