Chapter 448: Taking a Master

Tang Yi met his gaze briefly, then said calmly, "These past years, the Shangqing Sect has been fortunate to receive Eldest Young Master's shelter and care. We have occupied our position while accomplishing nothing, and I am deeply ashamed. If this continues, we will have no face before the generations of Shangqing Sect ancestors, and we will have failed Eldest Young Master as well..."

She appeared calm and composed on the surface, but inwardly she was somewhat nervous. Over these years, for reasons she herself could not quite explain, she, a cultivator, had actually grown somewhat afraid of Shao Pingbo, an ordinary mortal. All along, she had been worrying about what she would do if Shao Pingbo refused to let them leave. Shao Pingbo's eyes flickered. He immediately realized what she intended to say and cut her off with a smile.

"So long as the Shangqing Sect remains here, that is the best repayment you can give me. The sect has indeed suffered some grievances for now, but I have long-term plans. There will be many places where I need the Shangqing Sect's help in the future. When that time comes, the Shangqing Sect will not lack cultivation resources. I promise you that!"

The Shangqing Sect's present circumstances were certainly related to Dachan Mountain, but Shao Pingbo's own pressure had contributed as well. He had been quietly and gradually driving the Shangqing Sect into desperate straits, intending to force Tang Yi to compromise and marry him in the end. The Shangqing Sect, however, had never sensed his malice. They believed Dachan Mountain was the cause. Shao Pingbo would never reveal his hostility and risk making Tang Yi loathe him.

Dachan Mountain could carry all the blame. He would not allow Tang Yi and the Shangqing Sect to leave. He was convinced Zhao Xiongge still had lingering feelings for this side. Tang Yi fell silent for a moment.

Had she heard these words earlier, when the Shangqing Sect had no idea where else it could go, she might have asked what future plans Shao Pingbo had and how they would benefit the sect. But Zhao Xiongge had deliberately appeared and pointed out a road for them. She had already made up her mind. She would not remain here dragging matters out while waiting for some unknown future.

Tang Yi declined politely. "I appreciate Eldest Young Master's goodwill. This is the decision of everyone in the Shangqing Sect. I came precisely to bid Eldest Young Master farewell."

Shao Pingbo refused to engage with the farewell itself.

Smiling, he said, "Since this is the decision of everyone in your sect, allow me to go meet the cultivators personally. Leave the matter of persuading them to me. I won't put you in a difficult position."

He rose as he spoke and raised one hand, signaling Tang Yi to return to the Shangqing Sect with him. Tang Yi stood as well, looking troubled.

"Eldest Young Master..."

She had barely begun when another voice called the same title.

"Eldest Young Master!"

Shao Sansheng hurried over. Standing outside the pavilion, he gave Shao Pingbo a slight nod.

"Wait here a moment." Shao Pingbo excused himself politely.

He knew Shao Sansheng would not interrupt him without reason under circumstances like these. Under Tang Yi's gaze, he turned and walked aside. Once master and servant were away from her, Shao Sansheng leaned close and whispered in Shao Pingbo's ear. When Shao Pingbo heard the report, his expression changed slightly. His gaze unconsciously flicked back toward the graceful figure standing inside the pavilion, and the corner of his mouth tightened.

Shao Sansheng had brought an urgent report from the army stationed outside the city. Some soldiers had provoked a fierce beast in the nearby mountains. The beast had chased them all the way into the camp. Swords and spears could not injure it, and it had wounded quite a few soldiers. Disciples of Dachan Mountain who went to deal with the matter had merely driven the beast away. None had dared do anything more to it.

They had said only that the creature was called a Golden-Furred Hou, that its master was no ordinary person, and that it would be unwise to offend him.

The instant he heard "Golden-Furred Hou," Shao Pingbo thought of someone.

He had always kept an eye on Zhao Xiongge. How could he not know Zhao Xiongge's mount was a Golden-Furred Hou? At the eastern gate of Beizhou's prefectural city, a procession of several hundred people rode out and galloped away. The Shangqing Sect had left. At last, the entire sect had departed Beizhou's prefectural city, where it had been trapped for years.

