Chapter 523: Five of Them

In the open country outside Myriad Forms City, Cheng Yuandu waited with several Tianyu Sect disciples.

They had received word from Myriad Beasts Sect that Niu Youdao was preparing to take his leave. The group immediately left Myriad Forms City and made arrangements, waiting for news of which direction Niu Youdao would take.

In the distance, two disciples came flying toward them.

The moment the two landed, Cheng Yuandu asked, “Where did that little thief go?”

The two disciples exchanged a glance. One cupped his hands. “Second Venerable Guardian, after Niu Youdao left Myriad Beasts Sect, he departed together with Dachan Mountain’s Sect Leader Huang Lie and the others aboard two flying mounts.”

Cheng Yuandu stared. “What do you mean?”

The disciple explained again. “Niu Youdao flew away on a flying mount. We don’t know where he went.”

“...” Cheng Yuandu was left dumbfounded.

He had traveled all this way and waited for so long, only to get an outcome like this?

After recovering, he asked, “Where did the flying mounts come from? Were they Myriad Beasts Sect’s?”

The disciple replied, “Our fellow disciples who came out of Myriad Beasts Sect asked around. They were apparently Niu Youdao’s own flying mounts.”

“...” Cheng Yuandu had nothing to say.

Niu Youdao owned such things, yet none of the younger people in the sect had ever mentioned it. Were they taking advantage of the fact that he had not concerned himself with worldly affairs for years?

This was no way to play.

Was he supposed to ride a horse and chase a flying mount? Could he possibly catch up?

How was he meant to intercept and kill the man now?

Was this some kind of joke?

...

High in the sky, the two giant birds had already settled into steady flight.

From such an altitude, looking down over the vast earth below, everything seemed tiny. A sense of standing high above and overlooking all beneath Heaven rose naturally in Huang Lie’s heart.

It truly felt good.

Yet there was also something irritating about it.

Niu Youdao actually had two flying mounts in his hands, while Huang Lie, the dignified Sect Leader of Dachan Mountain, was experiencing the pleasure of riding one for the first time.

Still, he could find a way to comfort himself.

Dachan Mountain was, after all, a famous upright sect. It could not behave as shamelessly as Niu Youdao.

To put it crudely, these two flying mounts had been obtained by living off Hongniang of the Qi capital, paid for with a woman’s body. Dachan Mountain could never eat such soft rice. How would they face anyone afterward?

“Sect Leader, it seems Dachan Mountain ought to acquire one of these as well. It would make travel much more convenient for Sect Leader in the future.”

The Elder traveling with him had clearly taken a liking to the experience too and offered the suggestion.

Huang Lie shook his head slightly. “Not appropriate. They cost ten million or more at the slightest turn. Dachan Mountain has not reached that level. If I, as Sect Leader, spent so much merely for my own convenience, it would look ugly.”

As he said, it was not that Dachan Mountain absolutely could not afford one. If they tightened their belts, they could still scrape together the money.

But it truly would look bad.

Normally, he restrained expenditure throughout the sect. If the Sect Leader himself then bought such an extravagant thing for personal use, what would the disciples below think?

Huang Tong interjected, “Sect Leader, it can’t be looked at that way either. This would also be for convenience in handling sect affairs. If something urgent happens, anyone in the sect could use it. It might keep important matters from being delayed.”

Huang Lie could not help showing the faintest smile. Apparently everyone wanted a share of the benefit.

“We’ll discuss it later. The sect’s expenses are not small. Taking out more than ten million all at once truly is inappropriate and would squeeze other expenditures. Let us first see whether Niu Youdao keeps his word. If he really gives us one, we can keep it in the sect. Whenever something urgent happens, everyone can use it.”

Despite those words, his heart remained heavy.

Shao Pingbo had, after all, served Dachan Mountain for many years. For matters to have reached this point between them was something Huang Lie genuinely had never wished to see.

The two Elders repeatedly voiced agreement, then both looked toward the other flying mount a hundred zhang away.

What they saw there was Niu Youdao and Guan Fangyi apparently hugging and clinging to each other.

