The great fire raged for three days and nights, reducing the magnificent Twin Lotus Pool Palace to ashes. Yin Dai’s lifelong efforts to build his immense power and prestige crumbled along with the splendid edifice. The Yin family’s thirty-year influence over the martial arts world dissipated like a mirage.
With their common enemy gone, the Li Sect members and the surviving North Chen followers instinctively faced off like mortal enemies. Cai Zhao kindly suggested that Mu Qingyan and others leave the mountain first. When Mu asked about her plans, Cai replied that she intended to exhume her master’s body before returning to Luoying Valley.
Noticing Song Yuzhi, leaning on two swords and searching through the rubble despite his severe injuries, Mu Qingyan irritably said, “It’ll take days to dig out Qi Yunke’s bones from this vast ruin. Are you just making excuses to send me away?”
Cai Zhao glared at him. “Be reasonable! If I don’t watch over this, how can I prevent them from desecrating Master’s body out of spite?” She couldn’t allow such a thing to happen to her aunt’s sworn brother.
Mu Qingyan laughed coldly. “You promised we’d always be together. Your sweet words are still ringing in my ears, yet you change your mind faster than you change your face. If you want to collect Qi Yunke’s remains, why not ask for my help? Or do these broken stones and rotting wood only recognize you sect members?”
“Absurd!” Cai Zhao was furious and refused to speak to this madman even as they rested that evening.
That night, as Cai Zhao slept in Chunling Cottage, Mu Qingyan brazenly occupied the outer room, ignoring others’ suspicious glances. Hearing Cai toss and turn late into the night, he entered her room, lifted her blanket, and embraced her.
Cai Zhao smelled the strong medicinal scent on him. His firm chest and shoulders were wrapped in layers of fine cloth, covering the brown ointment Lei Xiuming had applied that afternoon. Familiar with such scents since childhood, she felt as if she were back in her aunt’s medicine-scented embrace as a little girl. She relaxed, letting go of her tension.
Mu Qingyan stroked her messy hair affectionately. “You’re like a beaten kitten, all scruffy but still hissing. I’ll have some attentive maids sent up tomorrow.”
Cai Zhao nuzzled against him, mumbling, “Kittens don’t need maids. A few licks will do.”
Mu Qingyan kissed her forehead. “Didn’t you say I was unreasonable?”
Cai Zhao sighed, seemingly giving up. “I’ve said many times we shouldn’t meet again, but look at us now. No one believes we’re innocent anymore. Auntie always stressed keeping one’s word when she roamed the jianghu. If she knew how fickle I’ve become, I wonder how she’d laugh at me.”
Mu Qingyan comforted her, “Don’t worry. Few know about our quarrels. We can pretend we never parted, letting the world believe our love has always been steadfast and unwavering.”
Cai Zhao wrapped her slender arms around him, pressing her cheek against his bandaged chest. “Brother Yan?”
“Mm?”
“We’ll argue again in the future.”
“Probably.”
“Don’t take my words too seriously. During our previous separations, I was quite miserable. Even back in Luoying Valley, nothing tasted good anymore.”
“…I know.” Mu Qingyan tightened his embrace, his hand tracing her spine, feeling the soft skin and faint whip scars on her delicate back. The old wounds contrasted sharply with her tender skin. His fingertips trembled as he caressed them. “I want to tell you something.”
“Oh?”
“That day you were punished at Taichu Temple, I know in your heart you saw it as a resolute act to sever ties with me. But for me, it was the opposite.”
Cai Zhao looked up, confused. “Hm?” Heaven knows, she had endured that punishment hoping it would wake her up and pull her away from Mu Qingyan.
Mu Qingyan stroked her cheek, continuing, “I knew you couldn’t bear to part with me, and I knew your determination. After I left, I thought countless times that it might be better to let it go, that we weren’t meant to be together. But in my midnight dreams, I kept seeing you covered in blood, and I knew I couldn’t escape.”
Cai Zhao’s eyes welled up as she buried her face in his chest. “I didn’t want to leave you, but I also didn’t want to abandon everything to go with you.”
“I know. I understand it all,” the man sighed.
The next morning, Cai Zhao awoke in a warm cocoon, as if wrapped in a cozy blanket. She looked up to see Mu Qingyan’s unusually drowsy expression, his voice still husky from sleep.
