novelraw Chapter 180 : “Niu Yuanshan, Take Your Own Life
Chapter 180 : “Niu Yuanshan, Take Your Own Life
Chapter 180: “Niu Yuanshan, Take Your Own Life.”
Inside the room, when Niu Yuanshan heard the words of the Heir of Prince Rui, he said nothing more and immediately took out a dagger from his Storage Token.
Then, without hesitation, he began to take his own life!
The whole process was extremely swift.
On Old Niu’s face, there was not the slightest trace of struggle.
Only absolute obedience and ultimate decisiveness!
Just as the dagger was about to pierce into him, Qin Xuanxiao suddenly made a move to stop him.
Although he managed to block it, his entire body was almost shaken back by the recoil of spiritual energy.
It was obvious that, in this act of self-slaughter, Niu Yuanshan had even drawn upon a portion of his inner Spiritual Energy, leaving himself no path of retreat—he wanted a clean, instant death!
Because of that, his Third Realm cultivation caused Qin Xuanxiao’s right hand to tremble uncontrollably after the interception; he had to quickly hide it within his sleeve.
“Forget it. This Heir has suddenly changed his mind,” he said faintly, then glanced coldly at Niu Yuanshan, without joy or sorrow in his eyes.
Such was the manner of great figures—for them, the fate of small people seemed to rest between a single thought of their own.
Qin Xuanxiao was indeed merely testing Niu Yuanshan.
He had once seen, under his father the Prince’s single command, death guards take their own lives on the spot.
The appearance of Chu Huaixu, however, had somewhat shaken his understanding.
A man by nature somewhat suspicious, he had also lost complete trust in Mu Bingjiu.
Now, at least, he had obtained the result he wanted.
And those in high positions always enjoyed posturing so—they were never concerned about others perceiving it as a test and thus becoming disheartened.
Because with a single thought, they could make you die; with another, they could make you live—it all depended on their own will.
I said I changed my mind, and so I did.
Thunder and rain alike were the Monarch’s grace.
Moreover, ordinary people might never understand what truly distinguished subordinates from death guards.
Qin Xuanxiao was deeply favored by the Emperor of Moon Country, who even trained him as the next Guardian of the Nation. At a young age, he entered the Emperor’s Mausoleum and received a wisp of the Emperor’s Divine Thought.
He remembered clearly how his uncle, the Emperor himself, had once patted his shoulder before many people and said indulgently:
“Though the world is vast, it lies within my grasp.”
Niu Yuanshan, kneeling on the ground, lifted his head and looked toward the young heir.
He did not understand what the Heir’s so‑called “change of mind” meant, so there was a trace of inquiry in his eyes.
Old Niu had not even considered what would happen afterward if an Outer Sect Steward like him were to die in the Heir’s residence.
Because he had always known his place clearly—such matters were not for someone like him to consider.
A death guard sought absolute obedience, not presumptuous concern for his master’s affairs!
Because the moment you began to think for your master, in his eyes, you were already disobedient.
Qin Xuanxiao sat back down in his chair and said, “This Heir has thought about it and believes the high ranks of the Dao Gate should still be unaware of Huo Dingyi’s true identity.”
“At least for now.” He made his judgment calmly.
“If one day they find out, it might not be a bad thing for us—it’ll leave a thorn in their hearts.”
“For now, that man Huo Dingyi still has great value. At present, no one in the world dares lay a finger on him.”
“Neither the Organization nor the royal family would tear faces with him.”
After speaking, he glanced at Niu Yuanshan again and said, “Therefore, you must live.”
“You will continue as a steward in the Dao Gate.”
“Your existence can indirectly confirm Chu Huaixu’s stance and attitude.”
Niu Yuanshan understood upon hearing that.
His current value was to serve as a piece to be moved—or discarded.
It depended on who acted first: the Dao Gate or the Organization.
At the moment, Chu Huaixu had clearly not exposed Niu Yuanshan’s identity to the Dao Gate upper ranks, showing loyalty to the sect in doing so.
In Qin Xuanxiao’s view, if Xiang Yan and the others had already learned of Huo Dingyi’s identity, then Huo Dingyi should have sold out Niu Yuanshan long ago.
One, as a gesture of allegiance; two, to eliminate a hidden threat.
Yet Mu Bingjiu remained safe and sound.
Therefore, in the Heir’s eyes, the day the Dao Gate disposed of Niu Yuanshan would be the day Huo Dingyi’s cover was blown and he completely turned against them.
That was one of the reasons Niu Yuanshan had to stay alive.
If someday the Organization or the royal family decided to break with Chu Huaixu,
Then at such a time, Niu Yuanshan would once again be useful.
Now, Chu Huaixu’s attitude was in a delicate balance.
You don’t sell me out, and I don’t sell you out. Continue your infiltration within the Dao Gate.
But such an understanding was fragile beyond measure.
Niu Yuanshan was caught perfectly in the middle.
