Chapter 200: Niu Dingtian: You lie on the bed, I'll go get a candle

Fen Tian struggled twice, couldn't break free, and let Niu Dingtian hold her like that; only a faint blush rose on her jade-like face, showing her heart was far from calm.

"You invited me tonight just for this?"

Fen Tian lifted her almond eyes slightly, showing a hint of hesitation, then asked in a low voice: "You... did you discover something on the token?"

Hearing this, Niu Dingtian's heart stirred; he unconsciously rubbed the soft jade in his hand and said pensively: "I've heard the Persian Ming Sect possesses a sect-protecting holy relic called the Holy Fire Token, forged from white platinum black iron and diamond sand, its hardness unmatched."

Saying that, he picked up a World Honored Token, held half in his hand, and continuously pressed his thumb against the other half, channeling force.

Under the tremendous force, the token's surroundings seemed to solidify the overflowing internal energy into substance, yet aside from a faint flicker of flame within, it showed no bend at all.

Niu Dingtian nudged the stool beneath him closer to the beautiful woman, gazed at her lovely bright face, and smiled: "Isn't it hard?"

"Back when I tried to bend it at sea, I thought it was ordinary refined steel, but even with my current strength, ordinary black iron couldn't be bent even a bit."

Fen Tian slightly lowered her almond eyes and nodded.

Niu Dingtian edged even closer to the lovely woman; now, through her clothing, he could feel the faint warmth and soft smoothness of her arms,

He lifted the token to examine it against the lamp on the table, his eyes gleaming, and said softly: "I also heard there are twelve Holy Fire Tokens, varying in length and size, seemingly transparent yet not, with faint flames flying inside, their colors shifting."

"Moreover... six of the Holy Fire Tokens are engraved with the lifelong martial arts essence carved by the Persian 'Old Man of the Mountain' Huo Shan; the other six bear the Ming Sect's three major orders and five minor orders."

"It is said the Manichaean Sect originated from the Central Plains Ming Sect, which was transmitted from Persia; thus, this so-called World Honored Token, if nothing unexpected, is none other than the Ming Sect's Holy Fire Token."

Having said that, Niu Dingtian set the token down, fell silent for a moment, fixed his gaze on Fen Tian's profile, and said seriously: "Since there are six pieces, I'd like to try deciphering the writings and patterns on them to see if I can uncover the martial arts within."

In fact, he had long suspected something about this token; ever since he learned Fen Tian practiced the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, he had basically confirmed it.

But regardless of whether it was the Holy Fire Token or the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, even as his heart stirred, ever since Fen Tian arrived at Jiugong Mountain, he had restrained himself from asking, unwilling to disturb the heart of this woman he had finally won over.

If he were too eager, it would make her think he was after her martial arts secrets, which would be unpleasant.

Now things are different—aside from his own great progress in martial arts, today the Sun Moon Divine Sect was officially founded, and the two of them could truly be considered their own people.

Regarding the Holy Fire Token, Niu Dingtian simply couldn't stay unmoved; if the six tokens beside him weren't the ones recording martial arts, he planned to later lure a group of experts to raid the Persian Ming Sect.

Although he didn't know the details, he knew the techniques recorded there were strange arts that even the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth would find hard to withstand.

It is said the Holy Fire Tokens were originally forged by the Persian 'Old Man of the Mountain' Huo Shan, engraved with his lifelong martial arts essence; later the Ming Sect transmitted eastward, simultaneously entering the Central Plains, where they became the sect master's token of the Central Plains Ming Sect—seeing the token was like seeing the sect master.

But after a certain generation of sect masters, they were lost, only to later be transmitted back to the Persian Ming Sect.

The Persian Ming Sect studied the inscriptions on the Holy Fire Tokens, combined with the remnants of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth's mental method, and devised a strange, peculiar martial art. Over several decades, the higher-ranking members of the Persian Ming Sect all saw their martial arts surge.

"You must have wanted this for a long time, right?" Fen Tian asked suddenly after a long silence.

She paused, turned her head, and locked eyes with Niu Dingtian; in his dark pupils, her own reflection was clearly visible.

After a moment's hesitation, she softly said: "Even the venerable ancestral master of the Imperial Palace can't do anything to us now; you're just a young adult, yet you complain your martial arts aren't high enough?"

Niu Dingtian's face stiffened slightly; this sharp-eyed woman truly seemed to regard her boss as the best in the world.

Rubbing the soft jade in his hand, Niu Dingtian said softly: "Of course I've wanted it for a long time, but I also fear you'll overthink things. I've hardly managed to keep you here—not because I'm afraid you'll run away."

Fen Tian's almond eyes flickered as she asked: "If I had run away back then, would you also have chased me down to bring me back?"

Niu Dingtian's eyes showed a slight surprise, but he did not deny it; if she had truly escaped back then, he would certainly have pursued and captured her.

"Surely you have no good intentions!" The lovely woman turned her head, gave a light snort, and said disdainfully: "You've held back until today to speak up—you must be plotting to enjoy both wealth and beauty, and to annihilate the Manichaean Sect."

Niu Dingtian retorted: "Don't slander your sect master; the beauty has indeed long harbored designs, but the martial arts followers are merely an added bonus."

"Besides, which normal man could withstand such a temptress older sister? From the moment I first saw her at sea, I've thought of her day and night; when you came to Jiugong Mountain seeking me, I don't know how happy I felt."

While speaking, he switched the soft jade from his left hand to his right, then lightly slipped his left arm around the lovely woman's slender waist.

"Let go!"

Fen Tian, her cheeks slightly flushed, gave Niu Dingtian an elbow: "Don't use the tricks you use on your little maid on me."

