Chapter 166: Senior Sister, open the door; I have something important to discuss with you

What a familiar feeling.

When Niu Dingtian saw clearly the long‑faced man brandishing a spear, his brows involuntarily knit.

This man—

He seemed as if he had seen him somewhere before? Before he could think further, his gaze was drawn to the young woman beside him.

The woman, carrying a pack, stood gracefully by the roadside; her eyes were bright and spirited, and despite the dust and coarse shirt, her delicate beauty could not be concealed.

But before Niu Dingtian could take another look, the spear‑wielding man, as if warding off thieves, swiftly pulled her behind him for cover.

At that moment, the rider at the front of the formation happened to pass by Niu Dingtian, brushing past the two.

The group did not halt, continuing along the winding mountain path; where the hooves struck, dust billowed, and even the cicadas' noisy chirping along the road fell suddenly silent.

Miss Huang tugged the reins, urging her horse to approach Niu Dingtian's side, her eyes laced with teasing: "Brother Niu, was that girl just now pretty?"

"Of course she's pretty," Niu Dingtian paused, thinking instinctively.

Before he could answer, Miss Huang covered her mouth and giggled: "Pretty doesn't help; you didn't see my father's look just now, but I was keeping an eye on you as if you were a dandy, giggle~"

Miss Huang's laugh was crisp and pleasant, echoing through the mountains like a chorus of orioles, bringing a hint of coolness to the dry air.

Niu Dingtian glared and defended: "Rong'er, don't speak carelessly; I just felt the person beside us seemed familiar, as if I'd seen him somewhere before…"

"Hmph, you think beautiful things look familiar; you also thought the little girl named Li Mochou from two years ago was familiar," Miss Huang snapped, huffing.

Niu Dingtian was at a loss. "We're talking about the same person, right?" At that moment, seeing Chen Jin'er on the left with a thoughtful expression, Niu Dingtian's mind stirred, and he hurriedly asked, "Sister‑in‑law, do you also find that person familiar? The one with the spear!"

Chen Jin'er, upon hearing, furrowed her delicate brows, thought for a moment, then murmured and slowly nodded, saying, "His face does feel somewhat familiar, but I can't recall who he is right now."

After a pause, she hesitated and said, "Perhaps… it's someone I saw before in Niu Clan Village."

There was a reason she said so.

Since moving into Lin'an City with Niu Dingtian nine years ago, she had, apart from meeting various shopkeepers and guards in the manor, essentially not encountered any outsiders.

Only when she was in Niu Clan Village did she often see familiar or unfamiliar villagers, as well as passing foreign travelers.

Niu Clan Village? Hearing Chen Jin'er, Niu Dingtian was suddenly taken aback.

At first hearing the familiar name, he seemed to grasp something.

Niu Clan Village, the man, the iron spear, and a beautiful daughter…

"Could it be him?"

At that moment, as all the information linked together, a familiar name suddenly flashed in Niu Dingtian's mind.

Thinking of that person, whose memory was already hazy, his complexion changed in an instant.

At that moment, he finally recalled, before his early schooling, the two handsome men he had once glimpsed at the village edge in his childhood.

Back then, the village children all called him Uncle Yang, and later he learned the man bore a famous name—Yang Tiexin!

"Sister‑in‑law, Rong'er, Sister Xiao Ying, you three take people back to Jiugong Mountain," Niu Dingtian, after regaining his composure, suddenly instructed Chen Jin'er, Miss Huang, and Han Xiao Ying.

"I still have urgent business to order Niu Kui; I'll rush back later, alright!"

Having said that, without waiting for the three women to respond, he spurred his horse and galloped out of the formation, then turned and raced toward the rear.

At that moment, Niu Kui was with Niu Ben and others, escorting Grandfather Li inside the carriage.

When the sect leader turned and waved at him, Niu Kui gave a brief order to his left and right, then immediately rode his horse out of the formation and swiftly came to the front.

Huh~

He halted his horse, clasped his fists toward Niu Dingtian, and said, "Sect leader!"

Niu Dingtian gave a slight nod, then furrowed his brows as if pondering, and did not speak immediately.

