Chapter 167: A Donkey That Only Knows How to Work

Bao Xiruo's gaze was faint and weak, she flusteredly dodged. Seeing this, Niu Dingtian, unprepared, reached out and grasped the soft robe on her right arm.

It felt soft and boneless, as smooth as congealed fat; every bit of its temperature and touch seemed able to pluck the strings of his heart.

Bao Xiruo's body trembled, she hastily glanced toward the outside of the house, and instinctively wanted to break free.

Niu Dingtian gripped tightly; he could clearly feel each joint of her slender jade fingers.

Before the person before him could speak, the light in Niu Dingtian's eyes had already grown gentle. After a moment, he gazed straight into her deep, beautiful eyes and said softly:

"Senior Sister, do you still remember the clothes you mended for me when I was young? I remember that back then, one after another, you would mend a piece for me every two days."

Upon hearing these words,

Bao Xiruo directly stared blankly.

The next moment, scene after scene of Red Plum Village appeared in her mind—her father, her junior brothers, the chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits in the courtyard, and two luxuriant pomegranate trees.

They began to surface one by one in her mind; all those past events were as vivid as before her eyes.

Niu Dingtian continued speaking to himself: "Back then I was still young, and studying required no heavy labor, so where would there be so many torn clothes for Senior Sister to mend?"

"The reason behind it..."

Having said that, Niu Dingtian smiled and said: "The reason was simply that back then I wanted to spend more time with Senior Sister after class, just chatting."

"Sometimes there were seams on the clothes that weren't yet torn; when I wanted to be alone with Senior Sister, I would myself rip them open, knowing that as soon as she saw, she would surely take me to her room to mend my clothes."

"Now I have confessed all of this to Senior Sister; surely she won't blame me, will she?"

"Not blame you?"

For some reason, after hearing Niu Dingtian's words, Bao Xiruo suddenly felt a surge of grievance in her heart; she bit her lip and felt an urge to cry out.

You deceitful scoundrel! Back then my fingers certainly weren't spared from pricks of the needle!

She held back the tears that wanted to fall; Bao Xiruo wanted to speak some reproachful words, but felt as if something were caught in her throat, and she simply could not speak.

"Are you blaming me, Senior Sister?" Niu Dingtian pinched the soft robe in his hand and asked softly.

At this moment, Senior Sister seemed to have become immune to his overstepping actions, showing no sign of resistance.

Upon hearing these words, Bao Xiruo, who had been feeling somewhat wronged, suddenly felt a flash of anger rise in her heart for no reason.

Then, unable to hold back, she glared at Niu Dingtian, her voice choked with anger, and snapped: "What gives you the right not to blame me?"

Perhaps recalling something, the tears she had been holding back for half a minute finally could not be restrained and fell with a splashing sound.

While wiping her tears, she choked out: "You deceitful scoundrel, back then I should have had my father thrash you soundly with two sticks……"

"Only by beating you with two sticks would I feel relieved; as a child you thought up ways to bully me, and even now, grown up, you still bully me……"

At this moment, Bao Xiruo also knew her scolding was somewhat unreasonable, but after being tormented for nearly two years by repressed morals and ethics, she now wanted to use this occasion to vent her feelings fiercely.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian's heart involuntarily softened; he immediately reached out and pulled the tearful figure before him into his embrace.

"Let go of me quickly!" Bao Xiruo shuddered instantly, then immediately stopped crying, her eyes panicked as she struggled to free herself.

However, no matter how she struggled and twisted, Niu Dingtian remained tightly holding her, not loosening in the slightest.

"You… you first let go, Junior Sister Jin er will be coming over shortly……"

Seeing that she could not break free, Bao Xiruo, in her desperation, could only soften her tone and begin to negotiate.

But her voice already trembled, showing that her nerves were stretched to the limit.

"No," Niu Dingtian softly refused, like a domineering, shameless child.

He slowly buried his head in Bao Xiruo's black hair bun; the long‑absent scent made him feel a little greedy.

Feeling the body in his arms begin to tremble and go limp, Niu Dingtian leaned to her crystal‑clear, tender earlobe and whispered: "Senior Sister, there is something I need to tell you."

"Senior Sister… is listening… to you," Bao Xiruo pleaded, her body limp: "You… you first let go, let go and I'll listen to you, okay?"

She wanted to speak more firmly, but her body was a bit uncooperative.

At this very moment, this fellow seemed to have become her poison; she felt her whole body go weak, as if she were about to suffocate.

"I want to say this in your ear, Senior Sister, so that you remember it clearly." Niu Dingtian's words entered her ear, each word distinct.

"I am not merely lusting after your body; I also covet your heart. In fact, even as a child I had feelings for you, and I have long imagined that when I grew up I would surely marry a gentle, kind woman like you."

"I had originally planned to reveal my feelings to Teacher after my coming‑of‑age ceremony, but I never expected that you, Senior Sister, would be betrothed at fourteen to Niu Clan Village, given to a stranger I had never met. Yet that man personally cast you aside!"

