Chapter 610: The Palace Master Comes in Person

It was not only the two elders. The four disciples standing behind them looked at one another as well.

Guan Fangyi’s gaze slowly shifted to Niu Youdao, her expression one of utter astonishment.

When the two elders remained frozen and speechless for some time, Niu Youdao ventured, “Could it be that the two elders find me unworthy?”

Unworthy? The two finally recovered. One frowned while the other maintained a restrained smile.

Both were thinking the same thing. Unworthy did not begin to describe it. What in the world did this fellow think he was? What virtue or ability did he possess that he imagined himself fit to swear brotherhood with them? Had he never looked at himself in a mirror?

They had seen people try to climb above their station before, but never anyone who climbed quite like this. Their first instinct was naturally to reject him outright.

The problem was that Niu Youdao had chosen exactly this moment to propose it, and his purpose was obvious. He feared they might go back on their promise afterward. What if the three provinces they had promised him never materialized? Climbing above his station was one thing. More importantly, he wanted to bind the two of them morally.

At this particular moment, Quan Taifeng and Hui Qingping exchanged a glance. His timing was truly exquisite. Had they not just told him that any conditions could be discussed? Damn it, refusing him now was actually rather difficult.

“Ahem.” Quan Taifeng coughed dryly, lifted his tea, and took a sip to conceal the awkwardness. “Little Brother, this is not a question of whether we find you unworthy. The two of us hold high positions within our sects. There are certain matters that affect our sects which we cannot decide on our own.”

Niu Youdao gave a meaningful “Oh.” “So there are matters affecting your sects that the two elders cannot decide yourselves.”

Anyone who had heard their conversation a moment earlier could understand the implication. If they could not even decide something like this, what had all that talk been about representing six major sects and promising him exclusive control of three provinces? Were they joking, or simply toying with him?

Guan Fangyi’s bright eyes flickered. She did not yet know exactly what Niu Youdao was after, but this one perfectly timed sentence almost made her slap the table and applaud.

Hui Qingping took over. “Little Brother, I won’t hide it from you. Although Elder Quan and I are sitting together here now, the grudges between Tiannü Sect and Lingxiao Pavilion cannot be explained in a few words. There is blood vengeance mixed into them. The two of us could never swear brotherhood with each other.”

That much was true. The states had fought for supremacy generation after generation. Over so many years, how could Tiannü Sect and Lingxiao Pavilion not have killed people from each other’s sects?

Quan Taifeng immediately nodded. “Exactly.”

“No matter.” Niu Youdao replied. “So long as the two elders do not disdain me, I can form the bond with each of you separately.”

In other words, they could swear their oaths separately.

Quan Taifeng and Hui Qingping exchanged another look. Both felt the flavor of the situation had somehow changed. Given their identities and backgrounds, they were supposed to be the stronger side. How had this turned into the two of them being pressured?

Yet they could not speak too forcefully either. They had sensed from the beginning that trying to bully Niu Youdao here would accomplish nothing. What were they supposed to do, become enraged and kill him?

If they truly killed Niu Youdao, the happiest party would probably be the Yan court. That would run completely against the interests of Han and Song.

Niu Youdao waited a little longer, then suddenly sighed. “If the two elders truly cannot decide, why not return to your sects and discuss it first? Once you are able to decide, we can continue this conversation. How does that sound?”

Return and come again? How could they agree to that? Why had they rushed here in such haste? Precisely because they wanted to settle matters with Niu Youdao before Yan’s three major sects arrived. If they left and returned later, the three sects of Yan might already have intervened and resolved everything. What would be left for them then?

Niu Youdao continued, “Commandery Prince Yongping has urgently summoned me. I still have some business to handle in the provincial capital, so I need to go there first. If the two elders...”

Hui Qingping rose and cut him off. “I truly did feel an immediate kinship with Little Brother. If forming a sworn bond with Little Brother can become a fine tale, why not?”

