Chapter 491: Niu Youdao Is No Damn Nanzhou Heavyweight!

“And during the battle for Nanzhou, Niu Youdao’s willingness to let Tianyu Sect pressure Shang Chaozong, even letting them drive Shang Chaozong to the brink, killed two birds with one stone. He borrowed Tianyu Sect’s strength to take Nanzhou, and at the same time let Tianyu Sect drive Shang Chaozong’s entire faction completely into his arms.”

“Think about it. Shang Chaozong was forced into a desperate situation and nearly lost his life. He also killed two of Peng Youzai’s grandsons. That blood feud is already there. Even if Peng Youzai says he won’t pursue it, would Shang Chaozong believe him? Worse still, Tianyu Sect tried to split up and redeploy Shang Chaozong’s forces in order to dismantle them. That touched the interests of everyone in his faction, from top to bottom. Who among them would not be terrified after the fact? You can say that no one in Shang Chaozong’s faction trusts Tianyu Sect anymore. They submit only because circumstances leave them no choice for now.”

“My Shao clan seized Beizhou and became rebels, trapped under every disadvantage. Shang Chaozong likewise colluded with foreign powers and rebelled, yet instead received an imperial investiture from the Yan court. We are both rebels, yet somehow Shang Chaozong’s rebellion became justified, and he became the legitimate Provincial Governor of Nanzhou! From the intelligence we gathered afterward, that too was something Niu Youdao swindled out of the Yan court for Shang Chaozong. The Yan court brought humiliation upon itself and could only swallow the bitterness in silence.”

“In this contest, Niu Youdao used the small to contend with the great. He not only turned the tide and rescued Shang Chaozong’s faction from disaster, he also pushed Shang Chaozong into the legitimate office of Provincial Inspector of Nanzhou. Shang Chaozong’s people are probably only one step short of weeping with gratitude. Set that against Tianyu Sect’s conduct: Tianyu Sect used its strength to bully them, while Niu Youdao won them through benevolence. Tianyu Sect has already lost the people’s hearts throughout present-day Nanzhou, while Niu Youdao seized the moment and gathered all that support to himself.”

“After that clash, the overall situation in Nanzhou was already in Niu Youdao’s hands. Tianyu Sect is maintaining the present order only through its superior strength. If circumstances change, Niu Youdao need only raise his arm and call out. With popular sentiment behind him, Tianyu Sect will certainly lose!”

“Now Niu Youdao has bound Shang Chaozong’s faction firmly to himself. In terms of influence over Shang Chaozong’s people, no one can compare. In their eyes, Tianyu Sect has become their greatest threat, while Niu Youdao is tied to their very survival. Inside Nanzhou, which Tianyu Sect controls, he is the only person capable of contending with Tianyu Sect, protecting them, and defending their interests. Niu Youdao has already proved that with facts.”

“If Tianyu Sect rashly moves against Niu Youdao, Shang Chaozong’s faction will see it as Tianyu Sect moving against them. That could force the various Shang forces to scatter and leave Nanzhou. At this point, even eliminating Shang Chaozong would be useless. With nothing more than the popular support and influence he already holds, Niu Youdao could call on Nanzhou’s forces under Shang Chaozong’s control to resist Tianyu Sect at any time.”

“After the Nanzhou war, Tianyu Sect had every favorable internal and external condition, yet Niu Youdao obstructed them and made them miss the best opportunity to dismantle Shang Chaozong’s faction. Now that Shang Chaozong’s people have completely taken control of Nanzhou, any attempt at a forceful purge would throw the province into chaos. Tianyu Sect is already held back by fear of smashing the vessel while striking at the rat.”

“It is precisely because this foundation now exists that Niu Youdao dared leave Nanzhou with peace of mind. He knows Tianyu Sect no longer dares act recklessly there. How could I simply sit by and watch him accumulate strength again, defeat Tianyu Sect, and seize complete control of Nanzhou?”

After hearing Shao Pingbo’s entire analysis, Shao Sansheng was both alarmed and impressed. “This Niu Youdao truly is frightening!”

“I told you long ago that this man was dangerous! Back then he was nothing more than an abandoned disciple of the Shangqing Sect, yet in just a few short years he went from a homeless dog to the position he holds today. How could someone like that be simple? Tianyu Sect was far too arrogant in the early years. They saw him as an ant and failed to recognize the heart of a wolf and tiger within this cur. They did not eliminate the future trouble in time and instead let him lead them around by the nose. Now regret comes too late!”

