Cai Zhao sighed softly.
She had avoided the martial world because of its tendency to bully the weak. As a person of honor, she couldn’t stand idly by, so she preferred to stay in Luoying Town, away from such sights. But now that she was here, how could she ignore a damsel in distress? She immediately turned and followed the sound.
Rounding a verdant mountain bend, she found a group of young disciples surrounding someone, laughing and jeering. They had cornered a tall, thin youth against the mountain wall.
A beautiful girl in an apricot-colored robe seemed to be their leader. She shrilled, “…If you know what’s good for you, you’ll cooperate. We won’t take your life, just a bit of flesh and blood!”
Cai Zhao was taken aback, realizing it wasn’t a helpless girl being bullied after all.
A sharp-faced boy chimed in, “That’s right! Changning, you should be dead. If it weren’t for Master’s efforts to save you, you’d be long gone!”
Another square-jawed youth sneered, “Sure, you survived, but you ate the Snow Lotus Pill meant for Senior Sister. It’s damaged her cultivation. Don’t you think you deserve to die for that?”
The group jeered in unison, “Just give us a bowl of your heart’s blood, and we’ll let you go… Ha! Otherwise, we’ll flay you alive…”
The tall, thin youth called Changning turned slightly, asking, “Who said my heart’s blood has the same effect as the Snow Lotus Pill?” His clothes were dull and worn, but his voice was calm, though hoarse as if he’d been severely injured.
“You all know I’m not just injured but poisoned too. Do you want the heart’s blood of someone still battling toxins?” Changning turned, revealing a face covered in poisonous sores. Some were crusted over with black scabs, while others still oozed pus, a truly sickening sight.
The youths grimaced in disgust.
“You’re not really after my heart’s blood. You just want to torment me,” Changning faced them, his horrifying visage contrasted by eyes as clear and beautiful as the bright moon.
“I won’t comply. If you have the guts, take my life and be done with it. Otherwise, I’ll repay this tenfold.”
Some of the youths began to waver.
“Hey, this guy is the son of the Sect Leader’s good friend. If the Sect Leader finds out…”
“Maybe we should forget it. We’re just outer disciples. What if the Sect Leader expels us in anger?”
“Senior Sister, what if the Sect Leader punishes us?”
The beautiful girl bit her lip. “He’s set back my cultivation. Even if we don’t take his heart’s blood, we can’t let him off easily. Hmm… Let’s beat him up. If my father asks, we’ll insist it was just sparring among disciples. As martial artists, we can’t go crying over a few hits. My father won’t punish us for that!”
This idea seemed much less risky, and the youths eagerly agreed. As they were about to pounce on Changning, a calm, leisurely female voice spoke from behind them—”Haven’t you had enough?”
Startled, they all turned to see a young girl in an embroidered dress standing quietly behind them. Sunlight filtering through the trees made her peach-tinged cheeks and fair complexion even more striking.
“The day after tomorrow is the 200th anniversary of our ancestor’s passing. Almost every notable sect in the martial world is here. If they see you behaving like this, won’t it bring shame to the Qingque Sect?” she said with a hint of exasperation.
She had thought a group was bullying a girl, but it turned out to be a girl leading a group to bully someone else. Her righteous indignation had been wasted.
Jealousy flared at the sight of another beauty. The leader stepped forward, shouting, “Who are you, you little hussy? How Qingque Sect deals with its disciples is none of your business!” She assumed Cai Zhao was from another sect, as few could stand up to the Qingque Sect.
Cai Zhao replied calmly, “Of course, it’s my business. In a few days, I’ll be apprenticed to Sect Leader Qi. Don’t you think I should care about my own sect’s reputation? Soon, I’ll even be calling you Senior Sister.” She thought to herself that this young lady’s intellect seemed well-matched with that Song fellow from earlier.
Qi Lingbo hesitated, her expression uncertain. “You… you’re Cai Zhao from Luoying Valley?”
“That’s right.” Hearing the girl repeatedly mention her father, Cai Zhao guessed she was the Sect Leader’s daughter.
Qi Lingbo, remembering her father’s enthusiasm for Luoying Valley, felt inclined to back down. But her followers were used to her leadership, and losing face now would undermine her authority.
