Chapter 482: You Brat, Aren’t You Too Shameless?

Tu Han did not know who this Chen Gong was or what Zhao Xiongge meant by what he had said. Since Zhao Xiongge would not let him ask further, he could only suppress his questions, accept the order, and leave. He did not dare keep Zhao Xiongge waiting long. Tu Han hurried all the way back to Myriad Forms City and went straight to Tianyun Inn. On reaching the second floor, he was stopped by Yuan Gang. The two had seen each other before and recognized one another.

Yuan Gang asked, “What is it?”

“I want to see Niu Youdao.”

“Master Dao has already made everything clear to the Shangqing Sect.” The implication was obvious: whatever business the Shangqing Sect had with Niu Youdao, it was not Tu Han’s place to come forward and argue it.

Tu Han said, “Without me, he would’ve died in the Shangqing Sect years ago. He wouldn’t have the chance to swagger around like he does today, yet now he’s putting on airs with me too. Go tell him Tu Han is here. Whether he sees me is up to him.”

Yuan Gang was somewhat surprised. He had not known this Shangqing Sect disciple shared some other connection with Niu Youdao. “Wait here.” Yuan Gang turned and left.

Before long he returned and beckoned. “Come with me.” He led Tu Han into Niu Youdao’s room.

Inside, Niu Youdao was nursing a headache. He sat cross-legged on the couch, while Yin'er had climbed up beside him and was sitting there clutching his sash, refusing to let go. Niu Youdao had no idea what this woman was trying to do. Following him like a shadow was bad enough; he could have no secrets at all with her around. Was she planning to share his bed as well?

The door opened and closed again as Yuan Gang entered with Tu Han. Yuan Gang remained by the door and watched. Tu Han walked over to the couch and simply stood there. His lone eye stared coldly at Niu Youdao. He showed no intention of offering any greeting. Niu Youdao uncrossed his legs and stepped down from the couch. Yin'er immediately stood as well and stayed beside him.

Tu Han’s voice was hoarse and edged with mockery. “You’ve certainly learned to put on airs. You keep plenty of women around you too, I hear. One after another.”

Niu Youdao laughed. “Rumors stop with the wise. I’ve never had that kind of good fortune.”

“I’m no wise man.”

“I heard that if not for you, I would’ve died in the Shangqing Sect long ago. Was there some hidden story behind what happened back then?”

Tu Han was silent for a moment. There was no longer any need to speak of those old matters; doing so would only create fresh trouble. “I was just talking.”

Niu Youdao smiled. Who else could have wanted him dead back then? There were only so many possibilities. Tang Susu’s kneeling had already put that old grievance behind him. There truly was no need to investigate further. “Old Tu, we haven’t seen each other in years. You didn’t come all this way just to make an idle remark, did you? Let me make one thing clear first. One matter is one matter. The Shangqing Sect is the Shangqing Sect; whatever relationship you and I have is our own. If you’ve come to plead for the Shangqing Sect, spare yourself the effort. I have my own plans. Nothing you say will change them, and this isn’t your place to stick your neck out. If you’re here to catch up on old times, though, I’ll gladly bring out good wine.”

“I have something else to say. Have the unrelated people step out.” Tu Han’s single eye flicked toward Yin'er, then back toward Yuan Gang. It was obvious whom he meant.

As far as Niu Youdao was concerned, Yuan Gang had no reason to leave. There was no secret of his that Yuan Gang could not know. As for Yin'er, getting her to leave was another matter entirely. He shook his head. “There’s no need. Say what you came to say.”

Since Niu Youdao himself was unconcerned, Tu Han did not insist. “Someone wants to see you. Come with me.”

“Who wants to see me badly enough that I have to make the trip myself? Can’t he come here?”

“No.” Tu Han rejected the idea flatly, then enunciated the name word by word. “Zhao Xiongge.”

At last, he had come. Niu Youdao’s pupils contracted slightly. “Where?”

At the name, Yuan Gang’s heart tightened as well. He had long heard of the man’s reputation.

“Just follow me.”

