Chapter 1539: Keeping the Appointment

Since Niu Youdao had put it that way, Yun Ji knew he had thought the matter through carefully and did not ask any further questions.

She had only spoken because of the worry and unease in her heart. She knew just how terrifyingly powerful the enemy they were about to face truly was.

Had this been the Yun Ji who once lived at Duyun Mountain, she would certainly have fled and hidden herself. But after coming to Maolu Villa, she had experienced too much, including one great affair after another, many of which she had personally taken part in from beginning to end. Without realizing it, she had undergone something like a baptism and transformation.

Now Maolu Villa was in danger and Niu Youdao had decided to confront it head-on. There was no longer any possibility that she would flee alone. She would face it together with them.

Yin'er, traveling with the group, seemed uncomfortable with the false face covering her own. From time to time she tried to tug at it, and every time Niu Youdao immediately caught her hand and stopped her from pulling it off.

There were no other major problems. So long as she had something to eat, Niu Youdao found her easy enough to manage. They occasionally bought food along the way...

After a long flight, the group reached a deep mountain region within the State of Jin. Their two flying mounts descended upon the highest main peak.

Before long, the five who had arrived ahead of them appeared to meet the group.

Seeing Yuan Cong, Niu Youdao cupped his hands and bowed. "I've troubled Master to make such a long journey. Circumstances left me no choice."

Master? Kunlin Shu, Ao Feng, Wang Zun, and Zhuge Chi all turned to stare at Yuan Cong at once, uncertain who this man truly was.

Yuan Cong waved a hand. "It's nothing. Why did you summon us here?"

Niu Youdao paused briefly to organize his thoughts, then said, "This time, we're joining forces with Wu Chang to deal with Lan Daolin and Du Wuxu..." He proceeded to explain the situation in detail.

Yuan Cong and Wang Zun were visibly speechless. This handful of people was supposed to join Wu Chang and kill those two?

Kunlin Shu remained comparatively calm. He had crossed hands with the Nine Saints before, and temperamentally he did not fear them.

Zhuge Chi, having already taken part in the earlier stages, said nothing. Of everyone here, he had perhaps felt these circumstances most directly. After the experience of his small village being surrounded and purged, he understood clearly that some things had to be faced. If the Three Sacred Venerables regained full control over the order beneath Heaven, there would be no hiding from them. Sooner or later, they would still be found.

Ao Feng, however, looked thoroughly alarmed. He carried a deep psychological shadow where Du Wuxu was concerned. "How can Wu Chang's words be trusted? What if this is a trap?"

Niu Youdao said, "To Wu Chang, Lan Daolin and Du Wuxu are the true mortal threats. In his eyes, we're secondary."

Ao Feng said, "The real problem is that even with Wu Chang cooperating, it may still be useless. With our strength, there's no possibility we can kill Lan Daolin and Du Wuxu head-on."

Niu Youdao pointed toward Yuan Gang. "That's why I brought him. Yuan Se died beneath his saber. Zhuge Chi saw it with his own eyes!"

Several pairs of eyes immediately turned toward Yuan Gang.

Zhuge Chi confirmed it. "One slash. Dead."

Yuan Cong and the others were shocked.

One slash had killed Yuan Se?

Niu Youdao said heavily, "But he isn't a cultivator and can't fly, so he'll need everyone's cooperation. So long as Wu Chang's Boundless Demon Domain can trap Lan Daolin and Du Wuxu, and so long as he assists us the way he claims he can, the rest of you will provide cover. Leave the direct fighting to him."

Kunlin Shu spoke up. "When I joined Wu Chang against Granny Xue, I saw it myself. His Boundless Demon Domain truly is profound. So long as he sincerely cooperates, assisting us shouldn't be a problem."

Everyone more or less understood, but Ao Feng was still uneasy. "Do you really think Wu Chang will let us go afterward? Yes, if we scatter in every direction, he won't be able to chase all of us by himself. But he can still run down one or two and kill them."

Niu Youdao swept a hand toward Yin'er, who was sitting beneath a tree eating. "That's why I brought the Holy Rakshasa. If anything changes, the Holy Rakshasa will cover everyone's retreat..." Knowing exactly what worried these people, he gave another detailed explanation to dispel their misgivings.

Only then did Ao Feng finally set aside his objections.

After discussing in detail how they would coordinate tactically, the group set out again, heading for the meeting point Wu Chang had designated.

Yun Ji had watched the entire exchange from the side. She could not help feeling inwardly impressed. This was something only Niu Youdao could pull off. He had prestige among these people, and they trusted his words. If someone else had asked them to take such a risk, probably none of them would have agreed.

Of course, the most important reason was that Niu Youdao himself was personally going into danger. If anything went wrong, he would be standing at the very front of it. That alone carried enough persuasive force.

And that was indeed one of the reasons Niu Youdao had insisted on going personally...

"Elder, someone's coming."

In the forest beside the wild mountain lake, someone quietly called out a warning.

Hei Shi, who had long been waiting there, immediately looked up.

Two flying mounts were approaching with a group of people aboard. He flashed from the forest and landed beside the large boulder at the lakeshore.

The two mounts looked somewhat strained this time. Between them, they were carrying nine people.

Seeing all nine land, Hei Shi's gaze flickered. Hadn't they said six? Why were there nine?

Niu Youdao stepped out from the group. "I've kept Elder Hei Shi waiting."

Are all of these people Nascent Soul cultivators? Hei Shi swept his gaze across their faces one by one, bitterness welling inside him, though his voice remained calm. "Didn't you say six?"

Niu Youdao said, "Didn't Sacred Venerable Tianmo think six was too few? Isn't it better to bring a few more? I'm responsible for coordinating between the two sides." With that, he removed himself from the count and made clear he was not one of those meant to fight. "Do we wait here, or what?"

