They returned to the elegant residence at the foot of Wuan Mountain late at night and slept until midday. They slept separately.
In the main hall of the residence, Mu Qingyan sat listening to You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan’s report on the situation in the Hanhai Mountain Range.
You Guanyue spoke rapidly: “…The damaged areas of Jile Palace have been repaired. The auxiliary halls built by Nie Zhe were demolished, but the water pavilion on the east side of the Heavenly Hall is connected to two main beams of the hall. Wang Tianfeng asks what should be done about it?”
Mu Qingyan frowned slightly and sighed, “I was too angry before. The buildings are innocent; why must we destroy them all? The licentious Nie Zhe is gone, so why not keep the new structures for other uses? Tell Wang Tianfeng not to demolish it. Zhao-zhao, don’t you agree?”
Internally, he thought: “That bastard’s den of depravity makes me sick just looking at it. To hell with keeping it, tear it all down!”
Cai Zhao sat at a nearby desk, biting her pen and hunched over a blank sheet of paper. Her expression was solemn, and she ignored the demon’s words completely.
Shangguan Haonan stuttered as he read from a booklet, “Nie Zhe’s jealousy drove away many key members of the cult over the past decade. Some fled, some died, and some even started their small factions in the jianghu. Yu Huiyin suggests we humbly seek them out, as they’re old brothers, and it would be best if they returned. Elder Hu says if they refuse to return willingly, we should beat them severely to establish our authority.”
Mu Qingyan’s face showed compassion, “We’re all brothers of the same cult who once swore to live and die together. How can we turn our blades against each other now?”
Internally: “Yu Huiyin is truly a troublemaker. It’s fortunate Nie Hengcheng died early before being ruined by this adopted son. The old cult members forced out by the Nie uncle and nephew are now old. Even if we bring them back, they’ll all have high seniority and big egos. We’d be too busy catering to them to put them to use! Have they forgotten what leaving the cult means? A group of tyrants who only respect power – no need for words, just beat them into submission, and they’ll return to the cult obediently.”
Shangguan Haonan anxiously said, “Master, our Divine Cult isn’t a tavern or teahouse where people can come and go as they please. Is the oath of ‘never betraying the cult’ taken upon joining just a joke? It’s bad enough they left, but they’ve even established their factions. Nie Zhe was weak before, but if we let this slide too, aren’t we living up to the name ‘Demonic Cult’ for nothing?”
Resisting the urge to curse, Mu Qingyan sighed and covered his face, “How can you say that, Shangguan? The term ‘demonic’ refers to those who commit evil acts. If you don’t commit evil acts, you’re not demonic, you’re… you’re… what are you, Zhao-Zhao?”
He turned to ask, but Cai Zhao was writing furiously on the paper, seemingly oblivious.
Shangguan Haonan looked dejected, “Isn’t that too soft?”
Mu Qingyan glared at him, “Have you ever heard of gentleness, respect, frugality, humility, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust? Go read more books!”
Shangguan Haonan looked dumbfounded, while You Guanyue behind him stifled a laugh and tugged at his sleeve.
Finally, Mu Qingyan said, “If you’ve reported everything, you can return to the cult. The great work of restoration should proceed slowly; there’s no need to rush. Elder Hu and Yu Huiyin are managing daily affairs in the Hanhai Mountains. They’re always short-handed, so go back and assist them. I won’t need you to follow me anymore. Right, Zhao-zhao?”
This time, Cai Zhao finally looked up, raising an eyebrow, “Right. No one else should follow. This trip will just be me and your cult master.” She didn’t want others to know about the Shi brothers’ retirement place.
Mu Qingyan strolled to the desk, “A simple letter assuring your safety would suffice. Why is Zhao-Zhao still writing? If you’re not going to finish, we might as well return to the inn so you can explain everything to your senior disciples in person.”
Cai Zhao slammed her pen on the table, “I’d like to return to the inn, but now rumors of my broken engagement have spread not only throughout the inn but the entire Wuan City!”
“Really?” Mu Qingyan feigned surprise, “Who would have thought the disciples of Northern Zhen were such gossip? In just one day and night, news of the broken engagement has spread across the entire city?”
Cai Zhao laughed coldly, “Who knows who spread it? Let’s say this – whoever spread the rumor is a bastard!”
You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan both shrank their necks.
Mu Qingyan thought for a moment, “Bastard sounds harsh. How about just ‘turtle egg’?”
