This Person Is Not Simple

Dongguo Haoran's final disciple? Shang and Lan were stunned, then couldn't help exchanging a glance.

Though doubts filled their hearts, before the truth was clear, the two still maintained their poise and courtesy, clasping their hands as they said, "Sorry for the trouble, Master."

After the polite exchange, Lan Ruoting lowered his hands and spoke frankly. "Forgive my bluntness. I, Lan, am also an old friend of Mr. Dongguo, and we know each other fairly well. I know all of Mr. Dongguo's Personal Disciples. I've never heard that he had a final disciple named Niu Youdao."

Niu Youdao wasn't surprised in the slightest. From the way Tang Yi had called him Junior Brother in front of outsiders, it was clear that she had never wanted the outside world to know he existed. Thus, he smiled. "Some matters are inconvenient to explain. In any case, there's no falsehood here. When the right opportunity comes, I'll naturally tell you the reason."

Lan Ruoting cast a meaningful glance at Shang Shuqing. He knew exactly what sort of woman she was. She was by no means an ordinary, witless fool, so he couldn't help wondering what purpose she had in inviting someone like this.

Without saying anything more, the group continued on their journey. However, Niu Youdao sensed that the others weren't particularly warm toward him. Wedged among the cavalrymen, he seemed to be under their guard.

In truth, Shang and Lan had already guessed the Shangqing Sect's intentions correctly. The sect had probably sent just anyone to fob them off, while also worrying that Niu Youdao might cause trouble. That was why they were guarding against him.

After putting some distance between themselves and Niu Youdao on the road, they found an opportunity. Shang Chaozong took the chance to ask Shang Shuqing, "Qing'er, did you ask the Shangqing Sect to help remove the birthmark on your face?"

Shang Shuqing was silent for a moment before replying, "Brother Prince, there really is no need. Mr. Dongguo was right about one thing: in these troubled times, pleasing people with one's beauty isn't necessarily a good thing. Besides, given our current situation, being too presentable might instead bring trouble upon us. What does it matter if I'm a little uglier?"

Lan Ruoting shook his head at that. How could there be a woman who didn't love beauty?

Shang Chaozong said in a low voice, "You'll have to marry sooner or later. You can't keep your face covered for your entire life!"

Shang Shuqing said, "Brother, I'm not made of grass or wood. I yearn for the love between a man and a woman too. But I was born at the wrong time. In these troubled times, our births destined us to draw our swords and look in every direction. Love between a man and a woman is too extravagant. Brother, you truly don't need to care about the birthmark on my face. I wouldn't settle for an ordinary man anyway. I consider myself a pearl buried in dust. If I truly meet someone who doesn't despise me, that will be the devoted lover I truly desire. I'll sweep away the dust and receive him as a pearl! If fate comes, I'll accept it; if there is no fate, I'll quietly wait. There's no need to force it!" As she galloped against the wind, the gauze hanging from her hat fluttered.

Though her words made sense, Shang Chaozong fell silent. Yet his cheeks were taut with grief and anger. Ordinary girls married and bore children at sixteen, seventeen, or eighteen. He only hated his own incompetence for implicating his younger sister. After spending several years in prison, he had dragged his sister into becoming an old maid nearing twenty. Given the Shang Family's current circumstances, even if his sister did not have that hideous, demonic birthmark on her face, who would dare marry her? She was a dignified County Princess—how could he simply find anyone for her? Yet he was unwilling to let his sister suffer or be wronged. Their father had repeatedly instructed him, while he was still alive, to take good care of her...

The group traveled at varying speeds, taking turns changing horses and allowing the mounts time to recover their strength.

Toward evening, they made camp beside a river to rest. Some people pitched tents, some fetched water and lit fires, some stood guard, and others focused on tending the mounts.

Tents dotted the riverbank, and bonfires blazed in piles. The fragrance of cooking food gradually drifted through the air.

