Niu You Dao did not answer what she needed to wait for.
They headed through Qingzhou to Qingshan County. They could have gone directly to Qingshan through the Yan Kingdom, but just in case, to avoid any trouble, they chose to travel via the Zhao Kingdom...
Along the wide road, they had already entered the territory of Qingshan County. However, Niu You Dao did not immediately enter the city but stopped near a mountainous, forested area nearby.
The sunset rays descended upon the mountainous terrain. Niu You Dao stood on the mountain, watching as the rays of the setting sun painted everything in a golden-yellow hue.
One could see Duan Hu galloping along the dirt road. He was heading towards the county seat. He had been instructed to find Yuan Fang and inquire about the situation in the county. If the circumstances were suitable, then Prince Shang Chao Zong was to be notified of Niu You Dao's return.
Soon, a group of people on horseback rode out from the county seat. They galloped towards this mountainous area.
This time, Duan Hu led several dozens of people. Many cultivators soared upwards, leaping from treetop to treetop.
Shang Chao Zong, Shu Qing, Lan Ruo Ting, Yuan Fang, Bai Yao, Fei Chang Liu, Zheng Jiu Xiao, Xia Hua—all had arrived at the mountain.
They all began to ascend. Upon seeing Niu You Dao standing with his back to them, leaning on his sword, everyone remembered that familiar silhouette.
Shang Chao Zong was greatly agitated.
Niu You Dao turned and smiled, looking at the group of people below. The sunset rays illuminated half of his face. He wore a mysterious smile.
"Whoosh."
The group of people dismounted from their horses. Shang Chao Zong also hurried and ran upwards. From his appearance, it was clear that he was overjoyed by the reunion.
Shu Qing also looked agitated. She gazed at this man so familiar to her, who always loved to stand leaning on his sword.
Yuan Fang had already soared up and reached Niu You Dao. He stood beside him and, cupping his hands, said:
"Lord Dao!"
Niu You Dao nodded to him and waved for the people climbing up to stop. Then, he himself flashed and landed before them.
He finally met the Shang family siblings.
"Greetings, Prince, Grand Princess, Mister Lan!" Niu You Dao cupped his hands.
Shang Chao Zong also cupped his hands and said:
"Lord Dao, why didn't you inform us beforehand? I would have ridden out to meet you!"
Niu You Dao smiled:
"For the sake of safety, this humble one would not presume to trouble the Prince!"
Hearing about safety, Shang Chao Zong understood that some things were not to be spoken of at this moment. However, he suddenly lifted his robe and knelt on one knee before Niu You Dao:
"Lord Dao, please accept this humble Prince's bow!"
"There's no need!" Niu You Dao immediately extended his hand, stopping him, and glancing at the people standing behind. He whispered:
"There are many people and too many eyes here. We'll talk later."
"Very well!" Shang Chao Zong nodded.
Shu Qing looked at Niu You Dao with hope. She wanted to say something, but Niu You Dao looked at her, smiled, nodded, and immediately shifted his gaze. Shu Qing was slightly disappointed, then looked at Black Peony and Lei Zong Kang standing behind Niu You Dao. They exchanged confused glances with each other.
They were surprised that the Prince held Lord Dao in such high esteem. That he would even kneel before him?!
The two rejoiced inwardly. If this was the case, then following Lord Dao would ensure them a bright future. At least here!
Fei Chang Liu and the others also greeted Niu You Dao.
Xia Hua asked:
"Lord Dao, why did it take you so long to return?"
Niu You Dao: "I encountered some problems along the way. I had to delay."
He exchanged greetings with a few more people.
Meanwhile, Bai Yao stood to the side with an indifferent expression. In truth, he was sighing inwardly. This young fellow was so exceptional that he had even managed to sway a high-ranking sect leader to his side.
The head of the Heavenly Jade Sect, Peng Yu Cai, had personally arrived here and stayed for some time in Qingshan. He was waiting for Niu You Dao and wanted to personally observe certain matters. After all, a great undertaking was at stake!
Upon hearing of Niu You Dao's return, he would have gone to meet him himself, but his status did not permit it. After all, the Heavenly Jade Sect was not on par with the Liuxian Sect and the other sects. Thus, he sent Bai Yao in his stead.
Peng Yu Cai was here, and so were the sect elders who had accompanied him. All wished to witness Niu You Dao's return. They had even grown worried that something might have happened to him on the journey.
Seeing that there was no end to the people greeting Niu You Dao, Lan Ruo Ting interjected:
"Sirs, Lord Dao has just arrived from his journey. Perhaps we should discuss things after returning to the county seat?"
Niu You Dao: "If I were to enter openly, and the imperial court learned of it, it would only bring more trouble to the Prince. The situation, which has only just stabilized with great difficulty, might become destabilized again. Everyone knows how things stand."
Regarding this, Shang Chao Zong immediately found a solution. He sent someone to the city for a carriage.
