Afterwards, Granny Mao reviewed the matter with Madam Sulian.

Upon closer inspection, a few old love letters couldn't truly ruin Yin Sulian's reputation. After all, the involved Song, Zhou, and Yang families would help her save face and do their best to cover it up. And no matter how much Qi Yunke minded, he couldn't abandon his wife for this reason, or he would truly confirm the rumors of being a cuckolded, narrow-minded man.

Yin Sulian was flustered and only calmed down after Granny Mao analyzed the situation with her. However, more trouble was worse than less, so they didn't want to provoke Cai Zhao again unless absolutely necessary.

However, Qi Lingbo was completely unaware of the inside story and continued to beg her mother to avenge her. Unwilling to tell her daughter about her improper youthful conduct, Yin Sulian had no choice but to use Qi Yunke as a shield, saying, "My dear daughter, you don't want your parents to have another falling out, do you? When your father and I reconcile in the future, maybe we can even give you a little brother. So, you'll have to figure out how to deal with Cai Zhao yourself. Be good, okay?"

Qi Lingbo was stunned and didn't recover for a long while.

In this battle, Cai Zhao was completely victorious.

She thought she could have a few quiet days. Besides practicing her skills and recuperating her spirit, she could also mix cosmetics and paint embroidery patterns, resuming her previous leisurely life. Unfortunately, the heavens didn't want to see her too idle, and the Young Master Chang next door filled this void at the right time.

After returning from the Twin Lotus Splendor Pool Palace, Chang Ning instructed Cai Zhao not to let anyone disturb him. He then hid in his inner chamber for a full day and night. When he emerged, the lanterns were already lit. After a full meal, he said he wanted to go for a walk, the reason being 'to aid digestion.'

The night wind was cool. The nineteen-year-old youth had fair skin and a tall figure, gradually shedding the immaturity of his youth, his silhouette becoming handsome and striking. Even with a face full of poison sores, the servant girls in the courtyard still blushed and secretly discussed how handsome he would be once he recovered.

Cai Zhao had already planned to lie down and read a storybook, but upon hearing Chang Ning's words, her brow inexplicably twitched. "Where are you going for a walk?"

"Wherever my heart desires, nowhere is off-limits. Leisurely and carefree." Chang Ning was in high spirits, his eyes shining. His wide sleeves unfurled slowly in the night wind, giving him the unrestrained and dashing air of an ancient gentleman.

Cai Zhao didn't buy his act. "Are you going out to cause trouble?"

Chang Ning smiled, his expression profound. "Trouble follows people, and people go where trouble is. Wherever there are people, how can there not be trouble?"

Cai Zhao couldn't be bothered with his literary affectations and asked directly, "How much of your power did you recover today?"

"Not much, only about five percent."

"So you can't even wait one night? You have to go out looking for trouble in the dead of night with a lantern?"

Chang Ning was just taking a lantern from a servant. Hearing her words, he smiled, "Sister Zhaozhao, you should rest. I'll be right back."

Cai Zhao debated with herself for a moment before finally following him. 'What a cursed, busy life!'

Perhaps because of that five percent of power, Chang Ning's pace was extremely fast. His feet barely touched the ground as he quickly circled a forest and hurried down a slope for half an hour, arriving at a large cluster of buildings shimmering with lamplight. This was the residence of the Outer Sect Disciples.

Cai Zhao was shocked. "You're going to cause trouble for the Outer Sect Disciples? But there are so many of them."

Chang Ning blurted out, "You're too timid..." Seeing Cai Zhao glaring at him with wide eyes, he quickly added, "Zhaozhao has a heart of chivalry, which our generation cannot hope to match. However, a gentleman knows when to act and when not to..."

"Speak plainly!"

"It's not too much for me to settle some scores with the bastards who bullied me back then, is it?"

Cai Zhao recalled the group of lackeys surrounding Qi Lingbo when she first arrived at Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff. It seemed this wasn't the first time.

"You remember all of them?" 'Does he hold a grudge that meticulously?' She had already forgotten them all.

