Chapter 1173: Yuan Gang's Solution

Wen Mo'er had done more than pass along news. She personally went to request an audience with Gong Lince as well, but the result was the same: she could not see him.

Ju An had done everything he could, and Wen Mo'er had done the same. In front of the people of Maolu Annex, husband and wife said little. Their abilities were limited, and they dared make no promises. But behind the scenes, they truly had exhausted every effort.

That was as far as the two of them could go. Anything more would have been useless.

Once the sect had made a decision, their influence could only reach this far. If they kept making trouble, they would only make it impossible for themselves to remain in Zijin Cave, while still accomplishing nothing.

Guan Fangyi still wanted to salvage as much as possible. Putting aside how valuable the flying mounts were, they were also excellent means of travel. The people of Maolu Annex needed them to withdraw quickly and avoid danger.

Hui Qingping alone had to be sent to Demon Ridge as quickly as possible. If Tiannü Sect learned the news and began hunting her before she arrived, there would be trouble.

Guan Fangyi ran about everywhere, trying to seek favors from senior figures of Zijin Cave who had once been infatuated with her and had once wanted a taste of her charms. But times had changed.

First, she was already past her prime and no longer possessed the allure she had in those days. Second, the men from back then had long since risen to high positions. They were no longer so easily driven to recklessness over a woman.

And so the people of Maolu Villa, stranded inside Zijin Cave, found every road blocked and no one willing to help.

There was no other choice. In the end, they had to accept reality. They had a large household and a great many possessions, and half a day was desperately short. After being rebuffed everywhere, Guan Fangyi had no choice but to supervise everyone and urge them to pack as quickly as possible.

Some of the household goods they had acquired were worth money, but they were simply too bulky to carry conveniently. In the end, those could only be abandoned. They could only gather as much as possible of what they could take with them...

Yuan Gang remained shut alone inside his room, waiting.

Waiting alone.

He was waiting for news from Niu Youdao.

He did not believe that, with Master Dao's abilities, a man who had ranged across the jianghu and schemed across every quarter could die so easily. Especially not when that double existed.

So he waited.

He believed that as long as Master Dao was still alive, Master Dao should understand what consequences would follow once news of his death spread.

If Master Dao still lived, he would not simply ignore the situation. Word should arrive in time.

Given the relationship and bond between the two of them, Yuan Gang believed that however secretive the matter might be, once things reached this point, Master Dao might conceal it from anyone else, but he would not conceal it from him.

His judgment proved correct.

Just as everyone in Maolu Annex was anxiously packing, uncertain what future awaited them, with the deadline nearly upon them, a Goldenwing descended.

"Master Yuan, the message you've been waiting for has arrived." Duan Hu knocked on the door and reported.

Creak!

The door opened.

Yuan Gang suddenly rushed out, snatched the letter over, and quickly opened it.

Duan Hu and Wu Sanliang exchanged a glance. Neither knew where this secret letter had come from. But Yuan Gang had instructed them earlier that the moment a Goldenwing arrived from that direction, they were to notify him immediately, without the slightest delay.

After reading the letter, Yuan Gang repeatedly checked the handwriting.

There was no mistake.

It was Master Dao's cursive script.

It could not be faked.

In other words, Master Dao was not dead.

Master Dao was still alive!

After confirming the instructions in the letter once more, Yuan Gang finally settled inside. He drew a deep breath and exhaled, as though a great weight had been lifted from him.

He folded the letter and tucked it into his clothing, then said heavily, "Where is Hongniang? Have her come see me immediately."

"Yes!" Wu Sanliang accepted the order and hurried away.

Before long, Guan Fangyi arrived.

The two met in the courtyard. Resentment showed clearly on Guan Fangyi's face as she said coldly, "So you've finally decided to come out?"

She was somewhat furious.

Ordinarily the two of them never yielded an inch to each other, yet when trouble came, he had shut himself away without a word and left her, a woman, to deal with everything outside and suffer one rebuff after another.

Yuan Gang looked left and right, then waved a hand. "You two, withdraw first."

Duan Hu and Wu Sanliang exchanged a glance, cupped their hands in acknowledgment, and left.

