Chapter 956: Setting Out for Sacred Realm

"..."

Ju An's face was full of disbelief. He badly wanted to say: you suddenly ran over and arranged my marriage without rhyme or reason, and now you're telling me to shut up?

Since Niu Youdao had forbidden him to speak, Ju An turned and looked back at the closed doors of Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion. He very much wanted to run inside and complain to Zhong Guzi.

Most of the others instead turned toward Gong Lince. Everyone was watching to see how the Sect Leader would answer.

Gong Lince was cursing Niu Youdao's ancestors inwardly, but his face remained all smiles. "Junior Brother, those words are too serious. You haven't even left yet, and you're already talking about not coming back alive. That's terribly inauspicious. I believe you'll return safe and sound. You're about to depart now, so discussing something like this in such haste isn't appropriate. We can take our time and discuss it after you return."

Niu Youdao shook his head slightly. "Sect Leader, nine times out of ten I won't be coming back. If I don't return, how are we supposed to discuss it then? Better to settle the matter while I'm still alive. I may be going to Sacred Realm to shed my blood and lay down my life for the sect. I hope Sect Leader can grant me this final wish."

This was plainly unreasonable pestering. Gong Lince could not have been more disgusted. He looked back toward Ju An. "Ju An, are you willing?"

Naturally Ju An was unwilling. He did not even know what was happening. How could he casually agree? He opened his mouth to refuse.

But before Ju An could speak, Niu Youdao cut in. "Whether he's willing isn't important. I've decided this matter for him."

Gong Lince said, "If neither the man nor the woman is willing, how can such a thing be forced?"

Niu Youdao said, "Ju An will be willing. I guarantee that much. As for Wen Mo'er, she should listen to her adoptive father. Whether this marriage succeeds therefore depends on Sect Leader's attitude."

Gong Lince smiled and shook his head. "Fine. Don't waste time here. I agree."

Niu Youdao asked, "When will the wedding be?"

Gong Lince said, "We'll drink the wedding wine after you return."

Everyone present understood what that meant. It was effectively still no agreement at all. If Niu Youdao failed to return, this marriage would probably never happen.

Niu Youdao said, "I don't know whether I'll ever have the chance to drink that wedding wine. One year. One year from now, whether I return or not, have the two of them marry."

Gong Lince said, "Fine."

Niu Youdao said, "Then consider them betrothed as of today!" He raised a palm toward Gong Lince.

"..."

Gong Lince was speechless. Niu Youdao wanted to seal the promise with a clap of palms.

Niu Youdao kept his hand raised and stared at him. Gong Lince remained silent for a while. In the end, he raised his own hand.

Smack!

Their palms struck together.

Everyone looked at one another. They all understood what that slap meant. The dignified Sect Leader had publicly sealed the promise with a clap of palms before everyone's eyes. How could he now go back on his word?

In other words, in a marriage supposedly decided by the parents, the Sect Leader had decided matters on Wen Mo'er's behalf.

The sound of that palm strike left quite a few people sighing inwardly. Wen Mo'er, whom so many outstanding disciples within the sect had long desired, had somehow become betrothed to a mere gatekeeper from Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion. There was no telling how many hearts would break when those disciples learned of it.

"Can we go now?" Gong Lince asked after lowering his hand.

"You go ahead. I'll persuade him." Niu Youdao indicated that he had something private to say to Ju An.

"Let's leave together." Gong Lince was afraid that Niu Youdao might create some last-minute complication. He could not afford to stop watching him now. Still, he waved the others farther away, giving the two men space to speak privately.

Once no one nearby could overhear, Niu Youdao said to Ju An, "You're unmarried, she's unwed, and I'm handing you such a delicate beauty. You're still unwilling?"

A trace of grievance and anger appeared in Ju An's eyes. "Martial Uncle, this isn't about whether I'm willing. Isn't this far too much of a farce? At the very least, I should..."