“Good!” Niu Youdao clapped once in delight. Without giving her time to add anything else, he immediately turned to Guan Fangyi. “August Heaven and Sovereign Earth above, fortune gathers this very day. Better to seize the moment than choose a date; to accord with Heaven’s will, let it be now. Quickly prepare an incense altar for the sworn-bond ceremony!”

He was astonishingly decisive.

Guan Fangyi blinked, looked at Quan Taifeng, then asked Niu Youdao, “Master Dao, how many sets of altar arrangements should I prepare?”

“Prepare two,” Quan Taifeng said as he stood. “If this is to become a fine tale, how could I miss it?”

He had thought it through as well. So long as their real objective could be achieved, there was no point haggling over this. It was only an expedient arrangement anyway. Did anyone seriously believe they were entering the bond with heartfelt sincerity?

Guan Fangyi dipped slightly in acknowledgment, turned, and hurried away.

Niu Youdao likewise gave the two no chance to keep talking. On the pretext of making preparations, he slipped away as well.

Inside the waterside pavilion, the four disciples from the two sects looked at one another. They had only been here a short while. How had things somehow turned into a sworn-bond ceremony?

All four were thinking the same thing: once this was done, would most disciples of Lingxiao Pavilion and Tiannü Sect not have to stand at least one generation below Niu Youdao?

“It seems we aren’t the first people he’s sworn a bond with.” Quan Taifeng leaned closer to Hui Qingping and reminded her in a low voice. “I seem to recall an elder from Tianyu Sect, the sect that was driven out of Nanzhou, swore brotherhood with him.”

Hui Qingping said coldly, “There is also Ghost Mother of Xianyin Mountain.”

Quan Taifeng added, “And that independent cultivator with some reputation. Linghu Qiu, was it?”

The two looked at each other. Counting themselves, they discovered they were already the fourth or fifth such case.

Quan Taifeng looked rather depressed. He clasped his hands behind his back and sighed. “He swears bonds with anyone, human or ghost. It seems this fellow has a taste for it. What is the point?”

Hui Qingping lowered her gaze and smoothed her sleeves. Never in her life had she imagined she would run into something like this.

...

Situ Yao and the others waiting outside the villa were soon disturbed as well. It would have been impossible not to disturb them: Niu Youdao had people call them in to witness the ceremony, as though afraid no one would see it.

Witness a ceremony? What ceremony could there suddenly be? The people from Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion were baffled.

When they arrived in the villa’s main courtyard and saw two incense altars set up separately on the left and right, they were still confused, wondering why there were two.

Only when Niu Youdao and Quan Taifeng knelt together before one of the altars, held burning incense, and began reciting their oath did everyone finally understand.

They were swearing brotherhood!

An elder of the mighty Lingxiao Pavilion had actually sworn brotherhood with Niu Youdao!

The sight struck the onlookers like a thunderbolt. The expressions of Situ Yao and the others gradually darkened.

Situ Yao in particular clenched his jaw, his face overcast. They had already become sworn brothers. It seemed his warning had been useless after all. Those two elders must have found a way to persuade Niu Youdao in the end.

Yet he did not have the courage to interfere on the spot. He did not even dare make a sound to disrupt the ceremony. He could only stand there and watch.

He watched Niu Youdao and Quan Taifeng complete their ritual, then saw Niu Youdao move to the second incense altar. Niu Youdao and Hui Qingping knelt side by side, each holding burning incense.

One sworn-bond ceremony after another. No one watching knew quite what to make of it.

The corner of Situ Yao’s mouth twitched. He stared coldly at the energetic-looking Niu Youdao.

Just then, a warning cry rang out from beyond the villa. Everyone turned and saw three enormous flying mounts sweeping through the sky, two Black Jade Eagles flanking a Golden-Feathered Eagle in the center.

As the three mounts banked and circled above Maolu Villa, Long Xiu stood proudly atop the Golden-Feathered Eagle with his hands clasped behind his back, his robes streaming like those of an immortal as he looked down upon everyone below.

Those who recognized him knew at once: Long Xiu, Palace Master of Xiaoyao Palace, one of Yan’s three major sects, had come in person!

