Chapter 192: Yang Kang: What Exactly Is Your Relationship with My Mother?

Uncle, Qian'er said you brought back a divine eagle from outside, and the eagle even got into a fight with someone?

Inside the side room, Chen Jin'er tidied Niu Dingtian's clothes while asking softly.

At this moment, she wore a treasure-blue water-sleeved ruqun, graceful and proper, her face unadorned yet beautifully bright, her crystal-clear eyes shimmering with tender feelings.

On the other side sat the reclusive Bao Shijie, her snow‑jade complexion calm and still, beneath her graceful willow brows she listened quietly to Chen Jin'er finish, then a hint of surprise crossed her face.

Niu Dingtian spread his arms, lifted them, and let the two beauties tidy him up, his eyes full of pleased anticipation.

That day after returning from the mountains, he had been intimate with the senior sister; today she no longer avoided him as before, suggesting she had mostly accepted him.

Hearing Chen Jin'er's words, he cheerfully said, 'Elder Brother Eagle has awakened its spirit, its martial prowess is unmatched by few; if I am not on the mountain, having it puts my mind at ease a bit.'

Right, senior sister, why didn't I see Kang'er this morning? His gaze fell on Bao Shijie's delicate, smooth neck, and Niu Dingtian asked gently.

At this moment the beauty had turned to face him, lowering her gaze; deep in her collar could still be seen a few faint red marks.

Bao Shijie heard this, her hand paused, and she lowered her head: 'Early this morning I went with Jing'er to the Mongol envoy's place; a man and a woman came personally to invite us, and they were unusually enthusiastic.'

Having spoken, she also fastened her waistband, lifted her bare hand to smooth the upper collar, then slightly raised her chin; one could see lingering charm in her dark, beautiful eyes, hard to hide her flowing allure.

Niu Dingtian's expression paused slightly, he mused: 'If Kang'er returns, senior sister, have him come find me; I have some matters to entrust to him.'

Bao Shijie gave a slight nod.

Chen Jin'er stepped before him, looked him up and down, smiling at the corner of her mouth: 'This outfit fits just right; uncle, wearing it makes you look much more imposing.'

Then let it be this one,' Niu Dingtian laughed, 'the clothes made by sister‑in‑law and senior sister must fit; tomorrow I'll change into the others and wear them all.'

Chen Jin'er pouted: 'Uncle, what's the rush? Qian'er still has a few pieces to iron; I'll fetch them soon.'

How many more?

Niu Dingtian's smile flickered slightly; he was about to find an excuse to decline, but Chen Jin'er gave him a sideways glance and quickly left the side room.

I, I'll go take a look too.

Seeing this, Bao Shijie spoke softly and also prepared to step out.

Niu Dingtian's heart stirred; he seized her bare hand and gave a light pull, drawing the beauty into his embrace before her foot could step out.

Embracing her voluptuous, tender form from behind, Niu Dingtian lightly inhaled the scent of her hair and said warmly: 'Senior sister, you've worked hard these days; I never expected to have a chance to wear the clothes you made yourself.'

Bao Shijie wore a plain white dress, her black hair flowing like a waterfall coiled into a cloud‑like bun, setting off her lovely, jade‑toned face, bright and luxuriant.

Yet at this moment, suddenly drawn into his embrace, her jade‑like face was filled with panic.

She hastily grabbed his waist arm and whispered: 'Let go quickly, Jin'er will be back soon.'

It's fine; I'll know if sister‑in‑law comes.' Niu Dingtian's fingertips twitched, his warm hand slowly climbing upward.

He gently caressed the beauty's full, soft front, delicately inhaled the faint fragrance from her neck, felt her warm, supple body, and leaning close to her jade‑like earlobe whispered: 'Good senior sister, after a day apart, have you thought of me?'

Bao Shijie trembled all over.

Just as she was about to speak, Niu Dingtian reached out, seized her jade cheek, gently turned it back, and captured her supremely moist lips, then followed with a greedy, wanton plunder.

