After reading the contents of the message, Chen Tingxiu was speechless. Niu Youdao and Linghu Qiu had become sworn brothers!
Raising his head to look at the Sect Master, he somewhat understood why the Sect Master's expression was so unnatural.
The Heavenly Jade Sect knew that the matter would be troublesome before they made their move. Thus, the disciples they sent to the State of Qi were carefully selected. However, they either failed miserably or returned in low spirits.
Perhaps the Heavenly Jade Sect's upper echelons were more qualified, experienced, and cultivated than the elite disciples, but it did not mean that they were better at handling matters. Some problems could not be solved by relying on the Heavenly Jade Sect's martial strength to go to the State of Qi. What the elite disciples could not do, the Heavenly Jade Sect's upper echelons might not be able to do. The fact that the Heavenly Jade Sect sent to the State of Qi also failed proved this point.
However, they still had to find a way to solve the problem. However, in the face of such a complicated situation, it became a problem to send someone. Later on, the Sect Master pointed out that the sect lacked a disciple like Niu Youdao. He suggested that when accepting disciples in the future, they should consider this aspect more!
Everyone understood the Sect Master's meaning. After some observation, Niu Youdao indeed had the ability to handle complicated situations. The Sect Master wanted Niu Youdao to give it a try. However, Niu Youdao was not a disciple of the Heavenly Jade Sect. If Niu Youdao went, it would not look good for the Heavenly Jade Sect. To have the Heavenly Jade Sect admit that they were incompetent?
They could not bring themselves to do so, but they still had to save some face.
After all, it was a discussion. All sorts of opinions emerged.
Some denied that Niu Youdao was not optimistic about him. The reason was that if he was truly capable, why would he be expelled by the Sect like a stray dog?
This view tended to belittle him!
Someone suggested that it was possible to recruit Niu Youdao into the Heavenly Jade Sect and let Niu Youdao handle matters.
This view tended to burn the bridge after crossing the river!
At this juncture, Niu Youdao breached the contract and requested that the Heavenly Jade Sect give the three sects a share of the profits from the drinks. They knew that Niu Youdao was on the same side as the three sects, so after some discussion, they decided to push the blame to him. Who knew that Niu Youdao was still in seclusion and had no intention of showing his face.
Until now, when they saw the secret report, they knew that Niu Youdao couldn't hold back anymore. But who would have thought that Linghu Qiu would take the initiative to look for Niu Youdao, and Niu Youdao and Linghu Qiu actually became sworn brothers?
Back then, the Sect Leader had asked Linghu Qiu for help, but Linghu Qiu had tactfully refused. If Niu Youdao managed to deal with Linghu Qiu and Linghu Qiu decided to lend a helping hand, how would the Sect Leader feel?
Chen Tingxiu then passed the secret letter to the other elders for them to read. After reading it, the elders were all silent …
After lingering in Qingshan County for more than a day, Niu Youdao finally spoke about the warhorses.
Linghu Qiu readily agreed and set a schedule for the trip.
Looking at Linghu Qiu, who readily agreed, Hong Xiu and Hong Fu secretly looked at each other.
There were some things that the two of them were well aware of, but they didn't expose Linghu Qiu's face. If the swearing of brotherhood wasn't entirely because of Dongguo Haoran, then it was because of Niu Youdao's words to them that he was determined to get the warhorses. The underlying meaning of his words was that if they didn't give it to him, he would fall out with them. Those who dared to kill the Yan emissaries definitely had some weight behind their words.
However, Niu Youdao's attitude wasn't so harsh. He gave the teacher a way out and immediately changed the topic to become sworn brothers, so the teacher gladly agreed.
But the two of them also believed that the teacher had made friends everywhere, and as long as someone proposed to become sworn brothers, the teacher would most likely not reject it. It was just that no one had brought it up before. On the other hand, this Taoist master was using both a soft and hard knife to force Mister to submit.
Looking at this Daoye, who had always been attentive to them, who never left the word 'brother', who gave them enough face, and who had a seemingly harmless smile on his face.
The situation during the negotiation was still vivid in the minds of the two of them.
This person directly asked for warhorses after just a few words, and the teacher expressed that it was difficult. In the end, this person went along with the situation and said that even a few hundred warhorses would do, so the teacher had no choice but to agree. Who knew that this person, who had already agreed, would go around and increase the price. When the negotiation couldn't continue, he immediately avoided the topic and directly jumped to ask for the two of them. When the teacher didn't agree, he continued to ask for them, and secretly threatened them with a knife on their waist. He wouldn't make them feel uncomfortable, and after knowing it, he immediately changed the topic and jumped back to the swearing of brotherhood.
Now that the swearing of brotherhood was settled, and they were treated with good food and drinks, the topic was back to the warhorses. After going around and around, they finally reached their goal!
The two of them were quite suspicious that if the swearing of brotherhood didn't come to an agreement, they didn't know if this Daoye would do something else later …
A lake in the valley was considered a forbidden area. Yuan Gang wanted a forbidden area, and no one was allowed to trespass.
Of course, Niu Youdao was an exception. He slowly walked up the hill and looked down at the situation in the valley. He saw that the surface of the lake was sparkling, and if he looked closely, he would discover that there were things like straw sliding on the surface. Looking down from above, he could vaguely see a group of people swimming under the water.
