Chapter 883: Impossible to Guard Against

Shang Shuqing wanted to speak, yet hesitated.

They had hardly exchanged more than a few words after meeting again. She had waited with such difficulty until Niu Youdao woke, only for him to leave before his body had even properly recovered. And by asking her to carry a message, he was plainly not planning to take her with him.

That made her anxious.

"Master Dao, I'll go with you," Shang Shuqing ventured, gently resisting his arrangement.

To anyone else, the words would have seemed perfectly ordinary. For her, it had taken enormous courage to say them.

Niu Youdao told her, "Commandery Princess, don't worry. You aren't the target of certain people. Nothing will happen to you here. Only after I leave will His Highness be safe. So long as they cannot get their hands on me, they won't dare act recklessly against His Highness."

That was the plain truth.

Given Niu Youdao's influence over the Shang faction's forces, killing Shang Chaozong alone would accomplish nothing. Niu Youdao could easily raise a second Shang Chaozong to lead them, and he could use those forces to throw Yan into chaos. So long as he remained at large, the three great sects would not dare act rashly.

Shang Shuqing understood the logic, yet still wanted to speak and hesitated.

But after being refused once, she truly did not have the courage to reject his decision a second time. Part of it was her own sense of inferiority.

What did her looks have to do with any of this?

Because she could not help asking herself: look at how ugly you are. What right do you have to be willful?

As a woman herself, Guan Fangyi understood a woman's thoughts well enough. Seeing Shang Shuqing like this made her heart ache for the girl, and she wanted to say a few words on her behalf.

But this was not an ordinary situation. Niu Youdao was clearly treating the matter very seriously, and Guan Fangyi did not know whether he had some other plan. In the end, the words she wanted to say never left her mouth.

And so Yun Ji once again used earth escape, taking Niu Youdao, Guan Fangyi, and Wu Zhaoxing away first.

Underground, inside the spherical space advancing through the earth, Guan Fangyi supported one of Niu Youdao's arms and asked, "Master Dao, you suspect the three great sects are going to move against you?"

Niu Youdao sighed. "His Highness should not have openly torn away all pretense with the three great sects. He already put them in a position where they couldn't step down with dignity."

Guan Fangyi was doubtful. "With a great battle imminent, would the three great sects really dare stir up trouble now?"

"Whether they dare or not isn't the point. I'm unable to move freely right now. Since the possibility of danger already exists, shouldn't I avoid it?"

Once he put it that way, Guan Fangyi had nothing more to say.

She asked, "Where are we going?"

"Zijin Cave."

"Zijin Cave?"

Guan Fangyi, Yun Ji, and Wu Zhaoxing all looked at him in surprise.

Niu Youdao gave a brief explanation.

"We've already torn away all pretense with the three great sects. Their attempt to settle accounts is imminent; the only thing temporarily holding them back is the war. Right now, nowhere else is suitable. Zijin Cave is the only place to go. Only the three great sects themselves can keep one another in check."

He had long since decided to join Zijin Cave, but he had still retained a degree of watchfulness, wanting to observe Zijin Cave's attitude a little longer.

Who could have known Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming would suddenly command hundreds of thousands of troops to confront Long Xiu head-on? In a single stroke, they had forced Niu Youdao into a position with no road of retreat.

He did not blame Shang Chaozong or Meng Shanming.

He knew the two had acted to protect him.

Their method had merely been somewhat unsteady and a little impulsive.

He felt both regret and emotion over how Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming had returned his kindness in kind.

There was no question that this time, the Shang faction had made up its mind to stand completely on his side.

They too had no road of retreat left.

From now on, they could only travel aboard the same boat and weather the dangers together.

Niu Youdao was rushing to Zijin Cave now partly to avoid danger himself, but also to protect Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming.

He needed to settle matters with Zijin Cave immediately, make Zijin Cave firmly support him, and use Zijin Cave's hand to restrain any black hand that might reach toward Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming.

