Chapter 1271: If You Dare Go, Don't Ever Come Back!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Niu Youdao slammed the table several times. "I told you to get your ass back here. Didn't you hear me?"

Yuan Gang, who had been walking away with his back to him, turned around and came back. He stood there expressionlessly.

Niu Youdao said, "You went to see Feng Guan'er. How did Luo Zhao get dragged into this? What exactly are you planning to do about Luo Zhao?"

Yuan Gang was silent for a while before saying, "I'll handle this myself. You don't need to get involved."

"Who gave you the nerve to talk to me like that?" Niu Youdao flared. "I asked you a question. Answer me!"

Yuan Gang was silent again before finally saying, "Qin is attacking Xiping Pass. Tian Zhengyang and Ma Chang'an both failed one after another and were executed. Feng Guan'er is afraid Luo Zhao will follow them. If I can help Luo Zhao survive this crisis, Feng Guan'er will leave with me."

Niu Youdao was so angry he laughed. "Are you sick in the head? She's worrying about her own husband. What the hell are you inserting yourself for?"

Yuan Gang said, "They've already separated. She only feels she wronged Luo Zhao and wants to help him through this. The mistake she made was caused by me. Luo Zhao and she separated and ended up drifting all the way to Qin. I bear responsibility for that too."

At this point Guan Fangyi felt somewhat awkward. She had been the one who drugged them.

Niu Youdao pointed at Yuan Gang and cursed furiously, "The moment I see that damned look on your face, I get angry! Responsibility? What ghost of a responsibility? Luo Zhao, Su Zhao, Feng Guan'er—what pile of nonsense are you trying to drag me into? Monkey, listen to me. Feng Guan'er only looks like Su Zhao. She is not Su Zhao. Wake the hell up!"

Yuan Gang said, "Master Dao, this has nothing to do with that."

"If it has nothing to do with that, then why are you talking about Xiping Pass?" Niu Youdao snapped. "What can you possibly do at Xiping Pass? So many experts haven't been able to break it. You think you can?"

"Don't you dare tell me you're planning to use explosives. The Heavenly Sword Talismans they throw around aren't any weaker than explosives. That pass uses an entire towering mountain range as its barrier. Even an atomic bomb couldn't blast through it. What the hell are you going there to do?"

"Planning to get hot-blooded again and charge in with nothing but a saber?"

"Listen carefully. I will not allow you to do that!"

Atomic bomb?

Guan Fangyi stared blankly. What kind of damned thing was that? What was he talking about? She was not even sure she had heard the words correctly.

Yuan Gang said, "I know. That's why I never planned to go through Xiping Pass. Qin's army may be able to try crossing the Boundless Desert instead."

"The hell with the Boundless Desert. That place is crawling with sand scorpions..." Niu Youdao broke off halfway through.

He remembered.

Yuan Gang could control sand scorpions.

Niu Youdao continued, "Even if you can control them, the desert is too vast. Supply wagons and provisions can't cross it. A large army would collapse before it ever got out."

Yuan Gang said, "Maybe we can try using sand scorpions to carry men and supplies. Sand scorpions move very quickly in the desert."

"..."

Niu Youdao had nothing to say.

Guan Fangyi was equally dumbfounded.

That could actually work?

After a long while, Niu Youdao asked, "Are you sure this is possible?"

Yuan Gang said, "No. But I can test it. Large sand scorpions are entirely capable, in principle, of carrying people and goods."

Niu Youdao said slowly, "Monkey, have you thought about the consequences if you do this?"

"If it fails, fine. But if it succeeds, do you understand what that means to Jin?"

"It means you become a second route around Xiping Pass."

"Even if you bring Qin's army in and help Qi win, Qi won't thank you. On the contrary, they'll regard you as an enormous threat. Qi won't tolerate you either. When that happens, there will be many people willing to kill you at any price."

"If Qin's army successfully crosses the Boundless Desert, do you understand how great a commotion that will cause?"

"Even the Nine Saints will notice you."

