First thing in the morning, Cai Zhao felt that something was off about Chang Ning.

After the banquet last night, he had become listless and unwilling to talk, and hadn't bounced back even by the time they washed up and went to rest.

Who knew that from the moment he woke this morning, Chang Ning would be like a different person. Not only was he in high spirits and smiling at everyone he saw, but he also addressed Master and Madam Cai with 'this junior nephew' and 'this junior,' followed by 'Uncle' and 'Auntie.' His attitude was humble yet dignified, his admiring gaze tinged with a hidden pain—Cai Zhao inwardly called him a total drama king.

She took a step back and asked her younger brother, "Xiaohan, don't you think this person has changed a bit too quickly?"

Cai Han lifted his chubby little face from his bowl of congee. "Don't be sad, Big Sister. He probably just doesn't like you and those people from the Qingque Sect. He's still very respectful to his elders."

Cai Zhao wanted to throw her brother away.

Ning Xiaofeng pulled her daughter aside and said softly, "It seems Ning'er is quite different from what you said. Even though his family has suffered a great disaster, he hasn't lost his manners. From now on, don't go around saying he has a perverse temper and whatnot."

Cai Zhao was anxious. "Mother, he wasn't like this yesterday. He was so fierce when he confronted Qi Lingbo." He hadn't been polite to her either.

Ning Xiaofeng shot her daughter a look. "Who could remain calm in front of Yin Sulian and her daughter? It just shows that Brother Chang can distinguish between gratitude and grudges. He must have told his son plenty about that bitch from the Yin Family at home!"

Cai Zhao: ...

The five of them straightened their clothes and appearances and walked out in a line, proceeding all the way to the largest hall in Twilight Palace, Chaoyang Hall, before splitting into three groups.

At the very front of the Chaoyang Main Hall was a sacrificial altar laden with fresh flowers and fruits. To the left and right of the altar, below it, were three black armchairs each, painted with crimson and gold seven-star patterns. At this moment, the Sect Masters of the Qi, Song, Zhou, and Yang sects had already taken their seats. After Cai Pingchun arrived, he cupped his hands in greeting to the four of them and sat in the third seat on the right—one of the six armchairs was still empty.

Regardless of whether Song Shijun had gotten dead drunk last night, at this moment, sitting opposite Qi Yunke, he appeared both reserved and majestic, carrying himself with such an air of authority that it seemed as if this were his own Vast Heaven Sect. When he saw the seat below him was still empty, he sneered and deliberately glanced at Qi Yunke, his eyes conveying, 'It's about to start, and Grand Beginning Abbey still isn't here. What do you have to say, big brother?'

Qi Yunke pretended not to see.

Such was the main hall. The side hall on the right was for guests from outer sects like Evergreen Monastery, Xuankong Nunnery, and the Sand Tiger Gang. The side hall on the left was naturally for the families and disciples of the Six Sects of Beichen. From a distance, Ning Xiaofeng saw Yin Sulian at the very front of the left side hall, standing like the moon surrounded by stars amidst a group of ladies, looking smug from all the flattery. Could a hero like her, Ning Xiaofeng, tolerate such an infuriating sight? Of course not!

She immediately pulled her son along and strode forward to confront her old rival.

Cai Zhao was in a bit of a predicament. She had Chang Ning next to her, whose face full of venomous sores could scare half a dozen children to tears. He wasn't considered a disciple of Falling Blossoms Valley, nor of the Qingque Sect, so where should he go?

"I can stand anywhere. Who would dare to say anything?" Chang Ning said indifferently.

Cai Zhao retorted sarcastically, "Oh, Young Master Chang, aren't you going to keep pretending to be humble, gentle, and universally loved anymore?"

Chang Ning shot her a sideways glance. "Do you want me to tell your esteemed father and mother that you and I had a huge fight yesterday and parted on bad terms, and that you only agreed to protect me because you were forced to?"

Cai Zhao immediately shut up.

Just then, Fan Xingjia came looking for them, saying that Zeng Dalou had given instructions long ago for Cai Zhao and Chang Ning to attend the ceremony with the Qingque Sect disciples. As the three were talking, Qi Lingbo and Dai Fengchi walked over gracefully, one after the other.

Fan Xingjia's brow twitched—whenever these four met, it was like gunpowder meeting a spark, instantly causing an explosion.

Seeing them, Qi Lingbo pursed her lips into a smile. "Oh my, I heard that Junior Sister Zhaozhao and Brother Chang were staying in adjacent rooms last night. You two really hit it off at first sight."

Cai Zhao didn't answer, instead looking left and right. Qi Lingbo was displeased. "What are you looking at? Didn't you hear me talking to you?"

Cai Zhao turned back. "I'm looking for Senior Brother Song. His own fiancée is out and about with another man all day long. He's certainly broad-minded..."

