Chapter 528: A Homeless Dog

Guards, half hidden from view all around the waterside pavilion, glanced toward them from time to time.

Tang Yi and Tang Susu waited quietly.

They did not dare wander around. They only found the place somewhat strange.

This was the residence of the dignified Grand Princess of Wei, yet all the way here they had not seen a single flower.

It did not look much like a woman's home...

Inside a spacious pavilion, an elegant woman with picturesque features sat behind a desk dressed in men's clothing, questioning several officials seated below.

This was Xuan Wei, Wei's female Chancellor.

Beside a large round pillar stood a man with long hair hanging to his shoulders. He wore a gray cloth robe and carried an ancient-looking broad sword on his back.

He waited in silence, handsome yet touched by a trace of weathered age.

This was Xuan Wei's personal retainer cultivator, Ximen Qingkong, the number-one expert on the Golden Core Ranking.

The woman who had escorted Tang Yi entered through the rear door of the pavilion, came around the side corridor, and stopped beside the pillar.

She whispered a few words into Ximen Qingkong's ear.

He nodded slightly, signaling her to wait.

The woman stepped aside.

Once the officials had withdrawn, Xuan Wei, still seated before the desk, reached for another document and was about to open it when Ximen Qingkong spoke from beside the pillar.

“Tang Yi has arrived.”

Xuan Wei gave a soft sound of acknowledgment. She set the document back down and rose. “She arrived rather quickly.”

The woman replied, “Tang Yi led a small group and traveled without stopping. They arrived first. The rest of Shangqing Sect is still on the road.”

Xuan Wei asked, “Is Niu Youdao still at Myriad Beasts Sect?”

Ever since Yuan Gang's message arrived asking her to receive the Shangqing Sect, Xuan Wei had ordered the Mist Bureau to keep a close eye on Niu Youdao.

She was no fool.

Shangqing Sect was connected to Niu Youdao, not to Yuan Gang. Its Sect Leader, Tang Yi, was even Niu Youdao's wife.

Yuan Gang was merely Niu Youdao's follower.

If anyone claimed such a major decision had nothing to do with Niu Youdao, who would believe it? Could a follower really make such a decision on his own?

Some things did not need to be stated plainly between intelligent people.

Niu Youdao understood it.

Xuan Wei understood it as well.

By taking in the Shangqing Sect, she was making Niu Youdao owe her a favor.

The Mist Bureau took its name from the mystery of something hidden within cloud and fog.

Within the State of Wei, it served a role similar to Yan's Intelligence Directorate and Qi's Office of Investigation.

Put plainly, it was the state's intelligence organization.

Once Xuan Wei gave the word, the strongest intelligence network in Wei immediately began moving.

The woman who had escorted Tang Yi was named Jiang Shiji.

She looked wholly unremarkable, yet she was the Chief Commissioner of the Mist Bureau.

The fact that she had personally gone to receive Tang Yi showed, from another angle, how seriously Xuan Wei regarded Niu Youdao.

Jiang Shiji reported, “He has already left Myriad Beasts Sect. Together with Dachan Mountain's Sect Leader Huang Lie, he rode two Black Jade Eagles to Beizhou. He is currently at the Beizhou Provincial Inspector's Residence.”

“We don't yet know exactly what he's doing there, but something in Beizhou is abnormal.”

“Before Niu Youdao arrived, Dachan Mountain's people killed several of Shao Dengyun's subordinate generals. At the same time, Beizhou began arresting students from the academy Shao Pingbo founded.”

“Some of the students who had been sent throughout Beizhou for practical training suddenly disappeared, and the arresting parties found nothing when they arrived.”

“Also, Shao Pingbo has not shown himself for some time.”

Xuan Wei frowned. “Dachan Mountain and the Shao clan have come into conflict?”

Jiang Shiji replied, “It looks somewhat like that, but we don't know the details. Information is being sealed very tightly. Precisely because the blockade is so strict, it makes that possibility even stronger.”

“There are rumors that Niu Youdao and Shao Pingbo have a grudge, but we don't know what kind.”

Outsiders truly did know very little about the grudge between Niu Youdao and Shao Pingbo.

The key problem was that there were certain things neither side dared let outsiders know.

Xuan Wei paced back and forth.

“Niu Youdao went to Beizhou together with Huang Lie. Shao Dengyun's subordinate generals were killed, and Shao Pingbo's students are being arrested.”

