Chapter 94: Above and Below the Mountain

Yuan Gang immediately understood the meaning in Niu Youdao's glance. After the trouble they had encountered along the way, the rest of the journey had been strangely smooth. The ghostly presence had never shown itself again, which was suspicious in itself. Judging from the damaged torch caches, the sabotage had stopped halfway through.

At the time, they had already considered several possibilities. Perhaps the other side realized they had broken its method and that destroying more torches would accomplish nothing. Perhaps it was unfamiliar with the later sections and could no longer locate the torch caches in time. Or perhaps both were true. Now, after questioning the villagers, another fact became clear.

That ghostly thing had dared target cultivators, yet a village without a single cultivator had suffered no disturbance whatsoever. That could only mean it had never reached this place. Whatever the truth, one point was certain.

The ghost had traveled no short distance destroying cache after cache, and its eagerness to harm them was obvious.

After expending that much effort, with neither side ever actually fighting and neither knowing the other's true strength, why would it simply give up? There was only one reasonable explanation. It had not given up. It was merely extremely cautious and unwilling to act without confidence. That also supported what Niu Youdao had already concluded: its strength was limited. Before long, two women came up from the village.

They had brought a very simple carrying chair as well, nothing more than a chair fixed between two poles.

Once Shang Shuqing had been helped onto it, Niu Youdao suddenly said, "Monkey, accompany the Commandery Princess down the mountain first."

He gave Yuan Gang another look. Yuan Gang understood. Master Dao wanted him to go ahead and quietly assess the situation in the village. Shang Shuqing and the others turned back.

Luo An asked, "Cultivator, aren't you coming down?"

"I have something to handle."

Niu Youdao lifted his chin toward the thatched pavilion.

"General Luo, could I borrow the guard stationed here?"

Luo An looked puzzled.

"What does Cultivator intend to do?"

Shang Shuqing knew Niu Youdao's habits well by now. He liked to leave himself room to maneuver, and if he did not want to explain something, repeated questioning was useless. She spoke before Luo An could press further.

"Uncle Luo, just follow Master Dao's arrangements."

Since she had said so, Luo An could only turn toward one of the young men.

"Shanhu, you heard the Commandery Princess."

The young man who had rung the bell earlier nodded.

"I heard."

The group soon began descending the mountain with Shang Shuqing in the carrying chair. Yuan Gang gathered up several bundles, slung them over himself, and followed. Niu Youdao smiled as he watched them go. Birth truly did make a difference. Even in a remote wilderness like this, Shang Shuqing could still receive treatment ordinary people would never enjoy.

Her family might have fallen from glory, but her circumstances remained a hundred times better than those of common folk. What hardship had she truly suffered? This was what it meant to possess a foundation.

"Master Dao, you want to deal with that sneaky thing?"

Yuan Fang came closer and asked quietly. He had evidently seen the clues too. Niu Youdao lowered his voice.

"I came here to enter seclusion. I can't allow myself to be disturbed. As long as that ghost remains, I won't be at ease."

"Oh."

Yuan Fang understood and nodded.

Niu Youdao continued quietly, "I don't think it's actually given up. There's a good chance it followed us all the way and is waiting for an opening to strike. Right now the sun is blazing overhead. Yin and yang are separated, so it probably won't dare show itself. Once darkness falls, there's a good chance it'll come out to investigate. Go back inside now and find somewhere to hide. The moment it reveals itself, cut off its retreat. I'll remain outside and support you."

Yuan Fang gave a soft grunt.

"Understood."

He turned to enter the cave, but after one step he paused and looked back.

"Master Dao, it may be hiding right near the entrance. If I simply walk in, there's a chance it'll notice me. I have an idea that should avoid that problem."

Niu Youdao raised an eyebrow.

"Let's hear it."

Yuan Fang leaned close and whispered in his ear for a while. Niu Youdao nodded. Then the two turned and went back toward the cave together. Yuan Fang took all the torches they had unloaded near the entrance and carried them himself. Niu Youdao lit one for illumination and led the way.

