Chapter 42: If It Goes Wrong, Hmph

"Tear it down! Get another!"

"Just call it."

"Woniu Zhai!"

"Yes! Chief!"

"Yes! Chief!"

Niu Dingtian's words just fell, and the two behind him each answered promptly and ran out.

The others hadn't even reacted yet, but they scrambled left and right, racing to climb onto the village gate, each swinging their knives in a slash.

Clang—

The plaque fell to the ground with the sound, shattering into pieces.

"Very good! What are you two called?"

Niu Dingtian sat on his horse, smiling as he leaned forward and asked the two.

At this moment, for easier management after he left, he didn't mind first taking in two clever henchmen.

"Report, Chief! I am Zhu Quan."

Among them, the tall, sturdy, dark‑skinned man was the first to kneel on one knee, clasp his fists, and answer loudly.

The remaining skinny, dark man, unwilling to fall behind, mimicked him and replied:

"Report, Chief! I am Liu Da."

Niu Dingtian was pleased; they were all people who knew the times. He smiled and then asked in a gentle voice:

"Do you two know any martial arts?"

Zhu Quan heard this and couldn't help but light up, quickly clasping his fists and replying:

"Report, Chief, I have a slight grasp of martial skills; your divine art is unrivaled! I admire you to my very core!"

By the end, Zhu Quan's face flushed with excitement; he is a perceptive man—the more skilled in martial arts, the more he understands the terror of the chief before him.

Such strength absolutely warrants comparison with the legendary Five Absolutes.

Liu Da, standing nearby, grew anxious, thinking he couldn't let you be the only one to shine.

So he quickly clasped his fists and replied:

"Report, Chief! My martial skill may not match Brother Zhu Quan's, but heh, I know a bit as well!"

Having said that, the skinny, shrewd man's face was again full of flattering smiles.

"Hmm, all good! After the village affairs are settled, you two come find me, and I will teach you my divine supreme art."

"In the future, if I am absent, the village affairs will be discussed and handled by you two."

"Thank you, Chief! I'd die a myriad deaths for you!"

Zhu Quan and Liu Da exchanged glances, their eyes reddening with excitement, and they clasped their fists together, replying in unison.

The crowd behind them looked enviously red‑eyed, restless, and many regretted their earlier choices.

"Hmm? You aren't objecting?"

Niu Dingtian heard the commotion behind him, turned, gave a cold glance around, and a cruel sneer appeared on his face as he asked coldly.

"We dare not!"

Seeing his gaze, everyone trembled all over and hurriedly replied.

The mountain scene earlier truly terrified them; the old chief, though brutal, was still calculative. This new chief, however, has martial prowess beyond gods and demons, and will strike down at the slightest provocation.

"However."

Niu Dingtian was pleased with their reaction, but after looking again at Zhu Quan and Liu Da, his tone turned cold as he continued:

"If, before I leave the village, I assign you two matters and you ruin them—hum—do you know the consequences?"

After speaking, his gaze flashed like lightning, shooting straight at Zhu Quan and Liu Da.

"I, your subordinate, will atone with my life!"

Zhu Quan, still like a tough man, stepped forward and loudly declared a military decree.

"I, your subordinate, also atone with my life!"

Liu Da gritted his teeth, unwilling to fall behind; if he refused, there were plenty willing among the crowd.

"You two, first tell me about the situation inside the village."

Seeing their responses, Niu Dingtian glanced into the village ahead, wanting to understand its condition, and instructed Zhu Quan and Liu Da.

Liu Da, seeing this, stepped forward first, with a flattering smile, and reported:

"Report, Chief! Now inside the village, there are still fifty to sixty brothers like those outside; regarding the remaining..."

When he hesitated near the end, Niu Dingtian gave him a blank stare and a quick glance, and Liu Da was instantly startled.

Just as he was about to continue reporting, Zhu Quan rushed forward and said loudly:

"Report, Chief! The rest includes over two hundred women and the elderly and weak, all captured into the mountain in recent years, who also have to do labor."

Zhu Quan considered himself clever; having pledged himself to the new master, he opened his heart to him, so the master could rely on him.

Liu Da, looking frail yet shrewd, could tell from the circumstances that...

At this moment, Liu Da hated Zhu Quan to death.

"Good! Lead the way into the village!"

Seeing them like this, Niu Dingtian was very satisfied and immediately ordered a march into the village.

Inside, there were rows of old wooden houses; scattered outside some elderly women could be seen, mostly washing clothes, and they were not surprised by the influx of people.

Walking past the rows of houses to the end, they reached the main building of the mountain stronghold, an old yet rather imposing structure.

After dismounting, Niu Dingtian ascended the wooden stairs to the hall, where a tiger‑skin seat faced him, with no side chairs as he had imagined.

"Zhu Quan, Liu Da! Within a quarter of an hour, gather every person in the village, regardless of gender or age!"

Yes!

Niu Dingtian gave the order, then sat directly on the tiger-skin chair, closed his eyes, and began to rest his spirit.

The two groups of several dozen who had followed into the hall saw this and stood there honestly, not daring to make a sound.

Not long after, people kept coming in one after another.

Seeing a young person sitting in the chief's seat, most were not too surprised; apparently they had been reminded.

However, seeing the two groups inside so nervous, they were somewhat curious.

The young person on the seat is fair and clean‑looking; how could he be so fearsome?

Before a quarter hour had passed, the hall was packed with men, women, old and young, about three or four hundred people. Yet most felt no fear toward the new stronghold master before them.

Stronghold master, everyone is gathered.

Not long after, Zhu Quan and Liu Da returned, seeing Niu Dingtian seated with eyes closed, cultivating his spirit; Zhu Quan slowly stepped to the side and spoke softly.

Hmm

Niu Dingtian heard it, slowly opened his eyes, and saw the hall filled with a dark mass.

Women to the back, men to the front!

Niu Dingtian spoke, his voice soft yet carrying internal force, booming into the ears of everyone present.

After men and women were separated, Niu Dingtian, expressionless, swept his gaze over the men before him and spoke:

I will say this only once! Remember it, old man! Otherwise, the consequences—many of you know very well what they are!

My surname is Niu; from now on, in Woniu Zhai, I call the shots! I don't care whether you lot have killed or done evil before; I only care that from now on you follow orders to kill and do evil!

From now on, temporarily cease all plundering actions!

Starting tomorrow, all men aged fifteen to sixty will begin reclaiming all the abandoned fields in the valley!

When the stronghold master is away, this matter will be handled by Zhu Quan and Liu Da! When I return, those who do well will be richly rewarded; those who don't... humph humph.

At the end, Niu Dingtian merely gave a cold smile, scanning the crowd, finally settling on Zhu Quan and Liu Da.

Zhu Quan and Liu Da, seeing this, shuddered all over, frightened, and hastily clasped their fists:

Please be at ease, stronghold master!

Alright, everyone may leave; Zhu Quan and Liu Da stay.

After the crowd in the hall had all withdrawn, Niu Dingtian glanced at the two before him, then suddenly thrust out both palms toward them.

Zhu Quan and Liu Da had not yet reacted when, in an instant, they were uncontrollably sucked into Niu Dingtian's palms; they felt a surge of domineering internal force rush into their bodies, making it hard even to cry out for a moment.

After a few breaths, the two collapsed limp on the ground; after they came to, the Niu Dingtian seated on the chair had already vanished, and only an echo returned from outside the hall:

Serve the stronghold master well! Consider this internal force a reward!

(End of chapter)