Chapter 377: Those Skilled in War Win No Resounding Glory

As he spoke, Niu Youdao took Shang Chaozong's hand and squeezed it firmly, his tone earnest and weighty. Shang Chaozong was moved. He nodded.

Niu Youdao continued, "There is one more thing Your Highness must remember. These thirty thousand warhorses were obtained by Tianyu Sect. The true plan was devised by Tianyu Sect, and the money used to buy the horses came from Tianyu Sect as well. I was merely the errand runner."

Shang Chaozong stared at him in surprise. "How could that be? Tianyu Sect spent so long on this and gained nothing. The achievement is obviously yours, Master Dao."

Niu Youdao waved a hand. "No. Everything was planned by Tianyu Sect."

Shang Chaozong said, "Impossible. If they truly planned everything, how could they not know you were coming back? Why would they come here to seize Yuan Fang and the others? Master Dao, has Tianyu Sect gone so far that they even want to take this credit from you?"

Niu Youdao said, "Has Your Highness already forgotten what I just told you? Our strength is inferior to theirs. When we ought to endure, we endure. Besides, Tianyu Sect needs this prestige more than I do, while for me it may not be a good thing at all."

Shang Chaozong understood, but still tried to persuade him. "Master Dao, isn't it a pity to hand over an achievement you risked your life and worked so hard for? Keeping the credit would greatly increase your prestige in the cultivation world."

Niu Youdao shook his head. "The greatest sound is scarcely heard; the greatest form has no shape. If I could, I'd rather no one knew I existed at all. But things rarely go as one wishes. Much of what has happened was beyond my control, and circumstances forced my name to spread beneath Heaven. More fame would only become a burden. Make too great a show of myself, and someone will come to cut me down. If Tianyu Sect wants this sort of thing, let them have it. I couldn't ask for better. Your Highness, those skilled in war win no resounding glory."

Shang Chaozong froze.

At last, he understood. His emotions churned for a while before he finally exhaled and nodded. Looking around, he asked, "Where is Master Yuan? Why didn't he come back with you?"

"The world is different now. He has a road of his own he wants to walk. Let him go."

Though the night was already deep, so many warhorses had only just arrived and there had been no advance preparation at all. Shang Chaozong still had countless matters to handle and could not linger here. The party had no choice but to leave. Niu Youdao, meanwhile, led the others back to Maolu Villa after their long absence.

The little villa built atop the mountain naturally could not be very large. Guan Fangyi reached the summit and swept her gaze around by moonlight, and half her heart immediately went cold.

This tiny villa was not even half the size of her Fufang Garden in the Qi capital, where every inch of land was worth gold. As for the surroundings and atmosphere she had cultivated at Fufang Garden, there was simply no comparison.

She looked farther out at the lights of Qingshan Commandery's city. They came only in scattered patches, not even equal to one corner of the Qi capital.

The mountain was not tall. It possessed neither rare beauty nor majestic grandeur. It was simply a poor little nest in barren hills and wilderness.

And Linghu Qiu had praised the place as though it were some flower of paradise. Where was anything so wonderful about it?

"A pack of liars!" Guan Fangyi ground out. "A miserable backwater like this. What's supposed to be so good about it?"

Niu Youdao knew the woman had been accustomed to luxury all her life and would probably need time to adjust. He turned back with a smile. "Yuan Fang!"

"Master Dao!" Yuan Fang immediately hurried over.

Niu Youdao said, "We've been drifting aboard ships for months and haven't had anything decent to eat. We have honored guests now. Prepare several tables of good food and wine. Bring out all your best dishes."

"All right!" Yuan Fang thumped his chest in assurance and ran off.

From the small neighboring peak came the clink and scrape of tools, while Moon Butterflies cast a soft glow. Niu Youdao left the villa and walked over.

Beneath an old pine on the neighboring peak stood a newly raised grave mound. The inscription on the gravestone belonged to Black Peony, and naturally it was Black Peony who lay buried within.

Duan Hu and the others had hauled stones over to finish the grave, building up the mound piece by piece. Every one of them had red-rimmed eyes.

