Chapter 837: Niu Youdao Truly Is a Man Who Keeps His Word

The end of this Tiandu Secret Realm gathering meant the wars between the states were unfrozen, but Yan's eagerness to resume fighting still caught many people by surprise.

Zhao was especially furious.

Negotiate? Negotiate what?

Was this what sincerity in negotiations looked like?

Alongside the anger came unease and alarm. Could Yan be determined to win this war at any cost? Otherwise, why would it restart hostilities so readily?

Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain were the first to lose patience. The two Sect Leaders arrived together at Zijin Cave. The one most able to keep his composure, naturally, was the man sitting at home waiting for them.

High atop a precipitous cliff, beneath the spreading canopy of ancient pines, they could take in the wondrous spectacle of seas of cloud. The Sect Leaders of Yan's three great sects met there, and the moment Meng Xuan saw the others, he began denouncing the situation.

"What does Niu Youdao think he's doing? He actually started a war on his own without our consent!"

Long Xiu's voice was equally grim. "That Niu Youdao has grown utterly lawless. Does he even remember Yan's three great sects exist? He's completely beyond control now!"

Gong Lince fell into thought.

With Yan's present national strength, there was simply no way it could swallow Zhao. Even if Yan fought to the bitter end and managed to win, it would exhaust itself badly enough that someone else would only reap the benefits. Zhao was showing sincerity in the current negotiations and was willing to join forces with Yan to pressure Han, yet Niu Youdao had ignored all of that and started fighting anyway.

What exactly was that bastard trying to do?

"Surely he wouldn't act this recklessly? Could there be some misunderstanding? Should we find him first and talk?" Gong Lince asked hesitantly.

"Misunderstanding?" Meng Xuan glared at him. "The front is already roaring with battle. Meng Shanming was the one who started it. How could that be a misunderstanding?"

Long Xiu sneered. "Find him and talk? News from Maolu Villa says Niu Youdao has disappeared again. By the time we find him, who knows what state the war will be in?"

Gong Lince had a headache too.

He could hardly blame the other two for being angry.

Yan's cultivators had already taken control over Meng Shanming's army. Everyone had assumed that without authorization from the three great sects, there was no way the war could begin. Who could have expected Meng Shanming to bypass Yan's cultivators and have Jinzhou's forces ignite the fighting instead?

And who could have imagined that without Yan's consent, Jinzhou would actually dare launch an attack on Zhao on its own?

By the time their people found Meng Shanming, the old general simply presented himself for punishment, as though willing to accept whatever they decided.

Meng Shanming had struck hard, steadily, and accurately. The opening surprise attack had hurt Zhao badly. Zhao's enraged counterattack followed immediately, and by then the flames of war were already roaring.

Yan's three great sects had no good way to deal with Meng Shanming anymore.

His prestige within the army had always been enormous. After returning to command and controlling military power for so long, that prestige had only deepened. More importantly, almost every field commander was one of Meng Shanming's old subordinates.

Who dared casually kill him?

One mishap and the Yan army could descend into chaos.

Taking another step back, Zhao had already counterattacked. If they replaced Meng Shanming now and the Yan army lost, Zhao would show no mercy. It would certainly resume its earlier strategic objective and continue driving into Yan territory.

Which of the three great sects dared take that risk?

The fire had already been lit.

All they could do now was support Meng Shanming and let him continue fighting. Even if they still wanted to negotiate with Zhao, they would first have to win before there was anything worth negotiating.

Then again, Yan had been the side to restart hostilities. If it could actually win, the three great sects would not have been especially angry.

What truly infuriated them was that Yan's army had slipped beyond their control.

It no longer obeyed them.

Instead, it was being led around by Niu Youdao.

That was something the three great sects absolutely could not tolerate.

"What exactly are the two of you proposing?" Gong Lince asked.

Meng Xuan said, "Niu Youdao cannot be allowed to remain. He must be dealt with. Shang Chaozong and that entire group around him must also be purged clean!"

Gong Lince understood.

