Chapter 144: Duyun Mountain

The attendant casually left the broom by the doorway, hurried inside, went upstairs, and entered his room.

The moment he shut the door, he walked to the bed, lifted the mattress, and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. He opened it quickly.

It was a portrait of Niu Youdao, identical to the one Cui Yuan and the others had examined at their shop in Star-Plucking City. The copies had plainly come from the same original.

This relay attendant was actually a member of the State of Yan’s Intelligence Directorate.

He had been temporarily planted here on orders from above and had been waiting for the target to appear. He had never expected to truly spot him. This was something Niu Youdao had not anticipated.

He knew only that Cui Yuan and the others had possessed his portrait. He had no idea Song Jiuming could extend his reach throughout the State of Zhao, much less cast a net across all beneath Heaven.

Had he known, he would never have dared show his face so openly.

Forget Cui Yuan—even the entire Liuxian Sect knew nothing about this particular arrangement of Song Jiuming’s. They only knew that several cultivation sects had been mobilized. Nor could Song Jiuming possibly have told them.

The men being used were Intelligence Directorate agents the State of Yan had planted in other states. How could such a thing be broadcast casually? It had to remain strictly secret from outsiders. Song Jiuming dared activate this network for one simple reason.

Song Long had not only been his son. He had been an envoy of the State of Yan.

An envoy of Yan had been killed. The State of Yan could not pretend nothing had happened. The Intelligence Directorate would certainly cooperate.

The attendant held the portrait up and examined it carefully once more.

Then he folded it, slid it back beneath the mattress, and hurried to the table to write a secret report.

Afterward, he climbed onto the table, pushed aside a loose ceiling board, and pulled down a birdcage hidden in the loft. He took out the Goldenwing inside.

Once the report had been secured in place, he opened the window and watched the surroundings.

When no one outside was paying attention, he tossed the Goldenwing into the air and watched it beat its wings toward the distance... Chizhou Prefectural Capital. Hundred Flowers House rang with music and laughter.

Quan Shaokang, a wealthy merchant of the city, was entertaining friends.

Fine wine and delicacies filled the table. Beauties nestled against him on both sides as he drank cup after cup with his guests, enjoying himself immensely.

He was holding one woman close and urging her to drink when his steward, Quan Qiao, entered the private room.

Quan Qiao came to his side with a smile. “Master, the people from the capital have arrived.”

As he spoke, he pressed one hand briefly against his chest. Quan Shaokang glanced sideways.

He pushed away the beauties in his arms, rose, and cupped his hands apologetically toward everyone seated around the table. “My apologies, my apologies. Guests have arrived at home, so I’ll have to excuse myself for a while.”

A fat old man among the guests chuckled. “If I heard correctly, they’re distinguished guests from the capital, aren’t they? Why not invite them here and let all of us make their acquaintance?”

“Good idea!”

“Exactly!”

The others immediately joined in the teasing.

“Not appropriate, not appropriate!” Quan Shaokang laughed and shook his head.

Then he swept one hand expansively through the air. “Eat well, drink well, enjoy yourselves. Put everything on my account!”

Amid a chorus of jeers, he cupped his hands and took his leave.

He and Quan Qiao left Hundred Flowers House and climbed directly into the carriage waiting outside. Quan Qiao gave the order. The carriage quickly departed.

Inside, all traces of wine, women, and careless wealth vanished from Quan Shaokang’s face. His gaze turned deep and sober.

They hurried back to the Quan residence, and master and steward went straight to the study in the inner courtyard.

Quan Qiao pulled a secret letter from between the pages of a book on the shelf and handed it to Quan Shaokang, who stood before the writing desk. Quan Shaokang opened the message and read it.

Then he handed it back to Quan Qiao and walked over to the complete map of Chizhou hanging on the wall.

Quan Qiao lit the secret report and burned it to ash.

Quan Shaokang traced a route across the map with one finger. “Judging from this direction, they should be heading toward the Duyun Mountain region. Based on when the relay station sent the report, the target should reach Duyun Mountain sometime this afternoon.”

