Only the younger generation remained on the spot.
Song Yuzhi raised his eyebrows and said, “Three years ago, when Lady Cai passed away, my father and elder brother came to pay their respects.” His tone implied that Cai Zhao was pretending not to have met his father.
Cai Zhao replied seriously, “When my aunt died, I was bedridden with a high fever for over half a month. I missed even her funeral and didn’t see any of the visitors who came to offer condolences.”
Song Yuzhi, surprisingly candid, thought for a moment and said, “Lady Cai’s heroic efforts saved the martial arts world from disaster. Her untimely death is truly regrettable.”
Cai Zhao remained silent, turning her head away.
Song Maozhi grew impatient. “My father is the Master of Guangtian Gate. You’re so young, yet you speak so disrespectfully. Who taught you such manners?” He cared little for Cai Pingchu’s sacrifices for the martial arts world.
“My aunt taught me,” Cai Zhao replied. “She raised me since birth and said that the world has too many rules. Having a conscience is more important than following rules. With a good conscience, lacking manners is just a minor issue.”
Song Maozhi exploded in anger. “Are you saying I have no conscience?”
Cai Zhao was surprised. “No, no, of course not. I just thought Young Master Song lacked manners.”
Everyone: …
Song Maozhi roared, “What did you say?!”
Cai Zhao pointed to a small stone tablet half-hidden in the grass. “The tablet clearly states, ‘Visitors, please dismount and stop your vehicles here.’ Even Master Song has already left his palanquin, yet you’re still on horseback.”
Song Maozhi sputtered, then shouted, “My father and Sect Leader Qi are as close as brothers. He doesn’t care about such trivial—”
“My aunt and Sect Leader Qi were sworn siblings,” Cai Zhao interjected. “Yet even my parents didn’t dare to put on airs.”
For several generations, the Qingque Sect leaders had been easygoing and informal, so the tablet’s rules hadn’t been strictly enforced for decades. However, Song Maozhi couldn’t say this outright.
“… Sect Leader Qi is generous. He wouldn’t fuss over such trifles!”
“That’s not the point,” Cai Zhao countered. “If you enter a shop and the owner says, ‘It’s our honor to have you here, Young Master Song,’ would you take it literally and not pay? My future master is just being polite. When the host is courteous, how can the guest be so presumptuous? How can one take advantage of a gentleman’s kindness?”
Song Yuzhi, standing nearby, didn’t intervene but observed Cai Zhao with slightly narrowed eyes.
The young girl, only fifteen, had fair skin and dark hair, her beauty fresh and bright. Yet she put on an air of maturity and righteousness, creating an oddly amusing contrast.
“This is none of your business!” Song Maozhi was losing his composure.
Cai Zhao thought Song Maozhi was not only inconsiderate but also not very bright. “Young Master Song, you’re confused. I’m joining the sect in a few days—my future sect, my future rules, my future master—how is this not my business?”
“But you’re not a Qingque Sect disciple yet!”
“Young Master is talking nonsense again. If you saw your betrothed drinking at a brothel, would you think, ‘We’re not married yet, so it’s not my concern’?”
“That’s different! The engagement is set, only the ceremony remains!”
“My discipleship is also set. The elders have exchanged letters for years, and everything is arranged. Only the ceremony remains. How is it different?”
“You… you…” Song Maozhi trembled with rage on his saddle, nearly losing control.
Little Cai Han, with academic curiosity, objected: “Sister, how can women drink at brothels? I heard from Scarface Uncle from the back mountain that only men can visit brothels and drink there.”
Cai Zhao lovingly patted his head. “Scarface Uncle is an honest man. In his days roaming the jianghu, he only knew about killing, robbing, and occasionally massacring entire families. He’s quite simple and honest. There’s a lot he doesn’t know about the world. In reality, anyone who wants to drink at a brothel can do so—whether they’re men, women, neither, or both. It doesn’t matter.”
Young Cai Han nodded, seemingly enlightened.
Honest and simple…
Simple…
Simple…
Sim…
A cool breeze rustled a few leaves, leaving the disciples standing there speechless.
Song Maozhi’s eyes nearly popped out. “Your Cai family harbors criminals and evildoers…”
“Second Brother!” Song Yuzhi quickly stopped his brother from further embarrassment. “Sister Cai must be referring to Sun Dingzhou, known as the Purple-faced Scar Guest, who could determine fate with a single palm strike. Although he robbed, he only took from the unjust. Though he killed, his victims were always unforgivable villains.”
