Chapter 1115: Hasn't Our Cooperation Already Begun?

The courtyard gates stood wide open. Shao Sansheng waited inside, but no visitor appeared for a long time. Outside, people continued coming and going along the street.

The residence was not on one of the Qi capital's main thoroughfares, but neither was it especially secluded. There was a steady flow of pedestrians outside.

Shao Sansheng watched from inside the courtyard. The slightest unusual movement from anyone passing the gate made him look up expectantly.

Up in the pavilion, Shao Pingbo sat with his eyes closed as though resting. Only the movement of his eyes beneath his lids betrayed that his mind was still working.

About half an hour later, a man stopped at the gate. He was dressed like a traveling peddler, a cloth bag slung from one shoulder. After briefly surveying the courtyard, he shook the pellet drum in his hand and walked in at an unhurried pace.

At the sight of a stranger barging in, the guards posted openly and covertly around the residence stirred. Shao Sansheng raised a hand to stop them, then went forward himself and asked with a courteous smile, "Can I help you, sir?"

The peddler swept his gaze around, then looked Shao Sansheng up and down before uttering a single word. "Letter."

Realizing this was the man they had been waiting for, Shao Sansheng immediately gestured inward. "Please follow me, sir."

He respectfully led the way, repeatedly motioning ahead, until he brought the visitor to the pavilion where Shao Pingbo was waiting. He announced, "Eldest Young Master, he's here."

Shao Pingbo was already studying the visitor. The newcomer, meanwhile, acted as though no one else existed. He removed the cloth bag from his shoulder, set it on the table, and seated himself grandly in the place of honor.

Observing his bearing, Shao Pingbo said, "Old Shao, serve tea."

"No need," the visitor said. "Irrelevant people can withdraw."

There was a restrained authority in his tone. Shao Sansheng was startled and uncertain, with no idea who this man could be, but Shao Pingbo had already waved him away. "Keep watch downstairs. Don't let anyone approach."

"Yes." Shao Sansheng obeyed, went out, closed the door behind him, and stood guard below, occasionally glancing up toward the pavilion.

Upstairs, Shao Pingbo walked to the window and stood with his hands behind his back, looking outside. After waiting for some time and receiving no response, he had no choice but to return to the table. He sat opposite the visitor and asked first, "May I ask your honored name?"

"My name is not something you should ask."

"If I don't even know who you are, how am I supposed to believe your claimed origins are genuine?"

"We can leave Wei aside. Here in Qi, you haven't dared make any large moves. You haven't dared go too far against important figures because you're afraid of alerting Qi's Office of Investigation. For a long time, there has really been only one small matter you carefully planned and concentrated Jin's resources on: whenever necessary, you can swap out certain people's messenger Goldenwings. You've already brought the people responsible for tending those Goldenwings under your control."

The visitor continued, "You've already activated those people. Communications between Qi's armies on campaign and the imperial court have begun to go wrong. This method can't last long. It has too many flaws and will be exposed before much time passes, but that sliver of time is exactly what you want. As far as I know, three armies have already reversed direction and are rushing back toward the Qi capital. Do I need to say anything more?"

Shao Pingbo's eyes flickered. "As expected, nothing escapes the eyes of Misty Pavilion."

"Since you know what kind of person I am, aren't you afraid to die if you bargain with me?"

"Under ordinary circumstances, no one is truly unafraid of death. Otherwise, sir, you wouldn't be unwilling to show me your real face."

"Are you threatening me?"

"No. I want to cooperate with you. Or rather, I, Shao, am willing to serve you."

"I don't need your service. I came only to tell you this: mind your own affairs and play your own game, and you may live longer. Knowing too much will do you no good. When it's time to play the fool, play the fool. Understand?"

"What if I refuse?"

Whoosh!

The visitor flashed to Shao Pingbo's side and clamped a hand around his throat. "Say that again. I didn't hear you clearly."

Shao Pingbo's face instantly flushed dark red. With great difficulty, he forced out the words in broken fragments. "If I die... you won't get away either. I'll go first... and wait for you on the road to the underworld."

Anger surfaced in the visitor's eyes. His five fingers suddenly tightened. Shao Pingbo's eyes bulged as though they might burst from their sockets, yet he still struggled to smile at the man. With his face twisted by the grip around his throat, the smile looked grotesque and sinister.

Just as his neck began making muffled choking sounds and he was almost unable to breathe, the visitor abruptly released him and shoved him away.

Crash! Shao Pingbo staggered backward and fell to the floor, gasping for air. Then he clutched his throat and coughed repeatedly, saliva spilling uncontrollably from the corner of his mouth.

He had only just managed to catch his breath when pounding footsteps sounded on the stairs outside. Shao Sansheng's voice quickly came through the door. "Eldest Young Master! Eldest Young Master..."

"I'm fine. Go back down!" Shao Pingbo forced out the rebuke.

Only after the footsteps descended again did he brace himself against a nearby chair, struggle to his feet, and sit. Nearly collapsed in the chair, he smiled. "My life isn't worth much. Trading my one life for yours would be a poor bargain for you. You're a clever man, sir. You know which choice makes sense."

