Su Zhao asked with a smile, "Are you sure you want to know?"
Shao Ping Bo said, "If you have something to say, speak. "
"So you want to hear it? It's just that if I say it, you might get angry. What kind of man would listen to a woman who speaks words he doesn't like?"
"Speak, I'm listening. "
Su Zhao said with a smile:
"I don't know him, but I know you well. Even if I'm not as intelligent as you, an outsider's perspective is clearer. According to Old Man Shao's account, you already lost to him during your very first encounter. He fell into your hands; you brought him to Beizhou, yet you allowed him to escape. Have you truly not grasped the reason behind this?"
Shao Ping Bo remained silent.
Su Zhao sighed and said, "The moment you two first met, there was no enmity between you. Yet he fled? Why? Because he saw right through you at first glance. He understood how dangerous you were, and so he escaped. And you? He recognized you, but you didn't even pursue him, nor did you sense anything amiss. Only after he had fled did you realize the disparity in your levels, but you refused to admit it. You didn't want to stand against him and acknowledge that you were weaker than him. "
"As soon as he escaped from you, he immediately spread those children's rhymes. Though they didn't cause you great harm, such a method is difficult to devise. Moreover, he most likely intended to sow discord between you and your uncle through this means. "
"True, you retaliated against him. But what was the outcome of your actions? You gained nothing. Not only was the Song family destroyed, but you even sent three sects as a gift to him. And you yourself?! You received nothing from it. "
"You fell into his trap not because you are foolish, but because he understood you thoroughly. He calculated your moves perfectly. And how do you now intend to contend with him? This time, you could say you were lucky to survive. If not for the stupidity of Ruan Shi and her sons, who allowed you to discover everything, we wouldn't be standing here like this right now. Did this lesson not awaken you?"
Shao Ping Bo's cheeks tightened.
Su Zhao walked to the window and stood with her back to him. She gazed at the sun's rays piercing through the window and spoke:
"I heard he is very young. They say he's around twenty years old?"
Shao Ping Bo replied with a frown, "Yes, around that. Very young. "
Su Zhao shook her head and said, "I used to think that in this world, you were the only truly intelligent person. But who could have known that a twenty-year-old would appear, one far more intelligent than you? And he even manages to pressure you... He is clever, and after listening to Old Man Shao's accounts, one can understand that this Niu You Dao also employs intricate methods. This is even harder to believe. How can someone be so intelligent without experience? Yet the results are evident. It seems there are true talents in this world!"
She turned to him and said in a warning tone:
"As Old Man Shao determined, he has already learned quite a lot about you. Yet all you know is that he is...not simple. And that's all. How can you fight under such conditions? Under these circumstances, you will lose sooner or later. "
Shao Ping Bo said, "You want me to let him go?"
Su Zhao said, "Not let go... Ping Bo, you are currently in a disadvantageous position. You are irritated, enraged, and you need to calm down. You cannot fight him in this state. He has already grasped your weaknesses. The more actions you take, the more maneuvering room you will give him. 'Know your enemy and know yourself, and in a hundred battles, you will be victorious.' Therefore, you do not need to make any moves now. I believe that then, even he will be unable to do anything to you. "
Shao Ping Bo said in a cold tone, "Do you think he will stop attacking?"
Su Zhao said, "I don't believe he would dare to attack you in Beizhou. He has most likely retracted his head. I can't reach him. But if he shows his head, I will help you get him!"
Shao Ping Bo said, "You will help me eliminate him?"
Su Zhao said, "Have you not noticed? His methods are extremely cunning. Why then engage in these games of stratagem with him? When dealing with such a person, one must act more directly. Discover his weaknesses and seize them. His cultivation is insufficient; he is weak in terms of raw power. So, he should be suppressed by force. The moment an opportunity arises, you can strike. There's no need to beat around the bush with him!"
Shao Ping Bo asked doubtfully:
"Are you planning to deploy people from your organization? Is that appropriate? If something goes wrong, how will you explain yourself to your own people? There's no need to make a fuss over a small matter!"
Su Zhao said, "I know how to act. Right now, you need to gather your strength and focus on yourself. Beizhou is more important. Is it worth sacrificing Beizhou's affairs for him? Your goals are higher, so don't pay him any mind. "
"What's more, he is a cultivator. There's no need to worry about him. Attend to important matters. Those two counties are not worth your attention. Would you abandon Beizhou because of them? Without Beizhou, would anyone even need you? You and he are not on the same standing. He is merely waiting for you to make a mistake. Leave cultivator affairs to cultivators. Leave this to me; there's no need to worry!"
After her words, Shao Ping Bo nodded. He had indeed realized that because of Niu You Dao alone, he had almost jeopardized the entire affair of Beizhou. Was it truly worth it? If he didn't wholeheartedly wish to eliminate him, he would have had no other reason to attack Niu You Dao.
