Chapter 67: Are You Sure You Want to Stay?

"Uh..."

Yuan Fang stared at him blankly.

In truth, he had already begun to suspect something, but hearing Niu Youdao admit it so openly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, still left him incredulous. Remembering how Niu Youdao had deliberately exposed him in front of everyone earlier, he lowered his head and said aggrievedly, "Master Dao, why are you trying to harm me? I only helped Song Yanqing at Nanshan Temple because I had no choice."

He thought Niu Youdao was still holding the Nanshan Temple affair against him. Other than that, what grudge could there possibly be between them? Niu Youdao patted him on the shoulder.

"You're overthinking it. I'm not harming you. I'm helping you."

Yuan Fang looked up in astonishment.

"Helping me?"

The expression on his face plainly said: You're setting me up, aren't you?

The hand that had patted Yuan Fang's shoulder came away slightly sticky. Niu Youdao brought it to his nose and sniffed. The smell of sauce was strong. He casually wiped his hand on a clean patch of Yuan Fang's clothes and continued, "You can't keep hiding your head and showing your tail like this. You weren't the only one who showed himself that night. There was a whole crowd of bald heads. Right now she can't afford the humiliation of launching a public investigation, but once she truly starts digging, do you think a disguise like this will hide you? That's why I say the longer the night, the more dreams. Better to settle it cleanly and quickly."

Quickly enough to die, maybe!

Yuan Fang muttered inwardly, then continued pleading aloud, "Master Dao, please show some mercy and let us go, all right? When I return to Nanshan Temple, I'll set up a longevity tablet for you before the Buddha. I'll pray for your blessings and long life every single day. How about that?"

Niu Youdao planted his sword on the ground and said seriously, "You can leave. But let me make the ugly part clear first. The moment you step outside this relay station, all gratitude and obligation between us are severed. If you ever want to come back, it won't be so easy."

Who wants gratitude and obligation with you? This monk would love nothing more than to sever every tie! Yuan Fang complained inwardly, but hastily pressed his palms together.

"If Master Dao is willing to grant this favor, this humble monk will never break his word about the longevity tablet before the Buddha of Nanshan Temple. If I do, may I fall into hell!"

Niu Youdao nodded and sighed.

"A melon forced from the vine isn't sweet. If you're determined to leave, then go. I, Niu, wish all of you a smooth journey. Take care!"

He turned and beckoned to Yuan Gang. Yuan Gang came over.

Niu Youdao sighed. "Monkey, where it is possible to forgive, forgive. Don't make things difficult for them. Let them go. We may as well see the good deed through to the end. Give each of them a horse for the road."

With that, he casually lifted his sword, turned, and walked away without another word. Yuan Gang froze. Let them go, and even give them horses?

Seriously?

That did not sound like a decision Master Dao would make. Still, Yuan Gang knew him too well. If Master Dao said this, there had to be a reason.

He gave a grunt of acknowledgment, then told Yuan Fang, "I won't see you off."

Yuan Fang pressed his palms together with immense gratitude.

"Amitabha. Excellent, excellent! This humble monk certainly won't forget to set up a longevity tablet for Master Yuan before the Buddha either."

Longevity tablet?

Yuan Gang did not believe a word of it. He would count himself fortunate if this old demon did not curse him to an early death. Ignoring the hypocritical courtesy, Yuan Gang turned and followed Niu Youdao away in long strides.

Once they entered the relay-station building, they asked which room Shang Chaozong's personal guards had left available for changing clothes and went inside. Niu Youdao did not change.

He planted his sword on the floor, closed his eyes, and circulated his cultivation. Wisps of vapor gradually rose from his body, growing denser by the moment.

As Yuan Gang changed clothes, he asked, "Master Dao, you're really letting that bear demon leave?"

In truth, he was a little reluctant. He thought the old demon suited them rather well. Wherever one went in the world, having more hands nearby was rarely a bad thing. Besides, taking in the bear demon meant effectively taking in the monks of Nanshan Temple as well. In one stroke, they would gain quite a few people to run errands.

