Chapter 68: Taking a Hostage

With Feng Ruonan standing there radiating killing intent, Yuan Fang lost his nerve. He properly hid behind Niu Youdao and did not dare show his face.

"What does the Princess Consort intend to do?"

Niu Youdao asked indifferently. Feng Ruonan stepped across the threshold.

"What do you think I intend to do?"

Niu Youdao said, "Surely you haven't come to kill the matchmaker?"

He still dared call himself the matchmaker? The moment Feng Ruonan remembered the matter of the borrowed money, humiliation surged into fury. Her temper flared.

She said coldly, "Do you think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

Niu Youdao replied, "There probably isn't much the Princess Consort doesn't dare do. But perhaps you should consider His Highness's side. He is your husband, after all."

Feng Ruonan rested one hand on the hilt at her waist and looked at him sidelong.

"First kill the matchmaker, then kill the husband. How does that sound?"

Niu Youdao stared at her in amazement. She could actually say something like that aloud? Behind him, Yuan Fang's heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Yuan Gang slowly shifted his feet, moving into a more favorable position. Feng Ruonan pointed.

"If you don't want to die, hand him over!"

Niu Youdao glanced at Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju on either side of her, then planted his sword before him.

"His Highness ordered the matter, and His Highness was the one who did it. Why make things difficult for the people below? If the Princess Consort has a grievance, go find His Highness. Otherwise, I will not agree."

He had barely finished when another burst of hurried footsteps sounded. Feng Ruonan had created such a commotion in the same relay station that Shang Chaozong and the others could hardly fail to hear.

"What's going on?"

Shang Chaozong called out as he entered with the suspicious Lan Ruoting, Shang Shuqing, and the others.

Niu Youdao glanced at him and explained flatly, "The Princess Consort is ignoring right and wrong and wants to take away one of the brothers under me."

He tilted his head slightly toward Yuan Fang behind him. Shang Chaozong abruptly turned toward Feng Ruonan.

"What are you trying to do?"

Clang!

Feng Ruonan drew her sword and pointed.

"Tell him to hand the man over!"

Shang Chaozong's anger rose.

"And if he doesn't?"

Niu Youdao heard the answer and felt a trace of approval for Shang Chaozong. Under circumstances like these, the prince had not first asked what had happened. He had stood up for his own people before anything else. Everyone needed time and contact to understand one another. With that one sentence, Niu Youdao found he no longer disliked this young prince.

"Try refusing and see!"

Feng Ruonan's sword turned toward Shang Chaozong. She was furious too. The moment she saw him, the unbearable scenes of their wedding night rose again in her mind. This shameless bastard still dared act arrogant in front of her?

"Princess Consort, enough."

Bai Yao's indifferent voice came from outside.

"Why are all of you crammed in there? Are you planning to slaughter one another?"

The moment he spoke, even before he appeared, Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju became uneasy. His words clearly carried more weight with them than Feng Ruonan's. The four women withdrew one after another, leaving only Wenxin and Wenli beside Feng Ruonan. Only then did Bai Yao appear in the doorway with a sword cradled in his arms.

He called again, "Princess Consort!"

"We'll see about this!"

Feng Ruonan pointed her sword at Shang Chaozong, then turned and left. Lan Ruoting hurriedly cupped his hands toward Bai Yao outside in thanks. Bai Yao gave the people inside an indifferent glance, then slowly turned and walked away. Niu Youdao also turned back.

He told Yuan Fang, "For now, stay beside me and don't run around. If anyone wants to touch you, they go through me first!"

Yuan Fang nodded repeatedly. How could he still dare run? Even if they drove him away now, he would not dare leave. Lan Ruoting stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Niu Youdao.

"Master Dao, what exactly is going on?"

Niu Youdao pointed at Yuan Fang.

"This fellow developed a habit at Nanshan Temple of preying on other villains, and old habits are hard to break. On His Highness's wedding night, he accidentally slipped a little something into the Princess Consort's food to give His Highness a helping hand."

