If that husband truly is Lord Dao, then why would Lord Dao act this way?
Black Peony was a woman herself, and from a woman's perspective, if a husband treated you like this in front of everyone, how could one possibly accept it so easily?
The four individuals knew Niu You Dao's true situation. In Niu You Dao's words, they heard a clear satire directed at Tang Yi!
Tang Yi appeared calm on the surface. Without looking at Niu You Dao, she asked:
“Senior Young Master, who is this person?”
Shao Ping Bo introduced Niu You Dao:
“A subordinate of the Han Kingdom’s envoy, Zhuge Xiong, named Zhang San!”
“A subordinate of the Han Kingdom's envoy?” Tang Yi couldn't fathom what kind of entanglement had linked Niu You Dao with Zhuge Xiong. Yet, she knew his name was definitely fake. She clasped her hands in greeting.
Niu You Dao returned the gesture, then glanced at Su Po and Tang Su Su standing to the side. It was fine that they hadn't exposed him.
“Clear out that tavern,” Shao Ping Bo instructed, pointing to a tavern by the shore.
Niu You Dao looked that way and saw a tavern that stood half on the shore and half over the water. Apparently, this establishment was quite high-class.
Very quickly, the guests were ushered out of the tavern, and now few were allowed entry. However, as the designated chef, Niu You Dao naturally could enter.
Shao Ping Bo and Tang Yi entered, immediately heading to a picturesque viewing platform.
Niu You Dao followed them, only to be immediately directed to the kitchen. It seemed Shao Ping Bo genuinely intended to use him as a cook.
The tavern was indeed quite sizable. In the kitchen, five or six chefs greeted Niu You Dao, cupping their hands respectfully:
“May we inquire from where this esteemed friend hails?”
They had suddenly been told that a renowned chef was coming and that they were to assist him. Thus, they were quite uncomfortable at the moment, yet they addressed him as if requesting instruction.
“To hell with this! He really brought me here to cook!” Niu You Dao cursed silently. He, too, felt uneasy. He had just reunited with Tang Yi, and now he was expected to prepare food while she and Shao Ping Bo exchanged pleasantries?
“What’s next? Am I to serve delicacies to this *sweet* pair myself?”
Clang!
Niu You Dao suddenly drew his sword and pointed it at them, causing the head chef’s eyes to flicker.
“...” The head chef froze. He immediately turned and ordered the others to step back.
Niu You Dao sheathed his sword and looked at the cultivator standing behind him:
“The kitchen is a restricted area. Leave.”
The cultivator replied, “Since when has the kitchen become a restricted area?”
Niu You Dao said, “We are employing a secret method. If you don't follow the rules, you won't eat.”
“...” The cultivator, left with no choice, slowly retreated.
“Wait!” Niu You Dao called out again.
“Bring me the Four Treasures of the Scholar.”
The cultivator stopped and asked:
“Why would the Four Treasures of the Scholar be needed in a kitchen?”
Niu You Dao replied, “I’ll write down the missing ingredients. Go buy them and bring them back.”
The cultivator left, while Niu You Dao surveyed what was in the kitchen.
The cultivator quickly returned with the writing implements.
Dipping the brush in ink, Niu You Dao wrote down several dozens of seasonings on the paper. He shook the paper dry and handed it to the cultivator:
“Go buy them!”
The cultivator looked at the paper and left.
Black Peony and the others exchanged bewildered glances. They couldn't understand why Niu You Dao had written down so many items.
“Don’t look where you shouldn’t,” Niu You Dao said, glancing at them, which prompted Black Peony and the others to immediately withdraw.
He took another sheet of paper and wrote something else on it. After the paper dried, he tore it off and put it away.
The cultivator walked directly from the kitchen to the viewing platform, presented the list to Shao Ping Bo, and said:
“These are all medicinal ingredients.”
Tang Yi, standing nearby, listened attentively and looked at the list.
Shao Ping Bo looked at the list, then asked:
“Last time we ate, were all these in the dish?”
The cultivator replied, “Yes. I recall seeing ginger and garlic then.”
Shao Ping Bo returned the list and said:
“Get everything on the list.”
A person who shouldn't have entered the kitchen did so. It was Tang Su Su, her face taut with tension, who walked in.
“Lord Dao!” Black Peony exclaimed.
Niu You Dao, who had been standing by the window looking out, slowly turned and leaned on his sword. He gave her a strained smile, as if in mockery.
The two exchanged glances, and Tang Su Su spoke with displeasure:
“Why have you come here?”
Niu You Dao retorted, “Where I go, does it concern you?”
Tang Su Su challenged, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
Niu You Dao scoffed, “You’ve tried to kill me more than once or twice already. Did you succeed? This time, you won’t kill me either!” Seeing Tang Su Su’s anger begin to rise, he added:
“What? Do you wish to attack? You know what Dong Guo Hao Ran left me. You can attack once or twice, but you won’t be able to kill me. You’ll only stir up trouble. And then, I can reveal many things to save my own life. I’ll tell what concerns Tang Yi. And then we’ll see how disgraced the Supreme Purity Sect becomes!”
Tang Su Su glared fiercely at him.
“Calm down. You are shameless, but I am not!” Niu You Dao pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to her:
“Black does not mix with white. Nothing binds me to the Supreme Purity Sect. If you start bothering me again, then I will destroy the Supreme Purity Sect!”
