Chapter 206: Pointing the Way

Wave after wave of “surprises” left Lu Shengzhong badly shaken.

The Song family was finished. The three sects that had depended on the Song family had come over to this side as well. Even more unexpectedly, Shang Chaozong had risen so quickly that he had already occupied Qingshan Commandery.

Lu Shengzhong had been imprisoned for a long time in places where he saw no daylight. He had lost some sense of the passage of time outside, but not so much that he could no longer estimate how long it had been. How much time had really passed? How could the world have changed so greatly already?

Though he found it difficult to believe, inwardly he understood that Niu Youdao had no reason to deceive him about such matters.

The fact that the man was willing to sit down and talk clearly meant he intended to leave Lu Shengzhong some road to survival. Once Lu Shengzhong regained his freedom, the truth or falsity of these claims would be easy to determine. They were not the sort of lies that could be maintained.

“This is Qingshan Commandery's capital?”

Lu Shengzhong asked. Niu Youdao smiled and nodded. Lu Shengzhong fell silent. During the journey, when he had been escorted and transferred from one place to another, he had noticed that they had entered a city. So this was Qingshan Commandery.

Lu Shengzhong said, “How would I know what Wuliang Mountain intends to do?”

Niu Youdao took a sip of tea, then set down his cup and pointed toward the Goldenwing in the cage nearby.

“The Goldenwing we took from you back in Canglu County has been kept for you all this time.”

“Why not try contacting your sect?”

Lu Shengzhong turned toward the Goldenwing and could not help giving a bitter laugh.

“So you really were plotting against Wuliang Mountain from the very beginning.”

He had guessed correctly. Niu Youdao had indeed set his sights on Wuliang Mountain from the start.

Wuliang Mountain had been the “generous gift” he originally meant to give Shang Chaozong.

Only, circumstances had changed. Plans had to change with them.

Niu Youdao said, “I would not call it plotting. Matters forced upon people do not last. Mutual benefit is the only road that endures.”

Lu Shengzhong asked, “You want Wuliang Mountain to come over to this side?”

Niu Youdao did not answer directly.

“The fact that Wuliang Mountain has fallen to its present state does not inspire much confidence in your Sect Leader's ability.”

“Truthfully, I have always thought Brother Lu's abilities were somewhat wasted inside Wuliang Mountain.”

“You are entirely capable of making a greater contribution to the sect and leading Wuliang Mountain much farther.”

“If Brother Lu were to become Sect Leader of Wuliang Mountain, it would not be impossible for the sect to prosper.”

Lu Shengzhong sneered.

“Are you joking?”

“A joke?”

Niu Youdao slowly shook his head.

“Not at all.”

“Above us here is Tianyu Sect. Beneath it are Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain.”

“Any one of them could easily destroy Wuliang Mountain.”

“So long as Wuliang Mountain comes here, Brother Lu may handle the sect however you wish.”

“If you want your Sect Leader dead, that would require only a word.”

“If there are people who refuse to accept Brother Lu, you may remove them however you please.”

“This is all very practical.”

“There is nothing humorous about it.”

The words were brutally simple, nakedly direct, and shamelessly unscrupulous. Yuan Fang, standing nearby, could not stop the muscles in his face from twitching. Lu Shengzhong's pupils contracted sharply. The man opposite him was actually discussing the murder of his own Sect Leader to his face. It was outrageous.

Niu Youdao continued casually, “I may have imprisoned Brother Lu for a long time, but perhaps that was not entirely a bad thing.”

“There is a saying: after bitterness comes sweetness.”

“If one spell of imprisonment were enough to make someone Sect Leader, I imagine plenty of people in Wuliang Mountain would gladly suffer through the same ordeal.”

“Of course, there is a prerequisite.”

“Brother Lu must find the people of Wuliang Mountain and persuade the sect to come over to this side.”

“And more importantly, Brother Lu must handle matters in a way that satisfies me.”

“So long as I am satisfied, having Brother Lu become Sect Leader of Wuliang Mountain will not be difficult.”

Lu Shengzhong's voice turned heavy.

“Ridiculous!”

“No matter how low I, Lu Shengzhong, may fall, I would never commit the crime of betraying my master and destroying my ancestral lineage!”

