Chapter 896: Thoroughly Duped

"Your Highness!"

At the place where the great army had gathered, two large flying mounts descended. Feng Ruonan, carrying the child, and Lan Ruoting were both helped down by cultivators. They quickly came before Shang Chaozong and bowed.

Shang Chaozong stood in armor. He raised a hand to dispense with the formalities, then looked back at Meng Shanming. The two exchanged a glance and both let out long breaths of relief.

Through arrangements jointly made by Niu Youdao and Zijin Cave, Shang Chaozong had cooperated in shaking off the people of Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain and had placed himself completely under Zijin Cave's protection. That meant he had thoroughly drawn a line between himself and Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain and had fully taken Zijin Cave's side.

Shang Chaozong had been worried about whether his wife, child, and Lan Ruoting could escape safely. Now that he saw Lan Ruoting and the others arrive unharmed and successfully free themselves from Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain's control, the weight hanging over his heart finally dropped.

This had been extremely dangerous.

If Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain had sensed something was wrong, the two sects absolutely would have killed them.

Their control over this side was already slipping away. With the people still in their hands, what would they not have dared do?

Now that all the principal figures had escaped safely, there was nothing more to fear. Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain could hardly start massacring the thousands upon thousands of soldiers below. How many could they kill? So long as the principal figures remained alive, scattered troops could be gathered again at any time. Continuing to force matters would accomplish nothing, and throwing Yan into chaos would do neither sect any good.

"Mr. Lan."

Shang Shuqing, who had accompanied the army, first greeted Lan Ruoting. Then she walked over to Feng Ruonan.

"Sister-in-law!"

The moment she saw the child, she could not resist taking him from Feng Ruonan's arms and playing with him.

Afterward, Meng Shanming insisted on holding the child for a while too. The little fellow stared with glossy black eyes, and whenever anything brushed his mouth, he immediately tried to lick and suck it. Meng Shanming laughed heartily at the sight.

The cultivators nearby looked over when they heard him. They were either experts sent by Zijin Cave or people belonging to Niu Youdao. These men had taken full responsibility for the safety of the Shang faction's important figures and dared not relax in the slightest. Everyone knew Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain were presently at the height of their humiliation and anger.

After the adults accidentally teased the child into wailing, Shang Chaozong tried everything and still could not soothe him. In the end, he had no choice but to return the child to Feng Ruonan. They still had matters to discuss, and the crying was too distracting, so the two women took the child aside to calm him.

"The greater situation is settled now!" Shang Chaozong said with emotion as he gazed into the distance.

Meng Shanming, seated in his wheelchair, sighed as well. "Who would have imagined it? Master Dao actually became an Elder of Zijin Cave. It seems Master Dao made his arrangements long ago. We worried for nothing."

Lan Ruoting, standing nearby, nodded. "Master Dao truly kept everything sealed without a leak. No one saw even the slightest clue beforehand. He even kept Lingjian Mountain and Xiaoyao Palace in the dark. Zijin Cave must have been helping Master Dao act out this play for quite some time."

Shang Chaozong looked back at Meng Shanming. "Then the warning mixed into the intelligence earlier was most likely a secret reminder from Zijin Cave."

Meng Shanming gave a low sound of agreement and stroked his beard. "The winds and clouds shift; every step is fraught with danger. So many people's lives and deaths can be decided in an instant. One misstep, and all is lost beyond redemption. At last, the dust has finally settled!"

Before this, they had been worried beyond measure.

Niu Youdao had broken away from the three great sects and ignited a war, while their side had rallied thousands upon thousands of troops and openly resisted those sects. All along, they had feared the three great sects would settle accounts afterward.

Only now did they realize they had worried unnecessarily.

Niu Youdao had prepared a retreat long ago. He had actually led the Nanzhou faction directly into Zijin Cave.

The play had been nerve-racking enough to terrify anyone.

Even while rescuing the hostages in such extreme danger, Niu Youdao had not asked Zijin Cave for the slightest assistance. Even after he was gravely wounded, Zijin Cave had not stepped forward to protect him.

He had genuinely gambled with his life to conceal the truth behind the scenes, enduring everything without revealing a trace.

Then again, if the performance had not been convincing, how could they possibly have deceived Lingjian Mountain and Xiaoyao Palace?

