Chapter 609: Dumbstruck

“Nanshan Temple?” Quan Taifeng stopped at the entrance to a courtyard, his gaze falling on the plaque above the gate. He stared at it in puzzlement.

Hui Qingping found it strange as well. She studied the name, wondering why a courtyard would be called something like this. It looked more like the signboard of a temple.

After entering the villa, Quan Taifeng had asked whether he might look around. Niu Youdao had no idea what he wanted to see, but the request was hardly unreasonable, and Hui Qingping raised no objection, so Niu Youdao accompanied them personally and showed them around. Eventually, their wandering brought them to the courtyard occupied by the monks of Nanshan Temple.

“A mountain need not be high; with an immortal, it is famed. Water need not be deep; with a dragon, it is numinous.” Quan Taifeng’s eyes shifted to the couplet hanging on either side of the gate. He read it aloud, then nodded slightly. “Little Brother Niu, this couplet has real depth and meaning.”

Depth, my ass! Niu Youdao cursed inwardly. He knew perfectly well why Yuan Fang had hung it there.

There was no Nanshan Temple to speak of at present. It was not as though they lacked the money to build one now, but the outside world was too dangerous, so the monks could only hide here. Yuan Fang had hung that couplet over the gate purely as consolation, both for himself and for the other monks.

The truth was difficult to explain. Niu Youdao smiled and said, “I’ve taken in a group of homeless monks. Nanshan Temple was the name of their original temple.”

If Yuan Fang heard that, he would probably jump in protest. What do you mean homeless? You were the one who dragged us out of our temple.

Of course, even if they were allowed to return now, they would not go.

Quan Taifeng had already noticed monks moving around inside the courtyard. “Oh.” So it was merely a couplet hung by a group of monks. At first, he had thought Niu Youdao had put it there as a description of himself. He smiled. “Legend says Buddhism once flourished in the age when cultivators were scarce. Monks are exceedingly rare nowadays. To have gathered an entire group of them means Little Brother has some affinity with Buddhism. The Buddhist schools speak of blessings born from merit. Perhaps a blessing is waiting to fall into Little Brother’s lap.”

“Haha!” Niu Youdao laughed it off. Pleasant words were pleasant enough to hear, but who would take them seriously?

Hui Qingping was speechless. So it really was a temple sign.

The group wandered around the villa more or less at random. Quan Taifeng and Hui Qingping had wanted to see what was so special about the now-famous Maolu Villa, but after walking a full circuit, they found there was not much to it. It was an ordinary villa, not particularly large and certainly not luxurious. There was truly very little worth seeing.

In the end, they took seats in a waterside pavilion used for receiving guests. Monks came to serve tea. Hui Qingping found a certain quiet elegance in having monks pour the tea.

Quan Taifeng was not worried that anyone here would tamper with it. He took a token sip, set down the cup, and asked as though casually, “Why haven’t I seen Zhao Xiongge?”

That had been another reason he had wanted to walk around.

Niu Youdao knew that once Zhao Xiongge had displayed the Qingyun Sword Art here, there was no hiding his presence from anyone with eyes to see. He did not deny it and merely sighed. “He comes when he wishes and leaves when he wishes. How could I control him? I wouldn’t dare even if I could.”

Quan Taifeng chuckled. This was not his main reason for coming. Since Niu Youdao did not want to elaborate, he did not press the matter. Instead, he glanced at Situ Yao. “Sect Leader... whatever your name was. The scenery outside the villa is rather good. Why don’t you go take a look?”

Situ Yao understood at once that the man wanted him out of the way. The words were humiliating, but when he met Quan Taifeng’s cold glance, the pressure was immense. He slowly set down the teacup he had just lifted, apologized to Niu Youdao, and rose without taking a single sip.

Niu Youdao understood how he felt and had no intention of recklessly standing up for him. He gave Situ Yao an apologetic nod and signaled Fei Changliu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiuxiao to accompany him.

Watching the scene, all three of them felt a measure of sympathy for Situ Yao.

Once the outsiders were gone, Quan Taifeng said with a faint, knowing smile, “Little Brother, none of the people from Yan’s three major sects have come?”

Niu Youdao pretended not to understand. “Come here? Why would they come to this poor, remote place? The fact that you two elders have come already leaves me deeply honored.”

“Haha.” Quan Taifeng laughed and shook his head. “Little Brother, do you realize you’ve already stirred up trouble?”

Niu Youdao looked surprised. “Could it be that you two elders came to make trouble for me?”

“Not at all. We have no grievance or feud with you. Why would we come looking for trouble for no reason?” Quan Taifeng waved a hand. “Let me ask you this. Did you have Nanzhou send troops against the imperial court of Yan?”

Niu Youdao looked helpless. “So that’s what this is about. Elder Quan, you misunderstand. How could Nanzhou send troops against the imperial court? They are merely attacking Dingzhou. Xue Xiao went too far. Killing people and robbing wealth was bad enough, but he even dared seize Commandery Prince Yongping’s beautiful concubines. Commandery Prince Yongping is still a prince of the imperial clan. Xue Xiao showed utter contempt for the court. If this could be endured, what could not? His Highness flew into a rage and sent troops to punish him. It has nothing whatsoever to do with me.”

When he spoke of this, Niu Youdao himself had to admire the excuse Shang Chaozong’s people had devised to provoke the war. To make the pretext for an angry campaign convincing enough, they had actually invented the story of Shang Chaozong’s women being abducted. A crown-lifting rage for a beauty—they had not even cared what it did to Shang Chaozong’s reputation. Yet it had indeed aroused fury throughout Nanzhou.

Quan Taifeng laughed loudly and shook his head. It was obvious he did not believe a word of it.

