Chapter 244: with translation of chapter title

~24 min read 4,663 words

PS: There are really too many annoying things; I just finished typing. Thanks to the readers for their rewards, there's still another chapter today, and updates will be normal for the last few days.

"What's the matter?"

Bai Shijing gave Elder Xu a cold glance, his gaze landing on Quan Guanqing, and he also felt a hint of annoyance at having his shameful affair exposed.

Although the adultery affair is already known to both of us, he still cares about saving face and cannot bring it up as casually as the two of us do.

Translate: "Although the affair of adultery is already known to both of us, he still cares about face and cannot bring it up as casually as the two of them do." Need to keep meaning. Use names? No specific names. So: "Although the adultery is already known to both of us, he still cares about face and cannot bring it up as casually as the two of them do."

Quan Guanqing chuckled, stepped forward and lowered his voice: "Elder Bai, have you decided to make it clear with that surnamed Niu?"

Bai Shijing's expression slightly stiffened, he involuntarily furrowed his brows, and said: "How if we make it clear? How if we don't?"

Translate: "Bai Shijing's face slightly stiffened, he involuntarily furrowed his brows, and said: 'What if we make it clear? What if we don't?'" Use pinyin: Bai Shijing. So: "Bai Shijing's face slightly stiffened, he involuntarily furrowed his brows, and said: 'What if we make it clear? What if we don't?'"

"If we don't make it clear, there's no guarantee that brat won't change his mind at the last moment and ruin our plans." Quan Guanqing slowly rose to his feet, hands behind his back, and said:

Translate: "'If we don't make it clear, I can't guarantee that brat won't change his mind at the last moment and ruin our plans.' Quan Guanqing slowly rose, hands behind his back, and said." Need to keep quotes. So: "'If we don't make it clear, I can't guarantee that brat won't change his mind at the last moment and ruin our plans.' Quan Guanqing slowly rose, hands behind his back, and said."

"If we do make it clear, then we'll see whether he refuses. If he doesn't refuse, we must have him submit a letter of allegiance; if he refuses, hehe..."

Translate: "'If we do make it clear, then we'll see whether he refuses. If he doesn't refuse, we must have him submit a letter of allegiance; if he refuses, hehe...'" Need to keep ellipsis. So: "'If we do make it clear, then we'll see whether he refuses. If he doesn't refuse, we must have him submit a letter of allegiance; if he refuses, hehe...'"

"Chief Quan, what do you plan to do?" Bai Shijing couldn't help but stare at Quan Guanqing.

To be fair, although he was bewitched by beauty this time and committed a disgraceful act, he still believes he has a bottom line in his heart.

Translate: "To be fair, although he was bewitched by beauty this time and committed a shameful act, he still believes he has a bottom line in his heart." So: "To be fair, although he was bewitched by beauty this time and committed a shameful act, he still believes he has a bottom line in his heart."

Otherwise, when that woman pounced on him in bed a few days ago, he would not have outright refused to plot harm against Qiao Feng.

Quan Guanqing gave a light smile, glanced at Elder Xu, then narrowed his eyes slightly and said softly:

"This major matter concerns the safety of the martial world; how can we allow it to leak? If that brat doesn't know his place, no matter how high his martial arts, he must stay in Taoyuan County."

Translate: "'This major matter concerns the safety of the martial world; how could we allow it to leak? If that brat doesn't know his place, no matter how high his martial arts, he must stay in Taoyuan County.'" Need to keep quotes. So: "'This major matter concerns the safety of the martial world; how could we allow it to leak? If that brat doesn't know his place, no matter how high his martial arts, he must stay in Taoyuan County.'"

"I agree!" Without waiting for Bai Shijing to express his stance, Elder Xu, his face flushed from alcohol, slammed his palm on the table and rose.

Translate: "'I agree!' Before Bai Shijing could express his stance, Elder Xu, face flushed with alcohol, slammed the table and stood up." Need to keep quotes. So: "'I agree!' Before Bai Shijing could express his stance, Elder Xu, face flushed with alcohol, slammed the table and stood up."

Everyone in the jianghu knows to respect elders and love the young, but Niu Dingtian didn't even give him a proper look; he had long taken a dislike to him.

Translate: "Any martial artist knows to respect elders and love the young, but Niu Dingtian didn't even give him a proper look; he had long taken a dislike to that person!" Need to keep name Niu Dingtian (from glossary). So: "Any martial artist knows to respect elders and love the young, but Niu Dingtian didn't even give him a proper look; he had long taken a dislike to that person!"

