Chapter 716: Three Letters

For a man of his status to say such things in a place like this carried more than a hint of outward ferocity masking inward weakness.

But Yue Yuan had no other choice. He had not expected the Myriad Beasts Sect to deny everything so stubbornly. They demanded evidence. Where was he supposed to find any?

Once the other side took that position, there truly was little one could say without proof.

After leaving the main hall, Xi Haitang watched Yue Yuan's retreating back and relaxed slightly. Turning his head, he asked quietly, "They will probably go looking for evidence. Is everything secure on that side?"

Chao Jing replied in a low voice, "Sect Leader, rest assured. Everything has been arranged. The people over there should understand the consequences. If our men are exposed and leave us unable to preserve face, we may very well withdraw our support. That would do them no good. The three major sects will protect our people with everything they have and will not allow them to fall into the other side's hands."

Xi Haitang nodded slightly.

Yet the news of Meng Shanming's defeat caused a considerable stir throughout the states. It was not only Yan's three major sects that came asking questions. Major powers everywhere showed concern, all wanting to know whether the Myriad Beasts Sect had intervened in the war.

The three major sects of Qi and Wei in particular even issued direct warnings to the Myriad Beasts Sect, telling it to mind its position or not blame them for being impolite.

The situation was already quite clear. Yan intended to beat Song into submission so the two states could resist Han together, thereby stabilizing the balance beneath Heaven. This directly affected the interests of Qi and Wei, so the powers of those two states naturally stepped forward to warn the Myriad Beasts Sect.

But the Myriad Beasts Sect still gave the same answer.

We did not do it.

They refused to admit anything.

The Myriad Beasts Sect had its own calculations. It was no ordinary small sect. A sect with no territory of its own yet still able to win a seat in Misty Pavilion naturally possessed methods others did not. Just as it could make the Yan army suffer this time, it could make the forces of other states suffer as well. Once the present storm blew over and victory and defeat had been decided, which sect would be so idle as to keep fighting the Myriad Beasts Sect to the death?

...

"Defeated, was he?"

Inside a small chamber attached to the Imperial Study in Yanjing, Shang Jianxiong rolled over on the couch and asked the question.

He had not slept this deeply in a very long time, only to be awakened by Tian Yu, who brought news of Meng Shanming's defeat.

Tian Yu nodded. "It is said the Myriad Beasts Sect intervened. Five hundred thousand troops were lost in a single battle."

Shang Jianxiong slowly sat up and crossed his legs on the couch. For a long time, he said nothing.

Previously, he had longed for Meng Shanming to lose. Yet now that news of an actual defeat had arrived, unease crept over him instead.

He could not help thinking through one possibility. If Meng Shanming were completely defeated inside Song, then with the threat within Song removed, would Luo Zhao still need to continue withdrawing? Even if he did not turn around immediately and threaten Yanjing again, might he regroup and return later?

Given the condition of Yan, who would stop him then?

"Summon Tong Mo and the others," Shang Jianxiong said in a deep voice.

"Yes!" Tian Yu accepted the order. He glanced at the couch, then cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, will you return to the inner palace to rest tonight?"

At the mention of the inner palace, the shadow in Shang Jianxiong's heart still had not faded. It was as though he could still hear those women crying. He snapped angrily, "Go do your job!"

"Yes!" Tian Yu bowed quickly and left, not daring to say more. His little probe had confirmed that His Majesty was still somewhat afraid to return to the inner palace.

When Tong Mo and the others arrived, sovereign and ministers discussed matters for a time. In the end, they decided to go together to find Meng Xuan and urge the three major sects to force Meng Shanming to lead the army back.

Yan's internal defenses were empty. There was no longer any main force available to be sent out elsewhere, and that left them deeply uneasy. If Meng Shanming truly squandered Yan's elite troops inside Song, what were they supposed to do afterward?

Now that Meng Shanming had run into a wall, it was the perfect opportunity to call the army back.

Meng Xuan had also received news of the defeat. Faced with the sovereign and ministers urging him, he was not entirely confident either. He neither agreed nor refused, merely saying he would discuss it with Gong Lince.