As he neared the shore, silhouettes quietly emerged from the water and slowly made their way to the shore.
Suddenly, a group of people lying in ambush in the grass on the shore rushed out, and an intense grappling battle began.
In the water, the enemies fought with each other, and on the shore, they wrestled with each other. People from both sides were constantly falling down and getting up.
After more than a year, with sufficient food supply and high-intensity training, the group of youths had changed a lot. Whether it was their temperament or figure, they were all grown men.
Niu Youdao looked back and saw Yuan Gang slowly walking down the hill. Niu Youdao turned back and continued to watch the fight by the lake.
Yuan Gang stood side by side with him and asked, "Going to Qi?"
Niu Youdao nodded. "Tomorrow."
Yuan Gang nodded. "I'll go prepare." He turned around and left.
Niu Youdao stopped him. "You don't have to go."
Yuan Gang turned around and looked at him with a burning gaze, wanting to explain.
Niu Youdao said, "This time, I'm not as weak as before. I have enough people around me. I need someone I can trust to look after this place, so that I don't have to worry about anything."
Yuan Gang said, "That's not a reason. Are you afraid that I'll be a burden to you?"
Niu Youdao said, "Yes! You should know that this place is different from before, and there's not much room for you to perform. "
"Just give me a destination. I won't go with you." Yuan Gang raised his chin at the group of people by the lake. "You can't always stay at home and train. You need to go out and gain some experience. If you don't experience a real crisis, you won't understand the meaning of training." He turned around and left.
Niu Youdao frowned. He asked someone to hide it from this guy, but how did he know about it?
In the swaying carriage, Niu Youdao and Shang Shuqing sat facing each other as they returned to Qingshan County City.
The carriage was silent for a long time. Shang Shuqing suddenly asked, "Are you going to bid farewell to my brother?"
Niu Youdao smiled with his hands on the hilt of his sword. "I've been cooped up for a long time. It's time to go out and get some fresh air."
Shang Shuqing was silent.
The carriage arrived at the back door of the County Governor's Mansion. The two alighted and entered the mansion.
Lan Ruoting had official matters to attend to and was not around. Only Shang Chaozong came to welcome them.
Shang Chaozong smiled warmly while Bai Yao, who was standing at a corner of the courtyard, looked at them from afar.
They were seated in the hall. Shang Chaozong personally served them tea. Niu Youdao hurriedly got up and said that he didn't dare to.
Both of them sat down again. Shang Chaozong asked, "Daoye, do you have any instructions for me?"
Niu Youdao smiled. "I'm going to Qi to take a look at the situation regarding the war steeds."
"I'm afraid it's not safe there. Daoye can stay here and take command. There's no need for him to take the risk." Shang Chaozong said worriedly. However, when he met his sister's indescribable gaze, he felt a little guilty and awkward.
Niu Youdao said, "I don't know anything about the people and matters over there. How am I going to take command? It's better for me to take a look. "
Shang Chaozong said, "I'll contact the Tianyu Clan and ask them to send more experts to escort you."
Niu Youdao shook his head. "There's no need for an escort. I have my own arrangements. However, I'll have to ask the Prince to inform the Tianyu Clan. If anything happens, ask them to cooperate with me. "
"Alright!" Shang Chaozong nodded repeatedly. He then asked, "When do we set off?"
Niu Youdao said, "Tomorrow!"
In the evening, a group of youngsters stood by the lake in an orderly manner.
Yuan Gang walked out of the wooden house by the lake. Yuan Feng, Niu Lin, Yuan Huo, and Niu Shan carried out a few large baskets of items.
Standing in front of the group of youngsters, Yuan Gang asked in a deep voice, "Are all of you full?"
"Yes!" The group responded in a loud voice.
Yuan Gang tilted his head and said to the people behind him, "Distribute the items."
Yuan Feng immediately shouted the command. The youngsters took turns to collect the items from the four of them. There were maps, copper coins, daggers, and bags.
After the items were distributed, the youngsters returned to their original positions.
Yuan Gang said loudly, "A hundred copper coins per person, a dagger, and a bag. There's a day's worth of rations and a change of clothes in the bag. This will be your rations for the next few months. Whether you can eat your fill during the journey will depend on your own abilities. If you starve to death, you deserve it!"
"Everyone, split up. Five people in a group. Each group will be given a map. The destination is marked on the map. As for whether you want to walk, run, or do something else, it's up to you. In short, you must arrive within the designated time. If you can't make it, no one will wait for you."
"Once you're ready, immediately return to rest and recuperate. After midnight tonight, we'll set off from the back mountain in secret! Do you understand? "
"Yes," the group responded in a loud voice.
Yuan Gang was expressionless. With a cold expression, he turned and left alone.
Feng, Lin, Huo, and Shan then organized everyone into groups and briefed them on some matters to take note of.
Just as Yuan Gang had said, after midnight, a group of people entered the back mountain in the dark and disappeared into the depths of the forest.
Yuan Gang was among them as well. He had set off earlier than Niu Youdao.
Meanwhile, the cultivators from the three sects who were hidden in the forest were used to this scene and did not think much of it.
At dawn, the golden rays of the rising sun shone down. In a courtyard on the Immortal Retaining Sect's side, five experts from each sect were gathered.
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