Ever since Niu You Dao left the Supreme Purity Sect, he had forgotten when he had last cultivated in peace. Tranquility and calm were simply a luxury in such turbulent times.
When Niu You Dao emerged from the hut, he saw Black Peony bowing politely before him. Further ahead, Fei Chang Liu stood with his back to him, facing the cliff.
Niu You Dao approached him and stood shoulder to shoulder.
Fei Chang Liu turned his head and looked at him. Inwardly, he mused with perplexity. If not for Zhao Xiong Ge, he would not have taken the Supreme Purity Sect to heart at all. And now, another discarded disciple of the Supreme Purity Sect stood on equal footing with him.
He clearly understood that Niu You Dao was no simple man. Whenever he thought of the Supreme Purity Sect, he would always shake his head. Two such outstanding individuals appeared in their sect, yet they chose to expel them. They were truly courting their own ruin!
Niu You Dao also looked at him and, smiling, asked:
— Head Fei, do you have business with me?
Fei Chang Liu: News has arrived from the Ice and Snow Palace. There have been movements on that side... What is the situation like?
— Roughly as you said. Some have begun spreading rumors. We captured two individuals. However, the opponent was well-prepared. They had initially dispatched many more rumor-mongers, so the rumors still reached the Ice and Snow Palace.
— Have you found the source?
— We investigated. Those two individuals were disciples of small sects from the Yan Kingdom. They had only received orders from their masters. But who is truly behind it, they do not know.
— You captured two...
Niu You Dao pondered, then said: Leave one, and release the other near the Dachang Mountain's shop, letting them believe it was Shao Ping Bo's doing. Let them decide for themselves how to proceed!
Fei Chang Liu asked in surprise: So this is directed against Shao Ping Bo?
Niu You Dao smiled and said:
— Is there any doubt? He provoked the Song family to send you to kill me. Should I still be polite to him?
Niu You Dao had laid this groundwork, including summoning the head of Dachang Mountain, Huang Li, to Chu An Lou, precisely for this day, so that Dachang Mountain would take action of its own accord.
Fei Chang Liu: I just want to know. The incident at the Ice and Snow Palace... was it your doing?
Black Peony, standing behind him, shuddered. She had personally been present during that matter and knew what would happen if it were exposed.
Niu You Dao shrugged:
— How could that be? Do you truly believe it was my handiwork?
Fei Chang Liu: You certainly had the motive. Hai Ru Yue wouldn't have helped you without reason.
Niu You Dao shook his head:
— You're overthinking it. Hai Ru Yue had her reasons, but we won't discuss them. Moreover, even if I truly desired the Red Yang Fruit, I would have simply asked for it. Otherwise, would I dare give the fruit to Xiao Tian Cheng? That would be courting death! Would you dare, if you were in my shoes?
He immediately sought to dispel that notion from Fei Chang Liu's mind. Otherwise, if he harbored doubts, he might flee with his sect out of fear.
Fei Chang Liu remained silent for a moment, then relaxed. Afterwards, he asked:
— Could there be any repercussions from this matter?
Niu You Dao replied with a smile:
— If everything proceeds as I've calculated, how could there be any repercussions? Otherwise, would I be calmly cultivating here?
Before Fei Chang Liu departed, Niu You Dao did not forget to remind him:
— Head Fei, don't forget to release one near the Dachang Mountain's shop.
— I won't forget. — Fei Chang Liu waved a hand without turning his head. How could he possibly forget? The matter had weighed heavily on his mind.
At this moment, Black Peony approached and whispered:
— Lord Dao, nothing will happen, right?
She, of all people, knew that the Red Yang Fruit was right here.
Niu You Dao calmly said: Are you afraid?
— A little. But the deed is done, and it's too late to be afraid now. — she said with a bitter smile.
This was playing with fire. She couldn't have imagined that she would dare to commit such an act.
Niu You Dao: Have Yuan Fang come.
Black Peony nodded and departed.
Soon, Yuan Fang appeared. He asked:
— Lord Dao, what are your instructions?
Niu You Dao nodded and slowly said:
— Inform Lu Sheng Zhong that the time is ripe. He may act! Also, tell him to keep us informed of the developments.
— Understood! — Yuan Fang nodded and left.
Not long after, a figure flashed by nearby. He descended directly beside the cliff. The newcomer was none other than Bai Yao, who appeared young but had graying hair. He fixed a cold gaze upon Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao cupped his hands and, smiling, asked:
— Senior Bai has come in person. Something must have happened, then?
Bai Yao demanded sternly: Did you steal the Red Yang Fruit?
Niu You Dao understood that it was evident that the Ice and Snow Palace had pressured the Heavenly Jade Sect through their shop in the canyon.
Bai Yao, too, seemed to have received a message from his masters and had come to investigate.
Truth be told, the Heavenly Jade Sect was also frightened. Who would dare commit such an act? Who possesses such audacity?
Niu You Dao shook his head:
— Head Fei also came. He heard about this matter as well. But it has nothing to do with me. Someone is trying to harm me... He offered the same excuses as he had to Fei Chang Liu.
The enraged Bai Yao, who had just arrived, thought it over and decided that it was indeed plausible. They had already begun cooperating with Wandong Heavenly Palace, so they no longer needed to worry much about Hai Ru Yue.
In such a situation, the issue with the Red Yang Fruit was not a major one.