“If those two truly have a grudge, then the fact that Niu Youdao himself has appeared in Shao Pingbo's lair already says enough.”

“The turtledove has occupied the magpie's nest. Shao Pingbo must have suffered a loss.”

“That Shao Pingbo is no simple man.”

“Every sign suggests Beizhou's independence was very likely his work from beginning to end. Afterward, Beizhou resisted Han in the north and defended against Yan in the south, standing firm despite pressure from both states.”

“And throughout Beizhou's development, remarkable moves appeared again and again. Calling him a genius seen once in three hundred years would not be excessive.”

Jiang Shiji said, “We've already ordered people to watch for Shao Pingbo. The moment there is news of him, it will be reported immediately.”

Xuan Wei nodded. “A man like that grew up through wind and rain. He isn't someone just anyone can bring down.”

“And yet he actually suffered at the hands of Niu Youdao, who rose later.”

“This Niu Youdao is becoming more and more interesting. Either he hides himself so completely that no trace can be found and no one can fathom him, or the moment he shows his face, something happens.”

She swept her sleeve. “Come. Let's go see the Madam Niu who has Niu Youdao worrying over her.”

With Ximen Qingkong and Jiang Shiji following, she left through the rear door of the pavilion.

...

Inside the waterside pavilion, Tang Yi and Tang Susu turned together toward the corridor and looked at the three people approaching.

They had already seen the woman from before.

But the simply dressed man with long hair over his shoulders and a sword on his back made both women's pupils contract sharply.

He matched every rumor concerning that man.

Ximen Qingkong, the number-one expert on the Golden Core Ranking.

Their gazes immediately shifted to the woman at the front, dressed in a long black robe cut in a man's style, though the fullness of her chest could not be concealed.

Even dressed as a man, her stately grace was unmistakable.

With Ximen Qingkong himself following at her side, there was no need to guess who she was.

“The Chancellor has arrived,” Jiang Shiji announced when the three approached.

Tang Yi and Tang Susu immediately saluted. “Greetings, Chancellor.”

“No need for so much ceremony.” Xuan Wei raised a hand.

Her gaze traveled over Tang Yi from head to toe.

“Sect Leader Tang is truly beautiful. I wonder whether I should call you Sect Leader Tang, or whether Madam Niu would be more appropriate?”

Tang Yi paused briefly, then answered calmly, “Niu Youdao and I no longer have any relationship.”

Xuan Wei smiled. “How did that come about?”

Tang Yi hesitated for a moment. “I have already repudiated Niu Youdao. The letter of repudiation has been given to him. From now on, there will be no further entanglement between us.”

“We will publicly announce the matter to the cultivation world before long.”

“This was something I needed to make clear to the Chancellor.”

Her unspoken meaning was obvious.

If Xuan Wei was only willing to shelter the Shangqing Sect because of Tang Yi's relationship with Niu Youdao, then now that the relationship was gone, Tang Yi would bear no resentment if Xuan Wei changed her mind.

The three exchanged looks.

Xuan Wei asked tentatively, “You repudiated Niu Youdao? It wasn't Niu Youdao who repudiated you?”

Normally it was the man who repudiated the woman.

A woman repudiating her husband was exceedingly rare.

“Correct.”

“Why?”

Tang Susu interjected, “Niu Youdao and Hongniang of the Qi capital were entangled in an improper relationship, and he refused to sever it. Sect Leader Tang could not endure it, so she repudiated him.”

Xuan Wei gave a noncommittal sound of acknowledgment.

There were still certain things she needed to ask clearly.

She also needed to understand Shangqing Sect's attitude before deciding how best to arrange matters for them...

At Fufang Garden, among the bamboo groves, Dugu Jing followed beside Yucang as the older man strolled.

He reported what they had learned about Shao Pingbo.

Shao Pingbo had already arrived in the Qi capital.

This side had sent someone to question him, and Shao Pingbo had frankly explained the circumstances.

Naturally, he said Niu Youdao had framed him.

There was no point hiding it.

He had fled Beizhou. Some things could not be concealed, and outsiders would learn sooner or later.

“So that's what happened.” Yucang sighed. “A hero of his region, and Niu Youdao actually forced him into becoming a homeless dog.”

“After fleeing like this, I'm afraid he can no longer return to Beizhou.”

“Has Dachan Mountain taken leave of its senses? What benefit does destroying the Shao clan bring them?”

Besides lamenting the situation, Yucang was also somewhat angry.

