Chapter 208: Chapter 180: “Niu Yuanshan, Kill Yourself

Inside the room, Niu Yuanshan, upon hearing the Heir of Prince Rui’s words, immediately took out a dagger from his Storage Token without a second thought.

Then, without any hesitation, he began to commit self-harm!

The entire process was extremely quick.

There was not a trace of struggle on Old Niu’s face.

Only absolute obedience, utmost determination!

Just as the dagger was about to pierce, Qin Xuexiao suddenly intervened to stop it.

Although he managed to block it, he was nearly repelled by the backlash of Spiritual Power.

Evidently, Niu Yuanshan had utilized part of his internal Spiritual Power in his self-harm attempt, leaving no retreat, aiming for a swift death!

So much so that his cultivation in the Third Realm made Qin Xuexiao’s right hand tremble uncontrollably after stopping him, forcing him to immediately hide it within his sleeve.

“Forget it, I suddenly changed my mind,” he said lightly, then glanced coldly at Niu Yuanshan without any joy or sadness.

This is how prominent figures are. To them, the fate of lesser people seems to hang merely on a whim.

Qin Xuexiao was indeed just testing Niu Yuanshan.

He once witnessed Death Warriors commit suicide on his father’s command.

The appearance of Chu Huaixu, however, had shaken his perception.

Being naturally suspicious, he also lost his absolute trust in Mu Bingjiu.

Now, he has obtained the result he wanted.

And those in positions of power often enjoy posturing, not worrying that others might think they’re merely testing, causing alienation.

Because with one thought, he can make you die; with another, he can let you live. It all depends on his will.

If I say I changed my mind, then my mind is changed.

Thunder and rain are both acts of monarch’s grace.

What’s more, ordinary people may never understand the difference between a subordinate and a Death Warrior.

Qin Xuexiao is deeply favored by His Majesty the Emperor of Moon Country, even being groomed as the next National Guardian. At a young age, he entered the Emperor’s Mausoleum and acquired a sliver of the Emperor’s Divine Thought.

He remembers clearly how his uncle, the Emperor, gently patted his shoulder in front of many people and said a very indulgent phrase:

“Though the world is vast, it takes and gives at my whim.”

Kneeling on the ground, Niu Yuanshan looked up at the Young Master at this moment.

He didn’t know what the Young Master meant by a change of mind, so there was a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Old Niu didn’t even consider how he, an Outer Sect Steward, would be dealt with after dying in the Young Master’s room.

Because he knew his position clearly, understanding that these are not things a person like him should consider.

A Death Warrior demands absolute obedience, not overstepping boundaries by considering such things for their master!

Because when you start considering these things, in your master’s eyes, you’re already not obedient enough.

Qin Xuexiao sat back down in his chair and said: “I thought about it, and still believe the high-ranking members of the Daoist Sect probably don’t know Huo Dingyi’s true identity.”

“At least not yet,” he made his judgment.

“If they find out one day, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for us, as it would create a thorn in their minds.”

“Currently, Huo Dingyi still has great utility, and no one in the world can touch him!”

“Neither the organization nor the Royal Family will openly break with him.”

After speaking, he glanced at Niu Yuanshan and said, “So, you have to live.”

“Continue being a steward in the Daoist Sect.”

“Your presence can indirectly validate Chu Huaixu’s position and attitude.”

Niu Yuanshan understood when he heard those words.

His current role was just for someone else to dispose of him.

It just depends on whether the Daoist Sect would move against him first, or the organization.

Chu Huaixu had clearly not informed the Daoist Sect high-ups about Niu Yuanshan’s identity, thereby showing loyalty to the Daoist Sect.

In Qin Xuexiao’s view, if Xiang Yan and others already knew Huo Dingyi’s identity, Huo Dingyi would definitely sell out Niu Yuanshan.

First, to make a statement, and second, to deal with this hidden danger.

But Mu Bingjiu is currently safe and sound.

So, in this Young Master’s eyes, if Niu Yuanshan ever gets dealt with by the Daoist Sect, it represents Huo Dingyi being completely uncovered and breaking face with them.

This is one of the purposes of him staying alive.

If one day, the organization and Royal Family want to openly break with Chu Huaixu.

Then, Niu Yuanshan would have some use at that time once again.

At present, Chu Huaixu’s attitude is nearing a delicate balance.

You don’t sell me out, and I won’t sell you out either, allowing you to continue infiltrating the Daoist Sect.

But such a tacit agreement is incredibly fragile.

Niu Yuanshan finds himself perfectly wedged in the middle.

Old Niu had come to realize that he was almost in a certain dead-end.

The only difference lies in which side would eventually want him dead.

…

…

After about half a stick of incense’s time, Niu Yuanshan walked out of the quaint little courtyard.

