Only 1.2 million? They nearly sold out all three shops! And for all of it, they only got 1.2 million gold coins?
Black Peony and the others felt their hearts ache. The larger the total, the more it emphasized how much they'd lost by selling at a discount!
However, thinking about it, when else would they have been able to earn such a massive sum? They became instantaneously rich. It was unimaginable.
Yuan Fang, too, grew increasingly joyful. He was getting richer and richer!
Only Black Peony and the others were disheartened that they had sold everything for half price. Knowing this, their hearts couldn't find peace. Yuan Fang immediately recalled how he and his brothers had spent several years robbing on the Southern Mountain, only managing to earn a few hundred gold coins.
Now, several people followed Niu You Dao, their heads bowed. They remembered the joyful expressions on the faces of the shop owners and staff. When else would they have been so fortunate, when so many good items were being given away to them for half price?
It was only after they left Zhaixing City and plunged into the mountain river that they finally came to their senses.
Nothing could be seen in the dark water, and the direction of movement was indistinguishable.
But upon reaching the shore, Niu You Dao immediately determined the direction by the stars, then took out aromatic pellets, crushed them, and threw them to the ground.
The group resumed their journey. However, they did not use Little Moon Butterflies, instead traveling under the light of the moon.
After they had recovered from their missed opportunity to profit, Black Peony and the others, looking at Niu You Dao leading them, sighed constantly.
Throughout their lives, they had done quite a few bad things. And he, it seemed, had done no less. Only one of his ventures was many times more profitable than all of their misdeeds combined.
Black Peony was particularly astonished. She had personally seen Niu You Dao draw a portrait and earn 100,000. He even robbed with complete composure, not batting an eye. For him, it seemed, 10-20 thousand gold coins were worth nothing. Yet, for them, such a sum was enormous.
Several people realized that Niu You Dao was also a rogue cultivator. Only he didn't seem to worry about it. Was establishing a sect truly that important to him? Was it worth taking such great risks for 100,000 gold coins?
Yuan Fang was also enlightened. Lord Dao had told him that he was too petty, and that acquiring money for the temple was not difficult at all. And it all, in fact, turned out to be true.
After this experience, several people began to view many things differently, as if their very essence had subtly changed. Of course, they didn't immediately become arrogant or dismissive of other things. No. They simply understood that there were things more important than banknotes.
As soon as they crossed the ridge, they found another stable. Taking horses, they headed into the Gobi Desert.
As soon as they crossed the desert, they immediately passed through the steppe and reached that hill.
Stopping before the hill, Niu You Dao looked around cautiously and said:
— The two of you, check everything.
Duan Hu and Wu San Liang shot upwards and went to check everything on the hill.
It wasn't long before Duan Hu returned and, stopping before his horse, said:
— Lord Dao, everyone is here. Everything is in order.
Niu You Dao and the others also shot upwards and climbed the hill again. Behind the hill, they saw Wu San Liang standing shoulder to shoulder with Lei Zong Kang, while Cui Yuan and Yao Yu Liang lay on the ground. Little Moon Butterflies fluttered around them, illuminating everything.
Niu You Dao nodded his head, and Wu San Liang dragged both of them upwards.
Niu You Dao calmly spoke before their dejected faces:
— Just now we returned to Zhaixing City. Fortunately, your information proved correct. We didn't see anyone in your shops, so we "cleaned" them up a bit.
— .... Cui Yuan and Yao Yu Liang stared wide-eyed. This fellow actually dared to return to the city. They feared to imagine how furious their masters would be.
Lei Zong Kang also froze. He looked at his friends and saw them nod slightly to him. So it was all true.
To rob shops... he had never dared to think of such a thing in his entire life. And this madman robbed three sects at once? And it seemed his friends also participated.
Cui Yuan, gritting his teeth, said:
— What were you thinking, in the end?
Niu You Dao: Calm yourselves. I am a person who doesn't like to kill people. Besides, you helped me get rich, so I don't want to harm you. — He waved his hand:
— Release them.
Several people exchanged glances, and Duan Hu said in astonishment:
— Lord Dao, release them?
— Didn't I say so? Release them! — Niu You Dao replied firmly.
Duan Hu and Wu San Liang exchanged glances and untied the two men.
Niu You Dao pointed again:
— Remove their restraints.
Duan Hu and Wu San Liang didn't understand Niu You Dao at all, yet they did everything as he instructed.
The two injured cultivators were no longer a threat to them. There was no need to fear on that account. But why keep them alive? If he didn't like to kill, fine, they could do it! Why leave themselves future unnecessary trouble?
However, Niu You Dao's authority was already rising in their eyes, so they did everything he said.
It wasn't just them; Cui Yuan and Yao Yu Liang couldn't believe it. After all, both of them had recently wanted to kill Niu You Dao, yet now Niu You Dao was actually going to release them?