When the carriage arrived, Niu You Dao stepped inside and, accompanied by everyone, proceeded towards the city.
The carriage reached a park located behind the governor's residence. Originally, this park belonged to a wealthy man whose estate was separated from the governor's residence by a narrow path. However, when the county's authority changed hands, that wealthy man and his family fled. Now, the Heavenly Jade Sect had temporarily settled here, awaiting Niu You Dao.
No sooner had the carriage stopped than the Heavenly Jade Sect sent someone for Niu You Dao. Thus, Niu You Dao was led openly to the Heavenly Jade Sect's temporary abode, in full view of everyone.
When he entered the palace, he saw the elders of the Heavenly Jade Sect there.
And Peng Yu Cai sat in the highest seat.
After Niu You Dao greeted everyone, Peng Yu Cai asked him:
"When will you begin making your beverage?"
"Gradually, there's no need to rush. First, we need to select a suitable location and then procure the ingredients and materials." Niu You Dao urged them not to hasten, while also posing a counter-question:
"Why have I yet to hear news that the two counties have been centralized?"
Peng Yu Cai: "Once your operation is running smoothly and we see the results, there will be no issues with Kuangai County."
Niu You Dao nodded. He understood them. One could not simply strip Feng Lin Bo of his authority without justification. The decision needed to be properly substantiated first.
An elder asked:
"Only ten thousand jars per year, and small ones at that. That's very little. Can we produce more?"
Greed always blinded people. Niu You Dao was displeased by this. Moreover, alcohol production consumed a large amount of grain, which, for the common people suffering from hunger, was akin to death. That was why he had strictly limited production to ten thousand jars per year.
"If I could earn more, why wouldn't I increase production?" Niu You Dao shook his head and added:
"And even if the volume increased, it wouldn't necessarily bring anything good. More quantity means more supply. More supply means lower prices. Is it truly worth it? Besides, it's best not to let others know that you'll have ten thousand jars. People's envy often leads to no good and could bring trouble to the Heavenly Jade Sect."
Several people fell silent, and Peng Yu Cai said:
"You needn't worry about that. You should concern yourself with how to get the production running smoothly."
Leaving them with these concerns, Niu You Dao headed towards the courtyard prepared for him. Fei Chang Liu immediately approached him there.
"Should I recall our Liuxian Sect disciples from the Ice and Snow Palace?"
Originally, he had sent his people to kill Niu You Dao. But now, Niu You Dao had asked him to keep his disciples monitoring the Ice and Snow Palace.
"Not yet. Let them continue monitoring!" Niu You Dao shook his head and changed the subject:
"I wonder, how did you accomplish that task?"
The three sect leaders waved to their disciples, who immediately brought forth thirteen wooden boxes. Fei Chang Liu personally opened one box, revealing Song Jiu Ming's head encased in plaster.
"Aside from Song Shu, whom you wished to spare, the others are all here. You may verify!"
"There's no need." Niu You Dao replied calmly. He had no desire to verify.
Besides, he had never seen Song Jiu Ming and couldn't verify. It was enough for him to simply learn everything from Shang Chao Zong later.
As night fell, many had already departed.
Now that the Song family was dealt with, Niu You Dao would have no more headaches. As for Song Shu, who had escaped the net, he could do nothing without the Song family's backing. For Niu You Dao, killing Song Shu was now a matter of a single word.
After speaking with everyone, Niu You Dao finally wished to have a quiet conversation with Shang Chao Zong.
They sat down and spoke calmly.
Outside, a maidservant brought tea, and Black Peony herself stepped forward and took the pot from her. Behind Niu You Dao stood Yuan Gang and Yuan Fang.
Duan Hu and Lei Zong Kang stood guard at the doors. Only Black Peony drew particular attention from Shu Qing.
She observed Black Peony, especially how Black Peony treated Niu You Dao. Black Peony looked at Niu You Dao in an unusual way.
Various thoughts arose in Shu Qing's mind, but she immediately dismissed them. After all, there was a considerable age difference between Niu You Dao and Black Peony.
Black Peony stood behind Niu You Dao and also felt Shu Qing's gaze upon her.
Their gazes met. Shu Qing immediately averted her eyes to the teacup in her hand.
Black Peony, too, was curious about this girl with the disfigured face. She sensed that Shu Qing was looking at Lord Dao in an unusual manner. A woman's intuition could sense another's feelings.
Setting down his teacup, Niu You Dao said contentedly:
"I haven't yet congratulated the Prince on taking Qingshan. My congratulations!"
Shang Chao Zong was agitated and shook his head with a sigh. He was already thinking that a simple "thank you" could not express his full gratitude to Lord Dao.
Niu You Dao smiled again and said:
"Since the sect leaders have likely told the Prince everything they needed to, I recall promising the Prince that if he captured Qingshan, I would present him with a generous gift. I wonder if the Prince will like this gift?"