The beauty's snow‑white face flushed drunkenly, her clear, watery eyes grew misty and alluring, gradually sinking into infatuation.

Niu Dingtian felt her soft mound, gently pinched the full, round mass, then explored the clear water river.

The beauty let out a muffled tremor.

……

After an unknown interval, Chen Jin'er returned to the side room holding the clothes, only to see Niu Dingtian sitting alone at the table, idly fiddling with the tea stand.

'Uncle, where is Senior Sister Bao?' Chen Jin'er's eyes flashed as she asked curiously.

Niu Dingtian laughed: 'Senior sister is a bit tired; she said she'd go rest for a while.'

'By the way, why has sister‑in‑law been gone so long?' Niu Dingtian changed the subject without changing his expression.

Chen Jin'er complained: 'It's all because of that little Qian'er, who snatched the work early, busied herself half a day with the iron—pressing a bit, cooling a bit—and hasn't finished a single piece.'

Hearing this, Niu Dingtian couldn't help but smile.

He knew that 'qie' meant an iron; Song‑era irons were not limited to pressing clothes, they also had a fragrance function.

As the saying goes, 'court robes pressed, heavenly fragrance present'; high‑end irons are combined with incense burners, so the garment on his person still carries a hint of aroma.

Yet that little Qian'er, though dexterous with her hands, is skilled at wielding a knife to harm people; only Chen Jin'er would entrust such work to her.

'Still not up? While you have time, hurry and try on other garments, pick the one that fits best.'

Seeing Niu Dingtian had no intention of rising, Chen Jin'er gave him a annoyed glance, set the clothes on the table, and prepared to pull him up.

Niu Dingtian helplessly set down the tea stand, rose, opened his arms toward Chen Jin'er, and lifted them slightly.

Looking at this, he didn't even want to take off his clothes and undo his belt himself.

Chen Jin'er didn't find it improper, she slowly approached him, raised her hand, and was about to undo his clothing.

But before her slender bare hands could touch the belt, they suddenly halted in mid‑air and went no further.

'Sister‑in‑law, what are you looking at me doing?'

Niu Dingtian waited a moment with no movement, lowered his gaze, and was made to feel creepy by those sparkling, flashing beautiful eyes fixed on him.

Chen Jin'er's eyes showed some hesitation, she slightly wrinkled her jade nose, gave a light sniff, and her snow‑jade, joyful countenance gradually turned calm and still.

Niu Dingtian silently thought, 'Not good.'

Just now, after being intimate with Bao Shijie for half a day, he had forgotten to deal with the cosmetic fragrance on his body.

He could distinguish this from the incense scent inside the clothing himself, let alone a woman.

Chen Jin'er lowered her brows and eyes, said nothing more. She only felt an indescribable taste in her heart—was it resentment or grievance? She herself did not know.

She had worked herself to death preparing his clothes, yet this guy, separated by a few walls, was still here fooling around.

'Sister‑in‑law, I was wrong.'

Niu Dingtian decisively lowered his head to admit fault; the evidence was solid, no amount of coaxing could get him out of it.

It wasn't because the affair was exposed, but rather, putting himself in her place, he indeed had slighted her good intentions.

Chen Jin'er remained silent, muffled.

Niu Dingtian saw the situation and his complexion briefly tightened.

After a moment's thought, he gently took Chen Jin'er's slender white hand and wrapped it around the beautiful woman's slender shoulder.

Feeling her delicate body grow stiff, he fixed his gaze on that face, gradually flushing like rosy clouds yet still forcedly taut, and whispered, "When I was young I thought sister‑in‑law was the most beautiful woman in the world; even after later meeting senior sister it was no different. Unfortunately, at that time I was just a sprout."

Hearing this, Chen Jin'er's curved eyelashes trembled lightly, her eyes became softly moist, and her cheeks already flushed a drunken pink.