Hui Qingping smiled. “Little Brother, those words hardly come from the heart. Anyone with eyes can see that the Yan court was behind the attack on Maolu Villa. The very next day, Nanzhou sent troops into Dingzhou. Are you telling us that was coincidence?”

Niu Youdao smiled bitterly. “It is quite a coincidence. It seems this misunderstanding is one I couldn’t explain away even if I had ten mouths.”

Quan Taifeng raised a hand to stop him. He had no interest in circling the issue any longer. “Little Brother, whether it is a misunderstanding no longer matters. Nanzhou rashly sent troops against the Yan court. Yan’s three major sects will inevitably blame you. Nanzhou cannot possibly annex Dingzhou. The three sects are certain to intervene and stop it. Little Brother, if that happens, the chicken flies away and the eggs are smashed. You’ll end up with nothing.”

Hui Qingping added, “We did not come with hostile intentions. In truth, we came to help you.”

“Help me?” Niu Youdao looked genuinely surprised. “How?”

Hui Qingping said, “Elder Quan is right. Yan’s three major sects will never sit by and watch Nanzhou annex Dingzhou, and once they intervene, you cannot stop them. But if Nanzhou truly wants Dingzhou, it is not impossible. Before today, Little Brother had no connection to our two sects, so perhaps the three major sects could force you to swallow the grievance in silence. With the two of us here, things are different.”

Quan Taifeng picked up the thread. “Let us speak plainly. We came to stand behind you. You cannot withstand Yan’s three major sects, but we can.”

Niu Youdao raised his brows slightly. “You’ll stand behind me?”

Hui Qingping said, “Little Brother is an intelligent man. You know perfectly well why we would do so, so there is no need to spell everything out. You need only understand one thing: it is not merely our two sects that will support you. One of us represents the three major sects of Han, the other the three major sects of Song. So long as Little Brother gives a nod, the six sects will immediately send people to protect you. Yan’s three major sects will be unable to touch you. The same applies to Nanzhou’s army. The six sects will send cultivators to assist. With us intervening, Nanzhou can fight without tying its own hands. Forget merely annexing Dingzhou. Once the matter is done, Little Brother can hold the territory of three provinces for yourself.”

She turned to Quan Taifeng. “Elder Quan, what do you think?”

Quan Taifeng made the decision on the spot. “Feasible. I can speak for Song and agree now. Once this succeeds, three provinces will be granted to Little Brother, and we will not go back on our word. If Little Brother still has concerns, name any conditions you wish and we can discuss them.”

The two traded lines so smoothly that it sounded as though they had rehearsed the exchange in advance.

Just then, Yuan Gang arrived and murmured a couple of sentences into Niu Youdao’s ear.

Niu Youdao rose and apologized. “Elders, please wait a moment. Something has come up. I’ll be right back.”

The two were a little puzzled. The discussion had reached a crucial point, only to be interrupted. But since something had happened in his own household, they could hardly stop him. They nodded.

Niu Youdao went straight outside the villa and saw Situ Yao speaking with a group of senior figures from Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion who had just arrived.

Niu Youdao had intended to go over and greet them, but the moment Situ Yao saw him come out, he hurried over, pulled him aside, and lowered his voice. “Little Brother, what did those two come to see you about?”

Seeing the gravity on his face, Niu Youdao smiled. “You had me called out just to pry into our conversation?”

Situ Yao waved his hands. “I have absolutely no intention of intruding on Little Brother’s private affairs. But I’m certain those two came with no good intentions. They must be trying to persuade you to have Nanzhou continue the offensive and throw Yan into complete internal chaos, giving Han and Song their chance to send troops. Little Brother, you absolutely cannot agree! The present fighting can still be brought to an end. Once it turns into a war between states, the consequences will be unthinkable!”

He had interrupted Niu Youdao in the middle of the discussion because he was genuinely anxious. He feared Niu Youdao might agree. If Nanzhou became tied down by war, the Zhao court, already full of pent-up fury, would certainly move against Jinzhou.

Niu Youdao understood his concern and reassured him. “Sect Leader Situ, don’t worry. If I agreed to something like that, how could Yan’s three major sects ever let me off? I know what I’m doing. Let me handle them.”

“As long as Little Brother understands.” Situ Yao let out a breath of relief, but still warned him repeatedly, “They will certainly think of every possible way to persuade you. Little Brother, you must not act rashly!”

“You can put your heart back in your chest.” Niu Youdao reassured him again, cupped his hands, and turned back.

Returning to the waterside pavilion, he cupped his hands to the two elders seated inside. “A small matter delayed me. I’ve kept you waiting.”

Since he truly had returned quickly and had not been gone long, the two said in turn that it was no concern.

Once the courtesies were over, Quan Taifeng immediately pressed the real matter again. “Little Brother, what do you think of what we just proposed?”

Niu Youdao lifted his teacup and sipped slowly, his eyes moving between their faces as though weighing something. After he set the cup down, he suddenly said, “I felt an immediate kinship with the two elders...” Then he paused, looking as though he wanted to continue yet hesitated.

Well? The two waited for the rest.

When he still said nothing after a moment, Hui Qingping smiled. “We also felt an immediate kinship with Little Brother. If you have something to say, say it directly. There is no need to hesitate.”

“Exactly.” Quan Taifeng nodded.

Niu Youdao abruptly stood. With a solemn expression, he cupped his hands. “If the two elders do not disdain me for my meager virtue and shallow talent, I would like to swear brotherhood with Elder Quan and become sworn elder sister and younger brother with Elder Hui. I offer this from the bottom of my heart and ask the two elders to grant me this wish!”

What?

Swear brotherhood?

Quan Taifeng and Hui Qingping stared at him dumbstruck, both looking a little dazed, as if they suspected they had heard him wrong.

[End of Chapter 609]