Chapter 551: Do You Remember You Still Owe Me a Palm Strike?

The three Sect Leaders were delighted, though they maintained an air of restraint as they exchanged a few polite words. At the same time, they presented gifts of their own and had two men brought over.

One was in an utterly wretched state. Two Liuxian Sect disciples dragged him into the villa and forced him to his knees before Niu Youdao.

It was Song Shu.

The other walked in under his own power, though with some unease in his heart.

It was Chen Guishuo.

He had not been captured. After delivering the letter to the three sects, he had been ordered to return and had come here to wait.

Kneeling on the ground, Song Shu lifted his head and looked at Niu Youdao. He had his suspicions, but had never actually seen the man before.

“You're Niu Youdao?”

Niu Youdao nodded faintly. “That's me. You and I haven't met, but I knew your son quite well.”

So this truly was the man who had killed his son, killed his second elder brother, and exterminated his entire household.

Song Shu immediately began struggling and roared, “You dog thief!”

“Still so stubborn!” Fei Changliu gave a cold snort and tipped his head in signal.

The two Liuxian Sect disciples immediately prepared to make Song Shu suffer.

Niu Youdao instead raised a hand and stopped them.

Song Shu twisted around and glared at the three Sect Leaders. “Petty men who betray their master! None of you will die a good death!”

Xia Hua sneered. “Betray our master? You really think that highly of your Song clan? Don't you know this world belongs to cultivators?”

Niu Youdao did not take Song Shu seriously. He turned toward the somewhat restrained Chen Guishuo and smiled.

“You've worked hard all these years. You did well. Shao Pingbo isn't easy to fool. Once this happened, he should already have guessed where the problem lay. You can't go back to his side anymore. From now on, stay here and cultivate in peace.”

“Thank you, Master Dao.” Chen Guishuo cupped his hands.

Song Shu whipped his head toward him and cursed, “I must have been blind to trust you so much! Have I mistreated you even once all these years? Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?”

Chen Guishuo immediately shot back, “Song Shu, a man who betrayed his teacher and destroyed his own ancestral line has the nerve to talk about conscience?”

Song Shu tried to keep cursing, but at Fei Changliu's signal, one of the disciples restraining him sealed him so he could no longer make a sound.

Fei Changliu asked Niu Youdao, “Master Dao, how should we deal with him?”

Bringing Song Shu before Niu Youdao and asking how he should be dealt with was one thing. It was also a reminder not to forget the three sects' contribution.

Chen Guishuo cupped his hands again. “Master Dao, I am willing to kill this villain with my own hands!”

The sword beneath Niu Youdao's hands rocked slowly twice. He stared at Song Shu for a moment, then suddenly said in a light, almost careless tone, “The culprit behind the extermination of the Song clan has been caught. Send him under guard to the capital and hand him over to the imperial court. Let the court deal with him.”

Chen Guishuo immediately grew anxious. He feared Song Shu would someday take revenge.

“Master Dao, Song Jiuming still has quite a few former students and old associates in the capital. If we send him there, I'm afraid...”

Niu Youdao cut him off. “Enough. That's how we'll handle it. I don't like all this fighting and killing. Nor do I like creating blood debts or staining myself with blood.”

Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao frowned when they heard that. They plainly had their own opinions about such a claim, but they still followed his instructions and ordered Song Shu dragged away.

As he was hauled backward, Song Shu kept staring toward them, unwilling to let the matter rest, hatred burning deep within him.

Back then, he could never have imagined that the enormous Song clan would one day be ruined by an insignificant nobody from Shangqing Sect.

Had he known this would happen, he should have killed Niu Youdao long ago.

Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret.

Niu Youdao did not spare him even one more glance.

Zheng Jiuxiao hesitated, then still offered a reminder.

“Master Dao, this young brother is right about one thing. Song Jiuming still has former students and old acquaintances in the capital. If Song Shu somehow survives this disaster, I'm afraid he'll exhaust every method he can think of to seek revenge.”

Niu Youdao replied evenly, “There's no need to drive a man into an absolute dead end. Send him to the capital and let him take his chances.”

There were some things he had no need to explain to the three men.

A mere Song Shu was no longer worth worrying about.

At this point, did Niu Youdao truly need to keep feuding with the Song clan?

