Chapter 447: Hearts Turn Toward Change

"Martial Uncle!"

Tang Yi's cry failed to stop the departing figure. Disappointment spread across her face. Gradually, however, her expression turned thoughtful as she considered Zhao Xiongge's words. Should she go find Niu Youdao? It was an extraordinarily awkward prospect.

She could still remember how perfunctory she had been when they bowed to Heaven and Earth. She remembered her indifference on their wedding night, and even more clearly the years when Niu Youdao had been kept under house arrest and neglected. Husband and wife in name though they were, even when living within arm's reach of one another, they had barely met a handful of times in total.

Yet who could have imagined that the quietly compliant youth had actually been a hidden dragon lying in the depths—silent until the day his first cry startled the world?

Once that youth left the mountain and broke free of his shackles, lightning flashed and thunder rolled. Storms gathered wherever he went. Tang Yi had heard more or less of all the things he had done. In only a few short years, he had become someone capable of influencing the fate of a regional lord, a man who held the destinies of countless people in his hands. A mere Shangqing Sect had long since ceased to matter in his eyes.

Had they known this would happen, why had the Shangqing Sect treated him that way in the first place? Tang Yi also knew that the people below had never been able to stop themselves from quietly following news of him.

Their state of mind was almost as though they stood to one side watching a grand revival that should originally have belonged to the Shangqing Sect, then turned back to look at their own present circumstances. The comparison left a bitter taste in everyone's mouth.

The affair of forcing Niu Youdao to surrender the position of Shangqing Sect Leader had already become a heavy knot in the hearts of everyone in the sect.

They had plainly driven him out, yet another inexplicable sentiment filled the Shangqing Sect from top to bottom, as though everyone still regarded Niu Youdao as one of their own.

And because Tang Yi and Niu Youdao still possessed the formal status of husband and wife, many secretly looked forward to the day that bond might make him change his mind and return. Tang Yi understood what everyone was thinking. If Niu Youdao had become useless after leaving the Shangqing Sect, they would probably have forgotten him long ago.

Instead, the youth once confined at Peach Blossom Spring had used his own ability to prove that he had never cared about the position of Sect Leader in the first place. He had also proved that leaving the Shangqing Sect meant nothing to him. Standing quietly beside the stream, bitterness touched Tang Yi's lips. Then, all at once, she smiled. Her gaze returned to the direction in which Zhao Xiongge had disappeared. He had asked how she had found him?

She was not a fool. Zhao Xiongge had plainly drawn her there on purpose and deliberately given her guidance. This Martial Uncle might appear heartless. He might seem determined to sever all ties with the Shangqing Sect. But in truth, he still cared about it. So long as this Martial Uncle would not sit by and watch the Shangqing Sect perish, what was there to fear?

Once she understood that, an immense courage suddenly rose within Tang Yi, courage enough to face the difficulties ahead. Yet she remained puzzled by one thing.

Why was it that those who dutifully remained inside the Shangqing Sect were unable to save it, while the ones the sect itself had cast aside possessed that very ability? Zhao Xiongge was one. Niu Youdao was another. Still pondering the question, Tang Yi flew away and soon met Su Po and the others waiting in the forest.

The two sides met atop the treetops. Su Po glanced toward the direction behind Tang Yi and asked, "Sect Leader, did you see him?"

Tang Yi nodded. "Let's go."

The group flew back. Su Po continued looking over his shoulder from time to time. Once they reached the official road, they mounted again and resumed their journey. They were not far from Beizhou's prefectural city. Around two hours later, the party rode straight through the city gates. Under normal circumstances, they should first have gone to the Inspector's Residence to report back to Shao Pingbo.

To Su Po's surprise, Tang Yi instead led everyone directly back to the Shangqing Sect's compound in the city. She rode through the side gate, dismounted, handed over her reins, and issued instructions as she walked.

"Summon the elders and the disciples in charge of affairs. Have them gather in the main hall."

Su Po froze for a moment. He was himself an elder, so naturally he followed Tang Yi directly. The two had not waited long in the main hall before Elders Luo Yuangong and Tang Susu arrived one after the other. Then more than a dozen disciples responsible for sect affairs, including Wei Duo, came in as well. Aside from those currently on duty, everyone who should have been present had arrived.