Niu Youdao said, “Calling it betrayal of master and ancestors is going too far.”

“No law of Heaven says the position of Sect Leader is born to belong to one particular person.”

“Which sect does not choose the capable to lead?”

“Would it not be better to replace an incompetent man with someone more capable, give Wuliang Mountain a more glorious future, and let the ancestral founders smile in the afterlife?”

“An incompetent man who drags an entire sect down for the sake of his own selfish interest is the one truly betraying master and ancestors.”

“As a disciple of Wuliang Mountain, thinking first of what is best for Wuliang Mountain is the proper principle.”

The muscles in Lu Shengzhong's cheeks tightened.

“And if I refuse?”

“Will you kill me?”

Niu Youdao said, “A melon forcibly twisted from the vine is not sweet.”

“I dislike forcing people to do what they are unwilling to do more than anything.”

“If you refuse, I absolutely will not kill you.”

“I will let you go.”

Lu Shengzhong leaned forward slightly.

“Truly?”

“Absolutely.”

Niu Youdao answered without hesitation.

“Only, I do worry about Brother Lu's future.”

“After offending Wang Heng, Wuliang Mountain will find it difficult to establish itself in the State of Yan.”

“As the chief culprit, Brother Lu is someone Wang Heng will naturally refuse to spare.”

“And equally, it was because Brother Lu sold them out that Wuliang Mountain fell into such circumstances.”

“I find it difficult to imagine what will happen to Brother Lu if you return to the sect.”

“Even if nothing happens to you, will the sect ever entrust you with important responsibility again?”

“Of course, perhaps Brother Lu is lofty enough that whether you are valued or not makes no difference.”

“Even if you suffer, perhaps you can let others spit in your face and simply allow it to dry, enduring humiliation and clinging to life.”

“There have always been people like that since ancient times. Brother Lu would hardly be the first.”

“Or perhaps Brother Lu can leave everything behind, conceal your name, and become an independent cultivator somewhere far away.”

“Only, a man known for betraying his own sect may find the outside world rather difficult to navigate...”

The more Niu Youdao spoke, the more chaotic Lu Shengzhong's thoughts became. His mind was a complete mess.

“But if you can find Wuliang Mountain another road forward, that becomes different.”

“Perhaps it cannot be called merit, but at the very least it would count as redeeming yourself through service.”

“You could openly tell Wuliang Mountain that you persuaded me and take all the credit for yourself.”

“If Wuliang Mountain comes here, even the court of the State of Yan will not dare act rashly against this place.”

“Wang Heng would be even less capable of doing anything to you.”

Niu Youdao sighed.

“Enough. I have said all I mean to say.”

“I dislike forcing people.”

“Old Bear, release the restriction on him and escort him out of the residence.”

Yuan Fang immediately stepped forward. His hands moved repeatedly across Lu Shengzhong's body, undoing the restriction on him. Spiritual power once again circulated through Lu Shengzhong's body. The comfortable sensation of his qi dynamic filling him again scarcely needed describing. Yet Lu Shengzhong was in no mood to enjoy it. Instead, his heart felt heavier than ever.

“Please!”

Yuan Fang extended a hand, inviting him to leave. Lu Shengzhong looked as though he wished to say something but stopped himself. He remained seated and showed no intention of getting up. His gaze shifted from Yuan Fang back to Niu Youdao.

At last he asked, “You yourself said that Tianyu Sect stands above this side, with Liuxian Sect and the other two below it.”

“Why do you still need to recruit Wuliang Mountain?”

Niu Youdao waved Yuan Fang back.

“That is precisely why I said I have little confidence in your Sect Leader's ability.”

“With Wuliang Mountain's meager strength, what are you going to use to compete with other sects?”

“If you insist on competing with them, the only possible result is suppression by stronger powers and being forced to linger forever along the margins.”

“Forgive my bluntness, but Wuliang Mountain wants to prosper while never having correctly identified its own place.”

Lu Shengzhong gave a quiet sound of interest.

“I would like to hear your insight.”

Niu Youdao said, “Very simple.”

“Reposition yourselves.”

“Stop thinking about competing with the other sects.”

“You do not possess the strength to compete with stronger powers anyway.”

“First abandon the idea of fighting the strong for profit.”