Standing outside the courtyard, he looked up at the sky towards the sun.

Today, the sky was clear, the bright sun so dazzling that it couldn’t be directly looked at.

But Old Niu stared for a long time, until his eyes hurt.

As a professional spy, he quickly adjusted his emotions back to normal, showing no sign of difference on his face.

He glanced in the direction of the bamboo house where Chu Huaixu lived, but ultimately headed towards his own home.

Along the way, he encountered many Daoist Sect disciples.

These Outer Sect disciples all greeted Niu Yuanshan with respect upon seeing him.

“Steward Niu!”

“Disciple greets Steward Niu.”

Almost all the outer sect disciples, upon seeing him, wore expressions of respect and affection.

If the outer sect held a popularity poll for stewards, Old Niu would undoubtedly win.

There’s no helping it; this is his reputation.

Just like every time Chu Huaixu ran into trouble, and Han Shuangjiang couldn’t go to the inner sect, his first reaction was often to find Steward Niu.

Many outer sect disciples were the same.

Steward Niu was always diligent, patient in handling things, and exceptionally skilled at managing internal affairs, making him the most practical steward.

He was gentle and kind, and no one had ever seen him angry.

If anyone sought his help, he would assist if possible, and he never put on airs.

He had no family, no Daoist partner, no children.

But he treated every outer sect disciple like they were younger members of his own family.

If the outer sect were a school, he would be the kind of school leader very popular and respected by the students.

Others dared not joke with other stewards, but they dared with Old Niu.

“Steward Niu, would you like an orange? You love oranges, right?” said a returning outer sect disciple, eating while walking.

Niu Yuanshan, as usual, took it with a smile, saying, “Wang Lingtao, you remembered, thank you.”

He could call each disciple by name directly.

If others gave him valuable items to curry favor, he never accepted them.

But in such casual instances, Old Niu would never refuse.

Because it represented closeness.

You give me fruit, I accept it directly, and next time you need something, you’ll think of coming to me.

On his way back, he began peeling the orange, then took a segment and put it in his mouth.

The sweet and sour juice burst and flowed in his mouth.

The orange he held had clearly not been chosen well.

So sour, so very sour.

How could it be this sour?

But after the sourness, there was also a hint of sweetness.

With each segment he ate, he paused for a moment, then ate another.

When he reached his courtyard, he had just finished eating it.

Niu Yuanshan pushed the courtyard door open and walked straight back to his bedroom.

After sitting on the meditation mat, he took out the golden mask symbolizing his identity within the organization from his Storage Token.

Then he put it on his face.

They say if you wear a mask long enough, you can’t take it off.

But in truth, beneath that golden mask, there was another mask.

A mask that played the role of the best steward in the Daoist sect.

After a while, Mu Bingjiu removed the golden mask.

But the other mask, Niu Yuanshan couldn’t take off.

“How long have I been in the Daoist sect?” He couldn’t remember at that moment.

For a long, long time, most of his life.

In this place, Niu Yuanshan had experienced much and grown substantially.

He had insights into cultivation, knowledge on handling affairs, moments of personal emotional satisfaction, and even the stirring of romantic feelings.

For some reason, at this moment, the figure of Mo Qingmei appeared in his mind, recalling that day under the tree when the usually tranquil Junior Sister Mo boldly expressed her feelings to him.

Human nature is inherently selfish.

If Niu Yuanshan merely liked her, he would have chosen to become Daoist partners with her.

The affairs of men and women are always accompanied by a certain reckless impulse, a fleeting moment of passion.

But he refused, not even sparing her feelings.

This middle-aged man, nicknamed “Ox,” always did the most tedious work, as if never feeling tired.

Today, however, he inexplicably felt a little weary.

After a while, he got up and opened the jar of Er Lang Wine that Chu Huaixu gave him during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Niu Yuanshan had been reluctant to finish it, intending to bring it out at the next steward gathering to show off.

Look, the Profound Yellow Leader gave me this wine during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

He was also just a regular person, finding it hard not to brag when his family or disciples accomplished something.

At this moment, he took a big gulp.

“Hiss—! Drank too fast, a bit harsh on the throat!”

“Chu Huaixu, oh Chu Huaixu!” Niu Yuanshan chuckled bitterly and continued drinking.

Strangely, he did not have too many sentiments.

One cup after another, he quickly finished half the jar of Er Lang Wine.

Niu Yuanshan drank until he was tipsy.

He stood up from the stool, his steps a bit unsteady.

This man with a square face and bold eyebrows almost tripped.

He reached his bed and lay down directly.

Soon, he was snoring drunkenly.

After a while, he turned over in bed and pulled the quilt over himself.

As if feeling the chill of early winter.

…

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