Luo Yuangong was the first to ask, "Sect Leader, you've only just returned and already summoned everyone in such haste. What has happened?"

Tang Yi emerged from her silent thoughts. Her gaze swept across the hall before she said slowly, "I intend to gather the entire sect and travel to the State of Song, to make a trip to Myriad Beasts Sect. What does everyone think?"

Everyone looked at one another, completely at a loss. Luo Yuangong and Tang Susu both turned questioning looks toward Su Po, as though asking what had happened during the trip to make this come out of nowhere.

Su Po did not understand either and could offer no answer. He merely suspected it might have something to do with Zhao Xiongge.

With Tang Susu present, however, he did not dare mention Zhao Xiongge. Otherwise, Tang Susu would inevitably lose control over the deaths of her husband and son.

Tang Susu asked suspiciously, "Sect Leader means the entire sect goes together?"

Tang Yi nodded.

Luo Yuangong added, "I've heard Myriad Beasts Sect will soon hold the Spirit Beast Gathering. Is Sect Leader going because of that? If so, there seems little need for the entire sect to make the journey."

Tang Yi answered simply and directly, "I'm not going for the Spirit Beast Gathering. I'm going for Niu Youdao. I've received word that Niu Youdao is on his way to Myriad Beasts Sect in the State of Song. If we leave now, we should be able to meet him."

Everyone froze. In an instant they understood her meaning, and one person looked at another.

Tang Susu's face darkened. "Sect Leader still wants to bring Niu Youdao back to the Shangqing Sect?"

"Correct. That is exactly my intention. To show our sincerity, I will personally lead everyone in the sect to invite him back."

Tang Susu said angrily, "Sect Leader, you know that little thief's attitude. Why humiliate yourself? The Shangqing Sect was once the foremost sect in the State of Yan. Where is the dignity of the Shangqing Sect Leader in doing something that only invites others' contempt?"

Tang Yi countered, "Elder Tang, why deceive yourself by clinging to the glory of our predecessors? Which is not stronger than the Shangqing Sect today—Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, or Lingxiu Mountain? Three sects far stronger than ours still bow their heads and obey Niu Youdao. What, then, is today's Shangqing Sect?"

Tang Susu flared. "What logic is there in taking back a disciple who has already been expelled from his sect?"

"Elder Tang, you need to understand one thing. Niu Youdao was never formally expelled from the Shangqing Sect. Whether internally or before the cultivation world, the Shangqing Sect never publicly declared his expulsion. Niu Youdao remains a disciple of the Shangqing Sect."

"He himself publicly drew a clear line between us."

Su Po suddenly interjected, "Elder Tang, the reason he publicly severed ties with the Shangqing Sect was because someone tried to kill him!"

He was referring, of course, to Tang Susu privately sending men to assassinate Niu Youdao.

Tang Susu's face instantly flushed crimson. She wheeled on him and snapped, "Back then, none of you thought well of Shang Chaozong. Throwing Niu Youdao to Shang Chaozong as a burden was a decision everyone made together. Who among you wasn't hoping he'd die sooner? Now that he's accomplished something, suddenly it's all my responsibility?"

No one spoke. She had left them without an answer. The key was that what Tang Susu said was true, even if she had indeed been the principal force behind the decision back then. Tang Yi set the argument aside. Ignoring Tang Susu's anger, she formally called for a vote.

"Those who agree that we should go find Niu Youdao, raise your hands."

Wei Duo's hand shot up first. He looked excited, almost impatient. He had never imagined Tang Yi would finally see reason. In Wei Duo's eyes, Niu Youdao had always been the true Sect Leader of the Shangqing Sect. He had long wished they would go find him, and wished even more that Niu Youdao would return sooner. Everyone else looked around at one another. No one wanted to be the first to lead the way. Wei Duo did not count.

