Chapter 190: Huang Lie of Dachan Mountain

Yuan Gang froze and turned his head. Wasn’t this the poem Master Dao had written for Song Yanqing before capturing Lu Shengzhong? He slowly looked back toward Niu Youdao. He knew very well that this was Master Dao’s favorite poem. There was no other reason. It struck directly at Master Dao’s heart. Niu Youdao was startled as well, then immediately understood. Sha Huanli had seen the portrait he painted for Black Peony, and that portrait carried this poem. Sha Huanli must have told this woman about it.

Back when he painted Black Peony, he had deliberately added the poem because his true target was Sha Huanli. Whether she liked the painting or liked the poem, he had simply thrown both in. One of them might strike the mark. That was all. There had been no other meaning behind it. He simply did not understand why this woman had suddenly recited it now. Han Bing and the others also turned to look over, equally puzzled by Xue Luo’er’s sudden recitation. Xue Luo’er looked at Niu Youdao.

“Did you write this poem?”

Everyone’s eyes immediately shifted to Niu Youdao.

“No!”

Niu Youdao denied it without hesitation and pointed at Yuan Gang.

“He wrote it. I merely borrowed it.”

Everyone’s eyes immediately shifted to Yuan Gang. Yuan Gang’s expression did not move. Slowly, he turned his head toward Niu Youdao. Inside, however, he was shocked.

Again?

You did this in front of Shang Chaozong and his sister last time, and now you’re doing it again? He simply could not understand it. You want to affect refined tastes, fine. That is your business. Why do you always have to drag me into it? Do I look like the sort of man who writes poetry? Have you played the all-talented genius so much that even you’re embarrassed now? Truthfully, Yuan Gang understood Niu Youdao’s habits at least somewhat. One should never exhaust all momentum.

Whatever one did, one should always leave oneself room. When circumstances were unclear, all the more reason to preserve a way back in case something unexpected happened. It was simply that his habit of shoving other people toward the fire pit was terrible.

If not for the setting, and the trouble that could follow, Yuan Gang would have immediately contradicted him hard enough to leave him unable to step down from the stage. You want a rough brute like me to compose poetry? What kind of joke is that? Xue Luo’er looked at Yuan Gang as well. She had apparently never imagined that this man, overflowing with hard masculine force, could actually write poetry. But she did not truly care who had written the poem.

She said indifferently, “I hear that when you paint for other people, you also add poetry to the portrait. I bought ten paintings from you at once, yet not one carries a poem. Asking for a single poem should not be excessive, should it?”

The moment she said that, Han Bing immediately put on a solemn expression and joined in.

“You two, the Pavilion Master’s request is not excessive.”

Chu Anlou chimed in as well.

“Buying ten paintings and asking for one poem as a gift truly is not excessive.”

Niu Youdao cursed him inwardly. More than half the money for those ten paintings had gone into your pocket. You still have the nerve to say that? But the situation was obvious. All of them were applying pressure, taking advantage of the fact that his side did not dare refuse. Niu Youdao clenched one fist before his mouth and coughed. Then he looked at Yuan Gang.

“Such hospitality is difficult to refuse. Compose one.”

Yuan Gang stood there like a block of iron.

“I can’t.”

His attitude was terrible. Han Bing and Chu Anlou’s expressions changed immediately. Niu Youdao frowned and hurriedly coughed twice in warning.

“Put away that temper of yours. Stop making trouble.”

“It’s only one poem. This isn’t difficult for you. Just think of something casually.”

Yuan Gang slowly turned to look at him. He understood the meaning. Just plagiarize any poem you know and get past the present hurdle. Without caring whether Yuan Gang agreed, Niu Youdao made the decision for him first. He cupped his hands toward Xue Luo’er.

“May I ask which painting the Pavilion Master wishes to inscribe?”

Xue Luo’er lifted her chin toward Yuan Gang.

“Open the paintings. Let him choose for himself.”

Han Bing waved a hand. The maids immediately unfurled the last three portraits of Xue Luo’er that had not yet been taken back to her room. Yuan Gang walked in front of the three and examined them. He had never liked complicated things. The portrait inside the oval was simple: Xue Luo’er lowering her head to smell a flower. He pointed to it.

“This one.”

