Hiding it from Yuan Gang? Shang Shuqing was puzzled, but Niu Youdao had already turned around and left without explaining anything.
Meng Shanming watched him go and asked, "Are you sure he put the two stones out for you to see?"
Shang Shuqing, who was also watching, had a complicated expression. He smiled bitterly and said, "I wasn't sure before, but now I'm sure."
Meng Shanming said, "What do you mean?"
Shang Shuqing said, "He didn't reveal anything until we met Mister Gongsun. We told him that this place is a secret manufacturing place for military equipment, and then he said he wanted to go to Gold Province. I don't believe he didn't think about this beforehand, and I don't believe he made a decision on a whim. The stones were put out for me to see. After he put them out, he avoided Yuan Gang and appeared here, waiting … He can't wait here forever. "
Meng Shanming thought for a while and said slowly, "I understand. He's looking for our sincerity. If we don't tell him, he won't ask, and he won't tell anyone about it."
Shang Shuqing said, "Since he knows the relationship between the two stones, he should have sensed something. Maybe he's been waiting for us to tell him, but he didn't. This time, he put out the stones for me to see, as if he's giving us a chance, a last chance! If we continue to hide it from him, I have a feeling that we won't be able to keep him. I'm afraid he'll leave with Yuan Gang instead of going to Gold Province! "
Meng Shanming smiled bitterly, "I understand. He's weighing whether it's worth it or not. It seems like he thinks it's risky!"
Shang Shuqing was a little worried. She also realized it, but she couldn't stop it. Heavenly Jade Sect and Feng Lingbo wouldn't give them too much time. It seemed like this was their only chance to annex Green Mountain County. To some extent, because she had seen Niu Youdao's ability, she hoped that Niu Youdao's ability could help them.
However, this kind of mentality made her feel guilty. Her selfishness forced others to take the risk …
"Where to?"
In the courtyard, Yuan Gang, who had finished his practice, was startled when he heard it.
Niu Youdao said indifferently, "I'm going to look for something useful for cultivation."
Yuan Gang nodded. "When do we set off?" He clearly meant to make preparations in advance.
Niu Youdao: "We're leaving tomorrow. You don't have to go. I'll bring Old Bear along."
I'm not going? Yuan Gang was stunned. He did not expect that Niu Youdao would not allow him to travel with them.
Niu Youdao explained, "It's nothing much. If we escape from here, we won't have to worry about being targeted. If we take the secret passage back to Canglu County and set off again, it will be dangerous. We might be targeted by our enemies. That's why I'm planning to bring Old Bear over the mountain ridges and leave. This mountain road isn't easy to walk on, and it'll be a problem for you to climb all the way. "
Yuan Gang was silent for a moment. After thinking about it, he asked, "How long will you be gone? When will you be back?"
Niu Youdao said, "We haven't explored the outside world on our own yet, so there are many things we don't know. I can't explain it clearly right now, but it shouldn't take too long."
Yuan Gang asked, "Should I wait here?"
Niu Youdao said, "You can wait here or go to Canglu County. We'll see what Shang Shuqing's arrangements are. When I return from my business, I'll probably go back to Canglu County quietly. If you go to Canglu County, you can keep an eye on Old Bear's people and that Lu Shengzhong. If Shang Chaozong's plan goes smoothly, you can use Lu Shengzhong as a chess piece. "
Yuan Gang nodded and turned to Yuan Fang. "When you go out with Daoye, be alert. Otherwise, don't blame me for sending those monks to meet Buddha."
Yuan Fang's expression twitched. He squeezed out a smile and said, "Don't worry, Master Yuan."
The next day, in front of the dressing table, Shang Shuqing was meticulously tidying Niu Youdao's hair. The person sitting in the mirror was silent with his eyes closed.
When the two of them came out of the room, Yuan Fang was already waiting outside with a bag on his back. Yuan Gang presented Niu Youdao's sword to him.
Niu Youdao grabbed the sword and strode out. Yuan Fang followed closely behind.
Shang Shuqing and Yuan Gang left the courtyard and watched them leave. Meng Shanming, who was sitting in a wheelchair, also watched them leave from a corner.
Neither too fast nor too slow, they left the village. Niu Youdao and Yuan Fang suddenly sped up, flying one after the other, and ascending a tall mountain.
The two of them stopped at the top of the mountain. Yuan Fang and Niu Youdao turned around to look at the village hidden in the mountains. Then, they each took a small green leaf and put it in their mouth. The leaf was originally nameless, but the villagers named it 'Qingxin'. When this leaf was put in the mouth, it could be used to deal with the miasma in the mountains.
"Let's go!" Niu Youdao responded. His figure suddenly shot out from the mountain peak like an arrow leaving the bow. The Qi activity in his body burst forth and condensed into a pair of wings. He used the speed of his shooting and the height he climbed to fly.
Yuan Fang used his Qi to glide behind him.
A mountain came crashing toward them. The two of them, one in front and one behind, quickly flew around the mountain using the buoyancy of the air. They passed between two mountains like two large birds.
The wind whistled in their ears.
Yuan Fang's cultivation was obviously not as good as Niu Youdao. The Qi wings broke after a short while due to the friction in the air. Yuan Fang quickly landed on the mountain and sprinted away. Then, he formed his Qi wings again and chased after them. Niu Youdao's breathing rate was obviously much slower than Yuan Fang's. However, he would occasionally stop and wait for a while. Otherwise, Yuan Fang might lose him.
The two of them flew up and down quickly. When they encountered a small mountain, they either skimmed over it or flew around it. When they encountered a tall mountain, they would climb up the cliff. When they reached the top of the mountain, they would shoot out again and glide quickly in the air.
