Chapter 977: What a Fine Hero You Are!

Gong Lince naturally had no designs on Niu Youdao's few belongings. But there was something off about the way the man had put it. What did he mean by "the sword I use to kill people"? What was he planning to do?

He immediately warned, "Junior Brother, I already told you, this matter is over. You'd better not act recklessly. If you take things too far, Zijin Cave's sect rules are no joke!"

Niu Youdao said, "Sect Leader, aren't you making this sound a little too serious? The sect rules aren't fucking written specifically to target me, are they? I'm asking for my own sword back. Which sect rule does that violate?"

Yuan An and Fu Junrang exchanged a meaningful look. It was as though they were saying: yes, that unreasonable bastard really is back. That's exactly his flavor.

The corner of Gong Lince's mouth tightened. "Your things aren't with me. As soon as I returned, I had someone send them to the Maolu Annex for safekeeping."

"Farewell!" Niu Youdao cupped his hands toward everyone, turned, and left without another word.

Watching him go, Gong Lince's face darkened. Suddenly he ordered in a deep voice, "Gather men and stand ready. Guard against any disturbance at the Maolu Annex! All of you go keep watch over there. Do your best not to let him stir up trouble." With that, he headed out as well. The others exchanged looks and followed.

At the Maolu Annex, Yuan Gang had returned. He had barely been locked in the cave for long before he was sent back.

Yan Li had personally gone to the cave to have him released, then personally escorted him all the way to the Maolu Annex.

When Guan Fangyi and the others heard Yuan Gang was back, they practically ran out to meet him. Seeing that he truly had returned, they were delighted, but Guan Fangyi still could not help asking, "Elder Yan, now that he's back, you won't be taking him away again, will you?"

Yan Li chuckled. "It was only a misunderstanding born of impulse. There's no need to drag it out forever. Didn't Elder Mo explain it to you before? That's all it was. We merely had to take him away and detain him in front of the sect's disciples so we could give everyone an explanation. We've gone through the motions now, and the matter also involves my disciple. Whether by sentiment or reason, I ought to step forward and resolve it. I personally went to the Sect Leader and the others to plead on Yuan Gang's behalf. Only then did the sect agree to release him."

"Hongniang, I personally brought the man back to you. If my disciple did anything improper, then take this as me apologizing to you on his behalf. What's past is past. Don't keep it in your heart. We still have to live together here in the future. There's no need to keep making trouble over it. Wouldn't you agree?"

Guan Fangyi hurriedly dipped in a bow. "Elder Yan is right. Hongniang will remember."

Yan Li nodded with a smile. "Mm. One more thing. Now that Yuan Gang is back, have him remain inside the Annex and properly recover from his injuries. For the time being, he shouldn't come out and move around. Better not let the other Zijin Cave disciples see him. I handled this privately. The matter was raised high, then set down lightly. It wouldn't be appropriate for all the disciples to know. You understand what I mean?"

Guan Fangyi quickly replied, "Yes. I understand Elder Yan's meaning. Rest assured, I won't let him show himself for the time being."

"Good. The matter is over, then. I still have things to do, so I'll be going." Yan Li left with a genial smile. Only after he turned away did that smile stiffen somewhat. He was doing everything he could to defuse the matter, but his heart was still hanging in suspense. A certain someone was simply too difficult to feel at ease about.

"Take care, Elder Yan," Guan Fangyi and the others called together as they saw him off.

Watching his departing back, Guan Fangyi and the rest could not help feeling somewhat emotional. They discovered that Elder Yan seemed like a fairly decent person after all.

Whatever the case, Yuan Gang had returned safely. Duan Hu and the others were delighted and clustered around him as they headed inside.

Walking shoulder to shoulder with Yuan Gang toward the inner courtyard, Guan Fangyi asked with concern, "Monkey, they didn't make things difficult for you, did they?"

Yuan Gang shook his head. "Nothing happened."

It was true that nothing serious had happened, but things had not been quite as easy as he made them sound. The Zijin Cave disciples guarding him had hardly treated him politely. He had dared attack and injure people inside Zijin Cave itself. Why would they be courteous to him? Their words had not been pleasant, and they had even shoved him a few times.

Once they returned to his own courtyard, Yuan Gang suddenly stopped. Expressionless, he said, "Master Dao was right to leave you in charge here."

He had realized how impulsive he had been. He had nearly brought disastrous consequences down on everyone in the Maolu Annex. He had not been as calm as Guan Fangyi.

Even so, if he had to choose again, he would still do exactly what he had done before. As he had already said, someone had come right to their door looking for a fight.

What he meant was simply that it was only because Guan Fangyi had kept the situation under control that matters had not become irretrievable.

Guan Fangyi froze. It was the first time she had ever heard this man say anything remotely yielding to her...

On his way back, Yan Li saw a group approaching in the distance and quickly flashed into a hollow beside the mountain to hide.

A crimson-clad Niu Youdao came flying through the air, with Gong Lince and the others following behind him.

After the group swept past, Yan Li emerged again and followed at a distance to see what would happen.

At the entrance to the Maolu Annex, the group descended. The guards at the gate froze when they saw Niu Youdao appear, unable to believe their eyes. They thought they must be seeing things.

Niu Youdao coldly surveyed the surroundings of the Maolu Annex. In several places, he could still see traces left by crisscrossing sword qi from the earlier fight. His gaze returned to the main gate, and he suddenly roared, "What's going on? Other than the two gatekeepers, is everyone else fucking dead?"

Gong Lince and the others were left speechless by the remark. Anyone could hear the barely restrained fury in the man's voice.

