Chapter 1203: Send Him a Wife!

Guan Fangyi reminded him, "They never meant to keep it from her forever. They only wanted to wait until Qing'er was married before telling her. Then you had to interfere. Now look what you've done!"

Niu Youdao said, "A woman's way of thinking!"

"Yes, I'm a woman, and that's precisely why I understand women better. You really don't feel the least bit guilty?"

Niu Youdao was getting annoyed. "Stop dragging me into this!"

Guan Fangyi crooked an index finger against his chest, only for Niu Youdao to slap her hand away. She was not bothered in the least. "Wang Xiao, if you really do feel guilty, why not make amends? Just marry her yourself." With that, she turned and walked away.

Niu Youdao did not even have time to curse her before she made a quick escape. Then he turned and saw Yun Ji watching him with an amused, unmistakably teasing look. His face immediately darkened.

Yun Ji promptly offered, "As long as you're sure this has nothing to do with you."

"Heh!" Niu Youdao was so angry he laughed. He nodded again and again, discovering that the world had changed. One after another, they had all begun daring to provoke him. Pointing at them, he said, "Every last one of you. You think because I'm hiding my name and can't lose my temper without risking exposure, you can all rebel against me now? You think I can't deal with you?"

Yun Ji remained perfectly calm. She turned back to watch outside the window as though she had heard nothing, softly humming a tune she had taken to humming often of late. "The mountain speaks not, beside the boundless sea..."

Whether Niu Youdao admitted that Shang Shuqing's situation had anything to do with him or not, a chain of events genuinely connected to him had already begun unfolding.

At the Jinzhou Inspector's Residence, Li Wuhua returned travel-worn from his journey. Hai Ruyue came out from the inner residence as soon as she heard and greeted him with a question. "A message would have been enough. Why did they summon you back in person? What does Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion say?"

The matter she referred to concerned a secret envoy Shang Chaozong had sent to her. He wanted Jinzhou to coordinate with Nanzhou's military operation, mobilizing the forces of both territories in concert to pressure Zijin Cave and strengthen Shang Chaozong's position in his negotiations with the sect.

Jinzhou had sent word to Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion to ask for its view. Unexpectedly, the reply had ordered Li Wuhua to return as quickly as possible.

"Let's go inside before we talk." Li Wuhua gestured, evidently unwilling to say too much out in the open.

The husband and wife quickly entered the inner residence. Only after they reached a secluded cultivation chamber did Li Wuhua sigh. "Mobilize the army. Cooperate with Nanzhou."

Hai Ruyue was surprised. "The sect agreed?"

Li Wuhua glanced around, leaned close to her ear, and spoke in a low, grave voice. "They had no choice but to agree. Do you know why they called me back? Because there are things they didn't dare put in a letter. The Sect Leader previously received a secret letter from an unknown source. It mentioned the secret of the Scarlet Yang Vermilion Fruit, and the evidence was laid out clearly, point by point."

Hai Ruyue's expression changed. "You mean someone in Nanzhou is behind this?"

"I don't know who exactly is behind it, but who else would demand that we cooperate with Nanzhou's troop movements except someone on Nanzhou's side? Ah. It seems Niu Youdao's death did not take that secret with him."

...

Zijin Cave, Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion.

Sect Leader Gong Lince and several of the elders who had remained behind were gathered inside. Two men were absent.

Yan Li had left, taken to the Sacred Realm by people from the Misty Pavilion. Elder Yuan An had gone to Nanzhou for negotiations.

The other two Supreme Elders who had remained behind were present as well. Chun Xinliang and Tu Kuai wore grave expressions as they sat cross-legged to either side of Zhong Guzi, facing the group seated below.

Zhong Guzi still sat with his eyes closed, saying nothing. Gong Lince announced on his behalf why everyone had been summoned.

Zhong Guzi felt that the end of his allotted lifespan was near. His flesh had grown so old and frail that it could no longer maintain its normal functions. He intended to enter one final deep seclusion and make a last desperate attempt to repair his body. If he endured it, perhaps he could live another two years. If he failed, this might be the last time everyone saw him.

After explaining the reason for the gathering, Gong Lince finally announced, "During Elder Zhong's seclusion, no one is to approach Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion without authorization, and no one is to disturb him. Anyone who violates this order will be severely punished according to sect rules!"

The silent crowd looked solemn. Together with the other two Supreme Elders, they answered in unison, "Yes!"

Only then did Gong Lince look toward Zhong Guzi. "Martial Uncle Zhong, is there anything else you wish to instruct us?"