After receiving Meng Xuan's message, Gong Lince hesitated as well. For the moment, there was nothing they could do about the Myriad Beasts Sect, while Chen Shaotong was leading an army after the Yan forces and Yan had been avoiding battle all along.

How long could this go on? It also seemed unlikely they could stop Luo Zhao's forces from withdrawing successfully.

Gong Lince too began thinking that perhaps they should retreat and preserve their strength. So he went to discuss it with Meng Shanming.

To his surprise, Meng Shanming refused outright.

His reasoning was that if Song were allowed to preserve a substantial part of its main force, Han would inevitably attack the weaker Yan afterward. And when that happened, it might not be Han alone. Zhao and Song could very well join in to take a share. If three states moved against Yan at once, Yan would certainly perish.

Whether those unknown future events would truly happen, Gong Lince did not know. What he did know was that right now Chen Shaotong was chasing them around. What exactly did Meng Shanming intend to do about that?

Meng Shanming did not mention Niu Youdao's secret letter. He merely said he was searching for an opportunity to fight.

With Meng Shanming insisting on staying, Gong Lince found himself caught between advancing and retreating.

...

So it really was an old acquaintance.

Zhou Tiezi, who had come into a mountain forest, froze when he saw Niu Youdao and Guan Fangyi step out from among the trees. One wore a broad smile; the other had her trademark amused expression.

Zhou Tiezi truly had not expected to meet these two again after they left the Myriad Beasts Sect, much less that they would be the ones asking to see him.

He was only a low-ranking disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect. Back when trouble arose during the Spirit Beast Gathering, he had simply been responsible for attending to the two of them. Niu Youdao had even proposed becoming sworn brothers with him.

Then, without warning, he received a letter arranging a meeting and saying it was from an old friend. He had wondered who it could be. He knew few people outside the sect and could not think of anyone who had reason to harm him. He had never imagined it would be these two.

"Brother Zhou, don't you recognize me?" Niu Youdao walked over with a smile.

Zhou Tiezi looked somewhat constrained, but still saluted properly. "Master Dao. Hongniang."

"Why so formal? I was passing through the area and realized Brother Zhou and I had not seen each other for a long time. With the present situation, I was afraid people might misunderstand, so I concealed my identity when arranging the meeting. Have you been well?" Niu Youdao chatted with him casually for a while.

Zhou Tiezi had heard that forces under this man's people were currently fighting Song, so he had reservations and kept something back in his replies.

Niu Youdao had originally wanted to ask about the situation inside the Myriad Beasts Sect. Seeing Zhou Tiezi's attitude, however, he did not make things difficult for him. He merely confirmed whether Chao Shenghuai was currently at the sect.

Earlier, Niu Youdao had heard that Chao Shenghuai was being held under house arrest in the Song capital. He and Hongniang had made a trip there, only to discover that Chao Shenghuai was no longer at the place of detention. They had no idea where he had gone. Since the matter was tied to Jia Wuqun's secret business, naturally no one had publicized it.

Niu Youdao immediately formed a judgment. Before this, Meng Shanming's side had still been unable to confirm absolutely that the Myriad Beasts Sect had intervened. Chao Shenghuai's disappearance made Niu Youdao considerably more certain.

If they wanted the Myriad Beasts Sect to help, continuing to detain the grandson of one of its Elders would hardly be appropriate. Niu Youdao suspected Chao Shenghuai had already returned to the sect.

Now that he had asked Zhou Tiezi and received confirmation, sure enough, the man was back.

Seeing that Zhou Tiezi remained somewhat wary, Niu Youdao did not waste any more words. He pulled another letter from his sleeve and handed it over. "There is another acquaintance of mine inside the Myriad Beasts Sect. I had meant to send him my regards, but it would not be suitable for me to remain here long. I will have to trouble Brother Zhou to carry this letter of greeting for me."

Carrying a letter was no great matter. Zhou Tiezi accepted it and looked at both sides of the envelope. Seeing no recipient's name, he could not help asking, "Who is it for?"

