Chapter 429: Unwilling to Accept It

What were they supposed to do? What could they possibly do?

Zheng Jiuxiao said, "He won't even show himself. What are we supposed to do? We can't just inexplicably stand here and oppose Tianyu Sect, can we? Could we even withstand them? Besides, I suspect even he has run out of options. What can he do to Tianyu Sect? Even if the imperial court's appointment of Shang Chaozong has something to do with him, what use is that? At most, it stirs up some conflict."

That was what he said, but all three knew perfectly well that their sects were regarded as belonging to Niu Youdao's side. Niu Youdao had not treated them poorly over the years. He had even taken the initiative to support them with large sums of wealth. If they now followed Tianyu Sect in bringing Niu Youdao down, it would be difficult to justify either emotionally or rationally.

Xia Hua looked toward Fei Changliu. "Brother Fei, what do you think?"

Fei Changliu fell silent for a moment, then finally said with some hesitation, "The situation is what it is. We have our own difficulties too. He himself hasn't said a word and doesn't seem to take the matter seriously. It isn't our place to tear faces with Tianyu Sect on his behalf."

Xia Hua nodded slightly. "That makes sense."

And so, through this exchange, the three confirmed one another's positions face-to-face, unified their stance, and steadied their wavering, uneasy hearts. That was why they had arranged this meeting in the first place: to advance or retreat together. If each acted alone without knowing what the other two intended, any single sect would be far too weak. With the road ahead uncertain, banding together at least eased some of their anxiety and gave them something they could explain to their own sects if anything went wrong.

With the direction settled and the matter weighing on them temporarily put to rest, Fei Changliu said, "It isn't suitable for all three of us to remain away at the same time for too long. Otherwise, Tianyu Sect may start thinking too much and unnecessary trouble could arise. Let's each return and keep in contact at all times."

"Good!" Xia Hua nodded.

Zheng Jiuxiao had just cupped his hands to take leave when a disciple hurried over with a decoded message brought by a Goldenwing.

"Sect Leader."

Xia Hua and Fei Changliu exchanged a glance. It would be improper to pry into private communications from Zheng Jiuxiao's sect, so they used the opportunity to turn away and depart. Zheng Jiuxiao took the message and read it. His expression changed sharply.

He suddenly raised his head and called out urgently, "You two, wait!"

Xia Hua and Fei Changliu, who had already rejoined the disciples accompanying their own sects, turned back together.

Zheng Jiuxiao raised the letter. "A message from Niu Youdao!"

Xia Hua and Fei Changliu looked at one another from a distance, then quickly returned. At almost the same moment, two more Goldenwings descended in succession to the disciples of the other two sects. Xia Hua and Fei Changliu accepted their letters and leaned close to read them together. The message said: Immediately gather the elite disciples of your sect and proceed to Changping City to guard His Highness! Niu Youdao. After reading it, both raised their heads and stared at one another, then looked toward the grim-faced Zheng Jiuxiao.

Zheng Jiuxiao was visibly torn. He asked the other two, "What do we do?"

Before Xia Hua or Fei Changliu could offer an opinion, disciples from both sects came over in succession with their own decoded secret messages. Seeing the solemn expressions with which the two examined their letters, Zheng Jiuxiao seemed to realize something. Forgetting all concern for privacy, he moved directly beside them. Neither objected, so he craned his neck and read both letters in their hands. Only then did he breathe a little easier.

The contents of all three letters were identical. He had feared Niu Youdao had sent the order only to him. Now it was clear that all three sects had received the message at the same time.

This time it was Xia Hua who looked up and asked, "What do we do?"

Fei Changliu and Zheng Jiuxiao wanted to know the same thing. The arrival of these letters had thrown all three men back into turmoil. Before, they had at least been able to comfort themselves with the excuse that Niu Youdao himself had not said anything. Now he had spoken, and what he demanded was precisely the result they least wanted to face.

Obey or refuse?

