Chapter 570: Prepare Your Own Coffin

Situ Yao could not help considering the idea. After thinking it through, he found no real problem with it and agreed.

The two briefly discussed the details. Once matters were settled, Niu Youdao rose to take his leave. “Sect Leader Situ has plenty to handle lately, calming people throughout Jinzhou. I won't disturb you further.”

Both men looked leisurely enough on the surface. In reality, neither lacked matters to worry over in secret.

After leaving, Niu Youdao and Guan Fangyi departed the Provincial Inspector's Residence and openly wandered the streets. They strolled all the way to the courtyard that served as Nanzhou's liaison point in the provincial capital.

The moment he went inside and saw Old Eighth Zhu, Niu Youdao casually asked, “How is he?”

Old Eighth Zhu replied, “Shouts every day that he wants to see you.”

“Then let him.” Niu Youdao waved a hand, signaling him to lead the way.

They reached the room where the prisoner was held. When the door opened, Chao Shenghuai was still tied to a roof beam.

Hearing movement, Chao Shenghuai lifted his head. The moment he saw Niu Youdao, he began making frantic muffled sounds.

They had been afraid he would make too much noise, so even his ability to speak had been sealed.

Niu Youdao gave a surprised sound. “What's going on here?” Then he turned and cursed Old Eighth Zhu. “I told you to settle our guest properly. This is how you've been treating him?”

Old Eighth Zhu played along readily, apologizing again and again. “Master Dao, I was afraid he wouldn't know what was good for him.”

Niu Youdao rebuked him, “Then hurry up and release him!”

“Yes, yes!” Old Eighth Zhu answered repeatedly and hurried forward to untie Chao Shenghuai from the beam.

Chao Shenghuai had been bound so long that his limbs were numb. The moment the rope came loose, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

Niu Youdao looked astonished. “Brother Chao, we're brothers. Why offer me such a grand salute?”

Guan Fangyi turned her head away, suppressing laughter. She found this fellow truly wicked.

Even Old Eighth Zhu could not help stealing a grin.

Chao Shenghuai remained kneeling because he could not stand. He was full of bitterness he could not voice, and his mouth still refused to make words.

Niu Youdao stepped forward, helped him up, and dragged him to a chair. As he sat him down, Niu Youdao casually released the seal on his speech but left his spiritual power restrained.

For the moment, Chao Shenghuai's numb hands and feet still would not move. He sat in the chair almost like a paralytic after being tied up so long without proper circulation. He first coughed several times to clear his throat, then demanded furiously, “Niu Youdao, what is the meaning of this?”

Niu Youdao first waved his sleeve. Only after Guan Fangyi and Old Eighth Zhu had left did he sigh.

“Brother Chao, don't misunderstand. You ran into my home and opened your mouth by threatening me. The men under me may have lost control of their tempers and treated Brother Chao poorly. I apologize on their behalf.”

“I only learned today that these fellows keep doing things behind my back without telling me.”

Then he seemed to remember something. “Right. I had them take Brother Chao one million gold coins. Did you receive it? I need to verify that, in case they pocketed it themselves.”

Chao Shenghuai said angrily, “Stop pretending! I received the money. Where are the men?”

Niu Youdao asked, “What men?”

Chao Shenghuai gritted his teeth. “My four fellow disciples! One sentence: alive, I want to see the men; dead, I want to see the bodies!”

“Oh, those four fellow disciples of yours.” Niu Youdao looked enlightened. “Speaking of that, I was going to ask you as well. I found it strange. My people said everything had been arranged with you, but they waited the whole night and those four never appeared. They thought you'd broken the appointment. Afraid something had gone wrong, they didn't dare remain and withdrew first.”

“They never appeared?” Chao Shenghuai froze, his mind racing.

Then he saw Niu Youdao behaving as though the matter meant nothing, casually looking around the room. There was not the slightest sign he feared that something happening to those four might expose the theft of the Black Jade Eagles from Myriad Beasts Sect.

Chao Shenghuai immediately understood.

