Chapter 207: In Full Swing

Yuan Gang said nothing more. He knew anything he said would be pointless. Master Dao himself was a man who straddled the line between righteous and wicked. His standards for judging right and wrong were blurred. Unlike Yuan Gang, he did not divide right from wrong so cleanly. In Master Dao's eyes there was no absolute good or evil, no absolute good person or bad person. When choosing people, he did not care what corner of the Three Teachings and Nine Schools they came from.

Niu Youdao did not remain long in the residence behind the Commandery Governor's Residence either. The Commandery Governor's Residence was under Tianyu Sect's control. He had no desire to remain indefinitely in an environment where Tianyu Sect could decide whether he lived or died at any moment.

Using the search for a brewing site as his excuse, he inspected several places outside the city and found a valley with a good environment. He moved out of the city and settled there.

Living conditions in the wilderness would take time to improve. For the moment, he had a thatched cottage erected beside a mountain stream and lived there.

The surroundings were pleasant enough—green mountains, clear water, wisps of thin mist in the mornings, and birds returning to their nests beneath the evening sun. There was no need to worry about security either.

Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain had thrown in their lot with this side, which was effectively the same as offending the imperial court, so all three sects had moved here as well.

Disciples of the three sects jointly guarded the mountain, keeping Niu Youdao's residence under tight protection. Experts from all three sects were gathered here. Beyond them, Shang Chaozong had stationed several thousand troops around the perimeter. It would be difficult for outsiders to force their way in and disturb the peace.

One li from the residence, craftsmen worked day and night beneath a cliff in the valley, cutting into the rock. The existing caves had to be enlarged, opened through, and connected together for use as the brewing site. The night was quiet. From far away came the occasional ding and clang of chisels striking stone.

Above the cliff, a Moon Butterfly danced through the darkness, shedding a soft glow as it followed the guidance of Niu Youdao's qi dynamic. The butterfly egg he had bought in Star-Plucking City had finally broken from its cocoon. Though the creature was still small, it already shone brilliantly. Beneath a sky filled with stars, Niu Youdao extended one hand. The tiny Moon Butterfly drifted gently down like a falling star and settled on his fingertip. Its light illuminated the face he was staring at.

Reflections of the glowing butterfly shimmered in his eyes. There was confusion in his gaze, and a faint sense of loss rising from somewhere deep inside him lingered there for a long time. Shang Shuqing stood nearby, watching him.

She did not know whether it was merely her imagination, but at that moment Master Dao seemed very much like the Moon Butterfly itself—shining brilliantly beneath the night sky, yet alone with only its own shadow. She had no idea what he was thinking, nor why such emotion had surfaced in his eyes. She too had moved into the valley.

The reason she gave Shang Chaozong was that military and governmental affairs normally required little from her anyway. Living here would make it easier to keep abreast of Master Dao's situation and inform her elder brother promptly if anything happened. Lan Ruoting reserved judgment. He remained silent and expressed no opinion. Shang Chaozong, however, considered her reasoning perfectly sound and agreed.

Seeing how beautiful the Moon Butterfly resting on Niu Youdao's hand was, Yuan Fang looked down at the box in his own hands. His Moon Butterfly still did not seem ready to emerge from its cocoon. They had begun incubating them at the same time, but the eggs had been obtained at different times. He found the difference rather puzzling.

Not far away, Yuan Gang lay atop a large boulder with both arms pillowed beneath his head, staring up at the starry sky. He often gazed into that vast expanse, wondering how much unknown mystery it concealed.

Beneath a large tree, Lu Shengzhong sat cross-legged with his back against the trunk, silently looking into the night as well. No one knew what he was thinking. Each person had thoughts of his own. As the night deepened, everyone eventually returned to rest. At the foot of the mountain, two maids came to meet Shang Shuqing and accompanied her away.

Niu Youdao returned to his thatched cottage and continued examining the Moon Butterfly that had only just emerged from its cocoon. With the creature inside, the entire room glowed brightly.

Although a Moon Butterfly produced light of its own, it feared strong light, especially sunlight. During the day it did not dare show itself. Storing and releasing it was simple enough.

A specially made small metal case was hollow inside. A square frame could be pulled out like a drawer. Once the Moon Butterfly landed within the frame and folded its wings upright, the frame could be slid back into the case. The case also had a feeding port.