Chang Ning looked up at the sky with a pious expression. "The heavens have eyes. They will naturally help me repay my grievances."

Then, he casually found an independent courtyard nearby, kicked open the door to one of the rooms with a 'bang', and shouted, "The Sect is here to deliver some care and concern to everyone!"

The disciples inside, who were either reading or resting, immediately cried out in alarm. The entire small courtyard erupted into chaos with the patter of footsteps, the crash of teacups, the clatter of overturned basins, and the startled shouts and cursing laughter from the neighboring rooms.

In the cold wind outside the courtyard, Cai Zhao stood alone. "..." 'The heavens have eyes, my ass.'

Chang Ning was composed. "Fellow martial brothers, don't panic. I'm just looking for someone."

If it were any other sect disciple, they might not have been recognized immediately, but Chang Ning's signature face full of poison sores was known to everyone on Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff.

The disciples who had been startled out of their rooms were either suspicious, cursing, or, in some cases, politely asking who he was looking for.

Chang Ning said, "The person has crooked eyes, a large black mole on his left cheek, and a tuft of hair growing from the mole..."

Cai Zhao thought it wouldn't be hard to find someone with such obvious features, but the result was even easier than she had imagined.

Before Chang Ning could finish, the disciples in the courtyard involuntarily glanced to the left. There, a skinny disciple with a large black mole on his left cheek was tiptoeing, trying to sneak back into his room—it turned out the person was right in this courtyard.

Chang Ning raised his left hand and made a grasping motion in the air towards Big Black Mole. Big Black Mole flew through the air in an arc as if tied to a rope, landing directly in Chang Ning's hand, his neck seized.

While trying to grab Chang Ning with his right hand, Big Black Mole blustered, "You-you-you, what are you trying to do! Don't think I'm afraid of you... ah...!" His tough talk ended with a scream.

With a dull 'crack', Big Black Mole's right arm hung limply. It must have been broken.

The disciples were dumbfounded. Cai Zhao was stunned.

Chang Ning wiped his right hand on Big Black Mole's clothes, looking as if he wanted to do more.

"Hey, hey, Brother Chang, don't be rash!" Cai Zhao quickly advised. "Fighting violence with violence is not the way of a hero."

Just then, the disciples came to their senses. Several who were on good terms with Big Black Mole shouted and rushed at Chang Ning. Chang Ning threw Big Black Mole heavily to the ground, then slapped his palms out repeatedly. His long sleeves were like banners, and he batted them away as easily as a child hitting a leather ball. In moments, he had knocked several people to the ground, where they groaned in pain.

Chang Ning turned to smile at Cai Zhao. "What are you talking about, Zhaozhao? Our martial brothers are being gentle and courteous to me. How can that be considered 'violence'? Only I can be considered 'violent'." As he spoke the last four words, his pupils dilated slightly, revealing a hint of excitement.

Turning back, he spoke softly to the crowd, "I believe you all know why I'm looking for this Brother Black Mole. As they say, every cause has an effect, and every action has its consequence. If you martial brothers are not cut from the same cloth, then don't interfere. Otherwise..."

In fact, even if he hadn't said this, seeing the ferocity of his palm strikes just now, the several people who were about to pounce had already held back.

Chang Ning lifted Big Black Mole halfway up and gently patted the dust off his clothes. "Brother Black Mole, is it? Brother's bone structure is so remarkable, I found it unforgettable. I can let the others go, but every time Qi Lingbo came to find trouble with me, I saw you, brother. Come, tell me properly, who else was with you?"

Big Black Mole was terrified, but he hesitated at the thought that Qi Lingbo was, after all, the Sect Master's daughter.

Chang Ning thoughtfully helped him overcome his decision paralysis by decisively giving his right arm a sharp twist. Big Black Mole immediately let out a pig-like squeal and repeatedly said, "Okay, okay, okay, I'll talk, I'll talk. I'll point them all out to you..."