Only Yuan Gang and Guan Fangyi remained in the small courtyard.

Guan Fangyi said, "At a time like this, what are you still being so secretive about? Zijin Cave gave us half a day to leave. If we don't go, they won't keep being polite."

Yuan Gang said, "We're not leaving. The people of Maolu Annex will stay right here. No one can drive us out."

Guan Fangyi said, "When the man is gone, the tea grows cold. You had better stop indulging that rotten temper of yours. Don't imagine they'll still be courteous with us."

"They're still asking us to leave properly now. If we keep dragging it out, I'm afraid we'll end up being thrown out in disgrace."

"Everyone knows who killed Yan Li's disciple, even if there is no evidence. Yan Li is already looking for an excuse to put on a show for the people beneath him."

Yuan Gang said, "I'm not being willful. Master Dao made other arrangements before he left."

Guan Fangyi froze.

Then embarrassment turned immediately into anger. "If there were arrangements already, why didn't you say so earlier? You made me run around begging everyone I could!"

Yuan Gang said, "There was naturally a reason I couldn't say it before."

Guan Fangyi stopped bickering.

At a moment like this, there was no time for verbal sparring. Serious business mattered more.

She asked, "What arrangement?"

"You come with me immediately. We're going to meet someone."

Guan Fangyi stared at him. "Meet someone? At a time like this, who are we meeting?"

Yuan Gang shook his head. "I don't know. Master Dao arranged before he left that if we ran into trouble, we should immediately go meet this person. This person can resolve all our problems."

Guan Fangyi stamped her foot in anger. "Are you sick? You're only saying this now? Then hurry up and go! What are you still dawdling for?"

Yuan Gang remained unhurried. "Zijin Cave has taken control of the flying mounts?"

Guan Fangyi sighed. "Why ask when you already know? Zijin Cave is plainly taking advantage of the fire to rob us. They want to swallow all of them!"

Yuan Gang looked up at the sky. "The journey is somewhat far. Even traveling without stopping, it would probably take at least half a day. We need a flying mount if we're going to get there in time."

"Ah!" Guan Fangyi flared. "Then why were you hiding in your room wasting time earlier? Now the flying mounts are already under their control, and we're about to be swept out the door."

"Half a day? A round trip would take at least a full day! I went everywhere begging for help and couldn't even see anyone who could speak for us. Where am I supposed to get an extra day?"

Without another word, Yuan Gang turned and went back into his room.

When he emerged again, the Three-Roars Saber was in his hand.

He strode past Guan Fangyi. "Come. We're going to see Gong Lince."

Seeing him bring along the weapon he used for killing, Guan Fangyi was startled and hurried after him. "What are you doing? Gong Lince is deliberately avoiding us. He doesn't want to see us. Trying to force your way in won't work."

"I'm warning you. This is not the time to indulge that temper of yours. Do not act recklessly."

Yuan Gang said, "Don't worry. Something this minor isn't enough to stump me. I've followed Master Dao for many years. I've learned a little."

"What method do you have?" Guan Fangyi asked uneasily.

Yuan Gang did not answer.

He simply kept walking, forcing Guan Fangyi to jog in short steps to keep up.

The two arrived outside Zijin Cave's sect council hall and requested an audience with Gong Lince.

As Guan Fangyi expected, they could not see him.

The answer remained the same: the Sect Leader had gone out and was not present.

Clang!

Yuan Gang planted the saber against the ground and said expressionlessly, "Surely not every Elder is absent as well. Please trouble yourselves to report to someone who can make the decision."

"Tell them Maolu Annex is willing to present all our flying mounts to Zijin Cave free of charge. But as for our departure, we ask for a three-day extension. There is simply too much to pack, and we cannot possibly finish preparing in so short a time."

Guan Fangyi stared at Yuan Gang in astonishment, eyes wide with disbelief.

She had gone everywhere begging favors precisely because she wanted to preserve that valuable batch of flying mounts as much as possible.

And this fellow actually intended to hand them over voluntarily?

Yet because she knew there was a purpose behind it, another thought immediately followed. She revealed a contemplative look and, for the moment, said nothing. She would watch first and see what he intended.