Shang Shuqing's eyes were red as well. Crouched beside the gravestone, she was carefully filling the carved characters with paint.

Niu Youdao stopped some distance away. His expression remained calm, his gaze deep. He watched in silence for a while, then quietly turned and left without going over to disturb them. At the Commandery Governor's Residence, Shang Chaozong, Lan Ruoting, and Meng Shanming sat together beside a lamp.

After listening to Shang Chaozong recount what had happened, Meng Shanming sighed softly. "What a line: 'Those skilled in war win no resounding glory.' For him to say such a thing, he must already have given Peng Youzai an explanation that satisfied him. There should be no turmoil between the two sides for the time being."

Lan Ruoting stroked his beard and sighed as well. "A truly exceptional man."

Back at the villa, Niu Youdao let the people from Fufang Garden choose wherever they wished to stay. Guan Fangyi saved herself the trouble of choosing. She marched directly into the courtyard where Niu Youdao lived and claimed one of the rooms.

Once everyone had settled on a place, Yuan Fang had already arranged several tables of food and wine among the pavilions.

Ghost Mother and her people did not join the feast. As ghost cultivators, the food and wine of the mortal world had long since ceased to have anything to do with them. The people from Fufang Garden, however, circled the tables and looked them over again and again.

They had all seen plenty of fine food and drink in the Qi capital, yet most of the dishes filling these tables were completely unfamiliar to them. There were simply too many different styles. And the rich, tempting aromas alone were enough to make their mouths water.

Guan Fangyi's bright eyes blinked as she stared for a while, then she looked up at Niu Youdao. "Is this the 'best beneath Heaven' Linghu Qiu was talking about?"

"Whether it's good or not, you'll know once you've tasted it." Niu Youdao gestured for everyone to take their seats. "Help yourselves."

Someone picked up his chopsticks and was about to dig in when Guan Fangyi glared. "In a hurry to reincarnate? Test it first!"

Everyone from Fufang Garden immediately turned to look at Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao said helplessly, "Hongniang, are you ever going to stop? What benefit would I gain from harming you?"

"Plenty. Maybe you're planning to tear down the bridge after crossing the river. Maybe you've taken a fancy to my wealth. I've seen enough of your schemes by now to know exactly how treacherous and crafty you are. I have to guard against you." Guan Fangyi did not bother hiding her suspicions. She turned and snapped at the others, "What are you standing there for?"

Several people promptly took out medicinal powders and began testing the dishes.

Only after every dish and every jar of wine had been checked did Old Six Xu say, "Big Sister, it's safe."

Guan Fangyi gave an approving sound. Only then were they permitted to eat. Old Six Xu was first to move. He picked up a fried meatball and put it into his mouth. After two chews, his eyes instantly lit up, and his chopsticks darted toward the other dishes. At the sight of him, everyone else joined in. Once they had their first taste, restraint vanished. One after another, they threw themselves into the food.

Even Uncle Chen, usually so quiet and taciturn, looked astonished after tasting it, his chopsticks moving again and again.

"You're supposed to be people from the capital. Have you never eaten before? What a disgraceful pack!" Guan Fangyi cursed them, but curiosity still got the better of her. She picked up her chopsticks and sampled a small bite.

At once, she smacked Old Six Xu's chopsticks aside with her own. "Starving ghost reincarnated, are you? What are you fighting over?"

The place filled with the sounds of chewing. No one even bothered sitting anymore. They all stood around the tables and ate.

Niu Youdao smiled. He turned, picked up a wine pot, and walked to the railing. Raising his head, he looked at the moon. He poured a cup of wine, swept out his arm, and spilled it onto the ground.

After pouring three cups in succession, he filled one for himself and drank slowly, standing alone beneath the empty brilliance of the moon.

By the time the group had eaten and drunk their fill, not so much as a scrap remained on any plate. Everyone patted full stomachs with looks of deep satisfaction.

With nothing left on the dishes, Guan Fangyi, who had been slower to reach in because she was still preserving some semblance of decorum, swept a furious look over everyone. She had no choice but to set down her chopsticks, take out a handkerchief, and delicately wipe her lips.