The three great sects could no longer tolerate this situation continuing.

The people of Nanzhou had thoroughly trampled over their bottom line.

Still, he hesitated. "Wouldn't it be inappropriate to act now?"

"Naturally we can't act now," Long Xiu said. "Don't alert them yet. Let them fight first. Once the battle has run its course and Zhao no longer dares act rashly, while Han remains entangled with Song, the external situation will have stabilized. With no immediate outside threat, we'll have ample room to purge Nanzhou's forces."

Meng Xuan said, "There are certain things everyone understands without saying. Dealing with this Nanzhou thorn once and for all would be good. It will also spare our three sects from constantly fighting over the place, while allowing us to preserve Yan's existing stable framework."

That was the purpose of their visit.

They intended to begin planning a purge of Nanzhou.

As long as the three great sects did not fall into internal conflict and restrain one another, there was no power anywhere in Yan capable of contending with them. Given the degree of control the three sects exercised over the state, dealing with Nanzhou together would not be difficult.

What could Gong Lince say?

Object?

He had no reason he could state openly.

He certainly could not tell them that Zijin Cave was secretly colluding with Niu Youdao.

And so the matter was settled.

After watching Long Xiu and Meng Xuan depart, Gong Lince remained beneath the pines at the mountaintop, frowning in silence.

He too was somewhat angry.

The old Niu Youdao would never have dared act like this.

Could the fellow now believe he had Zijin Cave backing him and therefore no longer needed to fear anything?

Gong Lince had guessed correctly.

If Niu Youdao had not already decided to join Zijin Cave, he would never have dared act this way.

Once that decision was made, his hands had been freed.

The fact that he had even dared kill the Elder Xiaoyao Palace secretly sent to Nanzhou for negotiations was proof enough.

"Someone! Invite Elder Yan here!" Gong Lince turned and called out.

Yan Li arrived quickly. After greeting him, he asked, "Those two came because of Niu Youdao?"

"With a disturbance this large, what else would bring them here?" Gong Lince gave him a rough account of the other two Sect Leaders' intentions, then warned him, "You know Niu Youdao well. Find a way to contact him and ask what exactly is going on. If he really is acting recklessly, then don't blame Zijin Cave for showing him no mercy!"

Yan Li shook his head. "Sect Leader, in my view, this probably isn't that simple. Does he not know that doing this violates an enormous taboo and amounts to courting death? Do you think he's a man who wants to die?"

"From what I know of him, that bastard does not act blindly. His methods are anything but ordinary—I personally learned that the hard way. If he dares do this, then eight or nine times out of ten he has a fallback prepared. Our three sects may not find it easy to deal with him at all. That bastard isn't so easy to kill."

Gong Lince fell silent for a time.

Then he slowly said, "Find him first. We can discuss the rest afterward."

...

Outside the capital of Qi, a convoy of carriages streamed out through the city gates and traveled east.

When they reached the vast grasslands, the thunder of countless hooves suddenly rolled up from behind.

Inside one carriage, Zhuang Hong and her son exchanged a glance.

In another carriage, Mr. Yucang's expression tightened. He quickly gave his disciple Dugu Jing a look.

Dugu Jing immediately slipped out through the carriage door, stood on the front platform, and ordered the accompanying guards to go on alert.

"Mr. Yucang! Mr. Yucang, please wait!"

A general galloped ahead of the others and reached the convoy first. He called loudly toward the smiling Mr. Yucang inside the carriage, "The Supreme General and Chief Steward Bu learned that sir was leaving and have come to see you off!"

"Oh?" Mr. Yucang responded.

Dugu Jing, standing on the carriage platform outside, bent down and nodded to him, confirming that the man spoke the truth.

Huyan Wuhen and Bu Xun really had come.

"Stop the convoy!" Mr. Yucang immediately ordered.

The carriages halted.

By the time Mr. Yucang emerged, a large force of cavalry had already reined in on both sides of the convoy. Huyan Wuhen and Bu Xun came riding forward side by side.

