Chapter 137: Turning Hostile

The Scent-Seeker flew out of the mountains, and the six pursuers followed it all the way to a horse yard. Outside the enclosure fence, the little bird found another pellet of scent bait.

By this point there was no need to guess. Niu Youdao and the others had taken mounts from here.

The six bought horses of their own and once again followed the direction indicated by the Scent-Seeker.

Now that they had reached open country, Niu Youdao’s route was basically clear. While riding, the group released another Goldenwing and sent word to Gao Sucong’s side informing them of the direction of pursuit.

The Goldenwing belonged to Fuyun Sect. It was inconvenient for any one faction to carry too many birds, so all three groups had brought Goldenwings for communication. As long as someone was traveling with Gao Sucong, it made no difference which faction received the message. The six men urged their horses onward in rapid pursuit.

Elsewhere, Niu Youdao’s own party of six had already galloped beyond the Gobi. Faint traces of green had begun to appear across the land ahead, growing steadily richer as they entered grassland. Green mountains gradually emerged in the distance.

The journey had been fairly smooth, apart from packs of prairie wolves that occasionally came to harass them. The moment the beasts spotted prey, they would gather and give chase.

Naturally, a few wolves posed no threat to Niu Youdao and the others. Even so, Niu Youdao forbade anyone from killing them. It was not some animal-protection instinct carried over from his previous life. He simply did not want to leave evidence that could be followed. They frightened the wolves away instead.

The Gobi held many such wolves, along with vultures competing with them for carrion. Dark shapes could often be seen circling in the sky overhead.

Black Peony folded the map in her hands, drove both heels repeatedly into her horse’s flanks, and accelerated until she was riding abreast of Niu Youdao. Pointing ahead, she said, “Master Dao, there are endless mountains ahead and no road through them. If we turn east now, we should reach the official road in about four hours.”

Niu Youdao glanced at her. “I know.”

“...” Black Peony fell speechless. She genuinely could not understand him.

They thundered across the grassland and reached the foot of the mountains. Niu Youdao pointed toward a stretch of gently rising hills, took the lead, and charged upward.

The others followed one after another, crested the hill, then raced down behind him.

On the reverse slope, beside a small mountain stream, Niu Youdao reined in. He dismounted and let his panting horse lower its head to drink and recover. Seeing him do so, everyone else followed suit.

They looked at Niu Youdao standing beside the stream with his back to them, sword planted before him, then glanced at the surrounding forest. No one knew why he had stopped here.

“Master Dao, are we resting here?” Black Peony asked cautiously, half questioning and half reminding him. “We haven’t traveled very far yet. The horses should still have enough strength for another stretch.”

For some inexplicable reason, she had felt throughout the journey that Niu Youdao had changed.

When she first met him, although he had tormented her badly enough, he had carried an easy, unrestrained air that somehow made her feel closer to him. Along this journey, that quality seemed to have faded. He had grown quieter and deeper, and a sense of distance had gradually opened between them again.

Niu Youdao watched the stream burbling before him and said calmly, “No one lives around here. It’s secluded and quiet. Whatever happens, no one will know. A perfect place to kill someone and dump the body. If you still don’t make your move now, what are you waiting for?”

His actual meaning was the opposite of the literal words. He had worried about exposing their whereabouts and had deliberately found a secluded, secure place to turn hostile.

Yuan Fang, who had been looking around idly, felt a chill run through him. His eyes snapped toward Black Peony and the others, and one hand immediately closed around the hilt of the monk’s saber at his waist. In an instant, he was on full alert.

Black Peony and the others stared at one another in astonishment.

Lei Zongkang’s heart tightened.

Black Peony asked in surprise, “Master Dao, what makes you say that?”

Niu Youdao fell silent for a moment. After leading them this far, he had already formed a rough judgment regarding certain things.

The reason was simple.

