Chapter 736: A Second Yi Shu Has Arrived

Join Zijin Cave?

Guan Fangyi glanced toward Niu Youdao to see his reaction.

"So that's what this is about." Niu Youdao looked suddenly enlightened, then asked, "What benefit do I get from joining Zijin Cave?"

Wen Mo'er asked calmly, "What benefit do you want?"

She appeared calm on the surface.

Inside, she was anything but calm.

Gong Lince had suddenly made her his adopted daughter and sent her here precisely because Niu Youdao was a vigorous young man in the prime of life. So long as Niu Youdao took a liking to Wen Mo'er, everything that followed would proceed naturally.

The logic was simple.

If Niu Youdao joined Zijin Cave, he would naturally want as much protection as possible. Marrying the Sect Leader's adopted daughter would provide one of the strongest layers of protection available.

And once that relationship existed, if Niu Youdao joined Zijin Cave, whose man he belonged to would be obvious without anyone needing to say it.

With Wen Mo'er's beauty and her new status, Gong Lince had put himself in Niu Youdao's place and concluded that she should be enough to catch his attention in that regard.

Gong Lince had planned ahead.

After being pursued by so many people in every possible way over the years, Wen Mo'er naturally possessed confidence in her own beauty.

Only after seeing Niu Youdao in person did that confidence begin to waver.

The way this man looked at her seemed different from the way those fellow disciples who desired her had looked. She could sense none of that covetous hunger in his eyes.

He was far too composed.

Niu Youdao said, "I want to know what Zijin Cave can give me."

Wen Mo'er replied, "If you join Zijin Cave, then naturally you will receive Zijin Cave's protection."

Niu Youdao said, "And I will also be bound by Zijin Cave's sect rules, won't I?"

"The sect rules are all reasonable requirements. So long as you do not act recklessly, naturally you will not violate them. Of course, if you have any demands of your own, you can raise them. Everything can be discussed."

The moment she said it, Wen Mo'er's heart gave a slight jump.

Why did it suddenly feel as though she were hinting at something to him herself?

She watched Niu Youdao's expression closely.

Niu Youdao said, "Miss Wen, there is no point speaking in such broad terms. Tell me directly what Zijin Cave can actually give me. Zijin Cave is not the only major sect in Yan. You understand what I mean."

Wen Mo'er did.

He had choices.

He did not necessarily have to join Zijin Cave. Whoever offered better terms could be the one he chose.

After a brief hesitation, she said, "A venerable elder of the sect will take you as his disciple. At that point, your seniority will be equal to the Sect Leader's."

Niu Youdao frowned. "So not only would I be bound by the sect rules, I'd somehow acquire a master to manage me as well. You think that's a benefit?"

Wen Mo'er said, "Don't misunderstand. The elder in question is already nearing the end of his natural lifespan. Unless some major affair occurs, he almost never appears. He has no leisure to supervise you and would not waste his time doing so. The purpose is simply to give you the necessary seniority so that you can be granted the position of External Affairs Elder."

"An Elder of Zijin Cave. With status like that, the Sect Leader's sincerity cannot be surpassed by any other offer in the entire State of Yan."

An Elder of Zijin Cave?

Niu Youdao and Guan Fangyi looked at one another.

Gong Lince truly was willing to pay a heavy price.

Within the entire State of Yan, it really was difficult to imagine more favorable terms. Anything better would amount to making Niu Youdao Sect Leader of one of the three major sects, and how could that possibly happen?

Guan Fangyi could not resist rolling her eyes at Niu Youdao, as though mocking him: I never realized you were worth this much.

Niu Youdao sighed. "An Elder? It sounds glorious enough. But I won't command a single man inside the sect. Wouldn't that make me an ornamental Elder, free for everyone else to manipulate?"

Wen Mo'er said, "Brother Niu holds great power in Nanzhou. Isn't Nanzhou's power itself your voice? Who inside the sect could manipulate you at will?"

That was true enough.

Niu Youdao's brows moved slightly.

