Chapter 1506: The Ghost Doctor Enters the Sacred Realm

At those words, Shang Chaozong was somewhat puzzled. He could not understand what Lan Ruoting meant. How could they pass up such an opportunity to take control of the State of Yan?

If not for the trust between them, he might not have been able to stop himself from wondering whose side Lan Ruoting was actually on.

Niu Youdao was also a little surprised. “Oh? Mr. Lan surely isn’t speaking without reason. What is it you would teach me?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Lan Ruoting cupped his hands and bowed to him, then turned and cupped his hands toward Shang Chaozong. “Your Highness, as Master Dao said, a great war is now imminent. If Your Highness ascends the throne and proclaims yourself emperor at this moment, then as the water rises, the boats must rise with it. How could the officials under Your Highness not expect promotion? Are the men who have followed Your Highness supposed to accept people from other factions as their superiors? How could your officers and soldiers be willing? Yet if you promote your own people now, what will every other faction in Yan think? How are their own promotions and demotions to be decided?”

“It is impossible to satisfy everyone. If people are left dissatisfied now, with a great war imminent, trouble is certain to follow, and the enemy may seize the opportunity to exploit it. Your Highness, if you proclaim yourself emperor now, integrating the old forces with the new will inevitably become a major problem. Once people begin obeying in public while resisting in private and obstructing you at every turn, it will harm the war effort.”

“At present, whether Your Highness ascends the throne or takes the imperial title is not the crucial point. What matters is holding the power of Yan in your hands. In this subordinate’s view, Your Highness should not proclaim yourself emperor yet. Instead, you might temporarily assume supreme military and civil authority and gather all power in Yan into your hands under the title of Regent.”

“Once established as Regent, you will have room to advance or withdraw in many matters. You can stabilize the present situation, exercise imperial authority, and at the same time avoid the complications that come with taking the throne. Some matters can simply be declined on the grounds that, as you are not the emperor, it would be improper to overstep your station and decide them.”

“Once Your Highness is Regent and holds the power of Yan, how could anyone in Yan fail to understand that your eventual accession is only a matter of time? That will stabilize people’s hearts without driving the various factions to hinder one another in a struggle for power and profit. And once both the old and new forces know that Your Highness will eventually become the ruler of Yan, they will naturally exert themselves before you for the sake of their futures and to preserve their wealth and rank. Your Highness must leave every side a chance to compete. Do not decide matters too hastily. In private, you might even let each faction sense that you regard them favorably. They will all be invigorated and strive for distinction.”

“In this way, you avoid unnecessary trouble while making full use of people’s ambitions. With all hearts united, you can prepare for war; everyone above and below will exert themselves, and governance in the rear will remain secure. By leaving room to reward people according to merit, Your Highness also gives yourself time to observe every faction slowly and to integrate the old and new forces step by step, rather than rushing matters and creating chaos that turns into disaster.”

“Once the greater situation is settled, whether people are demoted or promoted, rewarded or punished, it will not be too late for Your Highness to decide then. Even if some are dissatisfied, the situation will already be under your control and there will be no fear of major disorder. Your Highness, Lan Ruoting earnestly asks that you delay taking the imperial title and assume the position of Regent for the time being.”

Meng Shanming stroked his beard and slowly nodded. “These are words from the heart, the counsel of a seasoned statesman thinking for the good of the realm.” His approval could not have been clearer.

Shang Chaozong was not a man who failed to understand priorities. With the benefits and dangers laid out so clearly, how could he refuse such advice?

Besides, he was not being asked to surrender power, only to delay taking the imperial title. Becoming Regent would still amount to holding Yan’s imperial authority. There was little practical difference. He immediately gave a decisive answer. “Good!”

Then he looked toward Niu Youdao, wondering whether he had another opinion.

Niu Youdao studied Lan Ruoting for a few extra moments and found that people like him truly were the experts when it came to matters of this kind. He had learned something. Smiling, he said, “I have long heard of Prince Ning’s strategist Luo Shaofu. Today, after hearing the insight of Luo Shaofu’s accomplished disciple, I finally understand that his reputation was well deserved.”

At the same time, Niu Youdao muttered inwardly that the matter of the hundred thousand Crow Generals had almost certainly involved Luo Shaofu. Otherwise, how could Lan Ruoting have once happened to hear Luo Shaofu mention words relating to the hundred thousand Crow Generals? That could not possibly have been coincidence. Luo Shaofu must have taken part in planning it and might even have been the chief architect.

