Chapter 28 Part 2

"Cai Zhao, you shameless little bitch! Devoid of all sense of decency, so fickle! You, you, you dare to seduce Brother Yuzhi!" Qi Lingbo was so angry she could barely breathe.

Cai Zhao wore a gentle, weak smile. "How can Senior Sister say that about your little sister? You must have misunderstood, Senior Sister. In my heart, I only see Third Senior Brother as a brother... ugh, this is too disgusting, I can't go on."

She got goosebumps herself, so she simply ripped off the mask and said coldly, "Let me be honest with you, Senior Sister, I did it on purpose. You cut off my line of retreat, so what face do I have left to care about? Senior Sister Lingbo, you brought this upon yourself, you deserve this! Hmph, you think you can kick over my bowl and still eat your own meal in peace? Dream on! Don't you think I know how to snatch food from your bowl?"

Qi Lingbo shrieked, "What do you mean I brought this on myself? You're the one who's shameless, and you're blaming me! I will never let this matter rest with you... ah, you...!"

Cai Zhao couldn't be bothered to waste words on this stupid woman and decided to add some fuel to the fire. She turned her head with a smile and went back to wiping Song Yuzhi's sweat.

Qi Lingbo was fuming. She charged forward to tear at Cai Zhao's face, but Song Yuzhi blocked her a step ahead. Heartbroken, she was about to tearfully question her fiancé why he was siding with an outsider when—

"What are you doing?!" The same question, but a cold and stern shout like a clap of thunder.

The person arrived with the words. Chang Ning's wide sleeves fluttered, his figure like a startled swan goose, like a flash of lightning, dazzling to the extreme. In an instant, he had leaped from outside the Martial Arts Field to their side.

This aura instantly stunned everyone, and also delighted everyone—was the melon patch about to have a bumper harvest?! Oh yeah!

Cai Zhao didn't react, saying blankly, "Huh, weren't you in seclusion? Oh, I remember, you're coming out today. Haha, haha, congratulations."

Chang Ning's face was ashen. He yanked the girl out of Song Yuzhi's arms. "What exactly are you doing!"

Cai Zhao wanted to explain. She looked at Song Yuzhi, then at Qi Lingbo, and for a moment didn't know where to start. Finally, she said helplessly, "It's not what you see. I can explain."

Qi Lingbo shrieked, "Explain what? You were seducing my Brother Yuzhi!"

Cai Zhao immediately lost the desire to explain. With a faint smile, she said, "Indeed, there's nothing to explain. We're all fellow disciples of the same sect. We should care for each other, love each other, and be as close as family..."

Song Yuzhi narrowed his eyes. "Brother Chang, it seems you have fully recovered your strength."

Chang Ning sneered. "Third Young Master Song, it seems you've had quite a fortunate couple of days."

"You're too kind."

It was as if sparks flew in the air. A chill inexplicably ran down Cai Zhao's spine.

How could Qi Lingbo let her off? She yelled, "You little bitch, do you have any sense of shame? Seducing one man here, another there, you've completely disgraced our Six Sects of Beichen!"

'Your mother's youth was far more colorful, what I'm doing is nothing,' Cai Zhao thought to herself. However, the experience from hundreds of storybooks told her that this was clearly not the time or place for talking. It was best to slip away first.

Qi Lingbo's words made Song Yuzhi frown. "Among the Six Sects of Beichen, neither men nor women are forbidden from marrying multiple times. As long as it is done directly and honorably, what is wrong with it?"

Chang Ning let out a laugh. "That's true. The Song Family is indeed full of romantic men and women."

Qi Lingbo knew she had misspoken, but to be put down by her fiancé in front of so many people still made her eyes redden.

Dai Fengchi, eager to protect the beauty, immediately shouted, "Third Junior Brother, Lingbo is a girl. How can you speak to her so mercilessly..."

"Junior Sister Cai!" A vexed voice suddenly cut in from the side. "Where do you think you're going!"

Ding Zhuo had also arrived at some point, standing ramrod straight in the middle of everything, fuming, like a long spear that would rather break than bend.

