Chapter 184: Humiliation

Yuan Gang stood silently to one side, coldly observing Chu Anlou’s reaction. Master Dao’s act of playing the fool and pretending madness was something he could never do himself, nor would he ever bother trying. Chu Anlou was rendered speechless.

The Chief Steward had instructed him to receive this man properly because there was something they wanted him to do. If Chu Anlou let the man run away, how was he supposed to explain that?

After recovering, he asked, “You mean I harmed you?”

“No, no.”

Niu Youdao hurriedly waved both hands.

“You cannot leave right now,” Chu Anlou said.

“If I release them, and then I leave too, that still is not allowed?”

Chu Anlou did not know how to explain matters to him. He could only emphasize again, “I will say it once more. Rainbow Inn will not involve itself in your grievances. If you try to use the inn to shield yourself from trouble, you are creating trouble for yourself. If you dare use the Ice and Snow Pavilion, the consequences are more than you can bear.”

“How would I dare use the Ice and Snow Pavilion? I merely wanted to use this opportunity to negotiate with the various sects. If negotiations go well and they agree to let me go, then fine. If negotiations fail, I still would not dare ask the Ice and Snow Pavilion to do anything.”

Chu Anlou badly wanted to ask him what else this could be called if not using them. But the central problem remained. If Niu Youdao refused to use them and tried to run, they still could not let him leave. Chu Anlou said nothing more. He turned and walked away.

“Innkeeper Chu...”

Niu Youdao called after him several times but failed to stop him. Yuan Gang went to the doorway, confirmed that Chu Anlou had left, then quickly returned.

“He’s gone.”

“This is not something he can decide either,” Niu Youdao said slowly. “He should be going to ask for instructions.”

Before long, several inn attendants came upstairs and took positions around the floor, allowing no one to enter or leave. In effect, Niu Youdao and his people had now been put under watch themselves so they could not run. Chu Anlou left through the rear of the inn.

The entire Rainbow Inn stood like a sheer cliff. Behind it was an actual precipice, where a waterfall thundered down into the depths. Winding stone stairs climbed the cliff face on both sides. Chu Anlou ignored the stairs and flew directly upward.

He reached the only lush green land in this world of ice and snow, where jade halls and towers rose amid dense emerald foliage.

Inside one jade building, women in white stood or sat in groups. Some wrote with brushes. Others moved back and forth delivering slips of paper. Outside, Goldenwings continuously flew in and out as message after message entered and left the building. This was the central hub where the Golden Core Ranking was compiled.

In the spotless hall, a gray-robed older woman with graying temples paced among the women with her hands clasped behind her back. From time to time she stopped to inspect what one of them had written. She was Han Bing, Chief Steward of the Ice and Snow Pavilion. After someone came forward and quietly reported to her, Han Bing left the spacious hall. Chu Anlou, who had been waiting outside, immediately bowed.

“Chief Steward.”

Han Bing asked indifferently, “What is it?”

Chu Anlou followed her down the jade steps.

“Chief Steward, there is something wrong with that Xuanyuan Dao.”

“What problem?”

“Xuanyuan Dao’s true identity is Niu Youdao, the man who assassinated envoy of the State of Yan.”

Han Bing answered calmly, “Did I need you to investigate his identity? I knew long ago that he was Niu Youdao. So what? We only want him to paint a picture. What problem is there?”

“Paint?”

Chu Anlou stared. She had already known the man was Niu Youdao? Only now did he finally learn what they actually wanted from him.

Han Bing explained, “He painted a portrait for Sha Huanli. Sha Huanli invited our Young Mistress to admire it with her, and Young Mistress liked what she saw. It is that simple.”

“We only want Xuanyuan Dao to paint. There is no reason to expose his identity and involve ourselves in outside disputes. Do you understand?”

A faint sweat broke out on Chu Anlou’s brow.

“Chief Steward, I am not the one trying to expose him. His identity has already been exposed by someone else...”