The two deliberately spoke aloud as they moved, making no effort to conceal the sound of their passage. Together they openly returned to the underground river and placed the torches back in the nearest cache. Then the two began climbing out again. Halfway up, Yuan Fang suddenly flashed aside and hid himself in a dark recess. Niu Youdao continued alone until he emerged from the cave. He extinguished the torch, casually tossed it aside, and walked toward the thatched pavilion.

"Cultivator!"

The young man called Shanhu saluted him.

"Do you have any instructions?"

His gaze flicked toward the cave entrance, clearly wondering why Yuan Fang had not come out.

Niu Youdao asked, "Are you the only one guarding this place? Does someone bring your meals?"

Shanhu replied, "Nothing usually happens here. During the day, only one person stands guard. At mealtime, someone comes to relieve him. At night, two men stay together, and the watch changes every four hours."

Niu Youdao smiled.

"Understood. In that case, I'll guard it for you today. You can go back."

"What? How could that be proper?"

Shanhu waved both hands repeatedly. Niu Youdao planted his sword before him and rested both hands on the hilt. His expression became very serious.

"Then shall I go find General Luo and discuss it with him again?"

"Uh... all right."

Shanhu scratched his head. He seemed somewhat afraid of Luo An.

After stepping out of the pavilion, he turned back and added, "When it's mealtime, I'll bring something up for you."

Niu Youdao felt the simple sincerity of the people here and smiled.

"No need. If anyone objects, they can ask the Commandery Princess."

With his cultivation, going two or three days without food would not be a serious problem. At worst, his physical strength would weaken somewhat. He watched the puzzled Shanhu descend the mountain. Then Niu Youdao took the opportunity to admire the surrounding scenery and carefully study the terrain. At last, he sat cross-legged inside the pavilion, closed his eyes, and began regulating his breathing. After traveling through the secret passage for an entire day, he truly was somewhat tired.

"Uncle Meng!"

At the foot of the mountain, a group had gathered to welcome Shang Shuqing.

At their head sat a white-haired man in a wooden wheelchair. His face was lean and refined, his gaze gentle but powerful. Every part of his appearance was neat and orderly, revealing a man of strict self-discipline and meticulous habits. The moment Shang Shuqing left the carrying chair, she ignored the pain in her feet and hurried forward. She crouched beside him, her eyes reddening. It was obvious their relationship was not ordinary. The man's name was Meng Shanming.

In the past, he had been the foremost general under Prince Ning, Shang Jianbo, a scholar-general accomplished in both civil and military affairs.

Later, during the great battle in which ten thousand Yingyang and Wulie Guards charged a hundred thousand enemy troops, Meng Shanming suffered grievous wounds. Both legs were badly damaged, effectively crippled, and he could never stand again. That was why he now sat in a wheelchair. Prince Ning had originally intended for him to spend the rest of his life in peace.

But Meng Shanming had always worried about the deteriorating relationship between Prince Ning and the imperial court. He voluntarily abandoned wealth and rank and brought his family here to live in seclusion. Unfortunately, his fears proved correct. In a sense, retreating here had allowed him to escape the imperial court's later purge. This hidden refuge was now under his authority.

"The Commandery Princess has grown up. As long as you're safe, that's what matters. Safe is what matters."

Meng Shanming stroked Shang Shuqing's head repeatedly, overcome with emotion. Moisture gathered in his eyes as well.

"We received the young prince's message in advance and knew the Commandery Princess was coming. By our estimate, you shouldn't have arrived for another two or three days. I never expected you so soon. We weren't able to welcome you properly."

"Uncle Meng, you're treating me like an outsider."

Shang Shuqing shook her head. She herself had not expected to arrive so quickly. It was only because Niu Youdao had carried her for most of the journey and driven the group onward at speed that a rugged trip of several days had been compressed into roughly two.

Naturally, she could hardly bring herself to mention that she had spent so much of the road on Niu Youdao's back.

"You've had a hard journey. You must be exhausted. Don't crouch here. We can talk slowly once we're home."