Guan Fangyi quickly waved off the cultivators emerging all around in defensive positions, signaling them to withdraw. This was not someone they could afford to offend.

Niu Youdao, still kneeling on a cushion with burning incense in his hands, froze for a moment. His first instinct was to rise and go receive the guest.

Unexpectedly, Hui Qingping moved first. Still looking up at the sky, she caught Niu Youdao by the arm and prevented him from standing.

Niu Youdao looked at her, not understanding what she meant.

Several figures drifted down from above. The three flying mounts beat their wings and settled on the roofs and pavilions within the villa. The group had effectively entered Maolu Villa without permission.

Long Xiu descended lightly to the ground, leading his people into the circle formed by those watching the ceremony. The imposing air of a man long accustomed to standing above others was immediately commanding. The instant he appeared, he became the center of everyone’s attention.

“Palace Master Long.” Guan Fangyi immediately stepped forward with a smiling greeting.

Long Xiu gave a slight smile and nod, then swept a cold, lightning-sharp gaze around the courtyard, making no attempt to hide the scrutiny he directed at the people from Lingxiao Pavilion and Tiannü Sect.

He looked at the two incense altars, then at Niu Youdao, who had not risen to welcome him and was still kneeling there with his head turned. “Hongniang, what is all this supposed to mean?”

Guan Fangyi lifted a hand to cover her lips and laughed softly. She knew perfectly well what it meant; she simply had no idea how to explain it.

“Palace Master Long.” Niu Youdao once again tried to rise. With Long Xiu personally arriving, remaining on his knees without getting up to receive him was far too improper.

Hui Qingping raised her hand and pressed it directly onto his shoulder. Spiritual power bore down, forcibly keeping him in place. “Little Brother, how can a sworn-bond ceremony be stopped halfway? The ritual isn’t finished yet. You can stand once it’s complete.”

Earlier, Niu Youdao had been the one pressuring her into forming the bond. Now, even if Niu Youdao no longer wanted it, that would not do. This time, she intended to force him to complete the ceremony with her right in front of Long Xiu.

A sworn bond? Long Xiu looked again at the incense altars on either side. He finally understood what all the arrangements and kneeling were for. With his hands behind his back, he began walking slowly toward the pair, face expressionless.

Quan Taifeng suddenly flashed forward and blocked his path, smiling as he raised a hand to stop him.

Long Xiu’s eyes instantly sharpened and locked onto his. “You’re blocking me?”

At once, the people accompanying Long Xiu moved forward, watching Quan Taifeng like tigers eyeing prey.

Quan Taifeng’s two disciples refused to show weakness and flashed to their master’s side in support.

Hui Qingping turned her head slightly. Her two disciples immediately stepped forward as well and stood beside Quan Taifeng. Their intention to join forces with Lingxiao Pavilion was unmistakable.

“What?” Long Xiu asked mildly. “You want to fight me on my own territory?”

Quan Taifeng smiled. “Palace Master Long misunderstands. Their sworn-bond ceremony has not yet been completed. It would be improper to disturb it.”

“They can continue. I’ll simply watch.” Long Xiu’s gaze speared toward Niu Youdao, who had turned to stare at him. He said nothing more and walked straight toward the people blocking his way, plainly treating them as though they were not there.

He was not exactly forcing his way through, yet neither was he not forcing his way through. Quan Taifeng and the others truly did not dare lay hands on him. As Long Xiu approached, the people barring his path involuntarily moved aside.

Watching this, Guan Fangyi broke into a cold sweat for Niu Youdao. She had already caught the faint killing intent flickering in Long Xiu’s eyes. She hurried to Niu Youdao’s side and slipped one hand into her sleeve.

At some point, Yuan Fang had quietly disappeared from the scene. He was now hiding behind a moon gate, only half his head peeking out as he watched.

Long Xiu reached the incense altar, looked over the ritual arrangements, then glanced at the two people kneeling there. In a flat voice, he asked, “What is this, are you bowing to Heaven and Earth? Is the bridal chamber ready?”

[End of Chapter 610]