Seeing the two hit it off, with fiery gazes fixed on him, Bai Shijing furrowed his brows and pondered: "Just from his demeanor at the table earlier, one can tell he's not easy to get along with. He's no ordinary hand; if we really force him to submit some pledge letter, we might end up losing more than we gain."

Translate: "Seeing the two hit it off, with fiery gazes fixed on himself, Bai Shijing frowned and pondered: 'Just from his demeanor at the table earlier, one can tell he's not easy to get along with. He's no ordinary hand; if we really force him to submit some pledge letter, we might end up losing more than we gain.'" Need to keep quotes. So: "Seeing the two hit it off, with fiery gazes fixed on himself, Bai Shijing frowned and pondered: 'Just from his demeanor at the table earlier, one can tell he's not easy to get along with. He's no ordinary hand; if we really force him to submit some pledge letter, we might end up losing more than we gain.'"

As soon as his words fell, Quan Guanqing gave a hehe laugh, stepped forward and lowered his voice:

Translate: "As his words fell, Quan Guanqing gave a hehe smile, stepped forward and lowered his voice:" So: "As his words fell, Quan Guanqing gave a hehe smile, stepped forward and lowered his voice:"

"Even if he's not easy to get along with, he's still a young man full of vigor."

Translate: "'Even if he's hard to get along with, he's still a young man full of vigor.'" Need quotes. So: "'Even if he's hard to get along with, he's still a young man full of vigor.'"

"With the lady's looks and tactics, it's uncertain who will be coercing whom by then."

Translate: "'With the lady's looks and methods, who coerces whom at that time is uncertain.'" Need quotes. So: "'With the lady's looks and methods, who coerces whom at that time is uncertain.'"

Bai Shijing froze upon hearing that, and after reacting, his face subtly changed.

Translate: "Bai Shijing froze upon hearing that, then after reacting, his face subtly changed." So: "Bai Shijing froze upon hearing that, then after reacting, his face subtly changed."

"Bang!"

He was about to sternly refuse when he saw Elder Xu raise his fist and smash the table, his eyes suddenly glaring as he shouted sternly:

Translate: "He was about to sternly refuse when he saw Elder Xu raise his fist and smash the table, his eyes suddenly glaring as he shouted sternly:" So: "He was about to sternly refuse when he saw Elder Xu raise his fist and smash the table, his eyes suddenly glaring as he shouted sternly:"

"You surnamed Quan! You dare let the lady accompany that pretty boy? I'll chop you with one blade!"

Translate: "'Surname Quan! You dare let the lady accompany that pretty boy? I'll chop you with one blade!'" Need quotes. So: "'Surname Quan! You dare let the lady accompany that pretty boy? I'll chop you with one blade!'"

……

Translate: "……" Keep ellipsis. So: "……"

Meanwhile, Niu Dingtian left the Beggars' Gang's territory, the sky already drawing near dusk.

Leading the Black Rose, he walked along the street back to the inn; not far along, he noticed two shadows tailing him.

"Really asking for death..."

Translate: "'Really asking for death...'" Need quotes. So: "'Really asking for death...'"

Niu Dingtian shook his head and let out a faint sigh.

Translate: "Niu Dingtian shook his head and let out a faint sigh." So: "Niu Dingtian shook his head and let out a faint sigh."

He immediately mounted his horse, regardless of the two people following behind, and rode straight back to the inn, entered his room, and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

Translate: "He then mounted his horse, regardless of the two people closely following behind, and rode straight back to the inn, entered his room, and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow." So: "He then mounted his horse, regardless of the two people closely following behind, and rode straight back to the inn, entered his room, and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow."

Since the Beggars' Gang had people searching, over the next two days, aside from eating and drinking, Niu Dingtian stayed indoors, spending the whole day in his room recovering his strength.

Translate: "Since the Beggars' Gang had people searching, over the next two days, aside from eating and drinking, Niu Dingtian did not step outside, staying in his room all day to recover his strength." So: "Since the Beggars' Gang had people searching, over the next two days, aside from eating and drinking, Niu Dingtian did not step outside, staying in his room all day to recover his strength."

During these two days, the Beggars' Gang disciples of Taoyuan City, whether on the roster or not, mostly scattered outside the city to search for a place called Black Dragon Pool.

Such a major movement by the Beggars' Gang's Great Wisdom branch naturally drew the attention of spies from neighboring sects.

No matter what, the Beggars' Gang will certainly not act without purpose!

Translate: "No matter what, the Beggars' Gang would certainly not act without purpose!" So: "No matter what, the Beggars' Gang would certainly not act without purpose!"

