Chapter 494: Things Are Easier Between Acquaintances

Niu Youdao said, “Come with me. I have something for you to do.”

Guan Fangyi was puzzled but still reluctant. She tried to pass the task off. “See whether Uncle Chen or Old Six Xu is more suitable. I’ll have one of them go with you. Whatever needs doing, let them handle it.”

“There are situations where a woman is more suitable than a man. What’s gotten into you today? Enough. Stop fussing. You’re coming.”

“...” Guan Fangyi was speechless. Unable to wriggle out of it, she could only agree reluctantly.

As they were about to leave, Niu Youdao glanced at Zhou Tiezi and gave Yuan Gang a look.

Yuan Gang understood and nodded. Niu Youdao wanted him to quietly find out what sort of man Zhou Tiezi was...

The group arrived outside the guest courtyard where Xiaoyao Palace was staying. The disciple escorting them exchanged a greeting with the guards at the gate.

Niu Youdao quickly added, “Please mention as well that Hongniang of the Qi capital has come with me.”

The guard did not care one way or the other. He had to go inside to report the visit anyway. One extra sentence cost him nothing.

Guan Fangyi, however, froze and stared blankly at Niu Youdao. She had thought that at worst she could simply wait outside. This sounded very much as if he intended to drag her in with him.

One of the gate guards went inside, leaving only the other behind. Niu Youdao smiled and casually asked, “Have many guests come to disturb Xiaoyao Palace?”

He wanted to know whether the long delay on his side had come from Xiaoyao Palace or from Myriad Beasts Sect, so he deliberately sounded the man out.

The disciple who had escorted them immediately gave the remaining guard a slight shake of the head. He knew perfectly well that Qiu Shan had deliberately held matters up.

The gate guard naturally kept an expressionless face. “I’m not sure.”

As Niu Youdao asked the question, he appeared not to look to the side, but from the corner of his eye he had been watching the disciple responsible for carrying messages. He noticed the slight irregularity and understood that he would get nothing more from asking. He gave an acknowledging sound and let the matter drop.

Guan Fangyi instead caught hold of his sleeve and pulled him aside. “What exactly are you trying to do by insisting I go inside?”

Niu Youdao answered as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. “I heard you know Long Xiu. Things are easier when acquaintances meet.”

Guan Fangyi stared at him in surprise. “How do you know I know Long Xiu? Did Uncle Chen and the others tell you? Impossible!”

She knew Uncle Chen and the others would never casually tell outsiders about her past. It was hardly anything glorious.

She herself could no longer remember whether Uncle Chen had already come to her side back when she first knew Long Xiu.

Niu Youdao smiled. “So you really do know Long Xiu.”

“...” Guan Fangyi was speechless. Then embarrassment turned to anger. “You were tricking me?”

Niu Youdao said, “You knew I was coming to see Long Xiu. Why do you think he wasn’t mentioned earlier?”

Guan Fangyi rolled her eyes. “You know what things were like with the men I knew. What was there to say about that old nonsense?”

Niu Youdao was actually quite curious about how deep her relationship with Long Xiu had been. He probed, “Were the two of you involved?”

Guan Fangyi erupted. “What do you take me for? Do you think I sleep with just anyone?”

“He pursued you?”

That, Guan Fangyi did not deny. “Something like that. My reputation was what it was. Plenty of men came because of my fame and wanted to take advantage of me. Most were only looking for pleasure. How many of them were sincere? He pestered me for a while, failed to get what he wanted, and disappeared. As a disciple of a great sect, he couldn’t stay indefinitely in the Qi capital.”

She went on, “Back then he wasn’t especially outstanding within Xiaoyao Palace either. I truly never expected him to become Sect Leader later. I was a little surprised when I heard he had taken the position. Looking back now, I suppose he was someone who knew how to keep a low profile. There really was nothing between us like what you’re imagining.”

Niu Youdao nodded slowly, then asked, “Tell me honestly. Of the Sect Leaders of the six great sects I intend to visit, how many do you know?”

Guan Fangyi considered it. “I don’t know the Sect Leader of Tiannü Sect. She’s a woman. You can imagine it yourself—women merely not hating me was already good enough. Why would she ever come to Fufang Garden to patronize me?”

