Chapter 492: Did You Offend Long Xiu?

Telling Qiu Shan to handle it as he saw fit was, in truth, tacit approval.

The reason for Xi Haitang’s change in attitude was simple. Chen Tingxiu, like Niu Youdao, had given Qiu Shan no actual benefit, and he might never provide one in the future. But Chen Tingxiu had at least made a promise, while Niu Youdao had said nothing. When Qiu Shan was equally unfamiliar with both men, that slight difference mattered.

“Good. I know what to do.” Qiu Shan accepted the decision, cupped his hands, and prepared to leave.

Xi Haitang suddenly added, “That Niu Youdao is somewhat interesting. I hear he was badly outnumbered in Nanzhou, yet somehow held off the whole of Tianyu Sect. Before that, didn’t he also stir up trouble in the Qi capital? I heard even Tianhuo Sect came away with a bloody nose.”

Qiu Shan paused, then understood what the Sect Leader meant. Xi Haitang was warning him not to take things too far. Qiu Shan nodded. “Sect Leader, rest assured. We have no grievance with the man. There’s no need for us to offend him.”

Xi Haitang looked down for a moment, said nothing more, clasped his hands behind his back, and turned away.

Qiu Shan watched him briefly before turning and flying off through the mountains.

In a pavilion among the hills, the disciple who had gone to report to the guest courtyard where Xiaoyao Palace was staying was still waiting. When Qiu Shan arrived, the disciple hurriedly saluted.

Qiu Shan raised a hand, indicating that ceremony was unnecessary. “Go report once more. Say that Chen Tingxiu, Elder of Tianyu Sect in Nanzhou of the State of Yan, requests an audience with Sect Leader Long of Xiaoyao Palace.”

“Yes!” The disciple accepted the order and left.

Qiu Shan clasped his hands behind his back and waited in the pavilion.

Elsewhere, within a courtyard of pavilions and terraces, a channel had been cut from the mountain to bring in clear running water. It murmured through the grounds, carrying fallen leaves from the hills that bobbed and drifted on the current.

This guest residence was not only elegant and luxurious; its grounds were far larger than the little courtyard assigned to Niu Youdao. It was meant for distinguished guests.

Long Xiu, Sect Leader of Xiaoyao Palace, naturally qualified as one. Dressed in a simple, elegant robe, he reclined halfway on a short couch inside a pavilion, one leg bent. An ancient book rested on his raised knee as he read, slowly turning a page from time to time. His presence was restrained, yet an unspoken authority still showed through.

One of Long Xiu’s disciples, a woman named Yi Shu, came over quickly. She was dignified and attractive. Cupping her hands, she reported, “Master, a Myriad Beasts Sect disciple came to say that Chen Tingxiu, Elder of Tianyu Sect in Nanzhou of the State of Yan, requests an audience.”

“Chen Tingxiu...” Long Xiu considered the name for a moment and remembered it. He had probably seen it on the list of Tianyu Sect’s principal figures gathered by his people. He raised his eyes. “What is going on in Nanzhou? Why has everyone come running here?”

Yi Shu replied, “This disciple does not know.”

Long Xiu asked, “Did he say what he wants?”

“No. Only that he requests an audience.”

Long Xiu said lightly, “Tianyu Sect really is different now, isn’t it? It controls Nanzhou, after all. Does that mean any random person from Tianyu Sect who wants to see me gets an audience?”

Yi Shu looked up at him and heard the displeasure in her master’s voice. She waited quietly for explicit instructions.

But Long Xiu seemed to become absorbed in his book again and gave no further response.

Yi Shu understood. He did not want to see Chen Tingxiu. She stepped back several paces, turned, and left quickly.

And that was indeed the truth. Long Xiu had agreed to see Niu Youdao because Niu Youdao’s actions had caught his attention. He had also heard that Niu Youdao was very young, so he wanted to see what sort of young man he was and what business had brought him here.

Put plainly, Niu Youdao had already aroused his interest. That was especially true after Tianyu Sect had sought tacit permission from his side to make its move in Nanzhou, only to spend so much effort and still fail to get everything it wanted because Niu Youdao had somehow held them off.

