Chapter 224: A Grave Threat

Of course, Niu Youdao had not truly been trying to help those two brothers. They were neither relatives nor acquaintances; he did not even know them. Why would he be kind enough to have someone take such a risk merely to help them? He had acted because he knew that even if Beizhou fell into those two men's hands, they would pose no real concern.

Even so, he could not help thinking of one saying: an enemy like a god was less frightening than joining hands with pigs!

It made him sigh yet again. "Madam Ruan and her sons were inside the Provincial Provincial Inspector's Residence, yet Shao Pingbo could kill them whenever he wished. That shows how deeply that fellow has infiltrated the Provincial Provincial Inspector's Residence in Beizhou, far beyond what we imagined, and probably beyond what Shao Dengyun imagined as well. Otherwise Shao Dengyun wouldn't have let the three of them die so easily. They were his own flesh-and-blood sons, after all. Seen that way, it isn't surprising that Shao Pingbo could dispose of the three of them so easily."

Yuan Fang nodded slowly in apparent understanding, then asked in puzzlement, "The message said Tang Yi, who could normally see Shao Pingbo whenever she wanted, went to ask him what had happened after the incident but couldn't get in to see him. Couldn't that mean Shao Pingbo has already met with disaster?"

Niu Youdao waved a hand. "It's precisely because Tang Yi couldn't see him that the situation makes sense, and why I'm certain Shao Pingbo was the one who killed those three. After doing something like that, Shao Pingbo has most likely already been put under control. Dachan Mountain probably doesn't know what decision to make either. They want to see how I react here and how the Ice and Snow Pavilion reacts, while keeping themselves ready to hand Shao Pingbo over at any moment if they need someone to answer for it. For the near future, I doubt Shao Pingbo will be enjoying any freedom."

Yuan Fang looked doubtful. "Master Dao, wasn't the whole point of your arrangement to force Dachan Mountain to kill him? Would Dachan Mountain really dare take the risk of letting him live?"

"Damn it, I'll give the bastard this much: he's ruthless!" At that, Niu Youdao could not help swearing. He turned his head and spat, wearing a self-mocking look. "Logically, if Dachan Mountain intended to kill him, then at a time like this it shouldn't have done anything to further enrage Shao Dengyun. Unless they planned to smash the cracked pot altogether? At first, I couldn't understand what that bastard was thinking either. But once you combine it with what happened over there and pick out the direction the whole affair took, it actually becomes simple. Dachan Mountain wanted to kill Shao Pingbo. At the critical moment, Shao Pingbo killed Madam Ruan and her sons, and afterward Dachan Mountain didn't kill Shao Pingbo. What does that tell you? The change lies in the deaths of Madam Ruan and her sons."

He clasped his hands behind his back and looked toward the sky. "Once you seize that key point and trace it through, everything becomes clear. Are the lives of Madam Ruan and her sons important to Dachan Mountain? No. Is Dachan Mountain afraid of Shao Pingbo? They were already prepared to kill him, so obviously not. Then why, once Madam Ruan and her sons died, did Dachan Mountain suddenly stop daring to act against Shao Pingbo?"

Yuan Fang's eyes flashed. "Because Shao Dengyun isn't merely a figurehead!"

Niu Youdao nodded. "Why would killing Shao Pingbo make them wary of Shao Dengyun? The reason is simple: Shao Pingbo is Shao Dengyun's son! So why weren't they worried about that before? Because Madam Ruan and her sons were still alive! And why did their deaths suddenly make Shao Dengyun matter again?"

Yuan Fang understood at once and blurted, "Because Shao Dengyun has only this one son left!"

"Exactly. Shao Dengyun has only one son left. If Dachan Mountain kills him too..." Niu Youdao gave a helpless chuckle. "Dachan Mountain isn't afraid of Shao Dengyun himself. The only thing about Shao Dengyun they have to fear is Dachan Mountain's interest in Beizhou. They're afraid Beizhou will fall into disorder, and with two states above and below watching like hungry tigers, Beizhou cannot afford disorder."

He shook his head. "That's why I say the bastard is ruthless. If he hadn't done this, the thought would never even have occurred to me. At a moment like this, that fellow used one move to reverse a losing position. Nine times out of ten, he's using the Beizhou controlled by Shao Dengyun as leverage, making Dachan Mountain afraid to strike the rat for fear of smashing the vessel!"

