In fact, some of Guan Tie's men had already reached the mountaintop ahead of them and taken up positions to keep watch.
At Shang Chaozong's command, several hundred men formed up and advanced toward the mountaintop. Shang Chaozong himself carried the Zhanmadao in his hand, while Shang Shuqing drew her sharp sword and followed at her brother's side.
Seeing this, Qu Wu and the others had no choice but to follow them up the mountain.
As Niu Youdao passed Yuan Gang, he raised a hand and patted him on the shoulder. He said nothing, simply following them up the mountain as well.
Outside Nanshan Temple, on the steps leading down the mountain, Song Yanqing stood with his hands behind his back, looking down from above at the group advancing uphill. Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo guarded him on either side. Behind them stood around twenty monks led by their abbot, Yuan Fang, each holding a long staff. Su Jieren, blood staining the corners of his mouth, was being held among them.
When Song Yanqing saw Niu Youdao behind Shang Chaozong and the others, a smile spread across his lips. He had been worried that Niu Youdao might have escaped and made him hunt him down, but it was good that he was still here.
The thought of slaughtering the man who had married Tang Yi filled him with an irrepressible excitement—the savage pleasure of a male driving out his rival and monopolizing the female.
Following behind the others, Niu Youdao saw Song Yanqing and the other two guarding the road on the mountain and was somewhat taken aback. When he had just heard Shang Chaozong's guards recount the battle, he had concluded that the attackers could not be very strong. He had not expected them to be these three fellows. It had been several years since he had seen them after marrying Tang Yi. Had Shangqing Sect really sent these three to kill him?
Then he thought it over. Shangqing Sect probably did not mean to look down on him either. He had deliberately kept a low profile in Shangqing Sect, and being able to send three men like these to deal with him at once already meant they thought highly of him.
He had been worried that some expert might be involved. Now it seemed that keeping a low profile in ordinary times really did no harm.
The road was blocked, and Shang Chaozong saw no sign that Song Yanqing intended to make way. He could only stop at the foot of the steps, raise his head, and shout, "Who are you people? How dare you attack my men!"
Song Yanqing knew Shang Chaozong. He had occasionally seen him in the Capital City in the past, but Prince Ning had still been alive then, and Song Yanqing had not possessed the standing to approach Shang Chaozong. He had spent many of his early years in Shangqing Sect, while during the few years Song Yanqing had returned to the Capital City, Shang Chaozong had been imprisoned. Thus, Shang Chaozong did not know him.
Lan Ruoting, carrying a sword, immediately reminded him in a low voice, "This man is Song Yanqing, Song Jiuming's grandson and Song Shu's son. Both father and son are disciples of Shangqing Sect." He knew the man.
A disciple of Shangqing Sect? Shang Chaozong abruptly turned to look at Niu Youdao behind him, clearly wanting to ask what was going on.
Shang Shuqing saw Su Jieren being held captive. At a glance, she noticed that Su Jieren was dressed much like Niu Youdao and instantly understood something. Her heart secretly trembled, and she too suddenly turned to look at Niu Youdao behind her, thinking, He looks calm and lazy, but who would have thought he was so deep and ruthless!
Song Yanqing did not show any intention of humbling himself before Shang Chaozong. Still standing above them and looking down, he cupped his hands and said, "I saw the Young Prince in the Capital City years ago. Seeing you again today fills me with emotion. Song Yanqing pays his respects! As for who I am, I'm sure Mr. Lan at your side knows perfectly well. Heh!" Though he knew Shang Chaozong had formally become a prince, he still called him the Young Prince. The meaning was obvious enough.
Yuan Fang behind him was quaking with fear. He could not afford to offend Shangqing Sect, nor could he afford to offend the Song Family of the Capital City. Now some Young Prince had appeared as well. What in the world had he been dragged into?
Shang Chaozong said, "So you're Minister of Justice Song's grandson. I'm asking you—what gives you the right to attack my men?"
Song Yanqing shook his head. "Young Prince, get one thing straight. It wasn't us who attacked your men. Your people shot at us first, trying to kill us. We were merely acting in self-defense. That logic holds up anywhere. Even if we went to the Capital City to argue our case, I'd still have the moral high ground!" He knew that even if he were in the wrong, Shang Chaozong's influence in the Capital City could not compare with the Song Family's. The Song Family, after all, held the supreme judicial authority. "But for the Young Prince's sake, as long as you hand this man over, I'll let the matter go!" He pointed at Niu Youdao.
Everyone looked toward Niu Youdao.
Niu Youdao showed no reaction. The sword he had been holding dropped to the ground again, and he watched Song Yanqing with interest without saying a word. He was also waiting to see how Shang Chaozong would respond.
Shang Shuqing and the others had grown used to the way Niu Youdao carried a sword. Other people's swords were like the gentlemen who wielded them; his was more like a walking stick.
Shang Chaozong shifted his gaze from Niu Youdao to Song Yanqing and said in a low voice, "You killed my men, and now you want my man too? You've got quite a swagger, Song!"
Song Yanqing said, "Niu Youdao is clearly a disciple of Shangqing Sect. Since when did he become the Young Prince's man?"
Shang Chaozong said, "At least for now, he is still my accompanying mage."
"Accompanying mage?" Song Yanqing could not help letting out a mocking laugh. As for whether Niu Youdao was qualified to become an accompanying mage, he had no intention of arguing about it publicly. "I advise the Young Prince to hand him over."
Shang Chaozong said coldly, "What if I refuse?"
"I'm doing this for the Young Prince's own good. The road up this mountain is steep and treacherous. Taking him along will only burden you. I'm afraid the Young Prince won't reach his destination safely."
"Are you threatening me?" Shang Chaozong's eyes suddenly narrowed. He said coldly, "The Song Family certainly has an impressive swagger. It seems you don't even put the Great Yan imperial family in your eyes!"