"What nonsense are you talking!" Dai Fengchi's face flushed slightly.

Qi Lingbo held him back and forced a smile. "Second Senior Brother and I grew up together; we're like siblings. In my heart, I've long seen Second Senior Brother as a real older brother, and he sees me as a real younger sister. It's fine if others misunderstand, but we, as family, must not make wild guesses. In short, Second Senior Brother and I have a clear and innocent relationship, with nothing to feel guilty about. But Junior Sister Zhaozhao, yesterday you said you would protect Brother Chang, which raised a question in my mind..." She drew out the last syllable, waiting for Cai Zhao to ask.

"Oh." Cai Zhao's heart was completely unmoved.

Qi Lingbo suppressed her annoyance and continued to smile. "It would be fine if Brother Chang recovers from the poison soon. But if his recovery is delayed, for a year, two years, three years... by then, Junior Sister Zhaozhao will be married into Peiqiong Mountain Manor. What will Brother Chang do then?"

Hearing this pile of nonsense, Cai Zhao had long since grown impatient. Just as she was about to retort, a pale, slender hand pressed down on her shoulder, and Chang Ning stepped forward.

"By then, Junior Sister Zhaozhao will naturally take me with her to Peiqiong Mountain Manor," he said with a slight smile.

Qi Lingbo thought she had misheard. "What did you say!"

Dai Fengchi & Fan Xingjia: ????

Cai Zhao: "..." How come I didn't know this myself.

"The late Old Sect Master Yin once said that upholding justice and protecting the weak is our undeniable duty. Therefore, how could there be a limit of one, two, or three years? If I am ill-fated and take a long time to heal, would Junior Sister Zhaozhao abandon me and ignore me? No, that is absolutely impossible!"

Chang Ning's voice was filled with pure sincerity, more pleasant to the ear than an opera performance. Qi Lingbo's earlier talk of 'brother' and 'sister' was sickeningly 'white lotus' enough, but Chang Ning had managed to outdo her.

The other three looked dumbfounded, while Cai Zhao remained expressionless.

"After Junior Sister Zhaozhao goes to Peiqiong Mountain Manor, when she has her wedding ceremony, I will help her entertain the guests. When she enters the bridal chamber, I will help pour the nuptial wine. In the future, I will eat at the same table and practice martial arts in the same place as Junior Sister Zhaozhao and her husband. I have always heard that Young Manor Master Zhou is warm-hearted and kind, the most benevolent of men. I don't think he would mind my presence. Senior Sister Qi, don't you agree?"

"This, this might not be appropriate. Perhaps Young Manor Master Zhou would mind..." Qi Lingbo stammered.

"Absolutely not," Chang Ning said with complete certainty. "As Senior Sister Qi just said, Junior Sister Zhaozhao and I hit it off at first sight. I also see her as a dear sister, and she sees me as a brother. It's fine if others misunderstand, but we ourselves must not make wild guesses. In short, my relationship with Junior Sister Zhaozhao is clear and innocent. Since Young Manor Master Zhou possesses a gentleman's heart, how could he possibly mind!"

Qi Lingbo & Dai Fengchi: ...

Cai Zhao's heart was burning with fire: Damn his hide!

Fan Xingjia started to wipe his sweat.

Chang Ning's eyes were pure. "Senior Sister Qi, if it were you, you wouldn't stop seeing Senior Brother Dai after you get married, would you!"

Qi Lingbo gave an awkward laugh.

Chang Ning became even more sincere. "And Senior Brother Dai, your bond with Senior Sister Qi is so deep. In the future, you can be just like me—eating at the same table and practicing martial arts with Senior Sister Qi and Senior Brother Song. Senior Brother Song is so broad-minded, I don't think he would mind either!"

Dai Fengchi was lost in thought.

He had known since he was young that Qi Lingbo was betrothed to Song Yuzhi. Although it was painful to think about, he always felt it was something in the very distant future, so distant that he didn't even have to think about it. But after hearing Chang Ning's vivid description, he realized that his future might be even worse than Chang Ning's, and he began to feel anxious about his potential gains and losses.

Fan Xingjia stared blankly at the sky—the thought of the proud and self-possessed Song Yuzhi watching his wife laugh and chat with her childhood martial brother at the dinner table, never leaving her side, made him feel a wave of dizziness.

Cai Zhao tugged on Chang Ning's sleeve and threatened in a low voice, "That's enough. You're overacting."

Chang Ning forcefully pulled his sleeve back. "We're just getting started."

He raised his voice again, spewing gentle and enthusiastic nonsense, "Senior Sister Qi, Senior Brother Dai, you have a long future ahead of you. You should think about where to live. You must live close to each other; being far apart won't do..."

