Chapter 1182: Drawing a Clear Line

Just as the disciple had reported, Yuan Fang entered bowing and scraping.

Of course, with Gong Lince's status, countless people beneath Heaven bowed and scraped before him. Even the Emperor of Yan had to treat him courteously, so he had long since grown accustomed to such behavior. Yuan Fang, however, was a little different.

Gong Lince remembered him. From a distance, the man looked every inch an accomplished high monk. The moment he came near, however, he immediately folded into a cringing mess. Gong Lince found the contrast rather amusing.

"Enough ceremony. Speak. Why did you come to see me?" Gong Lince asked indifferently.

"Sect Leader, it's like this. I heard the people of Maolu Annex are leaving Zijin Cave. This poor monk and the monks of Nanshan Temple have other thoughts. We wish to remain in Zijin Cave and continue serving Zijin Cave." Yuan Fang kept his waist bent, cautiously watching Gong Lince's reaction.

"Continue serving?" Gong Lince looked at him coldly. "You make it sound as though you've served Zijin Cave before. Have you? Why don't I remember?"

Thud!

Yuan Fang suddenly dropped lower and knelt directly before Gong Lince.

It happened without the slightest warning, nearly startling Gong Lince. He paused. "Why such a grand salute?"

Yuan Fang's eyes reddened, his face aggrieved and close to tears. "Sect Leader, this poor monk was ignorant and foolish before. We are all men who left the secular world behind and truly knew little of worldly affairs. We were deceived by that group from Maolu Annex. Now Niu Youdao is dead, the tree has fallen and the monkeys are scattering, and this poor monk has finally seen their ugly true faces. I regret everything. I wish to submit to Zijin Cave and beg Sect Leader to give this poor monk a chance to atone."

As he spoke, tears and snot both began flowing. He repeatedly wiped them away with his sleeve, looking as though his heart contained untold years of bitterness.

Gong Lince stared at him blankly for a moment before recovering. "Ugly true faces? How ugly? Tell me."

Yuan Fang nodded again and again, full of grievance. "Forget everyone else. Just look at the chief culprit, Niu Youdao. He was no good thing at all. He was worse than a beast!"

"We were cultivating quietly in the mountains when he abducted us by force. We were a group of monks who ate vegetarian food and recited the Buddha's name, yet he forced us every day to slaughter living creatures and cook meat, leaving us to repent before the Buddha day and night."

"He treated us like servants besides. Every kind of menial labor, waiting on his food, clothing, shelter, and daily life—if anything displeased him, there would be beatings and curses. His evil deeds are too numerous to record!"

"And then there was Yuan Gang, Niu Youdao's running dog. Even more outrageous! He repeatedly beat and kicked this poor monk. This is no lie. Many people witnessed it with their own eyes. These past years, this poor monk's life has truly been worse than death..."

Every sentence sounded like an accusation written in blood and tears.

The Zijin Cave disciple standing nearby had to fight the twitching at the corner of his mouth.

Gong Lince remained expressionless and looked down at him. "If that's so, those people really are hateful. Why didn't you say anything before? Isn't it a little late now?"

Yuan Fang choked out, "Sect Leader, please judge clearly. That Niu thief was still alive before, and his power was great. This poor monk feared his tyranny. To preserve the lives of all the monks in the temple, I had no choice but to endure in silence. Now that this opportunity has come, I beg Sect Leader to take us in!"

Gong Lince clasped his hands behind his back. "Yuan Fang, do you know who you were just cursing? Niu Youdao. Elder Niu. He was an Elder of my Zijin Cave. Is it appropriate for you to insult him like this in front of me?"

Whatever else Yuan Fang might not know, he had lived here long enough to understand perfectly well the mutually exploitative relationship between Niu Youdao and Zijin Cave.