This was the first thought in everyone's mind, and so they all began to speculate what purpose the Beggars' Gang had in doing this.

Translate: "This was the first thought in everyone's mind, and thus they all began to speculate what purpose the Beggars' Gang had in doing this." So: "This was the first thought in everyone's mind, and thus they all began to speculate what purpose the Beggars' Gang had in doing this."

Associating the 'dragon' in Black Dragon Pool with the 'dragon' in the Beggars' Gang's Subduing Dragon Twenty-Eight Palms, those with imagination began to let their thoughts run wild.

Gradually, rumors spread from somewhere that Black Dragon Pool might conceal the Beggars' Gang's supreme divine skill, which is why the Great Wisdom branch has been searching so diligently.

Translate: "Gradually, rumors leaked from somewhere that Black Dragon Pool might conceal the Beggars' Gang's divine skill secret arts, which is why the Great Wisdom branch searched so diligently." So: "Gradually, rumors leaked from somewhere that Black Dragon Pool might conceal the Beggars' Gang's divine skill secret arts, which is why the Great Wisdom branch searched so diligently."

Upon this news, Taoyuan County was flooded with a large number of martial artists within a day, even the inn where Niu Dingtian stayed became crowded.

Translate: "Once this news spread, crowds of martial artists flooded Taoyuan County within a day, even the inn where Niu Dingtian stayed became crowded." So: "Once this news spread, crowds of martial artists flooded Taoyuan County within a day, even the inn where Niu Dingtian stayed became crowded."

"Master, our inn is fully occupied; please go elsewhere."

Translate: "'Master, our inn is full; please go elsewhere.'" Need quotes. So: "'Master, our inn is full; please go elsewhere.'"

At noon, Niu Dingtian finished his cultivation, walked out of his room, and downstairs he drank while listening to the surrounding diners talk about Black Dragon Pool; after three cups of wine went down, he involuntarily lifted his gaze to the entrance, and just as his sight reached there, he saw the attendant apologetically smiling at an old monk holding a staff outside the door.

"What a robust aura."

Translate: "'What a robust aura.'" Need quotes. So: "'What a robust aura.'"

Niu Dingtian's wine cup paused slightly in his hand, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

Translate: "Niu Dingtian's wine cup paused slightly in his hand, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes." So: "Niu Dingtian's wine cup paused slightly in his hand, a flicker of surprise flashing in his eyes."

After all, he had once reached the mountain peak; even though his realm has since declined, he still has a special sensitivity to the aura emitted by profound internal energy.

Translate: "After all, he had once been at the mountain peak; even though his realm is no longer what it was, he still has a special sensitivity to the aura exuded by robust internal energy." So: "After all, he had once been at the mountain peak; even though his realm is no longer what it was, he still has a special sensitivity to the aura exuded by robust internal energy."

If Murong Fu's aura were a pond, then the old monk outside would absolutely be a small lake.

"Then again, it's worth giving it my all." Niu Dingtian lightly sipped his wine, and couldn't help but think:

Perhaps sensing the probing gaze, the old monk lifted his eyes and met Niu Dingtian's stare; his gaze paused slightly, then shifted to the spacious seat nearby, and a hint of hesitation appeared on his face.

Translate: "Perhaps sensing the probing gaze, the old monk lifted his eyes and met Niu Dingtian's stare; his gaze paused slightly, then shifted to the spacious seat nearby, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face." So: "Perhaps sensing the probing gaze, the old monk lifted his eyes and met Niu Dingtian's stare; his gaze paused slightly, then shifted to the spacious seat nearby, a hint of hesitation appearing on his face."

"Master, if you don't mind, why not share a table with me?" Niu Dingtian gave a slight smile and greeted him at the right moment.

Translate: "'Master, if you don't mind, why not share a table with me?' Niu Dingtian gave a slight smile and greeted him at the right moment." So: "'Master, if you don't mind, why not share a table with me?' Niu Dingtian gave a slight smile and greeted him at the right moment."

His table had more dishes; if he didn't nod, even during the dinner rush, the attendant wouldn't allocate his empty seat to others.

Translate: "His table had more dishes; if he didn't nod, even during the dinner rush the attendant wouldn't split his empty seat among others." So: "His table had more dishes; if he didn't nod, even during the dinner rush the attendant wouldn't split his empty seat among others."

"Amitabha, thank you for your generosity, benefactor."

Translate: "'Amitabha, the poor monk thanks the benefactor.'" Need quotes. So: "'Amitabha, the poor monk thanks the benefactor.'"

"Please trouble the young benefactor for a bowl of vegetarian noodles."