Cai Zhao continued to educate her little brother while patting his head: “Xiao Han, remember this: if you don’t understand the whole story, don’t be quick to lose your temper. You’ll only make a fool of yourself.”
Cai Han agreed obediently, further infuriating Song Maozhi. Song Yuzhi hurriedly changed the subject.
“The family Sister Cai mentioned that was massacred must be the Qiu family of Sichuan. It was a shocking incident at the time. The five Qiu brothers and their gang were notorious for their evil deeds, kidnapping and harming local people. To ensure their fortress’s security, they kept no women or children inside. Any women they abducted for their pleasure never lived beyond two days.”
The surrounding disciples listened quietly as Song Yuzhi spoke.
He continued, “At that time, the former leader of the Demon Sect was in a standoff with our Northern Chen faction. Neither side dared to make a move. If it weren’t for Hero Sun risking his life to destroy the fortress and eliminate the bandits, who knows how much more the local people would have suffered? … Second Brother, you should dismount now.”
Song Maozhi, stunned by the story, unconsciously slid off his horse.
Song Yuzhi turned to Cai Zhao, his gaze intense: “The Purple-faced Scar Guest disappeared from the jianghu nearly ten years ago. No one knew his whereabouts. So he was hidden in Luoying Valley.”
Cai Zhao sighed, “Scarface Uncle killed many evil men, naturally making many enemies. When Father brought him to Luoying Valley, he was gravely wounded, barely clinging to life. I was only five or six then and often chatted with him.”
The previously silent Song Xiuzhi spoke softly, “We often hear people mention Hero Sun. I never expected he had already retired from the jianghu, leaving old friends and acquaintances to remember him.”
Cai Zhao replied calmly, “Scarface Uncle once told me when drunk that he now has no wife, no children, no parents, and no enemies left. As for friends, having them or not makes no difference to him.”
The hidden sorrow behind these words was profound.
Song Maozhi, for once, didn’t argue. He silently handed his jewel-encrusted riding crop to an attendant and stood aside without a word. Song Xiuzhi’s eyes showed pity, but he dared not interrupt.
“Since Hero Sun wished to retire from the jianghu and hide in Luoying Valley, is it appropriate for you to reveal this?” Song Yuzhi stepped closer, his handsome eyes as cold and clear as the moon.
Cai Zhao replied indifferently, “There’s nothing inappropriate about it. Two years ago, Scarface Uncle’s old wounds flared up, and he passed away.”
This is the reality of the jianghu—whether you have a good ending or can die peacefully has little to do with whether you’ve done good or evil. That’s why Cai Zhao had no interest in the jianghu at all.
Song Yuzhi listened expressionlessly while discreetly observing Cai Zhao.
Jade hairpin, side comb, small crescent-shaped silver comb, half-sleeves, a pleated skirt, gauze shawl, long flowing sleeves, and at the hem of her misty skirt, a small, exquisite pink jade ornament shaped like a… plump cat? It even appeared to be dozing.
Very well, this was the little disciple his master had been eagerly anticipating—the legendary diligent and obedient little junior sister. It seems one should only believe half of what the elders say.
At that moment, there was a commotion near the cliff. Zeng Dalou called out loudly, “Fellow disciples of the Song and Cai families, please prepare to cross the chasm.”
Unnoticed earlier, several more thick iron chains had been shot across from the opposite cliff. Cai Zhao watched as agile disciples of the sect leaped and maneuvered across multiple chains, swiftly laying down rectangular black iron plates. Each plate had hidden clasps on its sides and bottom, interlocking with adjacent plates and securely fastening to the chains to prevent slipping.
With a series of clicking sounds as the locks engaged, a level bridge appeared before the cliff. Cai Zhao had been wondering how carriages could cross, given that martial artists could traverse the chains. Now she understood.
“When it was just us, only four chains were sent across. Now that Master Song has arrived, not only have four more chains been added, but they’ve also laid down iron plates for carriages. Father, Mother, isn’t Wanshui Qianshan Cliff looking down on Luoying Valley? Perhaps we should just go back,” Cai Zhao suggested, genuinely trying to sow discord.
Cai Pingchun and Ning Xiaofeng didn’t even bother to respond to her.
The carriage moved slowly across the bridge suspended thousands of feet in the air. The abyss below was said to be filled with traps, poisonous mists, and miasmas left from the great battle of demons long ago. Anyone who fell was said to never climb back up.
The wheels scraped against the cold iron plates, producing an eerie, grating sound like nails on steel. The noise made the Cai siblings’ skin crawl. Ning Xiaofeng grumbled, “We could have crossed in a few steps on the chains. That Song fellow just had to show off.”
