Chapter 836: An Unprecedented Show of Strength!

Shang Shuqing nodded, then tentatively asked, "Did Master Dao say in the letter when he'll return? My brother should want to see him."

Guan Fangyi looked at her with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Inwardly, she muttered, More like you're the one who wants to see him.

Yuan Gang answered stiffly, "The letter didn't say."

"Oh."

Shang Shuqing lowered her eyes.

Disappointment showed faintly in them.

Yuan Gang called, "Duan Hu!"

Duan Hu stepped forward. "Here!"

"Contact Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain immediately. Tell them Master Dao has spoken: all three sects are to send their people to the battlefield at once and support Marshal Meng's campaign with everything they have!"

"Yes!" Duan Hu accepted the order and hurried away.

Yuan Gang called another name. "Lei Zongkang!"

Lei Zongkang stepped forward. "Here!"

"Contact Dachan Mountain immediately. Tell them to gather their people and rush to the battlefield at once, fully supporting Marshal Meng's campaign!"

"Tell them these are Master Dao's exact words: if they dare drag their feet, Dachan Mountain can get the hell out of Nanzhou on its own. Don't wait for Master Dao to make them leave!"

"Uh..." Lei Zongkang's expression stiffened. "We say exactly that to Dachan Mountain?"

"Exactly that!" Yuan Gang lifted the sheet in his hand. "Master Dao has heard that while he was gone, someone wanted to stir up trouble. Master Dao wants to see exactly who thinks they can make trouble!"

Everyone heard the clear implication of killing one to warn a hundred.

Whoever dared jump out now would apparently be made an example of.

The aggressive wording was itself a test.

It was obvious Master Dao wanted to see who dared oppose him openly.

Shang Shuqing felt somewhat guilty.

While Master Dao had been away, her brother had made a few moves of his own.

She did not know whether Master Dao had already learned about them.

"Good!" Lei Zongkang understood and immediately accepted the task.

Yuan Gang called again, "Wu Sanliang!"

Wu Sanliang stepped forward. "Here."

"You handle contact with Song and Han."

"Tell Song this: Master Dao says that whether reinforcements are sent to support Song is not something they need to ask anyone else about. Master Dao is the one who decides!"

When Yuan Gang stopped there, Wu Sanliang looked confused. "That's all?"

"Mm." Yuan Gang nodded. "As for Han, tell them this: Master Dao orders them to cease their war against Song immediately. Otherwise, my Beizhou forces will march straight into Han territory!"

"This..." Wu Sanliang looked doubtful. "Will Han really listen to a mere warning?"

He was not the only one.

Guan Fangyi and the others also looked skeptical.

How could they know how many people Niu Youdao had offended inside the Secret Realm?

Now that he was out, he naturally had leverage everywhere.

His message to Song was especially obvious.

It was a reminder to Song's three great sects: do you still intend to keep making trouble for me?

The corner of Yun Huan's mouth twitched.

Yuan Gang said, "There isn't enough room on one sheet to explain everything. If Master Dao said this, then he has a reason. Just carry it out."

"Fine!" Wu Sanliang accepted the order.

Yuan Gang turned to Gongsun Bu. "Wuliang Mountain will handle Qi and Wei."

"Tell both states this: Master Dao says that their people hunted him inside the Secret Realm and made him very unhappy. Master Dao is preparing to raise another mighty army inside Zhao and join forces with Jin to attack Qi and Wei from two sides!"

Another mighty army?

Guan Fangyi's bright eyes flickered.

Did he mean Xiaoyue Pavilion's army?

Other than Xiaoyue Pavilion, who else could he mean?

But once Xiaoyue Pavilion raised troops, could they really be sent to attack Qi and Wei?

"Huh?" Gongsun Bu was badly startled.

Before he could ask anything, Yuan Gang continued, "Also contact Jin's imperial court."

"Tell Jin this: Master Dao says he offended Qi and Wei inside the Secret Realm, and those two sides refuse to let the matter go. Master Dao intends to raise a mighty army inside Zhao and join forces with Jin to attack Qi and Wei!"

"Uh..." Gongsun Bu looked utterly confused. "What exactly does Master Dao mean by this?"

Yuan Gang lifted the letter again. "There isn't enough room on one sheet to explain it. I don't understand what he means either. Just do as he says and there won't be a mistake. Move quickly!"

