Chapter 498: Hongniang Was Slapped?

The Myriad Beasts Sect disciple turned to Guan Fangyi. “Our honored guest has been frightened. I’ll report this to the sect immediately and let the sect decide how to handle it.”

For the moment, he still did not know Guan Fangyi’s identity. Even so, he was somewhat angry. Tianxing Sect’s people were far too arrogant, openly causing trouble inside Myriad Beasts Sect as though Myriad Beasts Sect did not exist.

Guan Fangyi took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from her nose and mouth. “No need.”

The disciple said, “Honored guest, there’s no need to worry. This is not Tianxing Sect. No one can run wild here as they please. We will certainly give you justice.”

Guan Fangyi smiled bitterly inwardly. Justice? What justice was there to give her? Never mind that Myriad Beasts Sect would never fall out with Tianxing Sect for her sake. If the matter truly became public, given her reputation, what justice could she possibly expect? An avalanche of filthy accusations would only come crashing down on her head.

And even if she did obtain justice, what then? Was Tianxing Sect someone she could afford to provoke? She might as well go looking for death.

“Truly, there’s no need. I accepted it willingly.” Guan Fangyi shook her head.

“...” The disciple was instantly speechless. If even the person who had been slapped refused to pursue it and claimed she had willingly accepted it, what the hell was Myriad Beasts Sect supposed to pursue?

He could only assume that she was afraid of Tianxing Sect’s power. Thinking about it, that made sense. Even if Myriad Beasts Sect gave her justice here, once she left, Tianxing Sect might crush her precisely because of that justice.

The disciple sighed. “Are you all right?”

Guan Fangyi smiled. “Thank you for your concern, little brother. I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Go attend to your own business.”

The disciple had no choice but to leave. He returned to the courtyard gate and whispered with his fellow disciple for a while, both of them glancing over from time to time.

Inside the pavilion, Guan Fangyi silently wiped away the last traces of blood. At the same time, she circulated spiritual power to move the blood and reduce the swelling in both cheeks.

Once the swelling had gone down, she tucked the bloodstained handkerchief into her sleeve. She raised a hand to straighten the hairpin that had been knocked askew, restored her dignified appearance, and slowly walked out of the pavilion. As though nothing had happened, she returned to the edge of the mountain and stood there lost in thought.

The two disciples guarding the gate looked at her back from time to time, sympathy in both their gazes. They felt Wen Xinzhao had gone far too far in using her status to bully someone.

That sympathy would come now. Later, once they learned Guan Fangyi’s identity, it would turn into mockery. They would assume she had probably seduced Wen Xinzhao’s husband. But that would come later.

By the time the sun was about to set, Niu Youdao finally emerged from the courtyard. Naturally, he did not qualify for the treatment of having a Tiannü Sect Elder personally see him out. An ordinary disciple escorted him instead.

As he came through the gate, Niu Youdao sensed something odd. Both gate guards seemed to keep staring at him. He had no idea what they found so interesting.

He walked to the mountain’s edge and smiled. “What are you thinking about so deeply?”

Guan Fangyi turned around and gave him a radiant smile. “Did it go smoothly?”

“It was about what you’d expect. Let’s head back.” Niu Youdao gestured, and the two walked away side by side. He glanced back several times, then asked curiously, “What’s with those two guards? Why do they keep staring at us?”

Guan Fangyi giggled. “Ignorant youngsters seeing something rare. It only proves this old lady still has her charm.”

“Haha! Exactly. How could the most beautiful woman beneath Heaven lack even that much charm? Walking beside you is an honor.”

“I’m not so sure. Why have I never seen you look moved by me? It’s not as though I’ve never given you a chance!”

“Now that is unfair. I barged into your room first thing this morning to watch you bathe and couldn’t even be chased out. That should tell you just how great your charm is.”

“Go die!”

“Haha. By the way, the people who came out earlier were Tianxing Sect’s Sect Leader Du Yunsang and his wife, weren’t they?”

“What, you know them?”

