Chapter 454: So It Was That Bastard!

A wary light in his eyes, Yuan Gang paused slightly.

Someone from Duyun Mountain?

He had not taken part in the journey to Duyun Mountain himself, but he knew about Niu Youdao's relationship with the place. The thought flashed through his mind that this man might have come looking for Master Dao.

The lean man had been somewhat intimidated by Yuan Gang's presence. For reasons he could not explain, something in Yuan Gang's aura made him instinctively afraid. Then he looked back at Yuan Fang, who had emerged from the Ding room on this floor, and found himself speechless.

Could the so-called bear demon that "Zhu Jiang" had mentioned actually be this fellow?

Yuan Fang looked familiar. The man felt certain he had seen him before, but he could not remember who he was. The two had never actually dealt with one another, and he did not even know Yuan Fang's name. They had merely crossed paths once. Had Black Peony still been alive, he would definitely have recognized her.

As for Yuan Fang saying Duyun Mountain had once robbed them on the road, that sort of thing was far too ordinary for the people of Duyun Mountain. In that region, the lean man himself had robbed so many travelers that he could no longer remember how many. Naturally, he could not recall Yuan Fang from a single encounter. The real problem was that Yuan Fang had exposed his Duyun Mountain identity the moment he opened his mouth.

He had deliberately come upstairs without disguise because he feared a disguise might be seen through and arouse suspicion. Who could have expected him to run into an acquaintance?

"So it was Brother Hou Qingtian."

Niu Youdao appeared, and unlike Yuan Fang, his memory was good enough to recognize the man at a glance. Smiling broadly, he walked over.

There had only been a handful of people Niu Youdao knew from Duyun Mountain. Hou Qingtian in particular had been the one he dealt with most during that visit, so naturally he remembered him clearly.

"..."

The lean man's mouth fell slightly open. He was utterly speechless. He might not know Yuan Fang, but how could he possibly fail to recognize Niu Youdao? This was the man who had arrived at Duyun Mountain and immediately become sworn brothers with their boss. And Niu Youdao was hardly easy to forget now.

He had become a famous figure throughout the cultivation world. Their boss mentioned him from time to time with considerable emotion, saying he had never expected a chance encounter to leave him sworn brothers with someone who later became such a figure. Their boss had even wondered aloud whether his sworn brother might someday return to Duyun Mountain for a visit.

From the way he spoke, if Niu Youdao did come again, he would certainly be received warmly rather than treated as perfunctorily as he had been the first time. Their boss would probably treat him as a true sworn brother now. He had also considered making a trip to Qingshan Commandery himself.

But Niu Youdao had become too well-known in the cultivation world. After treating him coldly in the past, going over now with a warm face might look like shameless flattery, so the visit had never happened. In truth, Hou Qingtian knew the boss did indeed want to curry favor and improve the relationship.

Duyun Mountain's cultivation strength might exceed Niu Youdao's own, but that could not be compared with a man capable of influencing a regional lord. The two belonged to entirely different categories.

If Duyun Mountain ever reached the point where it could no longer remain in the State of Zhao, perhaps it might even seek a place to settle in Nanzhou. The man their boss had agonized over for years had unexpectedly appeared right in front of Hou Qingtian by sheer chance. That was right. He was Hou Qingtian of Duyun Mountain, a trusted subordinate of Yun Huan, the man currently in charge there.

"One of our own." Niu Youdao approached and waved Yuan Gang and the others aside. Then he smiled at Hou Qingtian. "What, Brother Hou? Have you become so forgetful that you don't recognize me?"

Hou Qingtian hurriedly cupped his hands. "Greetings, Master Dao!"

At that, everyone else exchanged glances. So they truly were acquaintances.

Niu Youdao said, "It's been several years, Brother Hou. You look as vigorous as ever."

Hou Qingtian replied respectfully, "Master Dao flatters me. I wouldn't dare accept such praise."

His respect was genuine. Back then, Niu Youdao had been chased from place to place by people trying to kill him. Duyun Mountain could afford not to think much of him. Now things were completely different.

