The Thatched Cottage Estate stood just outside the Prince's residence, separated from it by only a single passageway. A secret tunnel connected the two places.
The two sides met in another underground secret chamber.
"Daoist Master!" At the sight of Niu Youdao, Shang Chaozong, Meng Shanming, and Lan Ruoting all cupped their hands in greeting.
Niu Youdao waved a hand, indicating there was no need for such formalities, then gestured for them to sit. Once everyone was seated, he asked, "Why did the Prince summon me?"
Shang Chaozong's expression was grave. "Surely Daoist Master has heard of the execution of the two Saints."
"I have heard something of it," said Niu Youdao. "But it was not as the Seven Saints publicly claimed. They were gilding their own faces. Mu Lianze and Changsun Mi truly died at the hands of the Sacred Rakshasa in the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm. I was there when it happened. More precisely, I was the one who led them into the Butterfly Dream Illusory Realm."
Shang Chaozong and the other two looked at one another. Lan Ruoting tentatively asked, "Could it be that the execution of the two Saints was planned entirely by you, Daoist Master?"
Niu Youdao smiled faintly. "No need to wonder. I did it. Is there a problem?"
Guan Fangyi shot him a sidelong glance. He had caused such an enormous affair and witnessed the deaths of two Saints, yet she had not seen it with her own eyes. That left her somewhat disgruntled.
What she did not know was how perilous it had been when Niu Youdao and the others emerged from the Illusion Realm and ran into Luo Qiu's group.
Still, upon learning that Niu Youdao had killed Mu Lianze and Changsun Mi, the aftershocks of her shock had yet to