Behind a half-covered window in a gate tower atop the walls, Shao Pingbo stood in a trailing cloak and silently watched the procession disappear into the distance. It was not that he wanted to let the Shangqing Sect go. Nor was it that he had no means of keeping Tang Yi there. He simply did not dare refuse to release them any longer.

Tang Yi had come to the Inspector's Residence to bid farewell, and immediately afterward Zhao Xiongge's Golden-Furred Hou had appeared outside the city. Was that truly a coincidence? The Golden-Furred Hou had charged into the military camp and injured his men. That was not an act of goodwill. Shao Pingbo could feel the warning behind it. Zhao Xiongge was not Tang Yi. Nor was he someone Shao Pingbo's present strength could manipulate.

Even Dachan Mountain did not dare provoke Zhao Xiongge. Years of careful plotting had dissolved in an instant before absolute strength.

"Cough, cough..."

Watching the distance, Shao Pingbo suddenly began coughing repeatedly, one fist held before his mouth. Shao Sansheng immediately stepped forward and patted his back.

Once his breathing steadied, Shao Pingbo straightened from his hunched posture and said, "Have Lu Shengzhong follow them. See where the Shangqing Sect is going."

He was curious where else the Shangqing Sect could possibly go, and what road Zhao Xiongge, with his awkward status, could arrange for them.

"All right." Shao Sansheng accepted the order.

Dust rolled along the official road. Tang Yi rode at the front of the procession, emotions surging within her. At last they had left this place that had held them in such helplessness. It felt as though they had finally escaped a swamp. The road ahead remained uncertain, yet her whole body felt lighter. She had later heard about the fierce beast attacking the military camp outside the city.

Once she learned it had been a Golden-Furred Hou, she finally understood why Shao Pingbo's attitude had suddenly changed the day before and why he had stopped trying to keep them. Martial Uncle had acted. The realization filled her with excitement. The Shangqing Sect's finest disciple of the past had not abandoned the sect. He had not watched from the side while it sank into desperate straits.

Years ago, when Liuxian Sect launched its surprise attack and the Shangqing Sect had stood on the verge of destruction, the Golden-Furred Hou had appeared and driven the enemy away. Now Zhao Xiongge had again used the Golden-Furred Hou to lead Tang Yi to him and point out a road for her. And immediately afterward, he had sent the Golden-Furred Hou to reveal itself and deter Shao Pingbo.

Realizing that the Shangqing Sect had such a powerful supporter behind it filled Tang Yi with courage. She felt capable of facing any hardship ahead. Mist drifted around the mountain. A group of people flew down and landed beside the road at its foot. They were Peng Youzai and the senior members of Tianyu Sect. Several carriages stood on the road, each loaded with crates. Feng Entai, who had escorted the convoy there, opened one of them.

Inside, rows of white porcelain liquor bottles were neatly arranged. Peng Youzai picked one up, removed the stopper, and sniffed. The fragrance of liquor rose pleasantly.

Feng Entai said beside him, "We've inspected it. There are no problems."

Then he took a letter from inside his robes and presented it. Peng Youzai returned the bottle to the crate, accepted the letter, and opened it. The liquor had been brewed by Niu Youdao's side. They had sent word to Feng Entai and asked this sworn elder brother to retrieve it from a designated location. When Feng Entai reached the appointed place to take delivery, he received the letter as well. It contained only a few words:

The rules remain unchanged. I hope we can coexist in peace. Peng Youzai frowned slightly. He could read the concealed threat between the lines. Niu Youdao seemed to be warning Tianyu Sect that it would be best if both sides remained at peace. The implication irritated Peng Youzai.

Yet Tianyu Sect still had no idea how Niu Youdao had managed to influence Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, and there were too many other factors at play. The sect truly did not dare act rashly against him.

At the same time, the words "the rules remain unchanged," together with the liquor before him, proved that Niu Youdao had compromised and yielded as well.

The profits from the liquor would continue to be supplied to Tianyu Sect, preventing the sect from hunting everywhere for him and clinging to him as an enemy. Peng Youzai crushed the letter to ash in his hand. Then he tilted his head toward one elder and indicated the liquor.

