Chapter 587: Walking the Great Dao Alone

Huang Lie neither agreed nor disagreed with that explanation. He merely chuckled and gave no sign of approval. The man had encountered danger and wanted somewhere safer to stay; Huang Lie could hardly object outright. He intended to discuss with the rest of Dachan Mountain how they should respond once he returned.

Yuan Gang watched coldly from the side. Whatever Huang Lie's attitude might be, there was one thing even Yuan Gang could not help reflecting on.

Things had changed. The balance truly had changed.

If this were years ago, let Master Dao try speaking to Peng Youzai of Tianyu Sect in this manner. If Peng Youzai did not want to agree, he would simply refuse. There would have been no room for discussion.

Now, facing Huang Lie, whose strength was no less than Peng Youzai's, Huang Lie had no choice but to weigh Master Dao's words carefully. It was already difficult for him to act with the same unyielding force Peng Youzai once had.

After all these years of building his position, Master Dao could finally speak with confidence on the soil of Nanzhou. He no longer needed to swallow quite so much humiliation.

After Huang Lie and the others left, Niu Youdao returned from seeing them off and spotted Shang Shuqing approaching with Yin'er.

Shang Shuqing wore a smile. Because of her features, that smile looked slightly fierce, yet her bright eyes shone. Since parting in the provincial capital, she was finally seeing him again.

Yin'er was not nearly so reserved. She came straight over and called warmly, “Dao-Dao, where did you go? I've been waiting for you forever.”

Niu Youdao glanced at the food box in her arms and felt his teeth ache. Smiling, he replied, “I went out to handle some business.”

“I want to go too!” Yin'er declared firmly.

Niu Youdao understood that she meant he had to take her with him next time. He smiled without agreeing or refusing.

The moment she saw him smile, Yin'er took it as agreement. She grabbed a greasy chicken leg from the food box and held it out. “For you!”

Ordinary people could forget about stealing food from her. Anyone she willingly shared her own food with had unquestionably won her favor.

“I'm full.” Niu Youdao casually pushed it back.

He truly had no interest in eating something she had just grabbed barehanded from the box. Disgusting.

“Master Dao!” Shang Shuqing came closer to greet him as well, her gaze soft as water, then greeted the others.

“Commandery Princess.” The group returned the greeting.

Niu Youdao glanced again at Yin'er, who had decided that if he would not eat the chicken leg, she would. “I hear the Commandery Princess and Yin'er get along very well. You've been teaching her quite a few things every day?”

Shang Shuqing smiled. “I don't have much else to do. Little Sister Yin'er is very simple, and I like her too.”

She had yet to experience Yin'er's true attitude toward other people.

Guan Fangyi's eyelids twitched twice as she silently cursed.

This demon king was simple?

Had Shang Shuqing never seen how terrifying she could be?

Even Guan Fangyi had been surprised when she first heard the news. This demon king could actually get along with such a refined and gentle Commandery Princess?

Simple?

Niu Youdao smiled awkwardly. He could hardly explain.

Just then, the flower-robed man who had been wandering Maolu Villa alone came over. The instant he saw Shang Shuqing, his pupils abruptly contracted.

He stopped a short distance away and stared at her face for a long time...

...

After leaving Maolu Villa, the Dachan Mountain group returned to the guest courtyard where they were staying.

They had no interest in anything else. Huang Lie gathered the Elders who had accompanied him in the courtyard and went straight to the issue at hand.

“You all heard what Niu Youdao said. He wants to move into the Provincial Inspector's Residence. What do you think?”

One Elder replied, “When we first took over Nanzhou, it was because the three great sects intervened so suddenly that Tianyu Sect was caught completely off guard. Only then were we able to seize Shang Chaozong into our hands. Otherwise Tianyu Sect could never have handed him over so easily, and the transfer of Nanzhou would never have gone so smoothly.”

