Chapter 217: Opportunity Must Not Be Missed

Wu Tiannan smiled ingratiatingly and glanced furtively around once more before walking over to where the two brothers sat side by side at the tea table. Bending down between them, he lowered his voice and whispered.

The brothers had originally been frowning in disgust at his furtive behavior. Gradually, however, their expressions changed. Their faces grew solemn, and then their eyes began to flicker.

When Wu Tiannan finished and straightened, one brother slapped the table and shot to his feet while the other slowly stood. Both men's eyes shone.

Their elder brother was using the Ice and Snow Pavilion? And Dachan Mountain Sect Leader Huang Lie had personally guaranteed him?

If this matter were exposed, forget the Ice and Snow Pavilion—Dachan Mountain itself would probably be the first to kill their elder brother just to sever any connection!

The normally quiet Shao Wubo finally spoke, asking in a low, grave voice, “Is what you said true?”

Wu Tiannan answered with extreme caution, “Young Masters, even if I had ten thousand lives, I still wouldn't dare deceive you!”

Shao Fubo likewise glanced around before lowering his voice. “How did you learn this?”

“I have a fellow townsman from Pingchuan County who is also a cultivator and knows quite a bit about affairs in the cultivation world. I happened to run into him not long ago. While we were chatting and happened to mention the Provincial Inspector's Residence, he gave me an appropriate warning.”

Wu Tiannan continued, “This matter concerning Niu Youdao has already caused an enormous commotion at the Ice and Snow Pavilion. It isn't some secret at all. It's merely that ordinary mortals like us don't know about these things.”

Shao Wubo asked, “Where is this fellow townsman of yours?”

Wu Tiannan was at least loyal on this point.

“I only ran into him by chance. He's already gone. Cultivators come and go without fixed whereabouts. I don't know where he went.”

In truth, it was not so much loyalty as fear of angering Tao Yan’er. He had promised not to expose the brother and sister. Still, he did believe everything Lu Shengzhong had told him.

A man who had never reached that level could hardly understand the hidden currents and schemes behind such affairs. In Wu Tiannan's eyes, “Tao Jun” had no reason to lie to him.

Shao Wubo said heavily, “This is no small matter. Without a witness, how am I supposed to know whether what you say is true or false?”

Then one eyebrow rose.

“Did Eldest Young Master send you?”

He had begun to suspect that their elder brother might have dug a pit and was trying to lure them into jumping inside. Wu Tiannan almost cried out in protest.

“Second Young Master, just as you said, this is no small matter! If I were talking nonsense, wouldn't I be courting death?”

“If what I said were false, then I would be the one misleading the two Young Masters. Would the Provincial Governor spare me? I'd be the first person to suffer. How would I dare do such a thing?”

Judging from his expression, he looked ready to dig out his own heart and liver to prove his innocence. For Wu Tiannan to force himself to come here at all, he had already accepted that being drawn into this sort of affair carried risk.

The reason he was willing to take that risk was precisely because the greater the danger, the greater the potential reward.

If he helped these two bring down the Eldest Young Master, then naturally the Eldest Young Master's authority would fall into their hands. When that happened, some portion of the benefits would inevitably reach him as well. He had spent years trying to find a road upward. Heaven did not disappoint those who persevered. At last, an enormous opportunity had appeared before him. How could he let it pass? He could not resist the temptation. He could not overcome the desire in his own heart.

The Shao brothers exchanged a look. Thinking it over, the explanation did make sense. They also knew their elder brother's ability. If Shao Pingbo truly meant to tear away all pretense and deal with them, there was no need for him to take such a roundabout path.

Their elder brother possessed more than enough resources and methods to deal with the two of them. Why would he need to drag the Ice and Snow Pavilion and Dachan Mountain into it? The brothers did not think themselves important enough to merit such trouble.

Most importantly, they already knew that Shao Pingbo and Niu Youdao had come into conflict. They merely had not known Shao Pingbo was bold enough to scheme even against the Ice and Snow Pavilion.

Shao Fubo asked quietly, “Second Brother, what do you think?”

He was plainly tempted. Shao Wubo frowned and thought for a while, then looked back at Wu Tiannan.

“We need time to consider this. Go back for now and wait for word.”

“Yes, yes. I await the two Young Masters' instructions at any time.”

Wu Tiannan nodded repeatedly, bowing and scraping as he withdrew. He left the Provincial Inspector's Residence, but had not gone far when, just as he passed the mouth of an alley, a pedestrian suddenly slammed into him and sent him staggering inside.

“How do you walk? Don't you have eyes—”

Wu Tiannan nearly fell before catching himself, but he had not even finished cursing when a hand reached from behind, clamped over his mouth, and locked around his neck. The man who had bumped him glanced left and right along the street, then stepped into the alley as well. Together with the two men already holding Wu Tiannan inside, he dragged him deeper into the alley.

“Mmph! Mmph!”

Wu Tiannan struggled and tried to shout. One man lowered his voice sharply.

“Stop making noise. The two Young Masters said that if you want to prove what you told them is true, you'll stay quietly hidden here for a while. If the matter is confirmed, naturally there will be benefits for you.”

Wu Tiannan blinked. Just like that, he stopped struggling and allowed himself to be dragged away...

Back inside the Provincial Inspector's Residence, the two brothers were still pacing around the reception hall when a man hurried in and reported in a low voice, “Young Masters, the man has been detained.”

The brothers exchanged a glance. They could not simply believe whatever Wu Tiannan told them. What if it was a trap? They were also afraid that if Wu Tiannan fled, there would be no witness left if something went wrong.

As long as Wu Tiannan remained in their hands, even if the matter later developed a problem, they could still push responsibility onto him.

