"If you simply give money to the prince, that's merely support." Niu You Dao smiled and extended his hands, offering tea to Peng Yu Cai.
"Not only will I provide financial support, but I will also give the Heavenly Jade Sect an opportunity to profit.
He looked at the others and said:
"And you too!"
Several people exchanged glances.
Peng Yu Cai put down his teacup and said:
"That's all well and good, but when will you provide the money?"
Niu You Dao: The money is right here in the Heavenly Jade Sect's shop.
"..." Peng Yu Cai froze. He immediately looked back, wondering if he didn't know something about his own shops?
However, all the elders shook their heads, indicating that they were unaware of what was happening.
Xia Hua said: "Head Peng, he must want to sell your items just like he did ours."
Peng Yu Cai looked at Niu You Dao with displeasure.
Niu You Dao, smiling, said to Xia Hua:
"Head Xia, your jokes are not funny at all. The money missing from your shop is your own concern."
Then he looked at Peng Yu Cai:
"Give me half a month, and in half a month, I will provide so much money that it will be more than enough!"
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Half a month, in principle, would also do.
Peng Yu Cai: "I have already traveled such a long distance, now I can wait another half month. Let's see how you procure it. But what if you don't?"
Niu You Dao: "I will immediately go to the Heavenly Jade Sect's shop and live there. If I don't find the money in half a month, then I will be yours. How does that sound?"
"Live in our shop?" Peng Yu Cai doubted.
Niu You Dao said with a smile:
"I said the money is in the Heavenly Jade Sect's shop. You just need to find it yourselves. Head Peng, there's no need to ask so many questions. When the time comes, you will all know. And you won't need to look for me; I'll already be with you."
They settled on this.
Everyone dispersed to their own shops, while Niu You Dao returned to his room.
"You want to leave?" In the room, Chu An Lou was surprised.
Niu You Dao said with a smile:
"I have bothered you with my long visit; now it is time for me to depart."
Chu An Lou asked with doubt: "How did the negotiations go? They won't bother you?"
Niu You Dao: "I had no enmity with the Heavenly Jade Sect, and as for the Liuxian Sect and the others, our misunderstandings arose because of the Song Family. They will not bother me."
Chu An Lou, frowning, asked:
"You didn't use the name of the Ice and Snow Palace?"
Niu You Dao: "Manager Chu, you worry too much. They simply feared the Ice and Snow Palace, and I took advantage of that. But I never said the Ice and Snow Palace was backing me. In any case, time will tell. They are not idiots and will understand that the Ice and Snow Palace truly did not intervene for me. Only a blind person would try to deceive the Ice and Snow Palace in such a manner. But I am not blind."
Chu An Lou slowly said:
"If you know that, then it's fine. I won't see you off then."
"Farewell, Manager Chu." Niu You Dao clasped his hands and departed.
Chu An Lou clasped his hands behind his back and watched Niu You Dao. None of them had mentioned the hundreds of thousands of gold. They simply left it, as if the hundreds of thousands of gold never existed.
Niu You Dao and his assistants moved into the Heavenly Jade Sect's shop. Immediately, he began to prepare something. He sent Hei Mudan and the others to gather materials. He needed wood here, iron there. He was constantly fabricating something; sounds continuously emanated from his workshop.
Yuan Gang was nearby, assisting, which sped up the work.
Peng Yu Cai came to him several times, wanting to know what Niu You Dao was doing. However, Niu You Dao consistently told him that he would find out when the time came. Peng Yu Cai wanted to see for himself, but he was not allowed in.
Beizhou. Shao Ping Bo's Palace.
In the garden pavilion, Huang Dou and Ling Hu stood behind Shao Ping Bo.
"What are his ties to the Ice and Snow Palace?" Shao Ping Bo didn't understand.
Huang Dou shook his head:
"I don't know! But the sect head conveyed that he hopes for the young master's wisdom. The young master should understand that in an unclear situation, Niu You Dao must not be provoked, or trouble will be invited. Especially concerning the Ice and Snow Palace. Matriarch Xue is behind him, and she is above all living things. If she is offended, Dachang Mountain will not be able to bear the consequences. With a single word, she can destroy the Shao Family. Young master, you are an intelligent man and must remember this!"
Shao Ping Bo nodded calmly:
"I will remember the sect head's words!"
Hearing Shao Ping Bo's promise, the two individuals calmed down and departed, clasping their hands.
Shao Ping Bo clasped his hands behind his back and then suddenly asked:
"What do you think of this?"
The household manager, Shao San Sheng, stepped forward and said:
"The young master has already given his promise. We should act as Dachang Mountain has advised."