Shao Pingbo shook his head with a cold laugh, then continued, “In the end, Niu Youdao still has to die. Once he is dead, there will be no need to worry about him using his influence to gather Shang Chaozong’s forces into rebellion. Then Tianyu Sect can move swiftly, use Shang Chaozong to stabilize the people’s hearts, and afterward take its time, gradually eroding Shang Chaozong’s influence.”

“The prerequisite is that Shang Chaozong’s people cannot believe Niu Youdao died at Tianyu Sect’s hands. Someone else has to take the blame.”

“Otherwise, given Shang Chaozong’s temperament—he dared shoot Peng Youzai’s grandson dead in public—whether he can be pacified and whether he will submit are both difficult to say. He may well choose mutual destruction. And if Shang Chaozong’s forces discover that Tianyu Sect killed Niu Youdao and then realize Shang Chaozong himself is under Tianyu Sect’s control, it will be almost impossible for them not to conclude that Tianyu Sect intends to move against them... I signed the letter I sent and laid out all the advantages and dangers in detail. Once Tianyu Sect reads it, they will definitely send people over!”

Tianyu Sect Elder Chen Tingxiu had indeed arrived. As night fell, he led several people to Myriad Beasts Sect.

It was Qiu Shan, the Elder responsible for receiving guests, who personally came out beyond the mountain gate to welcome him.

In a sense, Myriad Beasts Sect had little choice about such matters. It was true that the sect held a seat in Misty Pavilion, and it certainly had strength, but what it relied on most was wealth. Within the State of Song, Lingxiao Pavilion, Blood God Hall, and Heaven-Splitting Palace had always joined forces to suppress it, refusing to give Myriad Beasts Sect any opportunity to develop a territorial power base within their domains. If a sect with that much money also acquired territorial power, the three great sects would have a serious problem on their hands.

Put more plainly, Myriad Beasts Sect was closer to a great merchant house within the cultivation world. It lacked a territorial power base of its own with which to balance other forces, yet burying its head in business alone would not work either. Maintaining good relations with the various powers was necessary; otherwise, even business would be difficult to conduct smoothly.

The two men exchanged polite greetings outside the mountain gate.

Being personally welcomed by an Elder of Myriad Beasts Sect left Chen Tingxiu rather emotional.

He too was a dignified Elder of Tianyu Sect, but compared with an Elder of Myriad Beasts Sect, he knew they were simply not on the same level.

To his mind, Myriad Beasts Sect had given him more than enough face. He could not help reflecting on the benefits of taking Nanzhou. His status truly felt different now.

Even on the journey here, borrowing relay-station mounts while passing through the territories of various powers had gone smoothly. Everywhere they crossed, people had been willing to show consideration.

Naturally, Tianyu Sect would have to return that favor. In the future, if those same people passed through Nanzhou and needed to borrow relay-station mounts for travel, Tianyu Sect could hardly refuse. Favors went both ways.

After accompanying him through the mountain gate, Qiu Shan sounded him out again. “Brother Chen, may I ask what brings you here to seek an audience with our Sect Leader?”

Chen Tingxiu smiled. “I happened to be passing through. How could I fail to pay my respects to the host? Besides, I have long admired your Sect Leader’s bearing. Naturally I had to come and visit.”

Qiu Shan laughed. “What a coincidence. Two heavyweights of Nanzhou’s cultivation world chose the very same day to pay us a visit. Interesting indeed.”

Chen Tingxiu froze. “Brother Qiu, what do you mean? Has someone else from Tianyu Sect come as well?”

Qiu Shan asked in return, “Niu Youdao. Surely Niu Youdao counts as one of Nanzhou’s heavyweights?”

Niu Youdao is no damn Nanzhou heavyweight! Chen Tingxiu cursed inwardly. Whatever Niu Youdao’s standing in Nanzhou, Tianyu Sect’s people still carried a sense of superiority toward him and did not think much of him at all.

Naturally, Chen Tingxiu did not say that aloud. Even so, the news surprised him. “Niu Youdao is also at Myriad Beasts Sect?”

Tianyu Sect had received Shao Pingbo’s letter, which explicitly stated that Niu Youdao was in Myriad Forms City. After arriving, Chen Tingxiu had sent people to check the inn where Niu Youdao had been staying, only to learn that he had checked out and left not long before. Since this was Myriad Beasts Sect’s territory, Chen Tingxiu’s visit here had partly been intended to find some excuse to ask Myriad Beasts Sect to help locate him. He had not expected Niu Youdao, after spending so many days in the city, to have moved directly into Myriad Beasts Sect.

