Chapter 766: Untitled

Everyone knew there were far too many people who wanted Niu Youdao dead now.

Even if Wu Zhaoxing personally escorted him away, he could not necessarily guarantee Niu Youdao's safety.

Letting Niu Youdao leave alone was even more impossible.

How could he agree?

"Dangerous?" Niu Youdao countered. "My fate after the one-year period is already easy to predict. Is there anything more dangerous than shrinking back and begging for temporary safety?"

Wu Zhaoxing understood what he meant.

If Niu Youdao failed to take first place after one year, Sha Rulai would kill him.

Remaining hidden here might keep him safe for the moment, but at most it would keep him safe for one year.

Wu Zhaoxing's tone softened. "If you run out alone, what exactly are you planning to do?"

"The outcome one year from now has already been decided for me. I have no road of retreat."

Clang.

The sword in Niu Youdao's hand slid halfway from its sheath.

Under the Moon Butterfly's glow, the exposed half of the blade flowed like liquid mercury.

"Then I must act."

"As for what I'm going to do, don't ask too much."

"In any case, I'm doing it to preserve my life, not to go looking for death."

Wu Zhaoxing fell silent.

At last, he slowly said, "Be careful."

Not long after he left, the man Niu Youdao had asked for arrived.

Yan Li had sent over a disciple whose build was similar to Niu Youdao's.

Once the disciple entered the tree hollow, Niu Youdao quickly exchanged clothes with him.

Then Niu Youdao put on a false face and left, leaving the disciple behind inside the hollow.

Wu Zhaoxing stood waiting on a branch outside.

After Niu Youdao came out, he quietly gave Wu Zhaoxing several final instructions.

Then, taking advantage of the darkness, he slipped away in the direction Yan Li had arranged.

Wu Zhaoxing remained outside the tree hollow and refused to allow anyone inside to disturb the person within.

...

The letter reached Yuan Gang.

One glance at the handwriting was enough for Yuan Gang to confirm that Niu Youdao had written it.

After reading it, he destroyed the letter in front of Yucang.

Yucang asked, "You understand all of Niu Youdao's arrangements now?"

Through this incident, Yucang had finally seen clearly that this red-faced fellow was the trusted confidant Niu Youdao genuinely relied upon.

Yuan Gang asked only, "Where's the money?"

At that question, Yucang knew Niu Youdao had indeed given instructions.

He tipped his head slightly.

Dugu Jing stepped forward and produced thirty drafts issued by the All-Under-Heaven Money House.

Yuan Gang counted them carefully.

Once he confirmed there was no mistake, he put them away.

Yucang asked, "Where's the secret recipe?"

Yuan Gang said, "I can't write the recipe clearly in a short time."

Yucang's expression darkened. "What do you mean, you can't write it clearly?"

"You don't need to write it. Niu Youdao said he hid the recipe here. Didn't the letter tell you where he hid it?"

Yuan Gang said, "Follow me."

From the upper floor of the pavilion, Guan Fangyi knew Yucang had arrived.

She watched the men enter Niu Youdao's courtyard, then watched them emerge again.

Observing from above, she had no idea what they intended to do.

Yuan Gang led Yucang and Dugu Jing straight toward the cave where the wine was brewed.

Before long, Yuan Fang hurried there as well.

He had rushed over as soon as he heard what was happening.

The instant he learned Yuan Gang had brought outsiders into the brewing area, he immediately came running.

Inside the cave, the moment he saw Yuan Gang, Yuan Fang asked anxiously, "Master Yuan, what's going on? Why did you bring outsiders in here?"

Yuan Gang said, "Explain the entire brewing process to Mr. Yucang in complete detail."

"Ah!"

Yuan Fang was shocked.

As far as he was concerned, this was his property.

How could he tell outsiders?

"Master Dao isn't here. Master Yuan, you can't break the rules!"

Yuan Gang said, "This is Master Dao's order."

Yuan Fang looked completely unwilling. "Master Yuan, don't fool me. Master Dao went to the Tiandu Secret Realm. How could this possibly be his order?"

The fragrance of wine filled the cave.

At the side, Yucang and Dugu Jing observed the brewing area.

The monks who had been working inside stopped what they were doing when they saw outsiders enter.

