This Person Is Not Simple

"The final disciple of Dongguo Haoran?" Shang and Lan exchanged a look of astonishment.

Despite their doubts, before understanding the truth, the two maintained their composure and etiquette, cupping their fists and saying, "We trouble the pháp sư."

After the pleasantries, Lan Ruoting spoke frankly, "Forgive my rudeness, but I and Mr. Dongguo are old friends, and we understand each other to some extent. I know all of Mr. Dongguo's personal disciples and have never heard of him having a final disciple named Niu Youdao."

Niu Youdao was not surprised by this at all. From Tang Yi calling him Junior Brother in front of outsiders, he understood that she didn't want anyone outside to know of his existence. He smiled and said, "Some matters are inconvenient to explain, but I assure you it's not false. I will inform you of the reasons when the time is right."

Lan Ruoting cast a meaningful glance at Shang Shuqing. He knew very well what kind of woman Shang Shuqing was – by no means a foolish woman. He wondered what her intentions were in inviting such a person.

Without further words, the group continued their journey. However, Niu Youdao felt that the others were not very warm towards him, being sandwiched between cavalrymen as if they were guarding against him.

In fact, Shang and Lan had guessed the Shangqing Sect's intentions correctly. They probably sent someone casually to deal with them, and at the same time, they were a bit worried if Niu Youdao might have some issues, hence the caution.

After widening the distance from Niu Youdao during the journey, Shang Chaozong seized an opportunity to ask Shang Shuqing, "Qing'er, did you ask the Shangqing Sect to help remove the birthmark on your face?"

Shang Shuqing paused for a moment before replying, "Brother, there's really no need. Mr. Dongguo was right when he said that in this chaotic world, using one's beauty to please others might not be a good thing. Moreover, given our current situation, being too presentable as a woman might bring us trouble. What's wrong with being a little ugly!"

Lan Ruoting shook his head at her words, for what woman didn't love beauty?

Shang Chaozong said gravely, "You will eventually get married. You can't wear a veil forever!"

Shang Shuqing replied, "Brother, I am not made of wood, and I yearn for love. However, I was born at the wrong time. In this chaotic world, our background dictates that we must draw our swords and look around. Love is too much of a luxury. Brother, please don't worry about the birthmark on my face. I don't think highly of ordinary people. I consider myself a pearl hidden in the dust. If I can meet someone who doesn't mind, that will be the person I truly desire. I will surely wipe away the dust and present myself as the pearl! Fate will come when it comes, and if there's no fate, I will wait patiently. There's no need to force it!" She galloped against the wind, her veil fluttering.

Although her words made sense, Shang Chaozong fell silent. However, his jaw tightened, and his heart filled with grief and indignation. Most women married and had children by sixteen or seventeen. He hated his own incompetence for implicating his sister, having been imprisoned for years and delaying his sister into her late teens. Given the current situation of the Shang family, even if his sister didn't have that blemish-like birthmark, who would dare to marry her? She was a County Princess, and to just find anyone? He was unwilling to mistreat or wrong his sister. His father had repeatedly instructed him to take good care of her...

The group traveled at varying speeds, changing horses periodically to allow them to recover their strength.

As evening approached, they set up camp by a river. Some pitched tents, others fetched water and started fires, some stood guard, and others specifically tended to the mounts.

Tents dotted the riverbank, and bonfires flickered, the aroma of cooking gradually wafting through the air.

Niu Youdao, who had moved a stone to sit on, took out his package and pulled out his dry rations. He then remembered Tu Han's words, pondered for a moment, and casually tossed all the dry rations into the nearby river.

Shang Chaozong, sitting not far away, had been quietly observing Niu Youdao. Upon seeing this, he couldn't help but let out a cold snort, "What a waste to throw away such fine dry rations! In these times of war and chaos, who knows how many people go hungry. Of course, these cultivators never lack food and drink, they're probably used to eating the good stuff..."

Lan Ruoting, who was poking the campfire with a branch, nudged Shang Chaozong's foot with his branch, shook his head with a smile, and even called someone to invite Niu Youdao to eat the hot food by the other pot. Niu Youdao faintly heard their dissatisfaction but paid it no mind. When someone invited him, he happily went. What could be more important than filling his stomach?

Turning back, Shang Chaozong asked, "Do you think I spoke out of line?"

Lan Ruoting smiled and said, "I was worried about this person before, but now it seems he is not favored by the Shangqing Sect and was sent to appease us. Now I am a little more inclined to believe he is indeed Mr. Dongguo's disciple."

Shang Chaozong asked, "On what basis do you say that?"

Lan Ruoting replied, "Didn't Your Highness notice? During the day, he was also begging us for food, and he could eat even those rough dry rations. Yet, he refused to enjoy these fine dry rations and threw them away. Isn't that being deliberately difficult? Moreover, being sent by the Shangqing Sect to accompany us, he probably has some doubts about those dry rations. Tomorrow, we don't need to watch him so closely. We can relax our guard and give each other a chance to understand each other."

Shang Chaozong looked at Niu Youdao, who was sitting with the soldiers, eating and drinking, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Shang Shuqing returned from washing up by the river. She had also taken off her veil for the night, letting down her beautiful hair. It flowed elegantly in the night breeze, exuding a gentle, water-like charm. As she approached, Lan Ruoting asked, "County Princess, you are intelligent and not a reckless person. Can you not see that this person is too young and has little magical power? Why did you agree to have him accompany us?"

