Chapter 1249: You're Still Too Green to Fight This Old Man!

Jia Wuqun rose. Unable to speak, he thanked Niu Youdao by bowing repeatedly.

He understood perfectly well that, from Nanzhou's perspective, silencing Zi Pingxiu and the others outright would be the safest solution. Moving the Chancellor and his household away meant taking on considerable risk. If they had to hide and flee with them, what would happen if they were discovered? How could that be safer than simply eliminating them?

Niu Youdao reassured him. "Sir need not be like this. The message has already been sent. They have been told to forward a letter from the Chancellor here. Once Sir sees the Chancellor's own letter, you should be able to set your mind at ease."

Jia Wuqun bowed repeatedly again, genuine gratitude written all over his face.

After Jia Wuqun withdrew, Yuan Cong asked, "Did you really send someone to silence him?"

Niu Youdao looked around, then lowered his voice with a bitter smile. "Master, once Nanzhou is exposed, the Misty Pavilion will follow the trail. From there, Zijin Cave will inevitably be implicated. Who knows how many people would have to die to fill that pit?"

Yuan Cong said, "Then why did you agree to spare Zi Pingxiu?"

Niu Youdao sighed. "By all logic, if the Misty Pavilion discovered personnel had gone missing, it should have launched an investigation immediately. Yet there has been no movement even now. This truly may have been a private operation by certain people inside the Misty Pavilion... So I'm gambling too!"

"I hope the letter reaches Song in time. If the Misty Pavilion has already begun moving... then the people in Song may already have acted. By the time this message arrives, it may be too late."

Yuan Cong fell silent briefly. "I caused you trouble this time."

Niu Youdao hurriedly waved a hand. "This has nothing to do with Master. None of us expected Shao Pingbo to have actually colluded with someone inside the Misty Pavilion. And the other side saw Master's true face. Master had no choice but to act."

Yuan Cong hesitated, then asked, "Do you truly have to eliminate Shao Pingbo?"

Niu Youdao said, "That man was never easy to deal with in the first place. Our enmity runs too deep, and now he has linked up with the Misty Pavilion besides. That only makes him more dangerous."

"If he is not removed, sooner or later he will see Nanzhou's power as an obstacle!"

Yuan Cong said, "If that's the case, why not think of a way to lure him out? So long as he shows himself, I can personally assassinate him and settle the matter for you."

Niu Youdao shook his head. "Who knows how many people protect him openly and secretly? Can Master guarantee every last witness will be silenced?"

"Even if a single person escapes, it becomes enormous trouble. And now that we've already startled the snake by striking the grass, the risk is even greater."

Yuan Cong fell silent.

...

Beneath the starry night sky, a farmhouse at the foot of a mountain had been swept perfectly clean.

Inside, under lamplight, Shao Pingbo stood facing a sheet of paper mounted on the wall.

At its center was the name "Huyan Wuhen," with dense lines radiating outward into a web of names and relationships. Shao Pingbo stared at it, studying and pondering.

Shao Sansheng pushed open the door and entered with a report in hand. He walked to Shao Pingbo's side and hesitated several times before finally saying, "Eldest Young Master, those people at court have begun retaliating."

Shao Pingbo slowly turned around and took the sheet from him.

After reading only a little, his eyes suddenly widened. His cheeks puffed, and he began coughing violently.

"Cough, cough..."

The coughing quickly became difficult to control. He raised a hand to cover his mouth.

Shao Sansheng was startled and immediately supported him. Turning toward the door, he shouted, "Men! Quickly, men!"

Two people flashed in almost at once. One asked urgently, "My lord, what's wrong?"

Shao Pingbo's face had become a mottled mixture of red and white from the coughing. Combined with the frost-white hair at his temples beneath the lamplight, the sight carried an indescribable sense of decline.

He struggled to suppress the cough and waved one hand. "I'm fine."

But his raised palm was already stained with bright red blood.

He had coughed blood.

The two cultivators were alarmed. They quickly checked his pulse. A moment later, one produced a spirit pill and placed it in Shao Pingbo's mouth while they used spiritual power to help smooth his breathing and circulation.

Only after confirming he was all right did the two withdraw. Before leaving, they warned, "My lord, in your present physical condition, you need quiet rest. You must not continue exhausting your mind and spirit. Otherwise, anger may attack the heart again."

