Chapter 510: We've Fallen into His Trap!

Guan Fangyi was likewise startled by the brazen declaration.

Huang Tong abruptly stopped.

Niu Youdao continued, “Elder Huang came to request audiences with the Sect Leaders of Yan and Han’s six great sects, didn’t you? Forgive my bluntness, but whether you meet them or not doesn’t mean much. Even if you get through the present difficulty, what about the future?”

“Whether it is Yan or Han, sooner or later one of them will move against Beizhou. You may survive for a time, but not forever. The Shao father and son are rebels in the eyes of both Yan and Han. Commandery Prince Yongping is different. He is imperial kin, of the legitimate Shang bloodline, a Provincial Inspector of Nanzhou formally invested by the Yan court before all beneath Heaven, and the legitimate Provincial Governor of Nanzhou!”

“If Dachan Mountain joins hands with me, with Commandery Prince Yongping’s full support, Nanzhou will be ours for the taking. Beizhou is a land of endless trouble. There is no need to cling to it. These words come from the heart. I hope Dachan Mountain will think carefully.”

Even Qiu Shan found the words rather murderous in implication. He quietly glanced toward Huang Tong.

Guan Fangyi’s eyes shone.

Huang Tong’s head shifted as though he wanted to look back, but in the end he did not. He simply strode onward.

Watching the group disappear into the distance, Guan Fangyi turned to Niu Youdao and lightly scolded, “Bad man!”

Niu Youdao said, “I’ve never taken liberties with you, have I?”

Guan Fangyi said, “Still pretending? You’re digging under Shao Pingbo’s wall. If he knew, wouldn’t he cough up blood from rage?”

Niu Youdao sighed. “That wall isn’t so easy to dig through. Dachan Mountain and the Shao clan have spent years balancing between both sides and have long since offended Yan’s three great sects. If those three don’t agree, Dachan Mountain couldn’t move into Nanzhou even if it wanted to.”

Guan Fangyi looked surprised. “Aren’t you really planning to join hands with Dachan Mountain and drive Tianyu Sect out?”

Niu Youdao said, “What difference would there be between Dachan Mountain controlling Nanzhou and Tianyu Sect controlling Nanzhou? If Dachan Mountain truly replaced Tianyu Sect there, sooner or later they would likewise see me as a thorn in their eye. With Tianyu Sect as an example in front of them, they might even strike harder.”

Guan Fangyi asked, “Then why did you say all that?”

Niu Youdao said, “Just talking. I had nothing better to do anyway.”

“...” Guan Fangyi was speechless. This counted as having nothing better to do?

...

“Niu Youdao really said that?”

Inside the hall, Xi Haitang turned in surprise when he heard the report.

Qiu Shan nodded. “I heard it with my own ears. Oh, and Huang Tong requested audiences with all six Sect Leaders. Every one of them refused. No one would see him.”

Xi Haitang said, “Beizhou has balanced between both sides for years, using each against the other. The six sects were offended long ago. And the one who came is merely an Elder of Dachan Mountain. How could the six Sect Leaders be so easy to see? Their refusal is only natural.”

“What puzzles me is why Niu Youdao, who is based in Nanzhou, has started clashing with Beizhou again. Nanzhou, Beizhou, Tianyu Sect, Dachan Mountain, Niu Youdao, Chen Tingxiu, and now Huang Tong. Niu Youdao went to see all six great sects; Chen Tingxiu died; Dachan Mountain then came to see those same six sects. Could these things be connected?”

“Is the struggle actually centered on Nanzhou, or has it shifted to Beizhou? I’m starting to lose track myself.”

Qiu Shan shook his head. “Niu Youdao and Beizhou’s Shao clan seem to have some old grievance, but I don’t know the details. Myriad Beasts Sect does business with the whole realm. We rarely involve ourselves in matters like this.”

Xi Haitang sighed. “Exactly. There is only so much territory beneath Heaven. These people kill and fight, bring disaster upon the common people, and keep stealing the same ground from each other. How many sects have risen and fallen? For Myriad Beasts Sect, perhaps standing aside and watching really is no bad thing.”

“But what are all of them doing running here to Myriad Beasts Sect? Do they take my sect for an arena where they can wrestle over power?”

...

Huang Tong paced within his courtyard, his mood heavy.

