Gazing at the map, Su Zhao sighed:
"Since you've prepared so thoroughly on all fronts, there shouldn't be any issues then."
Shao Ping Bo: "Good. In the Qi Kingdom, I'll be relying on you. Circumstances demand it, and the sooner they're accomplished, the better."
"What?" Su Zhao looked at him in surprise:
"I've only just arrived, and you're already chasing me away?"
Shao Ping Bo smiled: "Don't talk nonsense. That's not what I meant."
As they began to flirt, Shao San Sheng nodded and silently exited.
When no one else remained, Su Zhao began to approach Shao Ping Bo.
Shao Ping Bo leaned back slightly, as if wishing to evade her, but in the end, he stretched out a hand and clasped her tender hands, smiling faintly.
Su Zhao threw herself at him, and the two languished in each other's embrace.
"You won't abandon me? Will you marry me?" Su Zhao asked him.
"I've said I won't marry anyone but you. It's just... now isn't the right time. I'm not strong enough yet, and you can't abandon your organization right now. Everything we're doing now, for my sake... we're also doing for you and for our future."
Su Zhao sighed: "I wish I could believe it!"
Shao Ping Bo: "You don't believe me?"
"I do!" Su Zhao shook her head, but closed her eyes. She constantly yearned for it, yet feared her position. She feared being looked down upon.
They stood like that for a while, and Shao Ping Bo suddenly coughed and asked:
"What about Niu You Dao?"
Su Zhao turned her head and looked at him:
"You! It seems Niu You Dao gives you no peace, doesn't he? The moment you think of him, you immediately feel ill."
Shao Ping Bo sat at the table and drank some tea.
"You're imagining things."
Su Zhao: "I already have someone in Qingshan. He's keeping an eye on the situation, but he hasn't seen Niu You Dao yet. He's hidden himself well, guarded by several sects. It's impossible to approach him. It seems he has more leisure than you. He isn't bothered by ordinary affairs. He constantly hides in a gorge and doesn't show himself, and there's nothing I can do for now."
Shao Ping Bo was speechless. He realized that in this regard, he was weaker. Niu You Dao has Shang Chao Zong, who handles state affairs. And Niu You Dao is a cultivator. He doesn't manage military or state matters. If you wanted to spread rumors, you could target Shang Chao Zong, but it wouldn't affect Niu You Dao.
"Still watching him?" Su Zhao asked, then comforted him:
"Don't worry. He won't hide there forever. The moment he shows himself, an opportunity to attack him will arise."
Shao Ping Bo: "No. I was just thinking. Shang Chao Zong's situation is similar to Beizhou's. And like us, they also need warhorses. Take that into consideration."
"Mm!" Su Zhao nodded.
Sighing, Shao Ping Bo asked:
"By the way, how about that Ling Hu Jiu? Can I meet him?"
He had constantly inquired about this man and wished for Su Zhao to introduce him, so that Ling Hu Jiu might help them later.
Su Zhao offered a bitter smile and sighed:
"Just don't get angry."
"Angry?" Shao Ping Bo was surprised:
"If you can't bring him, why would I get angry?"
Su Zhao: "I found him and conveyed your wish to meet him. He said you're a mere mortal, and he only associates with cultivators. He specifically mentioned Dachang Mountain and said he's acquainted with its head, Huang Li. He said Huang Li might still meet him. But there are so many people in this world; he can't meet with everyone."
"..." Shao Ping Bo didn't know what to say. That fellow's hint was quite clear. He didn't want to meet him.
And his mention of Huang Li... it suggests he views Shao Ping Bo as a mere dog of Dachang Mountain. He implied that it's enough for him to meet the master, not a subordinate.
Shao Ping Bo smiled coldly, a flicker of anger in his heart. However, he calmed himself. If he thought about it, Ling Hu Jiu was right. He didn't need connections with mere mortals.
"It seems I've overestimated myself," Shao Ping Bo said in a cold tone.
Su Zhao: "This man has connections everywhere. It's unclear who backs him. I can't find that out yet, so I dare not act rashly. In my opinion, there's no need to rush for now. We'll have time later."
Shao Ping Bo spoke through gritted teeth:
"The day will come when he'll come running to me, begging for a meeting. Then I'll truly see him!"
Su Zhao offered a bitter smile and nodded slightly. This fellow is still so ambitious...
Returning from the governor's palace, Niu You Dao entered a mountain park.
