Chapter 608: Don’t Let Maolu Villa Look Weak!

The visitor was Quan Taifeng, an elder of Lingxiao Pavilion, accompanied by two disciples.

Situ Yao and the others had naturally heard of him, but this was the first time any of them had seen him in person.

Two groups had arrived at once. The gatekeeper asked them to wait and hurried off to report their arrival.

After a brief hesitation, Situ Yao stepped forward and greeted him respectfully. “I have long heard of Elder Quan’s great name. I am Situ Yao, Sect Leader of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion.”

Quan Taifeng had noticed their group earlier and could tell they belonged to some sect, but he did not recognize the clothing. If they had truly come from any major sect, he should have had dealings with them before and could not possibly have failed to recognize their sect attire. He had therefore paid them little attention.

After hearing the introduction, Quan Taifeng thought for a moment and asked, “Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion from Jinzhou in the neighboring State of Zhao?”

At least the man had heard of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, sparing them that embarrassment. Situ Yao smiled and replied politely, “Exactly. I did not expect to meet Elder Quan here.”

Quan Taifeng’s expression immediately cooled. He glanced at Situ Yao from the corner of his eye, gave a faint “Mm,” and then stopped looking at him altogether, as though he had lost all interest in conversation in an instant.

The two disciples behind him exchanged thoughtful looks and occasionally sized up the people from Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion.

He was not even as courteous to them as he had been to the gatekeeper. Situ Yao had not expected to be embarrassed in public like this. Since that was the other man’s attitude, he said no more.

How outrageously rude! The disciples of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion were furious inwardly, but none dared speak. Their strength and standing were inferior. They could not afford to offend him. What could they do?

Just then, another Black Jade Eagle flew in and descended from the sky. Three people jumped down, all women dressed in plain white robes.

They were from the Tiannü Sect of the State of Han. Situ Yao and the others recognized the sect attire at once.

The gatekeeper immediately ran off once more to report the new arrivals.

“Elder Hui, what wind blew you here?” Quan Taifeng laughed loudly when he saw the newcomer.

The woman in front was Hui Qingping, an elder of Tiannü Sect. She too had brought two disciples to attend her. Smiling, she replied, “Whatever wind blew Elder Quan here is naturally the same wind that blew me here.”

The two exchanged smiles, each harboring intentions of their own.

Situ Yao was frowning to himself when Hui Qingping noticed his group. Seeing so many people gathered outside the gate, she assumed they had come with Quan Taifeng and asked, “These friends are rather unfamiliar. Friends of Elder Quan?”

Quan Taifeng gave a derisive laugh. “I could hardly presume to such lofty company. We merely happened to meet. They’re from Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion in Jinzhou, Zhao.” His tone carried an obvious implication.

Hui Qingping seemed to understand him. She gave an “Oh,” then likewise stopped paying them any real attention.

To be looked down upon so openly in front of his disciples left Situ Yao deeply embarrassed. Yet all he could do was stand quietly to one side with his hands folded, secretly praying that one day Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion too might stand high above others.

After being stung like this, even the instinct of the Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion disciples to play safe and merely preserve what they had began to loosen.

At the same time, they were all secretly astonished by Niu Youdao’s side. People from the ruling great sects of Han and Song had actually landed outside Maolu Villa’s mountain gate and were waiting here according to its rules. One truly did not know until one came and saw it for oneself. Niu Youdao’s reach was far greater than they had imagined. More than a few began wondering whether they themselves had put on too many airs in front of Niu Youdao before.

They did not wait long before a Scarlet Hunting Eagle came sweeping in from Maolu Villa.

Niu Youdao had arranged it deliberately. The moment he heard that people from two major sects had arrived riding Black Jade Eagles, he immediately sent a Scarlet Hunting Eagle to receive them.

Yuan Gang and Duan Hu came to meet the guests. Niu Youdao knew exactly what sort of man Yuan Gang was: he would rather break than bend.