As the retreating troops receded, Niu Dingtian, brandishing his riding whip, pointed toward the mountain path and said calmly, "You saw that father‑daughter pair by the roadside earlier, right? The man was holding an iron spear."

Niu Kui, hearing this, clasped his fists and laughed, "Sect leader, you mean Mu Yi and his daughter Mu Nianci?"

"Mu Yi?" Hearing Niu Kui's words, Niu Dingtian couldn't help but furrow his brows.

Yang Tiexin later indeed adopted the alias Mu Yi, but how did Niu Kui know that? Seeing the sect leader's expression turn slightly displeased, Niu Kui felt a knot tighten—could he be the sect leader's rival?

He quickly suppressed his smile and explained, "I hadn't met them before; when I saw the father and daughter on the road just now, I only heard about them from Niu Ben."

When the sect leader's gaze fell upon him, Niu Kui continued, "A few days ago, Niu Ben brought Yang Kang and a few others to rent a courtyard in the village; Niu Ben said Mu Yi was searching for his relatives and had come to the village to look for Quanzhen Sect's Qiu Chuji."

"Yesterday evening the father and daughter tried to find lodging in the village but couldn't locate a place. Later Mu Yi knocked on the door; Niu Ben, seeing their plight, gave them the last two rooms."

"Niu Ben said they were probably heading to Xiangyang City; if they don't find Qiu Chuji, they might go back up Jiugong Mountain tomorrow."

Upon hearing Niu Kui, at first Niu Dingtian's brows relaxed slowly, but by the end, though his expression remained unchanged, his heart tightened abruptly.

Going up Jiugong Mountain tomorrow? At this moment, no matter how strong his martial skill, Niu Dingtian felt somewhat insecure.

Regardless, his Yang Tiexin and Sister Bao truly have a legal marital relationship.

If the matter were exposed and blown up, those who relish trouble in the jianghu, even the Great Song court, would likely spread rumors about the Sun‑Moon Divine Sect leader Niu Dingtian's Wei‑Wu legacy and his wife's virtues.

If Yang Tiexin's background were uncovered, rumors would even claim he seized the widow of a famed anti‑Jin general; no matter how the scandal spreads, at worst it would earn him a hat of adultery.

Could they have quietly killed Yang Tiexin?

Or wait to stage tomorrow a kidnapping drama starring the Sun‑Moon Divine Sect leader?

Niu Dingtian hesitated.

The Great Song's laws couldn't punish him, but a torrent of slander could drown him.

Gossip thrives in any era; people love such rumors. He could be shameless and indifferent, but Sister Bao could not. After a moment's contemplation, Niu Dingtian ordered, "Later, send people to monitor the father‑daughter pair's trail; once they settle in Xiangyang City, report their location to me, and make sure no one else notices."

After speaking, still uneasy, he added, "Do it now; this must not be delayed!"

"Yes!"

Seeing the sect leader's solemn tone, Niu Kui clasped his fists, took the order, and spurred his horse away at full speed.

…

At the summit of Jiugong Mountain, clouds and mist swirled.

Along the palace walls, rows of banners fluttered in the wind; one side bore the Sun‑Moon, the other the mountains and rivers.

When Niu Dingtian returned to Nine Palaces Mountain, he did not show himself directly, but taking advantage of the main force still being halfway, he sneaked to Senior Sister Bao's residence.

That's right, he was the one who abandoned his horse and rushed back at full speed.

He couldn't wait any longer.

By his reckoning, it had been about a year and a half since he last saw Senior Sister Bao.

After that night of intimacy, for a full month Senior Sister Bao had intentionally or unintentionally hidden in her room and refused to appear; although Niu Dingtian was eager and longing, he did not dare to press her.

In the following two months, Niu Dingtian took his younger sister Qu Xiu'er on a round trip to Niu Clan Village, then upon returning went straight to Snake Valley, where he stayed intermittently for about half a year.

Not long after he had just left Snake Valley, and after dealing with Murong An, in order to forge the Slaying Dragon Blade and Heaven-Reliant Sword he spent another half year in the bamboo grove.

Now, seeing that his original wife was about to approach, Niu Dingtian could only feel excited then apprehensive as he knocked once more on Senior Sister Bao's door.