They were willing to give up all the flying mounts for nothing?

The disciples blocking them looked at one another.

This was no small matter. They truly did not have the authority to reject such an offer.

They asked the pair to wait.

One disciple immediately ran inside to report...

"A three-day extension in exchange for freely presenting that entire batch of flying mounts?" Gong Lince asked in surprise inside an elegant pavilion.

How could he not be present?

At a moment like this, of course he was still inside the sect.

He simply did not want to see anyone from Maolu Annex.

Taking things by force was hardly glorious, and the reasoning did not stand up well. He was, after all, the dignified Sect Leader of Zijin Cave, a renowned orthodox sect.

Nor was he alone.

Apart from Yan Li, several Elders currently in the sect were also present.

They were still discussing who should be chosen as replacements to enter the Sacred Realm.

Everyone was busy arguing and giving reasons why they should not be the one sent.

The disciple reporting said, "Yes. That is exactly what he said."

Gong Lince turned toward the Elders on either side. "What do all of you think?"

Elder Yin Yide pondered before saying, "If they are willing to offer them voluntarily, that would naturally be best. We are, after all, a renowned orthodox sect. It would not be good to let people say our conduct is too ugly. There are still so many disciples below watching us. It would damage the sect's reputation."

"If we can accept them openly and properly, giving them a three-day extension is hardly excessive. Junior Brother Yan's personal resentment does not amount to much compared with the sect's reputation."

The others all nodded slightly.

Clearly they agreed.

The flying mounts were already detained inside Zijin Cave. They were not afraid Maolu Annex could go back on its word.

Gong Lince gave an acknowledging sound.

He rose, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth for a while.

Then he suddenly stopped and sighed. "Words alone leave no proof."

The others exchanged looks...

Before long, Elder Mo Lingxue came out.

A disciple following her carried a tray holding brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

When she reached Guan Fangyi and Yuan Gang, Mo Lingxue smiled. "The Sect Leader is not here. For the moment, I am handling the sect's affairs. A disciple has already reported your proposal to me."

Gong Lince had already claimed not to be present and therefore could not conveniently show his face now. That would have been far too awkward. So he had sent her to handle the matter.

Guan Fangyi cupped her hands in greeting.

Yuan Gang stood with one hand resting on his saber, expressionless. "Then I ask Elder Mo to show some mercy and accommodate us."

Mo Lingxue chuckled. "Actually, there is no real question of giving or not giving. Elder Niu was an Elder of Zijin Cave to begin with. His possessions are therefore Zijin Cave's possessions, and the things he left behind naturally belong to Zijin Cave."

"That reasoning makes sense wherever one takes it."

"Of course, Zijin Cave is not an unreasonable place. Sect rules are sect rules, but we need not be utterly devoid of human feeling. It is a good thing if everyone can bring matters to a peaceful close."

"I'll make the decision on this matter. A three-day extension it is."

"But..."

She gestured back toward the tray of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

"Words alone leave no proof. We also do not wish to let rumors arise over something like this. Better to put matters clearly in writing and settle it properly. Don't you agree?"

Yuan Gang said, "Fine. But we have one presumptuous request."

Mo Lingxue frowned. "What is it?"

Yuan Gang said, "Giving us three days is one matter. But we're being forced to leave in such haste that we have nowhere suitable to settle everyone for the moment."

"We ask that you first lend us one flying mount so we can arrange a place for everyone to go after leaving."

"Only Hongniang and I will make the trip. Everyone else and all our belongings will remain here as security."

"We will definitely return within three days, and everyone in Maolu Annex will definitely leave Zijin Cave within those three days."

"Elder Mo, this request is not excessive, is it?"

"That..." Mo Lingxue hesitated.

She seemed to turn away in thought, but as she did so, she secretly gave one disciple a meaningful look.

The disciple understood and slipped away quietly.

He went inside to report to Gong Lince and ask him to decide.

After all, the other side wanted to take away one flying mount.

Such a creature was worth a great deal. If they left and never returned, someone would have to bear responsibility.

Mo Lingxue could not decide casually.

[End of Chapter 1173]