Niu Youdao asked, “So you know the other five?”

Guan Fangyi hesitated. “How should I put it? You could say I know all of them, and you could also say I may not really know all of them. In the early years, I basically met every one of them. Some used their real names when we met, like Long Xiu. Others didn’t. I suppose they wanted to take advantage of me while also fearing damage to their reputations.”

Niu Youdao did not understand. “If they didn’t use their real names, how do you know who they were?”

Guan Fangyi gave a disdainful snort, mockery curling at the corner of her mouth. “Back then, there were too many men chasing me to count, and plenty became jealous of one another. Even if a man kept quiet about himself, someone else would happily expose him just to trip him up. With so many eyes watching, how could anyone hide?”

Niu Youdao laughed despite himself. So that was how it had been.

At that moment, the guard who had gone inside returned, with Yi Shu following him. She came into view and asked, “Which one is Niu Youdao?”

Niu Youdao quickly stepped forward and saluted. “That would be me.”

“Come.” Yi Shu tilted her head toward the entrance. But when Niu Youdao climbed the steps and Guan Fangyi moved to follow, Yi Shu extended a hand and stopped her. “Who are you?”

Niu Youdao hurriedly explained, “This is Hongniang of the Qi capital.”

Yi Shu had actually recognized her already. She had asked deliberately.

The moment she saw Guan Fangyi, Yi Shu had to admit inwardly that this woman had maintained herself remarkably well. Overall, she did not look particularly old. The mature allure about her still carried traces of the peerless beauty she had once been. No wonder her fame for beauty had spread throughout the realm and so many men had been enamored of her.

Of course, good maintenance was only to be expected. Guan Fangyi was a woman who cherished beauty, and she poured enormous resources into preserving her appearance. To the average man, she was unquestionably still a great beauty. Hao Yuntu, Emperor of Qi, was an exception; a man accustomed to every kind of beauty in an imperial harem naturally judged by different standards.

Women, however, often disliked women who attracted too much male attention. Yi Shu’s face turned cold. “Did anyone say you were allowed inside?”

Guan Fangyi stopped. The question left her awkward, but she still smiled and stepped back. This was hardly the first time other women had taken a dislike to her.

Yi Shu turned away. “Follow me.”

After receiving the notice that they had arrived, Yi Shu had never reported Guan Fangyi’s presence to Long Xiu at all. There had been no need, in her view. Was every random person supposed to be able to see her master?

Niu Youdao looked at Yi Shu, then glanced back at Guan Fangyi before following Yi Shu inside.

The pavilions and terraces within the courtyard were elegant and splendid. Niu Youdao could immediately feel the difference in treatment between one guest and another. There was nothing unfair about it. Different status naturally brought different treatment.

When they reached a waterside pavilion, Niu Youdao saw Long Xiu half-reclining on a short couch with a book in hand. He studied the man from a distance. This was one of the people capable of deciding the fate of the entire State of Yan.

Yi Shu entered first to report. “Master, Niu Youdao is here.”

Niu Youdao’s ears twitched slightly. He took note of the woman. Long Xiu’s disciple?

Long Xiu gave an acknowledging sound. His attention seemed to remain on his book, and he made no other movement.

Yi Shu gestured for Niu Youdao to enter. He stepped forward and saluted. “Niu Youdao of Nanzhou in the State of Yan pays his respects to Sect Leader Long.”

Long Xiu did not change position. His gaze simply shifted onto Niu Youdao, traveling up and down as he examined him. He smiled. “You certainly made me wait. I’ve been waiting for you for quite some time.”

Neither servile nor overbearing, Niu Youdao smiled back. “My apologies. A friend kept me tied up. She said she was an old acquaintance of yours and insisted on coming along to see you, so we were delayed.”

Long Xiu looked mildly surprised. “An acquaintance of mine? Who?”

“Hongniang of the Qi capital.”

“Oh?” A trace of genuine surprise appeared on Long Xiu’s face. “I heard she is with you now. What, she came too?”

Niu Youdao understood immediately. Long Xiu had not known Hongniang was here. His gaze slanted briefly toward Yi Shu before he smiled and replied, “She is just outside. Without permission, she did not dare enter.”