“Instead, think about how to create an advantage other people cannot replace.”

“Once you have truly established your footing, you can consider other ambitions later.”

Lu Shengzhong pondered.

“Wuliang Mountain does not seem to possess any advantage that others cannot replace.”

“If you have no advantage, then create one.”

Niu Youdao continued, “It depends on how Wuliang Mountain defines its own function and where you choose to make your entry.”

“If all you think about is seizing territory so the sect can expand, then with your present strength?”

“That is neither realistic nor capable of breaking through the walls of interest others have already built.”

Lu Shengzhong said, “Then please point out a road through the confusion.”

The conversation had already reached this point. Niu Youdao stopped speaking in circles and laid the matter bare.

“I need a group of eyes scattered across important places in every state, so I can learn developments in those places in a timely manner.”

Lu Shengzhong understood immediately.

After thinking for a while, he asked, “If Wuliang Mountain does not serve as retainer cultivators here, where will our financial support come from?”

“You are overthinking it.”

Niu Youdao said, “Naturally, support will be provided.”

“Otherwise, hearts run like water. No one can be kept.”

Lu Shengzhong pondered for a long while.

Then he asked, “Can you truly make me Sect Leader of Wuliang Mountain?”

Niu Youdao smiled. He knew the man had already made his choice.

“That, I cannot guarantee.”

“Nor do I wish to make such a guarantee.”

“Everything depends on you.”

“If you possess the ability to become Sect Leader, I will naturally help you.”

“If you lack that ability, I will not lift a stone only to smash my own foot.”

“Throwing Wuliang Mountain into internal chaos would bring me no benefit.”

“I can only guarantee that I will give you an opportunity.”

“If you can seize it, then it will be something you earned.”

“First handle the matter of bringing Wuliang Mountain over.”

“Afterward, I have another matter for you to do.”

“If you handle it well, that will be your opportunity.”

Lu Shengzhong let out a dark, weary sigh. Did he truly have any choice? Just as the other man had said, even if he were released and returned to Wuliang Mountain, his ending might not be good. Even if the sect did not blame him, he would never again be able to raise his head within it. Run away and become an independent cultivator? That would be no different from betraying the sect. Once such a reputation spread, every sect beneath Heaven would despise him.

Even if he somehow survived in the cultivation world, he would never amount to much again. Since every road led toward an equally miserable end, why not struggle toward the better one? The other side had already given him a path. He truly could find no reason to refuse it. He turned his head toward the Goldenwing nearby.

“So much time has passed. I don't even know whether this Goldenwing can still contact anyone from the sect.”

Niu Youdao smiled.

“There is no harm in trying.”

Lu Shengzhong nodded.

“If it cannot make contact, I will go out and find a way to search for them.”

Niu Youdao tilted his head.

“Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!”

Before long, the writing materials were brought over. Lu Shengzhong lifted the brush and considered his wording for a long time before finally writing a secret letter. After the Goldenwing carried the letter away, Lu Shengzhong raised his head and silently watched it disappear into the sky.

Standing on the pavilion steps behind him, Niu Youdao instructed, “Arrange a proper room for Brother Lu. Do not neglect him.”

After Yuan Fang led Lu Shengzhong away, Yuan Gang walked to Niu Youdao's side.

“What do you need Lu Shengzhong to do?”

“Can you trust a man like that?”

Niu Youdao understood the meaning beneath Yuan Gang's words. If the task were truly necessary, Yuan Gang would rather do it himself.

“I am waiting for Shao Pingbo to make his move.”

“Shao Pingbo is waiting as well.”

“Over in Beizhou, Wei Duo is not suited to doing things that cannot see the light.”

“Wu Sanliang has enough ability to run errands and handle ordinary work, but not enough to shoulder anything important.”

“Neither of them can get past Shao Pingbo's methods.”

“That is why I told them to keep their distance from Shao Pingbo. Otherwise, something would go wrong very easily.”

“As for your temperament, there are some things you simply disdain doing.”

“So sending you there would not be suitable either.”

“The man placed beside Shao Pingbo needs to be ruthless, capable, resourceful, and without a bottom line.”

“Lu Shengzhong is more suitable than any of you.”

Niu Youdao's voice was faint and calm.

[End of Chapter 206]