All six great sects had refused to see him, leaving him unable to determine the situation.

Still, this had been expected. The reply from his sect had also said that Sect Leader Huang Lie was already personally on his way.

For the moment, Niu Youdao’s earlier words kept resurfacing in Huang Tong’s mind. They seemed to contain some sense. Why had Niu Youdao deliberately raised such a possibility?

...

Outside the Government Affairs Hall of the Beizhou Provincial Inspector’s Residence, a group of cultivators had gathered.

The officials who had been on duty inside filed out one by one with great care. Now and then, someone glanced toward the cultivators holding swords.

The Government Affairs Hall had been completely cleared.

Shao Pingbo, who had been presiding over government affairs from behind the desk, rose when he saw Zhong Yangxu enter at an unhurried pace. He came around the long table and cupped his hands. “Uncle, what is the meaning of this?” He gestured around at the empty hall.

At his side, Shao Sansheng remained silent as a cicada in winter.

Zhong Yangxu stared coldly at Shao Pingbo. “Why do you refuse to learn no matter how many times you are warned?”

Shao Pingbo looked puzzled. “Uncle, what do you mean? This nephew does not understand. Please explain.”

Zhong Yangxu said, “Are you pretending to be confused with me?”

News traveled quickly. A slight commotion rose outside, and Shao Dengyun hurried over after hearing what had happened. Zhong Yangxu turned his head and glanced at him.

Shao Dengyun came forward and cupped his hands. “Brother Zhong, why mobilize so many people?”

Zhong Yangxu lifted his chin toward Shao Pingbo. “You should ask your son what fine things he has done.”

The gray-haired Shao Dengyun looked at his son. “What happened?”

Shao Pingbo cupped his hands. “Father, I don’t know either. I was just asking Uncle.”

Shao Dengyun frowned, likewise confused.

Zhong Yangxu immediately demanded, “Were you or were you not warned never to provoke Niu Youdao again?”

Shao Pingbo said, “This nephew has kept that warning firmly in mind.”

“Kept it firmly in mind?” Zhong Yangxu said coldly. “You sent men all the way to Myriad Forms City to assassinate Niu Youdao, then colluded with Tianyu Sect in Nanzhou to persecute him. Is that how you keep Dachan Mountain’s words in mind?”

“You repeatedly disregard Dachan Mountain’s orders. Do you think Beizhou cannot function without you? Do you think we would never dare touch you?”

Shao Dengyun immediately turned a hard gaze on his son.

Shao Pingbo looked astonished. “Uncle, where did this come from? What rumor have you heard?”

Zhong Yangxu said, “You don’t need to know where the information came from. I’m asking only one thing: did you do it?”

One look at the force Zhong Yangxu had brought with him told Shao Pingbo they were not here to be polite. How could he admit anything? He immediately denied it with righteous conviction. “Absolutely not!”

Shao Dengyun pondered briefly, then spoke on his son’s behalf. “Brother Zhong, could there be some misunderstanding?”

“Misunderstanding?” Zhong Yangxu gave a soft laugh. “Brother Shao, the sky is about to fall. Niu Youdao has flown into a rage and secretly contacted the Sect Leaders of the six great sects of Yan and Han. Do I still need to explain whom he is preparing to strike?”

Shao Dengyun’s expression turned grave. At last he understood the enormous pressure Dachan Mountain was facing. He turned his head and stared at his son. “What exactly happened?”

“Father, I truly have no idea what is happening. Someone must be framing me. Since Uncle has already decided I did it, a hundred mouths could not clear me. But I believe the innocent will prove innocent and the guilty guilty. One day the truth will become clear.”

Shao Pingbo’s face showed wounded indignation. He cupped his hands toward Zhong Yangxu. “This nephew is willing to imprison himself. Until my innocence is proven, I will not take one step outside. Once Dachan Mountain has investigated the truth, I will accept death or dismemberment as you see fit. Will this explanation satisfy Uncle?”

Zhong Yangxu’s hand tightened slightly around the sword he carried.

Dachan Mountain’s message had been explicit. Shao Pingbo had repeatedly defied orders. Once the matter was confirmed, cripple him: cut off one arm and one leg as punishment.

And if matters had already become irretrievable, kill the little bastard who had endangered Dachan Mountain immediately.

