Chapter 1045: The Time Isn't Ripe Yet

He admitted it readily enough.

Ding Wei's lips tightened slightly. The matter was neither especially serious nor especially trivial.

Viewed narrowly, it was no more than a private grudge. But taken seriously, Niu Youdao's present status changed everything: Xuan Yao was targeting an inspector appointed by a Sacred Venerable.

"Do you have evidence proving Xuan Yao used public office for a private vendetta and retaliated against you?" Ding Wei asked coldly.

Niu Youdao said, "It's only a judgment based on various signs."

Ding Wei said, "In other words, you have no evidence whatsoever. It's nothing but your own suspicion, yet you dared petition a Sacred Venerable based on suspicion alone. You've got quite some nerve!"

Niu Youdao replied, "I did indeed merely petition the Sacred Venerable. Whether there is evidence is not for me to decide. How the matter should be handled is for the Sacred Venerable to judge. If the Sacred Venerable punishes me, I'll accept it. Mr. Ding, if I haven't misunderstood you, are you reminding me that in the future I should not report anything to a Sacred Venerable unless I already possess conclusive evidence?"

Ding Wei's mouth tightened again as anger surged in his chest. Niu Youdao's words sounded perfectly respectful, but there was a needle hidden inside the cotton. He was talking back while using the Sacred Venerable to pressure him.

Even so, Ding Wei forcibly suppressed his anger and explained evenly, "That isn't what I mean. So long as a matter falls within the scope of your inspection duties and authority, I will not interfere." He could hardly issue a warning that nothing could be reported to a Sacred Venerable without evidence.

Niu Youdao inclined his body slightly. "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Ding. I meant nothing else either. Since I bear a Sacred Venerable's mandate, I merely wish to do my utmost and dare not neglect my duty. If I discover anything abnormal, I would never dare conceal it, much less deceive a Sacred Venerable."

"Good. Very good." Ding Wei nodded for a moment, then suddenly gave a cold snort. "Get out."

"Yes!" Niu Youdao cupped his hands in acknowledgment and simply turned to leave.

Ding Wei remained standing rigidly in the hall, watching Niu Youdao's back disappear. His eyes narrowed slightly, killing intent surfacing within them.

Under ordinary circumstances, he could have had Niu Youdao killed immediately. Then again, under ordinary circumstances Niu Youdao would never have dared speak to him this way. Niu was relying on his present status and on the fact that authority over his life and death no longer rested with Misty Pavilion. No one in Misty Pavilion dared openly touch him.

Before Xuan Yao's arrest, Niu Youdao would not have dared speak like this. But now he had seen Xuan Yao arrested. He had seen the Sacred Venerable's attitude.

Now he dared.

Ding Wei slowly paced out of the main hall, flicked the cloak behind him, descended the steps, and headed straight for the interrogation site where Xuan Yao was being held.

He had personally rushed here this time precisely because of Xuan Yao. With Ding Wei himself sitting over the matter, he could prevent other forces from meddling in Xuan Yao's interrogation.

Had Xuan Yao retaliated against Niu Youdao? Ding Wei knew perfectly well that he had. To some extent, it had even happened with Ding Wei's tacit approval.

A mere sect Elder had dared point a sword at Ding Wei's man. He had shown Ding Wei no respect at all.

Ding Wei had once said he would skin Niu Youdao alive. Then Ao Feng had suddenly appeared to testify, leaving Ding Wei without a reason to act openly and allowing Niu Youdao to escape that calamity.

Now Niu Youdao had transformed overnight into an inspector directed against Misty Pavilion. Ding Wei could no longer move against him openly, so naturally he had tacitly permitted those below to plot against him in secret.

No one had expected Niu Youdao to dare petition a Sacred Venerable based on suspicion alone, without a shred of evidence. Still more unexpected was that the Sacred Venerable had personally ordered a thorough investigation into such an evidence-free accusation.

Xuan Yao was Ding Wei's trusted subordinate. Many secret matters had passed through Xuan Yao's hands. Ding Wei could not possibly abandon him.