Chang Ning's smile was gentle, but in Big Black Mole's eyes, he was no different from a demon incarnate. He stood up, trembling, and endured the severe pain in his right arm to lead the way for Chang Ning.

At this moment, Cai Zhao was also in a dilemma. According to the number one rule of the Jianghu, 'an eye for an eye,' Chang Ning's actions seemed correct. But she also felt it wasn't right to just stand by and watch the show. 'Why did this kind of thing never happen in Falling Blossoms Valley? It's left me with no experience at all.'

Just then, a panting Fan Xingjia arrived. Seeing Chang Ning's rampage from a distance, he didn't dare get close. Instead, he forced a smile at Cai Zhao, his forehead beaded with sweat. "He's causing such a scene. Junior Sister, aren't you going to persuade him?"

"Senior Brother is older than me, how could this little sister dare to overstep... forget it, I won't waste words." Cai Zhao dropped the formal act. "Senior Brother, you shouldn't be so sanctimonious either. If you have the guts, go persuade him yourself."

Fan Xingjia knew he didn't have that much face. Steeling himself, he ran towards another courtyard.

While Cai Zhao hesitated, Big Black Mole had already efficiently guided Chang Ning, and the entire cluster of Outer Sect Disciple courtyards ahead was stirred into a commotion.

Based on Chang Ning's revenge list, the Outer Sect Disciples could be divided into three categories.

The first category consisted of those who had achieved some success in martial arts and had a name for themselves in the Jianghu. Naturally, they disdained being Qi Lingbo's lackeys. They knew of Chang Haosheng's heroic reputation and already looked down on those who bullied the orphan of the Chang Clan, but they didn't dare interfere due to Qi Lingbo's status. Now that Chang Ning was here to settle the score, they of course pretended to be fast asleep, completely unaware.

The second category had average cultivation. Most were busy practicing their martial arts, but a few, seeing their slow progress, hoped to enter the Inner Sect by fawning over Qi Lingbo.

The third category lacked talent and were merely there to make up numbers among the Outer Sect Disciples. Apart from some who were timid and kind-hearted, most had been Qi Lingbo's lackeys.

After Big Black Mole pointed out the first person, Chang Ning had them compete to see who could identify others faster and more accurately. Fearing Chang Ning's punishment, they didn't dare hold back, providing identifications that were meticulously detailed.

As the saying goes, a cornered dog will jump over the wall. As more and more lackeys were identified, they decided to try and win by numbers, swarming him all at once. Besides, there were indeed one or two moderately skilled fighters among them who could put up a fight. Chang Ning smiled brightly, slapping his palms, pointing his fingers, and kicking his legs. His sleeves fluttered like a crane's feathers, and in moments, he had toppled more than a dozen people.

A disciple, beaten black and blue, shouted in indignation, "You, surnamed Chang! If you have the guts, go take it out on Qi Lingbo! What's so great about picking on small fries like us!"

Chang Ning laughed heartily. "She has a Sect Master for a father, do you? I might not have the ability to settle scores with Qi Lingbo, but I do have the ability to smash your dog head. What can you do about it! What an idiot. Before becoming someone's lackey, you didn't even consider whether you were worthy!"

He cursed with a smile, his hands never stopping.

A disciple with a square face struggled free and said with an air of righteousness, "Young Master Chang, I have never approved of Young Miss Qi's actions and have even admonished her a few times. I know you have suffered some grievances these past few months, but Young Miss Qi is just a bit hot-tempered; she never truly harmed you. Your esteemed father's heroic name is far-reaching. As his son, carrying out personal revenge like this, are you not tarnishing your deceased father's reputation?! Listen to me, why don't we turn hostility into..."

Before he could finish, Chang Ning gracefully leaped to his side and landed a heavy 'slap' on his face, sending the square-faced disciple flying two zhang away. His cheek swelled up high, and he even lost several teeth.

Chang Ning leaped after him, planted a foot on the square-faced disciple's head, and ground it back and forth.

