Chapter 503: Playing Black

The problem was that Chao Shenghuai had already done things far riskier than this. He no longer had any room to bargain, and he could hardly tear his face off with Niu Youdao and stake everything over a matter so small.

He had tried to bite someone and failed, only to have his own throat seized instead. There was no medicine for regret in this world. All he wanted now was to finish that matter as quickly as possible, get some leverage over Niu Youdao in his own hands, and make sure the bastard could no longer summon and dismiss him like some lackey.

And so Chao Shenghuai arranged another “chance encounter” with Chen Tingxiu.

Outside the courtyard, beneath an old pine, stood a stone table. Chen Tingxiu sat there drinking tea, looking at the mountains and waters, or watching people pass.

For the moment, all he could do was wait—wait for the information his disciples were gathering inside Myriad Beasts Sect, and wait for Xi Haitang to summon him so that he could pay Tianyu Sect’s formal respects.

He had already sensed something: in Myriad Beasts Sect’s eyes, Tianyu Sect was still a little weak. Otherwise, no matter how busy Xi Haitang was, he should not have been too busy to see him for this long. At the very least, Myriad Beasts Sect clearly saw nothing improper about putting a Tianyu Sect Elder farther back in the queue.

A mountain path wound crookedly along the slope. Chao Shenghuai came strolling leisurely down it and passed outside the courtyard.

Chen Tingxiu turned to look at him, only to find that the young man merely swept him with an arrogant glance and paid him no further attention whatsoever.

The Myriad Beasts Sect disciple responsible for receiving guests here hurried forward and respectfully greeted the passerby. “Senior Brother Chao, what brings you here? Do you have some instruction?”

“Just taking a walk.” Chao Shenghuai answered casually, then tipped his chin toward the courtyard. “Guests staying here?”

The disciple glanced toward Chen Tingxiu beneath the tree. “Guests from Tianyu Sect in Nanzhou of the State of Yan.”

Chao Shenghuai gave an acknowledging sound as though it meant nothing to him and continued on his way.

Chen Tingxiu, however, rose of his own accord and came over with a smile. “May I ask whose distinguished disciple you are?”

From the other disciple’s attitude, he could tell Chao Shenghuai’s identity was probably not ordinary.

Chao Shenghuai stopped, turned his head, and looked him up and down. “And who are you?”

The disciple beside them broke into a slight sweat. Was that not a little excessive toward a guest?

Chen Tingxiu was not angry. He might look down on Niu Youdao’s cultivation origins and the power behind him, but he could not look down on someone like this. The more arrogant the attitude, the more it suggested a powerful background. He stepped forward and cupped his hands. “Chen Tingxiu, Elder of Tianyu Sect in Nanzhou of the State of Yan.”

“Oh. A pleasure, a pleasure.” Chao Shenghuai barely seemed willing to go through the motions as he cupped his hands in return.

One exchange led to another, and before long the two men had struck up a conversation and were sitting together beneath the tree drinking tea.

Once Chen Tingxiu learned that Chao Shenghuai’s grandfather was Chao Jing, an Elder of Myriad Beasts Sect, his manner naturally grew even warmer. Chao Shenghuai, meanwhile, appeared to enjoy the flattery. Once the compliments began flowing, he seemed unable to control his mouth, and things that should not have been said started slipping out...

Inside a pavilion, Niu Youdao sat at a stone table with a white cloth in hand, carefully wiping the gleaming blade of his treasured sword as though determined to leave not a speck of dust upon it.

Yuan Gang watched for a while before asking, “This violates sect rules. Will Zhou Tiezi really do what you asked?”

He was referring to Niu Youdao asking Zhou Tiezi to keep watch on the guest courtyard where Tianxing Sect was staying. Naturally, Niu Youdao had only described it to Zhou Tiezi as a small favor.

Still focused on polishing the sword, Niu Youdao said, “Whether he does or not isn’t important. Chao Shenghuai’s side will send us the information anyway. I only want to know whether Zhou Tiezi is worth helping. Myriad Beasts Sect is hardly some benevolent paradise. Wherever there are people, there is jianghu. If he isn’t suited to the jianghu, why step into it? Helping him would only hurt him. He might be better off staying out of the way and continuing with his chores. Let him choose for himself.”

