金蝉脱壳

slipping away by casting off a cloak; getting away like the cicada sloughing its skin

Mask yourself. Either leave one"s distinctive traits behind, thus becoming inconspicuous, or masquerade as something or someone else. This strategy is mainly used to escape from an enemy of superior strength.

Not much time pa.s.sed when Tan Yi left, and one student named Tian Xian went to Tang Su Su. She whispered a few words to her, which made Tan Su Su ​​surprised and then grinned. She too whispered something into Tian Xian"s ear.

After some time, another person paid a visit to Tan Su Su, and this would be none other than Song Yang Qing.

Seeing the incoming Song Yang Qing, Tan Su Su handed a sealed letter to Tian Xian and said:

"Let Niu Yu Tao, as soon as he descends from the mountain, transmit a message in the county of Kuangai to the head of the monastery of the southern hill. He must pa.s.s it on!"

"Yes, master!" Tian Xian took the letter and turned around and left, silently looking at Song Yang Qing.

Song Yang Qing drew attention to this letter a little and then, turning to Tan Su Su and politely folding his hands, he said:

"The student greets the patriarch!"

Tan Su Su waved her hand joyfully, making it clear that there was no need to observe the ceremony.

However, Song Yang Qing said with a stone expression on his face:

"Patriarch. I heard that Niu Yu Tao will come down from the mountain and will accompany Shan Chao Zong. Will he be a guard mentor for him?

Tan Su Su nodded her head slightly. "Yes, and what?"

Song Yang Qing said a little tense:

"Patriarch. You recently guaranteed that you won"t put someone in support of Shan Chao Zong as mentors.

Before the arrival of Shan Shu Qing, he handed over the father"s order to the sect. And now the sect of the Highest purity still sends the man to Shan Chao Zong, after which it will be even more difficult for him to send reports home.

Tan Su Su replied again:

 "The unexpected happened. Young Mr. Shan mentioned the promise that the sect once promised to Ning w.a.n.g. And now, when the relatives of Ning w.a.n.g have come, we must fulfill the promise. If we do not keep the promise, will it be right? How then we can face other cultivators. Everyone will just laugh at us behind our backs. Yang Qing, is this a minor matter? Here we are already helpless."

Song Yang Qing replied:

"To fulfill, not to fulfill the promise - the student knows little in this matter. I will not evaluate your actions. Your deeds have already exceeded the expectations of the capital. Now the student is asking the patriarch how I should convey the message to the capital?" His tone was a bit gloomy. It was as if he was putting a little pressure on Tan Su Su.

Tan Su Su coughing answered: "You thought a lot. What is Niu Yu Tao like, don"t you know? What is he capable of? Which one is the guard mentor? He will not benefit Shan Chao Zong."

They were not going to send a man with Shan Chao Zong. Only Shan Shu Qing drew a sword - a certificate of promise and put the sect in a hopeless position. Therefore, they proposed to send Niu Yu Tao with Shan Shu Qing. They believed that having learned the age of Niu Yu Tao, Shan Shu Qing would refuse. But who knew that Shan Shu Qing would agree and put the sect of the Highest purity in an awkward position.

Song Yang Qing answered in a cold tone:

"The student in the sect of the Highest purity was not for several years. And I don"t know what Niu Yu Tao has become. I only know that the capital does not want you to send people to Shan Chao Zong. Other is not allowed!"

"You!" Tan Su Su pointed to him and, shaking her head, said:

 "I do all this for you. Can"t you see?"

"M ..." - Song Yang Qing froze:

 "For the student? The student did not understand what are you doing for me?"

Tan Su Su, ignoring him, said:

"What capable of Niu Yu Tao, you know. The head does not love him at all. For so many years, they are husband and wife, but for so many years, they only saw each other several times and did not live a married life. The head is still innocent and clean. As I told you before. For the sake of great responsibility, the head did what we need. But did not allow Niu Yu Tao to come her at all. How can she fall in love with a hillbilly? You and Niu Yu Tao - what"s the difference? Does the head not see the difference between you? The head is the daughter of the former leader, and now the sect is on her shoulders. You are a man, don"t you know her severity?"

 Song Yang Qing froze, a sparkle appeared in his eyes, and his heart was beating fast. What Tan Su Su meant, he clearly understood.

Tan Su Su watched the reaction of Song Yang Qing closely and said:

 "Everyone knows the situation of Shan Chao Zong. He is acting too boldly now. That he will not die by his death. But Niu Yu Tao, he will not be able to protect himself, where should he protect Shan Chao Zong? He goes with him. Then he will find death. Some things of the sect of the Highest purity should not be shown. You know that. If something happens to him in the sect of the Highest purity, then people will find this suspicious. Ning w.a.n.g and Dong Guo Xao Ran communicated well. No wonder the student of Dong Guo Hao Rana will leave with Shan Chao Zong. Other students will quickly understand this."

A glint flickered in Song Yang Qing"s eyes. He seemed to be thinking about something, and then his face softened a little.

There was silence in the hall, and Tan Su Su suddenly grinned: "Of course, in every business, there are unforeseen things. Perhaps Shan Chao Zong will survive critical moments, and then Niu Yu Tao will also be alive. In this case, everyone will thank Niu Yu Tao. Then his relationship and the head will be strengthened. Yang Qing, you know that the sect of the Highest purity has its problems, and we do not need extra ones. Niu Yu Tao, what mentor? That you must help the sect to clarify it!

