Chapter 717: Every Matter Requires Proof |
Niu You Dao looked at him. He understood what Yuan Gang was hinting at. He wanted to test his ability to control beasts. Could he truly contend with the Thousand Beast Sect's control? And help the Yan Kingdom's army?
"Monkey, solving a problem doesn't necessarily mean going in for the kill!" Niu You Dao said with a sigh.
Yuan Gang: "Lord Dao, you know General Meng. This battle is crucial for the Yan Kingdom's forces. They cannot afford to lose, and I can try. Perhaps I can help."
Niu You Dao stared intently at him.
Guan Fang Yi glanced from one to the other, worried that the two friends would start arguing again.
Niu You Dao shifted his gaze to her and gestured for her to leave.
Guan Fang Yi pursed her lips, then reluctantly began to walk away, fanning herself and swaying her hips discontentedly.
Once she was gone, Niu You Dao asked, "Help? How will you help? Will you subdue the Thousand Beast Sect?"
Yuan Gang: "I didn't say I'd subdue the Thousand Beast Sect. If I can just manage to control their beasts and help rectify the situation for the Yan Kingdom's army, that's enough."
Yuan Gang: "Lord Dao, I don't want to display anything."
Niu You Dao: "If you don't want to, how will you manage without it? Even if you succeed and help them win, do you know how many people will then set their eyes on you?"
Yuan Gang: "I'll try. Must I sit idly by and watch General Meng lose?"
"Monkey!" Niu You Dao forcefully plunged his sword into the ground. He said with a hint of disappointment, "Why don't you understand? How many people are already watching us? Have you forgotten the matter of Bai Li Jie? How many things are now linked to us? The Ice and Snow Palace and the Red Yang Fruit's root are connected to us. The Palace of Mystery is monitoring Yun Ji, and she is now with us. Yes, some things haven't been proven yet. But if one thing reveals itself, many people can deduce the rest. Do you think the Palace of Mystery is full of fools?" Yuan Gang froze. Niu You Dao's words reminded him of many things.
Niu You Dao's words were sharp, but his heart was kind, and he spoke the bitter truth with good intentions: "Monkey, what needs to be done can be done. But what can be done discreetly, it's best to do without drawing attention. We cannot show everyone what valuable things we possess. That's why I don't display everything, like how I can withstand the Holy Rakshasa's blows, understand?"
Yuan Gang remained silent, then lowered his head and said, "Then what about General Meng?"
"Matchmaker!" Niu You Dao called out.
Hearing her summoned, Guan Fang Yi emerged from the forest again. Looking at both of them, she asked displeased, "What?"
"Go to Meng Shan Ming. And tell him..."
When Gong Sun Bu entered the commander-in-chief's tent, he saw a group of commanders standing around a table with puzzled expressions. Gong Sun Bu approached Meng Shan Ming and whispered, "General Meng!" He then pulled out a letter.
Meng Shan Ming glanced at him, then took the letter. As he read it carefully, he frowned.
It was a letter from Niu You Dao. Niu You Dao stated that he knew about the defeat. He wanted to know what the three sects planned to do. If they still didn't know, Niu You Dao had a plan. If there was no immediate need to fight the Song Kingdom's army, Niu You Dao advised avoiding confrontation for now. Niu You Dao asked for a few days to resolve the matter, and then he would give Meng Shan Ming an answer!
Although Meng Shan Ming didn't know how Niu You Dao intended to resolve the issue, upon reading the letter, he breathed a sigh of relief. He trusted Niu You Dao.
He understood that Niu You Dao was about to take action!
After reading the letter, Meng Shan Ming folded it into a scroll and held it to a lamp, burning it in front of everyone.
Estimating the time it took for the news to arrive, he realized to himself that Niu You Dao had always been by his side. He wasn't far from him, constantly hiding, a cunning move watching others take risks.
But he had already grown accustomed to this, and to Niu You Dao's style!
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what was in the letter. However, they all understood that Gong Sun Bu was Niu You Dao's man.
Gong Ling Ze was not in the tent; the Thousand Beast Sect's intervention had led to the defeat of the Yan Kingdom's forces. Gong Ling Ze was enraged. Therefore, the three sects of the Yan Kingdom were holding the Thousand Beast Sect accountable.
Meng Shan Ming looked at Gong Sun Bu and nodded, indicating that he understood everything. Gong Sun Bu nodded back and exited the tent. "Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty, joyful news! Victory!"
In the Song Kingdom's capital, Zi Ping Xu entered the library and said to Emperor Mu Zho Zheng, who was sitting at a desk.
The news of Cheng Shao Tong's victory had already reached Mu Zho Zheng. He was currently reading the report at his desk. He burst into laughter and said, "This is all thanks to the Chancellor!"
Zi Ping Xu humbly replied, "I dare not claim such credit, this servant merely wished to satisfy Your Majesty!"
Mu Zho Zheng stood up and walked around the table. With a pleased expression, he said, "We annihilated 500,000 Yan Kingdom soldiers in one go. Though it's said to be with the help of the Thousand Beast Sect, General Cheng still deserves the credit!"
Zi Ping Xu nodded, "This servant merely did not betray Your Majesty's expectations!"
Though he said this, he clearly understood that Cheng Shao Tong had expended no small effort to lure the Yan Kingdom's troops here and ultimately succeeded. Now, he only needed to pursue and harass the Yan Kingdom's forces and await Luo Zhao's return. That was why Cheng Shao Tong had sent him letters first.