He had spent effort cultivating his own relationship with Shao Pingbo for his own purposes. Naturally he was displeased to see someone else ruin it.

He asked again, “Didn't he say there was someone who could influence the situation in the Qi capital? Did he explain what he meant?”

Dugu Jing replied, “He meant Princess Consort Ying, his younger sister.”

“He says he can use his sister to pry open the situation in the Qi capital. He has already gone to Prince Ying's residence.”

Yucang frowned. “What can that harmless old good man Prince Ying possibly pry open?”

Dugu Jing shook his head, indicating he did not know.

“Niu Youdao probably won't let Shao Pingbo go. If he keeps hounding us to hand the man over, do we give him up?”

Yucang said, “Ignore him. String him along and leave him with nothing he can do about it.”

“We still need to watch what happens in Beizhou. If Shao Dengyun remains standing, Shao Pingbo may not be without a chance to rise again.”

“If he truly cannot return, then find a way to recruit this fellow to our side.”

“He is a rare talent, someone capable of handling great affairs. No amount of money Niu Youdao offers would make me trade him away.”

...

Before the gates of Prince Ying's residence, Shao Liuer stood in magnificent clothing, jade ornaments at her waist chiming softly.

She now looked every bit the noblewoman.

She had personally escorted Shao Pingbo to the gate.

“You can stop here,” Shao Pingbo said, turning back.

“Brother, take care.” Shao Liuer bent her knees in a graceful salute.

She was gentle and serene, her bearing completely different from the girl she had once been.

Shao Pingbo smiled, turned, and walked away.

A group of cultivators escorted him toward the guest lodgings.

He had come to seek allegiance, but also protection.

He feared Niu Youdao would continue pursuing him.

He was guarding against Xiaoyue Pavilion as well.

Shao Pingbo knew perfectly well what sort of organization Xiaoyue Pavilion was.

After using Xiaoyue Pavilion to escape, he immediately decided to sever direct contact and refused to let himself fall under their control.

That was why he had asked Prince Ying, Hao Zhen, to assign disciples of Qi's three great sects to protect him.

On this ground, with disciples of Tianhuo Sect, Xuanbing Sect, and Daqiu Sect guarding him, neither Niu Youdao nor Xiaoyue Pavilion would dare move against him lightly.

Naturally, he had said nothing to Hao Zhen about Xiaoyue Pavilion.

He had claimed only that Niu Youdao was hunting him.

Shao Liuer remained on the steps watching him leave, her expression calm.

Inside a hall in the residence, Hao Zhen stood with his eyes lowered, both hands tucked into his sleeves before his stomach.

Chief Steward Mu Jiu stood nearby.

Gao Jianhou of Tianhuo Sect, Che Buchi of Daqiu Sect, and Xie Longfei of Xuanbing Sect had also gathered around Hao Zhen.

Gao Jianhou said, “His intent is obvious. He wants to place himself under Your Highness.”

Hao Zhen replied, “This elder brother-in-law of mine is no ordinary man. He is unquestionably capable.”

“I never expected Niu Youdao to force him into this state.”

“There was not even the slightest warning beforehand from Beizhou. I have no idea what condition my father-in-law is in now.”

Everyone understood his concern.

Hao Zhen had married Shao Liuer first because an imperial command could not be disobeyed, and second because he valued the background of the Shao family.

The Shao clan possessed the ability to influence the situation between Yan and Han.

To a certain extent, that increased Hao Zhen's own weight in Hao Yuntu's eyes.

It was an external source of support that could prove useful at critical moments.

If the Shao family collapsed, that support would disappear.

Mu Jiu said, “Your Highness, now that matters have reached this point, I'm afraid Niu Youdao will find it difficult to stop.”

Hao Zhen said, “No matter what, we have to try. I cannot simply watch.”

“A talent like Shao Pingbo is normally impossible to obtain even if one begs for him. Now he has delivered himself to my door. How could I let the opportunity pass?”

“I have great use for him. I cannot allow Niu Youdao to pursue him here and kill him.”

“Send word to Niu Youdao. Put in a plea for me. Ask him to give me face and let Shao Pingbo's matter end here.”

“And tell him not to make things too difficult for me on the Beizhou side.”

“Say he can treat this as repaying the favor he owes me.”

He paused, then added, “You may as well make the wording heavier.”

“Shao Dengyun is my father-in-law, and Shao Pingbo is my wife's elder brother.”

“Whoever kills either of them becomes my enemy!”

[End of Chapter 528]