Moreover, could the Red Yang Fruit truly be stolen so easily from the Ice and Snow Palace?
Bai Yao said in a cold tone:
— If the Ice and Snow Palace believes these rumors, it will bring us trouble.
Niu You Dao, unfazed by his words, said:
— Don't overthink it. I didn't enter the Ice and Snow Palace without reason. Let the Heavenly Jade Sect not worry.
Bai Yao looked at him. He himself had heard some things. What kind of connections did this fellow have with the Ice and Snow Palace? However, nothing bad should come of it.
— By the way, I wanted to ask Senior Bai to convey a message to the Heavenly Jade Sect. The liquor the sect sells is far too expensive; it makes many people's eyes red with envy. You feast on the choicest morsels, you should share them with others. We won't change the quantity, but we'll raise the price to 400 gold coins.
Leveraging the commotion and the authority of the Ice and Snow Palace, Niu You Dao decided to raise the price under these circumstances.
"Double the price!" Bai Yao's eyes widened, and he said in a cold tone:
— That's none of my concern. Go tell them yourself.
Niu You Dao: Senior Bai, there's no need for you to trouble yourself. I'm merely asking you to convey a message. Even after deducting costs, the Heavenly Jade Sect will still earn around 500 gold per jar. That's 5 million annually. That should be enough! Moreover, we are all striving here for the benefit of the Heavenly Jade Sect. Be a person and don't be greedy. If the Heavenly Jade Sect doesn't agree, I'll immediately find others who will gladly cooperate with me!
Bai Yao stared at him for a long time, then departed.
Niu You Dao watched him leave.
The Ice and Snow Palace seemed to have raised quite a commotion. If this matter proceeds successfully, and the Ice and Snow Palace doesn't touch me, then their authority can be leveraged to intimidate the Yan Kingdom's imperial court. And then, neither the imperial court nor the Heavenly Jade Sect will be able to exert pressure on Niu You Dao. After all, even the Ice and Snow Palace left him untouched.
— I need time... Niu You Dao muttered to himself, gazing into the distance...
Qingzhou. In a heated room, Hai Ru Yue was currently feeding medicine to Xiao Tian Cheng.
— Eat more. — As before, Hai Ru Yue held the chopsticks and personally fed her son. With her other hand, she held a handkerchief, constantly wiping the beads of sweat from her son's pale face. Despite the warm season, a brazier still burned in the room.
Dressed in light clothing, yet damp with sweat, Hai Ru Yue looked devilishly alluring.
Xiao Tian Cheng didn't want to eat. He had no appetite.
— Your summer will be here soon. Eat. You need to strengthen your body, and then you can go out for walks.
Hai Ru Yue was coaxing him, when suddenly, the sound of the door opening echoed.
"Bang."
Someone violently pushed open the door, drawing the attention of both mother and son.
Mother and son immediately saw Li Wu Hua, but behind him stood two more individuals. They were elders of the Wandong Heavenly Palace.
Hai Ru Yue froze. She hadn't expected the other elders to come as well.
— Elders, why didn't you inform me? I would have gone out to greet you... As Hai Ru Yue spoke, she noticed that something was amiss.
Li Wu Hua and the others entered. They gazed intently at Xiao Tian Cheng.
The maids inside were startled.
At the door stood the household manager, Zhu Shun. He looked bewildered.
Xiao Tian Cheng slowly stood up, looking displeased.
Hai Ru Yue pulled him behind her. Chaos reigned in her mind. She said with a smile:
— Honored elders, what is the matter?
Li Wu Hua pushed her aside, then grabbed Xiao Tian Cheng's wrist. He began checking his pulse.
Xiao Tian Cheng struggled with all his might, but could not break free.
After checking the pulse, Li Wu Hua released him, then turned to the other elders and shook his head.
— Nothing! I told you they wouldn't have the courage.
The other elders approached and began checking Xiao Tian Cheng's pulse from both sides. They exchanged glances and released their hands.
Then they turned to Hai Ru Yue and said:
— Princess, do not be angry. There has been a misunderstanding.
After that, they nodded to Li Wu Hua and left.
Hai Ru Yue was still terrified. But when she saw that nothing was amiss, she waved to Zhu Shun.
Zhu Shun took Xiao Tian Cheng and led him away. The maids attending to him also departed.
Once the outsiders had left, Hai Ru Yue asked:
— What happened?
Li Wu Hua looked at her and said:
— Rumors are circulating that Niu You Dao stole the Red Yang Fruit. Do you have any agreement with him?
Hai Ru Yue was frightened:
— How could that be? How can one believe such a thing?
Although she had indeed entered into a secret agreement with Niu You Dao, how could she dare admit it? The Ice and Snow Palace would not care that she was a princess and a member of the Zhao Kingdom's imperial family.
In truth, Niu You Dao himself hadn't said he would steal the Red Yang Fruit.
— No, and that's as it should be. I also believe you will act cautiously. The most important thing now is that a truly strange incident occurred at the Ice and Snow Palace. A meteor also fell there. And it struck precisely the mountain where the Red Yang Fruit grew, causing an avalanche afterwards... Li Wu Hua recounted the general situation and finally added:
— The problem is, a meteor also fell in Qingzhou. And Niu You Dao was in both Qingzhou and the Ice and Snow Palace. And you, as it happens, formed an alliance with Shang Chao Zong.