Chapter 154

August 5th,

Dark clouds filled the sky, gloomy and oppressive, with no sign of clearing.

Dong dong dong~

Kang, it's time to eat.

In the evening, inside a peasant's small courtyard in the village, Guo Jing knocked again on Yang Kang's door; for the past few days, he had never missed his three daily meals.

Since five days ago, upon learning that this rude boy was the sworn brother he had never met, Guo Jing, while delighted, had not forgotten his duty as an elder brother.

Seeing no movement inside and finding the door wouldn't budge when pushed, Guo Jing stood before it, grasped the ring, and knocked lightly a few more times.

Dong dong dong~

Kang? Dinner's ready, but Aunt Zhang's rice is running low; if you're late, you might not get any.

But after waiting a while, there was still no response from inside; Guo Jing's honest face involuntarily showed a bitter expression, and his mind began to wonder:

Kang never wants to respond to me; is he annoyed that I'm stupid, or is he angry with me? Sigh, I really shouldn't have forced him to apologize to our second master.

Thinking of this, Guo Jing said dejectedly, 'Kang, I was wrong; I shouldn't have forced you to apologize to our second master.'

'If you won't forgive me, when I see Uncle Niu I'll go to him to beg for punishment, and let Uncle Niu punish me!'

Hardly had these words been spoken when a loud 'clang' rang out from inside the room.

Immediately after, hurried footsteps rushed over, accompanied by Yang Kang's impatient voice:

'Coming, coming! Why rush? Don't you let people sleep? From now on, don't call me Kang!'

Creak~

The door suddenly swung open from inside, and the sudden movement startled Guo Jing.

Afterward, Yang Kang crossed the threshold expressionlessly, striding out; whether intentional or not, their shoulders brushed, causing Guo Jing to stagger.

'What are you staring at? Eat!' Yang Kang stalked off with a grim face; even a glance at this fool felt like bad luck, and he dared to threaten him with Uncle Niu!

Just wait and see!

'Ah? Oh~'

After reacting, Guo Jing wasn't annoyed; he scratched his head, gave a simple smile, and hurriedly followed.

As long as Kang isn't angry, that's good!

When the two arrived at the modest dining hall, Zhu Cong, Han Baoju, Ke Zhen'e, and Niu Ben had already started eating.

Originally, Ke Zhen'e was angry and unwilling to deal with anyone surnamed Niu, but unable to withstand the brothers' united opposition, he could only sulk silently at the side, saying nothing.

'We're all our own people, young chief, little brother Guo, don't stand on ceremony!' Niu Ben patted the empty seat beside him and greeted Guo Jing and Yang Kang heartily.

Although he called him young chief and treated Yang Kang as the main figure, this title was actually self-bestowed by that brat Yang Kang, and over time everyone got used to it.

'It's a pity that in this remote mountain village we can't buy alcohol; everything we eat is bland.' After Guo Jing and Yang Kang sat down, Niu Ben took a bite of rice and sighed lightly.

When they first arrived, there was still some liquor left in their flasks, but on the day they rented this courtyard, as soon as everyone felt like drinking, they downed it all.

Having gone four or five days without smelling alcohol, for Niu Ben, who had grown accustomed over the past two years to drinking daily while riding in the Taihang Mountains, it was somewhat agonizing.

'Haha~ Niu Ben brother, just hold out two more days,' Han Baoju laughed heartily.

Then he picked up the old teapot on the table, brewed a bowl of tea, and said, 'For now, let's have some coarse tea to get by; once we reach Xiangyang City, I'll definitely treat you to plenty.'

Han Baoju felt a strong liking for this young man before him.

If I'm not mistaken, two years ago I learned from my younger sister that the guard accompanying her husband when he visited the Shaolin Temple, named Niu Ben, was probably this person.

Although I wondered why he was a bandit on Mount Wo Niu, thinking about where Yang Kang and his mother now reside and his status as young chief, I roughly understood.

'Brother Han, you're too polite,' Niu Ben said, taking the tea bowl and grinning, 'When we get to Xiangyang, I'll be something of a landlord there; it's only right that I treat you—how could I let Brother Han foot the bill?'

'However, in a few days at the Xiangyang gathering, the sect leader will likely have many arrangements; if there are any shortcomings in hospitality, please forgive us.'

Sect leader?

Zhu Cong's heart stirred at the words, his eyes flickering slightly; then he seemed to realize something and smiled, saying, 'Brother Niu Ben, I wonder if your sect leader will come this time?'

'If divine weapons truly were to appear in these mountains, given your sect leader's martial prowess, there would be no room for the Quanzhen Sect or the Beggars' Gang; such a divine weapon would certainly belong to none other than him.'

