Chapter 715: Everything Requires Evidence

Niu Youdao turned his gaze toward Yuan Gang. He knew exactly what the man meant. Yuan Gang wanted to test his own ability to control beasts, to see whether he could contend with the Myriad Beasts Sect and lend the Yan army a hand.

"Monkey, problems don't always have to be solved by fighting and killing." Niu Youdao sighed.

Yuan Gang said, "Master Dao, you know Marshal Meng's strategy too. This war is too important to Yan. We can't afford to lose. I can try. Maybe I can help."

Niu Youdao met his eyes.

Guan Fangyi looked from one man to the other, worried they were about to start arguing again.

Niu Youdao glanced back and gave her a look, signaling for her to step away.

Guan Fangyi pursed her lips, visibly displeased, but still swayed off into the trees with her round fan in hand.

Once no one else was nearby, Niu Youdao asked, "Help? How? Can you suppress the Myriad Beasts Sect?"

Yuan Gang said, "I never said I could suppress the Myriad Beasts Sect. I only need to suppress the birds and beasts causing trouble on the battlefield."

Niu Youdao said, "And advertise your ability in the process? Show everyone that you possess a method capable of opposing the Myriad Beasts Sect all by yourself?"

Yuan Gang said, "Master Dao, I have no intention of advertising anything."

"If you have no such intention, then why not avoid it?" Niu Youdao replied. "Even if you succeed, you would be breaking the very foundation on which the Myriad Beasts Sect stands. Do you have any idea how many people would start watching you?"

Yuan Gang said, "If I don't even try, am I supposed to sit and watch Marshal Meng lose?"

"Monkey!" Niu Youdao drove the sword planted in his hand hard against the ground. He looked almost mentally exhausted. "Why do you still not understand? We are already being watched. Have you forgotten Baili Jie? Do you have any idea how many matters are connected to us now? The affair of the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit at the Ice and Snow Pavilion is rumored to involve me. Misty Pavilion set its sights on Yun Ji, and then Yun Ji became entangled with me as well. Yes, in some of these matters there is no direct evidence proving any connection to me. But if one thing after another keeps piling up, if we keep attracting attention over and over, do you take Misty Pavilion for fools?"

Yuan Gang froze. He looked startled as well, as though Niu Youdao's words had suddenly awakened him.

Niu Youdao continued earnestly, "Monkey, what needs to be done can be done. But when we need to keep a low profile, we must keep a low profile. Unless there is truly no other choice, we should avoid exposing anything on our side that might tempt outsiders to investigate. Take the sword in my hand. It can withstand a strike from the Holy Rakshasa, yet I almost never draw it. No one knows my true depth. Do you understand what I mean?"

Yuan Gang fell silent, then lowered his head. "Then what about Marshal Meng's side?"

"Hongniang!" Niu Youdao called loudly.

Hearing him, Guan Fangyi came back out of the woods. She glanced at both men and said irritably, "What?"

"Come with me. Also send a message to Meng Shanming..."

...

Gongsun Bu entered the temporary central command tent and glanced at the grim-faced men gathered inside. Circling around the side, he came to the main table and quietly reminded the man seated behind it, "Marshal Meng." Then he handed over a sheet of paper.

Meng Shanming glanced at him and accepted the secret letter. After reading it carefully, his brows moved slightly.

The letter was from Niu Youdao. He said he already knew about the defeat and asked whether the three major sects had any way of dealing with the situation. If not, Meng Shanming was to act according to Niu Youdao's wishes. If he had no confidence in another clash with the Song army, he should temporarily avoid battle, maneuver around the enemy, and give Niu Youdao several days. After those few days, Niu Youdao would give Meng Shanming an answer.

Meng Shanming did not know what method Niu Youdao intended to use to resolve the problem. Even so, based on the trust built up over their past dealings, he inexplicably felt himself relax after reading the letter.

He understood.

Niu Youdao was going to make a move.

After finishing the letter, Meng Shanming casually rolled it up, held it to an oil lamp, and burned it to ash in front of everyone.

After several rounds of messages back and forth, he had roughly reached a conclusion. Judging by the timing, Niu Youdao had probably been near him all along, at least not far away. The man had simply remained hidden and never shown himself. His thinking was truly strange and difficult to fathom.