Cai Han was surprised. “Mother, is your lightness skill that good?”
Ning Xiaofeng blushed a rare occurrence. “Well, your father would carry me across.”
“My lightness skill isn’t good either,” little Cai Han sighed maturely. “Father would have to carry me too.”
Cai Zhao scoffed, “Your lightness skill isn’t good? Do you even have any?”
The little boy continued sighing, “I know sister is upset, so I won’t argue. But Father, does sister have to stay here for three years? Who will scare away Ah Hei and Ah Gou when they bully me in the future?”
His words made Cai Zhao emotional, and she sighed as well.
Ning Xiaofeng angrily retorted, “Your father is the master of Luoying Valley, yet he’s scared off by children in the valley? Aren’t you ashamed?”
Cai Zhao quickly hugged her little brother’s head. “Our Xiao Han is just approachable and never puts on airs as the valley master’s son. That’s why the other children like to play with him. Aunt said Father was also this amiable and easy-going as a child. Who knows how reliable he’ll be when he grows up!”
“If Xiao Han turns out to be half the man your father is, I’ll be thankful!” Ning Xiaofeng inadvertently praised her husband.
As Cai Han snuggled close to his sister, Cai Zhao embraced the chubby boy and said sadly, “Father, do I have to become Sect Leader Qi’s disciple? I don’t want to be a female hero…”
Ning Xiaofeng interjected, “Who expects you to be a female hero? We’re trying to prevent you from becoming an evil woman!”
Cai Zhao furrowed her delicate brows. “Father, Mother, you saw the town at the foot of the mountain yesterday. The shopkeepers there act more pompous than the leader of the martial arts alliance. You’d think it was a perfume shop, but it looks more like a coffin shop. No, that’s not right—even the coffin sellers in our Luoying Valley town treat customers like they’re celebrating.”
Ning Xiaofeng stifled a laugh.
Cai Pingchun sighed, “… That might not necessarily be a good thing.” The idea of coffin shop owners being so cheerful and welcoming was rather unsettling.
Cai Zhao linked arms with her parents. “If the town is like this, life on Mount Jiuli must be even more austere. It’s nothing like our town, where we have everything. Starting from the blind fortune-teller’s stall at the town entrance and heading west, we have water-fried buns, wonton with thin skin, sugar-coated rolls, steamed buns with stewed meat, plum vegetable flatbread, crystal shrimp soup dumplings, pan-fried lamb dumplings, soy sauce pork zongzi, rice sugar soup… I could have different breakfasts for a month, and even at three in the morning, I can still get a midnight snack. But here…”
Her words, though unintentional, nearly made little Cai Han drool.
Cai Zhao looked disgusted. “Unlike here, where even if I were brave and skilled enough to sneak down the mountain on the iron chains, at most I could only eat that bland noodle soup made by the tall pockmarked guy. He doesn’t even add a single scallion!”
“That’s right, that’s right!” Cai Han chimed in angrily.
“Wonton without scallions—how absurd! It’s truly outrageous,” young Cai Zhao said, her face full of disbelief, as if the sun rising in the west wouldn’t be more shocking.
Ning Xiaofeng turned away, laughing, while Master Cai helplessly explained, “Zhao-Zhao, think of Scarface Uncle from the back mountain. Qingque Town is quite similar. The perfume seller, the noodle stand owner, and even the quiet innkeeper where we’re staying—they were all once great figures roaming the jianghu. When they had nowhere else to go, they sought refuge in Qingque Prefecture. Now they live in the town, essentially serving as gatekeepers for Mount Jiuli.”
“If they’re gatekeepers, why do they need to run businesses? There’s a proper way to do business, and it’s not good to be aggressive,” Cai Zhao sighed like an adult. “Of course, I know the jianghu is hard to navigate. Aunt used to say that many great figures are impressive in their youth, but when they’re injured, crippled, old, or in decline, their later years become bleak. It’s like the saying goes, ‘Heroes, like beauties, aren’t allowed to grow old.'”
Ning Xiaofeng’s shoulders shook with laughter.
Just then, the sect disciples outside called out “We’ve arrived!” The Cai family quickly disembarked, realizing the carriage had moved from the iron plates onto the stone pavement. Cai Zhao smoothed her hair and adjusted her skirt, adopting the air of a young lady from a prestigious family. As she looked up…
She was caught completely off guard by the sight before her, leaving her mouth agape for a long time. She didn’t even notice when her parents and brother walked away.