Niu Dingtian paused, and in a low voice said, "Originally I intended never to marry in this life; having a beauty by my side would be enough. But on closer thought, that's a bit selfish. You and senior sister have been so good to me; I cannot let you bear rumors alone in the future."

"Therefore, after this gathering I plan to marry sister‑in‑law and bring you all into the marriage. They have theirs, we have ours; you are all my wives, and no one can oppose!"

Chen Jin'er gently bit her lip, only feeling a tremor deep within, and in her eyes an involuntary mist rose.

In fact, she had long sensed Niu Dingtian's thoughts. But since learning her origins, this guy's behavior often oversteps bounds, while constantly calling her "sister‑in‑law," which left her a bit perplexed.

At twenty‑eight, the age of blossoming, the urgency in her heart was tightly bottled up, never shown outwardly.

Seeing Chen Jin'er's tears about to fall, Niu Dingtian said warmly, "If you find this status too insubstantial, then wait another two years. When I'm strong in troops and horse, I'll march north and make myself emperor. Then I'll grant each of you the title of empress."

"An emperor can't have that many empresses," Chen Jin'er felt a warmth in her heart and couldn't help laughing through tears.

She brushed a tear from her eye corner and hoarsely said, "Whether I'm an empress or not I don't care; Uncle just needs to be safe. In the future, whatever happens, if you're not sure, never take risks."

"Sister‑in‑law, rest assured, I understand; only you know this thought, no one else has spoken of it," Niu Dingtian stroked the beautiful woman's slender shoulder and comforted her.

He gently pulled that fragrant, soft body into his arms, about to enjoy a moment of warmth, but then suddenly released gently and whispered, "Someone's coming."

Chen Jin'er hurriedly adjusted her appearance.

The newcomer was his younger sister Sha Gu; as the two turned, a burst of white clothes darted into the side room. Her steps were light and silent; unless Niu Dingtian's senses were unusually sharp, it would have been hard to notice.

"Brother, brother."

That pure, flawless jade face, with a hint of simple daze, upon seeing Niu Dingtian in the side room, instantly blossomed into a flower‑like smile and swooped like a swallow into his embrace.

"Well‑behaved treasure, how did you end up here? Has Sister Huai Xi not gotten up yet?" Niu Dingtian affectionately patted Sha Gu's head.

Sha Gu looked up, her eyes innocent and pure, happily saying, "Diao Er, well‑behaved treasure has seen Diao Er, such a big Diao Er."

Niu Dingtian sighed at the sight.

If before drinking the spirit spring water Sha Gu's eyes bore a veil of ignorance, after drinking it they seemed to have washed away all dust, exuding an inexplicable ethereality.

Niu Dingtian felt that, had she not taken the spirit spring water, perhaps Sha Gu might still regain adult reasoning.

But now she seemed like a newborn celestial flower; daily she only practices, zones out, or plays with the old turtle, and even Chen Jin'er and Yan Huai Xi are no longer as close as before.

Thinking of martial arts, Niu Dingtian suddenly asked, "How is the martial art that brother taught you progressing? Well‑behaved treasure, demonstrate your inner power for me."

Hearing this, Sha Gu, somewhat reluctant, left his embrace, raised a slender white hand as pure as jade, and in an instant a chill surged from her palm, causing a sudden coolness to rise in the side room.

Niu Dingtian's gaze briefly steadied, he turned to that pure, flawless face and mused, "Well‑behaved treasure, do you still remember what brother told you?"

Sha Gu happily withdrew her hand, nodded vigorously, and said, "Brother's martial art cannot be passed to anyone; anyone who tries to cheat well‑behaved treasure of martial art, well‑behaved treasure will strike them with a palm!"

Niu Dingtian patted Sha Gu's head and said, "Exactly. When brother is absent, anyone who tries to take well‑behaved treasure's martial art, well‑behaved treasure will hit them; if you can't beat them, run, using the footwork brother taught you to run far away, understand?"