Without some confidence of his own, he would never have been discussing the possibility of joining Zijin Cave in the first place.

He had once spoken with Huang Lie, Sect Leader of Dachan Mountain, about Tianyu Sect's old attempt to recruit him. Jokingly, Niu Youdao had suggested joining Dachan Mountain so everyone could work together with one heart.

Huang Lie had refused on the spot.

Given Niu Youdao's present identity and standing, Dachan Mountain's temple was simply too small. If Niu Youdao truly joined Dachan Mountain, its sect rules would be hard-pressed to restrain him. In Nanzhou, on Dachan Mountain's own home ground, Huang Lie as Sect Leader already had less say than Niu Youdao.

If Niu Youdao joined the sect, would Huang Lie still be able to remain Sect Leader?

Of course he had refused immediately.

After considering it for a while, Niu Youdao nodded. "All right. I agree."

"..."

Wen Mo'er was speechless.

She had barely needed to persuade him, and he had agreed that easily?

She tried asking, "You have no other conditions?"

"I do. First, give me a copy of Zijin Cave's sect rules so I can read them. And while you're at it, ask Sect Leader Gong what I will and won't be allowed to do after joining Zijin Cave, and what responsibilities I will be expected to bear. If there are no major problems, I am willing to become a disciple of Zijin Cave."

Wen Mo'er said, "I will write out your conditions and report them to the Sect Leader. But I will need to borrow one of your Goldenwings for communication. I know you can contact that side."

Niu Youdao said, "No need to make it so troublesome. I'll arrange for someone to take you back. You can report to Sect Leader Gong in person. His reply can be passed to me through Gongsun Bu."

Leave?

Wen Mo'er secretly gritted her teeth. "I'm not leaving. I will remain here for the time being. Those are the Sect Leader's orders."

"Remain here?" Niu Youdao looked suspicious. "What does that mean? Don't tell me you intend to monitor me."

Wen Mo'er had an answer prepared. "You may think of it that way. Since Brother Niu has agreed to join Zijin Cave, Zijin Cave naturally needs some understanding of the situation on this side. Brother Niu cannot be allowed to keep one foot in two boats. As you yourself said, Zijin Cave is not the only major sect in Yan. With me here, I can also serve as an intermediary for communication if anything arises."

Niu Youdao looked doubtful. "Are you certain one person is enough to monitor me?"

Wen Mo'er replied, "If you think one person is too few, Zijin Cave can send more."

Send more people?

I would have to be sick in the head.

Niu Youdao muttered inwardly as he looked Wen Mo'er up and down.

From the start, he had found it strange that Gong Lince would suddenly send a person like this to negotiate with him.

She did not carry enough weight.

Now this exquisitely beautiful woman wanted to remain at his side. The claim that she was here to monitor him was nonsense. He had so many people under him. If he wanted to do something, could one woman possibly keep watch on all of them?

She did not even carry any means of contacting the outside world.

Had Gong Lince sent her here to monitor him, or had he delivered her straight into Niu Youdao's hands as a hostage?

Gradually, Niu Youdao began to understand what was really going on.

Guan Fangyi suddenly asked, "Miss Wen, you don't have an ideal husband yet, do you?"

Wen Mo'er did not deny it, which amounted to tacit confirmation. Instead, she asked, "Elder Sister must be the famous Hongniang of the Qi capital?"

"You flatter me. My cheap name isn't worth mentioning." Guan Fangyi suddenly covered her mouth and giggled.

One hand slipped to Niu Youdao's waist and gave him a hard pinch.

Then she turned and walked toward one end of the wooden raft.

Niu Youdao understood at once and followed her.

When he drew near, Guan Fangyi glanced at Wen Mo'er waiting behind them, pressed close to Niu Youdao until they almost seemed cheek to cheek, and whispered, "I was wondering why they sent such a delicate beauty to find you. So after all that, Gong Lince is using the same old trick as Long Xiu. A second Yi Shu has arrived. I really don't know what goes through these people's heads."

