Chapter 871: Put Up Everything You Own

"All right. I won't disturb Master Dao any longer. This old man will take his leave."

After exchanging a few more courtesies, Meng Shanming had Luo Da'an push him away.

Once no one else remained, Guan Fangyi immediately asked in curiosity, "Does this lake have something to do with rescuing the Commandery Princess and the young prince?"

Niu Youdao gave her a very definite answer.

"No."

"Uh..." Guan Fangyi froze, her curiosity only deepening. "Nothing to do with them? Then why did you keep asking Marshal Meng so much about the lake, and even tell him not to leak anything?"

Niu Youdao said nothing, which was clearly his way of refusing to explain.

Guan Fangyi rolled her eyes out of habit. If this man knew something and refused to tell her, asking again would be useless. Sometimes she truly wanted to strangle him. He was far too good at keeping people in suspense.

She had only just turned away in mild irritation when Niu Youdao, still staring at the map, suddenly said, "Have Yun Ji come over."

"Yes, my Master Dao!" Guan Fangyi answered in a deliberately strange tone. As she walked away, she muttered, "This old lady really was born to run errands..."

...

Inside the central command tent, Meng Shanming had barely returned when Shang Chaozong quickly stepped forward to meet him.

Lowering his voice, he asked urgently, "How did it go?"

At this point, withdrawing the army was impossible.

But men were not plants or stones. Who could be without feeling?

Those were still his younger sister and his son. To say he did not want to save them would be a lie.

And the enemy had already made its threat perfectly clear. If this side refused to comply, they would subject Shang Shuqing to something unbearable to behold. This was no longer merely a question of whether she lived or died. Before death, she might suffer enormous humiliation.

The thought had been tormenting him without pause.

But the situation was obvious.

The hostages were in enemy hands. Once the possibility of an exchange had been ruled out, rescuing his younger sister and son would, nine times out of ten, require someone to take an enormous risk.

Was he supposed to beg Niu Youdao to risk his life to save them?

His son and sister had lives. Did Niu Youdao not have one too?

How could he bring himself to ask?

Of the two of them, only Meng Shanming was suited to sound Niu Youdao out, and only Meng Shanming was suited to entrust such a request to him.

Meng Shanming reassured him, "Your Highness, don't be anxious. Master Dao should be thinking of a way."

"Should be?" Shang Chaozong asked. "Uncle Meng, what do you mean?"

Meng Shanming pointed toward the newly hung map.

"Master Dao was just asking me about Jiao Lake, the lake Zhao's army is relying on. He has never interfered in military affairs. For him to suddenly ask about it cannot be because he wants to direct the battle. He should have some other plan..."

He roughly recounted what had happened.

"He asked about the depth of the lake?" Shang Chaozong said suspiciously.

Then he immediately added, "Good. I'll find reliable cultivators right now and have them secretly infiltrate Jiao Lake. We'll try to investigate the lake thoroughly so Master Dao has the information if he needs it."

Meng Shanming caught hold of him at once and sighed.

"Your Highness, Master Dao specifically instructed me not to let word of what he asked leak out. He must have a reason."

"He also said what he knows of Jiao Lake is already enough."

"Your Highness must not create fresh complications."

"Master Dao said he would give us a definite answer later. Since he said that much, Your Highness should calm yourself and wait!"

Shang Chaozong knew he was right.

He squeezed his eyes shut hard, then pinched his forehead as though trying to force himself back into clarity.

He knew his judgment was becoming unsettled.

With his eyes still closed, he murmured painfully, "If I lose a son, I can have another. War is merciless. Death is normal."

"But how can I stand by and watch Qing'er be humiliated?"

"If that happens, how am I supposed to answer to my dead parents and elder brothers?"

Meng Shanming's expression tightened as well.

Once this side launched its offensive, it would unquestionably enrage the enemy.

If they stripped Shang Shuqing naked and exposed her before thousands upon thousands of soldiers, how were the people on this side supposed to endure it?

