Niu Youdao shook his head, but no matter how he thought about it, he was unable to recall anything at all.
Yuan Fang, who was sitting on the steps, stood up and asked, "Daoye, Master Yuan, who is Chiyou? Is he a rebel?"
Yuan Gang replied, "You wouldn't understand even if I told you!"
"…" Yuan Fang smiled sheepishly.
Yuan Gang asked, "Did you vent your anger after beating me up to your heart's content today?"
'It would be weird if I could beat someone up like this. Let me beat you up if you can!' Yuan Fang grumbled in his heart, but he continued to flatter, "I didn't, I didn't. I was just helping Master Yuan with his cultivation."
Yuan Gang said coldly, "That's not what you think, right?"
Yuan Fang's face instantly turned serious. "I'm not lying!"
Because of this sentence, in the following days, Yuan Fang began to help Yuan Gang practice martial arts every day. He also confirmed that beating people up was really a very tiring thing …
In the blink of an eye, a month had passed. Niu Youdao rarely came out of the house. Other than going for a walk in the morning and evening, he spent the rest of his time meditating in the house.
Half a month ago, after his meridians had stabilized, he had already started to refine the Dharma Protection Amulet again. First, he had to gradually restore the art source that had almost stopped working. Second, he had to let the reforged meridians gradually adapt.
During this period, Shang Shuqing didn't want to disturb him, so he came to visit every morning as usual.
The children in the village were strictly ordered not to play around in the courtyard and disturb the guests.
Yuan Fang accompanied Yuan Gang with his cultivation for two hours every day. The rest of the time, he also entered into a state of cultivation.
Among the three of them, only Yuan Gang wasn't interested in cultivating all day. Yuan Gang believed that a person's life shouldn't be spent like this. If the longevity gained from cultivation was wasted like this, it would be meaningless. He went in and out every day, and no one knew what he was busy with.
In this small courtyard that the villagers couldn't get close to, everyone entered a very regular state of work and rest …
"Boom!" A sound like an earthquake broke the peace of the village, causing the villagers to be inexplicably frightened.
Niu Youdao and Yuan Fang dashed out of the house one after another. They pushed open the courtyard door and saw some young men in the village carrying weapons and heading towards the direction of the sound.
"What happened?" Yuan Fang stopped a villager and asked.
The villager was baffled. "I don't know!"
Yuan Fang turned around, only to discover that Niu Youdao had already flown away. He soared into the air to chase after him.
In a valley not far from the village, Niu Youdao was the first to arrive. He saw a collapsed mountain wall and Yuan Gang's silhouette. Yuan Gang was observing something.
Niu Youdao landed in the valley and watched this scene quietly.
Soon, a group of villagers also arrived. Seeing Yuan Gang coming down from a pile of collapsed rubble, Luo An stepped forward and asked, "Brother Yuan, what was that sound just now? Did you see that? "
Yuan Gang said indifferently, "It's nothing. The mountain collapsed."
"Why does the mountain collapse sound like thunder? Was it struck by lightning?" Yuan Fang, who was standing beside Niu Youdao, made a strange sound. He looked up at the clear sky and mumbled, "Could it be a bolt from the blue?"
Niu Youdao looked meaningfully at Yuan Gang who was walking over …
It was another morning. In front of the dressing table, Shang Shuqing, who had let go of Niu Youdao's head, said softly, "Daoye, it's done."
As usual, Niu Youdao stood up to send him off. He did not stop after sending him off but continued to accompany Shang Shuqing.
Shang Shuqing bowed slightly and said with amusement, "There's no need to send me off."
Niu Youdao gestured for him to walk. As the two walked together, he asked, "Is there something on your mind, Princess?"
Usually, when Shang Shuqing was combing his hair, he would chat with him. However, these few days, Shang Shuqing had been very quiet, which was a little abnormal.
Shang Shuqing was silent, as if he did not know what to say.
Niu Youdao looked around. "There doesn't seem to be anything unusual in this village. The villagers' expressions are the same. Did something happen in Canglu County?"
Shang Shuqing said, "I'm afraid that it will affect Daoye's Closed Door Cultivation."
Niu Youdao said, "There's no harm in listening."
Shang Shuqing said, "The plan to seize Qingshan County has been abandoned. My brother has to think of another way to gain Tianyu Gate's attention."
Niu Youdao said, "Did Hai Ruyue break her promise and refuse to help the Prince?"
Shang Shuqing sighed softly. "My brother only mentioned it at first. I sent a message and asked repeatedly before I understood. Hai Ruyue could be said to have broken her promise, but not entirely. She only made a request, which we can't fulfill."
Niu Youdao said, "In other words, she broke her promise and didn't want to help us, so she deliberately made things difficult for us?"
Shang Shuqing said, "The situation is a little special. It can be said that she is deliberately making things difficult for us, but we can understand her difficulties."
Niu Youdao asked curiously, "What's going on?"
Shang Shuqing said, "The problem lies with the current Provincial Governor of Jinzhou, Xiao Tianzhen, who inherited his father's business and has yet to grow up. He is also Hai Ruyue's son. When Xiao Bieshan was alive, his body was frail and sickly, so it was difficult for him to give birth. This son not only inherited his father's business, but also inherited his illness. He seems to be even more frail. The people we sent to contact reported that Xiao Tianzhen's body is too frail, and he probably won't live to adulthood. This year, Xiao Tianzhen's illness has flared up even more frequently. "
Niu Youdao said, "Could it be that Hai Ruyue's request is to cure her son?"