Shao Sansheng nodded repeatedly to show he understood.

In truth, even without their warning, he already knew. Back in Beizhou, the cultivators from Dachan Mountain had repeatedly told him the same thing.

Once the others were gone, Shao Pingbo closed his eyes and rested beneath the lamplight for a while.

When he finally opened them again, anger smoldered in his gaze.

"Old Shao, prepare. We're returning to the capital!"

"This..." Shao Sansheng was startled. "Eldest Young Master, you left the capital precisely to avoid their retaliation. It has only been a few days, and their retaliation is at its fiercest. Returning now may not be appropriate."

Shao Pingbo said angrily, "Some matters can be treated as large or small. At the lightest, those students may be demoted. At the heaviest, they can even be executed."

"Using wartime necessity as their excuse, that pack of treacherous officials will certainly insist on severe punishment. If I do not return to deal with it, not one of the students I brought from Beizhou will survive... cough, cough... cough..."

In his fury, another fit seized him so violently that the coughing seemed to tear his lungs apart.

"Men! Quickly, men!" Shao Sansheng shouted again as he held him upright.

The cultivators flashed back inside and once more used their arts to steady his breathing.

...

The sun climbed high.

After morning court, Taishu Xiong had only just returned to the imperial study and sat down when Tao Lue, who had listened to a young eunuch whisper at the doorway, turned and entered to report Shao Pingbo's condition.

"He coughed blood again?" Taishu Xiong looked genuinely startled. "We never saw him like this before. What exactly is wrong with him?"

"If this continues, will We even dare send him messages anymore?"

Tao Lue said, "Precisely because his health is poor, Lord Shao says he wants to return to the capital to recuperate."

Taishu Xiong frowned. "Is he truly coming back to recuperate? Or is he planning to come back and start another fight with that pack of bastards?"

"He already caused enough uproar the first time. If he does it again, even We may not be able to bear it."

"We admit he is capable, but we're in the middle of a war. If both sides keep fighting back and forth without end and delay the campaign, do they truly think We dare not take their heads?"

Tao Lue tested him. "Should we stop him from returning?"

Taishu Xiong said, "He's either vomiting blood or coughing blood. What use is there in keeping him at the front?"

"If he says he wants to return and recuperate, what can We say?"

"He may come back. But once he does, you will personally warn him not to stir up more trouble. Have Blackwater Terrace keep a close watch on him. He is not to act recklessly!"

"Yes!" Tao Lue accepted the order.

In truth, not long after Blackwater Terrace sent out the report, Shao Pingbo had already set out.

He simply could not afford to delay.

By the time the palace had received word, Shao Pingbo was already on his way. Not long afterward, he reached the capital.

He did not cause trouble.

He went to apologize.

The first residence he visited belonged to Court Chamberlain Zhao Gongquan.

White mourning cloth hung over the Zhao Residence gates, plainly because the household was in mourning.

At first, Shao Pingbo was not even allowed through the gate.

Only after repeatedly expressing his sincerity was he finally admitted.

Even then, he was left standing alone in the courtyard.

Only after making the visitor wait for more than an hour did Zhao Gongquan, who had been standing silently before a row of oil lamps and an incense altar, finally confirm that Shao Pingbo had come because he needed something.

He gave a cold laugh.

Only then did the steward appear. He greeted Shao Pingbo without warmth and told the group to follow him.

They were brought to a small side courtyard.

At the courtyard entrance, however, the other men were stopped by guards.

"Cultivators may not enter!"

One of the two accompanying guards immediately displayed a token. "Blackwater Terrace. By His Majesty's decree, we are responsible for Lord Shao's protection. No one may obstruct us!"

"So what if you're Blackwater Terrace?"

A cold snort came from the main hall inside the courtyard.

A man stepped out.

It was Zhao Gongquan.

He stood on the steps with his hands clasped behind his back and barked angrily, "This is this old man's private residence. This is my son's mourning hall. Does that mean Blackwater Terrace may simply barge inside as it pleases?"

"If you have the ability, go ask His Majesty for an imperial decree and see whether His Majesty agrees!"

Shao Pingbo drew a deep breath, glanced to both sides, and lifted one hand to signal the two men to remain outside.

Then he led Shao Sansheng onward alone.

Below the steps, Shao Pingbo cupped his hands. "Lord Zhao."

