Chapter 952: The Enemy You Don't Understand Is the Most Dangerous

What else could they do?

Things were no longer as they had been back at Maolu Villa. Having reached this point, many matters could no longer be arranged the way they once had. Never in his dreams had Niu Youdao imagined that after joining Zijin Cave, he would still run into something like this. This was precisely what he meant when he said man's plans could not outdo Heaven's.

For most people, however, there would be no great trouble.

Take the Shang faction, for example. If Niu Youdao truly failed to return, then so long as no conflict arose, Zijin Cave would naturally absorb the Shang faction's forces into its own system. The Shang faction would not go looking for trouble on its own. It would not throw away a stable situation for no reason, insist on clashing with Zijin Cave, and defect to one of the other two sects. There was no need to spill blood and shoulder that kind of risk.

That was why Niu Youdao wanted Guan Fangyi and the others under him to leave. They only had to tuck their tails between their legs and go. They were not to create trouble for the Shang faction.

If his own people refused to leave, the Shang faction would be placed in an extremely difficult position. Zijin Cave would certainly seize the opportunity to take full control of the Shang faction and would therefore move to eliminate the people of the Maolu Annex. When that happened, which side was the Shang faction supposed to stand on?

So Niu Youdao wanted the Maolu Annex people to leave. That would keep the Shang faction from being forced into a choice, while also keeping Zijin Cave from being forced to deal with the Maolu Annex. Otherwise, the Maolu Annex could not preserve its own power anyway. Once conflict broke out, no one would come away well.

When Niu Youdao had gone to the Tiandu Secret Realm in earlier years, his many arrangements had been intended to prevent the Shang faction from slipping too easily out of his control. Otherwise, if he returned alive, he would face enormous trouble.

Now circumstances were different. Since he had already joined Zijin Cave, that was no longer necessary. So long as he came back alive, everything would naturally resolve itself.

Giving the Shang faction stability now could also be considered a repayment. At Jiao Lake, the Shang faction had rallied its forces against the three major sects to protect him. If something happened to him on this journey, then he could regard this as repaying that favor. He disliked owing anyone.

If you insist on clutching everything tightly in your own hands, you often end up unable to hold it at all. Only by following people's hearts can you win people's hearts.

During this period, he had often lain there looking listless. In truth, he had been thinking about these matters the entire time.

"If you leave and Zijin Cave immediately starts getting ideas, what then?" Guan Fangyi asked, voicing the worry in her heart.

Niu Youdao answered slowly, "You're overthinking it. This time, I'm going as Zijin Cave's representative. If they anger me, I can drag the entire Zijin Cave into the water at any moment. Once I'm inside Sacred Realm, the authority to make decisions on Zijin Cave's behalf is in my hands. If they aren't afraid to die, they can try me. I doubt they'll dare. Do as I told you. Nothing will happen to any of you. I'll warn them. Even if they harbor such thoughts, they won't dare act recklessly."

His gaze slid toward the gloom on Guan Fangyi's face, and he smiled again. "Why the funeral face? You're making it look like I'm going off to die. Relax. I'm not so easy to kill. I don't want to die either. I'll do everything I can to come back alive."

Guan Fangyi forced a smile, but there was simply no way she could feel happy.

"Ah!" Wu Zhaoxing sighed. This time he had truly felt the weakness in the structure surrounding Niu Youdao. Everyone's fate was tied to a single man. The moment something happened to Niu Youdao, everything would turn to smoke.

But then again, there was no helping it. Without a powerful helmsman, people with different hearts could never be gathered into one body. A plate of loose sand could never withstand the storms of these troubled times, much less make it all the way to where they stood today.

Every advantage carried its disadvantage. That was probably the truth of it.

"Master Dao, Wen Mo'er sent word. The Sect Leaders of Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain have arrived and request an audience." Chen Guishuo hurried over to report. Niu Youdao had just ordered that no one else be allowed near, so Wen Mo'er had been stopped outside.

