"Lord Dao..." Black Peony smiled.
*And these are friends? You call them friends? Is that even possible?*
She recalled how he had released Cui Yuan and Yao You Liang, saying he wanted to befriend them. Or Yun Huang, to whom Niu You Dao had given money, claiming he had made friends. Are these truly friends? Are they reliable friends? Not at all!
Nonetheless, Black Peony was certain that Niu You Dao possessed extraordinary courage. Few would dare to approach Yun Huang and ask to become sworn brothers with him!
When the two returned to their hidden location, several friends immediately surrounded them, letting out sighs of relief.
Yuan Fang asked, surprised:
"Lord Dao, you returned so quickly?"
In reality, they had been gone for about an hour.
Black Peony gave a bitter smile. Quickly? In that short time, they had witnessed Yun Huang transforming into human form, seen Lord Dao lighting candles with him, and watched them, like children, calling each other sworn brothers. Tell anyone about this, and no one would believe it!
"Nothing. We need to continue our journey." Niu You Dao waved his hand.
Yuan Fang was surprised. No problem, that was good. He had been worried he would have to act on Lord Dao's previous instructions.
Thus, the group set off on their journey once more...
On the steep cliff, after the incense burner had been put away, Yun Huang sat on a stone chair beneath a tree.
Hou Qing Tian appeared in a flash and stopped before him:
"Master, the merchants have arrived."
Yun Huang slowly sipped his wine and asked:
"What do they want?"
Hou Qing Tian: "They wish to buy a life. It's not cheap. Twenty thousand gold. They'll pay five thousand gold upfront and the remaining fifteen thousand after the deed is done!"
Yun Huang: "What kind of person? If this takes us beyond our territory, then we shouldn't accept the order."
Hou Qing Tian: "They won't disclose the target's identity. However, the intermediary guarantees that the target is at the Zhuji realm and is accompanied by five others also at the Zhuji realm. There should be no issues on that front, and no major power stands behind them."
"They won't reveal his identity?" Yun Huang lowered his wine cup:
"Without knowing his identity, how can we attack?"
Hou Qing Tian: "The intermediary can locate him for us. We won't even need to search."
"Today indeed brings many strange affairs." Yun Huang murmured. He thought for a moment, then said:
"Tell the intermediary that attacking an unknown target is quite risky. Have them add ten thousand gold. You decide on the specifics, but of course, if they insist, concede. Agree to twenty thousand gold, but be cautious." He waved his hand.
"Understood." Hou Qing Tian cupped his hands, turned, and departed.
However, before he had even finished half his pot of wine, another subordinate, Zhu Chan Gui, arrived. He flashed over to Yun Huang and reported:
"Master, someone wishes to enter our mountains."
Yun Huang turned his head: "Who?"
Zhu Chan Gui: "They say it's people from the Liuxiang Sect, Flowing Clouds Sect, and Wuyou Mountain. They're looking for someone and want our help."
"Did that fellow actually lure them here?" Yun Huang whispered, then turned his head away. He still couldn't speak of what he had promised Niu You Dao.
"The person they seek is not here. And this is not a place they can come and inspect whenever it suits them. Tell them to get lost!"
"Understood!" Zhu Chan Gui cupped his hands and immediately descended, manipulating his Qi. He passed through the clouds around the mountain and stopped in a dead-end location between the peaks.
Gao Su Cun and others stood directly before him. Surrounding them were several dozen demon cultivators.
Zhu Chan Gui shouted to them:
"We've checked. Your man isn't here. Get lost!"
Gao Su Cun said, displeased:
"Whether he is or isn't, allow us to check and confirm for ourselves."
Zhu Chan Gui sneered: "This is not a place you can enter and leave as you please. If we came to your sect and said we wanted to search it, would you agree?"
Gao Su Cun: "If you had evidence, we could discuss it."
Zhu Chan Gui: "And where is your evidence that the man is here?"
"Bring it!" Gao Su Cun uttered.
At that moment, a disciple brought forth a cage containing a bird.
Gao Su Cun asked:
"Do you recognize it? We're following a scent bird. It cannot be mistaken. Is this not evidence?"
And just as another scent bird flew towards them, it was caught by a multi-colored snake hanging from a tree. The snake immediately swallowed the bird whole!
Zhu Chan Gui: "Perhaps the scent bird was flying to the other side of the mountain?"
Liao Sen said: "We've followed it all the way and know for sure which direction is correct. Now I'll ask you a question. Does Flowing Clouds Mountain not wish to assist the Flowing Clouds Sect, Liuxiang Sect, and Wuyou Mountain? If so, we will remember your words as your master's, and we will remind you of them later!"
A serious discussion had now begun, so Zhu Chan Gui could only wink at one of his attendants. He could no longer make decisions here. The attendant flew off, and soon Yun Huang himself descended with a group of people.