Of course, Meng Shanming had long since grown used to it. Being impossible to read was precisely that man's style.

The people in the tent looked at one another. None knew what had been written in the letter that had just been burned, but all of them knew Gongsun Bu was Niu Youdao's man.

Gong Lince was not in the tent. The Myriad Beasts Sect's intervention had caused the Yan army to suffer a crushing defeat, and Gong Lince was furious. Yan's three major sects were naturally going to demand an explanation from the Myriad Beasts Sect, and he was already making arrangements.

After burning the letter, Meng Shanming nodded to Gongsun Bu to show he understood.

Gongsun Bu inclined himself slightly, circled away again, and left the central command tent.

...

"Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! A great victory!"

In the Song capital, Chancellor Zi Pingxiu strode quickly into the Imperial Study and cupped his hands toward Emperor Mu Zhuozhen, who sat behind the desk.

Mu Zhuozhen had already received the news of Chen Shaotong's great victory. The battle report lay on the desk before him. He laughed heartily. "This is all thanks to the Chancellor's recommendation and excellent planning!"

Zi Pingxiu hurriedly demurred. "This old minister would not dare claim such credit. I merely borrowed Your Majesty's heavenly authority."

Mu Zhuozhen rose, walked around the desk, and paced forward with a thoroughly satisfied expression. "Annihilating five hundred thousand Yan troops in one stroke has finally let us vent some of our anger. With the Myriad Beasts Sect assisting him, I look forward to General Chen winning more victories!"

Zi Pingxiu nodded. "This old minister will certainly instruct him not to disappoint Your Majesty's high expectations."

That was what he said aloud. Inwardly, however, he knew it was unlikely.

Chen Shaotong had sent him a letter at the first opportunity. A chance like that would not be easy to recreate. The Yan army was not stupid, and the troops in Chen Shaotong's hands were simply too poor in quality. All he could do now was trail behind the Yan army, intimidating and delaying it until Luo Zhao returned with his forces.

But this could easily provoke criticism at court. Chen Shaotong hoped his esteemed father-in-law would smooth over any accusations for him.

Zi Pingxiu had already prepared his answer. When the time came, he would say it was not that Chen Shaotong refused to fight, but that the Yan army was avoiding battle. Of course, he would not say that now. For the moment, he followed the emperor's wishes and promised to urge Chen Shaotong to continue looking for opportunities to fight.

Even so, he could not help feeling some regret. It was a pity the Myriad Beasts Sect had refused to assist them with its full strength. Otherwise, his son-in-law would certainly have won even greater merit.

According to Chen Shaotong's original idea, beyond aid on the ground, they could also have used the Myriad Beasts Sect's large-scale flying beasts to launch air attacks, dropping incendiary oil and setting fires from above. No matter where the Yan army fled, it would have nowhere to hide. Its formations would inevitably collapse, and once ground forces pursued the rout, Yan would certainly be defeated.

But the Myriad Beasts Sect had held something back. Not only had it demanded autonomy over the territory around its sect, it also refused to show itself openly and would provide only limited assistance.

It would not agree to deploy large numbers of flying beasts. The moment it did that, the Myriad Beasts Sect would have no way to deny involvement.

Later, Jia Wuqun had even told them that so long as this battle was won, Yan would inevitably be destroyed and there would be no need to fear Yan's retaliation. Even then, the Myriad Beasts Sect still refused.

In the end, the Myriad Beasts Sect was no easy target either. It had recognized Song's weakness and, in turn, seized Song by the throat, agreeing only to limited aid.

Forced by circumstances, Song had no choice but to accept the Myriad Beasts Sect's conditions.

This way, the Myriad Beasts Sect could give Song an answer, seize the opportunity to obtain what it wanted, and still leave itself room to maneuver.

...

"Good! Hahaha..."

Beside the road along which the army was withdrawing, Luo Zhao sat on horseback and threw back his head in laughter as he held the battle report.

