Young Master Qian was drying his hair in the courtyard when he suddenly heard angry shouts and commotion from the main room. Moments later, a handsome youth with water droplets on his cheeks was thrown out.
Surprised, Qian exclaimed, “Miss Cai is bathing. You were in there? That’s… inappropriate.” His comment implied that despite his unconventional profession, his moral standards remained high.
Mu Qingyan glanced at him and remarked, “Considering you’ve probably been touched by fewer brothel courtesans than she has men, I don’t see the issue.”
Qian was left speechless. As he watched Mu Qingyan’s tall figure walk away, he silently cursed, amazed at the existence of such a malicious person.
Shortly after, Cai Zhao emerged from the room fully dressed. Noticing Young Master Qian in the courtyard, she casually asked his name.
Qian eagerly explained that his master, the Thousand-Faced Elder, had found him on a snowy day, so he was named…
“So you’re called Qian Haoleng (A Thousand Times Cold)? Your master is quite poetic,” Cai Zhao commented appreciatively.
Qian replied woodenly, “No… I’m Qian Xueshen (Deep Snow).”
Instantly losing interest, Cai Zhao remarked, “Oh. Your master’s literary skills are decent, but he lacks poetic flair.”
Qian Xueshen was bewildered. He thought, “Damn it, isn’t ‘Deep Snow’ more poetic than ‘A Thousand Times Cold’? There are such malicious people in this world!”
At that moment, Uncle Cheng arrived to invite them to dine.
The meal was lavish and expertly prepared. The crispy duck seemed freshly roasted, making a delightful crunch between their teeth. The Eight Treasures Chicken glistened enticingly. The roasted pork, paired with fresh sweet and sour berry sauce, was rich yet not greasy, nearly melting in their mouths. The jade-green vegetable hearts stuffed with shrimp were refreshing, and the abalone and shark fin soup was so delicious they almost swallowed their tongues.
It was a mystery how Uncle Cheng had procured such delicacies in this remote mountain village.
Mu Qingyan barely ate, instead focusing on serving Cai Zhao. He watched with affection as the girl’s cheeks puffed out while eating. However, the ungrateful girl, having eaten her fill, wiped her mouth and prepared to leave.
“Thank you, Young Lord Mu, for aiding us in our time of need,” the girl said formally, bowing with clasped hands. “Now that we’ve eaten and drunk our fill, we’ll take our leave. Please don’t trouble yourself to see us off.” She had heard Uncle Cheng address Mu Qingyan by this title earlier.
As the girl grabbed the still-gnawing-on-a-duck-neck Qian Xueshen, preparing to depart, Mu Qingyan quickly stood up. “Let me accompany you to Snowy Mountain,” he offered.
Cai Zhao paused, turning her head suspiciously. “How did you know I’m going to Snowy Mountain?”
Mu Qingyan chuckled lightly. “Naturally, it’s because our hearts are connected…”
“We’re leaving,” Cai Zhao said curtly, once again grabbing Qian Xueshen by the scruff of his neck.
“Alright, alright, I’ll explain. I guessed,” Mu Qingyan admitted, pressing a hand on Qian Xueshen’s shoulder. The pain forced Qian Xueshen to sit back down involuntarily.
Mu Qingyan continued, “After leaving the Qingque Sect, there are only two options: seeking help or finding a way to break the body-switching technique. However, Changchun Temple, Xuankong Nunnery, Peiqiong Manor, and even Luoying Valley are all south of Jiuli Mountain. Only Snowy Mountain lies to the north. When we reached the five-way intersection in Qingque Town, you chose the northern path without hesitation. That’s how I knew you were heading to Snowy Mountain.”
If the girl hadn’t been so repulsed by Qian Xueshen’s unkempt appearance and reluctantly agreed to rest in this bamboo grove, they would already be on their way north.
Cai Zhao relaxed slightly. “It’s good that you know. The journey to Snowy Mountain is long, and I can’t delay any further. We must set off now,” she said, reaching for Qian Xueshen’s neck again.
Mu Qingyan, holding down the still-wincing Qian Xueshen, spoke seriously for once. “Zhao Zhao, don’t rush. Listen to me. This is your first time leaving Luoying Valley, and you don’t know the dangers of the martial world. Going to Snowy Mountain isn’t like walking across town to buy rouge. That place is harsh, with rough people and dangers everywhere. One misstep could lead to peril.”
