Chapter 242: Yearning for the Peach Blossom Land

In the lotus pond, Mu Rongfu and his party had just vanished, and over here Li Qingluo stared at Niu Dingtian with burning eyes, sneering:

"If you still want to marry my sister Wang Yuyan, then from now on stay away from Mu Rongfu, don't let a little brat bribe you."

They're both veterans of the jianghu; how could she not know what the two were just up to?

"Mother! What are you saying!"

Wang Yuyan's cheeks flushed bright red, mortified beyond words. When had she ever said she'd marry that man? In her heart there was only her cousin!

"It's not that I want to marry her; it's the lady who wants to wed," Niu Dingtian said with a light laugh, shaking his head, then looking at Li Qingluo, he pondered, "Can you build a few houses on this sandbank for me within half a month?"

If nothing goes awry, soon Mu Rongfu will send A Bi to him, and being cramped in a single grass hut will indeed be inconvenient.

"Don't even think about it!" Li Qingluo's pretty face turned cold as she flatly refused.

"What do you call me wanting to marry? And after that pinch and hug just now, making her look a complete fool, does this lady care about face at all?"

Niu Dingtian smiled and said, "If you can manage it, both of you mothers can leave at any time."

Li Qingluo was startled, looked at Niu Dingtian, and a hint of doubt appeared in her eyes.

"You don't want the martial arts either?"

She still couldn't believe it; anyone who could demand the Minor Wu Xiang Skill would naturally understand how profound that technique is, and probably no cultivator could refuse it.

Likewise, she didn't believe any man could bear to give up his daughter, such a delicate beauty.

"No need," Niu Dingtian shook his head, turned, crossed his arms and stood, gazing at the lake surface, and said slowly, "If the construction goes well, I'll have this young master watch over you, Li Qingluo, from now on."

Li Qingluo instantly broke into a delighted smile, about to open her mouth to agree, when her bright eyes suddenly shifted, she brushed aside her daughter, gracefully walked to his side, and stood beside him looking at the lake.

"Actually… building houses is easy, but this place is too low‑lying; I'm afraid even if it's built, midsummer won't get through it."

Niu Dingtian looked at Li Qingluo's profile with great interest and said, "So…"

Li Qingluo smiled charmingly and said, "Next to my manor there's a small sandbank that rises far above this, and it already has several pavilions. If you agree to do me a small favor, I'll give you that place, and also arrange for it to be beautifully set up."

As he listened, a smile appeared in Niu Dingtian's eyes; he pursed his lips, his gaze lingered on her charming apricot eyes for a moment, and he said with a grin, "Lady, you wouldn't be asking me to kidnap someone for you, would you?"

Li Qingluo's smile lingered awkwardly, her face a bit unnatural, and she couldn't help averting her gaze.

She twirled the hair at her collar, feigning ease, and said, "How could I? I just want you to help invite someone."

"Invite whom?"

Niu Dingtian asked knowingly.

"You agreed?" Li Qingluo let down her hair, casting an eager glance.

"Lady, first tell me who it is."

Niu Dingtian smiled but didn't give an answer.

Li Qingluo glanced at her daughter nearby, a hint of hesitation appearing on her face.

"Come closer."

She whispered.

"The lady getting close is the same," Niu Dingtian gently shook his head, refusing, "If either of us gets close and others see, it would be different."

Li Qingluo bit her teeth in a mutter, but still tiptoed, quickly leaned to Niu Dingtian's ear and whispered a name.

"How is it?" she asked, eyes full of expectation.

Niu Dingtian frowned, his face showing difficulty, and after pondering said, "It can be done, but the risk is too great; the conditions you offer aren't enough."

"Minor Wu Xiang Skill!"

Li Qingluo gritted her teeth and said.

"Deal!" Niu Dingtian grinned, "Within at most a year, I'll have him come willingly; whether you can keep him will depend on your own ability, lady."

"So it's about this lady's skill…"

Li Qingluo's face flushed slightly.

She silently made up her mind: this time she'll even break his legs, and must keep that man forever!

……

Half an hour later

They sent Li Qingluo and Wang Yuyan mother and daughter back to Mantu Mountain Villa, nearing noon.

Perhaps because she could soon see her lover, Li Qingluo was in a wonderfully ecstatic mood and immediately set up a banquet with wine and food at Yun Jin Building.

During the feast, not only was Niu Dingtian invited to the main seat, but also her daughter was summoned to sit at the lower seat beside her.

After three rounds of wine, thinking that there was still an injured family member at home, Niu Dingtian decisively took his leave, packed a bear's paw and quickly left Mantu Mountain Villa.

When the small boat left the lotus pond and reached the shore, the lake sandbank was silent and oppressive; Niu Dingtian couldn't help but feel a jolt, and upon entering the house, he was stunned.

The empty bed board had no one on it. "She really left…"

After searching the reed thickets on the sandbank, he returned to the house, looked at the Shura Blade left on the bed, and muttered to himself.

The crossbow mechanism he had taken off before leaving was gone, and several of his daughter's belongings were missing as well; only a knife remained, and on the crooked wooden board beside the bed were two lines of scrawled characters: "I will go back to ask my master; the blade is yours. If you dare to marry that little slut, I will definitely kill you!"

The character "Kill" still stood out prominently.

Niu Dingtian kept looking, finding it amusing, then suddenly was startled: "How did she leave without a boat?"

Thinking of a possibility, Niu Dingtian's heart tightened; he quickly left the house, jumped onto the boat, and began rowing outward to search.

