Chapter 19: August 8th, Founding a Sect

The elder of a generation perishes here!

He also brings along a branch chief of the Henan branch.

The white‑clad woman beside him is also quite astonished; it isn't that she cannot do it, but the fact that this young boy can execute the move at his age is truly terrifying.

The little girl perched on the leg, who had been bowing her head and hadn't heard any movement, lifted her head just in time to see the big brother beside her slap the ground, causing a branch to spring up and then fly away.

Then she stared over with a face full of admiration, unable even to mind the rabbit meat in her hand.

Han Xiao Ying saw this; her pale, pretty face showed no surprise—inner skill, lightness skill, swordsmanship, it seemed this person excelled at everything. Then she stared blankly, dazed, at Niu Dingtian's profile.

Liu, the branch chief, lying on the ground clutching his wound, could not even attend to the pain in his right shoulder, staring blankly at the place of the wail, stunned; when he came to, his mind was in turmoil, and suddenly a feeling of sorrow for others' misfortune arose.

Someone whose status is second only to the chief!

To die like this, one can imagine the upheaval it will cause in the Beggar Sect; the brothers within the sect will certainly not let it go.

But that person's unfathomable power—perhaps only Hong Qi Gong appearing could stand against it; no one within the sect can resist.

In the end, dying at the hands of an outsider, regardless of who was right or wrong before, even if there were faults, the sect's rules would handle it; there is no room for outsiders to intervene.

This is the jianghu!

"Are you scared?"

Seeing that person still staring off outside the temple, Niu Dingtian temporarily set aside his plan to feed rabbit meat to Han Xiao Ying and asked softly.

Liu, the branch chief, after hearing the voice, slowly came to his senses but remained silent.

Indeed, I am scared.

It's not that I'm afraid this person will kill me; if they intended to kill me, they wouldn't have stepped in at the crucial moment to save me.

I only fear that the brothers within the sect will sacrifice their lives for monsters like Peng Zhanglao and Chen, the branch chief, dying in vain.

"Are you afraid that members of the Beggar Sect will seek me out to die?"

Seeing that Liu, the branch chief, still remained silent, Niu Dingtian voiced what was in his mind.

"Young hero, your martial arts are extraordinary; aside from Hong Qi Gong, I have scarcely seen such skill in my life, and I have no face to speak of avenging the rogue within the sect."

"But…"

"Even if I keep the information secret, I'm afraid the sect's eyes cannot be fooled; eventually they will still find you, young hero, and you will die in vain."

Liu, the branch chief, after hearing this, responded, his face full of pain, and by the end, a few hot tears welled in his eyes.

"Continue!"

Niu Dingtian said nothing, but took out a bottle of golden ulcer medicine and tossed it to the other side.

After the other applied it, he murmured softly:

"No problem, I'm not a bloodthirsty person; as long as they don't come to die, I won't act. If anyone seeks an unpleasant end, I won't show mercy."

Having said that, he stood up, walked slowly toward Liu, the branch chief, and continued:

"Of course, I've long heard that the Dragon Subduing 18 Palms shake the world."

"If the Northern Beggar Hong Qi Gong also wishes to be judged, I would be very eager to witness the power of the Five Top Martial Arts of the World!"

He concluded with a bold, earth‑shaking proclamation.

Liu, the branch chief, seeing that the man before him was not yet twenty‑one, yet his martial prowess was unfathomable and he uttered such lofty words, felt bewildered, as if his forty‑plus years had been spent inside an old dog.

The girl behind him listened, her eyes sparkling; having heard her master say the Five Top Martial Arts of the World are the five strongest people under heaven, she thought this big brother was amazing, unafraid even of the Five Top, and handsome, but she would have to leave with her master at dawn; thinking of that, the rabbit meat in her hand no longer smelled good.

"Branch chief Liu, do you know why I saved you?"

Niu Dingtian looked over and asked again.

Seeing the other hesitate without answering, he spoke to himself:

"I may not be a villain, but I don't consider myself a good person; what Liu, the branch chief did today, if the roles were reversed, I cannot say I would certainly risk my life for someone unrelated."

"But that does not stop me from admiring someone like Liu, the branch chief, who has great righteousness in his heart—yes, great righteousness! It's said that righteousness does not bow to power nor seek profit, and that describes someone like Liu."

Liu, the branch chief, upon hearing this, felt a slight warmth in his heart; though the two were nearly twenty years apart in age, he now felt a kindred spirit.

Then, as he continued at a leisurely pace, he said:

"However, being in the jianghu, one cannot act freely; people of the jianghu cannot escape the word 'profit'—whether for fame, wealth, or power. Liu, the branch chief's actions today, though driven by righteousness, cannot be free of profit!"

"Today, the elder and the branch chief of your sect have all perished, leaving only Liu, the branch chief, alive. With the conflict between the pure and impure factions intensifying, and Hong Qi Gong missing for years, Liu's return this time will surely not be calm and peaceful!"

Liu, the branch chief, heard this and his eyes flickered.

He had already anticipated this, but was unwilling to admit it; seeing Niu Dingtian speak directly to his face, he could not deny it, and before he could say anything, Niu continued:

"If, on your way, you are pressured by petty thugs, which the sect cannot tolerate, and if you don't mind, you may go to Lin'an City, to the Sun‑Moon Villa by West Lake, to find me. If I'm not there, just give my name."

"I am Niu Dingtian, the master of Sun‑Moon Villa," he said, then smiled and bowed his hand to Liu, as if no one else were around.

"I am Liu Fengchun, the branch chief of the Beggar Sect's Hubei branch."

Liu Fengchun, upon hearing, struggled to rise, raised his hand and loudly returned the greeting; his breath was still sufficient, and his injuries seemed not severe.

"I understand Master Niu's intention; it's an honor that you regard my modest skills. However, I am a member of the Beggar Sect and cannot act against the sect. Today's matter, seen by both you and me, is already a shame for the Beggar Sect; I will not utter a single word about it."

"Even if, in the future, I cannot tolerate brothers within the sect, Master Niu is still just one person, while the Beggar Sect has over ten thousand disciples; it would not be appropriate to bring trouble upon Master Niu!"

Liu Fengchun, also a sincere man, after hearing Niu Dingtian's heartfelt words, also voiced his thoughts.

Niu Dingtian was not surprised; he turned his back that had been turned away, and slowly asked Liu Fengchun, gazing into his eyes:

"Branch chief Liu, what do you think defines a hero?"

Seeing Liu Fengchun contemplate, before he could answer, Niu shouted:

"If the nation prospers and the people are at peace, then the greatest hero serves the country and the people!"

"If the court is unsettled, then one must uphold justice and act on behalf of Heaven!"

"If the realm is shattered, then one must drive out the barbarians and restore China!"

"This! is the hero in my heart!"

He then turned his back again, stared at the Buddha statue, and shouted loudly:

"I, Niu Dingtian! I intend, two years from now on the eighth day of the eighth month, to establish a sect on Jiugong Mountain outside Xiangyang City! At that time I will widely invite the Five Top Martial Arts of the World and the great heroes of the martial world to attend the grand gathering!"

"By then, fellow practitioners will be under my robe's protection; a petty Beggar Sect—what fear is there?"

Upon hearing it, the temple fell silent!

If there are typos or scrambled sentences, please point them out.

(End of chapter)