Chapter 989: Taishu Shancheng's Counterattack

Those words were arrogant to an almost excessive degree. Even Fuhua and the others could only smile bitterly to themselves.

Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie felt differently. It was the first time they had ever seen anyone in Zijin Cave behave this brazenly, yet the sheer brazenness thrilled them. They shared in the glory and felt an extraordinary amount of face as Zijin Cave disciples.

Taishu Shancheng had wanted to suppress them only moments earlier. Then Elder Niu stepped forward and directly stripped Taishu Shancheng of his position as leader!

Chao Jing and the other neutrals sighed inwardly. This was an enormous slap in Taishu Shancheng's face. Yet the present situation also represented a certain reality: the moment Niu Youdao appeared, a whole group had immediately stood on the opposite side. Could the man who had only just been freshly chosen as leader still be called a leader?

How could Taishu Shancheng swallow that humiliation? Yet the facts were right before him, and he had no wish to invite further disgrace. His face filled with mockery. "You decide? Then I'd like to see who you can make leader."

He possessed the same ability to veto a candidate. Whoever Niu Youdao proposed, he could oppose. He intended to return Niu Youdao's own method upon him and use it to prove his influence and recover some face.

But after landing his blow, Niu Youdao simply walked away and refused to take the bait. "Whoever wants to be leader can be leader. You people take your time playing!"

Taishu Shancheng suppressed his anger and did his best not to lose composure. "Niu Youdao, did you come here just to cause trouble? Listen carefully. This Demon Fox hunt concerns the tempering results of every one of us. This is exactly the time when we should stand united. Yet you come out and split everyone apart. What are you scheming?"

Niu Youdao said, "I have no selfish motive at all. It's your Qiyun Sect that's bullying people too far! If you truly care so much, fine. Neither you nor I will be leader. We choose someone else. I suggest an Elder from one of the neutral sects. What does everyone think?"

Qiyun Sect was hardly popular. Many people had long been dissatisfied with its domineering behavior and had merely yielded to circumstances. Now someone had appeared who could openly butt heads with Taishu Shancheng and did not fear offending him. Naturally, many were tempted.

Someone immediately found a reason to speak up, saying that in view of the conflict between the two men, and for the sake of keeping everyone united so they could complete the tempering smoothly, he supported choosing an Elder from one of the neutral sects.

Niu Youdao's proposal received almost one-sided approval.

Taishu Shancheng was both startled and furious. Realizing something was wrong, he immediately looked toward Chao Jing, Elder of Myriad Beasts Sect.

There were only three neutral sects: Myriad Beasts Sect, Ling Sect, and Tianxing Sect.

His side had long ago received Shao Pingbo's warning that Niu Youdao and Chao Jing might be in collusion. Taishu Shancheng now faintly guessed Niu Youdao's intention.

But that matter was only Shao Pingbo's judgment. There was no evidence.

Myriad Beasts Sect was not an easy faction to provoke. During the war between Song and Yan, strange events had occurred. Although all parties involved denied it, everyone knew Myriad Beasts Sect had acted. It had already demonstrated its ability to influence the course of a war. Qiyun Sect had no reason to rashly antagonize it.

With almost everyone supporting the proposal, Qiyun Sect's objection alone would accomplish nothing. Taishu Shancheng decided to wait and see the result.

By unanimous agreement, the three neutral sects themselves would have no vote.

Everyone voted publicly.

When the result came out, Chao Jing of Myriad Beasts Sect had received the greatest support and became leader of the tempering team formed by the various factions.

The result was entirely within Niu Youdao's expectations.

Song's three major sects would naturally support Myriad Beasts Sect, which was based within their own state. Niu Youdao then drew Yan, Qin, and the Four Seas into voting for Chao Jing. Under those circumstances, Ling Sect and Tianxing Sect had very little chance of defeating Myriad Beasts Sect.

Once the result was announced, Taishu Shancheng was greatly startled. He quickly sorted through the cause and effect, becoming both alarmed and furious. Niu Youdao truly could not be underestimated. The moment he stepped forward, he had seized control of the entire situation.

Niu Youdao smiled. "Good. The result is clear. From today onward, Elder Chao Jing of Myriad Beasts Sect is our leader for the Demon Fox hunt!"

Chao Jing could only smile bitterly and cup his hands to thank everyone for their support. Before this, he could never have imagined that he would become leader of this group.

