Chapter 747: Who is Helping Whom |
"Mister Yu Cang." Niu You Dao greeted politely with a faint smile.
And Guan Fang Yi eyed Yu Cang warily. This wasn't merely the man who had once wanted to kill them. Niu You Dao had also grown wary because of the inexplicable appearance of Su Zhao. And this man, known throughout the world, turned out to be from the highest echelons of the Morning Moon Palace. How many people had he deceived? Even now, she found it hard to believe.
Yu Cang looked at Niu You Dao again: "It's truly difficult to see you, Brother!"
Niu You Dao politely replied, "It's better for you that way. We're at such a distance; why trouble Mister Yu Cang to travel so far? It should have been me coming in person to visit Mister Yu Cang."
Yu Cang: "Then I truly misunderstood. I thought you were avoiding me, Brother."
Niu You Dao: "That depends on how you look at it. To be honest, there's reason to hide. The Zhao Kingdom is causing me no small amount of trouble right now, putting me in a difficult position. I've asked for your help many times, but you paid no heed, which made me quite displeased."
Yu Cang laughed: "Did that offend you, Brother? Fine, I came here today precisely for this matter."
Niu You Dao was slightly puzzled and said, "I await your esteemed words."
Yu Cang: "I didn't respond before because I wasn't prepared. Consider this, Brother: the Zhao Kingdom is a colossus. Secretly assassinating someone will have no impact on such a giant, especially during wartime when everyone is meticulously guarded. It's truly difficult to strike. If you want to influence the Zhao Kingdom, small actions are meaningless. If I am to help you, Brother, then we must act on a grand scale."
Yu Cang turned his head and looked at Du Gu. Du Gu immediately soared into the air and flew far away, so as not to overhear their conversation.
Niu You Dao had just begun to ponder what they were up to when Yu Cang nodded towards Guan Fang Yi: "Matchmaker, it's inconvenient for a woman to be present during a man's discussion. Step aside."
Guan Fang Yi looked at Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao frowned: "Is that necessary?"
"It is!" Yu Cang nodded: "Are you perhaps worried about me?"
Niu You Dao chuckled and said, "Previously, you set a trap for me, and then you even sent people to kill me. I remember that quite well."
"So, you hold grudges, Brother. However, I truly misjudged you back then. Fine, if you're worried, then you may place a restriction on my body." Yu Cang said, spreading his arms as if ready to receive a restriction.
A glint flashed in Niu You Dao's eyes. He found this old man a little hard to fathom. First, he was willing to agree to any meeting terms. Now, he was even ready to put his life in Niu You Dao's hands. What was this old man planning? Why was he taking such a great risk?
"I wonder if this is appropriate for you, Mister?" Niu You Dao probed, inquiring.
Yu Cang calmly said, "It's nothing. In conversation, one must be sincere. If the discussion isn't sincere, then why should we meet in person at all? Isn't that right?"
"Since that's the case, compliance is the best courtesy." Niu You Dao smiled and nodded to Guan Fang Yi.
Guan Fang Yi immediately walked slowly towards Yu Cang. And suddenly, extending her hand, she began to touch him with her finger. Confirming that Yu Cang was indeed ready for the restriction, she began to place it upon him.
When she finished, she stepped back and nodded to Niu You Dao, indicating there were no issues.
Niu You Dao gestured towards her, and Guan Fang Yi also flew off.
"Are you at ease now, Brother?" Yu Cang asked with a smile.
Niu You Dao neither affirmed nor denied. Instead, he extended a hand, inviting him to sit.
The two men were in a mountain valley, meeting by two large rocks. Niu You Dao gripped his sword with both hands and immediately asked, "Mister Yu Cang, it doesn't seem like you've come to help me. If you were truly helping me, you wouldn't bother yourself by coming in person. Don't think that because I am young, I understand nothing."
Yu Cang: "Youth does not equate to foolishness. And a young man like you, in particular, seems like an old fox."
Niu You Dao chuckled in response: "Very well, I'll take that as a compliment."
Yu Cang: "Before coming, I sent people to the Shack to retrieve Zhuang Hong and her son."
Niu You Dao: "I know. I kindly granted them their freedom long ago. They just didn't want to leave, so I didn't insist."
Yu Cang: "You're a rather mediocre teacher. From the very beginning, you just gave Mister Xia a collection of poems and that was it. You didn't teach him anything else at all."
Niu You Dao: "Learning relies on innate talent. Teachers merely open the path; the actual learning depends on the student themselves. And as for how to teach, every teacher has their own methods. Outsiders wouldn't understand. Moreover, some things are instinctively understood. What's the point of discussing them? Mister, let's get to the point. Tell me why you came?"
Yu Cang: "I've already stated it clearly. I came to help you eliminate the threat from the Zhao Kingdom."
Niu You Dao shook his head: "I don't understand."
Yu Cang: "The Morning Moon Palace specializes in clandestine assassinations. And a colossus like the Zhao Kingdom is something we cannot touch. Now, we know that the Yan Kingdom will not be able to fully annex the Zhao Kingdom. Do you acknowledge this?"
Niu You Dao: "Mister, just say what you want to say, in the end?"
Yu Cang seemed to be speaking to himself: "That won't help you. The Morning Moon Palace would face many problems if the Zhao Kingdom sought to settle scores with us. That's why I didn't rush to answer you. Now, I've devised a better plan to help you eliminate the threat from the Zhao Kingdom."
Niu You Dao loosened one hand and extended it towards him, signaling for him to continue.