He shouted furiously, “Niu Youdao, you tricked me! Let me tell you something: don't dream of holding this over my head forever. I came here this time never intending to return alive. I left a testament behind at Myriad Beasts Sect. If I don't return by the specified time, everything between us will be exposed immediately. You have to give me an explanation today!”

Niu Youdao, who had been idly surveying the room, slowly turned to look at him.

A meaningful, almost playful smile hung at the corner of his mouth.

“Brother Chao truly wants to die?”

Shhk.

The sword in his hand slid several inches from its sheath. Steel rasped against the scabbard as he slowly drew it farther.

Chao Shenghuai's heartbeat accelerated. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed dryly, and tension appeared on his face.

He warned again, “If I die, the whole matter will definitely be exposed. Myriad Beasts Sect will never let you go!”

Shing!

The sword slammed back into its sheath.

Niu Youdao planted it before him and rested both hands on the hilt, smiling cheerfully. “Myriad Beasts Sect? You're using Myriad Beasts Sect to frighten me? Do you really think I'm afraid of Myriad Beasts Sect?”

“If I were truly afraid, do you think I would've dared stir up trouble inside Myriad Beasts Sect in the first place? If I'd been afraid, I would've killed you inside the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm and settled everything once and for all.”

“Besides, exposed or not exposed—what exactly have I done that I'm supposed to be afraid of exposing?”

Chao Shenghuai said, “You don't get to decide whether you admit it! Don't forget, you revealed flying mounts outside the gates of Myriad Beasts Sect, and there was more than one. More than a few people know that you suddenly acquired flying mounts.”

“Five Black Jade Eagles are no small matter. You can't explain that away. Do you think Myriad Beasts Sect will let you off?”

“Haha!” Niu Youdao laughed and shook his head.

Five?

And he needed to explain?

Explain what?

Was there anything difficult about finding an explanation?

He had a whole collection of flying mounts at home now. He could explain them any way he pleased.

Earlier on, he certainly would never have dared behave like this.

But things were different now.

No situation remained unchanged forever. Circumstances were always shifting, and he had continually followed those changes, adjusting his plans whenever necessary.

As the man making decisions for one side, there was no helping it. He had to keep worrying about such things.

In short, he found Chao Shenghuai rather amusing.

The man belonged to a sect governed by strict rules. He knew perfectly well that what he had done was intolerable to the sect and that he could hardly borrow the sect's power openly. He also knew Niu Youdao now commanded considerable strength.

Yet he had still dared jump out alone and threaten him?

Did he truly have no idea how high the heavens were or how deep the earth?

Had he spent so long inside Myriad Beasts Sect that he'd become stupid enough to think the entire world obeyed its word?

Did he still imagine he was inside Myriad Beasts Sect, free to use his background to do whatever he pleased?

Niu Youdao had no need to say any of this aloud.

After laughing, he instead sighed. “Brother Chao has a point. How about this? Help me with one more thing, and we'll call the entire matter settled.”

By now, some feeling had returned to Chao Shenghuai's body. He straightened in the chair and said indignantly, “Don't even think of continuing to blackmail me. At worst, we'll perish together!”

Niu Youdao gave two cold chuckles. “Brother Chao probably doesn't know the situation outside right now. The Yan court is about to launch a major attack on Nanzhou. Nanzhou itself may not survive. My own life is on the line.”

“One way or another, I either die or flee. What use is it for you to threaten me?”

“If Brother Chao accompanies me into mutual destruction, I'll have company on the road. I couldn't ask for more.”

“If you don't believe me... I'm going to release you afterward anyway. You can go find out for yourself.”

“...” Chao Shenghuai had nothing to say.

Was that true?

He genuinely did not know the situation outside. Hadn't he been kidnapped and tied up?

Niu Youdao sighed. “Brother Chao, here's the situation. If I can survive this crisis, then I value my life too. I don't want to die, and I have no reason to keep creating trouble for myself over those four men.”

“Help me with one small matter so I can get through this crisis, and I promise I'll find those four fellow disciples and hand them over to you personally to deal with. How does that sound?”

