Chapter 537: This Qi Capital Really Is My Blessed Land

Dugu Jing did not need his master to explain. The untouched tea already told him everything.

Niu Youdao had plainly been guarding against them. Even with Bu Xun present, he had still gone through the motions of drinking tea rather than truly drinking in front of someone as renowned as his master. That alone said plenty.

Back when Xiaoyue Pavilion had been hunting Niu Youdao, the situation had grown urgent enough that his master personally approached the Emperor of Qi and borrowed the state's vast intelligence network.

His master had handled the affair without leaving a trace. Qi, as the intermediary, had no reason to suspect anything.

But the layer separating intermediary from principals could never be torn open. The two parties themselves could not be allowed to glimpse one another through the breach.

An ordinary man might not care even if they did.

But was Niu Youdao ordinary?

He was a man who had forced Shao Pingbo to flee for his life, a man who had escaped Xiaoyue Pavilion's layered nets of pursuit. How sharp could his reactions be?

The Emperor of Qi might not have known Xiaoyue Pavilion was hunting Niu Youdao back then, but Niu Youdao himself had been one of the parties involved and was locked in a contest of move and countermove with Xiaoyue Pavilion at the time. How could he have forgotten the sudden intervention that appeared midway through that struggle?

Now he had finally learned why that intervention happened.

The paper screen had been punctured.

When Niu Youdao turned his head, the first person visible through the tear was Yucang himself.

How could he not become suspicious?

For Niu Youdao, that revelation was probably enough to make the sight before him turn chilling in an instant.

The untouched tea had already made everything clear.

They had thought that after obtaining that mirror, Xiaoyue Pavilion and Niu Youdao had reached an accommodation and their old grievances were over. Neither side would ever bring up the past again.

They had thought the affair had embarrassed the Emperor of Qi, and Yucang had placated him afterward by saying to let the matter drop. It should have ended there.

The reasoning was simple.

Anyone who knew what had happened would hardly spread a story that made the Emperor of Qi lose face. What good would there be in offending him for amusement?

Who could have known Niu Youdao would suddenly come to the Qi capital while hunting Shao Pingbo and barge straight into the imperial palace?

And who could have known Hao Yuntu would seize the opportunity to drag Niu Youdao over here?

Just like that, the paper screen had been ripped apart, catching this side completely unprepared.

“My identity is what it is. At present, he has no evidence he can show anyone.” Yucang's eyes were cold and sinister. “You know what to do.”

“Yes.” Dugu Jing accepted the order.

He understood how serious this had become.

Even if they had to expose the affair involving that mirror, it could not be helped.

Exposing the mirror would certainly bring Xiaoyue Pavilion a great deal of trouble.

But Xiaoyue Pavilion was, after all, a hidden force. Rooting it out completely would be difficult.

Exposing Yucang, however, meant exposing the very roots of Xiaoyue Pavilion.

“This fellow is extremely cunning. If he has realized the danger, he won't be without precautions...” Dugu Jing began.

Before he could finish, a small porcelain bottle slipped from Yucang's sleeve and into his hand.

Yucang passed it over.

At the same time, he raised his left hand, rubbed his fingers together, and brought them beneath his nose for a sniff.

Dugu Jing understood immediately.

His master had already left a fallback.

Earlier, when he had clasped Niu Youdao by the arm, he had planted something on him that could be used to track him.

...

After the carriage left Fufang Garden, Niu Youdao could not help sighing.

With a bitter smile, he said, “Chief Steward, if you hadn't informed them in advance, why didn't you tell me?”

He had assumed Yucang already knew he was coming.

If he suddenly refused to go, he had feared that would only make matters worse.

The moment they entered Fufang Garden and he heard Bu Xun tell Yucang that they had come without prior notice and hoped he would forgive the abrupt visit, Niu Youdao had regretted it so badly his intestines practically turned green.

If he had known Yucang was not expecting them, no force beneath Heaven could have made him enter that place. He would have found some way, any way, to break free and leave.

Why give Yucang the chance to learn that he knew?

Then again, thinking back, Niu Youdao had outsmarted himself.