If every one of them had been involved, if every one of them had something to hide, then the repeated changes in his plans should have made them wary long ago. They would not have obediently followed him all the way regardless of whether a trap might be waiting ahead.

If all of them had been compromised, then once they sensed something was wrong, a whole group like this would certainly have tested him. If their probing failed, they would have turned hostile themselves. They outnumbered him and had no reason to fear him enough to walk meekly into what might be a trap.

Taking another step back, if all four were involved, they might simply have attacked the moment he left the protection of the Inviting Moon Inn and helped the Liuxian Sect keep him there. Of course, some things still needed one final confirmation.

When he did not answer, Black Peony asked again, “Master Dao, is there some misunderstanding?”

Still facing away, Niu Youdao said, “A misunderstanding? Huang Engui. Cui Yuan. Do you know them?”

Lei Zongkang’s heart gave a violent thump.

Black Peony found the question strange and did not understand why he had suddenly mentioned those two men. “We know them. They’re Liuxian Sect disciples stationed in Star-Plucking City. We spend a great deal of time there, so naturally we know some of the people who work in the shops.”

Niu Youdao slowly turned around to face them.

Bang!

He planted the sword before him again, knocking pebbles scattering beneath its tip. His face was expressionless.

“Why were you conspiring with the Liuxian Sect to harm me?”

Yuan Fang knew Master Dao would not make an accusation without cause. The monk’s saber at his waist slowly slid from its sheath. He had spent a large sum at the Qiyun Sect shop replacing his old weapon with a fine saber. Black Peony and the others looked at one another.

Duan Hu said grimly, “Master Dao, where is this coming from? When did we ever conspire with the Liuxian Sect?”

Niu Youdao replied, “The place: the Inviting Moon Inn. Yesterday during the day, someone met privately with Huang Engui and Cui Yuan inside a room. Yesterday at dinner, I announced that we would depart the following day. Afterward, someone ran to Cui Yuan’s room and leaked the news. Last night, I changed our travel plan. Soon afterward, someone ran to Cui Yuan’s room again to report the change.”

He had named the time, the place, and the people involved.

This was plainly not some empty accusation that could be brushed aside with a question about misunderstandings.

Black Peony and the others were both shocked and suspicious. Cold crept down their spines. One after another, they began looking at the people beside them. Could there truly be a traitor among them?

They had been brothers for so many years, companions who had risked their lives together. If one of their own stabbed them in the back, they might die without ever understanding how it had happened.

Yuan Fang was alarmed too, but more than that, he was baffled.

What was going on?

How had Master Dao learned any of this? Yuan Fang had been beside him almost constantly. Yet somehow Master Dao knew the matter in exact detail while Yuan Fang himself had known nothing at all.

At last, Black Peony, Duan Hu, and Wu Sanliang all fixed their gazes on Lei Zongkang. His face had turned far too ashen to hide anything.

“It was me!” Lei Zongkang suddenly roared. He glared fiercely at Niu Youdao. “So what?”

“...”

The other three had already begun to suspect him, but hearing Lei Zongkang admit it himself still left them stunned. They could hardly believe he would sell them out.

Niu Youdao said, “Black Peony, yesterday I could have separated him from the rest of you at any time and dealt with him alone. I didn’t touch him because I was giving you face. Black Peony, remember what I told you? Anyone unreliable was to be removed. You told me these were brothers who had shared life-and-death dangers with you and could be trusted completely. Fine. I believed you. And now? Don’t you owe me an explanation?”

Duan Hu and Wu Sanliang stared at Lei Zongkang, grief and anger on their faces.

Duan Hu barked, “Why?”

Black Peony looked as though she might grind her teeth to pieces. She shouted at Lei Zongkang, “After all these years together, when have we ever wronged you? Why did you betray us? I didn’t betray any of you! I did it for everyone’s sake!”

Lei Zongkang pounded his chest loudly, as though Heaven and earth could testify to his sincerity. His emotions were running high. Then he jabbed a finger at Niu Youdao.