...

Gong Lince was somewhat anxious.

He paced back and forth inside his tent, not knowing whether Niu Youdao had seen the warning he had secretly sent.

Even for Gong Lince, getting a message to Niu Youdao was not easy now.

No one from any of the three great sects was allowed near Niu Youdao's location. They were being guarded against as though they were thieves.

Nor could Gong Lince create any obvious movement that might attract Long Xiu or Meng Xuan's attention.

At a time like this, any private contact with Niu Youdao's side could arouse suspicion from the other two sects, including direct contact with Shang Chaozong.

With no better option, Gong Lince had arranged for something to be slipped into the military intelligence delivered to Shang Chaozong, hoping the Prince would see it and warn Niu Youdao in time.

"Sect Leader."

A disciple suddenly lifted the tent flap and reported that Long Xiu and Meng Xuan had arrived.

Gong Lince gestured for the two to enter.

Long Xiu and Meng Xuan came inside.

There was no other matter.

They were still discussing the plan to move against Niu Youdao and coordinating how the three sects would cooperate once the operation began...

Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming had already seen the secret warning.

The letter said only that someone intended to move against Niu Youdao and that the danger would be impossible to guard against. It instructed them to secretly relocate the unconscious Niu Youdao. If the three great sects later asked where he had gone, they were to say Niu Youdao had left the previous day.

Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming were both startled and uncertain, and had gathered to discuss the matter.

The letter was obscure.

It did not say exactly what would happen, how the attack would be carried out, or even who had sent the warning.

Secretly move Niu Youdao?

Even Meng Shanming had doubts.

"Your Highness, could this be a diversion? Could someone be trying to lure Master Dao out so they can strike?"

Exactly.

Shang Chaozong's expression was grave.

He could not avoid the same suspicion.

Yet the words "impossible to guard against" truly left them uneasy.

Who here would dare move against Niu Youdao?

Other than the three great sects, there was no one else.

While they were hesitating and unable to decide, Shang Shuqing entered.

Seeing no outsiders present, she stepped forward and paid her respects.

Shang Chaozong asked, "Qing'er, how is Master Dao recovering?"

Shang Shuqing's expression was strained.

"Master Dao has already awakened."

"Oh!"

Shang Chaozong was overjoyed.

He exchanged a delighted look with Meng Shanming.

They happened to be caught in indecision, and Master Dao had awakened at precisely the right time. They could simply ask him to decide for himself.

"Your Highness, let's go see Master Dao," Meng Shanming suggested.

Shang Chaozong nodded.

The two were just about to leave when Shang Shuqing called after them.

"Elder Brother, Uncle Meng, there's no need to go. Master Dao has already left."

"Left?"

The two spoke in unison, both astonished.

Shang Shuqing nodded.

"Master Dao didn't want anyone alerted. He told me to wait until they had left before coming to inform Elder Brother..."

She then carefully relayed everything Niu Youdao had instructed her to say.

He had left to avoid danger?

Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming exchanged looks.

From Shang Shuqing's account, Niu Youdao seemed to have sensed danger almost the instant he regained consciousness after returning. He had simply been too exhausted and had fainted again before he could issue instructions to those below him.

Otherwise, he would have left long ago.

Thinking again of the secret warning they had just received, Master Dao's reaction unquestionably confirmed what the letter was warning about.

And he had even left before the warning reached them.

Shang Chaozong sighed.

"Master Dao truly is no ordinary man. What quick reactions."

Meng Shanming stroked his beard and nodded.

"Master Dao has spent his life rolling through storms. Without a keen instinct for danger, he would never have survived until today."

...

"Sect Leader Situ, where are you going?"

Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion had brought a fair number of people.

After receiving Niu Youdao's secret instructions, it was difficult for all of them to leave without attracting attention.

The moment the sect's disciples began moving, Yan's three great sects grew alert.

In the end, the entire group was stopped.

