Yuan Fang remained standing by the door, waiting for Niu You Dao.
When Niu You Dao returned, Yuan Fang followed him into the room. He approached him and asked:
"Lord Dao, are you alright?"
Niu You Dao shook his head and looked at Yuan Fang. He wanted to say something, but sighed inwardly. Monkey was incredibly cautious. If Monkey were here, no one in their surroundings would escape his discerning eye. In this regard, Yuan Fang falls far short of Yuan Gang.
However, he said nothing. Yuan Fang lacked experience. When something happened, Yuan Fang would then learn from the experience. And next time, Yuan Fang would be much more cautious.
Some things didn't need to be said; everyone had to understand them for themselves.
He waved his hand and extinguished the lamp. Niu You Dao slowly walked to the window and opened the casements. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed at the faintly lit city in the night.
The Liuxiang Sect's people had appeared nearby, and what they were up to was not hard to guess.
It turned out he had traitors among his ranks. They hadn't known each other long before they started plotting against him!
“But what about Black Peony? Could it be that I was wrong about her?”
He could say for certain that the Liuxiang Sect had only found him in Zhaixing City. If they had located him earlier, he simply wouldn't have made it here. He would have been killed on the way.
Either it was Black Peony, or Black Peony and the others were working together with the Liuxiang Sect, or the Liuxiang Sect had deliberately set a trap for him and then forced Black Peony and the others to watch him. However, as soon as he arrived in the city, Niu You Dao's first action was to head to the inn, where he met the hopeful Black Peony in the courtyard. It was unlikely the Liuxiang Sect could have foreseen his actions.
That meant they found him afterward, and then found Black Peony.
After a moment's thought, Niu You Dao said in a cold tone:
"Light the lamp."
Yuan Fang understood that Niu You Dao was serious now. He didn't disturb him and simply lit the lamp a second time.
Niu You Dao reached out and closed the curtains, then turned his head:
"Get the map."
Yuan Fang immediately took out the map and spread it on the table, then used the lamp to illuminate the table.
Niu You Dao walked to the table. In the Zhao Kingdom, he had found Zhaixing City. His gaze shifted northeast to the Han Kingdom. He paused, then moved his gaze back to Zhaixing City, then southeast to Qingshan County in the Yan Kingdom.
Then he placed a finger on the map and moved it back and forth. Finally, his finger stopped at one spot: Mountain Lake County. And tapping his finger, he seemed to have made a decision.
"Bear, call them." Niu You Dao said, looking at the map.
Yuan Fang picked up the lamp and turned. Niu You Dao added:
"No need for extra words. Just tell them to come."
"Understood!" Yuan Fang quickly left, wondering to himself what Lord Dao was planning.
Yuan Fang reached Black Peony's room and, without entering, knocked. He said:
"Wake up, Lord Dao is calling for you."
Black Peony asked in surprise:
"What is it?"
Yuan Fang: "I don't know." He turned and left.
Black Peony immediately told the others without delay. As soon as Lei Zong Kang heard this, he couldn't help but ask:
"Chief, why so late? What's this about?"
"I don't know." Black Peony shook her head.
A few people reached Niu You Dao's room. Yuan Fang let them inside.
As soon as they entered, they saw Niu You Dao standing before the map. Black Peony, looking at Niu You Dao, asked with a smile:
"Lord Dao, what are your instructions?"
Niu You Dao looked at the few people and said with a sigh:
"I just remembered something. If we all leave together, we'll attract a lot of attention. I'm afraid someone who intends us harm might do something."
Upon hearing this, Lei Zong Kang felt his heart clench. The few people exchanged glances and nodded. Indeed. Anything is possible.
Black Peony asked:
"Lord Dao, what should we do then?"
Niu You Dao: "For this reason, I've changed the plan. We will leave separately so as not to attract attention. There's no need for everyone to go to the stables. On foot, you won't attract attention. Choose a direction that won't be easily noticed and go."
Black Peony nodded approvingly. Indeed, rogue cultivators always did this. They would hide in the mountains and mask their presence, so that no one could track them, unless an enormous number of people surrounded the mountain.
Niu You Dao: "Together, it's too conspicuous. Tomorrow, you will leave the city by way of the river, so others won't know. Yuan Fang and I will secretly leave the city in a few days, depending on the situation."