Killing Song Shu would not make him feel even the slightest pleasure.

As for the Yan court, unless they were fools, by now they had probably all figured out that Niu Youdao was the true mastermind behind the extermination of the Song clan.

Sending Song Shu to the capital under the label of the culprit was merely a way to use Song Shu's life to test the Yan court's present attitude toward this side.

In the past, Niu Youdao had killed a Yan envoy and used the Ice and Snow Pavilion to frighten the Yan court. But that could only intimidate them for a time.

After everything that had happened since, how could the Yan court fail to see the clues?

Shang Chaozong had not actually held Nanzhou for very long after taking the territory from Zhou Shouxian. The ripples of that struggle had yet to disappear completely.

The Yan court had never been willing to give up Nanzhou.

That was especially true of the Emperor of Yan, Shang Jianxiong.

Other people were one thing. But the son of Shang Jianbo now occupied Nanzhou and showed signs of growing increasingly powerful. Shang Jianxiong was probably losing sleep over it.

There had been many reasons the court had not moved against Nanzhou earlier.

Shang Chaozong had been formally enfeoffed by the imperial court and was the legitimate Provincial Inspector of Nanzhou. Shang Jianxiong could not immediately slap himself in the face and overturn his own decree, so for the moment he had been forced to endure.

Nor was the Yan court deaf or blind.

They knew about the struggle between this side and Tianyu Sect.

The court had probably been sitting atop the mountain watching the tigers fight, waiting for an opportunity to intervene.

They likely had not expected Tianyu Sect to be kicked out in this fashion, ruining that calculation.

Now Yan's three great sects had directly intervened in the affairs of both Nanzhou and Beizhou. The two provinces were still in the middle of changing hands.

To recover Beizhou smoothly, the Yan court would not act recklessly for the time being.

But what about afterward?

A storm was probably coming.

All the struggles and turmoil before this had, when reduced to their essence, been about one thing: Niu Youdao and Shang Chaozong wanted to sit firmly on this piece of territory.

Now Nanzhou's internal situation had been settled.

Niu Youdao had seized a favorable moment to rapidly clear away several obstacles, while using the recovery of Beizhou to win favor from the three great sects.

Repel threats without, secure peace within.

With the interior pacified, his gaze now turned quickly toward the Yan court.

At present, that was Nanzhou's greatest threat.

He could not possibly wait for the imperial court to strike before responding passively.

Since Niu Youdao insisted on handling Song Shu this way, Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao could only let the matter drop.

By now, Niu Youdao had accumulated enough prestige in the eyes of the three sects.

Prestige was not something built by moving one's lips.

It came from one concrete fact after another, each carrying enough force to cow others.

During the original struggle for Nanzhou, if Niu Youdao had possessed the prestige he held today, how would the three sects ever have dared sway back and forth between sides?

Once the matter of Song Shu had been set aside, Niu Youdao made several other arrangements for the three sects.

First, they were to select several capable female disciples to attend to Zhuang Hong's daily needs.

Hostage or not, she was still Yucang's sister-in-law and a woman. Having men look after her would be inconvenient. Women were more suitable.

Second, Guo Xingshan would not be allowed to live inside Maolu Villa. He would stay at the foot of the mountain instead.

The three sects were to assign disciples to take turns watching him. Guo Xingshan would be permitted to enter the villa once each day to visit Zhuang Hong and her son.

The three Sect Leaders were curious.

Why?

There was no why.

Niu Youdao simply told them to do as instructed.

While they were discussing attendants, Xia Hua suddenly smiled.

“Master Dao, I have a female disciple who's quite clever and capable. Almost everyone around you is a man, and men aren't as attentive as women in daily matters. You need someone careful to look after you as well. If Master Dao has no objection, I'll send her over to help with miscellaneous chores.”

Fei Changliu and Zheng Jiuxiao exchanged a glance.

They could more or less guess which female disciple Xia Hua meant.

She was a beautiful young woman in the full bloom of youth.

Even if Xia Hua said nothing to the girl explicitly, Niu Youdao's present circumstances alone were attractive enough.

Niu Youdao was young, with no woman beside him.

If he spent enough time living alongside a beautiful young woman, the two of them would probably become entangled sooner or later.

Niu Youdao replied calmly, “No need to trouble yourself.”