With Qi's eyes and ears, would Bu Xun really not know whether Yucang was at Fufang Garden?

Was there any danger of coming here and finding no one?

And with Yucang's identity and standing, was there any reason to fear he would refuse to see Bu Xun?

Why would Bu Xun need to announce the visit in advance?

Bu Xun said, “You mean I need to report every little detail to you beforehand?”

Naturally, he had never intended to tell Niu Youdao in advance. Why give the man another reason to refuse?

Niu Youdao sighed again. “Chief Steward, I'm afraid you've gotten me into terrible trouble this time.”

Bu Xun asked, “What do you mean? Isn't having the chance to meet Mr. Yucang a good thing?”

Niu Youdao shook his head.

What else could he do but smile bitterly?

People were not equal in status.

For some men, one sentence was enough to send another person to his death.

For others, you could shout yourself hoarse and only tire your own throat.

A man like Yucang possessed his standing and reputation. Certain accusations could not be thrown around carelessly.

Without evidence, even if Niu Youdao spoke out, no one would rashly move against Yucang. At most, it would create inconvenience for him.

Once warned, Yucang would only become more cautious, and catching any evidence afterward would become extremely difficult.

Without proof, no one dared casually touch a man of Yucang's status unless one of the nine supreme experts beneath Heaven personally intervened.

And to those nine, this sort of sordid affair might not even count as an affair worth noticing.

Worse, if Niu Youdao dared say it aloud, did he still expect to walk away?

Qi would detain him immediately.

You claim Yucang belongs to Xiaoyue Pavilion?

Qi's Supreme General Huyan Wuhen was Yucang's student and held the state's armies in his hands.

The moment such an accusation left Niu Youdao's mouth, the implications would become enormous.

How could Qi possibly let him leave before investigating everything clearly?

Niu Youdao was already desperate to get out.

Why would he dare let himself be detained under Yucang's very nose?

That would be little different from growing tired of living.

He knew he might have stirred up enormous trouble this time.

He could only hope he was overthinking it.

Bu Xun had no idea why Niu Youdao kept sighing like a ghost had possessed him. He asked, “You don't intend to follow me back into the palace, do you?”

Niu Youdao knew what he meant.

Bu Xun was telling him he could get out now.

But Niu Youdao had no intention of leaving the carriage yet.

“Let me borrow the ride a little longer. I've arranged to meet someone outside the palace city.”

He suspected he had already fallen into grave danger.

If the other side truly had something to hide, they might strike at any moment regardless of cost.

Until he had a safer way out, Niu Youdao did not dare leave Bu Xun's side lightly.

Since he had put it that way, Bu Xun said nothing more.

Niu Youdao had given him face earlier. Letting him hitch a ride was hardly worth refusing.

The carriage rumbled onward until the palace city came into view.

Niu Youdao reached one hand through the window and let the sunlight fall across it.

Outside the palace gate, the carriage stopped.

Niu Youdao stepped down.

Bu Xun lifted the curtain and warned him, “Don't make trouble in the Qi capital.”

Niu Youdao gave another bitter smile. “After the trouble you've caused me, even if you begged me to stay, I wouldn't dare. I'll leave immediately. Will that satisfy you?”

The words had barely left his mouth when a dark shadow swooped from the sky.

Uncle Chen had arrived riding a Black Jade Eagle. It circled low over the carriage, instantly putting the guards inside and outside the palace city on alert.

Flying mounts carrying people were forbidden from flying casually around the imperial palace without permission.

Had Bu Xun not been present, they would probably have been detained on the spot for questioning.

“Chief Steward, until we meet again!” Niu Youdao cupped his hands in farewell.

His figure flashed upward and landed on the flying mount.

Guan Fangyi, who had been following the carriage the entire way, also sprang up and joined him.

The Black Jade Eagle beat its wings and rapidly carried the three away.

“That fellow actually has a flying mount now.” Bu Xun muttered as he watched through the carriage window.

Then he slowly lowered the curtain.

The carriage continued into the palace.

Inside, Bu Xun's brows gradually drew together.

