Chapter 963: Fangfei Pavilion

Especially when each sect had brought only a handful of people, having one trusted disciple at hand to assist was extraordinarily valuable. Chao Jing felt that coming over to offer his thanks was only proper.

He thought it perfectly reasonable, but Niu Youdao was left dumbfounded. Only after recovering did he realize there had been this additional coincidence as well. Given everything that had already happened, Chao Jing probably could not avoid misunderstanding even if he wanted to.

Niu Youdao already knew the other man had misunderstood. Now another coincidence had been piled on top of it. He muttered with a bitter smile, "Looks like there's no explaining this clearly."

Chao Jing did not understand what he meant. "Old Brother, what are you trying to explain?"

"Nothing." Niu Youdao waved a hand. "Nothing."

Niu Youdao might have had nothing to say, but Chao Jing had come precisely because he did. He immediately lowered his voice. "Old Brother, what exactly is going on with this tempering? You still need to give me some idea of what to expect."

After the Sacred Realm roster was revised, he had wanted to do what Yucang had done and make a trip to Zijin Cave to speak with Niu Youdao. There were some things he did not dare discuss in a letter. Unfortunately, it was truly inconvenient for him to meet Niu Youdao openly. Luckily, Niu Youdao himself had also appeared on the roster. Since both of them would be coming here anyway, Chao Jing had not been in a rush. That was why he had gone to such lengths to arrange this private meeting now.

Niu Youdao sighed. "Elder Chao, I truly don't know what this tempering is about. Think about it. How could I possibly possess inside information about Sacred Realm?"

Chao Jing did not believe him. "Old Brother, you told me in advance to prepare reliable people to enter Sacred Realm!" The implication in his words was obvious. If you knew nothing, how could you possibly have made arrangements like that ahead of time?

This was hardly the first time Niu Youdao had been forced to explain the same matter. He genuinely did not want to explain anymore, yet he had no choice. Damn it, every one of these people thought he possessed inside information from Sacred Realm. How could he possibly admit such a thing? If something happened to one of them inside Sacred Realm and the bastard blurted out that Niu Youdao knew the inside story, the consequences would be severe. Sacred Realm's people would pin him down and skin away layer after layer investigating their supposed traitor.

Whether such a thing existed or not, it could never be admitted. He would deny it even if beaten to death.

He sighed and explained patiently, "It's a misunderstanding. All of you have misunderstood. Do you remember what happened with the Tiandu Secret Realm? Originally, it had nothing to do with me, but in the end I was dragged into it anyway. Then this Sacred Realm tempering suddenly appeared afterward. I was afraid some other accident might happen, so I made preparations in advance. Your trusted disciple wasn't prepared for your sake. I wanted someone I could borrow in case something unexpected happened. Who could have known the roster would later be changed? That's how this misunderstanding arose. You people truly have misunderstood."

Chao Jing's face plainly said he did not believe a word of it. "Old Brother, I understand what you're thinking. I understand everything. Don't worry. The things I've done for you cannot see the light of day. There's no possibility I would sell you out. But if I don't understand what this tempering is actually about, I really have no confidence at all. Take what Ding Wei made us write today. I had no preparation whatsoever and was thrown into complete confusion, while you passed through it effortlessly. Naturally it's easier to respond when you know what to expect..." Seeing Niu Youdao's eyes widen, he hurriedly corrected himself. "Of course, I'm not blaming you, Old Brother. What's done is done. I've already written things I shouldn't have written, and regretting it now is useless. I only hope you can look after me a little from here on and not leave me without enough time to react. Old Brother, if this keeps up, people really will die! I doubt you want me buried here either. Otherwise, you wouldn't have told me beforehand to arrange reliable people to come in. Since you made those arrangements, I assume my side can still be of some use to you. Isn't that right?"

Niu Youdao nearly choked. "I have to hand it to you people. You really know how to make connections out of nothing. Your own reactions were slow and you couldn't respond in time. What the hell does that have to do with me? I'll say it one more time: I genuinely have no inside information whatsoever! Give me a straight answer. What exactly do I have to say before you'll believe me?"

No matter what he said, Chao Jing was not going to believe him. Nor did Chao Jing answer the question, knowing perfectly well that Niu Youdao would never admit it. "Old Brother, I'll put my words here. I'm not someone who forgets a favor. If you can help me get through this tempering safely, then throughout this trip to Sacred Realm, whatever you ask of me, I will go through fire and water without refusal!"

"..."

Niu Youdao had nothing to say. One after another they came asking the same thing. One after another refused to believe him no matter how he explained. What was there left to explain? Explain his ass!

Even so, he stressed repeatedly, "I don't care what all of you think, but I need to make this clear: I truly possess no inside information. You have misunderstood me!"

Chao Jing nodded. "I understand. I understand completely! But an extra helper means extra strength. There's nothing wrong with us helping one another, is there?"

You understand shit. Why don't you go die? Niu Youdao wanted to strangle him. He had talked until his mouth was dry, yet it was still like playing a lute to an ox. Shaking his head, he said, "Fine. Everything you say is right. We'll help each other. Happy now?"

Chao Jing finally let out a breath of relief and nodded. "With that attitude from Old Brother, I can relax. If something happens, notify me promptly. If it isn't convenient to say things openly, a reasonably clear hint will do."

Niu Youdao waved him off. He truly did not want to discuss the matter anymore. There was no explaining it. If someone insisted on refusing to believe him, what could he possibly do? He changed the subject. "Those things Ding Wei told us to write today. Did you really write them?"

Chao Jing raised a hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, looking rather pained. "How could I not write? But I couldn't write myself into a dead end either. The situation is obvious. Even if we abase ourselves before those people, it's difficult to satisfy them. Could we really sever our own roads of retreat completely? Like you, I dodged the important and dwelled on the trivial. I simply couldn't separate myself from everything as cleanly as you did."

