Chapter 817: Hold Back?

Taishu Shanyue rounded on the disciple and barked, "Rigid thinking! If Yan, Wei, and Qi can hide, can't we?"

The disciple instantly understood what he meant. Once they succeeded, they would leave immediately, stay hidden until just before the exit closed, then fight their way out.

He understood the idea, but no matter how he thought about it, it still did not feel entirely reliable.

...

After waiting a long time in the mountains, they finally saw Yan Li arrive.

Yan Li had not brought many people with him, only four or five attendants.

Only after this side confirmed that nothing unusual was following Yan Li's group did Niu Youdao emerge with everyone else. Wu Zhaoxing and his two companions, Situ Yao, Fuhua, Lang Jingkong, Duan Wuchang, and Hong Gaitian all showed themselves.

Yan Li had initially been somewhat pleased to see Niu Youdao again. But the moment he saw this whole miscellaneous crowd brought out to meet him, his expression immediately fell.

The reason was not difficult to guess. He and Niu Youdao were colluding in secret. What did it mean to bring all these outsiders out? Wasn't that exposing the arrangement? If word leaked ahead of time, it would look bad for both him and Zijin Cave and could easily cause unforeseen complications.

There was another issue as well. Niu Youdao had brought so many people, while Yan Li had only a few. It gave him the uncomfortable feeling of being threatened.

But Niu Youdao could no longer concern himself with whether Yan Li was pleased.

At the final juncture, where people's hearts inclined would decide victory or defeat.

The overseas cultivators were already facing a choice between life and death. If Niu Youdao continued sneaking around and concealing everything at a time like this, it would be difficult to keep them from thinking too much, and even harder to keep them from making plans of their own. That entire overseas group was not his own mother and father; they had no reason to trust him unconditionally.

If one wanted to command people's hearts, one had to know how to guide them, but sincerity also had to be met with sincerity.

They had reached the final critical moment, when everyone needed to stand united. Niu Youdao did not want any accident arising within his own side because of suspicion. The closer things came to a life-or-death crisis, the easier it was for people to begin making calculations of their own. He needed to give everyone confidence that they should stand firmly on his side. He needed to steady all of them and have them help him through this final step.

"Elder Yan, you look well!" Niu Youdao greeted him with a cheerful smile and cupped hands.

Yan Li glanced over the people present, his manner somewhat lukewarm. "It's a long way here. Making this trip wasn't easy, and I can't stay away from my side for too long. If you have something to say, say it quickly."

Fuhua, Lang Jingkong, Hong Gaitian, and Duan Wuchang all watched carefully. They wanted certain things confirmed. None of them intended to be sold out without even knowing it.

"Good." Niu Youdao nodded. "Jin, Han, and Song have joined forces to blockade the exit."

"I know," Yan Li said. "We sent people in to investigate and discovered it."

Niu Youdao asked, "Are you confident you can have Yan, Wei, and Qi break through their joint blockade?"

"Confident or not, our side eventually has to leave. As long as they keep the exit sealed, the factions on our side will definitely join forces and attack."

His gaze swept over the others again. "But you should understand that after everything your group has done, there's no possibility of bringing you along. The moment you appear, the nature of the situation changes. Neither the defenders nor the attackers will let you go. Of course, if you're willing to hand over the Spirit Seeds in your possession, our side might consider using your manpower to launch the attack together."

Niu Youdao laughed. "How could I possibly hand over my Spirit Seeds? I'm counting on those things to keep me alive!"

Yan Li spread his hands as though to say that, in that case, there was nothing he could do.

"The world is ever-changing, and one must change with the times," Niu Youdao said. "Those who recognize the circumstances are the true talents; those who understand how to adapt are the true heroes. The plan has changed again and must be adjusted immediately. I hope Elder Yan can help me."

Yan Li did not refuse. Even if he had wanted to, he would hardly reject Niu Youdao in public with so many people present. That felt a little dangerous. Instead he asked, "How do you want me to help?"

Niu Youdao answered with a question of his own. "If Jin, Han, and Song fall into internal conflict, who do you think will strike first?"

Yan Li's eyes flickered. Stroking his beard in thought, he said, "Qiyun Sect disciples cultivate both spiritual power and the flesh, internal and external together. Their combat strength is formidable, and that has always made them overbearing. If you're asking whether Han and Song would actively provoke Jin, I don't think that's likely. There wouldn't be much advantage in it. If internal conflict really breaks out, Jin should be the one to strike first, while Han and Song join forces to resist."

Niu Youdao nodded. "Great minds think alike. That's exactly how I see it. I've already placed people on the Jin, Han, and Song sides to tamper with things..." He openly told everyone about the arrangements he had given Ji Yude and the others, so that they would understand the situation and know what to expect.

Fuhua and the others exchanged glances, their eyes flashing. Yan Li was surprised as well. Niu Youdao clearly possessed an extremely detailed grasp of conditions among Jin, Han, and Song.

They all realized that if Niu Youdao truly acted this way, it would be very difficult for those three states to avoid turning on one another.

Yan Li could not resist asking, "Where exactly did all those people you've planted everywhere come from?"

The matter was simply too astonishing. Planting spies in various states was nothing extraordinary, but having agents even among the lists of people entering the Tiandu Secret Realm was almost frightening. How large a force had this man secretly built to accomplish such a thing?

Controlling one person and making him risk his life was one matter. Controlling many people willing to risk their lives was another. How much time did that require? Maolu Villa had risen only a few years ago. Where could it have found the manpower and resources to sustain such an operation?

