Chapter 720: Your Thousand Beast Sect Has Provoked Me |
"Investigating? Hahahaha..." Niu You Dao couldn't help but burst into laughter. Shaking his head, he smiled and said, "Elder Chao, could you truly be so naive? Of course, since I've come all this way, I'm not here just to observe Elder Chao's attitude. If Elder Chao chooses to be my friend, then this matter won't concern you. If not, then the Thousand Beast Sect will deal with it themselves. But it won't concern me at all."
A fierce glint appeared in Chao Jing's eyes. He glared intently at Niu You Dao, beginning to close the distance between them.
He had heard much about Niu You Dao, but today truly broadened his horizons. This fellow actually dared to come to their territory and threaten an elder of their sect? Indeed, no ordinary person would dare.
Sensing the hostile intent, Niu You Dao placed one hand on his saber, while with the other, he produced a seal. Indifferently, he stated, "When dealing with people, one must keep a calm head! Since I dared to come here, I certainly didn't come alone. I've already prepared. I presume Elder Chao didn't come alone either."
The Heavenly Sword Seal! Chao Jing's pupils constricted. This forced him to suppress his rage. Nevertheless, he raised his palm and struck Qiu Weng Xiang's head.
Thud! Qiu Weng Xiang's head exploded, and he collapsed to the ground. Killed, but in vain. Though Chao Jing would not admit he was the killer.
Niu You Dao watched indifferently, as if he hadn't seen anything at all. Yet, he spoke with casual detachment, "A pity, but no matter. I have a few more. If it pleases Elder Chao, I can send them to the Thousand Beast Sect. Elder Chao can kill them as he wishes, to his heart's content. However, whether the higher-ups of the Thousand Beast Sect interrogate them, that will depend on Elder Chao's capabilities!"
Chao Jing paused. He didn't look at Qiu Weng Xiang's fallen body, but instead raised his head to gaze at a hovering bird. Then, looking at Niu You Dao, he asked, "I've heard you have several birds. Where are they from?"
He wasn't foolish and immediately began to suspect something. Niu You Dao replied with a lazy smile, "Does it matter?"
When Niu You Dao acquired several birds, the Thousand Beast Sect was indeed puzzled as to where he had gotten them.
Although they were curious, they couldn't investigate the matter. The Thousand Beast Sect's business is sales; if you have money, they will sell you what you need. Whether you gift or resell what you've bought is your own concern. Moreover, if they started questioning customers about what they did with their purchases, it could affect their business.
Furthermore, those who could afford to buy such birds were certainly not ordinary people. Therefore, the Thousand Beast Sect did not investigate the matter further.
Niu You Dao said indifferently, "You've overthought it. I have at least five birds."
"..." Chao Jing froze. The number didn't match, so he had nothing more to say.
Niu You Dao: "Elder Chao, there's no need to speak of meaningless things. Moreover, there's no point in slandering me. Do what you dare."
"What do you mean, 'Do what you dare'?" Chao Jing didn't understand. "Don't play games with my head. I won't play your game. You can hand the people over to the sect! Then we'll see!"
"Good!" Niu You Dao nodded approvingly. "That's fine too. I'll obey. As you say. However, I won't hand them over to the Thousand Beast Sect. I can ask the three sects of the Yan Kingdom to hand Cheng Pin and Gao Lan over to the Thousand Beast Sect. And arrange for the higher-ups of the Thousand Beast Sect to interrogate them. As for Chao Sheng Huai... he will be sent to the Yan Kingdom's capital, where the three sects will host a banquet for him. There, Chao Sheng Huai will recount before everyone what his grandfather has done. That will truly be entertaining!"
Chao Jing sneered coldly, "You want to force me like this?"
Niu You Dao: "There's no need to put it that way. However, one thing you can believe is that the Thousand Beast Sect will conduct a thorough investigation. And if he returns to the sect, his safety will be guaranteed in the Yan Kingdom. Ants and other insects cling to life. If there's a chance to live, he will naturally cling to it! I won't say any more unnecessary words. It's simple. As long as he's in my hands, whatever I want him to say, he will say!"
Chao Jing: "You think they'll believe him while he's in your hands? Do you think the Thousand Beast Sect is foolish? Do you think they'll believe you?"
Niu You Dao: "Unless you kill all your disciples!" Chao Jing frowned. He didn't quite understand what Niu You Dao was saying.
"Do you truly not understand, or are you pretending?" Niu You Dao smiled playfully. "During the Rakshasa influx, so many disciples perished. Yet you suppressed that matter! As I understand it, many disciples were there at the time. And I believe they instinctively know what happened. Only because they are your disciples did they have to keep silent about everything. Elder Chao, if you truly wish to go against me, you can. But if these matters are brought to light, the Thousand Beast Sect will definitely investigate everything. If just one matter is confirmed, then others will follow suit. You've implicated everything with this. Elder Chao, will you truly kill all the witnesses?"
Chao Jing's expression changed.
