It wasn't for nothing that Chang Haosheng was jokingly called 'Nanny Chang'.

Fame is valuable, but tangible benefits are worth more. When he encountered gold and silver treasures during his youthful adventures, while the favored sons of other families would turn a blind eye, he would collect every bit like an old accountant, even if it was just to help destitute Jianghu travelers in the future.

That year, at the celebration banquet, he noticed that Yang Yi was deliberately misleading the heroes of the Wulin regarding the matter of killing Nie Hengcheng, and Yin Dai had actually accepted it with feigned reluctance. His first thought wasn't anger or disappointment at the fact that two respected Wulin seniors were stealing someone else's credit, but rather, he immediately thought, 'Now Falling Blossoms Valley is safe'.

It wasn't that he was malicious, wanting to use Yin Dai as a shield for Falling Blossoms Valley. Rather, he believed that the Sect Master of Qingque Sect would surely be surrounded by tight security and numerous experts, so the Demonic Cult's revenge might not succeed, whereas Falling Blossoms Valley at that time was weak, helpless, and pitiful.

Who knew that man's schemes are inferior to heaven's plans.

Just a few months after the celebration banquet, the high-spirited Old Sect Master Yin was ambushed on a journey by a large group of men set up by Nie Hengcheng's eldest disciple, Zhao Tianba. With no way forward and no reinforcements behind, he was ultimately hacked to pieces and died.

On the very same day, Old Sect Leader Yang Yi, while 'making an old tree blossom' with his beloved concubine and beautiful maids in his countryside manor, was infiltrated at night by men led by Nie Hengcheng's third disciple, Han Yisu. The slaughter lasted the entire night, leaving no one, not even chickens or dogs, alive. Yang Yi's head was discovered in the manor's cesspool.

Not only that, Nie Hengcheng's only two remaining great disciples also declared their intent to completely exterminate the disciples of the Yin and Yang Families, cutting off their family lines. They also sent word to the other elders of the Demonic Cult that whoever contributed the most to avenging Nie Hengcheng would win the allegiance of the remaining forces of Nie Hengcheng's faction.

For a time, the minions of the Demonic Cult were restless and eager to make a move.

"A centipede dies but never falls down. Although Nie Hengcheng is dead, he was in charge of the cult's affairs for decades and had many loyal followers. Old Sect Master Yin and Old Sect Leader Yang celebrated too soon."

Chang Ning's tone was leisurely; Cai Zhao felt he was taking a bit of pleasure in their misfortune. Of course, so was she.

To covet heaven's merit, one must see if they have the fate to bear it!

"Was Great Hero Chang guarding Falling Blossoms Valley because he was afraid the Demonic Cult would come to our family for revenge?" she asked in a low voice.

Chang Ning: "Yes. My father had long anticipated that after Nie Hengcheng's death, his disciples and grand-disciples would not let the matter rest. So he guarded Falling Blossoms Valley, not even daring to return home. He waited and waited, but instead of the Demonic Cult's attack, he received the news of the deaths of the two elders, Yin and Yang."

Cai Zhao was silent for a moment. "I didn't know any of this. Thank your esteemed father for his tireless efforts and stalwart protection of Falling Blossoms Valley."

That was the most perilous period for the Cai Family. All the Cai Family elders were dead, Cai Pingshu's martial arts were completely crippled, Cai Pingchun had yet to break through to the next major realm, and Ning Xiaofeng only knew some mechanisms and formations. If the Demonic Cult had attacked in full force, Falling Blossoms Valley could only have stretched out its neck for the slaughter.

Chang Ning glanced at her. "No need for thanks. Protecting the weak is the duty of our generation." He emphasized the second half of the sentence.

Cai Zhao put down her chopsticks and sighed wearily. "Rest assured, I will do my utmost to protect you until your injuries heal, to repay Great Hero Chang's immense kindness."

"As long as you know." Chang Ning's eyes and brows held a smile, and it seemed even the venomous sores on his face became bright and charming.

