Chapter 179: with translation of chapter title

It wasn't long before Fen Tian led Ouyang Ke to the table.

After a while, Ouyang Ke's face had already deflated, but his limping gait made Niu Dingtian slightly surprised.

He remembered that earlier that morning on the main street his slap hadn't landed on the leg, and the fellow was still fine when taken away.

"Useless thing! Still not offering a toast to Niu Dingtian!" Ouyang Feng's face turned ashen as he sternly rebuked Ouyang Ke.

At the same time, he cursed Niu Dingtian in his mind, wondering why he had given away several chests of wealth for free.

"So this is Brother Feng's relative? Indeed a true talent," Huang Lao Xie praised without holding back.

He saw Ouyang Ke in white robes, with a handsome face; if not for the limp, he would have suited his taste.

Yideng also smiled and nodded.

"Hehe—old poison, your nephew really looks just like you; both are true talents."

After Hong Qi took a sip, he glanced at Ouyang Ke, then cast a sideways look at Ouyang Feng, his eyes holding an unfathomable meaning.

Unlike Huang Lao Xie and Yideng, who stay hidden, he was somewhat aware of the rumors spreading outside.

In the verbal sparring with that old poison, he naturally took any advantage he could.

"Old beggar Hong…" Ouyang Feng glared angrily.

"Alright, alright, it was all a misunderstanding; the toast can be skipped," Niu Dingtian said with a smile, changing the subject, as if he had forgotten that he was the one who originally spread the gossip.

He raised his hand to beckon a distant guard and said, "Since Young Master Ouyang is here, eat and drink well, make yourself at home; in a moment we'll go to my elder uncle's table, and he will treat you generously."

After Ouyang Ke limped away with the guard, Niu Dingtian turned to Yideng and laughed,

"As the saying goes, wine and meat pass through the gut, but the Buddha remains in the heart; as long as the Buddha is in one's heart, there's no need to mind drinking or eating meat."

"According to me, it's rare for the Eastern Heretic, Western Venom, Southern Emperor, and Northern Beggar to gather; Master Yideng, why not forgo tea, switch to wine, and get drunk together tonight?"

"This…"

Yideng's face was full of astonishment.

Is there such a saying in the Buddhist sect?

He had never expected that the focus at the table would instantly shift to himself.

"What a perfect saying—wine and meat pass through, the Buddha stays in the heart! As for rites and rules, are they even meant for us?"

Huang Lao Xie heard that and laughed heartily, his expression toward Niu Dingtian becoming much friendlier.

Then, ignoring the glances from nearby guests, he looked at Yideng and laughed, "Since we last partied at Mount Hua over a decade ago, it's rare to reunite; Brother Duan, what's the point of drinking tea yourself? Switch to wine! It must be wine!"

"Brother Duan, you can't decline now," Hong Qi also said with a mischievous grin.

"Old beggar, I spend one year in clean clothes and one year in dirty clothes; if Brother Duan worries about Buddhist rules, then spend one year as a monk with the Buddha, and the next year return to the world to drink with Medicine Brother and us!"

Saying that, he rose, carried a wine jar, and poured wine into the cup before Yideng.

"Then… just this one cup!"

"We've already drunk; one cup is not enough!"

In the end, Yideng couldn't resist the urging of several people and swapped his tea for wine.

Of course, after the first cup came the second, and after the second the pouring continued endlessly.

When the wine was half‑drunk, Niu Dingtian left his seat with Fen Tian and went to the other guests.

For those who managed to come tonight, especially the sects that traveled thousands of miles, he had to give them full respect.

"Niu Dingtian's great name reaches even the far western regions like thunder in the ears; I admire it even more in my heart."

"I toast Niu Dingtian with a cup; feel free. If in the future Niu Dingtian needs any help, the Kunlun Sect will go fire into fire, water into water, and never refuse!"

The speaker was Qing Lingzi, head of the Kunlun Sect, who looked barely past his coming‑of‑age, yet his words greatly surprised Niu Dingtian.

This renowned Kunlun Sect of later generations seemed to be signing up under his name; it looked like I should pay close attention to this youngster.

"Drink together! Drink together! Your sect traveled thousands of miles to attend, giving the Sun‑Moon Divine Sect face; in the future, if you need help, just ask."

Niu Dingtian's face was slightly tipsy, his demeanor without a trace of pretension; the wine cup clinked lightly, and he drank it in one gulp.

He also knew the other party might have a request, but it seemed no difficulty for him.

And at the start, it was the time for the Sun‑Moon Divine Sect to expand its influence, not letting any junior brother slip by.

Qing Lingzi heard that, his heart leapt with joy, having waited for Niu Dingtian's words!

Immediately shaking his drunken head, he clasped his fists and said, "Niu Dingtian, you are righteous! From now on in the western Kunlun, wherever you point, the Kunlun Sect will strike! No questions!"

"Well said, well said,"

Niu Dingtian smiled, patted his junior's shoulder, then left his seat for another table, and only then did he gradually recall who Qing Lingzi was.

Had he not arrived, this Qing Lingzi would have only appeared decades later alongside the Divine Eagle Hero.

