Chapter 1063: Distinguished Guests Gather

The main reason Xue Luo'er agreed to let him in was simply that she wanted one more pleasant thing on this happy occasion. She did not want to turn away a guest and earn a curse behind her back.

Someone had traveled such a great distance to offer congratulations. If she drove the guest away, naturally he would be unhappy and would surely complain about it afterward. She did not want anything like that attached to this day.

There was another reason as well: Niu Youdao's relationship with Linghu Qiu. Chuan Ying often mentioned Linghu Qiu to her and frequently spoke of how grateful he was to him.

From her perspective, Linghu Qiu genuinely did deserve some gratitude. If Linghu Qiu had not saved Chuan Ying's life, how would she ever have had the chance to become Chuan Ying's wife?

As for some of Chuan Ying's past romantic escapades, she did not consider them much of a problem. Men in this world having three wives and four concubines was perfectly ordinary. There was no need to brood over what had happened in the past. Once Chuan Ying was with her, naturally he would no longer behave as he once had. And besides, some other woman would have to dare approach him first.

Given Niu Youdao's relationship with Linghu Qiu, she did not feel it appropriate to turn him away.

By contrast, the fact that Niu Youdao had known her before and had once painted her portrait had not entered her consideration at all.

"Yes!" The woman who had brought the report accepted the order and withdrew.

...

The snowstorm came quickly and left just as quickly. The wind died, and beneath the sunlight, fine snow drifting through the air refracted dreamlike colors.

The person sent to report soon returned on a flying mount, bringing another man with him, someone who had seen Niu Youdao before.

Xue Luo'er had ordered that Niu Youdao be admitted. She had not ordered that someone impersonating Niu Youdao be admitted.

To Xue Luo'er, it had been no more than a sentence and she had not thought deeply about it. But the guards responsible for security had to verify the matter properly. That was their duty.

There was no mistake. It truly was Niu Youdao.

Once his identity was confirmed, Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie were stopped. Only Niu Youdao himself was permitted to enter. Ice and Snow Sacred Land was not somewhere any random stray cat or dog could enter. Allowing Niu Youdao inside at all was already an exceptional favor granted because he had happened to come on an auspicious occasion.

Niu Youdao was searched as well. Even the painting he had brought inside its bamboo tube was inspected.

Before going in, Niu Youdao instructed his two companions, "Go to that glacier we saw ahead and find somewhere sheltered from the wind and snow to rest. After the wedding, I'll come find you."

"Yes!" the two answered.

Niu Youdao took the bamboo tube and strapped it across his back, then asked for the two Goldenwings they had been carrying.

The leader of the intercepting guards immediately stopped him. "There's no need to bring Goldenwings inside. Leave them here."

Niu Youdao refused. "These were given to me by the Sacred Venerable. Nothing can be allowed to happen to them. To guard against any mishap, I need to keep both Goldenwings with me."

Since he put it that way, the leader called someone over to inspect the two birds as well. Only after confirming there was nothing wrong with them did he permit Niu Youdao to take them.

Just as three flying mounts lifted into the air with their riders, another mount carrying someone approached rapidly from the distant sky.

One of the interceptors peeled away to question the newcomer and soon let him through. Only when the man drew nearer did Niu Youdao see who it was. His face was expressionless, as though everyone he met owed him money.

Sha Rulai.

Niu Youdao was somewhat surprised that Sha Rulai had come personally as well.

Sha Rulai seemed a little surprised too. He looked Niu Youdao over twice before sweeping past.

Niu Youdao glanced at his own mount. It was only an ordinary Gray-Feather Eagle, while Sha Rulai rode a Scarlet Hunting Eagle. The latter was much faster...

Beneath the snowy peaks lay a verdant valley. After the guide handed Niu Youdao over to the reception staff, he left.

The attendants led Niu Youdao to register his arrival, recorded his gift, and accepted the bamboo tube containing the painting.

