Bai Yao remained silent. Although he agreed to stop these quarrels and avoid Feng Ru Nan's antics, he was still a member of the Feng family. He could calm Feng Ru Nan in front of everyone, but he couldn't openly side with Niu You Dao.
The fact that he was silent, however, spoke volumes – it indicated his tacit agreement.
Niu You Dao naturally understood this and continued:
— Everyone is probably wondering what's happening. Many don't know the ins and outs. The princess lent me money—that's true. I genuinely had no funds and was forced to borrow from the princess. And not a small sum, but ten thousand gold! The princess demanded the money back, and I never refused to return it. It's just that I truly had no money, and I borrowed it for the Prince. I didn't spend a single copper on personal needs. As for the money itself, the great ruler has already forgiven the debt. Even though the ruler said so, the princess still demands it back. In that case, I have no choice but to ask Senior Bai to arbitrate this matter. I don't have the money now, and neither does the Prince. Perhaps we can wait until we reach the city walls, and there we can sell the warhorses to repay the princess. How does that sound?
Shang Chao Zong and the others were speechless. Shang Chao Zong, especially, felt the most awkward. Yet, he had no right to deny it.
Bai Yao twisted his mouth. Feng Ru Nan nearly spat blood. Niu You Dao spoke as if he genuinely intended to return the money, and he even made such a fuss. If Feng Lin Bo heard him, he would surely be enraged. It was clear that Niu You Dao had no intention of returning the money.
In truth, Niu You Dao had no intention of returning the money from the start. He wasn't truly the borrower. After all, he hadn't spent a single coin on himself; it was all for the Prince. In the end, the Prince and Feng Ru Nan were husband and wife. What debts could there be between them? Niu You Dao certainly owed Feng Ru Nan nothing.
Bai Yao squinted at Niu You Dao. This man was shameless; why be surprised?
The other people, however, didn't know the full truth. So, most of them murmured among themselves, believing that Feng Ru Nan was making a fuss over nothing. They were now husband and wife with the Prince; what money could possibly be owed?
Shang Chao Zong's bodyguards were particularly indignant. Sell the warhorses? Would they then walk to Cang Wu County?
Feng Ru Nan nearly spat blood, mortified by the exposure of this affair. She wanted to say something, but couldn't.
Her troubles had begun the very day she met Niu You Dao in the military camp. When had she, a female general, ever suffered such humiliation?
Bai Yao spoke: — Since the ruler said there's no need for the money, then there's no need.
He knew it was pointless to demand the money further. That shameless Niu You Dao might even incite everyone to sell the horses. If such a rumor reached Feng Lin Bo, his fury would know no bounds. And when he investigated, Feng Ru Nan would be blamed for everything.
— Very well! Since Senior Bai has spoken, this junior will not mention it again.— Niu You Dao cupped his hands and thanked Bai Yao.
Lan Ruo Ting couldn't bear it and helplessly raised a hand to rub his forehead. He didn't know how the conflict between Niu You Dao and Feng Ru Nan could possibly be resolved!
Feng Ru Nan gnashed her teeth in anger, wanting to rush forward and kill Niu You Dao!
Niu You Dao merely continued:
— There's also another matter. One could say it's the cause of today's conflict. Perhaps everyone is curious about what happened? In truth, it's nothing special. It's simply that when the Prince spent his wedding night with the princess, the princess wasn't particularly keen on fulfilling her marital duties. So, a trick had to be employed to ensure a momentous occasion occurred between the young couple. And now, the princess wants to settle scores with mere subordinates!— Of course, Niu You Dao conveniently omitted the details about the medicine.
Both sides stood facing each other. And here, it turns out the whole affair was merely about marital duties? Some of the cavalrymen couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Shang Chao Zong felt awkward. How could such a thing be spoken in front of everyone?
— Shameless wretch!— Feng Ru Nan was furious. She never imagined Niu You Dao would dare say such a thing in front of everyone. How many people would now laugh at her behind her back? She drew her sword and lunged at Niu You Dao.
Bai Yao nodded, and Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Chu immediately moved in from all sides to stop Feng Ru Nan.
Niu You Dao: — Senior Bai, you were there and saw everything clearly. I won't say any more. In short, the princess only now wishes to settle old scores. If the princess truly wants to settle accounts, then let her find the Prince. Why take it out on subordinates? I ask Senior Bai to be just in this matter.— Then he turned to Shang Chao Zong:
— Prince, I borrowed the money for you. You took the princess as your wife. You enjoyed yourselves in the bedchambers. Why should we bear the responsibility now? Resolve this matter now; there's no point in continuing these games.— After saying this, Niu You Dao, ignoring everyone else, called out to Yuan Gang and Yuan Fang. They walked away, leaving the others to their problems and grievances.