"..." The accusation was far too heavy, and Song Yanqing's expression stiffened. No matter how bold he was, he would never dare publicly say anything blasphemous about the Great Yan imperial family. If word reached the Capital City, forget the one in the Imperial Palace—even Grand Secretary Tong Mo would make the Song Family pay. They would have to put on a show and give the entire Shang royal clan an explanation. He immediately defended himself, "Young Prince, you can't say things recklessly. Niu Youdao isn't qualified to represent the Great Yan imperial family!"
Shang Chaozong suddenly roared furiously, "What if I refuse? If you have the guts, try laying a finger on me!"
Song Yanqing's face darkened, and anger flared in his eyes as well. But Shang Chaozong was right: he did not dare act rashly. Their identities had already been made clear. If he publicly attacked a prince of the kingdom, he would only bring trouble upon the Song Family. If they were going to act, they would have to do so in secret, leaving no handle for others to seize. A man born into a household like the Song Family's could not fail to understand such a basic principle.
Shang Chaozong swept out a hand. "Kill all resisters! Take every last one of them!"
Before, he might have let it pass without knowing Song Yanqing's identity. Now that he knew it, he wanted to see whether Song Yanqing dared to run wild.
Several hundred guards immediately surged forward, converging on the mountaintop.
Shang Chaozong had used sheer force to bear down on them, and Song Yanqing and the others changed color. They had not expected him to be so unyielding. Not daring to move rashly, they were forced backward by the pressing crowd.
"Senior Brother, the token!" Xu Yitian reminded him in a low voice.
Song Yanqing came to his senses, flipped his hand, and produced a token. He thrust it toward Shang Chaozong before everyone's eyes and shouted, "I'm carrying out official business under orders! Shang Chaozong, are you trying to rebel?"
The character "Xing" stood out on the token. It was a token belonging to the Minister of Justice's Left and Right Supervisors, specifically used for arrests.
The guards surrounding them halted when they saw the token. Even Shang Chaozong himself showed hesitation and wariness. He had used force to suppress them, while Song Yanqing used authority to control the situation. As the saying went, authority came before force—only with authority could one command force. The token in Song Yanqing's hand represented those who held power.
"Prince, have your men stand down!" Niu Youdao's voice came from behind the crowd.
Everyone turned to look and saw Niu Youdao slowly parting the crowd as he walked forward, eventually reaching Shang Chaozong's side. Shang Chaozong stared at him without the slightest fondness. He could see it now: today's whole affair had probably been caused by this man, costing him dozens of brothers!
Niu Youdao inclined himself slightly toward him. "Prince, have your men stand down. Since they came for me, I'll resolve this myself."
Shang Chaozong said, "He killed my men and captured my men. This is no longer merely your affair!"
"I'll do my best to give the Prince an explanation." Niu Youdao did not waste words. Having said just enough, he looked toward Song Yanqing. "Senior Brother Song, this is between us. There's no need to drag anyone else into it. Release the Prince's man." He lifted his chin toward Su Jieren.
Song Yanqing had come for him in the first place and had never intended to fight Shang Chaozong to the bitter end. He gave a cold, mocking snort and flicked up a hand. Chen Guishuo immediately waved to signal Yuan Fang to release him.
Yuan Fang promptly shoved Su Jieren, that scalding-hot potato, out. One of the guards quickly stepped forward and helped Su Jieren withdraw.
Lan Ruoting touched Shang Chaozong's arm, signaling him to wait and see. Only then did Shang Chaozong raise a hand, and the people surrounding them slowly backed away.
With his sword sheath planted against the ground, Niu Youdao rested one hand on the hilt and asked mildly, "Senior Brother Song, I don't quite understand. What do you mean by chasing me all the way here?"
Song Yanqing countered, "Does it matter?"
Niu Youdao glanced around and asked, "Just the three of you?" He still wanted to confirm it. It would be troublesome if they had some expert hidden away.
Song Yanqing said, "Who do you think you are?" The implication was clear: Wasn't the three of them enough?
Niu Youdao smiled. "What do you want?"
Song Yanqing said, "You violated the sect rules. We came to cleanse the sect of you!"
"Violated the sect rules? Truly, if someone is determined to frame you, they can find no shortage of excuses. It seems Senior Brother Song has no intention of reasoning with me." Niu Youdao sighed helplessly, then spoke gently, "Actually, I hate fighting and killing more than anything. I've seen far too much life and death, so I hope Senior Brother Song can show mercy and spare me this once!"
Song Yanqing's mouth twisted into a grin. He had seen people put on airs before, but never anyone who put on an act like this. A man like Niu Youdao, who had been under house arrest all this time, actually dared claim he had seen too much life and death? Let's see how you cry later! He turned his head and gave an order. "Take him alive!"
You dared steal my woman? At the thought of Niu Youdao marrying Tang Yi, Song Yanqing felt stifled and miserable. He intended to capture Niu Youdao and torture him properly, venting his pent-up fury. He would not let Niu Youdao die too comfortably.
Xu Yitian suddenly shot out from the side. Holding his sword in one hand, he reached for Niu Youdao with the other. He could not even be bothered to draw his sword, showing just how much he looked down on him.
In everyone's eyes, Xu Yitian's speed was already astonishingly fast. In the blink of an eye, he reached Niu Youdao and clawed toward his shoulder, while Niu Youdao, standing motionless, seemed not to have reacted yet.
But the change came in an instant. Just as Xu Yitian's five fingers were about to touch Niu Youdao's shoulder, Niu Youdao, one hand resting on his sword, moved. His other hand suddenly struck forward with lightning speed and slammed into Xu Yitian's chest with a muffled bang.
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