"Arrange for it to be sold."

The group turned and returned up the mountain. They had only just reached the plaza outside the great hall at the summit when a disciple presented another decoded secret message. Peng Youzai read it and frowned again. Then he handed it to the others. After the elders had read the message, each looked surprised. Li Wuhua, an elder of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, had actually married Hai Ruyue!

Inside the Provincial Inspector's Residence in Nanzhou, Shang Chaozong received the same news behind his long desk.

"What's going on?" Shang Chaozong asked in bafflement after hearing the report. "How has Jinzhou reacted?"

Lan Ruoting replied, "In the past, this might have caused unrest and resentment among forces loyal to the Xiao family. But after Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion's previous intervention, some people were replaced and some were killed. Everyone in the Xiao faction was left fearing for himself. Hai Ruyue's remarriage now has instead received strong support from them, because it preserves those forces."

"That woman Hai Ruyue truly is formidable. Using this opportunity, the Xiao faction has transformed almost overnight into a Hai faction. From now on, I'm afraid there will no longer be any such thing as the Xiao family's faction in Jinzhou."

"Ai!" Meng Shanming sighed from his wheelchair nearby.

"That woman is pitiable too. I still remember how she hid alone in the mountains during a great snowstorm years ago and nearly froze to death. The world changes. I never imagined an innocent young woman would ultimately walk onto the road of struggling for power."

On this subject, Shang Chaozong and Shang Shuqing, who stood nearby, could only remain silent. Hai Ruyue's past affair with their father was hardly something the brother and sister could comfortably discuss.

A personal guard entered from outside and reported, "Your Highness, Sister Li has arrived with the two children."

The woman they called Sister Li was named Li Honghua. She was Luo An's wife. Until now, she had been living in seclusion in that secret mountain village. This time, she and the children had been brought out. Meng Shanming pressed his lips together.

Shang Chaozong immediately rose. "Quickly, invite them in!"

Before long, a plainly dressed village woman entered leading two boys not far apart in age. The moment she saw Shang Chaozong, she moved to bow. Shang Chaozong hurried forward and stopped her with an outstretched hand.

"Sister Li, there's no need for such formality."

Li Honghua had never met Shang Chaozong before and looked somewhat nervous. In the end, Meng Shanming spoke.

"Honghua, listen to His Highness. Honghua, I had you bring the children here this time because I wanted to ask what plans you have for their future."

At the mention of the children, Li Honghua's eyes immediately reddened. Naturally, she had learned long ago that Luo An had died in battle. The worst period of grief had already passed, but remembering him now still left her heartsick. The two boys had begun wiping their eyes as well. With Shang Chaozong present, Li Honghua did not know how she should answer. Once again, Meng Shanming made the decision for her.

"How about this? I watched these two boys grow up, and I understand their dispositions. I'll make the decision for Luo An regarding their futures. Let the elder follow me. Have the younger take Lan Ruoting as his master and follow Little Lan from now on. What do you think?"

Li Honghua nodded. Then she tugged both children with her, and mother and sons knelt together before Meng Shanming in thanks. Meng Shanming did not stop them. He merely gestured toward Lan Ruoting for the younger boy.

"Go. Pay respects to your master."

The younger boy climbed to his feet. Somewhat restrained before the unfamiliar Lan Ruoting, he walked over and dropped to his knees with a thump... After mother and sons were led away to rest, silence lingered in the hall for a while. Looking at the three of them had made Shang Chaozong think of Niu Youdao.

The group of monks from Nanshan Temple and several cultivators had suddenly appeared in that hidden mountain village because Niu Youdao had arranged for them to go there. Yet Niu Youdao himself and the people with him were nowhere to be seen. Thinking of this, Shang Chaozong sighed.

"Master Dao still hasn't shown himself. I wonder where he's gone."

Meng Shanming replied, "That man has always been like a divine dragon—its head may be seen, but never its tail. Your Highness needn't think too much about it. He is a clear-minded man and never acts without a plan. There is no need for us to worry on his behalf."

[End of Chapter 448]