Chapter 840: It's Good You're Back

In the State of Jin, Shao Pingbo strode into the imperial palace with a heavy heart.

Niu Youdao was actually still alive?

After arriving in Jin, Shao Pingbo had attached himself completely to Taishu Xiong's side. Part of that was to reassure Taishu Xiong, and part was because he knew his contacts with the outside world were being watched. He had therefore almost entirely cut off dealings with the cultivation world and had not known much about the outcome of the Tiandu Secret Realm expedition.

Only moments earlier, Taishu Xiong had summoned him.

The Emperor had received a message from Niu Youdao proposing that the two sides join forces to attack Wei and Qi, and he wanted Shao Pingbo's opinion.

Only after asking a few additional questions did Shao Pingbo learn that Niu Youdao had not merely emerged alive from the Secret Realm—he had overwhelmed all competitors and taken first place in this Tiandu Secret Realm gathering.

Forget everyone else.

The people Jin had sent into the Tiandu Secret Realm had all received instructions to kill Niu Youdao inside.

How had they still allowed him to come out alive?

Even under circumstances like that, they had failed to kill him.

Shao Pingbo's mood was extremely poor.

Before entering one of the palace halls, however, he restored his expression to calm.

He went inside and bowed to Taishu Xiong, who sat behind a desk.

Once the formalities were over, Shao Pingbo went straight to the point.

"Niu Youdao wants to join forces with Your Majesty to attack Wei and Qi. Is this proposal reliable?"

Taishu Xiong pointed toward two sheets of paper on the desk.

Chief Steward Tao Lue picked them up and handed them to Shao Pingbo.

"I originally called you here because I wanted to ask whether the proposal was credible," Taishu Xiong said without much enthusiasm. "But another report arrived just now. Niu Youdao has sabotaged the Yan-Zhao peace negotiations and forcibly reignited the war against Zhao. Read them together."

Shao Pingbo quickly read both documents.

The more he read, the more suspicious and uncertain he became.

He looked up. "Your Majesty, where would he get the mighty army needed to join you in attacking Wei and Qi? Now he has started another war against Zhao. How could he possibly attack Wei and Qi as well? Fighting three states at once is no joke."

Taishu Xiong was equally puzzled. "Then what does he mean? It would be unreasonable to joke about something like this."

Shao Pingbo stepped forward and placed both sheets back on the desk.

"He ignored the restraint of Yan's three great sects and forcibly started a war, while at the same time sending a letter proposing an alliance with Your Majesty. Niu Youdao began behaving this abnormally the instant he emerged from the Tiandu Secret Realm. Something must have happened earlier to force him into this decision."

"Does Your Majesty know what occurred inside the Secret Realm?"

Taishu Xiong sighed. "I knew you would ask that. I didn't tell you earlier because we don't know the situation either. We're still trying to learn the details from Qiyun Sect."

Shao Pingbo pressed, "And what have they learned?"

Taishu Xiong shook his head. "At present, Qiyun Sect doesn't know either."

Shao Pingbo was startled. "Qiyun Sect personally participated and was inside the Secret Realm. How could they not know what happened?"

Taishu Xiong lowered his eyes. "Qiyun Sect suffered catastrophic losses in this Tiandu Secret Realm expedition. Their entire contingent was annihilated. Not a single person came out alive. Naturally, Qiyun Sect doesn't know what happened."

"Ah!" Shao Pingbo exclaimed in shock.

At last he understood why Taishu Xiong seemed so dispirited.

Judging by the results of previous gatherings, for Qiyun Sect to suffer a defeat this complete inside the Tiandu Secret Realm was almost inconceivable.

He hurriedly asked, "Then why not question the other people who came out?"

"We are," Taishu Xiong said. "Because of this matter, the Sect Leader personally took action. He led Qiyun Sect experts overseas and has yet to return. They're still traveling through the Four Seas territories looking for that group of demons and monsters."

"Looking for the Four Seas demons and monsters?" Shao Pingbo did not understand.

Taishu Xiong personally rummaged through the files on his desk, pulled out another document, and tossed it to him.

"This is the small amount Qiyun Sect has learned so far about what happened in the Secret Realm. Read it."

Shao Pingbo took the document eagerly.

The more he read, the more astonished he became.

That bastard had actually dared attack people under Misty Pavilion's authority, and the men he killed were the three presiding Elders representing Zhao!

Earlier, Shao Pingbo had found it strange that Niu Youdao would behave so conspicuously, suppress everyone else, and seize first place.

