One could say that Liu Zi You had watched Song Yang Qing grow up. From childhood, Song Yang Qing disliked reading books, and even when he cultivated, he had no fondness for poetry. Thus, Liu Zi You knew Song Yang Qing well. For the Song family, finding someone to write on Song Yang Qing's behalf was by no means difficult.
He knew that the poem Lu Sheng Zhong had recited was most likely not Song Yang Qing's own. However, the man was already dead, and it was improper to speak ill of the deceased. What's more, why should he diminish his master's dignity?
Nevertheless, returning to the matter at hand, whether the poem was good or not, Lu Sheng Zhong had indeed figured out how to connect with the prince's subordinates. After all, there were many subordinates, and they would certainly need supplies. Liu Zi You himself wouldn't have thought of that.
"Using Song Yang Qing's poem, we can exact revenge for him. I hope Song Yang Qing will approve of this from the heavens!" Sheng Zhong said.
"We must wait with this matter. There are many cultivators from the Heavenly Jade Sect, and it certainly won't be quick to get everything done. Therefore, I ask Brother Liu to be patient."
Liu Zi You nodded. "Very well! Let everything proceed according to Brother Lu's plan!"
Liu Zi You's attitude towards him had shifted. He had, of course, noticed Lu Sheng Zhong's abilities, and the recent arrival of the bodyguard further confirmed Sheng Zhong's competence.
Sheng Zhong asked again:
"I wonder, how many more people came with Brother Liu? Perhaps they could be useful for carrying out my plan."
Liu Zi You replied, "Two more fellow disciples, a brother and a sister. Both are cultivators at the Jin Dan level. They will appear when needed."
Sheng Zhong's eyes sparkled. The powerful patriarchs, for the sake of a worthless grandson, had mobilized a Jin Dan level cultivator for revenge...
In the mountains, beneath a sturdy old tree, bathed in the sun's rays, Niu You Dao stood. He held his sword, looking tranquil. His Jing, Qi, and Shen were in a calm state. He also observed a group of people who were digging the earth.
The ones digging the earth were indeed the monks led by Yuan Gang. They were preparing to plant vegetables. Yuan Gang was teaching the monks how to plant vegetables. Though they knew how to do it, it seemed their techniques were quite primitive. Niu You Dao still wondered when Yuan Gang would manage to build a greenhouse.
Along the way, Yuan Gang constantly gathered spices for food. In passing, he also collected vegetable seeds and made others do the same.
No one else knew, but Niu You Dao was well aware of Yuan Gang's habit. Wherever he went, he always collected vegetable seeds. Niu You Dao loved to cultivate, while Yuan Gang believed that planting vegetables was far more beneficial. There was simply nothing to be done about this difference between the two men. He couldn't force Yuan Gang to love cultivation. Of course, planting vegetables wasn't a flaw. Niu You Dao also knew how, and had once regularly planted vegetables, especially in the group where he grew up.
However, to get a harvest, they would have to wait some time. And they would soon be leaving to cultivate. Niu You Dao sighed to himself. He understood that Yuan Gang planned to return for the harvest, and moreover, had indicated to him that he wished to return. Therefore, Niu You Dao had no choice but to resign himself.
Some things were difficult to explain or articulate. Everyone had their own eccentricities. For example, these monks. It was clear they had committed many wicked deeds in their lives. Yet every day, they recited prayers and strived to do good. Especially Yuan Fang, that bear. He led a crowd of monks, still dreaming of returning to the Southern Mountain and establishing a monastery, or perhaps building a golden statue of Buddha.
What nonsense! They easily killed people, yet they didn't eat meat. Yuan Fang, that bear demon, didn't eat meat? What utter rubbish?
Strange people were everywhere. And then there was that stutterer, who had been kneeling outside the doors for several days, being a nuisance.
Opening the windows and doors, indicating that he was already awake, Niu You Dao sat before a mirror. Behind him, Shu Qing stood and began to tie his hair into a topknot.
Ever since that time, the girl came every morning at the appointed hour to comb his hair. Niu You Dao even wondered if she enjoyed serving as a servant.
He even wondered if the girl had fallen in love with him. If that were truly the case, he would have to refuse her. It wasn't that he judged a person by their appearance, but he simply couldn't be seen with someone whose looks were startling.
However, he understood that she was doing this voluntarily, unlikely out of affection. Rather, she probably wanted to curry favor with him so that he wouldn't abandon them. Therefore, he didn't even consider refusing her services.
