Chapter 245: Framing (Part 1)

After a long while——

Inside the inn, the leaking shockwave of qi ravaged the place, leaving it in disarray; only the spots where Niu Dingtian and Xuan Bei stood remained unharmed.

Just as the two's robes ballooned, they were deadlocked, their faces distorted by the rushing internal force, sweat beading on their foreheads, two beggars suddenly rushed in from outside.

Seeing the situation inside, the two glanced at each other, shock evident in their eyes.

One of them shifted his gaze, about to turn and run outside, when Niu Dingtian caught sight of it; suddenly his profound energy surged, the mighty qi that had been entwining the bowl instantly found an outlet, wrapping the bowl and shooting straight toward the doorstep!

"Boom!"

This blow shattered the doorstep into splinters, wood chips flying and striking the faces of those nearby, leaving bloody streaks.

"Shifting Stars Transfer!" Xuan Bei's eyes widened in shock, and he couldn't help exclaiming.

Thereafter, he quickly grasped the Buddhist staff nearby, fixed his gaze on Niu Dingtian, and said in a low voice: "Are you a member of the Gusu Murong Clan?"

Being able to match his internal strength for so long at such an age was already beyond expectation.

And now he could actually unleash the Murong Clan's secret technique! With such proficiency, how could he not be shocked?

Thinking of the purpose of this trip to Dali and this sudden appearance of a young man, Xuan Bei's heart involuntarily tightened.

Niu Dingtian, however, neither replied nor glanced at the shocked martial artists around him; instead, he turned his gaze to the doorstep, his eyes falling on the frightened Beggar Sect disciple.

"Have you found any leads?"

He asked in a calm tone; this person and the one beside him were the Beggar Sect informants who had tailed them before, and over the past two days, whenever they went downstairs to eat and drink, they would inevitably notice the two's presence.

And that strike just now served three purposes: first, to give a lesson; second, to prevent them from reporting; third, he and Xuan Bei were indeed nearing exhaustion, and if they didn't play their trump card, continuing the fight would make it hard to tell who was stronger in a short time.

"Yes… yes, we have it; the branch chief has already prepared a banquet and sent… sent us to invite Young Hero Niu."

The beggar snapped back to attention, his Adam's apple bobbing as he gulped down saliva, his voice trembling.

Niu Dingtian heard this and gave a slight nod; seeing the onlookers whispering, Xuan Bei on full alert, as if facing a formidable foe, Niu Dingtian's tone inevitably carried a hint of something indeterminate, and he said lightly:

"There are more than myriad martial arts under heaven; the skill of borrowing force to counter force is not limited to Shifting Stars Transfer alone, Master Xuan Bei is narrow‑minded."

"Not Shifting Stars Transfer?" Xuan Bei's expression stalled, his gaze involuntarily falling on Niu Dingtian's face, as if trying to discern the truth.

The onlooking martial artists around them likewise looked doubtful.

"Master, you don't believe me?"

Niu Dingtian raised his eyebrows and said.

Xuan Bei's face showed a hint of hesitation; without answering, after a moment's contemplation he uttered a single Buddhist invocation: "Amitabha."

Niu Dingtian gave a light snort at the sight and did not elaborate further.

It's not that he's boasting about his wife's unique martial art; rather, Shifting Stars Transfer truly pales before the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.

Borrowing force to counter force, drawing in the opponent's energy, transforming yin and yang qi, plus copying the opponent's martial arts and stimulating one's own potential, and so on.

One could say, whatever Shifting Stars Transfer possesses, the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth also possesses; whatever the Minor Formless Skill possesses, the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth also possesses.

But the latter has far more that the former lacks; how can they be compared?

However, since he could match Xuan Bei in internal strength to the point of being indistinguishable, he would no longer need to hide his abilities; whatever martial art comes to hand, he'll use it, no matter who comes looking for him.

"Since I've spoiled the master's meal, I, Niu, will repay him with a gift."

In the midst of his contemplation, Niu Dingtian seemed to recall something, and he looked at Xuan Bei with deep meaning, saying: "I observe that your Hall of Impression is darkened; disaster surely clings to you. Heading south on this journey, you may encounter a bloody calamity—I hope you will take care."

"Farewell!"

Having said that, he paid no heed to Xuan Bei's and the onlookers' astonished gazes, picked up the Asura Blade on the table, tossed two silver ingots onto the counter, and strode out of the inn toward the Beggar Sect's Great Wisdom Branch.

……

At the Great Wisdom Branch, the hall already had a lavish spread of food and drink prepared.

"Has the branch chief really found nothing?"

Elder Xu sat at the table, gazing opposite at Quan Guanqing, his expression still doubtful.

After all, the outside rumors were vivid and convincing, making even him anticipate that some venerable expert of the Beggar Sect might have left a divine skill in Black Dragon Pond.

Quan Guanqing couldn't help feeling annoyed; ever since the rumor spread, those two old-timers have feared he'd swallowed some good stuff for himself.

But the fact is, he personally led people to dig nine feet of black mud in Black Dragon Pond, yet found nothing noteworthy.

"If Elder Xu doesn't believe it, why not go there himself to pan?"

Seeing Bai Shijing's glance also flick over, Quan Guanqing retorted in a neutral tone. Although his standing in the Beggar Sect isn't high, there's no need to keep indulging a retired, powerless old fogey.

"You…" Elder Xu's face instantly darkened, having unintentionally offended both sides.

Just as he was about to scold a couple of sentences, Bai Shijing sternly cut him off, saying: "All right, this need not be mentioned further!"

Saying that, he didn't care about Elder Xu's reaction, fixed his gaze on Quan Guanqing, and said in a low voice: "If the talks fall apart later, do you really have confidence in taking this person down?"

