It wasn't long before Yuan Fang turned around to see Cheng Gui Shuo and the others following them.
He immediately exclaimed, "Lord Dao, this is bad. They're pursuing us!"
Niu You Dao turned his head, spotting the four individuals, and murmured softly:
"Their target is me. We need to split up, otherwise, if there's a fight, I won't be able to protect you."
Yuan Fang understood that Niu You Dao wasn't lying. After all, he had no enmity with the Song family. Lord Dao was their true target. If the two of them split, Lord Dao would have a better chance of escaping. Together, Yuan Fang would only hinder him.
Yuan Fang: "Lord Dao, what about you?"
Niu You Dao: "Don't worry about me. Just get away first. Together, we might not be able to evade them. Remember, head towards the Governor's Palace. We'll meet there. If anything goes wrong, immediately rush into the Governor's Palace and say you're from the Prince. They'll then ask Fang Zhe about you, and he'll identify you."
Yuan Fang nodded, looking at Niu You Dao with a complex mix of emotions. Lord Dao was taking all the danger upon himself!
"Ahead!" Niu You Dao said.
Just ahead was a fork in the road, where a vast stream of people dispersed in various directions.
As they began to separate, Yuan Fang called out, "Lord Dao, be careful!"
Niu You Dao merely remained silent. And the two individuals went their separate ways.
The four individuals following behind saw them split up. The Jin Dan level cultivator ordered two Zhu Ji level cultivators to follow Yuan Fang, while he himself, with Cheng Gui Shuo, pursued Niu You Dao.
On the way, Niu You Dao passed a pavilion. He tossed a few copper coins, grabbed some fruit, bit into one, and glanced back. He then noticed that only two people were still following him. His heart immediately sank. Yuan Fang seemed to be caught. However, Niu You Dao could only hope now that their opponents wouldn't dare to attack within the provincial city. Otherwise, Yuan Fang wouldn't escape.
Biting into the fruit, Niu You Dao continued walking. He felt sick at heart.
On another street, Yuan Fang quietly cursed his fate. He noticed he was still being followed.
He, too, approached a stall, tossed a few copper coins, and took a flatbread. As he went, he asked, "Where is the Governor's Palace?"
The stall owner waved his hand: "Go straight, then turn right. After two more streets, you'll see it."
Yuan Fang committed it to memory and continued walking, chewing on his bread.
One Zhu Ji cultivator approached the stall, took a flatbread, and tossed a silver coin. He asked casually, "No change needed. What did that man just ask about?"
Receiving a silver coin for a single flatbread, the stall owner immediately brightened and readily gave Yuan Fang away.
"Oh, nothing much. He asked where the Governor's Palace was."
The two cultivators exchanged glances, their expressions darkening. They realized that Niu You Dao had just tricked them. He wasn't the Governor's man at all. How could the Governor's man not know where the Governor's Palace was?
They immediately sped up after Yuan Fang. If he wasn't their man, then they could seize him.
Turning his head, Yuan Fang noticed the men stopping where he had just been. Yuan Fang realized the situation was bad. He immediately began to scold himself. "Who asked him to do that?!"
He had truly messed up. If it had been Yuan Gang in his place, he wouldn't have made such a mistake.
Seeing his pursuers quicken their pace, Yuan Fang threw down the flatbread and, ignoring the cries of passersby, simply shot up onto the rooftops. He hoped to reach the palace faster.
The two cultivators also soared upwards, chasing after him.
It wasn't long before they caught up to Yuan Fang. Yuan Fang then realized that the difference in cultivation between him and them was still enormous.
He felt a blow to his waist and fell from the rooftop. He landed in a deserted alleyway. Yuan Fang felt his head swim violently as a sharp blade pressed against his neck...
Hearing a cry from behind, Niu You Dao turned and saw a figure fall from the sky, followed by two more descending after him.
Niu You Dao recognized one of the four cultivators who had been pursuing him. It seemed they had gone after Yuan Fang.
Niu You Dao immediately understood that the situation was dire.
Indeed, as soon as that person fell, another joined the two cultivators who had been pursuing him. And they began to rapidly approach.
Glancing around, Niu You Dao entered a brothel, where it was noisy, crowded, and filled with painted beauties.
"Gentlemen, a coin!" Niu You Dao, upon entering, immediately tossed a gold coin. It gleamed instantly in the air.
"Aiya!" A crowd of beauties immediately lunged for it. Not only the courtesans, but even the clients themselves rushed forward. It became noisy, and chaos erupted.