Shang Shuqing said, "Daoye is wise. That is exactly what Hai Ruyue wants. Her reply is also reasonable. The Provincial Governor of Jinzhou is her son, and even though she is the one in charge now, once her son is gone, she might not even be able to protect herself. How would she be able to help my brother? Thus, she made a request. As long as my brother can get the Scarlet Sun Vermillion Fruit from the Ice and Snow Pavilion to save her son, she will send troops to help! "
Niu Youdao frowned. He had seen the Scarlet Sun Vermillion Fruit in the 《Records of the Shang Qing Dynasty》. It can be said that it is a yin fruit and a yang fruit, but the place where it grows is opposite. It seems that extreme yin gives birth to yang, and extreme yang gives birth to yin.
"What kind of illness needs the Scarlet Sun Vermillion Fruit?" Niu Youdao couldn't help but be curious.
Shang Shuqing said, "It is said that it is some kind of innate 'Heavenly Yin Damaged Meridians'. It needs the Scarlet Sun Vermillion Fruit to completely eradicate the root of the illness."
Niu Youdao said, "According to what I know, that fruit tree can grow nine fruits, one every year, and one ripens every nine years. In other words, there is a ripening Scarlet Sun Vermillion Fruit every year. Based on the Xiao family's influence, can't they get one from the Ice and Snow Pavilion? "
Shang Shuqing said, "Of course they have. When Xiao Bieshan was still alive, in order to save him, Xiao Huang repeatedly sent people to the Ice and Snow Pavilion to ask for it. Xiao Huang even asked the Emperor of Zhao, but it was useless. He said that this fruit is something that only Granny Xue can enjoy, and that Granny Xue must eat one every year to feel at ease. The Provincial Governor of Jinzhou may have a high position in the eyes of mortals, but in the eyes of someone like Granny Xue, what difference is there between him and an ant? Xiao Tianzhen's life is not as important as her appetite. "
Niu Youdao silently nodded his head.
Shang Shuqing hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Does Daoye have any other way to gain the Heavenly Jade Sect's attention?" Actually, she had been wanting to ask for his advice for the past few days.
Niu Youdao said, "I haven't thought about it yet. But then again, the plan that the Prince and Mister Lan came up with is the best one. Not only can it gain the Heavenly Jade Sect's attention, but it can also allow them to take over Qingshan County and expand their influence. It can be said to be killing two birds with one stone. If we miss this opportunity, it won't be easy to find another."
Shang Shuqing said, "Of course I know that, but there's nothing we can do if Hai Ruyue doesn't agree."
Niu Youdao said indifferently, "Let me think about it." He gestured for her to leave first.
After watching her leave, Niu Youdao walked towards the fields with his hands behind his back. As his thoughts wandered, Yuan Fang came looking for him. Yuan Fang didn't say anything and just followed behind him.
When he saw a group of children running in front of him, Niu Youdao stopped and turned his back to them. "Old Bear, with your status, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to lead the monks of Nanshan Temple in this world. How about you give up on them and come with me?"
"Ah!" Yuan Fang was stunned. He didn't know why Miao Yi would suddenly say such a thing. He shook his head and muttered, "How can I do that? Everyone else in Nanshan Temple has left. The only ones left are the old abbot's direct disciples and grand-disciples. I promised the old abbot that I can't abandon them."
Niu Youdao stood there in silence for a long time …
The next morning, Shang Shuqing, who was combing Niu Youdao's hair at the dressing table, noticed that there were two stones placed next to the bronze mirror, one black and one yellow.
After he was done combing, Niu Youdao sent him off as usual. Before he left, Shang Shuqing turned around and looked at the two stones on the table. He was silent.
After sending him off, Niu Youdao slowly walked to the side of the fast-flowing river and watched a group of young people train.
About an hour later, Meng Shanming arrived in a wheelchair pushed by Shang Shuqing. Beside him was a strong old man with thick eyebrows and big eyes. His hair was yellowish.
"Venerable One!" Meng Shanming greeted. Niu Youdao turned around and greeted him with a smile.
After exchanging some pleasantries, Meng Shanming pointed at the old man beside him and said, "I guess you haven't met him yet. This is the famous blacksmith, Gongsun Tieniu. Mister Gongsun had some troubles in his early years. With the help of King Ning, he brought his family here to live in seclusion. After that, Mister Gongsun picked some talented disciples from the villagers and set up a blacksmith workshop in the north of the mountain. All these years, he has been making military equipment for the Prince in case he needs it … "
Niu Youdao listened with a smile. After listening to the hidden situation here, he greeted Gongsun Tieniu.
Gongsun Tieniu seemed to have a bad temper. After saying a few words, he kept turning his head to look at them. It seemed that he was impatient with such hypocritical politeness. In the end, he simply said that he had something to do and left them alone.
"Mister Gongsun is a good man, but he is a little unyielding. Please don't take it to heart." Meng Shanming apologized.
"It's okay. We are not familiar with each other." Niu Youdao ignored him indifferently. He looked at Shang Shuqing and said, "Princess, I am going to Jinzhou on behalf of the Prince to meet Hai Ruyue. I want to see if I can help the Prince. You can send a message to the Prince. Don't be too anxious to make other preparations."
Shang Shuqing was stunned. He shook his head and advised, "Daoye, don't waste your time. You really don't need to go to Jinzhou. Hai Ruyue's attitude has been confirmed. She won't change. It's useless."
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