Chapter 220: Sudden Upheaval

“You!” Shao Dengyun pointed at Madam Ruan and roared, “Do you think I don't dare? Drag them out! Behead them both!”

The men who had rushed in to carry out the order were miserable. What were they supposed to do with this? The situation was simply too difficult.

Zhong Yangxu said, “Brother Shao, this is plainly a trap Niu Youdao laid ring within ring. Silencing people now is useless. If you kill them at a time like this and the matter comes out, it will be like yellow mud falling into your crotch—whether it is shit or not, everyone will take it for shit. Later, if the Ice and Snow Pavilion investigates, that fact alone will be impossible to explain. There is only one way... If you can make your son retract his statement, perhaps there is still room to turn matters around.”

Truthfully, Zhong Yangxu was only saying it for form's sake. He had no real hope. Things had already reached this point, and the eldest son was no softhearted man either. Would this third son dare spare him? If the eldest died, the third would have a road to survival and might even obtain what he wanted. Was there really any question which choice he would make?

And Zhong Yangxu refused to believe the second son born of Madam Ruan knew nothing. That second son was even more sinister, hiding behind the scenes and refusing to show his face. Getting one man to change his story would already be difficult. Getting two to do so was even less worth hoping for.

Zhong Yangxu said these things merely to give Shao Dengyun an explanation. It was not that he disregarded old friendship. The problem was that Shao Dengyun could not even settle his own household.

Shao Dengyun, however, seized upon the words like a drowning man grabbing a life-saving straw. He pointed furiously at Shao Fubo. “Did you hear that? This is all Niu Youdao's treacherous scheme. He wants you brothers to slaughter one another! Will you still not turn back?” He almost felt an impulse to kneel and beg this son.

Shao Fubo shook his head. “Father, Eldest Brother brought this upon himself. With the Ice and Snow Pavilion's power, do you really think this can be concealed? I am doing this for the good of the Shao family too! At a moment like this, why are you still protecting Eldest Brother? Do you truly want the entire Shao household to die to the last person? With Father and Mother still alive, how could this son commit such an unfilial act? Even taking ten thousand steps back, you still have to consider the many soldiers of Beizhou who have followed you for so many years!”

He had bitten down and refused to let go. Zhong Yangxu sighed inwardly. Exactly as expected. With a chance like this to bite the eldest son to death, how could Shao Fubo possibly loosen his jaws?

Shao Dengyun, however, looked as though struck by lightning. He muttered over and over, “Beast... beast... beast...”

“Brother Shao, matters have reached this point. I too am powerless. I can only apologize.” Zhong Yangxu spoke regretfully, then turned toward his attendant and was about to issue an order when he felt his arm tighten.

Looking back, he saw Shao Dengyun gripping his arm and slowly shaking his head. Shao Dengyun's face was bleak, his eyes full of pleading. “His mother was intelligent and virtuous. You too called her Younger Sister. His mother died early. Brother Zhong, for his mother's sake, give...”

“Act in accordance with the sect's decree.” Zhong Yangxu met Shao Dengyun's gaze and slowly spoke the words, raising a hand to signal his attendant behind him before Shao Dengyun could finish.

He could not gamble Dachan Mountain's fate alongside the Shao family's. Nor did he possess the authority to make such a gamble. If someone dared provoke this kind of disaster, then he had to bear the consequences himself.

“Yes!” The attendant cupped his hands, accepted the order, and strode away.

Shao Dengyun seemed to have all strength drained from his body. He staggered backward and collapsed into the principal chair. He was powerless to stop anything. Madam Ruan and Shao Fubo were still embracing and weeping.

Amid his sobs, however, Shao Fubo was ecstatic inside. He had heard and seen every detail of Zhong Yangxu's words and actions. That dog of an eldest brother had oppressed mother and sons for so many years. At last, retribution had come!

Zhong Yangxu glanced at the mother and son, then slowly turned to leave. He had reached the doorway when a startled cry from Shao Fubo suddenly came from behind him. “Mother! Mother, what's wrong?”

Zhong Yangxu turned. Madam Ruan was doubled over and trembling as she collapsed to the floor, agony twisting her face. What kind of performance were these two putting on now? Zhong Yangxu muttered inwardly. Then his pupils contracted. Black blood was seeping from Madam Ruan's nostrils. Alarmed, Zhong Yangxu flashed back inside and immediately crouched to take her pulse. The soldiers in the hall crowded around in shock.

