Chapter 488: Severing Ties

Put bluntly, she considered him useful.

At this point, Guan Fangyi more or less understood. “You’re arranging for the Shangqing Sect to go to the State of Wei?”

Niu Youdao sighed. “There were things I had no conditions to resolve before. Now that the conditions exist, it’s time to bring them to an end. Go. Ask Tang Yi to come over.”

Since Niu Youdao had summoned her, Tang Yi naturally arrived at once.

He had previously told them to give him a few days to consider the matter. The Shangqing Sect had been waiting and had not come to disturb him again. Now that he had taken the initiative to summon them, they assumed he must have reached his final decision. This time, even Tang Susu came along.

By the time the group arrived, the inn had already prepared a table full of fine wine and dishes.

“Everyone, please.” Niu Youdao welcomed them with a smile.

The visitors exchanged glances. This was the first time they had seen him greet them with a smile, and the first time Niu Youdao had ever entertained them so warmly. In the past, he had never shown them a pleasant face.

The more courteous he was, the more uneasy they became.

“Please, sit.” Niu Youdao sat first, then once again extended a hand in invitation.

Guan Fangyi set out another place at the table. She had not expected Tang Susu to come as well.

Tang Yi gave the three elders accompanying her a slight nod. Once she sat, the three of them took their seats too.

Guan Fangyi picked up the wine pot and began pouring. She filled Niu Youdao’s cup first, but before she could serve anyone else, Yin’er snatched the pot from her hand. “I know how. I’ll do it. Move aside.”

Guan Fangyi gave a dry smile and stepped away.

The Shangqing Sect group watched Yin’er. They had long been curious about her identity.

Niu Youdao watched Yin’er with a smile as well. Being able to use this demon king like a servant did feel rather good. Perhaps he really could try slowly teaching her some manners.

The next instant, his smile froze, and his face darkened.

Yin’er lifted the wine pot and sniffed it, apparently tempted to taste what was inside.

She truly did not stand on ceremony. If she wanted to taste something, she tasted it. Raising the pot, she put the spout directly to her lips and gulped down two mouthfuls.

Then she smacked her lips. Her eyes and nose scrunched together, plainly finding it unpleasant. She lowered the pot and immediately started pouring wine for Luo Yuangong beside her.

You drank straight from it, and now you’re pouring that for me? Luo Yuangong went blank. He did not know what to do with his hands. Should he stop her or not?

Tang Yi, Su Po, and Tang Susu all stared at Yin’er in stunned disbelief as she earnestly poured the wine, as though they had just witnessed some celestial marvel.

Even Yuan Gang, standing guard by the door, was stunned. That move had truly caught everyone completely unprepared.

Guan Fangyi stood to one side with her mouth rounded in an O, struck speechless. Never in her life had she imagined someone could do such a thing.

Niu Youdao exploded. “Monkey, get her out!”

Yuan Gang strode over, seized Yin’er, and hauled her away on the spot.

“What are you doing? What are you doing? Annoying! Let go of me! Let go of me right now!”

For once, Yin’er burst out with a whole string of words. She apparently had no idea what she had done wrong and sounded thoroughly wronged as she shouted and protested.

Her shouting did nothing. Yuan Gang forcibly removed her.

Niu Youdao, face still black, gestured. Guan Fangyi immediately hurried over to make amends. She removed Luo Yuangong’s cup, took away the wine pot Yin’er had drunk from, brought replacements, and poured fresh wine for everyone.

“It was not my intention to slight my guests. The person below me doesn’t understand proper conduct and has made a spectacle of herself. I’ll punish myself with one cup and apologize to everyone.”

Niu Youdao raised his cup and drained it in one swallow.

Su Po replied courteously, “It was only a small matter. There’s no need for this. That young lady seems innocent and guileless. She’s rather endearing.”

“Endearing may be overstating it. What’s certain is that she has a string missing in her head.” Niu Youdao added more wine to his cup, then raised it again in invitation. “We’ve known one another for years, yet this is the first time we’ve shared a drink. That was discourteous of me. Please. What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re worried the wine is poisoned?”

Seeing the others hesitate, he added the question.

Tang Yi was the first to pick up her cup. The other three followed, and all drank with Niu Youdao.

In truth, they understood that his words were merely courteous. Had Niu Youdao still been living within the Shangqing Sect under its old hierarchy, he would never have had the standing to sit with them as an equal.

After a few polite exchanges, Tang Yi asked directly, “You summoned me here. What instructions do you have?”

“I wouldn’t dare call them instructions. I only want to ask Sect Leader Tang a question. I don’t know whether it is appropriate.”

“Go ahead.”

“You and I bowed to Heaven and Earth and entered the bridal chamber. We are husband and wife in name but not in fact. Sect Leader Tang won’t deny that, I assume?”

The others exchanged glances, unable to understand why he had suddenly brought this up. Tang Yi stared at him, then nodded slightly. “That’s right.”

“As the saying goes, marry a chicken and follow the chicken; marry a dog and follow the dog. There’s also something of the old principle that the husband is the wife’s guiding authority. Following that logic, if I asked Sect Leader Tang to abandon the Shangqing Sect and leave with me, would Sect Leader Tang be willing?”

All four were taken aback.

Tang Yi studied him, her chest rising and falling as she drew a deep breath. “If I leave with you, will you then do everything you can for the Shangqing Sect? If that is what you mean, then I can give up the Shangqing Sect and go with you. I will take you as my guiding authority. Whatever you say, I will do, without complaint.”

Niu Youdao shook his head slightly. “Sect Leader Tang has misunderstood. What I mean is this: regardless of whether the Shangqing Sect lives or dies in the future, with me having nothing more to do with it, I ask you to choose between the Shangqing Sect and me. Do you want the Shangqing Sect, or do you want me?”