"All right." Gongsun Bu sighed, turned, and went to arrange the necessary contacts.

Yuan Gang then faced Guan Fangyi.

"Master Dao says the people of the villa are to withdraw temporarily. I'll arrange the evacuation."

"He wants you to take reliable people and go meet him. Prepare yourself. I'll tell you the rendezvous point afterward."

Guan Fangyi nodded.

She understood.

If Maolu Villa's people were withdrawing again while Niu Youdao himself continued hiding, there had to be danger.

The meeting place could not be allowed to spread too widely.

As for going to see Niu Youdao, she was more than willing.

They had not met for a year.

She wanted to see him too.

"Brother Yun." Yuan Gang finally turned to Yun Huan. "Master Dao wants you to lead the brothers from Duyun Mountain to the front and support Marshal Meng's campaign."

Yun Huan nodded. "Fine. Understood."

Everyone received an assignment and immediately set to work.

Niu Youdao himself had not appeared.

Yet every one of them could feel his powerful return.

A forcefulness unlike anything before!

Everyone understood what Niu Youdao was doing.

With one move, he intended to sweep away the disorder that had grown during his absence.

The atmosphere around Maolu Villa changed completely depending on whether Niu Youdao was there.

The hearts of people who had nearly scattered gathered again the instant word spread that Niu Youdao had escaped the Tiandu Secret Realm.

Everyone could clearly feel the difference.

Without Niu Youdao, Maolu Villa had been suppressed so badly that people scarcely dared breathe freely.

With Niu Youdao back, it immediately reversed the pressure on every side with thunderous momentum.

No one had even seen Niu Youdao yet.

But the succession of orders issued in his name was enough to lift everyone's spirits.

The nervous, uneasy energy that had drained out of them came rushing back.

Every discordant note vanished with astonishing speed.

Even Yuan Gang and Guan Fangyi, who ordinarily clashed like mortal enemies, immediately put aside every argument.

Once Yuan Gang had received Niu Youdao's message, he stopped charging around recklessly.

And faced with Yuan Gang carrying Niu Youdao's orders, Guan Fangyi obediently carried out whatever he said.

Niu Youdao had returned.

Every restless heart throughout Maolu Villa rapidly settled.

The efficiency with which everyone worked visibly increased as well.

Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain swiftly gathered their disciples and sent them toward the Yan-Zhao front to support Meng Shanming.

Yun Huan did the same, leading the demons of Duyun Mountain toward the front.

Guan Fangyi departed rapidly with three large flying birds.

Along the way, she escorted Shang Shuqing back to Nanzhou's prefectural city.

Yuan Gang remained behind to carry out Niu Youdao's evacuation arrangements.

While every side was still entangled in the aftermath of the Secret Realm, Niu Youdao had already seized the opportunity to mobilize every force connected to Maolu Villa.

...

At Nanzhou's prefectural city, Guan Fangyi dropped Shang Shuqing off and immediately left.

She had no interest in staying.

She was in a hurry to see Niu Youdao.

Truthfully, none of the other matters meant much to her.

She had no desire to struggle for power and profit, nor did she enjoy fighting and killing.

Now that Niu Youdao was back, she no longer wanted to carry the burden of decisions that could determine the life and death of whole groups of people at a whim.

It was exhausting.

Her ability was limited.

She could not carry such weight.

After everything she had been through, she felt it was far more comfortable simply to run errands.

She had discovered that she felt safest staying beside Niu Youdao.

In the courtyard, Shang Shuqing watched the three large flying birds recede into the distance.

Her expression was faintly downcast.

She had more or less guessed where Guan Fangyi was going.

Judging from that long-absent bright smile on Guan Fangyi's face, she was probably going to see Niu Youdao.

As a rule, Guan Fangyi had always stayed by Niu Youdao's side.

"Commandery Princess, you're back."

The Governor's Residence steward came running over after receiving word.

Shang Shuqing, who had been standing there lost in thought, turned around.

"Where is the Prince?"

The steward replied, "He's meeting guests from Zhao."

Shang Shuqing fell silent for a moment.

She remembered the message from Niu Youdao saying he had already heard that Zhao's imperial court had sent people to negotiate with her brother.