Zhong Guzi slowly opened his eyes. His voice carried the weariness of great age. "The span of life has its appointed time. It cannot be resisted. A hundred years pass in the snap of a finger, yet the past remains vivid before my eyes. Favors and grudges, right and wrong, who was right and who was mistaken, all karmic burdens dissolve into emptiness in the end. What instructions could I still have? Junior Brothers, I may not make it through this year. Let me bid you farewell now. Take good care of yourselves."

Grief showed on Chun Xinliang's and Tu Kuai's faces. Both bent forward and lowered their heads. "Take care of yourself, Senior Brother!"

They were genuinely moved. It would not be many years before they too reached this point. Watching him, they could already see their own end approaching.

Outside the door, Ju An stood guard with tears silently running down his face.

Zhong Guzi said, "Sect Leader, remain a moment. Everyone else may leave."

"Yes!" The elders rose, respectfully cupped their hands, and withdrew step by step.

Chun Xinliang and Tu Kuai were reluctant to go. Zhong Guzi sighed. "Go."

Once everyone had gradually departed, Zhong Guzi gave Gong Lince a slight nod.

Gong Lince glanced toward the doorway, stepped close to Zhong Guzi, and bent to whisper beside his ear, "Martial Uncle, rest assured. Everything has been arranged."

Zhong Guzi likewise lowered his voice. "I'll test the method with my own body first. We'll see whether it succeeds, and how much time it requires. Once we have some experience to go by, the Sect Leader can use it as a reference."

"Thank you for taking the trouble, Martial Uncle." Gong Lince nodded slightly. This was precisely what he needed. Although he possessed a Wuliang Fruit, no one in the whole of Zijin Cave had any experience using one. He had no idea how long a breakthrough with such a fruit would take, and that was crucial to him.

Zijin Cave could not be left without its leader even for a day. As Sect Leader, he could not vanish for too long, especially amid such troubled circumstances. Knowing the approximate length of time was therefore extremely important. Only with a concrete estimate could he plan when to make his own attempt.

Zhong Guzi said, "Go."

Gong Lince stepped back, cupped his hands in salute, then turned and strode away.

Once outside, he waved. Disciples immediately filed in carrying vat after vat of fresh water, while others brought in a case of spirit pills.

During this final seclusion, Zhong Guzi would take no food from outside and would enter a state of near-total fasting. Water and pills were all he would need for replenishment.

When every disciple who had carried supplies inside had come back out, Gong Lince gave the order. "Seal it!"

Creak! The heavy doors of Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion closed. They were locked and sealed.

Afterward, Gong Lince led everyone in standing neatly before the pavilion. They cupped their hands and bowed three times.

Once everything was complete, the guards outside were strengthened to prevent anyone from disturbing Zhong Guzi.

Gong Lince and the others had only just reached the foot of the mountain when an urgent dispatch was delivered into Yin Yide's hands. After reading it, Yin Yide reported, "Sect Leader, Elder Yuan has sent word from Nanzhou about the negotiations with Shang Chaozong. Shang Chaozong has made excessive demands!"

Gong Lince showed no expression. "Speak."

"Elder Yuan reports that Shang Chaozong wants the people of Maolu Annex retained for service in Nanzhou, and he is also demanding the return of Maolu Annex's flying mounts!"

Fu Junrang exploded. "What kind of joke is this? This was already settled with Niu Youdao while he was alive. What does Maolu Annex mean by going back on its word now? They signed written deeds giving us those flying mounts, and now they want them back? Outrageous! If we'd known it would come to this, we should never have let them leave Zijin Cave alive!"

Gong Lince asked, "Anything else?"

Yin Yide nodded. "Yes. Elder Yuan has discovered that people from Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain have already arrived in Nanzhou's provincial capital. They seem to be trying to take advantage of the situation to pry Shang Chaozong away from Zijin Cave. In addition, Shang Chaozong issued military orders in advance. Nanzhou's forces have adopted an unusual posture of mobilization, and Jinzhou's forces are moving as well."

"Judging by the way the two sides are coordinating, there are two possibilities. First, Shang Chaozong is signaling that he is prepared to pay any price. If Zijin Cave dares move against him and something happens in Nanzhou, Nanzhou's forces may withdraw into Jinzhou in an emergency, while Jinzhou's troops are preparing to receive them. Second, the forces of the two territories may be preparing to join together and attack Guangzhou. Dachan Mountain's Sect Leader Huang Lie is extremely nervous and has already rushed to Nanzhou's provincial capital to meet Elder Yuan."