From Yan Li's position, this was simply not something a newcomer like Niu Youdao could possibly have accomplished. He could not help suspecting that some major power stood behind him.

"That isn't important," Niu Youdao said. "There's no need to ask. In any case, I'll give Zijin Cave an explanation."

Since he put it that way, Yan Li stopped pressing. Returning to the main subject, he said, "You mean that once those three sides have worn one another down sufficiently, our side should attack?"

"Wrong. There's no need to wait until they've worn one another down. The moment internal fighting begins, you immediately stir up the people of Yan, Wei, and Qi and take them over there."

Yan Li stared at him. "Are you joking? Even if I agree, the others won't agree to go smash head-on into them while their strength is still intact. The price would be too high. Do you think they're all my subordinates? Do you think they'll do whatever I say? I have no way to persuade them!"

"Persuade them? Persuade my ass!" Niu Youdao said. "At a time like this, when there's an easy method right in front of you, why waste your breath? Ignore them. Just take Zijin Cave's people and head over there yourselves. The moment they notice you sneaking off, they'll naturally follow to see what you're doing. Why would you need to persuade them? As for how to handle it, surely the distinguished Elder Yan isn't incapable of managing even that much?"

Yan Li was speechless. His mind finally turned the corner, though it was such a sharp turn that he had not quite recovered from it yet.

Fuhua and the others looked at one another as well. Niu Youdao's method really was brutally simple.

Wu Zhaoxing stood woodenly without comment, while the corner of Yun Ji's mouth curled into an amused smile.

Only after a long moment did Yan Li recover. He said with an expression halfway between laughter and tears, "Isn't that still running over there to clash head-on? Wei and Qi may follow us, but that doesn't mean they'll actually fight. And I have to answer for Zijin Cave's disciples too. I can't pile up my disciples' lives recklessly!"

"How would that be reckless?" Niu Youdao said. "Why do you still not understand? I'm not asking you to fight them head-on. I'm asking you to go help. Once Jin and Han–Song start fighting, you go help Han and Song attack Jin! Appear at the critical moment and shout that if they agree to hand Jin's Spirit Seeds over to you afterward, you'll help them."

"They'll already have fallen out, so there'll be no possibility of joining forces against you. Han and Song will also have been enraged by Jin. In that crisis, once you make the offer, they'll certainly agree. They have no reason not to! Five states attacking Jin alone—can that still be called a head-on clash? That's picking up a bargain!"

Yan Li stared. "Divide up Jin's Spirit Seeds?"

Niu Youdao began to wonder whether the old fellow had gone senile. He looked at him strangely. "You don't actually intend to seize Jin's Spirit Seeds, do you?"

Yan Li looked suspicious. "What are you talking about? Weren't you the one who said to seize them?"

"That's only the incentive that will get Yan, Wei, and Qi to act with you at the crucial moment—or, put another way, the show of force that will scare Jin into retreating at the critical moment. Once you've fought enough, that's enough. Zijin Cave cannot go too far. You can't destroy Jin. You need to hold back and leave them a path so they can escape!"

Fuhua and the others exchanged looks. First Niu Youdao had gone around setting fires everywhere; now he had switched to telling people to hold back.

Yan Li looked dumbfounded. "Hold back? Let Jin escape?"

Niu Youdao sighed, looking helpless. "If I want first place, the prerequisite is that I cannot allow anyone else to take first place! The current situation is that all the forces have gathered together. My side no longer has the manpower to seize other people's Spirit Seeds. Zijin Cave cannot openly help us rob them either, and even if your sect alone helped, it still wouldn't be enough!"

"If we can't seize them, then no one else gets to either. I have to preserve the numerical advantage of the Spirit Seeds in my hands."

"The reason I don't want you to wait until they've worn one another down before acting is precisely because I need the Spirit Seeds held by the various states to remain dispersed. They cannot be allowed to concentrate too heavily. If all three states' Spirit Seeds end up in your hands, what am I supposed to use to account to Sha Rulai?"

Yan Li roughly understood what he meant, but still hesitated. "If the remaining five sides gather together, aren't you afraid some of them will join forces and combine their Spirit Seeds to seize the rankings?"

Niu Youdao reacted as if astonished. "That's exactly why I'm telling you to find a way to hold back against Jin!"

Yan Li became confused all over again. "What exactly are you trying to say?"

With one hand resting on his sword and the other opening palm-up, Niu Youdao said as though pained by Yan Li's inability to understand, "Jin has roughly four shares' worth of Spirit Seeds! If you don't beat Jin half to death, and if you don't hold back and let them escape, how am I supposed to pick up the bargain? How is my side supposed to rob Jin of what they're carrying?"

Fuck! The profanity almost burst straight out of Yan Li's mouth. He was too stunned to speak.

So after going around in circles with all that nonsense, this bastard's real intention was to have the various states beat Jin half to death, then use his superior numbers to bully the survivors and pick up the spoils!

Wu Zhaoxing and his companions, along with Fuhua and the others, were equally speechless. None of them had expected all that circling around to lead to an outcome like this.

Yan Li's expression twitched. He pointed at Niu Youdao. "You little bastard are vicious! You want us to do all the fighting and killing, risking our lives, while you hide in the back and pick up the benefits!"

Niu Youdao sighed. "You can't put it that way. Won't we still have to fight Jin at the end? It's only a question of who goes first and who goes later."

In truth, Niu Youdao had always believed that if fighting and killing could not genuinely solve the problem, there was no reason to keep doing it endlessly. If it could not be avoided, that was one thing. If it could be avoided, then avoid it whenever possible. When necessary, a token effort was enough. It could achieve the same result.

[End of Chapter 817]