Chapter 202: Hardly Presentable

A generous gift?

Black Peony knew nothing about the earlier promise and looked somewhat puzzled. Shang Chaozong and the others were startled for a moment. Then they remembered. Before Master Dao entered seclusion, he really had said something like that. The moment the memory surfaced, all of them felt a chill of astonishment.

Lan Ruoting asked uncertainly, “Master Dao, could the arrival of these sect leaders be the generous gift you meant back then?”

Niu Youdao smiled.

“Several sects have come to help Your Highness seize Nanzhou. Does Mister Lan think the gift too light to be worth accepting?”

“No, no!”

Lan Ruoting hurriedly waved both hands.

“A generous gift. Absolutely a generous gift!”

For a moment he scarcely knew how to describe what he was feeling.

“I only meant... had Master Dao already planned this step back then?”

Niu Youdao shook his head.

“The circumstances changed.”

“The gift I meant back then was not this one. I merely followed the situation as it developed.”

“In any case, what Your Highness is receiving now is no worse than what I originally intended.”

Lan Ruoting released a quiet breath. For an instant, he had thought Niu Youdao had calculated all the way to this day from the very beginning. If that were truly so, the man's strategic foresight would be terrifying beyond belief. The Shang siblings relaxed slightly as well. They had been startled by the same thought. Even after relaxing, however, the emotion in their hearts remained difficult to describe. Deceiving Feng Ruonan into marriage. Borrowing troops from Guangyi Commandery. Establishing a foothold in Canglu County. Persuading Hai Ruyue. Seizing Qingshan Commandery.

And now drawing several sects over to help them scheme for Nanzhou. Step after step, linked one after another. The entire progression was breathtaking. They had no choice but to admit that one Niu Youdao had completely changed their fate. Back then, the brother and sister had been preparing to flee overseas through a secret passage. When they escaped the capital like homeless dogs, who could possibly have imagined they would reach their present position?

And when they first borrowed troops from Feng Lingbo, who could have imagined that now, in turn, they were preparing to appropriate the fruits of Feng Lingbo's many years of labor without shedding a drop of blood? How could they not be overwhelmed by the thought? They guessed Tianyu Sect had not yet hurried to tell Feng Lingbo about the decision. When Feng Lingbo eventually learned the truth, what sort of expression would he wear? Shang Shuqing could not resist looking several times at Yuan Gang standing behind Niu Youdao.

She still remembered what Yuan Gang had said to her at Nanshan Temple. Every word remained clear in her ears:

“I know what you siblings are thinking. You think Master Dao's cultivation isn't high. That's because you have eyes yet fail to recognize gold-inlaid jade. Given your circumstances, Master Dao the man matters more than his cultivation. You tried to keep the wrong person!”

Looking back on those words now, Shang Shuqing finally understood just how much weight there had been in every sentence Yuan Gang spoke that day. Every word had been a pearl. Everything that had happened since then had proven Yuan Gang right. The person who truly understood Master Dao was still Yuan Gang. And Yuan Gang had genuinely shown them a clear road forward back then. Thinking about it now, Shang Shuqing repeatedly felt a lingering fear.

At the same time, she could not help feeling profoundly fortunate. If they had missed that chance, how could the brother and sister possibly have reached where they were today? At the very least, they could never have risen this quickly. It had only been about half a year since they fled the capital. Once the matter of the generous gift had been set aside, Shang Chaozong asked for his opinion.

“Master Dao, Hai Ruyue has already urged us several times.”

Niu Youdao asked, “Urged you about what?”

“She is anxious to see results from the Yingyang and Wulie Guards.”

Shang Chaozong sighed.

“I can understand how she feels.”

“She is afraid that if something happens to her son, the Xiao family's remaining ties of favor will disappear and Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion may make some unpredictable move against her at any time.”

“So she is desperate to see us display enough strength to support her.”

“I understand her anxiety, but how can something like this be rushed?”

“Training troops is not the work of a single morning or evening.”

“There are too many limiting conditions.”

“Since these are cavalry, large numbers of warhorses are indispensable. That condition alone is difficult to satisfy in the short term.”

Niu Youdao thought briefly.

“Our present conditions are limited. Your Highness does not need to pay attention to her pressure.”

“Proceed steadily at a pace you can control.”

Lan Ruoting interjected, “Master Dao means we should abandon Hai Ruyue?”

