Chapter 54: Don't Say I Didn't Warn You |
Niu You Dao couldn't help but burst out laughing.
It turned out the bear had seen a kindred spirit in Yuan Gang. He thought Yuan Gang was a beast too. Yuan Gang, his face impassive, asked:
— I wonder, how do bears perish?
— Uh...— Yuan Fang grew wary, cautiously asking: — How do they perish?
Yuan Gang shot Niu You Dao a displeased look:
— That's an ox!
— Niu...— Yuan Fang froze and looked at Niu You Dao: — An ox?
Niu You Dao burst into laughter, turned, and walked away.
Yuan Gang left the perplexed Yuan Fang and also departed. Catching up to Niu You Dao, he asked:
In his past life, Lord Dao also recruited brothers as assistants, especially those whose abilities attracted him. Monkey had seen him take in disciples more than once.
Niu You Dao chuckled and said:
— You underestimate him. This shapeshifter is gifted, he just lacks experience and breadth of vision. If Song Yang Qing had stayed longer at the Southern Mountain Monastery, a small oversight might have meant we'd never seen him again.
Yuan Gang asked in surprise: — How do you know?
Niu You Dao smiled:
— Look closely. His twenty monks could have long ago seized the opportunity to escape. Yet, risking their lives, they still followed him. Recently, Song Yang Qing killed several monks, and it seems to have distressed him. That means he had more people under his command before. Can a fool lead several dozen men? He's not bad in himself. He just needs to be taught and morally guided, shown what's right and what's wrong. You see, with a single sentence, we've already managed to subjugate him. When you have time, train him well.
Yuan Gang was silent for a moment. He pondered, then turned and went back. At the entrance to the reception hall, he encountered Yuan Fang. Without a word, he brutally kicked him.
— Thud!— Yuan Fang flew backward from the kick to his chest.
As soon as Yuan Gang entered, he immediately began to beat him.
Inside the room, Yuan Fang's cries of pain echoed continuously.
As soon as the groans of pain subsided, Yuan Gang emerged with an impassive face, adjusting his clothes and ignoring the startled bodyguards.
A short while later, Yuan Fang also emerged from the reception hall, thoroughly beaten. Blood streamed from his nose. He had no idea why he had been so severely thrashed...
The Ruler's Palace. In the garden, Feng Lin Bo stood quietly, hands clasped behind his back. He calmly gazed at the night sky and the moon, a vexed expression on his face. Giving his daughter away in marriage in this manner was quite difficult.
Peng Yu Lan approached with light steps and draped a cloak over him. Though it was spring, the nights were still quite cold. Her husband was not a cultivator, so he could not resist the chill. Not only her husband, but her three children also were not cultivators. Their channels were unsuitable for cultivation. Otherwise, with her status, they would have long since become cultivators of the Heavenly Jade Sect. However, there was nothing to be done; human channels were incredibly diverse, and very few people were suited for cultivation.
Feng Lin Bo turned his head and offered a slight smile.
Peng Yu Lan also handed him a paper:
— News has arrived from my father. The Heavenly Jade Sect has approved the marriage after their discussion. They were worried you wouldn't send enough people to Cang Wu County, but people have already arrived.
Under normal circumstances, the Heavenly Jade Sect couldn't have its full strength present in Kuangai County. The Heavenly Jade Sect also possessed other territories, so they had left people here for protection. Some were also responsible for gathering wondrous herbs. In Kuangai County, common folk would collect herbs and receive payment for them. Afterward, they would transport everything to the Heavenly Jade Sect, where cultivators would either use the wondrous herbs themselves or trade with them.
In fact, every powerful cultivator sect operates similarly. Wondrous herbs for cultivation aren't found everywhere. If cultivators were to search for and gather herbs themselves, the sect's efficiency would be low. Moreover, they still needed to cultivate themselves. Therefore, large sects designate their territories and allow common folk to gather herbs, thus enabling them to earn their livelihood.
Of course, these so-called sources of wondrous herbs also needed to be replenished, and payment was required for them. After all, would anyone just hand over wondrous herbs for free?
Feng Lin Bo took the letter and examined its contents under the moonlight. After reading it, he pondered for a moment before crumpling the paper in his hand.
He sighed and asked: — How is Ru Nan? You need to persuade her!
— Mmm.— Peng Yu Lan nodded slightly.
Just then, their steward, Shou Nian, arrived. He greeted them both.
Feng Lin Bo asked: — How did it go?
Shou Nian: — I've already settled them in. They will come to greet you tomorrow.
Feng Lin Bo nodded, while Peng Yu Lan cautiously asked:
— What does Shang Chao Zong look like?