What made their expressions tighten was that the letter did not sound as though he were discussing the matter with them. It sounded more like a direct order. He had simply commanded them to act, leaving no room whatsoever for negotiation. The meaning carried by that brief message was forceful.

Since their three sects had first become acquainted with Niu Youdao, none of them had ever seen him take such a forceful attitude toward them. At the yamen in Changping City, another Goldenwing descended, and another urgent report was delivered to Feng Lingbo's desk. Seated behind the desk, Feng Lingbo almost did not dare look at it.

By now he was already overwhelmed, his eyes red with anxiety. Even so, he had managed to restrain his temper, sitting there with a dark face rather than erupting.

Before, he had not understood why Tianyu Sect's people had suddenly returned to Changping City or why they had abruptly ordered him to suspend action against Meng Shanming. Now he was beginning to understand.

Peng Youzai's party had rushed urgently toward Jinzhou, commandeering horses from the relay stations throughout Nanzhou as they went. Such movement could hardly escape Feng Lingbo, who now presided over Nanzhou.

Nanzhou had only just changed hands and was not yet completely stable. The network of scouts watching beyond its borders had not been fully established, so Feng Lingbo's intelligence efforts were still focused mainly on internal affairs. That was why he had failed to notice Jinzhou's army assembling.

Only when scouts sent by the troops stationed along Nanzhou's border reported back that Jinzhou's army was pressing toward the frontier did he finally realize something was wrong. What did Jinzhou mean by bringing a great army to the border at a time like this? Only then did Feng Lingbo finally understand why Peng Youzai had hurried to Jinzhou. The imperial court had suddenly appointed Shang Chaozong Provincial Inspector of Nanzhou. Jinzhou had suddenly massed a great army on the border.

Then reports arrived from garrisons throughout Nanzhou: some disciples of the three sects had left their assigned forces without permission and were commandeering horses from relay stations along the way. Once these disciples gathered together, the three sect leaders placed themselves at their head and began pressing straight toward Changping City. The relay stations were all under Feng Lingbo's control.

There was no way the three sects could openly race toward the city without him learning of it. He knew their progress every step of the way. One abnormal development after another had erupted in rapid succession. Feng Lingbo sensed disaster approaching. He also understood why Tianyu Sect had suddenly ordered him to suspend action against Shang Chaozong's side. Bad news arriving one after another placed enormous pressure on him.

He knew perfectly well that if the situation truly was what he feared, Tianyu Sect itself might not be able to withstand such pressure. Even though Peng Youzai was his father-in-law, the man was unlikely to sacrifice the interests of the entire Tianyu Sect merely to preserve Feng Lingbo's interests. He could not understand it. How could Shang Chaozong possess this much influence? The behavior of Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain made him think of Niu Youdao.

Had the man Peng Youzai had been worrying about all along finally made his move? Could Niu Youdao truly possess such ability? Most importantly, Feng Lingbo could not understand why Jinzhou would do something so foolish. Nor could he understand the court of the State of Yan's imperial appointment.

Before, he had assumed the appointment was simply intended to sow discord inside Nanzhou. Now it looked more like the court and Jinzhou were singing in harmony, cooperating with each other to support Shang Chaozong's rise. Would the court of the State of Yan really hand Shang Chaozong such an advantage? What exactly had that escaped Niu Youdao done?

How had he managed it?

Bang!

Feng Lingbo slammed one fist onto the desk. His eyes bloodshot, he picked up the latest urgent report. It was another update on the progress of the three sects. They were getting closer and closer to Changping City.

He abruptly surged to his feet, tore the urgent report to shreds, and braced both hands against the desk as scraps of paper fluttered around him. His breathing came hard and heavy. He had endured humiliation for so many years. Now, just as supreme authority was finally in his grasp, it was about to be lost again. He was unwilling to accept it.

This was all of Nanzhou!