"There's no 'at the very least.'" Niu Youdao raised a hand and cut him off. "Ju An, I don't even know whether I'll return alive from this trip. After I leave, if you refuse the marriage, the Sect Leader can follow the current and cancel it with a clear conscience. So there is no way for me to truly force this on you."

He raised his eyes toward the tightly closed doors of Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion. "Whether you're willing isn't important. But I suggest you listen to my master's opinion. If my master doesn't agree either, then you can refuse." With that, he raised a hand, patted Ju An on the shoulder, and left without another word.

"Martial Uncle..."

Ju An stood there in a daze watching the group depart, utterly confused.

He could not understand Niu Youdao at all. First the man had forcibly decided his marriage for him, then said he would not force him and that Ju An could make the final choice himself. What was he trying to do?

Under ordinary circumstances, even Ju An was not supposed to go in and out of Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion at will and disturb the people inside. When there was nothing urgent, there were fixed times at which he was permitted to enter and leave. This time, however, he truly could not wait. He opened the doors again and went inside.

Zhong Guzi remained seated cross-legged with his eyes closed, still as a carved statue. Ju An knelt before him and reported, "Martial Uncle has left."

Zhong Guzi remained silent. Ju An continued, "Before leaving, Martial Uncle arranged a marriage for this disciple."

Zhong Guzi's eyelids twitched. Slowly he opened his eyes. Despite his great age, his gaze was filled with bewilderment. Suspiciously, he asked, "He arranged a marriage for you?"

"Yes. Just now, outside..." Ju An explained everything that had happened in detail. At the end he added, "Before departing, he also said I should listen to Grandmaster's opinion. If Grandmaster doesn't agree, I can refuse."

Zhong Guzi said slowly, "Wen Mo'er... That name sounds familiar. Have you mentioned this female disciple to me before?"

Ju An said, "Yes. A disciple within the sect once wanted to use his influence to take her as a wife. She refused and was oppressed for it. Later she acknowledged the Sect Leader as her adoptive father. This disciple mentioned the matter to Grandmaster before."

"That's right." Zhong Guzi nodded slightly, then asked, "Is she attractive?"

Ju An said, "Naturally her looks are excellent. Otherwise, why would a disciple have coveted her?"

Zhong Guzi said, "She has backbone, she has beauty, and neither her character nor her appearance is lacking. Why are you unwilling?"

Ju An did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Grandmaster, don't you find this absurd?"

Zhong Guzi sighed. "All these years, have you ever resented me for not supporting you?"

Ju An hurriedly said, "This disciple would not dare, nor have I ever thought that way."

Zhong Guzi said, "Whether you have or not, there was naturally a reason I never supported you. In cultivation talent, you are lacking. In your ability to contend and maneuver with those people, you are lacking as well. You do not possess that sort of gift. If I sent you to struggle with them for authority and profit, I would only be harming you. They would devour you until not even bone scraps remained. But this Martial Uncle of yours is a dragon and phoenix among men. He sees one move farther ahead! Foolish boy, your Martial Uncle has gone to great pains for your sake, yet you don't even know enough to appreciate it."

Ju An's face was full of confusion. "This disciple doesn't understand. Grandmaster, please enlighten me."

Zhong Guzi said, "That girl is the Sect Leader's adoptive daughter. How do you still not understand? Foolish boy, I don't have many days left. Once I'm gone, what happens to all of you? If you marry the Sect Leader's adoptive daughter, things become different. Even if you never amount to much, other people won't dare make life too difficult for you. At the very least, you'll be able to pass your days in peace."

"Under ordinary circumstances, the Sect Leader would never agree to something like this, nor could he openly force a female disciple of the sect to marry someone. Even if I spoke, he would have ample grounds to decline. It would be enough for the woman herself to refuse. I have no way to be as unreasonable and shamelessly persistent as your Martial Uncle. Do you think your Martial Uncle had nothing better to do and decided to amuse himself? Foolish boy, even he cannot guarantee that he'll return alive. He's arranging affairs for after his death. He's securing a road of retreat for the people of Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion!"