"You know perfectly well what situation I'm in now. Once every side fixes its attention on you—especially if the Nine Saints begin watching you—I won't dare use any of my forces openly to help you."

"When that happens, it won't be because I don't want to help."

"It will be because too many lives are involved: the people here, the people outside, everyone in Nanzhou, and many, many others. All of them could die."

"How do you expect me to help you then?"

"Monkey, there are some things you simply cannot do."

"I cannot sacrifice Hongniang and the others, or sacrifice everyone else, just for you. Do you understand?"

Yuan Gang said, "Master Dao, it's precisely because I understand that I told you not to get involved. I'll face this myself."

Niu Youdao grabbed the teacup on the table.

Splash!

He flung the entire cup of tea into Yuan Gang's face.

Yuan Gang did not dodge at all. Tea ran down his face, with several leaves stuck to his skin.

Guan Fangyi shifted sideways to avoid the splashing tea, secretly alarmed. This was the first time she had ever seen Niu Youdao like this.

Smack!

Niu Youdao slammed the teacup back onto the table and pointed straight at Yuan Gang's nose.

"You're not going. Did you hear me?"

Yuan Gang raised a hand and wiped the tea from his face.

"Master Dao mentioned Luo Zhao and Su Zhao just now."

"I don't know whether some things are destined in ways we can't see."

"Back then, Su Zhao died in the Boundless Desert. But because of that, I discovered that I could control sand scorpions."

"I don't know whether I learned that ability for today."

"Master Dao, I've followed you for so many years. There is one thing I've never learned."

"I don't know how to be worldly."

"All these years, I've followed you and done many things that I originally believed were wrong."

"But after I chose to follow you and walk this road, I never regretted it."

"I ask only that I be able to face my own conscience."

"Master Dao, you know me. Since I promised Feng Guan'er, I will do everything I can."

"Master Dao, death is not frightening to me at all. I ask only to have a clear conscience."

"If that weren't true, I would never have followed you into the underworld all those years ago."

With that, he turned and walked away.

Niu Youdao said heavily, "I'll say it one more time. If things reach the point I just described, I cannot help you!"

"Monkey, if two lifetimes as brothers still mean less than one woman to you, then if you dare go, don't ever come back!"

Yuan Gang's steps paused only slightly.

In the end, he continued away at the same steady pace.

Niu Youdao's jaw tightened. His face was dark, his breathing rapid.

Suddenly, he seized the teacup and hurled it hard.

Crash!

The cup shattered across the floor.

Guan Fangyi stopped waving the round fan in her hand.

She stood silently to one side, scarcely daring to breathe.

Only after a long time did Niu Youdao slowly sit back down. His entire body seemed filled with helplessness.

He rubbed his temples and said slowly, "Hongniang, send word to Jia Wuqun."

"Have him find a way to look into Feng Guan'er's situation and find out why she's under house arrest."

"Remind Jia Wuqun to be careful and not expose anything unusual. He should know how to handle it."

Guan Fangyi obediently gave an "Oh" and turned to leave.

But after taking only a couple of steps, she turned back again and cautiously asked, "What about Monkey?"

"You ask me, who the hell am I supposed to ask?" Niu Youdao suddenly roared. "Get out!"

Guan Fangyi ducked her head and hurried away with her tail metaphorically between her legs.

...

After making his preparations, Yuan Gang left in the end.

He took only Duan Hu with him.

He also left word that once they used the flying mount to reach Qin, he would have Duan Hu bring it back.

Two days later, Yuan Gang appeared outside the main gate of Qin's imperial palace with the Three-Roars Saber strapped across his back.

A group of soldiers stopped him.

Deep inside the palace, Yucang turned away from the map he had been studying.

"Yuan Gang from Maolu Villa? What is he doing here?"

The messenger replied, "This lowly one does not know. He only said he wishes to see you, National Preceptor."

Yucang glanced toward Dugu Jing. "Go take a look. If it really is him, bring him here."

"Yes!"

Dugu Jing accepted the order and left.

Before long, he returned with Yuan Gang and led him into the hall.

