Chapter 515: Let Me Borrow Some Money

News reached Chao Shenghuai very quickly. He had been watching the matter closely from the beginning, paying extraordinary attention to every development.

When he learned that two flying mounts had also fallen to their deaths at the foot of the eagle-nest cliff that night, he was surprised. In a sense, it was an unexpected piece of good fortune. Two genuine accidental deaths made the supposed deaths of the other five look far less conspicuous.

He guessed it was probably because the flying mounts differed in constitution, with some reacting more severely to the drug than others.

In truth, he deserved some credit for the quick discovery of those five carcasses as well. Once he learned that his grandfather was overseeing the search, he joined in and quietly guided matters in the right direction, preventing the search from dragging on too long.

Chao Shenghuai could finally breathe easier.

Someone else, however, was so nervous he could barely stand it. Chen Ping seized the first chance he had and hurried to Chao Shenghuai's little house in the mountains.

Although Chao Shenghuai was Chao Jing's grandson, his status and seniority were still limited. He did not yet qualify for a courtyard of his own. Being allowed a private room was already preferential treatment.

The moment Chen Ping entered, Chao Shenghuai went outside, looked carefully in every direction, then quickly returned. His expression was ugly as he hissed, "Something happened at Spirit-Gathering Mountain, and you choose now to come running here? What are you doing?"

Chen Ping grabbed his arm. "Senior Brother, tell me the truth. Was last night's incident your doing?" His face was full of lingering fear.

"What doing? What nonsense are you talking about?" Chao Shenghuai jerked his arm free, looking furious. "Is that something you can say carelessly?"

Chen Ping grew frantic. "Then what was the deal with those five finger bells? Five Black Jade Eagles disappeared. If they investigate this, I won't be able to escape responsibility."

Chao Shenghuai knew he was frightened. He gripped Chen Ping by both shoulders and whispered close to his ear, "Relax. It's already over. The five missing flying mounts have been found, and they're dead. The sect has already located the carcasses of all five Black Jade Eagles. No one will investigate where they went anymore. If they investigate anything, it'll be the cause of death."

Chen Ping was not as well informed as he was. He stared in surprise. "Really?"

Chao Shenghuai glared at him. "Why would I lie to you? Can something this big stay hidden? If you don't believe me, go back and wait. It won't be long before word spreads through Spirit-Gathering Mountain. Junior Brother, don't worry. I wouldn't harm you. What good would that do me? Wouldn't I go down with you?"

Hearing that, Chen Ping relaxed somewhat, though he still cautiously asked, "Senior Brother... last night's incident really was your doing, wasn't it?"

Chao Shenghuai denied it flatly. "Bullshit! I only wanted to find a chance to borrow a few Black Jade Eagles and show off a little in front of some outsiders. Who could have known something like this would happen and ruin my whole plan? To tell you the truth, I was just as surprised as anyone."

He added, "You, on the other hand, need to be careful when you go back. Yesterday something happened to the flying mounts at Spirit Transformation Valley, and then last night something happened to the mounts at Spirit-Gathering Mountain. For all we know, there really is some plague spreading between them. You can't be careless. Pay attention while you're on duty. Isolate whatever needs isolating. Don't let another incident happen on your watch."

There was no possibility of him telling Chen Ping the truth.

Chen Ping remained half convinced and half doubtful, but in the end Chao Shenghuai managed to send him away.

Not long after Chen Ping left, Gao Lan arrived.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed? You still dare come looking for me now?" Chao Shenghuai cursed the moment they met.

Gao Lan really was frightened. He knew last night's incident had to be connected to the drug he had administered.

The moment he entered, he shut the door, dragged Chao Shenghuai into a corner, and whispered urgently, "Senior Brother, didn't you say a light dose wouldn't kill them? Didn't you say you just disliked someone and wanted an excuse to make trouble for him? How did it turn into this?"

As for the dosage, Chao Shenghuai himself wanted to ask Niu Youdao what had happened. Niu Youdao had been the one who told him a light dose would not kill anything, yet two mounts had died.

Then again, before acting, Chao Shenghuai had caught small animals and tested the drug on them. He would never have moved recklessly without some confidence.

Thinking it over, he concluded those two birds probably had not died from the drug itself. More likely, the reaction had been too violent, causing them to fall from the cliff before they could spread their wings in time. They had been smashed to death by the fall.

"You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? You think I wanted this?" Chao Shenghuai lowered his voice. "Junior Brother, let this rot in your stomach. Don't mention it to anyone again. Otherwise, you won't be able to bear the consequences."

Gao Lan said anxiously, "Senior Brother, what good does staying silent do? If they find out, it's a capital crime!"

"Junior Brother, things have already reached this point. We can only act as though nothing happened. Don't worry. As long as you don't admit anything, no one can uncover the truth."

Chao Shenghuai leaned closer. "Like I said before, if something happens to you, I won't have an easy time either. So relax. I won't stand aside and watch you suffer. I'll find someone and think of a way to smooth things over. I absolutely won't let this implicate you."

"But don't blame me for not warning you. Keep your mouth sealed tight. Even if you name me, I won't admit it. I have people above me who can speak on my behalf. When the time comes, who ends up unlucky is anyone's guess. As long as you hold steady, this matter will pass. After this, we're people in the same boat. Otherwise, we'll become enemies..."

It took a long round of persuasion before Chao Shenghuai finally sent Gao Lan away.

He did not remain idle himself. The Chao faction placed relatively few restrictions on him, so he quietly slipped away once more to find Niu Youdao...

"Master Dao, the flag's been hung."

Niu Youdao was meditating quietly in his room, conserving his energy, when Yuan Gang knocked and entered to report in a low voice.

