Chapter 1344: He'll Definitely Lead Off a Sheep While He's at It

After so many years of being tossed through worldly affairs, and especially after the torment of these years since fleeing to Jin, Shao Pingbo had never once found the situation as easy as it felt today.

He no longer had to worry about Jia Wuqun harming his younger sister in the Qi capital. He no longer had to worry about Jia Wuqun making another attempt on his life. Instead, he had gained Jia Wuqun's assistance. Troubles from the cultivation world could now be handled by Jia Wuqun's side, allowing Shao Pingbo to concentrate on perfecting the arrangements around himself without worrying about threats from outside, waiting for the day when his momentum would become unstoppable.

Of course, his vigilance toward Jia Wuqun had not lessened.

Far from it. If anything, he had become even more wary, because he had now touched part of Jia Wuqun's true strength.

They were both ordinary mortals. Yet compared with Shao Pingbo's painstaking struggles all these years, look at Jia Wuqun: without making the slightest noise, without any display or fanfare, quietly and without leaving traces, he had accomplished things Shao Pingbo himself had always wanted to do but could not.

A man like that was genuinely terrifying. He gave Shao Pingbo a sense of unfathomable depth. In some ways, Shao Pingbo was even more wary of Jia Wuqun than he had once been of Niu Youdao.

With one move, Jia Wuqun had made a young girl sweep through the court, forcing Shao Pingbo to lift a stone only to smash his own foot, marry Taishu Huan'er, and nearly be driven to death.

Looking back now, that had indeed been what Jia Wuqun called it: a test. Or perhaps a warning.

If Jia Wuqun acted again, the things he had already displayed made one point obvious. With a wave of his hand, he could beat Shao Pingbo back to his original state and destroy his household.

Shao Pingbo was still struggling bitterly in the secular world, while Jia Wuqun had already begun planning to contend with the Nine Saints. The difference between them was obvious. Even the Niu Youdao of back then had never reached that point.

Shao Pingbo did worry that Jia Wuqun might someday turn against him. But matters had already reached this stage. Future problems could only be dealt with in the future.

Lost in countless thoughts, he reached shore, found his mount, and climbed into the saddle.

By the time he came back to himself, he and the guard had already returned to the side gate of the Shao Residence in the city.

Steward Shao Sansheng had been waiting for a long time and immediately opened the gate to receive them.

"Friend, why not stay at the Shao Residence for a few days and allow Shao to show you some hospitality?" Shao Pingbo invited the guard warmly. He wanted to find an opportunity to probe the man's background.

But the guard had already received instructions from the person behind him. Shao Pingbo was absolutely no ordinary man. Around him, there could be no carelessness whatsoever. Extreme caution was necessary, or Shao Pingbo might easily tease out clues to his identity.

And for reasons of his own, the guard could not remain there anyway.

He shook his head without wasting even one extra sentence. Now that he had safely escorted Shao Pingbo back, his task was complete. He turned his mount around and rode away at a steady clatter.

Shao Pingbo stood at the gate watching until the man disappeared. Only then did he sigh and turn inside.

The gate shut quickly behind him. Shao Sansheng turned and hurried after him, asking in a low voice, "Eldest Young Master, how did things go?"

Shao Pingbo gave a slight nod.

That meant everything had gone smoothly. Shao Sansheng finally relaxed as well.

Hearing that her husband had returned, Taishu Huan'er, young though she was and already dressed in the fashion of a married woman, came hurrying over.

When husband and wife met, they smiled at one another. Taishu Huan'er asked, "Tired? Your body isn't suited to overexertion."

The cultivators had warned her after the incident where her husband coughed blood.

Shao Pingbo took her hand in his and shook his head. "I'm not tired. I still have some official matters to handle. I'll come find you afterward."

"Mm." Taishu Huan'er nodded obediently and gently, released his hand, and stepped aside.

Shao Pingbo smiled and left. Behind him, Shao Sansheng bowed slightly to the lady of the house before following.