Yuan Gang lifted his eyes slightly. Uncle Chen had emerged from the rear courtyard and entered the pavilion. “You wanted me?”

The long sword in Niu Youdao’s hand slid back into its sheath. He planted the scabbard on the ground, rested one hand on the hilt, glanced toward the rear courtyard, and asked, “She still hasn’t come out of her room?”

Uncle Chen said, “I knocked. She said she was meditating and cultivating inside.”

“Rare to see her so diligent about cultivation.” Niu Youdao smiled and gestured toward the seat opposite. “Please, sit.” Then he lifted a hand toward Yuan Gang. “Tea.”

Yuan Gang turned away to pour it.

Uncle Chen glanced at the Go board on the stone table and slowly sat down. “You didn’t call me here just to play a game, did you?”

Niu Youdao reached out and shifted the two stone bowls. Looking at the black and white stones within, he deliberately switched their positions. He pushed the bowl of white stones toward Uncle Chen and kept the black stones for himself. Pinching up one black stone, he placed it on the board with a crisp click, then lifted a hand to invite Uncle Chen’s response.

Uncle Chen did not know what he meant, but he knew this could not be as simple as playing Go. There had to be some other purpose. Since asking had produced nothing, he decided to play along and see. He picked up a white stone and pressed it onto the board.

After several moves, Yuan Gang returned with the tea and poured two cups.

Niu Youdao placed another black stone. “Of these two cups of tea, one is poisoned and one is not. I don’t know which is which either. There is no antidote for the poison.”

Yuan Gang instinctively glanced at him. He had poured the tea himself. How could he not know whether it was poisoned? Neither cup was.

Uncle Chen held a white stone between his fingers, his gaze flickering. He had no idea what Niu Youdao was trying to do.

Niu Youdao continued, “One cup for each of us. You choose first. Whichever cup you pick, you drink. I’ll drink the one left over. Fair and reasonable.”

Uncle Chen’s pupils contracted sharply. “What do you mean?”

Niu Youdao said, “Once you drink the tea, I’ll naturally tell you.”

“Everything was fine. Why should I gamble my life with you?”

“What if it’s for Hongniang?”

Uncle Chen frowned. “What does this have to do with Hongniang?”

“Drink, and I’ll naturally give you an explanation that satisfies you.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then get out immediately. From this day forward, you are not to appear beside Hongniang again.”

“Whether I stay beside Hongniang is not yours to decide.”

“We’ve been together long enough that you should know I have plenty of ways to make you leave her. I could expose your background, for example. Forget everything else—what would the others from Fufang Garden think of you once they knew you were a spy? Would you still be able to stay? Choose for yourself. The tea is here. I won’t force you.”

Uncle Chen fell silent. He stared at the two cups for a long time before slowly asking, “You guarantee that after I drink, you’ll give me an explanation that satisfies me?”

Niu Youdao said, “If I only wanted to kill you, there would have been no need to wait until now.”

Uncle Chen believed that much. They ate and drank together without guarding against one another. Niu Youdao had had far too many opportunities to act. There truly was no need to wait until today.

He placed the white stone in his hand on the board, then hesitated with his hand suspended between the two cups. At last he chose one, tipped his head back, and drank. Enduring the scalding heat, he swallowed even the tea leaves. Then he showed Niu Youdao the empty cup. “Your turn. Drink.”

Niu Youdao toyed with the stone in his hand while studying the board for his next move. “I told you I don’t know which cup is poisoned. There’s no reason for me to seek death myself.”

A trace of anger finally appeared on Uncle Chen’s usually expressionless face. “This is the satisfying explanation you promised me?”

“All right. I was joking. There’s no poison in the tea.” Niu Youdao rested one hand on his sword and placed a stone with the other. “Since you refuse to tell me who sent you, I won’t ask again. I believe what you told me: that you’re here only to protect Hongniang and mean her no harm.”

After making his move, he slowly lifted the remaining cup to his lips, blew across the surface, and took several leisurely sips.

Uncle Chen stared silently at the empty cup before him.

“Your move.” Niu Youdao set down his tea and gestured for him to continue.

Uncle Chen’s thoughts were clearly elsewhere. His position on the board had already become extremely difficult when Zhou Tiezi returned.

