Chapter 502: You'll Do It Whether You Like It or Not

At the faint mention of “Shao Pingbo from Beizhou,” Huang Tong’s chopsticks froze in midair. He pricked up his ears and listened intently.

The other people at the table exchanged glances. They too stopped every movement and held their breaths so they would not make a sound and could hear clearly.

“Forced into it? Isn’t Niu Youdao from Nanzhou? Beizhou and Nanzhou are pretty far apart, aren’t they?”

“I don’t know the details either. I only happened to overhear some of it when Martial Uncle and Martial Uncle Senior were talking after the sect arranged for people to carry messages to the six great sects on his behalf. It seems the Shangqing Sect is involved somehow. Shao Pingbo apparently sent people here to assassinate Niu Youdao, but the killers failed and Niu Youdao dealt with them. And it wasn’t only assassins. He also joined hands with Tianyu Sect in Nanzhou, planning to kill Niu Youdao together. One of Tianyu Sect’s Elders has even followed him all the way to Myriad Beasts Sect. It sounds like Shao Pingbo really angered Niu Youdao, and Niu Youdao may be preparing to strike back.”

“How is he going to strike back?”

“No idea. In any case, it has nothing to do with us...”

The conversation in the room next door drifted to another subject.

The Dachan Mountain disciples all looked toward Huang Tong.

Huang Tong was silent for a moment, then raised a hand and signaled for two disciples to go out and keep watch.

As someone from Beizhou, he had only just arrived when he overheard something connected to Beizhou. It struck him as suspicious. He was worried someone might be playing a trick.

Even after the people next door left, no one in Huang Tong’s room made another sound...

Across the street from the inn, Chao Shenghuai sat beside a window on the upper floor of another building, peering through a crack in the shutters and watching the inn entrance.

When several Myriad Beasts Sect disciples emerged, Chao Shenghuai immediately stood and opened the crack slightly wider, his eyes fixed on the door.

Before long, a Dachan Mountain disciple came out and clearly began following the Myriad Beasts Sect disciples.

That meant the arrangement had worked. Dachan Mountain had received the information this side wanted them to receive. Chao Shenghuai breathed out in relief, gently closed the crack in the window, and turned away.

He went downstairs and slipped out through the rear entrance.

There was no reason to remain. His task was finished. It had been simple and carried no real risk. Otherwise he would never have agreed to Niu Youdao’s request so readily...

Inside Dachan Mountain’s private room, the three remaining men had lost all interest in eating. Huang Tong leaned back in his chair, silent.

Before long, one disciple returned and stepped close to report in a low voice. “Master, judging by their clothes, they were disciples of Myriad Beasts Sect. I also sounded out the innkeeper indirectly. He said the same and recognized them.”

Huang Tong said slowly, “That still doesn’t mean someone else didn’t arrange it. Did anyone keep following them?”

“Senior Brother followed them.”

“Go after him as well. If anything happens, you can support him and report back.”

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

Huang Tong stood. He was no longer in the mood to eat. He left the private room and returned to his own quarters, where he paced in thought, his expression grave.

Myriad Forms City had recently filled with people arriving one after another, even more than had originally come for the Spirit Beast Gathering. All kinds were mixed together, making the city somewhat chaotic. Naturally, they had come because the Illusory Realm had failed to close. Huang Tong himself had been sent here by Dachan Mountain for that very reason.

Who would have expected that before he had even properly begun the task that brought him here, he would accidentally learn that Shao Pingbo and Niu Youdao were clashing?

He did not know whether what he had heard was true or false. His first reaction was to wonder whether this might be some kind of trap. Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?

So he needed to verify it. First he had to confirm whether the speakers truly were Myriad Beasts Sect disciples. If they were, then Myriad Beasts Sect did business with all sides and was unlikely to involve itself in a dispute like this merely to help Niu Youdao. Besides, with Niu Youdao’s present strength, he should not have been capable of ordering Myriad Beasts Sect disciples to do such a thing. If those people were genuine, then the matter became considerably more serious.