That did not resemble the Niu Youdao he knew—the man who had long remained hidden behind the curtain in Nanzhou.

Only now did he understand.

Niu Youdao had been forced to take first place.

Without first place, he could not even preserve his life.

Shao Pingbo also understood why Qiyun Sect's Sect Leader had gone overseas looking for that pack of demons and monsters.

Niu Youdao had taken first place, then handed the enormous reward to the overseas faction.

Clearly, that first place had been won in cooperation with them.

One side made a fortune.

The other preserved his life.

Yet many parts of the whole affair still looked strange.

Shao Pingbo desperately wanted to know what had truly happened inside the Secret Realm, but the available intelligence was too limited.

What Qiyun Sect had passed along consisted mostly of fragments learned only after everyone emerged from Tiangu.

Without adequate intelligence, he could not make an accurate judgment.

Even so, the little information he had seen weighed heavily on him.

Sha Rulai had practically driven Niu Youdao onto a road of certain death.

And somehow, even then, Niu Youdao had escaped.

The more dangerous the situation Niu Youdao survived, the worse Shao Pingbo felt.

Taishu Xiong had noticed the changes in his expression.

He could not help sighing. "Even under circumstances like that, he escaped death and still took first place. It can't possibly have been mere luck. It seems you were right. This Niu Youdao truly is dangerous!"

What good was saying that now?

Shao Pingbo closed the document and placed it back on the desk.

"I'm afraid Zhao is in grave danger this time!"

Taishu Xiong gave an intrigued "Oh?"

"Why? Because he killed the presiding Elders of Zhao's three great sects?"

Shao Pingbo nodded. "A man like him is extremely rational. Don't expect him to act from impulse."

"Nanzhou borders Zhao. This time he offended Zhao profoundly. If he hadn't sensed a serious threat from Zhao, he would be unlikely to defy Yan's three great sects so openly."

"To strike Zhao, he was willing to trample directly over the bottom line of Yan's three great sects. That means he has hardened his heart against Zhao."

Taishu Xiong fell into thought.

Then he asked, "Do you really believe Yan's present army has the strength to destroy Zhao? Could this simply be fighting in order to force better terms at the negotiating table?"

Shao Pingbo understood his meaning and shook his head slightly.

"The intelligence is too limited. This subject cannot see through the situation clearly. I'm judging only from what I know of the man."

"Then let's wait," Taishu Xiong said, setting the matter aside. "Sooner or later, the signs will reveal themselves. In any case, Yan and Zhao fighting isn't a bad thing for us."

Then he turned to another subject.

"I hear progress on the Wei front has been good?"

...

At Tianwei Residence, Ximen Qingkong had returned.

The moment Xuan Wei received word, she hurried out.

She stepped from the pavilion and ran into Ximen Qingkong coming toward her.

Both stopped at once.

For a long moment, they simply looked at each other.

Ximen Qingkong had the impulse to walk forward and embrace her.

In the end, with so many eyes around them, he suppressed it.

Calmly, he said, "Xuan Wei."

Xuan Wei smiled in greeting. "It's good you're back."

She turned and extended a hand in invitation.

"I've had food and wine prepared to welcome you home and wash away the dust of the road."

Ximen Qingkong stepped forward.

The two walked side by side along the covered corridor.

As they went, Xuan Wei chatted casually.

"I heard you personally escorted that Shangqing Sect disciple back. Tang Yi rushed back the moment she received word. He was only a Shangqing Sect disciple. Why trouble yourself to escort him personally?"

"He's not bad," Ximen Qingkong said. "I like him."

"Oh!" Xuan Wei was surprised.

If she remembered correctly, the Shangqing Sect disciple who had participated in the gathering was a man.

For Ximen Qingkong to say someone was "not bad" and that he "liked" him was enough to arouse her curiosity.

She decided she should find an opportunity to meet the man.

The two went upstairs into a pavilion.

They had not seen each other for a long time and had much to say.

Once they were seated, Xuan Wei dismissed the attendants and personally poured wine for him.

For a moment, Ximen Qingkong could no longer restrain himself.

Despite the pavilion being open on every side, he reached out and caught the soft hand pouring his wine.

Xuan Wei's delicate body trembled slightly.

Her own heart rippled as well.

A faint flush appeared on her cheeks.

She quickly glanced around, then tugged her hand once.

"Qingkong, if someone sees us, it won't be appropriate."

Ximen Qingkong suppressed himself again and released her.

The two sat facing one another.

After exchanging a toast, the turbulent mood between them seemed to settle.