The fact that he had injured a Tianhuo Sect disciple and still emerged safely had already won him a name in the cultivation world. His influence in the secular world was even greater.

There were more than two hundred provinces beneath Heaven, and rumor said this man could influence an entire province. In other words, within the secular realm beneath Heaven, Niu Youdao commanded something like one part in more than two hundred of its total influence. The fraction sounded small, but the overwhelming majority of cultivators could never achieve such a thing. Many cultivation sects could not either. Wherever a person like this went, others were willing to befriend him.

How could Duyun Mountain's influence compare? Their horizons were already separated by an immeasurable distance.

Niu Youdao smiled. "I haven't seen Brother Yun in several years. Is he well?"

"Everything is well."

Niu Youdao found this strange. "Did you come here looking for me? Is Brother Yun here too?"

"No, no. I was ordered down the mountain to handle an errand and came to inspect the lodging here. I never expected to run into Master Dao. Truly a fortunate coincidence."

Niu Youdao tilted his head toward the inn. "Since you're already here, why not stay with us? We can look after one another."

He also wanted to ask about the situation at Duyun Mountain.

Hou Qingtian cupped his hands apologetically. "Master Dao, I'm carrying out an assignment and it isn't convenient for the moment. Allow me to finish my business first. I'll come back afterward and apologize properly."

Since he had put it that way, Niu Youdao did not force the matter. After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he let Hou Qingtian leave. As Hou Qingtian went downstairs, he muttered inwardly. What nonsense about a Golden King Bear being tricked here? He had seen Yuan Fang before. That bear had belonged to Niu Youdao's group long ago.

What deception was there?

Standing in the corridor and watching him leave, Niu Youdao tilted his head slightly toward Yuan Gang. Yuan Gang understood.

"That didn't look like a chance encounter. He was probably here investigating something."

Investigating the very floor where they were staying? Niu Youdao's brows moved faintly. To a man like him, anything abnormal was a sign worth investigating. His vigilance was extremely high.

He immediately told Guan Fangyi, "Put someone on him."

Guan Fangyi promptly sent Old Six Xu after Hou Qingtian.

Then she followed Niu Youdao back into his room and asked, "Duyun Mountain in the State of Zhao? You have dealings with Duyun Mountain?"

At the mention of Duyun Mountain, Niu Youdao felt his teeth ache... Hou Qingtian returned to the residence and went straight to the inner courtyard to report to the woman in white.

"Mountain Lord, there's something strange about the matter at Tianyun Inn. I ran into an acquaintance."

The white-robed woman sitting quietly in a pavilion was none other than Yun Ji, Mountain Lord of Duyun Mountain and mother of Yun Huan. Yun Ji shifted her gaze slightly, waiting for the rest.

Hou Qingtian said, "That so-called bear demon is one of Niu Youdao's people. I saw him when they passed through our territory years ago. And Niu Youdao himself is staying at Tianyun Inn. I ran into him directly. That bear demon was with him."

Even the normally composed Yun Ji looked stunned.

Niu Youdao?

At the thought of the man, her face darkened. After Ghost Mother left Qingshan Commandery, she had indeed gone to Duyun Mountain. Ghost Mother and Yun Ji truly were close as sisters. When the two met and spoke about what had happened recently, Yun Ji learned that Ghost Mother had actually become sworn elder sister and younger brother with Niu Youdao. She had nearly exploded from anger on the spot.

The man had sworn brotherhood with her son, then gone and sworn siblinghood with one of her close sisters. He had tangled the generations between Yun Ji and her son into a complete mess. How could she not be furious?

Once Ghost Mother learned the truth, she finally understood why Niu Youdao's expression had been so strange when she told him she intended to visit Duyun Mountain. She cursed him viciously on the spot as well. She had never seen anyone create such a ridiculous mess, especially after knowing about the relationship and saying nothing. Yun Huan, who had been standing nearby at the time, was embarrassed too and joined them in cursing his absent sworn brother.

