Chapter 480: Like She Had a Dog on a Leash

When he put it that way, Guan Fangyi thought about it and agreed. Myriad Beasts Sect's name carried considerable weight in the cultivation world. Under normal circumstances, the sect would not casually go back on its word. Unless someone had put pressure on them, there truly was little reason to reverse their position. She too looked toward Uncle Chen's retreating figure and sensed what Niu Youdao was implying... Outside the mountain gates of Myriad Beasts Sect, several hundred Shangqing Sect disciples had gathered.

Tang Susu stood at the front, leading them, her face filled with grief and indignation.

But what could they do?

Only two junior disciples stood at the gate to receive messages and guard the entrance. Myriad Beasts Sect had not even increased its manpower. The Shangqing Sect had brought a crowd, yet none dared cross the line. And Myriad Beasts Sect was still holding their Sect Leader. The grief and humiliation in Tang Susu's heart could be imagined.

Thinking back, the Shangqing Sect had once possessed a seat in Misty Pavilion and had stood on equal footing with Myriad Beasts Sect. Now it had fallen to this state. The contrast was bleak enough to break one's heart. The Shangqing Sect disciples behind her had grown almost numb. Before Myriad Beasts Sect, they did not even possess the courage to be angry.

Quite a few had actually been afraid before coming that they might provoke Myriad Beasts Sect and bring an even greater disaster upon themselves. The sun gradually slanted toward the west. A group of people appeared at the far end of the mountain road.

Someone called out, "Elder, the Sect Leader and the others are coming out!"

Everyone craned their necks toward the gates. Tang Yi and the others who had been seized emerged. Every person who had been taken returned.

Not one was missing.

Several Myriad Beasts Sect disciples accompanied them out.

One of the escorts cupped his hands and smiled. "Sect Leader Tang, it was a misunderstanding. We truly apologize. Our Sect Leader asked me to convey this small token of apology."

He took out a stack of gold drafts.

One million gold coins.

For the Shangqing Sect, this was a large sum. Tang Yi only cast the money a cold glance and snorted.

"No need."

Poor though the Shangqing Sect might be, it had not yet become so poor that it lacked all backbone.

She turned and beckoned.

Then she led the Shangqing Sect group away with long strides. Su Po and Luo Yuangong both wore grim expressions. This time, they had truly lost face.

"Then we won't see you off."

The Myriad Beasts Sect disciple chuckled. Afterward, he glanced down at the stack of gold drafts in his hands and gave a contemptuous snort, his disdain for the Shangqing Sect obvious. Then he turned and went back inside to report. After they had walked some distance, Tang Susu looked Tang Yi up and down.

"Myriad Beasts Sect didn't do anything to Sect Leader, did they?"

Tang Yi said, "Nothing happened. They only detained us and asked some questions."

Among mountains of exquisite beauty stood endless halls and pavilions, magnificent in their scale. It truly deserved to be one of the foremost great sects beneath Heaven. Two old men walked out between the terraces and towers.

One was Chao Jing.

The other was a distinguished old man with a sword carried across his back: Wu Zhaoxing, ranked sixth on the Golden Core Ranking. Chao Jing represented Myriad Beasts Sect in seeing the guest off. Wu Zhaoxing was that guest. Chao Jing smiled as they walked and talked together. Inside, however, he felt anything but cheerful. His Sect Leader had cursed him until he was drenched in metaphorical dog blood. How could his mood possibly be good?

The reason he had seized the Shangqing Sect people inside the illusory realm truly was Tang Yi's beauty. Lust had stirred in his heart. After bringing them back, he had not yet had time to enjoy the prize. So many people had died in the Rakshasa Tide that he first needed to give the sect an explanation. Then something else happened that he had never expected. He had not known the Shangqing Sect had come almost in full force to attend the Spirit Beast Gathering.

Nor did he know which link had leaked the news. A whole crowd from the Shangqing Sect ended up blocking the gates of Myriad Beasts Sect and demanding their people back. Sect Leader Xi Haitang immediately summoned him and asked whether he had taken them. Chao Jing coveted Tang Yi's beauty. With meat already at his lips, how could he easily give it up? At first, he refused to admit anything and claimed he had not taken them. Then, the next day, Wu Zhaoxing arrived personally.