Sha Gu obediently nodded.

At this moment Chen Jin'er stepped forward, removed Niu Dingtian's meddling hand, brushed Sha Gu's hair, and affectionately said, "Sister has made a new outfit for well‑behaved treasure; after brother tries it on, we'll take well‑behaved treasure to try it."

"Thank you, sister."

Sha Gu obediently replied, then sat on a nearby couch, staring blankly at this side.

Perhaps feeling the two kept swapping back and forth endlessly, after a while she lightly leapt out of the side room. Chen Jin'er sighed, "Little sister no longer clings to me as before; it's all because you gave her random drinks."

Niu Dingtian retorted, "Sister‑in‑law also drank it; now you all look like fairies, what's wrong? Besides, the younger sister has grown up; being a bit distant is normal."

"How could I be distant from you?" Chen Jin'er's curved eyebrows furrowed slightly, growing more upset, she snapped, "Change it yourself; I'll go try the clothes on little sister."

Saying that, she darted out of the side room, chasing in the direction Sha Gu had left.

Niu Dingtian: "…"

"What's there to argue about?"

However, just as he was fastening his belt before the mirror, a robustly dressed Niu Qian'er entered the side room, cupping her fists and saying, "Leader, the lady asked the maid to come and adjust your robe."

Niu Dingtian lifted his sword‑like brows, intending to refuse, but such a generous robe was indeed hard to handle, so he said, "Thank you, Qian'er."

Saying so, he spread his arms before the mirror.

Qian'er, seeing this, drew the embroidered Spring Blade from her waist, placed it on the table, and moved her hands close to her body.

Niu Qian'er wore a crimson‑black mysterious robe, its shoulders woven with sun and moon, back with mountain patterns, sleeves with raging fire, and belt with splendid insects.

Now this set of mysterious guard's strong attire, worn on her, paired with that solemn jade face, gave her a heroic elegance without losing authority.

"Qian'er, how old are you this year?"

Seeing the room a bit stuffy, Niu Dingtian's gaze fell on that flawless white jade face, and he sought a topic.

To this day he still recalled the scene years ago when this young lady, beneath the stage, listened earnestly to his words; three years without much meeting, she was now clearly more mature and abundant than before.

Qian'er's cool, sparkling eyes flickered, and she whispered, "The maid is the same age as the Leader; this year nineteen."

Niu Dingtian, upon hearing, slightly startled, his composed face showing a hint of contemplation, whispered, "Now the women no longer need you to protect them; therefore, go tell the lady, and from now on stay by my side running errands."

After finishing, his clothes already arranged, Niu Dingtian waved to the slightly stunned Qian'er, saying, "It's settled then; I have some matters, you just go inform the lady."

Having said that, he lifted his foot and left the side room.

In truth, Niu Dingtian's sudden decision wasn't due to any other thought.

In the following time, he mostly stayed on Jiugong Mountain; matters of transmission couldn't be handled personally, and indeed he lacked a meticulous, capable errand runner.

Yet, Niu Dingtian, dressed in crimson‑black coronet robes, left the side room, passed a path, and just as he stepped out of the inner courtyard archway, he saw two people arguing while walking toward him.

It was Guo Jing and Yang Kang.

The two fellows, upon suddenly seeing Niu Dingtian here, hurriedly closed their mouths and rushed forward to salute:

"Uncle Niu!"

"Uncle Niu!"

"Where did the quarrel start?" Niu Dingtian's gaze swept over the two, his composed face asking.

Yang Kang shrank his neck, not daring to speak. Guo Jing neither could nor would lie; he only felt that his maternal uncle Niu was far more dignified than before, so he stammered: "Reporting to Uncle Niu, ever since we left Tuolei Ande's residence, we have been arguing."

Niu Dingtian's bright, sparkling eyes flickered slightly, he glanced at the two, and said: "Follow me."

