Chapter 1066: Wedding Banquet

Afterward, the two went their separate ways. Once Niu Youdao returned to his lodging, he immediately checked the two Goldenwings he had brought with him.

He then left the building again and strolled around outside for a while, observing the surroundings.

After returning to his room, he moved quickly. He wrote a secret letter, rolled it tightly, and slipped it into the message tube on a Goldenwing's leg.

Going to the window, he pushed it open and looked outside. Then he brought forward the Goldenwing he had been holding behind him and released it through the opening.

The Goldenwing beat its wings and flew away.

Niu Youdao remained at the window, watching until he confirmed the bird had gone far into the sky without being intercepted. Only then did he relax.

...

Night fell.

Inside the valley of Ice and Snow Sacred Land, a place like a secluded paradise, festive lanterns shone brilliantly while the sound of zithers drifted through the air. Joy filled the scene.

The wedding ceremony began. Guests from the various sides arrived to witness it, Niu Youdao among them. The wedding was not especially grand in scale, but it was exquisitely arranged and pleasing to the eye.

There was no need to dwell on the complicated rites. Most of the outside guests had little interest in them anyway. Their main attention fell on the bride and groom bowing to Heaven and Earth, then bowing to their elder.

Niu Youdao, standing among the crowd, paid particular attention to that elder.

She was also the focus of nearly everyone present.

An old woman with snow-white hair sat above them, slightly stooped, holding a silver staff. She wore snow-white skirts, and her skin was so deathly pale that not a trace of blood could be seen. Even her eyebrows were white. A festive shoulder cape had been draped over her, apparently added especially for the wedding, as she received the newlyweds' bows.

Niu Youdao activated his Dharma Eye and could see demon aura winding around the old woman.

Even if no one had told him, it required little thought to guess her identity.

This had to be Granny Xue, one of the nine Sacred Venerables.

She was said to be a snow demon who had long dwelt in the snowy domains.

Legend held that the great snow mountain where Ice and Snow Pavilion stood in the outside world was the very place of Granny Xue's birth.

A snow demon naturally could not have a human granddaughter. Xue Luo'er was said to have been found and taken in by Granny Xue.

The arts Granny Xue cultivated were suited to herself and not especially suitable for humans, so she had never taken disciples in the usual sense. Instead, she had adopted sons and daughters, trained them, and had them help manage the affairs under her command.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds were sent to the bridal chamber.

Granny Xue raised her cup toward the guests, said a few words telling everyone to eat and drink well, then left the gathering, instructing her adopted children to entertain the guests in her place.

There were actually not many visitors from outside. They were basically Niu Youdao and the other distinguished guests, together with their attendants. Most of those present were people of Ice and Snow Sacred Land itself.

Niu Youdao knew his place and seated himself at the very edge among the visitors.

Although the people of Ice and Snow Sacred Land might not think much of him, today was a joyous occasion, so they still treated him warmly enough on the surface. Even so, he could sense the disdain beneath that warmth.

Niu Youdao did not care. He kept a smile on his face. No matter who came over to speak with him, he bowed and nodded along with perfect politeness.

Being seated at the edge had its advantages as well. He attracted little attention.

Throughout the banquet, Niu Youdao quietly observed Sha Rulai and Sha Huanli, father and daughter.

Once the wedding banquet ended, most of the outside guests clearly had no interest in lingering in a place where they had so little freedom. One after another, they began taking their leave.

Niu Youdao, tucked away at the edge, did not hurry to depart. He continued watching.

He saw Sha Rulai walk toward Sha Huanli as though he wanted to say something, only for Sha Huanli to turn away and leave. She appeared to be going to Bai Wuya, who was presiding over the gathering, to take her leave.

Sha Rulai, rebuffed, remained standing there in silence.

Seeing this, Niu Youdao waited until Sha Huanli had left Bai Wuya's side, then immediately walked over himself. He thanked Bai Wuya for the hospitality and offered his farewell.

Bai Wuya looked him up and down, then smiled courteously. "Since you've come all this way, why not stay another couple of days?"

Knowing perfectly well the other man was only being polite, Niu Youdao hurriedly replied, "I only managed to come after reporting upward repeatedly and receiving permission. How would I dare linger? I should return to Wentian City immediately."

Bai Wuya nodded. "In that case, I won't force you to stay. If our hospitality was lacking, I hope you'll forgive us."

Niu Youdao repeatedly cupped his hands in thanks. "You've already been more than considerate. It is my honor to have entered Ice and Snow Sacred Land, an even greater honor to have beheld the Sacred Venerable of Ice and Snow with my own eyes, and my great fortune to have made Mr. Bai's acquaintance."

Bai Wuya laughed. "There are also people from Ice and Snow Sacred Land in Wentian City. I assume you know that. If anything comes up, you can contact me through the people there."

"Yes. I'll remember Mr. Bai's instruction."

Bai Wuya cupped his hands as well. "I still have guests to accompany, so forgive me for not seeing you farther."

"I wouldn't dare trouble you. You're far too courteous. Please stay, please stay. I take my leave." Niu Youdao backed away several steps with his hands still cupped before finally turning and departing.

From the row of people standing behind Bai Wuya, one person naturally stepped out to escort the departing guest.

After Niu Youdao had gone, one of Bai Wuya's disciples stepped forward from just behind him and asked quietly, "Master deliberately left him a way to contact you. Do you truly intend to establish a connection with Niu Youdao?"

Bai Wuya said, "If I want to contact him, I can do so whenever I please. Why would I need to establish some special connection?"

His disciple nodded. "I understand. Venerable Master was merely being courteous."

Bai Wuya glanced at him. "You think I was merely being courteous?"

