Chapter 15: Someone Added Poison |
“One thing in words, another in deeds?” Tang Su Su said in a cold tone:
“Is that how you speak to elders from the senior generation?”
Song Yang Qing flared up slightly, but immediately shook his head:
“This disciple simply does not understand!”
He fell to his knees and pleaded:
“This disciple truly loves Senior Sister Tang. If there is a chance, this disciple begs Master to help!”
Tang Su Su shook her head freely and, looking down at him, said:
“I can help. Do you want to become the sect master? If you agree, then Niu You Dao will not be a problem. And I will marry Tang Yi to you. How does that sound?”
“This...” Song Yang Qing raised his head, his lips trembling as if in convulsions. He had already thought about this. But his father had already warned him. The Supreme Purity Sect had vague connections with Shang Jian Bo and could easily fall into the emperor’s disfavor. The Song family held a high position, and they could not be involved in such matters.
“This disciple is limited in ability. I cannot take on such responsibility.” Song Yang Qing said in a weak voice.
Tang Su Su calmly replied: “If that’s the case, then you can try to persuade your father. As soon as you assume the position of sect master, I will immediately marry Tang Yi to you.”
“How can I be the master of my father’s affairs?” Song Yang Qing immediately retorted. Was it not clear that his father did not wish to be involved with the position of Supreme Purity Sect master?
Tang Su Su, with shining eyes, said:
“Fine. This matter cannot involve you and your father. I will ask you this: Do you want Tang Yi to become the sect master?”
Song Yang Qing raised his head and, with a gleam in his eyes, said:
“Of course. This disciple hopes that Senior Sister Tang becomes the sect master. If she becomes the sect master, then this disciple will be immensely happy.”
Tang Su Su cursed to herself: “You’re a fool. If your father doesn’t want to get involved with the position of sect master, do you think he’d let you marry the sect master? Once Tang Yi takes the position of sect master, your ties will already be severed!”
However, she still calmly asked:
“Tang Mu appointed Dong Guo Hao Ran as sect master before his death. Now Dong Guo Hao Ran has also perished. And according to the sect’s rules, who should be the sect master now?”
“This...” Song Yang Qing hesitated slightly, then loudly called out a name:
“Niu You Dao!” He then immediately added: “Only, Niu You Dao has already refused!”
Tang Su Su:
“How he refused, I don’t need to explain much. Everyone understands perfectly how he refused. Everyone is silent because they know that Niu You Dao doesn’t understand the situation and isn’t suitable for the role of sect master. So, who else can become the sect master? Everyone looks to your father’s support and hopes that thanks to you, the sect can reach its peak. Only, you don’t want this. We, the three elders, have already been sect masters and cannot become sect masters again. Initially, Wei Duo was the most suitable. Only, he stutters and cannot become sect master. Wei Duo is stubborn and shouts nonsense about having to follow the rules and appoint Niu You Dao as sect master. We had to punish him and leave him at the foot of the mountain so he would come to his senses. The others? Niu You Dao refused, so the others are silent. They don’t want to bring ill repute upon themselves!” Having said this, Tang Su Su sighed heavily. After all, the sect was going through tough times now. The country was in turmoil. Chaos reigned everywhere. And the sect was without a leader. If it were a time of the sect’s prosperity, a crowd of people would be fighting for the position of sect master.
Song Yang Qing said: “Therefore, this disciple believes that Tang Yi is the most suitable for the role of sect master!”
Tang Su Su nodded: “Tang Yi is the daughter of the sect master. That is also the key. If she doesn’t take on this responsibility, then who will want to? But how can she win over all the disciples, being the daughter of the sect master? Who won’t doubt her intentions? Who won’t blame her for selfishness? If Tang Yi becomes the sect master, she will have to pay a great price. Do you think she wants to marry Niu You Dao? If she becomes the sect master, she must marry Niu You Dao. This is so that everything in the sect remains peaceful. Do you understand?”
Saying this, she pulled a letter from her sleeve and tossed it to Song Yang Qing’s knees:
“This letter just arrived from your father in the capital. See for yourself.”
Although Song Shu was her disciple, some matters in the sect were only carried out with his approval. They sometimes asked for his opinion, as the Song family provided no small support to the sect. And it was precisely Song Shu who approved the choice of Tang Yi as sect master.
Song Yang Qing began to read the letter, and his face gradually took on a sorrowful expression. His father had warned in the letter that Song Yang Qing should not harbor unrealistic dreams and should obey Tang Su Su. Otherwise, he would severely punish him.
Song Yang Qing, overwhelmed with grief, sprawled on the ground, his heart bleeding.
After Song Yang Qing left, Tang Su Su went to the back of the courtyard and saw Luo Yuan Gong and Su Po playing chess there.