Shao Wubo said heavily, “Guard him carefully and keep him hidden. Not a word is to leak. Otherwise, I'll have your head.”

“Yes!”

The man cupped his hands in acknowledgment. The brothers immediately left the hall and, following the plan they had agreed upon, went to find their mother.

Their elder brother's power and influence were no small thing. If they wanted to move against him, pressure had to come from both inside and outside.

They would go stir matters up with Dachan Mountain. Their mother, meanwhile, had to keep watch over their father, Shao Dengyun.

Once the matter broke open, she would need to appeal both to emotion and reason and make sure their father did not create trouble at the critical moment. In an inner-residence courtyard, the brothers arrived together. Madam Ruan was directing a group of servants as they carried things outside. They were luxurious furnishings from the household. Even Madam Ruan's splendid clothing had been replaced by coarse cloth.

“Mother!”

After saluting together, Shao Fubo looked at the valuables constantly being carried from the residence and asked in surprise, “Mother, where are all these things being moved?”

“Ah.”

Madam Ruan sighed. This was not the place to talk. She waved and led both sons into a quiet room.

Once there were no outsiders present, Shao Wubo asked, “Mother, why are you sighing like this?”

Madam Ruan sighed again.

“Your elder brother is implementing new policies. He says money must be conserved and used where it matters most. He says that if Beizhou's extravagant habits are to be curbed, our own household must be the first to change.”

“Only if the Provincial Inspector's Residence sets the example first, so those below dare not overstep, can orders from above truly be followed.”

“Starting today, no one in this household is allowed to wear silk or satin. Everyone must appear in coarse cloth.”

“All valuable furnishings in the residence are to be sold as well. He says the funds must be concentrated to accelerate Beizhou's revival.”

Shao Fubo erupted.

“He won't even let Mother wear a decent piece of clothing anymore? That dog has gone too far!”

To him, Shao Pingbo was deliberately humiliating his mother. Madam Ruan shook her head.

“Your father agreed as well. Starting today, even your father will wear coarse cloth. Your elder brother says he too will set the example personally.”

The two brothers frowned. They had both noticed it. Ever since that children's rhyme appeared, their father had not grown wary of Shao Pingbo. On the contrary, he had increased his support. The authority in their own hands had nearly all been stripped away by Shao Pingbo. Shao Pingbo had offered only one explanation. He said he was not targeting them.

They simply lacked the ability required for certain duties, and the work had to be handed to people who were capable. The brothers had appealed to their father. It had been useless. They had sent their mother to plead with him. That had been useless too. In short, their father had made up his mind to support the eldest son.

In the brothers' eyes, if things continued like this, there would soon be no place left for them in Beizhou at all. Madam Ruan waved a hand, apparently unwilling to dwell on it.

“You two should be handling official business at this hour. Why have you come running here?”

Shao Fubo answered sourly, “My body's nearly molding from idleness. What official business is there for us to handle?”

“Ah.”

Madam Ruan sighed yet again. Naturally, she understood her sons' grievance. But she was powerless to change anything. Shao Wubo turned toward the two maids inside the room and waved.

“You two withdraw for now. Keep watch outside and don't let anyone approach.”

Even though both maids were trusted attendants of their mother, some matters still required caution. It was better to have them leave.

“Yes.”

The two maids obeyed. Once they had gone, Madam Ruan blinked her bright eyes and asked suspiciously, “What is it that requires all this secrecy?”

“Evil brings its own retribution. That dog-thief's death has finally come.”

Shao Fubo chuckled darkly and leaned toward his mother's ear, quietly explaining what Wu Tiannan had reported. What none of them knew was that one of the two maids who had just left had crept back on silent feet and pressed her ear to the outside wall, secretly listening. After hearing everything, Madam Ruan looked uncertain and alarmed.

“What are you two planning?”

Shao Fubo sneered.

“He tried to use the Ice and Snow Pavilion's hand to eliminate Niu Youdao. That already violates the Ice and Snow Pavilion's greatest taboo. Once someone exposes it, Dachan Mountain won't spare him if only to sever its own connection!”

Madam Ruan's face filled with fear.

“You mean to expose this?”

Shao Wubo spoke slowly.

“Mother, an opportunity, once lost, does not come again. There will never be a second chance this good.”

Madam Ruan looked panicked and shook her head again and again.

“Forget it! Haven't the three of us suffered enough at his hands already?”

“We can't beat him. Your mother truly is afraid of him. I genuinely don't dare provoke him again.”

“You two should stop as well. Live a little more freely.”

“As long as your father is alive, he won't dare go too far. The authority over Beizhou is still in your father's hands, after all.”

“Even if we suffer some grievance, at least we can remain safe, can't we?”

Shao Fubo said heavily, “Mother, you've lived beneath his oppressive power so long that he's frightened the courage out of you!”

“You think he'll spare us?”

“Look at what he's doing now. He won't even let you wear decent clothes. Next he'll start saving on the food you eat. What can you do about it?”

“He is pressing us harder with every step, and what has Father done? Father keeps indulging him!”

“If this continues, sooner or later the three of us will die without even a burial place.”

“If he has no righteousness toward us, then he cannot blame us for showing none to him!”

Shao Wubo remained calmer.

“Mother, have you forgotten how Grandfather's entire household died?”

“Have you forgotten how miserable their deaths were?”

“There may be no evidence, but everyone knows perfectly well who did it. No one has merely dared tear away the cover.”

“Father too has deliberately pretended not to understand.”

“Mother, do you truly not want revenge for Grandfather's family?”

“Are you truly willing to let them die with their eyes still open?”

At the mention of that family blood-feud, Madam Ruan remembered the miserable deaths of her parents. She bit down hard on her lip, anguish filling her face. Her two sons had driven her, step by step, into a corner...

[End of Chapter 217]