A Moon Butterfly cast its glow over the inn suite. Tang Yi, Su Po, Luo Yuangong, and Tang Susu sat together in silence. Everything that had happened one thing after another that day weighed heavily on all four of them.

Tang Susu was the first to break the silence. “What happened with me is nothing. From what you’ve said, Niu Youdao suspects Chao Jing violated the Sect Leader’s chastity?”

Tang Yi flushed with both shame and anger. “I already told you, nothing happened! I only saw Chao Jing twice in total: once when I was taken away, and once when I was released. There was no contact between us in between. How many times do I have to say it before you believe me?”

Tang Susu slapped the armrest of her chair. “Of course we believe the Sect Leader. The question is whether he believes you. If something like that truly had happened, you and he are husband and wife in name, after all. How could he bear it? You yourself admitted that Chao Jing confined you alone. If he has taken the matter to heart and insists on suspecting something, how can you possibly explain it away? Who can testify for you?”

“That is enough. Do not speak of this again.” Discussing such a matter was bad enough; discussing it openly before everyone was more than Tang Yi’s modesty could bear.

Tang Susu persisted earnestly. “I know this embarrasses you, but this is no small matter. Looked at narrowly, it would be an extraordinary humiliation for him. Looked at broadly, it concerns the future of the entire Shangqing Sect. I told you not to come in the first place, but you insisted on leaving Beizhou and coming here. Now look where we are. The Shangqing Sect has no road of retreat left, and even I cast aside my pride and knelt. Yet now you’re worrying about saving face. If you ask me, Sect Leader, you still need to prove your innocence in this matter.”

Tang Yi said in mortified anger, “If he refuses to believe me about something like this, how am I supposed to prove my innocence? Am I supposed to offer myself to his bed?”

Luo Yuangong and Su Po exchanged glances, both visibly awkward. Only Tang Susu could properly speak about such a matter. The two men had no place joining in.

Tang Susu lowered her eyes. “Even a hero has trouble passing the beauty’s gate. In my view, so long as Sect Leader can set aside her pride, stepping forward to claim the wife’s rightful place at his side would not be a bad solution. You are husband and wife to begin with. There would be nothing improper about it, and no one could criticize you. If you truly became husband and wife in fact as well as name, perhaps it would even be a good thing.”

“I could never do something like that…” Tang Yi had only spoken half the sentence when a knock came from outside.

Someone inside called for the visitor to enter. A disciple came in, saluted, then reported, “Sect Leader, the disciples watching Tianyun Inn have sent word. They saw Tu Han go to Tianyun Inn. Then they saw Tu Han and Niu Youdao leave the inn together. There was also a woman pulling on Niu Youdao’s clothes.”

Everyone present looked at one another. Tang Susu turned to Su Po. “What is Tu Han doing?”

Su Po’s thoughts stirred, but his expression remained calm. “It’s like this. Back when Niu Youdao was kept under confinement, Tu Han was the one who accompanied him most of the time. The two have some friendship. I asked Tu Han to go speak to Niu Youdao on our behalf. It’s nothing. There’s no need to make a fuss, and no one should interfere.”

Luo Yuangong asked, “Will it help?”

“It can’t hurt to try.”

The night was clear and cold. Tu Han led Niu Youdao to their destination, but Zhao Xiongge was nowhere to be seen. Only the flying mount remained. Perched on the great boulder, the huge bird turned its head and watched them. Its eyes gleamed brightly in the moonlight.

“Where is he?” Niu Youdao had barely asked the question when he suddenly turned his head.

A figure swept through the air and landed nearby. It was a filthy-looking man with a wine gourd at his waist and a dead wild boar hanging from one hand. He casually tossed the boar aside. The flying mount gave a harsh cry and flapped down from the boulder. Its talons pinned the boar in place and its beak began tearing into the carcass, ripping flesh and hide apart. Blood still flowed from the wounds, showing that the animal had only just died. At the sight, Yin'er instinctively hid a little farther behind Niu Youdao.

“You’re Zhao Xiongge?” Niu Youdao asked, looking the man over repeatedly.

“Do I not look like him?” Zhao Xiongge smiled, then fixed his gaze on Yin'er. “You actually brought someone with you to meet me. Who is she?”

