Down the Mountain

Not long after Tang Yi left, a female disciple named Tian Xiang hurried over. She leaned close to Tang Susu and whispered a few words. Tang Susu's brows lifted, and she let out a cold laugh before giving a few more instructions in a low voice.

A short while later, someone came to call at the entrance. It was none other than Song Yanqing.

After receiving permission to enter, Song Yanqing saw Tang Susu hand a letter to Tian Xiang and instruct her, "After Niu Youdao goes down the mountain, give this to the abbot of Nanshan Temple on Little South Mountain in Guangyi Commandery. It's on the way, so make sure he delivers it!"

"Yes!" Tian Xiang accepted the letter with both hands. As she turned to leave, she secretly glanced at Song Yanqing.

Song Yanqing, meanwhile, kept his eyes fixed on the letter in her hands. Then he turned back and respectfully bowed to Tang Susu. "This disciple pays his respects to Elder!"

Tang Susu cheerfully raised a hand, signaling that there was no need for such courtesy.

Song Yanqing remained expressionless, however, and said calmly, "Elder, I heard that Niu Youdao is going down the mountain to serve as Shang Chaozong's attendant ritual master?"

Tang Susu gave a slight nod. "That's right."

Song Yanqing's face tightened slightly. In a deep voice, he said, "Elder, you just promised before that Shangqing Sect would not send Shang Chaozong an attendant ritual master." He had returned to Shangqing Sect before Shang Shuqing and had already notified the sect in advance. Now that Shangqing Sect was sending someone to Shang Chaozong, he would have no way to explain the matter to his family later.

Tang Susu sighed. "It truly was an unexpected turn of events. County Princess Shang brought out the token of gratitude that Shangqing Sect had once given Prince Ning and personally came up the mountain to ask for help. How could Shangqing Sect have refused? Shangqing Sect is a renowned orthodox sect. We owed them a debt of gratitude, and now they're asking us to repay it. If we refused, how could anyone from Shangqing Sect ever show their face in the cultivation world again? People would point at our backs and laugh. Yanqing, this isn't some trivial matter that can be dismissed. We really had no choice."

Song Yanqing said, "As for whether the debt should be repaid, I don't know the details of what happened back then and cannot make a rash judgment. I only know that the Capital City's message has already been delivered to Shangqing Sect. Now that the sect's actions have exceeded the Capital City's expectations, I would like to ask, Elder—how am I supposed to explain this to the Capital City?" His tone was somewhat grave, with a hint of pressing aggression.

Tang Susu chuckled. "You're worrying too much. Don't you know exactly what Niu Youdao is capable of? Do you really think he can serve as someone's attendant ritual master? This is nothing more than placating Shang Chaozong." In truth, they had never intended to send anyone to Shang Chaozong at first. But the other party had come to their door with the token in hand. Since it concerned the reputation of an entire sect, they could not reject him outright and had no choice but to maneuver around the matter. They had sent Shang Shuqing to meet Niu Youdao in hopes that she would retreat once she realized how difficult the task was. After all, Niu Youdao's age was plain to see. Who could have guessed that Shang Shuqing had somehow gotten it into her head to agree? That had left Shangqing Sect in an awkward position.

Song Yanqing said indifferently, "I haven't been at Shangqing Sect these past few years, so I don't know what Niu Youdao is like. I only know that the Capital City's position is that we cannot send anyone to Shang Chaozong. Not a single person!"

"You..." Tang Susu pointed at him and shook her head slightly. "I'm thinking of your interests. Can't you see that?"

"Er..." Song Yanqing froze for a moment. "Thinking of my interests? I can't see how this is thinking of my interests!"

Tang Susu casually dropped a hint. "There's something you may not know. Sect Master Tang Yi has never liked Niu Youdao. They've barely met a few times in all these years, and to this day, she still hasn't consummated her marriage with Niu Youdao. The Sect Master is still a pure virgin. Just as I told you years ago, the Sect Master only married him to shoulder a heavy responsibility; she never truly intended to give herself to Niu Youdao. How could the Sect Master possibly take a liking to some rustic villager? Compared to Niu Youdao, could the Sect Master really not tell who was better? But she is the previous Sect Master's daughter, and there are responsibilities she must bear. As a man, you have to understand the difficulties she faces as a woman."

"..." Song Yanqing was utterly stunned. He looked as if he wanted to speak but could not. Gradually, his eyes began to shine, and his heart stirred to life again. What Tang Susu meant was already crystal clear.

Tang Susu watched his reaction and continued, "Everyone knows what sort of situation Shang Chaozong is in. He's destined to face one crisis after another and meet a bad end. Besides, Niu Youdao has no ability to protect himself at all. Following Shang Chaozong is no different from courting death. There are some things Shangqing Sect cannot do openly. You should understand the reasoning. It wouldn't be appropriate for something to happen to him while he was in Shangqing Sect, but if he were dragged down by Shang Chaozong, that would be another matter. You know the relationship between Prince Ning and Dongguo Haoran. Shang Chaozong specifically asked for a disciple of Dongguo Haoran to come out of the mountain. The other disciples of Shangqing Sect will understand and have no doubts."

Song Yanqing's eyes flickered. No one knew what he was turning over in his mind, but the tension in his face eased.

Silence filled the hall for a while. Reading his expression, Tang Susu suddenly smiled again. "Of course, there are always accidents. Perhaps Shang Chaozong will survive one crisis after another and even keep Niu Youdao safe. That can only be called his good fortune. In that case, the Sect Master's marital relationship with him will have to continue. Yanqing, Shangqing Sect has its own difficulties. Niu Youdao cannot really be considered an attendant ritual master. You must help the sect explain the situation clearly to the Capital City!"