This park was not small, but it couldn't be called large either. Nor was it luxurious; simple trees, flowers, and grass grew within. It was established on a mountain, in a relatively high place where one could admire the beautiful mountain scenery.
It had been established three months ago. Niu You Dao had been living here for one month already.
People connected to him had also settled here. Shu Qing, as it happened, also wanted to settle here. After all, it's unbecoming for a princess to live in a hut.
As soon as Niu You Dao entered the garden, he said to Wu San Liang as he walked:
"Go and summon the heads of the three sects."
"Understood!" Wu San Liang nodded and departed.
Niu You Dao, with his hands clasped behind his back, walked towards a pavilion. This pavilion offered a breathtaking view from all sides; one could lean on the railings and behold the mountain's splendors.
Knowing that the heads of the three sects would arrive, Black Peony was brewing tea at this time.
Before long, Fei Chang Liu, Zheng Jiu Xiao, and Xia Hua arrived with several disciples. The disciples stopped outside the pavilion's entrance, while the sect heads entered.
Niu You Dao turned, and Xia Hua, assessing the place, said:
"Though this place can't be called luxurious, everything here is done and chosen with taste. Not bad."
Niu You Dao smiled:
"You've also built yourselves quite impressive palaces."
Xia Hua: "It's not all that beautiful."
Niu You Dao chuckled: "No one dictated how you should build yours."
Xia Hua: "Things aren't as simple for us as they are for you. And we have more people. We have many disciples; we can't constantly live in caves. We need to settle somewhere."
Fei Chang Liu asked: "Why have you summoned us?"
Just then, Black Peony brought the tea, and Niu You Dao turned and said:
"Since you gentlemen have arrived, we can sit and have some tea."
The several individuals took their seats, and Black Peony began to pour their tea.
After a few sips of tea, Niu You Dao set down his cup:
"This past year, I've been constantly cultivating and paid no mind to outside affairs. I've just returned from the governor's palace and learned that His Highness urgently needs warhorses. Two counties are in peril, yet you've done nothing to resolve the matter. His Highness doesn't wish to pressure you. Gentlemen, I ask you, how can we procure warhorses?"
When he spoke of this, the several individuals grew serious.
Xia Hua shook her head:
"The situation is dire. Very troublesome. The Qi Kingdom is far away. We are strangers in the Qi Kingdom. The Heavenly Jade Sect and we have already suffered great losses. Around 500-600 disciples lost!"
Niu You Dao: "The matter is troublesome, yes! But I tell you, if we don't resolve this, we won't hold onto those two counties. Then we'll be homeless dogs. And then, not only will we be unable to cultivate in peace, but we might even lose our lives!"
Zheng Jiu Xiao: "Is it that we don't wish to resolve these problems? The Heavenly Jade Sect isn't sharing their profits, and we still need to feed our disciples. How can we not be anxious?"
Niu You Dao tapped the table several times with his finger:
"No need to tell me that. Speak of the problem. What is the problem?"
Fei Chang Liu: "There are a myriad of problems. Firstly, the issues within the Qi Kingdom itself. The Qi Kingdom has many pastures, so buying warhorses there isn't a problem. The issue is how to get them out of the Qi Kingdom."
Xia Hua said resentfully:
"The Qi Kingdom is simply a trap. People die there for nothing. Buying horses within the kingdom? Please, buy as many as you want. But getting them out of the kingdom? Don't think it'll be so easy. The Qi Kingdom is surrounded by deserts, and it's impossible to leave the kingdom by traversing the deserts. Due to the kingdom's complex terrain, there are only a few roads through which one can exit. But these roads are heavily guarded."
Zheng Jiu Xiao sighed: "The Qi Kingdom is ruthless. They permit you to buy horses from them, but they keep the horses along with your money."
The situation was simple and clear. Niu You Dao pondered, then slowly said:
"Is it truly impossible to procure horses except through regular interstate connections?"
Fei Chang Liu: "Why not? It's possible. But connections are needed. And those who control the export of warhorses from the kingdom are not easily approached. That's just one problem. After leaving the Qi Kingdom, there's a long journey through other kingdoms, and there, too, one must pass through their customs. That presents new problems. Even for the Heavenly Jade Sect!"
Niu You Dao asked Black Peony to hang a map in the pavilion. He stood before the map with his hands clasped behind his back, thinking, his brows furrowed.
At that moment, Wu San Liang arrived and reported:
"Lord Dao, someone has arrived outside. He says he is... Ling Hu Jiu from the Jin Kingdom. I'm not sure if it's true or not!"