Chapter 881: Another Secret Meeting?

Escaped?

Although everyone had already sensed that something might have gone wrong, the confirmed answer still left them in disbelief.

Jiang Wanlou simply could not accept it.

"How is that possible? The five Supreme Elders personally took action. There are not many people beneath Heaven who can withstand them, and they had several hundred elite disciples assisting them as well. What virtue or ability does one insignificant little thief like Niu Youdao possess that he could make all five Supreme Elders return in defeat? Don't tell me he truly has an endless supply of Heavenly Sword Talismans!"

With the Sect Leader holding such high expectations, the five Supreme Elders felt deeply ashamed.

One of them said awkwardly, "It wasn't that he had an endless supply of Heavenly Sword Talismans. On land, that fellow is naturally no match for us. Killing him would be no difficult matter. But underwater was another story. That thief's cultivation art is particularly suited to controlling and moving through water..."

He roughly recounted what had happened underwater. Naturally, he could not make their side sound too incompetent, so he emphasized the final result.

"We had already beaten him into a grave state. Just when he was on the verge of death, an enormous green serpent suddenly appeared underwater and rescued him, then carried him away through the earth from the bottom of the lake. According to the disciples below, that green serpent was the same Yun Ji who used earth escape earlier to take the hostages away."

With that explanation, everyone more or less understood the entire sequence.

Niu Youdao had come here from the very beginning to seize the hostages!

The so-called secret talks had been nothing but deception. The explanation about why he had brought Yun Ji instead of Red Lady had all been nonsense. The true purpose was obviously that Yun Ji possessed a rare earth-escape ability, making it possible to remove the hostages quickly. Niu Youdao himself had then used the power of Heavenly Sword Talismans to cover their escape. And the reason he fled toward Jiao Lake was now clear as well: the bastard had an ability that let him maneuver underwater.

Pang Teng said, "In other words, the Yan army's attack was a feint. Its purpose was to force our side to concentrate large numbers of men on defense, reducing the pressure on Niu Youdao and making it easier for him to escape. Otherwise, if everyone had swarmed him together, he never could have withstood it!"

Everyone's expressions were ugly.

They had been played, and played miserably.

The veteran experts of Zhao's three great sects had gone out together, traveled all the way to Nanzhou's provincial capital, and personally seized hostages, only for Niu Youdao to steal those hostages right back under their noses.

From beginning to end, the whole affair had been a meticulously arranged scheme.

After spending so much effort on their final sliver of hope, had it truly collapsed just like that?

Their hearts were heavy and furious.

The losses and humiliations Niu Youdao had inflicted one after another on Zhao and Zhao's three great sects were beyond description.

Jiang Wanlou in particular had suffered not only losses among his sect's disciples. Even in such a dangerous situation, Niu Youdao had calmly crippled one hand of his personal disciple before leaving.

If news of that spread, how was Jiang Wanlou supposed to show his face?

Yet there was one thing everyone had no choice but to admit.

Niu Youdao's courage was enormous, almost recklessly so.

He had actually dared use such an insanely dangerous method to seize the hostages.

That truly had been gambling with his life.

In their eyes, Niu Youdao had already achieved fame and standing.

Was it worth risking his life for two mortals?

What worried them even more now was that Zhao's army remained trapped here.

Where was the road to survival?

...

Certain matters still had to be clarified.

Inside the Yan army's central command tent, not only Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming were present. Long Xiu and the others were there as well, and Yun Ji had been summoned over.

Facing everyone's questions, Yun Ji and Shang Shuqing recounted what had happened.

Yun Ji did not conceal the matter of earth escape.

She knew there was no longer any point hiding it.

The ability had already been exposed. Too many people from Zhao had seen it, and she could not control all their mouths.

What did it mean to keep one's word?

Niu Youdao had said he wanted the Guiyuan Sect disciple's dog paw, and he had truly made them chop off that disciple's dog paw.

Even while trapped in such mortal danger, he had still done exactly what he said he would do.

More than anything, his calm handling of the situation while surrounded by danger deeply moved Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming.

