Chapter 529: An Enraged Yin'er

In a small courtyard within the large estate, Shao Pingbo stood beneath the eaves while Shao Sansheng busied himself checking the courtyard over personally one more time.

This place was used to receive guests from the various states. Given Shao Pingbo's identity, Hao Zhen had temporarily arranged for him to stay at Qi's State Guest Residence, intending to make further arrangements only after the Emperor of Qi had issued instructions. There was a slight sense of putting affairs of state before family, and it also avoided giving others reason to gossip.

There was no need to worry about security. Cultivators were already stationed here, and Hao Zhen had added another contingent of his own men.

After inspecting the courtyard, Shao Sansheng returned beneath the eaves. “Eldest Young Master, you can rest now.”

Shao Pingbo, somewhat lost in thought, suddenly asked, “What do you make of Liuer?”

Shao Sansheng paused before answering, “She seems well. She's filled out a little and carries more of a noble air now. Prince Ying appears to treat her well. It matches the information we received earlier.”

“She was proper and courteous with me. Too calm.” Shao Pingbo's expression was distant. “She hasn't forgotten what happened before. She's still angry with me.”

So that was what he meant. Shao Sansheng fell silent for a moment. He had watched the young lady grow up and knew her fairly well. He too had noticed something concealed in the way she looked at Eldest Young Master.

After another brief silence, he sighed. “Eldest Young Master, why not simply place yourself under the Emperor of Qi?”

“Hao Yuntu is no longer young. Old men, especially men who have occupied an imperial throne for many years, cling to power. He will not readily tolerate anyone who threatens his imperial authority, and until the day he dies, he will not easily relinquish power.”

“From what I've observed of Qi's political situation, Hao Yuntu is conflicted. On one hand, he has to face the question of choosing a successor. On the other, he remains wary of anyone who might threaten his throne. It is the mentality of an aging lion king.”

“The result is that none of the imperial princes appears outstanding. Those with ability are keeping a low profile and enduring in silence, Prince Ying Hao Zhen among them.”

“If Hao Zhen is willing to accept me, I am willing to endure quietly for him for the time being and advise him from the shadows. If he is unwilling to accept me, then placing myself under Hao Yuntu would be meaningless.”

“Because of Liuer, everyone would regard me as Hao Zhen's man. Hao Yuntu will not place me in an important position for the time being, at least not while he is alive.”

“If Hao Yuntu will not make real use of me and Hao Zhen is unwilling to accept me, do you think there is any point in my remaining in Qi and enduring in obscurity?”

“During that time, with no one valuing me and no power at my back, I would never escape Niu Youdao coming to collect my life. I cannot afford to wait!”

Shao Sansheng lowered his head without speaking. He had never imagined that marrying the Young Lady into this place years ago would instead become a constraint today.

He did not question Shao Pingbo's judgment. After following him for so many years, he still had confidence in Eldest Young Master's ability to read a situation.

He looked up. “What do we do next?”

“I still have confidence in Hao Zhen. Otherwise, I would never have come to place myself under him.”

“What if the Young Lady interferes?”

“A prince capable of resolute endurance for so many years will not have such soft ears. His ambition will not be easily bewitched by a woman. So long as Hao Zhen is willing, I am hardly a dead man. I won't let Liuer ruin things.”

...

Across withered grass and green fields, a group of riders thundered along an ancient road, Cheng Yuandu leading from the front.

They had already received Tianyu Sect's message that Niu Youdao was in Beizhou's provincial capital. The party was once again racing there with all urgency...

Shao Dengyun's hands trembled as he held a letter.

The handwriting was familiar.

It belonged to his old superior, only now the strokes carried even more aged strength than before.

The letter began by giving him a thorough scolding.

Did he still remember, after the Battle of Xiaohanshan, how Prince Ning, Shang Jianbo, had personally held his horse and steadied the stirrup for him? How Prince Ning had led his horse before the army and proclaimed his merit, while ten thousand voices shouted his praise?

Had that entire army been cheering for a traitor?

Did he remember who had marched through the night over a vast distance to break him out of an enemy encirclement?

Did he remember how many men of the Yingyang and Wulie Guards had died to save him?

