Enraged

"Daoist Master, just as you predicted, Great Zen Mountain indeed stood by and watched. Gongsun Bu successfully rescued the Princess Consort and had Huang Lie send her to meet Marshal Meng. The Prince... was taken away. The hundred or so personal guards under him have all been detained; whether they live or die is unknown." Guan Fangyi sighed.

Niu Youdao stood beneath a tree with one hand resting on his sword, expressionless. He merely slowly closed his eyes.

At present, this was all he could do. There was no way for him to concern himself with the lives and deaths of those hundred-odd personal guards. It could also be said that, when faced with such a matter, sacrifices were bound to be made.

Many things were things he had never imagined in his previous life. He had not expected that a casual decision of his now could determine the lives and deaths of so many people.

Seeing that he said nothing, Guan Fangyi could not help asking again, "This could all have been avoided. Why didn't Daoist Master let the Prince and the others escape beforehand?"

How was Niu Youdao supposed to answer that question? His connection with Gao Jiancheng was top secret and absolutely could not be revealed to anyone else. Gao Jiancheng's identity and position were simply too important. If Gao Jiancheng had not warned them in advance this time, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

Not the slightest suspicion could be allowed to fall upon Gao Jiancheng. Could he tell others that Shang Chaozong had been sacrificed in order to preserve Gao Jiancheng's line?

Therefore, he answered something else entirely. "From now on, cut off contact with the three great sects. Also, I need you to make a personal trip to Marshal Meng."

Beneath the lingering