Hou Qingtian knew nothing about that humiliating family tangle. Naturally, Yun Ji and her son would never publicize it.

He continued, "Mountain Lord, that fake Zhu Jiang seems to be deliberately stirring up trouble. It looks as though he wants to harm Niu Youdao. Should we seize him?"

Before receiving Yun Ji's permission, Hou Qingtian had not revealed to Niu Youdao that Yun Ji was already in Myriad Forms City. Even back at Duyun Mountain, almost no one knew Yun Ji had left. Her journey here had not been made public. Hou Qingtian himself did not know what she had come to do. The others in the party were merely accompanying her as attendants.

Yun Ji gave a cold snort, though it was unclear whom the sound was directed at.

"We don't even know the other side's depth. If we start fighting, who knows who will suffer the loss? And causing a major disturbance in Myriad Forms City would be inappropriate."

"The Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm opens this afternoon. Now is not the time to go looking for trouble."

Hou Qingtian asked, "Should we at least tell Niu Youdao and warn him?"

Yun Ji gave no clear answer.

"Send another man to watch that 'Zhu Jiang.' Keep a close eye on him. Let me first see what kind of man this Niu Youdao really is."

Hou Qingtian understood the meaning behind her words. If Yun Ji disliked Niu Youdao after seeing him for herself, she might simply stand aside and let trouble find him... Not long afterward, Old Six Xu also returned to the inn and reported what he had learned to Niu Youdao.

Pacing inside the room, Niu Youdao asked, "Do we know who is staying in that residence?"

Ever since entering the inn, he had barely gone outside. Once he learned that his movements had been exposed, he refused to wander around casually while the situation remained unclear. Instead, he studied maps every day, using them in place of seeing the terrain with his own eyes.

Old Six Xu replied, "No. I only saw Hou Qingtian enter the residence. I don't know what the situation is inside, and I didn't dare break in without orders."

Niu Youdao had him point out the residence on the map. He studied its position for a while... Deep within lush mountains, two peaks rose opposite each other like swords. Mist swirled endlessly between them, lingering throughout the year and giving the place an air of mystery. Thick vines and ancient branches twisted among deep green foliage and brilliant flowers. More and more people had gathered throughout the mountain wilds. Some flew in from the distance.

Others stood balanced atop swaying branches with an almost transcendent air, like immortals wandering the mountains. Every newcomer found his attention drawn toward the mist between the two peaks. The valley entered through that gap was called Butterfly Valley. Once the grand formation opened, it would also become the entrance to the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm. Above them, disciples of Myriad Beasts Sect rode large flying birds back and forth on patrol.

Niu Youdao and the others had arrived as well. They stood together on a hillside.

"Master Dao, there's a woman following us from the right rear. White clothes," Yuan Gang suddenly warned.

While the group pretended to chat and admire the scenery, they casually checked. Sure enough, a woman in white with her face half-covered by a white veil stood behind and to their right. Yet she looked no different from any of the other visitors nearby. There was nothing about her that suggested she was following them. Freak. Guan Fangyi cursed Yuan Gang inwardly. By now she knew that if Yuan Gang said someone was following them, he was probably right.

Throughout this journey, she had finally experienced what the man was capable of. Yuan Gang always placed Niu Youdao's safety first. Whenever he sensed anything wrong in a particular direction, he would naturally position himself between that direction and Niu Youdao. The big man seemed to have eyes growing all over his body. Nothing unusual nearby escaped him. Even this group of cultivators had to admit their own powers of observation were inferior.

More absurdly, once, when the group passed through a market and noticed a thief at work, Yuan Gang casually pointed out which people in the surrounding crowd were the thief's accomplices. None of them believed him. They seized the suspects and checked. Every one turned out to be exactly what Yuan Gang had said. They had no choice but to admit that the big man's observational ability was almost monstrous. Guan Fangyi truly envied Niu Youdao.

Having a man like this at his side to serve as his eyes was like carrying a treasure with him.

[End of Chapter 454]