"Lord Dao, it's almost done. Tomorrow, we can go to that place," Shu Qing reminded him.
"Mm!" Niu You Dao calmly replied. "Good, I understand."
Shu Qing inquired a little more about any preparations, then suddenly, Shu Qing said:
"Lord Dao, you write poetry well."
*Again?* Niu You Dao gave a bitter chuckle. "I truly cannot write poetry."
Shu Qing didn't argue with him either. "Lord Dao misunderstood. I recently acquired a poem and wished to show it to Lord Dao for his appraisal."
Niu You Dao continued to smile bitterly. *You need to clean your ears. Can't you hear what I'm saying?*
Shu Qing took out the poem and began to read in a soft voice:
"One who has seen the sea will not be amazed by a mere stream; one who has seen the clouds of Mount Wushan will not acknowledge other clouds..." She paused, because Niu You Dao had twitched.
However, he smiled. "Good, continue."
Shu Qing began again. "One who has seen the sea will not be amazed by a mere stream. One who has seen the clouds of Mount Wushan will not acknowledge other clouds. Looking back, half the journey was in perfection, half the journey in dominion!... Lord Dao, what do you think of it?"
"A good poem, a good poem," Niu You Dao said approvingly, and, looking into the mirror again, he asked her, "Only, Mount Wushan, what mountain is that?"
Shu Qing replied, "I haven't heard of it. But there are many mountains under heaven. Perhaps the one who wrote these lines traveled extensively. Sometime, I'll ask him to come and tell me where this place is."
Niu You Dao coughed. "Will the author clarify the situation when there's time? Is the author of these poems really in Cang Wu County?"
"That's right! The poem was acquired from a bookstore..." Shu Qing explained the situation. "It was such a good poem that I immediately inquired about its origin. It turns out there's a shop in the city called Jin Mo Xuan. When our people were purchasing writing supplies, the shop owner wrote the poem. Who would have thought such talent would be found in such a place?!"
"Indeed, a gifted talent. If the opportunity arises, I should meet him and broaden my horizons," Niu You Dao said approvingly.
After his hairstyle was complete, Niu You Dao threw on his clothes and, at the same time, picked up his sword. He escorted the princess to the street doors and then suddenly asked:
"Princess, could the trip to that secret place be postponed? I've suddenly remembered something I need to attend to. I'm not sure if it would be convenient?"
Shu Qing froze, but immediately nodded. "It's nothing, Lord Dao, we can discuss cultivation later." She then bowed and departed.
Niu You Dao watched her leave, then walked to the pavilion where Yuan Gang was cleaning his dagger. Niu You Dao approached him and tapped him with his sheathed sword.
Yuan Gang raised his head, awaiting Niu You Dao's words.
Niu You Dao calmly said, "I just heard a poem. Do you want to hear it?"
Yuan Gang didn't reply, continuing to clean his dagger, as if answering, "You like poems, you listen."
Niu You Dao slowly continued:
"One who has seen the sea will not be amazed by a mere stream. One who has seen the clouds of Mount Wushan will not acknowledge other clouds. Looking back, half the journey was in perfection, half the journey in dominion! What do you think?"
Yuan Gang raised his head and replied lazily:
"Are you bored or something? What's the point?"
Though he wasn't a connoisseur of poetry, he had followed Niu You Dao for so many years and naturally knew this ancient, popular poem.
Niu You Dao, looking at him, said, "The princess just read it to me, and I've never once told it to her."
Yuan Gang froze. He slowly raised his head and said, "You know I'm not fond of reading poems." He was hinting that he hadn't told her anything either.
Niu You Dao mused, "Intriguing. The princess was given this poem by a bookstore owner. Could someone else besides us have made it here? It's entirely possible. But it also appeared in Cang Wu County; is that truly a coincidence?"
Yuan Gang asked suspiciously:
"Are you certain you never recited this poem to anyone?"
"A good question!" Niu You Dao turned and slowly walked forward, gazing into the distance:
"I did recite this poem to one person, however, that person is already dead. I dealt with him at the Southern Mountain Monastery, and that person's name was Song Yang Qing!"
The fact that this was connected to Song Yang Qing, and that this person appeared in Cang Wu County, was no longer difficult to deduce! Yuan Gang put his dagger into his boot and stood up. He looked at Niu You Dao.
"The Jin Mo Xuan shop. Investigate the situation there," Niu You Dao calmly said, his back still to him.
Yuan Gang, without a word, immediately departed.