"Thump thump thump~"

"Who's there?" a soft, gentle female voice came from inside the room, followed shortly by the sound of slow footsteps.

Niu Dingtian stood outside the door, holding his breath nervously without speaking, preparing to launch a sudden attack—today he would get a taste no matter what, nobody could take Senior Sister Bao away! Seeing no response outside, a faint breath seemed to appear and disappear; Senior Sister Bao, who had already gripped the door bolt, suddenly froze.

Then, her soft voice carried vigilance: "Who is it? Is it Junior Sister Jin'er?"

Usually, besides Chen Jin'er, Qu Xiu'er, and Han Xiao Ying who often came to her room, others rarely came alone due to age differences and lack of topics.

But Chen Jin'er and the others had never before experienced a situation where they called and got no reply.

Could it be that he has returned?

Thinking of that person, Senior Sister Bao separated by a door, her delicate body suddenly tensed, and she instinctively pulled her hand back.

Yes……How could he possibly not come back tomorrow? Senior Sister Bao thought silently, after not seeing each other for so long, how could she not miss him? But though she missed him, she feared that when the time came she would be unable to refuse, or would not want to refuse.

"Senior Sister, it's me……"

Seeing Senior Sister Bao unmoving inside for a moment, Niu Dingtian outside couldn't help but call out softly again.

Yet his response remained only silence, one bout of silence after another.

Niu Dingtian well knew that for some people, certain things happen only on the second attempt or countless times.

The first time might occur by chance or because one cannot bear to refuse; at this point, as long as the psychological barrier of the second time is broken, thereafter there will be no further obstacles.

"Senior Sister, please open the door; I have an important matter to discuss with you." Niu Dingtian tried to keep his voice calm.

He feared that if he missed today's opportunity, Senior Sister would really run off with Yang Tiexin.

His original wife was about to come to the door,

what else could he do to stop it?

Could he possibly throw a thousand taels of gold straight at her face to make him leave Senior Sister?

Niu Dingtian thought all the way: someone like Yang Tiexin, a righteous man of loyalty and virtue, would certainly not be killed for personal gain.

Not only would killing him be unacceptable, even if he retreated a step, using the Nine Nether Soul Capturing Great Method on him to control his mind would also be unacceptable.

Leaving aside whether he could get past his own conscience, even if he could harden his heart and bring himself to act, once such a thing were exposed, not only would Senior Sister Bao despise him, but likely Han Xiao Ying and Miss Huang as well would despise him from the heart.

This would already be genuine evil-doing.

As things stand now, as long as Senior Sister herself does not leave, even if the heavens were to press down he could still support her.

And to make Senior Sister herself not leave, either let her open her heart completely to his side, or let her lose face and be ashamed to return to the other party.

The method may be somewhat shameless, but fortunately it can temporarily resolve the issue peacefully.

Afterwards he planned to seek out Yang Tiexin again for a thorough discussion, hoping they could finally part ways.

"Creak~"

After hesitating for a long time, Senior Sister Bao finally still opened the door slowly.

The next moment, when she saw the deathly pale face outside the door, her heart suddenly clenched tightly, and she could not help but speak with tearful eyes, heartbroken: "What happened to you? How did you reduce yourself to this state?"

Saying this, she quickly wiped her tears and stepped forward to help Niu Dingtian inside.

"Indeed, it's still that Senior Sister Bao," Niu Dingtian thought silently, feeling both moved and guilty.

As he lifted his foot to step inside, his smile was somewhat forced: "It's fine, Senior Sister doesn't need to worry; I've just sustained some injuries, and after a period of rest I'll be good as new."

He actually had no injury—apart from being empty, just having bled too much; once he drinks a mouthful of Spiritual Spring Water later, he'll instantly regain a rosy complexion.

Upon hearing this, Senior Sister Bao glared and gently chided: "Looking like this and still saying you're fine, you don't even know how to cherish your own body—I think someone needs to constantly look after you."

"Then Senior Sister, are you willing to keep looking after me?" Niu Dingtian asked, suddenly turning his head after hearing her, gazing into her eyes with utter seriousness.

As their four eyes met, the room suddenly fell silent. (End of chapter)