Once inside the study, Shao Pingbo sat behind the desk and closed his eyes to rest his mind.

Shao Sansheng poured tea and water as quietly as possible. He knew that whenever Eldest Young Master entered this state, he was inevitably considering something important.

After quite a while, Shao Pingbo opened his eyes and rose again. Leaving the desk, he paced through the study with his hands clasped behind his back. From time to time, he muttered, "Nascent Soul cultivator... Nascent Soul cultivator..."

Suddenly, he punched the wall.

Only then did Shao Sansheng step forward and ask, "Eldest Young Master, why this reaction?"

Shao Pingbo turned his head and spoke softly. "A Nascent Soul cultivator, right before our eyes. Such a magnificent opportunity, almost within reach. How could we not take it?"

Shao Sansheng was shocked and lowered his voice as well. "Eldest Young Master, this is the man that Jia has spent so much effort trying to obtain."

Shao Pingbo murmured, "The reason he sought me out was nothing more than because he valued the Shopkeeper line in our hands. We have that line; they don't. The line is in our hands, which means the initiative is in our hands. Zhuge Chi knows nothing about any of this. With the Nine Saints' net already closing around him, disaster is about to fall. Whoever helps him escape is the person he'll have to follow. If we take him away first and place him somewhere secret, from then on he'll be a powerful helper in our own hands."

"This is a rare chance to gain control of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Such an excellent opportunity is practically sitting in our palms. With a piece of fat this rich before us, how could we simply let someone else bite it away?"

Shao Sansheng's heart pounded with fear. "Eldest Young Master, the two sides only just joined hands in alliance. If you immediately step in sideways like this, could that be inappropriate?"

A sly smile touched the corner of Shao Pingbo's mouth. "That's not how it should be understood. I've considered it carefully. Since we've joined hands in alliance, what difference does it make whose hands the man ends up in? If they insist he must be in their hands and cannot be in ours, what reason is there in that? Tongueless Jia has already lifted the veil. Now we each hold the other's weakness. Once I have the man in my grasp, he can do nothing but accept it. Would he really fight me until both fish and net were destroyed over this?"

Hearing that reasoning, Shao Sansheng found it did make sense. He nodded faintly, then asked, "Eldest Young Master, have you told the Shopkeeper?"

Shao Pingbo waved a hand. "Jia Wuqun's man was present earlier. How could I speak openly about what was in my heart? Now that it's over, it won't be too late to contact him afterward."

"Oh." Shao Sansheng understood.

After leaving the city, the guard urged his horse onward at full speed. When he reached the mountain country and confirmed no one was nearby, he suddenly rose into the air and flew deep into the mountains, leaving the horse to keep running on its own. Whoever found it could keep it.

Once inside the deep mountains, he found a secluded spot and tore the false face from his own features, revealing his true appearance.

It was none other than Yan Zhutian, Sect Leader of Ling Sect.

He shattered the false face in his hand, then quickly removed his outer robe and destroyed that with spiritual power as well. After straightening the clothes beneath, he gave a faint, helpless smile.

The dignified Sect Leader of Ling Sect was actually reduced to sneaking around doing work like this. Before his cultivation broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm, no one had ever needed him to act as another man's guard. Now there was little he could do about it.

He had received Niu Youdao's message. Everyone was now in the same boat, so he had no choice but to make this trip personally.

There was no helping it. Niu Youdao had said this matter was important, and the reason for choosing Yan Zhutian had actually been that Ling Sect was relatively close to Jin. What was he supposed to say to that?

Yan Zhutian had no idea what the full situation was. The only person who probably understood the entire board was Niu Youdao. Without anyone formally deciding it, Niu Youdao had naturally become the one at the center coordinating everyone and calling the shots. Yan Zhutian could only cooperate.

In a sense, this was also a form of protection for all of them. The fewer people who knew which among them had become Nascent Soul cultivators, the safer everyone would be.

Those who had consumed Wuliang Fruits could now only band together. Once certain benefits had been accepted, the consequences had to be faced.