“Are you trying to tickle me to death?” he chuckled softly, pulling her small hand from behind his back. The mountain air was chilly, and with the previous night’s chaos, no fire had been lit indoors. He had wrapped her tightly in the quilt, nuzzling her hair as he murmured, “This wretched place has nothing now. Let’s go down the mountain.”
Cai Zhao kicked him lightly with her small foot. “Get away quickly. How does it look, you lying in my bed like this? What about my reputation?”
Just then, a loud voice came from outside. It was Cai Zhao’s uncle, Master Juexing. He barged into Chunling Cottage, shouting, “Zhaozao, get up! I promised your mother I’d watch over you. You need to eat before taking your medicine. Don’t be such a sleepyhead…”
In the aftermath of the chaos, with no servants to guard the door, Master Juexing, who still saw Cai Zhao as a baby in diapers and was never one for formalities, strode right into the inner chamber. Standing by Cai Zhao’s bed, their eyes met, and the old monk’s eyes suddenly widened. For the first time in his life, he wanted to shout, “Heavens above, where are the proprieties?!” Seeing his tender little niece wrapped in the same quilt as the demonic sect leader, his eyes nearly popped out of his head, wishing he could devour Mu Qingyan alive. After a long moment, he finally said, “Amitabha Buddha, good heavens! You two, get up this instant!” His tone was thunderous.
The first to descend the mountain was Yang Xiaolan. After cremating Yang He’ying’s remains and collecting the Sha siblings’ heads, she planned to pay respects to the tragically deceased Hero Huang’s family.
“The Siqimen sect has long been plagued with issues. Those old rascals inside won’t be easy to deal with. If you can’t handle it alone, don’t be reckless. This old monk is still here,” Master Juexing solemnly told Yang Xiaolan.
Yang Xiaolan shook her head. “The Yang family’s affairs can only be settled by the Yangs. Don’t worry, Master. I won’t be rash. If it takes a day, so be it. If it takes a year or even ten, I’ll wait. I have patience. I must cleanse Siqimen thoroughly and explain to our martial arts brethren.”
Seeing the young girl’s determined face, Lei Xiuming was reminded of another resolute young girl from many years ago. Teary-eyed, he packed a bunch of qi-replenishing and wound-healing pills for Yang Xiaolan to take with her.
Shangguan Haonan also greatly admired Yang Xiaolan. He not only enthusiastically offered to help with fighting, but also escorted her down the mountain, causing You Guanyue to suspect he wanted to make her his fourth wife.
“Keep your mind clean! Men and women can have pure admiration for each other. With such a dirty mind, be careful, or I’ll tell your wife Xinger!” Shangguan Haonan righteously declared.
Although he was scolded for no reason, the words “your wife Xinger” made You Guanyue’s heart flutter with joy. He turned back to continue directing his subordinates in moving their belongings.
Since Mu Qingyan was determined not to part with Cai Zhao, You Guanyue couldn’t let his beloved leader suffer any grievances. So, under the watchful eyes of the North Chen crowd, he had box after box of household items moved up to Wanshui Qianshan Cliff. From sea dragon bone combs to silk cocoon quilts, from snow lotus mouthwash to bowls inlaid with agate and jade, everything was dazzlingly luxurious.
The North Chen followers were still fine, but the heroes invited by Yunzhuan Daoren, whose gazes shifted from initial suspicion to increasing envy, could only sourly comment, “Hmph, these unorthodox sects, how easily they come by wealth!”
You Guanyue wouldn’t let this slight pass. He immediately wanted to drag them to dig through the ruins of the Twin Lotus Pool Palace, to show them that old Yin’s magnificent palace hadn’t spared a single coin in its construction.
After several days of commotion, they finally cleared most of the ruins. Qi Yunke’s body was excavated, along with the remains of many heroes who had died tragically in the underground palace. Seeing their comrades and close friends either dead or maimed, some hot-tempered individuals couldn’t help but curse loudly, calling for Qi Yunke’s body to be dismembered. Some even clamored to burn down Wanshui Qianshan Cliff and slaughter all the Li Sect members who had caused this catastrophe.
They might have lost their heads, but Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue hadn’t. They promptly reminded them that the Li Sect troops on Fengyun Peak were still strong, advising them to mind their attitudes.
As Mu Qingyan put it, the most intriguing part of any drama comes after the calamity, when grudges and entanglements unfold.