Tang Su Su took the sheet, unfolded it, and was stunned. She raised her head and looked at Niu You Dao with a complex gaze. Then, nodding, she said:
“Very well! If it is as you say, then from now on, the Supreme Purity Sect will not trouble you!”
Niu You Dao responded, “Hold to your word!”
Tang Su Su turned and left, while Niu You Dao turned back to the window.
Black Peony and the others exchanged glances. They wondered, could the Head of the Supreme Purity Sect truly be Lord Dao's wife?
“Lord Dao!” Black Peony called out to him again.
Niu You Dao turned, already speechless. He saw Su Po entering.
The two exchanged glances, and Niu You Dao said, “I’ve already said everything to Tang Su Su.”
Su Po looked at him with a complex expression. He had just seen the sheet of paper Tang Su Su received. He glanced around, looking at Black Peony and the others. Then he asked:
“May we speak in private?”
Niu You Dao stated, “They are my people.”
Su Po sighed and said:
“Actually, you shouldn’t take everything so harshly. The Head does everything for the sake of the sect. It's not easy for a woman to manage a sect. Shao Ping Bo wields immense influence over Shao Deng Yun. Some things are difficult to explain. Some things are not as they appear. There is nothing between the Head and Shao Ping Bo. I hope you won’t misunderstand everything.”
Niu You Dao furrowed his brow; he wasn’t interested in any of it. However, the news that Shao Ping Bo heavily influenced Shao Deng Yun suddenly struck him. It meant his suspicions had been correct. His own conjecture sent a shiver down his spine.
Su Po continued:
“You probably don’t know. The Head has long publicly announced that she is... your wife. The Head ordered us to find you once the situation stabilized. She has already put the sect in order and has now sent people to inform you! The Supreme Purity Sect has passed through a critical moment; there’s no longer any need to treat you as before. This is our fault... the elders’. We will apologize to you for the past somehow. Please, return!”
Niu You Dao sneered and said:
“I understand what needed to be understood!”
Su Po pressed, “If not for us, then at least for your master’s sake?”
Niu You Dao replied, “It is precisely out of respect for my master that I haven’t settled scores with you. Elder Su, all of that is in the past. Now, each of us has our own path.”
Su Po wanted to continue, but Niu You Dao cut him off with a raised hand.
Su Po could only sigh and say:
“How is Wei Duo?”
Niu You Dao replied, “I don’t know. Elder Su, do not trouble me further. That is enough.” He waved his hand, signaling him to leave.
Black Peony and the others approached, subtly forcing Su Po to exit.
At that moment, horsemen arrived at the tavern. All of them were in armor. Several dismounted and strode purposefully towards the viewing platform.
Seeing this, Tang Yi seized the opportunity to exit. Tang Su Su immediately beckoned her over and, handing her the paper, whispered:
“Head, it is done.”
Tang Yi unfolded the paper, looked at it, and involuntarily bit her lip. She cast an icy gaze upon her grandmother:
“Did you force him?”
Their relationship had already weakened. Tang Su Su, having lost her authority, could no longer regain her power. And Tang Yi, having weathered life’s many hardships, was no longer the obedient Tang Yi of old. She had firmly taken the reins of leadership into her own hands, especially now that the danger had passed!
From a certain perspective, this was precisely what Tang Su Su had wanted.
Tang Su Su rolled her eyes:
“Head, you are unfairly accusing me. The moment we met, he immediately handed this to me. It seems he had prepared everything in advance. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”
“Where is he?” Tang Yi asked.
Tang Su Su replied, “In the kitchen!”
Without a word, Tang Yi immediately headed in that direction.
Because people kept coming into the kitchen, Niu You Dao ordered Black Peony to close the door.
Black Peony and the others pondered what was happening.
It seemed Niu You Dao had quite a complicated history with these people.
Tang Yi, nonetheless, entered the kitchen.
Niu You Dao and the others turned their heads.
Seeing Niu You Dao holding a knife and carving meat, images immediately flooded Tang Yi’s mind: their wedding when they bowed to the heavens together, their first bridal night, the scenery beneath the peach tree!
The Supreme Purity Sect also hadn’t anticipated that Shang Chao Zong would rise so dramatically. They had already received news that Shang Chao Zong had taken Qingshan.
Of course, they had also learned that Niu You Dao had killed the Yan Kingdom’s envoy, and that after this, Chao Zong had severed ties with Niu You Dao. Tang Yi hadn’t imagined that Niu You Dao, once lazily lounging beneath the peach tree, would be capable of shaking the very heavens with his deeds! Now, the Yan Kingdom would likely never let him go!
That was likely why he had changed his name. How many hardships had he endured? A sadness bloomed in Tang Yi’s heart as she watched him, disguised as a chef, slice meat.
She slowly approached him and quietly asked:
“After you descended the mountain, was everything well?”
Black Peony and the others stealthily watched them. It seemed to them that an excellent drama was unfolding before their eyes!
“Thanks to Head Tang, everything is well!” Niu You Dao replied with a smile. He put down the knife and, with greasy hands, gestured towards the door for Tang Yi:
“This is a place for humble and lowly people like us. It’s not fitting for such a noble Head Tang to be here. You had best return to your seat. The food will be ready soon, and we will bring it all to you and Master Shao.”