Several people exchanged glances, as if struck. They were astonished by Niu You Dao's wisdom, considering he was so young!
Black Peony, blinking her eyes, asked:
"Lord Dao, what should we do?"
Niu You Dao: "Our enemy has clearly not only discovered us, but has also tracked our path. Therefore, we must hide here for a while and not show ourselves!"
Duan Hu: "Lord Dao, I think we should release the horses and secretly hide on foot."
Niu You Dao: "Since we've been discovered, we will be closely watched for a while. No matter if it's the intermediary or the client, everyone will be watching us. Without knowing where the danger comes from, we shouldn't take risks. Otherwise, we will encounter difficulties on the road. We need to wait it out here for now!"
After speaking, he paid no attention to the reactions or opinions of the others, simply leaning on his sword and slowly walking away.
Several people exchanged glances. Yuan Fang turned to Duan Hu and Wu San Liang:
"Unroll the map."
Several people once again began to meticulously examine Niu You Dao's circles.
They didn't understand everything, but they weren't dullards either. And when Niu You Dao had drawn everything, they had all taken note, and now they were gradually processing everything Niu You Dao had said. Black Peony and the others agreed to take turns guarding the cave... Thus, night turned to dawn.
On Flowing Clouds Mountain, in Yunxiao Cave, Yun Huang sat on a stone cultivating, when Hou Qing Tian approached and presented him with 50,000 gold. He was smiling.
Yun Huang furrowed his brows:
"What did you just say? The target was Niu You Dao?"
Hou Qing Tian smiled. The Chief, it seemed, didn't even truly consider Huangdi Dao his brother, so much so that he couldn't properly remember his name. He decided to correct him:
"Chief, you are mistaken, it's not Niu You Dao, but Huangdi Dao. Who else could be so generous?"
Yun Huang replied in a cold tone:
"Huangdi Dao is Niu You Dao. Niu You Dao is Huangdi Dao. That fellow who killed the Yan Kingdom's envoy, Song Lun, is Niu You Dao!"
"...Hou Qing Tian almost bit his tongue.
"How...how is this possible?"
"Why is it impossible?" Yun Huang immediately gave him a brief account of how it all happened. He took the banknotes and murmured to himself:
"Pursued from behind, and they want him dead from the front too. How many people has this fellow crossed? And he even dared to come to our mountain!"
Seeing Hou Qing Tian a little downcast, he waved his hand:
"Go, and don't blame yourself. You knew nothing. However, don't mention the ceremony to anyone. Though we fear nothing, we don't need trouble."
"Understood!" Hou Qing Tian replied and immediately exited the cave. As soon as he was out, he flew off in a certain direction. When he had encountered Niu You Dao at that turn, he might have said things he shouldn't have. Now he needed to tell his subordinates to keep their mouths shut...
On the second day, Niu You Dao, who had been cultivating on the stone, emerged from the cave. He looked at the evening glow and headed towards the mountain stream.
When he reached the stream at the top of the gorge, he saw a wet head peeking out of the water.
It was Black Peony bathing in the stream.
It was her turn on guard duty. However, she hadn't washed in a long time, and gazing at the emerald pool, she couldn't resist, shedding her clothes and plunging into the cool water. She thought that since it was her watch, no one should come here. But who would have known that at that very moment, footsteps would be heard, and she would see Niu You Dao walking towards her.
"Lord Dao, don't come any closer!" Black Peony cried out.
Niu You Dao narrowed his eyes and understood what was happening. However, he paid her no mind and continued walking.
Black Peony quickly grabbed her clothes and covered her body.
However, Niu You Dao calmly walked past, not even sparing her a glance.
"...Black Peony was speechless. What a type! She tossed her clothes aside and continued washing, only now much faster.
As soon as she finished washing, she immediately dressed and ran upstream.
There, near the cliff, she saw Niu You Dao standing, leaning on his sword. He was admiring the evening glow, while Black Peony observed his expression.
Niu You Dao turned to her and calmly said:
"I saw you, you saw me. Now we're even."
Black Peony smiled and tried to flirt with him:
"Lord Dao, when you walked past me, did you truly not want to take a look?"
"At what?"
"At me, while I was washing! Aren't all men the same?"
"And what was there to see?"
"Am I not beautiful?"
"You're Black."
"...Black Peony's eyes widened:
"Is it just that I'm a bit dark-skinned?"
Niu You Dao: "I didn't look because you had covered yourself with clothes anyway. And that way I avoided ill repute... Does that explanation satisfy you?"
Black Peony smiled: "Completely. Lord Dao, you are young, in the prime of your life, and you don't like women?"
