Chapter 920: The Sea of Suffering Is Boundless; Turn Back and the Shore Is at Hand

Yan Li was no fool. With Niu Youdao putting it that plainly, how could he fail to understand? Niu Youdao simply wanted Kunlin Shu's wife in his hands so he could keep Kunlin Shu under control.

And after thinking it over, Yan Li had to admit that with Kunlin Shu in this state of mind, if he truly lost, there was no guarantee he would not do something foolish.

Once Yan Li grasped the deeper purpose, his objections vanished. He too felt it was necessary to hold Kunlin Shu's wife as leverage.

So he stopped tugging at Niu Youdao and no longer tried to keep him from leaving in a sweep of his sleeve.

Yet just as the two finished speaking and Niu Youdao was about to turn away again, someone suddenly shouted, "I'm willing!"

Niu Youdao and Yan Li both looked back. It was Fire Phoenix. She was facing Kunlin Shu. "Senior Brother, I'm willing to be the stake in this wager!"

Qian Fucheng froze. He had not expected Fire Phoenix to volunteer.

Kunlin Shu was startled too, then immediately shook his head over and over. "No. Absolutely not."

Fire Phoenix caught his hand and forced a smile. "Senior Brother, as long as you win, nothing will happen to me. I believe you can win."

Kunlin Shu refused. "No."

Fire Phoenix asked, "Does Senior Brother not have confidence in winning?"

"This..." Kunlin Shu hesitated. If he won, then naturally nothing would happen to Junior Sister, and he was confident that he could win.

Fire Phoenix said, "If Senior Brother can win, then there is nothing to worry about."

Her words left Kunlin Shu painfully torn. He desperately wanted another match with Niu Youdao. He had suffered through ten bitter years for this very day. But using his own wife as the stake still seemed to go too far.

His thoughts were in turmoil. Unable to decide, he looked toward Qian Fucheng and asked, "Elder, what do you think?"

Qian Fucheng replied mildly, "Don't ask me. This is a matter between husband and wife. Make the decision yourselves."

"Senior Brother, don't say any more." Fire Phoenix stopped Kunlin Shu, then smiled at Qian Fucheng. "Elder, I'll make this decision for Senior Brother."

Only she knew the bitterness hidden inside that smile. She did not want to become a stake in a wager either, but she knew this was her Senior Brother's long-cherished wish. If he could not fight Niu Youdao one more time, he would never get past this hurdle in his heart. And as her Senior Brother had said, once he went to Sacred Realm, there was no certainty he would come back alive.

Kunlin Shu was torn to the extreme, but there was no alternative. Niu Youdao had stubbornly refused to release those conditions.

Qian Fucheng studied his reaction. After waiting for a while and seeing that Kunlin Shu no longer objected, he turned and called toward Niu Youdao, "Elder Niu, we can accept your conditions."

Niu Youdao and Yan Li exchanged a glance. Yan Li showed Qian Fucheng considerable face, going with the flow as he tugged Niu Youdao and invited him back.

"Thought it through?" Niu Youdao asked when he returned.

Qian Fucheng said, "He spent ten years in bitter seclusion precisely so he could fight you one more time. So long as Elder Niu agrees, we'll proceed according to the conditions you stated."

Niu Youdao said, "Since that's the case, I'm not a man who breaks his word. One match is no great matter. But words alone leave no proof. How do I know you won't go back on your word afterward?"

Qian Fucheng asked, "What would make you believe us?"

Niu Youdao said, "How about we put it in writing?"

Qian Fucheng replied, "A written agreement is easy enough."

Niu Youdao turned to Yan Li. "Since this is a wager, let's invite a neutral party to witness it as well. Elder Yan, please send someone to invite the manager of the nearest All-Under-Heaven Money House. With someone from All-Under-Heaven Money House as witness, I doubt anyone would dare renege. Their people also know how to keep their mouths shut. Whoever wins or loses, they won't go spreading it everywhere."

