Chapter 106

Hum—

Ke Zhen'e let out a light hum, and after recognizing the visitor's identity, he sat upright in his chair, expressionless, and said, "So it's Niu Dingtian, the Great Sect Leader. How could the Sect Leader find time to come to the blind man's place? My three brothers don't have such face!"

Recalling how his face had been trampled last night by the Sun‑Moon Divine Sect's reward‑and‑punish envoy, Ke Zhen'e was fuming, and now that he saw the demon's top boss, he naturally mocked him to the utmost, giving him no friendly look.

Han Baiju's smile froze, and Zhu Cong was about to speak up, when Niu Dingtian waved his hand and said lightly, "If Hero Ke cannot fix this sharp tongue, I think it's best for him to continue wandering the jianghu alone."

Ke Zhen'e's complexion suddenly turned iron‑blue. Niu Dingtian glanced at him but ignored it, his gaze sweeping over Zhu Cong and Han Baiju, and continued, "After all, we've been sworn brothers through countless life‑and‑death battles. If Hero Ke's rash words bring disaster and cost a life, I, Niu, would feel that it's not worth it for you two."

Upon hearing this, Ke Zhen'e's face flushed red, his hands clenched the iron staff tightly, and he trembled with anger.

"Brother Niu, actually…" Zhu Cong said, unable to bear it, trying to smooth things over.

But Niu Dingtian gave a stopping glance, then looked at Han Baiju and smiled, "Brother Han, I'm taking Han Xiao Ying with me. This time I'm planning to travel south with her. I came to tell you, see you in Xiangyang next year!"

He then clasped his fists in a bow to Zhu Cong and said with a smile, "Second Brother Zhu, take care!"

Having said that, he ignored Ke Zhen'e's reaction and walked out of the room.

Bang—

When the footsteps outside faded, Ke Zhen'e slammed his iron staff down hard and shouted, "How could this be! How could I, Ke, endure such humiliation? If it weren't for Seventh Sister's face, the blind man would have…"

"Brother! That palm of mine was taken for you in vain!"

Ke Zhen'e: "…"

——

Changde Prefecture, Taoyuan County.

The Yuan River runs through Taoyuan County for two hundred li, flowing from south to north across the entire county.

The east bank is the Snow Peak Mountains, the west bank the Wuling Mountains; the narrow, enclosed valley between the two has long been an ideal place for seclusion.

From Yangzhou they took a boat, sailing upstream along the Yangtze westward, detouring via Dongting Lake, then heading south along the Yuan River.

After half a month of river travel, Niu Dingtian, Han Xiao Ying, and Miss Huang had arrived within the western Hunan region of Taoyuan County.

At dusk,

On the surface of the Yuan River.

A small boat broke through the hazy mist spreading over the river, slowly moving upstream toward the setting sun.

Niu Dingtian reclined half‑lying on the rattan chair at the bow, a pot of clear tea beside him, sipping while admiring the passing scenery, feeling quite content.

He had originally planned to head straight to the Dali Kingdom, but before departing he recalled that the Dali emperor, the "Southern Emperor" Duan Zhixing of the Five Absolutes, seemed to have fled to hide in western Hunan's Taoyuan County to escape Ouyang Feng's threat.

Indeed, a former emperor knows how to pick a fine spot.

"Niu brother~"

Just as Niu Dingtian was lost in thought, a crisp voice from Miss Huang rang from the cabin, though no one had yet appeared.

Then she appeared, holding a tray with both hands, trotting cheerfully over; after placing the tray on the table at the bow, she said in a coquettish voice:

"Niu brother, this is my braised fish. Try it and tell me how it tastes. Last time at my house it was sea fish; this time it's river fish, hehe~"

"Where's Little Ying?" Niu Dingtian asked. "Little Ying is cooking chicken; it's not ready yet. Niu brother, you hurry and taste!" Miss Huang's bright eyes were like water, her curved eyes urging.

Niu Dingtian, helpless, rose slowly, stretched his body, and sat down at the table.

These past half a month, he felt like a landlord, with two maidservants—one attending meals by day, the other caring for his nightly needs—surrounded by gentleness, truly a blissful, almost immortal life.

Under Miss Huang's expectant gaze, Niu Dingtian lifted his chopsticks, picked a piece of fish, and after placing it in his mouth his eyes lit up. He couldn't help but praise, "Rong'er truly has skill; in half a month none of the river fish have been repeated in your cooking! Niu brother, give Rong'er a reward!"

Niu brother, reward Rong'er a bit!

Having said that, he set his chopsticks down, pulled Miss Huang into his arms, and gave her a quick "smack" kiss on the lips.

Miss Huang's cheeks flushed bright red; she hurriedly broke free, glanced toward the cabin, and glared fiercely at Niu Dingtian.

But having received the compliment, she was in a great mood, so she sat on the boat's rail, propping her chin, looking at Niu Dingtian and smiling foolishly:

"Niu brother, Rong'er will sing a tune for you, okay?"

Seeing Rong'er in high spirits, Niu Dingtian couldn't refuse the kindness, and smiled, nodding.

Miss Huang tilted her head slightly, leaning sideways on the boat, and a strand of clear sound slowly slipped from her tongue:

"Goose frost chills the curtains; the moon is guarded by light clouds, the fresh ice still thin. The creek's mirror reflects a fleeting comb. I wish to scent and powder, yet find makeup hard to master. Jade skin is slender, further veiled by layers of dragon silk. Leaning on the east wind, a smile blossoms, turning to gaze where myriad blossoms shyly fall."

"Loneliness! Where is my home mountain? Gardens after snow, pavilions by the water. The ancient covenant of the Jade Pool, who now supports the unicorn and phoenix? The pink butterfly only knows to seek flowers and chase willows, blooming on southern branches unnoticed. Yet sorrow remains, a cool dusk, with a few painted horns sounding."

The delicate, soft, lilting voice floated through the misty water, resonating over the calm river, harmonizing with the sunset and green hills, striking a moving chord.

Listening, Niu Dingtian couldn't help but feel his heart sway and his spirit soar, intoxicated by the melody.

Having been reborn for seventeen years, such lingering, tender scenes seemed never before experienced.

The years after his birth are now hazy; later he survived only with his sister‑in‑law Chen Jin'er, struggling together in Lin'an City.

If not for the looming chaos, being able to bring his sister‑in‑law, her younger sister, and Sister Bao and the others to this Taoyuan haven for a carefree life would have been…

What a pity…

After the song ended, Miss Huang calmed her mood and whispered, "This is 'Auspicious Crane Immortal'. Niu brother, do you think it's well done?"

Seeing Miss Huang's mood a bit low, Niu Dingtian rose, walked over, pinched his small hand, and said with a smile, "The lyrics by Jia Xuan are certainly good, but this song, our Rong'er sings it even better!"

Miss Huang's bright eyes lit up, surprised, "Niu brother, you know this lyric was written by Master Xin?"

Having seen Niu Dingtian a few times, she thought him hot‑tempered, domineering, and a mere unschooled jianghu warrior; she didn't expect him to even know Master Xin's obscure lyrics and melody.

Suddenly seeming to recall something, she lunged at Niu Dingtian, grabbed a piece of meat from his waist, twisted it lightly, and stared, demanding, "Speak! Did you often go to the tavern to listen to songs!"

Snort—

Niu Dingtian snickered, seeing Miss Huang actually looking down on him, he said dissatisfied:

"If I hadn't found a few secret manuals from your house back then, I, Niu brother, would have become the top scholar by now! Huang Lao Xie misled me!!"

Huang Lao Xie misled me!!

PS: Bosses, that's it for today—one chapter.

(End of chapter)