It was not that tiny Guangyi Commandery from years ago! Feng Lingbo stood with both hands planted on the desk, shaking his head, his face twisted with pain. He truly could not accept it. Was he supposed to sit and watch this happen? Slowly, Feng Lingbo raised his head. A vicious light flashed through his resolute eyes.

He suddenly shouted, "Someone!"

A subordinate rushed in from outside and cupped his hands. "My lord!"

Feng Lingbo said in a deep voice, "Ask Madam to come here. Yes!"

The subordinate accepted the order and left. Before long, Peng Yulan arrived, her frame broader and taller than that of an ordinary woman. Feng Lingbo again called toward the guards outside, warning them that without permission, no one was to approach. Then he turned back. Husband and wife looked at one another in silence. Peng Yulan looked considerably more haggard than before. She knew of all the strange developments Feng Lingbo knew about and likewise sensed the crisis drawing near.

The fates of husband and wife had long been tied together in glory and disgrace alike. She could feel the pressure he bore as though it were her own. She had never imagined this. Truly never imagined it. How could the situation change so quickly? How long had they even been able to rejoice?

"Yulan!" Feng Lingbo stepped forward and grasped both her hands.

Peng Yulan forced a smile. "What is it? More bad news?"

Feng Lingbo said heavily, "We cannot sit here and wait for disaster to descend. We have to eliminate the future danger first!"

Peng Yulan's heart jolted. "What do you want to do?"

Feng Lingbo brought his mouth close to her ear and whispered, "Only if Shang Chaozong is unable to take control of Nanzhou can everything we've worked for be preserved."

Though she had already guessed part of it, Peng Yulan's eyes still widened. Her hands tightened around his.

"No. We can't act recklessly. Otherwise, how will we answer to Father?"

"You're worrying too much," Feng Lingbo said. "Once the rice is cooked, Father can at most punish us. Could he really kill us?"

Peng Yulan shook her head. "Lingbo, I understand what you mean. But have you thought about Ruonan? What we did before already put her in an impossible position. Are we, her own parents, really going to turn her into a widow with our own hands? If we do such a thing, how are we supposed to face her afterward?"

Feng Lingbo said, "Then have you thought about your sons and grandchildren? After everything we've already done to Shang Chaozong, do you think he bears us no resentment? Once he takes power, how could he possibly let us go? If we don't act now and instead wait until Shang Chaozong makes his move, what we lose may not merely be authority. The lives of our entire family, young and old, may go with it!"

Peng Yulan still shook her head. "No. Father is still here. At worst, we take refuge under Tianyu Sect. With Tianyu Sect protecting us, Shang Chaozong won't dare act recklessly. Our whole family can remain safe."

"Foolish!" Feng Lingbo said.

"I'll say something disrespectful: how many more years can Father live? At most he can protect our generation."

"When a man is gone, the tea turns cold. Once Shang Chaozong controls Nanzhou, there are countless ways he can make Tianyu Sect turn a blind eye."

"In a chaotic age like this, for ordinary people to enjoy peace for even one generation is already difficult. If we can hold Nanzhou, we may be able to preserve peace and wealth for several generations of our descendants."

"Have you thought about that?"

"So long as we're alive, and so long as we still have Tianyu Sect behind us, Shang Chaozong will probably lie awake every night worrying that we might rise again."

"He will certainly think of every possible way to move against us and eliminate the future threat."

"Can you truly bear to watch your grandsons and granddaughters lose their heads?"

"So long as we control Nanzhou, are you afraid we won't be able to find Ruonan a good husband afterward?"

Mentioning her beloved grandsons and granddaughters struck directly at Peng Yulan's weakness. She swallowed dryly. Conflict and hesitation filled her face, yet she still could not bring herself to decide.

She shook her head. "I know Ruonan. She won't stand by. She will never watch Shang Chaozong come to harm without trying to stop it."

Feng Lingbo said, "That isn't a problem. We can find any excuse we like to send her away. The real problem is the Tianyu Sect disciples guarding Shang Chaozong. I need your cooperation for that. Leave everything else to me."

[End of Chapter 429]