“There are not many viable routes around Duyun Mountain. Once he passes it, though, we won’t be able to tell where he’s going. Too many roads open up beyond there.”

“Old Qiao, send word immediately. Have our people in that area establish hidden observation posts along every route he might take. We must keep track of the target’s movements.”

On the surface, Quan Shaokang was merely a wealthy merchant of Chizhou in the State of Zhao.

In truth, he was the head of the State of Yan’s Intelligence Directorate network planted in Chizhou.

The merchant identity was nothing more than a cover that made it easier for him to operate.

“Yes!” Quan Qiao answered.

Quan Shaokang tapped Duyun Mountain on the map.

“Have the nearby personnel contact the demons entrenched in Duyun Mountain immediately. Offer them a heavy sum to act. The target must be eliminated.”

His tone sharpened.

“Remember: be extremely careful. We cannot allow this affair to expose our people here.”

“Understood. I’ll arrange it at once!”

Duyun Mountain was visibly treacherous even from afar. Clouds and mist coiled endlessly among its steep peaks.

Niu Youdao’s group reached the vicinity of the mountain range but did not continue along the official road.

They turned their horses into a stretch of wooded hills and concealed themselves deep inside. Everyone dismounted.

Niu Youdao looked around. “We haven’t stopped after all that hard travel. Rest here for a while.”

Then he turned to Black Peony. “Later, you alone can accompany me. There’s no need for everyone to go. If something happens, at least they won’t be able to catch all of us in one net.”

So you do know something could happen? Black Peony was helpless.

Why provoke the demons of Duyun Mountain at all if he understood the risk? Still, all she could do was nod.

“We’re going to visit people. We can’t show up looking like we’ve been dragged through dust all night. Wash up.”

After leaving those words behind, Niu Youdao went to a nearby stream, crouched beside it, and began washing. Black Peony followed.

She leapt across the stream and crouched opposite him. As she washed, she reminded him, “Master Dao, I’ve never actually been inside Duyun Mountain. I know nothing about the situation within.”

“That makes it even more worth seeing,” Niu Youdao replied. “Don’t you know someone there?”

“Barely. I hardly know them at all, and they’re only minor demons. They probably don’t carry much weight inside Duyun Mountain.”

Black Peony sighed. “Besides, the mountain covers such a huge area. I don’t even know which peak the demons I met came from. Who knows whether we’ll be able to find them anytime soon?”

“No matter. We’ll adapt once we’re inside.”

Black Peony was speechless. They were about to walk straight into a nest full of demons. If something went wrong, there would be nowhere to run. After washing, the two returned to the woods.

Niu Youdao told Yuan Fang, “Give me two hundred thousand in gold drafts.”

He almost never carried money himself, especially when he had his own people beside him. Most of the time he did not even keep loose change on his person.

Put differently, when he bought something, he generally had no habit of paying for it himself. He simply took what he needed and walked away. Someone beside him would settle the bill.

“Two hundred thousand?”

Yuan Fang immediately became wary. He had already seen clearly that Master Dao was the sort of man who spent money without treating it as money. Two hundred thousand in one breath? His heart ached.

“What for?” he asked suspiciously.

Niu Youdao slowly turned his head toward him.

What was this?

Did he now have to report his expenditures to Old Bear? The corner of Yuan Fang’s mouth twitched. Reluctantly, he pulled out a thick stack of gold drafts.

The fifty thousand Niu Youdao had originally given Black Peony and which she had later surrendered, together with the more than 1.2 million they had obtained in Star-Plucking City, came to over 1.3 million gold coins in all. Every last draft was currently on Yuan Fang.

Carrying that much money along the road gave him an indescribable feeling. He had discovered that he was rich.

Whenever he imagined converting the entire sum into actual gold coins, even the thought was almost too much to bear.

He counted out twenty drafts and handed them to Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao glanced at the thick remainder still in Yuan Fang’s hand and seemed to remember something.