Ever since Meng Shanming had made his move, one unfavorable development after another had weighed heavily on him. His retreat had not gone smoothly either. Nanzhou's forces harassed them constantly along the road, while worries about what lay ahead pressed on him as well. Only today had he finally received news that let him breathe again.

Meng Shanming had actually suffered a crushing defeat!

"This truly is tremendous news!" Su Yuanbai also lifted his face to the sky and sighed.

Wen You nodded. "The Chancellor is indeed worthy of being Chancellor. He actually persuaded the Myriad Beasts Sect, which has never involved itself in disputes among the states, to act. With this, even if Chen Shaotong cannot completely defeat the Yan army, he should at least be able to help us withdraw safely. With the Myriad Beasts Sect's aid, once our army returns, Great Song will become the Yan army's burial ground!"

Dong Yinglai and Chang Fei smiled and nodded as well. They had not previously known that the Myriad Beasts Sect had intervened either.

Their sects had known. After all, the conditions proposed by the Myriad Beasts Sect required their sects' approval. But the matter could not be publicized at first and had been kept secret, both to prevent the Yan army from making preparations in advance and because the Myriad Beasts Sect had demanded secrecy. If its conditions were refused, the Myriad Beasts Sect had threatened not only to withdraw its aid, but even to assist Yan instead.

...

Shang Chaozong, who had been "escorting" the Song army throughout its withdrawal, also received word of Meng Shanming's defeat. When he learned the Myriad Beasts Sect had intervened, he was badly shocked.

At the Myriad Beasts Sect, an unwelcome visitor had arrived.

Yue Yuan, an Elder of Zijin Cave, had come personally on Sect Leader Gong Lince's orders with several men.

The moment Xi Haitang appeared, Yue Yuan began arguing with him in the main hall. The atmosphere between the two sides quickly grew tense.

Xi Haitang flatly denied everything. "I will say it again. This matter has nothing whatsoever to do with my Myriad Beasts Sect. We are just as surprised as you are, and we have already sent people to investigate it."

Yue Yuan said angrily, "I saw the scene with my own eyes. Snakes, insects, rats, ants, birds, and beasts— even our Goldenwings and large flying mounts lost control. Who else beneath Heaven possesses such methods besides your Myriad Beasts Sect?"

Xi Haitang raised his brows. "Someone can command birds and beasts, so the blame is automatically laid at my Myriad Beasts Sect's door? Since when has there been such logic beneath Heaven? Yue, everything requires evidence!"

"Then tell me," Yue Yuan said, "who else besides the Myriad Beasts Sect is skilled in such methods?"

"You ask me? Who am I supposed to ask?" Xi Haitang replied. "My Myriad Beasts Sect does not make wild accusations without evidence."

Yue Yuan gave a cold, contemptuous laugh. "Your Myriad Beasts Sect keeps declaring that it does not interfere in disputes among the states, yet secretly commits such despicable acts. If you do not give us an explanation for this today, then from now on Myriad Beasts Sect disciples passing through Yan may not meet pleasant ends!" His cold gaze swept across the Myriad Beasts Sect's senior figures.

Xi Haitang said, "If you discover any Myriad Beasts Sect disciple responsible, by all means seize them and kill them one by one. The Myriad Beasts Sect will have no complaint. But if you have no evidence and come here spouting nonsense, we will not accept it! And there is no need to threaten us. The Myriad Beasts Sect is not made of clay. Let me see who dares touch one of our disciples without cause!"

Yue Yuan said, "Proving it was not your Myriad Beasts Sect is simple. Send people with me to the battlefield and settle this matter. Then I will believe you were not responsible."

"Spare me that trick!" Xi Haitang snapped. "I will say it again. The Myriad Beasts Sect does business with people from all under Heaven and never involves itself in disputes among the states. Believe it or don't. If you want to frame us, produce evidence first. If you cannot, then forgive us for not entertaining you. Someone come. See the guests out!"

A group of Myriad Beasts Sect experts surged forward. Chao Jing extended a hand toward Yue Yuan and the others and barked without courtesy, "This way!"

"Fine! Just you wait. Yan, from top to bottom, will never let this matter rest!" Yue Yuan pointed at them, threw down the threat, and swept out of the hall with a flick of his sleeve.

[End of Chapter 715]