The three Sect Leaders came over after receiving the report and asked what was happening.

Standing above them on a slope, Long Xiu spoke first.

Situ Yao looked up.

"I just received word that some disciples from my sect have been misbehaving and caused trouble among the Jinzhou forces. A great battle is imminent, so I need to hurry over and deal with it."

As he spoke, he raised a hand and pointed toward the group of disciples from the three great sects blocking their way.

"Sect Leader Long, what is the meaning of stopping us? Are we not permitted to leave?"

Long Xiu smiled pleasantly.

"Sect Leader Situ is thinking too much. With a great battle at hand, everyone entering or leaving must be carefully screened. That's only common sense. Please don't take offense."

Situ Yao asked, "And how else do you intend to screen us?"

Beside Long Xiu, Meng Xuan murmured softly, "It's just as well if they leave. Once the operation begins, there'll be less resistance and less trouble, and our own people won't be exposed as easily."

Hearing that, Long Xiu and Gong Lince both turned their heads slightly and glanced toward the tent where Niu Youdao was supposedly staying.

The army still surrounded it layer after layer, guarding it so tightly that not even water could seep through.

"Sect Leader Situ is being too serious," Long Xiu said. "We're all on the same side. What is there to distrust? Since you have urgent business, hurry and deal with it. A great battle is imminent. Whatever you do, don't delay the war."

He waved a hand.

The men blocking the road immediately moved aside.

Situ Yao cupped his hands.

"Farewell."

"I won't see you off."

Long Xiu gave a slight nod.

Situ Yao called to the disciples accompanying him and rapidly led them through the vast interconnected army camps...

At dusk, two large flying birds avoided Yan's aerial-defense patrols and circled toward the heart of Yan's heavily deployed army.

They carried several Supreme Elders sent by Zhao's three great sects.

Xin Jikui, now missing both arms, was among them.

Precisely because Xin Jikui was present, the aerial patrols of Yan's three great sects allowed them through.

They observed the situation below for a while.

Seeing nothing unusual in the prearranged flag signal, they knew the operation could proceed according to plan.

Xin Jikui turned and whispered with the visitors from Zhao for a time.

Then he threw himself from the large flying bird and fell backward through the sky.

As he descended after separating from them, he pointed out the tent where Niu Youdao was supposed to be staying.

He himself glided toward another location.

The visitors from Zhao exchanged a look.

Three Supreme Elders leapt from the flying birds together and plunged straight toward the target.

The cultivators controlling the birds immediately drove them upward and rapidly withdrew into the distance.

"Kill..."

Battle cries and thunderous impacts suddenly erupted together.

The moment the commotion began, Shang Chaozong was the first to rush from his tent.

Meng Shanming was rapidly pushed out behind him, with Shang Shuqing following as well.

A group of cultivators had already rushed over at the first instant to protect the three.

Under heavy guard, they stared toward the place where the sudden upheaval had erupted.

It was precisely the place where Niu Youdao had supposedly been staying.

The heavily deployed troops protecting the area had already fallen into chaos.

Shang Chaozong's face was iron-dark.

Meng Shanming showed no expression at all.

Shang Shuqing's heart pounded wildly.

Master Dao's warning had truly come true.

Fortunately, they had left in time.

Had they been even a little later, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Meng Xuan flashed out of his tent and saw Xin Jikui returning to report.

He was badly startled.

"What happened to your arms?"

Still pale-faced, Xin Jikui looked miserable.

"Because Niu Youdao chopped off one of Jiang Wanlou's disciple's hands, the moment I arrived, Jiang Wanlou cut off both of my arms without even asking why..."

He briefly recounted what had happened.

Xin Jikui had expected his master to say a few words of comfort.

But Meng Xuan said little.

His attention had already been drawn completely toward the fighting.

Xin Jikui did not even know whether his master had heard what he said.

A bitter ache rose in his heart.

He closed his mouth.

[End of Chapter 883]