Fan Xingjia sat to the side awkwardly. He felt the atmosphere at the table was far too cheerful, so he bravely spoke up to interrupt his junior brother and sister's joy. "Ahem, so what happened later? How did the Demonic Cult give up?"

Cai Zhao pointed at the boisterous and lively members of the Yin and Yang Families and nodded. "Right. Since so many people from the Yin and Yang Families are still alive, it's clear the Demonic Cult's revenge killings were not successful."

"That was thanks to the resourceful Lady Qinglian," Chang Ning smiled.

In the months after Yin Dai and Yang Yi's deaths, many more relatives from both families died tragically. This was especially true for the Yin Family, which had numerous clansmen and was a large target—after Yin Dai took the position of Sect Master of the Qingque Sect, he promoted quite a few family members, who then became living targets for the Demonic Cult.

One day, it was Sixth Uncle Yin, who was in charge of procurement for the Qingque Sect, found disemboweled on his couch. The next, it was Third Aunt Yin, responsible for the sect's gardens and flowers, found hanging upside down from a tree with her throat slit. A few days later, the mutilated bodies of the two brothers, Second Uncle Yin, who managed the carriages and horses, appeared in a manger... For a time, everyone in the Yin Clan feared for their lives. They didn't even have time to hold funerals before fleeing Jiuli Mountain one after another, hiding in remote corners to save their lives.

Nie Hengcheng's followers even extended their reach into the Vast Heaven Sect, targeting Yin Dai's eldest daughter and his two young grandsons—Song Maozhi and Song Yuzhi.

Despite Yin Qinglian's resourcefulness and numerous precautions, she still discovered a wet nurse and a nanny secretly administering poison. The former tearfully confessed that her family had fallen into the Demonic Cult's hands, while the latter admitted the Demonic Cult had promised her inexhaustible mountains of gold and silver. With all these kinds of threats, the Six Sects of Beichen found it impossible to defend against them all.

At that time, Yin Sulian had just married and had no children, so she only needed to protect herself. Yin Qinglian, however, had young, precious children. She knew the Demonic Cult had plenty of wealth and was unscrupulous in their methods, like a parasitic worm attached to the bone, difficult to shake off. She had to take the initiative and strike.

Of course, the most important thing was to publicize the fact that Heroine Cai was the one who had killed Nie Hengcheng.

But this matter wasn't mentioned before the celebration banquet, nor was it mentioned after. To suddenly bring it up when the Demonic Cult was on a killing spree—how would the world view her brilliant and martial father, Old Sect Master Yin? He couldn't lose his reputation after he was already dead.

Soon after, when Yang Heying's two young sons were both assassinated without a trace, Yin Qinglian dared not delay any longer. She quickly summoned her brother-in-law, Qi Yunke, the newly appointed Sect Master, and Zhou Zhizhen, who had just finished his father's funeral, for a discussion—

First, the fact that Cai Pingshu killed Nie Hengcheng must be revealed. But it couldn't be done openly in public. They had to use some means to let the Demonic Cult followers leak the news themselves, while the Six Sects of Beichen pretended to be unaware.

The clansmen of the Yin and Yang Families were scattered, making it difficult to guard against both overt and covert plots. But the Cai Family consisted of only three people, who had been hiding in Falling Blossoms Valley without stepping out. Falling Blossoms Valley was easy to defend and hard to attack, with only one path in and out. With the target concentrated, the Demonic Cult's sneak attacks would also be highly concentrated.

After half a month of laying a deceptive trap, Yin Qinglian's hidden informant finally delivered precise information.

That night, under a starless and moonless sky, with rain lashing down like a whip, Qi Yunke, Zhou Zhizhen, and Song Shijun led a handpicked group of disciples from various sects. They laid an inescapable trap by the banks of the Qingluo River, not far from Falling Blossoms Valley. After a night of fierce battle, they finally annihilated the large contingent of Demonic Cult forces that had been rushing to attack Falling Blossoms Valley under the cover of darkness.