Niu Youdao smiled. Those three sects had certainly learned long ago that he was going to Sacred Realm. The matter was no secret. They had probably been waiting all this time for word from him. With the deadline drawing near and nothing arriving, they had finally lost patience and come themselves.

He could imagine that Shang Chaozong's side had probably been waiting for a message from him too. They had received nothing, but had not dared ask too many questions for fear he might read something into it.

"Invite them in." Niu Youdao waved a hand. Once Chen Guishuo left to obey, he turned to the two beside him. "That's settled, then."

Wu Zhaoxing departed. Guan Fangyi did not.

After a long silence, she asked again, "Master Dao, with your methods, can't you think of some way not to go? According to Quan Taifeng, people in Lingxiao Pavilion managed to avoid it. I refuse to believe you can't find a way."

Niu Youdao said, "You know what happened with Gongsun Bu. Misty Pavilion has had its eye on me for a long time. My name appearing on the Sacred Realm list this time is already somewhat abnormal. If I go, I can at least face whatever comes. If I refuse, I'm afraid the trouble will become even greater. When that happens, I may not be the only one to suffer. Everyone may be dragged down with me. Hongniang, we don't yet possess the strength to resist. We can only endure and bow our heads in obedience. Only by taking one step back might we win ourselves the chance for the sea and sky to open wide."

Guan Fangyi muttered, "If we're going to suffer, then we might as well all suffer together. There's no need for you to face and shoulder everything alone. This old lady won't accept that favor."

"You all let me order you around every day. Since I've enjoyed the benefits everyone gives me, when trouble comes, naturally I'm the one who should step forward and bear it." Niu Youdao smiled as he said it, then crooked a finger at her.

Guan Fangyi looked suspicious, but still bent down, bracing one hand on the armrest of the reclining chair and bringing her ear close to his mouth.

Niu Youdao whispered beside her ear, "Danger also means opportunity. Under ordinary circumstances, we would never have the chance to come into contact with the level represented by Sacred Realm. No one is perfect. I don't believe they're truly impregnable. The cultivation world has practically deified those nine. We know nothing about what they're actually like. We can't learn anything about them, and we don't dare investigate them rashly. Hongniang, the enemy you don't understand is the most dangerous. Only by getting close to them, by understanding them, will we have a chance to defeat them!"

Guan Fangyi's heart began pounding violently.

Those words were practically treason against Heaven itself. They were no different from openly revealing that Niu Youdao intended to challenge the nine supreme experts beneath Heaven.

She raised her head slightly until they were nearly face-to-face and said, "Why go looking for trouble? Things are already fine as they are."

Niu Youdao said, "I've been thinking about this for a long time. The tree may wish for stillness, but the wind will not cease! I would like to live freely and peacefully, but can I? After the Tiandu Secret Realm, now there's suddenly this Sacred Realm tempering that has never existed before. That's very unusual. I don't know what those nine old monsters are trying to do. Since I'm going anyway, I might as well take the chance to find out. Those nine have always remained deep behind the scenes, stirring the winds and clouds beneath Heaven and manipulating all living beings as though they were ants. They will not stop. The rules are in their hands. They can play however they please. I may avoid this calamity, but I won't avoid the next. Sooner or later I'll be dragged in. Since there is no escaping it, there is no need to keep avoiding it. There is no reason to keep taking blows without ever striking back. This time, even if they hadn't come looking for me, sooner or later I would have gone looking for them!"

Guan Fangyi was genuinely shaken. Only today did she learn what lay in this man's heart. She hurriedly said, "Don't act recklessly. Over the years, plenty of ambitious people have wanted to challenge them, and not one came to a good end. Don't overthink this. Finding a way to come back alive matters more than anything."

Niu Youdao said, "Not necessarily. From what I know, there were originally only three supreme experts. Now there are nine. What do you make of the six who came later? Among cultivators, who doesn't want to break through the shackles of life and death and live forever as they do? Only those who dare have a chance. Those who never dare will never have one."

"This..." Guan Fangyi was left without words.

Niu Youdao raised a hand and suddenly brushed his fingers beneath her chin. "Smells wonderful!"

