Chapter 247: That's Just My Type

Niu Youdao did not avoid his gaze. He simply looked back as though waiting to see whether Linghu Qiu was sincere.

After a brief silence, Linghu Qiu said, "I know Peng Youzai, Sect Master of Tianyu Sect."

Fei Changliu and the other two looked up. Niu Youdao also waited for him to continue.

"Actually, Sect Master Peng came to me last year about this very matter. But this isn't some ordinary favor. It touches on Qi's national policy. If it were only a small number, I could ask some friends to smooth things over and everyone could turn a blind eye. But the quantity you people need is simply too large. No one in Qi dares shoulder that responsibility, and more importantly, I can't drag my friends into danger either. So all I could do was apologize to Sect Master Peng."

The meaning behind his words was obvious. He hoped Niu Youdao would recognize the difficulty and retreat.

Instead, Niu Youdao asked, "May I ask what Mr. Linghu means by 'a small number'?"

Linghu Qiu paused. He was beginning to discover that this fellow did not seem very good at taking hints. Frowning slightly, he said, "A few hundred horses."

Niu Youdao immediately pressed for a precise figure. "How many hundred?"

"..."

Linghu Qiu was speechless again. Faced with Niu Youdao's expectant gaze, he finally hesitated and said, "Three or four hundred. At most, no more than five hundred. That wouldn't amount to much of a force for you and wouldn't be very useful. Even those few hundred couldn't conveniently be sent out all at once. They would have to go in separate batches, or the long road and the checkpoints through the various states would be difficult to pass."

In truth, a few hundred warhorses were not worth an astronomical sum. The problem was the trouble involved. Linghu Qiu wanted Niu Youdao to weigh it himself: was it really appropriate to put him through this much trouble for a few hundred warhorses? Peng Youzai had abandoned the idea for precisely that reason. Making someone labor that much for only a few hundred horses simply had not been worth it.

Niu Youdao, however, nodded excitedly. "Five hundred is enough!"

"..."

Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao all turned to look at him.

Five hundred was enough?

"..."

Linghu Qiu stared as well, suspecting he had misheard. "Five hundred is enough? Peng Youzai told me you needed at least ten thousand. Isn't the difference between what the two of you are saying a little too large?"

Niu Youdao laughed loudly. "Not large at all. There's no mistake. Mr. Linghu may not know this, but the true power backing Commandery Prince Yongping is Tianyu Sect. Naturally Tianyu Sect has to contribute more. If Tianyu Sect obtained only five hundred warhorses for His Highness, that would be rather... well, you understand."

He chuckled and continued, "I'm different. Whether in benefits or anything else, I receive far less from His Highness than Tianyu Sect does. If I can bring in five hundred warhorses, that already represents my sincerity. The number may be small, but at least it proves I haven't been taking benefits for nothing."

With that, he rose, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply. "I earnestly ask Mr. Linghu for your help in this matter."

Fei Changliu and the other two exchanged bewildered looks. None of them knew what trick he was trying to play. Then again, ever since the affair at the Ice and Snow Pavilion, they had seen enough of his ability. Otherwise, why would they have any respect for Niu Youdao here? Linghu Qiu's expression became rather colorful.

Some words could not be taken back once spoken. Since he had already said he could manage it, reneging now would make this entire visit pointless. If he refused after boasting that he could do it, what sort of friendship could possibly follow? He suddenly felt as though he had lifted a rock only to drop it on his own foot.

If he had known this would happen, why had he mentioned those few hundred horses at all? He should simply have said the matter was impossible.

After thinking it over, he smiled bitterly and pressed a hand downward. "Little Brother has already put it that way. If I still refuse, I'd seem rather heartless. Sit. We can discuss matters while seated. There's no need for such a grand bow."

Niu Youdao straightened. "Then let me thank you in advance."

"Sit, sit." Linghu Qiu repeatedly motioned downward with one palm.

After Niu Youdao sat, he immediately asked again, "When could the five hundred warhorses arrive?"

Linghu Qiu sighed. "If it's only five hundred, I don't think there's any need to go all the way to Qi. The road is too long and the trouble isn't worth it. If you need only five hundred, I know some people right here in Yan who could arrange it nearby..."

He paused and reconsidered. "No, Yan won't do. If your armies end up fighting one another later, I'd be caught between both sides. Zhao, then. The neighboring State of Zhao. You're close to it anyway. Within a month, I'll bring you five hundred warhorses from Zhao. How does that sound?"

A faint smile appeared on his face.

Niu Youdao looked delighted. "That would be wonderful! I'm not afraid of trouble on the Qi side. Any troublesome matters there, just leave them to me. Five hundred from Zhao, then another five hundred from Qi. That gives me one thousand warhorses to turn in. Nothing could be better!"

Fei Changliu and the others finally understood. So that was his plan. The three immediately sat there like clay Buddhas, listening without saying a word while their eyes moved back and forth between the two men.

Linghu Qiu's smile vanished at once. The corner of his mouth twitched. He raised his head and looked at the sky.

At last he gave a dry chuckle, lowered his gaze, and asked Niu Youdao, "From the sound of it, even if I get you some horses from other states, Little Brother still won't be satisfied. You still want me to make the trip to Qi for those five hundred?"

His tone sounded joking. "You're quite comfortable ordering me around like this. Aren't you afraid you'll wear me out?"

Niu Youdao said with complete seriousness, "The price is negotiable!"

Linghu Qiu said, "I never planned to charge you for the five hundred horses from Zhao. Consider them a meeting gift."

Niu Youdao replied, "One matter is one matter. Those warhorses are for His Highness, not for me. Whatever they cost, we should pay. I can't let Mr. Linghu bear the expense."

Linghu Qiu was genuinely baffled now. Was this fellow truly muddleheaded, or only pretending to be?

