A few people headed into the forest and quickly fled through the mountainous terrain.
This was precisely why Niu You Dao had chosen this mountainous terrain. If they had fled across the plains, they would have been easily spotted. But here, pursuing them was quite difficult.
Several figures rushed along the river. Tang Yi and the others headed into the mountains and also began searching everywhere for them. However, it was already difficult for them to find Niu You Dao's tracks.
Moreover, two cultivators appeared right beside them. Yet, they noticed that the three individuals hadn't found Niu You Dao. There was nothing to be done; they all started searching for the fugitives together. In the end, they couldn't figure out which direction Niu You Dao and the others had fled, or where they might be hiding...
Twilight descended, and lanterns lit up in the small town by the river. Shao Ping Bo remained in a manor for the time being.
After he had received the officials, the cultivators who had pursued Niu You Dao returned to him:
"Senior Master, they fled in an unknown direction. It will be difficult to find them in the dark now."
Shao Ping Bo looked at them and realized that they would no longer be able to find Zhang San.
"The world is vast. Who knows where they went. There's no need to continue the search; let everyone return. First, we need to find out who was with us. One cannot contend against an unknown foe. First, contact Zhuge Xiong and find out everything about this Zhang San. Then, send a group of people to the capital; let them wait at the gates for him. If you see them, don't hesitate; eliminate them immediately."
"Understood!" the cultivators replied.
After the search in the mountains, Tang Yi and the others returned to their courtyard.
A single Little Moon butterfly fluttered above the table, illuminating everything. Tang Yi sat nearby, deeply troubled.
She hadn't expected Niu You Dao to depart so decisively, even setting the tavern ablaze before leaving. This was quite ruthless and utterly unlike the lazy young man who had lived under the peach tree.
Back then, in the Supreme Purity Sect, she had often felt ashamed around Niu You Dao. She was constantly embarrassed by him. But who could have known that today he would suddenly appear and then just as suddenly depart.
Beyond the shame, she also felt a sense of duty towards him, as her husband. She couldn't simply ignore everything. After all, she was a woman, and Niu You Dao's behavior today had sown a seed of unease in her heart.
She had also noticed changes within herself, for today she had drawn closer to him. Normally, she wouldn't allow herself to get close to any man, but today she had approached him of her own accord and even whispered with him, forgetting all inhibitions. Only now, recalling everything, did she realize she had permitted herself things she had never allowed before.
The last time they drank wedding cups of wine, Niu You Dao was not yet taller than her. It had all seemed quite absurd to her then. But this time, when they were at such a close distance, she noticed that this young man was no longer that short fellow, but had already become a man.
During Niu You Dao's five years in the Supreme Purity Sect, they had rarely met.
He had fled without even bidding her farewell. From this, she could tell that while she might not be repulsive to him, she certainly wasn't endearing either. Though she could understand him, for the Supreme Purity Sect had certainly wronged him enough.
Now Niu You Dao had changed and become a man. Did he have women there? Were there those he liked, or those who liked him? She no longer had the right to say anything to him.
The Little Moon butterfly fluttered above the table, illuminating everything. It lit up the enchanting silhouette of the girl lost in her thoughts...
Without horses, not daring to take the main roads, the travelers moved through remote areas.
Black Peony and the others didn't understand why Lord Dao was so afraid of Shao Ping Bo. It seemed he hadn't done anything to them yet.
They raced wildly through the entire night until the first rays of dawn illuminated the horizon. They stopped in a mountainous area, each of them exhausted like a cornered dog. At this moment, any Lian Qi cultivator could have killed them with a single palm strike.
Acting like this was extremely dangerous. Who knew what lurked here? What if some shapeshifter or evil spirit was hiding in the mountains and attacked them? Then they would be in trouble.
"It's unlikely they'll find us. Everyone, rest." Niu You Dao waved a hand, then sat down, tucking his legs beneath him.
Black Peony and the others sat down. They took out spiritual pills and began to recover quickly. When the bright sun was high in the sky, everyone had recovered. Their vital energy returned to normal. They had run all night and didn't know how far or where they had fled.
They spread out, searching for a road. Then they found someone along the way and only then learned that they were in Qin An County.
They took out a map and, estimating by it, realized they had traveled over 800 li overnight.
Niu You Dao looked at the map and seemed lost in thought.
Black Peony asked him:
"Lord Dao, where do we go next?"
Although they had already endured many hardships, throughout their journey they had realized that Niu You Dao was constantly heading north. However, he still hadn't told them where they were going.
Niu You Dao: "Next, we'll split up!"
