Twenty years ago, Cai Pingshu wasn’t the only renowned female hero in the martial world. There was also Luo Yuanrong from Taichu Temple.
She was the daughter of the then Taichu Temple leader Canghuan Zi’s late sister. Her uncle took her in from a young age, carefully nurturing her skills.
Unlike the straightforward, fist-first Cai Pingshu, Luo Yuanrong was the epitome of a refined lady – beautiful, talented, and cold as ice. The martial world gave her the elegant title “Frost Fairy.”
She had three renowned senior brothers: The eldest, Wu Yuanying, was bold and heroic, with exceptional martial arts skills, most respected among his peers; the second, Wang Yuanjing, was handsome and gentle, meticulous and kind; the third, Qiu Yuanfeng, was fiery-tempered and unruly.
For a long time, she was Canghuan Zi’s youngest disciple and the most beloved girl in Taichu Temple.
When her eldest brother Wu Yuanying visited Wanshui Qianshan Cliff with his wine jar, she often accompanied him, thus getting to know the Yin sisters.
She particularly liked the understanding of Yin Sulian, who had early on discerned her feelings and always arranged for her to sit next to Wu Yuanying at banquets. The eldest brother was a bold man who loved drinking and chatting with his brothers. Though she couldn’t understand most of what they said, just being near her eldest brother filled her heart with joy.
Sometimes she thought, that if her eldest brother didn’t want to be her Taoist partner in the future, she would quietly remain a celibate Taoist nun in Taichu Temple. That would be good enough.
But even this wish was destined to go unfulfilled.
Qiu Yuanfeng’s face turned ashen: “Fourth Junior Sister, haven’t you caused enough trouble? Wu Gang, Wu Xiong, why are you joining in this nonsense?” The latter half of his statement was directed at the two middle-aged disciples behind Luo Yuanrong.
“Today is the 200th death anniversary of our ancestor, such a solemn occasion, yet you dare to cause trouble. It seems Taichu Temple needs to clean house!” Cangqiong Zi said ominously. “Your senior brother has been lenient with you because your parents died early, but today you’ve injured many. As your uncle, I can no longer allow you to continue your reckless behavior. Yuanfeng, apprehend this unfilial disciple, dead or alive!”
Wang Yuanjing, deeply worried, pleaded repeatedly: “Uncle, Brother, for the sake of our master, Yuanrong may be stubborn, but her crime doesn’t warrant death!”
Qiu Yuanfeng shrugged off Wang Yuanjing with a sleeve wave, arrogantly stepping forward: “Sister, for our master’s sake, surrender yourself. I won’t harm you.”
Luo Yuanrong ignored him completely, looking directly at Qi Yunke: “Sect Leader Qi, may I say a few words?”
Qi Yunke sighed deeply: “Lady Luo, I know what you want to say. Not just me, but our peers and friends all pretty much know your meaning. Who doesn’t grieve over Brother Yuanying’s death? But the dead cannot be brought back to life. You… you should let it go.”
Cai Zhao turned her head: “Mother, what are they talking about?”
Surprisingly, Ning Xiaofeng also looked confused: “I don’t know. Your father never mentioned it.”
Cai Zhao gave her a disapproving look: “Didn’t they say all your peers know about it?”
Ning Xiaofeng tilted her head in thought: “Ever since your aunt broke Taichu Temple’s prized sword at the Six Sects’ Grand Tournament that year, our two sects haven’t been on good terms. Of course, Luoying Valley wouldn’t know about their internal affairs!”
She continued, “Huh, what’s so great about that broken sword? If it was so precious, why bring it out for a competition? It snapped with just one twist, even your aunt was dumbfounded. It was more brittle than a carrot!”
Cai Zhao sighed heavily: “Aunt should have at least apologized for breaking their precious sword.”
“She did apologize! Your aunt sincerely told Taichu Temple that had she known the sword was so delicate, she certainly wouldn’t have used her full strength. She really didn’t mean to,” Ning Xiaofeng said indignantly.
Cai Zhao stared in disbelief – This was an apology?!
Chang Ning frowned slightly: “If they couldn’t accept such a sincere apology, then Taichu Temple is in the wrong.”
Fan Xingjia and Cai Zhao were once again speechless, while Ning Xiaofeng looked at Chang Ning more favorably.
At this moment, Luo Yuanrong spoke again: “Venerable Fakong, I didn’t intentionally cause trouble on our ancestor’s death anniversary. But without the presence of our fellow righteous heroes, I fear this great injustice cannot be made known. Venerable Fakong, please, for the sake of my late uncle, allow Yuanrong to say a few words.” Her reference to her uncle rather than her master clearly showed she no longer considered herself a disciple of Taichu Temple.