Quan Guanqing, seeing an opportunity to yield, bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly to Elder Xu, aiming merely not to mortally offend him.

He then smiled at Bai Shijing and said: "Even if that Niu fellow's martial arts were superb, the two elders and Quan working together could not let him escape this courtyard! Moreover…"

At the end of his words, he glanced at the white jade wine vessel on the table; upon his handsome, refined face appeared a sinister smile, rather out of place.

"This wine is a fine vintage specially prepared by Quan; even if Qiao Feng were to drink it, he'd likely be knocked out for two days."

Having finished speaking, Quan Guanqing still wanted to boast a bit more, but before he could lift the wine jar, a clear voice rang from outside the hall: "Oh? The branch chief actually has such fine wine; why didn't you bring it out earlier these past two days? Could it be you look down on me, Niu Dingtian?"

Quan Guanqing's face changed dramatically; he, Bai Shijing, and Elder Xu by the table sprang to their feet in unison, gazing toward the hall's exterior while going on full alert.

After just a few breaths, light footsteps sounded, no different from an ordinary person's; then a black-clad figure wielding a blade slowly approached, entering the hall—it was Niu Dingtian, unseen for two days! Upon entering the hall, Niu Dingtian raised his eyes, and amid the trio's tense vigilance, he wore a faint smile, walked to the main seat, set down his precious blade, and sat down composedly.

"I've already eaten plenty of Hunan cuisine before coming, so I'm not particularly hungry; I just want to sample the branch chief's fine vintage."

As he spoke, Niu Dingtian lightly glanced at the lavish spread before him, smiling toward Quan Guanqing on his left.

Quan Guanqing forced composure, though inside he was panicking; he couldn't even be sure whether Niu Dingtian had heard his earlier remark.

Among the three, his martial arts were the weakest, yet he stood closest to Niu Dingtian; if the latter were to launch a sudden attack, a single slash could reach him.

"Since Young Hero Niu has arrived, won't the branch chief pour the wine?" Finally, Bai Shijing forced a smile, secretly circulating his energy while frowning at Quan Guanqing with an order.

Quan Guanqing could only grit his teeth, pick up the wine jar, and fill the four cups to the brim.

"Young Hero Niu, are you doubtful about how the Hall Chief just addressed our Chief?" Bai Shijing did not step forward, only standing in place, he asked in a deep voice.

He planned to try a desperate remedy, avoiding conflict if possible.

If the other party is a smart person, facing the Beggars' Sect, what difference would it make even if they heard those words? Smart people mostly would tacitly cooperate with him.

"Not curious."

Niu Dingtian gave a light smile and said, "I am only interested in the location of Black Dragon Pool."

After saying that, he lifted the white jade wine cup before him, brought it to his nose to sniff; seeing this, Quan Guanqing beside him twitched his eyelids wildly.

Bai Shijing frowned, exchanged a glance with Quan Guanqing and Elder Xu, then looked at Niu Dingtian and said in a deep voice, "Bai Mou will no longer beat around the bush: our gang's chief Qiao Feng is in fact a Khitan, and many martial arts seniors already know this."

"Now the Liao State eyes our Song with tiger-like greed, ready to launch a major southern invasion at any moment. And this villain Qiao Feng, with his wolfish ambitions, ungrateful for Han kindness, has long colluded with the Liao people; he must not be allowed to continue occupying a high position! I beg Young Hero Niu, for the safety of the martial world and for the Han people, to exert your utmost effort!"

Without waiting for Niu Dingtian's reply, Quan Guanqing's eyes flashed; he suddenly opened his arms, stepped back two large paces, then with a solemn expression bowed deeply, clasping his hands in salute, and said:

"I again beg Young Hero Niu, for the safety of the martial world and for the Han people, to exert your utmost effort! All of us in the Beggars' Sect are deeply grateful!"

Having said that, he let out a big sigh of relief, finally keeping a safe distance!

"Where is Black Dragon Pool?"

Niu Dingtian asked in a calm voice, meanwhile lightly drinking the wine in the cup.

Quan Guanqing stared, unable to help widening his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

He drank it! He actually drank it! "Fifty li northeast of the city, at the western foothills of Snow Peak Mountain!" Bai Shijing, suppressing his excitement, spoke the truth.

Niu Dingtian nodded, then closed his eyes as if savoring it; after a moment he opened them, set down the wine cup, and smiled, saying, "Indeed, it's fine wine."

"As for the matter of Qiao Feng, I, Niu Mou, cannot shirk responsibility; according to our prior agreement, if he ever does something that endangers the world, I will surely join you all to eradicate him together."

Saying this, Niu Dingtian rose to his feet, picked up another cup of wine, ignoring Bai Shijing's already grim expression, and amid Quan Guanqing's growing shock, he slowly walked up to him and brought the wine cup to his lips.

"Wine, I have already drunk it; Hall Chief, you refuse to drink—are you not giving Niu Mou face?"

"Attack!"

As soon as the words fell, Bai Shijing hesitated not at all; shouting fiercely, he launched a silk-entangling grappling hand toward Niu Dingtian.

Elder Xu, seeing this, hurried to follow; despite being over eighty, his erupting fist aura also sounded like a howl.

Quan Guanqing's face turned fierce; he thought this person's back was vulnerable and he must guard against it, preparing to seize the moment with a surrounding maneuver to strike, but he felt his right wrist instantly seized, and then a heart‑rending pain shot straight into his brain.

"Ah——"

In the midst of the excruciating pain, Quan Guanqing let out a miserable cry, involuntarily opening his mouth.

"Gurgle~"

The next moment, a stream of spicy wine was violently poured down his throat. (End of chapter)