“That way, alive, you'll see the men; dead, you'll see the bodies. I won't have any evidence left in my hands that can be used against you, and you'll be safe as well.”

Chao Shenghuai said furiously, “Save that nonsense!”

Niu Youdao pretended not to hear and continued, “If you refuse, then I have no road of retreat anyway. Whether it's the Yan court that finishes me or Myriad Beasts Sect makes no difference.”

“Before my ship goes down, I'll make certain Myriad Beasts Sect finds those four men. Brother Chao won't even need to threaten me. I'll personally make sure Myriad Beasts Sect learns exactly what happened.”

“And while I'm at it, I'll drag your grandfather down with you.”

“One thing should be clear: I really am only asking Brother Chao for a small favor. There won't be any danger.”

“That's all I have to say. Think it over carefully. Once you've made up your mind, tell the people here.”

“I want your answer before dark. Any later than that, Brother Chao can prepare his own coffin!”

With that, Niu Youdao rose and walked out.

“Niu Youdao!” Chao Shenghuai shouted angrily and tried to stand.

Without access to his qi to clear the numbness from his meridians, his legs were still weak. He dropped back into the chair.

Niu Youdao ignored him and went straight outside.

Once in the courtyard, he told Old Eighth Zhu, “Let him leave.”

Old Eighth Zhu looked astonished. “Just let him go?”

“Don't worry. He'll be back before dark. Let's go.”

Niu Youdao tossed out the words, signaled Guan Fangyi, and the two simply left, returning to the Provincial Inspector's Residence.

...

Jinzhou's provincial capital?

Chao Shenghuai wandered through the bustling streets in disguise, never having imagined he had been abducted all the way here.

More importantly, the present situation was tense enough that even peddlers and common laborers on the streets were quietly discussing it.

It did not take much inquiry to learn whether Niu Youdao had been telling the truth.

Hai Ruyue had been poisoned.

Zhao was preparing to attack Jinzhou.

Yan was preparing to attack Nanzhou.

So that bastard Niu Youdao really had not been bluffing him.

The man truly had been forced into a desperate situation and genuinely might drag Chao Shenghuai down with him.

To think he had managed to entangle himself with someone riding such enormous winds and waves, someone whose ship might capsize at any moment.

Chao Shenghuai regretted it so much his guts nearly turned green.

Before darkness fell, he returned to the same place he had left and knocked on the courtyard gate.

The door opened.

Old Eighth Zhu smiled and invited him inside.

He had been waiting all along.

Once the gate closed, Chao Shenghuai gritted his teeth. “What do you want me to do?”

...

Darkness fell, then daylight came again. Such was life in this world, one day following another.

Ghost Doctor's disciple Wuxin was preparing to leave.

Li Wuhua hurried to Liufang Guesthouse to see him off.

He also tried to persuade him to remain for a few more days, afraid that mother and son's condition might relapse.

But Wuxin could not be retained.

His mind was set on leaving.

Situ Yao and the others did not come.

Wuxin did not appreciate their courtesy and did not want them seeing him off.

A flying mount descended from the sky and landed inside the courtyard.

Wuxin walked toward it.

Li Wuhua hurried after him. “Sir, where are you headed?”

Wuxin did not answer.

Li Wuhua hurriedly added, “I'm afraid mother and son's condition may relapse and damage Sir's reputation. If anything unexpected happens, how should I contact you?”

Wuxin stopped beside the flying mount.

After a brief silence, he replied, “I'm going to the Qi capital. I should be easy enough to find.”

“Good. Sir, should I send people to escort you?” Li Wuhua asked a pointless question.

Wuxin ignored him.

He jumped onto the flying mount's back and waved one hand. The beast sprang upward and soared into the sky.

...

Guan Fangyi knocked and entered. Walking over to Niu Youdao, who sat cross-legged cultivating, she said, “That miracle doctor's disciple has left. He says he's going to the Qi capital.”

“The Qi capital...” Niu Youdao opened his eyes slightly and murmured the words.

Then he gave a quiet acknowledgment, closed his eyes again, and continued cultivating.

[End of Chapter 570]