Cai Zhao sighed softly.

Why was she unwilling to roam the Jianghu? It was because the Jianghu was always filled with incidents of the strong bullying the weak. As a person of chivalry, she couldn't turn a blind eye, so it was better to hide in Falling Blossoms Town, where out of sight meant out of mind.

But since she was already out, how could she hear of a weak girl in distress and do nothing? So she immediately turned around and followed the sound.

After rounding a dark green mountain hollow, she indeed found a group of youths dressed as sect disciples, gathered there laughing and giggling, though it was unclear what they were doing. They had cornered a tall, thin youth against a cliff wall, clamoring incessantly.

A beautiful girl in an apricot-colored shirt standing at the very front seemed to be their leader. She shrieked, "...If you know what's good for you, just obey us quietly. We won't take your life, just rough you up a bit!"

Cai Zhao was taken aback, thinking, 'So it's not a helpless girl being bullied.'

A sharp-faced youth jeered from the side, "That's right, that's right! Chang Ning, you should have died! If not for Master's all-out effort to save you, you would've been dead long ago!"

Another youth with a square jaw said grimly, "You managed to survive, but you took the Snow Lotus Pill that Master originally intended for Senior Sister, causing her cultivation to be damaged. Tell us yourself, don't you deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

The surrounding youths jeered in unison, "Just let us take a bowl of your heart's blood, and we'll let you go... haha, or else we'll skin you alive and pull out your tendons..."

The tall, thin youth named Chang Ning was slightly turned to the side. "Who exactly said my heart's blood has the same effect as a Snow Lotus Pill?" His clothes were drab and old, but his tone was unhurried. It was just that his voice was hoarse, as if he had been seriously injured.

"You all know perfectly well that I am not just injured, but also afflicted with a rare poison. Are you sure you want the heart's blood of someone like me, whose body is not yet clear of residual poison?" Chang Ning turned around, revealing a face covered in poisonous sores. Some of the sores had formed dark, hard scabs, while others were still oozing pus, a truly disgusting sight.

The group of youths all showed expressions of disgust.

"You're not after my heart's blood at all. You just want to cause trouble for me." Chang Ning faced the crowd directly. On his terrifyingly hideous face, however, was a pair of eyes as clear and beautiful as the bright moon.

"I will certainly not submit. If you have the guts, then take my life and be done with it. Otherwise, I will surely repay this several times over."

A few of the youths showed signs of wanting to back down.

"Hey, this kid is the son of the Sect Master's good friend. If the Sect Master finds out, we..."

"Let's just forget it. We're just Outer Sect Disciples after all. What if the Sect Master gets angry and kicks us out?"

"Senior Sister, what if the Sect Master punishes us?"

The beautiful girl bit her lip. "He caused my cultivation to stagnate. Even if we don't take his heart's blood, we can't let this kid off easily. Hmm... we'll, we'll just beat him up. If my father asks, we'll insist it was just a sparring session between martial brothers! We're martial artists; we can't go tattling after taking a few hits. My father wouldn't punish us for something like that!"

This idea was clearly much less risky, and the youths all expressed their approval. Just as they were cracking their knuckles and about to approach the youth, a leisurely, slow girlish voice suddenly sounded from behind them—"Are you all done making a scene yet?"

Everyone jumped in fright and turned around in unison. They saw a young girl in a flowing, embroidered skirt standing quietly behind them. The sunlight filtering through the forest leaves fell upon her, making the girl's peachy cheeks glow, her fair skin exquisite.

"The two-hundredth anniversary of the Grandmaster's passing is the day after tomorrow. Almost all the prominent sects in the Wulin have arrived. If you make such a ruckus and other sects see it, wouldn't you be disgracing the Qingque Sect?" She sounded a little helpless.

—She had thought it was a group of people bullying a girl, but who knew it was a girl leading a group of people to bully someone else. What a waste of her righteous indignation.

When two beauties meet, jealousy is born. The beautiful girl led the group forward and shouted, "Where did you come from, you little bitch? What business is it of yours how the Qingque Sect deals with its own disciples!" She assumed Cai Zhao was a disciple from a sect outside the Six Branches of Beichen; there weren't many people in the world who could stand up straight before the Qingque Sect.

Cai Zhao said slowly, "Of course it's my business, because in a few days, I will be accepted into Sect Master Qi's tutelage. The reputation of my own sect, don't you think I need to protect it? When that time comes, I will even have to call Miss Qi 'Senior Sister'." As for the contents of her brain, this young miss was a perfect match for that Second Young Master Song from just now.

Qi Lingbo was stunned, her expression uncertain. "You, you're from Falling Blossoms Valley... Cai Zhao?"

"That's right." Hearing the girl mention 'my father' this and 'my father' that, Cai Zhao guessed she must be Sect Master Qi's daughter.

Remembering her father's enthusiasm for Falling Blossoms Valley, Qi Lingbo couldn't help but feel the urge to retreat. But the youths beside her were used to being her lackeys. If she backed down now, scared off by just a few words from Cai Zhao, what face would she have left in front of her little gang?

