Chapter 586: Enjoy It Together

Before dawn, the southern city gate opened ahead of schedule. More than ten thousand troops streamed out like a long dragon, with several hundred cavalry riding at the head.

The commotion woke many people in the city earlier than usual.

By noon, the force had reached a place more than twenty li from the capital. The troops spread across broad tracts of fertile farmland and completely surrounded a manor built where hills met water.

Outside the tightly shut gates, a line of soldiers stood together and shouted in unison, ordering everyone inside to open the gates immediately and surrender. Otherwise, they would bear the consequences themselves.

The manor had already descended into chaos.

Its master, Zong Yanling, paced beneath the eaves like an ant on a hot pan. “What is happening? What in the world is happening? Could something have gone wrong on Father's side? Did he offend the imperial court?”

Two servants who normally dressed and behaved with perfect humility stood nearby, one elderly and one middle-aged. Their entire bearing had abruptly changed. Neither looked remotely like a servant now.

The elderly servant caught hold of the frantic Zong Yanling. “Master, at this point, the only choice is for the two of us to fight our way out with you.”

Zong Yanling stamped his foot. “Thousands upon thousands of soldiers are surrounding us. How could there be no cultivators among them? How are we supposed to fight our way out? Even if the two of you can take me out, what about my wife and children? How could you possibly carry my entire household out at the same time?”

The middle-aged servant said heavily, “Master, saving one is better than saving none. Otherwise we will have no way to answer to Sir.”

Zong Yanling waved a hand. “Perhaps it hasn't reached that point. Maybe we're thinking too much. Better to open the gate and obey first. Perhaps it isn't as bad as we fear.”

The elderly servant said, “Master, don't cling to luck. Those outside are not ordinary troops. They are the capital's Imperial Guards. Would they mobilize Imperial Guards merely to deal with one landlord? This is absolutely not as simple as you imagine.”

“If we surrender without resistance, the fact that the two of us are cultivators will inevitably be exposed. By the laws beneath Heaven, cultivators and commoners are supposed to keep their distance. You are no official of the imperial court. If they discover that you have secretly kept the two of us here and supported us from the livelihood of common people, none of us will escape blame.”

Zong Yanling said indignantly, “As though there aren't plenty of people doing the same thing in secret!”

“Rules are in the hands of those who enforce them,” the old servant replied. “If they don't wish to discover something, nothing happens. If they wish to discover it, responsibility will naturally be pursued. Where in this world is there perfect fairness? Look at the force outside. They plainly came with ill intent. Do you think they'll simply give up and decide not to pursue the matter?”

“In that case, the two of you leave immediately.” Zong Yanling said, “So long as you leave no evidence behind, I can ask Father to step forward and find a solution. The imperial court should still give Father some face.”

Seeing them about to object, he immediately raised a hand to stop them. “I cannot abandon my wife and children. After you get out, even if the imperial court discovers cultivators were here, I can deny everything. I'll simply claim you were cultivator bandits who came to steal from the estate. That can buy us time. Contact Father as quickly as possible and ask him to help.”

He insisted, leaving the two men with no choice. If he refused to go and something happened to his family, they could not bear that responsibility. Some decisions required his consent.

In the end, the two swiftly altered their appearances, changed into masked clothing, and shot out from one corner of the estate.

“Loose!”

At the command, arrows filled the air.

The two were powerful. They forcibly scattered the arrow rain and cut across the sky in an attempt to break through.

“Courting death!” a cultivator seated on horseback snorted coldly.

Several swords rang from their sheaths.

A group of cultivators who had been watching from horseback drew their weapons almost simultaneously. More than ten men leapt into the air to intercept. The two sides collided overhead and erupted into fierce combat.

Experts from Yan's three great sects stationed in the capital had personally taken the field, and they outnumbered their opponents heavily. The fighting did not last long. By the time the manor gates opened, it was already over.

Zong Yanling stood alone outside the gate, grief written across his face.

