Chapter 191

Soon after, dense footsteps were heard coming from the small path ahead; then everyone turned toward the sound.

Lu Chengfeng still wore the attire of a scholar, his face gaunt, seated in a wheelchair, pushed by his son Lu Guan Ying as he approached.

On the left, Mei Chaofeng wore all black, her hair disheveled, her complexion deathly pale; on the right, Liang Ziweng carried a bamboo basket on his back, glancing around timidly.

When Lu Chengfeng's gaze swept over and landed on Huang Lao Xie, the smile on his face froze instantly.

The next moment, forgetting his disabled legs, he trembled and suddenly stood up.

It didn't matter if he stood; upon standing, he realized his lower limbs were powerless and he collapsed straight to the ground.

"Father! Father! Are you all right?" Lu Guan Ying exclaimed, rushing over to support him.

"Master, Master!!!"

Lu Chengfeng shoved his son aside, unable to hold back a sob, tears streaming as he crawled toward Huang Lao Xie.

Mei Chaofeng, hearing this beside him, turned pale with shock and fear, instinctively wanting to flee.

But as she lifted her foot, she recalled how that person had once cared for and accompanied her, hand‑in‑hand teaching her music, chess, calligraphy and painting; she could not help but drop to her knees, sobbing, "Master!!"

What's going on? Seeing this scene, everyone except Niu Dingtian, who watched impassively, stared in astonishment at Huang Lao Xie.

Miss Huang's bright eyes lit up; she leaned in and whispered, "Father, is this Senior Brother Lu and Senior Sister Mei?"

That night she had hidden herself on the roof of Guiyun Manor, her back to Lu Chengfeng, so she never got a clear look at his face.

Moreover, Mei Chaofeng at that time had disheveled hair and it was dark, so she could not see him as clearly as now.

Huang Lao Xie ignored his precious daughter, his face stern as he stepped forward.

He glanced at Lu Chengfeng, then fixed his gaze on Mei Chaofeng and snorted, "You still have the nerve to call me Master?"

Hearing the sound, Mei Chaofeng could no longer restrain herself; she crawled over, clasped Huang Lao Xie's legs, and wept, "Master, I know I was wrong—answer me with a single word, and strike me dead with one palm."

"If I could just hear you answer once, I'd die happy. Master, I'm sorry to you, and to the master's wife—Master, Master…"

She cried and cried, then reached out, seized Huang Lao Xie's right hand, and gently shook it.

Back when she was a young girl, she often acted this way, coquettishly pleading with her master, and he would usually comply.

In an instant, Huang Lao Xie felt a stir in his heart.

Thinking that he had long been free of anger, he could not help but sigh and said, "Everyone, rise."

Mei Chaofeng was overjoyed, continuously kowtowing; meanwhile Lu Chengfeng, tears streaming, kept pounding his head on the ground, making Niu Dingtian's eyelids twitch wildly.

Without Miss Huang, whether these two fellows rebel or not is merely a matter of Old Master Tai's single word.

His gaze fell on Lu Guan Ying behind him, and Niu Dingtian's heart stirred, his eyes flickering slightly.

Young people are reliable, hot‑blooded, and malleable; it seems we'll have to properly train this lad when we turn back.

As Mei Chaofeng was still kowtowing, she suddenly thought of something, gave a foolish smile, took out a book from her bosom, presented it with both hands, and said, "Master, I have always carried this book with me; my eyes are blind now, I can no longer see, and I wish only to return it to you."

Huang Lao Xie reached out to take it, staring at the characters on the cover, lost in thought.

The entire scripture, including the cover lettering, was written by his beloved wife's own hand.

Had I not been bewitched back then, how could I have caused a permanent separation between husband and wife?

Huang Lao Xie put away the scripture and sighed slowly: "This *Nine Yin Classic* has brought suffering to many. The martial arts recorded in the lower volume are meant for people to break. You and Xuan Feng, unaware, truly practiced them, endured great hardship, and even if you succeeded, the later techniques would still break you one by one."

"The principle lies in studying the upper volume; once understood, you'll see. The techniques you practice—Nine Yin White Bone Claw, Heart‑Destroying Palm, Horizontal Training, White Serpent Whip—are fundamentally useless. If they were useful, Xuan Feng would not have been killed by a child."

