Chapter 239: Niu Dingtian vs Murong Fu (previous chapter revised last night)

Sunrise.

Leaving the lakeside by boat and sailing along the waterway to Suzhou City, Niu Dingtian couldn't help falling into contemplation.

My encounter with Mu Wanqing and the ensuing grudge were purely coincidental, and the delivered daughter-in-law was also too sudden.

Clear water and lush trees, graceful and refreshing—the girl's beauty is beyond doubt.

Compared to Wang Yuyan's serene elegance and ethereal aura, Mu Wanqing is bright and lovely, charming and lively.

No man could resist such a pure yet desirable, lively girl.

But what truly moved him was not male desire, but companionship—for example, the company of A Zhu and A Bi over the past few months.

After all, if speaking of desire, nothing satisfies it more than dragging Wang Yuyan down to the mortal realm.

In short, I am someone who dislikes loneliness; in this rootless world, I want companionship yet fear the bonds that would bring future pain of separation.

As these thoughts rose, Niu Dingtian couldn't help sighing; the pier ahead was already in sight.

At that moment, a luxurious large ship raised its sails and came from ahead; soon it was within a hundred zhang of the small boat.

The two vessels drew nearer; just as they were about to meet, Niu Dingtian casually glanced over—and was stunned.

Only saw a person standing aloof at the bow, wearing a light yellow robe, a long sword at the waist, about twenty-seven or eight years old, handsome features, graceful and unrestrained.

Even a handsome man, Niu Dingtian usually wouldn't spare a second glance—but who let this man have a beautiful woman, Li Qingluo, standing beside him?

Their eyes met; the man at the bow gave a light glance, indifferent and ignoring.

Again their eyes met; Li Qingluo likewise froze, and the next moment her pretty face filled with killing intent as she gritted her teeth and shouted:

"Little thief! Return my Yan'er!"

She then angrily pointed at Niu Dingtian on the small boat and ordered the man beside her:

"It's this brat! Fu Guan, hurry, quickly seize him for Auntie—Yan'er was abducted by him!"

As it turned out, last night Li Qingluo sent people to search all night but found no trace of Niu Dingtian.

This morning she personally led a search in the city, planning to report to the authorities as well.

As a tyrant of Tai Lake, reporting to the officials was also her first time.

After finding nothing in the city, and seeing the officials perfunctory, she flew into a rage, smashed the government office, then led her retinue, killing intent blazing, prepared to return to the manor—only to encounter at the dock her despised nephew-in-law whom she never liked.

Thus, Li Qingluo changed her usual cold demeanor and invited his enthusiasm aboard her luxurious large ship.

Bow—

Hearing Li Qingluo's greeting, Murong Fu's eyes flashed with a hint of displeasure.

Since this aunt quarreled with his mother, she has treated him like toilet paper—used and thrown away.

Were it not for his designs on the wealth and power of Mandara Mountain Villa, how could the noble scion of the Great Yan imperial house endure such insult?

"I am Murong Fu of Gusu; you have abducted my cousin, killed my aunt's servants—surely you do not place the Southern Murong in your eyes at all?"

A cold glint flashed in his eyes; Murong Fu gazed at the lake surface and said lightly:

According to his original plan, anyone daring to touch his reverse scale would be slain with a single sword.

But since the other party could kill and leave Mandara Mountain Villa, his martial skill must be formidable; seeing him so young, he thought he might not be unable to recruit him as an aid to his great cause.

Thinking this through, he did not speak absolutely, but would see whether this lad knew propriety.

On the small boat—

"Murong Fu?"

Niu Dingtian raised his eyebrows slightly, a strange color flickering in his eyes.

After lowering the oars, he stood with knife in hand, gazing at that ethereal figure, and said with a smile:

"People say Murong Young Master is a dragon among men; today I see it is true, making me feel ashamed of my own appearance."

"However… does Murong Young Master have any misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding?"

Murong Fu heard this; his face, which had just eased, sank involuntarily.

Li Qingluo snapped: "Fu Guan, no need to waste words on this little thief! Hurry and seize him, give him a good beating—I don't believe you won't spit out Yan'er's whereabouts!"