"You're even more disgusting than the others. Those little bastards at least know they're doing evil, but you have to paste a stinking facade of selflessness on yourself. You act all different to get Qi Lingbo's attention, don't you? This hypocritical tone of yours is truly nauseating!"

Cai Zhao didn't like what the square-faced disciple said either and felt quite satisfied seeing him beaten by Chang Ning. 'So, once you become a great hero, you can only do things for others and can't avenge your own grievances, is that it? The moment you seek revenge for yourself, it's 'personal revenge'.'

Pinned under Chang Ning's foot, the square-faced disciple couldn't say a word and could only whimper for help.

At this point, a tall, thin youth who had been watching silently from the side could bear it no longer. He stepped out with his sword. "Young Master Chang, that's enough! I am not one of them, and I have always disapproved of their actions, but you've gone too far with this commotion."

Seeing the tall, thin youth's nimble movements, Cai Zhao knew he was skilled.

Chang Ning let out a short, cold laugh. He casually broke a thin, long branch from a small tree nearby. With his right hand behind his back, he brandished the branch with his left. Seeing this, the tall, thin youth also quickly advanced with his sword.

The branch was soft, the sword's edge sharp. Yet, as the two clashed, the crowd saw the green gleam of the sword being suppressed by the gray shadow of the branch, struggling to move freely. In Chang Ning's hand, an ordinary tree branch was both as supple as a whip wrapping around bone and as sharp as a cicada's wing. The shadow of the branch was graceful and ethereal, leaving no trace—this was precisely Chang Haosheng's renowned ultimate technique, the 'Willow Catkin Swordplay'.

In just seven or eight moves, the tall, thin youth's face, arms, and chest had been struck by the branch several times, leaving either bloody marks or torn clothes. Growing impatient, Chang Ning shot out his right hand, grabbed the youth's chest, and gently tossed him into the distance. The youth landed with a muffled thud.

Chang Ning lightly waved the branch in front of him and said coldly, "If you haven't experienced another's suffering, don't advise them to be kind. Since you didn't stand up for the weak back then, don't come singing your fucking high-and-mighty tunes now! Scram!"

...

Outside, chaos reigned, but inside an elegant room in a side courtyard, it was as if nothing was happening.

"Martial Uncle, aren't you going to do something?" Fan Xingjia wiped his sweat anxiously.

The old man on the long bench calmly brewed his tea. "I'm not the only martial uncle in the Outer Sect. Why do you come looking for trouble with me specifically? By the way, why didn't Dalou come himself?"

"Eldest Martial Brother followed Master down the mountain and hasn't returned, so only I could come."

The old man said, "You shouldn't have come either."

"Martial Uncle?" Fan Xingjia was astonished.

This old man was Martial Uncle Li Wenxun, who was in charge of the Outer Sect Disciples.

He sniffed the fragrance of the tea in the slender cup, a look of contentment on his face. "Xingjia, I was the one who recommended you for the Inner Sect. Before you left the Outer Sect, what did I tell you? Just follow your Martial Uncle Lei, and meddle less in other people's business."

"I... I..." Fan Xingjia was troubled.

"Of course, I know it's difficult for you. You've always liked lively scenes and making friends. These aren't bad things, but..." Li Wenxun was very patient. "You still need to learn to play deaf and dumb."

Fan Xingjia was silent for a moment. "So, we're not going to do anything about what's happening outside?"

"How can we?!" Martial Uncle Li put down his fragrance cup heavily, annoyed. "Where did this whole affair start? It started with our Sect Master's beloved daughter throwing her weight around in the sect for years! It started with the Sect Master's wife being blindly partial! When the beam is crooked, the house will be crooked. They can't even sort things out in the Inner Sect, so what can we in the Outer Sect do?!"

After a pause, he said, "Stay out of this. From now on, pretend you know nothing about such matters."

Fan Xingjia hung his head, at a loss.

Martial Uncle Li placed a hand on his shoulder and taught him in a deep voice, "My master was Wang Dingchuan, one of the former Three Elders of Green Peak. Nowadays, my martial brothers are scattered, and only I am lucky enough to be at ease. Today, I will teach you one thing—"

"Xingjia, you're a good kid. Don't try to please everyone. Because not everyone is worth it."

