Early in the morning, Cai Zhao sensed something was off with Chang Ning. After last night’s banquet, he had been listless and quiet, not recovering his spirits even until bedtime.
Unexpectedly, from this morning, Chang Ning seemed like a different person. Not only was he energetic and smiling at everyone, but he also addressed the Cai couple as “nephew,” “junior,” and “uncle and aunt,” his attitude respectful yet forthright, his eyes showing both admiration and hidden pain. Cai Zhao inwardly called him a drama king.
She stepped back and asked her younger brother, “Little Han, don’t you think he’s changed too quickly?”
Cai Han lifted his chubby face from his porridge bowl: “Sister, don’t be upset. He probably just doesn’t like you and those Azure Void Sect people, but he’s still very respectful to elders.”
Cai Zhao wanted to throw her brother away.
Ning Xiaofeng pulled her daughter aside and whispered, “Ning seems quite different from what you described. Even after such a family tragedy, he hasn’t lost his manners. Don’t talk behind his back about his temperament being difficult anymore.”
Cai Zhao anxiously replied, “Mother, he wasn’t like this yesterday. He was so fierce when confronting Qi Lingbo.” And he wasn’t polite to me either, she thought.
Ning Xiaofeng gave her daughter a sideways glance: “Who could remain calm facing Yin Sulian and her daughter? It’s clear that Brother Chang distinguished between gratitude and grudges, and must have often spoken to his son about those despicable Yins!”
Cai Zhao: …
The five of them, properly dressed, walked out in single file. They reached the largest hall of Muwei Palace, the Chaoyang Hall, and split into three directions.
At the front of Chaoyang Hall’s main chamber stood an altar full of fresh flowers and fruits. On either side below it were three dark chairs with red-gold Seven Star patterns. The sect leaders of Qi, Song, Zhou, and Yang were already seated. Cai Pingchun went over, cupped his hands in greeting to the four, and sat in the third position on the right—one of the six chairs remained empty.
Regardless of how drunk Song Shijun had been last night, now sitting opposite Qi Yunke, he looked both dignified and imposing, as if this were his grand hall. Noticing the empty seat below him, he sneered and looked pointedly at Qi Yunke, his eyes saying, “It’s about to start, and Taichu Temple still hasn’t arrived. What do you say, big brother?”
Qi Yunke pretended not to notice.
While this was happening in the main hall, the right side hall housed guests like Changchun Temple, Xuankong Nunnery, and the Sand Tiger Gang. The left side hall naturally accommodated the families and disciples of the Six Northern Sects. Ning Xiaofeng spotted Yin Sulian at the front of the left hall, standing among a group of women who were fawning over her, looking smug—how could the valiant Lady Ning tolerate such an infuriating sight? Of course not!
She immediately pulled her son along, striding forward to confront her old rival.
Cai Zhao found herself in a dilemma. Beside her stood Chang Ning, whose face could scare half a dozen children to tears. He wasn’t considered a disciple of either Falling Petal Valley or Azure Void Sect, so where should they go?
“Stand wherever you like. Who dares to make a fuss?” Chang Ning said indifferently.
Cai Zhao sneered, “Oh, Young Master Chang, are you done pretending to be humble, gentle, and lovable?”
Chang Ning glanced at her, “Would you rather I tell your parents that we had a big argument yesterday and parted on bad terms and that you only agreed to protect me under duress?”
Cai Zhao immediately shut up.
At this moment, Fan Xingjia came over, saying that Zeng Dalou had instructed earlier for Cai and Chang earlier to participate in the ceremony with the Azure Void Sect disciples. As the three-spoke, they saw Qi Lingbo and Dai Fengchi approaching gracefully, one in front and one behind.
Fan Xingjia’s brow twitched—when these four met, it was like a powder keg meeting a spark, instantly causing fireworks.
Seeing them, Qi Lingbo smiled thinly, “Oh my, I heard that last night, Sister Zhaozao and Brother Chang were staying next door to each other. You two hit it off, didn’t you?”
Cai Zhao didn’t answer but looked around. Qi Lingbo was displeased: “What are you looking at? Didn’t you hear me talking to you?”
Cai Zhao turned back: “I’m looking for Senior Brother Song. His fiancée is always coming and going with others, he sure is open-minded…”
“What nonsense are you spouting!” Dai Fengchi’s face reddened slightly.
