Chapter 191: Negotiations

Chu Anlou did not care that Niu Youdao had been given the cold shoulder. He chuckled and cupped his hands.

“Sect Leader Huang’s bearing is even finer than before!”

Niu Youdao did not care either. Some things had been entirely within his expectations from the start. He extended a hand from the side.

“Please sit.”

Chu Anlou returned to his chair and likewise gestured for Huang Lie to sit. Huang Lie walked over to the table and took a seat. The men accompanying him stood behind him. Niu Youdao sat as well, with Yuan Gang and the others standing behind him. For the moment, it appeared only the three of them were qualified to sit. Niu Youdao had Black Peony serve tea. Huang Lie showed no intention of drinking. He stared at Chu Anlou.

“Innkeeper Chu, if the Ice and Snow Pavilion has some order to give, a single message would suffice. Dachan Mountain would naturally obey. Yet you deliberately had Huang make this trip. I find it difficult to understand.”

He was stating the matter plainly. Had it not been for the face of the Ice and Snow Pavilion, he would never have come at all.

Chu Anlou said, “Sect Leader Huang, you are taking this too seriously. Did your shop not pass along what I said? Fine, I will repeat it. Whatever matter exists between you has nothing to do with us. You know the rules of the Ice and Snow Pavilion. We will not interfere in your affairs. Do whatever you like. We will absolutely not intervene.”

At this point, he actually wanted very much to reveal Niu Youdao’s true relationship with the Ice and Snow Pavilion. The fellow was staying here only because he had painted portraits for the Pavilion Master.

Unfortunately, Niu Youdao had moved one step ahead and secured Han Bing’s agreement not to reveal that he was painting for Xue Luo’er. She had already issued the order. Once Han Bing had spoken, how could Chu Anlou dare say otherwise?

Bullshit!

Huang Lie cursed inwardly. What did it mean that this brat was sitting here? Huang Lie himself had only gained the chance to enter this place because of the brat. And what did it mean that Chu Anlou was sitting here watching them discuss matters? This was supposed to be noninterference? Huang Lie turned a cold gaze toward Niu Youdao.

“You invited me here. What exactly is this about?”

Niu Youdao said, “I hear Dachan Mountain wants to kill me?”

“There is no such thing.”

Even if there were, Huang Lie would never admit it while the circumstances remained unclear.

Niu Youdao asked, “You are surely familiar with Shao Pingbo of Beizhou?”

“I am. So what?”

“I hear Shao Pingbo is driving men from Dachan Mountain to kill me.”

Chu Anlou slowly drank his tea. This was the first time the name Shao Pingbo had really registered with him. Perhaps he had heard it before, but it had left no impression.

Huang Lie said, “You hear? Boy, do not bring out accusations without evidence. I also hear you spread a children’s rhyme in the State of Han that was harmful to Shao Pingbo. Do you admit that?”

Niu Youdao chuckled.

“A children’s rhyme? I am not some three-year-old child.”

Naturally, he would not admit it either. Huang Lie raised one hand.

“Enough of these useless scraps. Say it. What exactly did you call me here to do?”

Niu Youdao gestured toward Chu Anlou.

“There is naturally a reason I invited Innkeeper Chu to be present today. I hear Shao Pingbo intends to use the Ice and Snow Pavilion to get rid of me. The Shao family of Beizhou is supported by Dachan Mountain. Has Sect Leader Huang heard of this?”

Use the Ice and Snow Pavilion?

What was this about?

Chu Anlou gave Niu Youdao a cold sidelong glance.

“Again with ‘I hear’?”

Huang Lie sneered.

“Young man, words cannot be spoken carelessly. You say Shao Pingbo intends to use the Ice and Snow Pavilion. Then produce evidence. Do not throw around rumors and use them to frame people.”

He naturally understood how serious such a matter would be. Using the Ice and Snow Pavilion? Dachan Mountain would have to be tired of living to dare something like that. Even if such a thing existed, he could not admit it. Besides, no such thing existed in the first place.

Niu Youdao said, “Fine. We will set aside the matter of Shao Pingbo using the Liuxian Sect and other factions to ambush and kill me here. I have no evidence for the rest, so further argument is pointless.”