Of course, they doubted Niu You Dao.
Yao Yu Liang: Niu You Dao, you've led us out to this remote place. What's the point of this game? If you want to kill us, then kill us. There's no need to play with us like a cat with a mouse!
Niu You Dao, leaning on his sword, said:
— Wandering the world on horseback, I embrace both wind and rain. Along the way, I make friends! I prefer to resolve everything peacefully and amicably. If things are peaceful, then I won't attack. In short, decide for yourselves whether to believe me or not. Don't worry. We haven't told anyone that we robbed your shops, nor will we say that you gave us everything. So you can return to your sects in peace.
Noticing that the two men didn't believe him, he said with a smile:
— Perhaps, when you gentlemen return, it will be difficult for you to report to your sects. You can say that I asked you to deliver a message. I hope that this will be the end of it, and the three sects will let me go! What they reply does not concern me. However, you were mistaken in your initial calculations. In that regard, you'll have to justify yourselves.
Having finished speaking, he turned and said:
— Have a good journey. I won't see you off!
However, before he had gone far, his voice suddenly rang out, startling the two men. They thought Niu You Dao had changed his mind.
— Gentlemen, don't take the horses outside. You'd best leave on foot. And also, regarding Lei Zong Kang betraying you, it's best not to speak of it. I've already prepared something in the shop, so don't overthink it. Otherwise, you'll only harm yourselves. May the wind be at your backs!
Cui Yuan and Yao Yu Liang breathed sighs of relief. They quickly began to leave and flew off the hill. As soon as they descended to the bushes, they indeed didn't touch the horses, but ran on themselves. They rushed so quickly, apparently fearing Niu You Dao would change his mind.
From behind the hill, Black Peony, still disbelieving what had happened, asked:
— Lord Dao, you're really letting them go?
— It is better to resolve animosity than to maintain it! — Niu You Dao calmly replied.
Black Peony said with a bitter smile:
— Lord Dao is magnanimous. Only I fear they won't appreciate it!
Niu You Dao calmly replied: Then it will be a case of paying kindness for evil! In any case, if there are more friends, how can that be bad!
Black Peony scratched her head, somewhat confused. What "paying kindness for evil"? He's strange!
Niu You Dao didn't want to argue with her, so he tilted his head and said:
— Take the horses and bring everyone. We'll switch them out along the way. Also, don't leave the captives' belongings here.
Several people left the hill and began to cross the steppe under the moonlight.
Niu You Dao told Yuan Fang to get the map. Looking at it, he pointed to one place and asked:
— Does anyone know the situation at Flowing Clouds Mountain?
Several people thought, and Duan Hu replied:
— Flowing Clouds Mountain isn't far. We could reach it in a day.
Wu San Liang: There are quite a few demons on Flowing Clouds Mountain. Lady Yun Ji holds sway there. Flowing Clouds Mountain is her domain. Lady Yun is a Dan List cultivator. Once, the Zhao Kingdom gathered cultivators to eliminate the demons, but Flowing Clouds Mountain had many demons and was difficult to access. Therefore, Flowing Clouds Mountain asserted its independence several times. However, Lady Yun herself disliked these attacks. In the end, rumors appeared that the Zhao Kingdom and Flowing Clouds Mountain had secretly agreed to a mutual non-aggression pact.
Niu You Dao had already read about this in the Supreme Purity Sect's notes. He asked:
— I heard that Lady Yun no longer interferes in worldly affairs, and now her son seems to be managing Flowing Clouds Mountain. And he, it appears, is a hunter for riches. He's greedy for wealth. Is that true?
Black Peony replied:
— You could say that. It's just that the situation on Flowing Clouds Mountain is rather restrictive. Few manage to develop trade there, so he can be understood.
Niu You Dao nodded, then asked:
— Who knows Flowing Clouds Mountain?
Several people froze. Black Peony looked around and asked, hesitantly:
— If you mean really well, then none of us do. However, among the mountains, we might encounter someone who knows Flowing Clouds Mountain well. We could inquire with them.
Niu You Dao rejoiced: "One knows this, another knows a little. Can a complete picture be assembled from that?"
— Lord Dao, you're not planning to go to Flowing Clouds Mountain, are you?
Niu You Dao: Why not go? — He returned the map to Yuan Fang, crushed an aromatic pellet, and threw it to the ground. Then he shouted to everyone:
— Let's go!
Everyone was astonished. They looked at the crushed pellet and then followed Niu You Dao.
The group galloped under the cover of night. Black Peony caught up to Niu You Dao and asked:
— Lord Dao, do you really intend to use Flowing Clouds Mountain to deal with the three sects? Lord Dao, believe me, I fear Flowing Clouds Mountain won't do that.
Niu You Dao: You're overthinking it. One should make friends along the way. One can find treasures along the way and visit someone to become friends. How can that be bad?