Niu Youdao shook his head slightly.

“As matters stand, whoever else controls Jinzhou would be less advantageous to Your Highness than Hai Ruyue.”

“In short, Your Highness does not need to trouble yourself over her.”

“Concentrate on your own affairs.”

“I will deal with Hai Ruyue. I have my own way to pacify her.”

The moment he said that, the others inexplicably felt that this troublesome matter no longer seemed troublesome at all. What followed was a long discussion focused mainly on their next steps. Niu Youdao gave Shang Chaozong numerous reminders. Shang Chaozong nodded from time to time, committing each instruction to memory. Knowing Niu Youdao had traveled a long distance and must be tired, they did not stay too long. After speaking for a while longer, they took their leave. Niu Youdao personally escorted them out.

Shang Chaozong and the others repeatedly said there was no need, but Niu Youdao still observed the proper courtesies and accompanied them all the way to the main gate. He did not want Shang Chaozong to think he had become arrogant because of his achievements. Niu Youdao had spent enormous effort and taken enormous risks to support Shang Chaozong. He had no desire to raise up someone who would later turn cold and ungrateful. Walking a few extra steps and showing a little courtesy cost him nothing.

After watching them leave, Niu Youdao turned back. As he walked, he spoke quietly to the people at his sides.

“Let what happened in the Great Snowy Mountains rot in your bellies. No one is to tell anyone.”

Black Peony nodded.

“Yes.”

Yuan Fang looked puzzled. What had happened in the Great Snowy Mountains? Yuan Gang remained silent. He understood. It seemed Master Dao did not intend to let the Shang siblings know about that affair. Support was support. But in the end, Master Dao had still kept one card in reserve.

Black Peony tried asking, “Master Dao, if there is nothing else, shall I prepare things so you can wash and rest?”

Niu Youdao nodded. Once Black Peony went to make the arrangements, Niu Youdao turned to Yuan Fang.

“Old Bear, how is Lu Shengzhong these days?”

Yuan Fang gave a wicked little snicker.

“Alive and well. We've kept him locked up the whole time.”

Seeing that strange smile, Niu Youdao said, “Take me to see him.”

Yuan Fang immediately led him toward the courtyard where the monks of Nanshan Temple were staying. As they walked beneath the eaves, they passed several rooms with open windows. Each time, Niu Youdao glanced inside. The monks were still every bit as bald as before, sitting under lamplight and diligently copying Buddhist scriptures. Watching scene after scene pass by, Niu Youdao shook his head inwardly. There was no need to ask.

For so many monks to resist every outside temptation, Yuan Fang's instruction as Abbot must have played no small role. Clearly, Yuan Fang still dreamed of reviving Nanshan Temple.

No matter how much he had experienced, no matter how much turbulence or worldly splendor he had seen, his original intention had never changed. Niu Youdao could not decide whether to admire him or kick him twice. You follow me around, but your heart is still with the Buddha. What kind of arrangement is that? The worst part was that there was nothing he could reasonably say. Could he accuse Yuan Fang of harboring divided loyalties? Being angry with an intangible Buddha accomplished nothing.

If Niu Youdao complained aloud, he would only make himself look unreasonable. He also knew this was Yuan Fang's faith. Many years ago, Nanshan Temple had taken him in as a small child. Without the temple, he might have starved to death in the mountains or been eaten by wild beasts. Yuan Fang intended to spend his entire life repaying that debt. What could Niu Youdao say to that? Tell him not to repay kindness? Niu Youdao had no room around him for ingrates either.

So there was nothing to be done. It seemed a troop of monks would be following at his side for a very long time. He could simply regard them as a group chanting sutras and praying for his good fortune. Still, having a bunch of monks around him always felt vaguely strange. Across two lifetimes, he had never imagined there would come a day like this. Yuan Fang led him to the entrance of a cellar and waved for the monks standing guard to open it.

The moment the cellar hatch was lifted, a foul stench surged upward. Niu Youdao frowned. Two monks descended the steps. Soon the clanking of chains came from below.

When Lu Shengzhong finally stood before Niu Youdao with chains fastened to all four limbs, Niu Youdao could no longer recognize him at all. His hair was a filthy tangle.