Myriad Beasts Sect specially prepared food for Moon Butterflies called Dewdrop. The actual feed resembled a small medicinal pill. Crushed and mixed into clear water, it could be placed inside the case, where the Moon Butterfly drank it in droplets like dew. A single feeding lasted several days. The case itself was not large. Normally it hung from the belt and looked much like a jade pendant carried on the person. In short, Myriad Beasts Sect truly knew how to do business.

Every accessory connected to the things it sold was covered as well. Buy one item from them, and afterward the buyer still had to keep coming back for everything that went with it. That was one reason Myriad Beasts Sect ranked among the wealthiest sects beneath Heaven. One specialty was enough to eat one's fill everywhere beneath Heaven.

“Something on your mind?”

While playing with the Moon Butterfly, Niu Youdao glanced toward Yuan Gang, who was leaning against the doorway with his head lowered in silence. Yuan Gang slowly walked in.

After some hesitation, he said, “During those years in Small Temple Village, I trained a few of the sharper ones.”

“They could be useful if we brought them over.”

“Big Stick and the others... I want to have someone bring them here and give them a chance.”

Niu Youdao fell silent.

Only after a long while did he slowly say, “There is nothing wrong with living a simple life.”

Yuan Gang replied, “How can anyone live simply in a world like this?”

“Better to give them a chance to make something of themselves.”

Niu Youdao said, “Handle it as you see fit.”

“So long as they do not regret it, and you do not regret it either.”

Yuan Gang turned and left. He went directly to Shang Shuqing's side and asked her people to send someone to Small Temple Village to find them... Several days later, someone came from Wuliang Mountain. The visitor was Lu Shengzhong's master, Chang Zhiyi, one of Wuliang Mountain's five elders.

It was precisely because of that status that Lu Shengzhong had once managed to distinguish himself among the disciples of Wuliang Mountain and earn a place at Wang Heng's side. Wuliang Mountain did not understand the situation here. Nor did they know whether Lu Shengzhong's claims were true. Naturally they could not simply move the entire sect over without verification. Your own disciple, you handle him. If there was danger, you bore it yourself. So Chang Zhiyi had been sent to investigate, accompanied by only a single attendant.

“Bastard!”

The moment master and disciple met, Chang Zhiyi launched into a furious scolding. Lu Shengzhong dropped to his knees with a thud, kowtowing as tears streamed down his face. Niu Youdao did not interfere. He watched from a distance. Only after both master and disciple had calmed down did Lu Shengzhong lead his master over to meet Niu Youdao.

The kitchen that now proudly displayed the signboard “Nanshan Temple” naturally prepared wine and dishes to receive the guest.

The wine was nothing worth mentioning, but the food surprised Chang Zhiyi enough that he could not resist tasting several more bites. Chang Zhiyi verified the situation his disciple had described. Naturally, Niu Youdao helped Lu Shengzhong cover the parts that needed covering. Niu Youdao also asked about Wuliang Mountain's present circumstances. Things were not good.

Since the incident in Canglu County, the time that had passed was neither especially short nor truly long. Wang Heng had been pursuing Wuliang Mountain all along, so the sect was still in hiding and did not dare show itself openly. Wuliang Mountain had, however, already heard about Shang Chaozong's rapid rise. In that respect, they had learned the news even earlier than Lu Shengzhong, who had been locked away.

If Shang Chaozong was willing to take them in, give them a road forward, and shelter them from the danger posed by Wang Heng's side, Wuliang Mountain was naturally willing to attach itself here.

But turning Wuliang Mountain from an organization that operated openly into one that operated in the shadows, changing the very nature of the sect's role, was not something Chang Zhiyi—who had only been sent to confirm the situation—dared agree to on his own. Wuliang Mountain had few other choices at present, however. And Niu Youdao's proposal did make sense. He had genuinely pointed out a direction in which Wuliang Mountain could develop. After several rounds of correspondence by Goldenwing, Wuliang Mountain sent another group to confirm the situation.

Only after everything had been verified did the sect formally agree. A verbal agreement was not enough for Niu Youdao. He required Wuliang Mountain itself to move here.

Unless he had the lives of Wuliang Mountain's senior leadership within his grasp, how could he dare make use of them? Shang Chaozong's strength was not yet great enough for Wuliang Mountain to stake its life on profit alone. With Liuxian Sect and the other factions guarding this place, any one of those sects could suppress Wuliang Mountain. Only after Wuliang Mountain's senior figures came here and entered his control would Niu Youdao feel at ease.