Guo Jing and Yang Kang froze upon hearing that, then reacted, hurriedly catching up to Niu Dingtian's steps.

The three entered a hall; aside from the two guards in the courtyard, there was no one else around.

Niu Dingtian took the main seat; the guards served tea and withdrew. He lifted his teacup, took two sips, and said lightly: "Speak up, tell me in detail what you did at Tuolei's place and why you quarreled."

Guo Jing slightly raised his head, his dark, sturdy face showing a hint of simplicity, and spoke in a deep, muffled tone: "Tuolei Ande and Huazheng invited me over to talk; upon learning of Brother Kang, they also invited him."

"When parting, Tuolei Ande gave me and Brother Kang each a lot of gold; I refused and would not let Brother Kang take any. But Brother Kang said I was too shy to accept, so he took my share as well."

"Cough cough cough~"

Perhaps due to a respiratory issue, as soon as Guo Jing finished speaking, Niu Dingtian couldn't hold back and began coughing violently; suppressing it, his face turned slightly red.

"Damn, you little brat almost messed up my internal energy, a master of innate talent." Niu Dingtian took a sip of tea, caught his breath, and glared at Yang Kang.

Yang Kang shrank his neck, glanced at Guo Jing with a sideways mouth, and muttered: "Mongol gold—if you don't take it, you don't take it; for them to give us this much out of the blue, what good intentions could they have?"

Niu Dingtian's motion of setting down the teacup paused slightly; he glanced over in surprise and asked: "How much did they give?"

Yang Kang gave a he-he smile, pulled out two silk-wrapped bundles from his bulging bosom, placed them on the table, and said with a grin: "It's all here—forty gold ingots in total."

"The Mongols said two hundred taels each; since Guo Jing doesn't want his, if you, Uncle, wish to take yours, Brother Kang will give you half."

Niu Dingtian said lightly: "Do you love gold so much, or are you short of money? Has the treasury ever stopped you from withdrawing silver?"

Yang Kang drooped his head and said nothing more.

He had never actually been short of money; he lacked nothing while living in the Wang Mansion, and even after following Uncle Niu he has never been in want.

It's just that after three years as a mountain bandit, he grew accustomed to extorting shiny valuables from outsiders.

Niu Dingtian no longer looked at the gold on the table, pondered for a moment, fixed his gaze on Guo Jing, and said: "Uncle knows you grew up living among the Mongols and have feelings for Tuolei Ande's siblings and Master Zhebie."

"But Brother Kang is right in saying that there's no reason for them to give you gold for nothing; in your conversation today, Uncle needs no guess to know they must have mentioned me everywhere, probing your likes."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jing lifted his head blankly; even if he were more dull, he would have sensed the meaning behind the words.

Upon careful reflection of the earlier conversation among the few, he seemed to have truly been lured by Tuolei Ande.

Guo Jing's face turned pale; he hurriedly explained: "Uncle Niu, Jing'er didn't tell them you…"

Niu Dingtian waved his hand and said softly: "Whether you speak or not doesn't matter; you must always remember your Han identity. Those of a different kind inevitably harbor different hearts. Now Temujin is waging war everywhere; consider what you would do if one day they destroy the Jin State and then advance south to invade Han lands."

"Uncle does not blame you; I'm merely giving you a reminder. What I say today, entering your two ears, must not be revealed to a fourth person. I have accepted the gold; from now on you need only interact normally with the Tuolei siblings."

"Understand?"

Guo Jing bit his lip, guilt hard to hide in his brows and eyes, and whispered: "Jing'er understands."

Niu Dingtian chuckled: "All right, go back first. After the assembly, remember to come find me; Uncle still has martial matters to instruct you on."

"Jing'er takes his leave." Guo Jing performed a clasped-fist salute, turned, and left the hall with his head down, spiritless.

"Are you feeling pleased?" Niu Dingtian watched Guo Jing depart the hall, then turned his gaze to Yang Kang.