Even so, Shang Chaozong still had one question.

"As far as I know, Xiaoyao Palace was the first to try recruiting Master Dao. Long Xiu had dealings with him quite early. Master Dao chose neither Xiaoyao Palace nor Lingjian Mountain. Why did he choose Zijin Cave alone?"

Meng Shanming and Lan Ruoting both shook their heads.

The reasons behind that choice were probably known only to Niu Youdao himself.

Just then, Gongsun Bu arrived and presented a secret letter.

"Your Highness, a letter from Master Dao."

"Oh. Much obliged, Mr. Gongsun."

Shang Chaozong accepted the letter politely and read it.

Afterward, his brows furrowed and he remained silent for a long time.

Under Meng Shanming and Lan Ruoting's watching eyes, he slowly passed the letter to them.

Only after the two read it did they understand why the Prince was frowning.

Niu Youdao said in the letter that although Nanzhou's troops had rendered enormous merit, internal struggles within Zijin Cave were unavoidable. The sect likely feared being unable to control him and probably would not allow his power to continue expanding. As a result, the territory seized from Zhao would most likely have nothing to do with Nanzhou's forces.

Niu Youdao instructed them that if matters truly developed that way, they were not to argue, cause trouble, or complain. They were to act as though nothing had happened, establish themselves securely in Nanzhou, accumulate popular support, build deep grain reserves, and train elite troops diligently while awaiting Heaven's timing.

As for what came afterward, he, Niu Youdao, would make his own arrangements.

After reading the letter, Lan Ruoting sighed. "Looks like Master Dao isn't having an easy time inside Zijin Cave either."

Shang Chaozong said, "Wherever there are people, there will be struggle. Master Dao has only just arrived. Some difficulties are unavoidable. Since he has written this, he presumably knows what he's doing. We'll follow his instructions. Have the Nanzhou forces prepare to withdraw."

He looked toward Meng Shanming.

"If the soldiers below have complaints, I'll have to trouble Marshal Meng to personally reassure them."

"Your Highness can rest assured." Meng Shanming nodded.

There were certain things he naturally understood.

The soldiers had risked their lives on the battlefield. Who among them did not hope to win merit and establish a career?

Only when territory expanded could more positions open up for promotion.

They had campaigned east and west for so long and accomplished such tremendous deeds. If they received no corresponding rewards, morale would indeed suffer. Complaints were inevitable.

Lan Ruoting pondered for a moment. "I'll try to raise as much money and property as possible on my side. We can use it to reward the soldiers."

A gust of wind swept across the green slope, setting the grass swaying. Above them, masses of clouds rolled past.

Across the vast earth, amid thousands upon thousands of troops, Shang Chaozong stood with one hand on the treasured sword at his waist, his cloak snapping in the wind behind him.

The three men stood on the grassy rise, gazing into the distance while discussing the military and political policies to come.

...

At first, outsiders had not known Niu Youdao had joined Zijin Cave.

But once Zijin Cave fully took over Shang Chaozong's protection, Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain immediately understood what had happened.

When Long Xiu learned that Niu Youdao had become an Elder of Zijin Cave—

Crash!

He smashed his teacup and paced back and forth in fury.

How could he not realize now that both Zijin Cave and Niu Youdao had played him for a fool?

"Master, I told you long ago that that Niu Youdao bastard couldn't be trusted. We should have gotten rid of him much earlier!" Yi Shu said angrily from the side.

She had never gotten over the fact that Niu Youdao had pinched her backside years ago. In her mind, her purity had been sullied so badly that she was too embarrassed even to marry.

"Shut up!" Long Xiu snapped.

Yi Shu was frightened into silence.

Long Xiu walked to the railing and looked out at the distant mountain scenery.

Once his anger gradually subsided, he could not help reflecting on whether he himself had been too small-minded.

He had known about the three sects wanting to form marriage alliances with Niu Youdao. When Gong Lince arranged for Wen Mo'er to become his adopted daughter, Long Xiu had immediately guessed there was more behind it. Judging from what happened afterward, Niu Youdao had probably refused every one of them.

Who would have thought Gong Lince would make such a grand move and actually throw out an Elder position to Niu Youdao?

That was the position of an Elder in one of a state's three great sects.