By the time the caves had been excavated and work began on the brewing equipment, Gongsun Bu, Sect Leader of Wuliang Mountain, arrived as well, leading several hundred disciples.

By the time Gongsun Bu reached the valley, everything that needed discussing had already been settled by the people below him. He had come only to make the final decision. Green mountains rolled away beneath a gentle breeze. An open-air stone table and stone stools had been set out. After Gongsun Bu sat down with Niu Youdao and exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries, Niu Youdao wasted no more words. He directly produced a stack of gold drafts to steady Wuliang Mountain's heart and let them see his financial strength.

“Five hundred thousand.”

Niu Youdao pushed the stack across the stone table toward Gongsun Bu. Gongsun Bu and several elders felt their hearts jump.

What an enormous sum!

One elder picked up the drafts and quickly counted them. Then he gave Gongsun Bu a small nod. There was no mistake. It really was five hundred thousand gold coins. Gongsun Bu tested the waters.

“Is this money for Wuliang Mountain itself, or is it to cover the cost of carrying out the work?”

Niu Youdao replied, “Whether Wuliang Mountain keeps it or uses it as operating expenses is for you to decide.”

“I guarantee you five hundred thousand every year as a base amount.”

“If the work is done well, there will be additional rewards for merit.”

“If the work is botched, that will not be treated as a joke either.”

“Later, this side will give you a clear set of rules for rewards and punishments so everyone understands exactly where he stands.”

“You will arrange the agents sent to the various states yourselves.”

“Make certain the people chosen are reliable.”

“Consider every placement carefully.”

“Draw up a proper plan for me as quickly as possible.”

“Within three months, I want to see results.”

“Discuss the specific details with Yuan Gang.”

They had witnessed Niu Youdao's financial strength the moment they arrived. Wuliang Mountain's people quickly settled down. They selected a nearby site, opened up the mountain, established their base, and swiftly began carrying out his arrangements. Before long, batches of Wuliang Mountain disciples quietly disappeared from the area. Niu Youdao assigned Lu Shengzhong a special task. After a private conversation with Niu Youdao, Lu Shengzhong quietly left as well. He was heading for Beizhou to meet Wu Sanliang. Everything moved forward in full swing, intense yet orderly.

Yuan Gang was both involved in the process and, in another sense, an observer of it from beginning to end. Ever since the day they left Small Temple Village, he had personally watched Master Dao execute one maneuver after another, turning clouds with one hand and rain with the other. Starting with nothing, Master Dao had rapidly gathered an entire group around himself. Yuan Gang admitted that if their positions were reversed, he could never have accomplished the same thing.

Niu Youdao also temporarily devoted part of his attention to the brewing operation. The actual work was still entrusted to the monks of Nanshan Temple under Yuan Fang. Niu Youdao only taught them the method. If he tried to handle every task personally, he could never keep up. For a long time to come, the brewing business would be this side's principal source of funds. Teaching the method to Nanshan Temple also served the need for secrecy. Niu Youdao felt at ease leaving it with Yuan Fang.

A group of people with firm faith made the best keepers of a secret. Besides, Yuan Fang was a miser. He was the kind of man who could dream at night that someone was stealing his road to wealth and wake in alarm. Only this group of monks knew the complete brewing process. The brewing caves had three entrances.

At each entrance, Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain took turns stationing two disciples around the clock, never leaving their posts even a single step. The three sects also attached enormous importance to the matter.

As Niu Youdao had put it, once Tianyu Sect stole the secret brewing method, there would no longer be any need for the rest of them. Tianyu Sect might simply kick all three sects out of the game. So the three sects guarded the site relentlessly.

They also kept a fairly close watch on the Nanshan Temple monks living in the area, afraid the secret might leak.

Apart from the Nanshan Temple monks responsible for brewing, even members of the three sects themselves were forbidden to enter the brewing area. Tianyu Sect's people naturally had even less chance. On this matter, the three sects acted together and would not yield to Tianyu Sect in the slightest. At every entrance, five of Shang Chaozong's men were also stationed on rotating guard. Both sides supervised one another, preventing those guarding the treasure from stealing it themselves. And Yuan Fang carved three characters above the cave entrance: Nanshan Temple.

[End of Chapter 207]