Niu Youdao murmured back, "Using beauty against men has been a trick that never goes out of fashion since ancient times. It's understandable. But inventing an adopted daughter so that once I enter the family I'll have to start calling him Father too... Gong Lince certainly knows how to take advantage."

"She really is a lovely great beauty. Even I feel protective just looking at her. Master Dao, has she caught your eye? Heart moved yet? A bargain delivered straight to your door is there for the taking. But once you touch this bargain, don't expect to shake free of it. Her maternal family is no pushover. If you provoke her, you'll have to take responsibility."

"That's why I say none of them can compare with the greatest beauty beneath Heaven standing beside me."

"Oh my, what a sweet mouth. Such enthusiasm is hard to refuse. How are you planning to handle it this time? Don't tell me you're going to grope her backside again, get beaten half to death, and use that to escape. Yi Shu already hated you, so that trick worked on her. It may not work on this one."

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Tch. What does it have to do with me? I like watching the show."

"Then I suppose I'll have to use the old method."

"You really are going to grab her backside again?"

Guan Fangyi was still staring at him in surprise when, the next instant, she discovered Niu Youdao's arm had wrapped around her waist.

Wen Mo'er had no idea what the two were whispering about. She watched them for a while, only to discover that the man and woman had actually embraced one another in broad daylight and begun acting intimately.

It was almost indecent to look at.

Unable to keep watching, she turned her head aside.

She had read about this in the information Gong Lince gave her. She knew Hongniang had begun fooling around with Niu Youdao back when they were in the Qi capital.

She simply had not expected the two of them to behave so brazenly in broad daylight.

Even though she had been mentally prepared, seeing it in person and remembering that Gong Lince intended her to marry a man like this left an inexplicable discomfort in her heart.

What she did not know was that two of Guan Fangyi's fingers were already twisting viciously into the flesh at Niu Youdao's waist.

Still pressed close enough to whisper against his ear, Guan Fangyi hissed, "Bastard. Using this old woman as your shield again while taking advantage of me at the same time!"

Pain made the corners of Niu Youdao's mouth twitch, but he still had to pretend nothing was wrong. "You think I enjoy letting you abuse me? I have no choice. Who told this old man to be born so likable? Everyone wants to snatch me away as a son-in-law."

"What a wonderful problem to have. Women are being delivered to your door. If I were you, I'd take women from all three major sects and become son-in-law to all three at once. Then you'd be able to walk sideways throughout Yan."

"That's not a bad idea. I'm only afraid the three major sects wouldn't agree. If they had no objection, I certainly wouldn't."

"Shameless bastard!"

Guan Fangyi cursed him, and her hand showed no mercy either. Still, she did not push him away and ruin the act on the spot. "Are you really planning to become an Elder of Zijin Cave?"

"After taking Nanzhou, I've reached a bottleneck. In the situation ahead, there is no avoiding the three major sects. Our own strength can no longer support us. Gong Lince really did put his finger on my weak point. Since we can't beat them head-on, becoming one of them is another option. Integrating into one of the three major sects is a path we can take."

"Huang Lie has never been reconciled to the situation in Nanzhou. If you suddenly become an Elder of Zijin Cave, I wonder how he'll react."

"I don't know how he'll react. I only know my reaction right now is very strong. Hongniang, you've nearly pinched the meat off my waist. Can you let go?"

"You brought it on yourself. How is that my fault?"

Guan Fangyi finally released the fingers twisting his flesh.

Niu Youdao let go of her as well and turned back toward the middle of the raft. "Miss Wen, it isn't suitable for you to remain here. You should go back."

Wen Mo'er seemed unaware that the two had already seen through the arrangement. She said as though nothing were wrong, "I cannot overrule the Sect Leader's instructions. You can contact him yourself. If the Sect Leader tells me to return, I will not impose."

Beside them, Guan Fangyi smiled and threw Niu Youdao a flirtatious look, as though saying:

She's latched onto you now.

[End of Chapter 736]