Zhao Tianba was killed on the spot by Chang Haosheng, who beheaded him and sent the head to the Qingque Sect as a tribute. Han Yisu was severely wounded and crippled by Song Shijun, his fate unknown. Qi Yunke, moving unhindered, half-drenched in blood, personally slew more than ten Demonic Cult experts.

In this battle, Nie Hengcheng's remaining trusted elites were almost completely wiped out, and the matter of revenge came to nothing.

With this, the bloody golden age single-handedly created by Nie Hengcheng finally came to an end. The Demonic Cult entered an era of decline, plagued by factional disputes and incessant infighting, while the new Three Heroes of Beichen formally came into their own, commanding the Wulin.

At the same time, the fact that Cai Pingshu was the one who killed Nie Hengcheng could no longer be concealed and became known to the world. Yin Qinglian then took the opportunity to spread the rumor that 'Old Sect Master Yin Dai had reluctantly accepted the credit for killing the villain only to protect Falling Blossoms Valley, and Old Sect Leader Yang had brought disaster upon himself by kindly offering his help.' The Six Sects of Beichen were all delighted with this outcome.

Fan Xingjia, hearing the full story for the first time, lamented, "Even the remnants of the bandit Nie were so venomous, cruel, and unafraid of death. It's fortunate that Heroine Cai executed the ringleader, otherwise wouldn't the Demonic Cult have been even more rampant?"

Remembering the bloody storms and scheming of those years, Cai Zhao couldn't help but sigh. After a long pause, she said, "...Lady Qinglian has a good head on her shoulders." It was a pity Yin Sulian didn't have even half of her sister's brains.

"The most intelligent, the most cunning, the most powerful, the most brutal, the most loyal, the most benevolent—all have fallen, one by one. Those who survived are all mediocre and ordinary—perhaps this is the way of heaven and earth."

Chang Ning, for some reason, lowered his brows and averted his eyes as he spoke, showing no trace of joy or anger. He was like a mysterious face in a temple seen through swirling incense smoke. Cai Zhao stared at him, lost in a daze.

The atmosphere at the table grew somber. None of the three spoke, and the rare silence was finally broken by a loud burp from little Cai Han.

Chang Ning glanced over. "Junior Sister, you should do something. If he eats any more, he'll turn into a ball again."

Cai Zhao, flustered and exasperated, lifted her little brother from the table. Seeing his little belly was perfectly round again, she immediately scolded, "You little piglet, have you never seen food in your life!"

Hiccuping, Cai Han wailed and complained that he would have to eat vegetarian food at his maternal grandmother's house for a long time. Fan Xingjia, with a wry smile, called a servant to bring over some tangerine peel digestive tea.

"You wretched girl, you're actually here?!"

A sharp female voice came from the side. Cai Zhao and the others immediately turned to look and saw an elegantly dressed woman of about twenty-five or twenty-six standing there with a hostile expression, one hand on her hip, the other holding a sallow, skinny, brocade-clad child of six or seven.

Before Cai Zhao and the others could react, Yang Xiaolan, who was nearby, had already scrambled to her feet and bowed. "Greetings, Mother."

Yang Xiaolan was the daughter of the Siqi Sect's Leader. Based on the form of address, this woman was naturally Yang Heying's wife, Lady Sha.

Lady Sha led her son forward a few steps, reached out to pull Yang Xiaolan's ear, and cursed, "You vicious, wretched girl! Sitting here eating and drinking well while ignoring whether your little brother lives or dies. Look at the time! You just watch as Tianci plays outside on an empty stomach and don't even think to bring him something to eat or drink..."

The woman had long, sharp, brightly painted nails, and she struck heavily. Yang Xiaolan's ear instantly became red and swollen.

Yang Tianci clapped his hands and giggled. "Big Sister's ear is red again, it looks like braised pork, hehe, hehe." He was born with a frail constitution and looked malnourished. Even saying a few more words left him panting and wheezing, which made Lady Sha cry out for her 'precious darling'.