The three elders frowned almost at the same time. Tang Yi’s lips tightened slightly. “You mean you would concern yourself with me alone and not the Shangqing Sect?”

“You can understand it that way.”

“This is the answer you reached after considering it?”

The Shangqing Sect group thought they understood Niu Youdao’s intention now. Taking Tang Yi away alone would certainly be convenient. It would save him a great deal of trouble and free him from carrying that heavy burden.

Niu Youdao said, “If you come with me, I won’t treat you poorly. The person who will accompany me for life is someone I hope can be of one heart with me, rather than like before, when all you thought about was the Shangqing Sect and my life or death meant nothing to you. If that is still how it will be, then what difference is there between being with me and merely using me?”

Tang Yi’s face turned bitter. “It isn’t that I don’t care whether you live or die! My father and mother died for the Shangqing Sect. My granduncle and cousin-uncle also died for the Shangqing Sect. So many others gave their lives for the revival of the Shangqing Sect. Even your master, Martial Uncle Dong Guo, was the same. So many people placed their hopes upon us. How can you ask me to abandon it?”

Niu Youdao spoke slowly. “We are not discussing rights and wrongs, grievances or debts today. I can also let go of the hatred from the past. I am speaking to you only of the bond between husband and wife. Are you willing or unwilling?”

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy.

Guan Fangyi’s bright eyes flickered as she looked from one person to another, observing everyone’s reactions.

She did not understand either. Since Niu Youdao had already decided to help them, already decided to play the good man, why go through this scene as well?

Tang Yi shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it.”

“Then do you think there is any need for the marital bond between us to continue?” Niu Youdao asked. “The elders happen to be here as witnesses. A relationship that no longer needs to exist might as well be ended. Don’t worry. I won’t make things difficult for Sect Leader Tang. I’ll protect Sect Leader Tang’s reputation. Sect Leader Tang can write a letter of repudiation and cast me off. I’ve even found a public reason that will set the record straight.”

He raised a hand and pointed at Guan Fangyi. “Say you discovered that Hongniang and I were carrying on an illicit affair. Sect Leader Tang could not endure the humiliation and, in anger, repudiated me.”

Guan Fangyi was speechless. Her eyes rolled again and again. She very much wanted to ask what any of this had to do with her. Why drag her into it and ruin her reputation?

Still, she complained only inwardly and did not truly care much. She knew Niu Youdao must be planning something. Her reputation had long since been rotten anyway; if it could be used to solve a problem, so be it. At worst, she could curse the bastard afterward and demand some compensation.

To the Shangqing Sect group, however, Niu Youdao was clearly trying to sever his connection with the sect completely.

Anger showed on Tang Susu’s face. She said heavily, “Niu Youdao, since matters have reached this point, I might as well speak plainly. We came to find you this time because Zhao Xiongge told us to. Have you considered how you intend to face Zhao Xiongge?”

Niu Youdao truly did not know what to say about this old woman. He had heard something of the grudges between her and Zhao Xiongge. Ordinarily they never had dealings with each other, almost as though they were mortal enemies, yet today she was willing to invoke him openly.

Niu Youdao had no intention of being drawn into that. It was meaningless. Calmly, he said, “I won’t hide it from Elder Tang. A few days ago, I already met Zhao Xiongge and spoke with him face to face. He left the handling of this matter to me. I also promised him I would find the Shangqing Sect a road to survival. But I have one condition: certain matters must carry a price. Otherwise, I have no reason to invite trouble upon myself.”

His gaze remained fixed on Tang Yi.

All of them understood. The “price” he meant was the letter of repudiation he had just mentioned, ending his personal relationship with Tang Yi.

Tang Yi became visibly agitated. “Are you still unable to let go of what happened when Myriad Beasts Sect captured me? I’ll say it again: my chastity was not harmed. If you don’t believe me...” She bit her lip. “I can stay tonight...”

For such a conservative woman, saying even that much was unprecedented.

“Sect Leader Tang, you’re thinking too much.” Niu Youdao cut her off immediately. “I have already contacted Xuan Wei, the female Chancellor of the State of Wei, and she has agreed. There was never any true affection between us as husband and wife. There is no need to remain entangled. We needn’t speak of the old grievances either. Consider this my failing toward you. As long as you agree to my condition, the Shangqing Sect may go to the State of Wei at any time.”

The three elders were somewhat startled.

The State of Wei was the wealthiest of the seven states, and its female Chancellor was famed beneath Heaven.

The emperor of Wei was absurd and all but ignored affairs of state. Almost all authority in the state rested in the hands of the emperor’s elder sister, Grand Princess Xuan Wei.

If the Shangqing Sect could go to Wei and receive Xuan Wei’s protection, a mere Shao Pingbo in Beizhou naturally could not compare. For the Shangqing Sect’s current development, even following Niu Youdao might not provide as favorable an environment.

Looking farther into the future, however, it might be another matter. Following Niu Youdao could still prove better in the long run. The fact that Niu Youdao could persuade Xuan Wei to help already showed influence far beyond what they had imagined. At the very least, if they themselves went to seek Xuan Wei, they probably would not even be granted an audience.

But they had no choice. Niu Youdao had made his condition perfectly clear.

“Whether you agree or not, the Shangqing Sect and I will have no relationship from this point onward. This opportunity will be offered only once. If you let it pass, I will never mention it again. Choose for yourselves.”

Niu Youdao’s manner was cold and without sentiment.

Tang Yi slowly stood. Her eyes were faintly red. Then her clear voice rang out, firm and forceful. “Fine! I agree!”

Niu Youdao lowered his eyes and said slowly, “Bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.”

[End of Chapter 488]