The two jumped down from the mount. Yuan Gang swept a gaze over everyone present. Even knowing these were honored guests, he still stood there ramrod straight, looking them over with a cold, assessing gaze that carried the unmistakable air of inspection.

A Scarlet Hunting Eagle had suddenly appeared and seemed to outclass the two great sects’ Black Jade Eagles. Then there was this big red-faced man who showed them no particular deference. Quan Taifeng and Hui Qingping instinctively exchanged a glance. They could faintly sense the forceful bearing of Maolu Villa.

Situ Yao muttered inwardly. Since when did Niu Youdao put on such airs? What was going on?

The Niu Youdao he knew had always been quite courteous and easygoing. This did not feel like his usual style at all.

Still, after seeing the Scarlet Hunting Eagle, Situ Yao could not help glancing back at the horses ridden by his large group. All at once, they looked rather shabby.

Hui Qingping smiled at Yuan Gang. “You’re from Maolu Villa?”

“Yuan Gang.” Yuan Gang gave only his name, with no intention of exchanging empty courtesies. Then he extended a hand in invitation. “Honored guests have arrived. Master Dao invites you in. Please come with me. Sect Leader Situ.” He deliberately invited Situ Yao to ride the Scarlet Hunting Eagle with him. It would hardly do to leave the man walking.

Now that he was on Niu Youdao’s territory, and given the situation, Situ Yao could only follow the host’s arrangements and climbed onto the Scarlet Hunting Eagle with Yuan Gang.

Hui Qingping, Quan Taifeng, and the others mounted their own flying mounts and took off as well. As for the large group from Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, Duan Hu smilingly led them inside on foot.

At the gates of Maolu Villa, Niu Youdao had personally come out to receive the guests. The Sect Leaders of Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain were all there as well.

Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao had originally come because they heard Situ Yao, Sect Leader of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, was arriving. They had specifically come to pay their respects and become acquainted, hoping to make a connection while the opportunity presented itself.

They knew Situ Yao was coming not because he had sent word ahead, but because in Nanzhou, anyone traveling the official roads and changing mounts at relay stations could hardly hide from Maolu Villa’s notice. Situ Yao’s group had not concealed their identities either, so Maolu Villa knew clearly where they were and roughly when they would arrive. That was one of the advantages of holding secular power.

The three had come to welcome Situ Yao. None had expected major figures from the great sects of Han and Song to appear as well. They immediately grew somewhat nervous. Sect Leaders of small sects like theirs felt they hardly belonged on the same stage. If they handled things badly, they might only embarrass themselves.

Guan Fangyi came out from inside the villa, swaying her hips and fanning herself with a round fan. She complained, “It’s only Situ Yao. It’s not as though you don’t know him. You came out personally to receive him already. Was there any need to make such a grand affair of it?”

Niu Youdao had only just sent someone to summon her.

“Tiannü Sect’s Hui Qingping and Lingxiao Pavilion’s Quan Taifeng are here. Do you know them?”

Guan Fangyi paused in surprise. “I’ve heard of Hui Qingping, but I don’t know her.”

She said nothing about Quan Taifeng. Niu Youdao understood what that meant. His gaze swept over the three Sect Leaders, who looked a little constrained, and he said slowly, “When you face those two great sects in a moment, all of you be a little more forceful. Don’t let Maolu Villa look weak!”

The three Sect Leaders exchanged looks. Xia Hua ventured, “Forceful? Is it really appropriate for us to be forceful with people like them?” Inwardly, she was wondering whether they could afford to provoke such people at all.

Niu Youdao reminded them, “So what if they come from great sects? We are not under their authority. These people are used to standing above others. If you bow and scrape, they will only think that is what you should be doing. Even kneeling will not win you anything; it will only make them look down on you. Given the present situation, those who come now are unlikely to come in goodwill. If they think we are easy to push around, they will only press harder step by step until we put ourselves in an impossible position. There is no need for that. Don’t ruin things for me. Straighten your backs when you speak. As long as we observe the basic courtesies due to guests, no one can fault us.”