Fan Xingjia couldn't bear to watch and quickly said, "Lady Sha, please wait. Young Master Yang had quite a few snacks before he went out to play just now, so I don't think he would be too hungry. Besides, he adamantly refused Lady Yang's company when he went to play, and he has four or five servants with him. How could anything happen on the grounds of Twilight Palace..."

"He's not your son, so of course you don't care!" Lady Sha turned and cursed. "Sect Leader Yang has only this one heir! If anything happens to him, can you take responsibility, huh?! At that time, not even Sect Master Qi will be able to protect you!"

Fan Xingjia had never encountered such a shrewish woman and didn't know how to respond. Just then, in a blur, Cai Zhao moved past him and took a few steps forward.

"Madam, what is your rank in the household?" Cai Zhao asked with a smile.

Lady Sha was taken aback. "What rank? I'm the only daughter in my family..."

"I'm not asking about the Sha family, I'm asking about the Yang family. What is your rank in the Yang family, Madam?" Cai Zhao's smile made Fan Xingjia nervous. "Seeing how young and beautiful you are, Madam, I guess you must be ranked after the sixth—are you the seventh wife? The eighth, or the ninth?"

"How dare you humiliate me?!" Lady Sha trembled with rage.

Cai Zhao said sarcastically, "I'm just complimenting you on your youth and beauty, Madam."

"Junior Sister, you've misunderstood. There's no seventh, eighth, or ninth wife. Lady Sha is the Madam." Chang Ning stepped forward leisurely. "Ever since Sect Leader Yang's two sons died at the hands of Nie Hengcheng's followers, he took in twenty or thirty concubines at once. Among them, this Lady Sha was made the official Madam by Sect Leader Yang because she gave birth to Young Master Yang."

"Twenty or thirty?" Fan Xingjia didn't know whether to be delighted or horrified.

Cai Zhao came to a sudden realization. "Oh, so that's how it is. To be able to stand out from twenty or thirty people, Lady Sha's skills are truly extraordinary."

Although Lady Sha was arrogant and overbearing in the Yang family, she wasn't a completely clueless fool. She saw that Cai Zhao's clothes were exquisite and Chang Ning's face was covered in venomous sores, making it clear that the former was not to be trifled with and the latter could not be provoked. She bit her lip, stomped her foot angrily, and turned. "You wretched girl, get a move on! I'll wait for your father to deal with you!" Then, leading her son with one hand and yanking the stumbling Yang Xiaolan with the other, she left.

"Oh dear, I hope nothing happens to Lady Yang," Fan Xingjia watched from behind, worried. "The ceremony is about to begin, it wouldn't be good to have beatings and scoldings at a time like this."

"What good can come from having a father like Yang Heying? But even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its own cubs. I suppose her life won't be in danger," Cai Zhao said, also displeased.

"I heard before that the Siqi Sect has had only a single heir for five generations. The Yang family places extreme importance on their offspring. Ah, poor Lady Yang. She's fourteen or fifteen but looks only twelve or thirteen. Tsk tsk, Junior Brother Chang, what do you think? Hey, Junior Brother Chang...?"

Fan Xingjia and Cai Zhao turned their heads at the same time, only to find that Chang Ning was already seated behind the dining table. "What is there to say? If I were Lady Yang, I would rip that hag's tongue out along with her throat." His tone was calm, but the content of his words was horrifying.

Fan Xingjia sucked in a cold breath and forced a smile. "Junior Brother Chang is joking."

"I am not joking." Chang Ning's expression was cold. "That little brat surnamed Yang was born with deficiencies. It'll be good enough if he doesn't grow up to be useless. But Lady Yang has excellent foundations. Even if her comprehension is average, as long as she cultivates properly, she will surely achieve great things in the future."

Cai Zhao hadn't paid attention to the siblings' aptitude, but after a moment of thought, Fan Xingjia agreed. "That's true. Although Lady Yang is a bit thin and small, her foundations are not bad."

