Chapter 978: I Said I'll Handle It!

Even with Yuan Gang's thick skin, such praise left him somewhat embarrassed. He tried to explain. "Master Dao..."

Niu Youdao raised his bloodied hand, cutting him off. He turned and held the bloodstained palm up for Gong Lince and the others to see. "This is my brother's blood!"

With his other hand, he tore another strip of white cloth from Yuan Gang and casually wiped the blood from his hand in front of everyone. "He didn't know how to behave himself, so he deserved it. Tell me, did this blood flow for nothing?"

He tossed away the bloodied cloth, stepped aside, and exposed Yuan Gang's body for them all to see. Pointing at Yuan Gang, he asked, "Sect Leader, does this body full of wounds look good? I was out at the front risking my life for Zijin Cave, while you people were stabbing me in the back! Sect Leader, is this the result you promised me after talking with me all night on Sacred Island?"

Gong Lince had not wanted things to turn out this way either, nor had he wanted to become a man who broke his word. But the matter had already happened. What could he do? He took a deep breath and said heavily, "Junior Brother, he's all right. That's what matters. The incident is already over."

"Over?" Niu Youdao suddenly swung an arm toward the large groups of Zijin Cave disciples closing in around them and challenged him openly. "Does this look like it's over? Trying to win by numbers? Are you threatening me, or trying to scare me? I'm standing right here. Anyone with the guts, come touch one fucking finger of mine and see what happens!"

His words were extraordinarily rude, even ugly. He gave Zijin Cave no face whatsoever. His belly was full of anger.

Seeing Yuan Gang injured like this with his own eyes, Niu Youdao was already exercising all the restraint he possessed.

Gong Lince's expression became difficult to maintain. His tone sharpened. "Junior Brother Niu, you are an Elder of Zijin Cave. Mind your words and conduct!"

Niu Youdao said, "Sect Leader, I still don't know exactly what happened. Why don't you let me first understand the full course of events and determine which side failed to mind its words and conduct?"

Gong Lince could hardly tell him there was no need to learn what happened. He said nothing.

Niu Youdao turned to face everyone from the Maolu Annex and shouted in a deep voice, "Without my permission, if anyone dares force their way in here again and come looking for a fight, no matter who they are, kill them!"

After speaking, he walked straight between Guan Fangyi and Yuan Gang. Wherever he passed, the people blocking the entrance quickly opened a path and let him enter the Maolu Annex. Guan Fangyi, Yuan Gang, and the others turned and followed him inside.

The people remaining outside split into two groups. Some withdrew into the Maolu Annex to defend it; the rest sealed the main gate.

In other words, Zijin Cave's people were shut outside.

Gong Lince's expression darkened. Niu Youdao had given him no face whatsoever. He had even barred the dignified Sect Leader himself from entering. With so many people watching, anger gradually rose in Gong Lince's heart as well.

But he was not Yuan Gang. He could not do something as impulsive as Yuan Gang had. Too many things were tied to Niu Youdao. Forget everything else; merely having Zhong Guzi as his master was enough to make Gong Lince restrain himself.

Forcing his way inside was unlikely. Yet if he showed no reaction at all, he would lose face. The dignified Sect Leader of Zijin Cave had been ordered not to enter a place inside his own sect. How was he supposed to bear that humiliation? Naturally he needed to give himself a way down. He turned toward the crowd and ordered, "Keep a close watch! If anyone from the Maolu Annex dares make a reckless move, wipe them out!"

"Yes!" everyone answered together. The Elder responsible for the sect's internal defenses immediately departed to redeploy the sect disciples.

Before long, the Maolu Annex was surrounded once again.

After returning to his own courtyard, Niu Youdao stopped and turned around. Looking at Yuan Gang as he approached, he asked, "The injuries aren't serious, are they?"

Yuan Gang said, "No vital points were hit. I'm fine."

