Yuan Fang now held immense faith in Niu You Dao.
The few people exchanged bewildered glances.
"So this was Niu You Dao's doing?"
Lan Ruo Ting asked:
"— Master, what exactly happened?"
"— Mmm..." Yuan Fang shook his head, indicating he wouldn't tell.
Shu Qing was already starting to get angry. "Where did this demon pick up such a habit! If you won't say B, don't say A! Why tease us like this?!"
Lan Ruo Ting, too, was losing his patience. The moment Yuan Fang had returned, he had questioned him about Niu You Dao. Yet, Yuan Fang had offered no answers. This demon wanted to boast, but held his tongue. It felt as if this demon had completely become Niu You Dao's man. He seemed to have forgotten how he once yearned to be the abbot of Southern Mountain Monastery, and how Yuan Gang used to beat him every day. It was as if all that had long faded from his memory.
And precisely because he was now Niu You Dao's man, they couldn't do anything to him. After all, they owed their current standing entirely to Niu You Dao.
Speaking of which, Lan Ruo Ting couldn't help but admire Niu You Dao. Comparing the demon he once was to the one now, in such a short span of time, Niu You Dao had clearly managed to conquer him so thoroughly that the demon was willing to serve him with sincere loyalty and devotion. Only Niu You Dao's age and his judgment utterly baffled Lan Ruo Ting. Where did Niu You Dao acquire such wisdom?
The bruised Chao Zong turned, intending to say something to Yuan Fang, but held his tongue.
At that moment, another bodyguard arrived from outside, presenting a note:
"— A secret message from the capital, from Liu Hao."
Yuan Fang didn't understand what was happening, but Chao Zong, Shu Qing, and Lan Ruo Ting knew that Liu Hao was a person Niu You Dao had arranged to be placed in the capital.
Lan Ruo Ting extended a hand, intending to take the message, but Shu Qing moved faster, snatching it first. Lan Ruo Ting paused his hand mid-air, observing Shu Qing's serious expression. Shu Qing's eyes flickered. Gazing at the message, she said gravely:
"— Lord Dao is in trouble." She then handed the message to Lan Ruo Ting.
Lan Ruo Ting scanned the message and passed it to Chao Zong.
Yuan Fang, hearing that Lord Dao was in trouble, also couldn't bear it and pleaded:
"— Prince, let me see."
A single glance made everything clear. The letter had originally been encrypted, but the message had already been decoded and delivered here. The message stated that Beizhou had informed the Song Family that Niu You Dao had gone to the Han Kingdom, to the Great Snow Mountain, to request the Red Yang Fruit from the Ice and Snow Palace. Song Jiu Ming now intended to use the Liuxiang Sect to kill Niu You Dao!
"— What do we do now? What do we do now?" Yuan Fang panicked upon seeing the letter.
Shu Qing asked, "So Lord Dao truly went for the Red Yang Fruit?"
Yuan Fang replied agitatedly, "Lord Dao promised Hai Ru Yue!"
Lan Ruo Ting sighed, saying, "A word worth a thousand gold. Truly a man of his word!"
They had already received a report from Fang Zhe and knew the terms of Niu You Dao and Hai Ru Yue's negotiations. Now, in essence, the Red Yang Fruit wasn't as critical. After all, Niu You Dao had arranged for them to help Chao Zong rebuild the mighty Wuli and Yinyang Guards.
That was why Hai Ru Yue had begun preparing for the consequences of her son's death beforehand. She didn't have much faith that Niu You Dao could actually obtain the Red Yang Fruit. Consequently, they weren't certain if Niu You Dao had truly gone for the Red Yang Fruit, as the matter had become secondary. Even without the Red Yang Fruit, the alliance between Hai Ru Yue and Chao Zong remained effective!
Yuan Fang interjected, "What do you mean by that? Of course, Lord Dao is true to his word! Do you even know that Lord Dao is doing all this for your sakes?! When they were speaking with Hai Ru Yue, I was there myself and heard everything clearly. After the successful negotiations, I personally urged Lord Dao to leave and not seek trouble. Do you know what he told me?"
Lan Ruo Ting asked, "What?"
Yuan Fang explained, "Lord Dao said, 'When will the Wuli and Yinyang Guards be reformed? And Xiao Tian Cheng's illness is severe.' He examined him himself and said that Xiao Tian Cheng wouldn't last long. If he dies, Hai Ru Yue will be in an awkward position. If Qingzhou changes hands, it will also affect the Prince... That's why he went for the Red Yang Fruit. Do you even know how many troubles and dangers he encountered on his journey? You don't know how many times he had to face assassins. You don't know how much blood he shed and how many he killed for your sakes! Lord Dao did all this for your Shang family. You have no right to stand by and watch as danger approaches him!"
Though the bear exaggerated a little, he was largely speaking the truth.
