Dongguo Haoran's closed-door disciple? Shang and Lan were stunned and could not help but look at each other.
Even though they had doubts but before they knew the truth, both of them still maintained their self-restraint and etiquette, "Thank you for the trouble."
After exchanging pleasantries, Lan Ruoting put down his hand and spoke bluntly, "Pardon this Lan for being rude, this Lan and Mister Dongguo are considered old friends and more or less understand each other. This Lan knows all of Mister Dongguo's direct disciples but never heard that Mister Dongguo has a closed-door disciple called Niu Youdao."
To this, Niu Youdao was not surprised at all. From the way Tang Yi addressed him as Junior Martial Brother in front of outsiders, it was understandable that she did not want outsiders to know of his existence. He then smiled, "Some things are inconvenient to explain but in short it will not be fake. The reason behind it will be revealed when there is a suitable opportunity."
Lan Ruoting glanced at Shang Shuqing meaningfully. He was very clear what kind of woman Shang Shuqing was and was definitely not a brainless fool. He did not know what was the intention of Shang Shuqing to invite such a person over.
Without saying much, the group continued their journey but Niu Youdao felt that the other party did not seem to be too enthusiastic towards him and was sandwiched in the middle of the cavalry as if they were guarding against him.
In fact, both Shang and Lan had already guessed the Shangqing Sect's intention and reckoned that they had just sent someone to deal with the matter. At the same time they were a little worried if there would be any problems with Niu Youdao so they were guarding against him.
After increasing the distance between them and Niu Youdao, Shang Chaozong found an opportunity to ask Shang Shuqing, "Qing-er, have you asked the Shanghai Sect to help remove the birthmark on your face?"
Shang Shuqing was silent for a while before replying, "Older Brother Wang, there is really no need for that. Mr. Dongguo was right about one thing. In this chaotic world, it's not necessarily a good thing to entertain people with beauty. Moreover, in our current situation, being too presentable as a woman might bring us trouble. So what if we're a little ugly? "
These words made Lan Ruoting shake his head. How could there be a woman who didn't want to be beautiful?
Shang Chaozong replied in a solemn voice, "You will get married sooner or later. You can't possibly wear a mask for your entire life, right?"
Shang Shuqing: "Brother, I'm not a plant, I also yearn for love. But I was born at the wrong time. In this chaotic world, you and I are destined to draw our swords and look around. Love is too extravagant. Brother, you really don't have to care about the birthmark on my face. I don't like most people. I've always prided myself on being a pearl covered in dust. If I can really meet someone who doesn't despise me, then that's the lover I truly want. I'll definitely sweep away the dust and treat him like a pearl! If we're fated, we'll come. If we're not fated, we'll wait. There's no need to force it! "
Even though his words were reasonable, Shang Chaozong didn't say anything. His face tightened and his heart was filled with grief and indignation. Most girls at sixteen or seventeen would get married and have children. He hated himself for being useless and implicating his sister. He stayed in jail for years and dragged his sister into a twenty year old lady. With Shang Clan's current situation, even if his sister didn't have that birthmark on her face, who would dare to marry his sister? As a princess, how could he casually find someone? He also didn't want to mistreat his sister. When his father was still alive, he had repeatedly instructed him to take good care of his sister … …
The group traveled at different speeds and took turns to change horses to give the horses time to recover their strength.
In the evening, they set up camp by a river to rest. Some pitched tents, some fetched water to start a fire, some stood guard and some took care of their mounts.
There were tents and bonfires by the river. The aroma of cooking wafted in the air.
Niu Youdao sat on a rock and took out his bag. He took out the dry rations and recalled Tuján's words. He pondered for a moment and casually threw all the dry rations into the river.
Shang Chaozong, who was sitting not far away, had been secretly observing Niu Youdao. He couldn't help but snorted. "Such fine dry rations, isn't it a pity to throw them away. In this chaotic world, countless people don't have enough to eat. Of course, these cultivators never lack food and drinks. I'm afraid they're used to eating good food … "
Lan Ruoting, who was fiddling with the fire with a branch, used the branch to touch Hai Chaozong's leg. He smiled and shook his head. He even called for someone to invite Niu Youdao to the other side of the pot to eat something hot. Niu Youdao could vaguely hear the other's dissatisfaction but didn't take it seriously. Since someone invited him, he gladly accepted. What was more important than filling his stomach?
Turning around, Shang Chaozong asked, "Teacher, do you think I've said that?"
Lan Ruoting smiled. "I was worried that there was something wrong with this person. Now it seems that this person is not favored by the Shanghai Sect. That's why he was sent here to brush us off. Now I'm a little convinced that he is indeed Mr. Dongguo's disciple."
Shang Chaozong said, "Why do you think so?"
Lan Ruoting said, "Didn't the Prince notice? During the day, he also begged for food from us. He can even eat those coarse dry rations. Yet, he didn't want to enjoy such fine dry rations and threw them away. Isn't this a cheap act? Besides, since he was sent by the Shangqing Sect to follow us, I guess he has some doubts about the dry rations. Tomorrow, we don't need to watch him so closely. We might as well relax and give each other a chance to understand each other. "
Shang Chaozong looked at Niu Youdao, who was eating and drinking with the soldiers, and revealed a thoughtful expression.
