Chapter 1189: Solved at a Stroke

Shock!

Even after receiving confirmation, the three men still found it hard to believe. If Master Dao had not died, who would dare use Misty Pavilion to spread such a lie? Was he tired of living?

There was none of the sudden joy one might expect at seeing him alive. Instead, they were filled with suspicion.

The three even doubted him somewhat. More precisely, they did not dare recognize him too readily. They worried Guan Fangyi and the others might have produced a fake for some unspeakable scheme.

Men who had reached their level lived amid constant struggle, surrounded by too much deceit and scheming. It was easy for them to suspect a conspiracy behind everything.

Niu Youdao spoke. "Worried I'm a fake? The real cannot be made false, and the false cannot be made real."

That single sentence seemed to be all the explanation he cared to give.

Guan Fangyi added, "We originally would not have come to trouble you. Master Dao's intention was that if he failed to return, we were not to disturb you. We were simply to leave, while you submitted directly to Zijin Cave. But Master Dao has quietly returned, so naturally the arrangements for after his death must change. That is also why we came."

Lan Ruoting, with his strategist's habits, could not help himself. He probed, "Then why is everyone at Misty Pavilion saying Master Dao met with disaster inside the Sacred Realm?"

Niu Youdao gave him a cold look. "Lan Ruoting, are you questioning me?"

Meng Shanming and Shang Chaozong exchanged a glance.

That voice truly did sound like the man himself.

Lan Ruoting hurriedly cupped his hands. "I would not dare. I only wish to know the reason."

Niu Youdao said, "We ride through the jianghu. Wind or rain, life or death, none of it is worth mentioning. Matters of the jianghu are settled within the jianghu. I will deal with it myself. You do not need to know too much."

"Also, the fact that I am alive is secret. Do not let anyone else know, including the Princess Consort and the Commandery Princess. On Nanzhou's side, apart from the three of you, no one is to be told."

For the moment, there truly were certain things he did not dare let them know. He was afraid the truth might frighten them.

He had revealed himself before the three first to stabilize the situation, and second because Sha Rulai's side had already confirmed that none of these three had any problem.

The three exchanged another glance.

The manner did indeed resemble Niu Youdao.

But until they were fully certain, they could only play along and answer, "Yes!"

Niu Youdao brushed the question of true or false aside and went directly to business. "I received word on the road. Situ Yao came here?"

Shang Chaozong answered with a trace of caution and restraint. "Yes. After hearing news of Master Dao's death, Situ Yao came to ask where Nanzhou intended to stand. Once he had an answer, he returned to Jinzhou."

In truth, when Situ Yao came, he had first gone to visit Liuxian Sect, Fuyun Sect, and Lingxiu Mountain, only to discover that the Sect Leaders of all three were absent.

After hearing of Niu Youdao's death, those three Sect Leaders had all rushed to Zijin Cave. Worried about what came next, they wanted to find some backing at Zijin Cave before deciding what to do.

And after taking his leave here, Situ Yao had not actually returned to Jinzhou either.

He too had gone to Zijin Cave.

He had merely concealed that from Shang Chaozong.

Niu Youdao said, "Situ Yao's visit was within expectation. The two provinces have always advanced and retreated together. He didn't know which side you would fall toward. If you turned to Xiaoyao Palace or Lingjian Mountain, he was afraid he might choose the wrong direction and had no confidence in what to do."

"Has anyone from Xiaoyao Palace or Lingjian Mountain contacted you?"

Shang Chaozong hesitated briefly before answering cautiously. "Yes. They sent people to communicate with us in secret. We did not agree, but they do not seem willing to give up."

Niu Youdao said, "Don't reject them too directly for now. Keep them steady. I still need to borrow pressure from those two factions against Zijin Cave."

Shang Chaozong asked, "What does Master Dao mean by pressure?"

Niu Youdao said, "Zijin Cave has detained a batch of my property. They took advantage of the situation to seize the flying mounts belonging to Maolu Annex."