In only this brief span, a blackish pall had spread across Madam Ruan's face. She was obviously poisoned. Zhong Yangxu jabbed several fingers rapidly across her body, sealing points to block the poison from spreading. At the same time, he quickly took out a small porcelain bottle, poured out an antidote pill, and forced it into her mouth.

But Madam Ruan, black blood still flowing from her nose, suddenly retched. “Wah!” A mouthful of black blood sprayed out. Her body convulsed violently. Her eyes gradually rolled upward and lost focus. Yet she clutched desperately at her son's sleeve. As if finally understanding something, she exhausted the last of her strength and gurgled, “Do... not... provoke him... you are not... his... match...”

Zhong Yangxu used spiritual power to force the antidote into her body. It was already too late. Madam Ruan's rigid body slackened. Her breathing stopped completely.

Zhong Yangxu sucked in a cold breath. A deadly poison! It gave no warning while dormant. By the time its effects appeared and anyone realized something was wrong, it was already too late.

“Mother! Mother! What's wrong with you?” Shao Fubo shook Madam Ruan's body and cried out in grief. Then he grabbed Zhong Yangxu desperately. “Cultivator, save my mother! Please save my mother! Save her!” This time he was genuinely crying.

Zhong Yangxu shook his head. There was nothing he could do.

Shao Dengyun's eyes had been vacant, as though his mind had left his body. Only now did the cries seem to drag his awareness back. His gaze gradually focused. The instant he understood what had happened, he rushed over, pushed through the crowd, and pulled Madam Ruan into his arms. “Xiaohuan! Xiaohuan...”

Remembering his mother's final words, Shao Fubo suddenly threw back his head and roared in grief, “Dog-thief! I swear you and I cannot coexist beneath Heaven—ngh!” He abruptly clutched his abdomen and let out a muffled groan of pain.

Neither Shao Dengyun nor Zhong Yangxu noticed at first. The men around them did. “Third Young Master! Third Young Master!”

The two men whipped their heads around. Shao Fubo's face was spasming. Black blood seeped continuously from his mouth and nose. He lay trembling in another man's arms.

“Third Son!” Shao Dengyun cried out in grief.

Zhong Yangxu hurriedly tried to save him. But Shao Fubo's condition was identical to Madam Ruan's. Before anyone noticed anything, there had been no sign. Once the symptoms appeared, there was already no returning him from death.

A chill ran through Zhong Yangxu. The first thing he did was take out an antidote pill and swallow it himself. Then he seized Shao Dengyun and urgently forced another into his mouth.

If anything happened to Shao Dengyun as well, Beizhou would be plunged into enormous trouble. All those soldiers and officers up and down Beizhou obeyed Shao Dengyun. How could Dachan Mountain possibly control so many people at once? Worse, Dachan Mountain would not even be able to explain how Shao Dengyun had died. One misstep could trigger a military mutiny, and both the State of Han and the State of Yan would inevitably seize the opening!

Just then, someone came running from outside, shouting in panic, “My lord, something terrible has happened! The Second Young Master has met with disaster! The Second Young Master...” The cry stopped abruptly. The newcomer had seen the situation inside the hall and stood frozen.

Everyone in the room turned and stared at him...

At Lingbo Residence, a chair had been placed in the courtyard. Shao Pingbo sat quietly beneath the setting sun, traces of blood still at the corner of his mouth.

Dachan Mountain disciples paced around him, keeping him under watch. Huang Dou and Lin Hu stood to either side. They had already received orders and placed Shao Pingbo under control.

Shao Pingbo sat with his eyes closed beneath the sunset, resting quietly. He appeared calm and unruffled by the sudden crisis. Only the blood at the corner of his mouth was striking to the eye.

Huang Dou and Lin Hu sighed from time to time. They had been together for so many years. Neither had imagined matters would reach this point.

They had already warned him not to scheme against the Ice and Snow Pavilion. This man had been bold beyond measure and refused to listen. Now things had come to this. Why had he done it?

Just then, someone hurried over and said gravely, “Senior Brothers, Martial Uncle has issued the order. Act in accordance with the sect's decree!”