Among the gathered heroes, some wanted to first pass judgment, suggesting they kill all of Qi and Li’s remaining followers. Others wanted to find the “Purple Micro Heart Sutra,” claiming they would destroy it. Some hoped to immediately drive the Li Sect members down the mountain, their words barely concealing their disgust.
Master Juexing was frantic with worry. For days, he had been concerned about another outbreak of violence on Wanshui Qianshan Cliff. Lei Xiuming brewed more mind-clearing, fire-dispelling soup for everyone to drink as a cooling tea.
Unlike noble characters in traditional stories who would graciously overlook betrayal, Supreme Leader Mu showed no such refined sensibilities. He immediately used his internal energy to send the disrespectful individuals flying into the jade walls, breaking a few bones and scattering their qi. Mu Qingyan mused that his temper had improved; he hadn’t gouged out their eyes or administered flesh-rotting poison, out of consideration for his beloved.
The North Chen heroes’ faces darkened, but they remained silent. Seeing this, Young Heroine Cai didn’t even bother to intervene. Having already buried Qi Yunke’s remains in the sect’s forbidden grounds, she exchanged a glance with her uncle, Master Juexing, and used her injured father as an excuse to quickly drag the troublemaker and his followers back to Luoying Valley.
Supreme Leader Mu, concerned for his future father-in-law, had already sent the Ghost Doctor Lin Shu with his medicine chest to Luoying Valley. By the time they arrived, Cai Pingchun could walk around the valley with Ning Xiaofeng’s support, and Song Shijun could sit up and eat on his own. However, with one son dead, one crippled, and one desolate, old Song couldn’t help feeling depressed.
Ning Xiaofeng, who had opposed him for most of her life, now felt some sympathy and often visited. This made Cai Pingchun’s face darken as if his old wounds were acting up. Cai Zhao found this amusing, but surprisingly, Mu Qingyan was the most angered by the situation.
“If you’ve sworn to be husband and wife for life, with one heart and mind, you shouldn’t spare any care for others,” the self-appointed future son-in-law fumed, as if ready to draw his sword Fuyingto argue the point. “Feeling pity for someone down on their luck is no different from a change of heart. It truly wounds your father!”
Valley Master Cai was momentarily bewildered. He wanted to say that after years of marriage and mutual understanding, he wasn’t that bothered. But seeing Mu Qingyan’s icy aura, seemingly genuinely angry, Cai Pingchun feared his demonic nature might cause trouble. He quickly signaled his daughter with his eyes to find a solution.
Rather than staying at an inn, which might frighten the honest townsfolk with Mu Qingyan’s monstrous followers, Cai Zhao led them to her aunt Cai Pingshu’s former residence in town – the place where she grew up.
Upon arriving at this house, Mu Qingyan’s entire demeanor changed. His brow relaxed, his eyes sparkled, and his fair skin seemed to glow. After paying respects to Cai Pingshu, he turned and asked, “Song Yuzhi hasn’t been here, right?”
Cai Zhao replied, “No, he hasn’t.”
Mu Qingyan grew even happier, smilingly peeling a fruit to place on Cai Pingshu’s offering plate.
“But Brother Yuqi has been here,” Cai Zhao helpfully added.
Mu Qingyan’s face immediately darkened. “Then I’m leaving.”
“Don’t go, don’t go,” Cai Zhao laughed, tugging at his sleeve. “When he came to pay respects to Auntie, Min Xinrou was with him. Auntie wanted to break off our engagement then, but I adamantly refused.”
Mu Qingyan poked her forehead. “You didn’t break it off even then? Are you ill?”
“I didn’t like Min Xinrou,” Cai Zhao explained, grinning. “The more she wanted me to break the engagement, the more I refused. She kept eyeing someone else’s fiancé and trying to set traps for me with her affected speech. I just wouldn’t give in, just to spite her and make her anxious. Ha ha ha ha!”
Mu Qingyan couldn’t help but turn away. “With that hint of wickedness in you, even if you were reborn a hundred times, you could never become a heroine like your aunt!”
Cai Zhao scratched her ear, sighing, “Ah I know that too.”
The next day, as the sun climbed high, they sat in the courtyard having breakfast – wonton in bone broth and fresh shrimp soup dumplings, all made by Mu Qingyan. Even the fresh meat and shrimp were brought back by him from the town entrance before dawn. Reportedly, the shrimp vendor, seeing Mu Qingyan’s tall and handsome appearance, spoke familiarly and even gave him a half-price discount.