"On the surface, I am dead after all. Zijin Cave is bound to seize the opportunity to take control of Nanzhou. Before long, they will send people to negotiate with the Prince over complete submission. When that happens, you need to raise several conditions."

"First, the people of Maolu Annex are to remain stationed in Nanzhou from now on, staying beside the Prince. You can use old friendship as the excuse. We cannot leave the people of Maolu Annex with nowhere to go."

"Second, include my flying mounts among your conditions. Make them return the damned things to me."

Lan Ruoting interjected, "Will Zijin Cave agree to those conditions? They have already strengthened their control in advance and are keeping watch over the Prince and the others' safety. Our people are effectively in their hands. I'm afraid we have very little room to resist."

"They've been watching extremely closely lately. Even the people from Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain had to meet the Prince in secret."

Niu Youdao said, "Negotiate anyway. Raise every condition I've just given you. They won't dare do anything to you."

"If Nanzhou is thrown into chaos now, Jinzhou, which has always advanced and retreated together with you, will panic too. While I was here, Zijin Cave was never able to extend its hand into Jinzhou. They cannot take control of Jinzhou overnight. Forcing Jinzhou to turn toward Xiaoyao Palace or Lingjian Mountain is not something they want to see."

"You don't need to worry. The negotiation is only a pretext. I've already settled things with Gong Lince. He needs an excuse he can present to the people inside his own sect."

"Given his control over Zijin Cave internally, Zijin Cave will agree to these demands."

Shang Chaozong looked surprised. "Master Dao means Gong Lince also knows you're still alive?"

Niu Youdao nodded. "I had no choice but to let him know. Otherwise the situation would have gone out of control. There are still many things that require his cooperation."

Shang Chaozong said, "After Liuxian Sect, Lingxiu Mountain, and Fuyun Sect learned of Master Dao's death, they seemed to make some unusual moves."

Niu Youdao said, "Those three factions are nothing to worry about. At most, they'll run to Zijin Cave to cling to a thicker leg. They neither have the courage nor the foundation to oppose Gong Lince."

"I've already settled matters with Gong Lince. He will instruct all three factions to obey your dispatches. They will not be interfered with by other people inside Zijin Cave."

"After you submit to Zijin Cave, you must cooperate with Gong Lince and ensure that Nanzhou is taken over only by Gong Lince's own people."

"On the surface, it will look as though Gong Lince's faction inside Zijin Cave has taken over the forces I left behind. In reality, everything will remain as it was."

"No matter what decision Gong Lince makes concerning the forces that previously belonged to me, it will only be for appearances. He will obtain my agreement beforehand."

"As for Nanzhou, keep doing what you were doing. No one will interfere with you."

"Before I arrived, Gong Lince sent word to me. Wei has asked for aid and wants Marshal Meng to go there and command Wei's armies."

"Zijin Cave has already received the response you sent back, but they have not replied to you. On the surface, they are still discussing it. In reality, they were waiting for me to arrive and make the decision."

"The war in the west involves too much. I also don't want Jin to grow too powerful."

"So today I want to ask Marshal Meng one thing. If we send you, are you confident you can win?"

By the time he had spoken this far, all three understood.

This was no fake.

The real Master Dao had returned!

"I'm afraid my going would be of little use..." Meng Shanming spoke slowly, roughly repeating what he had told Shang Chaozong earlier.

Niu Youdao rose and paced back and forth. "Then it seems highly likely Wei cannot escape this calamity."

He thought of the situation facing the people of Shangqing Sect and stopped walking. "Since going would accomplish nothing and would instead endanger Marshal Meng, then you won't go."

"You don't need to concern yourselves with this matter anymore. I will notify Gong Lince. Zijin Cave will give you an answer you can feel at ease with."

"For now, just handle the matters in front of you as I instructed."

"Then there's Guangzhou. Once news of my death spreads, Dachan Mountain will probably grow restless."