Neither answer seemed right. His disciple froze, then ventured, "This Niu Youdao doesn't look nearly as arrogant as the rumors say. According to the people below who watched him, he's polite to everyone, almost like an obedient grandson, cautious in every word and action. He doesn't resemble the man people talk about outside. Of course, perhaps that's only because this is a Sacred Land and he doesn't dare behave recklessly here."

The implication was obvious.

Did someone like that really merit Bai Wuya's special attention? If it had not merely been courtesy, then what was it?

"Like an obedient grandson?" Bai Wuya gave him a sidelong glance. "You think the rumors are wrong? What place is this? As far as I know, among the sect representatives still inside Sacred Realm, Niu Youdao is not the only one who knows Luo'er. Did any of the others dare come? And how many people inside Sacred Realm know Luo'er? Of all those people, he is the only one who dared arrive uninvited. Yet you actually think a man like that lacks nerve?"

His disciple looked doubtful. "Master means he's pretending?"

"I can't say for certain whether it's an act. Perhaps he simply had no choice but to restrain himself once he arrived here. But this is not a place he ought to have come, and he cannot possibly be unaware of that. He knew perfectly well he had no business coming here, yet he still ran over to invite humiliation upon himself... He came all the way here to play the obedient grandson. He must want something."

His disciple nodded slowly, then asked, "In Master's view, what is he after? We haven't seen him do anything here. He's made no unnecessary moves, and now he's even taken his leave."

"Didn't he meet Luo'er and her husband before the wedding?"

Realization dawned on the disciple. "He's trying every possible way to curry favor with the Pavilion Master and her husband."

Bai Wuya smiled faintly. "What else could it be? The man is rather interesting. Tell our people in Wentian City to pay closer attention to him. Keep a tighter watch. If anything unusual happens, report it immediately."

"Yes!" his disciple answered.

Just then, another guest approached, and the disciple immediately stepped back.

Bai Wuya cupped his hands and began speaking with the newcomer.

...

After taking his leave, Niu Youdao first returned to his lodging and collected the eagle cage. Only then did he follow the escort to the place where the guests' large flying mounts had been gathered and reclaim the Gray-Feather Eagle that had brought him there.

The escort personally climbed aboard with him, and together they rose into the sky.

Only after they had flown beyond the mountain range of Ice and Snow Sacred Land, with the escort personally confirming that Niu Youdao had truly left the area, did the man cup his hands in farewell. He then flashed away from the mount and flew back toward Ice and Snow Sacred Land.

Niu Youdao, meanwhile, guided the bird alone toward a glacial region.

He flew along a great crack in the glacier, calling out as he went, until Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie finally emerged from the enormous fissure.

The flying mount dove, swept upward again, and carried the two men back into the sky.

Seeing Niu Youdao return safe and sound, both men finally relaxed.

Truthfully, they had been worried. What kind of place was Ice and Snow Sacred Land? Their Elder truly had nerve, daring to enter such a place alone. If it had been the two of them, they probably would not even have dared approach it. They really could not understand why the Elder had insisted on making this trip.

Then again, they could also understand in a way. He even dared get a member of Misty Pavilion killed. What was there this Elder would not dare do?

"Elder, let me take over." Qin Guan moved forward to control the mount.

Niu Youdao shook his head. "No need. You two rest."

The two exchanged a glance and both noticed that Niu Youdao seemed to be considering something.

Ke Dingjie tentatively asked, "Elder, how did the wedding wine at Ice and Snow Sacred Land taste?"

"Nothing special. Not as good as what we have at my Maolu Annex."

Ke Dingjie asked again, "Everything went smoothly? Nothing happened? No one made things difficult for you?"

"It was a day of celebration. So long as I behaved myself, no one was going to insist on making trouble for me."

"Elder, where are we going?" Qin Guan had been studying their direction and suddenly realized something was wrong.

Ke Dingjie swiftly checked the surroundings, then looked up at the stars. He realized it too.

This was not the direction back to Wentian City.

"I know where we're going," Niu Youdao said.

The meaning was obvious.

Don't ask.

...

A Scarlet Hunting Eagle descended outside a pavilion.

Wang Zun jumped down, walked over to Sha Rulai at the railing, and said, "Sir, let's go."

Unlike Niu Youdao, whose mount was not permitted to fly around freely inside Ice and Snow Sacred Land, Wang Zun had personally brought the Scarlet Hunting Eagle in so Sha Rulai would not have to make the journey out on foot.

Sha Rulai asked, "Has that girl left?"

Knowing whom he meant, Wang Zun replied, "When I went to collect the mount, I made a point of asking. Miss has already gone."

Sha Rulai sighed softly. "Now even Xue Luo'er is married. I'm afraid the two of them won't be able to spend time together as they did before. Now she doesn't even have a companion."

Wang Zun did not know what to say to that, so he changed the subject. "During the banquet, this subordinate kept an eye on Niu Youdao."

Sha Rulai came back to himself and slowly turned his head. "What are you trying to say?"

"I noticed Niu Youdao seemed to be watching you and Miss. This subordinate wonders whether he's discovered something."

Sha Rulai gave a cold snort. "What could he discover? At most, he's grown suspicious of me. Given all the signs, isn't it perfectly normal for his suspicions to fall on me? So what if he suspects? Let's go."

He turned away.

Wang Zun quickly entered the room and called out. Someone emerged carrying a packed bundle.

The flying mount beat its wings. All three leapt aboard, and the great bird shot into the vast night sky.

...

On an ice cliff at the highest peak, moonlight glittered through the translucent ice with a cold brilliance that looked chilling even from a distance.

In the howling wind, Granny Xue stood hunched at the edge of the cliff, leaning on her staff.

Her eyes, like those of a night owl, stared down at the valley blazing with lights below.

It was as though she were looking down upon all beneath Heaven.

[End of Chapter 1066]