Of course, he also understood perfectly well that Niu Youdao had mobilized his influence to put him in the position. Why had Niu Youdao helped him like this? Chao Jing knew the answer in his heart. If someone lifted you into power, they expected repayment.

Who could have expected Taishu Shancheng to suddenly shout, "I object to Chao Jing as leader!"

Everyone frowned.

They had already agreed on the process, and now this man was repudiating it in the blink of an eye.

Niu Youdao said, "Old Taishu, why are you going back on your word?"

The result was far too unfavorable to Qiyun Sect. Taishu Shancheng could no longer care about appearances. There was no way he could let himself and the disciples of Qiyun Sect fall into danger, so he exposed the matter openly.

"Don't think I don't know. Chao Jing has long been wearing the same pair of trousers as you. He was controlled by you long ago. You know perfectly well what you're scheming by pushing him into the leader's seat. How could I possibly fall for it?"

The scene went silent.

Everyone looked startled and uncertain.

They had reason to be shocked. Myriad Beasts Sect was no minor force. Which state did not show it some face? To accuse one of its Elders so publicly required real nerve. Some words simply could not be spoken carelessly.

Niu Youdao smiled.

Back then, Huang Lie had told him that while Shao Pingbo was imprisoned before fleeing Beizhou, he had warned Dachan Mountain that Niu Youdao and Chao Shenghuai might be colluding.

At this moment, Niu Youdao finally confirmed it. Some things truly had not escaped Shao Pingbo's notice.

Not only had Shao Pingbo suspected a connection between Niu Youdao and Chao Shenghuai, he had clearly begun suspecting Chao Jing long ago as well. From the present situation, he had already passed those suspicions to Qiyun Sect.

The reason Niu Youdao had never warned Chao Jing in advance was simple: he did not care very much whether Chao Jing lived or died.

In fact, he rather hoped Shao Pingbo would step out and clash with Chao Jing. Watching dogs bite one another was always the most entertaining. Niu Youdao did not care which one lost. If Chao Jing lost, no one in Myriad Beasts Sect would be able to save him. Chao Jing would certainly die miserably.

To some extent, Niu Youdao did not believe Chao Jing could be Shao Pingbo's match.

Either Shao Pingbo would not strike at all, or once he did, he would beat Chao Jing so badly the man would have no power to fight back.

Unexpectedly, Shao Pingbo had been patient enough to remain silent all this time.

Now it seemed he had not forgotten the matter at all. He had merely kept it hidden and refrained from acting.

In that instant, Niu Youdao thought of many things.

Shao Pingbo had been too quiet. Quiet for far too long. He had lain dormant without making the slightest movement.

And almost suddenly, Niu Youdao realized something.

Shao Pingbo was absolutely not a man who would obediently submit. If he could remain this quiet, he had to be plotting something major.

Niu Youdao faintly sensed that something might be about to happen.

An inexplicable vigilance rose inside him.

As his thoughts turned, he restrained himself and called out teasingly, "Elder Chao, Elder Taishu says you've been controlled by me. What do you think?"

Chao Jing's heart had already lurched.

A moment later, he put on a look of furious humiliation and pointed at Taishu Shancheng. "Old thief Taishu, stop spouting slander!"

Taishu Shancheng said, "Whether I'm slandering you is something you two should ask yourselves. Where did all those large flying mounts in Niu Youdao's hands come from? During the Yan-Song war, Song asked Myriad Beasts Sect to intervene. Victory was within reach. So how did the Yan army break Song's surprise force and cause Song's great defeat? And why did your grandson Chao Shenghuai just happen to witness the Song envoy being killed and become a witness, leading Song to mobilize troops and relieve Niu Youdao's crisis in Nanzhou? One incident after another, and Niu Youdao profited every time. Whatever ghosts are hiding in those affairs, you know in your own hearts!"

Laid out one after another like this, the incidents made every faction's heart pound.

That included the two disciples who had accompanied Chao Jing from Myriad Beasts Sect.

Xu Huo in particular was shaken.

At Chao Jing's instruction, Xu Huo had secretly cooperated with Niu Youdao before. He had long known that his master and Niu Youdao were in collusion. Only now did he realize there were so many larger affairs behind it that he knew nothing about.

He already believed Taishu Shancheng.

He believed the accusations were true.

The consequences made his scalp go numb. Once his master fell, how could a disciple who had secretly helped him expect a good end inside Myriad Beasts Sect? The relationship between master and disciple within a sect was one of shared glory and shared loss.