……

An hour later, the sun was setting, at the dock outside Wu Xi Cheng—

After searching in vain, as soon as the small boat docked, Niu Dingtian asked the surrounding fishermen about Mu Wanqing's whereabouts.

"Young master is looking for someone?"

After questioning a few people, an old man sitting on a stone pier by the shore suddenly stepped forward. Niu Dingtian hurriedly said, "Have you seen a girl in black clothing? She came from the lake, wearing a green silk cloak."

"But her surname is Mu?"

The old man's face broke into a smile.

"Yes yes yes, where is that girl? Please, old man, take me to see her." Niu Dingtian exhaled in relief, fearing that Mu Wanqing's stubbornness would prompt her to come straight away and wade through the water while injured.

The old man smiled and waved, leading Niu Dingtian to a small courtyard not far away.

The gate opened, revealing a courtyard full of old fishing nets; as the two stepped inside, a long, resonant horse neigh suddenly rang out from the east side.

"Fine horse!" Niu Dingtian exclaimed involuntarily as his gaze fell upon it.

Beside the wall by a jujube tree stood a jet-black fine horse, its eyes gleaming; as it looked about, it appeared extraordinarily spirited.

Upon seeing Niu Dingtian, the black horse let out a loud snort, made a few light tapping sounds, its hooves lightly striking the ground, as if displaying its slender build and long legs.

The old man chuckled, saying, "This horse was fostered here by that young lady; when she left this afternoon, she instructed that if anyone came looking for her at the shore, this horse would be given to him."

"She left?"

Niu Dingtian frowned and said.

"She's gone." The old man nodded, went inside, and brought out a piece of clothing to hand to Niu Dingtian.

"This clothing should belong to the young master; the horse is spiritually perceptive, and if it doesn't catch your scent, you probably won't be able to ride it."

Niu Dingtian took the clothing in silence; it was exactly the long robe he had taken off that morning.

"Thank you for the trouble, old man."

After expressing his thanks, Niu Dingtian didn't linger, stroked the black horse, and bade farewell to the old man.

"Are you called Black Rose?"

On the lake dyke, Niu Dingtian led the black horse at a slow walk, gently stroking its mane.

Hearing the sound, the black horse let out a loud snort, turned its head, and rubbed against Niu Dingtian's arm, showing great affection.

"Come run a lap with me!"

Niu Dingtian, delighted at the sight, felt the urge to gallop; this horse was more divine than any he had seen in his previous life.

After mounting, Black Rose let out a neigh and unleashed its four hooves; in a few strides it was already tens of zhang away. In the evening glow, the steed flew like the wind, the willows along the dyke rushing backward, constantly flashing past the eye.

……

"Have you heard? Earlier today someone clashed fiercely with Murong's young master at Tai Lake."

"Murong's young master? The Murong young master of Bei Qiao Feng and Nan Murong?"

"Exactly! Rumor has it a black-clad swordsman, his blade technique superb, actually forced Murong's young master to barely defend himself!"

"Pfft, what's swordsmanship? I was there myself; that man was Niu Dingtian, barely twenty, you guess what martial art he finally used?"

"Which martial art?"

"The Dali Yang Finger of the Duan clan!"

……

As evening fell and the sky darkened, the jianghu inn also grew lively.

The jianghu folk of Wu Xi Cheng were basically discussing the earlier Tai Lake battle.

Niu Dingtian's name also began to spread among some jianghu folk, gradually spreading beyond the Tai Lake area in all directions.

Those without ulterior motives might just be watching for fun, but those with intent sensed that something was out of the ordinary.

The Yang Finger is a secret, non-transmitted art of the Dali Duan clan; how could it be mastered by an outsider?

If that's truly the case, Tai Lake will surely become lively before long.

As for the outside gossip, Niu Dingtian paid it no heed; riding Black Rose around the lake dyke, one person, one horse, one boat, he returned to the lakeside under the cover of night.

Three days later.

As expected, Murong Fu again came calling, bringing along a complex‑looking A Bi, together with a deed of indenture.

Niu Dingtian reciprocated the courtesy and spoke at length.

After a lengthy conversation, Murong Fu left, still unsatisfied.

At Ri Yue An, all grew quiet; seeing A Bi staring blankly at the lotus pond, Niu Dingtian stepped to her side and spoke gently: "He just gave you away like that—aren't you disappointed?"

A Bi came to, shook her head, and whispered: "A Zhu sister told me that the master and mistress raise us this way; if the young master remains indifferent, we will eventually be sent away."

"Your A Zhu sister sees things clearly." Niu Dingtian smiled and said, "Wait a few more days, and I'll find a way to bring your A Zhu sister here as well."

Saying this, he reached into his bosom, took out her indenture, and with a turn of his inner power crushed it to dust.

After clapping his hands, he laughed: "From now on, serve me wholeheartedly, one little tune a day—can you manage that?"

A Bi stared, then said foolishly: "Aren't you afraid I'll run away, young master?"

"Dare to run?" Niu Dingtian gave her a sideways glance and snorted coldly, "Dare to run and I'll break your legs!"

A Bi couldn't help but puff out a laugh, covering her mouth; her mood instantly improved.

"Whatever little tune you wish to hear, young master, A Bi will sing it for you. It's just that we have no instruments here, so I fear you won't be fully satisfied."

She looked at Niu Dingtian and laughed happily.

"It'll be ready soon." Niu Dingtian gave a slight smile, turned toward the thatched hut, and said: "First pack up your things; later I'll move with you. Tonight you'd better prepare to learn your skill with the zither and flute."

PS: Not finished yet, will complete it soon. (End of chapter)