Chapter 142

"Brother Eagle!"

Upon returning to Snake Valley, it was already nearing evening; Niu Dingtian had not yet reached the cave when he already shouted loudly inside.

But the sound traveled in for a long time with no reply; Niu Dingtian immediately extended his sense to probe the cave, which made his heart slightly chill.

That bird thing actually ran away…

Just as he was secretly annoyed, he suddenly felt a vague shadow moving on the ground; looking up, he saw a huge black shadow moving toward him—who else could it be but the Divine Eagle?

The splint on its injured leg was still there, but its other claw was clutching several snakes.

Thud~

Possibly because it was putting weight on one leg, the Divine Eagle wobbled upon landing and fell straight to the ground, its formerly clean feathers now covered in dust.

Seeing this sorry sight, Niu Dingtian couldn't help but chuckle; after setting down the food and drink from his book, he stepped forward smiling and helped it up, saying, "I thought Brother Eagle had run off—you said you'd wait for me here, and I've prepared the food and drink!"

"Goo-goo-goo~" the Divine Eagle released the three Bosi Qu snakes from its claws, muttering something in its beak we couldn't understand.

Although Niu Dingtian couldn't understand bird language, seeing the expression in its eyes made his heart stir; he thought, "This guy couldn't be intending to invite me to eat snakes as a courtesy, could he?"

Meanwhile, the freed Bosi Qu snake, seeing it was about to escape, the Divine Eagle suddenly flapped its wings and slapped it straight to Niu Dingtian's feet,

Immediately after, the Divine Eagle signaled with its gaze and let out two more "goo-goo" calls from its beak.

"Brother Eagle, you're asking me to eat this?" Niu Dingtian pointed at the unconscious Bosi Qu snake and asked directly.

In fact, Niu Dingtian had already guessed as much, but thinking about eating something without oil, salt, or other seasonings made him feel like pretending not to understand.

"Goo~ goo-goo-goo~" the Divine Eagle quickly nodded; at this moment the look in its eyes appeared quite heroic.

Sure enough——

Niu Dingtian fell silent for a moment—not just because he disliked eating this, but because he actually felt moved; he never expected that just moments ago they had been fighting fiercely, and now the Divine Eagle, despite its injury, was catching snakes for him.

Although he himself found it unappetizing, it seemed in the Divine Eagle's mind these Bosi Qu snakes were already the finest delicacy.

Moreover, Niu Dingtian knew the Divine Eagle cared about face; in its previous life it had been mentioned that its self-esteem was no less than a human's, so if he bluntly refused, it might think he looked down on it.

Now——

It's not easy to refuse now.

Thinking this through, Niu Dingtian picked up the snake, lifted the food and drink, and smiled, saying, "Thank you, Brother Eagle, for your kindness."

Then he flashed the three snakes in his hand and laughed, "Brother Eagle, you've probably only tasted one flavor all these years and must be tired of it; today let's try a different flavor."

Saying this, Niu Dingtian carried the things toward the cave; the Divine Eagle's eyes flashed with joy, and it hopped along on its one good leg behind him.

After entering the cave and finding a bright spot to build a fire, the crackling sounds echoed inside.

The Divine Eagle dozed off to the side, dragging its injured leg, while Niu Dingtian began preparing the three Bosi Qu snakes.

For this stuff, Niu Dingtian would absolutely not eat it unless it was cooked by someone with Miss Huang's skill.

But this was also the Divine Eagle's goodwill; today the man and the eagle had just begun to develop some feelings, and he couldn't bear to spurn its kindness. Since he was going to eat it, he couldn't let his stomach suffer, so he tried to make it as tasty as possible.

Fortunately, besides the two jars of strong liquor there was plenty of sauce; after several rounds of deodorizing with the liquor, Niu Dingtian mixed the roasted snake meat into the sauce, and it actually tasted rather unique.

"Come on, Brother Eagle! Tonight we each take a jar—no using inner energy to force the alcohol down; if you can't finish, nobody gets to leave!"

Seeing the Divine Eagle awake, eyes pleading as it crouched nearby sniffing the aroma, Niu Dingtian uncovered a jar of Immortal's Drunkenness and handed it over directly.

After the Divine Eagle lifted it with both wings, it held its head high proudly and let out a few "goo-goo" calls.

"Haha~ Brother Eagle, you're straightforward! Quickly try the roasted chicken, duck, goose, and braised beef—this roasted snake meat I made, try it and tell me how it compares to what you usually eat."

Niu Dingtian opened the side dishes he had brought, placing most of them before the Divine Eagle.

Since the Divine Eagle still had a broken leg, moving was inconvenient; it could only lean sideways against the cave wall and use its other claw to pick up the braised beef on the ground.

