He knew Yuan Gang carried a certain attachment within him. It was the mark left on Yuan Gang by the fervent collective life he had once lived, a life experience Yuan Gang took pride in. Though that attachment sometimes seemed old-fashioned and rigid, he did not consider it a bad thing. On the contrary, he found it exceedingly precious—the most precious thing about Yuan Gang. He was willing to help Yuan Gang protect it, unwilling to see it gradually eroded and changed by following him.
Do too many things that weighed on one's conscience, and eventually one would stop caring. He did not want to see Yuan Gang become another version of himself. That was why he guarded it.
To put it bluntly, he had never intended to submit to the Shang siblings. Nor would it be so easy for the Shang siblings to win his heart.
Shang Shuqing wanted to speak but hesitated. She dearly wished to say that this was wrong, but she was an exceptionally sensitive and perceptive person, and she sensed a deeper meaning in Niu Youdao's words.
She hesitated, but Niu Youdao seemed to be pressing her. He asked again, "Does the County Princess think I was wrong?"
Faced with him, Shang Shuqing ultimately compromised. "Daoist Master did nothing wrong. You did it for the good of my brother and me."
Niu Youdao was somewhat speechless. He had actually hoped Shang Shuqing would stand firm, so they could owe each other nothing and sever all bonds of gratitude, and he could immediately dust off his backside and leave with Yuan Gang.
He had the feeling that the two brothers had been ensnared by this woman. Back at Nanshan Temple, it had been this woman who kept them there. It felt as though the two of