Yuan Fang lowered his head weakly, full of grievance. What do you mean, I 'accidentally'... But with matters already at this point, it seemed only Niu Youdao could stand up for him. He could do nothing except accept the blame in silence. Shang Chaozong's expression immediately became complicated beyond description.

"Nonsense!"

He flung the word down, swept his sleeve, and walked away. The mere mention of that affair was unbearable enough. Lan Ruoting and Shang Shuqing exchanged looks. Certain things finally became clear.

Niu Youdao might have thrown the blame onto Yuan Fang, but neither of them was a fool. They knew perfectly well who had been directing matters from behind the curtain. Lan Ruoting smiled bitterly.

"Given our present circumstances, Master Dao, please show a little more restraint in some matters. Don't let the conflict escalate."

Niu Youdao smiled and nodded.

"Mr. Lan can rest assured. I'll endure what should be endured. As for what shouldn't be endured, there's no need to endure it."

Lan Ruoting was speechless. That was practically the same as saying nothing. There was nothing he could do to control this man anyway. He could only sigh, shake his head, and leave. For a while, the affair seemed to quiet down. Yuan Fang quieted down too. He stopped thinking about leaving and no longer dared step casually outside. He made up his mind to stay glued to Niu Youdao for the time being and shelter from the storm. The peace did not last long.

A Nanshan Temple monk soon rushed inside in panic.

"Abbot, something's wrong! The Princess Consort's people seized two of our men..."

After a brief explanation, Yuan Fang understood.

The two who had been seized were among the monks who had accompanied him to "handle the matter" on Shang Chaozong's wedding night.

Most likely, someone had recognized them.

Yuan Fang immediately turned to Niu Youdao and pleaded anxiously, "Master Dao, please save them! Those two were with me that night when we drugged the wine. If the Princess Consort tortures them, I'm afraid they'll open their mouths and give me up!"

In truth, he knew that men willing to follow him this far were not so easy to break. But he could not simply stand by and watch his own people suffer more pain without doing anything. Niu Youdao also realized the matter had become troublesome. If someone truly forced the two monks to name Yuan Fang, then Feng Ruonan would have evidence in her hands. If she tried to punish Yuan Fang after that, Niu Youdao would be placed in a very passive position.

Feng Ruonan was plainly unwilling to let the wedding-night affair go. No evidence could be allowed to fall into that woman's hands. Yuan Gang had been standing sideways beside the window, periodically watching outside. Suddenly he vaulted over the sill and jumped from the second floor. Niu Youdao flashed to the window and looked down. Yuan Gang had landed and was charging directly at someone outside. Wenxin had just returned to the relay-station courtyard after going outside to say a few words to the temporarily encamped troops.

The sight of Yuan Gang rushing toward her startled her. Before she could understand what was happening, his hand closed around her throat. An instant later, the cold edge of a dagger lay across her neck. Wenxin stared in terror.

"You... what are you trying to do?"

Niu Youdao and Yuan Fang had already jumped down as well and were walking toward them. The disturbance caused by Yuan Gang taking a hostage immediately drew countless eyes. Even Bai Yao rapidly appeared on a nearby rooftop. When Niu Youdao reached Yuan Gang, he looked back at the monk who had brought the report.

"Where are the men they seized?"

The monk hurriedly pointed toward one of several tents, the one surrounded by a ring of soldiers.

"Inside that tent."

Niu Youdao strode toward it with his sword in hand. Yuan Gang followed while holding Wenxin hostage, his attention sweeping the surroundings, the blade in his hand looking ready to cut through her throat at any moment. By now, Shang Chaozong and the others had also rushed out after hearing the disturbance. They hurried over.

"What happened?"

Niu Youdao ignored the man who could not even keep his own wife under control. His face cold, he continued forward and bore straight down on the tent where the prisoners were being held. Lan Ruoting sighed repeatedly.