“Junior Sister Cai, you’ve just arrived at the Cliff of Myriad Waters and Thousand Mountains, haven’t you?” Qi Lingbo put on a sweet smile. “It’s getting late. Please return to your quarters. You’re new here and don’t understand the situation. This doesn’t concern you.”
Cai Zhao raised an eyebrow. “What if I don’t leave?”
Qi Lingbo’s smile remained, but her tone carried a veiled threat. “My father only has us two girls as disciples. We should get along well in the coming years. If you insist on being stubborn and ruin our sisterly bond, how will we study martial arts together?”
Cai Zhao thought for a moment. “It’s fine. I’m not interested in martial arts anyway. My parents never taught me any. You can focus on your cultivation, Senior Sister. I’ll just read books and enjoy the scenery.”
“If you don’t want to learn martial arts, why are you here?” Qi Lingbo’s smile faltered.
“To become a disciple, of course. I want to be the master’s student,” Cai Zhao explained, growing weary.
“If you’re not learning martial arts, why apprentice under my father?” Qi Lingbo couldn’t comprehend it. Qingque Sect’s martial arts were unrivaled, attracting countless aspiring students each year.
Cai Zhao replied smoothly, “Senior Sister, you’re being too narrow-minded. Isn’t learning about moral character important? Sect Leader Qi is renowned for his integrity and benevolence. If I could learn even a fraction of that, it would benefit me for life… Why are you all looking at me like that? Am I wrong?”
She thought to herself, it’s like a business opening speech. You don’t just say you’re in it for the money; you talk about benefiting the community and forming good relationships.
The group of young men stood awkwardly, mumbling vague agreements. Qi Lingbo’s face darkened. “Such a glib tongue! I don’t think our Qingque Sect has room for someone like you!”
Cai Zhao laughed. “Are you threatening that I’ll be turned away from Qingque Sect, Senior Sister? But do you have the authority to decide who becomes a disciple?” She thought to herself, “Doesn’t this young lady understand that servants answer to the shopkeeper, and the shopkeeper answers to the owner? Poor Uncle Qi, such a kind and gentle man, to have a daughter lacking in intelligence.”
Qi Lingbo was at a loss for words.
Cai Zhao continued, “If Master Qi insists on accepting me as a disciple, but you’re unhappy about it, are you saying Master Qi would reject me at your command?”
Hearing the muffled laughter behind her, Qi Lingbo’s face turned an interesting shade.
If Song Yuzhi were here, he would have advised Qi Lingbo not to argue with Cai Zhao, to not say a word, lest she be infuriated to death.
Qi Lingbo said hatefully, “Chang Ning offended me, and I intend to vent my anger today. If you refuse to step aside, I’ll have to teach you some manners as your senior sister.”
She had made up her mind. Since Cai Zhao’s martial arts were weak, she’d simply slap her a few times to vent her anger. If her father inquired later, she’d insist it was their first meeting and she was merely testing Cai Zhao’s skills, unaware of her strength.
“Are you done talking?” Chang Ning glanced at Cai Zhao, pondered for a moment, then spoke. “You’re all so indecisive. One moment you want to teach me a lesson, the next you’re threatening someone else. If you’re going to act, do it quickly. Stop dawdling.”
Everyone glared at him angrily. Qi Lingbo smiled at Cai Zhao, “See? This is how ungrateful he is. During his time on Wanshui Qianshan Cliff, he’s always been disrespectful, never listening to his senior brothers…”
“Apart from being impolite, has he done anything else wrong?” Cai Zhao interrupted. “If so, say it quickly. Otherwise, I’m taking charge of this situation.”
“He’s so disrespectful, yet you still want to protect him?!” Qi Lingbo seemed surprised.
Cai Zhao remained unperturbed. “As long as he’s not evil and hasn’t started trouble himself, you shouldn’t bully him. Whether he’s polite or likable is none of my concern.” She remembered her aunt’s words: acting righteously doesn’t always guarantee gratitude or reward.
Qi Lingbo’s beautiful almond eyes widened as she gritted her teeth, “You’re asking for trouble. Let me show you…”