That question was genuinely difficult to answer. Niu Youdao sighed. “Let’s not talk about her.”

“If you won’t talk about her, then have her step away.”

Yin'er immediately grabbed Niu Youdao’s sash with both hands, pulling it tight as she shook her head repeatedly. “No!”

Niu Youdao gave an awkward laugh. “Forget it.”

The smile vanished from Zhao Xiongge’s face. He stared at Yin'er. “I told you to step away.”

“No!” Yin'er was resolute.

Without another word, Zhao Xiongge swept out a sleeve. A violent gale of force surged toward them. Startled, Niu Youdao thrust out both hands. Under Qiankun Shift, the fierce force dissolved into powerful winds that scattered in every direction, its crushing impact dispersed.

Zhao Xiongge gave a surprised sound. “You really do have some skill. No wonder you dare act so arrogantly. Let me see what you’re really made of.”

“Senior!” Niu Youdao hurriedly called out to stop him. He was doing it for Zhao Xiongge’s sake. If Zhao Xiongge truly enraged this demon king, Niu Youdao feared he might not be able to handle the consequences.

Zhao Xiongge paid him no attention. His sleeve snapped as he stabbed a finger forward, sending a spear-like projection of force hurtling out. Niu Youdao did not hesitate. He flashed aside. Since Zhao Xiongge was insisting on looking for trouble himself, Niu Youdao could not be bothered to interfere. Who knew? Perhaps he could even use this chance to rid himself of this demon king.

Bang! A violent impact thundered through the night. Yin'er finally released Niu Youdao’s sash. The strike sent her flying, her face turned upward as she sprayed a great mouthful of blood into the air before tumbling down the mountainside.

Niu Youdao, who had already dodged aside, looked back. He was dumbstruck. For a moment, he thought he had seen it wrong.

Zhao Xiongge froze as well. He had not expected Niu Youdao to simply disregard the woman’s life, and still less had he expected the woman herself to make almost no attempt to fight back. He flashed after the falling figure, caught her in midair with one hand, then brought her back up the mountain in the blink of an eye and quickly examined her injuries. Niu Youdao hurried over too. Yin'er’s face was covered in blood, and she had already lost consciousness.

This time, Niu Youdao was truly stupefied. Was this real? Was this demon king actually so unable to withstand a single blow? What kind of joke was this?

“Hmm… a demon cultivator. Huh? She actually has no spiritual power… Fortunately, her body can take a beating fairly well.” Zhao Xiongge muttered to himself, quickly took out a medicinal pill, placed it in Yin'er’s mouth, and used spiritual power to help her swallow it. Then he looked up at Niu Youdao. “You brat, aren’t you too shameless? Are you even a man? You scurried out of the way and let a weak woman take a killing blow for you?”

“She’s a weak woman?” Niu Youdao jabbed a finger at Yin'er and cried out as though he had suffered the greatest injustice under Heaven.

Zhao Xiongge said, “If she isn’t, are you? Even if you have a grudge against her, there was no need to use my hand to deal with her. I don’t kill some nameless nobody I have no grievance with!”

Niu Youdao opened his mouth but found himself unable to answer. He had no grasp of Zhao Xiongge’s true depths, and he could hardly reveal Yin'er’s real identity. In truth, Niu Youdao himself was completely confused. He could not understand what was happening. Had this woman not been following him constantly, he might even have suspected someone had secretly switched her for another person.

Zhao Xiongge beckoned Tu Han over and had him take care of the woman in his arms. Once Tu Han came over, Zhao Xiongge handed Yin'er to him, stood, and asked, “Who exactly is this woman? Why go through such a roundabout scheme to use me against her? You’re a treacherous little bastard. Don’t tell me you’re trying to dump some kind of trouble on me.”

There was no longer any need to ask Yin'er to step away. Zhao Xiongge had knocked her unconscious himself. Niu Youdao started to speak, hesitated, then waved a hand. “I can’t explain this to you. Don’t ask. Let’s talk about the real business. Why did you call me here?”

[End of Chapter 482]