...

The night was deep, the moon high. Chang Ning rounded up every single one of Qi Lingbo's lackeys without missing any. At Cai Zhao's suggestion, he herded them to a nearby mountain hollow to avoid disturbing others' sleep.

When they were alone, Chang Ning let loose and dealt with the group of lackeys. He either beat them until their faces were swollen and distorted, threw them into a mud pit to roll around, or made them slap each other and point fingers. Finally, amidst their streaming tears and snot, they recited the Qingque Sect's rules in unison. It was quite a spectacle.

Seeing that Chang Ning hadn't caused any broken limbs or bloody messes, Cai Zhao gave a helpless yawn and decided to go back and rest.

Chang Ning seemed to hear her. He turned and saw the weariness on the girl's face. He reluctantly waved his hand at the lackeys, indicating that today's business was concluded. They could all go back, wash up, and sleep. Staying up late causes dark circles.

The lackeys were so angry they could have fainted, but none dared to utter a word of protest.

Chang Ning caught up to Cai Zhao in a few steps and draped the purple lambskin fleece from his shoulders onto hers. Cai Zhao had run out after Chang Ning without any warm clothing, but Chang Ning had come prepared and was fully dressed.

As he tied the cloak for her, he rambled, "You shouldn't have followed me out. I would have gone back on my own after I was done. Don't worry about me so much. I won't let anyone bully me again..."

Cai Zhao thought silently to herself: 'Actually, I'm afraid you'll bully others.'

Wrapped in the warm fleece that carried the scent of a young man, she felt a little uncomfortable and could only try to change the subject. "You should know when to stop. You're this smug with just five percent of your power. If you really anger Qi Lingbo, watch out for her bringing Third Senior Brother to deal with you. Third Senior Brother's skills are nothing like that old Dai Fengchi's. Even if you recover all your power then, you'll only be twice as strong as you are tonight. How could you be a match for Third Senior Brother!"

Chang Ning looked at her with the pity one reserves for a little fool. "Your math is so bad, how are you going to manage all the shops in Falling Blossoms Town in the future? Five percent of my power is half of ten percent, not half of my total power."

"Tonight was only half of ten percent of your power?! Haha, hahahaha, stop bragging!" Cai Zhao couldn't stop laughing. Of course, her math wasn't bad; she just found it impossible. "If you're that amazing, why don't you hurry up and officially join the sect so you can inherit the Sect Master's position in the future! This young hero, the future prosperity of the Qingque Sect is all up to you!"

Chang Ning breathed out a warm puff of air and moved closer to Cai Zhao. "I couldn't care less about any Sect Master position. Let's go back and have a late-night snack."

Cai Zhao felt even more uncomfortable. "Can you not stand so close to me? I can walk on my own. Besides, what's there to eat in the middle of the night?"

"I'll make you wontons, chicken soup wontons." Chang Ning moved slightly away. "I've already had Furong prepare the chicken broth and told Feicui to set aside shrimp and meat."

"You can cook?"

"Better than you, anyway. The food I make won't poison anyone."

"...What kind of meat is in the filling?"

"The best pork shoulder. Don't worry, I've already asked."

The stars and moon shone brightly, casting a pure halo of light. The youth's eyes were dark and bright, gentle and beautiful. Even his poison sores looked much more pleasant.

Cai Zhao felt a strange sense of joy.

She thought, 'Finally, I can eat a snack I actually like.'

Author's Note:

Regarding 'Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs,' there are currently three main interpretations, all of which are debated.

1. Heaven and Earth are neither merciful nor malicious. To them, all things in the mortal world are the same.

2. Heaven and Earth view all things equally, showing no particular favor or disfavor to anyone. The development of all things follows its natural course.

3. The development of all things between heaven and earth is the result of their own actions. Heaven and Earth do not add or subtract any force to this; they are uninvolved.