Large numbers of troops rushed past him on both sides and poured into the manor. Inside, chickens scattered, dogs barked, people screamed, and children began crying.

A general in armor slowly rode up before Zong Yanling and looked down at him from horseback.

He was none other than Wang Heng, one of the four commanders of the capital region, formerly related by marriage to Song Jiuming and once the father-in-law of Song Yanqing.

“General, this commoner is a law-abiding subject. May I ask what crime I've committed to warrant such a mobilization?” Zong Yanling cupped his hands and asked.

Wang Heng lifted one hand over his shoulder and beckoned.

The two servants who had only just fled the estate were dragged out, both covered in blood, and thrown before Zong Yanling.

“Know them?” Wang Heng asked coldly.

Zong Yanling shook his head. “I don't know who they are.”

Wang Heng looked toward the two servants.

The middle-aged man said, “The two of us were short of money and only came here intending to steal a little.”

“Heh. Heh.” Wang Heng gave a string of cold laughs filled with mockery.

Once men had fallen into his hands and the decision had been made to pursue the case, even nothing could be turned into something. Did they imagine they still had the right not to confess?

He could not be bothered saying more. With an arrogant expression, he turned his mount and rode away.

...

At the Provincial Inspector's Residence in Nanzhou, Lan Ruoting entered Meng Shanming's courtyard carrying a secret letter.

Inside the courtyard, Luo Da'an was stripped to the waist, practicing with his spear beneath the sun. Meng Shanming sat nearby while Shang Chaozong stood beside him, both watching.

Lan Ruoting approached, saluted, and handed the secret letter to Shang Chaozong.

After reading it, Shang Chaozong looked up in surprise. “Master Dao wants to move into the provincial capital and live here?”

Lan Ruoting nodded. “The letter came personally from Master Dao. There should be no mistake.”

Meng Shanming asked for the letter. After reading it, he too looked puzzled. “He wants to stay long-term inside the Provincial Inspector's Residence? Didn't he dislike coming to the provincial capital? Why has he suddenly changed his mind?”

Shang Chaozong considered for a while. “Since Master Dao has already said so, have someone prepare a courtyard. When he arrives, he can move directly in.”

Meng Shanming noticed Lan Ruoting frown. Something about his expression seemed off. “Little Lan, what are you thinking?”

Shang Chaozong looked over as well.

Lan Ruoting waved a hand. “Nothing in particular. I only find something strange. We only just received the letter, yet news has already spread through the city ahead of us. Earlier I thought it was merely rumor and ignored it. Now it turns out to be true. That's rather odd.”

There was such a thing?

Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming looked at one another.

...

Qingshan Commandery.

Huang Lie, staying in a guest courtyard, once again came to Maolu Villa. This was already his third personal visit since arriving in Qingshan Commandery. In between, he had also sent sect disciples over several times.

At the waterside pavilion, Yuan Gang once again came forward to receive him.

There was no need to bother serving tea. Huang Lie swept a broad sleeve and refused it. His patience had long since worn thin.

“What exactly does Niu Youdao mean by this? I've been waiting here for days. Does he think I have nothing better to do? When will he return? Today, you must give me a definite answer!”

Yuan Gang said, “Soon.”

“Soon?” Huang Lie snapped. “How many times have you brushed me off with that? How far is Jinzhou from here? He has a flying mount. Does the journey really require this many days?”

“Something unexpected happened. Master Dao encountered a large group of assassins on the road, which delayed him.”

Yuan Gang would not have revealed even that much if Huang Lie had not already been on the verge of losing patience.

“An assassination?” Huang Lie froze. His eyes flickered. He seemed surprised, yet perhaps not entirely surprised. “How is Niu Youdao?”

The Elders accompanying him exchanged glances. There was a tacit understanding in their eyes.

“He's fine now.”

“Oh. Good. Good.” Huang Lie nodded.

Whether the tone held regret or relief on Niu Youdao's behalf was difficult to say.