Yuan Fang sucked in a cold breath. Protecting himself by killing his own brothers and stepmother—vicious indeed. Now he finally understood why Master Dao had kept dwelling on the need to eliminate Shao Pingbo. Master Dao's eye for people was frighteningly sharp.

"Master Dao, after forcing him to do something like this, the feud between you is set. A man like that can't be left alive. Find a way to get rid of him!"

Niu Youdao laughed at himself. "You think I don't want to? If even this couldn't kill him, then for the moment I truly have no way to deal with him. He correctly judged that I don't dare expose the matter to the Ice and Snow Pavilion. Otherwise, he never would have dared take such a desperate gamble! This man is even harder to deal with than I imagined. He's a grave threat!"

Yuan Fang rubbed his bald head thoughtfully, then suddenly said, "Master Dao, I have a plan."

"Oh?" Niu Youdao looked at him with interest. "Let's hear it."

Yuan Fang grinned slyly. "Send people into Beizhou to spread a rumor. Say that Shao Pingbo tried to kill Shao Dengyun and seize power, but only managed to kill Madam Ruan and her sons, while Shao Dengyun narrowly escaped and had Shao Pingbo arrested! Beizhou's officers and soldiers will certainly go verify it. Once they see that Shao Pingbo really has been arrested, then... heh heh!"

Niu Youdao shook his head. "It won't work. That children's rhyme last time didn't turn father and son against each other. Instead, it made Shao Dengyun value him even more. That shows Shao Dengyun truly has the qualities of a commander and possesses considerable breadth of mind. No wonder Shang Jianbo valued him so highly back then. If Shao Dengyun doesn't punish him this time, it's probably because he still means to protect him. So long as Shao Dengyun wants to protect him, if the officers come asking, father and son can simply put on a show together and the rumor will collapse on its own."

Yuan Fang frowned and muttered, "That's a real pity. A pity we can't..."

Niu Youdao knew what he meant. The matter involved the Ice and Snow Pavilion, and such a major disturbance had already arisen there. News from Jinzhou said that even Han Bing, the Chief Steward of the Ice and Snow Pavilion, had been alarmed. It truly was not convenient to expose what had actually happened on Shao Pingbo's side. Otherwise they could completely ruin Shao Pingbo's reputation.

But Niu Youdao himself genuinely did not dare anymore. He believed Shao Pingbo would not dare make use of the Ice and Snow Pavilion again either.

Skirting the edge once or twice in secret was one thing. Dragging the Ice and Snow Pavilion into their schemes again and again was another. Did they think the Ice and Snow Pavilion was made of clay?

Even a clay figurine had a temper, let alone the Ice and Snow Pavilion. If they truly kept pulling the Pavilion into matters over and over until it was enraged, did they expect its people to sit down and patiently listen to both sides argue their cases? Most likely, neither side would escape!

Niu Youdao patted Yuan Fang on the shoulder. "It's not entirely a pity. We still gained something. This rumor at the Ice and Snow Pavilion was plainly aimed at me. Anyone who has a grudge against me, or wants to target me, will have to rein themselves in unless they want the Ice and Snow Pavilion watching them. At the very least, the court of the State of Yan won't dare make any rash moves against me for the time being."

"Looks like Shao Pingbo gave Master Dao a protective talisman for free!" Yuan Fang chuckled.

"Still, your idea has some merit. Even if we can't do anything to him for now, we should slow the rate at which he grows in power and create as much trouble for him as possible. Even a mosquito's leg is still meat. If there's a chance to strike him, why not use it? Don't focus only on Beizhou. That fellow's ambitions aren't limited to a single Beizhou. Go find Shang Chaozong and have him send people into the various states to spread the rumor."

"All right!" Yuan Fang nodded cheerfully.

Niu Youdao pointed at him. "Contact Lu Shengzhong as well. Tell him Shao Pingbo should have lost his freedom for the time being and probably can't mobilize Dachan Mountain's people either. Right now is when Shao Pingbo is at his weakest. Tell Lu Shengzhong to act freely, provided he can guarantee his own safety. Same thing as before: even if he can't kill Shao Pingbo, he should make him suffer. Cause as much trouble for him as possible and slow his rise as much as possible!"

