Chapter 1454: Yuan Fang, You’ve Got Some Nerve

The warning in Yuan Gang’s eyes was unmistakable.

So was the force of the hand gripping the back of Yuan Fang’s neck.

The message could not have been clearer: try anything foolish, and your life is forfeit.

Yuan Fang glanced again toward the figure sitting in the dim corner.

Yuan Gang had appeared here, and so had Wang Xiao from Maolu Annex.

That made him realize this was a carefully planned encounter.

They were not going to leave him any room for luck.

Yuan Fang was at least sensible enough to understand that much. He forced a smile onto his face, and the familiar bowing and scraping returned to his manner.

Then he called toward the door, “What are you making all that noise for?”

The knocking stopped immediately.

One disciple asked, “Abbot, are you all right?”

“I’m fine. I ran into an old acquaintance. We have something to discuss. You two go outside and wait for me in front of the shop.”

The disciple outside was clearly suspicious. “Abbot, are you really all right? Open the door and let us see you. Then we can stop worrying.”

Wang Xiao, sitting in the corner, smiled.

As expected of monks from Nanshan Temple.

They had started as bandits who robbed, killed, and burned their way through life. Tricks like this were not enough to fool them. They still possessed a certain amount of vigilance.

He raised a hand and waved lightly toward Yuan Gang.

Yuan Gang immediately released Yuan Fang and gestured for him to go outside and settle the matter properly.

He was actually letting him out?

Yuan Fang was surprised.

He looked at Yuan Gang, then at Wang Xiao, who now seemed increasingly inscrutable.

Yuan Gang was actually obeying Wang Xiao?

Confusion and suspicion churned in his heart, but his face remained covered by a fawning smile. He bowed slightly, then unlatched the door and went out.

The door closed behind him.

Yuan Fang looked back once.

His heart wavered.

Run?

Should he run?

“Abbot, are you all right?” The two disciples looked at him with obvious concern.

“I’m fine.” Yuan Fang muttered the words irritably.

He hesitated again and again.

The confidence of the people inside eventually made him afraid to flee.

He coughed dryly. “Why are you making such a fuss? I already told you to wait outside. Didn’t you hear me?”

One disciple said, “We were worried something had happened to you.”

The other glanced toward the tightly shut door and ventured, “Who’s inside?”

“Why are you asking so many questions? Go wait outside.”

Seeing that he was clearly free and did not appear to be under immediate threat, the two disciples finally relaxed and left.

The shop assistant nodded politely to Yuan Fang, then followed the disciples out, saying with a laugh, “Gentlemen, I told you there was nothing wrong. See? Why would I lie to you...?”

Yuan Fang remained where he was, full of anxiety and indecision.

The door behind him silently opened again, just far enough for one person to pass.

The half-open door wordlessly invited him back inside.

Yuan Fang’s heart twisted painfully.

He did not dare run.

In the end, he hardened himself and stepped through.

The moment he entered, Yuan Gang closed the door behind him.

Yuan Fang had never had much of a relationship with Wang Xiao. Combined with the way the man sat there drinking tea as though nothing in the world concerned him, Yuan Fang had no choice but to turn toward Yuan Gang with another ingratiating smile.

“Master Yuan, what happened to you? Weren’t you... weren’t you...?”

His eyes moved over Yuan Gang’s two arms.

According to the rumors, hadn’t one of this man’s arms been chopped off?

Could this be an impostor?

Yet no matter how he looked, the man did not seem false.

Bang!

Without a word, Yuan Gang suddenly drove a heavy fist into Yuan Fang’s abdomen.

Yuan Fang’s eyes bulged.

Before his body could fly backward, Yuan Gang caught him by the wrist and dragged him back.

A leg swept across immediately afterward.

Thud!

Blood burst from Yuan Fang’s mouth as he was knocked into the air, only to be hauled down again.

By the time his mind cleared, he was sprawled on the ground with one of Yuan Gang’s feet planted heavily against his back, unable to rise.

The violent dizziness made Yuan Fang shake his head hard.

His internal organs churned.

His whole body felt as though it had been torn apart.

His disrupted breath brought mouthful after mouthful of blood.

The sensation that he might actually die filled him with terror.

“Master Yuan! Master Yuan! You’ll kill me! Misty Pavilion’s people are inside the annex. If I don’t return in time, you’ll have trouble too!”

He was genuinely frightened.