He stopped before Gao Su Cun and the others. Yun Huang looked at the scent bird in Gao Su Cun's hands and understood the situation. If someone had thrown bait for these birds here, his people would have found it difficult to detect. Moreover, Niu You Dao himself had said that people from the sects might come here for him. Of course, it was easy to guess that this was Niu You Dao.
"Chief Yun." Gao Su Cun, Liao Sen, and Wu Qian Hao cupped their hands.
Zhaixing City was not far. Yun Huang occasionally visited the city. And these three shop managers, though not personally acquainted with him, had seen him.
"I hear the Flowing Clouds Sect, Liuxiang Sect, and Wuyou Mountain wished to enter our mountains?" Yun Huang asked in a cold tone.
Gao Su Cun: "Chief Yun was unmatched in his younger days. Why fear us now? Our criminal definitely entered here. We therefore ask you to let us in to apprehend him."
Yun Huang: "You may enter, but there's no need for threats. I only wish to ask one thing:
"Why should I let you in?"
He was not making this effort solely for Niu You Dao. He simply didn't want to show everyone that Flowing Clouds Mountain was a place anyone could enter at will.
Gao Su Cun nodded:
"Chief Yun is right. But does Chief Yun know who we are looking for?"
Yun Huang sharpened his focus, for he wanted to learn Niu You Dao's identity right then.
"Very well, speak!"
Gao Su Cun:
"This man killed an envoy of the Yan Kingdom; his name is Niu You Dao. He is... a dangerous criminal of the Yan Kingdom!"
"...!" Yun Huang froze: *Niu You Dao... is Niu You Dao???*
It wasn't Niu You Dao's power that surprised him so much as his fame. After all, the news of him killing an envoy of the Yan Kingdom had resounded throughout all seven kingdoms. Were it not for that, Yun Huang would hardly have heard of him.
In an instant, Yun Huang's heart pounded. He never imagined that Niu You Dao... was Niu You Dao. The criminal of the Yan Kingdom who had dared to come to him, immediately offer him two hundred thousand gold, and even become his sworn brother!
He couldn't believe Niu You Dao possessed such audacity. Although this fellow... was inferior to Yun Huang in both power and influence, he greatly surpassed him in notoriety.
Behind him stood several people who had witnessed him performing the ceremony with Niu You Dao and becoming sworn brothers. At this thought, sweat broke out on his face. If others were to learn of this, how would the Yan Kingdom's imperial court react? After all, it held considerable sway in the cultivation world.
Yun Huang also understood Gao Su Cun's implication. He was telling him that before him stood not just the Liuxiang Sect, Flowing Clouds Sect, and Wuyou Mountain, but also the cultivation world that supported the Yan Kingdom's imperial court. However, he did not fear them. After all, this was the Zhao Kingdom; it was not their territory. Yet, Yun Huang also didn't want unnecessary trouble.
"So that's how it is. Fine. It doesn't matter whether you speak truly or not, I will allow you to enter. However, this is Flowing Clouds Mountain. And if you do not find the person you seek, then you will owe me!" Yun Huang said in a cold tone.
Liao Sen: "What does Chief Yun want?"
"Anyone who violates the laws of Flowing Clouds Mountain shall pay with their life!" Yun Huang said with a sneer. He wanted to call their bluff.
Gao Su Cun, Liao Sen, and Wu Qian Hao fell silent. Before entering, they had discussed and determined that if Niu You Dao had entered here, it meant he had gained the mountain's protection. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to come here, a place teeming with demon cultivators. Therefore, the probability of finding him here was not high.
The three also understood that they had already caused quite a stir. And if Niu You Dao had indeed conspired with Flowing Clouds Mountain, they would find nothing here and would give no reason for the Yan Kingdom's imperial court to speak ill of Flowing Clouds Mountain.
However, they had pursued Niu You Dao all the way. A scent bird's trail remained here, but what did that prove? It wasn't enough to confidently assert that Niu You Dao was here.
It was now clear they were being strung along. They held no power here, and Flowing Clouds Mountain was deliberately obstructing them.
Gao Su Cun: "Very well. We will remember this!"
Yun Huang replied scornfully:
"A bunch of old fogeys. You're not even sure of your facts, not even sure your man is here, yet you dare to threaten me?"
"We're leaving!" Gao Su Cun shouted.
They turned and departed.
They were not stopped; instead, people were sent to follow them.
Yun Huang slowly turned to all his people and, glaring fiercely at them, said:
"Remember: Don't tell anyone anything! Whoever speaks will be killed!"
Everyone understood and nodded. They clearly knew that no one could ever speak of Yun Huang becoming sworn brothers with Niu You Dao.