Chapter 1043: Set Out Stinking Dogshit, and the Flies Will Come

"Brother Lu, let everyone hear it," An Shougui said as well.

With everyone echoing the same sentiment, Lu Yao hesitated slightly. But after thinking about it, he decided there was probably nothing to hide. Taishu Shanhai's reasoning made sense. What important matter could possibly arise here? They had no contact with their sects. If anything happened, it would most likely concern Misty Pavilion. So he silently nodded.

Taishu Shanhai immediately said, "Let him in."

"Yes!" Taishu Xun accepted the order and left.

Before long, the Tianhuo Sect disciple who had come to report entered. He first cupped his hands toward everyone in greeting, then went to Lu Yao's side and whispered into his ear.

Lu Yao's expression darkened. He was clearly displeased.

Taishu Shanhai asked, "Brother Lu, what happened?"

Lu Yao did not conceal it. "Nothing much. A disciple discovered that Kunlin Shu secretly went to see Niu Youdao."

Everyone present knew about Kunlin Shu. The affair had made Tianhuo Sect a laughingstock throughout the cultivation world.

A joke was a joke, but this time the others were suspicious rather than amused. Heaven-Splitting Palace Elder Yu Hua gave a soft sound of surprise. "Why not bring him over and ask what happened? Better than letting a misunderstanding fester."

Blood God Hall Elder Mei Changhong nodded. "Exactly. Bring him over and ask."

To a certain extent, their isolation from information had left everyone blind to what the future held. They were all desperate to seize any scrap of news, no matter how small. The impulse came from the unease in their hearts.

Lu Yao naturally refused. "There's no need. This is Tianhuo Sect's internal affair. I won't trouble everyone with it."

The more he refused, the more the others suspected something was wrong. An Shougui said, "Brother Lu, this isn't only your family's concern. If we're going to stand together, but someone beside you is secretly acting as another man's inside source, then anything we discuss in the future could leak out and implicate all of us."

Taishu Shanhai immediately agreed. "Brother An is right. Bring him here and ask what he said to Niu Youdao. It won't hurt."

Pressed by everyone together, and still hoping to rely on their alliance, Lu Yao finally yielded and ordered someone to summon Kunlin Shu.

The messenger left, and everyone continued discussing their alliance while they waited.

After some time, Kunlin Shu was brought in. He entered and cupped his hands to everyone in greeting.

Lu Yao gave him no pleasant expression. "You went to the Demon Fox Bureau to see Niu Youdao?"

In truth, ever since they entered Sacred Realm, Lu Yao had never once treated Kunlin Shu pleasantly.

Before the tempering began, the Elders of Tianhuo Sect had privately agreed that they should take advantage of the Desolate Marsh Deadlands to dispose of this traitor. Lu Yao had intended to find an opportunity to kill Kunlin Shu there.

But then Niu Youdao unexpectedly interfered and forcibly pulled Kunlin Shu away from Tianhuo Sect's side, ruining Lu Yao's chance to act.

Later, whether at Shouque Villa or here in Wentian City, it had been unwise to stir up trouble under Misty Pavilion's eyes. The matter had therefore dragged on, though Lu Yao had never stopped looking for another opportunity.

Kunlin Shu remained silent. He had not expected his Elder to deal with Tianhuo Sect's internal matters in front of outsiders.

Lu Yao suddenly barked, "Speak!"

Kunlin Shu answered quietly, "Yes, Elder. I went to see him."

Everyone exchanged looks. So there was no mistake after all. Their suspicion eased, and their mood shifted toward watching the spectacle.

Lu Yao demanded, "Why did you go see him?"

Kunlin Shu would not admit he had gone to warn Niu Youdao. "I only went to learn where his place was."

Lu Yao said, "Learn where he lives? Did you report it to me? Why didn't you go while I was there? Why wait until I was away? And you still dare say you had nothing to hide?"

Kunlin Shu replied, "It was only a small matter. There was no need to trouble Elder over it."

He was not telling the whole truth, but his conscience was clear. He had only offered Niu Youdao a small warning and had not betrayed Tianhuo Sect.

He had warned Niu Youdao because he hoped Niu would be careful and did not want anything to happen to him. He also worried that if Niu Youdao died, Zijin Cave might seize the opportunity to hold on to Fire Phoenix and refuse to let her go.

Having reached this point, Kunlin Shu truly was trapped between two sides, tormented by the conflict in his heart.