"The man I just asked about, Chao Shenghuai," Niu Youdao said. "To avoid bringing him trouble, don't let anyone else know the letter came from me. It would also keep Chao Shenghuai from blaming you for spreading the matter around and causing you trouble."

Zhou Tiezi nodded. "All right. If there is nothing else, I will head back."

"No hurry." Niu Youdao held out a hand to one side. Guan Fangyi placed a gold note worth ten thousand gold coins in it. Niu Youdao offered it over. "A small token of my regard. I hope Brother Zhou will not disdain it."

A low-ranking disciple like Zhou Tiezi did not have the nerve to accept money from outsiders. He refused repeatedly and would not take it no matter what was said. Niu Youdao had no choice but to give up.

...

"Senior Brother Chao, a letter for you."

Chao Shenghuai had it rather miserable as well. In a fit of anger, his grandfather Chao Jing had sentenced him to sweep the grounds for three years. It was partly punishment and partly a display for the other disciples.

While he was sweeping, a fellow disciple came over and handed him a letter.

Chao Shenghuai accepted it in surprise. "From whom?"

"I don't know," the other man said. "Zhou Tiezi from the general chores side brought it over. He said someone asked him to carry it back while he was out."

"Zhou Tiezi?" Chao Shenghuai froze for a moment.

There were too many disciples in the Myriad Beasts Sect for him to remember them all, especially those assigned to miscellaneous work. But Zhou Tiezi did leave an impression on him. The man had once attended Niu Youdao in the guest courtyard.

Precisely because of that, Chao Shenghuai's heart tightened. He forced a smile, thanked his fellow disciple, and went on sweeping.

Only once no one was around did he slip somewhere secluded, quickly pull the letter from his sleeve, and open it.

He would have been better off not looking. The instant he did, his expression darkened.

Four names were written inside.

They were the four fellow disciples whom he had once asked Niu Youdao to silence permanently.

Besides those four names, there was only one sentence: meet at a certain place, and if he missed the time, he would bear the consequences.

There was no need to ask who was looking for him.

Chao Shenghuai's expression turned ugly. He gritted his teeth in hatred, but there was no way to turn back from what he had already done.

He had no idea what Niu Youdao wanted from him this time, but every time the man came looking for him, nothing good ever followed.

Yet he did not dare refuse the meeting. All he could do was find an excuse to leave the Myriad Beasts Sect temporarily.

After reaching the appointed mountain forest, he finally saw that hateful smiling face, a face that seemed like a demon to him. Chao Shenghuai rushed up to Niu Youdao and shouted angrily, "You said nothing would happen, yet you got me held under house arrest by the court for all this time! You still have the face to come looking for me? What will it take for you to let me go? I'm telling you now, I will never help you do anything again. If you dare force me again, I will expose the fact that you murdered the Song envoy!"

Niu Youdao leaned on his sword and smiled. "Brother Chao, calm yourself. I did not come this time to make you do anything. I only brought you some money and wanted to ask one question while I was here. There is no need to be nervous."

Chao Shenghuai looked deeply suspicious. "What question?"

"During the fighting between Song and Yan, people suddenly appeared on Song's side who could command birds and beasts, snakes, insects, rats, and ants to assist the Song army. Were they people from your Myriad Beasts Sect?"

Chao Shenghuai said impatiently, "I heard Yan cultivators came to demand an explanation. The sect itself denies everything. Even if such a thing is true, if it is a secret the sect itself refuses to admit, how could someone like me possibly know?"

"In that case..." Niu Youdao smiled and took another letter from his sleeve, waving it lightly.

Chao Shenghuai's body suddenly went rigid.

His eyes opened wide, and he toppled stiffly to the ground. Someone had ambushed him.

Standing to one side, Guan Fangyi withdrew the finger she had just thrust out, then beckoned.

Old Second Wu flashed over.

Niu Youdao handed him the letter and looked down at Chao Shenghuai lying prone on the ground. In an even voice, he said, "The third letter. Deliver it to Chao Jing."

[End of Chapter 716]