Niu Youdao was certain Dong Guo Haoran and the others had never possessed that kind of mind. If they had, the Shangqing Sect would not have declined year after year.

As for Prince Ning, Niu Youdao had learned more about him afterward. The man had been competent enough at fighting wars, but subtle and devious schemes were not his strength.

Running through the important men once gathered around Prince Ning, the more Niu Youdao considered them, the more Luo Shaofu stood out as the most suspicious.

In any case, his words amounted to approval of Lan Ruoting’s proposal. Lan Ruoting immediately bowed modestly in return and thanked him on his teacher’s behalf for the praise.

“All right, then. We’ll do it that way.” Niu Youdao walked over to Shang Chaozong and patted him on the shoulder. “Prince Ning left you a fine group of people! If the imperial title should wait, then let it wait. There’s no need to hurry. If I win my decisive battle against the Three Sacred Venerables, why stop at a mere State of Yan? All under Heaven will be yours!” His tone almost sounded as though he were telling Shang Chaozong to keep up the good work.

With that, he turned and left. Yun Ji gave the three a slight nod, then turned and followed him out.

The three cupped their hands to see him off. Once they lowered them, they looked at one another. None knew whether Niu Youdao had spoken casually or been joking, but the crucial point was that this man never spoke nonsense to them. It was difficult not to read more into his words.

Shang Chaozong in particular was almost dazed. All under Heaven... for me?

“Your Highness!” Meng Shanming called to him and gave a slight shake of his head, signaling that he should show more restraint.

It was also a reminder. Master Dao was unfathomable, and no one knew what he might ultimately do. If Shang Chaozong displayed too much, it would be no good if the man came to think less of him. If Niu Youdao could give him everything, he could take it all away as well.

Shang Chaozong came back to himself and sobered. He realized that he truly had lost his composure somewhat. But one enormous prize after another had just fallen into his lap. Who could possibly catch them all without showing some reaction?

...

“Master, where are you going?”

Inside the medicine hut at Medicine Valley, the heavily guarded place on the island, Wuxin asked respectfully.

The Ghost Doctor was changing clothes and altering his appearance as he sighed. “Don’t ask. I’ll be back in a few days. Cover for me properly. If anyone asks, say I’m inside the medicine hut preparing medicine and am not to be disturbed. Everything else can wait until I return.”

Wuxin was worried. “Why not let Junior Brother accompany you? With his cultivation, he can at least look after you.”

Wuxiang, standing nearby, nodded. “Yes, Master.”

It was extremely rare for the Ghost Doctor to leave alone, and the two martial brothers were genuinely uneasy.

The Ghost Doctor grew irritated. “Can the two of you stop making trouble for me? I’ve had enough of you. Can’t you just listen obediently to whatever I tell you? If you keep dragging me into messes like this, sooner or later you’ll get me killed! Other people take disciples so they can enjoy an easier life. With the two of you, it feels as though I owed you a debt in my previous life. This is outrageous!”

The two martial brothers looked thoroughly embarrassed.

The Ghost Doctor instructed them once again, “And remember what I told you. If anyone asks, that is exactly what you say. Understand?”

“Yes!” the two answered together.

Once his disguise was complete, the Ghost Doctor took a veiled hat identical to Wuxiang’s and put it on. In an instant, there appeared to be a second Wuxiang.

Having made every necessary arrangement, the Ghost Doctor left alone. He walked to the shore and, when no one was watching, slipped directly beneath the water and disappeared.

The real Wuxiang remained inside the medicine hut for the time being. If the true and false Wuxiang appeared one after the other, it would be difficult not to arouse suspicion.

Afterward, Wuxin and Guo Man came back out and went about their usual work.

When she found an opportunity, Guo Man also went to the shore. While gathering seafood for a meal, a strange fish, the revealed true form of a demon cultivator, swam up to her feet. She passed down a sealed length of bamboo. The strange fish took it in its mouth and swiftly disappeared.

Guo Man had no idea what sort of background the strange fish used as her contact had. She only knew it had been arranged by Maolu Villa and that all messages in either direction passed through this fish.

She could also feel just how immense Maolu Villa’s reach had become. No matter where she went, so long as she provided her route in advance, whenever the need arose, someone could appear at any time to make contact with her.