That girl had always been learned and courteous, and Meng Shanming had always been especially fond of her.

He had no sons or daughters of his own and had long treated her like a daughter.

He truly could not bear to imagine her suffering such a fate.

"Ah!" Meng Shanming raised his face and sighed. "Why must that girl have such a bitter life?"

"What woman does not love beauty? Her whole life was already delayed by that face, and now she must suffer this as well."

"I only hope Master Dao can turn the tide and help the Commandery Princess and the young prince escape this calamity."

Shang Chaozong fell silent.

He knew even Meng Shanming could make no guarantee.

...

Yun Ji arrived.

After entering the tent, she saw Niu Youdao standing before the map and walked over.

"What is it?"

Niu Youdao turned and smiled.

"You spent many years in Zhao. Zhao once sent men to encircle and suppress Duyun Mountain as well. How much does Zhao know about your ability to travel underground?"

Guan Fangyi, who had followed her inside, immediately narrowed her eyes slightly.

Yun Ji replied, "When one survives in the cracks between greater powers, how could one let the people hunting you understand every life-saving method you possess? Naturally, I never publicized it."

"That said, I am skilled at tunneling through mountains and caves. Some people in Zhao know that much."

"Why are you asking me this now?"

Niu Youdao turned and placed one finger on the map.

"Here. The location of Zhao's central command tent."

"The Commandery Princess and the young prince certainly won't be held far from it."

Yun Ji studied the point he indicated. Her eyes flickered slightly.

"You aren't thinking of having me travel underground and rescue them, are you?"

Niu Youdao nodded.

"That's exactly what I have in mind."

"I delayed matters for a day because I was thinking along those lines."

"See whether you can travel underground tonight, reach this location, and rescue them."

"If you need anything from us to make it work, say so. We can discuss how to arrange it."

"There's nothing to discuss." Yun Ji shook her head. "It won't work."

"You already know they'll be keeping the Commandery Princess and the young prince close to the central command tent so they can watch them directly."

"What kind of place is a central command tent?"

"It will be surrounded by large numbers of experts. An outsider can't even approach it easily."

"I can get there underground. That isn't the problem."

"But I can't approach the surface without the disturbance being noticed by cultivators, much less when so many cultivators are gathered there."

"And can you even tell me the exact spot where they're holding the Commandery Princess and the child?"

"If I have to search around after I get there, I'll be discovered even more easily."

"This idea isn't realistic."

Niu Youdao fell silent for a moment, then asked, "If I can locate the Commandery Princess and the young prince precisely, can you take them away?"

Yun Ji replied, "Only if we aren't discovered."

"You know this already. I made it very clear in Yanjing."

"When I'm alone underground, I can move freely and escape quickly without a problem."

"But once I have something else with me—especially living people—the deep earth will squeeze and grind against them. I have to move carefully, or I'll kill the people I'm carrying."

"Under attack, the pressure underground would increase sharply. Then they'd become burdens that kept me from moving freely."

"You should understand. In a dangerous situation, escaping too slowly simply won't work."

"You know how things stand in Zhao's army. There are so many experts gathered there, especially those old fellows who abducted the Commandery Princess."

"If they act, there's no way I can smoothly carry the Commandery Princess and the child away."

"The moment they attack, they could rip the two of them straight back out of the ground."

"At that point, I'd still be the only one able to escape."

"Do you really think there's any reason for me to go?"

"In a place like that, can you guarantee I won't be discovered?"

Niu Youdao understood everything she was saying.

"Since discovery can't be avoided, then forget about building the plan around not being discovered. Let's think in a direction that can actually work."

"In the end, being discovered or not is only a question of whether you have enough time to escape."

"Whether they discover you is not actually what matters."

"Am I wrong?"

Yun Ji nodded.

"You're not wrong."

Niu Youdao asked, "If I put the Commandery Princess and the young prince into your hands, how much time do you need to get them safely out?"