Niu Youdao opened his eyes and smiled faintly. "The creditor has come to collect. I actually rather admire that brat's ability to get things done. Pity. Have Hongniang come over."

Yuan Gang turned and left.

By the time Niu Youdao strolled leisurely out of his room, Guan Fangyi was also approaching with graceful steps. From a distance, she called, "Well, Master Dao? What orders do you have for me?"

Niu Youdao stood with both hands resting on his planted sword. Once she came near, he smiled. "Let me borrow some money."

Money?

Guan Fangyi's expression changed instantly. She folded both arms across her chest and turned her head aside with a cold laugh, plainly signaling there was nothing to discuss. "No money! You've got some nerve. A grown man with nothing better to do than stretch out his hand to a woman for money. Have you no shame?"

Niu Youdao chuckled. "Didn't I give you quite a bit before?"

"Before?" Guan Fangyi laughed. "So even you know that was before? Yes, you gave me some money, but at the same time you dumped a whole crowd of people on me to support. This one can't be shortchanged, that one can't be shortchanged, and then there's you. The spirit pills your cultivation burns through are enough for several people. Who do you think pays for all of that?"

Niu Youdao kept smiling. "Even so, you couldn't have spent all of it."

Guan Fangyi refused outright. "You were the one who said you were giving it to me. Once you've given something away, what kind of sense does it make to take it back? Once it reaches this old lady's hands, it's mine. No money!"

"Look at you. Why act like such a miser? I said borrow. I'm borrowing it from you. I'll pay you back."

"Not lending."

"I'll repay double."

"You make it sound prettier than a song. Who knows when you'll ever repay me? And you still dare talk about double? You're just drawing me a pie in the sky."

"So you really won't give it?"

"I said no, and I mean no."

"If you truly won't, I'll have to go ask Myriad Beasts Sect for it."

"Heh!" Guan Fangyi waved mockingly. "Go, go. If you can get money out of Myriad Beasts Sect, why come asking me? Go on. Hurry up. Better yet, squeeze a little extra out of them."

Niu Youdao slowly let out an "Ah," as though something had only just occurred to him. "I forgot to tell you. After Wen Xinzhao slapped you twice, Qiu Shan came to find me. To settle the matter quietly, he offered me one million gold coins. How could I stomach taking such spineless money? In a moment of foolishness, I actually turned it down. Never mind. I'll go find Qiu Shan now and ask for it back."

With that, he lifted his sword as though preparing to leave.

The smile vanished from Guan Fangyi's face. Her expression shifted. "Stop!"

Niu Youdao had not even taken a step. He planted his raised sword in front of him again. "Any instruction?"

Guan Fangyi bit her lower lip, silver teeth showing. "Qiu Shan really offered one million gold coins to settle the matter of Wen Xinzhao slapping me twice?"

Niu Youdao sighed. "Would I lie to you about something like that? How about this: come with me. You can witness it face to face. Will that satisfy you?"

Guan Fangyi's teeth itched with hatred.

Ever since she started following this man, he had kept her firmly under his thumb. The bastard always had some way to force her into compromising. She could not swallow the anger, yet she could do absolutely nothing to him.

Through gritted teeth, she said, "Say it. How much?"

Niu Youdao raised one index finger. "Not much. One million gold coins."

Guan Fangyi's eyes widened. "One million gold coins could bury you alive, and you call that not much? Then what counts as a lot? Surnamed Niu, does your brain stop working whenever you spend money? Every time you open your hand, it's a hundred thousand here, a million there. Do you think money grows on the road for you to pick up?"

Niu Youdao crooked a finger at her. "Enough nagging. Hurry up and give it to me."

Guan Fangyi turned away furiously. No one knew what she was rummaging around for with her back turned, but when she faced him again, she flung a slip from the All-Under-Heaven Money House straight at his face. "Take it and go die!"

Niu Youdao raised a hand, caught the slip, and flipped it over to inspect it.

It was a deposit receipt from the All-Under-Heaven Money House for one million gold coins. In practical terms, it was no different from a one-million-gold note. With this receipt, the money could be withdrawn at any branch of the money house beneath Heaven.

Niu Youdao happily tucked it into his sleeve. "You could've just given it to me from the start. Why waste all that breath?"

"Given?" Guan Fangyi snapped viciously. "Straighten out your tongue before you speak. It's borrowed! Borrowed means you pay me back double!"

"Yes, yes. Borrowed. Double repayment. Thank you." Niu Youdao cheerfully thanked her and descended the steps using his sword as a staff.

"This old lady spent years at Fufang Garden with men giving me money. Then I met a kept man like you who lives off a woman and still makes me pay his way. I must have had bloody bad luck for eight lifetimes..." Guan Fangyi cursed at his back.

Niu Youdao merely waved a hand without turning around, taking none of it seriously...

In the mountain ravine, one man stood in the open while the other remained concealed. The two met once again.

The moment they began speaking, Chao Shenghuai said, "Five Black Jade Eagles. I handed them over to your people. Don't you dare tell me you didn't receive them."

Niu Youdao said, "Relax. I don't welsh on debts. You did well. I received them."

Chao Shenghuai asked, "Where's the money?"

Niu Youdao silently inspected the surroundings. In an apparently casual motion, he flicked the crumpled receipt from his fingers. It shot behind the curtain of hanging vines and into the crack in the rock.

A moment later, Chao Shenghuai's tone changed. "Only one million? Didn't we agree on one million per bird? I gave you five."

Niu Youdao replied, "What's the rush? I won't shortchange you. I simply didn't bring that much ready money with me. Who walks around carrying a mountain of cash and making trouble for himself? Don't worry. I'll arrange for someone to contact you afterward. You won't be missing a single copper."

[End of Chapter 515]