Chapter 301: Three Sworn Brothers

He was referring to the mountains surrounding the capital. The State of Qi was a land of grasslands, and mountain ranges as tall as those around the capital were relatively rare. The mountains enclosed the city in basin-like terrain, and three sects occupied them: Daqiu Sect, Xuanbing Sect, and Tianhuo Sect. Each held a spiritually blessed tract of land and commanded one side of the capital's approaches, jointly standing guard over the city.

All three ranked among the stronger cultivation sects of the State of Qi. Even across all beneath Heaven, they counted as major sects of note, and each held a seat in Misty Pavilion.

The imperial palace protectors came from these three sects. Lady Pei and the others, for example, were disciples of Daqiu Sect.

Linghu Qiu pondered for a moment. "I do know a few people from the three sects. What do you want to do?"

Niu Youdao said, "Elder Brother knows the situation we're in. Just as I told Feng Entai earlier, these things are difficult even to get rid of. Here, the only people who would dare accept them are those three sects."

Linghu Qiu asked, "You want to give the permits to them?"

Niu Youdao said, "These things could sell for a great deal of money. If I give them away for nothing, surely they won't object?"

Linghu Qiu sighed. "Not necessarily. With the influence those three sects have in the State of Qi, if they truly wanted permits for warhorses to leave the state, it would take little more than a word. They have no need for the ones in your hands."

Niu Youdao said, "How will we know without trying? If they truly refuse them, then ask them to cooperate with us and hold an auction for the permits. I won't take a single coin from the proceeds. Every bit of it can go to them!"

Difficulty appeared on Linghu Qiu's face.

"Elder Brother, I must ask for your help!" Niu Youdao rose, cupped his hands, and bowed.

Linghu Qiu hurriedly reached out to support him. With a wry, reluctant smile, he said, "Fine. I'll make the trip. I can only promise to do my best."

"Thank you, Elder Brother."

"When do I leave?"

"The sooner, the better."

"Are you coming with me?"

"Too many people are watching this place. For now, it isn't suitable for me to show myself openly. If this fails, the more people who recognize me, the slimmer my chances of escaping afterward. I need to leave myself at least one path of retreat. I'll have Duan Hu go with you. How does that sound?"

"Fine." Linghu Qiu nodded, then smiled bitterly. "The moment I step outside, I'll probably be stopped and searched. Who knows how many times they'll search me before this trip is over."

Niu Youdao cupped his hands apologetically. "I'll have to trouble Elder Brother."

"By the way, what are you going to do about Old Feng, whom I just coaxed outside?" Linghu Qiu pointed toward the courtyard beyond.

Niu Youdao said, "Naturally I won't make things difficult for Elder Brother. Peony, bring him in."

"Yes!" Black Peony accepted the order and left. Before long, she returned with Feng Entai.

Feng Entai looked at Linghu Qiu but received no hint from him. He could only sidle up to Niu Youdao with an ingratiating smile and ask cautiously, "Little Brother, has your anger eased a little?"

Niu Youdao gave him a cold sidelong look. "For the sake of my sworn elder brother, I'll shoulder this matter. Consider my life thrown into the wager!"

Feng Entai was delighted. He cupped his hands toward Linghu Qiu in thanks, then turned back to comfort Niu Youdao. "It won't come to that, it won't. With Little Brother's methods, you'll surely turn danger into safety!"

Niu Youdao said, "Spare me the useless talk. You caused this trouble. By taking it onto myself, I'm putting my life on the line for you. Whether I live or die, I'll accept it. But surely you owe me some kind of assurance?"

"Assurance?" Feng Entai looked puzzled. "What sort of assurance does Little Brother want?"

Niu Youdao tapped the tabletop with one finger. "I'm shouldering the matter. Tianyu Sect won't kick me while I'm down afterward, will it?"

Feng Entai said solemnly, "How could we possibly hold you back over something like this?"