“It’s him! Ask him whether he dares reveal his true identity! He can barely protect himself, yet he’s deceiving us into risking our lives for him. If I hadn’t done this, every one of us would die! The Liuxian Sect won’t let us off, and neither will the court of the State of Yan. Those are not forces we can resist. Following him is a dead end!”

The court of the State of Yan? The other three looked at Niu Youdao in alarm and uncertainty.

Black Peony bit her lip, then cautiously asked, “Master Dao, who exactly are you?”

Despite Lei Zongkang’s accusations, Niu Youdao showed no desire to argue with him. There was no need.

He remained perfectly calm. “Who I am is not important. Everyone chooses his own road. I never forced any of you, nor have I wronged any of you. Anyone afraid of trouble can withdraw. I won’t stop you. Whatever else you need to discuss, you can settle among yourselves. I don’t care what conclusion you reach. But the explanation owed to me cannot be omitted.”

His meaning was unmistakable.

He would not let Lei Zongkang off.

Lei Zongkang pointed at him and shouted, “He is Niu Youdao! The Shangqing Sect disciple people were talking about—the one who followed Commandery Prince Yongping, Shang Chaozong! He’s the same Niu Youdao who caused such an uproar recently by killing an envoy of the State of Yan! Shang Chaozong has already thrown him out. He can’t even protect himself!”

Thrown out?

Yuan Fang curled his lip in contempt.

Ignorance truly was pitiful.

Whether Shang Chaozong had really thrown Niu Youdao out or not involved too many currents and hidden calculations to explain to low-level cultivators who simply repeated what they heard.

There was, however, one point Niu Youdao could not resist correcting.

“Let me add something. I am not a Shangqing Sect disciple. The Shangqing Sect expelled me.”

No matter who mentioned that identity, he always made a point of drawing a clean line. The remark unquestionably confirmed his identity.

It also appeared to support the deeper point Lei Zongkang wanted to make: Niu Youdao had no sect, power, or background supporting him.

He really was Niu Youdao?

Black Peony and the others stared at him in shock and disbelief.

The assassination of an envoy of the State of Yan had already made Niu Youdao famous beneath Heaven.

Lei Zongkang said, “He admitted it himself! Do you still think I betrayed you? I was doing this for everyone’s sake!”

Black Peony shouted, “Then why hide it from us? Why not tell us beforehand?”

Lei Zongkang flung out one arm. “And you’re still asking that now? Even now you still don’t understand which side you should stand on? Even now you’re questioning me? Why didn’t I tell you? What was I afraid of? You still don’t understand?”

Niu Youdao said, “What he says is not entirely wrong. Since everything has been laid bare now, it is indeed necessary to decide clearly where each of you intends to stand.”

Duan Hu and Wu Sanliang frowned. Seen from this angle, Lei Zongkang could not exactly be accused of betraying them. Yet choosing a side was difficult.

Black Peony, however, suddenly spun around to face all three men.

“This time, listen to me. We follow Master Dao!”

Her decision was immediate and decisive.

“Old Lei, you listen to me too. As long as you sincerely agree to come with us, we’ll plead with Master Dao on your behalf. I believe Master Dao has enough breadth of mind not to hold this against you.”

She reached that decision so quickly because she had faintly glimpsed certain things in Niu Youdao and saw this as an opportunity to gamble on their future.

Helping the Liuxian Sect might allow them to escape one immediate danger, but what would the Liuxian Sect actually give them? How long had she followed Niu Youdao?

Barely any time at all.

Yet he had already given her fifty thousand gold coins, and the drafts were still on her person.

There was another point.

Helping the Liuxian Sect did not necessarily mean escaping danger. Niu Youdao’s overwhelming self-confidence made her heart tremble.

He was clearly badly outnumbered, yet he had deliberately brought them to this remote place and openly turned against them.

The more she thought about it, the more frightening it became.

[End of Chapter 137]