"Count yourself lucky! Anything more I say would be wasted. You think all that blood looks good?" Niu Youdao looked thoroughly exasperated with him.

Duan Hu and the others immediately found fresh bandages and began wrapping Yuan Gang's wounds again.

Niu Youdao had someone keep watch on the situation outside. When he learned that Zijin Cave's men had surrounded the Maolu Annex once again, he turned to Guan Fangyi. "Gong Lince gave me a rough account, but it was vague and one-sided. I don't trust it. Tell me clearly what actually happened."

"It happened very suddenly..." Guan Fangyi then gave him a detailed account from beginning to end.

After listening, Niu Youdao narrowed his eyes slightly. "Monkey was arrested, and they only just sent him back?"

Guan Fangyi said, "I thought it was strange earlier that Yan Li suddenly became so kind. Now I understand. It's because Master Dao came back. If you hadn't returned, Monkey probably wouldn't have been released so quickly."

Those were secondary matters. Niu Youdao asked again, "That Guan Qingya slapped you too?"

Duan Hu suddenly added from the side, "He didn't hold back. Hongniang's face swelled up and bled. Master Yuan couldn't stand watching it, and that's why he stepped forward..." He then recounted what had happened from his own perspective.

Guan Fangyi had glossed over the slap in a single sentence. She had not expected Duan Hu to explain it in detail. Somewhat embarrassed, she said, "He attacked suddenly. I never expected him to use force, so I wasn't on guard and suffered a small loss. It was only one slap. Nothing serious."

Niu Youdao walked closer, reached out, pinched her chin, and turned her face from side to side as he examined it.

"What are you doing?" Guan Fangyi batted at his hand in irritation.

Niu Youdao kept his grip and studied her face. "Can't see anything now. Looks like it really is fine. But Hongniang, why is it that people are always slapping this face of yours? I remember it happened once at Myriad Beasts Sect too. Getting hit isn't anything strange. When you wander the jianghu, how can you avoid the blade? I've been hit too. At least I know how to bend when I must and stand when I can. But you? What puzzles me is that every time someone hits you, you somehow lose all temper. Even afterward you don't seem to hold the slightest resentment, almost like you think you deserved it. Is that really necessary? The face of the most beautiful woman under Heaven is such a fine thing to look at, yet people keep slapping it back and forth..." Only then did he let go.

For no apparent reason, Guan Fangyi's eyes suddenly reddened. She bit her lip hard and lifted her face toward the sky, unwilling to let anything spill from her eyes.

In truth, she had been slapped in the face more times than the two occasions Niu Youdao knew about. It had happened in the Qi capital as well.

There had been no helping it. Back then, her beauty and seductive reputation had spread everywhere. Too many men wanted a taste of her charms. When some women could not control the men in their own households, they vented their anger on her instead. Any woman who dared come looking for trouble with Guan Fangyi naturally came from no ordinary family, so suffering a little was unavoidable.

Niu Youdao stared at her. Yuan Gang and the others all looked at her as well. In that moment, everyone seemed able to feel something of what she carried inside.

"Want to cry?" Niu Youdao suddenly asked. "Will crying help?"

Guan Fangyi raised a sleeve and fiercely wiped her eyes. Suddenly she shouted almost hysterically, "What am I supposed to do? Fight them to the death? Can I win, or can the people of the Maolu Annex win? Should we all go die? Fine, I admit I'm useless! I admit I don't have your great abilities, Master Dao! Happy now?"

Niu Youdao fell briefly silent. He knew the woman had been carrying a grievance in her heart and did not press her further. Instead, he turned and reminded Yuan Gang, "Monkey, you need to thank Hongniang for this. If she hadn't held the situation steady, you probably would have left your life here."

Before Yuan Gang could speak, Guan Fangyi stubbornly cut in. "No need. He stood up for me. I'm the one who dragged him into it."

Yuan Gang slowly lowered his head. He pulled the bandage from Wu Sanliang's hands and began tightly winding it around his own waist.

