Chapter 1042: The Elder Is a Little Unkind

On further thought, however, assigning him to the Demon Fox Bureau did seem perfectly logical.

Just as Ke Dingjie had said, killing one or two people inside the Desolate Marsh Deadlands was far too easy. If something happened elsewhere, an explanation would be difficult. If something happened in the Deadlands, the blame could simply be pushed onto the Demon Foxes.

"Don't worry. You're inspectors. You have the right to choose what you inspect. They don't get to decide what you see and what you don't. If they tell you to go into the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, you can simply refuse." Niu Youdao tried to reassure them.

Ke Dingjie said, "Elder, I'm afraid that wouldn't be appropriate. The Demon Fox Bureau's primary duty is hunting Demon Foxes. If we refuse to enter the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, how can we claim we're conducting an inspection?"

"Someone clearly wants revenge on me. I'm the target, not the two of you. If you don't go, they won't care. If someone absolutely has to go, then I'll go. I'll handle whatever trouble comes. You two can rest easy."

"Elder, this..." Both men looked uncomfortable.

What sort of logic was it for disciples to know danger lay ahead, refuse to go themselves, and let their sect Elder face it instead?

Niu Youdao raised a hand and cut them off. "Enough. No need to say anything else. It's settled." He stood as well. "It's been a long time since I had a proper bath."

Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie exchanged a glance and immediately understood. They went off to make preparations.

Yuan Gang had specifically instructed them before that Niu Youdao liked bathing. Whenever conditions permitted, they were to prepare one for him every day if possible. At Shouque Villa, there really had not been the conditions for it.

Once everything was ready, ripples moved across the water inside one of the rooms as Niu Youdao sank naked into the bath.

He truly did enjoy bathing.

More precisely, he liked soaking in water while he thought.

The warmth of the water gave him a sense of security. It made him feel less alone. Some kinds of loneliness had nothing to do with how many people stood nearby. After soaking for a while, his whole body would relax and his thoughts would clear.

Niu Youdao remained in the bath for quite some time. It was nearly evening when he finally emerged.

He had just changed into Misty Pavilion clothes and was checking himself in the mirror when Qin Guan suddenly knocked and entered. "Elder, Kunlin Shu is here."

Niu Youdao gave a quiet acknowledgment to show he understood.

Only after tidying himself completely, every piece of clothing in order, did he take up his sword and slowly walk outside.

Kunlin Shu had been waiting in the courtyard. The moment Niu Youdao appeared, he stepped forward and saluted. "Master Dao!"

Niu Youdao gestured toward the pavilion for him to sit and waved for tea to be brought.

Kunlin Shu did not sit as an equal with him. Whatever he was thinking, Niu Youdao did not force him.

"How do you have time to come over? Tianhuo Sect's people were willing to let you?"

Kunlin Shu hesitated, then finally said, "I heard that Taishu Shanhai sent people around with a notice. He's gathering the other six factions at the Inspection Bureau to discuss something."

Niu Youdao immediately understood why Kunlin Shu had come.

Eight factions had been left inside Sacred Realm. Seven were gathering to discuss something without notifying Niu Youdao's side. Kunlin Shu had come to warn them to be careful.

"I understand." Niu Youdao nodded, a thoughtful look appearing on his face.

Just then, Ke Dingjie, who had been speaking with someone at the entrance, hurried over and reported, "Elder, Demon Fox Bureau Deacon Long Fanhai is here."

"Oh?" Niu Youdao looked toward the gate.

Long Fanhai had not simply walked in. He had actually observed the courtesy of sending someone ahead to announce him.

Niu Youdao found that somewhat unexpected.

He rose and hurried to the entrance to welcome him personally.

Outside, Long Fanhai stood with two men, each carrying two food boxes.

"Deacon Long! Ah, forgive the discourtesy. Please, please come in." Niu Youdao hurried down the steps and repeatedly invited him inside.

Long Fanhai followed with a cheerful smile. As he climbed the steps, he said, "I hope this unannounced visit isn't disturbing you."