Shao Ping Bo narrowed his eyes:
"I wager he has no ties to the Ice and Snow Palace at all. He is merely deceiving us!"
Shao San Sheng was astonished. He had served Shao Ping Bo for a long time and knew the hidden meaning in these words. He asked:
"Young master, what do you mean?"
Shao Ping Bo replied:
"It's simple. I'm certain Niu You Dao won't let me go. If he truly had ties to the Ice and Snow Palace, he would have long ago used the palace's power to kill me. And Dachang Mountain wouldn't dare disobey the Ice and Snow Palace. He wouldn't need to take such a circuitous path. He's simply leveraging others' authority."
Shao San Sheng, listening to him, agreed somewhat but then asked again:
"Then why is he living in the Rainbow Inn?"
Shao Ping Bo: "I know little. But I know that this man is cunning and treacherous. And I can state with certainty that he is not as Dachang Mountain believes him to be. He constantly appears at the Rainbow Inn. That's the question. Now, not even Dachang Mountain can lay a hand on him, let alone the Song Family. This allowed him to escape death. Truly hateful!"
Shao San Sheng: "Why didn't the young master tell Dachang Mountain?"
Shao Ping Bo: "Tell them? I know he won't let me go, just as I won't let him go. There are some things that can simply be understood but not explained. I have no proof. Moreover, in Huang Li's eyes, I am merely an ant that can be used. If I cannot be used, he will simply crush me. And he would rather crush me than risk even a little against the Ice and Snow Palace."
He turned and whispered to Shao San Sheng:
"You, contact the other cultivators. Have them closely watch the Ice and Snow Palace. I'm certain Niu You Dao won't let go of the Red Yang Fruit. Sooner or later, something will happen at the Ice and Snow Palace!"
Shao San Sheng: "Has the master already figured him out? How could he dare?"
Shao Ping Bo: "The Ice and Snow Palace? They are merely powerful individuals of a slightly higher caliber. But does that make them deities? Only narrow-minded people fear them, while capable individuals don't consider them gods at all. Capable people believe in themselves, and he is such a person. He dared to head to the Ice and Snow Palace. He even used Dachang Mountain to stop me, so I couldn't say anything."
"This even more clearly shows that he has no connection to the Ice and Snow Palace at all. If he had connections, he could have obtained the Red Yang Fruit through normal means. But now, he has no choice but to resort to unconventional methods. I only hope he didn't originally plan an unconventional method. Order your people to closely watch the Red Yang Fruit. If anything happens, report it to me immediately!"
Shao San Sheng felt uneasy from Dachang Mountain's warning:
"Master, even you consider him formidable. Is it worth risking everything for his sake now?"
"Is it worth it?" Shao Ping Bo shook his head:
"Not just worth it, but very much so. If I were in his shoes, I would have done the same. From the very beginning, I didn't think such news would come from Dachang Mountain. This fellow is truly aiming for the Red Yang Fruit. Why is he so willing to risk everything for it? Later, I understood. This scoundrel is looking even further ahead. He's probably set his sights on the juicy chunk of Qingzhou!"
Shao San Sheng was astonished:
"Qingzhou? Isn't Wandong Heavenly Palace there?"
Shao Ping Bo: "I'll ask you this. If the Red Yang Fruit is given to Hai Ru Yue, will she give it to her son?"
"Of course. If there's an opportunity, any mother would save her ailing son."
"I'll ask you another question: What if it's stolen from the Ice and Snow Palace?"
"It will still be used. If something happens to Xiao Tian Cheng, the mother will also suffer. If not for him, then for herself."
Shao Ping Bo looked at him and nodded, saying:
"Exactly. As soon as he gets the Red Yang Fruit, Hai Ru Yue and her son will effectively be under his control. Otherwise, Hai Ru Yue and her son won't be able to withstand the wrath of the Ice and Snow Palace. And he only needs to control them secretly, without even needing to meet with Wandong Heavenly Palace. When the time comes, he will immediately be able to devour that juicy chunk."
"This man is extremely dangerous. If he's aiming for Qingzhou, then Wandong Heavenly Palace—those simpletons are no match for him. Sooner or later, they will fall into his hands. Especially with the mother and son under his control. This is yet another reason he desires this fruit so much. It seems he hasn't yet announced to everyone that he wants the Red Yang Fruit. He even detained people from Wandong Heavenly Palace in the Rainbow Inn. He prepared so thoroughly!"
"Let the Ice and Snow Palace keep a close eye on him! That scoundrel must be eliminated!"
Shao San Sheng replied:
"Understood! Young master, do not worry. I know what needs to be done and how."