Chapter 172: Kid, you don't accept?

Inside Xiangyang City.

The city's blue‑stone main street bustled with noise and clamor, voices roaring like a flowing Song‑dynasty painting.

Since the Mount Hua sword debate twenty years ago, there has been no grand martial‑arts event in the jianghu.

But tomorrow is not only the day of the Sun Moon Divine Sect's founding ceremony; it is also the day the martial‑arts assembly's combat rankings begin.

At this time, heroes and wanderers from the jianghu flooded the city, teahouses and taverns overflowed, and the sounds of fist‑games and clinking cups rose and fell, making it exceedingly lively.

"Steamed buns—"

"Selling watermelons~"

"Watermelons from Bianliang……"

……

Under Niu Kui's guidance, Niu Dingtian squeezed through the surging crowd, weaving along the noisy blue‑stone road.

Just after passing a tavern, they suddenly heard loud shouting and cheers ahead; looking far off, they saw a huge crowd gathered, not knowing what they were watching.

"Sect Leader, Mr. Mu and his daughter are inside right now; as for lodging, it seems the inn's rooms are scarce and they haven't found a place yet." Niu Kui stopped, pointed ahead, and whispered to Niu Dingtian.

The spot he pointed to was exactly where the crowd had just been gathered and cheering.

At that moment, hearing there was lively entertainment nearby, not only the guests in the adjacent inns and taverns but also those inside leaned out their heads from the windows.

Even many distant merchants and porters who were busy put down their work, tiptoed, and began to stare.

"Go back first, and remember not to mention this to anyone." Niu Dingtian stared ahead, thoughtful, then spoke lightly.

"Yes!" Niu Kui cupped his fist, turned, and hurried away.

After he left, Niu Dingtian stood still in place, his gaze involuntarily fixing on the half‑visible banner in the crowd ahead.

Could it be a martial‑arts marriage contest?

Niu Dingtian thought silently.

He remembered the girl he had seen on the road that morning; she looked only about fourteen or fifteen.

But……

It also happened to be the age of her coming‑of‑age.

In that case, the affair that was supposed to take place in Daxing Prefecture had been moved forward several years onto his own turf?

"Sir?"

While he was pondering, a timid greeting suddenly reached his ear; turning his head, he saw it was the young vendor beside him.

Meeting his gaze, the vendor's face flushed with embarrassment; after reacting, he hurriedly pointed at his stall and gave an apologetic smile, saying:

"How about……"

"You… you take a look at the masks?"

He spoke with little confidence.

It turned out that Niu Dingtian standing in front of the stall was slightly hindering his customer‑calling, but seeing that even a mere attendant earlier had been armed and bore an extraordinary aura, he assumed the great sect leader Niu was some noble dignitary and dared not offend him.

One must admit, with such perceptiveness he'd surely not have his stall smashed anywhere on this street.

Seeing this, Niu Dingtian understood at once and tossed a broken silver piece onto the stall.

Then he picked up a rabbit mask, put it on his face, and without looking back walked toward the noisy crowd.

"Sir!!!"

"I haven't given you change yet!" the vendor, realizing, hurriedly waved at the retreating figure.

"Consider it a reward!"

…………

"Sure enough, it's him!"

After pushing into the crowd, the rabbit‑masked Niu Dingtian came face‑to‑face with Yang Tiexin; compared with the brief glance earlier that morning on the mountain path, he now saw him much more clearly.

He was thick‑waisted and broad‑shouldered, of stalwart build, and between his brows one could still discern the familiar look from over a decade ago.

Only his back was slightly hunched, his temples flecked with white, his face covered in wrinkles, and even his clothes bore many patches.

Beside him on the ground stood a planted banner: white background with red flowers, embroidered with the four golden characters "Martial‑Arts Marriage Contest" — exactly the half‑banner he had glimpsed outside earlier.

By contrast, Mu Nianci, who was currently exchanging punches and kicks with a fellow in the arena, was dressed far more splendidly.

Her morning plain attire had been changed into a set of bright red garments; the vivid color alone showed they were newly bought.

As for the sudden appearance of the rabbit‑masked young master Niu Dingtian, the onlookers undoubtedly turned sideways, pointing and whispering.

Even Mu Nianci, engaged in combat in the arena, couldn't help but glance over quickly.

But the next moment, the crowd was drawn back by the splendid fight.

"Good! Good kung fu!"

At the perilous moments, the surrounding spectators burst into applause.

One must admit, although their exchange seemed like child's play to Niu Dingtian's eyes, Mu Nianci's every move followed proper form; among ordinary martial artists her skill was still not weak.