Among the vast mountains, the two of them, one in front and one behind, soared freely like birds …
Half a day later, the undulating terrain of the mountain had clearly eased up. The dense miasma in the mountain could no longer be seen. Niu Youdao reckoned that they had already left that area.
The two of them stopped when they saw the official road that looked like a ribbon. Yuan Fang was already as tired as a dead dog. He spat out the leaves in his mouth and knelt on the ground with the help of a big tree. He was panting heavily. This method of continuous running for half a day was really too much for him.
Niu Youdao's expression did not look good either. He had used up too much transcendence energy. If it was not for the fact that they were in a hurry, he would not have done this. It would be really troublesome if he met someone who came looking for trouble in his weakened state.
The two of them hid in the forest beside the official road and ate and drank something. Then, they sat cross-legged and meditated to recover.
Niu Youdao recovered quickly. Firstly, he did not use up as much as Yuan Fang. Secondly, he could use the protective talisman in his body.
Yuan Fang's recovery speed was a little slow. He only recovered when it was almost evening. It could not be helped. The two of them did not have any elixirs that could help them recover quickly. He could only slowly recover.
Originally, Niu Youdao had some on him. He found some on Song Yanqing and his fellow apprentices, but he used it up when he tried it. He found some on Lu Shengzhong as well. He gave it all to Yuan Fang. Yuan Fang, who had never tried it before, immediately used it up.
To some extent, the two of them were poor people in the cultivation world, and they were poor to the point of being completely poor.
They flagged down a passing carriage on the official road. After asking for directions, Yuan Fang used a gold coin to change the carriage's route to the nearest county.
They rushed all the way. The carriage finally managed to send the two of them into the city before the city gates closed.
They found an inn in the city to stay. Niu Youdao ordered a table of delicious food to reward Yuan Fang.
At the dining table, Yuan Fang asked Niu Youdao, who was looking at the streets outside the window with a thoughtful expression, "Daoye, where are we going?"
Niu Youdao said faintly, "Jinzhou Prefecture."
Yuan Fang muttered, "Seems like there's still a long way to go."
Niu Youdao said, "Hurry up and eat. We still have things to do after eating."
"Oh!" Yuan Fang quickly filled his stomach.
When they paid the bill, Niu Youdao threw a silver coin to the waiter as a tip. The waiter nodded and bowed happily.
Niu Youdao waved his hand. Of course, money was not given for free. "Waiter, I need to ask you something."
The waiter hurriedly said, "Go on, go on."
Niu Youdao asked, "Do you know where the courier official's house is?"
The waiter thought for a moment and pointed in a direction. "It's not far from the county yamen. Li Chengyi's house is in the alley diagonally opposite the yamen on the left. What business do you have with Lord Li? "
Niu Youdao smiled. "It's nothing much. His friend asked me to deliver a letter to him."
After casually dismissing the waiter, he left the inn with Yuan Fang. They went straight to the place the waiter mentioned and found the courier official's house.
Naturally, he was looking for this courier official for no other reason than to obtain an identity to borrow the courier station's horses. It wasn't that he couldn't afford a horse, but he could transfer the horses from the courier station to other courier stations along the way. This matter wasn't difficult, and there was no need to threaten him with force. On the contrary, threatening him with force would be bad, so he could just use money.
He threw a handful of gold coins on the table and immediately settled the courier official. The two parties agreed to meet the next morning.
The next day, in a remote area outside the city, Li Chengyi brought two courier horses and two sets of courier's clothes. He also brought the official letter and asked the two of them to deliver the official letter.
As the saying goes, 'one hands over the money, one hand over the goods'. The other handful of gold coins was given to Li Chengyi.
Niu Youdao and Yuan Fang changed their clothes, leaped onto the horse, and galloped away. They transferred to other courier stations along the way and rushed to Jinzhou Prefecture without stopping.
Two days later, the travel-worn duo successfully arrived at Jinzhou Prefecture Prefecture. They handed the official letter to the magistrate and left the courier horses behind. There was no need to bring the courier horses along and cause trouble.
When the two of them arrived at the entrance of Fortune Inn, Yuan Fang was holding a flower in his hand, which was very conspicuous. Immediately, a man approached the two of them and said in a low voice, "Fang Zhe."
Niu Youdao sized him up and said, "Niu Youdao."
The man named Fang Zhe heaved a sigh of relief and immediately extended his hand in invitation, "Daoye, please!" He led the two of them into the inn and into his room.
The reason for this scene was naturally planned with Shang Shuqing before they set off. Shang Shuqing had sent an urgent message to Shang Chaozong, asking Shang Chaozong to send the person he contacted in Jinzhou to meet up with Niu Youdao.
When they entered the room, Fang Zhe closed the door and asked, "The Prince asked me to cooperate with Daoye. I wonder how Daoye wants me to cooperate?"
"The situation!" Niu Youdao said, "Tell me everything you know about Hai Ruyue in detail."
"Alright!" Fang Zhe immediately told him everything he knew in detail.
Niu Youdao would interrupt and ask questions from time to time. The two of them talked for a long time before stopping.
After getting a rough understanding of the situation, Niu Youdao stood up in the room and said, "Let's rest for the night. Get us a room at the inn and bring me to the Provincial Governor's Mansion tomorrow."
Fang Zhe stood up as well, "Daoye, I'm afraid tomorrow isn't a suitable day, right? Tomorrow is Hai Ruyue's fortieth birthday. There will be many guests. I'm afraid she won't be able to meet you … She thinks I'm too long-winded and doesn't want to see me again. "
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