At once she said, "Inform the Prince. Tell him Master Dao is back!"

"What? Master Dao is back? Good, good, good..."

The steward's face filled with surprise.

He agreed repeatedly and hurried away at a jog.

The moment Shang Chaozong learned that Niu Youdao had returned, he immediately cut short his meeting.

He and Lan Ruoting hurried over together at the first possible moment.

Their repeated questions achieved little.

Shang Shuqing had never seen Niu Youdao herself and knew only a limited amount about his circumstances.

She did, however, pass along Niu Youdao's instructions.

"Master Dao acting this forcefully is extremely rare!" Lan Ruoting sighed. "And he became this forceful the instant he left the Secret Realm. It appears he anticipated some of what happened while he was gone."

"If anyone disobeys now, I fear Master Dao won't show mercy. He will certainly kill one to warn a hundred!"

Before long, a Golden Wing flew rapidly out of the Governor's Residence carrying a secret order for Meng Shanming, commander at the front.

...

At Dachan Mountain, Huang Lie had returned.

Inside the main discussion hall, he and a group of Elders sighed endlessly.

Niu Youdao had returned alive.

Every one of them was disappointed.

A fat piece of meat had already been delivered to their mouths, only to grow wings and fly away again.

"That fellow actually dared begin a slaughter in Tiangu. He truly doesn't know how to value his life. Even that failed to get him killed!"

"How did he end up taking first place?"

As the group lamented helplessly, a disciple came in from outside to report.

"Sect Leader, a letter from Maolu Villa—from Niu Youdao!"

"So quickly?" Huang Lie was somewhat surprised.

He himself had only just returned to Dachan Mountain.

He accepted the letter and read it.

His face immediately darkened.

"What does it say?" someone asked.

With a grim expression, Huang Lie tossed the letter to the others to pass around.

Soon, one man who had read it slapped the table and stood.

"Arrogant! Ordering us around without giving Dachan Mountain the slightest face. What does he take us for? I'd like to see how he intends to make Dachan Mountain get out of Nanzhou!"

More than one person erupted after reading the letter.

But while some raged, others remained calm.

"He has probably already heard something about what happened. He's angry. Whether we choose to fall out with him or do something else, everyone should think carefully."

If it had been someone else, perhaps Dachan Mountain would have dared turn hostile.

But faced with Niu Youdao—the man who had once single-handedly driven Tianyu Sect out of Nanzhou—they had no choice but to think twice.

They had not taken the earlier Maolu Villa seriously.

But the moment Niu Youdao returned, he immediately exerted enormous deterrence over them.

The strength he had displayed in opposing Emperor Shang Jianxiong.

The influence that allowed him to mobilize all of Nanzhou's related forces.

The various abilities he had demonstrated in external struggles.

The power that had intercepted and killed Xiaoyao Palace Elder Guo Qingkong and his entire party without hesitation after Guo secretly negotiated with Shang Chaozong.

The skill with which he had suppressed all competitors inside the Tiandu Secret Realm and seized first place.

Would a man like this not dare touch Dachan Mountain?

One thing after another left them deeply wary.

Faced with Niu Youdao's uncompromising message that left them no room whatsoever to retreat, no one doubted he possessed the ability to drive Dachan Mountain out of Nanzhou.

Were they really going to turn against him?

The price would be too high.

Their house and business were enormous.

Anger was anger.

In the end, Dachan Mountain still submitted.

It gathered its people and sent them toward the front.

Whether Dachan Mountain obeyed or not, this battle was going to happen.

Niu Youdao's move was not aimed at a single sect.

The instant he left the Secret Realm, he began acting on every front at once.

...

At the front, Meng Shanming received Shang Chaozong's secret order.

The cultivators from Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, who had received word from Sect Leader Situ Yao, also went to Meng Shanming immediately.

Situ Yao too was acting according to Niu Youdao's wishes.

This was one aspect of Niu Youdao's unmatched influence in Nanzhou.

Without waiting for the other sects that had received Niu Youdao's orders to arrive, Meng Shanming bypassed the Yan cultivators supervising the army and directly issued the order for Jinzhou's forces to attack.

In an instant, the Yan-Zhao battlefield, which had remained frozen for a full year, was torn open again.

A surprise attack!

[End of Chapter 836]