Chapter 1494: Danger

There had been no choice but to send Yuan Cong such a long distance.

At present, Niu Youdao was using Maolu Villa itself as bait.

He had to guard against Wu Chang doing something unexpected.

If the situation changed, they needed to be able to escape immediately.

Yun Ji, an expert at fleeing, could not leave.

Niu Youdao now had to keep her at his side at all times in case the unexpected happened.

He could hardly allow the whole of Maolu Villa to be wiped out by a decapitation strike.

Since he already knew there was risk, naturally he had to take precautions.

When the news first came, Zhuge Chi was not here either.

Niu Youdao had already sent him to Star-Plucking City and ordered him to prepare to receive Sha Huanli.

The moment anything went wrong, Zhuge Chi would take Sha Huanli away immediately.

This was also Niu Youdao’s promise to Sha Rulai.

It was the one request Sha Rulai had made after sacrificing so much.

His daughter’s safety had to be guaranteed.

For that reason, Niu Youdao had not hesitated to assign an entire Nascent Soul expert specifically to the task.

As for the others, Xi Haitang and his people were basically under the eyes of the Sacred Venerables, while Gong Lince had an entire sect to manage and many affairs to handle.

None could conveniently leave for too long merely to protect Hai Ruyue’s side.

After considering everyone available, Yuan Cong was the only particularly suitable choice.

So Niu Youdao sent him.

After stopping Xiao Tianzhen, Yuan Cong had remained secretly near Hai Ruyue because he feared the man might change his mind.

Otherwise, if something happened after all that effort, everything would have been for nothing.

Now that Xiao Tianzhen had been confirmed to be returning to Medicine Valley, the danger around Hai Ruyue was over.

There was naturally no reason to keep Yuan Cong stationed there indefinitely.

He could withdraw.

“All right.” Yun Ji accepted the order.

She had just turned to leave when she turned back and reminded him, “After we received Bai Wuya’s message, we already made contact with the fugitives from Ice and Snow Sacred Land who are outside. If something happens, we can mobilize them at any time.”

Niu Youdao gave an acknowledging sound. “Proceed according to the plan we already drew up.”

Yun Ji said, “Monkey has a different opinion.”

Niu Youdao opened his eyes in confusion. “He has a different opinion? What do you mean?”

Yun Ji replied, “Monkey learned that the people of Ice and Snow Pavilion fled as well. He came to me and told me to send people to lure out and capture Chu Anlou, the former manager of Rainbow Inn.”

“Capture Chu Anlou?” Niu Youdao stared. “What for?”

“Monkey said Chu Anlou once slapped you in the face. Monkey said he wants to deal with Chu Anlou personally.”

Niu Youdao was momentarily stunned.

Then he remembered and could not help giving a bitter smile.

“A man riding through the jianghu is bound to get a little mud splashed on him. It may have looked somewhat ugly, but it wasn’t anything serious.”

“If I had to brood over every little thing, who knows how many people have cursed me behind my back or humiliated me openly and secretly?”

“How many would I have to kill before my anger was satisfied?”

“If I remembered every grudge, wouldn’t that be exhausting?”

“Wouldn’t I only be making life difficult for myself?”

Yun Ji said, “Monkey is someone who keeps gratitude and grudges clearly separated. He goes straight forward.”

“Some things he can endure. Some things, to him, are intolerable simply because they are intolerable. You know what he’s like.”

“He means well. He just can’t bear seeing you humiliated like that.”

Niu Youdao said, “Forget it. It happened long ago. It was a trivial matter.”

“A mere Chu Anlou isn’t worth making a special trip for.”

“At a time like this, don’t create unnecessary complications.”

Yun Ji replied, “I already sent Wu Zhaoxing with people to handle it.”

Niu Youdao was speechless. “Are all of you playing ‘act first, report afterward’ with me now?”

“You already sent them. Why are you even telling me?”

Yun Ji said, “I couldn’t refuse.”

“You know Monkey. If I refused, he would definitely find an opportunity to go himself.”

“He will never let Chu Anlou off. Sooner or later, he’ll settle this account.”

“I only thought to tell you now because I was worried something might happen and wanted you to weigh it.”

“If you truly think it’s inappropriate... we can contact Wu Zhaoxing from here. I can call him back. There is still time.”

Thinking of Monkey’s temperament made Niu Youdao’s teeth ache.

It was not worth wasting words over something this trivial.

He waved a hand. “Let him decide for himself.”

Yun Ji smiled and turned away.

Not long after she left, Lü Wushuang hurried in with a grave expression, holding a letter.

“Wang Zun sent word. Something may be about to happen.”

She and Yuan Gang now jointly handled part of the intelligence work.

