Chapter 1463: Imminent

Inside the hidden mountain cave, a secret letter arrived. After reading it, Niu Youdao relaxed and casually handed it to the person beside him. “It’s done!”

Lü Wushuang read it and nodded as well. “Luo Qiu would never act lightly without confidence. This was within expectations.”

Yun Ji, who had delivered the letter, had already read its contents. She secretly sighed, realizing she truly had worried too much. Luo Qiu had needed only one move—“neither release nor kill”—to leave Consort Yuan with no choice and effortlessly cut off her road back.

It had not been nearly as difficult as Yun Ji had imagined. The solution was so simple, yet it was something she never would have thought of herself. Her eyes had truly been opened.

She also realized that by staying around these people, she had genuinely learned a great deal.

Just then, Yuan Gang strode over. Lü Wushuang turned her head to look at him, the emotion in her gaze difficult to describe.

Yuan Gang’s eyes met hers for only an instant before quickly avoiding them. He had become a little afraid of this woman. There was no helping it. Calling her “Madam” every time they met simply would not come naturally to his mouth.

Ever since the day they had quarreled and competed with one another, he somehow seemed to stand half a head shorter in front of Lü Wushuang.

“An urgent message from Gong Lince.” Yuan Gang handed a secret letter to Niu Youdao.

Urgent? Niu Youdao quickly took it and read it. Lü Wushuang leaned closer to look as well.

It was truly a case of whatever one feared most coming to pass. Misty Pavilion had begun paying attention to the movements of Yun Ji and Wang Xiao and had ordered Zijin Cave to command the two of them to return to Maolu Annex as quickly as possible.

Gong Lince could no longer keep putting them off. He could only use the loss of their flying mount as an excuse, saying the journey back might take several days.

Niu Youdao said, “Looks like this is the work of the Dayuan Sacred Land people stationed inside the annex.”

Lü Wushuang replied, “That was inevitable. Ever since they moved in, neither of you has shown your face. As the days pass, they are bound to become wary. These people are responsible for Yuan Se’s safety. They cannot afford to be careless, so naturally they will want to see you as soon as possible and verify the situation.”

Niu Youdao said, “From Duyun Mountain to here, with orders for us to return as quickly as possible... that means we have five days at most. If Luo Qiu cannot act in time, this will become troublesome. Urge Sha Rulai and see whether he can whisper a few words into Luo Qiu’s ear and make him move sooner.”

Lü Wushuang said, “I’m afraid it won’t help. Luo Qiu either does not act at all, or acts only when he is completely certain. He will not move recklessly.”

While they were still considering countermeasures, Sha Rulai personally arrived the next day.

All three parties locked in this contest were somewhere around Nanzhou’s provincial capital. The distances were short, so meeting was not difficult. The matter involved was too important to explain clearly in letters anyway, and they truly did need to confer face-to-face.

Yun Ji personally went to receive him, bringing Sha Rulai underground by earth escape so no one could track him.

Sha Rulai did not enter the hidden cave under his true face. He wore a false one. After exchanging greetings with Niu Youdao, he caught sight of Lü Wushuang standing nearby and froze.

Although he already knew Lü Wushuang had joined this side, seeing her with his own eyes still felt somewhat unbelievable. After so many years under the immense reputation of Sacred Venerable Wushuang, some pressure remained instinctive. Combined with the way Lü Wushuang was studying him, it left him distinctly uncomfortable.

Seeing him hesitate as though unsure whether to speak, Niu Youdao smiled. “Everyone here is one of us. Say whatever you need to say.”

Sha Rulai nodded slightly. “Lu Zhichang arrived. He has already married Consort Yuan. They even consummated the marriage.”

Everyone looked at one another. Niu Youdao did not know whether to laugh or cry. “That fast?”

“There was no reason to drag it out,” Sha Rulai said. “Consort Yuan cannot conveniently leave often. Since she came out to meet us, naturally the matter had to be settled while there was a chance. A marriage in name only would not do either. Unless Consort Yuan truly crossed that line and completely severed any possibility of turning back toward Yuan Se, Luo Qiu would not feel at ease. Consort Yuan did not object either. For her own protection, making it real also gave her peace of mind. Both sides were willing, and each got what they needed. There is nothing strange about it.”

Niu Youdao sighed. “That really is... ruthless expediency taken far enough.”

“But the effect was obvious.” Sha Rulai pulled a sheet of paper from his sleeve, flattened it, and pressed it against the wall. “Only afterward did Consort Yuan reveal where Fangfei is being held. She can confirm that Fangfei is still inside Maolu Annex and has not been moved elsewhere. Yuan Se personally opened an underground space beneath the place where he is staying. Consort Yuan does not know exactly what it looks like inside. Yuan Se controls it himself and has never allowed her to enter.”

“Based on what she knows of Yuan Se, however, she is certain he has arranged something like smoke and mirrors inside. He spent a long time working underground before he finished. If anyone attempts to rescue Luo Fangfei, Yuan Se will have enough time to react first.”

Niu Youdao stared at the map and nodded. “No matter how much smoke and mirrors he uses, he cannot have opened the place over too wide an area. Knowing the approximate location is enough.”

Sha Rulai said, “Consort Yuan’s view is that there is no workable method other than poisoning him. Any other assassination attempt has virtually no chance of success. Yuan Se’s art is unusual. His flesh is nearly impervious to blades and spears. Even a close-range surprise attack would have difficulty injuring him.”

Niu Youdao said, “According to the information from the annex, several people cross-check everything served for him to eat and drink. It doesn’t sound like Consort Yuan can decide matters alone. Can poisoning him really work?” Yuan Fang had personally witnessed that part.