"Master, Mr. Yuan Gang has arrived."

Standing before the map, Yucang turned around and chuckled.

"Brother Yuan, what wind blew you all the way here? Come, sit, sit."

He extended a hand in invitation.

This courtesy had nothing to do with Niu Youdao. As far as Yucang knew, Niu Youdao was already gone.

First, Yucang knew Yuan Gang personally.

Second, Yuan Gang now belonged to Shang Chaozong's side, and Yucang had no idea whether Yuan Gang's arrival carried some intention from Shang Chaozong.

"No need." Unless necessary, Yuan Gang never liked beating around the bush. "I came to help Luo Zhao."

Yucang was startled. "What do you mean?"

Yuan Gang said, "I'm here to help Luo Zhao break through the pass."

Yucang looked uncertain. "How?"

Then he cupped his hands and bowed. "I would like to hear your insight."

Yuan Gang's gaze fell on the map.

He walked over and pointed toward Qin's northwest.

"The Boundless Desert."

"I can control sand scorpions. We can try using them to transport men and supplies across the desert and into Qi territory."

"..."

Yucang was struck speechless.

The hall fell completely silent.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, Yucang stamped his feet and beat his chest as though overwhelmed by regret.

"Of course! Of course! I've heard of it. I've heard Brother Yuan can control sand scorpions. How could I have forgotten this?"

He hurried forward with extraordinary enthusiasm and grasped Yuan Gang's arm in both hands.

"This Yucang truly has eyes yet failed to see!"

"How could I forget that Maolu Villa, a place of crouching tigers and hidden dragons, still had such an expert?"

"I've worried myself sick all this time and never thought to invite Brother Yuan. Instead, you had to make the trip yourself."

"Truly discourteous. Truly discourteous!"

"Brother Yuan, please don't take offense. This Yucang truly has eyes yet failed to see!"

Yuan Gang disliked this excessive enthusiasm and empty courtesy.

He swept his arm and directly shook Yucang off.

Yucang did not mind in the slightest. His whole face still shone with a broad smile. He looked almost ready to treat Yuan Gang like an ancestor.

Even so, he cautiously asked, "Brother Yuan, are you certain sand scorpions can be driven to carry men and supplies?"

Yuan Gang said, "I already said it. We're only going to try."

"Good!" Yucang clapped his hands. "Well said. We'll try. We absolutely must try!"

Then he turned and called to Dugu Jing, "Quickly! Have them prepare a banquet. This old man will welcome Brother Yuan and wash away the dust of his journey!"

He was delighted.

Far too delighted.

Niu Youdao had played a major part in helping establish the State of Qin. Now that Qin had run into trouble, another of Niu Youdao's brothers had actually appeared to help.

"Yes!" Dugu Jing answered, equally pleased.

Unexpectedly, Yuan Gang stopped him.

"No need. I don't like empty formalities. Let's discuss the real matter."

"Uh..."

Dugu Jing looked at his master.

Yucang was slightly embarrassed, but at this moment everything depended on Yuan Gang. Whatever Yuan Gang said would have to be accepted.

He hurriedly replied, "True, true. The food and wine at Maolu Villa are unrivaled beneath Heaven. Even the imperial chefs in Qin's palace cannot compare. It's only natural Brother Yuan would have no interest in them."

"Fine. We'll do as Brother Yuan says. Business first."

"Speak. This old man is listening."

Yuan Gang said expressionlessly, "Please invite the uncle of Su Zhao, the former proprietor of Among the White Clouds, to come see me."

Yucang's brow furrowed.

He realized something immediately.

After hesitating, he said, "Brother Yuan, what happened back then is already in the past."

"Fortunately, you came through it safely."

"For the sake of the old friendship between me and your Master Dao, why not let the matter rest?"

Yuan Gang said, "Mr. Yucang, please invite him here."

His manner was exactly that hard.

Fearless.

"This..."

Yucang hesitated.

In the end, he still waved toward Dugu Jing.

"Go invite Elder Bai."

[End of Chapter 1271]