When necessary, she also served as one of Niu Youdao’s advisers, providing opinions for his consideration.

No peace at all.

Niu Youdao opened his eyes again, ended his cultivation, and rose.

He took the letter and read it.

Afterward, he frowned and froze in place.

Lü Wushuang said heavily, “Wang Zun’s people saw Luo Qiu return to the Sacred Realm with Luo Fangfei and Sha Rulai.”

“They also saw the group heading in the direction of Daluo Sacred Land.”

“But according to the information Wang Zun obtained from Daluo Sacred Land, Luo Qiu’s party never returned there at all.”

“Wang Zun fears something is wrong, so he sent us an urgent warning.”

Niu Youdao’s gaze darkened. “Didn’t you say Wu Chang wouldn’t hand Sha Rulai over to Luo Qiu easily?”

“That is precisely the problem,” Lü Wushuang replied. “If Wu Chang was willing to hand him over, there must be a reason.”

Niu Youdao’s face tightened.

There was no point blaming Lü Wushuang for an incorrect judgment now.

He said heavily, “Their route clearly pointed toward Daluo Sacred Land, yet Luo Qiu, Luo Fangfei, and Sha Rulai never went back.”

“If Luo Qiu managed to get Sha Rulai from Wu Chang, then he must be giving the others an explanation.”

“They went to the Desolate Marsh Deadlands!”

Lü Wushuang said, “The entrance to the Sacred Realm is too important.”

“No single faction can be allowed to control it alone, and with personnel from every side mixed together, it can never be completely clean.”

“Luo Qiu knows that perfectly well.”

“That old fox played a trick and added another layer of precaution.”

“By the time anyone with ulterior motives discovers something is wrong and tries to arrange a response, it will already be too late.”

“He calculated the timing with extreme precision.”

“Looks like this time he has truly made up his mind.”

Coldness entered Niu Youdao’s eyes. “Luo Fangfei alone would be enough. Why bring Sha Rulai too?”

“Sha Rulai is in danger!”

Lü Wushuang nodded slightly. “Sha Rulai is in danger.”

“Too late!”

The words came grinding through Niu Youdao’s teeth.

Thud!

He slammed a fist onto the table.

“I’m the one who harmed him.”

“Luo Qiu, you’re ruthless enough!”

He had ordered Yin Ji to hide.

If Luo Qiu failed to see Yin Ji, then Sha Rulai probably would not have even a thread of hope for survival.

Lü Wushuang understood what he meant.

Even contacting Wu Chang now would be too late.

She sighed. “This isn’t your fault. Many things are impossible to foresee.”

“If anyone must take responsibility, then I bear part of it.”

“You’ve said yourself that sooner or later we will have to face the Four Sacred Venerables directly.”

“You cannot guarantee that everyone on our side reaches the end completely unharmed.”

“Some things inevitably have to be faced.”

Niu Youdao slowly closed his eyes and said heavily, “Notify Zhuge Chi.”

“If he receives no message from me within three days, he is not to wait any longer.”

“He must take Sha Huanli away immediately.”

“Her safety must be guaranteed at any cost!”

Lü Wushuang hesitated. “It takes time for news from the Desolate Marsh Deadlands to reach Wang Zun, then leave the Sacred Realm and reach us, and then for another message to reach Zhuge Chi.”

“Isn’t three days a little tight?”

“If Sha Rulai turns out to be fine but we remove Sha Huanli, I’m afraid Luo Qiu will become suspicious.”

“Even if something does happen to Sha Rulai, Luo Qiu won’t rush to act against someone like Sha Huanli.”

“Nor would Luo Qiu personally run to Star-Plucking City to strike at her.”

“On that point, I can guarantee it.”

Niu Youdao sighed. “Three days at most.”

“If I receive word that Sha Rulai is safe, I’ll have Yun Ji personally make the trip before the deadline expires.”

“We cannot let Sha Huanli take any more risks.”

“If anything happens to her, I won’t be able to face Sha Rulai.”

“Mm.” Lü Wushuang nodded.

She understood.

Then she turned and left to make the arrangements.

When she entered the secret chamber responsible for sorting intelligence, she saw a rolled secret message slide out from a hole in the wall and roll along a chute onto the desk.

Yuan Gang was bent over the desk, deciphering one incoming secret report after another.

Lü Wushuang walked over and said, “Master Dao is in a bad mood.”

Yuan Gang looked up. “What happened?”

Lü Wushuang moved behind him and naturally draped herself over his back and shoulders.

Yuan Gang started to shrug her off, but remembering that he needed to hear what she had to say, he endured it for the moment.

Lü Wushuang took advantage of the opening and simply stayed draped over him.

Leaning close to his ear, she quietly explained what had just happened.

