Chapter 581: As Long as He's Willing to Come

“Zhao has also withdrawn the forces it gathered against Jinzhou. Nanzhou and Jinzhou have escaped disaster!”

Inside Tianwei Residence, Xuan Wei finished reading the intelligence report in her hand, tossed it onto the desk, and sighed.

There was a trace of regret hidden in that sigh.

On one hand, she had hoped Nanzhou might fall to Yan. Niu Youdao owed her a favor, and that would have given her an opening to recruit him.

Niu Youdao's cultivation was nothing remarkable, but his value lay in his talent. He could be brought over and used entirely as a strategist.

A good strategist could be worth an army of thousands, even more than ten top-tier cultivator experts.

If she had to choose between Zhao Xiongge and Niu Youdao, she would pick Niu Youdao without hesitation. No matter how formidable Zhao Xiongge was in a fight, against the power wielded between states, the damage one man could cause was ultimately limited.

Yet on the other hand, she did not want Nanzhou to fall.

The present situation was best. She did not want the balance among the four eastern states broken, nor did she want any one of those states to grow strong. While Wei lacked the strength to undertake anything major, it was best for the powers in the east to continue restraining one another.

That was why her feelings were somewhat complicated.

Tang Yi, standing nearby, asked tentatively, “Yan withdrew its army this time because circumstances forced it to. Does that mean it won't come back again in the future?”

Where Yan was concerned, she naturally leaned more toward Niu Youdao's Nanzhou. She did not want him to face trouble.

“Unless some major upheaval occurs, it is unlikely for quite a long time.” Xuan Wei rose, circled out from behind the long desk, and paced slowly as she explained, “When Yan lost Beizhou years ago, how many years did it quarrel with Han without giving up? Now the province has changed hands, and Han likewise cannot simply abandon its claim. It would be difficult to explain that to everyone at home. Even if it is only for show, Han will have to keep confronting Yan.”

“Song now has a pretext it can use to send troops at any time, but it does not dare fight Yan to mutual exhaustion by itself. The drain on national strength would be too severe, and if it exhausted itself too far, someone might seize the opportunity to swallow Song and Yan together. Song will cling to this excuse and refuse to let go, but it won't act rashly. Behind the scenes, it will certainly be urging Han to move. Zhao no longer has internal disorder and is watching from the side like a tiger. Han will not act rashly either and will certainly be urging Song to make the first move.”

Tang Yi asked again, “Could the two states ally with Zhao? Could Han, Song, and Zhao join forces to divide Yan among themselves?”

Xuan Wei looked back at her and smiled faintly. “The seven states have struggled against one another for so many years that everyone knows everyone else's calculations. If Zhao dared join Han and Song in destroying Yan, neither Wei nor Qi would sit by and watch no matter what. To Han's west lies an immense desert filled with countless sand scorpions. A great army cannot cross it. If any of the eastern states wish to march west, they can only pass through Zhao.”

“Jin directly in front of us is already trouble enough. How could we allow Zhao to grow strong as well? Zhao can be considered a strategic barrier behind Wei and Qi, crucial to helping both states block the powers farther east. Any of the eastern states may grow strong, but Wei and Qi alone will never permit Zhao to do so. That is a major strategic principle for both states.”

“If we yield even one step, one problem after another will follow. Once Zhao grows strong, then in order to guard against Jin, we may have to kneel and curry favor with Zhao in the future. How great a price would we have to pay to satisfy its appetite? And after feeding it until it grows strong, do you think it will thank us? In the end, it will still raise the blade against us.”

“If Zhao joins the partition of Yan, Wei and Qi will each have to dispatch forces and form a joint army to teach Zhao a lesson. Then Zhao either sits and watches, or, if it does not want Han to become powerful after swallowing part of Yan and thereby threaten Zhao itself, it will have no choice but to take advantage of Han's exposed flank and launch an attack. Han therefore has to consider the consequences as well. Follow the circle around and you arrive at balance. Otherwise, after Prince Ning Shang Jianbo died, with Yan's internal condition what it is now, the state would probably have collapsed long ago.”

Tang Yi nodded thoughtfully.