He wiped his tears with his broad sleeve and declared with righteous conviction, "Before Sect Leader, this poor monk would not dare speak recklessly. Every word I have spoken comes from the bottom of my heart. I will not hide it from Sect Leader: if that Niu thief had not been so powerful before, if I had not feared for the lives of the monks, I would have risked everything. I would have poisoned his food and killed him myself!"

"Now Heaven has finally punished him. Retribution has come. He died well!"

One of Gong Lince's brows rose.

This fellow truly would say anything in order to throw himself under Zijin Cave's protection. He was determined to draw a completely clear line between himself and Niu Youdao.

Gong Lince could not understand it.

Niu Youdao had been quite a figure. He had even managed to obtain the Wuliang Fruit from the Sacred Realm, something countless people coveted but could never possess. Yet he had somehow misjudged this one and kept such an ungrateful turncoat at his side for years without seeing through him. He had even dared let the bald thief serve close beside him?

Seeing Gong Lince say nothing, Yuan Fang had no idea what he was thinking and hurriedly added, "This poor monk and the others possess Maolu Annex's method for brewing wine. We are willing to serve Sect Leader like dogs and horses. I beg Sect Leader to take us in!"

Gong Lince's gaze flickered. He considered the matter for a while, then asked, "Niu Youdao... Mm. Have the people of Maolu Annex agreed to let you leave?"

Yuan Fang answered forcefully, "There is no need for their agreement. Inside Zijin Cave, it is not their turn to have the final say. This poor monk can decide for himself."

In truth, Guan Fangyi had kindly suggested that he remain in Zijin Cave. But in order to draw a clear line and sever his connection with Maolu Annex, he insisted that it had been his own idea.

Gong Lince nodded slightly. "Good. I understand your intentions. Go back for now."

"Sect Leader..." Yuan Fang still wanted a definite answer.

"Go back. Someone will make arrangements. I have important matters to handle and no time to sit here with you."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Yuan Fang took it as agreement. His face immediately blossomed into a smile. He even kowtowed before climbing to his feet and backing away with repeated bows.

Once he was gone, Gong Lince muttered, "What a thing."

Then he turned to the disciple beside him. "You heard everything he just said?"

"I heard it all."

"Go to Maolu Annex. Find Hongniang and tell her exactly what he said. Let them handle it themselves."

The disciple hesitated and reminded him, "Master, that wine-brewing method is a source of profit. Since that bald thief is willing to serve us of his own accord, why not simply go along with it?"

Gong Lince asked back, "What source of profit? Look at what the State of Qin has become. Can't you see it? I understand this matter perfectly well. I'll decide what to do."

"Yes!" The disciple cupped his hands, accepted the order, and quickly left.

Once no one remained nearby, Gong Lince paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind him.

It was not that he did not want to keep hold of a profitable business. The situation had changed, and keeping it now was not particularly appropriate.

The reason was Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao was demanding the return of even a few flying mounts. There was little chance he would casually give away such a profitable source of income. In any case, Niu Youdao would certainly not let go easily. There was no need to stir up trouble over this right now.

...

Inside Guan Fangyi's room, Niu Youdao was giving Yuan Gang instructions about several matters.

A little later, Guan Fangyi returned after going outside for a while.

Niu Youdao asked, "Why did Gong Lince's disciple come looking for you?"

Guan Fangyi looked as though her teeth itched with anger. "That Yuan Fang is really no damned good. Earlier I kindly told him he could stay in Zijin Cave. That bald thief, trying to prove his loyalty, actually ran in front of Gong Lince and turned black into white, crying his eyes out while spouting nonsense..."

She repeated everything Gong Lince's disciple had relayed to her.

After all, the message had specifically concerned the things Yuan Fang had said about Niu Youdao and Yuan Gang.

A chill entered Yuan Gang's eyes. He looked toward Niu Youdao.

The corner of Niu Youdao's mouth rose. He chuckled. "Old Bear really is a dog that can't stop eating shit."

Guan Fangyi found something else strange. "Why did Gong Lince specifically send a disciple over to tell me this?"

Niu Youdao smiled.

