Chapter 613: Heavens! What Is Master Dao Doing?

After the encircling army withdrew, Long Xiu gestured for a walk, and Niu Youdao could only accompany him.

They made a rough circuit around the villa. When they returned to the entrance, Long Xiu asked, “This place is thoroughly ordinary. Don’t tell me you can’t find anywhere better in all of Nanzhou. Why insist on living here?”

Niu Youdao replied, “I value my life.”

Long Xiu did not understand. “What kind of reasoning is that? Living somewhere with better surroundings would cost you your life?”

“Palace Master, places with excellent surroundings, where spiritual essence gathers and natural beauty flourishes, are usually filled with strange peaks and magnificent scenery. They suit cultivators, but they don’t suit an army massing and deploying. If danger comes, the mountains are high, the slopes steep, and the terrain difficult. Even moving troops becomes hard, much less getting them into formation at the first moment. If I hadn’t lived here, I could never have withstood the imperial court’s last attack.”

Long Xiu was surprised, but he had to nod in agreement. “So that’s the reason. For once, you’ve spoken an honest truth.”

“Before the Palace Master, every word I say is true. There’s no need for empty talk.”

Long Xiu smiled without answering and strolled back into the villa with his hands clasped behind his back.

Niu Youdao had no idea what else he intended to do. Since Long Xiu showed no sign of leaving, naturally he could not drive him away. He immediately ordered the villa’s main courtyard, the one he himself normally occupied, cleaned and turned over to Long Xiu and his party.

The Xiaoyao Palace group settled into the main courtyard. Long Xiu examined the surroundings. Everything was plain and elegant, without the slightest extravagance.

In particular, after seeing the room Niu Youdao normally lived in, he could not help nodding. To Yi Shu beside him, he praised Niu Youdao. “So young, with achievements like his already, yet he can still avoid arrogance, luxury, and ostentation. That is rare.”

Niu Youdao was not there to hear the praise.

Yi Shu said disdainfully, “Maybe he arranged it deliberately for Master to see. Perhaps he had people clean everything up just now.”

Long Xiu shook his head. One glance at the room’s underlying arrangement showed that its plain elegance had been there all along. That was not something one could fake at the last moment. He did not bother arguing with her.

A Goldenwing descended into the courtyard. Before long, a disciple came forward and presented a secret message. “Palace Master, a message from the sect. Mr. Yucang has denounced the imperial court and is demanding an explanation from the three major sects.”

Long Xiu frowned slightly, took the letter, and read it. He could already guess what it said.

Naturally, Yucang’s grievance was that his sister-in-law and nephew were at Maolu Villa, and the surprise attack had threatened their safety. Yucang was furious and wanted an accounting.

After reading it, Long Xiu handed the letter back with a scoff. “An explanation? Give him an inch and he takes a mile. Who does he think he is? An independent cultivator with a few connections, and he truly starts taking himself seriously. Now he even thinks he can point fingers at Xiaoyao Palace.”

The disciple ventured, “Do we not need to reply?”

Long Xiu fell silent for a moment. He spoke contemptuously, but Yucang really did have connections throughout the states, and there was no need to offend him for nothing. After some thought, he said, “Have the sect send him a courteous reply. No need to make an enemy. As for an explanation, does Xiaoyao Palace owe him one?”

“Yes.” The disciple accepted the order and left.

Long Xiu then turned to Yi Shu. “Go find Niu Youdao. Have him accompany you around the villa, inside and out.”

Yi Shu stared. “I’m supposed to walk around with him? Didn’t we just look around?”

Long Xiu rebuked her. “I’m not sending you out to play. Look carefully at the villa inside and out, the disposition of those three sects, and the terrain all around. Open your eyes and learn something.”

Yi Shu thought she understood and accepted the order with a serious expression.

Long Xiu walked out and stood beneath the eaves, watching the back of his youngest and final disciple as she left. His gaze was complicated.

...