“Heh. She does count as an old friend. I haven’t seen her in many years.” Long Xiu actually sat upright, crossing his legs. He waved the book in his hand toward Yi Shu. “Quickly. Invite her in.”

Yi Shu was surprised as well. She had not expected that shameless woman to actually be a friend of her master.

She could not help shooting Niu Youdao a sidelong look. In her mind, Chen Tingxiu’s words had just been confirmed. Niu Youdao really was arrogant, really did have no one in his eyes. Yi Shu had refused to let the woman in, so he had gone straight over her head and complained to her master.

On that point, she had wronged him completely.

Niu Youdao had no intention of complaining about her. He only knew that Guan Fangyi was acquainted with Long Xiu and wanted to bring her in to soften the atmosphere and make the conversation easier.

From beginning to end, he had never meant to report Yi Shu’s conduct.

Yi Shu, however, had already formed her impression and did not see it that way.

“Yes.” Even so, she obeyed and left.

At the mention of Hongniang, a hint of reminiscence entered Long Xiu’s expression.

Before long, Guan Fangyi arrived. Long Xiu raised his eyes and watched her approach. He recognized her immediately. It was indeed that woman. Her allure remained, and a faint smile appeared on his face as memories stirred within him.

Back then, Long Xiu had gone to the State of Qi on business and a friend had dragged him along to meet her.

At first, he had been unwilling to go for fear it would reflect badly on him, but his friend had insisted.

The truth was that Guan Fangyi’s reputation for beauty had spread far and wide. Most men of the right age had heard of her. Among those who visited the Qi capital and had the means, how many could resist taking the opportunity to see her?

And so Long Xiu had gone.

The first time he saw her, Guan Fangyi’s peerless beauty had truly stunned him. For a while, he had even thought that if he could win such a woman, he could ask nothing more of life and would have lived without regret.

For the month or so he remained in the Qi capital afterward, he went to see Guan Fangyi every few days, plainly trying to court her, but Guan Fangyi gently refused him.

Eventually, the time allotted for his business ran out and he had to return to his sect. Guan Fangyi had already rejected him gently, and he saw that plenty of men more outstanding than he was at the time were pursuing her as well. Realizing he had little hope, he gradually calmed down. It was not worth damaging his prospects over a woman. And so he left, carrying only a trace of regret.

Those events had long since faded from his mind. Remembering them again now, especially with Guan Fangyi herself standing before him, brought a different flavor to his heart.

“Guan Fangyi pays her respects to Sect Leader Long.” Guan Fangyi came forward and dipped into a formal curtsy, deliberately behaving with excessive courtesy to show a little displeasure over how she had been treated outside.

Long Xiu chuckled and waved, signaling that she need not be so formal. “Hongniang, after all these years, your splendor has not diminished.”

Guan Fangyi replied, “Aren’t you making fun of me? I’m old and faded now. What splendor could I possibly have left?”

Long Xiu waved again. “Not old, not old. I’m the one who has truly aged.”

Guan Fangyi said, “You were considerably older than me to begin with. Isn’t it perfectly normal for you to look older?”

Niu Youdao quietly watched Long Xiu’s reaction.

“Uh...” Long Xiu paused. He discovered that this woman was rather different from the one in his memories. Back then, she had spoken gently and charmingly, or else with the aloof chill of an untouchable beauty. She had never been this sharp-tongued.

He gave a wry smile. “Serve tea. You two, sit.”

Yi Shu went to prepare the tea with suspicion in her heart. She could not stop wondering why this woman seemed to have an unusual relationship with her master. Could Master have had an affair with her too?

Niu Youdao, who until then had been standing while they spoke, had plainly benefited from Guan Fangyi’s presence.

Since she had come inside, Guan Fangyi no longer stood on ceremony. She sat directly, crossed one leg over the other, and looked around. “The place Myriad Beasts Sect uses to receive Sect Leader Long really is beyond anything we could compare with.”

Long Xiu glanced at the way she sat with her legs crossed. This woman truly had changed greatly from the refined lady in his memories. He smiled. “A guest simply accepts the host’s arrangements.”

[End of Chapter 494]