Zhao Gongquan ignored him completely.

He turned and walked back into the mourning hall.

Shao Pingbo looked at the white mourning cloth around him, then finally stepped inside.

There he saw Zhao Gongquan standing with his back to him before a row of oil lamps.

He also saw the new memorial tablet placed among them.

The name engraved upon it was Zhao Yujun.

Shao Pingbo stopped and cupped his hands again. "Lord Zhao."

Zhao Gongquan snorted without turning around. "And here I was wondering who it might be. So it is Lord Shao."

"This old man has already witnessed Lord Shao's awe-inspiring authority. I would not dare accept such courtesy!"

Shao Pingbo said, "Please calm your anger, my lord. This subordinate knows he was wrong."

Zhao Gongquan said, "You are the Provincial Inspector of Beizhou, with a rank no lower than this old man's. Young and promising besides. This old man certainly cannot bear to hear you call yourself 'this subordinate.'"

"Ah, forgive the poor reception."

"But as you can see, the place is cold and deserted. Everyone in the Zhao Residence has been frightened. There isn't even anyone willing to come kowtow before my son."

"This old man is his father. I can hardly kneel to my own son, can I?"

The moment those words fell, fury flashed in Shao Sansheng's eyes.

Shao Pingbo remained silent.

At last, he flicked out the lower hem of his robe with both hands and slowly knelt before the memorial tablet.

"Eldest Young Master!" Shao Sansheng was startled and reached out to stop him.

Shao Pingbo lifted one hand and blocked him, forcing himself down onto his knees.

Zhao Gongquan glanced sideways.

Only then did he finally turn around, feigning surprise. "Lord Shao, why such a great ceremony?"

Shao Pingbo said, "The fault was mine. I came sincerely to apologize."

"Oh. Knowing one's mistake is good." Zhao Gongquan nodded.

Then he turned his head toward his son's memorial tablet and sighed.

"This son of mine was clever from childhood. At five, he could already recite the Complete Compendium of Surnames. At eight, he could compose poetry."

"This old man placed great hopes upon him."

"Who could have imagined he would suddenly suffer such a calamity?"

"The pain in this old man's heart... ah, it cuts like an awl through the chest."

"Lord Shao, tell me. How should this account be settled?"

Shao Pingbo asked, "How does Lord Zhao wish to settle it?"

Zhao Gongquan suddenly turned his head.

Remembering his son's death, rage surged up once more.

Without warning, he swept one sleeve and struck.

Smack!

A sharp slap cracked across Shao Pingbo's face.

Shao Pingbo's body rocked sideways. Caught completely off guard, he nearly fell to the ground.

"Eldest Young Master!" Shao Sansheng cried in alarm and immediately moved to defend him. "My young master is an official of the imperial court! How dare you—"

Shao Pingbo grabbed his clothes and held him back.

Shao Sansheng protested bitterly, "Eldest Young Master, he—"

"Kneel!" Shao Pingbo shouted.

"Eldest Young Master..."

"You kneel too!"

Shao Sansheng could only grit his teeth and endure.

He withdrew to one side and slowly dropped to his knees.

Smack!

Zhao Gongquan suddenly slapped Shao Pingbo again.

Two clear palm marks now burned across Shao Pingbo's cheeks, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

"What the hell are you?" Zhao Gongquan pointed at him and cursed.

"A homeless dog. An outsider."

"Since when did the capital of Jin become a place where someone like you could swagger around unchecked?"

"You're still too green to fight this old man!"

Shao Pingbo answered calmly, "Lord Zhao, I have apologized. You have beaten me. You have cursed me. I came sincerely to resolve this matter."

"Where was this attitude earlier?" Zhao Gongquan erupted again.

He seized a teacup from the incense altar and hurled it.

Crash!

The cup smashed directly against Shao Pingbo's head.

Tea splattered across his face and robes.

A bright stream of blood immediately ran down one cheek.

"Eldest Young Master!" Shao Sansheng cried out and began to rise.

Shao Pingbo's head rang from the impact and his vision blurred.

He shook his head hard and roared, "Kneel!"

"Eldest Young Master..."

Shao Sansheng dropped back to his knees, his face filled with grief and fury.

Tears began to fall.

He pressed his lips tightly together, doing everything he could not to sob aloud.

[End of Chapter 1249]