In truth, they were not exactly embracing.

Guan Fangyi had wound one arm around Niu Youdao’s shoulders and neck, leaning close to whisper into his ear. From a distance, however, it looked very much like the two were wrapped together.

“Tell me honestly. Where did these two flying mounts come from? Was it connected to that disturbance inside Myriad Beasts Sect the other night?” Guan Fangyi spoke with her lips near Niu Youdao’s ear, her body inevitably pressed close to his.

She did not care.

She knew this shameless bastard Niu Youdao would not care either.

Niu Youdao glanced at Uncle Chen controlling the mount in front of them, then tilted his head and lowered his voice. “You’ve already guessed it. Why ask?”

Guan Fangyi was shocked. “Bastard, aren’t you a little too bold? You stole them from someone and still dared parade them right past their front gate. Are you trying to die?”

Niu Youdao said, “What is there to fear? Myriad Beasts Sect can’t stop everyone riding one of these and ask whether it belongs to them. Plenty of people own flying mounts. Why couldn’t someone have given one to me?”

Guan Fangyi said, “Do you look like someone who can afford to use these? They just lost something, and you immediately flaunt yours in front of them. Even if they didn’t want to suspect you, it would be difficult.”

Niu Youdao scoffed. “Which eye of yours saw that they lost anything? They haven’t said they lost anything. What are you worrying about?”

Guan Fangyi said, “You think they’re idiots? Two enormous things disappear and they won’t notice?”

Niu Youdao chuckled. “They really haven’t noticed. In fact, they don’t even know anything is missing.”

“Are you joking? They don’t know how many of these they own?”

“No matter how many times they count, the number still comes out right.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing more than what I said. Stop worrying. I already told Myriad Beasts Sect’s disciples these were gifts someone gave you. Think about how many rich men you know. Is it really impossible for someone to give you two of these?”

Guan Fangyi ground her teeth. “Bastard, are you mocking this old lady? Fine. Since you say these two flying mounts are mine, then from today onward, they belong to me.”

Niu Youdao turned back and looked at her strangely. “Your appetite is that small? Two are enough to satisfy you?”

“...” Guan Fangyi fell silent, then looked at him suspiciously. “There are more?”

Niu Youdao raised one hand, spread all five fingers, and gave her two words.

“Five of them!”

“...” Guan Fangyi’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Of course. Didn’t I tell you I had a gift for you? Five flying mounts. All yours. Satisfied?”

The surprise had come too suddenly.

Guan Fangyi could hardly believe it. “Where are the other three?”

“It wouldn’t have been appropriate for all five to appear together. Monkey and the others are handling them behind us. They’ll meet up with us later. What? Even this gift isn’t enough to satisfy you?”

“Heehee!” Guan Fangyi’s heart burst into bloom.

What a surprise!

Five Black Jade Eagles were worth at least fifty million gold coins. How could she not be delighted?

Unable to contain herself, she suddenly tightened the arm around his neck, puckered her lips, and kissed him directly on the cheek.

“You said they’re mine. No taking them back.”

“Stop clinging to me. It looks bad.” Niu Youdao wiped his cheek.

“What are you afraid of? We’re this high up. Hardly anyone can see. This old lady is throwing herself into your arms of her own accord. You should be secretly celebrating. Don’t gain the advantage and then act innocent.”

“Gain the advantage and act innocent? I’m this young and tender. Looks to me like the old cow is eating tender grass.”

“What did you say? Say that again and see if I don’t kick you off!”

She shouted the last sentence loudly enough that Uncle Chen turned around.

He saw Niu Youdao hunched slightly with Guan Fangyi’s arm hooked around his neck, while Guan Fangyi looked as though she intended to molest him outright.

Uncle Chen truly could not bear to watch. He shook his head repeatedly.

This proprietress really was becoming more and more uninhibited.

After they passed through a bank of cloud, Guan Fangyi began counting on her fingers.

Keeping so many flying mounts for their own use seemed a little excessive. She began wondering whether she should sell three of them instead. Turning them into tens of millions of gold coins felt far more reliable.