Qian Fucheng frowned. "Is all this really necessary? Does Elder Niu not trust us?" A vague sense that something was wrong rose inside him. Why did the other side seem so confident?

Niu Youdao chuckled. "It isn't that I don't trust you. My memory simply isn't very good, and I'm afraid someone might later accuse me of reneging. Of course, if everyone thinks this is inappropriate, then pretend I never said anything. We can forget the match here and now and none of us need mention it again."

Qian Fucheng turned to look at Kunlin Shu's reaction. He sighed inwardly and said, "Fine. Having a neutral witness is good too."

Niu Youdao immediately turned his head. "Elder Yan, any problem inviting someone over?"

Yan Li smiled. "There shouldn't be. I'll make a trip to the money house personally and try to bring the manager back as quickly as possible."

"Then it's settled. Once the witness arrives and the agreement is signed, we'll carry it out. Everyone, I still have some matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company." With that, Niu Youdao turned and left.

Kunlin Shu and the others then returned to the guest courtyard. Qian Fucheng was cautious enough that he actually accompanied Yan Li personally to invite the witness.

He was unfamiliar with the people at the nearby money house and worried Yan Li might casually produce someone and play tricks. He wanted to see with his own eyes that the witness really was from All-Under-Heaven Money House.

Inviting the manager of the money house was not difficult. The nearest All-Under-Heaven Money House handled most of Zijin Cave's financial dealings, and Zijin Cave was its largest client. With a Zijin Cave Elder personally coming to ask the manager to witness a simple agreement, there was naturally no reason to refuse.

The round trip took only a little less than half a day. The money-house manager returned with them to Zijin Cave.

With the neutral witness present, the challenger and the challenged once again discussed exactly how the written agreement would be framed.

Niu Youdao's conditions remained the same, and Qian Fucheng's side accepted them. But Qian Fucheng put considerable effort into the rules of the match on Kunlin Shu's behalf.

He did not want Kunlin Shu to suffer some hidden disadvantage and lose. For example, they specified what weapons each side was allowed to use and what items were forbidden. Niu Youdao's habit of smashing opponents with Heavenly Sword Talismans had already become famous, and Kunlin Shu did not have a pile of Heavenly Sword Talismans to trade against him.

They also stipulated that no one else could help during the match. The moment anyone from either side intervened, that side would immediately be judged the loser.

Qian Fucheng filled the agreement with safeguards for Kunlin Shu in every possible respect, guarding against dirty tricks.

Once everything had been settled, the written agreement was drawn up. All parties involved signed and affixed their marks, after which the document was handed to the money-house manager.

The manager examined the agreement carefully. After confirming there were no problems, he too signed and affixed his mark.

The agreement was prepared in duplicate, with each side keeping one copy as proof.

Better to seize the day than choose another. Niu Youdao had no wish to drag matters out, so the match would take place today.

Kunlin Shu had longed for this day for years and had no desire to delay either. He readily agreed. The two sides were of one mind.

The location was a training ground in the rear mountains of Zijin Cave, a place where Zijin Cave disciples ordinarily sparred.

As the two parties traveled there together, Kunlin Shu was visibly excited. A wish cherished for ten years was finally about to be fulfilled today.

Guan Fangyi, meanwhile, quietly instructed Wu Zhaoxing and the others, "The instant the situation turns dangerous, intervene and stop it. Master Dao must not be allowed to come to harm."

Zijin Cave's senior figures came to watch after receiving the news: Sect Leader Gong Lince, along with Elders Yuan An, Fu Junrang, Yin Yide, Mo Lingxue, and, naturally, Yan Li.

At Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion, Ju An entered and knelt before Zhong Guzi, who sat cross-legged in meditation, old and declining. He quietly explained the upcoming match. "The Sect Leader asked this disciple to report it to you. Would you like to go watch Martial Uncle's match?"