Niu You Dao: "What are you trying to say?"
Black Peony asked with interest:
"Do you have a beloved maiden?"
"No!"
Black Peony: "How is that possible?"
Niu You Dao: "What's all this to you? Do you want to play matchmaker, or has lovesickness gotten to you, making an old cow desire to taste fresh grass?"
Black Peony: "To play matchmaker, you'd first need to like someone. As for the second, our ages don't match. Of course, if you don't mind being the 'old cow,' then I won't object either."
Niu You Dao chuckled. He shook his head, recalling that indignant girl who had refused to spend the night with him at the inn.
Black Peony nudged him with her elbow:
"What are you laughing at! I'm serious! If you have desires, you're young, I understand that. There are no women around, and if desire arises, don't say anything, just find me and that's it. Don't worry, it'll be by my own will. I'm not deceiving you. Honestly."
"Truly a free spirit..." Niu You Dao chuckled and nodded his head: "I understand you!"
Black Peony: "So, do you agree or not?"
Niu You Dao smiled thoughtfully:
"You guess!"
Black Peony's eyes widened: "Bastard!" She spun around and leaped from the cliff.
When dusk had already fallen, Niu You Dao returned to the cave. He noticed Black Peony, who was sitting by the fire, cooking food. She acted as if nothing had happened. However, Lei Zong Kang was looking at Niu You Dao strangely.
Niu You Dao walked over and sat in the main spot. Yuan Fang, who was sitting, stood up and tried his best to sit closer to Niu You Dao. Then he whispered into his ear:
"Lord Dao, Black Peony was speaking ill of you."
"Hmm?" Niu You Dao was surprised.
Yuan Fang whispered:
"When they were just talking, she said you spied on her when she was bathing." As he spoke, Yuan Fang watched Niu You Dao's reaction.
"Hehe." Niu You Dao chuckled.
He looked at Black Peony, who was acting as if nothing had happened. Although she knew what Yuan Fang was telling him. Niu You Dao understood her. Only this way could she avoid losing even more control.
Over the next few days, Duan Hu and Wu San Liang also looked at Niu You Dao strangely...
A few days later, the group left the cave. And when they got onto the road, they headed back along their previous path.
They rode the entire way without stopping. Upon reaching the post station, Niu You Dao waved his hand in front of it, and Duan Hu and Wu San Liang dispersed to either side of the road.
They disappeared into the mountain forest, where they abandoned their horses and ran on foot towards the post station.
Niu You Dao and the others did not stop. They continued towards the post station.
Several people dismounted and went to eat, while Black Peony also approached and arranged with the manager for them to change horses.
Once they had eaten their fill and changed horses, the group set off again.
Only this time, they didn't go far, heading instead towards nearby villages. Once the group of travelers was out of sight, they once again concealed themselves in the mountain forest.
Black Peony and Yuan Fang remained there, while Niu You Dao darted out from the mountain forest and headed back to the post station.
On the upper floor of the post station, a window opened at that moment, and a Bird King flew upwards.
The stablehand looked around and then closed the window. Just at that moment, Duan Hu shot out from the forest towards the stablehand's window. He landed by the window, opened the door, and burst inside.
Inside the room, the stablehand turned and was startled. He didn't even have time to utter a sound before he was struck down by Duan Hu.
Duan Hu extended five fingers and began to unleash force, causing the stablehand to slowly collapse to the floor.
Confirming that the stablehand lay motionless on the floor, Duan Hu climbed out the window, scaled the roof of the station, and waved in the direction of Wu San Liang. Once he received a reply from Wu San Liang, Duan Hu returned to the room.
Niu You Dao, who had emerged from the mountain forest, noticed Wu San Liang appear near the post station. Niu You Dao immediately ran to the back of the post station and saw Duan Hu in the open window. Niu You Dao instantly flickered and entered the window.
"Lord Dao!" Duan Hu clasped his hands and quietly spoke. He pointed at the stablehand lying on the floor.
"Just as you said. There are definitely questions about this stablehand."
Niu You Dao: "Did you startle anyone?"
Duan Hu: "Lord Dao, don't worry. No one at the post station was disturbed."
Niu You Dao approached the stablehand and noticed black blood appearing on the stablehand's lips. He knelt down in alarm and opened his mouth. Niu You Dao saw that the stablehand had bitten through a tooth capsule.
Duan Hu was alarmed and hurriedly reached out a hand to save the stablehand.
Niu You Dao slowly stood up:
"It's no use. There was poison in his tooth capsule. He didn't want to fall into enemy hands. He cannot be saved now."