But Shao Pingbo now denied everything and even volunteered to imprison himself until the truth was investigated. Zhong Yangxu could not help hesitating. Could there truly be some misunderstanding?

“Father!” Shao Pingbo cupped his hands toward Shao Dengyun again. “While your son is imprisoned, I will be unable to share your burdens. I will have to trouble Father with Beizhou’s military and civil affairs.”

Shao Dengyun stared at his son and caught the deep meaning conveyed through his eyes.

Shao Pingbo said nothing more. He straightened and strode toward the exit, with Shao Sansheng following closely behind.

Cultivators at the doorway blocked them.

Shao Pingbo turned and looked back at Zhong Yangxu.

Zhong Yangxu swept his sleeve. The men at the entrance moved aside.

Only then did master and servant leave the Government Affairs Hall, though cultivators followed them.

The dungeon inside the residence was opened. Damp and gloomy air spilled from within. Shao Pingbo gestured for the jailer to unlock the iron cage in the innermost section, then walked inside on his own.

After the dungeon had quieted again, Shao Pingbo’s coughing echoed through the darkness.

“Eldest Young Master!” Outside the bars, Shao Sansheng gripped them anxiously.

Shao Pingbo coughed for a long while before finally calming. Fresh blood stained his sleeve once more.

He walked to the bars and lightly waved his sleeve to indicate he was fine. Then, breathing raggedly, he whispered, “Dachan Mountain is incompetent. That Niu cur is cunning. We’ve fallen into his trap!”

Shao Sansheng was startled. “What trap?”

Shao Pingbo said, “It is understandable that Dachan Mountain knows Niu Youdao contacted the six great sects. But why do they know I sent men to assassinate him? How do they know I colluded with Tianyu Sect?”

“This must have been information Niu Youdao deliberately leaked to Dachan Mountain, specifically so Dachan Mountain would know this disaster was brought upon them by me. His purpose is to use Dachan Mountain to control me, cut off my ability to direct matters outside, and force me to sit here waiting for death!”

“This time, he is determined not to let me escape. He means to pin me firmly in this place. He is coming for me with absolute resolve!”

Shao Sansheng whispered in alarm, “Then why didn’t Eldest Young Master tell Elder Zhong that this was that Niu cur’s treacherous scheme?”

“How could I explain it? By admitting that everything they accused me of was true?” Shao Pingbo replied. “This concerns Dachan Mountain’s life and death. Did you see the sword in Zhong Yangxu’s hand? He normally walks around this residence without carrying one. This time he came to see me with a sword.”

“If I admitted it, even if he didn’t kill me, he would very likely give me a punishment I would remember for the rest of my life. I have defied their orders again and again and now created a disaster like this. Dachan Mountain is furious. If I had not retreated in order to advance, whether I died or was crippled could have been decided in an instant.”

Shao Sansheng asked, “What do we do now?”

“That Niu cur is vicious. He frightened Dachan Mountain into blaming me and severed my connection with the outside world. For now, all I can do is wait for the outcome.”

“Dachan Mountain must have sent someone to Myriad Beasts Sect. There will certainly be a contest there. Dachan Mountain thinks highly of itself, but in reality it is enormous in body and empty in the head. It is no match for that Niu cur at all.”

“My only hatred is that I am not part of the cultivation world. The intelligence available to me is too limited, and I cannot intervene deeply enough. He is manipulating things above while I remain passive below.”

“Now I can only wait for news from Yan and Han. The moment the six great sects begin contacting me, Dachan Mountain will no longer dare act recklessly against me. They will have no choice but to release me and let me preside over the situation to resolve the crisis.”

...

The Government Affairs Hall stood empty.

Shao Dengyun sat alone inside, eyes closed in thought.

Steward Yang Shuang entered, walked to his side, and asked softly, “My lord, shall lunch be served?”

Shao Dengyun slowly opened his eyes. A fearsome tiger-like authority flashed within them. He turned his head slightly and said in a low voice, “Pass down my military order.”

“No troops or horses anywhere in Beizhou are to move without my handwritten warrant. Any replacement of commanders must likewise bear my personal written warrant.”

“Anyone who assumes command without authorization and issues orders will be treated as a rebel. The brothers may rise together and execute him!”

Yang Shuang realized something from those words and quietly answered, “Yes!”

[End of Chapter 510]