Chapter 34: Never Seen Anyone Put On Such an Act

In fact, part of Guan Tie's force had already slipped ahead and taken positions around the summit to keep watch. At Shang Chaozong's command, several hundred men formed up and pressed toward the mountaintop. Shang Chaozong himself carried a Saber. Beside him, Shang Shuqing had drawn her sword and followed close to her brother. Seeing the situation, Qu Wu and his men had no choice but to continue up the mountain as well. As Niu Youdao passed Yuan Gang, he raised one hand and patted him on the shoulder. He said nothing. Then he followed the others uphill. Outside Nanshan Temple, Song Yanqing stood with his hands clasped behind his back on the steps descending from the gate, looking down from above at the force pressing up the mountain.

Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo stood guard on either side. Behind them waited more than twenty monks led by Abbot Yuan Fang, every man holding a long staff. Su Jieren, blood staining the corner of his mouth, was being held prisoner among them. The moment Song Yanqing spotted Niu Youdao following behind Shang Chaozong's party, a smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He had been worried Niu Youdao might have fled and forced him to waste time searching. Seeing the man still here put him at ease. The thought of killing the man who had bowed through the wedding rites with Tang Yi filled Song Yanqing with uncontrollable excitement. It was the primitive satisfaction of a male driving off a rival and claiming the female for himself.

Niu Youdao, following the others uphill, was somewhat startled when he saw Song Yanqing and his two companions blocking the road. After hearing Shang Chaozong's guards describe the earlier fight, he had already concluded that the attackers could not be especially powerful. He simply had not expected them to be these three. He had not seen them in several years, not since after his marriage to Tang Yi.

So the Shangqing Sect had sent these three to kill him?

Then he reconsidered. It was not that the Shangqing Sect was looking down on him. He had deliberately kept an extremely low profile within the sect. Sending three men of this level at once to deal with him already counted as taking him quite seriously. He had been worried there might be some hidden expert waiting for him. Now that he saw the truth, he relaxed somewhat. It seemed there really was no disadvantage to keeping a low profile. With the road blocked, and seeing that Song Yanqing had no intention of giving way, Shang Chaozong could only stop at the foot of the steps and look upward.

"Who are you?" he shouted. "How dare you attack this prince's men!"

Song Yanqing recognized Shang Chaozong. Years earlier, on his occasional visits to the capital, he had seen him before. But that had been while Prince Ning was still alive, and Song Yanqing at the time had not possessed the standing to approach Shang Chaozong closely. Song Yanqing had also spent most of his earlier years at the Shangqing Sect, while in the years after he returned to the capital, Shang Chaozong had been imprisoned. So Shang Chaozong did not recognize him.

Lan Ruoting, sword in hand, immediately leaned close and reminded him in a low voice, "His name is Song Yanqing. He is Song Jiuming's grandson and Song Shu's son. Both father and son are disciples of the Shangqing Sect."

A Shangqing Sect disciple?

Shang Chaozong abruptly looked back at Niu Youdao. He very much wanted to ask what exactly was going on. Shang Shuqing had already spotted the captive Su Jieren. Seeing that he had been dressed to resemble Niu Youdao, she instantly understood something. Alarm rose in her heart, and she too turned sharply toward Niu Youdao. This man looked calm and indolent on the surface, but she had never imagined he could possess such deep schemes and such ruthless resolve. Facing Shang Chaozong, Song Yanqing made no effort to lower himself. Still standing above them, he merely cupped his hands.

"Years ago, I saw the young prince in the capital. Meeting again today fills me with emotion. Song Yanqing offers his greetings. As for who I am, I imagine Mr. Lan at your side knows very well. Heh."

He knew perfectly well that Shang Chaozong was now formally a Commandery Prince, yet he still addressed him as "young prince."

The meaning could hardly be missed. Behind him, Yuan Fang's heart pounded with fear. The Shangqing Sect was already beyond his ability to offend. The Song clan in the capital was even further beyond it. And now some sort of young prince had appeared too.