"Not at all. The Demon Fox Bureau is Deacon Long's domain. Wherever you go within it, you can hardly be called a disturbance."

"Little Brother Niu isn't my subordinate. Calling me 'Deacon' is too formal and makes us sound distant. I took a liking to you the moment we met. From now on, let's simply address each other as brothers."

"With Brother Long showing such generosity, it would be discourteous to refuse. Then from now on, Brother Long it is."

Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie looked at one another.

When they had first met Long Fanhai earlier that day, the man had spoken coldly enough. How had his attitude changed completely in the space of a few hours?

Once they entered the pavilion, Long Fanhai gestured.

His two attendants immediately opened the food boxes and began arranging dishes. Before long, a full table of food and wine stood before them.

Niu Youdao looked pleasantly surprised. "Brother Long, what's all this?"

"Little Brother Niu has only just arrived at the Demon Fox Bureau. Whether out of courtesy or simple hospitality, I should welcome you properly. I prepared a modest banquet. I hope you won't find it too crude."

Niu Youdao repeatedly cupped his hands. "I couldn't possibly accept such trouble."

While the two exchanged courtesies, Kunlin Shu found an opportunity to speak quietly with Qin Guan. He asked Qin Guan to tell Niu Youdao he would head back first.

He had only come to warn Niu Youdao and had no other business. Since Niu Youdao now had an important guest, Kunlin Shu naturally chose to withdraw.

After several rounds of drinking inside the pavilion, Long Fanhai suddenly asked with concern, "Little Brother, are you comfortable staying here? If this courtyard doesn't suit you, we can arrange another."

Niu Youdao waved a hand. "No need for the trouble. Compared with Shouque Villa, this place is far better. The three of us having such a quiet and elegant courtyard to ourselves is already excellent." He raised his cup. "Thank you, Brother Long, for taking such care with the arrangements."

"There's no need for thanks. If you need anything at all, simply say the word. So long as it's something I can provide, there'll be no problem on my end." Long Fanhai raised his cup and drank with him.

After another round of pleasantries, Long Fanhai set down his cup and finally turned to the real subject. "I heard from the people below that Little Brother released a Goldenwing today?"

Niu Youdao's smile became restrained. "That's right."

"The one used to contact a Sacred Venerable?"

Niu Youdao nodded slightly. "I don't have any other Goldenwing I could release."

Long Fanhai sighed. "Little Brother, did your elder brother here do something wrong? Otherwise, why would you petition a Sacred Venerable the moment you arrived at my Demon Fox Bureau?"

Niu Youdao said, "Nothing of the sort. I simply wanted to let the Sacred Venerable know I'd arrived."

Who do you think you are? Long Fanhai thought.

You casually greet a Sacred Venerable, and the Sacred Venerable has nothing better to do than answer you? Do you truly lack even that much self-awareness?

Long Fanhai did not believe a word of it. Still smiling, he said, "Little Brother, that sounds a little too modest. Could it be that you think the Demon Fox Bureau has done something wrong?"

Niu Youdao's expression cooled. "Brother Long, are you trying to probe the contents of my correspondence with a Sacred Venerable?"

Long Fanhai immediately waved his hand. "Little Brother, don't misunderstand. I'm simply afraid I may have overlooked something and failed to handle matters properly. If we've done anything inappropriate, perhaps you could point it out. The Demon Fox Bureau will correct what it can."

Niu Youdao did not accept the opening at all. His voice turned cool and clear. "Point it out? Fine. I, Niu, do not do underhanded things in the dark. So I'll warn you in advance: I will truthfully report to the Sacred Venerable that Brother Long came here today to inquire into the contents of my petition!"

Long Fanhai froze.

The hand holding his wine cup trembled almost imperceptibly.

His expression looked like a man who had swallowed a live fly. His Adam's apple bobbed once.

Probing for information about a Sacred Venerable?

A charge like that could get a man killed.

His gaze dropped to the table full of food and wine.

He had gone to the trouble of carefully preparing this entire meal out of goodwill, and this was what he got in return. Even in his dreams, he had never imagined the conversation could turn like this.