The so-called river was a mountain stream. When the ice in the mountains melted, a stream formed. Rogue cultivators would use this stream to leave the city. They would dive into the stream and emerge somewhere in the mountains. Then, it would be difficult to track them.
The few people exchanged glances, and Black Peony, furrowing her brows, asked:
"Lord Dao, how will we meet up?"
Niu You Dao pointed at the map and said:
"In Mountain Lake County. We'll meet at the largest inn there."
The few people looked at the location and memorized it well. Black Peony nodded:
"Alright!"
Niu You Dao: "So be it. You'll be on your way tomorrow. Go and rest."
After the few people left, Niu You Dao told Yuan Fang to put away the map. He himself took out a silk cloth, sat before the lamp, and began to clean his sword.
He hummed: "River, lakes..."
Once they exited, the few people reassembled in Black Peony's room. They discussed how they would leave the city.
After drinking a cup of tea, each returned to their own room. After a while, Lei Zong Kang quietly opened his room again and stepped out. He descended to the garden below and entered the opposite building.
Cui Yuan had just returned from the shop. He thought for a moment and intended to go see Lei Zong Kang. Who knew Lei Zong Kang would return himself? As soon as he saw him, he immediately asked:
"Has something changed?"
Lei Zong Kang nodded:
"Master Cui Yuan is wise. The circumstances have indeed changed. Niu You Dao has changed the departure plan..." He told Cui Yuan everything.
Cui Yuan: "This bastard is quite cautious."
Lei Zong Kang: "Master Cui, tomorrow we will leave separately from him. I won't be by his side and most likely won't be able to relay messages in a timely manner, nor will I know his path."
"It's normal for him to leave secretly. That's why I brought this." Cui Yuan, smirking, took out a pouch and handed it to Lei Zong Kang:
"Use this item on your way."
Lei Zong Kang took the small pouch and opened it, seeing beads the size of soybeans. A scent emanated from them. He asked in surprise:
"What is this?"
Cui Yuan: "Pulverized wax. It can emit a strange odor. As you travel, use it to leave traces, and I'll be able to find you."
Lei Zong Kang asked in surprise:
"I'll only meet the subject at the inn in Mountain Lake County. Master Cui, why do I need to leave traces then?"
Cui Yuan: "Just in case. What if he changes the plan again? How would we contact each other then? It will be inconvenient for us to make contact on the road, so it's better for you to leave your traces."
Lei Zong Kang understood and nodded.
Cui Yuan suddenly smiled and patted him on the shoulder:
"My uncle has already sent a letter to the masters. They will write a letter of recommendation for you."
Lei Zong Kang didn't know if Cui Yuan was telling the truth or not. Could the Liuxiang Sect truly care for a few rogue cultivators? He had no choice once they found him. He only wished the Liuxiang Sect wouldn't do anything bad to him and his friends. But if Cui Yuan truly wasn't lying, it would be a pleasant surprise.
However, he smiled joyfully and, cupping his hands, said:
"Master Cui, don't worry. This Lei will get everything done!"
"Good! Return quickly, so nothing else happens." Cui Yuan said calmly.
As soon as Lei Zong Kang left, Cui Yuan also left the inn a short while later...
On the inn's attic floor, Old Dog knocked on his supervisor's door again.
Bai You Lu was not resting. He was sitting and tallying income on an abacus.
Click, click, click.
He was still a little unsettled. He had received so much money today.
Old Dog approached and reported:
"Supervisor, Lei Zong Kang met with Cui Yuan again. Afterward, Cui Yuan returned to the Liuxiang Sect's shop."
Bai You Lu, still counting, said:
"Alright, understood."
As soon as Old Dog left, Bai You Lu stopped counting on the abacus and, leaning back, whispered:
"Indeed, I predicted it. Damn it..."
He stretched and left the room. He then went downstairs and reached the front desk.
Seeing him, the employee who was sitting behind the front desk's counter immediately stood up:
"Supervisor, it's so late, aren't you resting?"
Bai You Lu calmly replied:
"Counting. Now I've come out for a stroll. Is everything alright?"
Employee: "Everything is normal. Nothing has happened."
Bai You Lu approached the counter, tapped his finger on it and said:
"I just met a client from room 2b, he asked for a jug of wine."
"Alright. I'll take it." The employee immediately nodded his head.