The Liuxiang Sect disciples didn't understand who he was talking about. What Lord Dao? However, when they saw Duan Hu and the others, they immediately understood. He was talking about Niu You Dao!
Everyone came out, at a loss for words. Cui Yuan also emerged and saw Duan Hu and the others. They had seen him before. Now, he felt utterly uncomfortable. It seemed that not only Niu You Dao, but also these rogue cultivators, needed to be eliminated.
"What's going on?" Hearing the commotion, Wu Shao Huang strode out and asked loudly. He saw the overturned counter and a bloody disciple in a semi-conscious state. This immediately enraged him.
Xiao Tie approached and whispered a few words to Wu Shao Huang and Li Guang, the two elders.
Wu Shao Huang's expression shifted, and he stepped forward.
"We do not know any Lord Dao," Wu Shao Huang declared before everyone.
Yuan Gang calmly replied, "Niu You Dao!"
Wu Shao Huang asked, "Who are you?" He was wary of Yuan Gang, wondering if he might be someone from the Ice and Snow Palace.
Yuan Gang: "Let the person in charge here step out. Everyone else, disperse."
Wu Shao Huang glanced around:
"I am in charge here."
Yuan Gang: "Lord Dao invites you. Follow us to the Rainbow Inn."
Wu Shao Huang felt a bad premonition. He didn't know the relationship between Niu You Dao and the Ice and Snow Palace, so he didn't dare to be arrogant, yet he also didn't want to appear weak before his disciples. Thus, he retorted displeased, "You struck my disciple. How do you intend to resolve this?"
Yuan Gang: "First, you follow us. Afterward, you may demand an accounting. I will not evade my debts."
In this way, he showed respect to Wu Shao Huang in front of his disciples. In such matters, Yuan Gang knew how to act. He knew when to be gentle and when to be firm. That's why Niu You Dao had instructed him to come here personally. Because others wouldn't be able to "invite" them in such a manner, but Yuan Gang could flexibly demonstrate his strength to everyone.
Hei Mudan and the others were already accustomed to the scornful looks of others, and now they simply didn't have the guts to call everyone out like this. Should anyone raise their voice or exert pressure on them, Hei Mudan and the others would likely hide in the bushes.
But Yuan Gang was different.
It was precisely this small difference that created a large gap between them.
The group exited the shop once more. Wu San Liang led Wu Shao Huang towards the inn, while Yuan Gang and the others continued onward.
"Gentlemen..."
An employee from the Flowing Clouds Sect's shop greeted Yuan Gang and the others. But Yuan Gang suddenly kicked him, sending him flying back, coughing up blood.
Not just the shop employees, but even Duan Hu and Wei Duo felt sweat break out on their foreheads. Had this fellow decided to beat all the employees to death like this?
Few knew that it was precisely these three sects that had been pursuing Niu You Dao. That was why Yuan Gang was so ruthless with them.
"Who is it?"
"Lord Dao invites you!"
The head of the Flowing Clouds Sect's shop emerged. Yuan Gang left Duan Hu with him. Duan Hu then showed Cao Heng the way...
Lei Zong Kang brought Mei Shi Kai to the Rainbow Inn. Mei Shi Kai finally saw the upper floor of the inn, a place usually inaccessible. He also knew that only honored guests of the Ice and Snow Palace were accommodated here.
Niu You Dao's room doors were closed, with Hei Mudan pacing back and forth outside. Meanwhile, Niu You Dao sat inside the room, eyes closed, lost in thought.
Lei Zong Kang introduced Mei Shi Kai to Hei Mudan.
"Please wait a moment!" Hei Mudan said with a smile, then entered the room and whispered into Niu You Dao's ear:
"Lord Dao, the manager of the Dachang Mountain shop, Mei Shi Kai, has arrived."
Niu You Dao hummed, and Hei Mudan beckoned them in. Lei Zong Kang and Mei Shi Kai stepped inside.
Mei Shi Kai immediately cupped his hands and greeted, "Brother Niu, were you looking for me?"
Niu You Dao slowly opened his eyes and replied, "I heard that Dachang Mountain intends to kill me?"
Mei Shi Kai was stunned. He had mentally prepared himself for the conversation, but he hadn't expected Niu You Dao to speak so directly and unexpectedly.
"How can that be? Dachang Mountain bears no animosity towards Brother Niu You Dao. Why would Brother Niu think so?"
Niu You Dao: "Are you in charge of Dachang Mountain's affairs?"
Mei Shi Kai replied with a smile, "I am only responsible for the shop's operations in this city. But how could I be the sect master?" On this matter, he dared not take responsibility.
Niu You Dao: "It seems Manager Mei knows little. Very well, let's do this. Send word for the head of Dachang Mountain to come to the Ice and Snow Palace."
Mei Shi Kai grew serious: "I can send this message, but whether he arrives or not—that I cannot guarantee."
Niu You Dao: "No matter. Manager Mei can stay in the inn as a guest for now. Once the head arrives, then I will release you."
Mei Shi Kai frowned and replied, "What does this mean?"
Niu You Dao: "Nothing. Just be my esteemed guest. You are not the master in this matter, so there is nothing for you to worry about."
Mei Shi Kai asked gravely, "What if I refuse to stay?"
Niu You Dao: "I would not wish for you to be killed the moment you step out of the inn."
