Huang Dou and Ling Hu froze. They pondered for a moment, then nodded.
Huang Dou suddenly smiled and said:
— Young Master, it seems he saw you courting Tang Yi and, in a fit of pique, set fire to the tavern.
Shao Ping Bo: You underestimate him. If such a man harbored feelings for Tang Yi, he would have found a way to take her with him. But he calmly abandoned her. From this, we can conclude that she holds no interest for him whatsoever. The reason probably lies with the Supreme Purity Sect. It is said that feminine beauty can ruin heroes. Especially since they are bound by marriage. Tang Yi is so beautiful that one could be blinded by her beauty. Yet he still abandoned her, even knowing I was courting her. This indicates that Tang Yi's beauty holds no sway over him. He is extremely rational and cool-headed... which means he is very dangerous!
He slowly stood up:
— So young, yet already so capable. In the future, he could become a truly great man. Such individuals cannot be left alone!
Ling Hu: Our men have already set off for the capital!
Shao Ping Bo: That's precisely it. Recall them. He has a false identity; they won't find him.
The two men nodded.
Huang Dou: Young Master, to eliminate him, we must first find him. Our Beizhou's forces are weak, and the world is vast. I don't know where he went. Catching him will be quite difficult.
— Why did he come to the Han Kingdom? — Shao Ping Bo suddenly asked them, yet at the same time, questioned himself. He fell into deep thought, pacing back and forth across the hall.
Huang Dou and Ling Hu exchanged bewildered glances. They had no idea what demon had led this fellow to the Han Kingdom.
After a while, Shao Ping Bo slowly said:
— There's one place he might have gone. I'm just not certain.
Huang Dou and Ling Hu asked in surprise: Where?
Shao Ping Bo turned around:
— When I asked him why Zhuge Xiong sent him to the capital, what did he answer then?
The two men exchanged glances. Hadn't he just said that Niu You Dao likely didn't go to the capital? And now what?
However, they had long since realized that this man was quite shrewd. So Huang Dou replied:
— I remember him saying that his business was related to postal stations. He said that Zhuge Xiong was supposed to send detailed information on the matter. What do you think?
Ling Hu nodded:
— Young Master said that Beizhou had received news regarding the Yan Kingdom's spies through the postal service. Beizhou cannot tolerate Yan Kingdom spies under its nose, so we helped the imperial court clean things up. Outwardly, everything seemed calm, yet for the Yan Kingdom, it was a heavy blow. Their intelligence network lost many people.
Shao Ping Bo stood before them: He said that Zhuge Xiong sent him to the capital of the Han Kingdom. Do you think he could have deceived me then?
Ling Hu immediately replied:
— Unlikely. He already knew your position and wouldn't dare deceive you about their intelligence. If he had provided false information and you discovered it, he would have been killed immediately. He wouldn't have taken such a risk.
Shao Ping Bo: That's the crucial point. Even I didn't know that all the information originated from Zhuge Xiong in the capital... After all, this is an interstate secret, and its confidentiality is normal. But how did Niu You Dao learn about it? How did he know that all the information came from Zhuge Xiong? Zhuge Xiong wouldn't just spread this around, would he?
Huang Dou and Ling Hu fell into thought.
Shao Ping Bo tapped his finger:
— When we received news from the capital, at the same time, Yan Kingdom spies surfaced, and then we encountered Niu You Dao. These three events are somehow interconnected!
Ling Hu seemed to realize something, then said:
— Niu You Dao killed the Yan Kingdom's envoy. The Yan Kingdom became enraged and placed its people in every postal station to find him! In all kingdoms!
Shao Ping Bo nodded slightly:
— That's why he knew the secret information.
Huang Dou: Perhaps he even reported it to Zhuge Xiong!
Shao Ping Bo: He didn't just contact Zhuge Xiong; he most likely also contacted all the envoys of the Zhao Kingdom. When he killed the Yan Kingdom's envoy, all the other envoys were there. They know him, so it was not difficult for him to convey this to them. And for every state, the troubles of a neighbor are a cause for joy. Therefore, they immediately decided to simultaneously strike at the Yan Kingdom's spies.
Ling Hu chuckled and said:
— This must all be Niu You Dao's doing. The Yan Kingdom wanted to attack him, so he retaliated!
Shao Ping Bo clasped his hands behind his back and said with a sigh:
— With a counter-strike, he tore apart the Yan Kingdom's network. Even the Yan Kingdom suffered losses because of him. And you dare underestimate him?