Mo Lingxue sneered. "What nerve Shang Chaozong has. Does he really think we won't dare kill him? Sect Leader, in my view, we should immediately send people to wipe out everyone from Maolu Annex. Once Maolu Annex is gone, I'd like to see who he can still bargain for!"

Gong Lince glanced sideways at her. "And what if Shang Chaozong truly is prepared to pay any price? Kill him? Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain would probably be delighted if we did. And after we kill him? Jinzhou is ours in name, but in reality it was controlled by Elder Niu while he lived, and its principal figures are not under our control. If killing Shang Chaozong triggers a mutiny among the Nanzhou forces, and they join with Jinzhou's troops before attacking Guangzhou, Xiaoyao Palace and Lingjian Mountain will be only too happy to see it and will throw their full support behind them. Do you know what the consequence would be?"

"In the blink of an eye, Nanzhou would be gone, Jinzhou would be gone, and Guangzhou would be lost as well. You know how important the Shang faction's forces are to us. They are the key to our having a voice in the State of Yan. Lose three territories and our say in Yan along with them. Do you think that would be worth it?"

Mo Lingxue had nothing to say.

Gong Lince gave only one instruction. "Tell Elder Yuan to keep negotiating."

They could negotiate back and forth all they liked, but there was little chance of producing any other result. With an "inside traitor" as important as Gong Lince controlling the overall situation within Zijin Cave and cooperating from the inside, the outcome was easy to imagine.

...

Below Xiping Pass, a Jin force arrived. The Jin army had finally opened a supply route through to the pass.

"General Chang!"

"General Yin, you've had a hard time of it!"

Yin Chu and the arriving Jin general laughed heartily and embraced in delight.

When they separated, General Chang took Yin Chu by the arm and pointed toward the immense procession of supplies behind him. "General Yin, look. Two hundred thousand powerful bows painstakingly made by Jin, three million sharp arrows, and two hundred thousand men of Jin. I've brought them all to you! And after this, I'll be sending another ten thousand cartloads of grain!"

"Good, good, good!" Tears of joy ran down Yin Chu's face. Only he knew how bitterly he had struggled, isolated here while holding the pass against Qin's fierce assaults.

General Chang patted him on the back. "Don't celebrate yet. There's more. Look! I've brought over five thousand cultivators from Jin to lend the general a hand!"

Yin Chu was startled. "Jin's cultivators are already stretched thin. If so many are reassigned to me at once, won't the main battlefield be short-handed?"

General Chang waved a hand. "Don't worry. Quite a few of Wei's troops have come over to Jin, and many cultivation sects have done the same. Xiping Pass is a vital choke point. To help you hold it, Grand Marshal Gao was willing to retain the sects that have defected to us and instead transfer reliable disciples from Jin's own sects to your command. General, do not disappoint the Grand Marshal's high expectations!"

Yin Chu said, "Please tell the Grand Marshal that with this support, I, Yin Chu, can hold Xiping Pass for another year!"

"Good!"

...

The war was going worse and worse for the State of Wei. But the intelligence organizations of Wei and Qi were hardly incompetent. In the end, the truth behind the killing of Xiping Pass's former commander, Chen Changgong, was exposed, causing a considerable uproar.

After reading reports from every quarter, Niu Youdao paced through the upper room, muttering, "Where exactly is that bastard?"

Guan Fangyi sat on a desk piled with documents, chewing on a pear. She casually asked, "Who?"

Niu Youdao did not answer. Instead, he looked at her with an ambiguous smile. "Shao Pingbo has been making move after move lately and having quite a time of it. I feel like adding one more flourish to his success and sending him a grand gift. What do you think?"

"A grand gift?" Guan Fangyi was disdainful and plainly did not believe him. "You? Add to his success?"

"Send him a wife!" Niu Youdao pointed toward the intelligence reports on the desk and said teasingly, "Taishu Huan'er. He's rendered Jin outstanding service. If they marry the dignified Seventh Princess of Jin, the Jin Emperor's precious daughter, to him as well, wouldn't that be a grand gift on top of everything else?"

"Taishu Huan'er? You mean the one who was with Chen Changgong..." Guan Fangyi finally understood. With a pfft, she sprayed out the pear pulp she had been chewing and stared at him. "Are you serious? Shao Pingbo would marry Taishu Huan'er?"

[End of Chapter 1203]