Xia Hua chuckled. “Master Dao might as well look at her first. She's pleasant enough to look at and diligent with her hands and feet.”

Niu Youdao sighed. “If she's good-looking, that's even worse. Hongniang is a notorious vinegar jar.”

That was practically an admission that he and Guan Fangyi were sleeping together.

Xia Hua smiled awkwardly and could only abandon the idea.

Guan Fangyi was one of Niu Youdao's closest confidantes. She truly was not someone Xia Hua wanted to offend.

Niu Youdao was not a fool.

He understood perfectly well what was being suggested; he simply chose not to expose it.

Having lived through more than one lifetime's worth of experience, he also knew that at his age he was naturally prone to attracting romantic entanglements. Inevitably, people would sometimes try to play matchmaker.

Unfortunately, ripples no longer stirred easily across the lake of his heart.

His heart had long since become still water.

He did not want to invite trouble, yet neither did he want to offend people acting from good intentions.

So Hongniang naturally became his shield.

Before her, he had used Black Peony for the same purpose.

With a shield like that in place, almost no one would raise matters between men and women with him anymore.

His reputation had already been thoroughly spoiled by Hongniang. If some woman still insisted on attaching herself to him despite that, then she probably had ulterior motives.

The mention of Black Peony lingered with him.

After the three Sect Leaders left, Niu Youdao walked out of the villa and made his way to a grave mound beneath a tree on a nearby hill.

He casually pulled a few weeds, then stood beside the grave leaning on his sword, his back to the mound as he gazed into the distance.

“What are you thinking about?”

At some point, Guan Fangyi had arrived beside him.

She had no idea she had just served as his shield, nor did she know she had been serving as one for quite some time.

“The scenery isn't bad.” Niu Youdao casually brushed her off.

“Bah. Barren mountains and foul waters.” Guan Fangyi curled her lip.

She never had anything good to say about this place.

Then she added, “By the way, these three sects swayed toward Tianyu Sect once before. Could they sway toward Dachan Mountain next time? After what happened before, can they really be trusted?”

Niu Youdao said, “How can anyone be without selfish motives? Everyone has choices. They bear the consequences of whatever choices they make. Who they choose to follow is a question of their own judgment.”

“If we can't retain them, that means the problem lies with us. It means we're the ones who aren't good enough. We can't blame anyone else.”

“You might as well have said nothing.” Guan Fangyi gave a dismissive snort.

Then she continued, “The Prince sent a letter. He learned the people from the villa had returned and guessed we'd probably be back soon too. He asked when we'd arrive and is preparing to come see you.”

Niu Youdao said, “Write back and tell him there's no need to go through all that trouble. Huang Lie should reach the provincial capital before long and meet with him there. I need to attend that meeting as well.”

“As for the capital, the Prince should have at least some connections there and probably has eyes of his own. Tell him to watch how the court reacts after Song Shu is escorted into the capital and report any developments to me immediately.”

“Have Gongsun Bu notify our own eyes in the capital to pay special attention as well.”

Guan Fangyi's heart tightened. “What are you planning now?”

...

Several days later, Niu Youdao was sitting cross-legged in his room cultivating when Duan Hu knocked and entered.

“Master Dao, Peng Yulan has arrived. She wants to see you.”

Niu Youdao frowned. “Peng Yulan? What does she want with me?”

His first reaction was to wonder whether she had come seeking revenge.

Duan Hu replied, “I don't know. She only brought two people with her, and their attitude is a little strange.”

“Strange? In what way?”

“I can't really explain it. Maybe I'm imagining things, but they seem... rather humble.”

Niu Youdao found that odd.

Whatever the reason, he still had to meet her and see what she wanted.

When he finally saw Peng Yulan in the pavilion used for receiving guests, he could not help sighing inwardly.

He knew her cultivation had been crippled.

He had not expected her to age so much all at once.

Her attitude truly was very humble.

After only a few sentences, he understood why she had come.

Niu Youdao fell silent.

Under Peng Yulan's anxious, expectant gaze, his eyes slowly lifted and settled on Shounian, the Feng family's steward standing behind her.

His voice was neither warm nor cold.

“Steward Shou, do you remember that you still owe me a palm strike?”

[End of Chapter 551]