Niu Youdao said, "After what I've seen of Tianyu Sect this time, even if you don't hold me back, who can guarantee you won't tear down the bridge after crossing the river?"

Feng Entai spread both hands. "Once the matter is over, it'll be over. What bridge is there to tear down?"

Niu Youdao reminded him, "You know why the three sects came here to take this risk. You know what they came here for. You signed an agreement with me before, and Tianyu Sect went back on it whenever it pleased, even using the safety of those three sects to threaten me. How do I know you won't refuse to honor your promise once this affair is over?"

That was an awkward subject. It had been easy enough for Tianyu Sect to make the decision, but Feng Entai was the man who had personally repudiated the agreement face-to-face. He forced a smile. "Circumstances left us no choice. Times were different then. The Sect Leader has personally given his guarantee now. Naturally he won't break his word again."

Niu Youdao said, "If even black ink on white paper can be repudiated, do you think I'd still dare trust words with nothing written behind them?"

Feng Entai sighed repeatedly. "Little Brother, is there any point circling around like this? Say what you want directly. There is one thing you know perfectly well, though: I don't have the authority to change Tianyu Sect's position."

Niu Youdao stared at him and slowly said, "If you don't disdain the idea, how about we swear brotherhood as men of different surnames?"

"..."

Feng Entai stared blankly, wondering whether he had misheard. "Little Brother, what did you say?"

Linghu Qiu had gone still as well.

Niu Youdao said, "I said we should swear brotherhood."

I'm already an old man, and you want me to swear brotherhood with a young fellow like you? Feng Entai did not know whether to laugh or cry. "This... this... Little Brother, what are you playing at now?"

Niu Youdao said, "After this experience, I have no confidence at all that Tianyu Sect won't go back on its word afterward. If Tianyu Sect truly repudiates the agreement, there is nothing I can do. The only thing left for me to rely on is personal honor. If Brother Feng truly intends to become a man who betrays trust and righteousness, then I can only admit defeat!"

Feng Entai's expression became wonderfully complicated. He sighed. "You're thinking too much. The Sect Leader has personally spoken. How could he break his word?"

Niu Youdao said, "Are you unwilling because you find the ceremony troublesome, or because you know Tianyu Sect will definitely tear down the bridge afterward and you don't want to become a man who betrays his sworn brother?"

"That's not what I mean. It's just..." Feng Entai turned to Linghu Qiu. "Brother Linghu, you judge this."

Linghu Qiu kept a blank expression and looked up at the ceiling. "You two can decide for yourselves."

"Aiya!" Feng Entai shook his head helplessly and waved a hand. "Fine, fine. Little Brother, as long as you agree to shoulder this affair, I'll swear brotherhood with you. Satisfied?"

Privately, he muttered that he would treat it as a sacrifice for Tianyu Sect. If this fellow refused to cooperate, Feng Entai would have no way to explain himself to the sect anyway.

Niu Youdao said, "I want the Tianyu Sect disciples here to witness it too!"

"You..." Feng Entai started to speak, then stopped. At last he closed his eyes and nodded helplessly. "Fine, fine. We'll do it your way."

And so the matter was settled. Black Peony immediately busied herself ordering people to set up an incense altar outside.

Once the incense altar was ready, more than a dozen Tianyu Sect disciples staying here gathered in the courtyard to witness the ceremony. Quite a few of them were privately depressed. If their Martial Uncle became Niu Youdao's sworn brother, how were they supposed to calculate seniority from now on?

When everything was prepared, Niu Youdao took a handful of good incense and gave three sticks to Feng Entai. Then he separated another three and held them out toward Linghu Qiu, who had been standing aside to observe.

"Elder Brother, you and I are already sworn brothers. Once Brother Feng and I swear brotherhood, the two of you will count as brothers as well. Why not join us and make the oath again together?"

"Heh, heh." Linghu Qiu gave two dry laughs, muttering inwardly that this fellow's sworn brotherhood seemed rather cheap.

Given how readily Niu Youdao swore brotherhood with people, Linghu Qiu seriously suspected he had other sworn brothers elsewhere as well.

