Niu You Dao was surprised and was just about to ask Yuan Gang, "How?" when Black Peony suddenly entered and reported: "Lord Dao, Manager Chu has arrived."
Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang exchanged glances and decided to postpone their conversation for now. Niu You Dao replied to Black Peony: "Bring him in!"
"Hehe!" Chu An Lou's laughter rang out before he even entered. He quickly stepped into the room, cupped his hands, and said: "I heard the esteemed guest has returned. You've worked hard today. I wonder, was it successful?"
He had been staying in the water pavilion earlier, drinking tea. Who knew Niu You Dao wouldn't enter it, returning by another route instead? Later, his subordinate reported that they had returned, and Chu An Lou immediately decided to pay them a visit.
Niu You Dao: "Good, good. We found suitable scenery. Tonight I'll ponder them further, and tomorrow I shall satisfy the lady."
"Good, good, good!" Chu An Lou nodded his head. He was pleased that everything was in order: "Esteemed guest, please rest well! I won't disturb you. If you need anything, you can directly approach the inn."
He cupped his hands and was about to leave when Niu You Dao spoke: "Please, wait a moment!"
Chu An Lou stopped and asked: "What are your instructions?"
Niu You Dao approached and, from his sleeve, retrieved most of the money he had received.
Chu An Lou was surprised. He didn't understand what Niu You Dao was planning, and immediately asked: "What is this?"
Niu You Dao pressed the money into his hands: "This time, I was able to earn thanks to Manager Chu's care. I am sincerely grateful to you from the bottom of my heart. Please do not refuse."
Hearing this, Chu An Lou felt the thickness of the banknotes in his pocket, and his heart immediately swelled with contentment. He discovered that this fellow was extremely generous. Niu You Dao hadn't even counted the money, yet he had given him most of a million!
Everything was under Chu An Lou's control, so he wasn't afraid to take the money.
Chu An Lou carefully placed the money in his pocket and said: "If I don't take it, I might upset the esteemed guest, and that could affect his work. Therefore, I will hold onto the money for now. And when the esteemed guest departs, I will return it."
He wasn't yet certain that Niu You Dao would actually paint the portraits. So he said this in case Niu You Dao had to return the money.
Niu You Dao: "Manager Chu is a man of his word."
Yuan Gang furrowed his brows. He disliked the idea of giving money to someone who had recently slapped them. Yet, Niu You Dao was even smiling.
Chu An Lou looked at him and immediately reacted: "Originally, I intended for the esteemed guest to leave the inn once he finished the paintings for the lady. But if the esteemed guest can satisfy the lady, then the inn can offer a more gracious welcome. Let's do this. After the paintings are done, we will give you some time to resolve your issues. And when you have resolved them, you may then swiftly depart the inn. This, I can still do for you."
Niu You Dao rejoiced inwardly. This was exactly what he was aiming for. It seemed Chu An Lou was a perceptive man. He, cupping his hands, said: "Manager Chu is a man of responsibility; I will remember this. I won't trouble you further."
"No need, esteemed guest." Chu An Lou smiled and clasped his hands behind his back.
"Black Peony, see Manager Chu out." Niu You Dao immediately signaled to Black Peony.
Chu An Lou waved his hand at Black Peony: "No need." and walked out the door himself.
Black Peony looked at the door, then at Niu You Dao. Silence fell in the room. Niu You Dao waved his hand at her: "You may leave too." "Understood!" Black Peony replied, while secretly wondering to herself, "Where did Lord Dao get so much money? Is he really going to paint again? How much money did he give away? And he even gave it to the one who just recently slapped him!"
When Black Peony left, Niu You Dao took out the remaining banknotes and counted them. Out of 100 banknotes, only 43 remained. In an instant, more than half the sum had vanished.
He gathered the money and handed it to Yuan Gang.
Yuan Gang immediately took them. He knew that Lord Dao disliked carrying money, and at the same time asked: "Lord Dao, you're going to paint a portrait of Xue Lao Er. He would have let you bide your time anyway. Why give him money? After such an insult?"
"Insult?" Niu You Dao clasped his hands behind his back and gazed at the night sky. He pondered and said: "Not at all insulting. You understand everything, you just don't want to accept it. This is a place where man is a wolf to man. Seeing you with a large sum, others will look for ways to devour you. It's better to personally hand over the money and please this pack leader; then, delighted, he will ensure your safety. It's logical."
"You know my situation. The moment we reveal ourselves, the Liuxiang Sect will seize us. We cannot leave, so we must find ways to make Chu An Lou help us. What's more important: life or money? How much money can buy a life? As it is, we have already agreed that he will help us."
Yuan Gang: "Aren't you afraid he won't keep his word later?"
Niu You Dao: "Why would he? He took so much money, he wouldn't dare deceive us. If someone finds out about this, he will also suffer quite a bit."