Shang Shuqing sat on a nearby stool, smoothing her hair over her shoulders. She pondered, "Qing understands the thoughts of Brother and the Master. How should I put it? Firstly, it's better to have someone than no one. Secondly, I think this person is not simple. Brother is in great need of people right now. Even half a capable person to help is better than none."

Hearing this, Lan Ruoting became interested and asked, "Why does the County Princess think this person is not simple?"

Shang Shuqing sat with a beautiful profile, but her face, in the flickering light of the bonfire, truly resembled a ghost's. After a moment of thought, she organized her thoughts and said, "Tang Yi is the current Sect Master of the Shangqing Sect. Even the disciples a generation older than her in the sect show her great respect. However, when Niu Youdao met Tang Yi, although he was respectful, there was an indescribable feeling about it. I felt it was only superficial respect, and in his bones, he seemed to regard Tang Yi as an equal. The strangest thing is that I vaguely sensed Tang Yi seemed to be putting on a brave front when facing him. She appeared strong and high and mighty, but in reality, she seemed somewhat guilty, always avoiding eye contact with Niu Youdao intentionally or unintentionally."

"Guilty?" Shang Chaozong asked in surprise.

Shang Shuqing replied, "Brother, don't forget I am also a woman. I can understand the subtle inner reactions of women."

Lan Ruoting asked curiously, "Tang Yi is the Sect Master of the Shangqing Sect. This person looks so young, why would Tang Yi feel guilty facing him?"

Shang Shuqing shook her head, "Master, I am also very puzzled about this. At first, I thought I was mistaken. Fortunately, I was wearing a veil and observed carefully. After repeated attention and observation, I felt I was not wrong. Tang Yi should indeed feel guilty facing him."

Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting exchanged a look and simultaneously turned their heads to look at Niu Youdao, who was sitting by the bonfire, holding a bowl of hot soup in one hand and dry rations in the other, eating and drinking while chatting with others, appearing quite carefree.

"In Peach Blossom Haven, a Peach Blossom Hermitage, beneath the Peach Blossom Hermitage, a Peach Blossom Immortal. The Peach Blossom Immortal planted peach trees, and picked peaches to exchange for wine money..."

A clear and melodious singing voice brought their attention back to Shang Shuqing. Both were somewhat taken aback.

Shang Shuqing slightly frowned, with a thoughtful expression, she recited the poem from memory in its entirety: "Awake, I only sit before the flowers; Drunk, I come to sleep beneath them. Half awake, half drunk, day after day; Flowers fall, flowers bloom, year after year. I wish to grow old and die among flowers and wine, Not to bow before carriages and horses. The dust of carriages and horses shows the powerful's status, Wine cups and flower branches reveal the hermit's connection. If the powerful are compared to hermits, One is on the ground, the other in the sky. If flowers and wine are compared to carriages and horses, Why are they so busy, and I so idle? Others laugh at my madness, I laugh at their inability to see through. Do you not see the tombs of Wuling heroes? Without flowers, without wine, they are just fields to be tilled!"

With her keen intellect and photographic memory, her recall was naturally extraordinary. She had only heard Niu Youdao recite the poem once, and she had already memorized it.

After reciting, she looked up at their reactions.

Shang Chaozong chuckled, "Did you compose this poem yourself, Qing'er? 'Awake, I only sit before the flowers; Drunk, I come to sleep beneath them...' Heh heh, a good poem. It sounds so carefree, but it's a bit too lazy and passive. Is this the life you aspire to, Qing'er?"

Shang Shuqing shook her head and then looked at Lan Ruoting's reaction.

Lan Ruoting pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "I have visited Mr. Dongguo's place of cultivation. In front of his residence stands a thousand-year-old peach tree that, regardless of spring, summer, autumn, or winter, blossoms brilliantly like a rosy cloud and never withers. It is truly magical and deeply impressive. County Princess, why do you suddenly recite this poem? Is it your first impression upon meeting Niu Youdao?"

Shang Shuqing continued to shake her head, "I did not compose this. This poem was written by Niu Youdao. When I accompanied Tang Yi to Peach Blossom Spring, Niu Youdao was lazily sleeping on a reclining chair under the peach tree. Upon learning that he was the pháp sư assigned to escort us, I was actually quite displeased. Judging by Niu Youdao's age, it was clear they were trying to appease us. Since they were so unconcerned, there was no point in forcing it. Just as I was about to return the sword and leave, Niu Youdao stretched lazily and mumbled this poem as if in a dream. It instantly gave me a stunning impression of his talent. Moreover, the poem portrayed himself as a recluse of high standing, with a hint of unrecognized talent. This made me willing to wait and see. Later, I noticed Tang Yi's abnormality, and finally, I made the decision that having him was better than not having him, and waited for him to come down the mountain with us. By the way, this person clearly didn't want to come down the mountain with me at first. Later, I don't know what Tang Yi said to him, but he agreed. When he left, the Shangqing Sect didn't even give him a proper farewell, just casually sent him off with a young disciple. I could feel his helplessness."

"Oh!" Lan Ruoting stroked his beard, his gaze drifting towards Niu Youdao. "Hearing the County Princess say that, this poem indeed carries a tone of self-proclaimed reclusive high status. Now that I think about it, this person's demeanor is not ordinary. He has a certain carefree composure, and such poetic talent. Unlike the Shangqing Sect disciples I've seen before, he is indeed quite interesting. I'll find an opportunity to test him and see how capable he really is..."