Venerable Fakong pondered for a moment, looking towards Qi Yunke and others, advising: “Given the situation today, rather than forcibly suppressing it, why not let everything be said openly? Clearing up misunderstandings before our ancestor’s spirit wouldn’t be a bad thing.”
As Qi Yunke was about to speak, Qiu Yuanfeng said displeased: “Venerable, you speak too lightly. How can this be cleared up?! The ‘Torrential Thunderstorm’ was Elder Tianxuan’s lethal weapon back then. How did Luo Yuanrong obtain it? She must have colluded with the evil cult! That’s one point. Secondly, so many brothers in the hall were innocently injured, should we just let that go? In short, Taichu Temple must clean house!”
Hearing this, even Venerable Fakong found himself in a difficult position.
Cai Pingchun suddenly spoke up: “I don’t know if Taoist Friend Luo has colluded with the evil cult, but Luoying Valley has plenty of antidotes for the ‘Torrential Thunderstorm’. There’s no need to worry.”
“That’s true,” Zhou Zhizhen said. “Back then, Elder Tianxuan relied on the ‘Torrential Thunderstorm’ to injure countless righteous heroes, including my father. Thanks to Uncle Cai Changfeng’s sacrifice in killing Elder Tianxuan and bringing the antidote back to Luoying Valley for analysis, countless lives of our allies were saved.”
A bearded man stepped forward, loudly saying: “That’s right, my master and senior master were cured of the poison by Luoying Valley. They’re still basking in the sun and boasting at home now!”
Everyone laughed while expressing their gratitude to Cai Pingchun.
Cai Zhao gently tugged at her mother’s clothes: “Mother, is this why Grand-uncle passed away from severe injuries?”
“Yes, but it was worth it,” Ning Xiaofeng gently stroked her daughter’s hair. “That Elder Tianxuan loved creating poisons. To create the world’s most yin and toxic substance, he would do anything, no matter how evil. Don’t be sad, your grand-uncle passed away peacefully.”
Fan Xingjia sighed softly: “…How many villains are there in the evil cult?”
Chang Ning remained impassive.
Seeing her daughter was unharmed, Ning Xiaofeng gave a few more instructions before returning to look after Cai Xiaopang.
At this time, Venerable Fakong suggested once more: “Since those injured in the hall are out of danger, why not let Lady Luo speak her piece? It would prevent hatred among fellow disciples, which is a great kindness. Moreover, we’ve all witnessed the power of the ‘Torrential Thunderstorm’ in the past, and these two are far inferior. It’s too early to say Lady Luo has colluded with the evil cult.”
Hearing the latter half, Zhou Zhizhen nodded slightly, also feeling that these two ‘Torrential Thunderstorms’ were much weaker compared to what he had seen years ago.
Seeing their disciples and sons were safe, Song Shijun and Yang Heying were happy to watch the show, especially Taichu Temple’s internal strife – they’d pay to watch it with their tea; Zhou Zhizhen and Cai Pingchun were indifferent.
Qi Yunke looked around and said: “Lady Luo, go ahead and speak.”
Luo Yuanrong carefully handed the bamboo basket to Wu Gang and Wu Xiong, then walked to the center of the main hall and bowed deeply to Venerable Fakong.
Qiu Yuanfeng bit his lip hard, suddenly shouting: “I’ll speak first, to prevent you from slandering me groundlessly!” Without waiting for Luo Yuanrong to speak, he hurriedly began—
“Everyone knows that our eldest brother Wu Yuanying died in the battle at Dinglu Mountain twenty years ago. Many heroes witnessed it personally. But my junior sister refuses to believe it, insisting that my eldest brother isn’t dead. For over a decade, she’s been pestering us, either forcing us to rescue him from the evil cult or accusing me of harming my eldest brother! Hmph, it’s absurd!”
Cangqiong Zi slammed his wheelchair hard, adding: “That’s right! In battles with the evil cult, casualties are inevitable. If everyone acted like this unfilial disciple, endlessly pursuing it, wouldn’t that cause chaos? Besides, you and Yuanjing weren’t even at Dinglu Mountain at that time, so how can you be sure Yuanying didn’t die? It’s pure fantasy and reckless behavior!”
Many in the hall had never heard of this matter and immediately began discussing—
“How could the great hero Wu Yuanying not be dead?”
“That’s impossible! My senior brother was on Dinglu Mountain that year and saw with his own eyes Elder Yaoguang of the evil cult killed Wu Yuanying with one strike. It’s just that everyone retreated hastily and couldn’t retrieve the body.”
“Then why is Lady Luo so persistent about this matter?”