'The sect leader has his own plans; as for whether he'll come this time, I don't know either,' Niu Ben said, shaking his head.

He has been staying in the Taihang Mountains training personnel; it's been over two years since he last saw the sect leader. Some things are simply unknowable, and even if he knew, he wouldn't casually blab about them.

However, when talking about martial arts, Niu Ben seemed to recall something; he turned to Guo Jing and Yang Kang and said solemnly, 'These past few days, a number of unfamiliar experts have come to the village, and their origins are somewhat unclear.'

'Now that the sect leader is absent, the young chief and little brother Guo had best avoid going out alone, lest trouble arise.'

Experts?

Yang Kang's eyes lit up.

He hadn't encountered any experts in a long time; the kind of experts he used to meet in the Taihang Mountains, he now looks down upon.

Thinking of this, Yang Kang's eyes rolled around nonstop, wondering what he was thinking.

'Mm, I understand!' Guo Jing solemnly nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Yang Kang rolled his eyes, but could only reply obediently, 'Understood.'

Afterward,

Everyone continued eating.

Having just taken two bites of rice, Yang Kang suddenly put down his chopsticks, stood up, and said, 'I'm full! You all take your time.'

Saying that, he walked out of the hall.

But just as he reached the dining hall door, he suddenly stopped, turned slowly, looked at Guo Jing at the table, and smiled, asking, 'Big brother Guo, have you finished eating? If so, let's go exchange some martial arts.'

Big brother Guo?

Guo Jing was taken aback.

Am I not dreaming? When did Kang start treating me so well?

The next moment——

Guo Jing's heart became wildly excited, and he hurriedly set down his bowl and chopsticks, shouting to Yang Kang, "I've finished! Brother Kang, wait for me!"

Having said that, he chased after Yang Kang, who had already stepped out of the dining hall.

Half a quarter hour later,

Yang Kang's bedroom.

Yang Kang glared at the stubborn Guo Jing before him and, with a bitterness like iron that won't become steel, asked, "Did Uncle Niu treat you well?"

"Of course he did! Uncle Niu taught me martial arts and never thought me stupid. My mother told me to repay him properly," Guo Jing said earnestly.

"So that's how you repay him?" Yang Kang shouted angrily. "Now the divine weapon is about to appear, but Uncle Niu hasn't come yet, so he definitely can't make it! I asked you to go with me to fetch it for him, and you refused?"

"But the master said that before the divine weapon is forged we must not go disturb it, otherwise all our previous efforts will be wasted," Guo Jing said, furrowing his thick eyebrows.

"Pah! It's all a scaring trick," Yang Kang snickered. "With so many people coming, who doesn't want to be first? If we wait until it's forged, it'll already be snatched away!"

"Then…"

"Then what! Since it's still daylight, hurry and come with me to sneak over."

"Then… okay then…"

……

At the same time,

A middle‑aged man wielding an iron spear and a young girl carrying a bundle slowly appeared from the fading sunset on the village path.

The girl was about thirteen or fourteen, delicate and beautiful, bright eyes and white teeth, truly a jade‑like stunning beauty.

Though her face bore some dust of the road, there was an unapproachable aura of dignity in her demeanor.

The girl looked up at the sky‑filled dark clouds and, in a crisp voice, said, "Father, rumors say a divine weapon is descending here; should we go take a look?"

The man's clothes were tattered, his face weathered, his eyes full of hardship.

Hearing this, he lowered his head to look at the girl and softly said, "Nianci, that thing doesn't belong to us; what good would it do to look?"

"I heard that this time even Master Qiu of the Quanzhen Sect rushed over. Father had some old ties with him; we should go find Master Qiu to inquire about your aunt Guo and your adoptive mother."

The girl, hearing this, lowered her gaze slightly, looking at the man's rough hand gripping the iron spear, her bright eyes dimming a little.

After a moment of silence, the girl looked up at the man and asked, "Father, why didn't you ask Master Qiu for help back then? The Quanzhen Sect is the greatest sect in the world; if they were willing, perhaps we would have found the person already."

In the end, the girl still asked what was in her heart.

For more than ten years, father had taken her east and west, never staying in one place for ten days or half a month.

At first, she never thought about these things, only knowing that wherever father went, she would follow.

But as she grew older and gradually became sensible, some things she began to not understand.

The man heard this and suddenly stopped, standing dumbfounded, lost in thought—why didn't he ask Master Qiu for help?

At that moment, his gaze flickered, unable to look straight at his own heart; could it be that he told his daughter it was only his pitiful pride acting up?

Back then, one was a cultivated master of the number‑one sect, the other a destitute farmer; their friendship was merely a chance encounter.