Shang Shuqing came back from washing up by the river. At night, she took off her veil hat and let her hair down. The strands fluttered in the night breeze, revealing a gentleness like water. When they arrived, Lan Ruoting asked, "The princess is intelligent and not a reckless person. Can't you see that this person is too young and doesn't have any mana or cultivation experience? Why did you agree to let this person accompany you?"
Shang Shuqing sat on the folding stool at the side and smoothed his hair. He said in a low voice, "Qing 'er understands my brother and teacher's thoughts. How should I put it? First of all, I feel that it's better than nothing. Secondly, I feel that this person is not simple. My brother is in need of manpower. Even if I can have half a capable person to help me, it's better than nothing. "
Upon hearing this, Lan Ruoting was immediately interested and asked, "Why does Your Highness feel that this person is not simple?"
Shang Shuqing's side profile was graceful as he sat but under the flickering light of the bonfire, his face looked like the face of a ghost. He pondered for a while and arranged his thoughts before saying, "Tang Yi is the current Sect Leader of the Shangqing Sect. The disciples in the sect, even those of a higher generation, are respectful to her. But when this Niu Youdao sees Tang Yi, although he is respectful, there's an indescribable feeling. I only feel that it's only on the surface but deep down, he seems to regard Tang Yi as an equal. The strangest thing is that I faintly feel that when Tang Yi is facing him, she is a little fierce in appearance but weak in heart. She looks tough and aloof but in actual fact, she seems to have a guilty conscience. She would always intentionally or unintentionally avoid looking directly into Niu Youdao's eyes. "
"Guilty?" Shang Chaozong asked curiously.
Shang Shuqing: "Brother, don't forget that I'm also a woman, I can understand the subtle reactions of women."
Lan Ruoting asked curiously, "Tang Yi is the Sect Leader of the Shangqing Sect. This man looks so young. Why would Tang Yi feel guilty facing him?"
Shang Shuqing shook his head and said, "Mister, I am also curious about this. At first, I thought that I was mistaken. Fortunately, I was wearing a veil hat and could observe carefully. After paying close attention, I felt that there was no mistake. Tang Yi should be feeling guilty when facing him."
Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting looked at each other and couldn't help but turn their heads to look at Niu Youdao who was sitting cross-legged next to the bonfire not far away. He had a hot soup in one hand and a dry rations in the other, drinking and chatting happily with the others. He seemed to be a rather carefree person.
"The Peach Blossom Temple in the Peach Blossom Cove, and the Peach Blossom Immortal in the Peach Blossom Temple. The Peach Blossom Immortal planted peach trees and plucked peach blossoms in exchange for wine money … "
The clear and graceful recitation of the poem pulled the two back to look at Shang Shuqing. Both of them were somewhat stunned.
Shang Shuqing frowned slightly and with a pondering expression, he recited the poem from his memory in its entirety, "When sober, one sits before the flowers; when drunk, one sleeps beneath the flowers. Half-awake and half-drunk, day after day, the flowers bloom and wilt, year after year. Wishing to die old in the midst of flowers and wine, unwilling to bow before carriages and horses. The dust of carriages and horses show the power of a man, the wine cup and flower branches show the fate of a hermit. If one compares a man to a hermit, one is on the ground while the other is in the sky. If one compares flowers and wine to carriages and horses, how mediocre are they, how idle am I? Others laugh at me for being too crazy, I laugh at them for not seeing through me. Not seeing the Five Tombs heroes' graves, no flowers, no wine, no hoes, no fields! "
She was naturally intelligent and had a photographic memory. Naturally, her memory was outstanding as well. She only listened to the poem that Niu Youdao recited once and she actually managed to memorize it.
After reciting, she looked up to see the two's reaction.
Shang Chaozong chuckled, "Is this Qing-er's new poem? When sober, one sits before the flowers; when drunk, one sleeps beneath the flowers … Hehe, good poem. Listening to it is carefree but it is somewhat lazy and passive. Is this the life that Qing-er is looking forward to? "
Shang Shuqing shook his head and looked at Lan Ruoting's reaction.
Lan Ruoting pondered for a moment before Slowly speaking, "I have visited Mister Dongguo's cultivation place before. There is a millennium peach tree in front of the door. No matter if it is spring, summer, autumn or winter, the peach blossoms are as brilliant as the clouds and will never wither. It is very magical and indeed gives one a deep impression. For Princess to suddenly recite this poem, could it be your first impression of Niu Youdao? "
Shang Shuqing continued to shake his head, "It was not composed by me. This poem was composed by Niu Youdao. When I followed Tang Yi to visit Peach Blossom Spring, Niu Youdao was lazily sleeping on a chair under the peach tree. When I found out that this was the mage retainer that was to be assigned to us, I was actually unhappy in my heart. From Niu Youdao's age, I could tell that he was just brushing us off. Since he did not mean it, it was useless to force him. Just as I was preparing to return the sword and leave, who would have thought that Niu Youdao would stretch his body and recite the poem as if he was sleep-talking. It gave me a feeling that he was brimming with talent. The other party even boasted that he was a hermit expert in the poem and had the taste of having talent but not being recognized. Only then did I have the patience to continue watching. Afterwards, I noticed Tang Yi's abnormality and finally made the decision to wait for this person to come down the mountain. That's right, this person obviously did not want to come down the mountain to follow me. Afterwards, I did not know what Tang Yi said to him and he finally agreed. When he left, the Shanghai Sect did not even give him a proper farewell and just casually sent a small disciple to send him away. I could feel his helplessness. "
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