Following his voice, the few of them turned their heads to see Cai Zhao, who had just snuck three steps away, stop awkwardly in her tracks.

"Haha, hehe." Cai Zhao forced a smile, trying to change the subject. "Huh, why is Senior Brother Ding here? Aren't you practicing in the Broken Bamboo Pavilion today?" This Fourth Senior Brother of hers was never seen all year round. He was either practicing or preparing to practice.

Ding Zhuo was so angry he couldn't say a word.

Finally, Fan Xingjia arrived, panting, and spoke for him. "Fourth Senior Brother is here looking for you, Junior Sister."

Cai Zhao was stunned. "Why is Senior Brother looking for me?"

"For the duel, of course!" Fan Xingjia was also speechless.

A chill ran down Cai Zhao's back. "Isn't it ten days from now..."

"Today is the tenth day!" Ding Zhuo's face was ashen with anger.

Cai Zhao's mouth fell open. It took her a long while to remember. She was truly apologetic now, saying repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Fourth Senior Brother, I'm truly sorry. I, I, I... how about we find a place to duel right now?"

Chang Ning sneered. "Young Hero Ding need not be angry. Junior Sister Cai has been busy being 'as close as family' with Young Master Song these past two days, so of course she wouldn't remember her appointment with Young Hero Ding." As he spoke, he shot a hateful glare at Cai Zhao.

Cai Zhao shrank her neck.

Song Yuzhi was displeased. "Brother Chang, there's no need to speak so harshly."

"Fine, then I'll say something else—a man with a betrothal should conduct himself with more discretion than an ordinary person. Don't think that by playing hard to get, you are without fault. Any man who does not firmly reject women other than his fiancée is a fickle philanderer!"

"The betrothal was the elders' idea. If it's truly unsuitable, it's better to end it early. Why ruin both her life and your own?" Song Yuzhi could no longer hold back the words that had long been hidden in his heart.

How could Qi Lingbo not understand? She stood to the side, biting her lip and crying.

"Hehe, if we follow Young Master Song's words, then if a marriage proves unsuitable, it can be ended at any time, I suppose?" Chang Ning pulled Cai Zhao over. "You see? The people of the Song Family are truly promiscuous by nature. If it were me, once I've committed my heart, I would be faithful until death. Even our ashes should be poured into the same casket!"

Cai Zhao was shocked, scared, and stunned. Whether it was ending it early or pouring ashes into one casket, what did any of that have to do with her? Her fiancé's surname was Zhou, not Song or Chang.

"Ah, this, hehe, so the Chang Family prefers cremation? Falling Blossoms Valley has always practiced earth burial..." She could only force a smile.

Several of the most prominent prodigies of the sect were arguing shamelessly like a pot of porridge, some exasperated, some jealous, with no shortage of comedic moments. The surrounding disciples watched the drama with great relish, whispering amongst themselves, making jokes and placing bets, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Many, many years later, when they were old and decrepit, they would recall that this was the last joyous moment of their carefree youth.

...

From a distance, a low horn blast sounded, long and deep, like the cry of a demon from the underworld.

Everyone froze.

Song Yuzhi was the first to react, his face changing drastically. "That's a warning horn!"

Fan Xingjia tilted his head to listen carefully and cried out, "Three long and two short! This is bad, an external enemy is attacking the sect!"

"What!" Cai Zhao was shocked. "Weren't we told that Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff is as solid as gold, impregnable, and no one could break in?"

Chang Ning lowered his gaze, his expression calm. "There is no truly impregnable fortress in this world."

It wasn't just Cai Zhao who thought so. The other disciples couldn't help but panic. Since they entered the sect, they, like Cai Zhao, had firmly believed that it was impossible for an external enemy to invade Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff.

Song Yuzhi looked up. Of Qi Yunke's seven personal disciples in total, six of them were here bickering. He knew the situation was dire and shouted, "All disciples, hear my command! Form groups of seven and set up a sword formation!"

He already held the highest prestige among the disciples. Now that he gave the call, everyone obeyed.