That roar had quite an effect. People inside the Maolu Annex poked their heads out to see what was happening. One of the gatekeepers immediately ran inside to spread the word.

Niu Youdao did not hurry in. He simply stood outside and waited.

"Master Dao is back!"

Cries of surprise rang out throughout the Annex.

Chaotic footsteps followed. Many people came running out, while quite a few others flew over.

Before long, a large crowd from the Maolu Annex had appeared. Guan Fangyi, Yuan Gang, and the others emerged one after another.

The moment they saw Niu Youdao, everyone was overwhelmed with surprise and joy. All the frustration they had endured during the earlier incident, along with the hidden unease in their hearts, vanished in an instant. Their energy and spirit returned at once, because the pillar holding them up had returned.

Everything in the past had proven one thing: as long as this man was here, nothing was insurmountable. The sky would not fall.

After staring blankly for a moment, Guan Fangyi gathered her skirts and hurried down the steps, overjoyed. "Master Dao, how are you back?"

Niu Youdao said coldly, "What? Were you hoping I'd die inside Sacred Realm? Does my coming back disappoint you?"

Guan Fangyi rolled her eyes at him in front of everyone. "Listen to you. Why are you dressed like that? I thought..."

Before she could finish, Niu Youdao raised a hand, pushed her aside by the shoulder, and pointed at Yuan Gang. "Who's that? Wrapped up like a zongzi. Do we have someone like that in my Maolu Annex?"

Everyone was speechless. They all turned to look at Yuan Gang. Wasn't that a little exaggerated? His body might be wrapped up heavily, but his face was completely uncovered. Was Yuan Gang really so unrecognizable?

Behind Gong Lince and the others, Yan Li subconsciously shrank farther behind the crowd, seemingly unwilling for Guan Fangyi and the rest to notice him.

Not far away, Zijin Cave disciples who had been urgently summoned were also beginning to appear one after another, converging on the area to guard against any unexpected development.

If Niu Youdao had returned and truly ordered the people of the Maolu Annex to cause trouble, Zijin Cave would have no choice. No matter the consequences, it would have to suppress them.

Gathering so many people also served as a warning to Niu Youdao, forcing him to weigh the consequences.

"You. I'm talking to you. Get over here!" Niu Youdao pointed at Yuan Gang and crooked a finger.

For once, a faint smile appeared on Yuan Gang's face. He was happy to see Niu Youdao return safely, and relieved as well.

He said nothing more. Descending the steps, the big man walked over with steady strides and stopped in front of Niu Youdao. Calmly, he said, "Master Dao."

"Oh, so it's you, Monkey. You think you look good wrapped up like that?" Niu Youdao raised a hand and touched one finger to Yuan Gang's chest. Suddenly the single finger became a palm, and he slapped it directly against Yuan Gang's torso.

Bang!

A muted burst sounded. The white cloth wrapped around Yuan Gang's upper body exploded apart and scattered, caught by the force surging outward like a swarm of white butterflies.

The bindings over his wounds were ripped away at once. Every exposed injury looked as though its scab had just been torn off, and fresh blood began seeping from them simultaneously.

Pain struck without warning. Yuan Gang's cheeks tightened instinctively. However well he could endure pain, he was hardly incapable of feeling it.

Never mind him. Even the people watching nearby winced at the sight.

What did it mean to be covered in wounds? Yuan Gang's body showed them plainly.

One bloody gash after another crisscrossed him, shocking to behold. Even Gong Lince could not help frowning. He knew roughly what had happened, but this was the first time he had actually seen the state Yuan Gang had been left in.

One eyebrow raised, Niu Youdao slowly circled Yuan Gang as though admiring the injuries on his body.

Yuan Gang stood motionless and let the blood flow.

When Niu Youdao returned to stand before him, he said, "Looks like they're all wounds from sword qi."

"Yes!" Yuan Gang answered, standing ramrod straight.

Niu Youdao asked, "How many cuts did you collect?"

Yuan Gang replied, "Nearly a hundred."

Niu Youdao said, "Enough to embroider a whole pattern. Who was so capable they carved this many marks onto you?"

Gong Lince had indeed told him something about what happened, but the account had been understated and vague. The details had not been made clear.

Yuan Gang fell briefly silent. Niu Youdao immediately pointed at Duan Hu and crooked a finger. "You. Come here and tell me. Who did this?"

Duan Hu immediately stepped forward. "Dozens of Zijin Cave disciples surrounded Master Yuan and beat him into this state."

Niu Youdao looked around. "I see every one of you standing here perfectly fine. How did he end up the only one hurt this badly? What the hell were all of you doing? Standing off to the side watching the excitement? Was it entertaining?"

The people of the Maolu Annex fell silent. Duan Hu and the others instinctively glanced at Guan Fangyi. They could hardly accuse her in public of having stopped them from joining the fight.

Guan Fangyi lowered her head slightly and said nothing.

Niu Youdao suddenly raised a hand again. He drove one finger into a bloody gash split open across Yuan Gang's chest. Not once, but several times, pushing the finger into the wound as he asked, "Does it hurt?"

The muscles in Yuan Gang's face twitched. Of course it hurt. How could someone jab straight into a wound like that without causing pain? But he endured it without making a sound.

"What a fine hero you are!" Niu Youdao smiled without smiling. Full of mockery, he patted Yuan Gang's blood-covered chest. "Impressive, impressive. That many people did this to you and still couldn't kill you. You've really grown capable. You've really got ability now. But of course. Who are you, Monkey? A great hero who stands upright beneath Heaven, who would rather break than bend. A common fellow like me, Niu Youdao, can only sweat with shame, feel humbled, and admire you. Isn't that right?"

[End of Chapter 977]