He didn't know whether the other would still keep him in mind; being strong, he lacked the courage to face possible coldness due to the status gap.

So he gritted his teeth and persisted, but never thought whether his wife and sister‑in‑law could persist; now looking back, he began to regret a bit.

Seeing this, the girl wisely changed the subject, smiling, "Father, let's go quickly, it's getting dark, we need to find a place to stay soon."

Hearing this, the man forced a smile and continued walking toward the village.

A quarter hour later,

the sky was already dimming.

"The courtyard is already full, you two should look at another house…"

"Bang!"

Thus, the father and daughter turned away in disappointment again.

Nowadays, the influx of jiang‑hu people into the village has driven up lodging prices, making it almost impossible to find a place to stay; with little money, it's hard to locate a spot.

And now, they had been rejected by the fifth household.

"Father, let's try a few more houses; maybe we'll find one."

Seeing his father's despondent expression, the girl smiled comfortingly.

She immediately walked to a nearby household's door and knocked.

The man, seeing this, hurriedly followed, for he could not let his daughter face it alone.

"Knock knock knock—"

"Creak—"

After a while,

the courtyard gate slowly opened.

"Two… who are you looking for?"

Niu Ben opened the courtyard gate, and upon seeing the two strangers outside, furrowed his brows and asked.

Nowadays, those who can make it to this desolate mountain village are all after the divine weapon.

The man quickly placed the iron spear against his chest, clasped his fists and said, "I am Mu Yi, and this is my little daughter Mu Nianci. My father‑and‑daughter have been traveling through this village for half a day without finding lodging. Might you have a place for us? We… we have some silver."

Mentioning silver made Mu Yi's face flush with embarrassment; looking at the people before him, they didn't seem like the type lacking a few coins.

Seeing the other frown as if about to refuse, Mu Yi hurriedly said, "Please be kind. I'm a rough man; I can stay anywhere, but I cannot let my little daughter sleep out in the wild! We'll stay only one night and leave at dawn!"

As he spoke, a hint of begging glimmered in Mu Yi's eyes toward Niu Ben; the sky was darkening, and if they were refused again, his daughter would have to sleep in the wilderness with him.

Niu Ben's brows relaxed slightly, he pondered a moment, then opened the courtyard gate, clasped his fists and said, "I am Niu Ben. Forget the silver; there happen to be two empty rooms in the courtyard. Please, make yourselves inside."

Mu Yi's face lit up with surprise; he hadn't expected a turn, and quickly said, clasping his fists, "Thank you, Young Hero Niu!"

Mu Nianci, seeing this, neither humbled nor arrogant, also clasped her fists and said brightly, "Thank you, Young Hero Niu!"

"You're welcome," Niu Ben couldn't help but laugh and said.

I didn't expect the young lady to have such spirit at such a tender age; I now feel more favorably toward the father and daughter.

After closing the courtyard gate, Niu Ben led Mu Yi and Mu Nianci to the two remaining rooms in the courtyard.

After opening the door, Niu Ben said with a smile, "These are just rooms rented from a farmhouse; if they're empty, they're empty. If you're willing, there's no need to mention leaving tomorrow morning."

"However, there's no dinner tonight; someone will come to see you at mealtime tomorrow, so you needn't stand on ceremony."

"Thank you!" Mu Yi bowed his fists solemnly: "I will not lightly forget the grace of your aid; please, Young Hero Niu, leave your address, and when I find my relatives I will surely come to express my gratitude."

"In the future, Young Hero Niu, if you have any business, just call on me; I, Mu, will not shirk my duty!"

Seeing this, Niu Ben smiled, and not wanting to directly refuse the kindness, he immediately said, "Outside Xiangyang City, the Sun Moon Divine Sect on Nine Palaces Mountain is ours."

"Our Sect Leader aspires to drive out the barbarians and uphold Heaven's will; if you two ever encounter trouble, you may come find me, and even if I'm absent, my fellow brothers in the sect will not refuse."

……

After settling the two, Niu Ben took his leave and prepared to return to his own room.

What I just did was merely a trifle, and indeed this father and daughter are truly in trouble.

If it were a mere martial artist, he wouldn't be so enthusiastic.

As he walked, passing by Yang Kang's room, Niu Ben suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Nobody?" Niu Ben muttered to himself.

"We were supposed to discuss martial arts; why is there no movement inside?" He immediately raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Thud thud thud~"

"Young Stronghold Master?"

"Thud thud thud~"

"Brother Xiao Guo?"

After knocking several times in succession, there was still no movement inside; Niu Ben thought it ominous and thus shoved the door hard.

"Creak~"

Surely, the door was pushed open easily,

He poked his head inside to look, but there was not a trace of a person in the room. (End of chapter)