Chapter 1: Dependent on Each Other for Life

Song, Qingyuan Year 5, Lin'an Prefecture, Niu Clan Village.

Heat departs, cold arrives, the north wind sweeps the land.

All trees wither, a hundred grasses decay.

A sudden heavy snow wrapped the Jiangnan land in a thick layer of silver‑white, specks of poplar fluff, bits of goose feather.

Even the usual mighty, endless eastward flow of the Qiantang River fell dead silent.

Before and behind the village there was not a trace of people; only wispy cooking smoke rose between the houses, and occasional barks of dogs added a hint of life to the village.

……

""Creak.""

A wooden window was slowly pushed open; the cold wind surged in with a 'Boom', making the dim candlelight flicker and sway, on the verge of going out.

The one pushing the window was a young child, about five or six years old, wearing gray hemp clothes, a blue headscarf, and a rather delicate face.

Though his brows showed youth, his eyes held a depth unfitting his age, staring blankly out the window, unknown what he pondered.

The cold wind howled, carrying icy malice that grew stronger; the child stood by the window yet remained unmoved.

After a while, he lifted his slightly stiff hands to brush off snowflakes, pulling his robe tighter.

Following the child's gaze, faintly visible a hundred zhang away were two adjacent houses.

Battered by wind and snow, it was already dilapidated, the half‑closed wooden gate showing utter desolation.

In a daze, it seemed to recount the misery of months past.

""Thump thump.""

A soft knocking sounded.

""Uncle, it's late; you should rest.""

Then came a soft, caring voice, very faint yet hard to hide a hint of charm.

Suddenly, amid the cold wind's embrace, waves of enticing fragrance seeped in.

Body fragrance!!

This is the instinct of an adult soul.

For a moment, candlelight swayed, faint fragrance drifted.

""Just about to sleep, sister‑in‑law, rest early too; it's cold, remember to add more blankets.""

He slightly suppressed his restless feelings, the child replied softly.

Close the window, blow out the candle, get into bed.

……

The child bore the surname Niu, a native of Niu Clan Village, his little name Niu Dan'er, his formal name Niu Dingtian.

""Niu Dan'er'' was given by his deceased father; ''Niu Dingtian'' was changed by his sister‑in‑law after her father‑in‑law and husband passed, seeing how exceptionally clever ''Niu Dan'er'' was."

She also personally taught ''Niu Dan'er'' basic literacy, hoping solely that this younger brother‑in‑law would one day pass the imperial exams, win the top honor, rise to the highest ministerial post, and stand supreme between heaven and earth.

The sister‑in‑law bore the surname Chen, her given name Jin'er, originally from a scholarly family of Shandong.

When the Jin people crossed south, the whole family fled southward, escaping all the way to Niu Clan Village; after her parents died of illness, she married Niu Dingtian's honest, solid elder brother Niu Zhuang.

Who would have thought that on the eve of the wedding, Zhuangge'er, accompanying his father to Lin'an City to purchase goods, was killed by bandits, leaving only the sister‑in‑law and him to depend on each other to this day.

Outside, the cold wind continued to howl, unsettling people's hearts.

Niu Dingtian lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a while.

Having been in the Southern Song for six years, when he first arrived here, aside from a lifetime of memories, he possessed only a mysterious breathing technique born with him.

He originally wanted to develop obscenely, first enjoy childhood pleasures; later, if he became powerful, he might even compare wrists with that generation's proud heaven‑talented Genghis Khan.

Unexpectedly, before his obscenity could halfway develop, it collapsed midway. Seeing his father and elder brother pass, Chen Jin'er struggled to sustain their livelihood; Niu Dingtian decided:

I can't pretend anymore!

Perhaps thanks to that mysterious breathing technique, Niu Dingtian, though unremarkable at birth, after elementary study his spiritual senses grew keen; he grasped the classics instantly, never forgetting what he read.

Thus, after enrolling in the neighboring Hongmei Village private school, under the guidance of Scholar Bao, his studies advanced a thousand miles a day; within a year he earned the qualification for the children's examination.

Whenever he mentioned his beloved disciple, Scholar Bao could not contain his joy, sweeping away the gloom of his past repeated failures.

Were it not for the great age difference, likely even Scholar Bao's precious daughter, as lovely as flower and jade, would have been betrothed to Niu Dingtian.

Who could have imagined? Heaven's intentions are inscrutable, fate toys with people.

When Niu Dingtian returned from studying at the academy, the once gentle and kind lovely lady Scholar Bao had already married the village's Elder Yang.

When he learned from his sister‑in‑law that Elder Yang was called Tie Xin, that Scholar Bao's given name was Xi Ruo, and of the village's disturbance a certain night before, Niu Dingtian's heart

was thrown into turmoil.

""The Legend of the Condor Heroes?""

""Xi Ruo Shijie?""

That. Kang'er young master?

The wind stopped,

The snow probably also stopped,

Yet the cold grew ever more biting.

Lying in bed, Niu Dingtian silently recited the breathing technique, gradually dispelling the inner chill.

At this moment he also couldn't help worrying about his sister‑in‑law Chen Jin'er just beyond the wall; picturing her petite frame curled in the quilt, trembling, his heart welled with pity.

This damned winter!

Outside, the bright moon had risen, the snow‑white like the moon, shining together, serene yet enchanting.

……

Already signed, planning four volumes, feel free to invest.

The Song dynasty had no minor three subjects; here the term scholar refers to a general designation for educated people.

(End of chapter)