Among the sons who had come out of the Yingyang and Wulie Guards, had there ever been a traitor?

Did he truly think setting himself up independently in the troubled land of Beizhou could last forever?

Since ancient times, without the accumulated achievement of three generations, how many men had ever managed to dominate a region and wash away an infamous name?

If he wanted to court death himself, then so be it. But he had no right to drag the brothers beneath him down with him.

The letter berated him for being a general who did not understand loyalty, a head of household who had driven his own blood kin into slaughtering one another, a man infamous outside his gates while nurturing a monster within them, muddled and confused in every respect.

It went through one offense after another, a merciless denunciation.

Before, he could say circumstances had forced his hand, and the past might be left unpursued.

But now Prince Ning's banner had already risen again in Nanzhou.

Was Shao Dengyun blind?

Could he not see it?

The final line read:

“You damned fool! If you still won't turn back now, what are you waiting for?”

Tears streamed down Shao Dengyun's old face.

He bent over the desk and cried out, “Marshal Meng! This subordinate knows his wrong...”

Yang Shuang raised a sleeve and wiped his own tears.

Shao Dengyun abruptly straightened again and said in a grief-stricken voice, “Bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. This subordinate will write to Marshal Meng and confess his wrongs!”

Yang Shuang raised a hand to stop him. “Master, could this be a deception? Will they truly clear your name afterward and say you endured humiliation for Prince Ning's sake?”

Shao Dengyun waved him off through tear-filled eyes. “Others may deceive me. Marshal Meng absolutely will not. Quickly, bring brush, ink, paper, and inkstone!”

...

Guan Fangyi walked to the railing of a tower and came to Niu Youdao's side. She jerked her chin toward the rear. “The letter from Nanzhou has arrived. Why let them play the good men while you refuse to be one yourself?”

Niu Youdao chuckled. “Am I a good man? I've already driven his family to ruin. In Shao Dengyun's eyes, could I still possibly be one?”

“That is true.” Guan Fangyi nodded. “Will this attempt to win him over work?”

“Maybe it will. Maybe it won't. Either way, it has to be done.”

Guan Fangyi looked suspicious. “What does that mean?”

Niu Youdao replied calmly, “If it succeeds, it proves his old loyalty has not completely died. That saves us some trouble.”

“If it fails because he has selfish considerations of his own, that is useful too.”

“The situation is already laid out before us. What matters is how we guide events according to their momentum.”

Guan Fangyi frowned. “The more you explain, the more confused I get.”

Niu Youdao patted the railing and sighed. “Whether he accepts or not, even if he has selfish motives, as long as he isn't a fool, he should know that doing this brings him every advantage and no disadvantage.”

“The present situation is plain enough. If he can stabilize me, he may be able to stabilize Beizhou as well. Why would he refuse?”

“As for the future, if Nanzhou itself proves useless, then relying on Beizhou would be meaningless anyway.”

“But if Nanzhou rises on its own, won't that give Shao Dengyun a perfectly legitimate road of retreat?”

“When the conditions mature, everything will follow naturally. He'll bend with the wind of his own accord. Why make life difficult for himself?”

Guan Fangyi finally understood. She nodded slowly, genuinely enlightened.

When she looked at Niu Youdao again, there was a faint trace of admiration in her eyes, though her mouth still gave a disdainful snort. “You have too many schemes in that head of yours. Bad man!”

Niu Youdao sighed dramatically. “I never expected to become a good man in your mouth anyway.”

Then his tone turned businesslike. “Has Xiaoyue Pavilion replied?”

Knowing his every thought was bent on killing Shao Pingbo, Guan Fangyi flipped out a letter and handed it over. “Here.”

Niu Youdao opened it, only to fall silent.

It was news from the State of Wei.

Wuliang Mountain's eyes reported that Tang Yi's party had safely reached the Wei capital, had entered Xuan Wei's residence, and had now settled there.

Niu Youdao casually rubbed the letter between his fingers until it crumbled into powder. “I asked about Xiaoyue Pavilion, not this.”

Guan Fangyi rolled her eyes. “No good deed goes rewarded. We only just replied to them. How could they answer so quickly?”

“They asked what you could offer. You told them to name their price. Who knows how many rounds of back-and-forth that will take?”