As for Tianyu Sect, what did it amount to in Long Xiu’s eyes? Even Peng Youzai had to be deferential in front of him. Why would he take some Elder seriously? Was he someone Chen Tingxiu could see simply because Chen Tingxiu wished it?

To Long Xiu, Niu Youdao coming to see him and Chen Tingxiu coming to see him were two entirely different matters.

In his eyes, Niu Youdao was far too weak. There was little point putting on airs before Niu Youdao. Before the weak, dispensing with airs was itself the greatest display of stature.

With Tianyu Sect, on the other hand, putting on airs was a necessary warning, lest they become too pleased with themselves and start imagining that taking Nanzhou made them something extraordinary.

“He won’t see him?”

Back in the mountain pavilion, Qiu Shan turned in surprise when he heard the report. What did Long Xiu mean by this? He was willing to see Niu Youdao but not Chen Tingxiu. Surely Tianyu Sect was stronger than Niu Youdao?

The messenger disciple answered, “That’s right. He won’t see him.”

Qiu Shan asked, “Did they say why?”

The disciple replied, “I asked as well. They gave no reason, only said he would not see him. Long Xiu’s female disciple was also very arrogant and told me not to keep babbling. I did not feel it was appropriate to ask further, so I came back.” He glanced up as he spoke. The complaint against Long Xiu’s disciple was plainly deliberate.

“Strange...” Qiu Shan muttered to himself, then said, “Wait here for now. Do not notify Niu Youdao yet.”

“Yes!” the disciple replied.

Qiu Shan flashed out of the pavilion and flew toward another part of the mountains where scattered lights glimmered in the dark.

The Tianyu Sect party had received treatment much like Niu Youdao’s: a small courtyard.

Chen Tingxiu was not inside it. He was pacing outside the gate, waiting. Suddenly, he turned his head.

Qiu Shan landed nearby. Chen Tingxiu immediately put on a smile and stepped forward, cupping his hands. “You could simply have had a disciple pass along any message. How could I trouble Brother Qiu to run back and forth personally?”

Qiu Shan waved a hand. “It’s nothing. Brother Chen, did you offend Long Xiu?”

Chen Tingxiu was startled. “Brother Qiu, what makes you say that? I have never even met him before. How could I possibly have offended him? Did something happen? Did that Niu Youdao really say something bad about me? No, that doesn’t make sense either. Does Niu Youdao even know I’m here? Or did he speak ill of Tianyu Sect?” Question after question came spilling out.

Qiu Shan considered this, then shook his head. “You’re thinking too much. I already delayed Niu Youdao’s side for you. He has not met Long Xiu yet, so when would he have had the chance to speak badly of you? What is strange is that Long Xiu agreed to see Niu Youdao, yet refuses to see you.”

Chen Tingxiu hurriedly asked, “Why won’t he see me?”

Qiu Shan found the question ridiculous. “Brother Chen, whatever is going on between your people, you should know better than I do. If you ask me, who am I supposed to ask? They gave no reason. They simply said he would not see you, and even told the messenger disciple not to babble. I thought perhaps you had offended him.”

“...” Chen Tingxiu’s expression became wonderfully complicated, and he looked distinctly embarrassed. What was this supposed to mean? Long Xiu would rather see Niu Youdao than him. It made a dignified Tianyu Sect Elder like him look inferior to Niu Youdao and left him with no face at all in front of Myriad Beasts Sect.

Yet even after having his face slapped like this, there was nothing he could do. Was he supposed to go demand an explanation from Long Xiu? He did not have that kind of courage.

Never mind him. Even Tianyu Sect’s Sect Leader Peng Youzai would not dare.

“Brother Chen, I don’t know what problem exists between your two sides, but I have done everything I could. You should rest early. Perhaps our Sect Leader will see you tomorrow.”

Qiu Shan cupped his hands and was about to take his leave. He had made this special trip partly because he too was curious about what was happening, and partly to give Chen Tingxiu an explanation. After all, he had agreed to help, failed to accomplish it, and then simply disappearing would have invited misunderstanding. There was no need to turn a good deed into a bad one and waste the effort. Better to see things through from beginning to end.