What in Heaven's name had he gotten himself mixed up in?

"So you're the Commandant of Justice's grandson." Shang Chaozong said coldly. "This prince asks you: on what grounds did you strike down my men?"

Song Yanqing shook his head. "Young Prince, you need to understand one thing. We did not attack your men first. Your men shot arrows at us with killing intent, and we merely defended ourselves. That argument holds anywhere. Even if we went to the capital and argued the case in court, I would stand on solid ground."

He knew perfectly well that even if he had no case at all, Shang Chaozong's present influence in the capital could not compare with that of the Song clan. And the Song clan controlled the state's judicial authority.

"Still, for the young prince's sake, I won't pursue the matter as long as you hand over this man."

He pointed directly at Niu Youdao. Everyone looked toward Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao showed no reaction. He lowered the sword in his hand until its sheath rested on the ground, then looked at Song Yanqing with mild interest. He said nothing. He too wanted to see how Shang Chaozong would answer. Shang Shuqing and the others had already grown used to the way Niu Youdao carried a sword. For everyone else, a sword was like the gentleman's weapon. For him, it was more like a walking stick. Shang Chaozong shifted his gaze away from Niu Youdao and fixed it on Song Yanqing.

"You killed my men, and now you want one of my people too. Song, you certainly carry yourself with impressive authority."

Song Yanqing replied, "Niu Youdao is clearly a disciple of the Shangqing Sect. Since when did he become one of the young prince's people?"

"At the very least, he is presently this prince's retainer cultivator," Shang Chaozong said.

"Retainer cultivator?" Song Yanqing could not help laughing.

Whether Niu Youdao even qualified to be called one was not an argument he intended to have in public.

"I advise the young prince to hand him over."

Shang Chaozong's voice turned cold. "And if this prince refuses?"

"I'm only thinking of your welfare," Song Yanqing said. "The road ahead is steep and dangerous. Bringing him along is a burden. I'm afraid the young prince may otherwise fail to reach his destination safely."

"You're threatening this prince?"

Shang Chaozong's eyes narrowed sharply. Then his voice turned icy.

"The Song clan certainly is powerful. It seems you no longer even place the imperial house of Great Yan in your eyes!"

Song Yanqing's face stiffened. That accusation was too large. No matter how bold he was, he would never dare publicly utter words insulting the imperial house of Yan. If such a thing reached the capital, forget the man in the palace—even Grand Minister of Works Tong Mo would have to punish the Song clan severely, if only to make a show of giving every member of the Shang imperial house an explanation. Song Yanqing immediately defended himself.

"Young Prince, words like that cannot be spoken carelessly. Niu Youdao is hardly qualified to represent the imperial house of Great Yan!"

Shang Chaozong suddenly exploded in anger.

"This prince refuses! What then? If you have the ability, try laying one finger on this prince!"

Song Yanqing's face darkened. Anger burned in his eyes as well. But Shang Chaozong was right. He did not dare act recklessly. Now that both sides had openly declared their identities, attacking a Commandery Prince in public would only create trouble for the Song clan. If he wanted Shang Chaozong harmed, it would have to be done secretly, with no evidence left behind. Someone raised in a family like the Song clan naturally understood such principles. Shang Chaozong swept one hand outward.

"Kill anyone who resists. Seize them all!"

Several hundred personal guards surged forward at once, pressing toward the summit. Shang Chaozong was using force of numbers to crush them. Song Yanqing and the others changed color. They had not expected Shang Chaozong to be this unyielding. Not daring to make a reckless move, they were forced backward by the advancing troops.

"Senior Brother, the token!" Xu Yitian reminded him in a low voice.

Song Yanqing suddenly remembered. He flipped one hand and produced a command token, holding it out openly toward Shang Chaozong.

"We are carrying out official business under orders. Shang Chaozong, do you intend to rebel?"

