Chapter 735: Adopted Daughter

What did it mean to sever this inner demon? Wen Mo'er was left speechless on the spot.

She had seen the Sect Leader before, and more than once, but always from a distance. She had never been qualified to step forward and speak with him, and the protectors around him would not allow just anyone to approach and disturb him. Today, now that she finally had a chance to speak with him face-to-face, she had learned how formidable this Sect Leader truly was. One sentence had left her with no road of retreat.

If she said she was unwilling to sever this inner demon, then her supposed single-minded devotion to the Dao became nothing but an excuse.

If she said she was willing, she had already guessed what the Sect Leader meant to say.

He wanted her to marry.

She had even guessed the likely target. Otherwise, why summon her for no reason and make her read the information gathered on those sheets of paper? The Sect Leader had already made his meaning clear. He had merely phrased it tactfully.

But how was she supposed to bear such a thing? She did not even know whether the man was tall or short, fat or thin, handsome or ugly. How could she agree?

She truly had never imagined she would be summoned here because of something like this.

Yet for her, the matter was both unexpected and, in another sense, entirely predictable. She had worried about this possibility before she came. For years, troubles caused by her looks had arisen again and again. Whenever someone suddenly summoned her for some matter, she instinctively became wary of this sort of thing. She simply had not expected even the Sect Leader to be no exception.

Seeing her bite her lip and remain silent for so long, Gong Lince asked again, "Why aren't you speaking?"

Wen Mo'er said with difficulty, "This disciple does not wish to marry."

Gong Lince showed no intention of letting the matter go. He said mildly, "Why don't you wish to marry?"

How was Wen Mo'er supposed to answer that? Was she to say she did not want to be forced by them in a matter like this? After hesitating repeatedly, she said, "This disciple wishes to remain in the sect and do what little I can for it."

Gong Lince said, "I understand something of what goes through a young woman's mind. You don't want to betray your own heart, nor do you want to waste your beauty. You want to find an ideal husband whom you truly like? Certainly, beauty does give you more capital with which to choose. But I will tell you this: the notion of an ideal husband is too naive. People all possess the seven emotions and six desires. No one is perfect. The ideal husband you imagine does not exist in this world. That is nothing more than wishful thinking."

"In truth, people do not have nearly as many choices as they imagine. Circumstances force them. What appears to be a choice of love and desire is often only illusion. When you live within a body bound by shared interests and draw nourishment from that body, then no matter how much or how little you receive, no matter how dissatisfied you may be, every benefit you enjoy was built upon the sacrifice, pain, and effort of those who came before you. Whatever else may be said, that body owes you nothing. You are the one who owes it. An individual's choices, joys, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are not important. If you enjoy the benefits that body provides, then you must pay a price for them."

"I am no different. Neither are you. Every disciple of Zijin Cave is the same. No one is permitted to betray it. Whoever defies it will be put to death by all. That is what it means to belong to a body of shared interests."

Once the words had been taken this far, there was no road back.

If Wen Mo'er refused today, Gong Lince would not allow what had happened here to spread. She would never return to Zijin Cave alive. Whether Wen Mo'er was beautiful or not had nothing to do with life and death. However beautiful she might be, if she had to die, then she would die.

Wen Mo'er understood that.

The people who had pressured her before had done so out of private desire. They could not oppose the sect's rules and therefore had never dared go too far with her.

But the man before her today was the one who wielded those rules, the man who held Zijin Cave's law in his hands.

She could not resist him.

Yet she still seemed unwilling to give in. "The Tiandu Secret Realm is about to open. This disciple seems to have been nominated. I am willing to go. I am willing to give my life for the sect!"

The Tiandu Secret Realm was one of several sealed secret realms left behind from the era of Shang Song. Its entrance opened once every fifty years. Whenever that time came, every state had to send one thousand cultivators inside. In truth, cultivators from the various states were unwilling to participate, but the arm could not twist the thigh. It was a rigid rule imposed by Misty Pavilion.

The rules of the cultivation world ordinarily worked against independent cultivators, suppressing them heavily and making it difficult for independent cultivator factions to grow. But when the Tiandu Secret Realm opened, the disadvantage shifted to cultivators belonging to the sect powers of the various states, because a struggle would take place inside, while independent cultivators did not have to enter.

Wen Mo'er had offended people. Someone had used this as a threat, intending to nominate her for entry into the Tiandu Secret Realm.

Gong Lince said, "Absurd! The Tiandu Secret Realm is no trivial matter. How could it be decided at will by one person's private schemes? How many people Zijin Cave will send, and who will go, are matters the sect itself will weigh carefully. You need not concern yourself with it!"

The meaning could not have been clearer.

Whether she went or not was something he could decide with a single sentence.

Wen Mo'er bit her lip with pearly teeth and asked, "Is it Niu Youdao?"

Gong Lince said nothing, tacitly confirming it.

Wen Mo'er said, "This disciple does not understand. I remain inside the sect and can count on one hand the number of times I have left. How would Niu Youdao know of me? How could he have specifically asked to marry me?"

Gong Lince said, "He does not know you. He does not even know you exist, so naturally he has never thought of marrying you. The result the sect hopes to see may not necessarily be that he marries you."

Wen Mo'er instantly understood what her role was meant to be...

When Yue Yuan was summoned back into the tent, he was greatly startled.

Gong Lince had actually taken Wen Mo'er as his adopted daughter.

Gong Lince instructed Yue Yuan to send word of it back to the sect.

With that status alone, it was now highly unlikely that anyone in Zijin Cave would propose sending Wen Mo'er into the Tiandu Secret Realm to risk her life.

