Chapter 258: How Can You Catch a Tiger Cub Without Entering the Tiger's Den?

"Leave this place immediately. Don't show yourself again. Go, now!" The tall, thin man stared out the window and spoke in a low voice.

"Yes!" Li Zhen answered.

Understanding what the man meant, he quickly left the pavilion and disappeared into the night. Knock, knock.

Black Peony opened the door and looked out. The man standing there, with three long wisps of beard beneath his chin, surprised her slightly. "Shopkeeper Pan!"

The visitor was none other than the shopkeeper of Liuxian Sect's business at Boundless Pavilion. Black Peony had previously invited him over. He had come together with the shopkeepers from the other two sects to meet Niu Youdao.

"Is Master Dao here?" Shopkeeper Pan asked with a smile.

Niu Youdao's voice came from inside. "Shopkeeper Pan is here?"

Black Peony had been about to announce him, but once Niu Youdao spoke, there was no longer any need to stop the visitor. She opened the door fully and let him in, then leaned out and looked to either side of the corridor before withdrawing and closing the door.

"Master Dao!" Shopkeeper Pan entered and saluted.

Niu Youdao gestured for Black Peony to serve tea and asked with a smile, "Something the matter, Shopkeeper Pan?"

Shopkeeper Pan quickly waved off the tea. "There really is something urgent. One of the people our sect sent to Qi to handle the warhorse affair has arrived. He says he brought back important news and needs to see Master Dao."

Niu Youdao immediately asked, "Where is he? Why didn't he come here? Is he at the shop?"

Shopkeeper Pan shook his head. "No. He says something happened over in Qi and he fled here. He's afraid someone may be watching him, so he didn't dare enter Boundless Pavilion. He only sent someone to pass word to me. He says he brought back important intelligence. He refused to tell me the details. The sect instructed everyone involved in the warhorse matter to coordinate with you, and he says he'll meet only you. If he can't see you, he refuses to show himself. He wants Master Dao to meet him outside Boundless Pavilion."

Black Peony's expression turned grave. She had no idea what had happened to make the situation sound this serious.

Niu Youdao asked, "Do you know the exact meeting place?"

Shopkeeper Pan said, "I do. He said that once you're there, he'll reveal himself."

Niu Youdao said, "Good. Wait outside. Give me a moment to change into something more suitable for moving at night."

"Yes." Shopkeeper Pan inclined slightly and went out first.

Niu Youdao calmly watched him leave. The instant the door closed, he tilted his head and said in a low voice, "Send the signal."

Black Peony froze. "Master Dao suspects Shopkeeper Pan?"

"I'm not suspicious of Shopkeeper Pan. Linghu Qiu has simply stayed too close to me throughout the journey. Even when I wanted to create an opportunity for my guests, I couldn't. He has followed me like a shadow."

Black Peony did not quite understand. "What does that have to do with this?"

"We haven't been apart anywhere along the road. Linghu Qiu just left, and immediately someone has business with me, even asking me to go outside to meet them. You think that's a coincidence?"

Black Peony said, "Then you still suspect Shopkeeper Pan."

"If Linghu Qiu hadn't come to tell me he was leaving, and I didn't know he was gone, perhaps I wouldn't think much of it. But even if he hadn't told me, being cautious is never wrong. A cautious helm sails a ship for ten thousand years. Stop dawdling."

He tilted his head in signal. Black Peony gave a quiet acknowledgment and summoned a Moon Butterfly, guiding it to the window and making it circle within the room.

Only when a Moon Butterfly began circling inside a distant window ahead did Black Peony recall her own. She turned and nodded to Niu Youdao, signaling that it was done. Niu Youdao walked to one wall and removed a black cloak hanging there.

The cloak was not something he had brought with him. The inn prepared two in every guest room for customers who required privacy, allowing people who did not wish to reveal their true appearance to enter and leave concealed. He shook the cloak open, draped it over himself, and tied the cords across his chest.

One hand emerged from beneath the cloak. His five fingers curled through empty air, and the sword resting on its stand flew into his grasp. His arm and weapon disappeared together beneath the cloak's broad folds.

Seeing Black Peony reach for the other cloak on the wall, Niu Youdao said calmly, "You stay here. There's no need to come."

Black Peony froze. "Master Dao is going alone?"

"Mm." Niu Youdao nodded, reached back, and pulled the hood over his head, concealing half his face.

Black Peony immediately grew anxious. Lowering her voice, she said urgently, "Didn't you say you suspect someone wants to make a move against you? What if it really is that mysterious force? They've been preparing for so long. If they finally strike, it won't be half-hearted. The moment they act, it'll be a killing blow!"

Niu Youdao said, "If it really is that mysterious force, what use would you be even if you came?"

Black Peony said anxiously, "One more person is still better than none!"

"One more burden, you mean?" Niu Youdao said as he continued walking.

Black Peony quickly stepped in front of him and blocked the way with one hand. "Master Dao, you can't take a risk like this. If you suspect there's a problem, then don't go!"

"Were all the things I told you before wasted words? Precisely because there's a problem, I have to go! How can you catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger's den? Move!"

"Master Dao, you can't go. Let Duan Hu and me go instead!"

"Their target is me. What use is there in sending the two of you? Move!"

"Master Dao, you can't do this. If something happens to you, Duan Hu and the others, and the three sects as well, won't be able to maintain a foothold beside Commandery Prince Yongping."

The suddenness of what followed nearly made Black Peony jump. Shorter than he was, she looked up and caught the full expression beneath his hood, half smiling and half teasing. She found it both infuriating and funny. At a time like this, he still had the mood to tease her.