The character engraved on the token was strikingly clear: Punishment. It was a token of the Left and Right Supervisors of the Commandant of Justice, the offices specifically responsible for arrests. The advancing guards halted when they saw it. Even Shang Chaozong himself showed hesitation and wariness. He had tried to overwhelm Song Yanqing through sheer force. Song Yanqing answered by invoking official authority. Power and influence were not the same thing. Authority came first; influence followed from it. The token in Song Yanqing's hand represented those who presently held power.

"Your Highness, have your men stand down."

Niu Youdao's voice came from behind the crowd. Everyone looked back. Niu Youdao parted the guards and walked forward slowly until he reached Shang Chaozong's side. Shang Chaozong stared at him with little warmth. By now he too understood that today's bloodshed had almost certainly been caused by this man. Dozens of his brothers had already fallen because of it. Niu Youdao inclined his body slightly.

"Your Highness, have them withdraw. Since these people came for me, I'll settle the matter myself."

"They killed this prince's men and seized this prince's man," Shang Chaozong replied. "This is no longer your affair alone."

"I'll do my best to give Your Highness an accounting."

Niu Youdao did not waste words. He left it at that, then turned toward Song Yanqing.

"Senior Brother Song, our affairs should be settled between ourselves. There's no need to drag other people into it. Release His Highness's man."

He tipped his chin toward Su Jieren. Niu Youdao was the one Song Yanqing wanted. He had no intention of fighting Shang Chaozong to the bitter end. With a cold chuckle, he casually flicked one hand. Chen Guishuo immediately gestured toward Yuan Fang. Yuan Fang hurriedly pushed Su Jieren, that hot potato, out of the group. Several guards stepped forward at once, supported him, and helped him away. Lan Ruoting lightly touched Shang Chaozong's arm, signaling that they should watch for the moment. Only then did Shang Chaozong raise one hand. The encircling troops slowly withdrew some distance. Niu Youdao planted the end of his scabbard on the ground and rested one hand on the sword hilt.

He asked mildly, "Senior Brother Song, there's something I don't understand. What exactly do you mean by chasing me all the way here?"

Song Yanqing asked in return, "Does it matter?"

Niu Youdao glanced around.

"Just the three of you?"

He genuinely wanted to confirm that point. It would be inconvenient if some hidden expert were waiting nearby.

Song Yanqing sneered. "Who do you think you are?"

The implication was obvious.

Were the three of them not already more than enough?

Niu Youdao smiled.

"What do you want?"

"You violated sect rules," Song Yanqing replied. "We're here to clean house."

"Violated sect rules?" Niu Youdao sighed helplessly. "If someone wants to condemn a man, there's never any shortage of pretexts. It seems Senior Brother Song has no intention of reasoning with me."

Then his tone turned mild and almost amiable.

"Actually, I hate fighting and killing more than anything. I've simply seen far too much life and death. So I hope Senior Brother Song can show mercy and let me go."

Song Yanqing's mouth crooked into a grin. He had seen people put on airs before. He had never seen anyone put on such an act. You spent years under house arrest, yet you dare say you've seen far too much life and death?

Let's see how you cry in a moment!

He tilted his head in command.

"Take him alive!"

The thought of Niu Youdao having bowed through the wedding rites with Tang Yi still made him sick with resentment. He intended to capture the man and torment him properly, venting every bit of that anger. He had no intention of letting Niu Youdao die comfortably. Xu Yitian flashed forward. Sword in one hand, he reached for Niu Youdao with the other. He did not even bother drawing the blade from its sheath. That alone showed how little regard he had for him. To the people watching, Xu Yitian's speed was already astonishing. In the blink of an eye he was in front of Niu Youdao, fingers clawing toward his shoulder. Niu Youdao still appeared motionless, as though he had not reacted at all. Then everything changed in an instant.

Just as Xu Yitian's fingers were about to touch his shoulder, Niu Youdao moved. The hand resting on the sword remained where it was. His other hand struck out with speed too fast for the eye to follow. His palm slammed squarely into Xu Yitian's chest.

Thump!

[End of Chapter 34]