Chapter 68

Big Sister Li, do you still remember Fifth Lord Niu?

Your family's old house—I used to often stop by and take a look when I was a kid.

Suddenly hearing this, Li Ping, who was holding a rough hand of mutton, came to an abrupt stop; the smile on her face gradually froze, and her expression became dazed once more.

That old house was the place she felt most warm in her life, and also where her nightmare began; she often thought of it day and night, yet she did not want to recall it. Now, upon suddenly hearing someone mention it, those past events surged into her mind unbidden.

"Fifth Lord Niu? Young Master Niu, are you from Niu Clan Village?"

After regaining her composure, Li Ping felt she had been rude, gave Niu Dingtian an apologetic smile, then, with a look of surprise, she spoke up to ask.

"Hmm, my sister-in-law is Chen Jin'er, Big Sister Li should have met her; my senior sister is Bao Xiruo, and I have already brought her to my residence."

Niu Dingtian gave a slight nod, smiling in reply, but only touched on it briefly; there were some things he did not want to elaborate on.

"Bao family's younger sister? How is Bao Xiruo now? How is Brother Yang? Is Little Kang a boy or a girl?"

Upon hearing Bao Xiruo's name, Li Ping, who had once been her close friend, felt inevitably excited and could not wait to start asking questions one after another.

"Big Sister Li, rest assured, Senior Sister Bao is all well; Yang Kang is indeed a boy, and he is also now at my residence; as for Brother Yang, there is no news."

Niu Dingtian patiently answered the other's questions, but when asked about Yang Tiexin, he evaded the topic.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't really evasion; he genuinely had no news of the other person, perhaps he was hiding somewhere, sharpening his iron spear while nurturing Mu Nianci.

After hearing that, Li Ping felt relieved, calmed her emotions a little, then thought of Niu Dingtian's status, her face showing more familiarity and respect as she asked: "Young Master Niu, are you that little gentleman of the village?"

"Young Master Niu, where are you studying now, and have you achieved any official rank?"

She still thought of Niu Dingtian as that other family's child from back then; seeing his extraordinary attire and bearing, he didn't seem like a villager, and she assumed his academic and official career would be smooth sailing, so his present accomplishments must be remarkable.

Although she came from a farming background, she also respected scholars; when she heard years ago that the village had produced a little prodigy, she felt envious and even imagined that the Guo Jing in her womb could, like Niu Dingtian, be a seed of learning.

Cough cough.

Niu Dingtian heard the praise, feeling a bit embarrassed; after some evasion, he spoke softly to explain:

"Big Sister Li, you may not know, but I have long since stopped studying the classics; several years ago I began to abandon literature for martial arts."

Upon hearing this, Li Ping's face showed a slight disappointment, yet she still sincerely praised: "Studying martial arts is fine too! Young Master Niu, pursuing martial arts will surely bring you fame and success; in the future you could protect home and country like General Yue!"

Niu Dingtian, upon hearing that, fell silent for a moment, not knowing how to respond.

Go study General Yue? Go study his father whom he's never met? Heh, the grass on the graves beside Purple Cloud Cave on Qixia Ridge has already grown several feet high!

Chaos is imminent; protecting the home is a must, but as for defending the country, it depends whose country it is—a bunch of spineless states, defending them is pointless! Of course, such coarse talk is something I'd only think to myself; I could never say it to Big Sister Li's face.

Ke Zhen'e and his two brothers had been sitting silently at the table, listening without interjecting, but the information they heard had already churned their hearts, leaving them unsettled.

Ah, that explains it! When they heard mention of Bao Xiruo, they immediately thought of Qiu Chuji; no wonder that old Daoist would go all the way to the desert to break his promise and betray his oath.

Spineless dog, his own disciple was lost, he never thought to properly search for him, and even if found, to take him back; instead he turned into a shrinking turtle! For the sake of a promise and a bet, my siblings and I left home and searched for six whole years! The world is fickle, fortunes shift; that oath, I fear, only my siblings and I were foolish enough to take seriously, and for it we've lost several good brothers in vain.

"Come! Young Hero Niu! The blind man admires your martial arts today—I offer you a bowl!"

Amidst his shifting thoughts, Ke Zhen'e felt a stifling sensation in his chest, suddenly wanting to get drunk; he raised his wine bowl to Niu Dingtian in a distant toast, then downed it in one gulp: "Brother Niu, Brother also toasts you a bowl!"

Beside him, Han Baoju also felt somewhat depressed, raised his wine bowl, and likewise downed it.

"Ke great hero, Han older brother, you're being too polite."

"Zhu Erge, let's all do it together."

Niu Dingtian, seeing this, was not polite either; since they were all his own people, and today he had lifted a great weight from the Beggars' Sect's heart, he also raised his wine bowl to greet Zhu Cong, then drank it all in one go.

Guo Jing had already been pulled out of the big tent by Li Ping, not knowing what he was doing; Han Xiao Ying then picked up the wine jug and refilled everyone's cups.

Come! Bottoms up!

This liquor, Niu Dingtian often drinks, but usually he only sips a few small cups with Chen Jin'er; today's big-bowl guzzling is also the first time he's done so, like eating dumplings on the first day of the lunar new year.

After two bowls, Niu Dingtian gradually felt the effect; this aged immortal's drunkenness is unlike yellow wine or rice wine—it goes down smooth, a single line to the throat, leaves fragrance in the teeth, exhales like orchids, yet has the kick of a strong white liquor.

Such fine intoxication, if one were to dispel it with internal energy, would truly be a waste.

Bang!

Sigh, I thought all our brothers' years of wandering and drifting were worthwhile, but in the end it turned out to be a joke!

Zhu Cong's face was slightly flushed; suddenly thinking of something, he slammed his empty bowl heavily onto the table, wore a self-mocking expression, then began to sigh and lament.

Hmph! Breaking faith and betraying promises—hatred can be left uninvestigated, but the grudge for killing my brothers must be avenged! What of the Quanzhen Sect? Even if Wang Chongyang were alive, he'd be no more than blood splashed upon their Southern Mountain!

Ke Zhen'e gulped down a bowl in one go, then recalled his brothers' grudge; as the alcohol took hold, his face flushed red with a hint of blue, and he let out a cold snort.

Niu Dingtian was already a bit tipsy, but upon hearing just a few words about Qiu Chuji, his anger surged together with the alcohol, rushing straight to his head.

Bang!

He slammed his hand hard on the wine table, nearly breaking Guo Jing's family table, then sprang to his feet, stepped on the bench, let out a belch, and shouted arrogantly: "Heh heh, what's Wang Chongyang to me? Qiu Chuji's disciples are mere chicken‑crowing, dog‑stealing riffraff! The disaster that befell Niu Clan Village back then was also caused by this scoundrel's provocation! I, Niu Dingtian, will surely slay this villain someday!"

Bang!

Belch~ Brother Niu! If you kill that dog Qiu Chuji, you'll be my big brother from now on! If you kill Wang Chongyang, you'll be my father!

Han Baoju across from him, hearing this in a dazed state, also slammed the table once, let out a belch, his face flushed as he loudly pledged to Niu Dingtian.

Bang!

Good! I, Niu Dingtian, hereby accept you as my father!

Niu Dingtian spoke with heroic bravado, full of confidence.

Han Xiao Ying nearby, hearing their exchange, was so angry she clenched her teeth silently, her pretty face darkening.

Wang Chongyang has been dead for ten years, yet Guo Jing's family's wooden table still bears the scars.

(End of Chapter)