“So, before I even woke up, half the town knew you were staying at Auntie’s house,” Cai Zhao said, sucking the juice from a soup dumpling. “Well, now my parents don’t need to announce our relationship to everyone.”
Mu Qingyan feigned innocence. “I’m just staying at your aunt’s house, you’re thinking too much.”
Cai Zhao replied, “Besides those surnamed Cai, only two outsiders have ever stayed in this house. Even when Uncle Zhou’s family and my uncles came to visit Auntie, they stayed at inns in town. Do you know who those two people are?”
“Qi Yunke and… me?”
“At least you know that much.”
Mu Qingyan was even more pleased, his face full of gentle affection as he played his role well. “The townspeople are all so kind, constantly reminding you to treat me well and not to bully me.”
Cai Zhao rolled her eyes at him, then changed the subject. “Hey, how are your wounds?”
“Much better,” Mu Qingyan replied.
Cai Zhao put down her chopsticks and sighed softly. “…Your father was truly formidable.”
During the final battle, Mu Qingyan had to match internal energy with Qi Yunke, a truly perilous situation. Even now, the wounds all over Mu Qingyan’s body still ached faintly, but his dantian was gradually becoming warm and full again. For martial artists, external injuries are easy to treat, but internal injuries are difficult to heal. Yet his internal injuries were healing faster than his external ones, thanks to the “Innate Qi-Preserving Breathing Technique” passed down by Mu Zhengming.
Mu Qingyan explained, “My father lived in obscurity his whole life. Even our sect members didn’t know much about him. No one knew he had created such a rare and powerful internal cultivation method.”
Cai Zhao pondered, “Perhaps your father didn’t care about fame. Maybe all he sought in life were the four characteristics: simplicity and contentment.”
Mu Qingyan wiped the corner of her mouth and nodded, then suddenly asked, “When will you come back with me to the Hanhai Mountain Range?”
Cai Zhao felt a chill down her neck and quickly changed the subject. “Your wounds haven’t healed yet, let’s wait a while longer. Ah speaking of which, that fire was really big that day, wasn’t it?”
Although the calamity had passed, the horrific scenes from that day remained vivid in their minds. The Twin Lotus Pool Palace had wailed in the roaring flames, with jewels and precious stones inlaid in the golden pillars and white jade walls tumbling down, symbolizing the end of Yin Dai’s lifelong ambition and desire for power.
Mu Qingyan commented, “Yin Dai was quite a character. To be able to contend with Nie Hengcheng for decades on equal footing shows his exceptional cunning and skill. As Nie Hengcheng approached his twilight years and still couldn’t gain an advantage over the Six Sects of North Chen, coupled with your aunt’s sudden rise to prominence, he became increasingly agitated. That’s when he fell for Mu Zhengyang’s trap.”
“Let’s not talk about these unpleasant people,” Cai Zhao said, closing her eyes, her long, beautiful lashes forming two graceful arcs. “The weather has been cold and dry lately. At noon, let’s go to Old Six’s shop for some rice and snake soup. It’s not only delicious but also nourishing, perfect for replenishing your strength. That wound on your shoulder looks frightening. Don’t dismiss it just because it’s an external injury.”
“Do you smell that fragrance outside? The locust tree at the alley entrance must have blossomed last night. It’s a huge tree, with pink and white flowers like clouds. Later, I’ll bring a ladder to pick some flowers – half to steam locust flower cakes, half to put in vases around the house. How does that sound?”
“I overslept today. Sigh, Neighbor Feng’s yellow dog is gone. It used to bark at dawn, waking up the whole alley, more reliable than a rooster. When Auntie was here, as soon as Yellow barked, I had to get up and practice. Back then, I often thought about making dog stew out of Yellow.”
Mu Qingyan listened to the girl’s gentle, lively voice, feeling as if he were nestled in clouds – warm, trivial, relaxed, joyful…
“…Ah I miss Yellow. Without him, I’ve become even lazier. Fortunately, you’re more disciplined than me. With you around, at least I won’t sleep until afternoon…”
Suddenly, Cai Zhao felt a pain in the back of her hand and yelped in surprise. Mu Qingyan was gripping her wrist, having pinched the soft, fair skin on the back of her hand.
“You were secretly calling me Yellow, weren’t you? Did you think I wouldn’t notice?” His eyebrows arched his face as cold and flawless as jade, exuding pride and intelligence.
Cai Zhao: “…”
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Mu Qingyan frowned.