“Innkeeper Chu is sitting here today as a representative of the Ice and Snow Pavilion. So, in front of the Ice and Snow Pavilion, does Sect Leader Huang dare guarantee that Shao Pingbo will never make use of the Ice and Snow Pavilion in the future?”

“There is no need to guarantee anything,” Huang Lie replied. “He cannot and does not possess the ability to make use of the Ice and Snow Pavilion.”

“And if he does?”

Niu Youdao pressed.

“The people on his side are supported by Dachan Mountain.”

That question made Huang Lie wary. Could Shao Pingbo truly have done something foolish? But with Chu Anlou sitting there and the matter pushed this far, Huang Lie had no choice but to answer.

“Impossible! If he truly dares do such a thing, Dachan Mountain will be the first to refuse to spare him!”

“Good!”

Niu Youdao cupped his hands toward Chu Anlou again.

“Innkeeper Chu, if someone makes use of the Ice and Snow Pavilion to run wild, what then?”

Chu Anlou cursed inwardly. Of all the people beneath Heaven, you brat are the one least qualified to say that. You are secretly using us right now.

Still, Niu Youdao was not someone Chu Anlou had brought here of his own initiative. The Pavilion Master’s side had been the one to draw him in. That was not Chu Anlou’s responsibility.

And with those hundreds of thousands of gold coins sitting underneath the matter, Chu Anlou was not about to say anything carelessly.

“What happens is not for me to decide,” he said indifferently. “Everyone knows perfectly well what the consequences would be. Anyone unafraid of death is welcome to try.”

Huang Lie stepped out of the inn into the wind and snow again, his stomach full of suppressed anger. He had traveled all this distance just to discuss such rubbish. The other men accompanying him were equally furious.

Once they returned to the rear hall of their shop, one elder said, “That brat is far too arrogant. If we do not kill him, I will never vent this hatred!”

Huang Lie paced the hall, then raised one hand.

“That brat is living in the Ice and Snow Pavilion’s distinguished-guest quarters, and Chu Anlou personally appeared on his behalf. The meaning the Ice and Snow Pavilion has released is obvious. If not for the monk’s face, then at least for the Buddha’s. Before we understand the situation, it is best not to move recklessly.”

“Also, he would not have dragged us here from so far away merely to discuss meaningless matters. There must be some reason.”

“Warn Shao Pingbo. Tell him not to act recklessly. If he causes trouble, do not blame Dachan Mountain for showing no mercy!”

With that, Huang Lie waved irritably and went inside to rest. He had traveled all this way for a conversation that had lasted less than one hour. The frustration was hard to swallow... After seeing the guests off, Yuan Gang followed Niu Youdao back into his room.

“Master Dao, with Dachan Mountain warning him, Shao Pingbo probably won’t dare act recklessly.”

The unspoken question was obvious. When were they going to move on the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit? Niu Youdao pushed open the window and looked into the storm outside. He gave a cold laugh.

“A warning from Dachan Mountain is useless. Warnings only frighten people without ability. Capable people naturally have confidence in their ability to deal with consequences.”

“Unless Shao Pingbo truly has no way forward, so long as a method exists, a man like him will never give up a chance to bring me down.”

“Just wait and see. I would be surprised if he does not strike hard.”

Yuan Gang frowned.

“Then what was the point of talking to Huang Lie about all that? You dragged him here from so far away, put him through all this, and offended him in the bargain.”

Niu Youdao drew a deep breath of the cold wind blowing through the window.

“Sometimes you have to be a little arrogant.”

“Making people go through trouble is itself a kind of attitude. It tells them you have something to rely on.”

“Let Huang Lie see the situation with his own eyes and feel it personally. At the very least, Dachan Mountain will become wary and won’t dare play the tiger’s accomplice in the short term.”

“That removes one more danger from our path when we leave the Ice and Snow Pavilion, doesn’t it?”

“And it also serves as an advance warning to the Ice and Snow Pavilion...”

“This is only the beginning.”

Two days later, news came from the Liuxian Sect shop. Liuxian Sect Leader Fei Changliu had arrived. Niu Youdao did not hurry to meet him. He intended to wait until everyone was present. Several more days passed.