He gave her a general account of what had happened. Han Bing snorted repeatedly after hearing it.

“He truly does not know whether to live or die. He even dares use the Ice and Snow Pavilion.”

Chu Anlou said, “I can find another way to bring Young Mistress the best painter available.”

Han Bing slowly shook her head as she walked.

“The best is no use. Young Mistress said his paintings are special, unique beneath Heaven.”

Chu Anlou was speechless.

Was it really that exaggerated?

“The message has already been sent to Young Mistress,” Han Bing continued. “She should return from overseas after some time. Let him wait until she comes back.”

Chu Anlou asked, “Then what does Chief Steward mean...?”

On Rainbow Inn’s top floor, Chu Anlou met Niu Youdao again and said only one thing.

“Release them immediately.”

Niu Youdao tilted his head toward Black Peony.

“Do as Innkeeper Chu says.”

“Yes!”

Black Peony answered with some anxiety and hurried away. Chu Anlou turned and left the room as well. Yuan Gang leaned close to Niu Youdao and spoke softly.

“Could something have changed?”

“Probably not,” Niu Youdao murmured back. “Otherwise, he could simply release the people himself. There would be no need to come inform us so politely first.”

The two men then left the room. Chu Anlou stood in the circular hall with his hands behind his back. Black Peony knocked on one door after another and called the occupants out. Before long, Wu Kong of Tianyu Sect, Gao Mulan of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, Mei Shikai of Dachan Mountain, Wu Shaohuan of Liuxian Sect, Cao Heng of Fuyun Sect, and Li Huoyun of Lingxiu Mountain emerged one after another.

The chain of noise outside also drew Lady Pei and the others from their rooms to see what was happening.

Chu Anlou turned and asked Niu Youdao, “Is that everyone?”

Niu Youdao nodded. Chu Anlou immediately cupped his hands toward the group.

“Everyone, my apologies. I failed to keep proper watch and caused you to suffer an injustice. Rainbow Inn will not involve itself in outside rights and wrongs and will not interfere in your affairs.”

“I, Chu Anlou, apologize here. You may all return.”

That was it?

He was simply letting them go? Yuan Gang turned his head toward Niu Youdao. This did not fit Master Dao’s expectation that the Ice and Snow Pavilion needed something from him. Niu Youdao’s cheek tightened slightly.

He had not expected the Ice and Snow Pavilion to be this ruthless. They wanted the horse to run, yet refused to give it grass to eat. He spoke decisively.

“Everyone, the grievances between us have nothing to do with Rainbow Inn. Everything was my own intention.”

“I will trouble you to notify your respective sect leaders. Ask them to come to the Ice and Snow Pavilion as soon as possible so we can meet.”

Chu Anlou abruptly turned his head and stared at him. Niu Youdao stood expressionless. Chu Anlou turned back again and cupped his hands toward the others.

“Everyone, just as he said, this matter has nothing to do with Rainbow Inn. Once he leaves the inn, whether he lives or dies has nothing to do with us.”

“If you have grievances, avenge them. If you have hatred, settle it. We will absolutely not interfere.”

Niu Youdao nodded.

“Correct.”

A duet, one singing while the other chimed in. The people who had been held under house arrest cursed Chu Anlou inwardly. Playing the whore and still putting up a chastity arch. They cupped their hands toward Chu Anlou, ignored Niu Youdao, and left one after another. Lady Pei and the others watched from their doorway, looking at one another in confusion. What kind of performance was this?

Only after everyone had disappeared did Niu Youdao ask Chu Anlou, “Innkeeper Chu, may we leave now?”

“Stay a few days. The Pavilion Master wants to see you later.”

Chu Anlou clasped his hands behind his back and stepped close, nearly pressing his face against Niu Youdao’s. His voice dropped.

“Niu Youdao, let me give you a friendly warning.”