Han Bing immediately ordered, “Brush and ink!”

The writing materials were brought over. Yuan Gang turned and looked at Niu Youdao. The look made Niu Youdao feel guilty.

He remembered the similar incident he had created in front of Shang Chaozong and his sister and worried Yuan Gang might sabotage him again. He hurried forward and addressed the others.

“My assistant has a poor temper. To prevent him from offending the Pavilion Master, let me speak with him first.”

Then he pulled Yuan Gang to one side and asked in a low voice, “These aren’t Shang Chaozong and his sister when they had nowhere else to go. Don’t mess around.”

“I know.”

“Then what poem are you planning to use?”

“Moonlight before my bed; I took it for frost upon the ground...”

Niu Youdao raised one hand and stopped him.

“Can you be serious?”

Yuan Gang continued, “The thread in a loving mother’s hand, the clothes on her traveling son; stitch after careful stitch before he leaves, fearing his return may be late...”

“...”

Niu Youdao stared at him in disbelief. Pair that kind of poem with Xue Luo’er’s portrait? But then again, a poem like that really was the kind Monkey admired. Even when choosing a woman, he wanted the loving-mother type. That alone said plenty.

Niu Youdao hissed, “Are you trying to make sure we walk in upright and get carried out sideways?”

Yuan Gang replied, “You know I never think about this stuff. How would I know what poem fits?”

“Stop talking. You choose one yourself. I can’t do it.”

The two muttered together for a while before returning. Without a word, Niu Youdao picked up the brush, dipped it into the ink, and prepared to write.

Seeing him take the brush, Han Bing asked, “Who exactly is writing it?”

Yuan Gang answered stiffly, “My handwriting isn’t fit to be shown. I already told him the poem. He’ll write it for me.”

Han Bing looked at Xue Luo’er. Seeing that the Young Mistress had no objection, she said nothing further. Standing before the portrait Yuan Gang had chosen, Niu Youdao held the brush and considered for a moment. These people were not idiots like Song Yanqing. He could not simply fool them with anything.

So he made a slight alteration to a poem he knew and wrote it into the blank space of the painting. Several lines of ink appeared on the paper:

Fallen blossoms—one stands alone.
Fine rain—paired swallows fly.
The moon of those days is still there,
Once it shone as rosy clouds returned.

When he finished, Niu Youdao set down the brush and stepped aside. Xue Luo’er approached to read it. Set against the woman in the painting, the poem stirred a hundred different feelings in her heart. She looked for a long while. Then she actually murmured under her breath.

“One stands alone... paired swallows fly... the moon is still there... rosy clouds return...”

Only after a long time did she slowly turn. She looked toward Yuan Gang.

“Did you write this poem?”

For Yuan Gang, that question was like having a stone in his mouth and being expected to swallow it. Difficult. The muscles in his cheeks tightened. Seeing his expression and knowing his temperament, Niu Youdao grew worried. He had not expected Xue Luo’er to ask so directly. Monkey was too hard. He was the kind of man who would rather break than bend. Sure enough, Yuan Gang ultimately refused to admit it.

“No. I heard it from someone on the road and borrowed it.”

Xue Luo’er’s bright eyes studied him deeply. She did not say anything more.

Turning her head, she ordered, “Put it away.”

Then she turned and departed, leaving everyone with only the back of her long white dress. Whatever else might be said, the matter was finally over. By the time they returned to Rainbow Inn, dusk had already fallen. Chu Anlou kept his promise and did not drive them out of the distinguished guest rooms. He did, however, remind Niu Youdao to finish his affairs and leave as soon as possible. Once back in his room, Niu Youdao entered the bathing chamber. He had painted almost nonstop for an entire day.

It truly had consumed a fair amount of energy, and he was mentally tired.

As he removed his clothes, he instructed, “Go to the various shops immediately. Ask whether their sect leaders have arrived.”

Leaning against the bathing-room doorway with his arms folded, Yuan Gang nodded. Then he turned and left. Before long, Black Peony came in. She rolled up her sleeves, sat beside the pool, placed both hands on Niu Youdao’s shoulders, and began massaging them. As she worked, she asked whether everything at the Ice and Snow Pavilion had gone smoothly. Yuan Gang returned after making his round. Seeing the scene inside the bathing chamber, he once again leaned against the doorway with his arms folded.