The final outcome left no doubt; within less than half an hour of Niu Dingtian's arrival, with a thump the man in the arena was thrown out.

"Eh~ eh~ Who would've thought he's just a showy spear‑wielding weak‑legged fool! Looks good but useless~"

"Exactly! Could it be that all his strength went into his wife? Or maybe the girls from Qunyu Courtyard drained him dry? Ah!"

"Hurry back and catch a big turtle to replenish yourself!"

"Hahaha~"

……

Hearing the mocking remarks around her, Mu Nianci's cheeks flushed slightly; she performed a jianghu salute to all sides, brushed her hair, and then retreated to beneath the flagpole.

Standing there with bright eyes and white teeth, graceful and poised, the banner fluttering in the wind and her brilliant red robe only made the girl look strikingly beautiful.

Niu Dingtian therefore glanced at her a few more times.

At this moment, Yang Tiexin, who was beside Mu Nianci, stepped forward, made a four‑corner bow to the crowd, and shouted loudly:

"My surname is Mu, given name Yi, a native of Shandong. Passing through your land, I seek neither fame nor profit, only to look for a friend…"

Speaking so, Yang Tiexin extended his palm, pointed at the iron spear and two short iron halberds beneath the brocade banner, and continued:

"And a youthful old friend!"

"Because my little daughter this year has just come of age, not yet betrothed, and she once made a vow: she does not care how rich her husband is, only that he be a man of outstanding martial skill, so she daringly entered the martial‑match marriage contest."

"Anyone present who is about twenty years old, still unmarried, and can best my daughter with a punch or a kick, I will promise her to him. Of course, if he is from Shandong or the Two Zhe regions, that would be even better."

At this point, Yang Tiexin paused, then added: "Xiangyang is a land of hidden tigers and dragons, and with a grand martial gathering, there must be many heroes and gentlemen. If my actions are reckless, I ask you all to be forgiving!"

Having said that, he threw a heavy, clenched fist.

But after the explanation, perhaps because everyone had witnessed Mu Nianci's formidable fists and kicks, they waited for a long time; aside from a few people making snide jokes and commenting, no one dared to step forward and fight.

It was now near noon, the high sun growing ever more scorching, and seeing no more excitement here, gradually many people began to disperse.

Just as Niu Dingtian was waiting for Yang Tiexin and his daughter to announce the end of the event, then looking for a chance to approach, an unwary person suddenly appeared.

"I'm coming!"

Someone outside the crowd shouted.

The voice was very familiar; before the person arrived, that single shout already let Niu Dingtian recognize who it was.

Sure enough—

A figure in white, wielding a folding fan, leapt in with a graceful, unhurried stride, landed in the arena and stood still; at a glance, it could only be Ouyang Ke, that flamboyant scoundrel.

Moreover, as if noticing something, Niu Dingtian slightly raised his head and glanced to a spot, where Ouyang Feng sat expressionlessly on the second floor of a tavern, drinking alone by a window.

Seeing Ouyang Ke, Niu Dingtian's mouth couldn't help but curl into a slight smile.

Earlier this morning in the bamboo forest, apart from Ouyang Feng, no one expected that fellow to have slipped in secretly.

But before he could appear, he was knocked out by a stone the man casually tossed.

The original plan was to bring it back up the mountain to study that troublesome Liu Yang Divine Skill, but I carelessly left the bamboo forest and Ouyang Feng slipped in and rescued it.

In the arena—

Seeing the newcomer unabashedly scrutinize his daughter and, after a long pause, not announce his name, Yang Tiexin's face darkened slightly; he stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said gravely: "My surname is Mu, may I ask what instruction you have, young master?"

"What instruction?"

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke gave Mu Nianci a slight smile, slowly withdrew his gaze, and said cheerfully: "My household still lacks a female disciple; I think your daughter would be suitable."

As he spoke, with a clack he unfolded his folding fan, gently fanned it, and walked toward Mu Nianci beneath the flagpole.

Hearing this, the onlookers were momentarily stunned, but the next moment erupted into booming laughter:

"Hahaha~ Our young master here really knows how to have fun..."

"Exactly, it's a wealthy family; the atmosphere in the hall left me stunned for a while."

That explanation didn't matter; it instantly made many who were just going along without understanding suddenly see the hidden meaning.

Thus, the surroundings became lively again.

At this moment, although most of the teasing came from the crowd, they were mainly wandering martial folk and some rough men.

Besides them, there were not‑young married women covering their faces while pointing and whispering, and a few elderly scholars stroking their beards and glaring, looking mournful at the declining morals of the world.

"You! —"

"Shameless scoundrel!"