His face was so dirty his features were almost obscured, as though a layer of grime had been pasted over them. His clothing was foul beyond description. Lu Shengzhong could not resist raising one hand to scratch his head. Niu Youdao's eyes flickered. He distinctly saw tiny insects crawling out through Lu Shengzhong's hair. His expression twitched. Together with the overpowering smell coming from the man's body, it was too much. Niu Youdao rubbed his nose and frowned.

“Wash him properly. Give him clean clothes. Bring him to see me tomorrow.”

He had originally intended to speak with Lu Shengzhong now. Under these circumstances, however, he wanted nothing more than to stay away.

The real problem was that with Lu Shengzhong smelling this bad, Niu Youdao could barely open his mouth without being choked by the stench. Yuan Fang immediately waved for the monks to obey. Niu Youdao noticed that the moment Lu Shengzhong heard those words, the man began to cry. Tears ran down his face.

On the way back, Niu Youdao asked Yuan Fang, “How did you manage to reduce him to this state?”

Yuan Fang's reasoning was simple. Master Dao had ordered him not to let the prisoner escape. Yuan Fang had also been afraid something might go wrong during the journey. So he instructed the monks of Nanshan Temple to eliminate every possible chance of an accident. In plain terms, Lu Shengzhong's chains had never once been removed since the day he was captured. He had never been allowed to wash. Wherever they locked him up, that was where he ate, drank, pissed, and shit. His clothes had never been changed either.

How could he possibly not stink?

“Ah!”

Back in the main hall of the Commandery Governor's Residence, Lan Ruoting suddenly let out a long sigh. Shang Chaozong, already seated, looked over.

“Mister, why such a sigh?”

Lan Ruoting shook his head with a bitter smile.

“If I weren't afraid Master Dao would find it offensive, I truly would like to go see that Small Temple Village myself.”

“A mountain village in the wilderness amid chaotic times managed to produce a man like Yuan Gang. That alone would already be remarkable.”

“Yet it also produced an uncanny talent like Master Dao, and one so young.”

“I truly feel ashamed before everything my teacher spent so many years teaching me.”

“If my teacher were still alive, I fear even he would have to sigh over this...”

He shook his head and stopped there, unwilling to say anything that might sound disrespectful toward his teacher.

After another sigh, he continued, “He's too young.”

“No matter how I think about it, how could someone of his age possess that kind of life experience and breadth of understanding?”

“I can barely imagine it.”

“The land brings forth men of talent in every age. There is no refusing it.”

“Perhaps this is what people mean by a Heaven-endowed genius.”

Shang Shuqing comforted him.

“Mister is being too modest. Everyone has his own strengths.”

“Military strategy and governance are Mister's specialties. Master Dao almost never touches such matters, which shows they are not where his strengths lie.”

“In those respects, Master Dao surely cannot compare with Mister.”

“Ah.”

Lan Ruoting waved a hand, looking as though there was no point continuing that argument. After composing himself, he grew thoughtful.

“Your Highness, there is something else I have been considering.”

“Master Dao has always been the one helping us, while we seem never to have given him anything in return.”

“That cannot continue forever.”

“The cultivation resources we promised him back then...”

He did not finish. But the Shang siblings both understood. Almost all of the resources they had once promised Niu Youdao had effectively been taken over by Tianyu Sect. To a certain extent, they had broken their word. Shang Chaozong clenched his teeth.

“If we still show nothing after all this, it truly becomes unreasonable.”

“No matter how difficult things are, we have to squeeze something out.”

“He has people to support around him too. We can't leave him without even basic expenses.”

“Find a way to free up ten thousand gold coins first.”

It was not that Shang Chaozong was stingy. Qingshan Commandery's livelihood had already been devastated. And when the former Qingshan forces retreated, they had carried off nearly every large reserve they could take. There were far too many places that urgently needed money. They had held the territory for only a short time, and its strength could not recover immediately. Tianyu Sect had already done its part by supporting them until Qingshan Commandery was conquered. Expecting the sect to continue supplying money now was impossible. Lan Ruoting looked troubled.

“It's hardly presentable.”

“A whole Qingshan Commandery can only take out ten thousand gold coins for him. Will he believe us?”

Shang Shuqing said, “Since Master Dao himself asked Tianyu Sect to restore the people's livelihood, he should be a reasonable man who understands the circumstances.”

“I am a woman. It will be easier for me to speak.”

“I'll take the money to him and explain matters properly.”

“He should understand.”

[End of Chapter 202]