"No. Why would I go to all this trouble for some prince I don't even know? I'm helping because I'm giving Little Brother face. Otherwise, how much do you think I should charge for running around on behalf of a few hundred warhorses?"

"Sir." Hongxiu, the smiling twin standing behind him, stepped forward two paces and bent toward Linghu Qiu's ear. Still smiling, she said softly, "Sir, the Young Master already said that he isn't afraid of trouble on the Qi side. Whatever troublesome matters you have, you can simply leave them to him."

Niu Youdao looked at her with a half-smile. Hongxiu gave him a graceful little bow, then retreated to her former position.

With the reminder, Linghu Qiu suddenly understood. He lifted a hand and slapped his own forehead. "Right. Little Brother doesn't even put the life of an envoy of Yan in his eyes. Why would five hundred warhorses satisfy you? I'm afraid anything less than ten thousand wouldn't fill Little Brother's appetite. I was the muddleheaded one."

Niu Youdao's gaze, however, wandered between the faces of the twin women. Clicking his tongue in appreciation, he said, "Mr. Linghu truly is blessed. Twin sisters... the flavor must be enviable. Even I find my heart stirred. If Mr. Linghu sincerely wants to give me a meeting gift, would you be willing to part with them?"

Linghu Qiu burst out laughing. He looked back at the women. "Little Brother Niu has taken a liking to you sisters. That's your good fortune. You might consider it!"

Hongfu, the colder of the twins, shot Niu Youdao an icy look.

Hongxiu smiled sweetly and bent at the waist. "We sisters are already old and our beauty has faded. The Young Master is in the prime of youth. We wouldn't dare profane you."

Niu Youdao smiled. "That's not quite right. Everyone has their own taste."

He lifted a hand and pointed at Black Peony standing to the side. "That's just my type!"

Black Peony was speechless and almost rolled her eyes at him. Was he saying she was too old? Fei Changliu and the other two glanced at him as well, unable to tell what game he was playing this time. They had known him long enough to know he was not a lustful man.

Shang Shuqing, who had just reached the upper floor, stopped at the stairs. She had heard there were guests and had come to see who they were, only to arrive in time to hear Niu Youdao say precisely that. She bit her lip slightly and stood there in silence. Linghu Qiu slowly sipped his tea, wearing an indistinct smile but saying nothing. He remained perfectly calm.

Hongxiu giggled. "We sisters are only Sir's maids. How could we compare with those warhorses?"

Niu Youdao said, "The warhorses are for His Highness. You sisters are what I want."

Hongxiu was not angry. Covering her mouth, she laughed. "The Young Master's appetite is more than we sisters can bear. Our own tastes are rather ordinary."

She pursed her lips toward Linghu Qiu, who was slowly drinking his tea, making it perfectly clear that they preferred someone around their own age.

Niu Youdao sighed. "Mr. Linghu, they're your maids. It seems this still requires a word from you. If you agree, I doubt they'll have much to say."

Linghu Qiu held his teacup and smiled. "Little Brother likes them that much?"

Niu Youdao nodded. "Perhaps it's abrupt, but my heart truly was stirred at first sight, and I am determined to have them. I'm willing to offer Mr. Linghu one million gold coins as compensation. What do you think?"

Linghu Qiu merely smiled without answering.

Niu Youdao said, "Five million gold coins. I ask Mr. Linghu to part with them!"

Linghu Qiu said, "Little Brother, let's talk about serious matters."

Niu Youdao stared at the two women and spoke one word at a time. "Ten million!"

The moment that price was spoken, everyone was shocked. Even surprise flashed through Hongxiu's and Hongfu's eyes as the sisters glanced at one another.

Shang Shuqing, who had moved to the railing on the other side, could not help turning her head to look back. Linghu Qiu instinctively glanced around.

Something about Niu Youdao's tone made him wonder whether, if he refused to hand over the two maids today, they might not be allowed to leave this place at all. Remembering that this was a man who had even dared kill an envoy of Yan, a thread of wariness quietly entered his heart.

Outwardly, however, he laughed. "Ten million gold coins is not a sum even a state can casually produce. It isn't that I distrust Little Brother, but I have to ask: can you truly produce that much money?"

Niu Youdao said, "I can't produce that much ready cash, but I have something easily worth ten million."

Linghu Qiu asked with a smile, "What do you have that's worth so much?"

Niu Youdao said, "On my way to the Ice and Snow Pavilion, I made several friends. When we later parted there, they gave me a flying mount. That mount is probably worth more than ten million. But as you know, something like that isn't easy to sell quickly. How about I trade that flying mount to Mr. Linghu in exchange for these two?"

"Mr. Linghu enjoys traveling everywhere. A flying mount would suit you perfectly!"

Not only Shang Shuqing but Fei Changliu and the others were secretly surprised.

That had happened?

Linghu Qiu appeared astonished as well. "What sort of people are so generous that they would give away a flying mount?"

Niu Youdao said, "Truthfully, they never revealed their real identities to me. They only told me that if I ever needed something in the future, I could go to the capital of Qi and look for them. One bore the surname Hao, the other Pei. Hao is Qi's imperial surname, so I suspect one of them may belong to the Qi royal house."

"Oh?" Linghu Qiu looked thoughtful. Whether he believed it or not was impossible to tell. With a hint of teasing, he said, "Even for royalty, giving someone a flying mount is rare. Those things aren't cheap."

Niu Youdao said, "They took a liking to something of mine. We made an exchange."

Linghu Qiu asked, "What did you exchange?"

"It isn't convenient to say." Niu Youdao tilted his chin toward Hongxiu and Hongfu. "If Mr. Linghu agrees to part with these two and give them to me, then naturally I'll tell you what I exchanged."

[End of Chapter 247]