Translate: "'Please trouble the young benefactor to bring a bowl of vegetarian noodles.'" Need quotes. So: "'Please trouble the young benefactor to bring a bowl of vegetarian noodles.'"

The old monk lifted his Buddhist staff, walked

Translate: "The old monk lifted his staff, slowly walked to the table, performed a single-handed Buddhist salute to Niu Dingtian, and then softly instructed the attendant." So: "The old monk lifted his staff, slowly walked to the table, performed a single-handed Buddhist salute to Niu Dingtian, and then softly instructed the attendant."

After the waiter left, the old monk took his seat. Niudingtian lifted the teapot on the table, poured him a cup of water, and said with a smile: "When you're out and about, being kind to others is also being kind to yourself. May I ask your dharma name, venerable master?"

Translate: "After the attendant left, the old monk seated himself; Niu Dingtian picked up the teapot on the table, poured him a cup of water, and said with a smile: 'When out and about, being accommodating to others is also accommodating oneself; may I ask your dharma name, Master?'" Need quotes. So: "After the attendant left, the old monk seated himself; Niu Dingtian picked up the teapot on the table, poured him a cup of water, and said with a smile: 'When out and about, being accommodating to others is also accommodating oneself; may I ask your dharma name, Master?'"

The old monk placed his palms together, nodded, and chuckled: "Benefactor, you have good fortune; meeting here is also destiny; I am Xuanshi of Shaolin Temple."

The old monk pressed his palms together and nodded, laughing heartily: "Benefactor, you have good karma; meeting here is also fate; I am Xuanshi of Shaolin Temple."

Xuanshi?

Translate: "Xuanshi?" Probably just that. So: "Xuanshi?"

Niudingtian was taken aback. The area around the guest tables suddenly fell silent, and the wandering martial artists carrying weapons all turned their gazes over.

Translate: "Niu Dingtian couldn't help but startle. The surrounding tables suddenly fell silent, and the martial artists carrying weapons all turned their gazes over." So: "Niu Dingtian couldn't help but startle. The surrounding tables suddenly fell silent, and the martial artists carrying weapons all turned their gazes over."

As a senior monk of the Xuanshi generation at Shaolin Temple, Xuanshi has been famous for years; his signature technique, the Great Vajra Staff, is immensely powerful, seldom matched, far surpassing what ordinary masters can achieve.

As a senior monk of the Xuanshi generation of Shaolin Temple, Xuanshi has been renowned for years; his signature skill, the Great Vajra Staff, possesses tremendous power, rarely matched, far beyond what ordinary masters can compare to.

"It's Master Xuanshi." Niudingtian bowed slightly, smiling: "I am Niudingtian; I've long heard of your name."

Translate: "'So it's Master Xuanshi.' Niu Dingtian gave a slight fist salute and smiled: 'I am Niu Dingtian; I have long admired your reputation.'" Need quotes. So: "'So it's Master Xuanshi.' Niu Dingtian gave a slight fist salute and smiled: 'I am Niu Dingtian; I have long admired your reputation.'"

"Is he Niudingtian?"

Translate: "'He's Niu Dingtian?'" Need quotes. So: "'He's Niu Dingtian?'"

"Could he be the Niudingtian who fought the Gusu Murong at Lake Tai?"

Translate: "'Could it be the Niu Dingtian who fought fiercely with the Gusu Murong at Taihu?'" Need quotes. So: "'Could it be the Niu Dingtian who fought fiercely with the Gusu Murong at Taihu?'"

"This person is surprisingly young!"

Translate: "'This person is actually so young!'" Need quotes. So: "'This person is actually so young!'"

Niu Dingtian's words had just fallen when the jianghu people around the tables began to murmur in low voices, and a sudden solemnity appeared on Xuanbei's face.

"Did the master also come for the secret manual of the divine skill?" Niu Dingtian said with a slight smile.

Xuanbei heard this, shook his head, and a gentle smile appeared on his aged face, saying:

"The divine skill follows its own fate; I, a poor monk, am heading south on this journey, and I did not expect to meet Young Hero Niu."

Niu Dingtian smiled, raised his cup toward Xuanbei in a toast, and said nothing more.

It is precisely because the old monk before us died at the hands of Murong Bo during his journey to Dali that later Murong Fu took the blame and was held a grudge by the entire Shaolin Temple.

Moreover, even Murong Bo's attack was a narrow victory; the depth of his internal energy can be imagined, and at this moment Niu Dingtian couldn't help but feel an itch to test his skills.

"I, in my travels through the jianghu this time, wish to hear some teachings from eminent monks and virtuous masters to dispel the doubts in my heart; I do not know if the master could grant instruction."