He had his own reasons to worry. He had now realized that his future was inextricably linked with Niu You Dao. He knew perfectly well that if anything were to happen to Lord Dao, it was unknown how they would treat him here. He was still a demon. And this demon turned out to be a clever bear!
Even if he returned to his Southern Mountain, to that desolate place, now that he had seen a part of the world and learned how interesting and unique it could be, would he really want to go back to that uninhabited place?
After his words, Shu Qing's eyes reddened, and she began biting her lips!
Chao Zong, his face bruised and blue, stood up, forgetting his pain, and said to Yuan Fang:
"— Abbot..." He then quickly corrected himself:
"— Master, do not worry. We certainly won't stand by idly! I just don't understand how Beizhou learned of Niu You Dao's plan? And why did the Shao Family begin acting against Niu You Dao?"
Yuan Fang immediately spread his hands. "I was in the Zhao Kingdom when I parted ways with Lord Dao. How would I know what happened in the Han Kingdom?"
Shu Qing said doubtfully:
"— The Supreme Purity Sect in Beizhou. Perhaps they influenced the Shao Family there? Could it be related to them?" She clearly remembered that Tang Yi was Niu You Dao's official wife, so she quickly made the connection.
The others also recalled how the Supreme Purity Sect had treated Lord Dao. All of them had witnessed how the Supreme Purity Sect tried to kill Lord Dao on Southern Mountain.
"— A fine Supreme Purity Sect, indeed! You shouldn't provoke a poor monk, or else I'll start killing..." Yuan Fang cursed, then immediately clasped his hands together. "Buddha Amitabha..."
After returning to the monks, he increasingly reminded himself that he was a monk.
"— Even Hai Ru Yue couldn't acquire that item..." Lan Ruo Ting murmured with a sigh.
Shu Qing said, "Lord Dao is no simple man. If he went there, it means he has his own plan. Now is not the time for talk. Brother, ask the Heavenly Jade Sect for help."
They couldn't do anything themselves here; they could only request the Heavenly Jade Sect's assistance. Shang Chao Zong nodded, and he and the group headed towards Bai Yao.
Under a tree, Bai Yao stood examining a leaf. He turned and spoke in a cold tone:
"— Even Hai Ru Yue couldn't achieve her desire, so what makes him think he can waltz in there?"
Lan Ruo Ting clasped his hands. "Lord Bai, it's all because Xiao Tian Cheng's health is precarious. If anything happens to him, Hai Ru Yue's control will be questioned, and that would be detrimental to us and to the Heavenly Jade Sect. Niu You Dao is doing all this for the sake of the Heavenly Jade Sect."
Bai Yao sank into thought, while everyone watched him intently. He then slowly said:
"— The main question is, do you know where he went? And where is he now? The world is vast. He could have gone anywhere. You don't even have a connection to him. The Heavenly Jade Sect can only notify the Ice and Snow Palace."
Lan Ruo Ting asked, "Can we ask the Ice and Snow Palace to assist?"
Bai Yao countered, "And how? Does the Heavenly Jade Sect dare to announce that it's helping him? All kingdoms and all sects have their rules. Where one heats the cauldron, one uses those logs. He dared to kill an envoy of the Yan Kingdom, and you dare to say you're connected to him? And you still want to ask the Ice and Snow Palace to cooperate with you? This fellow is so audacious that he even dared to kill an envoy of the Yan Kingdom. It's best if the Ice and Snow Palace doesn't know we're still in contact with him..."
9th Ridge County. Hei Mudan and the others rode out of the city and stopped at the foot of a mountain in the suburbs.
Not far away, the sound of hooves echoed. It was Niu You Dao, who had ridden up quickly. He halted before the riders.
Duan Hu, Wu San Liang, and Lei Zong Kang smiled. They had finally reunited. All clasped their hands and greeted:
"— Lord Dao!"
Niu You Dao offered a faint smile and, turning, said:
"— Let's go."
The five riders set off on the road once more.
As they rode beyond the borders of 9th Ridge County, the temperature gradually began to drop.
They rode further and further, and the temperature continued to plummet. In time, snow began to fall. At first, it was a fine dusting, but as they advanced, the layer of snow grew thicker and thicker. At the post stations, they also changed horses, choosing those with dense, thick coats.
Suddenly, a fierce, biting wind swept through. Before the riders, a vast area enclosed by a fence appeared. It was a post station.
When they reached the post station, they noticed that it was unlike any they had encountered before. It was a single-story building, with a thick layer of snow blanketing its roof.
Our travelers dismounted their horses and led them into the stable themselves. Inside the stable, a groom was shoveling coal, its black gleam contrasting against the snow.
Lei Zong Kang and Duan Hu entered the room, checked everything, and then nodded to the steadily standing Niu You Dao. Then Hei Mudan approached Niu You Dao, removed his thick cloak, and together with a composed Niu You Dao, they stepped inside.