Chapter 100: The Story of the Stone

Niu Youdao turned the name over and over in his mind, but no matter how he searched his memory, nothing surfaced. He shook his head. Yuan Fang rose from the steps and leaned closer.

"Master Dao, Master Yuan, who was Chi You? Was he some kind of rebel?"

Yuan Gang said, "You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

Yuan Fang had nothing to say. He gave an awkward laugh. Yuan Gang looked at him.

"You enjoyed beating me today. Vent enough anger?"

Enjoyed it?

What was enjoyable about beating someone under that many restrictions? If Yuan Gang had the courage, he should have let Yuan Fang hit him without holding back. That was what Yuan Fang thought. What came out of his mouth was entirely different.

"I didn't beat you, I didn't beat you. I was helping Master Yuan cultivate."

Yuan Gang said coldly, "Is that really what you were thinking?"

Yuan Fang's expression instantly turned solemn.

"Absolutely. Not one false word."

Because of that one exchange, for the rest of their time here Yuan Fang began helping Yuan Gang practice every day. He also confirmed beyond doubt that beating someone could be exhausting work... In the blink of an eye, a month passed.

Niu Youdao rarely came out of his room anymore. Other than taking a walk in the morning and evening, he spent nearly all his time indoors meditating cross-legged.

Half a month earlier, once his meridians had stabilized at a basic level, he had already begun cautiously refining the Transmission Protective Talismans again. His first objective was to gradually restore the life-source Dharma essence that had nearly stopped moving altogether. The second was to let his newly reforged meridians slowly adapt to carrying power again.

During this period, Shang Shuqing did not come by casually and disturb him. As usual, she only visited once every morning to see how he was doing.

The village children were given strict orders not to run around near the courtyard, play noisily, or disturb the guests inside.

Yuan Fang spent two hours every day helping Yuan Gang cultivate. The rest of his time, he entered cultivation himself. Among the three men, only Yuan Gang remained uninterested in sitting motionless all day and cultivating.

In his view, a person's life should not be spent that way. If the longevity gained from cultivation was simply wasted sitting around in order to gain still more longevity, then the entire exercise had little meaning. Every day he went in and out of the courtyard, busy with things no one else quite understood. Thus the little residence the villagers had been forbidden to approach settled into an extraordinarily regular rhythm...

Boom!

A thunderous detonation shook the village like an earthquake and shattered the calm. The villagers were startled and alarmed, having no idea what had happened. Niu Youdao and Yuan Fang shot out of their rooms one after the other.

They pushed open the courtyard gate and saw that the village had already organized a group of able-bodied men, all carrying weapons and heading toward the source of the sound.

"What happened?"

Yuan Fang grabbed a villager passing by and asked. The villager looked just as confused.

"I don't know!"

Yuan Fang turned back. Niu Youdao was already flying away. He immediately launched himself after him. The source of the noise lay in a valley not far outside the village. Niu Youdao arrived first. One section of the mountainside had collapsed into a great heap of shattered stone. Yuan Gang was there, studying something among the rubble. Niu Youdao landed in the valley and quietly watched him. Before long, a group of villagers arrived too. Yuan Gang came down from the collapsed stones.

Luo An went forward and asked, "Brother Yuan, what was that sound just now? Did you see what happened?"

Yuan Gang replied blandly, "Nothing. The mountain collapsed."

Standing beside Niu Youdao, Yuan Fang looked up at the clear sky.

"A mountain collapse making a noise like thunder? Was it struck by lightning?"

He muttered to himself, "Could it have been a bolt from a clear sky?"

Niu Youdao gave Yuan Gang, who was walking toward them, a long, meaningful look... Another morning came.

At the dressing table, Shang Shuqing finished arranging Niu Youdao's hair and gently withdrew her hands.

"Master Dao, it's done."

As usual, Niu Youdao rose to see her out. This time, however, he did not stop at the courtyard gate. He continued walking beside her.