"Auntie wants to see Yan'er; the lad will take you to meet her shortly."

Niu Dingtian displeased: "Why bother dealing with me, and still provoke Murong Young Master to act?"

"What are you calling me?"

Hearing Niu Dingtian's address, Li Qingluo froze and then asked:

Seeing Murong Fu suddenly staring at her, she immediately realized.

"This brat is trying to sow discord!"

She angrily said: "Fu Guan, don't listen to his nonsense! I am not his aunt; I am your aunt—how could I sow discord against you?"

Murong Fu snorted coldly in his heart.

"How few times have you used me to stir up trouble? Thinking of that cousin I've long regarded as my reverse scale, a surge of anger rises—just half a year after I left, my home was stolen? 'Auntie is one of our own, naturally she wouldn't sow discord against a nephew.'"

Murong Fu's lips twitched into a smile.

He slowly lifted his gaze, looking at Niu Dingtian, his eyes cold as ice, and said indifferently:

"So, if you don't give an explanation today, you probably won't be able to leave."

Niu Dingtian smiled faintly, then ignored him and turned to Li Qingluo, saying meaningfully: "Auntie, you'd better discipline your nephew properly."

"Yan'er didn't sleep well last night; she's resting at home now, saying she wants to eat Suzhou City's fried buns—I still have to hurry to Suzhou City."

"You… what did you say!!"

Li Qingluo's face instantly turned pallid, her legs went weak, and she nearly couldn't stand.

As an experienced woman and veteran driver, how could she not know the meaning of these words?

At this moment, staring at Niu Dingtian, her almond eyes were full of shock—unbelievable!

What about the three days we agreed on?

"I said Yu Yan didn't sleep well last night; she's resting at home now." Niu Dingtian looked toward Murong Fu and said with a light smile.

As soon as his words fell, the people on the ship did not disappoint him—a figure in light yellow suddenly leapt to the bow, with a clang, sword light like water, straight toward the small boat. "I've long heard of the great name of Southern Murong; Master Murong, don't let me, Niu Dingtian, down!"

On the small boat, seeing the sun-shading figure charging, Niu Dingtian's smile vanished; he gave a deep shout, and with a swish, the Asura Blade left its sheath, swinging forth a blue light as he leaped forward to meet it.

This morning he was still worrying about finding someone to test his skills on, but now he's encountered a sword-testing stone—how could he let it go?

"Ding!"

"Boom!"

Amidst a loud boom, the blade light and sword aura clashed fiercely, and on the lake surface a ring of water spray exploded instantly.

Just in this first exchange, Murong Fu made no probing attempt, directly unleashing his internal energy.

But what should have been a sure-fire killing blow was shattered in his numb palm by a booming impact.

"This person is not weaker than I!"

Murong Fu's face turned ashen; he never expected to make such a formidable enemy.

"If we cannot eliminate him, we must win him over with all our strength; otherwise he will surely become a great future threat."

As these thoughts arose, one after another intimidating blade aura slashed forth.

Murong Fu tapped his toes on the lake surface; the Murong family's hereditary sword technique flowed continuously, unleashed like flowing clouds and water.

Ding! Ding! Ding! In an instant, the sounds of blades and swords rang nonstop, and both combatants seemed enveloped in a curtain of light.

Because it was not far from the dock, and with the earlier shout, the skirmish here quickly drew the attention of those on shore.

The boat belonged to the Mandala Mountain Villa; one could tell just by the embroidered flowers on its hull.

Moreover, the renowned Southern Murong had boarded the boat earlier, and many people had seen him.

But who is 'Niu Dingtian'? To be able to clash fiercely with Master Murong! Many of the martial artists on the dock, aside from their astonishment, were utterly bewildered.

"Your Excellency, what fine tactics!"

Murong Fu shouted in a deep voice.

Seeing martial artists approaching by boat, he struck the air with his sword, then stepped upon the water and rose, his posture light as he strove to keep his composure and maintain his bearing.

After fifty exchanges, Niu Dingtian handled the fight with ease, his hand unwavering as he once again swung forth an intimidating blade aura, pressing sideways.

With a single downward chop, the gentle, still lake surface and the green water suddenly transformed, as if turning into a towering flood's momentum.