Someone then took away his flying mount to stable it. Naturally, it would be well cared for and could be reclaimed whenever he left.

The reception staff at Ice and Snow Sacred Land were somewhat surprised to see Niu Youdao there, but since he had been admitted, they still treated him according to the proper courtesies of receiving a guest. Someone led him toward his lodging.

All the guest quarters were clustered in the same area, among pavilions and towers rising with the mountain slope.

A guest was a guest, but guests still differed in rank and status. Niu Youdao could hardly expect to stand on equal footing with the distinguished guests. He was taken to a small building near the bottom of the slope, while the important guests were lodged higher above.

Niu Youdao understood the situation at a glance and showed no displeasure. On the contrary, he remained exceedingly courteous toward the attendant, even appearing somewhat humble.

The attendant did not think especially highly of him and carried himself with a trace of arrogance. Whatever he said, Niu Youdao nodded and bowed in agreement.

Once he had been settled in, Niu Youdao found himself unable to sit still inside the little building. He came out to stroll around, observing the terrain and the surroundings.

He had only climbed partway up a stone stairway built against the cliff, connecting the buildings above, when a voice suddenly came down from overhead.

"Is that Niu Youdao down there?"

The voice sounded familiar.

Niu Youdao looked up and saw a row of heads leaning over the terrace above. Sha Rulai was among them. So was Ding Wei, Presiding Administrator of Misty Pavilion.

The man who had spoken waved to him.

Lan Ming!

Back in Wentian City, Lan Ming had specifically gone to the Demon Fox Bureau to see him. They had exchanged a few words and could at least be considered acquainted.

Niu Youdao immediately cupped his hands in greeting from below.

Lan Ming waved. "Come up."

Niu Youdao promptly answered, "Mr. Lan, the people here instructed me earlier not to go farther up, lest I disturb the distinguished guests."

As he spoke, he glanced toward the scattered white-robed guards of Ice and Snow Sacred Land posted along the cliff.

Lan Ming laughed. "If I tell you to come up, then come up. It's fine."

A man beside him called down to the guards, "Let him through."

The two guards standing directly in the path exchanged a glance. One then extended a hand in invitation.

Only then did Niu Youdao leap into the air and land on the terrace above.

The moment he touched down and looked around, he could see that the view was entirely different from the restricted sight lines below. This was indeed where the distinguished guests were being housed.

Then he looked at the group before him.

Anyone able to stand beside Sha Rulai, Ding Wei, and Lan Ming with such natural composure was plainly someone of comparable standing.

Distinguished guests had gathered here in force.

Niu Youdao immediately greeted everyone with extreme courtesy.

Lan Ming laughed. "I saw someone below wearing Misty Pavilion robes and thought it strange. He looked a little like you. I didn't expect it really would be."

Niu Youdao smiled obsequiously, bowing and nodding. "I never expected to encounter Mr. Lan here either."

Ding Wei spoke then, his voice cold. "Why are you here? Who told you to come?"

Some days earlier, he had received Huang Ban's report saying the request had been refused. He had not expected Niu Youdao to come anyway, and irritation rose within him.

The others, Lan Ming included, were somewhat puzzled as well. With Niu Youdao's status, how had he managed to enter this place and be received as a guest?

Niu Youdao answered immediately, "Mr. Ding, the Master of Ice and Snow Pavilion and I are old acquaintances. An old acquaintance is getting married, so naturally I should come offer congratulations. I already reported the matter to the Sacred Venerable."

This fellow was friends with Xue Luo'er?

Everyone looked surprised.

Ding Wei was not. Huang Ban's earlier report had mentioned that point. Ding Wei turned to Lan Ming. "He reported this to Tianlan Sacred Land?"

"Uh..." Lan Ming was genuinely caught off guard.

He knew nothing about the matter. Although he was Lan Daolin's son, Lan Daolin did not tell him everything.

Still, he judged that Niu Youdao would never dare lie about something like this and immediately smiled. "Yes, there was such a matter."