"He understood the trust I left unspoken, and he has fulfilled it. Even if he dies in Sacred Realm, he has not failed my expectations, and he has done everything possible for Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion. If you insist on refusing his goodwill, there is nothing he can do about it. Foolish boy, the young woman's character and appearance are both excellent. Your Martial Uncle has not wronged you. He's given you a fortunate marriage. You're the one marrying above your station. Others would envy you before they had time for anything else. What is there to be unwilling about? Listen to your Martial Uncle. Marry her."

Ju An sat there blankly...

The group that had visited Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion returned to the Maolu Annex. Gong Lince and the others waited outside for the moment. Niu Youdao used the excuse of going inside to collect his traveling bundle to quietly brief Guan Fangyi about the change in the relationship between Wen Mo'er and Ju An.

Even Guan Fangyi was stunned after hearing it. "They're just... betrothed now? Wen Mo'er and Ju An are betrothed? Master Dao, what exactly are you playing at?" Even she felt it had been rather hasty.

Niu Youdao lifted his bundle and slung it over his back. "Wen Mo'er is the eyes and ears Gong Lince placed beside us. You enjoy having someone watch us all the time? Wouldn't it be better if she became one of our own? While I'm away, your status makes it inconvenient for you to move around Zijin Cave freely. Keep in regular contact with Ju An and have Ju An put more effort into Wen Mo'er. If Wen Mo'er is willing to help you, moving around within Zijin Cave will become much easier. At the very least, you'll be able to detect changes on Zijin Cave's side in time and make preparations before anything happens."

Guan Fangyi nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Ju An never agreed. Will he really agree?"

Niu Youdao said, "The opportunity has been placed in his hands. If he insists on refusing, then I have nothing to say. My master shouldn't be so muddled in his old age that he can't weigh the advantages and disadvantages."

Guan Fangyi sighed. "That girl really got the short end of it. For no reason at all, the lot of you have somehow dragged her into this."

"I'm arranging a marriage. That's a good thing. How has anyone wronged her? Besides, Ju An isn't bad. A man who can stand guard peacefully for this many years can't be too rotten. He's more reliable than those polished young men who look like jade trees in the wind. The girl is young and doesn't know how to judge people. I'm helping her make the correct choice. Gong Lince openly forced her hand in a matter like this, so he can't very well refuse to take responsibility for her afterward. No matter how you look at it, this is a good thing. She should be thanking me."

"Fine. No matter how you turn it around, you're always the one with reason on your side."

Everything that needed to be explained had been explained. The journey to Sacred Realm officially began.

Niu Youdao left with Kunlin Shu. Fire Phoenix was reluctant to part with him, but Niu Youdao would not allow the people of the Maolu Annex to see them off. Everyone could only stop at the gate and watch them leave. Shang Shuqing stood among them, biting her lip in silence.

Yucang moved as soon as he heard the news, leading the cultivators bound for Sacred Realm from the State of Qin to meet up with Zijin Cave's party.

Outside Zijin Cave's mountain gate, the Elders cupped their hands in farewell. Yuwen Yan, Sect Leader of Tianhuo Sect, appeared as well, leading Tianhuo Sect's participants over to join the group and travel together.

Seeing the people of Tianhuo Sect again, Kunlin Shu found it difficult even to lift his head. Yuwen Yan beckoned for him to come over to Tianhuo Sect's side, but Niu Youdao stopped him.

Although everyone knew Kunlin Shu was on the Sacred Realm tempering list and under normal circumstances no one should dare act rashly against him, Niu Youdao still did not dare let Kunlin Shu fall into Tianhuo Sect's hands before they actually reached Sacred Realm. It would also spare Kunlin Shu some awkwardness along the road.

The situation before them made that obvious enough. Not one person on Tianhuo Sect's side had a pleasant expression for Kunlin Shu.

[End of Chapter 956]