Cai Zhao sighed deeply. “When I was little, Auntie took me to see plays. During a scholar-meets-beauty story, she asked me what kind of person I wanted to marry in the future.”
Mu Qingyan grew interested. “Oh? What did you say?”
“I said I wanted to marry someone a bit foolish. Not too clever.”
Then her hand was pinched again.
On a clear, pleasant day, they finally went out. Cai Zhao moved through the town streets with the ease of a fish returning to the water.
“Save me two jin of braised goods for tonight, chicken, duck, goose, or trotters are fine, just no heads or tails!”
“You picky little girl, by evening only heads and tails will be left. Alright, alright, I got it…”
“Thank you, Uncle Meat!”
“Aunt Pancake, five sweet ones, five scallion oil ones, and five donkey meat fire-baked buns. I’ll send Butler Xieke to pick them up later.”
“It’s the madam who wants to eat, right? I’ll wrap them in warm nests for you to take back to the valley, so they won’t get cold on the way.”
“Aunt Pancake is so thoughtful!”
“Uncle Fournet, is today’s fish fresh? I want to make mushroom tofu fish soup tonight.”
“You don’t know how to make fish soup. Furong is busy preparing for marriage now and can’t look after you. Don’t burn down the kitchen again.”
“Oh, Uncle, why bring that up? Someone else will cook today!”
“…Don’t bully the young man too much.”
Cai Zhao leaned closer to Uncle Fournet and lowered her voice, “Do you know who this person is?”
Uncle Fournet replied, “Of course, Tofu Beauty told us, he’s the Demonic Sect Leader.”
Cai Zhao was speechless. “Uncle Fournet, you say ‘Demonic Sect Leader’ like you’d say ‘Today’s mixed fish is ten wens for three jin’.”
As they walked away, Cai Zhao added, “By the way, Fishhead Fang lost his life. Where will Uncle Xieke find a drinking buddy now?”
“Well, it was your righteous sect master who killed Fishhead Fang.”
“…”
“Anyway, don’t bully the Demonic Sect Leader too much.”
“…”
“Also, mixed fish isn’t ten wen for three jin. Don’t try to pull a fast one, little girl.”
“…”
Mu Qingyan followed along, maintaining a polite smile and greeting everyone, which led to people praising Cai Zhao for her good taste in bringing back such a handsome and good-tempered young man. The only exceptions were the cosmetics shop assistant who wanted Cai Zhao to try a new perfume powder and the enthusiastic young master of the silk shop. Mu Qingyan’s knife-like glare and the slight wind from his sleeves nearly made them cry.
Cai Zhao quickly threatened, “You’re not allowed to burn down their shops at night!”
Mu Qingyan smiled insincerely, “How could I? The shops are innocent.”
“The people are innocent too!”
Entering Old Six’s shop, Mu Qingyan sat down and smiled, “The townspeople are warm and hospitable, and they have good taste. No wonder you’re so attached to your home.”
Cai Zhao muttered, “Your followers have surrounded Luoying Valley. How could they not be warm?”
Mu Qingyan’s eyes narrowed, his voice rising, “What did you say?”
Cai Zhao skillfully put on a smile, “I said, Supreme Leader’s insight is brilliant.”
Indeed, it wasn’t just Mu Qingyan who had come to Luoying Valley, but also the twelve divisions of the Demonic Sect that had previously surrounded Mount Jiuli. With the Qingque Sect in chaos and the Six Sects of North Chen severely weakened, the most favorable situation for the Demonic Sect in two hundred years had appeared. Unification of the world seemed within reach, and from Elder Yan Xu to the various branch leaders, everyone in the Demonic Sect was eager to act.
Shangguan Haonan and You Guanyue, despite their severe injuries, had coaxed and threatened half of the followers back to the Hanhai Mountain Range. The remaining half, led by Lian Shisan, refused to leave their “besieged” Supreme Leader and set up camp around Luoying Valley, surrounding it.
Cai Zhao diplomatically suggested to Lian Shisan that Luoying Valley was a small place unused to such an imposing presence, asking if they could leave. Lian Shisan humorously replied that he’d leave when the moon did, following their Supreme Leader to the ends of the earth. If she wanted the Supreme Leader to move, she’d have to show some mercy.
While waiting for the rice and snake soup to arrive, Cai Zhao once again probed when the great Demonic Sect Leader would return to his domain, as the Green Bamboo Gang outside the valley was too scared to even catch small fish and shrimp.