Yu Cang: "In the Zhao Kingdom, there are two generals, Ma Chang An and Tian Zhe Zhi. They are my disciples."
Tian Zhe Zhi, Ma Chang An? Niu You Dao immediately began to ponder these names. When the Zhao Kingdom attacked the Yan Kingdom, two armies had positioned themselves at the borders of the Wei and Qi Kingdoms, led by Tian Zhe Zhi and Ma Chang An. Their forces numbered approximately two million men. "Mister Yu Cang, don't tell me you intend to ask your two disciples to turn their spears against the Zhao Kingdom."
Yu Cang asked, "Why not?"
Niu You Dao shook his head and said disbelievingly, "Even if they obey you, there are cultivators from the Zhao Kingdom with them. They won't allow them to do as they please!"
Yu Cang: "I'll tell you plainly. This time, for the Zhao Kingdom to grant them such authority, the Morning Moon Palace expended considerable effort and resources. This time, to help you, Brother, my Morning Moon Palace has invested no small amount of power. And when the time comes, Tian Zhe Zhi and Ma Chang An can act in concert with the Morning Moon Palace to remove the cultivators of the three Zhao Kingdom sects and seize control of the army for the Morning Moon Palace."
At these words, Niu You Dao felt a chill. These were no small resources and power. It seemed that this time, the Morning Moon Palace was truly prepared to act decisively.
However, he found it hard to believe that the Morning Moon Palace was prepared to pay such a heavy price solely for his sake. He said gravely, "The subordinates of Tian Zhe Zhi and Ma Chang An are people of the Zhao Kingdom. How could they easily rebel?"
Yu Cang: "An arrow loosed cannot be retrieved. Whoever disobeys will be exterminated!"
Niu You Dao was speechless, then slowly said, "That's no small number of people. It seems for this matter, the Morning Moon Palace will have to come out in full force!"
Yu Cang: "Indeed!"
Niu You Dao: "Then the Morning Moon Palace will fully expose itself."
Yu Cang: "Some things will be revealed sooner or later. One cannot always remain in the shadows. And by doing so, I can help you, Brother, while also seizing the moment to bring the Morning Moon Palace into the light!"
Niu You Dao said seriously, "Was this why you wished to meet me this time, Mister?"
Yu Cang: "If Tian Zhe Zhi and Ma Chang An rebel, the Zhao Kingdom will plunge into chaos. Isn't that helping you, Brother? But first, control must be established over those two million warriors. This will take time. However, the Zhao Kingdom won't grant them that time. And to suppress this internal threat, the Zhao Kingdom will make concessions with the Yan Kingdom, even if it means paying any price. And the Yan Kingdom itself would be eager to agree to peace. Fortunately, this time, the Yan Kingdom's military operations are being directed by your man." There was a hint in his tone.
Niu You Dao seemed to understand him and asked, "To buy time for Tian Zhe Zhi and Ma Chang An, Mister hopes that the Yan Kingdom will not cease its military operations? And will continue its offensive against the Zhao Kingdom? So that the Zhao Kingdom continues to resist them? Have I understood correctly?"
Yu Cang smiled: "It's a pleasure to speak with an intelligent person. I clearly see that you, Brother, have significant influence over Shang Chao Zong and Meng Shan Ming."
Niu You Dao slowly nodded: "This is no small matter. No wonder you wanted to discuss it in person, Mister."
Yu Cang: "Such a matter cannot be put on paper. Isn't it more reassuring to discuss it face-to-face? Am I right?"
Niu You Dao twisted his lips and shook his head: "Am I being helped here? Who is helping whom? Why does it seem to me that I am helping you? Or, in other words, I am helping the Morning Moon Palace!"
Yu Cang reached out and patted the hand in which Niu You Dao held his sword. He said contentedly, "Brother, it doesn't matter who is helping whom. What matters is that everyone will profit from this. If the battle proceeds successfully, the Zhao Kingdom will no longer be able to contemplate a campaign to the east. And the threats to the Southern Domain will disappear. You, Brother, will be safe, and can calmly resolve the internal problems of the Yan Kingdom!"
Niu You Dao slowly said, "I think I understand why the Morning Moon Palace wanted to obtain the Shang Mirror. Whoever possesses the instrument that governs kingdoms will also govern the kingdom!"
Yu Cang chuckled, neither affirming nor denying. However, it could be said he silently admitted it.
Niu You Dao squinted his eyes and asked, "Mister Yu Cang, are you the head of the Morning Moon Palace?"
Yu Cang shook his head: "No! However, I won't hide it from you, Brother, I hold a rather high position within the Palace. I stand above tens of thousands of people!"
Niu You Dao asked, "Then who is the head?"
Yu Cang refused to answer: "That is not important."
Niu You Dao snorted: "So you're not the head of the Palace, Mister. Then you shouldn't have spoken so much about helping others."
Yu Cang frowned: "What do you mean by that, Brother?"
Niu You Dao: "Nothing. I've given it some thought, and it seems unnecessary to ask the Morning Moon Palace for help. In the battle with the Zhao Kingdom, the Yan Kingdom can handle it on its own. And it seems now that Shang Chao Zong and Meng Shan Ming are strong enough to pacify them. The Morning Moon Palace has been hidden for so many years; if the Morning Moon Palace were to reveal itself to everyone because of me, I would feel uneasy. And perhaps you don't know, Mister, but I find it disagreeable to feel pangs of conscience. Let's forget about this."