Seeing how awkwardly she held herself and knowing her feet were injured, Meng Shanming waved a hand. The group turned and proceeded toward a courtyard resembling a small temple hall. It could also be called the finest building visible anywhere in the village. The main hall was broad and filled with the scent of incense. Behind an incense burner stood tiered shelves covered in spirit tablets. Each bore the name of a deceased general.

The tablets of Prince Ning, Shang Jianbo, and his two deceased sons occupied the central place of honor above the others. Shang Shuqing stepped forward, lit incense, and paid her respects.

Afterward, she sat beside Meng Shanming inside the hall and began recounting everything she and her brother had experienced since Prince Ning's death. She concealed essentially nothing from him. Meng Shanming had dismissed everyone else. Certain matters were unsuitable for too many ears. In truth, he already knew the broad outline of events. He had maintained secret correspondence with Lan Ruoting all along.

But letters carried by Goldenwing could not safely include every detail. If a bird accidentally fell into someone else's hands, trouble could follow. So the messages had always been somewhat veiled. Naturally, now that Shang Shuqing had arrived in person, he wanted to hear everything properly. They had been talking for some time when Luo An entered at a brisk pace. He leaned toward Meng Shanming, intending to whisper in his ear.

Meng Shanming abruptly raised a hand, grabbed a fistful of Luo An's beard, and tugged hard. For a refined-looking man, his hand was remarkably ruthless.

"Ow!"

Luo An cried out.

Smack!

Meng Shanming released the beard and, in the same motion, rapped the back of his hand against Luo An's cheek.

"The Commandery Princess isn't an outsider. Why are you sneaking around like a thief? What could you possibly say that can't be spoken in front of her?"

Luo An rubbed his cheek awkwardly.

"I wasn't paying attention. Habit."

He looked like a rough, heavily bearded brute, yet in front of Meng Shanming he was astonishingly obedient. Shang Shuqing covered a smile.

"It seems Uncle Meng hasn't neglected the skill in his hands."

"Crippled now. No good anymore."

Meng Shanming smiled and waved it away, then looked back at Luo An.

"What is it? Speak."

Luo An said, "The man who came with the Commandery Princess is wandering all over the village. There are some places where we weren't sure whether to stop him."

Shang Shuqing knew immediately he meant Yuan Gang.

Meng Shanming said calmly, "Anyone the prince is willing to bring here is naturally someone trustworthy. What's there to stop? Go tell the people below not to create misunderstandings."

Shang Shuqing added, "There's truly no need to hide anything from him. Now that he's already here, some things couldn't be concealed from him anyway."

Luo An immediately turned and left at speed. Meng Shanming's attention shifted back to the matter.

"I was so excited to see the Commandery Princess that I nearly forgot. I heard Mr. Dong Guo's final disciple came with you. Why hasn't he shown himself?"

Shang Shuqing's expression became somewhat grave.

"He probably has something to handle. We encountered a little trouble inside the secret passage..."

She explained what had happened along the underground route. Meng Shanming's expression grew serious too.

"A ghost has actually made its home in there? If it isn't eliminated, that could become troublesome."

Shang Shuqing said, "If I'm not mistaken, the reason he stayed on the mountain is precisely to deal with it."

Meng Shanming asked, "Is he confident? Should I send people to assist?"

Shang Shuqing replied, "If he's already taking action, he presumably has confidence."

Meng Shanming looked doubtful.

"You never exchanged blows with it in the passage. You don't know its true strength. Why is the Commandery Princess so certain?"

Shang Shuqing said, "Uncle Meng, there's something you don't know. Among Mr. Dong Guo's disciples, Master Dao may not possess the highest cultivation, but his ability is unquestionably the greatest. Strictly speaking, he should actually be the current Sect Leader of the Shangqing Sect..."

She began with Niu Youdao's years of confinement at Peach Blossom Spring. Then she explained how she had invited him down the mountain, what happened at Nanshan Temple, how he helped Shang Chaozong secure the marriage alliance, how he borrowed Feng Lingbo's strength to establish a foothold in Canglu County, and everything that happened afterward leading up to their arrival here. She recounted the entire sequence from beginning to end.

[End of Chapter 94]