Cai Zhao replied, “I know. The first time my aunt ventured into the martial world alone, she nearly fell victim to a scam at an inn. But so what? There’s a first time for everything. Before last night, I had never single-handedly stormed a mountain to rescue someone, but I did it anyway. I don’t even know how I managed to avoid being cornered by my marital uncles without harming them…”
“If you had killed the impostor Zeng Dalou in public, the sect elders wouldn’t have pursued you,” Mu Qingyan pointed out, then cautiously asked, “You did kill the fake Zeng Dalou, didn’t you?”
Cai Zhao narrowed her eyes. “How did you know I would kill Zeng Dalou?”
Mu Qingyan explained, “Your father was betrayed by someone he knew, and he has few acquaintances in the Qingque Sect. Besides Sect Leader Qi, there’s only Zeng Dalou.”
“Why couldn’t it have been my impostor master who did it?” she challenged.
“Your father had just been told that Sect Leader Qi was injured and poisoned, needing bed rest. Then he saw ‘Sect Leader Qi running down the mountain in perfect health. He’d be suspicious, or at least sense something was amiss and be on guard. So it must have been Zeng Dalou who acted—isn’t that obvious?”
At this point, Qian Xueshen, who had been rubbing his shoulder, couldn’t help but glance at Mu Qingyan. The young man was tall and handsome, with striking features… but he certainly lacked tact.
Cai Zhao suppressed her irritation. “Then how could I be sure Zeng Dalou was an impostor? What if he had merely been bribed, like Steward Chen? If I killed the wrong person, my martial uncles would surely demand my life in return.”
She remembered her dramatic farewell to Song Yuzhi the night before.
“That’s even clearer,” Mu Qingyan continued, matter-of-factly. “The real Zeng Dalou befriended your father in their youth. He was also in the rear guard during the battle at Qingluo River eighteen years ago. He would surely know that the ‘Plucking Flowers and Leaves’ technique involves a sideways palm strike. How could he leave such a glaring discrepancy in the Yuelai Inn bloodbath? So the person who ambushed your father must have been impersonating Zeng Dalou, but wasn’t the real one.”
Qian Xueshen couldn’t help but look at Mu Qingyan again—this went beyond lacking tact; the man seemed to lack common sense.
Cai Zhao took a deep breath and forced a polite smile. “Young Lord Mu is indeed wise beyond measure. Nothing escapes your keen eye. A common person like me only knows how to barge in and out using brute force…”
She grabbed Qian Xueshen by the neck and tried to drag him away. Qian Xueshen grimaced and stood up to follow, only to be pushed back down by Mu Qingyan. Qian Xueshen cried out in pain—his shoulder and neck seemed to be bruised.
“Zhao Zhao is too clever to rely solely on brute force,” Mu Qingyan said with genuine admiration. “I just didn’t expect you to bring this person out as well—fortunately, Song Yuzhi helped.”
Cai Zhao slowly turned her head. “How did you know Song Yuzhi helped me?”
“With your skills, escaping alone would have been no problem. But bringing Qian Xueshen out as well must have required assistance,” Mu Qingyan explained.
Qian Xueshen opened his mouth but said nothing, lowering his head to rub his neck. Only a man destined for ten lifetimes of bachelorhood could utter such cringe-worthy words.
Mu Qingyan continued, “Old Yin Dai is cunning, always having a backup plan. I suspect he left either a person or a secret passage in the sect—more likely a passage. He gave both the Blue Rainbow and Bai Rainbow swords to his eldest daughter, so he probably shared most secrets with Lady Qinglian. Therefore, Song Yuzhi must know as well.”
“However, Zhao Zhao, don’t think Song Yuzhi helped you out of kindness. He had already noticed something amiss with Sect Leader Qi. After I exposed the Thousand Faces Sect, he surely realized his father Song Shijun’s impending arrival could spell trouble. But for Song Shijun to question Sect Leader Qi’s authenticity based solely on my words would be presumptuous and might lead people to accuse Guangtian Gate of coveting North Chen’s leading position.”
“Now that you’ve publicly exposed the fake Zeng Dalou, confirming the reemergence of the Thousand Faces Sect’s body-switching technique, Song Shijun can rightfully question Sect Leader Qi when he arrives at Jiuli Mountain. After all, if even his closest disciple is an impostor, how can one not be suspicious?”