Xuan Wei asked, "I sent a flying mount to retrieve you. Why didn't you use it? Why drag out your return until now?"

"For myself, it wouldn't have mattered. If something happened, escaping would have been easy," Ximen Qingkong said. "But I had someone with me. Those people never found a chance to act against me inside the Secret Realm, and I worried something might happen outside, so I avoided them for a while."

"Being cautious was right." Xuan Wei nodded slightly. "Still, you too... the Secret Realm was dangerous. I told you that taking care of yourself was enough."

She did not spell out what she meant.

Ximen Qingkong understood.

She was referring to Wei Duo, the burden he had carried with him.

"I expected it to be very dangerous," he said. "Instead, this time was somewhat strange. I may even have benefited from Niu Youdao."

Xuan Wei was surprised. "How so?"

"I can't explain it clearly. I'm only making a guess based on what I saw near the end."

"Not long after everyone entered the Secret Realm, that group of Four Seas demons and monsters began causing trouble. I don't know whether it had anything to do with Niu Youdao, but they frightened the seven states badly. Later the two sides began fighting each other."

"Some of the people who might otherwise have bothered me no longer had the leisure to care about me. As a result, I passed through the entire expedition smoothly and never encountered any real trouble."

"And it may not have been only me. Some of the other people near the top of the Golden Core Ranking may also have benefited from Niu Youdao."

"This time, the highly ranked people on the Golden Core Ranking suffered almost no losses. The people who truly suffered were the seven states."

Xuan Wei gave a soft "Oh."

A thoughtful light flickered in her bright eyes.

"What exactly happened inside the Secret Realm? How did Niu Youdao end up taking first place?"

"He separated from everyone else almost immediately and never really stayed with the main group. I don't know much..."

Ximen Qingkong truly did not know.

Since she had asked, he simply recounted everything he had personally seen and heard.

At the end, he summarized, "He survived adversity and still managed to take first place. Niu Youdao truly has ability. If it had been me, I couldn't have done it."

"At the beginning, all that talk about having me protect him... I truly underestimated him."

Xuan Wei held her wine cup near her lips for a long moment without drinking.

She absorbed the information he had given her.

Only then did she take a small sip, set down the cup, and say, "That fellow caused a major incident the moment he left the Secret Realm."

"He openly defied Yan's three great sects, sabotaged the Yan-Zhao peace negotiations, and forcibly restarted the war against Zhao!"

Ximen Qingkong sat upright and nodded. "I heard about it on the road back. That fellow truly is a different kind of person from me. He's far too good at stirring up trouble."

"There's something else you haven't heard." Xuan Wei's expression turned slightly cold. "The moment he came out of the Secret Realm, he sent a message to me as well."

"He actually threatened me, saying Wei had provoked him inside the Secret Realm and that he was going to raise troops and attack Wei!"

"Ridiculous. I'd like to see where he intends to find this mighty army capable of threatening the State of Wei!"

Ximen Qingkong frowned.

"After dealing with Niu Youdao personally, my instincts tell me he isn't the kind of man who boasts idly. If he said something like that, you'd better be careful."

Xuan Wei smiled with calm confidence. "You're worrying too much. On this point, I'm certain. He simply doesn't have the conditions needed to act."

Ximen Qingkong looked at her. "Xuan Wei, I don't understand these political matters. But you promised me you would leave with me when I came back."

A trace of shyness appeared on Xuan Wei's face.

"Wait a little longer. His Majesty has already begun taking over court affairs. I can't simply throw everything down at once. I have to give him some time to adjust."

Ximen Qingkong immediately looked pleased. "So I was worrying for nothing. You've already started arranging it."

Xuan Wei shook her head. "It wasn't exactly my arrangement. His Majesty's temperament seems to have changed somewhat."

"He has begun attending court and asking about state affairs on his own. Since he is willing to take the initiative, I'm naturally pleased."

"Just give me some time to hand over authority gradually."

Ximen Qingkong looked faintly puzzled.

He had dealt with Xuan Chengtian for years and knew all too well what kind of person the ruler of Wei was.

And now he had suddenly begun involving himself in government of his own accord?

"You're saying that while I was away, His Majesty suddenly changed his nature. Could there be a problem?"

Xuan Wei laughed. "He's willing to handle state affairs now. That's a good thing. I'm right beside him watching. What problem could there be?"

Since she put it that way, Ximen Qingkong said no more.

Perhaps he truly was overthinking it.

So long as nothing happened to her, that was enough.

He had little desire to interfere in anything else.

[End of Chapter 840]