After a pause, Huang Lao Xie fixed his gaze on the disciple's tightly closed blind eyes, pondered, and said, "From now on you shall stay at Junior Brother Lu's manor; do not wander the jianghu anymore. Your eyes are ruined—going out would only invite bullying."

Mei Chaofeng heard the care and concern in her master's words, wanted to burst into tears, but finally bit her lip and murmured without replying.

"What? You don't want to hear my words again?" Huang Lao Xie's face darkened slightly, his tone turning cold.

Niu Dingtian sensed trouble, quickly took up the conversation, and laughed, "Miss Mei earlier said she wanted to join my Divine Sect; since Elder Uncle forbids it, let's just drop the matter."

He had never imagined he would become so entangled with Huang Lao Xie; after all, back then Lu Chengfeng and Mei Chaofeng submitted to him only because they were cowed by his threats.

Hearing the voice, Mei Chaofeng's face froze; she kowtowed to Huang Lao Xie and said, "Master, I dare not disobey your words. Earlier this person told me to work for him in the future, promising to transmit the Nine Yin Classic to me, cure my eyes, and let me accompany Junior Brother Lu to Jiugong Mountain to find him."

Mei Chaofeng, too, was sharp‑minded; upon hearing Niu Dingtian's address, she realized the word 'coerce' would never be spoken aloud.

Otherwise, given her master's temperament, there would surely be another bout of fighting today.

Huang Lao Xie's eyes flickered, his gaze landing on Niu Dingtian's face, about to speak, when Miss Huang pouted and said:

"Father! What are you trying to do?"

Huang Lao Xie's expression stalled, his eye twitched, and he said sternly, "Help your senior sister up."

Then he looked at Lu Chengfeng, his expression softened, and said, "Everyone, rise—Chaofeng, Chengfeng, the two of you—I will today re‑accept you as my disciples."

Miss Huang stuck out her tongue, went over to help Mei Chaofeng up, and Lu Guan Ying also helped his father to his feet.

The two performed three bows anew; overjoyed, they could not help but sob.

One Lamp saw this, smiled and clasped his hands, saying, "Congratulations, Brother Yao, on gaining a fine disciple."

Niu Dingtian's eyes flickered, and he also smiled, clasping his hands: "Congratulations, Uncle, on taking on another fine disciple."

Huang Lao Xie sighed, said nothing more, his gaze falling on Lu Chengfeng, and spoke gently: "Chengfeng, you are fine—rise quickly. Back then I was too hasty and wrongly blamed you."

Hearing this, Lu Chengfeng choked up and said, "It is all because this disciple was foolish back then and offended the master. How have you been all these years, sir?"

"At least I haven't been angered to death." Huang Lao Xie sighed; Miss Huang, all smiles, stepped forward and said with a grin, "Father, you're not talking about me, are you?"

"You have a share too." Huang Lao Xie glanced askance and gave a soft snort.

Miss Huang stuck out her tongue, hopped two steps to Niu Dingtian's side, and once again affectionately linked arms with him.

Lu Chengfeng's eyes suddenly brightened.

Just as he was about to exchange greetings, Huang Lao Xie pointed at Lu Guan Ying and asked, "Is this your son?"

"Yes." Lu Chengfeng replied.

"Grandson pays respects to the Grand Master." Without waiting for his father's order, Lu Guan Ying rushed forward and respectfully kowtowed three times.

Huang Lao Xie did not bend to help him up; suddenly he lifted his left hand to Lu Guan Ying's back and struck his shoulder with his right palm.

Lu Chengfeng was greatly startled, hastily crying out, "Master, this disciple has only this one son!"

Huang Lao Xie's palm strike packed considerable force; after being hit on the shoulder, Lu Guanying staggered, retreated seven or eight steps, then fell flat on his back, yet suffered no injury whatsoever, and stood up dazedly.

Huang Lao Xie's expression eased slightly as he looked at Lu Chengfeng and said, "You've done well, not passing on your skills to him. Is this child a disciple of the Immortal Rosy Clouds Sect?"