"Junior Sister Cai must have just arrived at Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff," Qi Lingbo put on a sweet smile. "It's getting late, please return to the guest quarters. You've just arrived and don't know the full story behind some things. This matter here has nothing to do with you."

Cai Zhao raised an eyebrow. "And what if I don't leave?"

Qi Lingbo's face was all smiles, but her tone held a veiled threat. "We are the only two girls under my father's tutelage. We should get along well in the years to come. If you insist on being stubborn and ruining the bond between us martial sisters, how will we study martial arts together in the future?"

Cai Zhao thought about it seriously. "It's fine. I don't like practicing martial arts anyway. My parents never taught me any. In the future, Senior Sister can just focus on her own cultivation. I'll be happy reading books and enjoying the scenery."

"You don't like practicing martial arts? Then what did you come here for?" Qi Lingbo's smile stiffened.

"To become a disciple, of course. I want to be Master's disciple." Cai Zhao was tired of explaining.

"If you're not going to learn martial arts, why become my father's disciple?" Qi Lingbo couldn't wrap her head around it. The martial arts of the Qingque Sect were unmatched in the world, and countless people came seeking instruction every year.

Cai Zhao spoke fluidly, "For Senior Sister to say that is to see everyone in the world as too pragmatic. Isn't it important to learn virtue and conduct? Sect Master Qi is a world-renowned sincere gentleman, benevolent and kind—if I can learn even a third of that, I'll benefit for life... Why are all my fellow disciples looking at me like that? Am I wrong?"

—For example, when a boss gives a speech at a grand opening, would he just open his mouth and say, 'I'm doing this to make money, a lot of money, tons of money'? Naturally, he'd say it's to benefit the neighbors and build good relationships.

The group of youths were all embarrassed, humming and hawing in vague agreement. Qi Lingbo's face darkened. "What a sharp, eloquent tongue. I don't think our Qingque Sect can accommodate a great Buddha like you!"

Upon hearing this, Cai Zhao laughed. "Is Senior Sister threatening that I'll be rejected by the Qingque Sect? But is it up to Senior Sister to decide whether I can become a disciple?" The clerk has to listen to the manager, and the manager has to listen to the owner. How does this young lady not understand this logic?! Poor Uncle Qi, such a kind and amiable person, to have a daughter who isn't very bright.

Qi Lingbo was speechless.

Cai Zhao continued, "If Sect Master Qi insists on taking me as his disciple, and Senior Sister is unhappy about it, does that mean if Senior Sister gives the order, Sect Master Qi will obey you and not accept me?"

Hearing the stifled snickers from behind her, Qi Lingbo's expression was a sight to behold.

If Song Yuzhi had been here, he would definitely have told Qi Lingbo not to argue with Cai Zhao. Don't even speak to her, or you'll be angered to death.

Qi Lingbo said hatefully, "This kid Chang Ning offended me, and I'm going to teach him a lesson today. If you refuse to step aside, then I, as your senior sister, will have no choice but to teach you some manners."

She had already made up her mind. Since Cai Zhao's martial arts skills were poor, she would just give her a few slaps to vent her anger first. If her father investigated, she would insist that it was their first meeting and she didn't know any better; she just wanted to test Cai Zhao's skills and didn't realize she wouldn't hold back.

"Are you done with the nonsense?" Chang Ning glanced at Cai Zhao a few times, then spoke after a moment of deep thought. "You're all too slow. One moment you want to teach me a lesson, the next you want to teach someone else a lesson. If you're going to make a move, then do it. Stop dawdling."

Everyone glared at him resentfully. Qi Lingbo smiled at Cai Zhao. "You see? This person is just that ungrateful. He's been so rude and disrespectful ever since he came to Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff, never listening to his senior brothers..."

"Besides being impolite, has he done anything else wicked?" Cai Zhao cut her off. "If he has, say so quickly. Otherwise, I'm getting involved in this matter for sure."

"He's so rude, and you still want to protect him?!" Qi Lingbo seemed somewhat astonished.

Cai Zhao was completely unfazed. "As long as he's not a wicked person and didn't start the trouble himself, you shouldn't be bullying him. As for whether he's polite or likable, what does that have to do with me?" Her aunt had said that when acting chivalrously and being a person of justice, not only might you not be rewarded, you might not even be thanked.

Qi Lingbo had a pair of beautiful almond eyes, which were now wide open as she ground her teeth. "I see you're asking for it. Watch how I..."

She raised her right arm, turning her body into position, her right hand forming a blade. Just as she was about to chop down at Cai Zhao, a familiar, alarmed cry came from not far away—"Lingbo, stop! What are you doing?!"

Cai Zhao turned to see that it was Zeng Dalou.

He was rushing over with a few disciples, looking utterly exasperated.

Cai Zhao sighed softly in disappointment. Her aunt also said that when roaming the Jianghu, your style is very important. Even if you really want to pounce on the other party and slap them a couple of times, since a mediator has arrived, you have to give them some face.

Keep smiling, harmony brings wealth.