"Goo-goo-goo!" After the beef entered its mouth and it tasted the flavor, the Divine Eagle's eyes lit up with delight and it let out several happy "goo-goo" calls.

Then it hastily grabbed the bowl of roasted chicken, duck, and goose and wolfed them down.

"Haha~ Brother Eagle, no keeping fish! Hurry up and lift your jar to drink!" Niu Dingtian laughed heartily, raised his wine jar, and bumped it against the Divine Eagle's.

Keep fish?

The Divine Eagle blinked at the words, then somewhat realized, and, opening its beak in a grin, lifted its own wine jar.

Bang!

After a heavy thud, the man and the eagle began drinking together in the cave.

Indeed, some feelings are forged over drink; since neither used inner energy to force the alcohol, after just half of the ten‑catty jar was gone, Niu Dingtian and the Divine Eagle were already slinging arms over each other's shoulders.

As they drank, Niu Dingtian grew a little fuzzy, and his mind unbidden turned to the master of this place, Dugu Qubai.

Thinking on, Niu Dingtian suddenly felt the urge to ask the Divine Eagle something while emboldened by the drink, but fearing to ruin the hard‑won atmosphere, he let it pass.

People nowadays all say Wang Chongyang's martial arts are number one under heaven, but Niu Dingtian has never thought so.

In his view, the title "Number One Under Heaven" is too heavy for Wang Chongyang to bear; not to mention hidden mysterious figures, even the Ancient Tomb Sect's Lin Chaoying might not be weaker than him.

Anyway, once the wine took hold, Niu Dingtian felt dissatisfied with that Daoist; after a few years, when he breaks through the innate realm, he wouldn't mind dragging Wang Chongyang out for a good sparring match.

But the master of this Divine Eagle before him is different—it's someone Niu Dingtian already admires from the heart.

"Roving the martial world for over thirty years, slaughtering foes, defeating heroes, with no rival left under heaven, helpless, he merely hides in a deep valley, making the eagle his friend. Alas! To seek a worthy opponent all his life and never find one—truly a lonely, hard‑to‑bear fate."

Look, what an imposing aura!

Such an aura of looking down on all under heaven and scorning the heroes—who among martial figures could fail to admire and long for it? Dugu Qubai, Dugu Qubai, who sought a defeat all his life and could not obtain it; just this lofty, domineering title alone makes Niu Dingtian's heart race and his spirit wander.

"There are no stories of great masters in this world, nor any legends…" Niu Dingtian muttered after taking a gulp of wine, his expression full of regret.

Why is the legend of Dugu Qubai unknown in the martial world? Niu Dingtian pondered and formed a guess: perhaps all the stepping stones on the road to the peak have been crushed to powder, their bearers dead.

Some people want everyone in the world to know who is stronger in martial arts; others simply come and go silently.

True martial‑obsessed supreme experts don't care about empty fame; perhaps in their view, as long as I know I've won and grown stronger, that's enough, since others' opinions can't add even a fraction to one's power.

For example, Dugu Qubai, or the sweeping monk of the Shaolin Temple over a hundred years ago.

Sigh~

Niu Dingtian held a wine jar in one hand and embraced the Divine Eagle with the other, sitting on the ground gazing at the night outside the cave, somewhat lost in thought.

Goo… goo goo…

But Niu Dingtian hadn't been lost in thought long when the divine eagle beside him began to express dissatisfaction in halting sounds, clearly meaning: 'No raising fish!'

'Hahaha~ Brother Eagle, cheers!' Niu Dingtian laughed, picked up the wine jar, and he and the divine eagle bumped hard again.

Niu Dingtian sat with the divine eagle in the cave, eating and drinking; after two jars of Immortal's Drink were emptied, the sky outside began to lighten, and Niu Dingtian and the divine eagle lay on the ground, their eyes hazy from drink.

When Niu Dingtian woke again, it was already noon.

Not long after, the divine eagle beside him also slowly woke, though its eyes were still a bit hazy and its steps unsteady.

Niu Dingtian never expected this big bird could drink so much.

This jar holds a full twenty catties of strong old liquor; its potency is extraordinary—even if replaced by one of the Four Absolutes, without using internal energy to dispel the alcohol, they might not last till dawn.

'This guy is definitely an old hand; he must have drunk a lot before!' Niu Dingtian thought to himself.

'Goo-goo-goo~' the divine eagle suddenly gave a few calls, turning its head toward the cave entrance.

Niu Dingtian was a bit puzzled.

The divine eagle hopped to the cave entrance, its wobbly gait looking comical, then turned its head, signaling Niu Dingtian to follow.

Could it be…

Niu Dingtian's heart instantly surged with excitement.

Could Brother Eagle be taking me to Dugu Qiubai's Sword Tomb? The more he thought about it, the more excited Niu Dingtian became.