Having said that, Niu Dingtian suddenly felt a chill on his shoulder, and the body in his arms began to tremble in waves.

Bao Xiruo had already bitten her lip, and tears welled up as she began to cry.

After realizing this, Niu Dingtian slowly loosened his embrace, his hands supporting her jade shoulders, he fixed his gaze on her pair of watery, sorrowful beautiful eyes and said ardently:

"Since Teacher entrusted you to me, and I have now retrieved you, from now on you belong only to me! Only I, Niu Dingtian, will look after you!"

"Whoever dares to take you, I will kill! Whoever comes, cannot take you away from my side!"

"From now on, whoever dares to gossip, I will keep killing until they shut up!!"

By the end of his words, the ferocity in Niu Dingtian's eyes could no longer be concealed.

No matter how he might try to settle this peacefully, he could never forget whose fist is the stronger.

"If someone tries to abduct a person and fails, refuses to reason, and instead runs off to the martial world shouting nonsense, he doesn't mind personally sending that opponent to reincarnation!"

Finally, seeing Bao Xiruo stop her tears, her eyes staring blankly at himself, Niu Dingtian made up his mind, seized the moment when she was unprepared, scooped up her waist and lifted her into a horizontal hold.

Bao Xiruo felt her body lighten; after reacting, she widened her eyes in panic and stammered: "You… you… what are you going to do?"

"Do you!"

"I don't know which meridian went awry, but these two ridiculous words flew from Niu Dingtian's mouth in an instant."

Even he himself stared wide‑eyed.

Upon hearing this, Bao Xiruo felt as if struck by lightning; her pretty face instantly turned as red as dripping blood, her eyes filled with disbelief, and she stammered: "You… you……"

Seeing her helpless, flustered state, how could Niu Dingtian still hold back?

His gaze blazed like fire; he directly embraced the beauty in his arms and walked toward the curtained bed in the inner room.

As the bed drew nearer, Bao Xiruo trembled, feeling as if she were about to suffocate; her fair face shifted rapidly, and she struggled with all her might.

Knowing she could no longer change anything, she still wanted to deceive herself, wanted to try, so she bit her lip and said in a trembling voice: 'You… your wound…'

Heh~

The senior sister will know soon…

Upon hearing that, Sister Bao's cheeks flushed blood-red, she bit her lip and resignedly closed her eyes.

"Close… close the door……"

——

Half an hour later,

"Squeak~"

The tightly shut door was gently pushed open from inside; hearing the sound, the two birds that were pecking at each other under the eaves fluttered their wings and flew off as if fleeing.

Niu Dingtian tiptoed out of the room, evading the patrolling guards in the outer courtyard, and in noiseless silence he had already arrived inside the Hall of the Dipper Mother.

At this moment,

The seat reserved for the Cult Leader was empty; below, on the left side of the table, the newly added chair was occupied by the Vice Cult Leader Fentian, dressed in purple, who was bending over to inspect the gift list on the table.

Not far away, two Black-robed Guards stood awaiting orders.

"Cult Leader!"

"Cult Leader!"

Seeing Niu Dingtian enter the hall, the two Black-robed Guards stared for a moment, then immediately stepped forward to salute.

The people on Nine Palaces Mountain had not seen the Cult Leader's shadow for nearly half a year.

Over the past six months, all sect affairs, both major and minor, had been handled by the Vice Cult Leader; now, seeing each other suddenly, they couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.

Niu Dingtian gave a slight nod; seeing Fentian also about to rise and salute, he waved his hand to stop him, then went straight to his own seat and sat down.

Afterwards he waved at the two below and said, "You may go first."

"Yes!"

After the Black-robed Guards withdrew from the hall, he also saw a cup of clear tea on the table, its fragrance wafting; he was not shy about it, picked it up and took two sips.

Earlier he had toiled half a day in Sister Bao's room, and was already somewhat thirsty.

He glanced at the gift list on the table, his heart stirred, and he asked, "Have you finished looking? Which two families gave the most and the least gifts?"

Fentian heard him, stared for a moment, then directly withdrew his gaze from the tea bowl he had just used.

With a somewhat strange expression he said, "You probably wouldn't guess who gave the most gifts—it's the Mongols to the north; the least is……"

"Mongolia?"

Hearing that, Niu Dingtian's face showed great surprise; he raised a hand to interrupt and said, "First tell me how much they sent!"

He remembered that in his previous life, Temujin had rewarded Guo Jing with a hundred catties of gold, and Tolei had also sent a thousand taels of gold—both were the sort of people who would spend lavishly to win over talent.

Now even with his butt he could tell that, given they had no connection whatsoever, the other side's generous gift must have some ulterior motive.

Fentian took out a gift ledger from the table, showed Niu Dingtian its glittering gold cover, opened it, and began to read:

"Your Majesty has long heard that the Great Song produces outstanding talents; there is a peerless master, Niu Dingtian, who defeated the Five Absolutes, subdued the Shaolin, and dominated the present age—under heaven none can oppose him. Whenever I think of him, my heart longs and I yearn to befriend him."

