Chapter 479: Generous with Someone Else's Property

Yun Ji also sensed that the atmosphere had suddenly become a little strange. She glanced at Yin'er, but did not think much of it.

Niu Youdao looked at her, shook his head, and sighed. "Speaking of which, I should thank Senior. You drew that one underground, giving us a chance to escape. We hid and dodged, endured quite a few hardships, and only barely escaped disaster. We thought Senior had met with misfortune. I never expected you had already gotten out ahead of us."

"So that's what happened." Yun Ji sighed as well. "Don't blame me for abandoning all of you and running. That demon king had already fixed her attention on me. I could barely protect myself, much less look after anyone else. Fortunately, I indirectly helped you avoid disaster too. All right, we'll part here. Come visit Duyun Mountain when you have time."

Her voice carried endless melancholy. She had spent so many years pursuing the Myriad Beasts Spirit Pearl and finally obtained it, only for the demon king to snatch it away at the end. She feared she would never have another chance to recover it in this lifetime. The loss weighed heavily on her heart.

Though she said they were parting, Yun Ji had no intention of leaving immediately. She still wanted to wait near the exit for a while. She had obsessed over the Myriad Beasts Spirit Pearl for so many years; how could she simply let it go at a word?

"Senior!" Niu Youdao called after her.

Yun Ji turned back, unsure what else he wanted.

Niu Youdao looked at Guan Fangyi. "Take it out."

Guan Fangyi was confused. "Take what out?"

Niu Youdao made no attempt to conceal it. "The Myriad Beasts Spirit Pearl."

Yun Ji's eyes suddenly widened. Guan Fangyi's eyes widened too. She stared at Niu Youdao in disbelief, looking as though she wanted to pounce on him and bite him to death. He had actually revealed that the Myriad Beasts Spirit Pearl was in her hands. Wasn't he setting her up? This was the sort of treasure one could only possess in secret. How could it be exposed openly?

Niu Youdao held out his hand. "Give it to me."

Grief and indignation spread across Guan Fangyi's face. Unless she killed Yun Ji to silence her, there was no way she could keep such a treasure now. And Niu Youdao's words still carried considerable weight with her.

In the end, she took out the golden pearl and hurled it straight at Niu Youdao's head.

"This is mine!"

The curse came with the throw.

Niu Youdao caught it in one hand, then immediately passed it to Yun Ji. "Senior, when that one chased you, this fell behind. We happened to pick it up along the way. I can't let you make this trip for nothing. I hope it proves useful."

Yun Ji seemed unable to believe him. Her voice trembled. "You're really giving it to me?"

Niu Youdao answered through action. Without another word, he flicked his wrist and tossed it over. Yun Ji caught it. Holding it in both hands, she examined it carefully to confirm it was genuine. The treasure she had lost had returned to her. No outsider could possibly imagine the joy surging through her heart. She was genuinely ecstatic. Without saying another word, she stuffed it into her mouth and swallowed it. Only then did she finally relax.

Afterward, she actually bowed to Niu Youdao. "Thank you!"

Guan Fangyi could not bear it. She raised her face toward the sky. My treasure, and you're thanking him? She wanted to ask Heaven whether there was any justice left in the world. Yuan Gang remained calm. He understood Niu Youdao's character and thought nothing of it. Yuan Fang wore a stiff grin, but his heart hurt just as much. A treasure like that! How much money must it be worth? And Master Dao had simply given it away?

Niu Youdao smiled. "Saying thank you makes us sound like strangers. Give Brother Yun my regards. I still have matters to handle here, so I won't see Senior off."

"Good. Come visit Duyun Mountain when you have time."

"I'll remember. As for that man, please have Hou Qingtian keep watching him for me."

"Fine. I'll instruct them. Those few are relatively trustworthy. If you need anything, feel free to use them. Farewell!"

Yun Ji agreed with complete sincerity. Then she turned and sped away. Now that the treasure was back in her possession, she had no intention of waiting by the illusory realm's entrance anymore. Afraid another accident might occur, she was eager to leave. As the wind rushed around her, she truly still could not believe the treasure had somehow returned to her like this. A pursuit of many years had finally borne fruit. Her emotions remained agitated for a long time.

Niu Youdao watched her disappear, then looked around. "Let's go."

"Go where? I'm not going!"

Guan Fangyi genuinely lost her temper. She was furious enough to feel ill.