Lu Chengfeng let out a breath, only then realizing his master was testing his son's martial arts lineage, and hastily replied, "Disciple dare not violate the sect's rules; without the master's permission, I would never dare to pass on the master's arts. Guanying has indeed become a disciple of Withered Wood Grand Master of the Immortal Rosy Clouds Sect."

Huang Lao Xie gave a cold snort and said, "Withered Wood's paltry skills hardly deserve the title of grand master. What you've learned surpasses his by a hundredfold; starting tomorrow, you shall teach your son yourself. The martial arts of the Immortal Rosy Clouds Sect aren't even fit to hand us our shoes."

Lu Chengfeng was overjoyed, about to order his son to give thanks, but then seemed to recall something, bowed to Huang Lao Xie, and said anxiously, "Please forgive me, Master; without your permission, I have already had Guanying join the Sun and Moon Divine Sect."

Huang Lao Xie raised his brows, glanced at Niu Dingtian, and suddenly fell silent.

After a long while, his gaze fell upon Miss Huang, and he sighed, "We're all family; if you've joined, then join. But since you've entered another sect, you must be strict with yourself and not disgrace the reputation of Peach Blossom Island."

As soon as he spoke, Miss Huang's face blossomed into a smile; she flung herself into his embrace, clasped his neck, and happily said, "Father, from now on Rong'er will always be obedient, and will heed your words until death."

"Grandson thanks the ancestral master for his fulfillment." Lu Guanying then respectfully kowtowed three times.

Seeing his daughter act coquettish and pliable, Huang Lao Xie's mood brightened; a rare smile appeared on his stern face as he said, "Come on, get up."

After Lu Guanying rose, everyone's eyes naturally fell upon the white-haired, youthful-faced Liang Ziyong.

Liang Ziyong's heart jolted; he hurriedly took down the wooden stand, placed it on the ground, clasped his hands, and apologetically asked, "May I ask which of you is Venerable Shi?"

Niu Dingtian walked forward with a calm expression, offering no reply. Earlier Mei Chaofeng had already exposed him; this old fellow was still feigning ignorance despite knowing the truth.

Under Liang Ziyong's uneasy gaze, Niu Dingtian lifted the gray cloth covering the bamboo basket and saw inside a coiled giant snake, its entire body crimson red.

The peculiarity lay in the skull's slight protrusion, giving a semblance of a dragon-in-the-making, quite similar in appearance to the Bodhisattva Curved Snake found in the Snake Valley.

Niu Dingtian nodded in satisfaction and said, "From now on, stay on the mountain to raise snakes for the sect leader, nurturing spiritual strains. If you succeed, the secret manuals of divine arts will be at your disposal, allowing you to roam the martial world unhindered; if you fail, you may go see Sha Tongtian yourself."

Speaking, he waved to the distant guards, saying, "Take him away and settle him properly; do not neglect him."

Upon imagining Sha Tongtian's grim fate, Liang Ziyong shuddered, hastily clasped his fists, and said, "Understood, sir."

After Liang Ziyong left, Lu Chengfeng glanced at his master Huang Lao Xie, then clasped his hands toward Niu Dingtian and said solemnly:

"Let Junior Brother Niu know that the Taihu water bandits, after completing reforms and expanding their ranks in June of the year before last, have undergone over a year of training and now possess fifty warships and over nine thousand troops."

"Although the court has sent troops several times this year to encircle and suppress them, following your sect's wishes they have not engaged directly, but avoided the enemy's sharp edge, hiding their forces in the lake; consequently, the official troops' encirclement efforts have come to nothing."

Upon hearing this, Niu Dingtian's sword brows twitched slightly; he looked surprised at Fen Tian, who gave him a slight nod.

Earlier, the individuals sent to Taihu to train troops and absorb the water bandits were several trusted confidants who regularly reported to Chen Jin'er.

Later, after Fen Tian became vice‑leader of the Divine Sect, most situations would also be reported to her.

Yet Niu Dingtian truly did not expect that, in just over a year, his subordinates would actually muster a water force of nearly ten thousand.

Not only was he astonished; Yideng and Huang Lao Xie exchanged a glance, and after their surprise came sudden realization.

If the Taihu water bandits were merely petty troublemakers, the court would naturally pay them no heed. However, Taihu borders the Yangtze River to the north and lies beside the Qiantang River to the south; turning southward, a few steps lead straight to Lin'an.