"Niu Dingtian! We Mongols have always revered the strong; if you were in Mongolia, you'd be our Batur!"

The speaker was Guo Lei, more precisely Tuo Lei, a robust youth of sixteen or seventeen.

Because he had drunk a lot, Tuo Lei's face was dark with a reddish hue; when Niu Dingtian approached, he quickly rose, greeting him with deep respect.

Seeing this, a girl beside him with sword‑shaped eyebrows, large eyes and a face full of vigor, and a burly man in a black robe also quickly rose.

Hua Zheng and Zhe Bie! "This is my younger sister Guo Zheng, this is my uncle Guo Bie, also the full representative of our Great Khan," Tuo Lei introduced.

"Oh? All surnamed Guo…"

Hearing that, Niu Dingtian's drunken face showed surprise, then he shook his head and said with a smile,

"Coincidentally I have a junior disciple also surnamed Guo, also from the desert, but his dull‑headed, dull‑looking demeanor is unappealing, unlike Brother Guo Lei, who is a true talent."

"Dull‑headed, dull‑looking?" As soon as the words fell, Hua Zheng in front exclaimed in surprise.

Tuo Lei and Zhe Bie, seeing this, their expressions slightly changed, about to speak, Hua Zheng hurriedly asked:

"But is he called Guo Jing?"

"You know?" Niu Dingtian's face showed surprise, he smiled, "That boy has fallen for a Mongolian girl, but because of her family background he is shy to speak, lately he has lost weight, eating and drinking with no appetite. If Miss Guo Zheng knows her, later I'll take you to meet her and help console that boy."

"He likes a Mongolian girl?" Hua Zheng was stunned, then after realizing, her face flushed red, her expression both delighted and shy.

Zhebie and Tuolei exchanged a glance, realizing it was hard to hide their identity, so they clasped fists before Niu Dingtian and apologetically said: "It's actually letting the Sect Master see us laugh; indeed we know each other—we three just arrived in the Central Plains, for convenience we could only adopt Han names, taking our surname from Guo Jing; please forgive our rudeness, Sect Master."

Zhebie also dared not be certain whether Niu Dingtian had already learned their identity; if he had, continuing to conceal would only backfire.

This time heading south, he and Tuolei were aware of the relationship between Guo Jing and Niu Dingtian, but the Great Khan had specially instructed them not to reveal themselves, so they dared not acknowledge each other.

Over the past two days, to avoid meeting, the three have kept a low profile, rarely showing up; even this banquet they disguised themselves considerably, yet they never expected an incident would still occur.

Seeing Niu Dingtian's ambiguous smile, Zhebie hesitated, stepped forward, and whispered:

"Sect Master, do you have time to step aside for a word? The Great Khan still has much to convey through me."

Niu Dingtian's eyes seemed drunken and unfocused; hearing this, he narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled:

"Fine, fine, I didn't expect we're all on the same side. I love making friends with Mongols! Please, enjoy your food and drink; after the banquet I'll have someone summon Brother Zhebie." Hearing this, Tuolei and Zhebie exchanged a glance, both pleased.

Afterwards, Niu Dingtian and the two each drank a cup, then excused themselves and moved to a nearby table.

It seems now that Temujin is indeed trying to win him over very much, just unknown how many benefits he'll offer.

"Sect Master's martial arts impress me greatly." Qiu Qiansei's cheeks flushed; seeing Niu Dingtian approach, she quickly raised her wine cup and, with drunken, hazy eyes, pressed it toward him.

"This is the current chief of the Hunan West Iron Palm Sect, Chief Qiu Qiansei of the Iron Palm Sect." Fen Tian introduced lightly.

Niu Dingtian was startled; his intoxication instantly waned a bit, and he subtly increased the distance.

They have a sworn vendetta to kill each other's brothers! The Iron Palm Sect slaughtered every chicken and dog—this was his pledge back then to Qiu Qianren.

Moreover, Niu Dingtian recalls that he had also promised Qiu Qianren to properly toy with his sister.

"Chief Qiu, you flatter me; the Iron Palm Lotus is famed throughout the jianghu, and indeed its reputation is not undeserved."

As the saying goes, don't strike a smiling face; even in public, Niu Dingtian offered a compliment, though the emotion in his eyes seemed to have faded considerably.

The name Iron Palm Lotus is not without reason; the Qiu Qiansei before us is merely in her prime, yet also a rare beauty of the jianghu.

Niu Dingtian finds it hard to associate her with the old woman who spits date pits.

Seeing a hint of coldness in Niu Dingtian's eyes, Qiu Qiansei also felt slight regret over her earlier gesture.

She only wanted to gamble on the future of the Iron Palm Sect, but forgot that beside him stood a lovely beauty.

"Sect Master, I offer you a cup!"

Thus Qiu Qiansei hastily raised her cup and, with composure, said: "Congratulations, Sect Master, on your sect's flourishing and your divine art advancing another step!"

Having said that, she tipped back her snow-white neck and drained the cup; setting it down, when she looked at Niu Dingtian, her eyes brimmed with tears about to spill.