After downing a cup of wine, Niu Dingtian slowly set down his cup and asked:

In his previous life, he had no fondness for the Shaolin Temple; those of the Buddhist sect spoke only of the Buddha's mercy, but what they actually discussed were sectarian interests.

Compared to doing good deeds, exchanging pleasantries in the jianghu, and making friends with like-minded people, what he cared about more was merely Xuanbei's martial arts and how to test his skills later.

Xuanbei's gaze was gentle; he took a sip of tea, looked at Niu Dingtian, and said in a soft voice: "Sir, please speak freely; if I can dispel your doubts, I will certainly not refuse."

Upon hearing this, Niu Dingtian pondered briefly, then said slowly: "I see that in this world good and evil are hard to discern, and human hearts are complex; I do not know how to uphold the righteous path in my heart, and I hope the master can point the way."

After saying that, he refilled Xuanbei's tea, his eyes shining as he looked at the other.

And the jianghu people around who heard the words all stopped their cups and chopsticks, some gazing at the black-clad youth, some at the old monk in apricot-yellow robes, and some quietly pricking up their ears, ready to hear the wonderful sound.

Xuanbei showed no hesitation, pondered, and said:

"Good and evil reside in the heart; if the heart is upright, the body will be upright. In one's actions, seek only to have no guilt before the heart, not be deluded by worldly appearances, hold compassion in your bosom, use wisdom to perceive, and you can find the righteous path in your heart amidst this tumultuous world."

Niu Dingtian startled, seeming to find this answer quite surprising; he slightly narrowed his eyes at Xuanbei and said softly:

"But what if someone does evil in the name of good?"

"What if a righteous sect, in the name of the righteous path, schemes for its own interests?"

Xuanbei clasped his hands together and said slowly:

"Distinguish right from wrong, use the righteous to suppress evil. Yet one must not deny all goodness because of one person's evil, nor lose one's original heart due to temporary hardship."

Niu Dingtian furrowed his brows and said again:

"If one employs extraordinary measures for the sake of the righteous path, does that also count as evil?"

"If one employs extraordinary measures for the greater good, does that also count as evil?"

"If one knowingly creates a great mistake but still employs extraordinary measures, leading to many great mistakes, does that also count as evil?"

These three consecutive questions caused everyone around to fall into deep thought, and Xuanbei also gazed deeply, looking at Niu Dingtian as if lost in thought.

He felt that these words seemed to carry a deep, pointed meaning, but lacking evidence, after a moment of silence he spoke in a low voice:

"For extraordinary deeds, there may be extraordinary measures, but the means must not depart from the root of benevolence and kindness; otherwise one falls into the ear‑nose hell!"

After hearing that, Niu Dingtian remained silent.

"Thank you, master, for dispelling my doubts."

After a while, he cupped his fists toward Xuanbei, his gaze falling on the other's pair of hands, withered like hemp stalks, and an inexplicable meaning appeared in his eyes.

"I just don't know whether the master's martial arts were also obtained by upholding the righteous path."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the inn suddenly tensed, and everyone was astonished.

Xuanbei's expression unchanged, he said lightly: "My martial arts are the result of years of cultivation, used only for self-defense and protecting the way, and have never been contrary to the heart of chivalry."

At this moment, even if he were dull, he would know that the young man opposite was not as kind-hearted as imagined.

Just then, the waiter came over carrying a bowl of vegetarian noodles, and the steaming aroma of the noodles instantly filled the air.

"Please, master, have some noodles!"

Before the waiter could set down the bowl in his hand, Niu Dingtian gave a soft call, then lightly touched the edge of the table with his palm, and instantly an invisible force lifted the noodle bowl, gently pushing it toward Xuanbei.

Although slow in speed, the bowl floated in midair, and with each inch it moved, a majestic aura pressed layer upon layer toward the opposite side.

Seeing this, Xuanbei's pupils involuntarily contracted; without hesitation he raised his hand and pressed down slowly, instantly generating an invisible force that directly blocked the bowl, preventing it from advancing even a fraction.

Gradually, between the two of them on the dining table, with the floating immobile noodle bowl as the center, two strands of what seemed like substantial mighty force began to arise, intertwining and holding fast, sending out wave after wave of energy surge that howled outward in all directions.

"They are competing in internal energy!"

"Quickly, keep your distance!"

Witnessing this scene, the surrounding diners exclaimed in alarm one after another; seeing the atmosphere in the inn gradually grow oppressive, experienced jianghu figures shouted loudly, picked up their weapons, and retreated to a safe distance. (End of chapter)

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