"All right!" Yuan Fang nodded again with a grin.

After leaving, Yuan Fang immediately sent a message toward Beizhou, then headed straight for the Commandery Governor's residence. Once Yuan Fang had departed, Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting looked at each other, both at a loss for words.

Lan Ruoting sighed. "No wonder Master Dao has gathered people from several sects around him for protection. It seems he's truly locked horns with that Shao Pingbo."

"Ah!" Shang Chaozong sighed as well. "Do as he says."

The two still did not know that Niu Youdao and Shao Pingbo had already crossed hands in secret once more. Since the request had come to them, it would have been difficult not to oblige. At the Beizhou Prefectural Capital, Lu Shengzhong looked up toward the city gate ahead.

He had returned!

The distance had been too great for him to communicate directly with Niu Youdao. He needed to return here, learn what had happened, and make contact with his people.

He had already changed his appearance, disguising himself as a woodcutter carrying firewood. He entered the city without incident and threaded through the streets and alleys toward the rendezvous point.

In the dungeon beneath the Provincial Provincial Inspector's Residence, Shao Sansheng entered carrying a food box. Guided by someone inside, he went deep into the prison until he reached the place where Shao Pingbo was confined.

This was probably the finest cell in the dungeon. Perhaps because it was intended for Shao Pingbo, it had been scrubbed clean. The bedding was new, there were tables and chairs, and even brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone had been provided.

It was also the only cell with a ventilation window. Shao Pingbo stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from the corridor and silently watching the light filtering in through the opening.

Shao Sansheng nodded to the guards who kept watch day and night. They immediately withdrew out of earshot, and the man in charge opened the cell door before retreating as well.

Shao Sansheng entered, set the food box on the table, and laid out wine and dishes. "Eldest Young Master, everything outside is stable. Eat something."

Shao Pingbo suddenly sighed. "This Niu Youdao is harder to deal with than I imagined. If he isn't eliminated, he will become a grave threat in the future!"

Shao Sansheng said, "Eldest Young Master, once the situation stabilizes, there will still be time to scheme against him. Eat something first."

Shao Pingbo seemed to be speaking to himself. "How am I supposed to scheme against him? Unless the right opportunity arises, he holes up and refuses to come out, and there's nothing I can do about him. This time, the moment I fell into his trap, he struck at me with astonishing speed. That proves he's already committed men and effort against me, yet I remain unable to do anything to him."

Shao Sansheng sighed softly. He knew this affair had dealt the Eldest Young Master a heavy blow and was difficult to put aside. And in truth, Shao Pingbo had suffered a disastrous loss. He had nearly lost his life and had even been forced to kill his own brothers and stepmother. What would those who knew the truth think of him? And he himself was still trapped here in a cell. In circumstances like these, how could he possibly let the matter go?

Even so, Shao Sansheng tried to console him. "It isn't that you are inferior to him, Young Master. The difference lies in your positions. You are buried in official business and must handle countless affairs every day. The matters in your hands aren't things you can simply put aside whenever you wish, so your attention can never be focused entirely on him. As for him, he's a cultivator with a full belly and nothing better to do. He can stop cultivating whenever he likes and has all the free time in the world to make trouble for you. Compared that way, you're naturally at a disadvantage."

Shao Pingbo said, "That's only part of the reason. I have to admit the man is capable. If I still refuse to take him seriously, I'm afraid I'll suffer another loss. He's plainly fixed his attention on me. He won't let this go."

Shao Sansheng said, "Young Master, fill your stomach first. If he has you so troubled that you can't eat or drink, then you've truly lost."

Shao Pingbo fell silent for a moment, then turned, came to the table, and sat. He accepted the chopsticks Shao Sansheng handed him, but worry soon returned to his face. After thinking for a while, he said, "Being trapped here has badly shaken the people under me. And until they confirm whether the Ice and Snow Pavilion will intervene, Dachan Mountain will avoid involvement to leave itself an escape route. Their cultivators won't obey my commands. The Shangqing Sect is too entangled with Niu Youdao to be used either. This is precisely when I'm at my weakest. There's no guarantee Niu Youdao won't exploit the opening. I need people I can trust. Notify Su Zhao immediately and have Su Zhao bring people here as quickly as possible, just in case!"

[End of Chapter 224]