Niu Dingtian, seemingly unaware, raised his cup and drank; then he chuckled: "Thank you, Chief Qiu, please enjoy; I must take my leave."

Having said that, Niu Dingtian, cup in hand, went with Fen Tian to the next table.

In fact, with his current martial prowess, he could be as aloof as the Five Absolutes, with no need to bother about minor sects and insignificant figures.

However, sometimes bearing is far more effective than fists. Niu Dingtian wants authority, wants the weak to be convinced, wants to be the arbiter of the martial world.

After an hour, the banquet guests gradually dispersed, leaving only the table of the Five Absolutes still continuing in the empty hall.

After a while longer, aside from Ouyang Feng feigning drunkenness by slumped over the table, everyone else was thoroughly intoxicated.

But when Niu Dingtian heard a sentence from the drunken Hong Qigong, his heavy intoxication instantly sobered him halfway.

"What's wrong? After Chief Hong left, you've been absentminded… but… what happened?"

Fen Tian entered the hall carrying a cup of clear tea; the hall was littered with leftover food and debris; after placing the tea before Niu Dingtian, she couldn't help but ask softly.

At this point, the West Poison and North Beggar had already descended the mountain; the East Heretic and South Emperor had gone outside to chat; meanwhile, Niu Dingtian sat alone at the table for a long while.

"Nothing," Niu Dingtian laughed.

He lifted the tea and took a sip; his dry throat felt much relieved.

"Really nothing?"

Fen Tian couldn't help but frown.

Seeing Niu Dingtian's fingertips pressing against his temples while he frowned in thought, she glanced toward the door, hesitated, then slowly walked behind him and placed her slender jade finger on his back.

Niu Dingtian startled, then closed his eyes and relaxed his body to enjoy it.

"Starting tomorrow, take Jiugong Mountain as the main altar, establish secret sub-altars in the south and north, dispatch the original guards of the Sun Moon Mountain Villa to recruit disciples, and do not concentrate them all at Jiugong Mountain." Niu Dingtian instructed with eyes closed.

After tonight's banquet dispersed, the words Hong Qigong spoke under the influence of wine made him feel an unprecedented sense of crisis.

Niu Dingtian also didn't expect the other party to set aside personal grudges to warn him; he felt that, given Hong Qigong's nature, he wouldn't deceive him over such a matter.

Whoosh—

Whoosh—whoosh—

Bang—

Bang bang bang—

Just as Niu Dingtian was still wanting to elaborate a few more sentences, a continuous bang-bang sound came from outside the hall.

It's fireworks.

Moreover, they are various types of fireworks developed by the fireworks artisans of the Divine Sect itself.

Since the idea of establishing the faith in Xiangyang arose, Niu Dingtian has never ceased pouring manpower and resources into researching gunpowder weapons. Rockets, cannons, eruptive firearms—though such gunpowder weapons struggle to play a decisive role in war, they have indeed seen widespread use in today's warfare.

And the Divine Sect's signal fireworks were developed in the process of researching gunpowder weapons.

Since the fireworks had begun, Niu Dingtian no longer felt like speaking further; he thus brought Fen Tian to the drill field before the Doumu Palace.

In the distance, Chen Jin'er had already led Miss Huang and the other ladies, bustling onto the stargazing platform of the Doumu Palace.

Niu Kui also led a large group of mountain guests onto another stargazing platform.

Compared to this side, where ash occasionally falls, the stargazing platform is the best viewing spot regardless of safety or height.

In the night sky, fireworks blazed forth; each bang elicited a cheer from the stargazing platform.

On the drill field, smoke permeated the air, with a constant whooshing sound; the ground was thickly covered with fireworks barrels, and at intervals guards would rush through to light the fuses, then quickly withdraw.

Niu Dingtian stared, entranced; this seemed like a scene he had only seen in his previous life, and without realizing it, his steps drew nearer.

Perhaps because they saw Niu Dingtian's figure, Yi Deng and Huang Lao Xie also came over not long after.

"Why doesn't Layman Niu go up to the Observation Platform?"

Yi Deng's face was still slightly flushed from drink; after walking over here, he only then saw that Niu Dingtian and Huang Lao Xie were just a few steps away from the fireworks littering the ground, and despite their profound martial arts, they couldn't help but worry that the dense fireworks might suddenly explode.

Niu Dingtian heard this, only then noticing the pungent smell of nitre, smoke filling the air ahead, while behind him, Burning Heaven had somehow also followed.

"What do you think one can feel most being here?" Niu Dingtian suddenly turned and asked Master Yi Deng.

At this moment, a loud rumbling continued above their heads, a buzzing rang in their ears, and thus their words also carried inner strength.

Hearing this, Yi Deng and Huang Lao Xie both startled, and even Burning Heaven beside them couldn't help but look toward the arena.

"Family happiness?" Yi Deng hesitated.

Niu Dingtian smiled, raised his hand and pointed forward: "It's warfire!"

"Who knows which of these flower buckets might suddenly explode toward you, making it impossible to guard against."

"I happen to be able to feel the sensation of warfire in advance here!"

"We..."

"We're also about to go to war!" (End of chapter)