Chapter 288: The Grand Princess Owes You Money?

The very first move was meant to take Xuan Zichun's life. Ten people. Every one of them was an elite disciple sent by the three sects to protect Niu Youdao. Any one of them alone was stronger than Xuan Zichun. And now ten experts attacked together. Xuan Zichun had not even escaped from her fantasy of fighting Niu Youdao when terror seized her. She fled desperately. There was no choice but to flee. How could this possibly be called a fight? Yet the attack had come too suddenly.

She was already too late. In panic, she swung her sword to block.

Clang!

The swords collided with a ringing crash. The difference in strength was too great. Xuan Zichun had only just leapt away when the impact smashed her back to the ground, leaving her stumbling. A whip-shadow flashed over and wrapped around her ankle. It caught her off-balance stride and yanked her violently to the ground. In panic, she tried to swing her sword again. Another whip-shadow wrapped around her arm. The two whips pulled together and hurled her sideways into the air.

Several moon wheels were already spinning toward her overhead with a fierce whir.

Shhk! Shhk!

The whirling moon wheels and the converging whips tore apart a spray of blood in midair. The moon wheels flung off droplets of blood as they returned to the hands of the Liuxian Sect disciples. The Lingxiu Mountain disciples snapped their whips and threw away what had been entangled around them. Only moments earlier, Xuan Zichun had been boiling with blood and fighting spirit. Now several bloody pieces of her body fell to the ground. From the first exchange to the end, only a few blinks had passed.

The battle was already over. The person surrounded and attacked had been completely unable to fight back. The sudden turn left everyone caught off guard. Before most of them had even understood what was happening, the matter seemed to be finished. Duan Hu slowly swept his gaze around the entire area. His eyes were murderous. His expression was cold. Once upon a time, how could he ever have imagined a day like this?

How could he have imagined himself leading a group of Golden Core cultivators onto a stage before the cultivators of the realm and displaying such power? How could he have imagined standing beneath the eyes of countless cultivators and carrying himself with such commanding pride? Because of Master Dao's fame, today's scene would inevitably spread far and wide throughout the cultivation world. And Duan Hu would inevitably share in that reflected glory.

Those before whom he had once needed to lower himself, those who had once looked down on him, would all come to know that he was no longer the Duan Hu of the past, no longer the man who had to humble himself everywhere and beg others for favors. The disciples of the three sects who had carried out the attack felt both puzzled and complicated.

What puzzled them was whether there was any glory in ten men ganging up on one weaker woman before so many witnesses.

What complicated their feelings was that their three sects had never displayed themselves so openly before cultivators from all beneath Heaven. And somehow, it felt rather exhilarating.

"Let's go!" Duan Hu called.

He led the ten men away in a series of soaring leaps. Silence covered the surroundings. Everyone watched them leave. They watched this group suddenly appear, join forces to butcher Xuan Zichun, who had come to challenge Niu Youdao, and then suddenly depart again. They had come quickly and left quickly. Before anyone had truly recovered, the killers had already finished their work and disappeared. They had waited half the day. And Xuan Zichun's challenge to Niu Youdao ended like this? The crowd stared at one another in bewilderment.

Then their gazes gradually shifted toward the severed limbs lying amid the blood on the ground. A living woman who had leapt onto the stage only moments ago, full of confidence and spirit, had just been dismembered before everyone's eyes?

"Let's go," Heng Tianduan said, tilting his head toward Huyan Wei.

Huyan Wei was still staring blankly at the bloody scene below, not yet recovered from the sudden eruption of violence.

"Uncle Heng, that's it? Niu Youdao hasn't even come yet!"

Hao Qingqing had turned her head away with a frown, apparently unable to bear looking at such a brutal and bloody sight. At Huyan Wei's words, she immediately gave him a contemptuous look.

"Idiot! Xuan Zichun is already dead. What would he still come here for? To collect the corpse?"

Huyan Wei stared for a moment, then nodded. That seemed to make some sense.

Hao Qingqing turned to Lady Pei. "Third Aunt, that wasn't interesting at all. Niu Youdao is still as rotten as ever, still as fond of bullying women as ever. A whole pack of men openly ganging up on one woman in front of everyone. Only he could do something like that and not feel ashamed!"