Yuan Gang lowered his head and said: "Lord Dao, forgive me!" In his previous life, Lord Dao had done countless things. He was loved and hated, and so many terrible words were spoken against him. But never before had he been publicly humiliated; no one had ever dared to slap him in public. Yet here, Chu An Lou had shamed him openly. This scene was like a thorn in Yuan Gang's heart.
"On certain paths, there is no turning back. One can only move forward. There's no need to apologize." Niu You Dao said calmly. He reached out and closed the window. Then he turned and asked: "You were just talking about a method to obtain the Red Yang Fruit?"
Yuan Gang raised his head: "Those Snow Demons are unlikely to stop me from seizing the fruit."
Niu You Dao shook his head: "Too dangerous. Those Snow Demons might not hinder you, but they could raise an alarm. And it's unclear where all the guards are. Moreover, when you're climbing up, you'll need to ascend silently. Make a sound, and the cultivator guards will discover you."
Yuan Gang: "What if I fall from the sky?"
"No matter how you look at it, even Jin Dan realm cultivators can't just drop into that depression. Unless you take birds. But it doesn't matter if you buy them or borrow them, it will still attract attention...." Niu You Dao, deep in thought, paused. A glint flickered in his eyes, and, staring intently at Yuan Gang, he asked: "Are you sure?"
Yuan Gang: "There shouldn't be a problem."
Niu You Dao clasped his hands behind his back, thought for a moment, and finally shook his head: "No, that won't do. The moment the fruit goes missing, Shao Ping Bo will start spreading rumors that I stole it. The Ice and Snow Palace will suspect me. And then it won't matter at all whether we have the fruit or not. We still won't be able to give it to Xiao Tian Cheng to try."
"Then we must destroy the entire tree!"
Niu You Dao turned his head: "What are you trying to say?" He knew that Yuan Gang never spoke without purpose.
Yuan Gang: "What if a natural disaster occurs!"
"Natural disaster?" Niu You Dao doubted: "What kind of natural disaster wouldn't arouse suspicion from the Ice and Snow Palace? What kind of natural disaster could appear on a mountaintop?"
Yuan Gang: "When I blew up the Liusu Courtyard in Qingzhou, when I arrived here, I learned that a natural disaster had been reported in Qingzhou. A meteor had fallen on the Liusu Courtyard."
...Niu You Dao fell into thought.
Yuan Gang: "I can arrange everything. The only thing I'm worried about is secrecy. You and I were in Qingzhou. If a natural disaster occurs in both Qingzhou and here, many people will suspect us. Therefore, it's dangerous."
Niu You Dao sat down on a chair and closed his eyes.
He remained silent, tapping his finger on the chair, muttering: "Shao Ping Bo... Shao Ping Bo... This man is troublesome! He will cause you more problems!"
Yuan Gang: "Let me go to Beizhou and eliminate him."
"Too dangerous." Niu You Dao slowly shook his head and, opening his eyes, said: "How about I play a game with him. I want to see how skilled he truly is... 'Know yourself and know your enemy, and in a hundred battles, you shall never be defeated.' I need to ascertain Shao Ping Bo's situation. The Supreme Purity Sect is in Beizhou. Send Wei Duo there; let him investigate the situation. And tell him to be extremely cautious. He must not expose himself. Tell him to interact carefully."
Yuan Gang understood him: "What about the fruit?"
Niu You Dao: "We mustn't rush now, or everyone will immediately suspect us. First, we need to deal with Shao Ping Bo; then I'll see how to proceed."
Yuan Gang turned and left. He entered the room and spoke with Wei Duo.
Not long after, Wei Duo slipped out of the Rainbow Inn under the cover of night. He brought Duan Hu, Wu San Liang, and Lei Zong Kang with him.
The group did not immediately leave the city; instead, they entered the Thousand Beasts Sect's shop, where they purchased a Bird King. Then, Wu San Liang and Duan Hu followed Wei Duo, departing the snowy region. Meanwhile, Lei Zong Kang returned to the inn to Yuan Gang. He brought him a small wooden box.
Yuan Gang took the box, opened it, and saw a black stone inside. The box contained a screw mechanism, allowing one to carefully retrieve an egg. Yuan Gang removed the egg and placed it on a soft cushion.
After closing the black box, Yuan Gang kept the black egg with him. Now, the Bird King would come to him...
The next morning, Chu An Lou personally came to Niu You Dao.
Dawn had already broken. Niu You Dao stood before the window, gazing at the sky. Then he turned his head and greeted Chu An Lou: "Manager Chu, is it time already?!"
Chu An Lou replied with a smile: "We simply wanted to prepare everything early. We cannot allow the lady to waste her time."
Niu You Dao understood him and nodded: "Good!"