Otherwise, merely keeping five flying mounts alive would consume a huge amount of money every year. It hardly seemed economical.

Niu Youdao merely listened and let her amuse herself. He could not be bothered pouring cold water on her excitement.

These things were not affordable for just anyone. Anyone rich enough to buy one would normally go through legitimate channels, where there were guarantees.

Who would buy one from her?

After calculating for a while, Guan Fangyi sighed. “At first I thought you came here to avenge Black Peony. I never expected you truly came for these things.”

Niu Youdao’s expression cooled. He did not want to say much about that.

He understood the account in his own heart better than anyone.

The revenge had already begun.

He had already dragged Chao Jing into the water. Bringing Chao Jing down now would not be difficult in the slightest.

But merely killing Chao Jing outright would be too easy on him.

Why should Chao Jing be allowed such a quick end?

At the same time, there was no need for Niu Youdao to bury himself just to take revenge.

Guan Fangyi’s gaze drifted toward the people from Dachan Mountain. There was nothing else to do during the flight, so she pestered Niu Youdao to tell her what exactly was going on.

At this altitude there was no real need to evade anyone, and matters had already developed this far. There was little left to hide. Niu Youdao therefore gave her a broad account.

Once Guan Fangyi understood the whole situation, she could only sigh repeatedly.

Earlier, after hearing Niu Youdao’s explanation, she had assumed he wanted to draw Dachan Mountain into Nanzhou to balance Tianyu Sect.

Who would have thought he merely made a feint toward the six great sects and used it to drive Shao Pingbo into a dead end?

Now he intended to kick Tianyu Sect out as well and remove the threat lurking behind Nanzhou.

Most remarkable of all, after making use of the six great sects, he could withdraw without sound or trace, passing through ten thousand trees without a single leaf clinging to him, leaving himself outside the entire mess.

He had even used Wen Xinzhao to eliminate Chen Tingxiu when that man came looking for trouble, keeping him from getting in the way inside Myriad Beasts Sect.

And more astonishing still, right beneath Myriad Beasts Sect’s nose, he had forcibly stolen five Black Jade Eagles from their hands.

It was almost absurd.

She herself had spent those days inside Myriad Beasts Sect in something of a haze, while this man had already advanced several different matters in parallel without showing the slightest outward sign.

Guan Fangyi was genuinely impressed.

What she did not know was that Niu Youdao had simultaneously completed his arrangement against Chao Jing and already slipped a noose around the man’s neck.

There were simply some things Niu Youdao did without talking about them.

He had never loudly declared that he would avenge Black Peony or anything of the sort.

Even when Black Peony had died in his arms, he had merely sat at the prow of the boat holding her quietly, without saying a single word...

At the Beizhou Provincial Inspector’s Residence, night had fallen when a Goldenwing descended.

Inside the main hall, a Moon Butterfly cast its radiance down from the rafters. Zhong Yangxu sat cross-legged alone on a cushion.

A disciple entered and delivered a secret letter into his hands.

Zhong Yangxu’s gaze moved away from the contents with difficulty. His cheeks tightened, and he drew a deep breath, his expression unusually grave.

He had not expected the sect to make this decision in the end.

Nor did he know what exactly had happened over at Myriad Beasts Sect.

But the Sect Leader’s decree was explicit and resolute.

He had to carry it out.

Zhong Yangxu slowly rose. “Take control of Shao Dengyun immediately. Prevent any disturbance!”

“Yes!” The disciple accepted the order.

The Dachan Mountain disciples inside the Provincial Inspector’s Residence immediately began moving.

Inside the dungeon, an oil lamp burned on each of two opposite walls.

With a soft whoosh, one lamp suddenly went out, making the light inside the cell noticeably dimmer.

Shao Sansheng, seated on a mat outside the bars, abruptly raised his head and stared at the extinguished lamp. His lips trembled faintly.

Inside the cell, Shao Pingbo stood with his hands behind his back.

Slowly, he turned his head.

He looked at the extinguished lamp only once before closing his eyes.

Pain gradually filled his face.

[End of Chapter 523]