Long Fanhai's attendants all stood perfectly silent.

Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie glanced at one another from the corners of their eyes, both sensing how awkward the atmosphere inside the pavilion had become.

They also felt their Elder was being a little unkind.

The other man had come with food and wine, treating him with warmth, and this was how he responded?

After recovering, Long Fanhai forced a dry smile. "Little Brother, you've misunderstood. I absolutely had no intention of probing for information about a Sacred Venerable."

Niu Youdao suddenly burst out laughing. "Brother Long, it was a joke. Only a joke. If I, Niu, truly lacked human feeling to that degree, how could I still get by in this world?"

Long Fanhai immediately relaxed. With a bitter smile, he pointed at Niu Youdao. "Little Brother, that joke of yours was a little too much."

The attempt to sound him out ended there. Long Fanhai no longer dared ask.

If anything, his attitude toward Niu Youdao became even warmer afterward, as though he truly regarded him as a brother.

Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie had now seen the lesson for themselves.

Their Elder had been right after all.

People really were perverse creatures. The less courteous you were, the less they dared provoke you.

Their Elder was certainly straightforward. The moment he arrived, he started hammering away.

...

At the Inspection Bureau, Taishu Shanhai was hosting guests in the courtyard assigned to him.

There was no fine wine or rich banquet, only a few cups of plain tea.

Taishu Shanhai had asked the Inspection Bureau to prepare a banquet for his guests, but the Bureau had said no such arrangements were available. Put plainly, they had simply ignored him.

With no other choice, Taishu Shanhai could only serve tea at mealtime.

There were no guests here beyond the people from the other factions who had entered Sacred Realm alongside him.

Tianhuo Sect Elder Lu Yao.

Myriad Beasts Sect Elder An Shougui.

Heaven-Splitting Palace Elder Yu Hua.

Blood God Hall Elder Mei Changhong.

The other two were Elders of Jin factions: Lei Sheng of Motian Sect and Huangfu Jin of Qingyue Villa.

With Qiyun Sect present, those last two were little more than figureheads.

Most of the others had arrived earlier. Myriad Beasts Sect Elder An Shougui was deliberately the last to stroll in, plainly dissatisfied with Taishu Shanhai and making him wait on purpose.

The moment he entered and saw everyone seated in the reception room, An Shougui gave a snort. "Taishu Shanhai, what is it?"

His attitude annoyed Taishu Shanhai, but Taishu showed nothing on his face and merely extended a hand toward an empty seat.

An Shougui did not move. Standing where he was, he said, "If you've got something to say, say it. If you've got a fart to let out, let it out."

Taishu Shanhai rose. "Fine. I gathered everyone today because I want to ask one question. Before, at Shouque Villa, we agreed to unite against what was coming. Does that agreement still count?"

Everyone looked left and right, studying one another's reactions.

An Shougui gave a cold snort. "Looks like one faction is missing."

Taishu Shanhai said, "You mean Niu Youdao? He's already fallen out with nearly every faction here. Who wants to ally with him? Besides, the Demon Fox Bureau he's in does nothing but hunt Demon Foxes. It has little connection to other affairs and can't provide us with much useful information. I say we don't need to concern ourselves with whether he lives or dies."

No one objected.

At the very least, no one spoke up for Niu Youdao.

After observing everyone's reaction, Taishu Shanhai set Niu Youdao aside. "Everyone knows our present situation. Acting separately will only make matters more difficult. The method we discussed at Shouque Villa still seems valid to me. If we stand together and support one another, we have a chance of lasting. What do you all think?"

Just then, Taishu Xun appeared outside and reported, "Elder, a Tianhuo Sect disciple requests an audience. He says he has an important matter to report to Elder Lu."

Tianhuo Sect Elder Lu Yao rose at once and started toward the door.

Taishu Shanhai suddenly said, "Brother Lu, what important matter could there be here? Could it involve Misty Pavilion? Why not invite him inside and let everyone hear it together?"

"Exactly. That would be appropriate." Motian Sect Elder Lei Sheng immediately spoke in support.

[End of Chapter 1042]