Shao Ping Bo said:
"Alright. Dachang Mountain will not listen to me now, and the two sects are far apart. There is no benefit for them in fighting each other, and Dachang Mountain will not go to war with the Heavenly Jade Sect. Therefore, I leave Niu You Dao to you. But sister, do not forget the primary matter. "
"Don't worry, I'm not as impatient as you. As soon as an opportunity arises, I will immediately begin attacking him. You didn't think I would personally go to attack Qingshan, did you? Alright. Since you understand, there's no need to worry about this. I will handle everything." Su Zhao waved her hand, then changed the subject:
"I heard you've declared austerity here, limiting food and clothing, and forbidding luxury. Are you short on funds? I have some savings; perhaps I can give them to you?"
Shao Ping Bo shook his head:
"Those funds cannot be touched. Once everything here is settled, immense financial resources will be needed to acquire troops. Dachang Mountain is also expanding its numbers right now. They are recruiting disciples and constantly demanding funds from us. And I tell them we ourselves have no money. If we suddenly acquire so much money, they will immediately take a large portion from us. What good would those funds do us then?"
Su Zhao nodded, "That's also true. "
Having calmed down somewhat, Shao Ping Bo suddenly asked:
"By the way, last time you mentioned Ling Hu Jiu?"
Su Zhao frowned. "We've only made contact with him, that's all. He's quite difficult to deal with. Although he is a rogue cultivator, he is a renowned intermediary in the cultivation world. He has many friends and extensive connections. Even though he doesn't belong to any sect, few dare to pressure him. If he doesn't wish to let someone approach, it will be difficult to get close to him. "
Shao Ping Bo said, "I only need his connections. They will play a significant role for me. "
Su Zhao said again, "I'll figure something out. "
At that moment, Shao San Sheng rushed in quickly. He said anxiously:
"First Young Master, this is bad. Trouble!"
"That look again!" Shao Ping Bo felt a pang in his heart.
Su Zhao frowned and asked, "What is it?"
Shao San Sheng said, "Young Mistress Liu Er has fled!"
Su Zhao froze. How could something like this happen on her watch?
Shao Ping Bo said, "So many people, and all of them blind and deaf?"
Shao San Sheng replied, "The Young Mistress poisoned the people who were monitoring her. In the end, they collapsed dead, and the guards nearby noticed nothing. Only after some time, noticing that nothing was happening in the courtyard, did they go there and find everyone lying dead, with no trace of the Young Mistress."
In truth, Lu Sheng Zhong had been worried that the sedative wouldn't be enough. If something went wrong, for example, if the dose wasn't sufficient, the whole plan would fail. Therefore, instead of a sedative, he supplied poison, so that the people would fall asleep and no longer interfere.
Su Zhao was speechless. Shao Ping Bo had poisoned his brothers and stepmother, and now his little sister wasn't far behind; she too had poisoned servants. They were truly cut from the same cloth. Both were exceedingly ruthless!
Shao Ping Bo also thought of this. He asked, trembling, "How did she escape? Are you sure she ran away? Could she have been kidnapped?"
Shao San Sheng said, "This matter has already shaken the master. It's already known that the gate guard saw an unfamiliar servant leaving the residence. Later, he positively identified that the servant resembled the Young Mistress. As for the poison, no one knows how the Young Mistress obtained it. "
"And what were the guards doing?" Shao Ping Bo demanded angrily. He clenched his fists and coughed. His eyes closed, his cheeks sunken. Then he slowly inhaled, suppressing his rage.
"He made her escape! It's none other than Tang Xiang Yang! Quickly, go to him! Find him!"
"Understood!" Shao San Sheng turned and left.
"Wait!" Shao Ping Bo called out again.
Shao San Sheng stopped and turned his head.
Shao Ping Bo said displeased:
"No need to go. Tang Xiang Yang has also left. He must already be outside the city. That girl, at this time, not knowing the workings of the world, couldn't have just run off to him by herself. Someone must be behind this. She was definitely lured by Tang Xiang Yang... Yet he's a soft-hearted man. How could he instantly change and resort to such a thing? Someone is definitely backing him. The moment I was imprisoned, he immediately dared to act! That scoundrel!"
Su Zhao asked gravely, "Who could have instigated this?"
Shao Ping Bo, looking at her with a cold smile, said:
"I told you he wouldn't just let me go. "
Su Zhao exclaimed, startled, "Niu You Dao?"
"Besides him, who else... *cough* *cough*..." Shao Ping Bo coughed. He bent over, coughing, his face flushed.
Su Zhao and Shao San Sheng quickly rushed to support him. And when he relaxed his palm, crimson bloodstains appeared on his palm.