Hei Shi turned and beckoned.

Someone immediately flashed out of the woods carrying a large bundle over one shoulder and tossed it down in front of the group.

Hei Shi waved the man away, then said, "You can't enter Qiyun Sect looking like this. Among the Misty Pavilion people stationed there are men belonging to Lan Daolin and Du Wuxu." He pointed to the bundle. "Those are Misty Pavilion uniforms. Pick ones that fit, change into them, and disguise yourselves. It'll make it easier for me to arrange your entry."

Niu Youdao asked, "When will Lan Daolin and Du Wuxu arrive?"

Hei Shi said, "Don't worry. Everything is proceeding according to plan. Sacred Venerable calculated the timing before sending word to them. The two should arrive tomorrow."

Once a plan had been agreed upon, its timing could not be changed casually. Any alteration might make Maolu Villa suspicious and ruin the entire operation. Naturally, this side had adhered to the arrangement strictly.

Niu Youdao said, "They're in different places. Are you sure both can arrive tomorrow?"

Hei Shi said, "They're extremely cautious now. Unless absolutely necessary, neither will attend anyone's invitation alone. They'll definitely arrive together."

Niu Youdao fell silent for a moment, then glanced back.

Yun Ji immediately stepped forward, opened the bundle, and carefully examined the clothing inside in case there was some trick.

After checking everything and confirming there was no problem, she gave Niu Youdao a look.

Understanding, Niu Youdao said, "I'll have to ask Elder Hei Shi to step away for a moment while everyone changes."

What was there to avoid? Hei Shi found it amusing, but he still flashed back into the forest.

Niu Youdao then called everyone over, and the group changed into Misty Pavilion uniforms.

After changing himself, Niu Youdao helped Yin'er change into hers.

Helping a woman change clothes?

The sight drew Hei Shi's attention from within the forest. When he noticed Yin'er constantly eating and rarely taking food out of her mouth, his pupils suddenly contracted.

He then studied the others. When he saw the burly Yuan Gang carrying a cloth-wrapped weapon on his back, his gaze hardened again.

Once everyone was ready, Niu Youdao beckoned.

Hei Shi emerged. After they discussed the remaining details of entering Qiyun Sect, he formally led the group away.

There were now more than ten people traveling together. They boarded several flying mounts directly. Hei Shi had already prepared mounts to receive them, so this time there were plenty.

When they arrived above Qiyun Sect, everyone from Maolu Villa remained on the highest alert except Yin'er, who was as carefree as ever.

Misty Pavilion had confiscated the flying mounts belonging to sects across the cultivation world, but that restriction did not apply here for the moment. There were even people patrolling the skies.

Hei Shi plainly knew which part of the sect was safest to enter. He led the group down directly into Qiyun Sect, then arranged for them to be hidden away without attracting attention and told Niu Youdao and the others to wait patiently.

High atop the mountain, Wu Chang stood in a pavilion and watched the group arrive from afar, waiting for a detailed report.

Sure enough, Hei Shi came up the mountain at once. He quickly reached Wu Chang's side and cupped his hands. "Sacred Venerable, they're here. Nine people came."

"Nine?" Wu Chang turned from gazing into the distance. "Anything unusual?"

Hei Shi said, "Aside from the man responsible for communicating with us, two of them are suspicious. One is a big man carrying a cloth-wrapped weapon. I suspect he's Yuan Gang. The other is a woman who often has to be led around and never stops eating. I suspect they've brought the Holy Rakshasa."

"The Holy Rakshasa?" Wariness entered Wu Chang's eyes.

After considering it for a while, he said, "There are too many eyes and ears here. It isn't convenient for me to meet them directly. Find an opportunity and arrange things so I can take a look myself."

"Yes." Hei Shi accepted the order.

...

Under the evening sun at Xiping Pass, Yin Chu, the general guarding the pass, stood beside Gao Pin and pointed out the sprawling army camps of Han and Yan beyond the fortifications.

After explaining what their scouts had learned about the enemy, Yin Chu advised, "Their defenses are extremely tight. I'm afraid it would be unwise to attack rashly."

Gao Pin said, "Do you think I don't know that? But pressure is coming from above. From the sound of it, we apparently have someone on the inside over there."

Yin Chu gave an "oh." "If that's true, things will be much easier. Has this inside man contacted the Marshal?"

Gao Pin shook his head.

Yin Chu froze, then asked, "Does the Marshal at least know the circumstances of this inside man?"

Gao Pin shook his head again.

Yin Chu immediately grew anxious. "Marshal, if there hasn't been any contact at all, what kind of inside man is that? We don't know anything about the situation. How can we possibly attack rashly? The enemy army is fully prepared and waiting for us. If we attack without knowing anything, won't we simply be sending our brothers to die for nothing?"

Gao Pin looked around, then waved the accompanying generals away.

Only after they had withdrawn did he lean toward Yin Chu and speak quietly. "Brother Yin, why do you think I rushed into attacking the Qi army before and lost those several hundred thousand troops? At first I refused to attack as well. Then His Majesty sent a secret envoy to contact me. Qiyun Sect had already been brought under Misty Pavilion's control. The reason we attacked was because Misty Pavilion was applying pressure from behind."

Yin Chu's voice sank. "What the hell are those sons of bitches trying to do?"

Gao Pin said, "Whatever they're trying to do, His Majesty can't withstand the pressure anymore. We have to make some kind of move. There are many things neither you nor I get to choose, but we can still strike a balance within them."

Yin Chu asked, "What does the Marshal mean?"

Gao Pin said, "We still have to attack. If we suffer a setback, at least we'll have something to report upward. Then it won't be so easy for those above to keep forcing us at whim."

Yin Chu fell into thought and understood his meaning.

[End of Chapter 1539]