She did this more and more often now, using seemingly casual gestures to close the distance between herself and Yuan Gang.

The effect was not bad.

Yuan Gang’s reactions were no longer so fierce.

He seemed to be slowly growing accustomed to physical contact between them.

...

Inside a pavilion at Qiyun Sect, Hei Shi hurried in and found Wu Chang painting with a brush.

As Hei Shi approached, he saw the outline of a woman gradually taking shape on the paper.

It was Yin Ji.

The woman in the painting was exquisitely beautiful, almost alive upon the page.

Most people did not know this.

They thought Wu Chang only liked swinging a hammer.

In truth, Wu Chang’s brushwork and painting were superb.

Hei Shi had naturally seen it before.

Now he clapped his hands in praise. “Sacred Venerable’s painting truly ranks among the finest beneath Heaven.”

Wu Chang continued placing small strokes with his brush. “I never expected her to be a demon.”

“My thoughts have faded somewhat.”

“I’m afraid one day I won’t remember her clearly anymore.”

“While I still remember, I’ll leave her on paper.”

Hei Shi nodded. “That makes sense.”

Wu Chang said, “Speak about your matter.”

Hei Shi bowed slightly. “At Ice and Snow Pavilion, Yipin Hall—the shop responsible for communicating with Chuan Ying—was secretly taken under control.”

“The matter only came to light after the people of Ice and Snow Pavilion fled.”

“Not long after Chuan Ying and his wife were summoned to Ice and Snow Sacred Land, the old demoness met with disaster.”

“After Ice and Snow Sacred Land was destroyed, Chuan Ying and his wife disappeared.”

“According to information from our insider within Ice and Snow Sacred Land, when the Sacred Land was attacked, the attackers spoke directly with Chuan Ying and his wife face-to-face.”

Wu Chang’s brush stopped in midair.

“Chuan Ying. Youthful-Countenance Pill. Demon Canon.”

He gave a cold snort. “Looks like the old demoness truly did fall into a trap.”

“And I was used as well.”

Hei Shi continued, “There are also results from the investigation Sacred Venerable ordered.”

“Among fire-aspect cultivators connected to Maolu Villa, the only notable ones are the Tianhuo Sect disciples—the married pair led by a man named Kunlin Shu.”

“When Niu Youdao subdued him years ago, there was some commotion over the matter. I remember it was reported to Sacred Venerable at the time.”

Wu Chang asked, “The one who mastered Tianhuo Sect’s supreme art?”

“Yes.” Hei Shi nodded, then added meaningfully, “This Kunlin Shu just happened to enter the Sacred Realm.”

“And he disappeared at precisely the time Niu Youdao was assassinated.”

“The place where he vanished just happened to be the Desolate Marsh Deadlands.”

“Also, Kunlin Shu originally entered the Sacred Realm under Tianhuo Sect’s name, but later Niu Youdao exhausted every method to pull him back under his own command.”

“If we are looking for a fire-aspect cultivator with deep ties to Maolu Villa, I’m afraid no one can compare with him.”

“Kunlin Shu’s wife is named Nie Yunshang.”

“She is also his junior sister and is known by the alias Fire Phoenix.”

“She originally remained at Maolu Villa.”

“After Niu Youdao died and the Maolu Villa group was expelled from Zijin Cave, this woman stayed in Nanzhou for a time, then suddenly disappeared.”

“Her whereabouts remain unknown.”

“That too happened after Kunlin Shu disappeared.”

“Also, after Niu Youdao died, Maolu Villa fell into sudden disorder for a while.”

“Yet Shang Chaozong quickly stabilized the situation and settled everything throughout Nanzhou, high and low, inside and out.”

“Looking at it now, that doesn’t really seem like something Shang Chaozong could have accomplished by himself.”

Wu Chang murmured, “Kunlin Shu...”

Hei Shi continued, “While investigating these matters, we originally intended to contact the insider planted inside Maolu Villa—the Sect Leader of Wuliang Mountain.”

“Only then did we discover that although he survived the first purge, he disappeared during the second wave of exposed identities.”

“The story was that he discovered he had been exposed and fled.”

“Yet to this day, he has never contacted Misty Pavilion even once.”

“Many of these matters never attracted attention before.”

“But now, after investigating them specifically according to Sacred Venerable’s instructions, there truly are far too many problems.”

“And all of them are hidden beneath the surface.”

“Every incident has some perfectly reasonable explanation when viewed on its own.”

“That only shows how deep the waters around Maolu Villa really are.”

“Before this, not the slightest sign ever appeared.”

“Even the insider we planted among them failed to discover anything unusual.”

Wu Chang gave a cold snort. “Yuan Se’s greed for food led him straight into a den of thieves.”

“He truly was courting death!”

[End of Chapter 1494]