Once he put it that way, the three Sect Leaders understood. They were still somewhat nervous, but they now knew what to do. None of them were children. Their outward manner seemed to straighten at once, as though confidence had entered their spines.

Guan Fangyi cast Niu Youdao a sidelong glance, a flash of appreciation in her eyes. Only at this moment did she truly feel it: Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain had completely submitted at this man’s feet.

She also understood in a visceral way the old saying: a weak soldier weakens only himself, but a weak commander weakens the whole troop. A group led by a lion could not cower.

Of course, she admitted Old Bear Yuan Fang was an exception.

In any case, she could truly feel now that Maolu Villa could never have reached where it stood today without this man.

As they spoke, three black dots appeared in the distance. The guests had arrived.

In the blink of an eye, the Scarlet Hunting Eagle landed, followed by the two Black Jade Eagles. Niu Youdao, standing with his sword planted before him, broke into a smile and welcomed them warmly.

Situ Yao stepped forward first. “Brother Niu.”

“Sect Leader Situ has come from afar, yet I failed to go farther out to welcome you. Please forgive me.” Niu Youdao smiled and returned the courtesy.

“You’re too polite.” Situ Yao patted his arm, then tilted his head toward the other guests, indicating that Niu Youdao should attend to them first and need not worry about him.

From the exchange between the two men, and from Niu Youdao’s central position among those waiting, Hui Qingping and Quan Taifeng had already fixed their eyes on him. Both could tell this was the true master of Maolu Villa.

“Oh? This gentleman looks familiar. Could this be Elder Quan of Lingxiao Pavilion?” Guan Fangyi suddenly called out with a smile.

With an acquaintance present, there was no need for the meeting to be overly stiff. Quan Taifeng smiled as well. “Hongniang, it has been many years. Your beauty has lost none of its splendor.”

Guan Fangyi walked over. “I’ll take that as a blessing.”

Hearing that this was the famous Hongniang of the Qi capital, Hui Qingping could not help giving her a second look. Her thoughts were far less polite: bitch, slut...

Guan Fangyi saw the disdain in the woman’s eyes but kept smiling. She had long grown accustomed to the way women looked at her. Using the opening created by the conversation, she took the initiative to introduce the two elders and Niu Youdao to one another.

Following Niu Youdao as she did, this was often precisely the role he wanted her to play, and it was what she was good at.

“Niu Youdao. I’ve long heard the name.” Quan Taifeng chuckled. “Young and accomplished indeed, and a fine-looking man besides. Hongniang, you chose well.”

With Hongniang there, Quan Taifeng could hardly put on too many airs. It was not that Hongniang had any particular rank or power. She had simply seen what sort of man he had been years ago, making such posturing rather difficult.

Hui Qingping was properly courteous, and Niu Youdao responded with unhurried composure.

Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao also stepped forward to greet them. Though nervous inside, each maintained a manner that was neither servile nor overbearing.

Hui Qingping and Quan Taifeng could both feel that this place was different from an ordinary minor power. These people possessed confidence.

Situ Yao, watching from the side, found himself somewhat baffled. Even combined, Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain were not as strong as his Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, were they? He looked at them, then thought of himself and wondered whether he had been a little too servile earlier.

“Honored guests have come from afar. How can we keep standing at the gate? Please, come inside!” Niu Youdao led them into the villa.

Several of them walked at the front, chatting and laughing. Situ Yao accompanied Niu Youdao in the front group, but he felt more like an extra and said nothing. After learning that this was Niu Youdao’s first meeting with the two elders, he began pondering the purpose behind their visit.

The three smaller sects’ leaders received the four disciples from the major sects, still maintaining the same neither-servile-nor-overbearing manner.

[End of Chapter 608]