"Fourth Junior Brother, you take two groups and alert the various residences along the way. Tell the servants and maids to hide in the back mountains. Then, hurry to the Outer Sect to assist Martial Uncle Li. The Crimson Qilin Sect, in particular, has many newly-enrolled young junior brothers and sisters. We must protect them at all costs!"

Ding Zhuo gave a crisp salute with his fist and turned to leave.

"Fifth Junior Brother, you take two groups to the Apothecary. You must protect Martial Uncle Lei. If you can't hold them off, abandon the Apothecary and immediately retreat to the Hot Spring Pass in the mountain hollow. There are formations there for protection!"

Fan Xingjia gritted his teeth, accepted the order, and left with his chest puffed out.

"Second Senior Brother, you..." Song Yuzhi saw the still-injured Dai Fengchi. "You and Junior Sister Lingbo will lead a group to the Twin Lotus Splendor Pool Palace. Protect our martial mother and retreat to the Hot Spring Pass in the mountain hollow."

Dai Fengchi struggled to respond. Qi Lingbo was trembling with fear.

The horn blasts from the distance grew more and more urgent, like a demon hastening their doom. The disciples who had formed their sword formations grew anxious and restless. A sense of urgency that could drive one mad silently descended upon them.

Song Yuzhi said in a loud voice, "The rest of you, follow me to Twilight Palace! Master, Eldest Martial Brother, and the sect's scriptures are all there!"

The disciples shouted their acknowledgement in unison.

Qi Lingbo's eyes were filled with tears. She opened her mouth several times but said nothing. In the end, she was pulled away by Dai Fengchi.

Everyone knew that Twilight Palace would inevitably be the most dangerous place.

Song Yuzhi thrust the longsword he had been using for practice into the ground. He turned and took two treasured swords from the weapon rack at the edge of the Martial Arts Field, both carved with ancient patterns and inlaid with gold and jade. One was named Azure Rainbow, its sharp edge almost piercing through the scabbard. The other was called White Rainbow, elegant and serene, capable of slaying for ten thousand miles without leaving a trace.

These were famous weapons that Yin Dai had done his utmost to prepare for his two young daughters, but alas, neither had used them.

Now, they were in Song Yuzhi's hands.

Song Yuzhi strapped White Rainbow to his back and handed Azure Rainbow to Cai Zhao. "For your protection."

Cai Zhao shook her head with a smile. "Third Senior Brother, this is no time to be tender to the fairer sex." She pulled out the longsword that Song Yuzhi had just stuck in the ground, held it flat before her, and flicked the edge. The blade let out a light hum.

She said, "This is also a good sword. Senior Brother should use a weapon he's comfortable with." She just didn't like using things from the Yin Family.

Song Yuzhi did not insist further.

Cai Zhao held the sword in a reverse grip, close to her arm, and looked at Chang Ning together with Song Yuzhi.

Chang Ning smiled faintly. With his right hand, he made a grasping motion in the air. A longsword on the weapon rack shot out of its scabbard with a snap and landed directly in his hand.

"This will be sufficient for self-defense." He gently spun the blade. "Young Master Song need not assign me a task. I will act as the situation demands. The sect has been kind to me. I will kill every invader I see."

Song Yuzhi looked at Cai Zhao, wanting to say something but hesitating.

Cai Zhao understood and volunteered, "Third Senior Brother, I'll go with you to Twilight Palace."

But Chang Ning pulled her to his side and said to Song Yuzhi, "Let her follow me. She has yet to draw blood."

Song Yuzhi nodded. After picking up Azure Rainbow, he gave Cai Zhao another look and said in a low voice, "Junior Sister, be careful." Then, he led the remaining disciples and departed swiftly, leaving no one behind.

Cai Zhao wanted to follow, but Chang Ning held her back.

She said sullenly, "I know I have no experience facing enemies, but I can't just stand by and watch."

Chang Ning's expression was calm. "Who said you could stand by and watch? But we have to go to one place first."

"Where?"

"Myriad Waters Thousand Mountains Cliff."