How many people inside those sects spent their whole lives longing for such a position and still never obtained it?

Long Xiu believed he finally understood.

What Niu Youdao wanted was not female beauty.

He wanted power and position.

In truth, Long Xiu's conclusion was half right and half wrong.

What moved Niu Youdao about Zijin Cave was both the position and something beyond the position.

Gong Lince had been willing to offer it, and he had offered the highest position he possibly could. There was nowhere higher to go unless he intended to hand over the Sect Leader's seat itself.

From Niu Youdao's perspective, the episode also showed that Gong Lince possessed broader vision and greater breadth of spirit than Long Xiu or Meng Xuan. To a certain extent, he had the capacity to tolerate and make use of others.

That was the key reason Niu Youdao ultimately chose Zijin Cave.

As far as Niu Youdao was concerned, trying to tie him down with a woman and a marriage alliance?

What kind of joke was that?

Lingjian Mountain was equally furious.

Once the truth emerged, many earlier events could now be connected.

Inside the Tiandu Secret Realm, Yan Li had very likely already been working hand in glove with Niu Youdao.

The group of demons and monsters from the Four Seas had very likely been deliberately allowed through by Zijin Cave.

The Spirit Seeds that gave Niu Youdao first place had very likely been carried out by that same group.

They had been thoroughly duped.

No one could possibly have dreamed of it.

At the time, taking first place had been a matter of life and death for Niu Youdao. Having Zijin Cave carry the Spirit Seeds out would have been the safest method.

Yet Niu Youdao had taken an enormous risk instead and successfully prevented everyone from connecting him with Zijin Cave.

For the sake of the later plan, he had actually been that ruthless with himself.

The same was true of rescuing the hostages afterward.

Despite the enormous danger, he still had not used Zijin Cave's people and had revealed not the slightest clue.

He had swallowed everything and gambled with his life.

Meng Xuan and the others of Lingjian Mountain had no choice but to admit it.

They had truly encountered a ruthless man.

...

"Master Dao, Sect Leader Huang of Dachan Mountain has arrived."

Guan Fangyi stood outside a room and knocked on the door.

Inside, Niu Youdao had been sitting cross-legged in cultivation, seizing every spare moment to practice. He opened his eyes, rose, and came out.

Huang Lie was pacing through the courtyard, weighed down by many thoughts.

The moment he saw Niu Youdao appear, he hurried forward with a broad smile and cupped his hands.

"Master Dao, congratulations! Congratulations on Master Dao's elevation to Elder of Zijin Cave!"

Niu Youdao chuckled and waved the congratulations away.

Huang Lie immediately gestured behind him.

An Elder who had accompanied him stepped forward and presented a gift box.

"A small token of regard. I hope Elder Niu won't disdain it."

Niu Youdao caught Huang Lie by the arm.

"We're all on the same side. There's no need for such ceremony."

Even so, he still glanced back and gave a signal.

Guan Fangyi came forward smiling, thanked them, accepted the gift box, and took it away for safekeeping.

They happened to be short of money.

Huang Lie remained at Niu Youdao's side, smiling and offering one flattering remark after another.

There was no helping it.

Times had changed.

Before, Dachan Mountain had already been unable to beat Niu Youdao in their struggles.

Now there was even less point in speaking of struggle.

Nanzhou was certain to fall under Zijin Cave's control, and this fellow had transformed in a blink into an Elder of Zijin Cave. He now stood high above Dachan Mountain looking down at it, while Nanzhou itself was still his territory.

If Niu Youdao wanted to kick Dachan Mountain out, it would be far too easy.

How could Huang Lie dare be careless with his flattery?

Niu Youdao had suddenly summoned him here, and Huang Lie's heart was still hanging in uncertainty.

After Wen Mo'er came over and served tea, Niu Youdao dismissed her.

Then he beckoned to Old Six Xu.

"The map."

Old Six Xu immediately went inside, retrieved a map, and spread it before the two men.

Niu Youdao looked down at it.

"These past years, Dachan Mountain has had to squeeze together with us in Nanzhou. There have been quite a few frictions between us. In the end, Dachan Mountain has had to endure some grievances. If there were places where I offended you, Sect Leader Huang, I hope you won't take them to heart."

[End of Chapter 896]