“I asked after I went inside. The way Sect Leader Du looked at you wasn’t right. Another old acquaintance?”

“What old acquaintance? It was just one of those things.”

“I don’t think it was that simple. You reacted pretty strongly yourself. We met plenty of your old acquaintances earlier, and I never saw you react like that.”

“You noticed even that? There’s really nothing much to it. The ones we met earlier never slept with me. This one actually did. His wife was standing right beside him. Naturally I had to avoid giving anyone the wrong idea.”

“Oh. So this was someone you truly had an unusual relationship with. No wonder. Tell me honestly: were those talismans you carry given to you by him?”

“Ah, I didn’t want them at the time. He insisted on giving them to me. What was I supposed to do? It would have been rude to refuse such enthusiasm!”

“Haha!”

Once they had left the immediate area of the guest courtyard, the two flew away. By now they knew the route well enough that, so long as they did not wander randomly, they no longer needed anyone to guide them.

When they returned to their lodging, Zhou Tiezi was arranging dishes on the dining table. There was obviously far more food than usual.

Niu Youdao entered. Yin’er merely glanced at him before turning both shining eyes back to the table full of dishes. From time to time, her bright red tongue slipped out to lick her lips.

Niu Youdao walked over and looked at the spread. “Brother Zhou, this is quite a bit more than usual.”

Zhou Tiezi smiled. “I noticed you always finish everything, so I specifically spoke to the people delivering the meals and asked them to prepare double portions.”

Niu Youdao looked at Yin’er, who was still licking her lips, and did not know whether to laugh or cry. The fact that every meal vanished had nothing whatsoever to do with the others. It was all because of this one. This demon king had probably ruined their reputation here. With an appetite like hers, the people preparing meals most likely thought this whole courtyard was full of gluttons.

The key problem was that even double portions would still be eaten clean.

Stranger still, no matter how much Yin’er ate, her stomach never seemed to swell. Her belly was bottomless.

Even so, Niu Youdao found one thing gratifying: Zhou Tiezi had suddenly begun putting thought into their needs. That was a good sign. It meant Niu Youdao’s earlier effort had worked.

“Enjoy your meal. I’ll come back later to clear everything away.” Zhou Tiezi said goodbye and left.

Niu Youdao sat down at the table and gestured for everyone to eat.

Guan Fangyi, however, showed no intention of sitting. She sighed. “Some bastard dragged me outside to run around after I’d only bathed halfway this morning. I still feel uncomfortable all over, and now I’ve lost my appetite. I’m going back to finish my bath. You eat. Give my share to Yin’er.”

Several people looked toward Niu Youdao. Naturally, they knew exactly which bastard she meant.

Niu Youdao paid it no mind. A cultivator could skip a few meals without consequence. He picked up his chopsticks first.

Only Yin’er looked toward Guan Fangyi and gave her an expression that plainly said, I approve of you very much.

Guan Fangyi laughed softly and turned away.

A good while after the meal, Guan Fangyi still had not emerged again. Her doors and windows remained shut, and the room inside was dark. She had not even released a Moon Butterfly.

This woman had never cared much about cultivation. Normally, at this hour, she would come outside to stroll around. Today’s behavior felt unusual.

Niu Youdao was about to go see what was wrong when Yuan Gang came over quickly and stopped him.

“Master Dao, word just came in. Several people wearing Dachan Mountain clothing entered the city and have taken rooms at an inn. Their identities still need to be verified.”

Niu Youdao said, “Understood. Have Wuliang Mountain’s people keep watch. I’ll arrange the rest.”

Yuan Gang nodded. “Chao Shenghuai has also ‘hung the flag’ outside.”

“Hanging the flag” was old jianghu cant from their previous life, meaning that Chao Shenghuai had sent a signal asking to meet.

“Go have a chat with Zhou Tiezi.” Niu Youdao gave the instruction in an easy tone.

Yuan Gang nodded. He understood. Master Dao intended to slip out and meet Chao Shenghuai without letting Zhou Tiezi see.