Yun Ji said, "At minimum, the time it takes to count to fifteen."

"If you can give me fifteen counts, I can guarantee I'll get them out safely."

Niu Youdao nodded.

"Fifteen counts. Good."

"Then fifteen counts it is."

"I'll buy you those fifteen counts. You help me rescue them."

Yun Ji stared at him in surprise.

He was truly going to do this?

"The problem is, how are you going to put them into my hands?"

"We'll have trouble even getting close. And how exactly are you going to buy me fifteen counts?"

"You don't need to worry about that," Niu Youdao said. "I'll deal with it."

Then he turned toward Guan Fangyi.

"Red Lady, how many Heavenly Sword Talismans do you have on you?"

Guan Fangyi stared at him blankly.

"Two."

"Two isn't enough."

Niu Youdao snapped his head slightly, thinking.

"Give me the truth. If you put together everything you own, how many more can you buy?"

Guan Fangyi pursed her lips, visibly reluctant.

"Six at most. Not one more."

"That includes the capital I got from selling Fufang Garden."

"Six, plus the two already on you. Eight altogether."

Niu Youdao estimated the number for a moment, then issued his instructions.

"We aren't too far from Star-Plucking City. Half a day should be enough for a round trip."

"Send people there immediately to buy them."

"Don't worry about the money. Put up everything you own."

"However many you can buy, buy them."

"I'll repay you double afterward."

"Time is limited. Go quickly. I need them."

"Right—don't let the people of the three great sects discover it."

"Have Wu Zhaoxing escort them so nothing goes wrong on the road."

"Go!"

"Hmph!"

Guan Fangyi snorted in obvious displeasure.

But she also knew this was no time to quarrel over money.

She tossed her head and strode away to make the arrangements.

Yun Ji asked, "You're planning to use Heavenly Sword Talismans to buy me time?"

Niu Youdao gave a slight nod.

...

Night fell, then light returned.

At the first gray hint of dawn, a large flying bird descended.

Old Second Wu, Old Six Xu, and Wu Zhaoxing had returned.

They met with Guan Fangyi.

After slipping something into her sleeve, Guan Fangyi glanced left and right, then turned, lifted the flap of Niu Youdao's tent, and entered.

Niu Youdao was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

Guan Fangyi said irritably, "Here. Your things have arrived."

She pulled out six Heavenly Sword Talismans, then took out two more and added them to the pile.

Niu Youdao opened his eyes, accepted them, and checked each one.

He did not want any accidents.

Guan Fangyi did not forget to remind him, "You promised. Double repayment."

Niu Youdao did not bother arguing.

He called to Yun Ji, who had likewise been sitting cross-legged in one corner of the tent waiting.

The two rose and left together.

Guan Fangyi waved the round fan in her hand, twisted her waist, and followed after them like a shadow.

Inside the central command tent, Meng Shanming had dozed off in his wheelchair.

Under the dim yellow lamplight, a blanket covered him.

He was getting old, after all. Staying awake this long had become difficult.

Shang Chaozong could not sleep at all.

Sometimes he sat.

Sometimes he paced back and forth.

"Master Dao!"

Shang Chaozong suddenly called out.

The sound jolted Meng Shanming awake.

He opened his eyes and saw three people approaching.

One sentence—"I'll give you a definite answer later"—had kept the two men waiting until now.

At last, the man they had been waiting for had arrived.

When Niu Youdao saw Shang Chaozong's eyes threaded with blood, he almost admonished him.

In the end, he kept the words to himself.

He understood the Prince's state of mind.

Without wasting time, Niu Youdao went straight to the point.

"I have the beginnings of a plan concerning the Commandery Princess and the young prince."

"But what happens next will require Your Highness's cooperation."

Meng Shanming immediately became fully awake and listened intently.

Shang Chaozong nodded again and again.

"Master Dao, give whatever orders you need."

"So long as this Prince can do it, I will obey!"

[End of Chapter 871]