Old Niu already understood—he had stepped into a certain‑death situation.
The only question left was which side would be the one to end him.
……
……
After about half a stick of incense, Niu Yuanshan walked out of that elegant courtyard.
Standing outside, he looked up at the sun.
Today, the sky was clear and boundless, and the blazing sunlight was dazzling beyond endurance.
Yet Old Niu stared at it for a long while until his eyes began to ache.
As a professional spy, he quickly adjusted his emotions and restored his calm exterior; there was not the slightest trace of disturbance on his face.
He glanced once in the direction of Chu Huaixu’s bamboo house, but in the end turned toward his own home.
On the way, he met quite a few Dao Gate disciples.
As soon as those Outer Sect Disciples saw him, they greeted and saluted respectfully.
“Steward Niu!”
“Disciple greets Steward Niu!”
Almost every outer disciple showed both respect and affection upon seeing him.
If the outer sect ever held a popularity poll for stewards, Old Niu would undoubtedly win first place.
There was no helping it—that was the power of reputation.
Just as every time Chu Huaixu got into trouble and Han Shuangjiang could not go to the inner sect, her first reaction was always to look for Steward Niu.
Many outer disciples did the same.
Steward Niu was always diligent and patient, handling affairs with exceptional care. His skill in managing sect chores was top‑notch—he was the most dependable of all stewards.
He was gentle and kind, and no one had ever seen him lose his temper.
Whenever disciples sought his help, he would lend a hand if he could—never arrogant, never dismissive.
He had no family, no Dao Companion, no children.
Yet he treated every outer disciple like a younger member of his own household.
If the outer sect were a school, he would be that principal beloved and respected by all students.
Disciples who would not dare joke with other stewards dared joke with Old Niu.
“Steward Niu, want an orange? Didn’t you say you like oranges the most?” One outer disciple who had just returned from the market spoke while eating.
As usual, Niu Yuanshan smiled and took it, saying, “Wang Lingtao, you even remembered that? How thoughtful.”
He could call each disciple by name.
If someone gave him expensive gifts to curry favor, he would never accept them.
But small gestures like this—he never refused.
Because they represented closeness.
When you give me fruit and I take it, the next time you’re in trouble, you’ll remember to come to me.
On his way back, he peeled the orange, took one segment, and placed it into his mouth.
The sweet‑sour juice burst across his tongue.
The orange was clearly not a good one.
So sour. So, so sour.
How could it be this sour?
Yet beneath the sourness, there was a hint of sweetness.
He paused after each bite, slowly savoring before eating another.
By the time he returned to his own courtyard, he had just finished it.
Pushing open the gate, Niu Yuanshan walked straight back to his bedroom.
Sitting on the Meditation Cushion, he took out from his Storage Token a golden mask—the symbol of his identity within the Organization.
He then put it on his face.
They said that once a mask was worn too long, it could never be removed.
But in truth, beneath that golden mask, there was still another one—
The mask of the best steward the Dao Gate had ever seen.
After a while, Mu Bingjiu removed the golden mask.
But the other mask—Niu Yuanshan could not take off.
“How long have I been in the Dao Gate?” He could not recall for a moment.
A long, long time—half a lifetime.
Niu Yuanshan had experienced much here and grown much as well.
He had gained Cultivation Insights, learned the ways of the world, felt the satisfaction of small successes, and even the stirring of emotions between man and woman.
For some reason, at that moment, the graceful image of Mo Qingmei surfaced before his eyes. He recalled that day under the tree when the usually quiet Junior Sister Mo had looked utterly desperate as she confessed her feelings to him.
Human nature was selfish.
Had Niu Yuanshan merely liked her, he would have chosen to make her his Dao Companion.
Matters between man and woman always came with a measure of reckless impulse—fleeting indulgence.
But he had refused her, leaving no room for sentiment.
This man, nicknamed the “Industrious Ox,” always took on the most tedious tasks, as though never feeling weary.
Today, however, he felt inexplicably tired.
After a while, he stood up and opened the jar of Er Lang Liquor that Chu Huaixu had given him during the Mid‑Autumn Festival.
Niu Yuanshan had never borne to finish it, intending to show it off at the next stewards’ gathering.
Look, the Xuanhuang Champion gave me this during the festival.
He was only human—when a nephew achieved greatness, it was hard not to boast.
At that moment, he suddenly gulped down a large mouthful.
“—Hss! Drank too hard, it burns my throat!”
“Chu Huaixu, ah, Chu Huaixu!” Niu Yuanshan gave a bitter smile and continued drinking.
Strangely, he did not feel particularly emotional.
Cup after cup, he quickly finished half the jar of Er Lang Liquor.
Drunk and dizzy, he staggered as he stood up.
The man with the square face and thick eyebrows nearly stumbled.
He walked to the bedside and lay down.
Soon, he was snoring soundly.
After a while, he turned over, tugged the blanket over himself—
As if feeling the chill of early winter.
……