A smile was forced onto Song Yanqing's face, and he nodded repeatedly. "I'm a disciple of Shangqing Sect as well, so naturally I'll speak on behalf of my sect. Elder, rest assured. I know how to explain this to the Capital City."

Tang Susu nodded. "Good, good. I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

"If Elder has no further instructions, this disciple will take his leave!" Song Yanqing cupped his fists and bid farewell.

Tang Susu cheerfully waved her sleeve. "Go, go."

Song Yanqing respectfully backed away several steps, then turned and hurried off.

As soon as he left, he immediately went back and found Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo, the two followers who served him. He ordered one to prepare horses and the other to ask the sect for leave, on the grounds that he needed to return to the Capital City.

Once everything was ready, the three men spurred their horses and left Shangqing Sect.

Along the way, Song Yanqing was tremendously excited, all because of Tang Susu's words. Tang Yi and Niu Youdao were actually married in name only—what an unexpected surprise. It seemed this flower was still waiting for him to pluck. He made up his mind that this time, he would take Tang Yi for himself. Tang Susu should know full well what would happen if she kept deceiving him. Let her try refusing to cooperate!

"Senior Brother, we're going the wrong way! The Capital City is not that way!"

The three riders had left Shangqing Sect's territory. After crossing a shallow stretch of water and galloping onto the opposite bank, Song Yanqing led them in the opposite direction. Chen Guishuo, who had caught up, hurriedly shouted a reminder.

"Nonsense! I'm not blind. Just follow me!" Song Yanqing turned back and cursed.

Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo exchanged bewildered looks. They had no idea what he was planning, so they could only speed up and follow...

Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed on a meditation cushion, Tang Susu remained silent. The lamps in the hall had not been turned up very brightly, and the light lay half-submerged in gloom.

Tian Xiang hurried in from outside the hall and knelt before Tang Susu. In a low voice, she said, "Elder, he didn't head toward the Capital City!"

"The fool certainly wishes he could get away with it!" Tang Susu opened her eyes and gave a cold laugh...

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, a disciple of Shangqing Sect arrived at Peach Blossom Spring to ask Niu Youdao to descend the mountain. He asked whether there was anything that needed to be packed.

It was clear from this disciple's eyes that he was curious about the Sect Master's husband. Yet whenever Niu Youdao questioned him, he cautiously refused to say anything.

Niu Youdao had little to pack. He bundled up two changes of clothes and a few other items, then slung the bundle over his back together with the Precious Sword Shang Shuqing had given him. Just like that, he went down the mountain.

He followed the steep, zigzagging steps carved into the sheer mountainside all the way down. After crossing a stone bridge, he saw Shang Shuqing waiting there.

Four burly men stood behind Shang Shuqing. Two wore blue outfits suited for combat, while the other two wore earth-gray outfits. Leather bracers covered their wrists, and leather waist guards were strapped around their waists. All of them radiated a fierce, murderous aura. Bows, crossbows, swords, and other weapons hung from the horses beside them.

"Ritual Master!" Shang Shuqing cupped her hands in greeting.

Niu Youdao nodded with a smile. Tian Xiang led over a fine chestnut horse with a glossy coat. After greeting him, she pointed to the bundle hanging from the horse and said, "Martial Uncle, the sect prepared some gold, silver, and other valuables for you, as well as some dry rations for the journey." She then took a sealed letter from her sleeve and handed it over. "This is a letter from the Sect Master for the abbot of Nanshan Temple on Little South Mountain in Guangyi Commandery. You'll pass through that place on the way. Ask around for the exact location and you'll find it. The Sect Master specifically instructed you to make sure it's delivered."

Niu Youdao took it and flipped it over. Seeing no name on the envelope, he casually tucked it into the bundle hanging from the horse. Then he looked toward Shangqing Palace and asked, "Do I not need to go say farewell?"

Tian Xiang smiled. "The Sect Master said there was no need. She said County Princess and the others still had to hurry on their journey."

"Oh. Then let's go." A faintly self-mocking smile touched the corners of Niu Youdao's mouth.

For all these years, he had never had any room to make choices here. This time was no different. Anything more would only be empty talk. He took the reins and nimbly swung himself onto the horse.

County Princess and the others also mounted up quickly. They turned around first and galloped away, with Niu Youdao following behind.

The group raced off at full speed, their hooves pounding away in a rapid clatter.

Beneath an old pine by the cliffside of Shangqing Palace, Tang Yi stood with her sleeves fluttering like an immortal's robes. From her high vantage point, she watched the riders with a frown, growing increasingly suspicious of Niu Youdao's origins. Seeing how deftly Niu Youdao rode, she wondered whether he had received riding training in his early years. Could a poor boy from a mountain hollow have had such an opportunity?

Amid the sharp, hurried clatter of hooves, Niu Youdao looked back at Peach Blossom Spring. The peach blossoms were still brilliant, but he did not know whether he would ever have the chance to return...

Shangqing Sect's territory was vast. After galloping through the forest roads for a while, they were nearing the boundary when several riders ahead suddenly reined in and stopped in the middle of the road. Niu Youdao was forced to halt as well. He craned his neck to look and saw the one-eyed, lame Tu Han blocking the road ahead.

"County Princess, I have something to discuss with him privately." Tu Han pointed at Niu Youdao behind them, his voice rough.

Shang Shuqing glanced back. Seeing that Niu Youdao had no objection, she waved and led the four escorts on ahead.

Niu Youdao jumped down from his horse and smiled. "What is it that requires you to waylay me here?"