The problem was, no matter how risky it was, he had already done it. There was no room for negotiation. He couldn't afford to fall out with Niu Youdao over such a small matter.
He wanted to bite him, but he didn't manage to do so. Instead, he was strangled by the neck. There was no medicine for regret in this world. What he wanted to do now was to settle the matter as soon as possible. He wanted to get hold of Niu Youdao's weakness so that Niu Youdao wouldn't dare to order him around like a lackey anymore.
So, Chao Shenghuai went to meet Chen Tingxiu by chance.
There was a stone table under an old pine tree outside the courtyard. Chen Tingxiu sat there and drank tea. She looked at the scenery and the people.
He could only wait here. He was waiting for news from the Wan Shou Clan. He was also waiting for Xi Hai Hall to summon him on behalf of Heavenly Jade Clan.
He felt that Heavenly Jade Clan was still a little weak in the eyes of the Wan Shou Clan. Otherwise, no matter how busy Xi Hai Hall was, they wouldn't be so busy. At least, Xi Hai Hall didn't think it was inappropriate to put him, an elder of Heavenly Jade Clan, behind them.
Chao Shenghuai leisurely walked along the winding stone path and passed by the courtyard.
Chen Tingxiu tilted her head to look at him. She realized that Chao Shenghuai only glanced at her arrogantly. He didn't take her seriously.
The Wan Shou Clan disciple who was in charge of receiving guests greeted Chao Shenghuai respectfully. "Senior Chao, why are you here? Do you have any orders?"
"I'm just taking a walk." Chao Shenghuai replied casually. He raised his chin towards the courtyard. "Are there any guests here?"
The disciple looked at Chen Tingxiu under the tree and replied, "Yan is a guest of Southern Prefecture's Heavenly Jade Clan."
Chao Shenghuai didn't seem to take it seriously. He continued to walk past.
Chen Tingxiu stood up and greeted him with a smile. "May I know which sect's disciple is this?"
He could tell from the disciple's attitude that Chao Shenghuai's identity wasn't ordinary.
Chao Shenghuai stopped and looked at him from head to toe. "Who are you?"
The disciple broke out in a cold sweat. Wasn't it a little too much to treat a guest like this?
Chen Tingxiu wasn't angry. He could look down on Niu Youdao's cultivation background and influence, but he couldn't look down on the person before him. The more arrogant he was, the more it showed that he had a powerful background. He cupped his fists and said, "Yan. I'm Elder Chen Tingxiu of the Heavenly Jade School of South State."
"Oh, nice to meet you, nice to meet you." Chao Shenghuai cupped his hands in obeisance, seemingly reluctantly.
In the end, the two of them sat under the tree and drank tea together.
After knowing that Chao Shenghuai's grandfather was the elder of the Wan Shou Faction, Chao Jing, Chen Tingxiu's attitude towards him became even more friendly. Chao Shenghuai seemed to enjoy his flattery. Once he heard the flattery, he couldn't control his mouth and said what he shouldn't say …
In the pavilion, Niu Youdao sat in front of a stone table. He used a white handkerchief to wipe the shiny body of his sword. He wiped it very carefully, as if he wanted to make it spotless.
Yuan Gang looked at him for a while and asked, "This is against the rules of the school. Will Zhou Tiezi do as you say?"
He was referring to the guest house where he asked Zhou Tiezi to stay at the Tian Xing Faction to keep an eye on him. Of course, Niu Youdao said that he wanted Zhou Tiezi to do him a small favor.
Niu Youdao focused on wiping the sword in his hand. "It doesn't matter whether he will or not. Chao Shenghuai will send me news. I just want to know if he's worth helping. The Wan Shou Faction isn't a good place. Wherever there are people, there will be Jianghu. If you're not from Jianghu, why bother to join Jianghu? Helping him will only bring harm to him. It's better to hide in peace and continue doing odd jobs. Let him choose for himself! "
Yuan Gang looked up and saw Elder Chen coming out from the backyard. He entered the pavilion and asked, "What's the matter?"