She simply opened both arms and hugged him tightly. "Don't go!"

Niu Youdao lowered his voice beside her ear. "Knowing full well there's a tiger on the mountain, one still heads straight toward the tiger. That takes more than courage. I'm only telling you this: below the Nascent Soul Realm, no cultivator can kill me easily!"

That was no empty boast. He still had nine Transmission Protective Talismans left from Dong Guo Haoran. Black Peony naturally did not believe him, but Niu Youdao had no time to argue. He had already pulled her away from himself.

Almost without noticing it, that old bearing of "Master Dao" from his days on the road surfaced again.

Black Peony remained unmoved and tried to block him again.

Niu Youdao swept back his hood. His face had turned murderous, his gaze icy. Pointing at her with one hand, he said, "If you don't understand the rules, go find Monkey and have him teach you properly! Say one more word and get the hell out!"

He truly turned hostile the instant he chose to. A moment ago he had still been teasing her, yet now his face was colder and more frightening than a blade. Black Peony's expression froze. She stood rigidly where she was. Niu Youdao had already strode away. He opened the door, stepped out, and shut it behind him.

Out in the corridor, Shopkeeper Pan was pacing back and forth. He abruptly looked up, saw Niu Youdao emerge, and immediately hurried over. "Master Dao!"

"Let's go." Niu Youdao casually pulled the hood over his head again.

"Uh..." Shopkeeper Pan glanced behind him and could not help asking in confusion, "Only you?"

Niu Youdao looked surprised instead. "Didn't you say he'll only meet me? It must involve some major secret. Why would I bring a crowd?"

"..."

Shopkeeper Pan froze for a moment, then repeatedly nodded. "Yes, yes, of course."

He hurriedly gestured for Niu Youdao to follow. The two walked quickly and soon left the Heavenly Lake Inn. When they stepped onto an arched bridge, Shopkeeper Pan gave a slight nod toward a dark pavilion not far away. Niu Youdao's hood was so large that his line of sight could not have caught the gesture. The tall man standing at the window watched them for a moment. Then he turned, lit the lamp inside the room, and placed the lampshade over it.

The room brightened. The tall man himself opened the door and left.

Inside Qiyun Sect's shop, Linghu Qiu paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back, waiting. Only after quite some time did a fair-skinned, well-dressed man approach with calm composure. It was Shopkeeper Fan, the manager of the shop.

Linghu Qiu immediately stopped pacing. From some distance away, he cupped his hands and smiled. "Shopkeeper Fan! It's been many years. You look even more distinguished than before!"

Shopkeeper Fan stopped, looked him up and down, and asked indifferently, "Brother Linghu, did you need something from me?"

There was little courtesy in his tone. Given Qiyun Sect's standing in the cultivation world, he had no reason to take Linghu Qiu too seriously.

The logic was simple. If Qiyun Sect truly encountered a problem it could not solve, asking this so-called famous gentleman of the State of Jin for help would be useless. And if Qiyun Sect genuinely ordered Linghu Qiu to handle something, he would probably find it difficult to refuse.

Linghu Qiu froze. "Wasn't Shopkeeper Fan looking for me?"

Shopkeeper Fan raised an eyebrow. "I was looking for you?"

Linghu Qiu's gaze sharpened. His expression suddenly changed drastically. "Is Li Zhen from your shop here?"

Shopkeeper Fan frowned. "What Li Zhen? We have no one by that name. Linghu Qiu, what circles are you trying to lead me around in? I don't have time to play games with you!"

Linghu Qiu immediately replaced his expression with a smile and repeatedly cupped his hands. "My apologies, my apologies. It seems I misunderstood and took a man called Li Zhen for someone from your sect's shop. Truly my fault! Shopkeeper Fan, I was disrespectful. Please go about your business. Don't mind me. I'll take my leave!"

With that, he immediately turned and signaled Hongxiu and Hongfu with his eyes before striding out. Hongxiu and Hongfu gave Shopkeeper Fan half-curtsies, then quickly turned and followed. Shopkeeper Fan stood with his hands behind his back. Slowly, one hand emerged and a finger beckoned. A shop clerk immediately came over and leaned close for instructions.

"Something about this feels wrong. Send someone to keep an eye on that fellow and see what he's up to," Shopkeeper Fan said blandly, his face expressionless.

"Yes!" The clerk hurried away.

At the Heavenly Lake Inn, Linghu Qiu returned in haste with the two women and went directly to Niu Youdao's room, knocking repeatedly. Black Peony opened the door.

Seeing him, she politely greeted him with a calm expression. "Sir."

Seeing that she was still there, Linghu Qiu relaxed slightly and peered into the room. "Has my brother gone to sleep? I need to speak with him."

Black Peony said, "Unfortunately, someone came looking for Master Dao just now. He went out."

Linghu Qiu's expression changed violently again. "Went out? Then why are you still here? You didn't go with him?"

"Master Dao wouldn't let me follow."

Linghu Qiu immediately pushed the door open and entered without caring whether Black Peony agreed. He looked around the room. Niu Youdao truly was gone. Hongxiu and Hongfu followed him inside and exchanged looks.

"Who came looking for him?" Linghu Qiu abruptly turned and asked.

Black Peony said, "I don't know him."

She genuinely did not think it appropriate to say more. If there was actually nothing wrong with Shopkeeper Pan, speaking carelessly might expose secrets.

Linghu Qiu fell silent for a while, then put on a smile again. "All right. Get some rest. When my brother comes back, have him come see me. I have something to discuss with him."

"All right," Black Peony answered.

[End of Chapter 258]