“Please wait.” Chen Tingxiu hurriedly stopped him. “I would like to ask Brother Qiu one more thing. Who exactly came with Xiaoyao Palace?”

Qiu Shan thought about it. “Two Elders, along with three disciples. It seems each of the three senior figures brought one disciple. Long Xiu’s female disciple is not especially easy to speak with.”

“Female disciple?” Chen Tingxiu immediately asked, “Is it Long Xiu’s youngest disciple, Yi Shu?”

Qiu Shan nodded. “That’s right, her. What, you know her?”

“I wouldn’t say I know her well. She once came to Tianyu Sect on Long Xiu’s behalf, so we have met. Brother Qiu, could I trouble you with one more favor?”

Qiu Shan frowned. “Brother Chen, know when enough is enough.”

Seeing his impatience, Chen Tingxiu hurriedly explained, “Brother Qiu, don’t misunderstand. I only want to know where the people from Xiaoyao Palace are staying. I already feel guilty making you run back and forth like this. I’ll go over personally and request an audience. If I somehow offended them, I can apologize in person. Would that be acceptable?”

If that was all, it was hardly a problem. Qiu Shan’s expression eased. “Then come with me.”

“Many thanks, many thanks.” Chen Tingxiu repeatedly cupped his hands in gratitude, then quickly went back into the courtyard to give a few instructions to his fellow disciples before following Qiu Shan away.

The two returned to the pavilion in the mountains. The disciple waiting there started forward to salute, but Qiu Shan held out a palm and stopped him from approaching. Then he pointed toward a nearby courtyard hidden among pavilions and terraces. “The Xiaoyao Palace party is staying over there. Brother Chen, go if you wish, but do not create any trouble. Otherwise, it will look bad for everyone.”

Chen Tingxiu quickly nodded. “Of course. How would I dare behave wildly toward people from Xiaoyao Palace? One more thing, Brother Qiu. Niu Youdao’s side...” He trailed off, clearly wanting Qiu Shan to help a little further but embarrassed to ask outright.

Qiu Shan understood. “At most, I can give you half an hour. Otherwise, if Xiaoyao Palace asks why Niu Youdao still has not arrived, it will be difficult for me to explain.”

“Good, good. Brother Qiu, I’ll remember this great favor. There’s no need for me to keep saying thanks. I’ll put it plainly: when Brother Qiu has time, come visit Nanzhou. You’ll see whether I mean what I say.” Chen Tingxiu was almost bowing in gratitude.

Qiu Shan smiled and sighed. “Then hurry.” He gestured for the waiting disciple to accompany him.

Chen Tingxiu cupped his hands once more, then quickly flew toward the courtyard Qiu Shan had indicated.

The pressure on him was considerable, and his mood was heavy, especially after learning that Niu Youdao intended to meet Long Xiu.

After Shao Pingbo’s warning, Tianyu Sect already understood that Niu Youdao intended to gather strength and make a comeback. How could they possibly allow him to establish ties with Long Xiu as well? If Niu Youdao truly obtained Long Xiu’s support, Tianyu Sect would be in real trouble.

Chen Tingxiu did not actually believe Long Xiu would support Niu Youdao, because Niu Youdao still had no cultivation power under his command capable of covering all Nanzhou. Long Xiu was unlikely to hand Nanzhou over to him. Yet Niu Youdao was difficult to predict and genuinely had methods. Tianyu Sect had already suffered at his hands and learned what he could do. How could they dare simply let matters develop unchecked?

Chen Tingxiu had come here under orders precisely because of Niu Youdao. There was no way he could sit by and watch something like this happen. This time, no matter what it took, he had to find a way to stop it.

The moment he landed outside the courtyard, two cultivators stationed at the gate blocked his way.

“Who are you?”

They were Myriad Beasts Sect disciples specifically assigned to guard the entrance for Xiaoyao Palace, preventing anyone from disturbing the distinguished guests.

[End of Chapter 492]