Mu Qingyan raised an eyebrow, “Earlier, when you eagerly brought me to Luoying Valley, you kept asking me to stay longer.”
Young Miss Cai made a sour face, “That was then, this is now.”
Mu Qingyan thought for a moment, then lowered his eyes, “That day when I woke up in the ruins and saw your face red from crying, I decided that no matter how much we argue in the future, we’d never separate again. Given the current situation, you have two choices: either come back with me to the Hanhai Mountain Range, or I’ll marry into Luoying Valley. You pick one.”
Cai Zhao laughed bitterly. “I’m afraid I can’t handle being such a grandson-in-law for Sect Leader Mu.”
Mu Qingyan nodded. “I understand. I’ll make arrangements to minimize disruptions. However, when sect matters arise, people will inevitably come to find me. I hope everyone can be understanding.”
With Mu Qingyan being so accommodating, Cai Zhao was left speechless. She redirected her frustration, shouting, “Why hasn’t the food been served yet? Snake Sixth, is your kitchen on fire?”
Snake Sixth came over with a grin, explaining, “Business has been so good lately that we used up yesterday’s stock. We’re preparing fresh dishes now. Please wait a bit longer, young miss.”
Cai Zhao laughed. “Old Sixth, you’ve learned to boast. How many people in our town actually like eating snake meat? It’s mostly just me supporting your business.”
Snake Sixth objected, “There aren’t many in town who like it, but there are plenty from outside.”
“From outside?”
“Yes, those heroes camping outside the valley now.”
Cai Zhao was stunned into silence while Mu Qingyan struggled to suppress his laughter behind the table.
“Thanks to the Sect Leader, business these past few days has been as good as half a year’s worth,” Snake Sixth continued. “The Shen Sect is truly prosperous.”
“Old Sixth, you used to call them the Demon Sect,” Cai Zhao pointed out.
“Nonsense! How could a businessman speak ill of others? Calling them the Demon Sect is hurtful,” Snake Sixth beamed as if spring had arrived. “Besides, we’re all family now. No need for such distinctions.”
Mu Qingyan finally burst into giggles behind the table.
After a hearty meal at Snake Sixth’s place, Cai Zhao felt half-full from frustration. The pair then walked from one end of town to the other, carrying four jars of peach blossom wine. They eventually made their way to the back mountain of the valley, where generations of the Luo Ying Valley clan members were buried.
Unlike the solemn and cold Mu family’s forbidden tomb, this back mountain felt like a sun-soaked cotton pad—dry, soft, and fragrant with the warm scent of vegetation. The tombstones bore various surnames, including those of married-in daughters-in-law, complete with names, birth and death dates, and backgrounds. It was a far cry from the impersonal “X family’s X” style of the Song and Yang families.
Cai Pingsu’s tomb stood alone under a massive peach blossom tree, far from her parents and ancestors. Mu Qingyan poured the peach blossom wine evenly before the tomb, gazing at the simple, unadorned gray-white tombstone for a long time.
The woman buried beneath had altered the fates of everyone in the Nie and Mu families. Yet, no matter how earth-shattering and powerful she had once been, she was now nothing more than a handful of yellow earth. Mu Qingyan had never truly met Cai Pingsu, yet he felt as if he had known her for a very long time.
After a simple tribute, Cai Zhao led Mu Qingyan to two nearby stone stools. “Come to think of it, although I respect my father, the person I admire most is your aunt,” she said.
Mu Qingyan, still lost in thought, replied, “Despite being a woman, she truly took charge of her own life. Back then, no matter how disapproving the elders of the Six Sects looked, no matter how many open threats or well-meaning advice she received, she lived her life firmly according to her wishes.”
“She roamed the martial arts world when she wanted to, eliminated traitors when she saw fit, and even when deceived by Mu Zhengyang, she boldly righted her course. She killed the unfaithful man and then Nie Hengcheng, leaving no loose ends or threats to the martial arts world. Truly puts us men to shame.”
Cai Zhao spoke softly, “You all saw my aunt’s glory, but growing up, I witnessed her constant pain and suffering. You don’t want to be like your father, always yielding and compromising, and I don’t want to be like my aunt, sacrificing herself for others. Yet in the end, it was my aunt’s protection and your father’s inner strength techniques that saved our lives.”
In the final moments, Qi Yunke ultimately couldn’t betray Cai Pingsu’s dying wishes.