Zhong Guzi opened his eyes slightly. "Go watch in my place." Then he slowly closed his eyes again, as quiet as a wooden carving.

Ju An understood. He bowed low, rose, and left.

Chun Xinliang and Tu Kuai, the two Supreme Elders, were also disturbed by news of the match. Both emerged and went to the training ground to watch.

As for everyone else in Zijin Cave, whether they had heard the news or not, they were barred from coming so the place would not descend into noisy confusion.

At the training ground, the two Supreme Elders did not enter the grounds with the others. They drifted down onto the crown of a large tree halfway up the mountain.

The remaining spectators stood in a row outside the training area.

Inside, Qian Fucheng flew back and forth across the grounds, personally inspecting the terrain for Kunlin Shu and checking for anything suspicious.

Once he had confirmed there were no problems, he flashed back to Kunlin Shu's side. Glancing at Niu Youdao, who stood not far away with a blank expression and his sword planted before him, Qian Fucheng said in a low voice, "Fighting may not be what Niu Youdao is best at, but he has carved his way through great storms. In experience, you cannot compare with him. That he has reached where he is today is no accident. You must not underestimate him or take him lightly. Be twelve parts vigilant."

Kunlin Shu answered, "Yes! This disciple will remember Elder's instruction."

Seeing how eager he was, Fire Phoenix could tell that he had not been this excited once since emerging from the forbidden grounds. She was happy for him, yet nervous as well. Catching his hand, she said, "Senior Brother, Elder is right. You must be careful."

Kunlin Shu nodded excitedly. "Junior Sister, don't worry. I'll go first."

With that, he flashed away.

He descended through the air and drifted into the center of the training ground. There, he cupped his hands toward Niu Youdao and called clearly, "Elder Niu, Kunlin Shu awaits you. Please!"

Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao had just taken one step when Gong Lince said beside him, "Junior Brother, be careful."

"Junior Brother, take care." Several Elders spoke in succession as well.

At a time like this, none of them wanted him to lose. This was a contest against an outsider, and Zijin Cave's face was at stake. If a dignified Zijin Cave Elder lost to an ordinary disciple under Tianhuo Sect, none of them would have any face left.

Niu Youdao smiled and nodded slightly to everyone, then walked toward the center of the training ground at an unhurried pace.

Unlike Kunlin Shu, he did not fly over. He simply used his sword as a walking staff and went forward without haste, calm and unruffled.

Guan Fangyi suddenly realized her hand was being gripped tightly. She turned and saw Shang Shuqing beside her, clutching her hand with obvious tension written across her face.

Guan Fangyi could feel that Shang Shuqing's palm had already begun to sweat. She immediately lowered her voice to reassure her. "Commandery Princess, don't worry. It's only a match. Nothing will happen."

Shang Shuqing murmured an acknowledgment. But as Niu Youdao drew closer and closer to his opponent, the hand that had loosened slightly tightened again.

Fire Phoenix was nervous too, increasingly so. Her thoughts ran in every direction. If her Senior Brother lost again this time, she did not know whether he could withstand such another blow.

When Niu Youdao reached the center of the training ground, he rested one hand on his sword and raised the other to point toward Fire Phoenix at the edge of the grounds.

Guan Fangyi immediately flashed over and landed in front of Fire Phoenix. Smiling, she said, "Miss Nie, please."

Fire Phoenix bit her lip with pearly teeth, inclined herself slightly toward Qian Fucheng, then followed Guan Fangyi away.

Kunlin Shu watched helplessly as his Junior Sister was taken away, his lips pressed tight. This had been agreed in advance. So long as he won, Niu Youdao's side would release her immediately.

Only after seeing Fire Phoenix under control did Niu Youdao face him and say, "The sea of suffering is boundless; turn back and the shore is at hand. I'll give you one more chance. If you regret this now, it isn't too late. I permit you to cancel the match."

[End of Chapter 920]