The monkey-like Taoist turned to Qi Yunke: “Years ago, at Old Sect Leader Yin’s command, we all rushed to attack Youming Huangdao. My masters, uncles, brothers, and nephews – over ten of us – never returned, leaving no remains. I barely survived and spent many years recovering. Thanks to Sect Leader Qi’s kindness and respect for the past, he still remembers this living dead man and the now-destroyed Qingfeng Temple during the ancestral sacrifice.”
Qi Yunke gave his wife a helpless glance before standing up and bowing, “Your sect was passionate and stepped forward during the great chaos. If my master were still alive, he wouldn’t forget the righteous heroes of Qingfeng Temple either. Daoist Yuncui, please be seated.”
Cai Zhao craned his neck to look: “Daoist Yuncui? Is that him? Aunt mentioned that Daoist Yuncui was eight feet tall, handsome, and imposing, with a graceful and swift Qingfeng sword technique. How… how…”
Fan Xingjia observed before whispering, “It seems all his bones and meridians were shattered. After being paralyzed for years, his body has shrunk to this state.”
Chang Ning glanced over: “The Rotting Bone Breaking Meridian Palm, a unique skill of Elder Tianji, Duan Jiuxiu. Remarkably, he survived at all.”
The guests exchanged glances. Most sects present either had numerous disciples or lived carefree lives, making it impossible to compare their suffering to Qingfeng Temple’s. Thus, Song, Yang, and others fell silent.
Seeing no one coming to her aid, Yin Sulian resorted to her fail-safe tactic – she began to cry: “Qingfeng Temple wasn’t the only one to suffer losses in the fight against the Evil Cult. Not to mention the Cai family’s uncle and sister Ping Shu, my grand-uncles, and even Old Manor Lord Zhou and Uncle Song also died tragically at the hands of the Evil Cult…”
Song Shijun and Zhou Zhizhen, recalling their deceased fathers, grew solemn and silent.
“And let’s not forget my father and Master Yang’s father. They thought they’d live out their days peacefully after outlasting Nie Hengcheng, but who knew they’d fall victim to revenge from Nie’s disciples…” Yin Sulian cried, her tears eliciting sympathy from everyone.
Yang He’ying’s face darkened.
Just as the atmosphere turned somber, Ning Xiaofeng suddenly let out a chuckle.
Though not loud, everyone heard it.
Yin Sulian glared at her venomously: “What are you laughing at? Are you mocking my father’s death?”
“I would never mock those who bravely resisted the Evil Cult,” Ning Xiaofeng replied calmly. “I just suddenly remembered your sister, Lady Qinglian. She was truly clever and foresightful. If not for her, the revenge from Nie’s disciples might have been endless.”
These words were cryptic, leaving Cai Zhao confused. However, those seated in the main hall understood perfectly.
“What does that mean?” Cai Zhao instinctively looked to Chang Ning.
Chang Ning smiled mysteriously: “Your mother never told you about this? Well, your aunt is indeed a kind-hearted person.”
“Stop being so cryptic. Are you going to explain or not?”
“It’s quite simple. After Nie Hengcheng’s death, his disciples were enraged. They vowed to slaughter the entire Yin and Yang families to avenge their master.”
Cai Zhao was even more puzzled, “But it was my aunt who killed Nie Hengcheng. Why target the Yin and Yang families?”
“Because at the time, the martial arts world believed it was Old Sect Leader Yin who killed Nie Hengcheng, with Yang Yi of Siqi Gate as his assistant.”
“What?!” Cai Zhao stood up abruptly.
Startled, Fan Xingjia quickly pulled him back down as curious gazes turned their way.
Chang Ning continued nonchalantly, his smile and gaze as clear and cold as flowing ice. Fan Xingjia thought to himself that Chang Ning must have been a pampered young master in the Chang family fortress before, wondering what striking appearance he might have once his poisonous sores healed.
“The great battle at Tu Mountain eighteen years ago was earth-shattering, yet only a handful of people were present,” Chang Ning arranged six small wine cups before him. “Sect Leader Qi, who rushed there, your mother, the retired Shi brothers, and my father and Manor Lord Zhou, who arrived half a step late.”
He moved the cups one by one, “The area around Tu Mountain was full of Nie’s disciples, who didn’t yet know of his death. Sect Leader Qi had to handle the aftermath. Old Manor Lord Zhou was critically injured, so Zhou had to return to his manor immediately. The Shi brothers, one crippled and one injured, supported each other and went into seclusion to recover. Only your mother and my father took your aunt back to Luoying Valley, rarely leaving for several years after.”
“Rarely leaving for years? Why is that?” Fan Xingjia asked curiously.
Ignoring him, Chang Ning continued, “The year after the Tu Mountain battle, Old Sect Leader Yin held a victory banquet. At the feast, that old lecher Yang Yi, to curry favor with Qingque Sect, brazenly attributed Nie Hengcheng’s death to Old Sect Leader Yin.”
Cai Zhao was shocked: “Even if others weren’t there, didn’t Uncle Qi say anything?”
“He did speak up, but no one listened,” Chang Ning raised an eyebrow. “Besides, even if Sect Leader Qi hadn’t said anything, wouldn’t Yin Dai himself know whether he killed Nie Hengcheng or not?”
Fan Xingjia wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.
Cai Zhao felt extremely frustrated: “…So Uncle Qi didn’t refute it thoroughly?”
“Yang Yi didn’t explicitly say Yin Dai killed Nie Hengcheng, only that it was all thanks to Old Sect Leader Yin’s efforts. Yin then replied that Old Master Yang had also helped greatly – after that, word spread in the martial arts world that Yin and Yang had killed Nie Hengcheng together.”
Cai Zhao was speechless for a while.
Fan Xingjia interjected again: “How does Junior Brother Chang know all this so clearly?” Even to the point of knowing what the two elders had said.
“Because my father was also at that victory banquet.”
Both Fan and Cai exclaimed in unison.
“Why didn’t the great Chang hero clarify the truth?” Fan Xingjia asked cautiously, trying to salvage some face for his master.
Chang Ning smiled, “Initially, my father was furious, feeling they were stealing credit for a heaven-sent victory. But then he thought it wasn’t such a bad thing…”
Cai Zhao’s large eyes blinked rapidly as he slowly lowered his head to bite his chopsticks.
Fan Xingjia pondered for a moment before understanding, only able to sigh repeatedly.