Hearing this flattery, Niu Dingtian couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth; then he saw Fentian suppress a smile at the corner of his mouth and continue reading:

"Now I have heard that your sect has been founded; this is indeed a great joy for the martial world. Although I dwell far in the rivers and lakes, I am immensely delighted, and have specially prepared a modest gift to express my congratulations."

"I hereby present:"

"One: six finely crafted long blades, made from the northern cold iron, forged by renowned masters through a thousand hammerings, unmatched in sharpness, symbolizing that your sect's spirit is like a rainbow and its power shakes the four directions."

"Two: various rare medicinal herbs, all the essence of mountains and rivers, excellent for healing wounds and replenishing qi; I wish your sect's disciples health and that their divine arts and martial skills advance to a higher level."

"Three: several sets of embroidered battle robes, ten pieces of precious fur, ten fine horses, and six hundred catties of gold; may your sect's endeavors flourish and its fame spread far."

"Although I am the ruler of a nation, I also harbor the wish to befriend heroes. Today I celebrate the founding of your sect, and I hope even more to become close friends with the sect leader, jointly exploring the mysteries of martial arts and discussing great affairs of the jianghu."

"Respectfully presenting this letter, I wish your sect prosperity and abundant talent. I look forward to the day I meet the sect leader, when we shall share jianghu wine and jointly appreciate the moon of the martial world."

"Respectfully,"

"May your martial fortunes prosper!"

"Emperor of the Great Mongol Nation, Genghis Khan, Borjigin Temujin."

"After finishing the reading,"

"Fentian slowly lowered the gift ledger, and the spacious hall grew somewhat quiet."

"I must say, after hearing the contents of Temujin's gift letter, Niu Dingtian felt a bit light-headed."

"The power of this sugar-coated cannonball is truly not small; it's a pity it landed on him, and this is destined to have only one outcome—no return."

"We must accept the sugarcoating and also accept the cannonball; only then can we hope to draw in greater benefits—anyway, we won't let the Mongols' advantages go to waste."

"\"After all, he is the emperor of a nation; I never expected he could treat scholars with such courtesy. \" Fentian sighed lightly."

"Then he curiously asked: \"Given Temujin's words, he still wants to meet you face to face—how so? Are you really planning to go drink wine and admire the moon with him? \""

"Niu Dingtian snorted coldly: \"What kind of jianghu person is he? After all, the Mongols can send such a generous gift only because they eye my occupation of Xiangyang. \""

"\"Xiangyang City? \" Fentian furrowed his brows, somewhat puzzled."

"Niu Dingtian gave a slight nod, without further explanation."

"People generally think the Mongols and the Great Song are separated by ten thousand li, making interaction difficult."

"But he knows that, if following the original course, the enemy's iron hooves will soon come crushing down, tearing everything apart."

"\"By the way, what is the name of the envoy who brought the gifts? \" Niu Dingtian suddenly asked."

"Fentian replied: \"The leaders are two men and one woman; the rest are attendants. The men are named Guo Lei and Guo Bie, and the woman is Guo Zheng. \""

"\"As for their identities, the other side hasn't revealed them either; I have already sent people to investigate. \""

"Guo Lei? Guo Bie? Guo Zheng?"

"Upon hearing these three names, Niu Dingtian's eyes involuntarily narrowed."

He immediately waved his hand indifferently and said, "No need to investigate; just keep an eye on this group, and after the meeting ends, send someone to follow them secretly."

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly turned cold, and he said lightly:

"If you discover any sign that they're heading to Lin'an, remember: aside from capturing that Guo Zheng for me, kill everyone else."

"Kill them?"

Fentian heard this, blinked in surprise, and his gaze involuntarily turned to Niu Dingtian.

"Kill them!"

Niu Dingtian said in an unchanging tone.

If they sneak off to Lin'an City, they'll inevitably scatter money everywhere, trying to broker an alliance with Song to destroy the Jin.

Only a fool would agree to such a thing; he must sabotage it every time he sees it.

But no matter what, the little bride originally promised to Guo Jing must still be kept for him.

Seeing Niu Dingtian say no more, Fentian gave a slight nod and didn't ask further.

After all, she's nothing but a female donkey that only knows how to work. When there's no one at home, she works herself; when there are people, she just orders them to work.

"Pah! Pah! Pah! What female donkey? You're really addled from being busy lately!"

After reacting, Fentian was startled by this sudden thought, then glared at the Great Sect Leader Niu with some dissatisfaction.

Niu Dingtian, being stared at, felt bewildered—this woman had only been behaving for a while and now wants to rebel?

Immediately putting on a stern face, he asked, "Which family gave the least gift?"

Seeing this, Fentian felt a surge of anger, restraining the urge to slap him, and said expressionlessly:

"The one who gave the least is the Ancient Tomb Sect; this morning an ugly old woman brought two jars of honey and one jar of royal jelly, and now……"

"The Ancient Tomb Sect?"

Niu Dingtian froze.

Then he suddenly turned his head, his eyes fixed straight on that woman's face, and pressed: "Is the ugly old woman you mentioned surnamed Sun?" (End of chapter)