“See? Guangtian Gate benefits without lifting a finger.”
Qian Xueshen, viewing the situation as a schemer, realized that since Cai Zhao had already kidnapped him, the plan to replace key figures in North Chen was foiled. The fake Qi Yunke’s exposure was inevitable.
At this critical juncture, whoever could step forward as a pillar to maintain order and calm the people would gain immense prestige and influence afterward. Peiqiong Manor, still recovering from the demonic cult’s sneak attack, couldn’t act as swiftly as Guangtian Gate.
In this whole affair, the Qingque Sect and Luoying Valley, with their missing leaders, were the losers. Guangtian Gate, being the first to arrive and having the strength to challenge the fake Qi Yunke and his faction, stood to gain the most.
However, while this was true, stating it so bluntly…
Qian Xueshen silently continued rubbing his shoulder and neck.
Cai Zhao’s expression darkened. “Reaping benefits? Are you implying that the impostors and I are like the snipe and the clam, while others benefit?”
Mu Qingyan pondered, then replied, “It sounds amusing, but looking at the outcome, it’s not entirely untrue.”
Cai Zhao laughed bitterly, “Indeed, it’s hilarious. What’s truly funny is that I’m expected to distrust my fellow disciples yet trust this young lord from the demonic cult! Farewell!” This time, she didn’t even grab Qian Xueshen, storming out angrily.
The door slammed shut behind her with a loud bang.
Mu Qingyan stared at the doorway, speechless for a long moment.
Qian Xueshen stood up and sighed, “Young Lord, pardon my bluntness, but that’s not how you speak to a young lady.”
Mu Qingyan slowly turned to look at him.
Qian Xueshen continued in a lecturing tone, “Her father is missing. To Miss Cai, her father’s safety is far more important than any power struggles in the martial world. You shouldn’t have spoken like that just now.”
Normally, this would be the moment for Mu Qingyan to ask Qian Xueshen for advice on how to phrase things better.
But was Mu Qingyan normal?
No, he wasn’t.
Before Qian Xueshen could react, Mu Qingyan swept his long sleeve, and a powerful force sent Qian Xueshen flying two zhang away, crashing to the ground like a dead dog.
Now, not just his shoulder and neck hurt—his entire body felt as if every bone was broken.
…
Cai Zhao fumed at the bamboo forest for a while, repeating “anger begets wealth” twenty times in her mind before calming down. She had just taken a few steps when she turned to see Mu Qingyan chasing after her.
She closed her eyes briefly, composed herself, and formally bowed to him, “I was disrespectful to you earlier, Young Lord. Regardless, you’ve been of great help to me. I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
Mu Qingyan detected the distance in her tone, his eyes dimming slightly, “I chose my words poorly earlier. Please don’t be angry, Zhao Zhao. I think you’re truly remarkable.”
Cai Zhao shook her head, “Actually, I could have left after recovering. You’ve accompanied me through many dangers these past few days, and I’m very grateful. But that’s enough now.”
Believing she had made herself clear, she brushed past Mu Qingyan, intending to leave immediately with Qian Xueshen.
After a few steps, she felt a sudden gust of wind from behind, accompanied by clear bird cries.
She whirled around to see Mu Qingyan standing still, his gaze calm. Behind him, on the rooftop, two enormous golden-feathered rocs had just landed. One white-feathered, one gray, both majestic and proud, each as tall as two men. Their powerful wings, spanning over three or four zhangs, created sharp gusts as they spread.
Cai Zhao had only heard of such magnificent, mythical creatures in her aunt’s stories of the past.
She gaped, craning her neck.
Mu Qingyan spoke slowly, “Even riding non-stop without food or water, it would take nearly ten days to reach Snowy Mountain. On my golden-feathered rocs, we can arrive in two or three days.”
“But they only obey you, right?” Cai Zhao pursed her lips.
To her surprise, Mu Qingyan shook his head, “Shortly after I recovered, I secretly gave one of your clothes to Uncle Cheng. They’ve already familiarized themselves with your scent. Once I introduce you, they’ll obey your commands.”
Cai Zhao lowered her head, remaining silent for a long while before muttering, “Lending me one is enough.”