Niu Youdao smiled. "It's only one object. Is it really worth getting this upset over? There's no need to haggle over every little thing."

"Haggle over every little thing?" Guan Fangyi exploded. "Of course you can see it that way when you're being generous with someone else's property! That was mine. Mine! What right did you have to give it away?"

The Myriad Beasts Spirit Pearl had barely reached her hands. She had not even had time to warm it before it became someone else's. The loss was enough to make her heart ache.

Niu Youdao laughed. "What's yours and mine? What's mine is yours, and what's yours is naturally mine too."

"Fart!"

Guan Fangyi swore outright.

Niu Youdao spread his hands. "I'm serious. Whatever I have on me, if you want it, just say the word. I'll give it to you."

Guan Fangyi looked even more aggrieved. "You're a penniless wretch! You don't even carry a copper coin. We've paid for your food and lodging the entire way. What the hell am I supposed to ask you for?"

Her words were crude, but Niu Youdao thought about it and felt around his clothes.

It was actually true.

Aside from the sword in his hand, he really had nothing but empty sleeves. Yuan Fang had been watching with his heart aching too. He finally could not resist offering what he thought was a helpful reminder.

"Master Dao, that sworn brotherhood with Yun Huan... they may not really take it seriously. There was no need to be so generous. If we hadn't taken the pearl out, that snake demon would've had no idea it was in our hands."

The moment he finished speaking, he jumped. Yuan Gang had kicked him in the rear.

"Just saying. I was only saying."

Yuan Fang rubbed his backside and grinned repeatedly at Yuan Gang. Niu Youdao looked from one to another. Apparently they all had objections to what he had done. It seemed he needed to explain.

He pointed at Yuan Fang. "A monk is supposed to see the four elements as empty, yet you've crawled straight into the eye of money."

"Do you think I don't know she may not take the sworn brotherhood seriously?"

"Sworn brotherhood is only a beginning. You need a beginning before there can be anything afterward. What matters is what you do after that, not whether the oath began sincerely or falsely."

"Even a sincere sworn brotherhood becomes false if the relationship turns bad. Even a false one can become real if the relationship grows close."

"Everything has two sides. There is no absolute true or false. What matters is how you conduct yourself. Understand?"

Yuan Fang did not understand. But he immediately pretended he did, nodding again and again. Otherwise, there was a good chance he would be beaten.

Niu Youdao turned to Guan Fangyi. "What use would keeping that thing be to you?"

Guan Fangyi said, "How would it be useless? Yun Ji herself said the treasure can influence flying birds and running beasts."

"Do you know how to control it?"

"Can't I sell it for money?"

"Do you dare take it out and sell it? When Myriad Beasts Sect asks where it came from, what will you tell them?"

"Yun Ji also said Myriad Beasts Sect originally built its foundation with that treasure. Can't I keep it and slowly research it?"

"Research what? Build another Myriad Beasts Sect and compete for business? Would Myriad Beasts Sect tolerate you doing that?"

"Why go looking for trouble?"

"Hongniang, something being in your hand doesn't necessarily mean it can truly belong to you."

"You think Yun Ji doesn't understand that? The treasure definitely has some other wondrous use. Yun Ji absolutely didn't tell us the whole truth."

"Do you know what that wondrous use is?"

"She came from Myriad Beasts Sect. Since she knows, let the person who understands it make use of it."

"Hongniang, a person's time and energy are limited. You cannot take every matter onto yourself. What's wrong with letting her handle it?"

"Everything!" Guan Fangyi snapped. "She had it and still lost it. That proves she had no fate with it. It wasn't hers."

"I picked it up. That was my luck. It proves my luck is good and the pearl has fate with me. That means it belongs to me. What right did you have to give away something that was mine?"

"Luck?" Niu Youdao said. "I don't deny that luck exists. But where does all this luck come from? I have never believed in luck as some mysterious thing."

"In the end, these matters are shaped by people."

"There are ten thousand roads. Luck lies on one of them. If you never walk down that road, you'll never encounter that luck. Even if you pass right beside it and fail to recognize it, it still won't belong to you."

"Hongniang, only by giving something up can you gain something."

"If you plant the cause of good fortune today, only then may you harvest its fruit tomorrow."

"Giving the pearl to her may not be a bad thing."

"We ride the jianghu through wind and rain. Great virtue carries all things; great breadth comes from what one can contain."