Impressive!! Many people on shore took boats over, and upon seeing this scene, they couldn't help but be startled.

Murong Fu's face slightly changed; seeing it hard to dodge by floating away, he gave a deep shout, abandoned his sword to use his palm, and thrust forth with all his strength.

Under the pull of his palm force, that wave of water surged to about half a foot before his face, then suddenly veered left, sweeping around behind him and shooting out swiftly, with a boom, striking an approaching small boat.

"Shifting Stars Move! This is the Murong Family's Shifting Stars Move!"

Someone in the distance shouted excitedly, paying no heed to the shattered planks and the people who had fallen into the water.

"What a fine Shifting Stars Move!"

Niu Dingtian gave a deep shout, his gaze contemptuous, and floated down onto the small boat.

He had many profound techniques he had not yet used; even his footwork was the Spiral Nine Shadows, not the Lightwave Tread. He merely wanted to guard against the possibility that defeating the junior would summon the senior for a sneak attack by Murong Bo.

"Master Murong, do you wish to continue?" Niu Dingtian's face was as dark as deep water, his earlier smile gone, as he calmly looked at Murong Fu standing on the boat planks and asked.

After several probes, he already knew in his heart that Murong Fu was no match for him, even if the opponent still had his family's secret art unused.

Murong Fu's face looked quite grim; if he were to quit now, wouldn't this person be trampling his name and making it renowned across the martial world?

Only saw his body move slightly; he extended his right index finger, and with a hiss, an invisible finger force shot out, reaching Niu Dingtian's face in an instant.

Niu Dingtian gave a light smile, likewise gathering power in his right index finger and pointing it out; with a hiss, an even more piercing invisible finger force shot out.

"Bang!"

The two finger energies collided with a bang, stirring up an invisible air wave; the latter-released finger force rushed straight toward Murong Fu.

Murong Fu was greatly startled, hastily waving his sword to meet it, only to hear a bang that rang loudly in his ears, a force that actually made his palm go slightly numb.

"One Yang Finger?"

Holding his sword, he flashed onto another plank; Murong Fu's face showed shock he could not conceal, "Are you a member of the Dali Duan family?"

He looked at Niu Dingtian rather uneasily; if you truly are a member of the Dali royal family, we must win you over with all our strength.

After weighing the gains and losses, he then eased his expression, clasped his hands in a relaxed salute, and said:

"I have long heard of the fame of the Dali Duan family's One Yang Finger; today, seeing it for myself, the reputation is indeed not undeserved!"

"If you don't mind, Brother, why not bring your cousin along to visit my humble abode, so I may fulfill my duty as host?"

"Murong Fu!!"

Li Qingluo's face instantly changed color; ignoring the gestures made at her, she shouted angrily:

"If you dare to sell Yu Yan, don't blame me for turning my face and not recognizing you!"

How could she not understand what this cheap nephew is plotting? The men of the Murong family are all lunatics; for the sake of their grand cause, they could even send away the old lady—how could a daughter's feelings be allowed to be used?

But little did she know, although Murong Fu's face was calm now, his heart was dripping with blood.

His cousin has always been well-behaved and obedient, her beauty rare among mortals; she had long been a candidate for Empress of the Great Yan state.

But if she were to truly lose her purity, what right would she have to enjoy that position again? A true man can bend or stretch; it would be better to make good use of her.

Having made up his mind, Murong Fu clasped his hands toward Niu Dingtian, then floated back to the bow, supporting the furious-faced Li Qingluo, and said in a low voice:

"This person's martial arts are unfathomable; my nephew cannot probe his depths, we must find another way. For the sake of my cousin's reputation, please, aunt, choose your words carefully."

I'll be careful, you old hag!

Li Qingluo resentfully glared at her good nephew, but her emotions also eased somewhat.

At present, the urgent matter is to quickly see her daughter to confirm whether that little bastard has already defiled her.

Thinking of this, she took a deep breath, puffed out her proud chest, glanced at Niu Dingtian on the lake surface, and said lightly.

My family's Yu Yan never eats street junk; following me back to the manor, I have the servants prepare. (End of chapter)