Niu Youdao escorted Situ Yao and his party all the way outside the mountain gate. They had only recently arrived, yet already they had to leave. Niu Youdao had come personally to see them off as a small apology.

Situ Yao had not wanted to leave so soon, but there was no helping it. Long Xiu had suddenly come in person. Situ Yao was secretly colluding with Niu Youdao across state borders, so it was hardly appropriate for him to linger under Long Xiu’s nose. Who knew whether Long Xiu might suddenly take issue with something and stir up trouble?

Besides, he had already confirmed that Niu Youdao would restrain Nanzhou’s forces and prevent the affair from growing out of control. With that weight off his mind, staying or leaving no longer mattered.

“Sect Leader Situ, I truly neglected you this time.” Niu Youdao cupped his hands in apology.

“You had no choice. I understand. No need to see us farther. Farewell.” Situ Yao and his party returned the salute, mounted one after another, and thundered away.

Niu Youdao remained with his hands cupped as he watched them leave. Beside him, Duan Hu suddenly murmured, “Master Dao.”

Niu Youdao turned and saw Yi Shu standing not far away, staring coldly at him.

The sight of that face, as though he owed her money, irritated him on instinct. Even so, he walked over cheerfully. “Miss Yi, what brings you here?”

Yi Shu sneered. “What, feeling guilty now that I’ve caught you colluding with a foreign state?”

Niu Youdao was speechless. This woman truly did not know how high Heaven was or how deep the earth. Even her own master had seen it and chosen to turn a blind eye, yet she opened her mouth and pierced straight through the matter.

Still, he had no intention of arguing with her. Instead, he smiled and explained, “Miss Yi, matters cannot be judged only by appearances. Think of it the other way around. So long as the State of Zhao cannot take Jinzhou, Jinzhou remains a southwestern shield for our Great Yan. Once you think of it that way, you’ll understand my painstaking intentions.”

Yi Shu scoffed. “Painstaking intentions? I think your real painstaking effort is in using your army to make yourself untouchable.”

There was no point continuing with this woman. Niu Youdao changed the subject. “Did Miss Yi need something from me?”

Yi Shu lifted her chin proudly, her pale neck long and graceful like that of a white swan. After looking around, she said, “Walk with me.”

“Walk with you?” Niu Youdao looked as though he had swallowed a fly. He glanced behind her and saw no one else. Tentatively he asked, “Just the two of us?”

The words sounded wrong to her. Yi Shu’s face immediately chilled. “Don’t get strange ideas! It’s my first time here. I just want to look around.”

How could Niu Youdao not get strange ideas? Long Xiu had already made his meaning clear enough before. He immediately said, “I’ll find a few people to accompany Miss Yi.”

Yi Shu grew angry. “Am I not qualified for you to accompany personally?”

Niu Youdao quickly waved his hands. “Absolutely not. The Palace Master is still inside the villa. I’m only afraid he may have instructions for me, so it would be inconvenient to leave.”

Yi Shu’s expression eased somewhat. “You’re overthinking it. This was the Palace Master’s idea.”

She was no match for Niu Youdao. In only a few sentences, she had exposed the whole thing.

So that was it. Niu Youdao now understood Long Xiu’s intention. Just as he had suspected. Since such generous hospitality was difficult to refuse, he extended a hand. “Please.”

The two started from the outer areas and wandered through the mountains.

Along the way, Niu Youdao kept observing her. He had to admit this woman was rather pretty, and her figure was good too, but he had no interest in this type. Her looks did not meet his standards, and he disliked her ignorant, self-important temper.

Yi Shu examined everything seriously. If Niu Youdao said nothing, she said nothing. Only when he deliberately asked her something would she answer a sentence or two.

Gradually, Niu Youdao saw what was happening. After circling around with a few indirect questions and sounding her out, he confirmed that this woman was still completely in the dark. Long Xiu the pimp was deliberately creating a chance for the two of them to spend time alone.

Once he knew that, Niu Youdao suddenly praised her. “Miss Yi really is beautiful.”