Fear of being implicated himself was secondary. Xuan Yao knew what could be said and what could not.

The real problem was this: if Ding Wei could not even protect a trusted subordinate over a matter like this, how was he supposed to command loyalty in the future?

Protecting Xuan Yao might invite some suspicion, but Ding Wei still had to do it.

That was why he had come personally.

...

The moment Niu Youdao stepped out of the central compound, Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie, who had been waiting outside, immediately came forward to meet him.

"Elder Niu!" Taishu Shanhai and the others, who had also been waiting outside, hurried over.

"Let's go." Niu Youdao ignored them and led Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie straight away.

The two disciples exchanged a glance. Their Elder truly was giving the seven factions and the others no face whatsoever. But after following Niu Youdao for so long, they had come to understand something of his way of doing things. If he acted like this, there had to be a reason.

Taishu Shanhai and the others stared after him in surprise. An Shougui muttered, "Who knows what Ding Wei kept him behind to say."

First there had been Demon Fox Bureau Deacon Long Fanhai's warm treatment of Niu Youdao. Now Niu had spoken privately with Ding Wei as well. Something was plainly strange.

What exactly was going on?

The uncertainty clawed at everyone's hearts.

After huddling together and muttering for a while, they stopped caring about appearances and hurried after him, heading straight for the Demon Fox Bureau where Niu Youdao was staying.

By the time Niu Youdao reached the entrance to his courtyard, the group had caught up. Blood God Hall Elder Mei Changhong called, "Elder Niu, please wait!"

Niu Youdao stopped and turned. "What is it?"

Mei Changhong said, "Elder Niu, does what we discussed before drawing lots at Shouque Villa still count?"

She did not openly mention joining forces against Misty Pavilion because a Misty Pavilion guard stood at the entrance. Some things were better kept from Misty Pavilion's ears.

Niu Youdao glanced at the guard as well.

Qu Lingkun.

He had seen the man yesterday, and today Qu Lingkun happened to be on duty again.

Niu Youdao turned his gaze back to the group and tossed out a casual sentence. "What is there to discuss with a bunch of people about to die?"

With that, he turned, climbed the steps, and walked straight inside.

The group still wanted to follow him into the courtyard and had only just stepped onto the stairs when Niu Youdao's voice came from within.

"Close the door! Without my permission, no one is to be admitted. Anyone who forces his way in is to be killed without mercy!"

Creak!

Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie immediately shut the gates.

The Elders outside had been turned away at the door and nearly walked straight into it. They stood there speechless, staring at one another.

A mere wall could hardly stop them. Any one of them could leap over it.

But rules were the highest walls in the world.

Go ahead and try forcing your way in.

Niu Youdao had said intruders would be killed without mercy.

Of course, with only Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie, those two small-fry subordinates could hardly kill the assembled Elders without mercy. The problem was that once they forced their way in and fighting broke out, they would be the ones who had started trouble without justification.

Misty Pavilion was not a place where they could do as they pleased.

They would be the ones unable to bear the consequences.

"He really thinks he's somebody!" An Shougui spat, then turned and walked down the steps.

The others drifted away from the entrance as well. Qingyue Villa Elder Huangfu Jin asked quietly, "What did he mean when he called us people about to die?"

Who the hell knew?

In any case, the group's expressions had all turned grave.

From Niu Youdao's attitude, it was clear he had no intention of joining forces with them and planned to act alone. But could acting alone really be better than standing together?

Everyone suspected he must have learned something.

Long Fanhai's attitude and Ding Wei's private conversation with him were evidence enough.

Because of Niu Youdao's words, a shadow settled over the group as they slowly walked away.

Qu Lingkun, standing guard at the entrance, turned his head and watched them leave.

He had personally witnessed the entire scene. Niu Youdao had not taken this group seriously at all, yet none of them had dared lose their temper.

That was rather interesting.

Qu Lingkun intended to report it later to the people behind him.