Niu Youdao put his sword back into its scabbard. He held the sword hilt with one hand and looked in the direction of the backyard. He asked, "He hasn't come out from the house yet?"
Elder Chen said, "He knocked on the door. He said he's meditating inside."
"It's rare to see him so diligent in his cultivation." Niu Youdao smiled and gestured for him to sit. "Please sit!" He then gestured to Yuan Gang. "Serve tea!"
Yuan Gang turned around and went to pour tea.
Elder Chen looked at the chessboard on the stone table and slowly sat down. He asked, "You didn't call me here to play chess, did you?"
Niu Youdao stretched out his hand and broke the chessboard. He looked at the black and white chess pieces in the two bowls and deliberately turned the two bowls around. He pushed the bowl with the white chess pieces to Elder Chen and asked for the bowl with the black chess pieces. He picked up a black chess piece and placed it on the chessboard. He then gestured for Elder Chen to accept his move.
Elder Chen didn't know what he meant, but he knew that it wasn't as simple as playing chess. There must be something important. Since he couldn't get an answer out of him, he decided to accept his move. He placed a white chess piece on the chessboard and responded.
After a few moves, Yuan Gang came back with tea and poured two cups.
Niu Youdao placed a black chess piece and said, "Of these two cups of tea, one is poisoned and the other is not. I don't know which one is poisoned because there's no antidote for this poison."
Yuan Gang subconsciously glanced at him. He was the one who poured the tea. How could he not know whether it was poisoned or not? It was not poisoned!
Elder Chen's eyes flickered as he held the white chess piece between his fingers. He didn't understand what the other party meant.
Niu Youdao added, "We'll each have one cup. You pick first and drink whichever you choose. I'll drink the rest. It's fair and reasonable."
Elder Chen's pupils shrank. "What do you mean?"
Niu Youdao: "What do I mean? I'll tell you after I drink this cup of tea."
Elder Chen: "Is there a need for me to bet my life with you?"
Niu Youdao: "What about because of the matchmaker?"
Elder Chen frowned. "What does this have to do with the matchmaker?"
"If you drink it, I'll give you a satisfactory answer."
"What if I don't drink it?"
"Get lost immediately. You're not allowed to appear by the matchmaker's side from now on."
"It's not up to you to decide whether I'm by the matchmaker's side or not."
"We've been together for so long. You should know that I have plenty of ways to get you to leave the matchmaker's side. For example, revealing your background. Let's not talk about other things. How will the other people in Fu Fang Garden view you as a spy? Will you still be able to stay here? Make your own choice. The tea is right here. I won't force you. "
Elder Chen fell silent. He stared at the two cups of tea for a long time. Slowly, he said, "Are you sure you'll give me a satisfactory answer if I drink it?"
Niu Youdao: "If he only wanted to kill you, he wouldn't have waited until now."
Elder Chen believed this. They ate and drank together without any defense. The other party had too many opportunities to make a move. There was indeed no need to wait until now.
After he put down the white chess piece in his hand, he raised his hand and hesitated between the two cups of tea. Finally, he picked one of the cups and drank it. He endured the scalding heat and even swallowed the tea leaves. He showed the empty cup to Niu Youdao. "You drink it!"
Niu Youdao played with the chess piece in his hand. He stared at the chessboard, trying to find a place to put it. He replied, "I said I don't know which cup is poisoned. There's no need to seek death."
Elder Chen's usually expressionless face showed a hint of anger. "This is the satisfactory answer you're giving me?"
Niu Youdao: "Alright, I was just joking with you. There's no poison in the tea. Since you're not willing to tell me who sent you, I won't ask anymore. I believe you. You're only here to protect the matchmaker. You don't have any ill intentions. " He held the sword with one hand and placed the chess piece with the other. After he placed the chess piece, he slowly picked up the teacup and blew on it. He took a few sips.