"Watch Guangzhou closely. If they dare become unruly, immediately join forces with Jinzhou, mobilize the troops of both provinces, and assume an offensive posture!"

"Threaten them directly with military force. Don't worry about anyone else's attitude. I'll handle everything else."

Shang Chaozong answered, "Understood!"

Niu Youdao continued, "As for Jinzhou, my false death is too important a matter to risk leaking. For the moment, they cannot be told I'm still alive."

"Fortunately, they have always advanced and retreated together with Nanzhou. As long as you make your position clear and settle their nerves, they too will not want any of Yan's three great sects sending people into Jinzhou to interfere."

"They should cooperate with you."

"If they truly refuse to cooperate, we'll deal with it then. I'll handle it."

He was not worried about Jinzhou in the slightest.

Putting everything else aside, the secret of the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit alone was enough to make those people tremble.

Now that "Niu Youdao" was dead, they could no longer bring that secret out and use it to threaten him in return. The mutual restraint created by that secret had been broken. It could now threaten only one side.

Shang Chaozong nodded. "Understood."

Niu Youdao said, "Now that I've arrived, the people Zijin Cave is sending to negotiate should be here soon as well. Make your preparations quickly."

"If anything remains unclear, I cannot conveniently show myself, so you can communicate with Hongniang at any time."

"And I heard you mention something earlier about holding a banquet to welcome us. Forget it."

"Until the negotiations are concluded, keep an appropriate distance from the people of Maolu Annex. That will prevent Zijin Cave from reacting too strongly beforehand."

"Once everything is settled, then we can talk."

"You shouldn't remain here too long. Whatever else there is to say can wait until later. Go."

He swept his sleeve.

The three took their leave.

Guan Fangyi escorted them out.

After leaving the guest residence, Shang Chaozong and the other two turned back to look at the high-walled compound, then exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

All three relaxed.

They had to admit it.

The moment that man returned, every trouble and worry before them seemed to be solved at a stroke.

Some mounted horses, others boarded carriages, and the group left to return to the Prince's residence.

The guest residence was not far from the Prince's residence.

When they reached the entrance, soldiers hurriedly drove a carriage to one side to clear the way for Shang Chaozong's arrival.

From horseback, Shang Chaozong glanced over and saw a refined-looking young man move aside together with the carriage.

Naturally Shang Chaozong knew him.

His name differed by only one character from Zijin Cave Elder Fu Junrang's: Fu Junlan.

His character was good, his talent and appearance were both good, and Shang Chaozong regarded him as a desirable prospective brother-in-law.

The moment Shang Chaozong saw him, he smiled.

He swung down from his horse, waved the ranks of soldiers nearby aside, and strode over.

Fu Junlan hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Prince."

Shang Chaozong smiled. "Junlan, you've come. Here to see Shuqing?"

Fu Junlan looked slightly embarrassed. "Yes. I arranged to meet the Commandery Princess."

Meng Shanming, whose wheelchair had just been lifted down from the carriage, and Lan Ruoting both came over as well.

Everyone knew this man might become the Commandery Princess's husband in the future, so both greeted him politely.

"Young Master Fu has come."

"Marshal Meng, Mr. Lan." Fu Junlan returned each greeting with impeccable courtesy.

Beside the carriage, the Fu household servant holding the reins looked both nervous and excited.

He kept bowing and scraping, his ingratiating smile almost frozen on his face.

These three were figures who held overwhelming power in Nanzhou.

Prince Yong in particular commanded military power and held the life and death of the entire province in his hands. Even across the whole of Yan, he was a man of enormous weight.

If his young master became Prince Yong's brother-in-law, the Fu family would instantly rise into the first rank of Nanzhou's great households.

The servant understood this very well.

Every relative throughout the Fu family was eagerly looking forward to the marriage. These days, whenever any of them saw his young master, they treated him with fawning courtesy, which had become a considerable headache for Fu Junlan.

[End of Chapter 1189]