Chapter 146: Sworn Brotherhood

The atmosphere inside the palace had become peculiar. Forget everyone else— even the way Black Peony looked at Niu Youdao had turned strange.

Hou Qingtian glanced from Niu Youdao to Yun Huan, wondering whether Yun Huan would accept. Yun Huan hesitated for quite a while. What background did this man have? What exactly was going on?

When no response came for some time, Niu Youdao looked surprised. “Could it be that Master Yun finds my gift beneath notice?”

Yun Huan tipped his head toward Hou Qingtian. Hou Qingtian immediately walked over, took the ten gold drafts from Niu Youdao, then turned and fanned them open for a glance. He clicked his tongue inwardly. Another hundred thousand gold coins!

He climbed the steps and handed the drafts to Yun Huan, murmuring almost inaudibly, “Another hundred thousand.”

With the drafts in hand, one of Yun Huan’s eyebrows twitched involuntarily. This was no small amount of money.

After Hou Qingtian went back down, Yun Huan suddenly threw his head back and laughed loudly.

“Hahaha!”

Still laughing, he strode down the steps and came before Niu Youdao. He slapped Niu Youdao hard on the shoulder.

“Such sincerity is difficult to refuse! Little brother is a straightforward man. Good! I like that!”

He turned and waved at Hou Qingtian. “I felt an immediate kinship with Brother Xuanyuan. Set up an incense altar and ceremonial table outside the cavern. We will offer sacrifice to Heaven and let Heaven bear witness as Brother Xuanyuan and I become sworn brothers of different surnames today!”

“Yes!”

Hou Qingtian turned and left. Niu Youdao patted his chest, looking delighted, as though his greatest wish had finally been fulfilled.

“What realm is Little Brother’s cultivation?”

“Foundation Establishment Realm.”

The corner of Yun Huan’s mouth twitched. He himself was a Golden Core Realm cultivator, yet he was actually about to swear brotherhood with someone in the Foundation Establishment Realm. This fellow truly had nerve.

“Little Brother looks young, yet your bearing is extraordinary—a dragon and phoenix among men...”

“Master Yun is the truly heroic one. You possess the presence of a tiger crouching and a dragon coiling...”

The two men instantly began chatting with tremendous warmth. Compliments flew back and forth without pause.

In no time at all they looked exactly like real brothers, fussing over one another with every concern. Black Peony stared until she was truly stupefied. Her thoughts had become a bowl of paste.

At first she had assumed Niu Youdao had taken the wrong medicine.

Now it seemed Yun Huan had taken the wrong medicine too. He had actually agreed.

She could never have dreamed that after barely one or two exchanged sentences, before he even knew who the other man truly was, the dignified figure managing Duyun Mountain would casually agree to become sworn brothers with him.

She admitted that two hundred thousand gold coins was an enormous sum. But did money really possess that much power? From everything she had seen, was Niu Youdao an idiot? Obviously not.

Could a man capable of managing Duyun Mountain be an idiot? Certainly not.

The scene before her began making Black Peony wonder whether she herself was the one with something wrong in her head—or whether her experience of the world was simply far shallower than she had ever imagined. Host and guest seemed delighted with one another.

After chatting for a while, Yun Huan used the excuse that he needed to prepare the sworn-brotherhood ceremony.

Niu Youdao immediately said this was his first time here and he wanted to see the scenery outside.

Yun Huan at once had someone escort Niu Youdao out for a look around.

Once Yun Huan was alone inside the palace, he took out the twenty gold drafts again and inspected them carefully.

Even he had begun wondering whether the drafts might somehow be fake.

Hou Qingtian returned after passing down the necessary instructions and came to his side.

Puzzled, he asked, “Master, are you truly going to become sworn brothers with him?”

Yun Huan said, “The man already handed over two hundred thousand. How much can setting up an incense altar possibly cost?”

Hou Qingtian said, “He obviously hasn’t told us the truth. We know nothing about his background. He may well have some ulterior motive. Master should think carefully.”

Yun Huan glanced sideways at him. “I’m not blind. Did I need you to remind me?”

“Money delivered to the door—why refuse it?”

“Money is money. Other matters are other matters. Whatever tangled nonsense he has outside has nothing to do with us.”

Hou Qingtian immediately understood. Take the money. Do no favors. Touch none of the trouble.