Without opening his eyes, Niu Youdao said indifferently, "Leave? Where can he run? Does he think my boat is something he can board whenever he likes and leave whenever he likes? Believe it or not, before long he'll come crying and begging to stay."

Yuan Gang, who had just pulled on his trousers, froze.

How could that possibly happen?

After thinking for a moment, realization dawned. He finally understood why Master Dao had deliberately exposed Yuan Fang earlier. The corner of his mouth lifted. A smile, by Yuan Gang's standards. Sure enough, Niu Youdao's clothes had only just dried when a knock sounded at the door. Knock, knock. Yuan Fang's uncertain voice followed from outside.

"Master Dao, Master Yuan, may I come in?"

Yuan Gang walked over and opened the door. There stood Yuan Fang, smiling ingratiatingly and bowing his head.

Yuan Gang said bluntly, "If you're leaving, then leave. No need for nonsense. Get lost."

Bang!

The door slammed shut again, almost striking Yuan Fang in the face. Inside, Niu Youdao smiled faintly. He casually pushed open the window and looked out at the blue sky and white clouds.

"Tsk, tsk. This rain came fast and left fast. Truly fickle."

The moment he finished, another knock sounded. Then came Yuan Fang's weak voice.

"Master Dao, Master Yuan..."

Yuan Gang, gathering up his wet clothes, turned and barked, "Get lost!"

Creak. The door opened anyway. Instead of leaving, Yuan Fang shamelessly squeezed his way inside. Yuan Gang dropped the wet clothes in his hands and approached with fists clenched, plainly ready to beat someone. Yuan Fang backed toward the wall, waving both hands frantically.

"Master Yuan, don't strike yet! Hear me out first. Master Yuan, Master Yuan..."

"Monkey, when are you going to fix that impatient temper of yours? Even if all ties between us are severed and each of us takes his own road beneath Heaven, hearing a few words costs nothing. Let the man finish speaking."

Niu Youdao remained facing the window, his back to the room, his voice calm. Yuan Gang's raised fist stopped in midair. He lowered it.

"If you've got something to say, say it. If you've got a fart to let out, let it out."

Yuan Fang had already covered his head with both hands and was about to crouch in the corner. Receiving this reprieve, he straightened hurriedly and thanked Niu Youdao again and again.

"Master Dao truly is magnanimous."

Still looking outside, Niu Youdao asked, "Weren't you in a hurry to leave? Why come running back?"

Yuan Fang's expression became complicated. He wanted to leave. He had already gathered the monks and was preparing to walk out through the fence surrounding the relay station when he noticed something was wrong beneath the gazes of all those soldiers outside. The Princess Consort had her eye on him. If he left now, where could he possibly run?

She had plenty of experts under her, far more frightening than Niu Youdao's side. Once such people had fixed on him, did he really imagine he could escape across Guangyi Commandery territory? A little thought was enough to understand why Feng Ruonan had not acted against him yet.

He was currently standing on Niu Youdao's side and counted as one of Shang Chaozong's people. If she forcibly moved against him, conflict between the two sides would be inevitable. But once he left their protection and reached some empty stretch of road outside, the consequences required no imagination at all. Leaving now would be the same as asking to die.

And take a horse apiece?

With that much commotion, did he really think they would fail to notice?

Go on foot instead?

With the monks of Nanshan Temple relying on their own legs, they probably would not get far before being intercepted. Only then did Yuan Fang realize that Niu Youdao giving them horses was no different from giving them nothing. Such grand generosity in words was simply impossible to enjoy.

Realizing he had been trapped, Yuan Fang even began to suspect Niu Youdao had deliberately tried to send them away so he could cast them off and wash his hands of the wedding-night affair. After all, from Yuan Fang's point of view, he and the monks were not particularly useful to Niu Youdao.

"Well... Master Dao, we've decided not to leave for the time being."

Yuan Fang laughed awkwardly.

"You were desperate to leave a moment ago, and now you only don't want to leave 'for the time being'? So you'll still leave later!"

Niu Youdao still did not turn around.