Song Yang Qing smiled prettily and immediately nodded his head:

 "The student is also the student of the sect of the Highest purity. Of course, I will help the teacher. Patriarch doesn"t worry. The student knows how to explain everything to the capital."

Tan Su Su nodded her head.

 "Then, good, very good. I was not mistaken in a man."

"If the patriarch has no other instructions, then the student gets away!" Song Yang Qing waved his hand.

Tan Su Su happily waved her hand:

"Go, go."

Song Yang Qing respectfully stepped back a few steps and then turned quickly left the room.

As soon as Song Yang Qing left the room, he immediately found Xu Yi Tian and Cheng Gui Shuo. He told one to prepare horses, to another - to take permission to go to the capital.

After they prepared everything, three people left the sect of the Highest purity.

On the way, Song Yang Qing was very excited. Tan Yi and Niu Yu Tao have only a fict.i.tious marriage. It looks like this bud of a lush flower awaits him. He firmly decided that he would still get Tan Yi. Tan Su Su should not fool him!

"Brother, we"re going in the wrong direction. The capital is in another place!"

As soon as the three hors.e.m.e.n descended from the mountain and crossed the shallow water to the other side, Song Yang Qing immediately set off in the opposite direction from the capital. And Cheng Gui Shuo reminded him.

"Nonsense, I"m not blind. Follow me!" Song Yang Qing began to curse.

Xiu Yi Tian and Cheng Gui Shuo looked at each other. They did not know what they were going to do, but they increased their speed ...

Tan Su Su was sitting in the hall with her eyes closed on the prayer rug. The lights in the room were dimly lit, which was rather dark in the place.

Tian Xian went into the hall and knelt in front of Tan Su Su. She said in a whisper:

"Patriarch. They did not head to the capital!"

"Fool, I did everything like according to the notes!" Tan Su Su grinned ...

The next day, dawn had just begun to appear in the sky, and one student went to the courtyard of the peach spring. He reminded Niu Yu Tao to go down the mountain and asked if he needed help collecting things.

It was evident that this student, instead, with interest, wanted to see the husband of the head. Niu Yu Tao asked him about the time, but he did not want to answer.

Niu Yu Tao had nothing to do, packed his things, two sets of clean clothes, and the precious sword hung on his back. That"s how he was going to go down the mountain.

Along the cliffs on the stone staircase, he descended from the mountain. And when they crossed the stone bridge, then Shan Shu Qing was waiting for him there. Behind her were 4 riders. Two riders in blue armor and two in gray. The riders had leather shields on their wrists and belts. A fierce icy qi emanating from them. And on horses, you could see how the bow, arrows, daggers, and other weapons hung.

"Mentor!" Shan Shu Qing folded her hands honorably.

Niu Yu Tao smiled. Tian Xian came up, leading a bay horse, and after greeting, pointing to the horse"s armband, she said:

 "Mentor. Here the sect gives you gold and silver, as well as dry provisions." After that, Tian Xian pulled a letter from her sleeve and handed it to Niu Yu Tao.

"The head of the sect asks you to convey along the way. This letter to the head of the monastery on the southern hill of Kuangai County. You can ask and find out the detailed location. The head hopes that you will not forget to pa.s.s it on."

Niu Yu Tao looked at the letter and saw that there was no painting in the letter. He immediately put the letter in a bandage on his horse. Raising his head, he looked towards the palace of the higher purity and asked:

"I do not need to say goodbye?"

Tian Xian smiling said:

"The head said no. Grand d.u.c.h.ess in a hurry ..."

M, then we"ll go. "Nu Yu Tao grinned at himself. For so many years, he was in the sect of the Highest purity, and for so many years, he had no right to choose. Today is no exception.

Therefore, he did not talk much, but only lively and deftly climbed a horse.

The Grand d.u.c.h.ess also jumped on a horse and galloped. Niu Yu Tao rushed after her.

The group of riders rushed from the sect of the Highest purity.

Under one green tree near the cliff, in the palace of the Highest purity, one beautiful and graceful silhouette appeared. Tan Yi looked down with a frown. She doubted the origin of Niu Yu Tao even more. As a b.u.mpkin without preparation, he was able to easily and deftly climb a horse. But they live poorly, where did their horses come from?

And riding on a horse, Niu Yu Tao turned his head and looked at a peach spring. This beautiful tree still bloomed brilliantly. And he did not know when he could again see this beautiful peach spring ...

The limits of the sect of the Highest purity were considerable, and the riders had been riding through the wooded area for quite some time. However, the group of riders soon stopped. Niu Yu Tao, too, hastily stopped the horse and, stretching his head, looked forward. Ahead he saw the one-eyed Tu Han.

"Grand d.u.c.h.ess. I need to say something face to face him." - Tu Han pointed to Niu Yu Tao.

Shan Shu Qing looked at Niu Yu Tao and waved her hand, allowing the 4th riders to miss Tu Han.

Niu Yu Tao jumped off his horse and said smilingly:

"Well, are you really going to rob us here?"