Yuan Gang said, "Mr. Yucang just came from Misty Pavilion. Hurry up. Stop dragging your feet."

Yuan Fang said, "How am I supposed to know whether that's true? Master Yuan, without Master Dao personally nodding his agreement, I can't possibly agree."

Yuan Gang stared at him expressionlessly for a while.

Then he slowly raised one hand and gripped the hilt of the Three-Roars Saber on his back.

Slowly, he began drawing the blade.

Yuan Fang shuddered in fright.

Before, this man had only used fists and feet.

This time he was actually drawing a saber.

That was far too dangerous.

Yuan Fang hurriedly changed his tune. "Master Yuan's meaning is Master Dao's meaning. Understood. Understood."

In truth, he also knew Yuan Gang understood the brewing method.

If Yuan Gang truly intended to reveal it, there was nothing Yuan Fang could do to stop him.

Faced with Yuan Gang's threat of force, he lacked the courage to resist and could only yield.

This side was going to teach the brewing process personally.

That was even more detailed than simply reading some written secret recipe.

Yucang and Dugu Jing immediately concentrated completely on learning it.

As they were taught, they asked detailed questions.

Dugu Jing even found brush and paper and wrote down the key brewing points.

By the time they had learned the brewing method in full, tasted the raw liquor, and left the cave, half a day had passed.

Yucang had no intention of lingering.

He prepared to leave immediately.

As Yuan Gang saw them off, he finally could not resist asking, "Did something happen to Master Dao?"

He understood Niu Youdao extremely well.

There was no urgent need for money now.

If Niu Youdao truly wanted to sell the recipe for money, he could have prepared to do so long before this.

Doing it now felt much more like arranging his affairs before death.

That meant Master Dao had encountered something over which he had no confidence at all and was preparing severance money for the people here.

Yucang fell silent for a moment. "He didn't tell you in the letter?"

"No."

Yucang shook his head slightly. "Since he didn't say anything, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to say too much either."

"Wait for him to return in peace. When he does, all of you will naturally understand."

He could not casually spread matters concerning Misty Pavilion.

Tiangu had been sealed.

Outsiders were strictly forbidden from entering or leaving.

That meant the outside world knew nothing about what had happened there.

At present, apart from Misty Pavilion itself, Yucang was the only outsider who knew.

If the news spread, Misty Pavilion would immediately suspect him of talking too much.

There was another point he had to consider.

If the outside world learned that Sha Rulai had forced Niu Youdao into a dead end, no one knew what might happen in Nanzhou.

Human hearts were difficult to predict.

If the people in Nanzhou learned Niu Youdao would never return, would they begin looking for other patrons and planning their own futures?

That was not what Yucang wanted.

So long as there remained even the slightest possibility Niu Youdao might return, then for the sake of Xiaoyue Pavilion's great undertaking, Yucang did not want Nanzhou descending into chaos.

Yuan Gang said, "So Master Dao really did run into trouble?"

Yucang replied, "Don't overthink it. Something happened, yes, but it has already passed. For now he is safe."

"Everything depends on whether things go smoothly inside the Tiandu Secret Realm."

Then his final question carried a deeper meaning.

"I heard you're capable of neutralizing the Spirit-Torment Pill?"

Yuan Gang said, "I know what you're worried about. In truth, I've never taken a Spirit-Torment Pill."

He would never admit otherwise.

Niu Youdao had repeatedly instructed him about this as well.

The matter was far too serious.

The Spirit-Torment Pill was one of Xiaoyue Pavilion's means of control.

If someone could counteract it, that would violate one of Xiaoyue Pavilion's greatest taboos.

Yucang frowned.

He had already tried probing Niu Youdao indirectly about this before, and Niu Youdao had given the same answer.

The matter remained an unresolved mystery.

According to the report from the Qi capital back then, Yuan Gang really had been given a Spirit-Torment Pill.

But after Su Zhao and Yuan Gang eloped, the truth became difficult to confirm.

It was entirely possible Su Zhao had tampered with something in order to help Yuan Gang.

If Su Zhao had fallen in love with Yuan Gang, naturally she would not simply stand by and watch him suffer that torment.

Yucang had no certainty about the matter.

The best method of confirming it would be to have Yuan Gang take another Spirit-Torment Pill and see whether he could neutralize it.