A short while later, Niu Youdao once again wandered down into the mountain ravine. He paced beside the stream as though lost in thought.

From behind the hanging vines came Chao Shenghuai’s voice. “The Dachan Mountain people you wanted have arrived. They’re staying at the same inn you used before.”

Niu Youdao already knew. He said, “I need you to help me with something.”

Chao Shenghuai practically yelped in a whisper. “Something else? Do your matters ever end?”

“Relax. It won’t affect you, and you won’t bear any responsibility. Just arrange a few reliable people...” Niu Youdao lowered his voice and gave a series of quiet instructions.

After hearing him out, Chao Shenghuai found that it truly would not affect him and tacitly agreed. Then he added, “Chen Tingxiu hasn’t made any moves for now. He only had someone send word to the people from Tianhuo Sect, but Tianhuo Sect refused to see him.”

Tianhuo Sect? Chen Tingxiu wanted to see people from Tianhuo Sect?

Niu Youdao immediately became alert. As he paced back and forth, his eyes gradually narrowed. He had begun to sense something.

“One more thing,” Chao Shenghuai continued. “About Tianxing Sect. It’s nothing worth making a huge issue over. An arm can’t wrestle down a thigh. If you make too much of it, you’ll still be the ones who suffer. Endure what needs to be endured. Until our business is finished, don’t cause trouble here.”

He was referring to Guan Fangyi being slapped. The incident had already caused a small stir within Myriad Beasts Sect. There was no way Chao Shenghuai could have failed to hear about it.

The matter easily invited speculation about jealousy between men and women, and plenty of people were already discussing it as a joke. Because it concerned the reputation of Tianxing Sect’s Sect Leader and his wife, and because it had happened inside Myriad Beasts Sect, spreading the story would reflect badly on everyone involved. Myriad Beasts Sect had already issued strict orders forbidding anyone from gossiping about it.

As for Chao Shenghuai, every day Niu Youdao remained here was another day he could not rest easy. He constantly feared Niu Youdao would cause some disaster and drag him into wiping up the mess afterward. Tianxing Sect’s backside was far too large for him to wipe. He could not afford to offend them, so he had no choice but to give Niu Youdao a warning.

Niu Youdao looked bewildered. “Tianxing Sect? What happened with Tianxing Sect?”

Chao Shenghuai was surprised. “You don’t know about Hongniang getting slapped earlier?”

The instant the words left his mouth, he regretted them. If Niu Youdao did not know, why had he brought it up? Wasn’t he creating trouble for himself?

He truly had not expected Guan Fangyi to hide the matter from Niu Youdao.

“Hongniang was slapped?” Niu Youdao froze. He had been with Guan Fangyi nearly the entire day. When had she been slapped? Then he suddenly remembered that she really had been acting strangely tonight. Startled, he turned toward the curtain of vines. “What happened?”

Chao Shenghuai said, “Forget it. Maybe I heard wrong.”

Niu Youdao’s voice turned cold. “Do you believe I’ll drag you out here right now and ask you in front of everyone?”

Chao Shenghuai cursed his ancestors inwardly on the spot. “I only overheard it in passing. I don’t remember very clearly.”

Niu Youdao gave him one word. “Speak.”

Chao Shenghuai sounded helpless. “Ah, it really wasn’t much. That Hongniang was slapped twice by Wen Xinzhao, wife of Tianxing Sect’s Sect Leader Du Yunsang. We’re cultivators. Two slaps don’t amount to much. It probably doesn’t even count as an injury. What could have happened?”

Remembering the strange behavior of the gate guards, Niu Youdao asked heavily, “Did it happen while I was inside meeting the Sect Leader of Tiannü Sect?”

Chao Shenghuai said, “That’s what I heard. It happened in that pavilion beside the road outside the guest courtyard.”

Niu Youdao said, “That doesn’t make sense. If there had been a fight, at that distance there’s no way I wouldn’t have heard it.”

[End of Chapter 498]