His position had always been the same. No matter how great the pressure, his attitude had never changed, so no one found his raised hand surprising and no one treated him as the one setting the example. Then Su Po slowly raised his hand. Tang Susu glared at him furiously. Su Po ignored her reaction and calmly turned his gaze toward Luo Yuangong, signaling with his eyes that he agreed. Luo Yuangong understood and gave a bitter smile.

He too felt a knot in his heart about agreeing to such a thing. No matter how far the Shangqing Sect had declined, it had once been the foremost sect in the State of Yan. As an elder of the Shangqing Sect, how could he not take pride in that past? But reality had to be faced. These last few years had worn most of that old pride out of him.

People's hearts were like water, forever seeking another course. If things continued as they were, the Shangqing Sect truly would collapse.

Even so, he asked, "Sect Leader, if we go find him, will he come back?"

Tang Yi answered, "This time, even if it doesn't work, we have to make it work!"

Zhao Xiongge's appearance had given her the courage to face Niu Youdao. With that Martial Uncle behind her, she dared make the attempt. Luo Yuangong remained silent for a while. At last he sighed.

"Ai."

Then he slowly raised his hand. With two elders having declared themselves, the one-eyed, lame Tu Han immediately raised his hand as well. After that, the dozen or so disciples in charge of sect affairs followed one after another. Every time another hand rose, Tang Susu turned and glared viciously at its owner. No one lowered his hand. No one feared her enough to do so.

Inside the hall, from Tang Yi on down, everyone except Tang Susu had raised a hand in agreement. Tang Susu ground her teeth in fury.

Tang Yi said crisply, "Good! Then it's settled. Once I return from reporting to the Inspector's Residence, everyone will pack immediately. We leave Beizhou at once!"

"Yes!" Wei Duo answered first.

"Yes!" the other disciples replied in unison.

Only Tang Susu stood there with a cold face and said nothing. Everyone else had agreed. She alone opposed the decision. She knew anything further she said would be useless. The thought of going to beg the insignificant nobody she had once looked down upon left her in an exceedingly foul mood. Tang Yi's gaze swept across the people before her, and a trace of sorrow rose in her heart. These disciples responsible for sect affairs actually looked faintly excited.

She could not help asking herself just how incompetent she must be, for the sect's own disciples to yearn so strongly for contact with a castoff disciple their sect had driven away. She had never expected Niu Youdao to possess such enormous power to gather the hearts of the Shangqing Sect. He had not even appeared. They had merely heard that they were going to find him, and the scattered hearts of the sect had instantly drawn together.

A man stripped of the Sect Leader's position by the combined hands of the Shangqing Sect and then driven away now wielded this much influence over it. Only now did Tang Yi understand. If Niu Youdao wanted the position of Shangqing Sect Leader today, he could take it back whenever he pleased.

All he had to do was return and say, "I want to be Sect Leader."

Most of the sect would probably drive Tang Yi herself from the seat. What she did not know was that the disciples of the Shangqing Sect had been waiting for Niu Youdao to return for a very long time. Only after Tang Yi left the compound and stepped through the main gate did her thoughts finally move away from the matter. Then another worry took its place. Hearts were turning toward change. Winning over the sect's disciples had been easy.

Getting Shao Pingbo to agree, however, would be difficult. If Shao Pingbo refused to let them go, no one in the Shangqing Sect would be able to leave Beizhou. Lost in thought, Tang Yi eventually reached the Inspector's Residence and waited for a while outside the Government Affairs Hall. Shao Pingbo emerged with a smile and gestured invitingly toward a pavilion in the courtyard. He asked Tang Yi to sit with him there.

Once the two were seated, servants naturally brought tea.

Tang Yi reported, "Eldest Young Master, those two minor demons have been slain. I've come specifically to report the completion of the task."

Shao Pingbo gestured toward the tea and smiled. "I've already received the county's report. You personally led people out and went to the trouble of dealing with them. You've worked hard."

"It was no trouble. It was what we should do."

They exchanged a few more polite words. Then Shao Pingbo, always adept at reading expressions, noticed something unusual in Tang Yi's demeanor.

He studied her beautiful face and tentatively asked, "Is there something else you want to tell me?"

[End of Chapter 447]