Shang Shuqing dipped slightly in farewell and said with amusement, "There's no need to see me any farther."

Niu Youdao gestured for them to keep walking.

As they went side by side, he asked, "Commandery Princess, is something troubling you?"

Normally, Shang Shuqing chatted with him while arranging his hair. For the past few days, she had said very little. That was unusual. Shang Shuqing fell silent, as though uncertain whether she ought to speak. Niu Youdao looked around.

"Nothing seems wrong in the village. Everyone looks the same as before. Did something happen in Canglu County?"

Shang Shuqing said, "I was afraid telling Master Dao would affect your secluded cultivation."

"There's no harm in hearing it."

Shang Shuqing sighed softly.

"The plan to seize Qingshan Commandery has been abandoned. My brother will have to think of another way to gain the Tianyu Sect's attention."

Niu Youdao asked, "Hai Ruyue broke her word and refused to help His Highness?"

Shang Shuqing shook her head slightly.

"My brother only mentioned it briefly at first. I kept sending messages and asking until I finally understood the whole situation. You can say Hai Ruyue broke her promise, but not entirely. She made a demand instead, one we have no way to satisfy."

Niu Youdao said, "Then when all is said and done, she still broke her promise. She doesn't want to help, so she deliberately set an impossible condition to make things difficult for you."

"The circumstances are somewhat unusual. It can be called making things difficult, but we can also understand her predicament."

Niu Youdao's curiosity was stirred.

"What happened?"

Shang Shuqing said, "The problem lies with the current Provincial Inspector of Jinzhou, Xiao Tianzhen, who inherited his father's position before reaching adulthood. In other words, Hai Ruyue's son. Xiao Bieshan was frail and sickly throughout his life and had great difficulty producing an heir. The son he finally managed to have inherited not only his position, but his illness as well. Xiao Tianzhen seems even weaker than his father. According to the people we sent to make contact, his body is so frail that he may not live to adulthood. His illness has been flaring particularly often this year."

Niu Youdao asked, "Don't tell me Hai Ruyue's condition is that His Highness cure her son?"

Shang Shuqing said, "Master Dao sees clearly. That is precisely what she wants. And her reasoning isn't without merit. Her son is the Provincial Inspector of Jinzhou. She only controls the territory on his behalf while he is still alive. If her son dies, she may not even be able to protect herself. How could she possibly have the strength to help my brother then? So she made one demand. If my brother can obtain a Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit from the Ice and Snow Pavilion and save her son, she will send troops to assist him."

Niu Youdao frowned. He had seen mention of the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit in the Shangqing Record of Gleanings.

Together with the Ice Jade Fruit, one was yang and the other yin. Strangely, however, each grew in an environment of the opposite attribute, almost like yang born at the extreme of yin and yin born at the extreme of yang.

"What illness requires a Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit?" Niu Youdao asked.

Shang Shuqing said, "They call it congenital Heavenly Yin Damaged Meridians. Supposedly only taking a Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit can completely remove the root of the illness."

Niu Youdao said, "As far as I know, the tree can bear nine fruits. One fruit forms each year, and each takes nine years to mature. In other words, one Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit reaches maturity every year. With the Xiao family's influence, could they truly not obtain even one from the Ice and Snow Pavilion?"

Shang Shuqing replied, "Of course they've tried. When Xiao Bieshan was still alive, Xiao Huang repeatedly entrusted people to request one from the Ice and Snow Pavilion in hopes of saving him. Xiao Huang even asked the Emperor of the State of Zhao to intercede, but none of it worked. Supposedly the fruit is reserved exclusively for Granny Xue. She likes eating one every year and won't feel satisfied without it. To ordinary people, the Provincial Inspector of Jinzhou stands at the pinnacle of power. In Granny Xue's eyes, what difference is there between him and an ant? Xiao Tianzhen's life simply isn't as important as satisfying her appetite."

Niu Youdao slowly nodded.

Shang Shuqing hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Does Master Dao have any other idea for gaining the Tianyu Sect's attention?"