He met Xi Haitang and asked his old friend to give him some face and release the people. Wu Zhaoxing and Xi Haitang had known each other in their younger years. Xi Haitang said there was no such matter. But his old friend spoke with certainty. Someone below had personally seen Chao Jing seize Tang Yi and the others inside the illusory realm. There could be no mistake. Wu Zhaoxing had no reason to make a special trip merely to lie to him about such a thing.

Xi Haitang immediately realized his junior brother was hiding something.

He summoned Chao Jing again and told him, "I'm asking you one final time. Did you take them or not?"

Under that kind of pressure, and seeing that his senior brother and Sect Leader was truly angry, Chao Jing had no choice but to admit it. Naturally, he offered a whole pile of excuses, saying he suspected something was wrong with the Shangqing Sect and so on.

Wrong or not, the instant Xi Haitang saw Tang Yi imprisoned separately from the other Shangqing Sect members, he understood what had happened. He knew exactly what sort of thing his junior brother was. Xi Haitang turned and asked whether Chao Jing had touched Tang Yi. If he had, then even Wu Zhaoxing's face would not be enough to save the situation. Some stains on a sect's reputation could never be allowed to spread. If necessary, the witnesses would have to be silenced.

Chao Jing said he had not touched her. Xi Haitang immediately gave him a vicious scolding. If you want to chase pleasure, at least look at the occasion.

Myriad Beasts Sect was in the middle of hosting the Spirit Beast Gathering and had invited cultivators from across the world to support the event.

If you ravage the Sect Leader of a sect that came here as a guest and word gets out, does Myriad Beasts Sect still want any face? Would I, as Sect Leader, be able to avoid punishing you? Even so, Xi Haitang did not release the Shangqing Sect immediately. The matter had already happened. The act had to be carried through properly, or there would be no way to explain it to outsiders afterward.

So he told Wu Zhaoxing that a Rakshasa Tide had broken out inside the illusory realm and killed more than a hundred disciples. The Shangqing Sect people happened to be present at the scene, so certain matters needed to be questioned and verified. Once Xi Haitang put it that way, with more than a hundred lives involved, Wu Zhaoxing could only wait for news. Myriad Beasts Sect therefore went through the motions of interrogating the Shangqing Sect. Out of respect for Wu Zhaoxing, no one dared treat them recklessly.

Only just now had they finally been released.

When they reached the place where guests departed down the mountain, Chao Jing smiled and asked before parting, "I never knew Brother Wu had ties with the Shangqing Sect."

"Heh. I wouldn't call it much of a connection. In my younger years, I once received a favor from someone of the Shangqing Sect's previous generation."

"I happened to hear what happened. If I sat by and ignored it, my conscience would not have been at peace."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

"Brother Chao, until we meet again. I'll take my leave here."

"Until we meet again!"

Chao Jing cupped his hands and saw him off. Only after the departing figure vanished did Chao Jing's face darken again. He had not gotten to eat the meat, and instead had ended up covered in trouble.

Bad luck.

At that moment, one of his disciples hurried over and reported, "Master, Shenghuai is back. He seems to be all right."

Chao Jing turned in astonishment. "He's still alive?"

"Yes. He said that when the incident happened, he panicked and crawled into a hole in the ground. By sheer luck, he escaped disaster. Judging from how he looks, he seems a little afraid to come see you."

"Tell him to roll over here immediately."

Inside Tianyun Inn, Niu Youdao sat in a chair by the window, holding a teacup. Yuan Gang opened the door. Tang Yi entered, followed by Su Po and Luo Yuangong. Tang Susu still avoided this side and did not come. The three walked over and stopped before Niu Youdao. Niu Youdao did not look up. His eyes remained lowered as he slowly sipped his tea, appearing completely relaxed and at ease.

Guan Fangyi stood to one side, looking Tang Yi up and down as if trying to see whether anything unusual had happened to her. Tang Yi and the others were studying Niu Youdao as well.

All three were astonished.

According to Myriad Beasts Sect, more than a hundred disciples had died beneath the Rakshasa Tide. Yet this man was completely fine. He had actually returned safe and sound. It was difficult not to be surprised.