Everyone was looking at him, however, and Niu Youdao's reasoning was not wrong. Under the circumstances, refusing would be awkward. Linghu Qiu could only step forward in extreme discomfort and accept the incense.

With Black Peony guiding the rite from the side, the old, middle-aged, and young men knelt together before the incense altar and swore before Heaven and Earth, their vows solemn and righteous.

After the prayer, the three rose in turn and placed their incense into the burner. Then, one after another, they raised cups of wine with smiles that did not reach their eyes, saluted one another, and established their order of seniority. Feng Entai was the eldest brother. Linghu Qiu was the second brother. Niu Youdao became the third.

"Eldest Brother, after this matter is over, surely you won't abandon me and leave me to fend for myself?" Niu Youdao asked while toasting Feng Entai.

Feng Entai sighed. "Third Brother, you're thinking too much. But one matter is one matter. Tianyu Sect's decision still needs Third Brother's cooperation. Please don't make things difficult for me."

"Easy enough!" Niu Youdao agreed readily.

After the three drank the oath wine, Niu Youdao immediately had Black Peony retrieve the hidden agreement and personally returned it.

Feng Entai took it and inspected it carefully. After confirming it was indeed what he had written, he immediately held it to the altar candles and set it alight. Before everyone's eyes, the agreement burned to ash. He finally let out a long breath. The sight of the incense and candles in front of him, however, left a bitter taste.

He could only hope his sect kept its promise and did not change its mind again. Otherwise, he would be placed in an impossible position after so many fellow disciples had personally witnessed the oath.

And if Niu Youdao truly encountered danger this time, should Feng Entai intervene or not? Tianyu Sect might be able to stand aside, but if Feng Entai did the same, what would all those fellow disciples think of him?

There was no time to lose. Linghu Qiu still had business to handle. After returning to his quarters to make brief preparations, he took Duan Hu and hurried away.

Once everyone else had dispersed, Feng Entai asked how Niu Youdao intended to handle the matter. Niu Youdao gave him a rough explanation of what he had sent Linghu Qiu to do.

"Let's hope it works." Feng Entai sighed. He felt the chances were rather slim.

For now, there was no other method. Everyone could only wait here for Linghu Qiu's news. They waited until dusk before Linghu Qiu and Duan Hu finally returned.

Feng Entai was the first to stand. "Second Brother, how did it go?"

Expectation showed in Niu Youdao's eyes as well.

"Ah!" Linghu Qiu walked into the pavilion, dropped heavily into a seat, and waved toward Duan Hu. "Ask him. He witnessed the whole thing from beginning to end. I've done everything I could."

The moment those words came out, Feng Entai and Niu Youdao exchanged a glance and both sensed trouble. Duan Hu then explained the situation in detail.

Linghu Qiu truly had done his utmost. He found acquaintances from Daqiu Sect, Xuanbing Sect, and Tianhuo Sect to make introductions and managed to meet senior figures from all three. Yet once the situation was explained, no amount of pleading mattered. They wanted neither the permits for one hundred thousand warhorses nor the money from selling them. In the end, one of Linghu Qiu's acquaintances privately let him hear a little of the wind.

In truth, there was hardly anything secret left to reveal. By this point, the intention of the emperor of the State of Qi was already plain for all to see.

The acquaintance told Linghu Qiu that there truly were too many cultivators gathering in the Qi capital. It was not only the emperor who felt uneasy. The three sects themselves were uncomfortable as well.

This area counted as their territory. What did it mean for more and more outside powers to gather here? They too believed it was time for a cleanup.

More importantly, the emperor had already sounded out the three sects. All three had dispatched manpower to take part in the affair. How could they turn around and wreck the very operation they had joined? Naturally, they would never agree.

The man warned Linghu Qiu to know his limits, leave this place of trouble as early as possible, and not involve himself in matters he had no business touching lest he bring disaster upon himself.

[End of Chapter 301]