Now she finally understood why Linghu Qiu had said that if the food here claimed second place beneath Heaven, no one would dare claim first.

"People from the capital truly are different. You even eat cleaner than we do." Niu Youdao leaned over to inspect the empty dishes and murmured into Guan Fangyi's ear.

Humiliated into anger, Guan Fangyi immediately shot back, "You simply didn't put enough on the plates!"

Niu Youdao could not be bothered arguing with her. This woman could claw three parts of reason out of a case where she had none. He turned away with a smile and left.

The instant he was gone, Guan Fangyi pointed at the others and unleashed a torrent of abuse. "You've thrown every scrap of my dignity away!"

The targets of her scolding looked at one another, then at the empty bowls and plates. It was, admittedly, rather embarrassing.

The woman doing the scolding then hurried after Niu Youdao. She did not emerge again until the two had talked for quite some time. The room was still the same room, but one person was missing.

A tub had been filled with hot water. Soaking in it with his eyes closed, Niu Youdao knew that the woman who had so often stripped naked and bathed with him would never appear again.

After bathing, he sat beside the lamp at his desk with his hair loose around his shoulders. Water dripped onto the inkstone as he ground the ink. A Moon Butterfly rested on a beam overhead, casting a gentle glow. He spread out sheets of paper and took up his brush, setting black ink to white. At the head of the first page stood two striking words: Taiyi. He wrote each character with painstaking care.

Not until the sky had brightened fully did he finish and put down his brush. When he opened the door, he found Shang Shuqing waiting outside with her back to him.

"The Commandery Princess is here." Niu Youdao smiled faintly, turned back inside, and sat before the dressing table.

Shang Shuqing followed him in. Taking up a comb, she stood behind him and began arranging his long hair.

After being away so long, necessity had forced Niu Youdao to become quite skilled at doing his own hair. But this was an old routine between him and Shang Shuqing, and he did not refuse.

In truth, after their long separation, Shang Shuqing had been somewhat apprehensive. She had not known whether Niu Youdao would still let her comb his hair.

Fortunately, he did.

"Master Dao, the lamp in your room burned all night. Didn't you rest at all?" Shang Shuqing asked softly.

"Mm. I had something to do." Niu Youdao looked at the person reflected in the mirror. "Judging by your complexion, you haven't rested well either."

She had gone two nights without sleep. Of course her complexion looked poor.

"I'm all right," Shang Shuqing replied.

Niu Youdao said, "Commandery Princess, you've lost quite a bit of weight. A gust of wind could carry you away. While I was gone, was Yuan Fang slacking off? Did he fail to take proper care of your meals?"

Shang Shuqing smiled. "No. It was only the situation in the two commanderies. The warhorses kept failing to arrive, so I worried along with everyone else and lost some appetite. Fortunately, Master Dao returned in time."

Niu Youdao smiled as well.

He was only joking, easing the awkwardness of seeing each other again after so long. Yuan Fang had followed him for years. Niu Youdao knew the demon well enough to know he would not actually neglect something like that. Silence settled between them for a while.

Then Shang Shuqing tentatively asked, "That woman... is she the famous Hongniang of the Qi capital? There are rumors outside saying Master Dao intends to marry her."

"I don't have that kind of good fortune. It was only a rumor we deliberately released to deal with the situation at the time. Don't take it seriously," Niu Youdao explained with his eyes closed.

The corner of Shang Shuqing's mouth lifted slightly. Her hands became noticeably more lively as she worked, and a trace of brightness returned to her tired eyes.

Once his hair was arranged, Niu Youdao rose, picked up the pages he had written the night before, and went directly outside the villa to the neighboring peak. He came to the new grave beneath the old pine. With one hand resting on his sword, he raised the stack of paper in the other.

With a low hum, the sheets ignited without flame. In moments, they turned into flakes of ash that scattered away on the wind.

Back in the Qi capital, Niu Youdao had promised Black Peony that once they returned, he would give her a gift. That gift had been this Taiyi cultivation method. Unfortunately, that promise could no longer be fulfilled.

[End of Chapter 377]