If the divine eagle weren't showing the way, who knows when I'd find that place on my own—this drink was well earned, Brother Eagle, you're awesome!

The divine eagle led Niu Dingtian out of the mountain cave, over several ridges; the farther they went, the more rugged and desolate the path became, until they had left Snake Valley behind.

Niu Dingtian had wanted to urge the divine eagle to carry him flying—saving time and effort—but as soon as he showed a hint of the idea, the eagle gave him an angry look.

'I treat you as a brother! You want to ride me?' Seeing the eagle's intention to break off relations, Niu Dingtian could only sheepishly give up.

But the eagle's leg strength is truly formidable; at first, perhaps unaccustomed to walking on one leg, its body inevitably swayed.

But once it grew accustomed, even on a rubble-strewn narrow path the divine eagle stood steady as an old dog; each step landed with a boom, leaving a deep footprint afterward.

Thus, following beside it, Niu Dingtian found himself increasingly astonished as they went on.

After about an hour,

The divine eagle brought Niu Dingtian to a Barren Valley—called so because all he saw were scattered rocks, utter desolation, not a trace of green vegetation.

I had thought that unparalleled masters all liked to hide away in scenic mountains and clear waters; who would have imagined Dugu Qubai would stay in a place where even birds refuse to defecate?

Walking among the rubble, Niu Dingtian searched for half a day without seeing a single bird, and couldn't help but be shocked by Dugu Qubai's taste.

This must be a martial fanatic who lives for the sword; besides the sword in his hand, he probably has no other desires left! Niu Dingtian thought silently.

Whether it's a place of beautiful mountains and clear waters or a desolate, lifeless wilderness, a hermit's abode might seem no different to others.

After a quarter of an hour,

The divine eagle led Niu Dingtian to a stone cave on the mountainside; upon reaching the entrance, the divine eagle suddenly stopped, a hint of sorrow visible in its eyes, as if lost in memory.

"Elder Brother Eagle, what is this..." Niu Dingtian stepped forward; although he was asking rhetorically, he couldn't help feeling a sense of emotion.

After the divine eagle came to its senses, it let out a few mournful coos, then bowed three times facing the cave entrance.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian could not remain unmoved, and likewise performed three solemn bows.

Seeing this, the divine eagle's eyes filled with satisfaction as it led Niu Dingtian into the stone cave.

Only after Niu Dingtian truly entered the cave did he discover that, in the space of about half a mu, apart from the stone table, stools, and bed, there was only a stone mound piled with rubble in the northeast corner; moreover, the cave did not look naturally formed but rather like it had been artificially dug.

"Goo-goo-goo~" the divine eagle cooed twice, signaling Niu Dingtian to go inside.

Niu Dingtian followed, took a few steps, and faintly noticed what seemed to be writing on the stone wall; he then took out a tinderbox and lit a candlestick on the wall.

When the weak candlelight filled the cave, the inscriptions on the stone wall became clearly visible, reading: "Having roamed the jianghu for over thirty years, I have slain all my foes, defeated every hero, and found no equal under heaven; left with no choice, I seclude myself in a deep valley, taking the eagle as my friend. Alas, having sought a worthy opponent all my life and never found one, I am indeed lonely and hard to bear."

Signature: Sword Demon Dugu Qubai!

These few dozen characters gave Niu Dingtian an indescribable special flavor; at first glance they were plain and unadorned, but upon careful examination and immersion, the words on the wall actually emitted a fierce, intimidating aura that grew stronger the longer he looked, until he could hardly bear to look directly at them.

"Sword intent?" Niu Dingtian's expression shifted slightly; he quickly averted his gaze, yet his heart was overwhelmed with shock.

"Really sword intent?" Niu Dingtian muttered, half-disbelieving; looking at the divine eagle beside him, he blurted out, "I fucking can't even look at it!"

"Goo-goo-goo~" the divine eagle raised its head and cooed, its eyes full of pride as it looked at Niu Dingtian; then it lifted its wing, pointing at the stone wall, and kept calling nonstop.

"Elder Brother Eagle, are you telling me to keep looking?" Niu Dingtian listened for a while but still felt puzzled, so he could only ask aloud.

"Goo-goo!" the divine eagle hastily nodded.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian's eyes flickered, his heart stirred—could there be some profundity here?

Exactly! Otherwise, why would such a detached, supremely strong person leave behind such an overbearing, even somewhat pretentious stone carving? That would be somewhat out of character for him.

Recalling the overwhelming sword intent that had just emanated from the stone wall, Niu Dingtian suddenly felt a surge of excitement—could this be a transmission of sword intent?

Thus, after adjusting his breath, he once again focused his gaze on the stone wall and began to examine it carefully. (End of chapter)