In truth, both Dai Fengchi and Qi Lingbo knew that what Chang Ning was saying was absurd. But one had been accustomed to being an admirer for years and had never considered his own future, while the other had been accustomed to being fawned over and praised for years but couldn't bear to part with her handsome, proud, and exceptionally skilled fiancé. With their own respective anxieties, neither could bring themselves to refute Chang Ning.

Hearing Chang Ning's words become more and more outrageous, Cai Zhao was about to drag this troublemaker away when a cold, proud voice suddenly cut in, the sound piercing their ears—"What are you all doing here!!"

Everyone turned to see Song Yuzhi, his expression solemn, frowning as he stared at them.

"Third Senior Brother, you're finally here!" Fan Xingjia was so moved he was on the verge of tears, as if he had seen the Boundless Heavenly Lord descend to save the world.

Dai Fengchi and Qi Lingbo had different expressions on their faces and said nothing.

Cai Zhao thought to herself, 'If you hadn't shown up, Chang Ning would have spun tales about your fiancée and her martial brother until the end of time.'

Chang Ning, never one to shy away from trouble, said, "Ah, Senior Brother Song has arrived. We were just talking about the future..."

"We were just chatting, we didn't say anything!" Cai Zhao yanked Chang Ning behind her, shooting him a harsh look to stop him from spouting more nonsense.

Song Yuzhi stared at her for a moment, then looked at Fan Xingjia and rebuked him, "Eldest Senior Brother is too busy to be disturbed, which is why he sent Sixth Junior Brother to find Junior Sister Cai and Junior Brother Chang. How is it that Sixth Junior Brother ended up joining the idle chatter? The time for the sacrificial ceremony is almost here."

Fan Xingjia dared not argue and could only admit his fault in a low voice.

"Alright, let's get in line quickly," Song Yuzhi finally commanded.

Everyone responded in agreement, and even Chang Ning was pushed by Cai Zhao into nodding.

For today's ceremony, the disciples of each sect wore their respective formal attire. The Qingque Sect all wore white robes with silver trim and cyan sashes. The Vast Heaven Sect wore crimson brocade uniforms embroidered with a golden rising sun. The disciples of Peiqiong Mountain Manor wore wide-sleeved robes of light blue with silver embroidery of mountains and water. The Siqi Sect wore tight-fitting yellow outfits embroidered with four black steeds. Only Falling Blossoms Valley was different—since their ancestor had said to let nature take its course, they all just wore whatever they pleased.

Fortunately, Falling Blossoms Valley had the fewest disciples, so it wasn't too jarring to the eye.

Arriving at the Qingque Sect's formation, Cai Zhao met her fourth senior brother, Ding Zhuo, for the first time.

He was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with skin of a light honey color, clearly the result of practicing martial arts under the sun for years. He had handsome features and a sharp, upright bearing; his entire being was like an unsheathed sword, exuding a chilling aura. Cai Zhao greeted him with a salute, and Ding Zhuo silently cupped his hands in return before turning to stand straight, ignoring everyone else.

With a troublemaker like Chang Ning, who could erupt at any moment, by her side, Cai Zhao didn't dare to stand too close to the other disciples. She grabbed Chang Ning's sleeve and stood at the very back of the side hall. She finally understood Fan Xingjia's painstaking effort to always keep the two of them separate from the others and couldn't help but complain to Chang Ning, "You're such a good actor, why don't you go perform on a stage?"

Chang Ning raised an eyebrow. "You're in such a hurry. Are you afraid I'll actually follow you to Peiqiong Mountain Manor?"

Cai Zhao rolled her eyes. "Follow me, you must follow me to Peiqiong Mountain Manor! When we get there, I'll pick a stout, burly, and powerful girl from the manor to be your wife, so you won't be without protection. How about that?!"

Chang Ning's face hardened. "Save your airs as the Young Manor Master's wife for after you're married. You speak as if this marriage is a sure thing!"

"My mother and Uncle Zhou have both agreed to it. How is it not a sure thing?" Cai Zhao thought for a moment. "It was the same back then. There was a lot of opposition to my aunt's marriage with Uncle Zhou, but as long as Old Manor Master Zhou insisted, no one could say anything."

Hearing this, Chang Ning gave a strange smile. "Don't get happy too soon. What if that Zhou fellow isn't a good person?"

"Nonsense!" Cai Zhao said angrily. "You're criticizing my elders again. Have you forgotten our three rules so quickly!"

"Look." Chang Ning pointed to the front of the left side hall. Cai Zhao held her tongue and looked where he indicated.