After spending time beside Xuan Wei, even she had to admit that she had broadened her horizons considerably.

At that point, Xuan Wei glanced at her. “The one who truly has something to worry about now is Niu Youdao himself. By this point anyone can see that he is Shang Chaozong's greatest support. Shang Jianxiong is unlikely to let him off easily.”

Tang Yi said, “He has Nanzhou's troops in his hands. Would Shang Jianxiong really dare act recklessly?”

Xuan Wei smiled and shook her head. “In a war where cultivators are involved, which side can afford to have no cultivators accompanying its commanders? Otherwise, even the head of a general commanding a million troops could easily be taken by the enemy. No matter how powerful an army is, what can it do once it loses command?”

“Dachan Mountain was willing to cooperate with Shang Chaozong's troops and pressure Jinzhou because it wanted to deter Zhao, and ultimately because it wanted to protect Nanzhou. Yan has already withdrawn its army. Do you think Dachan Mountain will still go looking for trouble on its own initiative? Besides...”

She paused, then continued, “They themselves may not dare collide directly with Niu Youdao for fear of throwing Nanzhou into chaos. But if someone else does the work for them... Dachan Mountain may be more than happy to borrow another man's knife and use Shang Jianxiong's hand to eliminate Niu Youdao. If Dachan Mountain refuses to cooperate with Shang Chaozong, then Shang Chaozong's army is little more than decoration. If he dares attack the imperial court without authorization, he is courting death. Tell me, would Shang Jianxiong dare act then?”

Tang Yi fell silent, her brows knitting slightly.

Deep concern for Niu Youdao rose in her heart.

“I would be willing to protect Niu Youdao. I admire him as well. As long as he's willing to come to Wei and lend me his strength, all his present troubles can be resolved at once. In terms of wealth, none of the seven states can compare with Wei. As long as he's willing to come, I can guarantee him all the cultivation resources he needs and grant him far greater freedom besides.”

As she spoke, Xuan Wei walked up to Tang Yi and looked directly at her. “If you can persuade him to come, I am willing to suppress the other sects on behalf of Shangqing Sect and allocate an entire province of territory to Shangqing Sect!”

She had been one of the earliest people to want to recruit Niu Youdao.

At first, however, that desire had not been especially strong. After all, she was not Taishu Xiong and had not learned so many hidden matters from Shao Pingbo.

Still, she had also been one of the first to devote serious attention to Niu Youdao. Years ago, after he stole the warhorses and she encountered Yuan Gang in the desert, that attention had begun. The man behind someone capable of commanding the Scorpion Emperor was impossible not to watch closely.

Even so, she had never known much more than anyone else.

In some respects, Niu Youdao was extremely low-key. Most of the time he remained hidden behind the scenes in Nanzhou. Even Shang Chaozong, who stood on the same side as him, often had no idea what Niu Youdao was doing. Outsiders naturally found it even harder to see anything.

But after the upheavals in Nanzhou and Beizhou grew too large to conceal, both Shao Pingbo and Niu Youdao stepped fully into the sight of the various states.

And this latest affair in Nanzhou and Jinzhou might well have been Niu Youdao's doing too.

Combined with the extraordinary importance Taishu Xiong placed on Shao Pingbo, Xuan Wei's desire to recruit Niu Youdao had become much stronger.

What sort of man was Taishu Xiong?

He would never value Shao Pingbo that highly without reason.

And standing plainly before her was a man who had defeated Shao Pingbo again and again.

As for the province she had promised Tang Yi, if Tang Yi could truly persuade Niu Youdao to come, then Xuan Wei would give it.

If Niu Youdao proved useful after arriving, she would naturally find ways to help Shangqing Sect preserve that province. If he proved useless and the territory was later taken from them, they could hardly blame her. No law said a sect's territory had to belong to that sect forever.

The reason she wanted Tang Yi to do the persuading was that she had seen from Tang Yi's hasty public announcement that she was divorcing Niu Youdao that Niu Youdao wanted to maintain a certain distance from her. Seen from another angle, it meant he did not have much faith in Xuan Wei and wanted every account between them settled cleanly. He was not someone she could recruit merely because she wished to.

Niu Youdao had not been optimistic about her.