Again?

Could these people not remain peaceful for even a little while? Yuan Fang waved one hand. All the monks of Nanshan Temple rushed over and followed. The flap of the surrounded tent lifted. Feng Ruonan stepped out.

Seeing what was happening, she shouted angrily, "You dare take one of my people hostage? What nerve! Release her!"

Niu Youdao stopped and planted his sword in front of himself.

"Releasing her is easy enough. Shouldn't the Princess Consort first release my people?"

Hearing this, Shang Chaozong and the others roughly understood what had happened. Anger gradually appeared on Shang Chaozong's face. This woman really was never going to stop.

Feng Ruonan snapped, "You are in no position to bargain with me here. Release her immediately, or bear the consequences yourself!"

Niu Youdao said nothing. He merely raised his chin slightly, with a trace of arrogance.

Slap! Slap! Slap...

A succession of crisp blows rang out. Yuan Gang kept one hand around Wenxin's throat and swung the other in broad arcs. Before everyone present, he slapped her across the face again and again. Blood soon sprayed from her mouth and nose, and her eyes lost focus. Feng Ruonan's eyes nearly split with rage. This was not simply beating Wenxin. It was the same as publicly slapping Feng Ruonan herself across the face. She waved one hand.

Two monks, already beaten black and blue, were immediately dragged out of the tent.

"Release her now, or I'll butcher them!"

Blades were immediately placed across both monks' necks. The Nanshan Temple monks seethed with fury but did not dare move. Niu Youdao remained standing proudly without saying a word. Yuan Gang immediately seized Wenxin's arm and twisted.

Crack!

The bone gave a sharp sound.

"Ah!"

Wenxin screamed miserably before everyone. One arm had been dislocated by Yuan Gang and hung uselessly in front of her. Wenli's face went white beside Feng Ruonan. Shang Chaozong and the others all looked toward Yuan Gang. Every one of them realized that this man was utterly ruthless even toward a woman.

Feng Ruonan pointed at him and roared, "Do you think I don't dare kill them?"

Yuan Gang immediately changed hands and reached for Wenxin's other arm.

"Stop!"

Bai Yao shouted sharply from the rooftop. Niu Youdao lifted one hand slightly. Yuan Gang stopped at once. The dagger returned to Wenxin's pale neck while his gaze remained sharply alert to everything around them. By now, Feng Ruonan's soldiers and Shang Chaozong's men had both rapidly gathered. The two forces stood facing one another in confrontation. Bai Yao's figure flashed. He descended from the sky and landed between the two sides. His voice was cold.

"Release all of them!"

Feng Ruonan bit her lip. Once Bai Yao had spoken, she did not dare refuse. But she was unwilling to release the monks so easily.

She pointed at Niu Youdao and shouted, "Little thief, first pay back the money you owe me!"

"Since Senior Bai has spoken, I have nothing more to say. I trust Senior Bai's character!"

Niu Youdao waved one hand.

"Release her!"

The gesture carried a certain magnanimity and made quite a few people look at him differently. Even Bai Yao gave him another glance. Yuan Gang withdrew his dagger and shoved Wenxin away. Nearly fainting from the pain, Wenxin staggered back. Someone from the opposite side quickly came forward to support her and lead her away. Bai Yao turned his gaze toward the other side. Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju immediately stepped forward. Ignoring Feng Ruonan's attitude, they directly released the two monks and pushed them out.

The Nanshan Temple monks hurried forward and helped the two back. Niu Youdao looked the returned men over. Seeing that neither appeared to have suffered any serious damage, he spoke again.

"Since the Princess Consort has brought up repayment, and Senior Bai is here to bear witness, why don't we take this opportunity to settle the matter clearly once and for all? That way, someone won't keep making trouble without end and damaging the harmony between both sides. What does Senior Bai think?"

[End of Chapter 68]