Chapter 22: The Instructor's Challenge |
Tu Han limped over, stroking the provisions on the horse, and whispered:
— The food the sect gave you is most likely poisoned. Don't eat it! And remember, as soon as you leave this place, find a way to part ways with the Grand Princess and her company. Find some secluded spot and don't come back. The farther you go, the better for you. Until you become strong enough to protect yourself. It's best if the Supreme Purity Sect never finds you. Remember, don't mention anywhere that you are the husband of the Supreme Purity Sect's head. Otherwise, you'll bring disaster upon yourself. Understood? You're a clever fellow, so I don't need to say much.
Niu You Dao, hearing him, smiled and said:
— I can't even tie up a chicken, and you want me to head off somewhere alone?
Tu Han immediately flared up, his already fierce face growing even more menacing, his beard even trembling.
— You, taking advantage of my drunkenness, pried into so many sensitive matters concerning the Supreme Purity Sect. Especially, you inquired about cultivation methods. Do you think I didn't know you were secretly cultivating? And you still claim you can't even tie up a chicken? I'm not interested in your past, but since Dong Guo Hao Ran took you as his disciple, there's nothing else I need to know.
— So, you were pretending to be drunk this whole time!— Niu You Dao smiled.
— If you don't want to die, then do as I said.— Tu Han said again in a cold tone, then turned and walked away.
Niu You Dao sighed and muttered: — If the Supreme Purity Sect sends someone to prevent me from leaving, what then?
— If that happens, then you'll need to reach Werewolf Ridge and find a man named Zhao Xiong Ge. He is your master's senior brother. He was once expelled from the sect for a transgression. By your Doctrine-Transmitting Amulets, he will understand that you are Dong Guo Hao Ran's disciple and will protect you. Near him, the sect wouldn't dare attack you.
— Werewolf Ridge... Zhao Xiong Ge...— Niu You Dao repeated to himself several times, then said doubtfully: — The Supreme Purity Sect is displeased with me. I'm an unexpected element to them. But you're asking me to abandon the Princess; what does that mean? Could it be that the Princess means to harm me?
Tu Han sneered:
— Do you truly believe the Princess is honored everywhere? And that by following her, you'll live in wealth and luxury wherever you go?
Niu You Dao had long harbored doubts about this. He asked:
— Is that not so? Ning Wang Shang Jian Bo... a military advisor and one of the three crucial chancellors. Is following them not honorable?
Tu Han only sighed:
— Those are just dreams. Ning Wang died five years ago. And the timing of his death is almost the same as that of Dong Guo Hao Ran and the other disciples. The sect believes their deaths are connected, which is why they didn't dare openly announce it. Aside from Ning Wang's daughter, there's also a son named Shang Chao Zong. You've probably heard of him. What you don't know is that Shang Jian Bo pursued a rather aggressive policy and provoked the opposition of the entire cultivation world. Even the Emperor was displeased with him. And Shang Chao Zong, influenced by his father, held similar views. At one point, Shang Chao Zong broke the law, and the Emperor, seizing the opportunity, stripped him of his title as Grand Prince. Now he has been expelled from the capital and sent to the lands granted to him in Cang Wu County. Therefore, traveling anywhere with him is dangerous. Everyone fears he will follow in his father's footsteps.
— Ah!— Niu You Dao understood.
— I could be drawn into others' schemes?
— Now you know.
— Does the Supreme Purity Sect want to send me to my death?
— Do you think I would speak ill of my own sect?— Tu Han said scornfully, turned his head, and walked away.
— Is that all? Wait, don't leave. There's still much I don't understand. We need to talk.
— Figure it out yourself.
Niu You Dao sighed and said with a smile:
— I know you did all this out of respect for my master. Respected Tu, thank you for all these years. For keeping one eye closed and the other open while guarding me.
Tu Han instinctively felt his other eye and, tilting his head, spat:
— Tch. Go on!
His silhouette flickered, and he leaped onto a tree trunk, vanishing entirely after a few more bounds.
Recalling their recent conversation, Niu You Dao leaped onto his horse and galloped out of the forest.
As soon as he exited the forest, he saw Shang Shu Qing and the others waiting for him. Together, they continued their journey...
A waterfall cascaded into a mountain stream, which in turn formed a river. The mountain river constantly twisted and turned until it flowed out onto the plain.
Nearby, the thud of several hundred horses could be heard. Riders waited by the roadside.
And at their head, naturally, were Shang Chao Zong and Lan Ruo Ting.
During their journey, he had been continuously treated and well-fed. So, despite the hurried and uncomfortable travel, he looked much better. At the very least, he now wore a head covering and proper clothes, no longer clad in rags. Shang Chao Zong truly appeared a man of standing now.
Behind them stood 500 riders. Each was armed with swords, bows, arrows, and other weapons. In the middle was a cart laden with goods. Various possessions were packed onto the horses.
After stopping, the 500 riders cautiously surveyed their surroundings. A cold, fierce aura emanated from them. One of them rode to a high ground and began scanning the area.