The visitor slowly walked over and looked down at him coldly. Then a smile suddenly appeared on his face. He reached out and patted Shao Pingbo's cheek several times. "Not bad, not bad. You've got nerve. You qualify to cooperate with me."

The man's expression changed quickly enough. Shao Pingbo chuckled. "You flatter me, sir."

The visitor turned back and returned to his original seat.

Shao Pingbo took several deep breaths and slowly recovered before leaving his chair and sitting opposite the visitor again. He glanced at the cloth bag lying on the table. "I've been waiting for you. I thought you would appear quickly. I didn't expect to wait this long. Judging by your disguise, you've been extremely cautious. It seems the pressure on you from the Sacred Realm is considerable."

"It has been somewhat troublesome. I originally intended to come meet you earlier, but after Hong Yunfa's death, anyone connected to Hong Yunfa... the Nine Saints began watching everyone who might be suspect."

Shao Pingbo nodded in understanding. Once the man had come under scrutiny, he naturally would not dare move about freely until he found a suitable opportunity.

The visitor said, "You want to cooperate with me. On what basis? What do you have that is worth my cooperation? Let's hear it."

"Hasn't our cooperation already begun? You wanted me to bring about the war against Wei. I did it. Now it's time for you to honor your promise."

"You want to know about Niu Youdao's situation inside the Sacred Realm?"

Shao Pingbo nodded. "Exactly."

The visitor seemed puzzled. "Niu Youdao is trapped inside the Sacred Realm. He has no way to get out—or perhaps he'll never get out at all. The two of you are separated between two worlds now and have nothing to do with each other. Why are you still unable to let him go?"

"Never get out?" Shao Pingbo echoed, then shook his head. "You underestimate him too much. I know his capabilities far too well. If he wants to get out, he may not be without a way. The Sacred Realm may not be able to keep him contained either. And once he gets out, he will not let me off."

The visitor sneered. "It seems you're very afraid of him."

"For me, this isn't a question of fear. You should understand what cooperating with you means and what kind of people that puts me against. Do you think I'm afraid? Niu Youdao is a problem for me, a danger that has to be eliminated."

The visitor was silent for a moment before saying slowly, "I do know something about his situation in the Sacred Realm. But circumstances inside are complicated, and I have no way to keep watch on him every day, so I don't know that much. If you want him dead, that's simple enough. I'll find a chance and dispose of him for you inside the Sacred Realm."

"I don't know your identity," Shao Pingbo said, "but you certainly aren't one of the Nine Saints. I'm not wrong about that, am I?"

The visitor did not understand why Shao Pingbo had suddenly changed direction. He snorted. "If I were one of the Nine Saints, do you think I'd be sitting here meeting you?"

"Since you aren't one of the Nine Saints, you don't have authority on that scale. So forgive my bluntness: if you don't dare act against him openly, you may not be able to kill him."

"Are you trying to provoke me?"

"No. If you can kill him for me, naturally I couldn't ask for more. But I still have to warn you: unless you're absolutely certain, don't make a move. Once you do, you must make absolutely sure he dies. You cannot give him any chance to bite back. If he becomes alert, if he realizes anything is wrong, his counterattack and retaliation will show no mercy. Niu Youdao is an expert at this kind of thing. I can guarantee you that once the two of you truly cross hands, no one can say for certain who will end up killing whom."

The visitor gave a dismissive snort. Given his own status and position, he truly did not take Niu Youdao seriously. Calmly, he said, "You cannot speak of ice to a summer insect. You know nothing of conditions inside the Sacred Realm, so I won't blame you."

Shao Pingbo frowned slightly. "I may not know conditions inside the Sacred Realm, but one thing is the same everywhere. Whether inside or outside the Sacred Realm, dealings between people follow the same logic. I advise you not to act rashly and alert the snake by striking the grass. Too many people have wanted Niu Youdao dead over the years—far more, at least, than have wanted me dead. Yet he is still alive and well. That alone should tell you something."

He continued, "A man like him is extremely vigilant. Especially in an environment like the Sacred Realm, his guard will certainly be raised on every side. The slightest irregularity will alert him. Before you have made proper preparations, you absolutely must not act rashly. Otherwise, you're gambling with your own life. Sir, I am not speaking recklessly, nor am I joking with you. You must be cautious, and then cautious again."

Whether the visitor took the warning to heart was impossible to tell. He only asked, "What exactly do you want to know about him?"

"He isn't the kind of man who sits and waits for death. I believe that inside the Sacred Realm he must already have begun preparing some path to survival. I want to know every movement he makes, in as much detail as possible."

"I told you, circumstances inside the Sacred Realm are complicated. I can't keep watching him constantly."

"With your capabilities, can't you at least plant an informant beside him?"

"I already have an informant in Wentian City, where he is based. But that fellow is always running around, and he's difficult to follow. Goldenwings and flying mounts are strictly controlled inside the Sacred Realm, especially large flying mounts. There is simply no way to smuggle them in. He rides a large flying mount wherever he pleases, while my people have no way to deploy one whenever they need to follow him. They cannot learn the details of his movements."

[End of Chapter 1115]