“Indeed,” Mu Qingyan smiled, relieved. The gentle breeze caressed his delicate forehead, making him appear particularly youthful and carefree.
“I wanted to bury Master’s ashes here,” Cai Zhao suddenly said.
Mu Qingyan replied, “But they’ve already placed Qi Yunke in the Sinner’s Forest behind the Qingque Sect.”
“You Guanyue has someone skilled in grave robbing, right? We could borrow him and steal Master’s remains together,” Cai Zhao suggested.
Mu Qingyan turned to study the girl. “Even after all the crimes Qi Yunke committed, you still care about him, don’t you?”
Cai Zhao’s expression turned melancholic as she spoke softly, “I just pity Master. He lived a very hard life. He’s dead now, and his crimes will be carved on the tablet. What harm is there in moving his ashes?”
Mu Qingyan thought for a moment, then smiled. “That’s fine. I’m sure your aunt would be happy to have your master as company.”
Cai Zhao asked curiously, “How do you know?”
Mu Qingyan explained, “You said it yourself—only two outsiders ever lived in your aunt’s house: me and Qi Yunke. After becoming completely disabled, your aunt didn’t want to see many people, right? I think, regardless of whether there was romantic love, your master was very important to Cai the Female Hero, far more than Zhou Zhizhen and the others.”
“Ah,” Cai Zhao slapped her leg—she had never thought of it that way. She sighed heavily, “In this world, matters of the heart are the most unclear. Oh, and Big Senior Brother—I never imagined he secretly loved Yin Sulian for decades!”
Mu Qingyan grew interested. “How did you guess that the spy I placed beside Qi Yunke was Zeng Dalou?”
“After returning from the Blood Swamp, Third Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Brother, and I came back here,” Cai Zhao explained. “While searching for the Purple Jade Golden Mallow, I went through my aunt’s belongings. I didn’t find any information about the flower, but I did discover a notebook my aunt wrote in her youth. It contained various observations from her early days in the martial arts world, including some intriguing notes.”
“Once, my aunt gave Big Senior Brother a vat of lively Sujiang carp and told him to try them. He had the entire vat cooked by a master chef at a restaurant and distributed fish to everyone present. My aunt praised the young man for his generosity.”
Mu Qingyan asked, “What’s wrong with that?”
Cai Zhao continued, “At the time, my aunt and master were away. The only people at the inn were a group of poor children they had just rescued and Yin Sulian with her two servants.”
Mu Qingyan let out an “Oh” of understanding. For the weak and poor children, sharing such a delicacy was a blessing from heaven. But Yin Sulian had grown up eating the finest foods, and Zeng Dalou was no stranger to Yin Dai’s extravagance.
Cai Zhao went on, “Another time, they were stranded in a dilapidated temple, and my aunt gave Big Senior Brother a bottle of Snow Cicada Pills. When she returned, she discovered he had distributed the entire bottle among the martial arts heroes who had taken shelter in the temple, including Yin Sulian.”
This time, Mu Qingyan directly pointed out, “Snow Cicada Pills are used to nourish the dantian. Yin Sulian didn’t practice martial arts, so they were useless to her, right?”
Cai Zhao nodded and sighed, “In any case, when I learned that you had convinced Aunt Zhixian, I guessed that the spy near Master was Big Senior Brother.”
Mu Qingyan asked, “If it was so obvious, how did your aunt and Qi Yunke not notice?”
Cai Zhao sighed, “Master was quite simple-minded in his youth. My mother said people even called him ‘Big Fool Qi’ back then. My aunt wasn’t much better—she was very straightforward. When she was at Pei Qiong Manor, Madam Min had been scheming against her for years and openly flirting with Uncle Zhou, but it took her several years to realize it.”
Mu Qingyan thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Not necessarily. Cai the Female Hero was sharp beneath her rough exterior. Why would she write these things in her notebook for no reason? I suspect she sensed something but didn’t dwell on it, so she just made a note of it.”
Cai Zhao considered this. “That’s possible.”
The two chatted for a long time at Cai Pingsu’s grave. They discussed the black-clothed figures they encountered in the Suchuan River Valley and the familiar formation, which they now realized was likely a modified version of the Qingque Sect’s ancestral formation. Cai Pingsu hadn’t dared to make it public for fear of arousing Yin Dai’s suspicions, so only Qi Yunke knew about it.