Yang Kang's expression stalled; his recently raised head drooped again, and he said in a deep voice: "Kang'er dare not."

"Please sit." Niu Dingtian said lightly.

"'Eh?' Yang Kang lifted his head, bewildered, wondering if he had misheard."

"'Sit!' Niu Dingtian's face darkened slightly."

"'Oh,' Yang Kang quickly replied, ran to the side seat, and sat upright."

Niu Dingtian secretly nodded; this brat's years as a bandit were not wasted—though his mind is nimble, he lacks the hollow deceit and hypocrisy of his previous life.

After a moment's contemplation, Niu Dingtian's eyes flickered slightly, and he said softly: "Kang'er, Uncle entrusts you with a mission."

"A mission?"

Yang Kang's face full of surprise.

"That's right." Niu Dingtian lifted his teacup, moistened his throat, fixed his gaze, and said: "You also know the intentions of those few Mongols. Starting tomorrow, you may interact with them—whether they try to pump you for information, win you over, or have you do some petty work; you control the pace yourself."

"Of course, if you could even get hold of Temujin's head, that would be better; whatever you need, Uncle will fully support you. Any benefits you gain later will be split evenly between us. But remember, wealth is secondary—you must first earn their trust."

Having said that, Niu Dingtian set down his teacup, leaned his body sideways close to him, and whispered a few words in his ear.

Upon hearing it, Yang Kang's eyes glittered.

"Uncle!"

He suddenly slapped the table and rose, excitedly declaring: "This task is none other than mine, Yang Kang! I accept it!"

Niu Dingtian's mouth twitched, and he instructed: "This matter, from my mouth to your ears, must not be known to others; remember that."

"'Rest assured, Uncle,' Yang Kang patted his chest and promised: 'I won't even tell my mother!'"

Niu Dingtian gave a slight nod.

He slowly rose, about to leave, when he suddenly halted, turned, and asked: "Have you gone to see your father?"

Yang Kang froze, the smile on his face gradually fading into sudden silence. After a while, he said in a deep voice: "I saw him once this morning."

Niu Dingtian raised his eyebrows, his gaze fixed and flashing as he looked at Yang Kang, and said in surprise: "Are you willing to acknowledge him as your father?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Kang—under his two dark blue brows—showed a rare solemnity on his handsome face, and said: "I only wish to support him in his old age and see him to his end; I will never recognize him as my father."

He paused, then added softly: "I asked my mother what happened back then; she told me the story of Niu Clan Village. Whenever I ask why she separated from that man, she just stays silent, sullen."

"'After thinking it over, I more or less understand. Moreover, he has never in all these years sought out my Ox‑nose master; in his heart, something must surely be more important than us mother and son.'"

"'Given that, since he never raised me, the most I can do is provide for his old age and see him to his end—don't even dream of making me call him father.'"

Niu Dingtian had never imagined hearing such words from a thirteen‑year‑old boy.

For a moment, not knowing what to say, he gave a light sigh and said softly: "Since you understand it in your heart, don't bring these up again; go back."

Having spoken, he led the way out of the hall.

"'Uncle, wait a moment!'"

But just as he stepped into the courtyard, Yang Kang's voice suddenly came from behind; he immediately halted, turned, and looked back.

"What exactly is your relationship with my mother?" Yang Kang hesitated a moment, then asked seriously.

Niu Dingtian's gaze hardened; this kid surely isn't asking about the relationship between his senior fellow disciples.

After a moment of silence, Niu Dingtian withdrew his gaze with a bland expression, stepped forward, and without looking back said: "At the latest next year…"

"I will marry your mother and bring her into the household!"

PS: The Sha Gu part was written according to the new outline, so there may be some inconsistencies; please forgive. The last three days are a ten-thousand-word chapter; if the word count falls short, I will completely lose perfect attendance afterward, so I'm pushing through. (End of chapter)