Shang Shuqing's eyes filled with tears.

Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming had known the plan beforehand, so they were somewhat prepared. Long Xiu and the others, however, were badly shocked.

That Niu Youdao had truly staked his life on the attempt.

Was it worth doing so much for two people?

Gong Lince fell into thought.

He remembered what his junior brother Yan Li had told him about the events inside the Tiandu Secret Realm. Niu Youdao had known perfectly well that refusing Chu Fengping's female disciple would force him into a desperate situation. He could easily have humored her for the moment.

Yet he had refused without hesitation.

There are things a man will do, and things he will not.

He would rather die than yield.

After one incident after another, Gong Lince now had a clear understanding of Niu Youdao's character.

He believed Yan Li's judgment.

That also put his mind at ease about certain matters.

Once the questioning ended, everyone dispersed.

The three Sect Leaders had no desire to remain for long either.

Some layers of face had already been torn away, and the three had little wish to keep looking at Shang Chaozong.

On the way back toward their own tents, Meng Xuan suddenly remarked, "That Niu Youdao really does have some nerve. For the sake of rescuing two people, he was actually willing to gamble with his life!"

Long Xiu gave a cold snort.

"Who knows how much of that story is true? Probably just another performance to buy people's hearts."

Gong Lince said, "Techniques of the Five Elements are extremely rare. To think a serpent demon like Yun Ji actually knows an earth-escape art."

...

Outside Nanzhou's provincial capital, the Prince's residence had been relocated inside layer upon layer of troops.

After the recent incident, no one dared be careless again. The entire household had simply moved into the protection of the army.

Lan Ruoting hurried along with the swaddled infant in his arms and went straight toward one of the tents.

After being announced and allowed inside, he called joyfully, "Princess Consort, the young prince is back!"

Feng Ruonan, her eyes red from crying day after day, abruptly sat up on the couch.

The maids beside her were thrown into a flurry.

Her son had been lost.

He had been abducted almost the moment he was born.

One could imagine the feelings of a mother in such a situation.

Lan Ruoting had originally wanted to keep her from knowing and let her remain unconscious. But Niu Youdao's side had needed to clarify the details of the incident, so they had no choice but to wake Feng Ruonan.

Once she awoke and learned what happened, she had naturally been devastated.

"Look. The young prince."

Lan Ruoting carefully handed the swaddled baby to her.

Feng Ruonan joyfully took her son and studied him.

Then the joy froze on her face.

Suspicion filled her eyes.

"Is this really my son? Sir, did you find some other baby just to comfort me?"

"..."

Lan Ruoting was struck speechless.

He had no idea why she would say such a thing.

"How... how could he be fake? This is naturally the young prince."

Feng Ruonan looked down at the little fellow sleeping soundly.

"I saw him when he was born. He wasn't nearly this good-looking."

With that, she directly handed the swaddled baby to a maid beside her and turned away, unwilling to look again.

Tears started falling once more.

She seemed to have decided they had found some random infant to comfort her because they feared she would collapse from grief.

Lan Ruoting stared blankly for a moment before finally understanding.

He did not know whether to laugh or cry.

"Princess Consort, I saw the young prince when he was first born too. He truly wasn't as good-looking as he is now."

"He had only just come out of his mother's body. Naturally his skin and flesh were all wrinkled and ugly."

"Once he adjusted to the outside environment and his features relaxed, of course he became prettier and more adorable."

"Everyone is like that. The young prince of our household can't be some exception!"

Feng Ruonan froze as well.

Thinking about it, that seemed to make sense.

She wiped her tears but still looked doubtful.

"Would Zhao really return the child so easily?"

At that, Lan Ruoting sighed deeply.

"How could they possibly return him easily? His Highness and Marshal Meng asked Master Dao to act."

"Master Dao risked his life and seized the young prince back from Zhao."

"To save the young prince, Master Dao was beaten into a grave state by Zhao's people..."

To convince her this truly was her son, Lan Ruoting carefully recounted the news they had received from the front.

