From what Tang Yi had said, combined with the County Princess's sudden appearance here, Niu Youdao secretly muttered to himself. It seems Prince Ning and Dongguo Haoran had quite a close relationship! Could Dongguo Haoran have once been a mage serving at Prince Ning's side?
Tang Yi pointed toward Niu Youdao and introduced him. "County Princess, this is Niu Youdao. After Martial Uncle met with disaster, he is the only disciple left under Martial Uncle's tutelage!"
Shang Shuqing bowed again. "Greetings, Mage!"
Niu Youdao returned the salute with clasped hands. "You're too polite, County Princess." He glanced at Tang Yi, unable to figure out why this woman had brought the County Princess here.
"Junior Brother, you don't intend to make our guest keep standing at the door to talk, do you?" Tang Yi said.
Junior Brother? Niu Youdao's brows twitched. He cursed inwardly, You shameless woman. You used to call me husband when you came to see me. What do you mean by calling me Junior Brother in front of outsiders? I'm so handsome and dashing that I let you, an old cow, eat tender grass, and you still think you got the short end of the stick?
He only dared say that in his heart; he certainly did not dare voice it. He quickly extended a hand in invitation. "I've been negligent. Please come in!"
After they entered, Tang Yi looked around and introduced the place. "County Princess, this is where Martial Uncle cultivated in seclusion while he was alive. Now, only Junior Brother remains of Martial Uncle's lineage. Alas!"
"Quiet and elegant. What a lovely place!" Shang Shuqing praised.
They successively took their seats in the pavilion in the courtyard. Shang Shuqing removed a long case from her back and placed it to one side.
Tang Yi gave Tu Han a glance. After pouring the tea, he left.
The two women chatted over tea, while Niu Youdao remained mostly silent nearby. He also did so because he was unfamiliar with the situation in the Shangqing Sect and did not want to say too much and cause trouble.
Unexpectedly, after setting down her teacup, Tang Yi said, "Junior Brother, the County Princess came here to find you."
"Me?" Niu Youdao pointed at his own nose, looking from one to the other with a face full of confusion.
Shang Shuqing placed the wooden case from the side on the table and opened it, revealing its contents to Niu Youdao. A long sword lay quietly inside.
Niu Youdao still did not understand. Suspicion showed in his eyes as he looked at Tang Yi, seemingly asking, Is this for me?
Tang Yi explained calmly, "This was a Precious Sword that Martial Uncle gave Prince Ning back when the Shangqing Sect received a favor from him. Martial Uncle once told Prince Ning that if he ever needed anything, then within the limits of his ability, Martial Uncle would repay this favor. Now that the County Princess has brought the sword, and Martial Uncle is no longer here, this debt of gratitude must be repaid by Junior Brother!"
"..." Niu Youdao was speechless. Is this for real? That works too? Yet he knew this was not a place where he had any say. He tried asking, "May I ask how I'm supposed to repay the favor?"
Tang Yi said evenly, "The County Princess is traveling with the Young Prince this time, and she lacks a mage attendant."
The repayment sounded simple, but Niu Youdao was no fool. Now there was a Young Prince involved as well. Given their status, how could people of such noble standing travel without a mage attendant? The dignified County Princess had personally come to return a favor, and all for an ordinary mage attendant? No matter how he heard it, something seemed wrong.
He looked at Shang Shuqing, but with the Gauze Hat covering her face, he could not see her reaction.
"Um..." Niu Youdao said reluctantly, "I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for me to go, would it?"
Tang Yi rose to her feet. "Junior Brother, come here for a moment."
Niu Youdao could only follow her away, his belly full of suspicion.
After entering the main hall and then the inner room, Tang Yi suddenly turned around and stared at him. "Our Shangqing Sect is an upright and reputable sect. A promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold; we have no reason to go back on our word. Martial Uncle made a promise to someone back then. If we now break our word, wouldn't the Shangqing Sect become a laughingstock? Martial Uncle is gone, so who else will repay the favor he left behind if not you?"
Niu Youdao sighed. "They want a mage attendant. What am I supposed to count as if I go? Do you think I can pass for a mage?"
Tang Yi said, "What sort of status do they have? Do you think they lack a single attendant? Who knows how many people in the sect want to serve as a mage at their side. But they came specifically because of Martial Uncle. What do you suggest we do?"
Niu Youdao stared into her eyes and said calmly, "Must I go?"
The look in his eyes made Tang Yi turn her head away. "If you don't go, you'll damage the Shangqing Sect's reputation. According to the sect rules, you'll be severely punished!"
A trace of self-mockery appeared at the corner of Niu Youdao's mouth. He smiled. "Looks like I have no choice. Fine. Since it's a favor my Master owed, I'll repay it!"
Seeing him agree, Tang Yi said nothing more and turned to leave.
The two returned to the courtyard. Niu Youdao accepted the sword, which amounted to agreeing to the matter. In front of the two women, he took the sword in hand and drew part of the blade with a clang. Chilling light flashed; patterns ran along the blade, and a piercing killing intent seemed to seep out with the cold. He could not help praising it. "What a fine sword!"
Near the hilt were carved four words: "Loyal Heart of Jade Blood." He did not know whether it was truly Dongguo Haoran's sword, but the inscription carried a somewhat tragic and heroic air.
After Tang Yi said a few words, Shang Shuqing clasped her hands toward Niu Youdao in thanks. "Thank you, Mage!"
With a clang, Niu Youdao sheathed the sword and looked at her. "The County Princess has refused to show her true face from beginning to end..."
Before he could finish, Tang Yi suddenly shouted over him. "Junior Brother, don't be rude!"
"It's fine!" Shang Shuqing was forthright and generous. As she spoke, she reached up and lifted her veil, revealing her face.