At the same time, it made them appreciate even more deeply how extraordinary he was. Even more eye-catching was the woman standing behind Niu Youdao. She possessed an innocent, guileless air, with a pair of bright, wide eyes and a face full of pure curiosity. What baffled the three of them was that the woman looked as though she had a dog on a leash. She kept hold of Niu Youdao's sash and simply refused to let go. In truth, Niu Youdao's relaxed appearance was entirely an act.

How could he possibly be relaxed? He had spent two or three days stifled inside the illusory realm. The moment he returned, all he wanted was to soak in a bath. That was one of his personal habits. Who could have imagined this demon king would keep holding on to him and refuse to release him? She even wanted to follow him into the bath. Niu Youdao had nearly gone mad several times. But reasoning with her simply did not work.

In the end, the mighty Master Dao had been utterly defeated.

Fine.

He would not bathe.

Was that good enough?

"You escaped the Rakshasa Tide?" Tang Yi asked tentatively.

Niu Youdao's brows moved slightly. "Did you tell Myriad Beasts Sect about the Rakshasa Tide and me?"

Tang Yi quickly said, "Don't worry. I heard Myriad Beasts Sect disciples say that the three people traveling with you were enemies of yours. After hearing that, how could I dare mention you?"

"We didn't reveal a single word."

Niu Youdao lowered his head and continued drinking his tea without speaking.

Guan Fangyi tried asking, "Sect Leader Tang, that Chao Jing didn't do anything improper to you, did he?"

Tang Yi replied, "Fortunately, no. They only took us back and asked some questions. Nothing else happened."

"Fortunately?" Niu Youdao laughed. "Sect Leader Tang, perhaps you still don't know why Chao Jing seized all of you."

Tang Yi looked puzzled. "Wasn't it because of the Rakshasa Tide?"

Niu Youdao gave her a sidelong glance and said coolly, "Use your head and think properly."

"Myriad Beasts Sect is hosting the Spirit Beast Gathering. This is exactly when they're supposed to be courteous and proper toward their guests."

"Without evidence, would they casually seize the Sect Leader of another sect?"

"Chao Jing is a lecher. He acted because he took a fancy to your looks."

"And you actually think it was fortunate?"

"Mm. Very fortunate. Apparently you wouldn't have minded."

Su Po and Luo Yuangong exchanged glances. Thinking about it now, there was reason to be afraid after the fact. Both turned and looked Tang Yi over as well. She had been imprisoned separately from them. They had no idea whether anything had happened to her.

Tang Yi's expression changed. "I was imprisoned separately, but absolutely nothing like what you're imagining happened. I am innocent."

Niu Youdao scoffed. "What does whether you're innocent have to do with me?"

Tang Yi became anxious. "Don't slander me. If you don't believe me, I can prove it."

"Why would you need to prove anything to me?"

Niu Youdao turned back toward her. "I only want to know why they released you. Did someone step forward and intercede on your behalf?"

Tang Yi's face flushed bright red. Her hands clenched into delicate fists. From her perspective, Niu Youdao had insulted her. And the more he refused to let her explain, the more impossible it felt to clear herself.

Su Po said, "No one interceded for us. If anyone did anything, it was Elder Tang bringing the Shangqing Sect disciples to pressure Myriad Beasts Sect."

Niu Youdao laughed. "You really think highly of the Shangqing Sect. People like you put pressure on Myriad Beasts Sect?"

Su Po and Luo Yuangong exchanged a look. Thinking about it, that did seem absurd.

Luo Yuangong said, "Then there truly was no one who interceded for us."

Niu Youdao set down his teacup and rose. He intended to pace while thinking the matter through. Unfortunately, a chair stood between him and Yin'er. Yin'er did not move quickly enough and kept hold of his sash, yanking him backward. Unable to walk away, Niu Youdao turned and looked at her. He nearly wanted to cry. He truly could not endure it anymore. He repeatedly bowed and cupped his hands to Yin'er.

"My grandaunt, you can't torment a person like this. When is this ever going to end?"

"I'm begging you. Show mercy and let me go, all right?"

Still holding his sash, Yin'er walked around the chair toward him. She shook her head with complete seriousness. She still refused to let go. Then she looked at him pitifully. Niu Youdao was completely defeated.

His shoulders sagged.

All his temper vanished.

He grabbed the teacup, tilted his head back, and swallowed the tea leaves along with the rest of the tea in one gulp.

[End of Chapter 480]