“She cannot control the people doing the inspections, and in a matter like this they would not all obey her anyway,” Sha Rulai replied. “But she has a way to tamper with things. The plan is already settled. She will handle the tampering. The moment she succeeds, she will withdraw immediately. She will not participate in what happens afterward, whether that means fighting Yuan Se or rescuing Fangfei.”

Niu Youdao nodded. “Her concern is understandable. Even if Yuan Se is poisoned, it will take time before he collapses and dies. If she does not withdraw, he can still kill her easily. What does Luo Qiu say?”

“Luo Qiu agreed. Before the operation, he will blend into the surrounding area. The moment Consort Yuan succeeds, he will personally act against Yuan Se.”

Lü Wushuang interjected, “If Yuan Se really is poisoned, he won’t get far. He probably won’t escape Luo Qiu’s hands.”

Sha Rulai glanced at her and continued, “What worries me now is what Consort Yuan said about Fangfei’s prison. If Yuan Se really has set restrictions there and no one can rescue Fangfei before he reaches her, then the moment Yuan Se realizes he has been poisoned, he will certainly guess that someone is after Fangfei. I’m afraid he will seize control of her immediately. And when he sees Luo Qiu attack, he may kill Fangfei out of spite!”

Niu Youdao asked, “How does Luo Qiu intend to guarantee his daughter’s safety?”

“He says he will tie Yuan Se down immediately and have us go underground to rescue her.”

“We know what Yuan Se intends. Whether someone attacks him or he realizes he has been poisoned, his first move will be to control Luo Fangfei. What if Luo Qiu fails to tie him down? Once Yuan Se knows he has been poisoned, he will certainly kill Luo Fangfei and make her die with him!”

“He says he can hold Yuan Se down. What am I supposed to say? Question his strength to his face and tell him he cannot?” Sha Rulai turned toward Yun Ji. “That is exactly why I rushed here to see you. We have confirmed Fangfei is inside the annex, and we know the approximate location. If there is truly no other way, perhaps you can sneak over first and rescue her.”

Everyone understood his meaning. He wanted to make use of Yun Ji’s extraordinary earth-escape ability.

Niu Youdao rejected the idea immediately. “No. The moment we learn Luo Fangfei’s location, she vanishes. Luo Qiu would suspect you at once. If his major plan is ruined, whether he would spare you out of master-disciple affection and consideration for his daughter is one issue. At the very least, Yuan Se would have escaped disaster. If someone removed Luo Fangfei from beneath Yuan Se’s own nose, do you think a furious Yuan Se would simply ignore everyone in Maolu Annex afterward?”

Yun Ji added, “If Yuan Se never ends up fighting Luo Qiu and Fangfei simply vanishes without a sound, Yuan Se may not leave Maolu Annex anytime soon. Misty Pavilion is already pressing us to return. If things develop that way, everything we have done so far will have been wasted.”

Sha Rulai’s brows furrowed deeply. “Then what do we do?”

“I’ll deal with the rescue,” Niu Youdao said. “What you need to do now is find a way to make Luo Qiu act as soon as possible. I truly do not have much time left. If necessary, I’ll think of another way to push things along.”

“There’s no need to worry about that,” Sha Rulai said. “Luo Qiu cannot wait much longer either. There are things he has kept hidden from us all along. I can tell he does not want Fangfei to know the truth of her birth, and he does not want Fangfei to meet Yin Ji. Yuan Se plainly seized Fangfei to threaten Yin Ji. Luo Qiu does not want Yuan Se slipping back into the Sacred Realm, so he has already been pressing Consort Yuan. She has promised to seize an opportunity and act within these next two days.”

“Good. You should not remain here long. Return immediately and keep close watch on the exact timing. I’ll need that opportunity to rescue Luo Fangfei.”

That was all they could do. Sha Rulai sighed, turned, and left. Yun Ji followed to escort him out.

Niu Youdao fell silent. After the hidden cave had remained quiet for a while, Lü Wushuang asked, “You mean to rescue her at the same moment Consort Yuan makes her move?”

Niu Youdao pondered before answering, “I’m afraid that may be the only way.”

“Who will rescue her? Yuan Se is very likely to notice. Then not only will you fail to save her, you may lose one of your own people as well. Don’t you think that is too dangerous? Is it worth it? Sometimes, when you do things, there will be sacrifices. If nothing can be done, I’m sure Yin Ji and Sha Rulai will understand.”

“This has nothing to do with whether it is worth it. Luo Fangfei ended up in this situation because of me. I’ll do what I can. Don’t worry. If the timing is right, there is still a chance.”

The very next day, a message arrived from Sha Rulai. Things had moved quickly on the other side. Consort Yuan had decided to act that very evening. Luo Qiu had already infiltrated the city, and they were told to make their preparations as quickly as possible.

Niu Youdao immediately summoned Yun Ji. There was no helping it. For a rescue like this, only Yun Ji could do it.

After explaining everything in detail, Niu Youdao repeatedly warned her, “Remember, your own safety comes first. If anything seems wrong, do not force it. Run first. With Luo Qiu acting, Yuan Se should not have much opportunity to do anything to you. Above all, remember one thing: you are not Yuan Se’s match. Avoid meeting him face-to-face if at all possible, or you will be in danger.”

Yun Ji nodded silently.

Niu Youdao added, “Also, a fight between Luo Qiu and Yuan Se could easily affect the Prince’s residence next door. Once you enter the city, help the Commandery Princess evacuate first. Make certain she is safely settled before anything else.”

Yun Ji asked, “What about the Prince and the others?”

[End of Chapter 1463]