Huang Dou and Lin Hu looked at one another. Lin Hu sighed. “Eldest Young Master, a master's command is difficult to disobey. Forgive us.”

Huang Dou sighed as well. “Eldest Young Master, if there is ever an opportunity in the future, we will not spare that Niu Youdao. We will avenge you.”

Shao Pingbo said calmly, “I understand. There is no need for revenge. I will take this hatred with me. Before I go, I would like to wash myself and leave with some dignity. That request is not excessive, is it?”

The two exchanged a glance, then nodded to one another. Under circumstances like these, they were not afraid he could play any tricks.

Both extended a hand. “Eldest Young Master, please.”

Then they reached out together to support him. Shao Pingbo opened his eyes and raised one hand. “I am not going to fall. I can walk by myself.”

The two could only let him be. They watched him push himself to his feet and followed behind, “escorting” him toward the bathhouse.

Once they arrived, the two men lowered themselves enough to personally help him undress, considering it a final repayment of the friendship they had shared over the years.

When only a pair of underpants remained, they lifted the gauze curtain shielding the bathing pool. Shao Pingbo walked inside and smiled. “You two aren't planning to watch me bathe, are you? Afraid I'll run? Or afraid I'll kill myself?”

The two glanced at one another. He could not escape. And if he truly wanted to kill himself, they did not mind. That would simply save them the trouble of acting. So long as the final result was the same, that was enough.

They lowered the gauze curtain again and stepped back several paces. Through the gauze, they watched his silhouette enter the water and listened to the sounds of bathing.

After they had waited a short while, Shao Sansheng entered carrying a set of clothes. He nodded to the two men, then went behind the curtain.

When he placed the clothes beside the pool, Shao Sansheng gave a small nod to Shao Pingbo, who looked at him from the corner of his eye. The matter had been handled.

Shao Pingbo closed his eyes and tipped his face upward. He exhaled a long breath. He had been worried something unexpected might happen at the Provincial Inspector's Residence and cause the attempt to fail. The time he had managed to delay had finally brought the result he wanted.

When his eyes opened again, their light had returned. He said in a deep voice, “I will say it again. There is no possibility that those mother and sons could have made any move beforehand without my noticing even the slightest trace. That can only mean this happened suddenly. Someone must have been plotting behind the scenes and inciting them. Have they met anyone unusual recently?”

Shao Sansheng froze briefly. But seeing the renewed light in Shao Pingbo's eyes gave him confidence. He answered, “Earlier, I was too flustered by what happened to think carefully. Now that Eldest Young Master mentions it, I remember something. Today, Wu Tiannan, the son of the County Deputy Magistrate of Pingchuan County, entered the Provincial Inspector's Residence and met with the Second and Third Young Masters. That is somewhat suspicious. By rights, someone like Wu Tiannan is not even qualified to enter the Provincial Inspector's Residence.”

Nothing that happened at the Provincial Inspector's Residence could easily escape their eyes, least of all a meeting between Wu Tiannan and the Shao brothers.

Shao Pingbo said calmly, “You overlooked it. Investigate immediately.”

“Yes!” Shao Sansheng accepted the order and left, walking out in full view of Huang Dou and Lin Hu beyond the gauze curtain.

The two men exchanged another glance. If the matter could be investigated clearly, that was naturally good. They had no reason to stop it. They simply did not understand why a man already in Shao Pingbo's situation still cared about something like this. Was there any point? Shao Pingbo continued bathing inside without the slightest hurry.

After some time, Shao Sansheng returned and went in to report. “Eldest Young Master, the orders have been sent.”

“Dress me.” Shao Pingbo rose from the water. Shao Sansheng hurried to serve him.

After everything inside had been put in order, Shao Pingbo—freshly washed and groomed—parted the gauze curtain and walked out. The traces of blood were gone. Once again, he looked like the elegant Eldest Young Master, tall as a jade tree in the wind.

Before Huang Dou or Lin Hu could say anything, Shao Pingbo spoke first. “I forgot to tell you two. Over at the Provincial Inspector's Residence, Madam Ruan, Shao Wubo, and Shao Fubo—the mother and her two sons—have already been assassinated!”

[End of Chapter 220]