Chapter 8: The Questionable Sect Leader |
Niu You Dao drew his sword and tried to swing it, only to find he couldn't yet practice with it. His wrist couldn't bear the sword's weight or the force required. He immediately sheathed it and cradled his wrist. It seemed his young body was still too tender and weak.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Niu You Dao continued to pace the courtyard, trying to calm himself. He definitely needed to develop strength to protect himself. Otherwise, he would constantly live under the threat of others, like a turtle hiding its head. Was that truly a way to live?
Finding a suitable room, he temporarily settled there. In any case, rather than just sitting idly, it was better to cultivate. So, Niu You Dao decided to cultivate the Taiyi method. He had mastered this method long ago, and cultivating it again would be relatively easy. He had barely managed to reach the Supreme Purity Sect, all thanks to the secret amulet Dong Guo Hao Ran had given him. He also wanted to comprehend those profound methods. However, for now, he needed to cultivate to at least protect himself.
As for the Taiyi method, he had acquired it while plundering an ancient tomb. In a jade casket, he found several pages of the Taiyi sacred canons, which allowed him to begin comprehending this method. However, it wasn't easy for him. He had to pore over many ancient texts to truly understand it. Only later, thanks to this method, did the underworld begin to refer to him as Lord Dao.
Yet, he remained unsatisfied because the knowledge contained in those few pages was limited. They only detailed breath refinement techniques and swordsmanship skills. However, he had heard that there existed more mysterious knowledge, allowing one to soar to the heavens and be omnipotent. Such possibilities stirred his heart. But the pages he had obtained were not the complete Taiyi method; they seemed to be merely an introductory course. The Taiyi method could not be limited to just breath refinement techniques and swordsmanship, which was why he constantly plundered ancient tombs. And if not for Dong Guo Hao Ran, who showed him such possibilities, he would not have left that village so easily.
Days turned into nights. Niu You Dao was fed three times a day and kept under guard. Someone always stood watch outside his doors, and no one spoke to him, as if he were hidden from the outside world.
He repeatedly requested a meeting with Tang Mu, but his requests were ignored. If Tang Mu knew that Dong Guo Hao Ran had died, he would certainly want to see him. However, Tang Mu didn't come, and he was held here under guard. Most likely, this situation boded no good. But Niu You Dao could do nothing. He had no power to act. All he could do was wait.
However, he didn't waste his free time. Besides cultivating the Taiyi method, Niu You Dao began to temper his body. He practiced splits, handstands, carried heavy weights on his back, and stretched. It was painful for his body to develop physical strength, but Niu You Dao had a strong will. Were such hardships truly beyond him?
Then there was his bronze mirror. When Song Yang Qing searched him, he had taken the bronze mirror but hadn't given it any importance. However, Song Yang Qing did pay attention to that beauty's tablet and began to question him about how Niu You Dao had acquired it. Niu You Dao explained, and in the end, Song Yang Qing left the bronze mirror and took the tablet.
However, no matter what he did, Niu You Dao couldn't figure out how to do anything with the mirror.
The Supreme Purity Sect Leader's residence was called the Supreme Purity Palace. A group of people hastily entered the palace. There, they saw the three elders: Luo Yuan Gong, Su Po, and Tang Su Su.
Now that the sect leader's position was vacant, the three elders were handling the sect's affairs.
After the group of three disciples greeted them, Luo Yuan Gong asked:
"What did you find?"
The leading disciple reported:
"We went through the village near the ruined temple. There was indeed a person named Niu You Dao. That is correct. When Niu You Dao left the temple, it was already the second day after the government troops attacked the village. And on that very second day, he disappeared from the village itself. The villagers are looking for him themselves, though they believe he was eaten by beasts. And the description of Niu You Dao we provided was confirmed by them. As for that tablet, Junior Brother Wu traveled to Kuangai County and found the owner of the tablet. That matter is also not fabricated."
Tang Su Su said with a stony expression:
"Niu You Dao doesn't seem like a country bumpkin."
To this, the disciples replied:
"We also verified that. A long time ago, a penniless scholar stayed in the village by the monastery, and Niu You Dao, due to the hardship of the wartime chaos, was alone in his home. That scholar lived with him for some time and taught Niu You Dao how to read and write. As for how learned Niu You Dao truly is, the villagers cannot say for sure. And that scholar left the village long ago in an unknown direction, and finding him now would be difficult."
Luo Yuan Gong asked:
"Could the villagers be deceiving us?"
The disciple replied:
"Initially, we checked the villagers themselves near the temple. They all seemed honest and humble. It's unlikely they would lie."
"If that's the case, then there should be no problem with Niu You Dao's background." Luo Yuan Gong looked at Su Po and Tang Su Su.
Tang Su Su replied in a cold tone:
"Is there a small chance that someone impersonated Niu You Dao? And asked the villagers to speak well of him?"
A few days later, Niu You Dao finally left the Peach Blossom Spring and walked, not knowing where he was going. He only knew he wanted to see the local customs. But after making a circle around the town, he didn't even notice himself returning. He didn't understand what had happened.
Upon returning, he once again entered the courtyard.