"Only if your heart can contain more can your road grow broader, giving you more chances to encounter fortune."

"Try to see it that way."

Guan Fangyi fell silent for a moment. But she still refused to yield verbally.

"Spare me the grand principles. I recognize only one fact. The treasure was mine. What right did you have to give it away?"

Niu Youdao replied, "Didn't you agree? If you hadn't given it to me, how could I have given it away?"

"You..."

"All right, all right. It's my fault."

"How about this? Later I'll give you a gift to make up for your loss."

"What gift? Tell me first whether it's worth as much."

"How could I explain that clearly right now? We'll talk later."

"First we handle the real business. Come on. Let's head back."

"You bastard who deserves a thousand cuts..."

When the group returned to Tianyun Inn in Myriad Forms City, they happened to run into Hou Qingtian arriving there.

At the entrance to the inn, Hou Qingtian quietly reported, "The Mountain Lord sent me to contact Master Dao. She said Master Dao's words are her words and told us to follow your instructions."

Niu Youdao asked, "Where is the Mountain Lord?"

"She left. She didn't tell us where she was going."

"How many of you are there?"

"Four. The other three are still watching that man."

"Good. I understand. Leave an address. I'll have someone contact you afterward."

Niu Youdao pointed at Yuan Gang, telling him to coordinate with Hou Qingtian, then led the others back to their rooms at the inn. Inside the inn, Uncle Chen was absent, and Old Six Xu was gone as well. They found Old Thirteen and asked.

Only then did they learn that Uncle Chen had left word here before accompanying the Shangqing Sect people to Myriad Beasts Sect to demand their people back. After Old Six Xu returned and learned where Uncle Chen had gone, he too hurried to Myriad Beasts Sect. As soon as Niu Youdao heard this, he left the inn again and headed straight for Myriad Beasts Sect. But just outside the city gates, he ran into Uncle Chen and Old Six Xu returning. The groups met outside the city.

Niu Youdao asked, "What's the situation?"

Uncle Chen said, "The night before last, after Wei Duo returned to report what happened, Tang Susu became anxious. She gathered every Shangqing Sect disciple and rushed to Myriad Beasts Sect to demand their people back."

"Myriad Beasts Sect is too powerful. Tang Susu and the others couldn't even enter the mountain gates. Myriad Beasts Sect refused to admit they'd taken the Shangqing Sect's Sect Leader and said nothing of the sort had happened."

Niu Youdao's heart sank.

The thing he had feared most had still happened. If Chao Jing had already violated Tang Yi, then Myriad Beasts Sect would be even less likely to admit any such matter had happened. Tang Susu bringing people over so rashly and openly to demand her release would only force Chao Jing to silence witnesses permanently. Fortunately, Uncle Chen's next words let Niu Youdao breathe easier.

"But yesterday morning, Myriad Beasts Sect changed its story. They said they'd investigated and confirmed that they had indeed detained some people. They claimed they merely needed to clarify a few things and would release them if there was no problem."

"However, Myriad Beasts Sect still hasn't released anyone. Tang Susu and the others are waiting outside the sect gates."

Niu Youdao fell silent for a moment. His gaze drifted toward Uncle Chen almost imperceptibly.

Then he slowly raised a hand. "Let's go back. This no longer has anything to do with us."

Yuan Gang immediately grabbed Niu Youdao's arm.

His voice was grave. "Master Dao! That Chao Jing is no good man."

He wanted Niu Youdao to reconsider. Tang Yi could not be allowed to suffer that kind of thing. Otherwise, the damage to Niu Youdao's reputation would be too great.

Niu Youdao remained calm. "Tang Yi should be fine. If something had already happened, Myriad Beasts Sect wouldn't have changed its story. They would've killed everyone and silenced them instead."

"Since they've admitted the people are in their hands, Chao Jing won't dare do anything reckless now."

"Let the Shangqing Sect make its own fuss. We'll watch the situation first. There's no need for us to intervene yet."

"Uncle Chen, go back and keep watching."

"All right!"

Uncle Chen accepted the order and left. Guan Fangyi, who had been sulking at Niu Youdao the whole way, could not resist lowering her voice.

"What do you mean?"

Niu Youdao watched Uncle Chen's departing back and slowly said, "Chao Jing must have come under some kind of pressure. Otherwise, he wouldn't have made himself look like a villain by changing his story so easily."

"Someone intervened."

[End of Chapter 479]