As soon as she approached, the two men stopped playing. Luo Yuan Gong, looking at her, asked: “Is everything alright with the Song family?”
Tang Su Su looked at who was winning and said:
“Song Yang Qing just left. We only need Song Shu’s consent, and that will mean the Song family also agrees. Now the only question is Song Yang Qing. It seems he has deep feelings, and this is not beneficial for Niu You Dao. This aristocratic youth loves to get what he wants. He won’t do anything openly, but secretly, he’s capable of all sorts of tricks. During this time, nothing must happen to Niu You Dao. If anything happens to him, who will be able to adequately explain everything to the disciples? When our disciples see Tang Yi take the position of sect master, and then Niu You Dao has troubles, they will immediately think it’s Tang Yi’s doing. The consequences will be irreversible. Brother Su, perhaps you can take care of this? Song Yang Qing must not be allowed near the Peach Blossom Spring!”
“Hmm!” Luo Yuan Gong also nodded to Su Po.
Su Po said nothing, stood up, and silently left.
Tang Su Su watched him leave. Tang Su Su’s gaze was firm. She had done everything for Tang Yi’s ascension to the position of sect master. Her husband died for the sect, her son also died for the sect. Now, her nephew had also died for the sect. For the well-being of the sect, she was ready for anything. She would always protect the sect...
“I am Tu Han! From this moment on, I will be watching you!”
At Peach Blossom Spring, Cheng Gui Shuo and Su Yi Tian had disappeared. Now, standing before Niu You Dao was a one-eyed giant, leaning on a crutch. He spoke with a hoarse voice, and a sword scar ran across his neck.
Niu You Dao finally began to observe him and noticed that the limping man had tanned skin, a coarse face, and curly mustaches. Perhaps because of the scar on his face, Tu Han seemed ferocious. Such people usually made children cry just with their appearance.
“Thank you for your service, thank you!” Niu You Dao politely took the food box and thanked Tu Han.
Tu Han asked: “Need anything else?”
Niu You Dao tried to inquire: “Why were the people changed?”
He was worried that Song Yang Qing would now treat him poorly, and perhaps Song Yang Qing was the one who changed the guards.
To this question, Tu Han merely turned around and left, paying no attention to Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao was speechless. Another one who ignored him.
A few days later, the Peach Blossom Spring became lively. A crowd of Supreme Purity Sect disciples came and prepared everything for the celebration.
On the other side of the cliff, Song Yang Qing stood, angrily watching all these preparations. He had remained in this wilderness for so many years for Tang Yi. He had prepared and protected her. And now, he was so close to tasting this fruit, when suddenly someone else snatched his fruit away. It would have been fine if it were another disciple, but this was just a simple bumpkin. How could he — the son of an aristocrat — tolerate this?
And now he would stand by calmly and watch Tang Yi get married? The more he thought about this, the angrier he became. In the end, he couldn’t bear it and descended the mountain.
The food for Peach Blossom Spring was routinely delivered by the same disciple. But today, on the wooden bridge, Su Yi Tian and Cheng Gui Shuo stopped him.
“Brothers, I was told that you don’t need to handle the food delivery.”
The disciple said politely. Perhaps these two disciples had misunderstood?
Song Yang Qing was right nearby. He emerged from behind the rock, walked up to him and, extending his hand, said: “Give me the box, I’ll check it.”
“This...” The disciple found himself in a difficult position.
Song Yang Qing, ignoring him, took the box, turned, and walked towards the rock.
“Brother Song...” The disciple grew worried. But Su Yi Tian and Cheng Gui Shuo stopped him. Everyone knew Song Yang Qing’s position and the influence of the Song family. Even the three elders feared the Song family. How could he go against Song Yang Qing?
Fortunately, Song Yang Qing checked the box and then returned it: “I’ve looked. Everything is fine, go!”
The disciple took the box and left. However, further away, he found a quiet spot, opened the box, and checked it. Indeed, everything was in place. It seemed nothing had changed.
Then he reached the middle of the mountainside, where Tu Han was in a cave. The disciple handed him the food box and left.
Tu Han opened the box, took a silver hairpin, and dipped it into a flask. Inside the flask was a white powder. He then pierced the food in the wooden box with the hairpin and noticed that the area he pierced turned black.
“Poisoned!” Tu Han’s already fierce face became even more menacing. His body flashed out of the cave, and with a somersault, he leaped down from a cliff twenty zhang high. (A zhang is approximately 3.3 meters.) Below, Tu Han immediately grabbed the disciple and pressed him to the ground:
“Did anything happen on the way?”
The disciple didn’t know what was happening and immediately recounted the story about Song Yang Qing.
“Follow me!” Tu Han dragged the disciple along.