Mei Shi Kai's lips trembled. Both men stared intently into each other's eyes.
"If it's not your concern, then there's no need to invite trouble upon yourself. Let your sect head resolve this matter." Niu You Dao took a sip of tea, then tilted his head and instructed Lei Zong Kang:
"Escort Manager Mei to your room to rest. Afterward, inform his people to send someone to Manager Mei."
"Understood!" Lei Zong Kang replied. He approached Mei Shi Kai and asked him to follow.
Sweat beaded on Hei Mudan's forehead. Now, Dachang Mountain too? What was he planning to do?
Not long after, Wu San Liang brought Wu Shao Huang. The situation repeated itself with him. Niu You Dao was leveraging the authority of the Ice and Snow Palace.
Later, Cao Heng of the Floating Clouds Sect and Li Huo Yun of the Subtlety Mountain Sect arrived one after another. Niu You Dao released no one, placing them all under house arrest.
Hei Mudan was flustered: "Has Niu You Dao gone mad? Are these people idiots? Would their sect heads come just because you call them?"
"Lord Dao, you've seized these people. They might then contact the inn itself..." Hei Mudan offered him tea and reminded him.
Niu You Dao leaned back in his chair and watched as the sky outside the window began to darken.
"Mm. I know." Niu You Dao replied, continuing to gaze out the window.
Yuan Gang appeared in a flash, walked over, and looked in the direction Niu You Dao was staring. Then, turning his head, he said, "The climate here is unusual; it's constantly changing. There will likely be a blizzard tonight."
Niu You Dao smiled. It went without saying that with Yuan Gang by his side, many matters were resolved much more easily. Monkey immediately gathered information on everyone who held ill will towards him. Monkey kept an eye on everything. Niu You Dao had found things difficult all along, but when Monkey appeared, he immediately learned everything he needed. For example, the current situation of the Song family.
Hei Mudan, watching the two of them, was speechless. So much was happening here, yet these two acted as if nothing was amiss.
Displeased, she exited the room, and was immediately surrounded by Duan Hu and the others.
"How is it?" Duan Hu asked.
Hei Mudan: "How could it be? How should it be?"
Wu San Liang: "Peony, that Yuan Gang is truly ruthless. You know, when we entered each shop, he nearly beat unconscious the employee who greeted him at almost every one. So much so that they suffered severe injuries."
"Beat unconscious?" Hei Mudan was astonished.
Duan Hu, shaking his head, said: "Lord Dao, taking advantage of the situation, robbed their shops, but this one is even more audacious. He beat them bloody in broad daylight."
The three conversed in whispers. Hei Mudan even trembled. Why simply sit under house arrest when they were being attacked right in front of them!
The three discussed this, unsure of what awaited them in the future. And Hei Mudan, learning about Yuan Gang, changed her opinion of him...
"Manager Chu. Why is the Rainbow Inn apprehending and detaining people?"
Li Guang entered the main hall. He found Chu An Lou and asked.
Chu An Lou was at a loss for words. Not only the Liuxiang Sect, but also people from other sects had come with the same question. It was then that he learned that Huangdi Dao, in fact, was Niu You Dao, the one who had killed the Yan Kingdom's envoy.
"Manager Chu, I am a disciple of the Flowing Clouds Sect..." a disciple also entered the hall and found Chu An Lou.
"Gentlemen, please wait a moment. I will inquire about the situation." Chu An Lou stated, then immediately headed towards Niu You Dao.
When Niu You Dao saw him, he immediately put down his teacup and, cupping his hands, greeted him, "Manager Chu."
Chu An Lou spoke in an angry tone, "Are you Niu You Dao, the one who killed the Yan Kingdom's envoy?"
"Indeed." Niu You Dao admitted honestly and then added:
"I apologize to Manager Chu. For the sake of safety, I had to conceal my identity."
Chu An Lou: "You, using the name of the Rainbow Inn, seized people from several sects?"
Niu You Dao spoke awkwardly:
"Manager Chu seemed like a very hospitable person, so I took the opportunity to resolve some issues. That's why I brought them here. Only now do I realize how authoritative Manager Chu truly is."
*You seized them yourself?* Chu An Lou was bewildered:
"Fine! Release them now, and I will pretend nothing happened."
Niu You Dao waved a hand: "I didn't go after them; they came after me. The Heavenly Jade Sect wants to kill me, Wandong Palace wants to kill me, Dachang Mountain wants to kill me, the Liuxiang Sect wants to kill me, the Floating Clouds Sect wants to kill me, and Subtlety Mountain also wants to kill me. Some people have already gathered. Manager Chu, they didn't see me initially, but when we were strolling together, you drew everyone's attention, and I was discovered. What am I to do now?"
*What in the world did you do to incur the wrath of so many people?* Chu An Lou cursed inwardly: "These are your personal affairs. The Rainbow Inn will not interfere in your matters. You've seized people here and are holding them under arrest. Release them quickly! You know who stands behind this inn. And they cannot be provoked!"
Niu You Dao: "If Manager Chu says so, then I dare not impose upon you further. I can only seek methods to save my own life. Manager Chu is magnanimous; I will remember your kindness. Farewell!"
Chu An Lou furrowed his brows: "Where are you going?"
Niu You Dao: "I don't even know myself. I'll flee wherever I can. If I don't escape now, then when? I can't possibly wait for them to prepare everything for my assassination, can I?"