Nearly all the results he had obtained during the Desolate Marsh Deadlands tempering had gone to Tianhuo Sect, yet Elder Lu seemed to appreciate none of it.

Taishu Shanhai, happily watching trouble unfold, interjected, "You made a trip over there just to learn where his door was? Surely you said something to Niu Youdao."

Kunlin Shu remained calm. "Nothing much. I didn't have time to say much either. He had an important guest visiting and was busy receiving him, so I left."

An important guest?

Everyone froze.

Taishu Shanhai immediately asked, "What important guest could possibly visit him inside Wentian City?"

Kunlin Shu ignored him.

Lu Yao, however, followed up. "Who went to see him?"

Since Lu Yao had asked, Kunlin Shu did not conceal it. "From the way they addressed him, he should have been a deacon from the Demon Fox Bureau. His surname seemed to be Long. Deacon Long brought food and wine and came personally to pay a visit..."

He described what he had seen.

His attitude toward Lu Yao was much the same as his attitude toward Niu Youdao.

He had promptly passed information from this side to Niu Youdao so Niu could be careful. And he did not conceal from Tianhuo Sect what he saw on Niu Youdao's side either, likewise hoping Tianhuo Sect could know a little more and avoid suffering a loss.

As for Kunlin Shu's feelings toward Tianhuo Sect, Niu Youdao had seen through them long ago. But he had never forced Kunlin Shu to break completely with the sect or put him in an impossible position. He had given Kunlin Shu ample freedom and time to make his final choice.

Of course, there were still certain secrets Niu Youdao kept Kunlin Shu away from.

For example, although Niu Youdao had pulled Kunlin Shu away from Tianhuo Sect inside the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, he had not kept Kunlin Shu at his own side. Instead, he sent him to Fuhua's group and asked Fuhua to look after him.

Dragging Kunlin Shu away from Tianhuo Sect had only been meant to keep him from danger. It was another way of protecting him.

Niu Youdao's own situation had been dangerous enough. Yet even under those circumstances, he had not only needed to preserve himself but had also tried to protect others. Trying to account for everything had cost him no small amount of thought and effort.

Kunlin Shu, however, gained nothing by standing with one foot in each boat. He was the one who suffered for it.

Niu Youdao could give him time and show him tolerance.

Tianhuo Sect would not.

After hearing Kunlin Shu's account, everyone present looked doubtful and unsettled. Taishu Shanhai asked in surprise, "You're saying the Demon Fox Bureau's deacon not only brought food and wine to visit Niu Youdao, but even waited outside for his arrival to be announced?"

Kunlin Shu glanced at Lu Yao. Seeing the same question in his expression, he answered, "Yes."

Taishu Shanhai asked, "Does Niu Youdao know the Demon Fox Bureau's deacon well? Were they old acquaintances?"

"I don't know. But that deacon was very warm toward him, and the food and wine looked quite good. They seemed to have only just met. After a round of courtesies, they started addressing one another as brothers."

"What did they discuss?"

Kunlin Shu shook his head. "I only heard some pleasantries. It wasn't appropriate for me to keep standing there, so I took my leave. I don't know what they discussed afterward."

Taishu Shanhai gave Lu Yao a look.

Lu Yao immediately asked, "Kunlin Shu, you aren't deceiving me, are you?"

"What I saw and heard is exactly what I've told you. There is no falsehood in it."

The room fell into a thoughtful silence.

After a while, Lu Yao waved his hand. "Go back."

Kunlin Shu cupped his hands and withdrew. As he left, he glanced at the fellow Tianhuo Sect disciple who had reported him and guessed that this was probably the man who had complained.

There was nothing he could do about it.

That disciple, meanwhile, openly returned a provocative stare, showing no regard at all for a traitor like him.

Inside the hall, An Shougui said thoughtfully, "If Kunlin Shu was telling the truth, then we've all seen Misty Pavilion's attitude toward us. Why is Niu Youdao the only one being treated differently? What method did he use?"

Taishu Shanhai turned his head and looked at the plain tea on his table.

When he had asked the Inspection Bureau to prepare a banquet, they had thrown the request back in his face.

Yet on Niu Youdao's side, a bureau deacon had personally carried food and wine to his door to welcome him.

The difference was self-evident.

Heaven-Splitting Palace Elder Yu Hua said, "That bastard may be no good thing, but we have to admit he has some ability to have made it this far. Since we're talking about joining forces, I say we may as well include him."

