Chapter 614: To Die Beneath the Peony, Even as a Ghost I’d Still Be a Rake

The anger vanished from Guan Fangyi’s face in an instant. She stared at him in disbelief. “What did you say?”

“Ah!” Even Uncle Chen, who normally wore a stern face, could not help showing an expression caught between laughter and tears. This time he said it plainly. “Master Dao put his hands on her! She’s an unmarried young woman. If you do something like that to her, how could she not strike back? Master Dao brought this entirely on himself. And if Long Xiu finds out, isn’t he just asking for trouble?”

Guan Fangyi was rendered speechless. Then her expression gradually turned strange.

She knew Niu Youdao fairly well. For reasons she did not understand, he had always kept his distance from women and had never behaved recklessly. This was a man rational to the bone. There was no chance he would do something like this on impulse.

After thinking it over for a moment, especially considering that the target had been Yi Shu, Guan Fangyi roughly guessed what was going on. She waved a hand. “Come on. Let’s go see.”

The two had only just left when Yi Shu stormed back. She found several senior fellow disciples and demanded that they help her go settle accounts with Niu Youdao.

What kind of joke was that? This was Niu Youdao’s territory. They were going to seize Niu Youdao? Did the Palace Master know about this?

Naturally, the commotion quickly reached Long Xiu. He came out and stood beneath the eaves, looking puzzled as well.

There was another hidden motive behind the arrangement he had made, one that was not suitable for others to know. He therefore waved everyone else away. Only after calling Yi Shu inside did he ask, “He was rude to you? That doesn’t sound likely. From what I’ve seen, you’re the one who has never been particularly polite to him. Tell me, then. How exactly was he rude?”

Yi Shu’s face shifted between red and white. She was too ashamed to say it aloud. Stammering, she said, “He said... he said he likes me.”

“Uh...” Long Xiu froze, almost laughing aloud. Niu Youdao certainly did not waste time. Long Xiu spread his hands. “That’s a good thing! Affection between men and women is perfectly normal. What is wrong with him expressing admiration for you? At the very least, it proves you have qualities worth liking. If he didn’t find you appealing, why would he say such a thing? If you don’t accept him, then refuse. Is there any need to be this angry?”

“Aiya, Master, that’s not what happened!” Yi Shu stamped her foot in frustration.

Long Xiu said, “Then what exactly happened? Explain yourself. Xiaoyao Palace is one of the great sects beneath Heaven. We can’t openly behave without reason.”

Yi Shu stamped her foot again. “That man is shameless beyond belief! He even said he was going to ask Master for my hand and wanted to marry me!”

“Hahaha...” Long Xiu finally could not hold back. He burst out laughing and pointed at his disciple, looking completely helpless with her.

Yi Shu flew into a rage. “Master, your disciple was humiliated and you can still laugh? This proves he has no respect for Xiaoyao Palace at all!”

At this moment, she finally believed completely what Chen Tingxiu had said back then. If the man even dared treat her indecently, how could anyone claim he respected Xiaoyao Palace?

Long Xiu waved his hand, still caught between laughter and exasperation. “He likes you and wants to ask for your hand. What is abnormal about that? It’s a good thing! Besides, the choice is still ours. Whether you marry him or not is another question entirely. Is this really something worth seizing him over?”

Yi Shu truly could not bring herself to say that he had touched her improperly. She was an unmarried maiden and regarded this as a stain on her chastity and honor. If word spread, how was she supposed to face anyone in the future? She wanted nothing more than to catch Niu Youdao, hack him to pieces to vent her hatred, and silence him while she was at it.

Seeing her master refuse to understand, she nearly went mad. “Master, it isn’t what you think. That man is utterly shameless. He actually... actually got handsy with me! After I injured him, he hid inside Liuxian Sect. In any case, I absolutely cannot let him escape. I’m going to drag him out and cut him into a thousand pieces!”

Long Xiu froze. The smile disappeared from his face. His voice turned cold. “You injured him?”

Seeing that her master showed no concern about her being touched and instead cared whether the other man had been injured, Yi Shu immediately felt unbearably wronged. “He treated me indecently. If I didn’t strike him, was I supposed to let him off?”

“Foolish!” Long Xiu’s expression changed in an instant. He flung out a sleeve and pointed at her in fury. “Do you have any idea what the situation is right now? Did you not see the people from Lingxiao Pavilion and Tiannü Sect? If you force him into a dead end, have you thought about the consequences?”

Tears spilled from Yi Shu’s eyes. Choking back sobs, she said, “Master, is your disciple’s chastity truly worth nothing in your eyes?”

“What chastity?” Long Xiu rebuked her. “Did he actually violate you? Would he dare? ‘A fair and graceful maiden is a gentleman’s good match.’ What is wrong with a man pursuing a woman? Is this worth making such a great fuss over? You even injured him. Do you think that because you’re a disciple of Xiaoyao Palace, you can do whatever you please beneath Heaven? You have no idea how high Heaven is or how deep the earth! I’m warning you. If you dare behave this recklessly again, I’ll marry you to him by force and let you learn what hardship really means!”

Yi Shu stood there trembling. She could no longer control herself. Tears streamed down her face as she choked with grief.

Long Xiu paced back and forth for a while, then stopped in front of her again. “Where is Niu Youdao?”

She did not answer. His tone immediately hardened. “I asked you where he is. Did you not hear me?”

Yi Shu sobbed, “He hid inside Liuxian Sect just now. I don’t know where he is anymore.”

“Nonsense!” Long Xiu flung the word at her, swept his sleeve, and strode out. He called his attendants and headed directly for Liuxian Sect.

...