Ling Hu immediately stopped laughing. The two men became serious. Now they understood why the Young Master called Niu You Dao a dangerous man!
Now they understood why the Young Master was so wary of him. And this fellow now holds a grudge against their master. It seems the Young Master will have a hard time now!
Huang Dou said doubtfully: Young Master, so where did he go?
Shao Ping Bo slowly walked back to his seat and sat down:
— Is all this really unrelated? He knows the Yan Kingdom is now hunting him. Where do you think would be the safest place for him?
Huang Dou: Either disguise himself and hide somewhere, or return to Shang Chao Zong.
Shao Ping Bo: But he didn't do that. Not only did he hide. On the contrary, he fled to the Han Kingdom. But for what purpose?
Huang Dou and Ling Hu didn't know what to say.
— Despite the risk, he still dared to come. This means he has business here! And if we look at all this from above, we can understand. What happened in Qingzhou was definitely not a coincidence. We already know his capabilities. And everything that happened in Qingzhou was not accidental. The alliance between Shang Chao Zong and Qingzhou, the borrowing of Qingzhou's troops, Shang Chao Zong's rise... 90% of it is Niu You Dao's doing.
— Father said that the veterans of Ning Wang Shang Jian Bo are well-disposed towards Shang Chao Zong. I also heard that Ning Wang had relations with the ruler of Qingzhou, Hai Ru Yue, back then. But Ning Wang is dead, and it's unlikely that past sentiments alone could sway Hai Ru Yue to his side. Moreover, Hai Ru Yue has to consider Qingzhou. She couldn't just take her troops and give them to Shang Chao Zong for help. Otherwise, she would lose control over Qingzhou.
To tell the truth, Shang Chao Zong's power is weak, and Hai Ru Yue couldn't support him merely for that reason. Persuading Hai Ru Yue was difficult. That's why Niu You Dao appeared there. And with his abilities, it wasn't difficult. Thus, what many did not expect came to pass. The vast Qingzhou formed an alliance with Shang Chao Zong's small county.
— Why did Hai Ru Yue give away her troops? If we look at the circumstances again. Niu You Dao formed an alliance, Shang Chao Zong achieved victory, but he did not return to Shang Chao Zong; instead, he fled the Yan Kingdom and went to the Han Kingdom. This is not normal!
— If we compare the time and distance, all these circumstances can mean one thing. The answer lies precisely in the Han Kingdom.
Ling Hu: Why did Niu You Dao come to the Han Kingdom?!
Huang Dou nodded.
Shao Ping Bo: What does Hai Ru Yue need in the Han Kingdom? What can't an ordinary person or an ordinary cultivator do? Neither Shang Chao Zong nor Hai Ru Yue's cultivators went to the Han Kingdom, but Niu You Dao did. This means the task he was sent for is not easily accomplished.
— Thinking about this, I recalled something. Hai Ru Yue's son seemed to be suffering from a strange illness, which he inherited from his father!
Ling Hu: Cloud Sky Slow Path!
Huang Dou: Red Yang Fruit!
The two men spoke simultaneously. Although they said different things, they meant the same thing.
Hai Ru Yue retains people not because of her beauty, but because her power officially rests in her son's hands.
Shao Ping Bo: In that case, there's a possibility that Niu You Dao went to the Great Snow Mountain at the Ice and Snow Palace. He wants to obtain the Red Yang Fruit!
— This.... Huang Dou said doubtfully:
— Hai Ru Yue's status wasn't enough to obtain this fruit, so how will he succeed?
Shao Ping Bo: This is precisely why I'm doubtful. After all, he hasn't obtained the fruit yet, so why did Hai Ru Yue dispatch her troops? Could I be mistaken? And Niu You Dao didn't go to the Han Kingdom for this?
Ling Hu: No matter whether it's true or not, if there's an opportunity, we must send people to eliminate him. We will send our men.
Shao Ping Bo shook his head: This matter must be handled differently. Now, I have a request for you gentlemen. The two of you yourselves witnessed the reason for the children's rhyme's appearance. I ask you to explain all the sorrow of Dachang.
— All right! — Both agreed. They exchanged glances. They understood that these rhymes would already give them a headache.
When they left, Shao Ping Bo thought for a moment, then looked at Shao San Sheng, who stood silently to the side.
— Children are disobedient, and adults are helpless with them. Send people to deal with this matter. Let them make a terrifying example. And then we will drown out this rumor with another rumor!
Although he knew it would be difficult to prevent the spread of the rhyme, he still wanted to hinder its spread across the entire world!