“In my view, you can forget about getting your hands on Shao Pingbo anytime soon.”

...

Toward evening, Niu Youdao was meditating in his room when a knock at the door interrupted his cultivation.

He finished circulating his qi.

Guan Fangyi pushed the door open and entered, holding up a letter. “There's news of Shao Pingbo.”

She knew he cared about this above everything else.

Niu Youdao immediately rose and took the letter. Discovering that it came from Hao Zhen, he raised an eyebrow.

Guan Fangyi had already read it. “What now? Hao Zhen wants to protect him. He wants to protect Beizhou too.”

“His face must naturally be given.” Niu Youdao gave a cold laugh. “But I will not allow Shao Pingbo to borrow Qi's power and rise again.”

“Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. I'll reply personally.”

Guan Fangyi quickly brought everything over and voluntarily ground the ink for him.

Niu Youdao paced back and forth for a while in thought.

Only then did he sit, take up the brush, and swiftly write several lines.

He lifted the letter, blew the ink dry, and handed it over. “Send it as written.”

Guan Fangyi held it up and read.

She clicked her tongue several times, then turned and went to carry out the task...

“You're leaving? You're not staying to see how things turn out here?”

Beneath the eaves, Niu Youdao had come to take his leave. Huang Lie asked the question.

“With Sect Leader Huang here to oversee things, that is enough. Whether I stay makes little difference.”

“Then let us remain in contact.”

“Good. I will await good news.”

Niu Youdao paused, then added, “One more thing. I originally planned to give Dachan Mountain one Black Jade Eagle. Under the circumstances, I can only apologize.”

That matter was irritating enough already.

Huang Lie's face remained expressionless. “It's past.”

“Sect Leader Huang is generous. I shouldn't be stingy either.” Niu Youdao smiled. “How about this? Once the matter succeeds and we meet again in Nanzhou, I'll sell Dachan Mountain one at a bargain price.”

“Five million gold coins. What do you say?”

Guan Fangyi, listening nearby, instantly opened her eyes wide and fixed Niu Youdao with a murderous stare.

A gift he had given this old lady, and he dared sell it off cheap without even consulting her?

Huang Lie's eyes shifted.

It was not as good as receiving one for free, but the bargain was still enormous. How could he refuse?

He nodded. “Very well. I'll remember the favor.”

A short while later, two flying mounts rose from the Beizhou Provincial Inspector's Residence.

Uncle Chen controlled one alone.

An argument erupted aboard the other.

Naturally, it was over Niu Youdao selling the mount too cheaply.

The fact Guan Fangyi had refrained from exploding in front of Huang Lie had already counted as giving Niu Youdao face.

Several dozen li outside the city, two Black Jade Eagles descended onto a distinctive mountain peak.

A third Black Jade Eagle was already waiting among the forest.

Yuan Gang, Yuan Fang, Yin'er, and Old Thirteen were all there. The two groups reunited.

Two other Black Jade Eagles had already been sent back by Wuliang Mountain disciples. Traveling with too many together would have been too conspicuous.

Originally, Yin'er was supposed to be sent back as well.

Keeping her close made accidents too easy.

But no one could persuade her to leave.

Yuan Gang knew her present circumstances and had assumed she would be easy enough to subdue, so when persuasion failed, he tried force.

Instead, he truly enraged Yin'er.

And Yuan Gang was the one who ended up being suppressed.

“Where is she?” Niu Youdao asked.

Yuan Gang pointed toward a lone figure standing atop a boulder, staring into the distance. “See for yourself.”

Niu Youdao flashed over and landed behind her. Smiling, he called, “Yin'er!”

Yin'er abruptly turned.

Niu Youdao froze.

His pupils contracted, and he instinctively stepped back, not daring to approach too closely.

Several sinister silver markings had once again appeared across Yin'er's face.

The innocent expression was gone.

In its place was an oppressively cold presence, her eyes clear, icy, and intimidating.

Uncle Chen and Old Six Xu did not understand what was happening.

They did not know Yin'er's identity. They only found it strange that the gluttonous woman had suddenly changed so completely, as though she were an entirely different person.

Guan Fangyi, however, felt her cheek twitch.

She swallowed hard.

[End of Chapter 529]