Niu Youdao had been somewhat expectant, but after one glance, the corner of his mouth twitched uncontrollably, and he nearly jumped in fright.
From her voice and figure—such a pleasant voice, such a graceful figure, such elegant manners—he had thought that even if she was not a beauty, she should at least be passable. Who could have known that her face was practically a yin-yang face? More than half of it was covered by bluish-black birthmarks, making it hideously ugly. She could startle people even in broad daylight. At last, he understood why she had kept wearing the Gauze Hat.
Tang Yi was not surprised, clearly having seen it before. She coldly glared at Niu Youdao, seemingly saying, Are you satisfied now?
"My appearance is ugly, and I've startled you, Mage. I'm sorry," Shang Shuqing said apologetically, revealing a faint glimpse of pearly teeth before lowering her veil again.
Niu Youdao wore an awkward expression and clasped his hands. "It was Niu's rudeness. Please don't take offense, County Princess."
"That's enough!" Tang Yi cut off their polite back-and-forth. "It's already late, and traveling would be inconvenient. Spend tonight packing. Tomorrow morning, accompany the County Princess down the mountain."
"Understood." Niu Youdao nodded.
Tang Yi extended a hand to invite Shang Shuqing to leave with her.
Niu Youdao saw them to the door and exchanged a glance with Tu Han, who was standing outside. Tu Han followed them away as well. The brief burst of human presence dispersed, and the usual desolation returned.
The peach blossoms still smiled in the spring breeze. Niu Youdao walked beneath the peach tree and sat down again. He drew the Precious Sword from his hand, and with hardly any effort, the edge cut a deep mark into the ground. It was extraordinarily sharp. He clicked his tongue inwardly. First there had been the Bronze Mirror concealing profound mysteries, and now this Precious Sword. It seemed the forging techniques of this world truly surpassed his imagination.
He toyed with the Precious Sword, admiring it, but his thoughts were not on the sword. He was thinking that he could finally break free and leave this place to properly see the outside world. Yet he could not bring himself to feel happy. He had clearly sensed that there was some hidden trick behind this trip. Whether it was good or bad, he had no idea.
He truly had not expected to escape the Shangqing Sect's house arrest in this manner.
The sun gradually sank westward. Lying beneath the peach tree, brilliant as rosy clouds, and bathing in the afterglow of sunset was beautiful, but he remained completely motionless, and no one knew what he was thinking...
Inside the desolate halls, Tang Susu sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. Tang Yi entered with graceful steps and came to salute beside Tang Susu. "Elder!"
Tang Susu asked, "Sect Master, has everything been arranged?"
Tang Yi gave a soft "Mm" and said nothing more.
Tang Susu said, "Sect Master, do you think I've gone a little too far?"
Tang Yi said, "I only feel that since the Shangqing Sect received Prince Ning's favor back then, the Shangqing Sect should be the one to repay it. Why shift all the responsibility onto Martial Uncle Dongguo?"
Tang Susu said, "Is he not a disciple of the Shangqing Sect? Besides, it was indeed Dongguo Haoran who gave the sword and made the promise back then. Now that Prince Ning's children have encountered trouble, it is only right and proper for the disciple to fulfill the promise his Master made. There is nothing improper about it."
Tang Yi lowered her head and looked at the ground. She sighed softly. "The siblings aren't fools. Whether Niu Youdao has the ability or not, if he stays by their side, they'll eventually discover the truth. By then, they'll naturally understand that the Shangqing Sect is fooling them."
Tang Susu said, "And what of it? If they truly were clever, they should have known not to come looking for the Shangqing Sect at a time like this, and not to put the Shangqing Sect in a difficult position. Since they came to our door, as an upright and reputable sect, the Shangqing Sect cannot very well break its word. Naturally, we must fulfill our promise. We've given them a person. What more do they want?"
Tang Yi said, "But what we're doing is no different from sending Niu Youdao to his death."
Tang Susu slowly rose and stared into her eyes. "Sect Master, you haven't developed feelings for him, have you? Sect Master, you must understand one thing: you bear the great responsibility of reviving the Shangqing Sect. We old fellows pushed you into this position with all our strength and placed our hopes in you. You must not forget the greater cause because of personal feelings!"
Tang Yi shook her head. "Elder, you're overthinking it. He and I are merely husband and wife in name. We've barely met a few times. How could there be any personal feelings? I only feel that what we're doing is hardly the conduct of an upright and reputable sect."
Tang Susu was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and her voice grew sharp. "That was Dongguo Haoran bringing it upon himself! He knew perfectly well that Prince Ning's actions had already aroused the righteous fury of cultivators throughout the world, and that he would sooner or later die a horrible death, yet he still dared to flirt with Prince Ning. Back then, Martial Brother wanted him to take over as Sect Master, but several elders suppressed the proposal. The facts proved them right. Look at Prince Ning's fate now! If we truly get dragged into this, do you think those people will let the Shangqing Sect off? At a time like this, they still came to the Shangqing Sect. What is that if not seeking trouble for us? With the Shangqing Sect's current foundation, we truly cannot withstand any more turmoil. We might even bring about the destruction of the entire sect. You're the Sect Master. You should know which matters weigh more!"
Tang Yi said calmly, "Elder seems to have forgotten one thing. He is my husband in name. If we have him appear in public, once the news gets out, what difference will there be between that and involving the Shangqing Sect?"
As if realizing that she had lost her composure, Tang Susu's emotions quickly stabilized. She said indifferently, "Girl, you don't need to worry about that. I've already made arrangements. There won't be any chance of entanglement in the future. Now that your position is secure, there's no need to leave behind any future trouble!"
Tang Yi was violently startled. Realizing the deeper meaning in her words, her pupils abruptly contracted as she stared fixedly at Tang Susu...
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