...

Inside a secret chamber in Nanzhou, Niu Youdao received Guo Man’s message informing him that the Ghost Doctor had departed on schedule.

Holding the secret letter behind his back, Niu Youdao stared at a map of the Sacred Realm with a somewhat grave expression.

At that same time, the disguised Ghost Doctor had already appeared at the entrance to the Sacred Realm. He was uneasy inside and inevitably somewhat nervous.

When he saw the person there to meet him, he was rather startled. It was Nantian Wufang, Left Envoy of the Demonic Sect and the man currently at its helm. Only then did the Ghost Doctor learn that Nantian Wufang was also one of those secretly opposing the Nine Saints. Their reach had extended all the way beneath Wu Chang’s nose. How could he not be inwardly alarmed?

The Ghost Doctor was no stranger to the Demonic Sect. He had once shared a deep connection with a former Demonic Sect Saintess.

Members of the Demonic Sect also entered and left the Sacred Realm fairly often, both because Wu Chang himself had come from the sect and because the Demonic Sect had long supplied certain things Wu Chang required.

What was unusual this time was the person leading the group. Nantian Wufang had come personally, naturally to ensure that the Ghost Doctor could be brought inside without trouble.

Nothing went wrong. The guards at the entrance did not recognize every member of the Demonic Sect, and with Wu Chang’s special permission in place, Nantian Wufang merely said the Ghost Doctor was one of the sect members traveling with them and brought him straight inside.

What Nantian Wufang did not know was that Wu Chang truly had issued special permission behind the scenes this time. The guards at the Sacred Realm’s entrance were destined not to make things difficult for them.

Some of this had been within Niu Youdao’s calculations. He had predicted that Wu Chang would help, which was why he had been certain the Ghost Doctor could enter the Sacred Realm smoothly.

In a sense, Niu Youdao intended to borrow Wu Chang’s hand to fulfill the Demon Foxes’ request at the same time, sending the Ghost Doctor to diagnose and treat Luo Fangfei.

After they entered the Sacred Realm, the people from Tianmo Sacred Land did as usual and obtained flying mounts for the group from Shouque Villa.

During the journey, because the things they had brought this time were relatively heavy, the group stopped briefly to rest and change mounts. During that stop, the Ghost Doctor slipped away, while another person secretly took his place.

The Ghost Doctor did not concern himself with anything beyond that. As agreed, other people would handle everything else. There was no need for him to worry about it.

He made his way alone to the rendezvous point, where a flying mount was already waiting. It carried him away at once.

The Ghost Doctor had no idea where he was being taken. Only when they reached the Desolate Marsh Deadlands did he learn the destination, and he could not help being surprised.

What he did not know was that along the entire route the flying mount traveled, people would occasionally emerge from underground to watch the sky. All the way to the edge of the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, watchers had been stationed below.

After descending into the subterranean palace beneath the marsh and seeing groups of Demon Foxes, the Ghost Doctor’s teeth fairly ached. The Demon Foxes? The people opposing the Nine Saints had even joined forces with them?

Clan Chief Hei Yun was almost excessively enthusiastic when the Ghost Doctor arrived. He had long heard the Ghost Doctor’s famous name.

Ever since hearing that the Ghost Doctor was to be brought here, Hei Yun had been waiting eagerly. He first led him over to inspect the medicines they had prepared. “Sir, please take a look and see whether we’ve prepared enough. If anything is missing, we’ll find a way to obtain it.”

What way could Hei Yun possibly have to obtain anything? In the end, he would still have to rely on Niu Youdao’s people to make the arrangements.

The Ghost Doctor sighed repeatedly. “Never mind that for now. Take me to see the patient first.”

“Please, please.” Hei Yun nodded and bowed repeatedly, having completely lost the dignity of a Demon Fox Clan Chief.

He also looked terribly haggard. With Yin Ji dead, there was no way he could avoid blaming himself. After Niu Youdao learned what had happened, he had given Hei Yun a blistering scolding by letter and had even threatened to kill him the next time they met. Hei Yun was not afraid that Niu Youdao would actually kill him. If anything, the threat only deepened his guilt.

The former Clan Chief was dead. If anything happened to her daughter as well, Hei Yun had already made up his mind to dash his own head in and die.

[End of Chapter 1506]