He had always believed that if one was weak, one must know when to retreat.
Shang Chao Zong was now biting his lips, regretting that he couldn't seize and kill Niu You Dao right then. How dared he tell everyone that he, a strong warrior, couldn't handle his own wife!
Bai Yao, at that moment, also detested Niu You Dao. He brought up such a matter and then even called upon Bai Yao to be the judge?
Niu You Dao didn't care what they thought. Matters between a man and a woman should be settled between themselves. Why lash out at others?
— I swear, I will kill you!— Feng Ru Nan shrieked furiously.
Today, she not only lost face but also fell in the eyes of her warriors. All these years, she had deliberately renounced feminine ways so her soldiers would respect her as a warrior. For soldiers often believed that women had no place in war.
— Enough! Let's end this here. Raise no more fuss! Anyone who violates this will incur my displeasure!— Bai Yao shouted, casting a cold gaze at both sides. Then he added: — Disperse!
Lan Ruo Ting waved to the bodyguards, and they quickly dispersed, chuckling to themselves. The Feng family cavalry also quickly scattered.
Feng Ru Nan's face flushed crimson, and she stood clutching her sword, breathing heavily.
— Don't make a scene.— Bai Yao warned her again, then approached and said:
— I know you've endured much humiliation. But you must understand that if you obstruct the great cause, neither you nor I can bear the responsibility. I will give you one promise: once we find what we need, then you may deal with them as you wish.
Feng Ru Nan bit her lips. She had been forced into this marriage. For the sake of the great cause, she had agreed to fulfill her duty, but she clearly did not want to marry Shang Chao Zong, that masterless dog. Nor did he want to marry her. She understood that he had married her out of necessity. Therefore, she had initially believed their marriage would be a sham. And when they found what they needed, she would be free to leave him, or even kill him. She would kill him when she had her own army; who would dare gainsay her then? No one would pay any mind to the Prince anymore.
Thus, the comedy concluded.
Everyone understood that now that Bai Yao knew everything, nothing else should happen.
Due to the rain, the group stayed for the night.
And when dawn broke, everyone mounted their horses once more. Weng Xing sat on her horse, her arm dislocated again, but she immediately set it back in place.
Yuan Fang had been constantly by Niu You Dao's side throughout this. It was clear from Feng Ru Nan that she still hadn't calmed down, only temporarily refraining from action due to Bai Yao's pressure.
However, Yuan Fang was deeply grateful to Niu You Dao, for he had risked his life to intervene on his behalf. Moreover, he even began to regard Yuan Gang differently. After all, Yuan Gang, without a second thought, had seized Feng Ru Nan's person and beaten her in front of everyone, forcing Feng Ru Nan to release Yuan Fang's people. Although Yuan Fang still sought an opportunity to escape, the thought of fleeing now brought him sadness. And if he did escape, what would he become!
Having experienced this incident, he nevertheless began to regard them differently and feel safe among them.
The monks also began to view Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang in a new light. They now thought these people weren't so bad after all.
On the journey, they now gravitated more towards Niu You Dao and Yuan Gang, whereas before they had tried to avoid them. After all, it seemed much safer with these two around.
Southern Domain.
A small boat drifted on a lake of emerald water.
Snacks and drinks were laid out on a small table. Lu Sheng Zhong and An Xiao Man sat facing each other, drinking. The two were guardian-mentors, brothers in cultivation. Although they didn't share the same direct master, they were all disciples of Wuliangshan.
Upon reaching the Southern Domain, Lu Sheng Zhong decided not to immediately proceed to Qingshan County. He first sought to gather news from his fellow disciple. Although he had orders from Wang Heng, he dared not directly confront the Heavenly Jade Sect.
An Xiao Man was the guardian-mentor of Zhou Shou Xiang, the governor of the Southern Domain. One was a subordinate of Wang Heng, the other a subordinate of Zhou Shou Xiang. And Wang Heng and Zhou Shou Xiang were both close to the Emperor.
A young man swiftly glided across the water, delivered a message, then immediately sped back.
An Xiao Man opened the message, read it, and then handed it to Lu Sheng Zhong.
— Brother Lu, you've received the news you wanted. Feng Lin Bo seems to attach great importance to Shang Chao Zong. He sent not just one Jin Dan cultivator with him. What's more, there's a Jin Dan cultivator from the Dan List, Bai Yao, and he personally leads their escort. It will be difficult for you, a Zhu Ji cultivator, to claim Niu You Dao's head!—