This time, You Guanyue and Shangguan Haonan hunched their shoulders as well.
Cai Zhao’s mood sank. She had initially wanted to return to the inn, but as soon as she entered the city, she heard widespread rumors about her broken engagement – how she was jilted, how Zhou Yuqi wept and begged on his knees, and how she used her superior martial arts to force the agreement when persuasion failed. The stories were so elaborate they might as well have been turned into a play.
Cai Zhao could almost imagine the scene if she returned to the inn – a cacophony of chatter, some filled with righteous indignation, some offering comfort and concern, and inevitably, some mockery and ridicule.
So, she turned back to the residence.
She had wanted to leave immediately, but Mu Qingyan chose this moment to put on an act, persuading her to at least leave a letter assuring her safety to avoid worrying her fellow disciples. “What if they think you’ve done something rash in a moment of despair?”
“I wouldn’t do anything rash even if you did.”
“What if they take out their anger on Zhou Yuqi?”
“You’re so concerned about him now? Didn’t you want to flay him alive before?”
Mu Qingyan sighed softly, “Only now do I realize how precious it is for true love to prevail. Zhou Yuqi may seem weak, but I truly admire his willingness to stand against oppression for the sake of being with his beloved.”
Cai Zhao narrowed her eyes, “Speak clearly. Who’s the oppressor?”
Mu Qingyan lowered his head, “Don’t blame him, Zhao-zhao. To clear your name of these rumors, Zhou Yuqi has already sent a letter home asking Min Xinrou to come. He plans to publicly announce his relationship with Min Xinrou and take full responsibility for breaking the engagement.”
Cai Zhao’s anger flared upon hearing this. Before she could speak, Shangguan Haonan cautiously interjected from the side, “Isn’t this going too far? They’ve just broken off the engagement, and he’s already bringing in a new lover. It’s disrespectful to Miss Zhao.”
Mu Qingyan immediately rebuked him, “Get lost! This talented young man and beautiful lady are a perfect match. What business is it of you monsters?” He then turned to Zhao with a smile, “Right, Zhao?”
Cai Zhao opened her mouth but said nothing.
In the end, her letter of reassurance contained only three sentences:
First, she was fine and had no intention of taking her own life or becoming a nun.
Second, she had discovered traces of the Evil Sect’s misdeeds and was now investigating, asking everyone not to worry.
Third, the broken engagement was a mutual decision between her and Zhou Yuqi. She asked her fellow disciples not to trouble the Zhou family, emphasizing that Northern Chen’s six sects should remain united and vigilant against the Evil Sect’s schemes.
Having prepared everything, they left the elegant residence simultaneously, setting off in two different directions.
The Suchuan River was the largest in the Wuan Mountain region and even in the surrounding areas. Its upstream tributaries converged near Chuguan, forming a great river that later branched out, flowing through several regions and Wuan Mountain before extending downstream.
Since ancient times, people have settled near water sources. The vast Suchuan River had numerous villages and towns along both banks of its upper and lower reaches.
While searching along the river was certain, Mu and Cai had to decide whether to go upstream or downstream.
“I think it’s downstream,” Cai Zhao said after studying the map for a while. “If it were upstream, the Shi twins’ retreat would be closer to Chuguan than Wuan Mountain. My aunt would have said ‘drinking from the same river as our Northern Chen disciples’ instead of ‘drinking from the same river as Master Chang.'”
Mu Qingyan agreed.
So, they set out to explore downstream from Wuan Mountain. This journey ended up taking over half a month.
The upstream Suchuan was rapid and full of hidden currents and whirlpools, making it difficult for ordinary rafts and small boats to navigate. However, past Wuan Mountain, the river suddenly became calm and gentle. Rich in fish, shrimp, and shellfish, it was also less prone to drowning, making the villages along its banks more prosperous.
To avoid missing any hidden clues, they didn’t dare use their golden-winged birds. Instead, they patiently rode donkeys, inquiring at each location they passed. However, this part of their journey was filled with mishaps.
Cai Zhao disguised herself as a man, referring to Mu Qingyan as her brother. But when a small inn’s proprietress suggested they share a room, saying “What’s the problem for brothers?” Cai Zhao reverted to women’s clothing, and they posed as siblings. This led to villagers covering their mouths and giggling, giving knowing looks that seemed to say, “We understand. No need to hide it. All eloping couples claim to be siblings.”
“What should real siblings do then?” Cai Zhao couldn’t help but ask while sitting in front of a blacksmith’s shop.