Given what had happened, he naturally could not press too hard. He could only suppress his impatience and continue waiting.

They had only just walked out through Maolu Villa's gates when several people appeared at the foot of the mountain.

One glance was enough.

Who could it be but Niu Youdao?

Niu Youdao and his party had returned.

The two groups met. Huang Lie immediately looked Niu Youdao up and down, examining his complexion. “I heard Brother Niu encountered an assassination on the road. You're unharmed?”

“We did run into some trouble. It became inconvenient to travel by flying mount afterward, so Sect Leader Huang had to wait. I'm truly ashamed.”

“So long as you're fine. So long as you're fine.” Huang Lie laughed loudly, visibly relieved.

Niu Youdao said, “I originally wanted to contact Sect Leader Huang and ask Dachan Mountain for reinforcements, but the situation was urgent and something went wrong with communications.”

A faint smile tugged at Guan Fangyi's lips.

All nonsense.

They had spent the entire journey wandering along without hurry or alarm.

Would Dachan Mountain truly have dispatched men urgently to Jinzhou to reinforce him?

Huang Lie muttered inwardly.

Only Huang Lie himself knew the answer.

Outwardly, however, he said solemnly, “Dachan Mountain knew nothing of the situation. Had we known, we would naturally have been duty-bound to help!”

Niu Youdao had only just returned, and the gate was hardly a suitable place for a long conversation. He gestured for everyone to go inside.

As the group turned, Huang Lie's gaze settled on the flower-robed man traveling beside Niu Youdao.

A grown man dressed in clothing this gaudy was strange enough. Even after arriving here, he still wore a false face. Huang Lie could not help asking, “And this friend is?”

The flower-robed man merely gave him a faint glance, ignored him, and strolled through the gate alone, looking left and right as he took in Maolu Villa.

“It's another man's private affair. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to say much.” Niu Youdao waved the question away and did not reveal the man's identity.

Huang Lie could only let it go.

Guan Fangyi, however, quietly watched Yuan Gang's reaction.

She saw nothing unusual on his face.

At once, she understood.

Yuan Gang probably knew the flower-robed man's true identity as well.

After host and guests settled at the pleasantly arranged waterside pavilion, Huang Lie came directly to business. “Brother Niu said there was an important matter to discuss. What is it?”

Niu Youdao extended a hand, inviting him to drink tea. He lifted his own cup as well. “It isn't anything so urgent. I was delayed on the road, so I'm afraid Sect Leader Huang will need to wait a little longer.”

Huang Lie frowned. “Wait for what?”

“Someone is sending me a grand gift. I've invited Sect Leader Huang to enjoy it with me.”

“A grand gift?” Huang Lie grew curious, as did the Elders beside him. “What kind of gift?”

Niu Youdao set down his cup. “A grand gift not to be missed. Sect Leader Huang will know when the time comes.”

Since he could get nothing more from him, Huang Lie temporarily suppressed his questions. “Brother Niu, I've heard news that you intend to move into the Provincial Inspector's Residence in the provincial capital within the next few days. Is that true?”

This was the issue that worried him.

Shang Chaozong was presently under Dachan Mountain's control. Huang Lie feared that if Niu Youdao moved in, he would interfere and compete for control.

Dachan Mountain could not dictate everything in Nanzhou by itself. Holding Shang Chaozong's life in its hands was what guaranteed its position. If even control over Shang Chaozong's life slipped away, Dachan Mountain's situation would become painfully awkward.

Niu Youdao said, “It's true, though not because I wanted it this way. I only made the decision after the assassination attempt. After what happened on the road, I suspect the imperial court has begun moving against me. My present situation is somewhat dangerous, so I have no choice but to hide in the provincial capital for a time.”

“But Sect Leader Huang may rest easy. It will only be temporary. Once I reach a compromise with the imperial court, I'll move out immediately. I have no intention of staying in the Provincial Inspector's Residence for long.”

[End of Chapter 586]