In truth, she had wanted to ask him for several days.

Niu Youdao said, "I haven't thought about it yet. But to be fair, the plan His Highness and Mr. Lan devised is the best one. It would not only make the Tianyu Sect value him, it would also let him seize Qingshan Commandery and expand his power in one stroke. Two gains from a single move. If this opportunity slips away, finding another chance to swallow Qingshan Commandery won't be easy."

Shang Shuqing sighed.

"We know that. But if Hai Ruyue won't agree, there's nothing we can do."

Niu Youdao said calmly, "Give me some time to think."

He gestured for her to head back first. After watching her leave, Niu Youdao clasped his hands behind his back and wandered toward the fields. His thoughts drifted as he walked. Before long, Yuan Fang found him. The monk said nothing and simply followed behind. Ahead, a group of children ran laughing across the path. Niu Youdao stopped and spoke without turning around.

"Old Bear, with your identity, trying to establish yourself in this world while dragging the Nanshan Temple monks along will be difficult. How about abandoning them and coming with me instead?"

"Ah?"

Yuan Fang froze, having no idea why Niu Youdao had suddenly brought this up. He shook his head repeatedly.

"How could I do that? Everyone else from Nanshan Temple is already gone. The few who remain are all direct disciples and descendants of the old abbot's line. I promised the old abbot I would look after them. I can't abandon them."

Niu Youdao remained standing there in silence for a long time... The next morning, Shang Shuqing was once again arranging his hair before the dressing table when she noticed two stones lying beside the bronze mirror. One was black. One was yellow. When she finished, Niu Youdao escorted her out as usual. Before leaving, Shang Shuqing turned and looked back at the two stones on the table once more. Her expression was somewhat subdued.

After seeing her off, Niu Youdao slowly wandered alone toward the swift little river and stopped to watch the young men training there. About one hour later, Meng Shanming arrived in his wheelchair. Shang Shuqing was pushing him. Beside them walked a powerfully built old man with thick brows, large eyes, and yellowing hair and beard.

"Cultivator!"

Meng Shanming greeted him. Niu Youdao turned and smiled in return. After exchanging a few courtesies, Meng Shanming indicated the old man beside him.

"Cultivator, I expect you haven't met him yet. This is Gongsun Tieniu, a master smith famed throughout the realm. Mr. Gongsun encountered some trouble in his early years and received Prince Ning's assistance. Afterward, he brought his family here to live in seclusion. Once he settled here, he selected several talented village youths as disciples and established a weapons workshop in the mountains to the north. For all these years, Mr. Gongsun has been forging military equipment for His Highness, keeping it in reserve against future need..."

Niu Youdao listened with a smile. Once Meng Shanming finished explaining some of the hidden arrangements in the refuge, Niu Youdao and Gongsun Tieniu exchanged greetings. Gongsun Tieniu's temper did not appear especially agreeable. They had only exchanged a few words when he began looking around impatiently, clearly disliking empty courtesies.

Finally, he simply said he had business to attend to, turned his back on the group, and walked away. Meng Shanming apologized on his behalf.

"Mr. Gongsun is a good man. His temperament is simply rather fierce. Cultivator, please don't take offense."

"No matter. We weren't acquainted in the first place."

Niu Youdao dismissed the matter lightly, then turned toward Shang Shuqing.

"Commandery Princess, I intend to make a trip to Jinzhou on His Highness's behalf. I'd like to meet Hai Ruyue myself and see whether I can bring this matter to fruition. Please send word to His Highness and tell him not to rush into preparing some entirely different plan yet."

Shang Shuqing froze, then immediately shook her head and tried to dissuade him.

"Master Dao, there's no need to waste your effort. There's truly no point going to Jinzhou. Hai Ruyue's position has already been confirmed beyond doubt. She won't change it. Going there won't help."

Niu Youdao said, "There's no harm in trying once more. But for now, Commandery Princess, please keep this from Monkey."

[End of Chapter 100]