He cupped his hands admiringly. “Master is wise!”

Outside the cavern, Niu Youdao and Black Peony had restrictions on their cultivation and could not exactly tour Duyun Mountain. They could only wander around near the entrance. The platform outside had become temporarily lively.

People were setting up the ceremonial table for the sworn-brotherhood ritual.

When no one stood close enough to hear, Black Peony—who had finally organized her thoughts somewhat—moved beside Niu Youdao and reminded him in a low voice, “Master Dao, the restrictions on our bodies still haven’t been removed. Yun Huan may not sincerely intend to become sworn brothers with you.”

Niu Youdao slowly turned his head. The look he gave her was almost the look one gave an idiot. As though asking: Did you think I sincerely wanted sworn brotherhood with him? Black Peony understood at once. She felt faintly ashamed. That really had been a stupid question. One thing still puzzled her, however.

She tried again. “Why would Yun Huan agree so easily?”

Niu Youdao said, “Obviously for the money.”

Black Peony checked the surroundings, then frowned. “He agreed to sworn brotherhood just for two hundred thousand gold coins?”

Two hundred thousand?

A faint trace of mockery appeared at the corner of Niu Youdao’s mouth.

Yun Huan was hardly doing this merely for two hundred thousand.

What he had seen was a stranger who could casually throw down two hundred thousand gold coins as a greeting gift.

He was anticipating the “generous gift” Niu Youdao had promised for the future.

Niu Youdao did not explain. Let Black Peony think it through herself. When he refused to elaborate, she stopped asking.

Still, she warned him, “Duyun Mountain is no benevolent place. Master Dao has displayed such wealth so openly. Be careful they don’t become greedy and harbor other thoughts.”

Niu Youdao replied calmly, “It’s already too late to be careful. If they truly mean us harm, we can’t escape in our current state anyway.”

“If he had refused the sworn brotherhood, we might genuinely have been in trouble. Since he agreed, you can put that worry aside. Nothing will happen.”

The game had been created by Niu Youdao himself. Naturally he understood where the risks lay.

He had already said these worldly possessions were all he had left.

If Yun Huan wanted to make a move against him, he had to consider one thing: What if Niu Youdao truly had nothing else on him? Kill him now, and the generous future gift would vanish.

A man who could toss out two hundred thousand gold coins as a greeting the instant he arrived—how could the promised future gift not be worth anticipating?

And someone who possessed the confidence and resources to walk into Duyun Mountain and spend money like this might not be someone Yun Huan could casually provoke.

Without knowing his true background, Yun Huan had to weigh whether moving against him might bring unwanted trouble.

Niu Youdao had dared come up the mountain to find Yun Huan because he possessed some confidence in the outcome. He was not here simply gambling on luck. As the old jianghu saying went:

Without a few real skills, one does not dare climb Liangshan.

The ceremonial table had been set up with all manner of ritual objects. Hou Qingtian came over and cupped his hands.

For a moment he did not know how he should address Niu Youdao now. In the end, he followed Black Peony’s usage.

“Master Dao, the sworn-brotherhood ceremony can begin.”

“Hahaha!”

From the other side, Yun Huan also came laughing loudly out of the cavern residence. Niu Youdao hurried over to meet him.

As soon as they came together, Yun Huan grabbed his hand.

Hand in hand, the two walked toward the ceremonial table beside the cliff. Clouds and mist swirled beyond the precipice.

More than a dozen demon cultivators stood on either side to observe the rite. The two men took their positions before the ceremonial table.

Hou Qingtian handed each of them a stick of lit incense.

They looked at one another and smiled, then knelt one after the other on the cushions. Holding his incense, Yun Huan proclaimed to Heaven:

“Heaven above, Earth below. I, Yun Huan, willingly become sworn brothers of different surnames with Xuanyuan Dao. From this day forward, we shall share fortune together and face hardship together!”

The oath was rather simple. There was no mention of living and dying together, nor of what punishment should fall upon anyone who violated the vow. Perhaps such words simply felt too inauspicious. The corner of Niu Youdao’s mouth curved. He repeated the same oath.

“Heaven above, Earth below. I, Xuanyuan Dao, willingly become sworn brothers of different surnames with Yun Huan. From this day forward, we shall share fortune together and face hardship together!”