“You have already taken the advantages you were going to take. Consider them payment in advance for the matter you will handle later. But this ends here.”

“From now on, you are not permitted to use the Ice and Snow Pavilion’s name to do anything else.”

“Your frame is too weak. A blessing this great is beyond what you can bear. It will crush you to death.”

With that, he raised a hand and slapped Niu Youdao lightly on the cheek twice. Pat. Pat. Niu Youdao stood perfectly still and did not evade him. Red marks appeared on his face.

At the same time, one of his hands clamped tightly around Yuan Gang’s wrist, preventing him from moving rashly. Wei Duo met Niu Youdao’s gaze, halted, clenched both fists, and lowered his head. Chu Anlou turned his eyes toward the restless Yuan Gang.

“I am right here at Rainbow Inn. If you have a problem with me, you may come find me at any time.”

The meaning was obvious. If you want revenge, come whenever you like. I will be here waiting. Leaving them with a look of contempt, Chu Anlou clasped his hands behind his back, turned, and walked away. In truth, he had no reason to fear retaliation from them. The circular hall fell utterly silent.

Black Peony and the others stared at Niu Youdao, then at the red marks on his face, frozen and unsure what to do.

They had never imagined that Master Dao, a man who seemed capable of anything in their eyes, would one day suffer the kind of humiliation they had thought belonged only to independent cultivators like themselves. Lady Pei and the others looked from one face to another. Anyone who was not blind could see that Chu Anlou had just humiliated the man. Had he not been treating him with perfect courtesy before? Yuan Gang watched Chu Anlou disappear down the stairs. His cold gaze remained fixed on the stairway.

“I’ll bring a few tons of explosives and help him redecorate the inn.”

“That slap was worth taking. We brought it on ourselves, and there is still business to handle. Do not act recklessly.”

Only then did Niu Youdao release Yuan Gang’s wrist.

Yuan Gang asked, “We just let this go?”

“Whether we let it go depends on how things develop. There is no meaning in throwing around empty threats.”

Niu Youdao answered quietly, then turned and beckoned Black Peony over. She approached.

“Master Dao.”

“The situation has changed. Go immediately to the Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion shop and tell Gao Mulan that asking their Sect Leader to come was only a joke.”

“Tell her I will no longer involve myself in the matter of the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit and that she should not take what happened to heart.”

“Take Lei Zongkang with you so you have someone watching your back.”

Shao Pingbo’s intervention had introduced far too many uncontrollable variables and completely disrupted Niu Youdao’s original plan. This time, Shao Pingbo had landed a hidden blow on him. Niu Youdao had to admit it.

“Yes!”

Black Peony accepted the order and immediately called Lei Zongkang along before leaving.

“All right. Nothing else is happening. Go back and rest.”

Niu Youdao waved to the others as well. Lady Pei and her companions slowly came over.

She looked at the red handprints on his face, hesitating before asking, “What happened?”

Niu Youdao smiled.

“I did something that displeased them. Do not worry. It is nothing. You can continue staying here safely.”

“If you truly feel uneasy, you may move elsewhere. I will not force you.”

Two days later, Lady Pei and the others left after all. Before departing, they came over to say goodbye to Niu Youdao’s group. She did not mention the wager. Niu Youdao did not mention it either.

A man riding an enormous eagle covered entirely in golden feathers descended from the sky. Two more giant golden eagles followed behind him without riders, and all three landed on the cliff. Lady Pei and the others practically dragged Hao Qingqing along. They split up and climbed onto the three eagles. The giant birds launched themselves back into the air and carried them away. The sight drew startled cries from many people inside and outside the canyon.

Flying mounts large and powerful enough to carry people cost tens of millions of gold coins apiece. Few people beneath Heaven could afford even one. Yet here were three at once. Standing on the cliff to see them off, Niu Youdao watched the three black dots sweep toward the distant sky.

He muttered with faint self-mockery, “Pity I never brought up the wager...”

[End of Chapter 184]