In the past, even when Yuan Gang beat him, he still had some ability to resist or flee.

This time he had been toyed with from beginning to end.

He could feel it clearly.

Yuan Gang’s strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.

Yuan Fang no longer even qualified to exchange blows with him.

And now the bastard was even threatening them with Misty Pavilion.

Coldness flashed in Yuan Gang’s eyes.

He was about to strike heavily again when the man in the corner finally spoke.

“That’s enough. Don’t overdo it. If you beat his face into a mess, how is he supposed to go back?”

Yuan Gang, who had just clenched his fist, stopped.

He removed his foot from Yuan Fang’s back.

Yuan Fang, still sprawled on the floor, suddenly froze.

Slowly, he turned his head toward Wang Xiao in the corner.

Had he been beaten into hearing things?

Why did that voice sound so familiar?

It sounded like...

He wondered whether he was hallucinating.

After circulating his art and smoothing out his breathing, Yuan Fang shakily climbed to his feet.

He glanced at Yuan Gang.

By now he understood that the person making decisions here was Wang Xiao.

He bowed toward him, blood still covering his mouth. “Mr. Wang, why are you here too?”

Wang Xiao had no intention of playing the game any longer.

He also knew Yuan Fang had to return and deal with the food at Maolu Annex, so they could not delay him too long.

He lifted one hand.

Rip!

The false face came away.

He casually tossed the mask onto the tea table and continued drinking with the faintest smile.

Yuan Fang’s eyes shot wide.

For an instant he forgot all about the pain in his body.

It was as though he had seen a ghost.

He jerked his gaze toward Yuan Gang, then back to the tea-drinking man.

At last he understood.

His lips began trembling.

“M-M-Master... Master Dao?”

The man who had revealed his true face was, of course, Niu Youdao.

Yuan Fang had never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would see Niu Youdao here.

His knees suddenly felt weak.

His fear of Yuan Gang came from being beaten.

His fear of the man before him was harder to explain.

Niu Youdao rarely did anything crude. He was usually mild and easygoing.

Yet he somehow made people feel as though there were nowhere to hide.

The simple fact that Niu Youdao was not dead, and that he could sit here calmly drinking tea, was enough to make Yuan Fang panic.

Never mind everything else.

This was a man who had entered the Sacred Realm and dared be the first to openly confront senior figures of Misty Pavilion.

Everyone said he had died.

Yet here he was, smiling and drinking tea.

Anyone would have to weigh that carefully.

More importantly, Yuan Fang had done too many things that left him with a guilty conscience.

Back at Zijin Cave, he had cursed Niu Youdao and tried to throw himself under Zijin Cave.

Even Yuan Gang had known about that.

Could Niu Youdao possibly not know?

And only recently, Yuan Fang had cursed him again in front of Yuan Se and acted arrogantly toward Guan Fangyi.

That had barely happened, and now this man had appeared before him.

Did he already know something?

Yuan Gang was simple. If he wanted to settle accounts, he beat you.

Niu Youdao was different.

If he chose not to care, nothing happened.

But when he did care, he was the sort who could kill without drawing blood.

Even that mild smile could create crushing pressure.

Niu Youdao set down the teacup. “Yuan Fang. Long time no see. Though I suppose it hasn’t truly been that long. I still see you from time to time.”

The corner of Yuan Fang’s mouth twitched.

Only now did he understand.

Wang Xiao, the follower beside Yun Ji, had been Master Dao all along.

Master Dao had been staying inside Maolu Annex the entire time.

Did Hongniang know?

Had she complained about yesterday?

Yuan Fang’s thoughts raced.

He swallowed dryly, his voice trembling. “Master Dao, weren’t you already... already... in the Sacred Realm...?”

Niu Youdao asked, “What? You were hoping I’d died early? You’re unhappy that I’m still alive?”

Yuan Fang hurriedly waved his hands. “No! No! I prayed to the Buddha day and night for your safety. Heaven took pity—”

Niu Youdao raised a hand and cut him off. “Hongniang told me you advised her to conduct herself carefully. You also said you didn’t want to make things difficult for her. There seemed to be something hidden in those words. Explain.”

Yuan Fang hurriedly shook his head. “She heard wrong. She must have heard wrong. It was a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding.”

“Since it was a misunderstanding, we won’t mention it.” Niu Youdao continued, “I hear a group of people arrived at the annex. Who are they?”