"Never mind the future. With Lady Yang's current level of cultivation, as long as she is unwilling, that hag surnamed Sha couldn't even dream of touching the hem of her clothes. It's just that her temperament is timid, and she doesn't dare to resist." He never pitied spineless people.

The sharpness of Chang Ning's words was unexpected. Cai Zhao frowned at him. "Forget Lady Sha, but there's still Sect Leader Yang above her. How can you expect Lady Yang to make a scene?"

"Then it depends on whether she wants to swallow her anger and 'fulfill her filial duty' or stand up for herself in indignation. The world is vast, is there no place for her? One must walk their own path; others cannot walk it for them."

Fan Xingjia found these words too extreme and laughed it off. "Junior Brother Chang is a man, so of course you feel you can make a home anywhere in the world. Lady Yang is a woman, after all. How could it be that easy for her?"

Chang Ning raised his head and looked directly at Fan Xingjia. "Cai Pingshu is also a woman."

Fan Xingjia was stunned.

"When she went to Mount Tu to face Nie Hengcheng, she was all alone. She didn't ask anyone to accompany her for courage."

"In this world, there are some who cannot resist, and that is understandable. There are others who can but are unwilling, knowing only how to wallow in self-pity. Lady Yang's birth and foundations are already better than many women in the world. If she is willing to be beaten and scolded at will, nothing anyone else says will be of any use."

Fan Xingjia was speechless.

Cai Zhao lowered her head, holding back the moisture in her eyes.

Even after drinking the tangerine peel digestive tea, Cai Han's stomach was still bloated and painful. Fan Xingjia suggested taking the little one to the Apothecary to treat his stomach. Cai Zhao said she was worried and wanted to go with them. These words made Fan Xingjia's heart jump—if Cai Zhao went, Chang Ning would surely follow. If these two troublesome spirits went out, heaven knew if they would cause trouble again.

So, Fan Xingjia volunteered to take Cai Han there alone, asking his junior brother and sister to 'behave' and stay where they were. He promised he would be back soon.

After watching Fan Xingjia leave with the constantly yelping Cai Han in his arms, Cai Zhao turned back to Chang Ning. "What you said just now, did Great Hero Chang tell you all that?"

Chang Ning: "Mm. My father said Heroine Cai is the person he has admired most in his life. Strong but not a bully, powerful but not domineering, benevolent and open-minded, content with her fate. My father has always deeply regretted that he arrived a step too late for the Battle of Mount Tu."

Cai Zhao shook her head. "Actually, back then, Uncle Qi wanted to go up the mountain with my aunt, but my aunt had already resolved to perish together with the demon lord, so she knocked Uncle Qi out beforehand."

Seeing the girl's gloomy expression, unable to cheer up for a long time, Chang Ning chuckled lightly. "Let's not talk about these sad old memories. Let's talk about something more interesting. When I heard my father tell your aunt's stories, I always found it strange—she and Sect Master Qi went through life and death situations together so many times, fighting side-by-side. How come no one ever discussed any... uh, romantic feelings... between your aunt and the Sect Master?"

Cai Zhao burst out laughing. "Of course not."

"Why not?" Chang Ning's interest was piqued.

"Because my aunt had a fiancé."

Chang Ning was greatly astonished. It was rare for him to be so surprised in his life.

Cai Zhao suppressed a smile. "Great Hero Chang is truly a kind man. He actually never told you about this."

"Who is it? Have we met him?"

"We just saw him. It's the Manor Master of Peiqiong Mountain Manor, the great hero Zhou Zhizhen. My mother told me that when Uncle Zhou was young, he had a noble and refined bearing, like a polished piece of jade, a truly gem-like figure. He and my aunt were engaged since childhood, but the marriage never happened, so people don't really mention it anymore to avoid awkwardness."

Just then, the two of them suddenly felt someone blocking the light from above. They quickly looked up and saw a handsome and elegant middle-aged scholar standing before their dining table.

"Zhaozhao, why didn't you come and greet me?" Zhou Zhizhen said with a gentle smile, one hand clasped behind his back.