Niu Youdao carried over a stone and sat down. He took out a bundle, pulled out the dry rations inside, and remembered what Tu Han had said. After pondering for a moment, he casually threw all the dry food into the river beside him.

Shang Chaozong, who had been secretly observing Niu Youdao from where he sat not far away, couldn't help giving a cold snort. "Such fine dry rations, and he throws them away just like that? In these chaotic times, who knows how many people are starving. Of course, cultivators like them never lack food and drink. He's probably used to eating the good stuff..."

Lan Ruoting, who was poking at the fire with a branch beside him, nudged Shang Chaozong's foot with it and smiled as he shook his head. He even sent someone to invite Niu Youdao over to the steaming pot on the other side for some hot food. Niu Youdao vaguely heard their displeasure, but didn't take it to heart. When someone came to invite him, he went gladly. What could be more important than filling his stomach?

Afterward, Shang Chaozong asked, "Do you think I went too far, Sir?"

Lan Ruoting smiled. "Earlier, I was worried this man might be problematic. Now it seems he isn't favored by the Shangqing Sect and was driven here to fob us off. I'm beginning to believe that he really is Mr. Dongguo's disciple."

Shang Chaozong gave an "oh." "How can you tell?"

Lan Ruoting said, "Haven't you noticed, Prince? During the day, he also asked us for food. He could even eat that coarse dry ration, yet he refused to enjoy such fine rations and threw them away instead. Isn't that perverse? Since the Shangqing Sect was willing to send him along with us, he probably has some misgivings about the dry rations. Tomorrow, there's no need to keep such a close watch on him. We might as well loosen our guard and give both sides a chance to understand each other."

Shang Chaozong looked toward Niu Youdao, who was sitting and eating with the soldiers, his expression thoughtful.

Shang Shuqing returned from washing by the river. She had removed her Gauze Hat for the night, and her beautiful hair hung loose, strands drifting in the night breeze. Her gentle bearing was as graceful as flowing water. When she reached them, Lan Ruoting asked, "County Princess, you're intelligent and not rash. Could you really not tell that this man is too young and possesses little magical cultivation? Why did you agree to let him travel with us?"

Shang Shuqing sat on a small folding stool and smoothed the hair over both shoulders. After pondering, she said, "Qing'er understands both Brother's and Sir's thoughts. How should I put it? First, I felt that having someone was better than having no one. Second, I feel this man is not simple. Brother is precisely in need of people now. Even half a capable man's assistance is better than nothing."

Hearing this, Lan Ruoting immediately became interested. "Why does the County Princess feel that he isn't simple?"

Shang Shuqing's seated profile was beautiful, but under the flickering firelight, that face truly looked like a Ghost Face. After thinking for a moment and organizing her thoughts, she said, "Tang Yi is the current Sect Master of the Shangqing Sect. Even disciples of an older generation bow and scrape respectfully when they see her. Yet although Niu Youdao was respectful enough when he met Tang Yi, there was something indescribable about it. It felt as though his respect was only on the surface, while deep down, he regarded Tang Yi as an equal. The strangest thing was that I faintly noticed Tang Yi becoming somewhat intimidated when facing him. She appeared stern and lofty, but in truth seemed a little uneasy, always deliberately or inadvertently avoiding eye contact with Niu Youdao."

"Uneasy?" Shang Chaozong asked in surprise.

Shang Shuqing said, "Brother, don't forget that I'm a woman too. I can understand some of the thoughts revealed through women's subtle reactions."

Lan Ruoting asked curiously, "Tang Yi is the Sect Master of the Shangqing Sect. This man looks so young—how could Tang Yi feel uneasy in front of him?"

Shang Shuqing shook her head. "Sir, I find that strange too. At first, I thought I had seen it wrong. Fortunately, I was wearing my Gauze Hat, so I could observe her carefully. After repeatedly paying attention, I felt certain I hadn't been mistaken. Tang Yi really was uneasy when facing him."

Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting exchanged a glance, then couldn't help turning together toward Niu Youdao by the bonfire in the distance. He sat cross-legged on the ground, holding hot soup in one hand and dry rations in the other, drinking, chewing, and laughing as he chatted with the others. He looked like a rather carefree man.

"In the Peach Blossom Hermitage blooms a peach blossom grove; beneath the Peach Blossom Hermitage dwells the Peach Blossom Immortal. The Peach Blossom Immortal plants peach trees, then plucks their blossoms to trade for wine money..."

The clear, gentle voice reciting poetry drew the two men back around to look at Shang Shuqing. Both were somewhat astonished.

Shang Shuqing furrowed her brows slightly. With a thoughtful expression, she recited the poem from memory in full: "When sober, I sit only before the flowers; drunk, I sleep beneath the flowers. Half-awake, half-drunk, day after day; flowers fall and bloom, year after year. I only wish to die of old amid flowers and wine, unwilling to bow before carriages and horses. The dust of carriage wheels and the hooves of horses reveal the might of the powerful; wine cups and flower branches hide the bonds of recluses. If the powerful are compared to recluses, one is on level ground while the other is in the heavens. If flowers and wine are compared to carriages and horses, how harried are they, and how leisurely am I? Others laugh that I'm too mad; I laugh that they cannot see through things. Have you not seen the tombs of the Wuling Heroes? Without flowers or wine, they have been plowed into fields!"

She was gifted and possessed a photographic memory. Her recollection was naturally extraordinary as well. Niu Youdao had recited the poem only once, and she had heard it only once, yet she had already memorized it.

After finishing, she raised her eyes to observe their reactions.

Shang Chaozong chuckled. "Is this a new poem you composed, Qing'er? 'When sober, I sit only before the flowers; drunk, I sleep beneath the flowers...' Heh-heh, it's a fine poem, and sounds carefree enough. It's just a little too lazy and pessimistic. Is this the life you long for, Qing'er?"

Shang Shuqing shook her head, then turned to look at Lan Ruoting's reaction.

Lan Ruoting pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "I once visited Mr. Dongguo's place of secluded cultivation. There was a thousand-year-old peach tree before the gate. No matter whether it was spring, summer, autumn, or winter, its peach blossoms shone like rosy clouds and never withered. It was extraordinary and truly left a deep impression. For the County Princess to suddenly recite this poem, could it be your first impression upon seeing Niu Youdao?"

Shang Shuqing continued shaking her head. "I didn't compose it. This poem was written by Niu Youdao. When I accompanied Tang Yi to Peach Blossom Spring, Niu Youdao was sleeping soundly on a reclining chair beneath a peach tree, looking utterly lazy. After learning that he was the Master who was to be assigned to accompany us, I was displeased as well. From his age alone, it was obvious that they were merely fobbing us off. Since he had no heart for it, there was no use forcing the matter. I was just about to return the sword and take my leave when Niu Youdao stretched and casually recited the poem as if sleep-talking. His extraordinary talent amazed me on the spot. Moreover, in the poem he styled himself a lofty recluse, with a strong flavor of frustrated talent. Only then did I become patient enough to continue observing him. Later, after noticing something strange about Tang Yi, I finally decided that having someone was better than having no one and waited for him to come down the mountain with us. Oh, and at first, he clearly didn't want to come down the mountain with me. I don't know what Tang Yi said to him afterward, but he eventually agreed. When he left, the Shangqing Sect didn't even give him a proper farewell. They simply sent a junior disciple to dispatch him, and I could sense his helplessness."

"Oh!" Lan Ruoting stroked his beard, his gaze drifting toward Niu Youdao's side. "Now that the County Princess mentions it, the poem does indeed have the flavor of someone styling himself a lofty recluse. Thinking back, this man's bearing is rather extraordinary. He has a certain carefree composure, and can even produce poetry of such talent. He's unlike the Shangqing Sect disciples I've seen before. He really is rather interesting. I'll find an opportunity to test him and see just how high he truly rises..."