When the three cultivators entered the brothel, a silhouette flashed from a window on the other side of the building. Seeing the chaos before them, those cultivators immediately split up. One went up the stairs, another remained on the first floor searching for Niu You Dao. And the third went up to the roof and began looking towards the palace. Only Niu You Dao understood this and had already departed in a different direction...
When he returned to the inn, he immediately found Fang Zhe: "Take me to Governor Hai Ru Yue."
"Now?" Fang Zhe glanced out the window, where dusk was already falling.
"It's already dark. This isn't a suitable time."
Niu You Dao spoke in a grim tone: "Now! Quickly! We cannot stay here, we must leave!"
There was no time to delay. Judging by the situation, this place might already be exposed. If it had been Yuan Gang in Yuan Fang's place, he wouldn't have given them away. Niu You Dao was certain of this. But regarding Yuan Fang, he was still doubtful. Under threat, Yuan Fang might reveal them.
Furthermore, if he were discovered, the likelihood of Yuan Fang being killed would increase. As long as he hadn't been found, Yuan Fang might remain alive.
He had to save Yuan Fang by all means necessary.
Besides, the sooner, the better. The greater the chance of finding Yuan Fang alive. Moreover, he needed to find him before Yuan Fang revealed anything.
Hearing such a tone, Fang Zhe immediately nodded: "Very well!"
He immediately called for two companions. They quickly departed the inn.
A few people took a palanquin and headed towards the Governor's Palace...
As dusk settled, after searching the entire brothel, several cultivators returned to Liusu Courtyard.
Liusu Courtyard was a special lodging reserved for distinguished guests of Qingzhou. It comprised many small and large courtyards. Song Lu was currently in one of them.
"He escaped?" Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Song Lu turned and stared intently at Xie Chun, a Jin Dan level cultivator.
"Wasn't that Niu You Dao a Lian Qi level cultivator? How could *you*... several cultivators... let him escape? His Highness sent you for protection. I'm extremely worried about such bodyguards!"
He almost said, "You can't even catch a Lian Qi cultivator, how can you protect *me*?"
Xie Chun felt awkward. He himself had clearly seen Niu You Dao enter the brothel. He had immediately stormed in after him and taken control of the establishment. However, Niu You Dao had seemingly vanished. No one had seen him. He had disappeared as if a ghost.
"That Niu You Dao is very cunning. He threw a gold coin..."
Xie Chun tried to explain, but Song Lu waved his hand:
"No need to explain."
Another Jin Dan level cultivator, Huang Xiu Sheng, said:
"Minister Song, there's no point in discussing this now. Niu You Dao's companion is here; we just need to interrogate him!"
When Yuan Fang was brought in, Huang Xiu Sheng unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Yuan Fang's eyes.
"Where is Niu You Dao? Dare to deceive me, and I'll pierce your eyes!"
Yuan Fang's heart sank to his boots. He immediately understood that Niu You Dao had escaped. Otherwise, they wouldn't be asking him this way.
In his heart, he chastised himself. How could Lord Dao escape while he couldn't! What a difference between them.
He fearfully said: "At the Fuling Inn! Tongfu Street, Fuling Courtyard..."
He even specified the room.
Lord Dao was a clever man, and Yuan Fang believed that Lord Dao had already departed from that inn. He also believed Niu You Dao would quickly rescue him. Thus, he spoke immediately to avoid unnecessary suffering.
Yuan Fang understood that Niu You Dao would certainly rescue him quickly, so that Yuan Fang wouldn't reveal any secrets.
He knew what he should say and what he shouldn't. He understood that there was no need to pretend to be unbreakable now. It was better to show that he was scared to death so that his opponents would believe in his genuine fear. Though he didn't need to feign it much. He was truly afraid. However, Yuan Fang couldn't predict what methods Lord Dao would employ to save him. Or how quickly he would rescue him. After all, Yuan Fang didn't know how long he could hold out with his answers.
Huang Xiu Sheng immediately turned and said to Xie Chun:
"Brother, take some men and check that place. Let's not make another mistake!"
Xie Chun didn't say anything. He immediately turned, yet he was displeased with Yuan Fang. Such a spineless companion. At the first sign of threat, he immediately revealed Niu You Dao. How would Niu You Dao feel about him now!
However, Huang Xiu Sheng gave him a meaningful look. Clearly, it was better not to say anything in front of Song Lu right now. So, he could only turn and call for a few men to check the inn. Though he privately doubted Niu You Dao would be waiting for him.
"Your family's affairs, why drag us into them!"
However, the Song family's relationship with his master was good, so he couldn't show his displeasure.
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