Niu Youdao's repeated remarks had caught his attention.

He had the vague feeling Niu Youdao had been trying to warn him about something...

The immense Qi capital receded beneath them.

From a stretch of wooded hills beyond the city, two more flying mounts rose into the sky and gave chase.

Yuan Gang and the others had received word and rushed to meet them after hiding outside the capital.

Only then did Guan Fangyi finally find a chance to ask, “You were in such a hurry to leave. Did something happen?”

Niu Youdao asked Uncle Chen for the finger bell controlling the Black Jade Eagle.

At his signal, Uncle Chen sprang away and landed on the neighboring mount.

He knew his own circumstances well enough.

Now that his identity had been exposed, some matters were better avoided.

Only then did Niu Youdao sigh.

“That Mr. Yucang who bought your Fufang Garden may very well be one of Xiaoyue Pavilion's people...”

He explained how Bu Xun had taken him to meet Yucang.

“What?” Guan Fangyi found it hard to believe. “Is that possible?”

“Maybe it's coincidence,” Niu Youdao said. “But what happened back then was far too suspicious.”

“I used one plan after another and should already have shifted Xiaoyue Pavilion's attention away from us. What happened afterward proved it. Our journey went smoothly enough.”

“But then the Office of Investigation suddenly intervened and stopped us.”

“Not long afterward, Xiaoyue Pavilion's people pinpointed our location with extraordinary accuracy.”

“If I hadn't been a little more cautious that time, I probably wouldn't have escaped.”

“All because someone wanted me to accept a disciple.”

“And not just any disciple—they went all the way to the Emperor of Qi.”

“If Hao Yuntu merely asked where I was, that would be one thing.”

“But when I wasn't around, why not simply wait and contact me later?”

“Was the matter so urgent?”

“With Yucang's connections, would finding me afterward have been difficult?”

“Was Yucang ignorant of basic etiquette, or was Hao Yuntu simply muddleheaded?”

“Was there really any need to mobilize the power of an entire state and use the Office of Investigation to search for me throughout Qi?”

“Dragging me back from far away just so I could take someone as a disciple—who exactly was accepting whom as master?”

“Is that how one asks someone to take a disciple?”

“And the timing happened to be precisely then.”

“I'd have to be an idiot not to suspect another motive.”

Guan Fangyi's expression grew grave. “When you lay it out like that, it truly is suspicious.”

“If Yucang really belongs to Xiaoyue Pavilion, his position inside the organization cannot be low.”

“He would have to be one of their highest figures,” Niu Youdao said.

“With his public status and influence, he could never lower himself to serve as some minor subordinate.”

“He could even be Xiaoyue Pavilion's Pavilion Master.”

The thought that they might have uncovered the identity of Xiaoyue Pavilion's mysterious Pavilion Master made Guan Fangyi's heart pound.

“Yucang is tied to countless nobles and powerful figures across the states. Many of his students hold high office.”

“If he truly belongs to Xiaoyue Pavilion's upper ranks, the scope of those connections is terrifying.”

“You didn't tell Bu Xun, did you?”

“Would I dare?” Niu Youdao said. “If I said it aloud, do you think I'd still have gotten out of the Qi capital?”

Guan Fangyi grew even more nervous. “Does Yucang know you've seen through him?”

“This time, Hao Yuntu truly buried me in trouble, and I can't even complain about it.”

“This was exactly the kind of thing that could never be punctured.”

“Once the paper screen tears, if Yucang really has a guilty conscience, he'll definitely suspect me.”

Guan Fangyi became anxious. “Then why rush to escape so openly?”

“The more urgently you flee, the more certain Yucang will be that you've seen through him. How could he possibly let you go?”

“If he truly has a problem, he'll come after me regardless of cost.”

“I didn't even dare drink a mouthful of water inside Fufang Garden. How could I stay?”

“If there's no problem, then leaving won't matter.”

“If there is a problem, staying means death.”

“So tell me—should I run or not?”

Niu Youdao cursed softly.

“Damn it. This Qi capital really is my blessed land. Every time I come here, I end up fleeing.”

[End of Chapter 537]