Blood God Hall Elder Mei Changhong gave a soft sound of agreement. "Why not speak to him first, find out what's going on over there, and then decide?"

After learning that something had changed on Niu Youdao's side, everyone who had previously intended to exclude him and ignore whether he lived or died began to soften.

The reason remained the same: they were all deeply uneasy and desperate to find some way to break the deadlock.

Seeing their attitude, Taishu Shanhai relaxed as well. He looked outside at the sky. "It's already late. A whole group of us running around at night would be inappropriate. And if we visit him under the stars, we'll look too eager and let that bastard put on airs. Better to go together tomorrow."

"Good!" Qingyue Villa Elder Huangfu Jin immediately agreed.

The matter was settled, and everyone dispersed.

...

Reeking of wine, Niu Youdao stepped outside to see his guest off personally.

After watching Long Fanhai disappear into the distance, he lifted his head and looked at the moon before turning back into the courtyard.

Once deeper inside, he asked, "Did Kunlin Shu say anything before he left?"

He had been too busy dealing with Long Fanhai earlier to attend to Kunlin Shu. Only now did he ask.

Qin Guan replied, "Nothing much. He only asked us to pass along that he was leaving first."

Niu Youdao nodded slightly.

Qin Guan asked, "I wonder what those factions are plotting. They actually excluded us. Should we go take a look?"

Niu Youdao gave a disdainful snort. "Set out stinking dogshit, and the flies will come on their own. Just handle our own affairs."

Qin Guan stared. What kind of comparison was that?

Ke Dingjie, however, had gradually begun to admire how lightly Niu Youdao seemed to handle serious matters. He smiled. "Looks like Elder really did take in a good servant. He even knows to bring you news in time when something happens over there."

Niu Youdao sighed. "How long can a man stand with one foot in each boat? The longer he hesitates like this, the angrier Tianhuo Sect will become with him. An open spear is easy to dodge; a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. With his personality on top of that, his situation is dangerous."

Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie did not know what to say.

Kunlin Shu had entered this tempering under Tianhuo Sect's name, after all. Naturally, he remained with Tianhuo Sect's people.

...

Inside Wentian City's central offices, Xuan Yao turned sharply from the railing after hearing Long Fanhai's report.

He could sense Long Fanhai's lingering fear, and it was easy to imagine how much flattering and placating the man must have done to soothe Niu Youdao.

The matter had surprised Xuan Yao too.

Long Fanhai had personally carried food and wine over to welcome Niu Youdao, yet Niu Youdao had still managed to say something like that to him.

"So in other words, you learned nothing at all. You only drank with him, and nearly got yourself splashed with filth in the process?" Xuan Yao asked coldly.

Long Fanhai exhaled a breath heavy with wine. "Steward is right. That bastard is no easy opponent. I need to act as soon as possible, or who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause."

Xuan Yao snorted. "Good that you understand. Arrange it quickly."

...

Deep into the night, a knock at the door disturbed Niu Youdao from his cross-legged meditation.

Qin Guan's voice came from outside. "Elder!"

Niu Youdao slowly opened his eyes. "Come in."

Qin Guan entered and walked quickly forward, presenting a confidential message with both hands. "Elder, the petition you sent to the Sacred Venerable received a reply."

"Oh?" Niu Youdao immediately took it and looked.

There were only four characters on the paper:

The Sacred Venerable has read and is informed.

Niu Youdao's eyes flickered.

The reply expressed no position, but expressing no position was itself a position. His probe had produced the result he wanted.

He immediately ordered, "Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone."

Qin Guan froze for a moment but obeyed.

Once everything was ready, Niu Youdao bent over the desk and began writing at once.

Standing beside him and grinding the ink, Qin Guan caught sight of what he was writing and felt his teeth ache.

The Elder was actually petitioning the Sacred Venerable again.

This time, he was reporting that Long Fanhai had tried to probe the contents of his previous petition.

When Niu Youdao finished, he set down the brush, lifted the paper, and blew the ink dry. Then he handed it to Qin Guan and said flatly, "Send it to the Sacred Venerable."

Qin Guan felt a little sympathy for Long Fanhai. He accepted the paper and asked, "Elder, didn't you tell Long Fanhai that you were only joking?"

Niu Youdao gave him a sidelong glance. "Look where we are. On someone else's territory, can you tell them the truth? If we pushed the dog into desperation and made him jump the wall, wouldn't that give him the chance to kill us first?"

[End of Chapter 1043]