Inside the courtyard, Qin Guan personally brewed tea and brought it into the pavilion, setting it before Niu Youdao.

Ke Dingjie, who had been peeking through the gate, came back smiling. "Elder, they've all left."

"If they didn't leave, were they supposed to force their way in?" Niu Youdao said briefly as he lifted the teacup.

Ke Dingjie hesitated, then ventured, "Elder, what they meant should have been the matter of joining forces."

Niu Youdao took a sip of tea and set the cup down. "Weren't they the ones who wanted to exclude us?"

Ke Dingjie said, "Elder, forgive me for speaking plainly, but this isn't the time to act out of pique. Fighting alone is not as good as joining forces."

Niu Youdao shook his head slightly. "Better for them to come begging us than for us to beg them. Let them stew a little longer. The time isn't ripe yet. You two don't need to worry. I know what I'm doing."

Then he smiled and added, "Our petition to the Sacred Venerable has produced a reaction. Just now, Xuan Yao was arrested."

"Ah!" Both men were startled, then delighted.

Qin Guan said happily, "That is good news. Xuan Yao bears grudges. If he can be dealt with, all the better."

"You two are thinking too simply." Niu Youdao said, "Wentian City is Misty Pavilion's central hub inside Sacred Realm. If Xuan Yao could sit here in Ding Wei's place and handle affairs, then he must be Ding Wei's trusted subordinate. With Ding Wei here—and with Ding Wei currently holding authority over Misty Pavilion—an accusation without evidence cannot truly hurt Xuan Yao."

Both men frowned.

Qin Guan asked, "If Elder already knew it couldn't hurt him, why provoke him further? Won't that only make him hate you even more?"

Ke Dingjie sighed too. "Exactly, Elder. Doing this just to vent for a moment doesn't seem worth it. It feels like you're ignoring the consequences. Misty Pavilion won't let you off. Sooner or later they'll settle this account with you."

"Do we still have a road of retreat?" Niu Youdao asked. "Struggling in order to survive is our only choice. Stop overthinking it. I know what I'm doing. Ke Dingjie, that map I mentioned yesterday is on the bookshelf. Take Qin Guan and study it carefully."

"Yes!"

After the two entered the room, Niu Youdao rose and left the pavilion. He went to the gate, opened it, and gave a cough.

A short while later, Qu Lingkun, who had been standing guard outside, came in.

He pulled an oil-paper-wrapped packet from his sleeve and handed it over, adding a reminder. "I'll say I came in to add a dish to your meal."

Niu Youdao nodded.

He understood the meaning.

Qu Lingkun needed a reason for entering the courtyard. Later, if anyone asked, he could say Niu Youdao had called him in to arrange an extra dish.

...

Inside the dungeon, Ding Wei finished reading the testimony submitted by the interrogators.

Finding nothing wrong, he tossed it back, ordered everyone irrelevant to withdraw, then walked deeper into the cells alone.

Hearing footsteps, Xuan Yao came forward the moment he saw Ding Wei appear outside his cage. Through the bars, he asked, "Mr. Ding, was it Niu Youdao who complained against me?"

He was no fool.

Once the interrogators began questioning him, he had immediately understood they were investigating whether he had used public office for a private vendetta.

Ding Wei nodded. "An accusation without evidence won't amount to anything. But releasing you immediately would look too much like I'm openly protecting you. Stay inside for another three days and undergo a few more rounds of questioning."

"Yes!" Xuan Yao answered.

Ding Wei had made it plain he intended to protect him, allowing Xuan Yao to finally breathe easier. If the matter were truly pursued to the bitter end, then even if he survived, he would lose a layer of skin.

Still, this sudden imprisonment had cost him enormous face. Resentment was unavoidable.

"That Niu Youdao is far too arrogant. With no evidence whatsoever, he actually dared petition a Sacred Venerable. Last night he released another Goldenwing. I have no idea what he reported to the Sacred Venerable this time."

"You said he sent another report last night?" Ding Wei, who had been about to leave, abruptly turned back.

[End of Chapter 1045]