On one side, Yang He’ying continued his veiled criticism, implicitly accusing Luoying Valley of inaction.

Ning Xiaofeng responded with a polite smile, “Is there more? Please, don’t hold back. Speak your mind instead of mumbling like a toothless old woman sipping porridge. It’s better to get everything out in the open.”

Yang He’ying’s face stiffened momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure and replied, “Very well, I’ll speak plainly. Our six sects once vowed to uphold justice in the world. However, Luoying Valley now remains secluded behind closed doors. What’s the meaning of this? Although Nie Hengcheng is dead, there are still villains causing trouble in the martial arts world. Yet, Luoying Valley turns a blind eye. Isn’t this a betrayal of our code of chivalry?”

Feeling the conversation had gone off-track, Song Shijun irritably interjected, “We were discussing the Taichu Temple. Brother Yang, why are you bringing up these irrelevant matters? The Cai family has always been like this. Now, about Taichu Temple…”

“Don’t interrupt, Master Song,” Ning Xiaofeng teased. “They’re discussing how Luoying Valley’s inaction in the face of danger goes against the code of chivalry. It’s such a pleasant tune; how can we not let them finish singing?”

Song Shijun rubbed his nose and fell silent. A gentleman doesn’t argue with a woman, especially not with a shrew-like Ning Xiaofeng. He had never won an argument against her in decades and didn’t believe Yang He’ying would fare any better. Thus, he decided to quietly observe the unfolding drama.

Meanwhile, Song Maozhi, seeing his father at a loss for words, tried to speak up but was promptly silenced by Song Yuzhi’s expressionless gesture.

Detecting the mockery in Ning Xiaofeng’s words, Yang He’ying angrily listed numerous accusations of Luoying Valley’s irresponsibility. Ning Xiaofeng neither denied nor confirmed any of them, simply smiling and encouraging Master Yang to continue. Finally, Yang Heying exploded, “That’s all! I have nothing more to say! It’s your turn now! If you can’t provide a proper explanation today, Luoying Valley has no right to claim a place among the righteous sects of the martial arts world!”

“Oh, you’re finished? That’s good,” Ning Xiaofeng replied, seemingly uninterested in defending herself. She turned to Qi Yunke with a smile, “Sect Leader Qi, we’re on your turf now. Perhaps you’d like to say something?”

Qi Yunke heaved a deep sigh. He knew this was coming.

“Master Yang, well, you see… Luoying Valley’s seclusion isn’t something new. They’ve been like this for over a hundred years. Perhaps we should…”

Seeing Qi Yunke struggling to argue, Zhou Zhizhen couldn’t help but intervene: “Luoying Valley has always had a small population and lived a simple life, as Master Yang well knows. Moreover, after several major battles with the Evil Cult years ago, the Cai family suffered heavy losses. They need time to recover. As fellow sects, we should be understanding.”

“Well said, Brother Zhou,” Qi Yunke sighed with relief.

Yang He’ying sneered, “That’s not a valid argument. Although Luoying Valley has always been reclusive, they used to intervene when they witnessed injustice. They’ve never disappeared from the martial arts world for over a decade. Those who know might think they’re recovering, but others might assume they’re retiring from the martial arts world altogether!”

Zhou Zhizhen frowned, unwilling to argue further with this unreasonable man.

“Master Yang, you… you…” Qi Yunke found himself at a loss for words.

Yin Sulian quickly chimed in, “What do you mean ‘you’? I think Master Yang has a point. Either they retire from the martial arts world, in which case no one would bother Luoying Valley, or they fulfill their responsibilities as a righteous sect. One must act according to one’s position!”

Song Shijun watched from the sidelines, suppressing a laugh as he observed Ning Xiaofeng and the others.

After a moment, Qi Yunke clasped his hands and said solemnly, “Brother Yang, I’m not eloquent enough to argue with you. However, as everyone knows, Ping Shu and I are sworn siblings, bound by blood. Her family is my family. As long as the Cai family doesn’t betray their principles or commit evil deeds, I won’t allow others to criticize them. If anyone thinks they can bully her family now that Ping Shu is gone, I’ll fight to my last breath, regardless of our ties in the martial arts world.”

Everyone knew that Qi Yunke, the leader of the Qingque Sect, was kind-hearted but inarticulate. They had never heard him speak so forcefully before. The hall fell silent, with only Zhou Zhizhen softly agreeing, “Well said, Brother Yunke.”

Ning Xiaofeng gave Yin Sulian an ambiguous smile, causing the latter to turn away in anger.

Yang He’ying’s face darkened with rage. His hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly before he finally let out a heavy snort and sat down.

Cai Pingchun glanced at Qi Yunke, then at his wife, and sighed softly without saying a word.

Realizing the show was over, Song Shijun pursed his lips and turned to chat with others nearby.

Servants filed in, bringing dishes and wine. The banquet hall bustled with activity once again as people began to whisper among themselves:

“This is the first time I’ve heard Sect Leader Qi speak so firmly. Have you ever heard him like this before?”

“Of course not. Sect Leader Qi has always been so good-natured. He never punishes his disciples too harshly when they make mistakes.”

“Nonsense! If it weren’t for Cai Ping Shu back then, who knows if we’d even have Sect Leader Qi today!”