He waved casually. “Give everyone fifty thousand. Let each person keep some money on hand for emergencies.”

The others nearby turned their heads. Every heart jumped slightly.

Fifty thousand each?

Yuan Fang’s eyes widened. Niu Youdao raised one eyebrow. Yuan Fang immediately lost his temper.

He looked around, lingering especially on Lei Zongkang, then turned back and asked, “Fifty thousand each? Everyone?”

He knew exactly what Yuan Fang meant.

Niu Youdao said indifferently, “Everyone gets a share.”

“Oh.”

Yuan Fang counted out another twenty drafts and handed them straight to Black Peony. “You distribute them.”

Then he hurriedly put the rest away. He was afraid Niu Youdao might suddenly decide to spend even more.

Four hundred thousand gold coins had disappeared in the blink of an eye. His flesh hurt. His heart hurt.

Even with money to spare, how could anyone spend it like this?

Black Peony had learned something of Niu Youdao’s habits by now. If he gave it to you, you took it.

“Then I’ll thank Master Dao on everyone’s behalf first!”

She cheerfully cupped her hands toward him, then turned and distributed the drafts.

Each person who received his share said, “Thank you, Master Dao!”

The first two thanks came without incident. Then she reached Lei Zongkang. The words died. Lei Zongkang would not extend his hand. He looked too embarrassed to accept the money.

“If it’s given to you, take it. Stop acting coy.”

Black Peony simply stuffed the drafts into his collar.

Lei Zongkang looked awkwardly toward Niu Youdao and cupped his hands. “Thank you, Master Dao.”

Niu Youdao acted as though he had heard nothing. He left Lei Zongkang to stew in his embarrassment, walked aside, and took paper from one of the horse packs.

Using a charcoal pencil, he wrote something down, folded the sheet, and beckoned Yuan Fang over. He handed him the letter and lowered his voice.

“If I haven’t returned before dark, go back to Star-Plucking City immediately. Find the Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion shop and tell them I came to Duyun Mountain on Hai Ruyue’s orders and ran into trouble. Ask them to come get us out.”

“If they refuse, have them send this letter to Hai Ruyue. She’ll find a way.”

Yuan Fang stared. “Master Dao, if it’s dangerous, then let’s not go. What’s the point of making friends with a nest of demons?”

The words came out as though he himself were not a demon.

“There shouldn’t be much danger,” Niu Youdao said. “This is only a precaution. Just do what I told you. Keep your wits about you on the road.”

“All right.” Yuan Fang nodded.

Then something seemed to occur to him.

He scratched the back of his head. “Master Dao, back at the Inviting Moon Inn, someone was secretly dealing with the Liuxian Sect. How did you know so clearly? Did the Inviting Moon Inn tell you?”

The question had been troubling him all along. He had wanted to ask on the road, but there had always been other people nearby.

Niu Youdao replied calmly, “If Monkey had been there, he would have known too.”

Yuan Fang looked startled. “Why?”

“Your heart. Your eyes.”

Niu Youdao looked at him. “Because both your mind and your eyes are fixed on money, you fail to see what’s happening around you.”

“If I weren’t a little more alert, would you still have the chance to stand here counting money?”

“Old Bear, I’m not trying to insult you, but compared with Monkey, you’re far behind. No wonder a fool like Song Yanqing managed to catch you in the first place.”

With that, he turned away. The circumstances had not been quite so simple, but sometimes a man needed a little hammering.

“...”

Yuan Fang stood with his mouth open, wanting to speak but unable to find the words. At last he lowered his head in dejection.

Was that really it?

Monkey would have noticed too? How had Yuan Fang himself failed to see even the slightest clue? Was the gap between him and Monkey truly that large?

Niu Youdao walked back to the others. “Be careful. If we haven’t returned by nightfall, follow Jin Wei. I’ve already made arrangements.”

Then he gestured toward Black Peony.

“Let’s go.”

[End of Chapter 144]