Although Yue Yuan had already guessed something of Gong Lince's intentions, the result still left him not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He could imagine that once this news reached the sect, some of those who had harbored fantasies about Wen Mo'er would be dealt a heavy blow. Wen Mo'er had suddenly flown onto a high branch. Those who had once offended her had now become people who had offended the Sect Leader's adopted daughter. They would probably spend their days in unease.

As for the papers containing the collected information on Niu Youdao, they were handed to Wen Mo'er. Gong Lince told her to read through them carefully.

Gongsun Bu was surprised as well when Gong Lince appeared before him.

At Gong Lince's signal, Gongsun Bu dismissed everyone around them and stood respectfully awaiting orders.

"Where is Niu Youdao?" Gong Lince asked coldly.

Gongsun Bu replied respectfully, "I truly don't know where he is."

Gong Lince said, "Then you should understand even better that unless he completely cuts off contact with this side, I will eventually find him."

Gongsun Bu said, "I understand Sect Leader Gong's meaning. Master Dao has precautions in place. Even following the tracks of the Goldenwings may not necessarily lead you to him."

Gong Lince gave a faint acknowledgment. "Given the current situation, it truly is inconvenient to commit large numbers of men to searching for him. But he cannot hide for the rest of his life. He has ties he cannot abandon. He can hide for a time, but not forever. I came to you for no other reason. Help me pass a few words to him. That should not put you in too difficult a position, should it?"

Gongsun Bu bowed slightly. "Sect Leader Gong, say whatever you wish. I will certainly find a way to contact Master Dao and pass on your words."

Gong Lince said, "Tell him his influence already exceeds his strength. After this great war, if Yan survives, Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming will possess far too much influence over the state. The three major sects cannot allow an uncontrollable man to sway that influence from behind them. Who does he think he is? Does he intend to cover Heaven with one hand? The three major sects have no choice."

Gongsun Bu's expression grew solemn. "I will remember it."

Gong Lince continued, "Remind him that an Elder of Xiaoyao Palace is not so easy to kill, and offending me as well will do him no good. Having too much freedom may not necessarily be good for him either. There is no such perfect arrangement beneath Heaven. I hope the outcome will be good for everyone."

"I will send someone to speak with him. Tell him to set his mind at ease. His safety will not be threatened. I am sincere about resolving this problem and will not pursue his whereabouts. As for the person I send to negotiate, let him dispatch his own people to receive her. He can decide entirely for himself how and where they meet..."

Gong Lince's message reached Niu Youdao at the first opportunity.

Standing beneath a great tree atop a mountain, Niu Youdao remained silent as he gazed into the distance and thought for a long time. At last, he gave a soft sigh and called, "Hongniang!"

Guan Fangyi approached with worry on her face. "What is it?"

She understood as well.

Gong Lince had laid his cards on the table with Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao said, "Arrange for someone to go receive his envoy."

The meeting was set on a great lake.

They could not find a boat on short notice, so a wooden raft was put together and left floating on the water.

Niu Youdao had chosen the location. Guan Fangyi did not know why he had insisted on meeting in the middle of a lake. She was the only person accompanying him; for safety, everyone else had been kept far from the area.

Blue water and blue sky stretched beneath brilliant sunlight.

A large flying mount swept across overhead. A woman descended from it and slowly landed on the wooden raft.

A breeze passed.

The newcomer's garments fluttered, outlining a graceful figure, as though an immortal maiden might ride the wind away.

Naturally, an ugly woman would not have produced any impression of an immortal maiden. The visitor was very beautiful.

It was none other than Wen Mo'er.

Her appearance surprised both Niu Youdao and Guan Fangyi. The two could not help exchanging a glance.

Wen Mo'er's gaze locked onto Niu Youdao. She studied the young man standing with one hand resting on his sword.

She knew Niu Youdao was young, but seeing him in person still brought surprise into her eyes.

This was the Niu Youdao described in the collected intelligence, the man important enough to alarm the Sect Leader himself?

There were plenty of people around this age inside Zijin Cave. Wen Mo'er knew perfectly well what stage of life they were generally in.

Could this young man truly be the one hidden behind Nanzhou, turning clouds and rain with a flip of his hand?

After the two sides studied one another for a time, Niu Youdao tried asking, "You are Sect Leader Gong's daughter, Wen Mo'er?"

Gongsun Bu had already sent word that Gong Lince would dispatch his adopted daughter to negotiate with Niu Youdao.

Wen Mo'er corrected him. "Adopted daughter. The Sect Leader is my adoptive father."

The explanation was somewhat unnecessary. Niu Youdao naturally already knew that. He asked suspiciously, "I've never heard that Sect Leader Gong had an adopted daughter."

Wen Mo'er replied, "Not hearing of something does not mean it does not exist. Since I came here, there is no need to impersonate anyone. You are Niu Youdao?"

Niu Youdao smiled. "The genuine article. It seems I have no need to impersonate anyone either."

So this was the man she was supposed to...

Wen Mo'er's thoughts became somewhat tangled. She steadied herself and asked, "Since Brother Niu agreed to meet me, I assume you have already reached a decision regarding the Sect Leader's proposal."

Niu Youdao said, "The Sect Leader's words were rather vague. I still don't know exactly what he means, or what sort of result would supposedly be good for everyone. Miss Wen, why not state it plainly?"

Wen Mo'er said, "The Sect Leader thinks highly of Brother Niu and hopes Brother Niu will serve Zijin Cave."

Niu Youdao laughed. "The cultivation world and secular world of the entire State of Yan are both controlled by the three major sects. Haven't I been serving Zijin Cave all along?"

Wen Mo'er said, "The three major sects are the three major sects. Zijin Cave is Zijin Cave. I think Brother Niu understands the difference. There is no point circling around it. The Sect Leader's meaning is very simple."

"He hopes Brother Niu will join Zijin Cave."

[End of Chapter 735]