Yuan Fang’s expression changed instantly. “Misty Pavilion’s people. Hongniang knows too. They’re from Misty Pavilion.”

Niu Youdao’s gaze abruptly locked onto his eyes.

The stare made Yuan Fang uncomfortable all over.

“Yuan Fang, you’ve followed me for more than ten years. I never bothered holding little matters against you because I always considered us family.”

“But looking at things now, we’ve become more and more distant.”

“Fine.”

“You’ve followed me for this many years. Even if you have no great merit, you’ve done your share of hard work. I don’t want to make things difficult for you, and I won’t.”

He raised a hand and pointed.

“The door is behind you.”

“If you want to go your separate way, you can leave right now. I said I won’t make things difficult for you, and I mean it.”

“Leave or stay. Make your choice today.”

“Monkey, open the door.”

Yuan Gang turned, walked to the doorway, pulled back the bolt, and opened the door wide.

Leave?

Yuan Fang’s expression became wonderfully complicated.

Was he supposed to turn around in front of Master Dao and walk out, openly declaring that from now on they would go their separate ways?

His feet simply would not move.

Yuan Fang quickly adjusted his expression and put on a face full of unwavering loyalty.

“Master Dao, I never thought of going my separate way! I’m not leaving.”

Niu Youdao asked, “Certain? Truly? This is your final decision?”

Yuan Fang answered solemnly, “I’m not leaving!”

“If you go your separate way, the rules of Maolu Villa no longer bind you.”

“But if you stay, you follow the rules. Anyone who acts recklessly will answer to me.”

“This is your own choice. I did not force you.”

“I’ll give you one more chance. Think carefully before answering.”

“Who came to the annex?”

“I want the truth.”

Yuan Fang still struggled inwardly.

Finally, he tested the waters with one answer.

“Yuan Se.”

Niu Youdao raised his chin slightly.

Yuan Gang immediately closed the door again.

“So you threw yourself under Fatty Yuan,” Niu Youdao said blandly.

Seeing that Niu Youdao showed neither surprise nor shock, Yuan Fang immediately realized he had known the answer all along.

Precisely because of that, cold sweat nearly broke out across Yuan Fang’s body.

Fortunately, he had not lied.

He hurriedly denied it. “No, no!”

Only then did Niu Youdao rise.

He walked over and stopped directly in front of Yuan Fang, his voice calm.

“Yuan Fang, you’ve got some nerve. You dare play games with me?”

“Have you forgotten that I stayed in the Sacred Realm?”

“Which of the Nine Saints do you think I don’t know?”

“You think Yuan Se happened to find Maolu Annex for no reason?”

“I know his habits. He loves food.”

“He is currently taking command in Yan.”

“I deliberately drew him here because I wanted you to remain by his side.”

Yuan Fang’s eyes widened instantly.

“You think Zhangsun Mi and Mu Lianze simply happened to die?”

“The Nine Saints fought one another for so many years and still couldn’t kill them. Then suddenly both died?”

“I’ll tell you what happened.”

“Zhangsun Mi and Mu Lianze died inside the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm at the hands of the Holy Rakshasa.”

“More precisely, I laid the trap.”

“You think Lü Wushuang simply disappeared for no reason?”

“Haven’t you heard that Lü Wushuang took away the Holy Rakshasa?”

“Yin’er has already returned. Didn’t it occur to you to wonder what happened?”

“I’ll tell you.”

“Lü Wushuang is already standing on our side.”

“You think Monkey became the Holy Son of the Demonic Sect by accident?”

“You think that when Monkey was captured inside the Sacred Realm, Wu Chang saved him for no reason?”

“Do you know who that woman beside Yuan Se—the one wearing the veiled hat—is?”

“She is missing an eye.”

“I had someone pluck that eye out at Dayuan Sacred Land.”

Niu Youdao lifted a hand and patted Yuan Fang’s cheek.

“Yuan Fang, has your brain filled with water?”

“You think because you’ve latched onto Yuan Se’s thigh, because you can hide inside Dayuan Sacred Land, I won’t be able to kill you?”

“You dare involve yourself in this game?”

“Is this something you can play?”

“You dare hide things from me...”

His hand suddenly seized Yuan Fang by the chin and forced his face upward.

Then Niu Youdao’s voice cracked like thunder.

“Who gave you the nerve?”

[End of Chapter 1454]