She was a woman too. And she herself had been bullied by Niu Youdao before. Her words carried deep personal feeling.

As for why the spectacle had failed to entertain her, first of all, it had been too bloody and ended too quickly. She had not seen Yuan Gang. In the end, she had not even seen Niu Youdao. He had merely sent a few subordinates to deal with the whole thing casually, and then it was over. Naturally, she found it boring.

Lady Pei said, "Let's go back."

Hao Qingqing immediately hugged her arm. "Third Aunt, since Niu Youdao has already arrived and we haven't seen him in so long, can we go find him?"

Lady Pei frowned. "Stop making trouble."

Huyan Wei leaned his head over. "Princess, you really know Niu Youdao?"

"What the hell does it have to do with you?" Hao Qingqing snapped back, nearly spraying spit across his face.

Huyan Wei grinned slyly. "I'll go with you. Let's go see him together. You can introduce me."

He had waited half the day without seeing Niu Youdao. The less he saw of the man whose name he had heard for so long, the more curious he became. After what had just happened, he wanted even more to see what kind of person Niu Youdao actually was.

"Only a ghost would want you to come... come... come..."

Hao Qingqing began cursing him, then gradually changed her words halfway through. Her voice grew smaller. Her eyes rolled thoughtfully. Her family wanted her to spend more time with this wretched man. If she said she was going out to have fun with him, the family would definitely support it. Once she understood that, she immediately turned a smiling face toward Lady Pei.

"Third Aunt, Huyan Wei himself asked. Just let me go have some fun with him."

Lady Pei's expression darkened. How could she not know exactly what scheme was running through the girl's head? The spectators gradually dispersed. Some leapt away through the air, while others walked slowly down the mountain in groups, discussing what had just happened.

"Those two heads they brought were Xuan Zichun's companions?"

"Yes. I've seen them before. There's no mistake. Otherwise why would they bring two random heads and throw them in front of Xuan Zichun?"

"Hiss... This Niu Youdao is ruthless enough. Killing Xuan Zichun is one thing, but before killing her, he even uprooted the grass along with the roots. He didn't spare her companions either!"

Most people did not know that Niu Youdao had detained Xuan Zichun's two companions as hostages the day before. They assumed Niu Youdao's people had arrived late because they had gone off to hunt down Xuan Zichun's companions first. That thought sent a chill through many of the people who had wanted to challenge him.

"Proprietress, it's over. Let's go."

Qin Mian called softly when she saw Su Zhao still standing silently in place. Everyone around them had already left.

"Mm." Su Zhao nodded and slowly turned away.

When their party reached halfway down the mountain, someone flew over and reported, "Proprietress, Niu Youdao never came to Flying Waterfall Terrace. He went to the Zuo Residence and submitted a calling card."

Su Zhao and Qin Mian looked at each other. Neither could understand what Niu Youdao was trying to do...

At the Zuo Residence, Zuo Desong, whose temples were already graying, paced around the courtyard while holding a calling card and considering its contents.

Zuo Desong was the master of the residence and held office as Grand Herald of the State of Qi, overseeing relations between the State of Qi and the other states. His son, Zuo Annian, served as an envoy in the State of Zhao and had met Niu Youdao before.

Qian You, a cultivator stationed at the Zuo Residence, hurried over. "Lord Zuo was looking for me?"

"Take a look at this. Is this Niu Youdao the same Niu Youdao who assassinated the envoy of the State of Yan?" Zuo Desong handed over the calling card.

Qian You accepted it, read it, and nodded slightly. "Judging from the contents, it should be him."

Zuo Desong looked puzzled. "Wasn't he supposed to be accepting someone's challenge at Flying Waterfall Terrace? Didn't Chen Bie go to watch the fight? Why has he come here to see me instead?"

Chen Bie was another cultivator attached to the Zuo Residence.

Qian You was puzzled too. After considering it briefly, he said, "I'll go see for myself."

Before long, he appeared at the entrance of the Zuo Residence. He did not recognize the others, but the sight of Linghu Qiu made him pause.