“Exactly,” another said. “Niu Youdao is full of schemes. If we truly let him live together with Shang Chaozong for the long term, and Niu Youdao develops some different intention, Shang Chaozong is already wearing the same pair of trousers as him. We can guard against it for a while, but not forever. Given enough time, we'll eventually miss something.”

“I also think it's inappropriate. Who knows whether he's secretly connected with some other sect outside? His influence in Nanzhou is already enormous. We have to keep hold of at least one end of Nanzhou's control. He says he'll stay temporarily, but who knows how long ‘temporarily’ means? If he refuses to leave later, are we supposed to openly fall out with him? Turning Nanzhou upside down wouldn't benefit us either.”

The Elders spoke one after another, their attitude unmistakable. None wanted to see Niu Youdao move into the Provincial Inspector's Residence.

Huang Lie pondered. “But he said he has encountered danger and wants to take refuge in the provincial capital. If we refuse, it becomes as though we want him dead. That's difficult to say aloud.”

“Danger? That's only what he claims. If the imperial court truly moved against him, would he really have escaped so easily? Look at him. He's perfectly fine. Does he look like someone who just suffered an accident?”

“There is actually a way around it,” another Elder said. “Doesn't he merely want refuge? Let him come to Dachan Mountain itself. We'll provide protection. Wouldn't our sect be safer than the provincial capital? If he refuses, wouldn't that prove he has some ulterior motive of his own? And once he's in our hands, there are certain matters we can decide according to circumstances.”

The final sentence carried a deeper implication.

The moment he finished, the others voiced approval one after another.

Huang Lie nodded as well. “Excellent. We'll answer him this way.”

...

Early the next morning, Shang Shuqing appeared outside Niu Youdao's room and waited.

She paced quietly with her head lowered, her ten fingers twisting together nervously. It had been a long time since she had combed his hair. She did not know what attitude Niu Youdao would have toward it now.

Guan Fangyi appeared around a corner with her hips swaying. The moment she spotted Shang Shuqing in the courtyard, she froze, quietly stepped backward, and disappeared around the corner again.

The door opened.

Niu Youdao emerged, his gaze meeting Shang Shuqing's across the courtyard. He smiled gently and nodded. “Where's Yin'er?”

“Still sleeping in.” Seeing no unusual reaction from him as he turned back inside, Shang Shuqing released the breath she had been holding and followed him in.

Niu Youdao first pushed open every window in the room, plainly avoiding anything that might invite gossip. Only afterward did he sit of his own accord before the dressing table.

Just as before, Shang Shuqing's hands were gentle and attentive as she combed his hair. For the person sitting passively beneath those hands, it was truly a pleasure.

After a long while, Niu Youdao suddenly asked, “Commandery Princess, what kind of ideal husband do you hope to find in the future?”

Shang Shuqing's hand trembled slightly.

She continued combing and said softly, “With a face as ugly as mine, who would ever take a liking to me?”

Niu Youdao smiled. “Marshal Meng spoke to me about it last time. Only then did I learn that the birthmark on your face is connected to Dong Guo Haoran. Don't worry. When I have the chance, I'll contact people from Shangqing Sect and have them find a way to restore your flowerlike beauty. Once that happens, naturally there'll be a line of men waiting to ask for the Commandery Princess's hand.”

Shang Shuqing's hands stopped.

Looking at the man reflected in the mirror, she tentatively asked, “Is appearance really that important? I wonder what kind of beauty Master Dao's future beloved will be.”

“Me?” Niu Youdao answered with complete calm. “Cultivators rise and sink with the tides, rarely masters of their own fate. I don't even know whether there will be a future. Some things aren't suited to me. Walking the Great Dao alone may not be a bad thing.”

Shang Shuqing fell silent.

She said no more and continued combing.

Smack!

In the silence, Niu Youdao suddenly slapped his thigh. “How muddleheaded of me. How did I forget that he came from Shangqing Sect too?”

Shang Shuqing looked puzzled. “Who? Chen Guishuo? I've met him before. He didn't seem to know anything.”