"No!"

Niu Dingtian wrapped his arms around her waist, snatched the lovely woman's stool, then lifted her soft, delicate frame onto his thigh, inhaled her faint fragrance, and laughed: "Older sister, are you talking about Rong'er?"

Fen Tian struggled angrily a few times, but the more she struggled, the tighter he held; she gave his chest another elbow, then let him hold her like that.

She pressed down on the two hands that kept rubbing her abdomen; her plump, lovely face flushed on both sides, and she muttered: "I didn't say that." Then: "Do you still want the token? If not, hurry back—I'm going to sleep; stop pretending to be drunk in front of me."

Niu Dingtian caught the soft jade with his backhand, inhaled the delicate fragrance from her fragrant, soft body, and said lowly: "The token is naturally needed; nobody wants to stagnate. Know this: martial arts that don't advance retreat, and the experts of this world are far more than the superficial Five Absolutes you see."

"There's something nobody else knows: Wang Chongyang didn't die—I confirmed it myself by visiting his tomb. Though I don't fear him, I also don't want to provoke another innate master, so today I've refrained from personally dealing with the Quanzhen Sect's members."

Upon hearing this, Fen Tian's struggling hand paused slightly, and a flash of surprise crossed her clear almond eyes.

Niu Dingtian sighed: "In this jianghu, ultimately it's strength that commands respect. Look how Ouyang Feng treats me with utmost deference, how Hong Qigong easily resolves our grudges— isn't it all because of our strength?"

"You may harbor thoughts of ease, but as leader I cannot; I must guard our territory, our undertakings, and protect you all—without strength, everything is empty talk."

Having said that, he closed his eyes, bowed his head slightly, and drew near the woman's purple gold crown at her hair; the lingering scent of her feminine fragrance wrapped around his nose, making him somewhat lost in it.

Hearing those words, Fen Tian remained silent, glum. Feeling the youth's reliance behind her, a softness unconsciously appeared in her almond eyes.

After a moment's hesitation, she said softly: "There really is martial arts inside the token, for few can read Persian script, and it has never been recognized by any other World Honored Ones."

"But this martial art is too strange; most who practiced it before fell into the demonic path. In fact... one must combine it with the mental method of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth to cultivate it properly."

"How did you know that, older sister?" Niu Dingtian slowly opened his eyes, idly playing with the lovely woman's soft jade, and asked in a low voice.

Fen Tian gave no reply, bit her lip, and hesitantly asked: "When you hold me like this, what do you consider me to be?"

Niu Dingtian raised his eyebrows, without hesitation said: "Naturally, I'm your husband! At the latest next year, I'll marry you both into my household. If you're willing, continue as vice sect master; if you grow weary, return home to tend the children."

Raising children...

A blush rose on Fen Tian's cheeks as she softly said: "Then let me down first."

Although Niu Dingtian felt a bit doubtful, he still reluctantly loosened his grip.

Fen Tian slipped from his embrace, walked slowly toward the swaying candle stand; the dim candlelight shone on her jade-like face, revealing her almond eyes firm and resolute.

The next moment—

One garment, two… layer upon layer of clothing fell like withering petals, slipping down lightly.

In the astonished gaze of the crowned youth behind her, Fen Tian's pure white back gradually revealed itself, like flawless white jade, radiating a holy glow in the candlelight.

Yet upon that snow‑smooth back, it seemed a waste of heaven's bounty, densely pricked with countless patterns and characters.

Inside the side room, the air seemed to solidify, time also seemed to stop; under the faintly swaying candlelight, only that calm and brave silhouette remained. In the end, all clothing fell away, leaving only a thin undergarment tightly wrapping the raised parts of her jade-like body.

This is the Heaven and Earth Great Shift Heart Method that my mother carved into me before she died; I… I have not yet seen it all.

Fen Tian wrapped his arms around the snow peak, fully exposing his back, and said in a trembling voice: 'There is paper and brush on the table; you, you first copy it down, then I will translate it into Chinese for you.'

You first copy it down, I will then translate it into Chinese for you… That trembling sentence instantly doused the desire rising in Niu Dingtian's eyes, replacing it with a warm current surging in his heart.

In silence, he came behind Fen Tian, his gaze inexplicably fixed on the lines of characters on her snow‑white skin, extending to the area between her buttocks covered by the undergarment.

Niu Dingtian furrowed his brows, slowly raised his hand, feeling the slight tremor of her delicate body, and felt rather uneasy in his heart.

In this era, tattooing is not like later times using pain‑relieving ointment; it is wholly an ordeal, let alone tattooing a whole back.

Are you going to copy it or not!!

Just as Niu Dingtian was about to greet that damned mother‑in‑law, a shy and angry female shout rang out, instantly clearing his mind.

Copy!!

Niu Dingtian said through gritted teeth.

Just as he was about to turn and fetch the paper and brush, his eyes flickered slightly, he pointed to the bed and said softly: 'Standing is too tiring; go lie on the bed, I'll get a candle.'

Fen Tian's jade face flushed red, her snow‑white arms clasped around her chest, hesitating without moving.

Niu Dingtian smiled, drew the beauty's smooth snow‑white shoulder close, and said softly: 'You are my wife; as long as you are unwilling, could I still force myself on you?'

Then be quick about it.' Fen Tian relaxed a little, her voice like a mosquito, saying: 'After you finish copying, wait for me to return.'

Niu Dingtian nodded while smiling.

Fen Tian, seeing this, with the boy beside her watching, blushed as she slowly squatted down, picked up an outer garment to drape over herself, then lowered her head and walked toward the bed. (End of chapter)