Xiaoyao Palace, Zijin Cave, and Lingjian Mountain of the State of Yan; Baichuan Valley, Wushang Palace, and Tiannü Sect of the State of Han. Beizhou now happened to lie between the great powers of those two states. Why, of all people, had Niu Youdao chosen to contact those six sects?

As for the grudge between Shao Pingbo and Niu Youdao, Huang Tong, as an Elder of Dachan Mountain, naturally knew about it. Dachan Mountain had already ordered Shao Pingbo to stop. Had Shao Pingbo truly continued moving in secret? Sending assassins, even joining hands with Tianyu Sect in Nanzhou?

If he really had done that, it would amount to forcing Niu Youdao toward a dead end. It would be strange if Niu Youdao did not react...

About half an hour later, the two disciples returned together.

Before either could salute, Huang Tong urgently asked, “Did you confirm it? Were they really Myriad Beasts Sect disciples?”

The two still cupped their hands in greeting first. One answered, “Master, we confirmed it. They were Myriad Beasts Sect disciples. We watched them enter the sect’s mountain gate with our own eyes, and they greeted the disciples guarding the entrance.”

Huang Tong challenged the conclusion. “Any possibility they were impostors?”

The other disciple replied, “Master, think about it. Myriad Beasts Sect disciples are stationed at the mountain gate. How could outsiders possibly wear Myriad Beasts Sect robes while going in and out?”

Huang Tong thought about it and agreed. A sect’s robes represented the sect itself. Even clothing prepared for guests would be ordinary attire. No sect would let outsiders wear its representative robes and risk bringing trouble back upon itself.

“So they really were Myriad Beasts Sect disciples...” Huang Tong murmured, then immediately said in a deep voice, “Send word back at once. Report the situation and ask the sect to decide how to proceed!”

...

In the forest, beneath the trees, four Myriad Beasts Sect disciples stood, sat, or paced while keeping watch.

“Senior Brother is here,” one lookout suddenly called. Those who were sitting immediately rose.

A figure flashed into the clearing and landed before them. It was Chao Shenghuai.

The moment he arrived, Chao Shenghuai asked, “Nothing went wrong?”

“No, nothing,” several voices answered at once.

“You said exactly what we agreed on? No embellishing it or adding nonsense of your own?”

One man replied, “Senior Brother, rest assured. You warned us repeatedly, and we rehearsed it over and over. We didn’t add anything.”

Chao Shenghuai nodded. “Good.”

One disciple hesitated, then asked, “Senior Brother, is it really appropriate for us to get involved in this? What exactly are we doing? Does Elder Chao know?”

“Don’t ask what you shouldn’t.” Chao Shenghuai gave him a cold look. “Afraid? If something goes wrong, the chief culprit is me. Do you think I’d let anything happen to you?”

“Exactly. What nonsense are you talking about?” The others immediately criticized the man, making him apologize repeatedly.

Chao Shenghuai waved for them to stop their bickering. “I’ll speak plainly. Some things are obvious to everyone. Wherever there are enough people, their hearts differ. Perfect unity is impossible, so factions naturally form. Myriad Beasts Sect is no exception. Whether you are willing to stand with me or not, what happened today is only the beginning. Whether we can truly share the same boat will be tested later. People who aren’t of one heart can’t get aboard the same boat.”

“Of course.”

“Senior Brother speaks reasonably.”

The others agreed one after another. All of them wanted to board the same boat as Chao Shenghuai.

They knew exactly what background Chao Shenghuai possessed. And there was a reason he had chosen them: every one of them had mediocre cultivation aptitude and little chance of distinguishing himself within the sect. Forced into this by Niu Youdao, Chao Shenghuai had still put thought into selecting these four. He did not dare use anyone from Chao Jing’s own faction. The moment he did, Chao Jing would inevitably be alerted.