Mr. Yucang jumped down from the carriage.

Huyan Wuhen and the others dismounted as well.

Zha Hu, steward of the Huyan household, followed Huyan Wuhen closely while vigilantly scanning the surroundings. His cold gaze swept over everyone in Mr. Yucang's party.

"How could I trouble the Supreme General and Chief Steward to come see me off?" Mr. Yucang cupped his hands politely.

Huyan Wuhen returned the greeting. "Why did sir leave without saying farewell?"

Mr. Yucang replied, "The Supreme General and Chief Steward are both busy men. I wander from place to place and come and go often enough. There was no need to disturb you."

"Sir certainly lives freely." Bu Xun smiled and beckoned behind him. "His Majesty learned that sir was leaving and specially ordered this old slave to see you off on his behalf. This is a small token of His Majesty's regard."

Someone behind him brought forward a box as a gift.

Mr. Yucang repeatedly declined out of politeness, but with such cordial generosity it was difficult to refuse. In the end, he could only have his disciple accept it.

Dugu Jing opened the box to inspect it.

Inside lay an entire box of gold notes.

He immediately showed them to his master.

Mr. Yucang was astonished. "Why would His Majesty give me so much money?"

Bu Xun smiled. "It isn't truly a gift. This money was yours to begin with. His Majesty learned that sir was looking for a buyer for Fufang Garden, so he purchased it himself."

"His Majesty said Fufang Garden will remain reserved for sir. Whenever sir has time to return, simply move back into Fufang Garden directly."

Naturally, Mr. Yucang thanked him repeatedly, though inwardly he did not know whether to laugh or cry.

He had sold Fufang Garden because forces in Zhao would soon be raised and enormous amounts of money would be needed. There was no harm in preparing additional funds.

There was another reason too.

Sooner or later, certain matters would be exposed. Once that happened, Qi would certainly confiscate Fufang Garden. Rather than allow that, he might as well turn it into money and take the money away.

Who could have expected Hao Yuntu to buy it himself?

The two sides exchanged pleasantries.

Huyan Wuhen had just asked when Mr. Yucang intended to return when someone behind them received a message by Golden Wing, hurried over to Bu Xun, and whispered a few words into his ear.

Bu Xun waved him away, then said, "Mr. Yucang, I'm afraid we cannot escort you any farther. We just received word that Yan has gone to war with Zhao. His Majesty has urgently summoned the Supreme General and this old slave back."

There was no need to keep the matter secret. Everyone beneath Heaven would learn about it sooner or later.

"Oh?" Mr. Yucang's eyes flashed several times. He hurriedly said, "You've already escorted me more than far enough. There's no need to go farther. State affairs come first. State affairs come first!"

They had come in haste and left in haste.

The iron cavalry thundered away.

Mr. Yucang stroked his beard and watched them go.

At that moment, a Golden Wing descended from the sky on his own side as well.

Dugu Jing accepted the message.

After reading it, he went to Mr. Yucang and lowered his voice.

"That's right. Yan really has gone to war with Zhao. Jinzhou was the side that started the fighting!"

As though a great burden had been lifted, Mr. Yucang raised his face toward the heavens.

Excitement showed plainly in his expression.

"Niu Youdao truly is a man who keeps his word. He has not disappointed this old man's hopes. The enormous price we paid was not wasted. It was worth it!"

Dugu Jing understood why his master was excited.

He too felt deeply exhilarated.

They had previously received word that Yan and Zhao were negotiating peace. Without the approval of Yan's three great sects, Yan's imperial court could never decide such a matter on its own.

That had worried them greatly.

After all, Yan's three great sects controlled Yan's army.

Yet the war had still begun beyond the control of those three sects.

Looking at things now, Niu Youdao truly had not disappointed them.

They did not linger any longer.

The convoy accelerated.

Once they reached an uninhabited area, several flying birds descended from the sky. To guard against any mishap, Mr. Yucang and the other key figures were taken away first.

[End of Chapter 837]