"—Lingbo, you're becoming more and more disobedient! I told you long ago not to bully Chang Ning. What did you promise everyone?! And now you've gone from bad to worse! The group from Falling Blossoms Valley just arrived at Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff today. It's bad enough you're not playing the part of a good host, but you even want to bully them! I will definitely report today's events truthfully. You, you, hurry up and leave!"

Although Zeng Dalou's scolding was harsh, Cai Zhao could easily tell he was secretly protecting Qi Lingbo.

Unfortunately, though his intentions were good, with so many eyes watching, there was no way Qi Lingbo would back down. She stomped her foot on the spot. "Stay out of this. I'll go to Father to ask for punishment later. In any case, today I must teach this... these two a lesson!"

Cai Zhao laughed out loud. "And how do you plan to teach me a lesson?"

Zeng Dalou took a large step, shielding Cai Zhao behind him, and said in a low voice, "You, say a little less."

Cai Zhao was inwardly puzzled. I've known you, Zeng Dalou, for less than two hours. Why aren't you telling your own sect's Qi Lingbo to say a little less?

Qi Lingbo said loudly, "Among people of the Wulin, it's natural to let our fists and feet do the talking!"

Cai Zhao peeked out from behind Zeng Dalou and smiled. "I only said a few extra words. I didn't take your Snow Lotus Pill, nor was I rude to you. You're already treating me the same as this Junior Brother Chang Ning? How did Senior Sister Qi do that calculation?"

Qi Lingbo was so angry her eyes turned red. "You still dare to say you weren't rude to me?! If it weren't for you, how would I have been scolded, and then have to be punished by Father later? If it weren't for you, none of this would have happened..."

"You're wrong," Chang Ning suddenly spoke, and everyone looked at him.

Chang Ning looked at Cai Zhao. "I'm older than you. I'm not your junior brother."

Everyone was taken aback.

Cai Zhao said earnestly, "You're the one being bullied, and I'm here to help you. Shouldn't you listen properly when I call you junior brother? When roaming the Jianghu, you really need to be more savvy."

Chang Ning looked at the sky. "Being called junior brother by someone younger than me... I'd rather they beat me up. It's not like their flowery fists and brocade kicks would hurt anyway."

"You two... you're going too far!" Qi Lingbo was about to faint from anger.

"Alright, both of you, that's enough!" Zeng Dalou roared.

After he roared, everyone looked at him.

Zeng Dalou pressed down on the throbbing vein on his temple. "All three of you, quiet down a bit! —All the sects are gathered at Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff today. Are we going to let outsiders watch the Beichen Lineage make a fool of itself?! Lingbo, you're coming with me to receive your punishment. The rest of you, scatter immediately!"

Cai Zhao shrugged, showing no objection. Tears welled up in Qi Lingbo's eyes as she dragged her feet.

Just then, another figure burst into the woods, brushing past Cai Zhao's side like the wind, and stood between Zeng Dalou and Qi Lingbo, holding out both hands in a gesture of peace.

"Wait, wait, let's talk this out!" The young man had refined features and was also dressed as a sect disciple. His forehead was covered in a fine sweat, clear evidence that he had rushed over after hearing that Zeng Dalou was on his way.

Qi Lingbo's eyes lit up. She took a small, aggrieved step forward. "...Second Senior Brother."

Cai Zhao gave this posture a full score. Grievance mixed with coquettishness, coquettishness with indignation, indignation with fear, and fear with a plea for help—it seemed this little Junior Sister Qi, while not good at dealing with women, was quite skilled at handling men. Truly, everyone has their talents; if you're not good at one thing, you'll be good at another.

The young man first clasped his hands towards Cai Zhao. "Junior Sister Cai has just arrived today, and our disciples have failed to extend the proper hospitality of a host, even allowing you to wander on your own and nearly causing a misunderstanding with Little Junior Sister. This is truly our failure. Junior Sister Cai, allow me to apologize to you first."

His words were clever. 'Wander on your own,' 'misunderstanding'—in just a few phrases, he had twisted a blatant case of bullying into something else entirely.

"No need, no need." Cai Zhao beamed. "I have no issue with Senior Sister Qi. As long as she doesn't try to teach me a lesson, it's fine. The important thing is this Junior Broth... huh..."

Sometime during the exchange, the tall youth with the poison-covered face had vanished. Perhaps he had gotten tired of waiting, but Chang Ning had already left on his own.

Cai Zhao gave an embarrassed smile. "Well then, nothing's wrong anymore."

The young man then pleaded with Zeng Dalou, "It's incredibly busy up ahead. Master is occupied with entertaining the sect masters, and there are many matters below waiting for your orders. How about you leave Little Junior Sister to me? I will give her a good talking-to. What do you think...?"

Zeng Dalou was completely exasperated and waved his hand to dismiss everyone.

Qi Lingbo's tears turned to smiles. Like a child, she affectionately tugged on the young man's sleeve and ran off happily.

Once she left, the youths who had been her accomplices shrank back even more, wishing they could slide away along the cliff wall. Zeng Dalou glared at them, and they scurried off like a string of rats.

Cai Zhao looked ahead, then behind her.

Today was another day she had worked hard for the path of chivalry, even though she had saved what seemed to be an ungrateful little brat.