Peng Youzai, Sect Leader of Tianyu Sect; Zheng Jiuxiao, Sect Leader of Fuyun Sect; and Xia Hua, Sect Leader of Lingxiu Mountain all arrived at the Ice and Snow Pavilion one after another. Only then did Niu Youdao send invitations to the four sect leaders to gather together. This time, he did not invite Chu Anlou.

Under a clear sky stretching ten thousand li, the four sect leaders gathered by invitation on the top floor of Rainbow Inn. It was the first time any of them had been here. Xia Hua, Sect Leader of Lingxiu Mountain, was an older woman. Her clothing was extravagant, almost dazzlingly so, a riot of colors. Her face was heavily powdered and painted. The overall effect was flamboyant without being frivolous. Her eyes were large and full of spirit.

As for the Sect Leader of Tianyu Sect, Niu Youdao had long heard of him under Bai Yao’s pressure. Peng Youzai was tall and broad.

One glance at his build was enough to tell he came from the same family line as Peng Yulan and Feng Ruonan. Niu Youdao did not even need an introduction to recognize him. Fuyun Sect Leader Zheng Jiuxiao had a more refined air.

Three long strands of black beard hung from his chin, and from time to time he stroked them with one hand, giving him the appearance of an immortal with Daoist bearing. Liuxian Sect Leader Fei Changliu, perhaps because he already disliked Niu Youdao, wore a rigid, unsmiling expression.

Compared with Tianyu Sect, which could directly control a regional lord, Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain were all small factions that could only attach themselves to temporal power. Accordingly, the three sect leaders adopted noticeably lower postures when facing Peng Youzai.

No matter what attitude the guests took toward him, Niu Youdao warmly invited all four sect leaders to sit in the circular hall.

At the same time, he stationed Wu Sanliang and Lei Zongkang on the stairs so no one could approach.

“Speak. What is this about?”

The heavily built Peng Youzai sat down with a broad, imposing posture, both hands resting on his knees, and spoke first. He was not happy about Niu Youdao’s invitation either. What kind of thing was this brat?

A low-grade nobody merely sheltering inside the territory of Tianyu Sect’s influence, yet he had dared detain one of Tianyu Sect’s people.

Outrageous!

Black Peony served tea. Niu Youdao gestured for everyone to drink and smiled.

“Since Sect Leader Peng is impatient, fine. I will first ask Sect Leader Fei of Liuxian Sect a question.”

Fei Changliu gave him a sidelong glance.

Niu Youdao asked, “Sect Leader Fei, everyone previously served different masters. I will not revisit the matter of Liuxian Sect repeatedly making trouble for me.”

“I ask only one thing.”

“Can the old grudges between us be written off completely and left in the past?”

Fei Changliu’s gaze swept around a place he himself had never before had the opportunity to enter.

Then he said heavily, “I can agree not to pursue what happened before. But how are you going to account for the losses from my shop in Star-Plucking City?”

He looked toward Zheng Jiuxiao and Xia Hua.

“The losses from your two shops were not small either, were they?”

Zheng Jiuxiao said, “More than one million gold coins lost!”

Xia Hua said, “About the same. The goods in our shop were practically emptied out.”

Peng Youzai froze slightly.

What was this about?

What had happened to the shops of these three sects in Star-Plucking City?

Fei Changliu said, “Niu Youdao, shouldn’t you return the things stolen from the shops of our three sects?”

“As long as you make good those losses, Liuxian Sect can guarantee that the past will no longer be pursued.”

Peng Youzai’s eyes flickered as he looked toward Niu Youdao. This bastard had robbed the shops of three sects? Why had he heard nothing about this from Qingshan Commandery? The two elders standing behind him looked at one another as well, almost unable to believe it. Had the people guarding those shops been corpses? Zheng Jiuxiao stroked his beard and nodded.

“That is also my position.”

Xia Hua said, “Correct.”

Losses exceeding one million gold coins were no small matter to sects of their scale. That wealth had been accumulated over many years.

Of course, the reason they were now willing to declare themselves prepared to let Niu Youdao go was precisely because of where they were sitting. They were wary of the Ice and Snow Pavilion.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Niu Youdao dismissed the matter in a single sentence. There was no possibility he would publicly admit to looting shops in Star-Plucking City. Only an idiot would confess to something like that.

[End of Chapter 191]