Half an hour passed, but they still saw no one. Shang Chao Zong said anxiously:
— We agreed to meet at dawn. Nothing has happened to Shu Qing, has it?
Lan Ruo Ting replied, — It shouldn't. The Supreme Purity Sect is, after all, a reputable sect; they wouldn't openly harm the Grand Princess.
Shang Chao Zong looked towards the Supreme Purity Sect's direction and sighed:
— Master Dong Guo has passed away, and now the Supreme Purity Sect will likely distance themselves even further from me.
Lan Ruo Ting remained silent for a while. He found it inconvenient to state that the Prince's family was currently at a disadvantage, and the imperial family was exerting strong pressure on the cultivation world. Finally, he sighed and said:
— Generally speaking, the Supreme Purity Sect, under the influence of the late Prince, indeed found itself pressured by many sects. Fortunately, during his lifetime, the Prince possessed power and troops, allowing him to support the Supreme Purity Sect. But now that the former Prince is gone, the situation has changed. And the Supreme Purity Sect is left without its final protective barrier. If they hesitate to send someone to us, Young Prince, you should understand and not blame them too much.
Shang Chao Zong nodded slightly:
— I don't think they'll refuse to help me or even hate me. But if so, wouldn't that make them people of ignoble character!
And suddenly, realizing something, Shang Chao Zong turned and said:
— Sir, I don't understand. If you clearly knew the Supreme Purity Sect wouldn't send us a guardian-mentor, why did you agree to send Shu Qing to them?
Lan Ruo Ting chuckled slightly, — Prince, do you truly believe the Princess went there for a guardian-mentor?
Shang Chao Zong was surprised, — Was it not for that?
Lan Ruo Ting sighed, stroked his beard, and said:
— There's something the Young Prince does not know. Previously, when the Princess was born, she had no birthmark on her face at all. But she cried incessantly, and medicine proved helpless. Fortunately, at that time, the former Prince was visited by Master Dong Guo. Master Dong Guo examined the girl and said she had no hidden illness; it was simply that her life and fate were destined to be bitter.
Shang Chao Zong didn't understand, — She was born into an imperial family, adorned in expensive silks, living in luxury and wealth. Her parents are noble people; where is the bitter fate in that?
Lan Ruo Ting shook his head, — I didn't understand it then either, but Master Dong Guo had a superficial grasp of the profound teachings of the arcane. And concerning the Princess, he determined that she would be a woman of destiny, and when she grew up, she would be an unparalleled beauty who would bestow happiness upon people. How could people be happy in such a turbulent age? This was difficult to comprehend. But Master Dong Guo said that being born into an imperial family was the girl's bitterness. And then her fate would change for the better. He said that she would initially taste sweetness, but then experience bitterness. But fate could be altered: first, let her experience bitterness, and then sweetness. For this, Master Dong Guo intended to leave a birthmark on her and make her ugly. But the strangest thing was that after he placed the birthmark on her face, making her unsightly, the girl stopped crying. She merely began to frolic and laugh. The Prince was delighted then. Of course, he believed Master Dong Guo's words. And he said that the girl should experience bitterness during these years. And when the time came, she would be able to find Master Dong Guo herself in the Supreme Purity Sect, and he would remove the birthmark. It's just that Master Dong Guo has now passed away.
Hearing this, Shang Chao Zong seemed to understand and said, laughing:
— I understand. Sir believes that Shu Qing went to the sect hoping that someone close to Dong Guo Hao Ran could restore her original face.
Lan Ruo Ting nodded:
— They are from the same sect, and even though Master Dong Guo has perished, someone from their sect should possess similar skills to his. It's unlikely the Supreme Purity Sect would refuse the Princess. This way, they can fulfill their promised debt. That's what the Princess wants, after all.
Swoosh... a whistle sounded from the direction of the Supreme Purity Sect.
Very quickly, a group of riders galloped in that direction. Shang Chao Zong looked at them and sighed with relief, — They're back.
Six riders could be seen. His younger sister was riding at the front. They splashed through the shallow water and burst onto the shore.
Shang Shu Qing greeted them with a clear voice, — Brother, Master Lan, fortunately, the instructor has arrived.
Shang Chao Zong and Lan Ruo Ting looked at Niu You Dao with disbelief. He seemed very young to them. Lan Ruo Ting even furrowed his brows. What kind of cultivation could this young man possess? And he's going to be a guardian-mentor? Is this a joke? Who will be protecting whom?
Both men even thought that the Supreme Purity Sect had simply decided to get rid of their promise and sent an ordinary person.
Niu You Dao calmly surveyed them with a simple smile.
— This is my third brother, Shang Chao Zong, and Master Lan Ruo Ting,— Shang Shu Qing introduced the two men.
Niu You Dao cupped his hands and said with a smile, — Greetings, Prince. Greetings, Master Lan.
Shang Shu Qing, for her part, introduced Niu You Dao: — This is Master Dong Guo's last disciple. Niu You Dao!