After restoring his original appearance and clothing, Yan Zhutian continued flying deeper through the mountains. He rose and fell as he traveled, deliberately pretending that he still had not broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

A while later, he met the disciple waiting at their agreed rendezvous. The two jumped onto a flying mount and swiftly rose into the sky.

...

Inside the secret chamber of Maolu Annex, Niu Youdao lay on his side atop the couch with his eyes closed, apparently dozing.

Yun Ji appeared and entered the chamber. Seeing him like this, she knew he had to be turning something over in his mind. She also knew this was the sort of man who spent all day thinking through things, and that he was particularly good at it.

Holding a secret letter, she waved it in front of him. "The reply came. It's done."

Hearing it was good news, Niu Youdao opened his eyes. One arm remained propped beneath his head while he calmly reached out with the other and took the letter, reading it while still lying on his side.

After finishing, he smiled. "So it really was Lan Ming! Shao Pingbo truly is talented. I knew that if he stepped in, he'd settle the matter easily. Just as expected."

The letter was Yan Zhutian's report. The entire meeting and conversation had been recorded clearly within it. Niu Youdao's side now understood the whole process and knew there was no longer any problem.

Yun Ji sighed. "I never expected Lan Ming to keep his identity hidden the whole time, always meeting Shao Pingbo under disguise, yet Shao Pingbo had already seen through him long ago. Shao Pingbo really is no ordinary man."

They had originally assumed Shao Pingbo had known from the beginning exactly which Misty Pavilion figure stood behind the Shopkeeper identity. It turned out the truth had been different.

Niu Youdao chuckled. "Perfectly reasonable. With someone of Lan Ming's caliber dealing with Shao Pingbo, it would be stranger if Shao Pingbo couldn't see through him."

Yun Ji asked, "What do you plan to do next?"

"What needs doing. We'll wait and watch Shao Pingbo perform."

Yun Ji did not understand. "Perform what?"

Niu Youdao laughed loudly, rolled over, and rose to his feet. Smiling, he said, "What kind of man is Shao Pingbo? I know him far too well. How could he willingly let himself be controlled by someone else? If he sees an opportunity, I don't believe he'll let it pass. Just wait and see. He'll definitely lead off a sheep while he's at it. He absolutely won't miss the chance to gain control of a Nascent Soul expert."

Yun Ji was slightly startled. "You mean he'll try to seize Zhuge Chi while he's at it?"

Niu Youdao walked to the desk and sat down. "What else did you think?"

Yun Ji looked suspicious and followed him over. "Since you already knew... don't tell me you deliberately gave him the chance?"

Niu Youdao said, "I deliberately gave it to him? Don't joke. When it comes to handling Zhuge Chi, our own people are more reliable. How could I possibly let Shao Pingbo actually get him?"

Yun Ji understood even less. "Then what was the point of letting Shao Pingbo and Lan Ming interfere?"

Niu Youdao leaned slowly back in the chair and narrowed his eyes. "I've already said it: our own people are more reliable. But having our own people handle something like this carries risk, enormous risk. Naturally, our own people need to be protected. If something goes wrong, someone has to be there for the Nine Saints' attention to be redirected onto. We can't let the Nine Saints investigate toward our people. Once that protection exists, our people can act without tying their own hands, and the chances of success become much greater."

"Of course, this is also meant to teach Shao Pingbo a lesson. Eldest Young Master Shao has ambitions higher than Heaven and isn't particularly obedient. If we let him succeed even once, then once he decides Jia Wuqun is nothing special, he'll dare contend with Jia Wuqun afterward. This time, if we act at all, we must crush that arrogance. We need to make him understand that before Jia Wuqun, he has no ability to resist at all. Jia Wuqun must create the impression of overwhelming him completely, so that in the future, whenever Shao Pingbo faces Jia Wuqun, he'll think three times before acting and at the very least won't dare make another rash move!"

[End of Chapter 1344]