Niu Youdao waved a hand and chuckled. “If everyone in Shangqing Sect knew, why would this have dragged on until now? Chen Guishuo never had much standing in Shangqing Sect. It isn't strange that he knew nothing. Once the matter before us is settled, we'll talk about it again after some time.”

Shang Shuqing gave a soft acknowledgment.

She did not reject the idea of restoring her appearance, but neither was she anxious about it.

Her work was not yet finished when Duan Hu knocked on the doorframe and entered. He first nodded in greeting to Shang Shuqing, then reported, “Master Dao, Cao Yuer, former Sect Leader of Feihua Pavilion in Nanzhou, has arrived. She says she wants to see you.”

“She really couldn't wait...” Niu Youdao muttered, then asked, “How many came?”

“Two. Cao Yuer herself and one disciple accompanying her.”

Niu Youdao's expression became unreadable. “A visitor is a guest. Invite her in.”

“Yes!” Duan Hu accepted the order and left.

Hearing that business had arrived and not wanting to delay him, Shang Shuqing immediately sped up her hands.

Niu Youdao said slowly, “No hurry.”

Shang Shuqing paused, then returned to her normal pace.

Niu Youdao continued, “Commandery Princess, something may happen here today, and it may cause quite a commotion. I haven't moved anyone out because I don't want to beat the grass and startle the snake. I'm afraid it may frighten you, so prepare yourself. There's no need to be too scared.”

Shang Shuqing very much wanted to ask what was going to happen.

But she was intelligent. The moment she heard “beat the grass and startle the snake,” she understood enough not to ask.

She smiled. “Has Master Dao forgotten? I may be a woman, but I've been on battlefields before. I can bear a little fright. Besides, with Master Dao here, as long as Master Dao is here... I'm not afraid of anything.”

Her voice involuntarily softened on the final words.

Even she did not know why the sentence had escaped her so naturally. Perhaps they had been apart too long. Her heart suddenly beat faster, and heat rose into her cheeks.

Niu Youdao slowly closed his eyes.

His heart felt heavy.

...

In the waterside pavilion, two women stood beside the railing and waited for the master of the place to arrive.

The older woman was Cao Yuer, Sect Leader of Feihua Pavilion. The younger was one of her disciples.

Cao Yuer had been examining the surroundings from the moment she entered. Looking around now, she said, “I didn't expect that with his present standing, he would still choose to live in these barren mountains.”

Her meaning was obvious. Given Niu Youdao's present circumstances, he could easily have found somewhere far better.

Her disciple offered a flattering remark. “Perhaps he knows he wouldn't get to stay very long even in a better place.”

Cao Yuer shot her a cold glance, then glanced toward Duan Hu, who stood nearby watching them. Lowering her voice, she said, “Keep your eyes open later and look carefully. There can be no mistake.”

Her disciple answered just as quietly, “Master, don't worry. I saw him with my own eyes in the Qi capital. If it's truly him, I absolutely won't mistake him.”

After they waited a while, Niu Youdao arrived. His clothes were ordinary enough, but he had washed and dressed neatly.

Yuan Gang walked on one side of him. On the other was the flower-robed man, whose gait carried an almost casual looseness.

Once they entered the pavilion, Duan Hu stepped forward and introduced both sides.

As host and guests took their seats, Cao Yuer glanced at her disciple.

The disciple gave an almost imperceptible nod.

“Sect Leader Cao has honored this humble place with your presence. May I ask what brings you here?” Niu Youdao asked with a smile, extending a hand to invite her to drink tea.

Cao Yuer had no intention of touching the cup, but her manner was extremely deferential. “I hear everyone here addresses you as Master Dao. Then allow me to show the same respect and call you Master Dao as well.”

Niu Youdao waved it away. “You'll embarrass me. People here only shout it casually. It shouldn't be taken seriously.”

Cao Yuer did not change her form of address. She spoke bluntly.

“When one lowers oneself in courtesy, it is because one has something to ask. Master Dao, I've come for no other reason. I truly have a request to make of you.”

[End of Chapter 587]