Niu Youdao nodded slightly. It was roughly the same as what he had learned from the Four Seas. Even Chao Jing had handled it this way, so the others' responses were probably not much different.

But if everyone had done something similar, he wondered how Sacred Realm would react after reading what they had written.

Precisely because of that, Niu Youdao had begun to suspect the true purpose behind Ding Wei ordering them to write those things...

At Daluo Sacred Land, the night lay deep over a secluded cluster of elegant jade towers. Deep within the layered buildings stood Fangfei Pavilion, where luminous pearls cast a radiance bright as day.

On the terrace, Sha Rulai sat before a low table. A flask of fine wine faced the moon with him as he raised his cup alone and gazed toward the stars. The wine had been brewed using Niu Youdao's secret formula.

There was seldom any smile on Sha Rulai's face. He wore a blank expression year-round. As Niu Youdao, who had met him, would have put it: he always looked as though someone owed him money.

Luo Fangfei approached gracefully in thin, light robes. Under the lamplight, the contours of her shapely figure were faintly visible beneath the gauze. She knelt beside Sha Rulai, rested her coiffed head lightly against his shoulder, and murmured in a soft, suggestive voice, "Senior Brother, it's late."

Sha Rulai gave almost no reaction. He merely raised his cup and drained it.

Receiving none of the response she had hoped for, Luo Fangfei felt a little aggrieved. All the care she had put into dressing herself had gone to waste. Still, she immediately withdrew her coquettish manner and sat properly again. Eager to please, she picked up the flask and refilled his cup, then poured herself a small cup from the tray. Touching cups with him, she said, "I'll drink with Senior Brother."

Sha Rulai responded perfunctorily. Whether his thoughts were elsewhere or there was some other reason, no one could tell.

They had not drunk many cups before a woman flew down onto the terrace. Holding a cloth bag in both hands, she reported, "Pavilion Master, the copied transcripts you requested have arrived."

Luo Fangfei set down her wine cup and rose. She took the bag, pulled out its contents, and tossed the empty bag back. A stack of rolled documents unfolded in her hands. After glancing at the writing on them, she casually asked, "Has the Sacred Venerable read these?"

At the mention of Luo Qiu, Sha Rulai showed a trace of reaction. He cast a sidelong glance over, then returned to pouring and drinking by himself.

The woman replied, "He has. Pavilion Master requested copies taken from the Sacred Venerable's set."

Luo Fangfei asked, "Did the Sacred Venerable say what comes next?"

The woman said, "Probably not. I did not dare inquire too deeply into the Sacred Venerable's words or actions."

"Mm. Go back." Luo Fangfei flicked her gauze sleeve and dismissed her. Then she returned to kneel beside the terrace table and began reading through the documents.

These were none other than the things Ding Wei had ordered the participants at Shouque Villa to write.

Once the submissions had been completed, nine copies had immediately been made and sent to the nine Sacred Venerables. After hearing about it, Luo Fangfei had relied on her status as Luo Qiu's daughter and ordered another copy made from Luo Qiu's set. It had now been delivered.

After rapidly reading through the submissions from all the factions, Luo Fangfei pulled out one document in particular and placed it on top. She shifted closer to Sha Rulai and offered it with both hands, smiling. "Senior Brother, look at what Niu Youdao wrote. Among the Elders from the twenty-eight factions participating in the tempering, this fellow's answer is the most lighthearted of all."

Sha Rulai turned his head and stared at her. The look made her whole body uncomfortable. Luo Fangfei held the document out awkwardly, uncertain whether she should keep offering it or put it down.

In the end, Sha Rulai did take the papers from her hand. By the light of the stars and moon, he first read what Niu Youdao had written, then continued through the submissions from the others.

Seeing her Senior Brother read so seriously, delight appeared on Luo Fangfei's face. It was rare for her to do anything that could make him pleased. After one event after another, she had nearly lost all confidence in front of him. Seeing him attach importance to something she had brought naturally made her happy. Still kneeling, she shifted closer and proactively refilled his empty wine cup. Then she sat quietly at his side, studying the outline of his face beneath the moonlight.

After reading everything the others had written, Sha Rulai once again looked over Niu Youdao's submission.

It was indeed true. Every other participant had pointed out problems within his own faction. Niu Youdao alone had written nothing but petty domestic grievances.

Yet on a second reading, the answer was actually already there in what he had written. Niu Youdao had only recently joined Zijin Cave. He did not even possess the authority to participate in its decisions, much less access any of its true internal secrets. That was precisely why he had produced such a uniquely different submission.

Sha Rulai placed the stack of documents back on the table. "Ding Wei made them write this?"

Luo Fangfei smiled. "The tempering was decided by the Sacred Venerables. How could Ding Wei have the authority to decide something like this? It should have been done on the Sacred Venerables' instructions."

Sha Rulai asked, "What are they being made to do next?"

Luo Fangfei shook her head. "I don't know. Even this business of making them write these things had no advance warning at all. Ding Wei was probably the first person to receive the instruction."

Sha Rulai fell silent for a while, then suddenly asked, "I heard that you altered the roster and specifically designated Niu Youdao to enter?"

Luo Fangfei smiled beautifully. "Didn't Senior Brother ask whether he was on the list? Since Senior Brother was interested in him, I had him brought inside. I wanted to see for myself what sort of person could make Senior Brother take an interest."

Sha Rulai said, "I only asked whether Zijin Cave had put him on its roster. I never asked you to force your way into the matter and bring him in."

The smile on Luo Fangfei's face stiffened. She quickly forced another smile. "If Senior Brother is unhappy that he's here, I'll have him roll back out."

[End of Chapter 963]