"Old Bear, that's no way to behave. Are you playing games with me?"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"

Yuan Fang hurriedly waved his hands and slipped around Yuan Gang to Niu Youdao's side.

"Master Dao, that's not what I meant. It's like this..."

Niu Youdao did not even listen.

"See the guest out! Throw him out of the relay station. And while you're at it, tell the people outside that this man has nothing more to do with us. If he trespasses again, kill him without mercy!"

Yuan Fang's eyes bulged in terror.

"Master Dao, ah—"

Yuan Gang flashed over.

Bang!

One heavy punch buried itself in Yuan Fang's abdomen and shut his mouth. Then Yuan Gang seized his clothes and dragged him toward the door.

"Master Dao, you can't do this! You can't tear down the bridge after crossing the river!"

Yuan Fang grabbed Yuan Gang's arm and began wrestling against him, refusing to leave and howling repeatedly. His physical strength at present was actually no weaker than Yuan Gang's. In the past, he had simply refrained from fighting back because he feared for the safety of the Nanshan Temple monks. Now he was genuinely desperate. What Niu Youdao was doing amounted to taking all their lives. Niu Youdao abruptly turned around.

"Tear down the bridge after crossing the river? Fine! Don't say I'm unreasonable. I'll give you one more chance to choose again. Are you leaving, or staying?"

"..."

Still locked in a contest of strength with Yuan Gang, Yuan Fang froze for a moment.

At last he said weakly, "We're not leaving for the time being."

"'For the time being'? So you'll keep eating and drinking for free, then dust off your backside and leave? Where beneath Heaven is there such a good bargain? Stay or go. It's one sentence. Choose for yourself. My patience is limited."

When Yuan Fang hesitated, Niu Youdao immediately tilted his head toward Yuan Gang.

"See him out!"

Yuan Fang shouted at once, "Stay! We'll stay!"

Niu Youdao dusted his hands. Yuan Gang released him. Niu Youdao stepped closer.

"Old Bear, this is your own choice. You decided to stay. A man has to take responsibility for the road he chooses. Are you sure you want to stay?"

Yuan Fang felt like crying. He lowered his head.

"Stay."

Inside, however, he muttered: A wise man doesn't take a loss right in front of him. The moment an opportunity appears, I'll run. Just then, someone knocked outside. The door was immediately pushed open and Wenli appeared.

She entered, fixed her gaze on Yuan Fang, pointed at him, and said, "You. Come with me. The Princess Consort wants to see you."

Yuan Fang's face filled instantly with terror. That woman dared beat her own husband in the bridal chamber. He hurriedly looked toward Niu Youdao for help.

"Master Dao!"

Niu Youdao planted his sword and stepped in front of Yuan Fang, blocking him.

He told Wenli, "He's not going."

Wenli froze. Who was this man, to be so arrogant? Her expression darkened.

"Listen carefully. The Princess Consort ordered him to go!"

Niu Youdao said calmly, "His Highness has said that everything must pass through his approval, especially anything involving the Princess Consort."

He did not care in the slightest. He simply dumped the entire blame onto Shang Chaozong. As long as Niu Youdao himself refused, Shang Chaozong could not command him anyway. The prince made a perfectly convenient shield. Feng Ruonan would not dare kill Shang Chaozong; at worst, she would beat him again.

"..."

Wenli had no answer. She spun around and left, throwing back a threat.

"Just you wait!"

Niu Youdao turned to the relieved Yuan Fang.

"It's fine. With me here, she won't touch you. I'll put my words here today: from now on, if there's meat, we eat it together; if there's wine, we drink it together. We share fortune and hardship alike!"

"Thank you, Master Dao! Thank you, Master Dao!"

Yuan Fang thanked him repeatedly without believing a word of it. Before long, however, another burst of hurried footsteps approached.

Bang!

The door was kicked open. Feng Ruonan stood there, murderous fury on her face, several people behind her. Seeing the formation, Niu Youdao frowned. He could not help thinking there was something wrong with this mannish woman.

It was only a bit of nonsense between husband and wife on their wedding night. Was there really any point making endless trouble over it?

[End of Chapter 67]