Inside Liuxian Sect, Guan Fangyi arrived and went straight into a room. Old Second Wu, standing guard outside, pointed inside and let her enter.

Uncle Chen did not go in. He joined Old Second Wu and asked, “Master Dao all right?”

“He’s badly injured, but his life isn’t in danger.”

Uncle Chen shook his head. “Why go this far?”

Old Second Wu shook his head as well and lowered his voice. “What nerve. He even dared put his hands on Long Xiu’s disciple. I wonder whether Big Sister will get jealous. You didn’t tell her, did you?”

Everyone around them believed Niu Youdao and Hongniang had something going on. After all, back in Fufang Garden the two had lived together under the same roof. Who would believe that a lone man and woman could live together and nothing happen?

Uncle Chen replied, “Hongniang asked me why. How could I not tell her?”

“Let’s hope she doesn’t add another injury on top of the first.” Old Second Wu clicked his tongue and glanced toward the room, apparently worried Guan Fangyi might get jealous.

Guan Fangyi entered and closed the door behind her.

Niu Youdao lay on the couch looking unwell, his eyes following her as she approached.

Smoothing the back of her skirt over her hips, Guan Fangyi sat sideways beside the couch. She examined the blood at the corner of his mouth and on his clothes, then reached out and took his wrist to check his condition.

After examining him, contempt appeared on her face. She tossed his wrist aside and mocked him. “The cultivation world’s illustrious Master Dao gets himself seriously injured because he groped a woman. If word gets out, you’ll truly become a joke. You’ve thrown your face away completely.”

Niu Youdao lay there sighing. “To die beneath the peony, even as a ghost I’d still be a rake.”

“Peony?” Guan Fangyi’s mockery deepened. “Black Peony has been dead for years. If she saw you like this, you’d probably anger her back to life.” She raised a brow. “Master Dao, who would’ve guessed this was what you were into?”

Niu Youdao rolled his eyes. “I’m already injured this badly. Do you have even a shred of sympathy?”

“You brought it on yourself. Who else can you blame?” As she spoke, Guan Fangyi’s hand moved onto his chest. Suddenly she pressed down hard.

Already injured, Niu Youdao’s eyes bulged. He nearly spat out blood again. He slapped her hand away and coughed twice.

Guan Fangyi giggled. Leaning over him, she said, “Tell me, Master Dao. You’re injured this badly. What exactly happened?”

Niu Youdao caught his breath, glanced toward the window, and lowered his voice. “Long Xiu arranged for Yi Shu to walk around with me.”

Guan Fangyi understood at once. It was just as she had guessed. She knew Long Xiu’s intentions. Back when they had gone to Xiaoyao Palace, Niu Youdao had told her about it and had even used her as a shield. She teased, “Was it worth paying such a heavy price?”

Niu Youdao sighed. “Long Xiu stands high above everyone. For him to lower himself and come personally to Maolu Villa already felt strange to me. Then he arranged for Yi Shu to come find me, and I realized something was wrong. If I didn’t pay a real price and sour things between us properly, Long Xiu would almost certainly leave Yi Shu behind at Maolu Villa. I could even guess what excuse he would use. Nanzhou sending troops right now is the perfect excuse. If he really left that woman here to monitor me, I’d never hear the end of it.”

Guan Fangyi snickered. “He can still leave Yi Shu behind. He can say she’s staying to care for your injuries as an apology.”

“Impossible! She is the Palace Master of Xiaoyao Palace’s youngest and final disciple. Long Xiu wouldn’t lower himself that far.”

Guan Fangyi giggled. “To escape this romantic blessing, you really did rack your brains. Aren’t you afraid that little grab might backfire? What if Long Xiu makes you take responsibility?”

“Would I have done it without judging the situation first? With that woman’s temper, I was betting she wouldn’t dare say it aloud.”

“And what about later? Do you think Long Xiu will simply give up on the idea?”

“Later?” Niu Youdao said. “If Long Xiu asks why something I already agreed to has made no progress, this palm strike is more than enough as my shield. I can’t afford to provoke this woman. I’m frightened of her. Isn’t that reason enough? After this, Yi Shu will hate me, and Long Xiu won’t find it easy to persuade her either. Long Xiu cares about face. Whatever he thinks privately, he won’t say it outright. He wouldn’t lightly force his own disciple into a marriage alliance. Otherwise, why hint that I should take the initiative?” When he finished, he looked visibly relieved.

Seeing the way he clearly thought the palm strike had been worth it, Guan Fangyi could not help laughing. “Look at you. Have you used any medicine?”

Niu Youdao waved a hand. “Not yet. This will definitely alarm Long Xiu. If I’m acting, I might as well finish the whole performance.”

Guan Fangyi shook her head. “There’s blood all over your mouth. I’ll get some water and wipe it off.”

Niu Youdao waved her off again. “No. Wait until Long Xiu leaves.”

Fine. Guan Fangyi understood. Same reason. It was all for Long Xiu to see.

They had just been speaking of Long Xiu when the door suddenly opened. Old Second Wu stuck his head in and warned them, “Long Xiu is here.”

Before long, footsteps sounded outside. Long Xiu entered with several people from Xiaoyao Palace. Guan Fangyi immediately stood. Niu Youdao also struggled to sit up. “Palace Master!”

The moment Long Xiu saw the blood covering his mouth and staining his clothes, he raised a hand to stop him, then gestured for Hongniang to help him lie back down.

Once Niu Youdao was settled, Long Xiu said to everyone else, “You all go outside first.”

The Xiaoyao Palace people who had come to the couch to look at Niu Youdao withdrew together with Guan Fangyi. One Xiaoyao Palace disciple caught Long Xiu’s glance and closed the door behind him on the way out.

[End of Chapter 614]