Shou Nian: — Of noble bearing and courageous in character!
Peng Yu Lan felt a little relieved, but immediately grew anxious. If he was of noble bearing, how would he treat their daughter? Of course, he wouldn't dare not to accept their daughter. She was just afraid that Chao Zong wouldn't treat her with affection, causing their daughter to suffer grievances. And in such a way, they would quietly harm each other.
It wasn't long before Peng Yu Lan entered her daughter's palace.
Inside the residence, Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Chu remained by Feng Ru Nan's side, ensuring nothing unforeseen occurred. Feng Ru Nan, still in her armor, lay on the bed.
Peng Yu Lan gestured for the four beauties to leave and sat down on a wicker chaise lounge herself.
Before she could even speak, Feng Ru Nan said:
— Mama, you don't need to persuade me. I won't marry. No one can force me!
Peng Yu Lan replied with irritation:
— I don't want you to marry this way either. However, you are still a general, for better or worse. Do you not know that on the battlefield, one must always act according to the situation?
Feng Ru Nan sat up and retorted irritably:
— What situation? I care about the Heavenly Jade Sect. If anything happens, grandfather can stand up for me, just as I strive to protect the Heavenly Jade Sect.
— Nonsense!— Peng Yu Lan slapped her daughter. She suddenly stood up and began pointing a finger at her daughter: — Besides the Heavenly Jade Sect, there's also Kuangai County. Do you think about the county's peace? Do you not know how many people wish your grandfather dead? Among so many sects and schools, if you are not grand, another grander one will devour you. And what will then remain of Kuangai County? Then your father, mother, brothers... all will perish. Is that what you wish to see?
These were not empty words. Every sect or school that possessed its own territories was bound by many chains. You might have a large territory with resources, but you needed help to guard and care for that territory. Therefore, disciples were needed to protect this territory. How many disciples could a sect allocate? It was hardly realistic. So, to avoid wasting strength unnecessarily, they would select outstanding individuals from among the common folk to serve as representatives for the schools and sects. These individuals would then handle the affairs of cultivators.
Large resources required large territories, and large territories required more disciples and outstanding representatives. And a representative... that was a fragile link, difficult to find and not easy to work with. If a representative was vulnerable, competitors could simply crush them. Therefore, guardian-mentors were assigned to them. Everything was interconnected.
— Ru Nan, please marry well?— Peng Yu Lan spoke slowly:
— Do you want me to beg you on my knees?— As she spoke, the mother approached Feng Ru Nan, about to kneel.
Feng Ru Nan immediately stood, holding her hand, and sobbed:
— Mama, don't be like this. I'll marry, alright?
Mother and daughter embraced and began to weep together.
— Mama, he'll hurt me. Will this Shang Chao Zong hurt me?— Feng Ru Nan sobbed, still in her mother's embrace.
Peng Yu Lan, patting Feng Ru Nan's back, said:
— Don't worry, Mama has already figured everything out. Father has given his tacit consent.
The next morning, Niu You Dao sat cross-legged in his dwelling, cultivating. Yuan Gang had just entered and reminded him:
— Lord Dao, those three have arrived and are requesting to see you.
Niu You Dao immediately exhaled his Qi and opened his eyes. He didn't even need to ask who "those three" were. If not Chao Zong and the others, then who else could it be?
Indeed, as soon as he stepped out, he immediately saw Chao Zong and the others by the stairs. They simultaneously bowed to him and said:
— Lord Dao!— They greeted him with considerable respect.
Niu You Dao paid no mind to their reverence. After all, he had earned it. However, he noticed the dark circles under Chao Zong's eyes; it seemed the latter hadn't slept at all the previous night. This made Niu You Dao chuckle slightly, and he asked, cupping his hands:
— I wonder, what instructions does the Prince wish to impart?
Chao Zong replied with a smile:
— We were just about to meet Feng Lin Bo, and we wished to invite Lord Dao along.
— Ah, I see. I won't go. You go yourselves.— Niu You Dao waved his hand, smiling. He had no interest in going. Moreover, he clearly didn't want to go and make a fool of himself, so he asked as he went:
— What about the ten thousand gold coins?
Chao Zong shook his head helplessly: — We don't know anyone here, so we haven't managed to find the money.— Then he nodded to Lan Ruo Ting, who continued:
— Indeed, we are currently facing difficulties, so all we can do is ask Feng Lin Bo to delay the payment. As soon as we reach Cang Wu County, we will find the funds there.
Delay? Niu You Dao looked at the three men and, at a loss for words, said:
— What were you three doing all evening? And you plan to go to them like this? You will truly bring shame upon yourselves. And don't say I didn't warn you!