Qiu Shan said, “What? Brother Chen didn’t know?”

“Heh, this truly is unexpected. Do you know why he came to Myriad Beasts Sect?”

“He also said he came to visit the Sect Leader. The Sect Leader has been busy recently and could not spare the time to see him, so we temporarily placed him in a guest courtyard. I also just heard that he wants to pay a visit to Long Xiu, Sect Leader of Xiaoyao Palace, who is presently our guest, and asked one of our disciples to carry the message. I have no idea what he intends either. If Brother Chen wants to know, I can have someone accompany you over to find him. Wouldn’t it be simplest to ask him face to face?”

Chen Tingxiu’s eyes flickered. He hurriedly waved both hands. “No, no. To tell Brother Qiu the truth, that young man is far too arrogant—young, impetuous, with no one in his eyes. The two of us rarely get along and often quarrel. When there is no common ground, half a sentence is already too much. Better not to meet and give myself a headache.”

Qiu Shan considered this and found it unsurprising. He had heard something about Niu Youdao and Tianyu Sect competing for influence in Nanzhou. It was understandable that relations between the two sides were unpleasant. He simply had not expected Chen Tingxiu to be so frank about it in front of an outsider from Nanzhou. He chuckled. “So that is how it is. Then I was being presumptuous.”

Chen Tingxiu suddenly stopped walking. “Brother Qiu, I have a favor to ask.”

Qiu Shan stopped as well and felt somewhat troubled. Asking for a favor the moment they met—who did Chen Tingxiu think he was? Agreeing too readily would be improper, but refusing outright was awkward as well. Qiu Shan could only say, “I’m listening.”

“Brother Qiu knows that Xiaoyao Palace is one of the pillars of the State of Yan. Niu Youdao has never gotten along with Tianyu Sect. If he meets Sect Leader Long, who knows what unpleasant things he may say about us...”

Amid brilliant lamplight and drifting Moon Butterflies, Xi Haitang clasped his hands and saw several guests off, then had sect disciples escort them to rest.

He raised his head to look at the sky. The trouble in the Illusory Realm had indeed kept him busy, with one reception after another. Xi Haitang sighed.

At that moment, Qiu Shan flashed in and landed nearby. He quickly approached and cupped his hands. “Sect Leader.”

Xi Haitang said, “That Niu Youdao wanted to see me, didn’t he? Have him come over.”

“Sect Leader, another guest has arrived...” Qiu Shan explained Chen Tingxiu’s arrival, then added, “When Elder Chen heard that Niu Youdao planned to visit Long Xiu, he actually asked me to delay Niu Youdao so he could see Long Xiu first. I have no idea what game he is playing. The disciple who returned from Long Xiu’s side said Long Xiu has already agreed to see Niu Youdao. I told the disciple to hold off on notifying Niu Youdao for now and came to ask Sect Leader how this should be handled.”

Xi Haitang raised an eyebrow and gave a cold snort. “A pair of fools who don’t know the height of Heaven or the depth of Earth. They bring their struggle for power and profit into Myriad Beasts Sect. What do they take this place for? I have no interest in seeing either of them for now. Leave both of them waiting.”

Qiu Shan said, “There’s no problem leaving them waiting. It’s just that Elder Chen already asked me directly, and it isn’t some major matter. If I refuse, might it offend him unnecessarily?”

Xi Haitang asked, “What do you think?”

Qiu Shan replied, “Niu Youdao doesn’t know anything about this anyway. It is only a matter of who gets to see Long Xiu first. If Long Xiu decides after seeing Chen Tingxiu that he no longer wants to see Niu Youdao, that has nothing to do with us.”

Xi Haitang gave him a sidelong look. “Did that Elder Chen give you some benefit? Is that why you’re speaking for him?”

Qiu Shan smiled bitterly and cupped his hands. “How could that be? With Tianyu Sect’s modest resources, what benefit could they offer that I would care about? It’s simply that this is his first visit, and the first favor he has ever asked of me. Besides, he also said that if I ever have any business in Nanzhou in the future, I need only send word and he will do everything he can to help.”

Xi Haitang fell silent for a moment, then gave an acknowledging sound. “Handle it as you see fit.”

[End of Chapter 491]