But ever since Xiaoyue Pavilion began cooperating with Niu Youdao, especially at a moment like this, Yucang did not dare act recklessly against Yuan Gang.

If Yuan Gang proved unable to neutralize it, then using such a vicious method on Niu Youdao's trusted confidant would make Niu Youdao turn hostile without question.

After so many dealings with Niu Youdao, Yucang had already learned how troublesome the man could be.

This incident was another example.

Only now did Yucang fully understand.

What nonsense about Niu Youdao being unable to write out the secret recipe?

How could it possibly be as complicated as Niu Youdao had claimed?

The bastard had plainly only wanted to squeeze money out of Yucang's hands.

...

Once the guests had left, Guan Fangyi came over and stopped beside Yuan Gang.

"Master Dao isn't here. What did he come for?"

Yuan Gang said, "Master Dao sent him."

Guan Fangyi looked doubtful. "Master Dao went to the Tiandu Secret Realm. How did he contact Master Dao?"

"He went to Misty Pavilion. He met Master Dao before Master Dao entered the Tiandu Secret Realm."

As Yuan Gang spoke, he took out the stack of drafts from the All-Under-Heaven Money House.

In front of Guan Fangyi, he counted out twenty and handed them to her.

"Master Dao left these for you."

Guan Fangyi took them and flipped through the stack.

Each draft could be exchanged for one million gold coins.

That meant he had given her twenty million in one stroke.

She looked at the drafts still in Yuan Gang's hand.

There seemed to be ten remaining.

Puzzled, she asked, "Where did all this money come from?"

Yuan Gang said, "Master Dao sold the wine-brewing recipe to Yucang."

"In the letter, he said he took two Heavenly Sword Talismans from you and wanted this money used to reimburse you."

Guan Fangyi's eyes widened instantly.

She immediately reached the same conclusion Yuan Gang had.

"Did something happen to Master Dao?"

Yuan Gang said, "I don't know. He probably ran into some trouble."

He had even sold off the foundation of his business.

The talk about reimbursing her for the Heavenly Sword Talismans was obviously only an excuse.

Since when had that bastard ever been polite about spending her money?

This was truly arranging his affairs in advance.

He genuinely might never return.

Guan Fangyi looked down at the money-house drafts in her hands.

Her eyes reddened.

Moisture immediately gathered in them.

She wanted to cry.

Her heart ached badly.

A man who, even facing death, still arranged a road for her afterward—and not because he coveted her beauty.

She had finally met one such man in this lifetime.

And now she might never see him again.

Yuan Gang said nothing more.

He turned and left.

"Wait!"

Guan Fangyi called him back.

"What do you plan to do with that false Su Zhao?"

Yuan Gang stopped and replied coldly, "I know how to handle it. You don't need to interfere."

With that, he walked away.

And indeed, after Niu Youdao left, no one here could truly control Yuan Gang anymore.

Guan Fangyi raised her head and drew a deep breath.

She made up her mind.

The matter Niu Youdao had entrusted to her before leaving—this time she would use whatever means necessary and do everything she could to complete it properly.

...

Beneath the towering giant trees, a naked man soaked in a pool of water.

His back rested against a stone beneath the surface, and his expression was one of complete comfort.

Perhaps the feeling was too pleasant.

His entire body gradually became drowsy.

Then a sudden rustling sound nearby jolted him awake.

He sat up sharply.

The clothes he had left beside the pool were gone.

Only his shoes and socks remained.

The man was startled.

In a flash, he sprang from the water and shot toward the source of the rustling.

There he saw a piglet-sized animal covered in scales, struggling with a white inner robe.

The instant it saw him, the little animal tried to run.

But the clothing tangled around it and repeatedly tripped it.

The man swooped down like a hawk snatching a chick and grabbed the creature in one hand.

He lifted it and looked.

Then he did not know whether to laugh or cry.

The inner robe it had been wrestling with was his.

The creature had torn a hole in the cloth, shoved its head through, and gotten the robe stuck around its neck.

Unable to remove it, it had thrashed around and created the noise he had heard.

He looked around.

Only the torn inner robe remained in his hand.

His outer robe was nowhere to be seen.

He had no idea where the little animal had dragged it off to.

[End of Chapter 766]