Later, she had personally tried to recruit Shao Pingbo, only for Shao Pingbo to take risks simply to break away from her and seek refuge in impoverished Jin. He too had not been optimistic about her.

These two mortal enemies had shown an astonishingly identical attitude.

Deep inside, that left Xuan Wei shocked and angry, with even a faint thread of unease.

Whoever she sent to recruit Niu Youdao would represent her. If Tang Yi and Shangqing Sect went instead, they would still be acting on her behalf, but with an extra layer that might increase the chance of success. Naturally, she hoped Shangqing Sect would try.

Ximen Qingkong, standing to one side, glanced lightly at Tang Yi.

An entire province?

Tang Yi was somewhat shocked. She had never imagined Niu Youdao was worth that much in Xuan Wei's eyes.

...

Although her complexion had not yet fully recovered, Hai Ruyue could already get out of bed and walk around. She had also begun receiving some of Jinzhou's important officials one after another in order to stabilize people's hearts.

Looking at Niu Youdao standing before her with a faint smile, she still found it difficult to let go of the resentment in her heart.

Niu Youdao had come to say farewell.

He could not remain here forever. This was another faction's territory, and he himself was weakly supported here. If anyone decided to control him, it would be far too easy.

“Don't think that because you offered a few ideas and saved me and my son, I'll forget what happened to Tianzhen or thank you for it!” Hai Ruyue said through clenched teeth.

Li Wuhua stood beside her and tugged at her sleeve, but even that failed to stop her.

These days, his attempts to frighten her no longer carried much force.

Niu Youdao smiled. “The Grand Princess may have forgotten something. I was also the one who saved your eldest son Xiao Tianzhen's life. Of course, I cannot deny that I was involved in his later being taken away by Ghost Doctor. But I would like to remind the Grand Princess of one thing: others may not be able to find Xiao Tianzhen, but that does not necessarily mean I have no way to find him. I wonder whether the Grand Princess hopes I find him or hopes I do not.”

“...” Hai Ruyue wanted to speak, yet hesitated.

She very much wanted to accuse him of making mysteries out of nothing.

But when she thought of how extraordinary this man truly was, she could not quite say it. Forget everything else he had done—he had even managed to steal the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit from Ice and Snow Pavilion. What, exactly, was impossible for him?

“Take care, Grand Princess.” Niu Youdao cupped his hands around his sword in farewell, turned, and walked away leaning on it.

Hai Ruyue still wanted to say something, but Li Wuhua raised a hand to stop her and followed Niu Youdao out to see him off.

Near the main gate of the Provincial Inspector's Residence, Li Wuhua suddenly nudged Niu Youdao's elbow. “Little brother, don't lower yourself to arguing with her. A woman's thoughts aren't important. When all is said and done, Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion is the one that has the final say in Jinzhou.”

The words carried a deeper meaning.

Li Wuhua even gave him an obscure look.

Niu Youdao understood.

This man was afraid Niu Youdao might truly find Xiao Tianzhen and bring him back. Li Wuhua did not want Xiao Tianzhen returning to Jinzhou.

From Li Wuhua's position, the thought was understandable.

If Xiao Tianzhen returned, Li Wuhua's own position would become awkward.

Niu Youdao gave a slight nod but made no explicit promise.

...

Two enormous flying beasts descended into a boundless stretch of mountain forest.

Gao Shaoming was helped down by a cultivator and cupped his hands toward Zhao Sen, who stood atop a boulder. “Director Zhao.”

Zhao Sen looked down at him from above.

While on the road, Zhao Sen had received a message from the palace and had no choice but to secretly separate from his party and turn back toward the area around Jinzhou's provincial capital.

He showed no intention of climbing down from the rock, so Gao Shaoming could only look up and ask, “Where is Niu Youdao?”

Zhao Sen said indifferently, “Still inside the Provincial Inspector's Residence.”

The words had barely left his mouth when a Goldenwing swooped down from the sky.

A message was removed from it. One of the eunuchs read it and immediately reported, “Director, Niu Youdao has left the Provincial Inspector's Residence. From the look of things, he intends to leave the provincial capital.”

[End of Chapter 581]