"Split up?" Duan Hu reminded him:
"Lord Dao, the Shao family possesses a mighty army. And although it relies on the Han Kingdom, their relationship isn't very good, and they won't leave the borders of Beizhou. We are already so far from Beizhou. They don't know where we went. Everything should be fine."
He hinted to Niu You Dao that there was no longer a need to be so cautious.
The others also nodded. Perhaps they shouldn't separate.
Niu You Dao: "You've overthought it. There's something I need to do."
So that was it? The few people looked at him, awaiting instructions.
Niu You Dao closed his eyes, as if pondering something. Then he opened them, walked across the ground, then swept his sleeve and began sketching something on the earth.
The few people watched his scribbling, as Niu You Dao slowly enunciated:
"Prince of Beizhou, Prince of Beizhou, just one sugar lump, one sugar lump..."
The few people repeated it, not understanding. What the hell?
Then they continued to read:
Above, powerless; below, helpless; two more sugar lumps were added. False ruler Yun and true ruler Bo, now he has three sugar lumps. Bo Ping Shao, Bo Ping Shao, a house stocked with gold, and vaults filled with silver!
He finished writing. Niu You Dao hummed to himself, as if seeking the right cadence.
The few people looked at it all, as if they had understood something.
The Prince of Beizhou... isn't that Shao Deng Yun? Above is the Han Kingdom, below is the Yan Kingdom. False ruler Yun... is that Shao Deng Yun? True ruler Bo... is that Shao Ping Bo? Bo Ping Shao... is that a play on names?
After reading and processing it all, they could understand that Shao Deng Yun, who was considered the ruler of Beizhou, was beneath the Han Kingdom, which could do nothing against him. And below was the helpless Yan Kingdom. Only, Shao Deng Yun was merely a puppet, and the true ruler was none other than Shao Ping Bo. And the person who could control Shao Deng Yun was precisely Shao Ping Bo.
At this realization, sweat broke out on the foreheads of the few people. They exchanged glances. What did this mean?
Niu You Dao stood before them and began to sing in the proper tune:
"Prince of Beizhou, Prince of Beizhou, just one sugar lump, one sugar lump. Above, powerless; below, helpless; two more sugar lumps were added. False ruler Yun and true ruler Bo, now he has three sugar lumps. Bo Ping Shao, Bo Ping Shao, a house stocked with gold, and vaults filled with silver!"
After Niu You Dao had sung it twice, he asked them:
"Have you memorized it?"
Black Peony said with a smile: "We've memorized it, yes. But what's it for? It sounds rather childish, doesn't it?"
Niu You Dao smiled: "Smart. Precisely children's songs. This will be your task. Divide yourselves and each visit 10 counties. In every town, teach these songs to the children, and have them sing them in the alleys."
— ... The few people understood his scheme. This would surely reach Beizhou and put the father and son in an awkward position!
The few people looked at Niu You Dao as if he were a demon. He was truly setting Shao Ping Bo up for a fall!
The few people sighed. Shao Ping Bo could have looked at anyone, but not Lord Dao's wife! Lord Dao had prepared this plan meticulously. What a cunning scheme!
It had been said since ancient times that feminine beauty possessed a destructive power. And so, Shao Ping Bo had brought trouble upon his own head!
Black Peony reminded him:
"Lord Dao, do you truly wish to provoke Shao Ping Bo? After this, won't Shao Ping Bo be restless until he kills us?"
Niu You Dao: "Do you think that if I don't provoke him, he won't provoke you either? In any case, he will be looking for me. In such a situation, it's better to seize the initiative first and gain the upper hand. Even if I don't kill him, I can at least bind his hands and feet, weaken him, making it difficult for him to attack me."
"- In short, Shao Ping Bo's ambitions are not small. But if I tell you now, you still won't understand. There are some things that are difficult to describe in words. Perhaps you'll understand later. For now, there's no point in speaking too much. Do as you're told. Unfold the map!"
Niu You Dao looked at the map again and divided it into regions, so that each person could memorize their assigned area.
The few people arbitrarily picked a region for themselves.
"Alright, we'll decide it this way. We've divided the 4 regions; now, we'll meet again in the north at 9th Ridge County using the same method." Niu You Dao pointed out the location on the map and then asked everyone:
"Who among you will stay with me for company?"
Duan Hu, Wu San Liang, and Lei Zong Kang, as if by prior agreement, all pointed at Black Peony.
Black Peony froze, then giggled.
Niu You Dao was at a loss for words. It seemed they all believed there was something between him and Black Peony.