Chao Jing's eyes bulged with anger. He shouted fiercely, "Old thief, if you're going to frame me like this, produce evidence! If you cannot produce evidence and are merely slandering me here with nothing but your bare word, Myriad Beasts Sect and Qiyun Sect will be irreconcilable!"

Then he turned and angrily demanded of Niu Youdao, "Elder Niu, have you controlled me?"

His manner was fierce, but inwardly he was deeply afraid.

Evidence!

There was one piece of evidence he had never destroyed.

His grandson, Chao Shenghuai.

If word of today's accusation reached Myriad Beasts Sect, the sect would undoubtedly investigate rigorously and would seize Chao Shenghuai immediately.

Chao Jing could not guarantee they would fail to pry open his grandson's mouth.

For the first time, he regretted not having silenced Chao Shenghuai permanently.

There was still blood kinship between them, after all. Until there was truly no other choice...

He regretted having been softhearted.

Having watched and listened to the exchange, Fuhua tilted her head toward Duan Wuchang beside her and murmured, "They're fighting this fiercely over the position of leader? Taishu Shancheng's counterattack is a little extreme. He's biting Chao Jing like he wants him dead. Is that really necessary?"

Duan Wuchang shook his head slightly. "There is probably no smoke without fire. What the truth actually is remains unknown."

Everyone was watching the spectacle.

Or rather, everyone had been shocked by it.

This matter was anything but small.

Huang Ban stood on higher ground and watched coldly from beginning to end. He had not interfered in the infighting between the various factions.

The intentions of the Sacred Venerables had already begun to show. They were dissatisfied with Misty Pavilion and intended to borrow outside forces to rectify it. The blade seemed already suspended above everyone's heads. If anything unexpected occurred, Misty Pavilion itself might soon be drenched in blood.

From that perspective, discord among the factions was actually favorable to Misty Pavilion.

Yet as Huang Ban watched coldly, this matter suddenly emerged. He gave a cold snort. "Interesting. I wonder whether Misty Pavilion has the truth of this matter in its files."

He had only been temporarily transferred to serve in Misty Pavilion. He had no authority to read some of its secret dossiers.

Niu Youdao sighed. "This old thief is flying into a rage and biting randomly like a mad dog. If I say there's nothing between us, will he let go? Then again, if I truly had the ability to control Elder Chao, I really would like to."

He more or less understood Taishu Shancheng's intention now.

Even without evidence, the man was determined to jump out and bite. His goal was simply to ruin Niu Youdao's arrangement and prevent him from controlling the overall situation.

Taishu Shancheng would probably succeed.

Taishu Shancheng sneered. "I'm flying into a rage? Niu Youdao, why were you so determined to make Chao Jing leader?"

Niu Youdao said, "We're hunting Demon Foxes. When dealing with beasts like these, don't you think it makes more sense to have Myriad Beasts Sect preside over the operation?"

Taishu Shancheng said, "Oh? Then where did all those flying mounts in your hands come from?"

Niu Youdao folded his arms. "According to you, Myriad Beasts Sect is a pack of idiots? They've lost that many flying mounts and don't even know it?"

That was indeed one of the confusing points.

For a moment, Taishu Shancheng did not know how to answer. But it was easy enough to throw the question back. "Whatever tricks you played, you should ask yourselves."

Chao Jing roared, "Taishu, you dog thief! Produce evidence! Without evidence, I'm not finished with you today!"

Everything Taishu Shancheng had said came from Shao Pingbo's deductions. Where would he find evidence?

At this point, however, there was no need for proof. All he had to do was keep muddying the water. "This is an internal affair of Myriad Beasts Sect. I've already provided the clues. If you want evidence, go investigate it yourselves!"

"Old thief, you bully people too far!" Chao Jing flew into a rage. With a shing, he drew his sword and was about to attack.

Why would Taishu Shancheng fear him?

He immediately lifted both hands and confronted him head-on. "Try it!"

"What do you think you're doing?" Seeing that they were actually about to fight, Huang Ban shouted furiously and flashed down between them. Misty Pavilion personnel immediately followed and intervened.

Huang Ban glanced left and right at the two men, who looked like fighting cocks, and said coldly, "You came here for tempering. You came here to hunt Demon Foxes, not to duel one another. What are you still wasting time here for? If you're ready, then set out. If anyone dares cause trouble again, you will be severely punished!"

[End of Chapter 989]