Hearing the remarks, Mu Nianci, fully aware of the humiliation, flushed scarlet, shouted an angry rebuke, raised her eyebrows, tore off the cloak she had just put on, and moved forward to strike.

Seeing this, Yang Tiexin hurriedly grabbed his daughter, suppressed his fury, and looked at Ouyang Ke, saying in a deep voice:

"My daughter is participating in a martial‑match marriage, not seeking a master! Young master, perhaps you should choose another outstanding disciple!"

Saying so, he pulled his daughter back behind him.

This action was not cowardly or deceitful; the lesson from a rash anger over a decade ago still lingered, and ten years of wandering had taught him restraint.

At this point, the surrounding onlookers seemed to have had enough; jokes aside, though the young master was in a laughing crowd, it was indeed unkind to this destitute father‑daughter pair.

Thus, most began to speak up in defense:

"Exactly, this is a martial‑match marriage venue; if the young master wants to take a female disciple, there are plenty of candidates in the Qunyu Courtyard."

"Right! Everyone came to watch the martial‑match marriage, not to see you conduct a disciple‑recruiting ceremony!"

"Young master! I have a daughter who is quite sturdy; everyone says she's a fine martial seed. If you don't mind, perhaps you could take her?"

"Hahaha~"

…

And so,

More and more people interrupted.

Originally, everyone saw Ouyang Ke's distinguished attire and were hesitant to offend him, but his accent revealed he was not a local.

Moreover, this place is Xiangyang, where the city enforces strict rules against unsanctioned weapons and bloodshed, so they could push this outsider around as they wished.

Thus, Ouyang Ke's graceful demeanor seemed to vanish; before he even reached Mu Nianci, anger already colored his face.

Not to mention the earlier verbal jostling; just now that man said he was looking for a girl, then claimed he was looking for a 'fan head'—what does that even mean?

Thinking of this, Ouyang Ke's expression cooled; with his uncle nearby and the Niu family far on the Nine‑Palace Mountain outside the city, he wasn't afraid of anyone in Xiangyang.

He immediately snorted coldly, then with a clack he folded his fan, exuded a threatening aura, glanced sideways at the crowd, and arrogantly hummed:

"Which law forbids taking a disciple and also taking a wife? Or taking a wife and not taking a disciple? Since this is a martial‑match marriage stage, as long as I win, I can claim both the bride and the disciple—it's the same thing!"

"Anyone here who disagrees, feel free to step up and spar with me!"

Saying that, Ouyang Ke pressed down with one foot, unleashing a burst of fierce qi that instantly radiated outward from his foot, cracking the ground within a one‑foot radius into a web of fissures.

Seeing this, the crowd gasped in horror; the next moment, the once‑crowded assembly scattered, with most fleeing in an instant.

Strangely, they did not flee in all directions.

On one hand they desperately ran toward the same direction; on the other hand they shouted loudly, "Go report to the authorities! Someone's fighting in Xiangyang City! First to arrive gets one tael of silver!"

Upon hearing that,

Ouyang Ke's face instantly darkened.

Those who mustered the courage to stay, although they kept retreating, stopped in astonishment at a distance of only three or four zhang.

Anyway, we haven't seen blood yet—what a waste not to watch the excitement!

Not only did they want to watch Ouyang Ke in the arena, but the crowd also kept pointing and staring at the masked Niu Dingtian.

It turned out that the crowd's continual retreat had directly exposed Niu Dingtian, this rabbit-faced young master, in plain sight.

Based solely on his position, there's no doubt he's the one who's unwilling to yield.

Thus, Ouyang Ke, with a darkened face and a disdainful gaze, naturally shifted his eyes onto Niu Dingtian and said coldly:

"Kid, you won't submit?"

Saying that, a flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes as he slowly advanced toward Niu Dingtian.

Niu Dingtian couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

He hadn't expected Ouyang Ke's martial arts to improve so quickly; the strength of that single kick earlier was already not inferior to that of one who had just entered the Grandmaster realm.

The Six Yang Divine Art was indeed fated with him.

Just as everyone was anticipating how Niu Dingtian would react, in the next instant several phantom figures flashed past before their eyes.

"Pa~"

A crisp sound,

suddenly rang out.

Then they saw the formerly arrogant Ouyang Ke smash directly onto the flagpole of the "martial arts marriage contest".

Before he could hit the ground—

"Courting death!!"

Amidst the crowd's stunned silence, a ferocious angry shout from afar boomed like a thunderclap.

Everyone felt a buzzing in their heads.

Soon after, a sharp whistling sound of tearing air rushed over, and a snake-shaped iron staff, as if weighing ten thousand catties, shot swiftly from a tavern window toward Niu Dingtian in the arena. (End of chapter)