Meanwhile, the three elders had summoned all inner-circle disciples and were constantly discussing something.
And a month later, they once again brought Niu You Dao out of the Peach Blossom Spring courtyard and led him to the Supreme Purity Palace.
Several bronze braziers warmed the palace. Inside, all inner-circle disciples were gathered. Everyone looked serious.
Niu You Dao stood in the center, looking left and right. He noticed everyone was staring at him. What happened?
Finally, gathering his courage, he said:
"Before his death, Master told me to meet the sect leader!"
And the elder standing in the center, Luo Yuan Gong, sighed and said:
"You came too late. Elder Tang Mu has already passed on!"
"Ah!" Niu You Dao was stunned and couldn't suppress his surprise. So that's it? It turned out that was why Tang Mu hadn't seen him. He was already dead.
Luo Yuan Gong slowly said:
"Since Dong Guo Hao Ran accepted you as his disciple, today, you can be said to officially join the Supreme Purity Sect. We accept you. Furthermore, there is one matter we must ask you. If we were to ask you to become the head of the Supreme Purity Sect, would you agree to become him?"
"What?" Hearing that he had been accepted into the sect and finally recognized, Niu You Dao was delighted. However, he was then astonished. Pointing at his nose, he asked:
"You want me to become your leader?"
Luo Yuan Gong nodded, indicating that Niu You Dao had not misheard.
Niu You Dao initially thought they were trying to trick him, based on how they had initially treated him. However, even if they genuinely wanted him to be the leader, would such good fortune just fall into his lap? He immediately waved his hand in refusal:
"I'm not suitable, I'm not suitable. This disciple is unworthy!"
As soon as he said this, Tang Su Su's face relaxed.
Luo Yuan Gong asked again:
"Are you truly unwilling to become the sect leader?"
Niu You Dao waved his hand again, refusing:
"Of course not. I don't even know what's going on in the sect right now. It's better to ask someone more worthy."
Luo Yuan Gong looked around at everyone and asked loudly:
"Did everyone hear clearly?"
The disciples replied:
"Yes, we heard."
What was going on? Niu You Dao looked around, not understanding why everyone was reacting this way.
Among the crowd, Tang Yi stood silently. She only tilted her head slightly, as if afraid to meet Niu You Dao's gaze.
Luo Yuan Gong raised a hand and said:
"If that is the case, then return."
Song Yang Qing approached Niu You Dao, extended his hand joyfully, and said:
"Junior Brother, please!"
Niu You Dao took a step forward and turned his head back three times. *What the hell? What's going on?*
On the way, for some reason, Song Yang Qing was so delighted, patting Niu You Dao on the shoulder repeatedly and seeming very friendly. He almost hugged him. And when they reached the Peach Blossom Courtyard, he told Cheng Gui Shuo, who was standing there:
"There's no need to keep Junior Brother locked up anymore. Niu You Dao can go out and get some fresh air outside the courtyard. Right, later, feed him delicacies and treat him to some good wine."
"Understood!" Cheng Gui Shuo replied with a smile.
Niu You Dao, also joyful, thinking that he had truly been accepted into the sect now, said:
"I've been in the sect for a while now, but I haven't thoroughly explored the roads. I was just thinking of going down the mountain and having a good look around."
He had just turned, ready to leave as he pleased, when Song Yang Qing froze in place and immediately extended a hand, stopping him. Pointing to the area around the Peach Blossom Courtyard, he said with a smile:
"Junior Brother, staying near the courtyard entrance would be best. You've only just joined the sect, and it's not yet time for you to walk wherever you please."
Niu You Dao was speechless. He looked at the courtyard and the area around it. And this was truly giving him freedom?
Supreme Purity Palace. The crowd of disciples dispersed. Some were happy, some simply silent.
As soon as the crowd dispersed, inside the palace, Tang Su Su said with a laugh: "How about that? He refused himself."
Luo Yuan Gong and Su Po exchanged sighs. If Niu You Dao had become the sect leader, then it truly would have been a joke played by the devil himself. If they had told him everything, would Niu You Dao have refused?
Su Po: "He is now a potential leader. Who knows, perhaps some other disciple of Dong Guo miraculously survived."
Tang Su Su, seizing the moment, said:
"Good! Then we'll wait another three months. If there's no news, then we'll proceed with my method."
Su Po shook his head:
"Then we will lose our righteousness."
Tang Su Su said grimly:
"It's all for the sake of the Supreme Purity Sect. Otherwise, how can the disciples agree? And to make this clueless boy the leader, isn't that a farce? Besides, how could Tang Yi not be favored? Tang Yi, with her beauty in Purple Cloud County, if not the first, then the second!"
Luo Yuan Gong, frowning, said:
"Will Tang Yi agree after she finds out?"
Tang Su Su said seriously:
"She is a disciple of the Supreme Purity Sect, and also the daughter of the sect leader. Now, at a critical moment, will she not bear her responsibility? I am not only an elder of the sect but also her grandfather's sister. And now that her parents are gone, I am naturally her elder."
Stratagem Eight – Infiltrate Chencang in Secret
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