The others likewise believed Niu Youdao could not possibly fabricate something like this. Because of that, a few people gave Lan Ming openly mocking looks.

Some things were obvious to everyone present.

This son was evidently not fully trusted by his father.

The reason was simple. If Lan Ming had known Niu Youdao was coming, he would never have said moments earlier that he had not expected it to really be him. He clearly had not known.

To cover the awkwardness, Lan Ming suddenly became much warmer. "Niu Youdao, you certainly know who these people are, so there's no need for me to introduce everyone. This is Gao Zi, disciple of Sacred Venerable Mu Lianze of Tianmu Sacred Land. This is Hua Meiru, disciple of Sacred Venerable Lü Wushuang of Wushuang Sacred Land. This is Ye Nian, disciple of Sacred Venerable Du Wuxu of Wuxu Sacred Land. This is Chen Huan, disciple of Sacred Venerable Zhangsun Mi of Wuming Sacred Land. This is Elder Hei Shi of Tianmo Sacred Land. And this is Bai Wuya, adopted son of Granny Xue of Ice and Snow Sacred Land."

He omitted himself, Sha Rulai of Daluo Sacred Land, and Ding Wei of Dayuan Sacred Land.

Sha Rulai had come because his daughter was here. He had volunteered to make the trip in hopes of seeing her.

Ding Wei, meanwhile, was already supposed to come on Misty Pavilion's behalf to offer congratulations and was simultaneously representing Dayuan Sacred Land.

As for Granny Xue's adopted son Bai Wuya, he was the host sent to accompany the guests.

Tianmo Sacred Land and Ice and Snow Sacred Land were somewhat unusual among the Sacred Lands. Neither Sacred Venerable had disciples in the conventional sense. Tianmo Sacred Land was structured more like a sect, while Granny Xue had taken in adopted sons and daughters to train. The arrangement was closely tied to the personal circumstances of those two Sacred Venerables.

The distinguished guests present were all figures one step beneath the Sacred Venerables themselves.

In the eyes of the Sacred Venerables, a mere Xue Luo'er was plainly not important enough to merit their personal attendance. Sending disciples and equivalent figures to congratulate her already counted as giving considerable face.

With each introduction, Niu Youdao respectfully cupped his hands and paid his respects, committing every face to memory.

He paid particular attention to Sha Rulai.

Unfortunately, Sha Rulai remained so impassive that Niu Youdao could discern nothing from him.

The introductions had barely ended when Ye Nian gave a cold snort. "Brother Lan, a mere sect Elder from the outside world actually merits you personally spending this much breath on introductions? You truly are remarkably approachable."

His displeasure with Niu Youdao was obvious.

Naturally, there was a reason.

During the competition in the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, Niu Youdao had dragged Ye Nian's disciple Ao Feng into the affair and caused Ye Nian considerable embarrassment back at Wuxu Sacred Land. So now he took the opportunity to ridicule him.

To Ye Nian, a mere Niu Youdao was hardly worth considering. If he wanted to humiliate him, then he would. What could Niu Youdao do about being denied face?

Ye Nian could even mock Lan Ming. Why would he possibly think anything of Niu Youdao?

In his eyes, Niu Youdao was little different from a dog. Were they not guests in someone else's home, and were it not a day of celebration, Ye Nian could have made him suffer on the spot.

"Heh." A few people in the group chuckled.

Ding Wei added, "Niu Youdao communicates directly with Tianlan Sacred Land. Perhaps Brother Lan already thinks of him as one of his own. Or maybe he's afraid Niu Youdao will go complain about him to his father. Brother Lan, surely you aren't afraid of Niu Youdao?"

Lan Ming's face darkened. "Ding Wei, what do you mean by that?"

"Gentlemen!" As the host, Bai Wuya immediately stepped forward to mediate. "Today is a joyous occasion. Please give me a little face and don't damage the harmony between us."

[End of Chapter 1063]