The blacksmith’s plump wife, cracking melon seeds, chatted idly, “Nowadays, which young people travel with their siblings? Did your elders travel with their siblings when they were young and roaming the jianghu?”
Cai Zhao fell silent. Although Cai Pingzhu and Cai Pingchun were close siblings who relied on each other, they had never traveled the jianghu together.
Giving up on clarifying her relationship with Mu Qingyan, Cai Zhao refocused on their mission. She inquired about “Seven Eagle Village,” but everyone shook their heads, saying they’d never heard of it. However, they did find a Three Sheep Village and a Five Pig Village.
Cai Zhao then decided to search based on the persimmon cake clue. The villages on both banks of one river segment didn’t grow persimmon trees at all. The next segment had plenty of persimmon trees on the hillsides, but the local villagers made round persimmon cakes.
Further down, Cai Zhao finally encountered bright red, hexagonal persimmon cakes hanging outside, but to her dismay, the local villagers said every village in that area liked to press their persimmon cakes into hexagonal shapes.
Sighing, Cai Zhao had no choice but to taste the cakes from each village.
The villager wasn’t lying; the taste of persimmon cakes indeed varied from village to village. Yang Flower Village’s cakes were slightly sweet, Li Flower Village’s were bland, Tao Flower Village’s were dry and hard, and Mei Flower Village’s were soft. After eating persimmon cakes for half a month straight, even Cai Zhao couldn’t take it anymore.
“Zhao, your face is now the same color as a persimmon cake,” Mu Qingyan said concernedly, leaning close to her shoulder.
Cai Zhao wanted to punch him. “… I know. You don’t have to tell me.”
“Have you found any cakes that taste similar to the ones from back then?”
“… Getting close.”
“Is Zhao tired? Why don’t we try more during lunch? Today’s local specialty is sweet persimmon glutinous rice, even more famous than yesterday’s crystal persimmon cake.”
Cai Zhao felt utterly dispirited.
Her orange-tinted face seemed to exude bitterness, contrasting sharply with the fair and beautiful young man beside her, who exuded grace and charm.
During this time, Mu Qingyan had abandoned his previous dark and flamboyant attire, suddenly adopting the appearance of a refined scholar. His jet-black hair was neatly tied with a scholar’s headband, and he carried a square woven bamboo box on his back. His whole demeanor was clean, elegant, and harmless.
Throughout this period, he refrained from sharp comments. Far from sarcasm or ridicule, he constantly showered Cai Zhao with warm words. However, whether due to lack of practice or intentional mischief, his “comforting” words often stung more than arrows—Cai Zhao was convinced he did it on purpose.
While Cai Zhao spent each day frowning and tasting persimmon cakes, Mu Qingyan made friends wherever they went, eagerly helping villagers solve their problems. He acted more righteous than even the orthodox sects.
When Yang Flower Village and Li Flower Village fought over a ditch, he offered silver for them to build a new one. In Tao Flower Village, he sprinkled some mysterious powder around an old, crooked tree used for praying that hadn’t bloomed in five or six years, quickly driving out the wood-boring insects. In Chrysanthemum Village, he shattered a huge boulder blocking the path between two villages, allowing a widower and a widow to unite.
At the widower and widow’s wedding, he was moved to tears, asking Zhao if she felt touched by their love story. Cai Zhao said she was very moved.
Mu Qingyan wondered why Zhao didn’t smile if she was so touched. Cai Zhao’s lips twitched in response.
As they neared the end of visiting all the “Flower Villages” along this river segment, they arrived at the foot of a strange, rugged little mountain. As night fell, thunder suddenly rumbled, and heavy rain poured down.
Mu Qingyan held Cai Zhao close as they took shelter in a small pavilion at the base of the mountain, repeatedly regretting not having stayed in Lotus Village that afternoon.
In the pitch-black rainy night, only occasional flashes of chain lightning illuminated their faces for brief moments.
Amidst the terrifying, lonely darkness, a group of black-clad figures suddenly appeared in the rain curtain.
Wordlessly, like ghosts in the night, they slowly surrounded the small pavilion.
Mu Qingyan’s lips curled into a faint smile, revealing his long-absent cold demeanor. He said softly, “They’ve finally shown up. I was beginning to think we couldn’t lure them out.”
Cai Zhao’s eyes were calm as she placed her hand on the clasp at her waist. “After all the effort the Evil Sect put into this act, it would be embarrassing if they didn’t show up.”