They also talked about the determined and resolute Yang Xiaolan, who was said to have recovered from her injuries and was planning to return to Siqimen to clean house. Finally, they discussed Yin Sulian and her daughter. Upon waking and learning everything, Qi Lingbo cried her heart out before suddenly becoming strong. She then took her half-mad mother and the one-armed Dai Fengchi back to the Yin family’s ancestral home.
As the sun began to set and the back mountain grew cold, the two set off to return. The path gradually became more crowded with people: elderly couples lazily sweeping fallen leaves under trees, young men and women busy planting crops along the mud walls, middle-aged women carrying baskets to pick fruits, and young servant girls and boys with small buns in their hair coming and going.
These people reacted calmly upon seeing Mu and Cai. The polite ones would offer a greeting before running off with smiles, while others simply rolled their eyes and pretended not to see them.
Noticing Mu Qingyan frowning with his shoulders slightly tense, Cai Zhao said, “Your shoulder is hurting again, isn’t it? That’s what you get for being so capable, getting up so early… Xiao Han’s room is just around the corner. It’s empty now. I’ll help you in there to rest.”
Cai Han’s bed was much narrower, leaving Cai Zhao only able to sit on the edge after Mu Qingyan lay down. As she peeled an orange, she rambled on, “I don’t understand. No matter how beautiful Yin Sulian was, after more than a decade, Big Senior Brother must have seen through her true nature. Master woke up to reality, so why did Big Senior Brother love her until his death?”
Mu Qingyan’s expression grew distant as he replied coolly, “It’s different. Zeng Dalou truly loved her; he loved Yin Sulian for who she was. Qi Yunke, on the other hand, was probably just captivated by the dazzling splendor before him—the favor of the leader of the world’s premier sect, the affection of the martial arts world’s most beautiful woman. He thought he wanted these things, but they weren’t what he truly desired.”
Cai Zhao lowered her head, slowly tearing apart the orange segments. After peeling the entire pitted orange, she suddenly said, “In a few days, I’ll go back to the Hanhai Mountain Range with you.”
Mu Qingyan was quite surprised, and joy welled up in his heart like a spring. He grabbed the girl’s hand and asked, “Really? You… you’re not angry about me deceiving you about the Blood Orchid anymore?”
Cai Zhao scoffed, “I thought you’d never ask.”
Mu Qingyan hugged her joyfully, his eyes brimming with affection, looking as lovely as spring branches in full bloom. He urgently asked, “I was afraid if I brought it up, you’d use it as an excuse to distance yourself from me, so I simply avoided mentioning it. You just said you want to return to the Hanhai Mountain Range with me—is it true? Quick, tell me, is it true?”
Cai Zhao sighed, “When you were buried in the ruins, I decided that as long as you didn’t die, I wouldn’t blame you for anything. I… we shouldn’t end up like Master, looking back only after a lifetime has passed.”
Overjoyed, Mu Qingyan held the girl quietly, repeatedly expressing his approval. Despite his usual eloquence, he could only repeat “good” over and over. “…Let’s set out next month,” he finally suggested.
Cai Zhao asked curiously, “Why next month? I thought you’d want to leave tomorrow.”
Mu Qingyan explained, “Isn’t your grandmother, Old Madam Ning, coming with Xiao Han? By my calculations, they’ll arrive early next month. I want to meet your entire family before we go.”
Seeing his serious expression, Cai Zhao burst into laughter. She playfully pushed him down on the bed, pressing against his chest to kiss his snow-white neck with its faint blue veins and his prominent Adam’s apple.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Cai Zhao was hurriedly pushed out, and the door slammed shut with a loud bang. As she tried to speak, the tip of her upturned nose nearly collided with the forcefully closed door. Just before the door closed completely, an embarrassed and angry male voice came from inside: “No touching me before we’re officially married!”
These ten words were heard by the uncles, aunts, and young servant girls outside. Immediately, disapproving clicks of tongues and accusatory glances fell upon Cai Zhao.
“Tsk tsk, trying to take advantage before even holding a wedding feast. How outrageous!”
“I’m not one to talk, but he’s followed her home and she’s still being ambiguous. It’s clear she doesn’t want to give him proper status.”
“Oh my, this won’t do. Isn’t this like those scoundrels in plays who seduce and abandon?”
“This isn’t right. I should tell the gossip next door. Let’s all judge this situation!”
“Yes, yes…”
Cai Zhao looked at the sky, then at the ground – what a beautiful day in Luo Ying Valley, indeed.