Elder Chen stared at the teacup in front of him in silence.
"It's your turn." Niu Youdao put down the teacup and gestured for his opponent to continue the game.
Elder Chen was already absent-minded. While he was struggling in the chess game, Zhou Tiezi returned.
Seeing that Niu Youdao was playing chess with someone else, he was a little hesitant. He didn't know if he should come over to talk to him.
Yuan Gang came out of the pavilion and exchanged a few words with Zhou Tiezi.
After Zhou Tiezi left, Yuan Gang returned. He leaned over and whispered into Niu Youdao's ear. "Zhou Tiezi saw Chen Tingxiu enter the courtyard of the Tianxing Faction."
"Looks like my guess is confirmed. He's indeed here for me. Since it's my turn, whether I can return alive or not will depend on this Elder Chen's luck. " Niu Youdao chuckled. His voice didn't escape the notice of Elder Chen. He also had something to say to Elder Chen. "Elder Chen, can I trouble you to do something for me?"
Elder Chen asked with a straight face, "What is it?"
Niu Youdao: "Go and find Du Yunsang. Help me scold him!"
Elder Chen: "Are you kidding me? Why don't you go yourself?"
Niu Youdao: "My life and death involves a lot of people. If you die, you die alone. My life is more precious than yours. It's not worth it for me to gamble with my life. You're different. You're a death warrior. " Elder Chen was about to speak but was stopped by his hand. "This has nothing to do with me. It's purely because you, an old member of Fufang Garden, couldn't stand it anymore. You're not allowed to mention me or cause me any trouble. After seeing Du Yunsang … "
After listening to what he had to say, Elder Chen was a little surprised. "What do you want?"
Niu Youdao didn't explain. He messed up the chess pieces on the chessboard, stood up with his sword, and turned to leave. "The timing is very important. Don't delay. Go. There's someone outside to show you the way."
…
The person leading the way was Zhou Tiezi. After Elder Chen and Zhou Tiezi left, Niu Youdao and Yuan Gang came out of the courtyard.
Standing at the edge of the mountain and watching the two go away, Yuan Gang asked, "He went to stand up for Hong Niang. How could Wen Xinzhao let him do as he pleases? He might lose his life there! "
Niu Youdao: "Chen Tingxiu got the news that Wen Xinzhao hit Hong Niang because he was jealous. It's obvious that Hong Niang and Du Yunsang are having an affair. Chen Tingxiu can't find Du Yunsang to deal with me. He also doesn't dare to mention Hong Niang in front of Du Yunsang. Otherwise, he'll be looking for trouble. He must go to see Wen Xinzhao alone. Wen Xinzhao must also be concerned about Hong Niang, which is why he avoided seeing Du Yunsang. At this time, Du Yunsang must not be with Wen Xinzhao. It's a good time to see Du Yunsang. "
Yuan Gang: "But if you let him do that, he will still be in a very dangerous situation. Once Du Yunsang is angered … is it necessary to let him risk his life just to confirm your guess?"
"If I don't let him go, will I let you go?"
"Daoye, I'd rather you let me go."
"Monkey, here you go again. He knows Du Yunsang and is a witness of what happened that year. As Hong Niang's old friend, he has the right to cry out for Hong Niang. What's the matter with you going? It's obvious that you're one of my men. It's easy to arouse suspicion. "
"What if he angers Du Yunsang and dies in her hands?"
"If Du Yunsang cares about old times, she won't kill him. If she doesn't care about old times and kills him, it'll be hard for me to avenge Hong Niang's humiliation. Elder Chen has been hiding beside Hong Niang for many years. He must be someone the mastermind trusts. If Du Yunsang kills that person's confidant, she will make a strong enemy. Isn't it better to have one more strong enemy to seek justice for Hong Niang? "
"Daoye, sometimes you're really too cold-blooded."
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