The account was only a rough outline and lacked many details, yet it was still enough to leave Feng Ruonan terrified and moved.

She started crying again.

"I owe Master Dao too much. I won't be able to repay him in this lifetime."

"Ah!" Lan Ruoting sighed. "The people of the three great sects stood by and refused to save them. Only Master Dao stepped forward."

"Marshal Meng praised him by saying his righteousness reaches the very clouds!"

Feng Ruonan asked, "How is Master Dao now?"

Lan Ruoting replied, "His injuries are too severe. He lost too much blood. He barely picked his life back up and is still unconscious."

"Wah..."

Feng Ruonan broke down crying.

She had once been a heroine on the battlefield.

Lately, however, she had become exceptionally sensitive and cried at the slightest thing.

Her sobbing woke the child.

She immediately scrambled to take him back and soothe him.

"My child... my poor, unfortunate child..."

Only after her emotions steadied somewhat did she look up and ask, "What about Qing'er? Is Qing'er all right? Why hasn't she come back?"

Lan Ruoting replied, "His Highness wanted to send the Commandery Princess back secretly as well, but she refused. She has remained beside the unconscious Master Dao the entire time."

Feng Ruonan gave a soft "Oh."

Her expression turned thoughtful.

That, at least, she could understand.

...

"Another secret meeting?"

Jiang Wanlou's face nearly twisted when he heard the disciple's report.

Zuo Chengfeng and Mi Man darkened as well.

Someone from Yan had arrived.

The visitor was a disciple of Lingjian Mountain named Xin Jikui, and he claimed he had come for secret talks.

Niu Youdao had just come for "secret talks" before this and left their side suffering disastrous losses.

Now another man had arrived to talk secretly.

What more did they want?

Damn it.

There was no way to play with people like this.

Last time, two people had come.

This time was even more ridiculous.

Only one man had come.

Had Yan become addicted to treating them like fools?

This was going too far!

The reporting disciple said, "Yes. That's what he claims. He says he came under orders."

Jiang Wanlou asked, "Have you confirmed he's really from Lingjian Mountain?"

The disciple replied, "There is no mistake. We've already verified him. I know the man as well. He's one of Meng Xuan's personal disciples."

Jiang Wanlou turned toward the other two.

"Brother Zuo, Brother Mi, what do you think?"

Zuo Chengfeng threw down one hard sentence.

"If he truly has sincerity and wants to talk, then have him obediently surrender himself first. Control him, search him clean from head to toe, and if anything looks wrong, chop him into meat paste immediately!"

"Good. We'll do exactly that!"

Jiang Wanlou nodded and waved a hand.

"Bring him over!"

Then he clasped his hands behind his back and paced to and fro.

He wanted to see what kind of trick the other side could possibly produce this time.

He refused to believe everyone here was a fool so easy to deceive.

Before long, Xin Jikui was brought in.

Under everyone's gaze, he appeared completely unafraid.

A smile rested on his face as he politely cupped his hands and greeted the three Sect Leaders.

Jiang Wanlou asked, "What did Meng Xuan send you here to discuss?"

Xin Jikui carried himself with considerable poise, seemingly unmoved by favor or disgrace.

"Naturally something all three Sect Leaders will be pleased to hear."

Jiang Wanlou said, "Oh? Has Yan finally agreed to withdraw its troops?"

"My visit has nothing to do with withdrawing troops," Xin Jikui replied. "I have another important matter to report to the three Sect Leaders!"

"If you aren't withdrawing, then what is there to discuss?"

Jiang Wanlou lifted a hand and pointed.

"Men! First chop off both his hands. We can talk afterward!"

Two cultivators instantly rushed forward and seized the visitor.

Zuo Chengfeng started to raise a hand.

At first he had wanted to stop them and say they should at least let the man finish speaking before doing anything.

Then he thought better of it.

He knew Jiang Wanlou was venting his anger.

Niu Youdao had chopped off one of Jiang Wanlou's disciple's hands.

Jiang Wanlou wanted repayment with interest.

Two hands for one.

[End of Chapter 881]