He feared that the Imperial Court would demand Cheng Shao Tong completely crush the Yan Kingdom's forces. Therefore, he hoped his father-in-law would help him at court.
Zi Ping Xu had already thought everything through carefully. And now, Cheng Shao Tong would not only refrain from attacking but the Yan Kingdom's troops would simply avoid confrontation.
However, he regretted that the Thousand Beast Sect was not helping with their full strength. Otherwise, his son-in-law would have received an even greater reward.
Originally, Cheng Shao Tong had thought that, in addition to ground support, the Thousand Beast Sect would provide more aerial assistance with their birds. This way, they could launch a surprise attack on the enemy, setting them on fire. This would sow chaos in the Yan Kingdom's army and allow them to finish off the enemy!
But the Thousand Beast Sect provided nothing. They wanted their own territory. And until that territory was granted, they had no intention of revealing their true power.
They did not deploy their large birds. If they released their large birds, the Thousand Beast Sect would openly confirm their involvement.
Even though Gu Wu Chun had told them that if they helped one more time, the Yan Kingdom would be doomed, and the Yan Kingdom would not and could not seek revenge, the Thousand Beast Sect still refused.
More precisely, the Thousand Beast Sect had also discerned the Song Kingdom's weakness. And until they were given guarantees, they would not fully reveal themselves.
They only provided a little help just now because they were forced to.
And the Thousand Beast Sect still stood firm: once they received what they wanted, then and only then would they provide full assistance.
"Good! Hahahaha......
The vast army was returning. Luo Zhao, sitting on his horse and looking up at the sky, burst into laughter.
Ever since Meng Shan Ming began his attack, Luo Zhao had constantly felt pressure. Yet he had managed to return safely. He had been continuously hampered by the Southern Domain Army. But today, he received news that Meng Shan Ming had lost the battle!
"This is truly good news!" Su Yuan Bai said with a sigh.
Wen You nodded and continued, "The Chancellor is worthy of being the Chancellor. It turns out he was able to put in so much effort and force the Thousand Beast Sect to attack. Even if Cheng Shao Tong cannot completely defeat the Yan Kingdom's forces this way, the Song Kingdom's army will be able to return safely. With the Thousand Beast Sect's help, we have time to return. And then we will crush the Yan Kingdom's forces!"
Dong Ying Lai and Chang Fei smiled. They too had not known earlier that the Thousand Beast Sect would help.
Only their sect leaders knew about this matter; after all, the three sects had to agree to the Thousand Beast Sect's terms. However, everything was kept secret. They feared the Yan Kingdom would be prepared. This was also a condition of the Thousand Beast Sect. They did not want to fully reveal themselves. They only helped a little for now to intimidate the Yan Kingdom's forces...
Throughout the journey, Shang Chao Zong, who was accompanying the Song Kingdom's army, was extremely surprised to learn about the Yan Kingdom's defeat in battle! The Thousand Beast Sect. An important guest arrived at their gates. Elder Yue Yuan of the Black Gold Cave, on Gong Ling Ze's orders, arrived at the Thousand Beast Sect. He also brought several people who had personally witnessed everything.
Head Si Hai Tang himself came out and began to argue with Yue Yuan. The atmosphere was tense.
Si Hai Tang refused to acknowledge their actions: "I will say it again, this matter has nothing to do with our Thousand Beast Sect. We ourselves are greatly surprised and have sent people to investigate everything!"
Yue Yuan angrily shouted, "I witnessed it all myself. Insects, beasts, reptiles, even our Bird Kings and mounts went out of our control. Who else could possess such methods if not the Thousand Beast Sect?"
Si Hai Tang frowned and replied, "Someone controlling our birds is a blow to our reputation. Why would we want that? Elder Yue, every matter requires proof!"
Yue Yuan: "Then tell me, besides your sect, who else could pull off such a feat?"
Si Hai Tang: "You ask me, but who should I ask? If there's no proof, then there's no need to cause a commotion!"
Yue Yuan coldly chuckled, "Your Thousand Beast Sect claims across the entire world that you do not interfere in the affairs of kingdoms. If today you don't give us an explanation, then from now on, your disciples will not have an easy time within the Yan Kingdom's territory!" He swept a cold gaze across the entire high-ranking staff of the Thousand Beast Sect.
Si Hai Tang: "If you see any of my disciples participating in this, you may kill as many as you see. The Thousand Beast Sect will not say a word! If there's no proof, then there's no need to speak nonsense here. Our Thousand Beast Sect is not some common dirt! You need not threaten me. And anyone who dares to attack the disciples of my Thousand Beast Sect, just try it!"
Yue Yuan: "If you want to prove that it's not your doing, it's simple. Send your people with us, let them turn the tide of the battle to our side, and then we will know it wasn't you."
Si Hai Tang: "Don't press this! I will still say, as always, our Thousand Beast Sect is a merchant across the entire world. And we do not interfere in the affairs of kingdoms! Believe it or not, fine. First, bring proof. Without proof, there's no need to make noise! Here, escort the guests out!"
A group of high-level cultivators approached him. Chao Jing extended his hand to Yue Yuan and said impolitely, "Please!"
"Good! You just wait, our Yan Kingdom will not let this go easily!" Yue Yuan said, pointing a finger at them, and then left.