Seeing Niu Youdao in the middle of a game, Zhou Tiezi hesitated, unsure whether he should come over and report.

Yuan Gang left the pavilion and exchanged a few quiet words with him off to the side.

After Zhou Tiezi departed, Yuan Gang returned and bent down to whisper beside Niu Youdao’s ear. “Zhou Tiezi saw Chen Tingxiu enter the guest courtyard where Tianxing Sect is staying.”

“So that confirms my guess. He really did come for me. Since he’s decided to make trouble for me, whether Elder Chen gets back alive will depend on his luck.” Niu Youdao chuckled.

He had not lowered his voice enough to hide the words from Uncle Chen opposite him. In fact, there was something he wanted Uncle Chen to hear. “Uncle Chen, I need you to do something for me.”

Uncle Chen’s face remained stiff. “What?”

“Go find Du Yunsang and curse him out for me.”

Uncle Chen stared. “Are you joking? Why don’t you go yourself?”

“My life is tied to the lives of a whole group of people. If you die, you only die yourself. My life is worth more than yours. It isn’t worth risking mine. You’re different. You’re deathsworn.”

Uncle Chen had only just opened his mouth when Niu Youdao raised a hand and stopped him. “This has nothing whatsoever to do with me. You are simply an old hand from Fufang Garden who can no longer stand what you’ve seen. From beginning to end, you are not to mention me, and you are not to bring me any trouble. Once you see Du Yunsang...”

After hearing exactly what Niu Youdao wanted him to say, Uncle Chen looked uncertain. “What exactly are you trying to do?”

Niu Youdao gave no explanation. With one sweep of his hand, he scattered the stones across the board, used his sword to push himself to his feet, and turned away. “Timing matters. Don’t delay. Go. Someone outside will guide you.”

...

The guide was Zhou Tiezi.

After Uncle Chen left with Zhou Tiezi, Niu Youdao and Yuan Gang walked out of the courtyard.

Standing at the mountain’s edge and watching the pair recede into the distance, Yuan Gang asked, “He’s going over there to stand up for Hongniang. How could Wen Xinzhao tolerate him making a scene? He could lose his life over this.”

Niu Youdao said, “The information Chen Tingxiu received says Wen Xinzhao slapped Hongniang out of jealousy. That makes it look perfectly obvious that Hongniang and Du Yunsang were involved. How could Chen Tingxiu possibly go to Du Yunsang to ask for help dealing with me? He wouldn’t dare mention Hongniang in front of Du Yunsang either. That would only provoke him. So he must have gone to see Wen Xinzhao alone. And because the matter concerns Hongniang, Wen Xinzhao would likewise avoid Du Yunsang when meeting him. At this moment, Du Yunsang and Wen Xinzhao are almost certainly apart. This is exactly the right time to see Du Yunsang.”

Yuan Gang said, “But sending Uncle Chen to act the way you told him still puts him in danger. If he angers Du Yunsang... Is confirming your suspicion really worth risking his life?”

“If I don’t send him, should I send you?”

“Master Dao, I’d rather you sent me.”

“Monkey, there you go again. Uncle Chen knows Du Yunsang. He witnessed what happened back then. As one of Hongniang’s old people, he has standing to speak up for her. What would it look like if you went? One glance and everyone knows you’re my man. That would invite suspicion.”

“What if he angers Du Yunsang and Du Yunsang kills him?”

“If Du Yunsang still remembers old affection, he won’t kill him. If he remembers none and kills Uncle Chen, then it will be very difficult for me to recover the humiliation Hongniang suffered anyway. Uncle Chen was willing to hide beside Hongniang for years on behalf of the person behind him. That means he must be someone that person trusts. If Du Yunsang kills that man’s trusted subordinate, he will have made himself a powerful enemy without even realizing it. Wouldn’t one more powerful enemy seeking justice for Hongniang be useful?”

“Master Dao, sometimes you really are too cold-blooded.”

“These are troubled times. It’s difficult to protect everyone. I’m no immortal. Someone always has to make a sacrifice. Monkey, you can freely choose whether to play Black or White. A lot of the time, I don’t get to choose at all. On the board, I can only play Black.”

Leaving those words behind, Niu Youdao slowly turned and walked away using his sword as a staff, expressionless and solitary.

[End of Chapter 503]