“What? What story do you know? Quick, tell us!”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure, but I know that Cai Ping Shu greatly helped Sect Leader Qi…”

Witnessing this scene, Cai Zhao once again marveled at how soft the leader of the world’s top sect had become, allowing even the Siqi Sect to act so boldly. He recalled the imposing presence of the former leader, Yin Dai when no one dared to speak out of turn.

Chang Ning also mused, and even voiced his thoughts: “How did someone with such a mild temperament become the sect leader? Oh, right, my father mentioned that his martial arts skills are formidable. He defeated and killed many high-ranking members of the Evil Cult.”

Fan Xingjia thought to himself, “…” Please don’t speak ill of my master in front of me.

As the banquet began and food and wine were served, Fan Xingjia made a round to ensure everything was in order. Zeng Dalou, seeing that he could manage the guests alone, instructed Fan Xingjia to take a seat and enjoy the feast. Fan Xingjia’s seat was naturally in the east side hall.

As usual, Dai Fengchi fawned over Qi Lingbo with an eager expression. Qi Lingbo, as always, smiled radiantly, glancing around and exchanging witty remarks with the young heroes nearby. She would then coquettishly turn to Dai Fengchi before casting a flirtatious look at Song Yuzhi. Song Yuzhi, true to form, sat as still as an iceberg, exuding a pleasant chill. He would only answer with a few words after being asked three questions. Ding Zhuo, as was his habit, barely touched his wine with his chopsticks before making a half-hearted excuse to leave and return to his training…

Observing this scene, Fan Xingjia felt as if he were eating bland, unseasoned pork ribs – tasteless and requiring too much effort to chew. He thought that even the bickering between Chang Ning and Cai Zhao might be more interesting. So, he seized the opportunity to slip away, grabbing a jug of freshly made fruit wine and making his way to join the table across from him.

Due to the earlier friction, the various sects and schools now refrained from criticizing each other. To maintain a harmonious atmosphere, the topic of conversation gradually shifted to the Evil Cult. After all, when it came to the Evil Cult, everyone could unite in condemnation.

One person spoke of how the Evil Cult robbed and plundered, another mentioned their kidnapping and pillaging, while yet another claimed that the Evil Cult even stole from ordinary citizens, taking their hard-earned money. Song Shijun listened and laughed heartily, finding it all quite amusing.

Qi Yunke shook his head slightly, “The Evil Cult is indeed wicked, but perhaps not to such an extent.”

Yang He’ying, his face flushed from drinking, said, “The Evil Cult is not what it used to be. Think back to the days when the villain Nie had his four great disciples – Zhao, Chen, Han, and Lu – who struck fear into everyone’s hearts. The Tiangang Dishaxing troops killed countless people. Not to mention the Seven Star Elders of the Evil Cult, whose mere names inspired terror, leaving no living thing in their wake. But now? Hehe, they’re hardly worth mentioning. Hahaha…”

Song Shijun interjected, “Brother Yang, isn’t that stating the obvious? Who was the leader of the Evil Cult back then, and who is it now? How can they be compared? Although Nie Zhe is Nie Hengcheng’s nephew, in terms of skills and talent, they’re worlds apart. It’s only because the Evil Cult has no one left that he’s become the cult leader!”

The leader of the Sha Hu Gang chimed in, “A while back, we had a skirmish with one of the Evil Cult’s branches. Some cult members said that Nie Jun isn’t even considered the true cult leader yet, just an acting leader. The Evil Cult is in chaos now, with factions vying for power, and no one has the mind to properly manage things. It wasn’t like this even under the previous leader surnamed Mu, let alone during Nie Hengcheng’s time.” As Yang He’ying’s brother-in-law, he hadn’t dared to speak during the earlier internal disputes of the Northern Chen Six Sects, but now he finally found an opportunity to join the conversation.

Song Shijun spat, “Bah! It’s a good thing they’re not focused on proper management. If they were, wouldn’t the world be in chaos again? By the way, how many years has this Nie Jun been the acting cult leader? Why hasn’t he become the official leader yet?”

Qi Yunke solemnly replied, “To become the true cult leader, all Seven Star Elders must unanimously approve. However, I’ve heard that the Seven Star Elders have either died or gone into hiding.”

A Yin clan member from the lower seats loudly exclaimed, “Hahaha, it’s just as the old Sect Leader Yin said! The Evil Cult is full of unruly heroes who were only temporarily subdued by Nie Hengcheng’s authority. Once Nie Hengcheng died, the Evil Cult was bound to fall into chaos!”

“Indeed, Lady Cai heard this and went to exterminate the evil,” a sarcastic voice interjected. It belonged to a shabby Taoist priest, small and skinny, resembling a monkey.

“It was still thanks to Old Sect Leader Yin’s strategic planning!” a Yin family member retorted, unwilling to concede.

“Without someone to kill Nie Hengcheng, all the planning in the world would’ve been useless,” the priest continued in his mocking tone.

“Are you trying to insult Old Sect Leader Yin?” The Yin clan member, seemingly affected by alcohol, looked ready to flip the table and start a fight.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Yin Sulian spoke up loudly, “Who are you? State your name. I don’t recall Qingque Sect inviting you.”

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.