Amid their flattery, Chao Shenghuai took out four gold notes, each worth ten thousand, and handed one to each man.

Their eyes lit up, yet they still tried to refuse. They had done nothing to earn a reward and felt uncomfortable taking Chao Shenghuai’s money.

“Enough nonsense. Take them. Anyone who works with me won’t be treated poorly.” Chao Shenghuai’s attitude left no room for refusal.

The four could only thank him repeatedly and accept the notes. Inwardly, each was marveling that Elder Chao’s grandson truly was rich, spending money with such generosity.

Normally, the sect supplied cultivation resources according to rank, while food and daily necessities also came from the sect. Their monthly stipends amounted to only a few gold coins. None of them had ever received so much money at once.

Naturally, none of them knew the money had come from Niu Youdao.

“Let me put the ugly words first. Don’t think this alone makes us people on the same side. If we’re going to board the same boat, everyone will have to hand over a pledge of allegiance. Otherwise, who can guarantee there isn’t someone here with second thoughts? If anyone is hesitating, you can withdraw now even after taking the money. I won’t force you.” As Chao Shenghuai spoke, he watched their reactions.

“I’ll follow Senior Brother.”

“I’m willing to stand with Senior Brother.”

“Whatever needs doing, Senior Brother, just say the word.”

None of them knew what sort of pledge Chao Shenghuai intended to demand, yet all agreed enthusiastically.

They only knew he was Chao Jing’s grandson. Having finally managed to catch hold of such a connection, none wanted to let a rare chance to rise slip away...

After calming the four and sending them away, Chao Shenghuai immediately headed toward Niu Youdao. One matter had been settled, and he needed to give Niu Youdao an answer.

They met again at the ravine with the hanging vines. Once Niu Youdao appeared, Chao Shenghuai, hidden inside the crack in the cliff, reported, “The Dachan Mountain matter is done.”

Pacing outside with his hands behind his back, Niu Youdao already knew.

For something this important, he could not simply accept whatever Chao Shenghuai told him. He had arranged in advance for Wuliang Mountain’s people to watch secretly, and their report had reached him first.

“Brother Chao, thank you for the trouble.” Niu Youdao then asked, “Tell me something. Does Chen Tingxiu know that Wen Xinzhao slapped Hongniang?”

Chao Shenghuai hesitated. “He probably doesn’t. The sect has already issued a ban. For now, no one inside should casually mention the matter to outsiders. Once the attention dies down, that will be harder to say.”

“Good. If he doesn’t know, find a way to make sure he does. The sooner, the better.”

Chao Shenghuai was both shocked and furious. “Are you insane? The sect just issued a ban, and now you want me to violate it while everyone is watching?”

Niu Youdao’s voice turned cold. “Cut the bullshit. You’ll do it whether you like it or not. How you make it airtight is your problem, not mine. Chen Tingxiu came here to kill me. If I can’t leave Myriad Beasts Sect safely and he forces me into a dead end, don’t expect to come out of this comfortably either.”

Chao Shenghuai erupted. “You’re the one with no road to live? Looks to me like I’m the one whose road is disappearing! One thing after another, without end. Do you think Myriad Beasts Sect is made of paper? Keep this up and sooner or later you’ll get me killed!”

Niu Youdao immediately cursed him back. “Do you have a pig’s brain? Of all people, you are the safest one to handle this. Even if you walked straight up to Chen Tingxiu and told him to his face, he wouldn’t dare spread word of it. He isn’t afraid of you. He’s afraid of your grandfather. If he harms you, he offends your grandfather. Do you think he dares offend your grandfather inside Myriad Beasts Sect? Even after leaving Myriad Beasts Sect, he still wouldn’t dare. What are you afraid of? Why are you making such a fuss?”

After being cursed like that, much of Chao Shenghuai’s anger actually subsided. Thinking it through, it did seem to make sense. On closer examination, there truly was little risk.

[End of Chapter 502]