Niu Youdao changed the subject as well. "Gong Lince said you were the one who behaved improperly first."

Guan Fangyi said, "When the incident began, I was the only person from our side present. Guan Qingya insists I was disrespectful first, and he has two witnesses helping him bite down on that story. No matter how I explained, it was useless. They insisted that was what happened, and I had no witnesses of my own. Other than saying I didn't do it, what else could I say? Don't tell me you don't believe me either."

Niu Youdao said, "Why are you getting worked up? I never said I don't believe you. I'm trying to understand what happened clearly. There's one thing I need you to judge. Guan Qingya suddenly picked this fight. Where did he get that kind of courage? Do you think he acted on his own, or did someone behind him put him up to it?"

"This..." Guan Fangyi hesitated, then gradually calmed down and considered the question. "It doesn't feel like someone incited him. It feels more like jealousy over a woman, and he took his anger out on me. After you left, Guan Qingya came to the Maolu Annex looking for Wen Mo'er. That's how I learned he was one of the men who pursued her in the past. When he ran into Ju An before, he was obviously dissatisfied with Ju An's relationship with Wen Mo'er and tried to sow discord..." She then explained her observations and judgment in detail.

Niu Youdao nodded slightly. "So that's what happened. Your guess is probably right. I was wondering too. No matter how much Yan Li wanted revenge, he wouldn't be so impatient. It didn't make sense. After all that, this was nothing more than a man fighting over a woman. Fine. I understand the situation now. I'll handle it."

Guan Fangyi said, "Forget it. Look at the situation outside. Zijin Cave has surrounded us..."

Niu Youdao cut her off. "I said I'll handle it!"

Everyone looked toward him. Guan Fangyi asked worriedly, "What are you planning?"

Niu Youdao asked, "I heard Mr. Yucang is at Zijin Cave?"

Guan Fangyi said, "He should be. Wen Mo'er mentioned it."

Niu Youdao asked, "Where is Wen Mo'er?"

Guan Fangyi said, "Probably in her room. Lately she keeps shutting herself inside. Ever since you left, she hardly shows her face and has been in a poor mood. I suspect she doesn't really want to marry Ju An."

Niu Youdao said, "Doesn't want to? Is that up to her? She wants to play both sides? Is this place of mine somewhere she can keep one foot in two boats? A woman can't be fickle and indecisive, or she'll only bring suffering on herself. I'll solve her troubles for her! Tell her to go find Mr. Yucang and have him come over. Say I sent for him." With that, he turned toward his own room. "The moment I changed skins, the whole damned world changed. Find me a full set of clothes, inside and out. I want out of this outfit. It's ruining my fucking mood."

Not long afterward, Wen Mo'er walked out through the main gate of the Maolu Annex.

Seeing the situation outside, she went over to Gong Lince, who stood beneath a tree with his hands clasped behind his back waiting for developments, and reported, "Sect Leader, Elder Niu asked me to invite Mr. Yucang over."

Gong Lince turned and frowned. "What does he want with Yucang?"

Wen Mo'er shook her head. "I don't know. He didn't say."

Gong Lince considered the matter. He did not believe Yucang had the courage to cooperate with Niu Youdao in causing reckless trouble, and at this point it would be inappropriate to cut off Niu Youdao's contact with outsiders. Things had not yet deteriorated to the point of an open break. Tilting his head, he indicated, "Go."

After waiting for some time, Yucang, having received the message, hurried over.

Once he learned Niu Youdao had returned, he had wanted to see him and ask about Sacred Realm. Unfortunately, Gong Lince had stopped him at the time. Since they were on another man's territory, there had been nothing he could do.

When he arrived and saw Zijin Cave disciples surrounding the Maolu Annex, he was greatly startled. He quickly went over to Gong Lince and asked, "Brother Gong, what's going on here?"

He still had no idea what had happened.

[End of Chapter 978]