You hid an army of nearly ten thousand right at their doorstep—no wonder they've come slaughtering to your gate. As long as they kill you, this chief, those lingering stubborn ailments will naturally be cured.

Niu Dingtian took one look at the two men's expressions, pondered briefly, and also came to some understanding.

After a moment's contemplation, he turned his head toward Fen Tian, uncaring of any onlookers, and said, "Since we've done it, we might as well go all out."

"Issue orders to the brothers below: they need not be confined to Taihu or Taihang alone. In any suitable mountainous or lacustrine locale in the north or south, they may disperse to recruit able‑bodied volunteers and form units."

"Henceforth, every six months we will select a batch of core members to return to Jiugong Mountain for collective training in the arts, ensuring absolute loyalty. When the wind rises, the whole force must be able to ignite a prairie fire!"

"Are you really going to rebel?" As soon as the words left his mouth, Huang Lao Xie stared fixedly, his thick brows slightly furrowed.

Niu Dingtian shook his head, an inexplicable light in his eyes, and spoke softly: "I lack a sense of security. No matter how high one's martial arts, not everyone will know or fear them. Should we happen upon an emperor who is blind to reason, with a whole family in tow, we may sometimes find ourselves unable to reach far enough."

"A smile bears might; power is supreme. Others fear it and dare not offend. For now I seek only self‑establishment and self‑preservation; as long as Zhao Kuo's lad does not provoke me, he may remain his emperor. When the moment ripens, I will undertake my Northern Expedition."

Huang Lao Xie moved his lips, as if he still wanted to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Niu Dingtian knew his actions seemed to be breaking through the bottom line in this old Tai Shan's heart.

We had agreed to defend Xiangyang and resist the Jin, yet the outcome was the seizure of Jinghu's strategic stronghold. Now we must further gather and call forth from every mountain and lake, openly recruiting volunteers.

And yet you claim you won't rebel?

Niu Dingtian chuckled and asked, "Uncle, do you still recall that before leaving Peach Blossom Island, you once said you held loyal ministers and filial sons in highest esteem, that the great virtue of loyalty and filiality lies not in ritual law?"

Huang Lao Xie remained silent, nodding slightly.

Niu Dingtian's expression eased slightly as he said, "In my youth I studied the Confucian teachings thoroughly, and I know well that the meaning of loyalty and filiality is precisely what today's rites prescribe. Since you regard loyalty and filiality as the supreme virtue, why then do you despise ritual law, and why did you back then shout the slogan of rebelling and killing the emperor?"

"It seems your understanding of loyalty and filiality differs from that of present‑day ritual law. If so, then this 'loyalty' means loyalty to the nation, to Huaxia, not to a decayed, corrupt court. Hence, as long as Han people hold power, you need not worry whether I oppose or support the Zhao Song imperial house."

Sophistry!

Huang Lao Xie, exceedingly sharp, instantly sensed upon hearing this that the youth was trying to force a conceptual swap on him.

Yet upon careful consideration, he found it somewhat reasonable, and his mind was no longer as torn as before.

At that moment, guard Niu Qian'er of the inner courtyard approached the group, clasped her fists before Niu Dingtian, and said, "Sect Leader, the mistress has prepared several sets of ceremonial attire and summons you to come try them on for size."

Niu Dingtian nodded, his gaze falling on Mei Chaofeng, and mused, "Having boasted that I would cure Elder Sister Mei's eyes, I naturally will not go back on my word. In a moment, Uncle may take her to see Divine Doctor Yan; if that fails, I will think of another way."

Since the last half‑bottle of spiritual spring water has already been sent to Strict Defense, he also finds it awkward to ask for more.

It all comes down to whether that old father‑in‑law can bear to part with even a drop of the spiritual spring water in front of this other old father‑in‑law.

Having said that, Niu Dingtian again ordered the guards to settle Lu Chengfeng and his son, then clasped his hands toward the few present and followed Niu Qian'er into the inner courtyard.

PS: Several chapters of the Shaolin Temple section have been rewritten; frankly, I'm not satisfied with the subsequent chapters. Starting from the journey to the Jin State onward, next month I will update while simultaneously refining them. (End of chapter)