She saw Ning Xiaofeng with a smile on her face. It was unclear what she had just said, but Yin Sulian was so angry her face was flushed red and she was unsteady on her feet, being supported by the young and charming Lady Sha from the Siqi Sect. After angering Yin Sulian, Ning Xiaofeng turned her head and was incredibly amiable and cheerful with the Zhou Family's ladies and disciples, her witty remarks making everyone laugh.

Cai Zhao looked closely at the ladies. "That's the Zhou Family's Aunt Zhixian, Uncle Zhou's cousin. Her twin sabers are magnificent. Years ago, her fiancé was killed by a Demonic Cult villain, so she vowed never to marry. Brother Yuqian and Brother Yukun's parents died early, and they were both raised by Aunt Zhixian." She turned her head. "What's wrong with that?"

Chang Ning stood with one hand behind his back and said leisurely, "This morning, I was chatting with your mother and found that she is quite dissatisfied with Sect Master Qi, yet she is very close to and full of praise for Manor Master Zhou."

Cai Zhao was puzzled. "What's wrong with that? Uncle Zhou is a very good person."

Chang Ning said, "Is Sect Master Qi not a good person then? Your mother has always blamed Sect Master Qi for not dying together with Heroine Cai back then, and for marrying Madam Sulian, who had a feud with Heroine Cai. But if you think about it, wasn't Manor Master Zhou the same? He was Heroine Cai's fiancé—he didn't die with her either, and he also married a woman from the Min Family, who had a grudge against Heroine Cai."

Cai Zhao's mind was a bit muddled. "Uncle Zhou was held up by other matters at the time, and Auntie deliberately hid it from him... In the end, you're still criticizing my elders!"

Chang Ning gave a cold smile. "I'm doing this for your own good. If you don't like hearing it, I won't say it. You can watch a thousand operas and read ten thousand storybooks in Falling Blossoms Town, but it's no match for the complexities of the outside world!"

"No matter how many complexities there are in the outside world, they can't compare to a wolf like you!" Cai Zhao was furious. "I've only known you for two days, and I've already wanted to beat you up three times and tear you apart four times in my head!"

Hearing this, Chang Ning brought his face close and taunted, "Then hit me. Go on, hit me. Don't hold back!"

Cai Zhao was so angry she almost raised her hand, but she forced herself to hold back. "Your face is so rotten, I'm afraid of dirtying my hands!"

For the nth time, the two parted on bad terms. But neither dared to move far from the other, so they stood back to back in a huff. Fortunately, the corner they were in was very secluded, and no one noticed them.

Just then, a thunderous cannon blast suddenly echoed from outside the hall, as startling as a landslide. Everyone in the hall was shaken.

In that instant, Cai Zhao had no time to think. On pure reflex, she yanked Chang Ning behind her to protect him. But then she heard Zeng Dalou's loud voice from the main hall announce, "Venerable Fakong of Evergreen Monastery has arrived!"

A kind-faced old monk with a long, snow-white beard stood at the entrance of the hall, followed by six able-bodied martial monks with bright, sharp eyes.

"The Venerable has finally arrived. Our humble sect is greatly honored, greatly honored." With Qi Yunke's hearty laughter, the Five Sects of Beichen all rose to greet him. Among the seated guests, only Abbess Jingyuan of Xuankong Nunnery could remain seated.

Song Shijun laughed loudly. "Just now, Old Brother Yang was saying the Venerable might not make it in time. I said there was no way. The Venerable's word is as solid as a mountain. If he said he would come, he would definitely arrive on time! Old Brother Yang, you see I was right, hahahaha..."

Yang Heying quickly agreed.

Venerable Fakong smiled. "It is the two-hundredth death anniversary of our predecessors. No matter what, this old monk could not miss it. It has been many years, and you all look as dashing as ever. My congratulations."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they all walked into the hall together. Venerable Fakong first exchanged greetings with Abbess Jingyuan. After some mutual deferrals, Venerable Fakong, who was ten years her senior, took the seat of honor on the right side of the hall.

Seeing this, Cai Zhao finally relaxed her guard. But when she turned her head, she saw Chang Ning's pair of beautiful, bright, long eyes quietly watching her. She said, abashed, "So that was a ceremonial salute for an honored guest. I didn't know, so it startled me... What are you looking at!"

"I was arrogant and spoke presumptuously just now. I apologize to Sister Zhaozhao." He put away his earlier perversity and sharpness and apologized sincerely. To be fair, as long as Chang Ning wasn't intentionally trying to provoke someone, he naturally exuded an elegant and leisurely beauty. At this moment, his voice was particularly gentle and pleasant. "I have a bad temper. Next time I make you angry, just scold me harshly."

Cai Zhao was naturally broad-minded. She shot him a smiling glare. "There'll be a next time? If you keep spouting such nonsense, I won't bother scolding you. I'll just beat you up directly!"

Chang Ning smiled brightly. "That works too."