She did not know, but he understood immediately.

Given the situation between him and Gong Lince now, they could tolerate no carelessness. Keeping someone like Yuan Fang close was too dangerous. If Yuan Fang came into close contact with him, the secret that he was still alive could easily be exposed.

Gong Lince was warning him to be careful and to remove the hidden danger.

Those words had not really been meant for Guan Fangyi.

They had been meant for him.

Yuan Gang spoke. "I'll handle it."

Niu Youdao nodded slightly, but still reminded him, "A big forest has every kind of bird. Leave room for different sorts of people; only then is there room to maneuver. Who hasn't been cursed by someone before? Old Bear is simply built that way. Don't take it too seriously. Know when to stop."

Yuan Gang said nothing more. He turned and left.

The corner of Guan Fangyi's mouth twitched. She gave a wry smile. Yuan Fang was probably about to suffer...

Not long afterward, Yuan Fang, looking every inch the solemn monk, was summoned to Yuan Gang's courtyard.

The moment he saw Yuan Gang standing ramrod-straight in the courtyard with one hand resting on the Three-Roars Saber, the blade flashing in the sunlight, his solemn dignity instantly collapsed into bowing and scraping.

He jogged over and laughed ingratiatingly. "Master Yuan, you wanted to see me?"

Yuan Gang's face was expressionless. "We're about to leave. Have you finished packing on your side?"

"Uh... well..." Yuan Fang looked deeply troubled and replied with extreme caution, "Master Yuan, Hongniang said the monks and I should remain in Zijin Cave."

Yuan Gang asked, "What if I tell you to come with us?"

Yuan Fang immediately looked even more troubled. "Master Yuan, that wouldn't be good, would it? Hongniang said that if I follow you, I'll only become a burden. Actually, Hongniang is right. We really would be a burden. After so many years together, we truly don't want to drag all of you down."

"No matter. Even though Master Dao is gone, we still can't simply abandon you."

Yuan Fang sighed. "Master Yuan, I appreciate your kindness. Truly, there's no need. Ah, Master Dao may be gone, but don't worry. The monks of Nanshan Temple will pray for him every day. May Master Dao swiftly reach the Pure Land!"

The saber Yuan Gang had planted against the ground slowly turned in his hand, the edge glinting. His voice was cold.

"Are you coming or not?"

The flash of steel chilled Yuan Fang's courage. He timidly backed away one step, then shouted, "Coming! If Master Yuan says we're going, then there's nothing more to say. We swear to follow you to the death. Not one word of complaint!"

Inside, however, he was bitter beyond words.

He had already spoken to Gong Lince. If he failed to remain now, wouldn't that mean he had toyed with the dignified Sect Leader of Zijin Cave? He could not afford Gong Lince's anger.

But he could not afford the temper of the man in front of him either.

He immediately yielded, planning to go speak to Hongniang afterward, or perhaps notify Gong Lince in time and have him intervene.

Yuan Gang held the saber horizontally. "I hear your cultivation has improved and you're invulnerable to blades and spears. Today I'd like to test that claim with the saber in my hand."

Where had this suddenly come from?

Yuan Fang was horrified. He backed away repeatedly, waving both hands. "Master Yuan, why is this necessary?"

"Didn't you say you're afraid you'll become a burden to us? Whether you're a burden or not, one test will tell me."

Yuan Fang's eyes went wide. "Master Yuan, I already said I'll go! Master Yuan, don't come any closer. I've seen the power of that saber of yours. You absolutely cannot use it on me. Someone will die!"

"Good!" Yuan Gang thrust the saber down.

Clang!

The blade sank into the ground.

His body shot forward like a gale. Carrying the momentum of his charge, he twisted through the air and whipped out one leg, fast as a phantom.

Crash!

"Ah!"

Yuan Fang screamed.

His entire body flew away like a meteor and smashed through the courtyard wall with a thunderous collapse, disappearing into the billowing dust.

[End of Chapter 1182]