He frowned. "Linghu Qiu?"

Linghu Qiu immediately cupped his hands. "Brother Qian!"

Qian You raised the calling card in his hand and looked toward Niu Youdao. "Which one of you is Niu Youdao?"

Niu Youdao cupped his hands and smiled. "That would be me. I met Brother Zuo Annian in Jinzhou in the State of Zhao. Brother Zuo once invited me to come visit the Qi capital. Since I've finally arrived, it would be improper not to pay my respects."

Whether that was true, Qian You did not know. Zuo Annian was still in Zhao, so there was no way to verify the claim immediately. He did, however, need to verify Niu Youdao's identity.

He turned to Linghu Qiu. "He's really Niu Youdao?"

Linghu Qiu answered promptly, "The genuine article. I can vouch for that."

Qian You asked Niu Youdao, "You didn't go to Flying Waterfall Terrace to accept Xuan Zichun's challenge?"

Niu Youdao found it rather amusing that Xuan Zichun had truly become famous. Even here, they could name her immediately.

He smiled. "There's no reason I have to obediently show up just because someone challenges me."

"Wait here." Qian You left those words behind and returned inside, still wearing a puzzled expression.

When he appeared again, he said directly, "Lord Zuo has agreed to see you. Has Brother Linghu told you the rules here?"

Linghu Qiu immediately leaned closer and murmured a few words to Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao nodded in agreement. Following the residence's rules, only Niu Youdao and Linghu Qiu were admitted. Restrictions were placed on both men to prevent any unforeseen dangerous act inside the Zuo Residence. Everyone else was stopped outside. After reaching the reception hall, the two waited again while servants brought tea. Before long, Zuo Desong arrived with Qian You accompanying him.

The moment Zuo Desong entered the hall, he smiled and asked, "Which one of you is the bold hero who assassinated the envoy of the State of Yan?"

The two visitors immediately rose and saluted.

Niu Youdao said, "I wouldn't dare call myself a hero. Being forced into desperate circumstances would be closer to the truth. Lord Zuo is making fun of me."

Zuo Desong sat in the host's seat and smiled. "Even I have heard about the challenge at Flying Waterfall Terrace. Why didn't you go? Were you afraid?"

Niu Youdao said calmly, "I don't argue with dead people."

Zuo Desong looked surprised. "What do you mean?"

"The challenger is already dead. Naturally there was no longer any reason for me to go."

"Oh!" Zuo Desong seemed to understand.

He assumed Niu Youdao had secretly arranged to kill the challenger ahead of time.

Then he asked, "May I ask what brings this bold fellow to my residence?"

Niu Youdao said, "When I was in Jinzhou, I met Brother Zuo..."

Zuo Desong waved a hand and interrupted him. "I still have official matters to handle. Spare me the empty courtesies. You came here to seek warhorses for Commandery Prince Yongping, didn't you?"

Niu Youdao secretly admired him. As expected of the State of Qi official responsible for foreign affairs. But he shook his head.

"Lord Zuo gives me too much credit. Naturally I'd be delighted if the State of Qi were willing to give me warhorses, but I know my own measure. That isn't something within my power."

"Since Lord Zuo has already spoken plainly, there's no reason for me to hide anything either. To tell you the truth, I came here to collect a debt."

"Collect a debt?" Zuo Desong was startled inwardly, though nothing showed on his face. "What debt? Don't tell me my son owes you money."

Linghu Qiu was equally bewildered. He had followed Niu Youdao all this way and still could not grasp the man's methods. He had no idea what Niu Youdao was playing at now.

"No." Niu Youdao asked, "Lord Zuo must be familiar with Hao Qingqing."

Zuo Desong's brows knitted slightly. "The Grand Princess? You're saying the Grand Princess owes you money?"

"Exactly." Niu Youdao nodded.

Now that he had reached the Qi capital, how could he still not know Hao Qingqing's identity?

He sighed. "I can't simply enter the inner imperial palace, so I had no choice but to trouble Lord Zuo to notify the Grand Princess on my behalf."

"The money she owes me should be repaid."

[End of Chapter 288]