After three kowtows, both men rose. They stepped forward and planted the incense in the burner. Then they turned toward one another.

Niu Youdao cupped his hands. “Greetings, Elder Brother!”

Yun Huan laughed loudly and slapped Niu Youdao’s arm. “Little Brother!”

The demon cultivators on both sides had already been instructed by Hou Qingtian how to address the newcomer. They cupped their hands together.

“Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Master Dao!”

Niu Youdao returned the salute and thanked them. After the hurried ceremony was complete, Yun Huan waved everyone away.

Then he turned to Niu Youdao again. “Little Brother, stay a while longer. Spend some time enjoying yourself properly here at Duyun Mountain.”

He intended to keep the guest around long enough to probe his background carefully.

Niu Youdao sighed. “I appreciate Elder Brother’s kindness, but I already have an appointment with someone and cannot break my word. I still need to continue my journey, so I cannot stay long.”

“Still, having met Elder Brother already leaves me perfectly satisfied. When I return next time, I’ll trouble you again.”

There were people outside hunting him. He did not want to remain here too long.

“So urgent?” Yun Huan looked somewhat surprised.

Niu Youdao had still not revealed his real intention. Now he was already preparing to leave. Had Yun Huan really been overthinking it?

Niu Youdao suddenly slapped his forehead. “Ah, right! I nearly forgot. I still haven’t paid my respects to Aunt. It wouldn’t be too late to leave after greeting her.”

He would not mind taking the opportunity to see the famous Yun Ji for himself.

Yun Huan said regretfully, “I’m afraid that won’t be possible for now. My mother is in seclusion cultivating and isn’t receiving guests.”

In truth, of course, they would never casually take some unknown stranger to see Yun Ji.

Niu Youdao gave an understanding “Oh,” then nodded repeatedly. “Then she truly shouldn’t be disturbed. We’ll wait until another opportunity presents itself.”

“Little Brother will take his leave first...”

Then he paused.

“Right. Before I go, I do have one presumptuous request. I hope Elder Brother can lend me a hand.”

Yun Huan’s heart stirred. Here it comes. So this was the real matter.

He smiled pleasantly. “Speak freely.”

Niu Youdao said, “A few days ago in Star-Plucking City, Little Brother offended some people and killed several disciples of the Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain.”

“They’ve been pestering me relentlessly all along the road.”

“Later, I’ll have someone lure them here. Could I trouble Elder Brother to dispose of them for me?”

Yun Huan’s eyes flickered. He had heard of all three factions, though he had never dealt with them personally.

Still smiling, he replied, “Easy enough. Easy enough. Leave it to me.”

“Elder Brother truly is a straightforward man. I won’t waste breath on empty courtesies. Little Brother will take his leave!”

After another round of pleasantries, it was only when Niu Youdao himself mentioned it that Yun Huan seemed to remember his newly sworn brother was still under restriction.

He flew into a rage on the spot and immediately ordered someone to remove the restrictions.

Afterward, Yun Huan claimed he had other business and could not personally see his guest out. He instructed Hou Qingtian to escort them instead.

Once they had left Duyun Mountain and were heading back toward the place where the others were hidden, Black Peony still felt as though she had just witnessed an absurdly slapdash farce.

As they flew through the mountains, she asked, “Master Dao, do you really think Yun Huan will help deal with the people from those three factions?”

Niu Youdao laughed at himself. “I never counted on it in the first place. Of course, if he truly possesses that much goodwill, all the better.”

Black Peony could not understand what he was thinking.

She gave a bitter smile. “Master Dao is certainly magnanimous. Two hundred thousand gold coins, gone just like that.”

Niu Youdao said, “A man rides the jianghu road through wind and rain alike. What matters is the road one walks and the friends one makes. Don’t fuss over a little money.”

Black Peony said, “Forgive me for speaking plainly, but I can’t see any intention on Yun Huan’s part to make a friend.”

“You’re getting hung up on appearances.”

Niu Youdao’s tone was mild.

“Where in this world are there so many people who suit your heart perfectly? When the forest is vast, every kind of bird can be found.”

“Friendship has to begin somewhere. Only after there is a beginning can there be anything later.”

“As for what happens later... we’ll talk about later when it comes.”

[End of Chapter 146]