Yi Shu swept him with a cold glance. Remembering the way he had clung to Guan Fangyi made her feel disgusted. She mocked him. “I imagine you’ve said that to quite a few women.”

“Never! I mean it. I’ve admired Miss Yi for a long time. Truthfully, the first time I saw you, I already liked you...”

“Shut up!” Yi Shu warned him coldly. “Don’t foul my ears. Keep babbling and I’ll cut out your tongue.”

“My feelings for Miss Yi are sincere. I’ve decided. Once we return to the villa, I’ll ask the Palace Master for your hand and request that he marry you to me.”

“Try talking nonsense again!” Yi Shu flew into a rage. Her sword came half out of its sheath in warning.

“All right, all right, I won’t say any more.” Niu Youdao quickly raised his hands in surrender. When he lowered them, he made a stopping gesture behind his back.

Uncle Chen and Old Second Wu had been following at a moderate distance. When Yi Shu drew her sword, they nearly flashed forward. Seeing Niu Youdao’s signal, they forced themselves to remain where they were.

The man and woman continued wandering through the mountains. When they reached a summit, Yi Shu spotted a cluster of buildings among the hills and finally spoke first. “What place is that?”

“Oh.” Niu Youdao seized the chance to move closer. Pointing with his sword, he said, “That is where Liuxian Sect has established its sect grounds.”

Uncle Chen and Old Second Wu, watching closely from not far away, nearly had their jaws drop. Their eyes almost popped out.

Heavens! What was Master Dao doing?

For a moment, both thought they had seen wrongly. What happened next proved they had not.

“Ah!” Yi Shu suddenly screamed and struck out with her palm.

“Ah!” Niu Youdao cried out as well. The palm sent him flying. When he hit the ground, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Clang!

Yi Shu, flustered and furious, drew her sword completely.

Uncle Chen and Old Second Wu flashed over in alarm. Uncle Chen blocked her while Old Second Wu helped Niu Youdao up. “Master Dao, are you all right?”

“Go! Quickly! Don’t hurt Miss Yi!” Niu Youdao shouted.

Old Second Wu immediately supported him and fled. Uncle Chen fought while retreating, covering their escape.

Yi Shu’s face turned red, then white with fury. She was genuinely fighting to kill. Fortunately, her cultivation was not particularly high, and against Uncle Chen she remained at a disadvantage.

Old Second Wu supported Niu Youdao as they fled toward the nearest refuge, eventually ducking into Liuxian Sect.

Fei Changliu rushed out after receiving word. The moment he saw Niu Youdao with blood at the corner of his mouth and splashed across his clothes, he was badly startled. “Master Dao, what happened?” He looked up toward the booming sounds of fighting outside.

“Don’t waste words. Let me hide here...” Niu Youdao beckoned him closer and rapidly gave a few instructions.

Before long, Uncle Chen abandoned the fight and flashed away.

Yi Shu charged into Liuxian Sect with sword in hand. The disciples who appeared did not stop her and simply let her rampage through the sect grounds searching everywhere.

Niu Youdao, meanwhile, hid from place to place.

The grounds were large, and everyone there was on his side. How could Yi Shu alone possibly find him? Whenever she reached one area, Niu Youdao immediately moved to another. They never even crossed paths.

“Niu Youdao, get the hell out here!” Yi Shu shouted furiously when she could not find him.

Shouting did no good. In the end, she flew away, returning to Maolu Villa to gather people from Xiaoyao Palace.

Uncle Chen had already returned to Maolu Villa ahead of her. He found Guan Fangyi, pulled her aside, and said, “Master Dao was injured by Yi Shu. He’s hiding at Liuxian Sect now.”

“What?” Guan Fangyi was shocked. She snapped, “How? That woman shouldn’t even be as strong as Kunlin Shu was back then. How could she injure Master Dao as he is now?”

Uncle Chen’s expression twitched. He shook his head helplessly. “It seems... Master Dao seems to have... put his hands on her.”

[End of Chapter 613]