"Now, is it too late to kill the witnesses? If all the witnesses die because of that incident, wouldn't that raise questions? As you said, the Thousand Beast Sect isn't foolish. And piling one incident upon another is not good. Ah, Elder Chao, listen to me. If you let this matter explode, then perhaps your position as elder won't be enough to resolve everything. How many disciples died, what valuable birds were lost? Can the Thousand Beast Sect explain all this to its disciples? Then it would be hard for me to imagine. As a high-ranking Elder Chao, in such a desperate state, kneeling before a court. Can you endure that? Do you want those insignificant disciples to throw stones at you?"
Gritting his teeth, Chao Jing said, "You truly are a base, petty man!"
"You praise me!" Niu You Dao smiled, then fixed him with a sharp gaze. "From the beginning of the Rakshasa butterfly influx and the incident at the beast exhibition, you've been in my hands. If I wanted to kill you, it would be easier than simple. You, Chao Jing, have no choice before me! If I want to make you a man, you will be a man. And if I want you to run around like a dog for me, you will!" He spoke calmly, but in his eyes, a subtle rage could be discerned.
Images flashed through his mind: green waves crashing against a ship, a girl lying unconscious in his arms.
Chao Jing's hands trembled. He had never experienced such humiliation. Angrily, he said, "Niu You Dao, I had no enmity or grudge with you. Where have I wronged you so grievously? Why have you harbored such long-standing hatred for me?"
"No enmity, no grudge?" Niu You Dao sneered. Yet, in the end, he nodded. "True, indeed no enmity or grudge. That's why I didn't bother you without reason. But now, your Thousand Beast Sect has provoked me. You know that Meng Shan Ming is my man. And your Thousand Beast Sect interfered in the war between kingdoms. You harmed my interests. My Southern Domain is now in danger. That's why I came for you."
Chao Jing wanted to say something, desperately wanted to say something. To argue that this matter concerned everyone, so why did Niu You Dao cling to him specifically? But he didn't say it.
"Elder Chao. I'll still tell you that I came as a friend. You only need to restore things to their original balance, and I won't investigate the matter with hundreds of thousands of soldiers. And I'll hand Chao Sheng Huai and the others back to you." Chao Jing, already smiling bitterly, said, "Restore balance? I am not the master of this matter. The Sect Head has already made a decision. I, a mere elder, can do nothing and cannot change the sect's collective mind. Even if you drive me to death, I still can't do anything. If I truly try to do something, then without your help, my sect will hold me accountable!"
Since he spoke in such a way, it could be said he had already surrendered.
Niu You Dao sneered. Revealing this old man was not part of his plans for now. Besides, the old man himself wouldn't simply want his actions, or lack thereof, to be exposed. He replied, "Those snakes and insects attacked the Yan Kingdom's forces, but they didn't touch the Song Kingdom's forces. I think Elder Chao knows what this is about!"
Chao Jing was silent, then said, "Cheng Shao Tong's people used a secret medicine."
Niu You Dao: "It's that simple. Then the Yan Kingdom's forces also need this medicine. Elder Chao must be able to provide it."
Chao Jing glared fiercely at him, "Do you take me for a three-year-old child? If I help you, you'll bury me straight in my grave!"
Niu You Dao: "I have no use for a dead Elder Chao. You are more valuable to me alive. I want to make you the head of the Thousand Beast Sect! Those birds I possess are not from your Thousand Beast Sect. I have birds, and my camp can oppose the Yan Kingdom's forces that suddenly attacked me. There are no ordinary individuals backing me. I came here seeking friendship. Cooperation with you benefits both of us. There is no need for me to harm you!"
Chao Jing remained silent for a long time, battling within himself. He knew that if he took this step, there would be no turning back.
However, he had no choice now. In the end, with a grim face, he said, "You must provide the Yan Kingdom's army with a large quantity of this medicine. However, I cannot provide it to you in large quantities myself. Otherwise, I will be suspected. I can only give you the secret recipe. You will have to prepare the medicine yourself."
Niu You Dao: "The main thing is that Elder Chao's instructions are effective."
Chao Jing was a cruel and decisive man. Therefore, without further thought, he immediately got down to business.
He immediately turned over Qiu Weng Xiang's body. Dipping his finger in the blood, he began to write the recipe on Qiu Weng Xiang's back. Then he tore off a piece of cloth and tossed the recipe to Niu You Dao.
Receiving the item, Niu You Dao nodded and said, "As I told you, I came seeking friendship. Rest assured. Only if everything proves effective will I hand over your grandson and the others to you, safe and sound."
The two men conversed a little more. They agreed on a method of communication. Niu You Dao then leapt upward, climbed out of the gorge, and a bird flew up to meet him, carrying him away. Thus, they departed.
When they had flown a considerable distance, Niu You Dao looked at Guan Fang Yi, who was controlling the bird. A little surprised, he asked, "This isn't like you. Aren't you going to ask how it went?"
Guan Fang Yi chuckled, "Is it a secret? Do you think you're the only clever one? It wasn't your subordinate handling things; it was you personally. What other outcome could there possibly be?"