Qi Lingbo held him back and forced a smile: “Second Senior Brother and I have grown up together since childhood, as close as siblings. In my heart, I’ve long seen Second Senior Brother as my brother, and he sees me no differently than a sister. It’s fine if others misunderstand, but we insiders must not make wild guesses. In short, Second Senior Brother and I are pure and aboveboard, with nothing to be ashamed of. As for Sister Zhaozao, you said yesterday that you would protect Brother Chang, which raised a question in my mind…” She dragged out the last syllable, waiting for Cai Zhao to ask.
“Oh.” Cai Zhao felt utterly unmoved.
Qi Lingbo suppressed her displeasure and continued smiling: “If Brother Chang recovers from the poison quickly, that’s fine. But what if he doesn’t recover for a long time—one year, two years, three years… By then, Sister Zhaozao will have married and gone to Peiqiong Mountain Villa. What will happen to Brother Chang then?”
Hearing this nonsense, Cai Zhao had long lost patience. Just as she was about to retort, a pale, slender hand pressed on her shoulder. Chang Ning stepped forward.
“By then, Sister Zhaozao will naturally take me along to Peiqiong Mountain Villa,” he said with a smile.
Qi Lingbo thought she had misheard: “What did you say?!”
Dai Fengchi & Fan Xingjia: ????
Cai Zhao: “…” How come I didn’t know about this myself?
“The late Sect Leader Yin once said that it’s our unshirkable duty to uphold justice and protect the weak. So how could there be a time limit of one, two, or three years? If I’m unfortunate and take a long time to recover, would Sister Zhaozao abandon me? No, that’s impossible!”
Chang Ning’s voice was full of pure sincerity, sounding even better than actors on stage. Qi Lingbo’s earlier talk of brothers and sisters was already sickeningly sweet, but Chang Ning had outdone her.
The others were completely baffled, while Cai Zhao maintained an expressionless face.
“After Sister Zhaozao goes to Peiqiong Mountain Villa when she has her wedding ceremony, I’ll help her receive guests. When she enters the bridal chamber, I’ll help pour the nuptial wine. Afterward, I’ll eat at the same table and practice martial arts together with Sister Zhaozao and her husband. I’ve always heard that Young Master Zhou is kind-hearted and benevolent. I’m sure he won’t mind me. Senior Sister Qi, don’t you agree?”
“This… this doesn’t seem quite right. Young Master Zhou might mind…” Qi Lingbo stammered.
“Not,” Chang Ning said with certainty. “Senior Sister Qi just said that Sister Zhaozao and I hit it off immediately. In my heart, I see her as my sister, and in her heart, she sees me no differently than a brother. It’s fine if others misunderstand, but we insiders must not make wild guesses. In short, Sister Zhaozao and I are pure and aboveboard. Since Young Master Zhou has the heart of a gentleman, how could he mind!”
Qi Lingbo & Dai Fengchi: …
Cai Zhao fumed inwardly: [expletive] My mother’s thunder!
Fan Xingjia started sweating.
Chang Ning’s eyes were pure: “Senior Sister Qi, you wouldn’t stop associating with Senior Brother Dai after you get married, would you?”
Qi Lingbo smiled awkwardly.
Chang Ning became even more sincere: “And Senior Brother Dai, you and Senior Sister Qi have such a deep bond. In the future, you can be like me too—eating at the same table and practicing martial arts together with Sister Qi and Brother Song. Brother Song is so open-minded, I’m sure he won’t mind either!”
Dai Fengchi became distracted.
He had known since childhood that Qi Lingbo and Song Yuzhi were engaged, and although it made him feel bad, he always thought it was something very far in the future, so far that he didn’t need to think about it. But after Chang Ning’s vivid description, he realized his future might be even worse than Chang Ning’s, and he began to feel anxious and insecure.
Fan Xingjia stared blankly at the sky. He suddenly felt dizzy as he thought of the proud Song Yuzhi eating dinner, watching his wife laughing and chatting intimately with her childhood friend and fellow disciple.
Meanwhile, Cai Zhao tugged at Chang Ning’s sleeve, lowering his voice threateningly, “That’s enough. Don’t overdo it.”