“The sect leaders are all on the road. Beizhou is closer to here. Huang Lie, Sect Leader of Dachan Mountain, should arrive first.”

With his eyes closed, soaking in the hot spring while enjoying Black Peony’s massage, Niu Youdao gave a quiet “Mm”...

Several days later, a fierce snowstorm swept across the land. Snowflakes fell into the canyon and quickly melted. Across the vast snowfield, a group of more than ten people broke through the roaring wind and snow, flew forward, and descended into the canyon. At their head was a tall, broad man wrapped in a fur cloak, his face covered by a full beard. His cold gaze swept across the canyon. His bearing was extraordinary. He was Huang Lie, Sect Leader of Dachan Mountain.

The men accompanying him on either side were all experts of Dachan Mountain. Mei Shikai, who had been lingering in the canyon awaiting their arrival, froze when he saw them. He quickly flew over and landed before the group.

“Greetings, Sect Leader. Greetings, Elders.”

Amid the swirling snowflakes, Huang Lie strode forward. Mei Shikai immediately extended a hand and led the way. They reached Dachan Mountain’s shop. After removing his fur cloak, Huang Lie entered the rear hall and sat in the principal seat.

“Niu Youdao?”

Mei Shikai answered respectfully, “Still at Rainbow Inn.”

Huang Lie said heavily, “Tell him this old man has arrived.”

When the message reached Rainbow Inn, Niu Youdao was standing by the window, watching the snow fill the sky. He reached out and caught a snowflake. It melted coldly in his palm. He turned around.

“Invite him over.”

Then he himself left the room, went downstairs, and headed directly to Chu Anlou. Chu Anlou was also watching the snow, though from inside his own room.

“You’re negotiating with Huang Lie. Why do you need me to appear?”

Chu Anlou slowly turned. His expression had already darkened as he stared at Niu Youdao.

“I’m warning you. Don’t push your luck.”

“The Ice and Snow Pavilion will not involve itself in your petty affairs.”

In truth, it was not that the Ice and Snow Pavilion never involved itself in disputes beyond its borders. The great balance beneath Heaven was already maintained in the hands of the nine supreme experts. That was precisely why they did not involve themselves lightly. The reason was simple.

A casual statement from this side could trigger a chain of reactions and cause the entire situation beneath Heaven to change. There were reasons for maintaining transcendence above ordinary disputes.

Niu Youdao asked, “What if Huang Lie wants to use the Ice and Snow Pavilion?”

Chu Anlou barked, “He wouldn’t dare!”

“Exactly because someone may want to use the Ice and Snow Pavilion against me, I’m asking Innkeeper Chu to appear and state the Ice and Snow Pavilion’s position clearly.”

Niu Youdao continued, “That way certain people won’t act without knowing the immensity of Heaven and Earth. I have absolutely no intention of asking Innkeeper Chu to favor me...”

Snowflakes swirled through the air. Accompanied by Mei Shikai, Huang Lie led several people into Rainbow Inn. Duan Hu waited in front and personally guided them all the way to the top floor. Huang Lie had stayed at Rainbow Inn before.

But this was the first time he had ever reached this floor, and the first time he had seen the true arrangement of the level. Because of that, a trace of heaviness entered his heart. He did not know what exactly the Ice and Snow Pavilion meant by this.

To tell the truth, without something like this, how could Niu Youdao possibly have drawn him all the way here in person?

With Niu Youdao’s meager foundations, even if the man personally went to Dachan Mountain, he might not have been able to meet Huang Lie at all. Niu Youdao and the others were no longer inside a room. They were already waiting in the circular hall. Chu Anlou was there as well.

It had to be said that, to a certain extent, those hundreds of thousands of gold coins had indeed produced an effect. When the two sides met, Mei Shikai stood between them and made the introductions. Niu Youdao smiled and cupped his hands.

“I have long heard Sect Leader Huang’s great name. Meeting you today, your bearing is truly extraordinary. Your reputation is well deserved.”

Huang Lie gave him a sidelong glance and ignored him completely. Instead, he looked toward Chu Anlou and cupped his hands.

“Innkeeper Chu, it has been many years. Your bearing remains as fine as ever.”

[End of Chapter 190]