They were indeed close enough to catch each other's scent clearly. Her natural fragrance was unmistakable.

Smack! Guan Fangyi slapped his hand away and hurriedly straightened. Having been teased, she flushed with anger and embarrassment. "Go die!"

At that exact moment, Chen Guishuo happened to lead Fei Changliu and the others over. They caught sight of the flirtatious exchange and looked somewhat awkward, as though tempted to retreat.

Unfortunately, Niu Youdao had already seen them and smilingly waved them over.

Fei Changliu and the other two approached while Chen Guishuo returned outside to stand guard.

Glancing at Guan Fangyi, who was still glaring at him, Niu Youdao chuckled and finally left the reclining chair to stand.

"Master Dao!" Fei Changliu and the other two came forward and saluted.

Niu Youdao asked, "Something the matter?"

The three exchanged looks. Xia Hua said, "Following Master Dao's instructions, the three female disciples from our sects are all with child now. We've come specifically to report the matter to Master Dao."

Niu Youdao knew immediately that this was only an excuse. Something like this could easily have been reported in a secret letter. There was no need for all three Sect Leaders to make the trip personally. Knowing what was really on their minds, he simply followed the subject they had raised. "The news hasn't spread, has it?"

Xia Hua said, "No. As you instructed, we've kept them secretly isolated and settled elsewhere."

Niu Youdao asked, "Do Zhao Dengxuan and the other two know?"

Xia Hua said, "No. We haven't released the women, and with those three living at their own sects, travel back and forth isn't convenient. Since the war with Zhao, husband and wife have only managed to meet a handful of times in total. We've kept the pregnancies quiet as well, so the three men don't know for now."

Niu Youdao said, "Very good. Continue with the rest according to plan."

"Yes!" The three accepted the order, then looked at one another again. Fei Changliu tried asking, "Master Dao truly intends to go to Sacred Realm?"

Niu Youdao said, "Everyone beneath Heaven knows it. There's no need to doubt it."

Fei Changliu asked, "Then what about the later arrangements involving those three female disciples?"

Niu Youdao knew exactly what they wanted to know, so he stated it plainly. "If I return alive, I'll naturally make the arrangements. If I don't return, explain the entire matter directly to Zijin Cave. The opportunity has been handed to Zijin Cave; they'll know what to do with it. Consider it a chance I'm leaving you to build good relations with Zijin Cave."

Xia Hua hurriedly smiled. "We would still rather follow Master Dao. We'd be happy to go without that opportunity and wait for Master Dao to return."

"Hypocrite!" Niu Youdao threw the word straight back at her.

The three still wanted to offer another round of hollow declarations of loyalty, but Chen Guishuo returned and interrupted them. "Master Dao, Mr. Yucang, Pavilion Master of Xiaoyue Pavilion, has arrived. He wishes to see you."

The former Pavilion Master of Xiaoyue Pavilion, Xia Lingpei, had already become Emperor of Qin. Afterward, Mr. Yucang had naturally stepped forward and taken the position of Pavilion Master himself.

"Ha! Today really is interesting. One wave of guests after another. Invite him in." Niu Youdao laughed. After Chen Guishuo left, he turned back to the three men before him. "I know what you're worried about. You don't need to worry. I've already made arrangements. If I don't return, simply continue following the Prince and nothing will happen to you. When the time comes, you'll understand from the situation itself what you should do. Enough. I still have another guest to meet. You can withdraw. If there's nothing urgent, go back."

"Very well. We won't disturb Master Dao while you receive your guest." The three cupped their hands together and withdrew.

Before long, Mr. Yucang arrived. After a brief exchange of courtesies, he took hold of Niu Youdao's wrist, dragged him aside, and asked in a low voice, "Little Brother, you told me some time ago to arrange reliable people to enter Sacred Realm. Tell me honestly: did you already know back then that you yourself would be going to Sacred Realm? And did you already know Sacred Realm would arrange for Elders from the various sects to enter?"

[End of Chapter 952]