Chapter 8

Lin'an City, West Lake shore

Sun and Moon Mountain Villa

The turmoil in the imperial palace's inner court did not in the slightest affect the peace here.

On an early winter afternoon, although there was still a chill, the sun shone quite warmly.

"Young Master, your sister's condition."

"Ah, for the time being, this old man also has no idea where to start."

"Young Master, you should... you should seek another expert."

"Young Master, you see, this old man has been away from home for three days already; the little girl at home must be anxious as burning, Young Master, if you have no other business, you'd better let this old man leave soon."

"Young Master?"

"Young Master Niu?"

"Master Niu?"

Inside the villa, a blue-clad youth lay reclining on a rattan chair in the courtyard, eyes closed, basking in the sun. His right hand held a white fan that remained unopened, merely tapping gently on the arm of the chair. No matter how earnestly the plain-clothed old man beside him pleaded, he showed no reaction, not uttering a single word.

"Three years."

After a moment, the youth lazily narrowed his eyes and said in a faint voice:

"Please, sir, stay in the villa for three years temporarily, which will also facilitate treating my sister's condition; if she recovers within three years, I will present a thousand taels of gold to apologize with a bow, and furthermore"

"Furthermore, within my ability, I promise the sir one condition."

"If after three years my sister still shows no improvement, then the sir's life will be forfeit."

"Ah, it seems he too must come to an end."

"You!"

Hearing such overbearing words, the old man angrily pointed at him, glaring, and for a moment could not utter a word; after a while he let out his breath and said:

"In that case, go ahead and kill this old man now; it'll also save you some grain."

"It doesn't matter; the old man's death settles everything. I've heard your daughter has blossomed into a beauty like flower and moon; though I am not yet married, in this cold winter month, hehe, I wouldn't mind taking on an extra maid to warm the bed."

"The old man also does not want"

"Hmph!"

Seeing this person's bandit-like conduct, the old man also grew too lazy to waste words, thinking his daughter whom he had in old age was precious beyond measure, and he dared not provoke him further; he flicked his sleeves, snorted, and went inside the hall.

"Uncle, why bother frightening him? Mr. Yan is a renowned divine doctor of the age; even Emperor Xiaozong of the Song praised him highly. If there is a way to cure my sister, he certainly would not stand by idly."

Just as the old man stepped away, a woman dressed in a treasure-blue water-sleeve traditional dress, of refined bearing, walked over and spoke gently beside the youth.

Only to see her shoulders like cut jade, waist like bound silk, skin like congealed fat, aura like a secluded orchid.

Upon looking at her face, it was indeed Chen Jin'er from ten years ago; ten years have passed in the blink of an eye, her lovely visage unchanged, merely gaining a touch more mature charm.

Ten years ago, Chen Jin'er was like a green apricot; now she is even more like a ripe peach.

Which household's eighteen-year-old youth, with white fan and blue clothes, laughs wildly?

At this moment, the blue-clad youth is none other than Niu Dingtian, who is now indeed a sixteen-year-old graceful young man.

Six years ago, Niu Dingtian, in order to treat his sister 'Sha Gu's' foolishness, having modestly accomplished some martial arts, used the money from the secret room to purchase, by West Lake in Lin'an City, an estate of over a hundred mu, the Sun and Moon Mountain Villa.

On one hand he did some liquor business, on the other he searched far and wide for renowned doctors for his sister.

Now the popular 'Immortal's Drink' that sells well across the two nations and the western regions of Mongolia belongs to the Sun and Moon Mountain Villa.

A few days ago, Niu Dingtian finished his seclusion; his divine power surged forward, this guy instantly swelled with pride, feeling himself already comparable to the Five Top Martial Arts of the World.

Coincidentally, he also heard news of the divine doctor Yan Fangyu, and went to his house to keep watch for two days.

However, besides a pretty wife bringing a dull maid, there was not a single person in sight.

After returning, he learned that Divine Doctor Yan was on duty in the palace, so he directly sneaked into the Imperial Medical Bureau and tied that old fellow up.

Niu Dingtian considered himself a scholar, originally intending to invite him politely, but that fellow showed no cooperation whatsoever, so he had no choice but to put him in a sack.

If it weren't for the crafty Yan Fangyu seizing the moment to shout, Niu Dingtian would not have been discovered by the guarding Forbidden Army; enraged, Master Niu struck his left eye socket directly.

"Hehe, sister-in-law, you don't know, that old thing is not as honest as he appears."

"He doesn't know my background, and I brought him here tied up; if I don't scare him, I can't get his true abilities out, so I'll play the bad cop, and sister-in-law you play the good cop."

After hearing Chen Jin'er's words, the originally stern-browed Niu Dingtian instantly lost his composure, hehe-laughing.

Chen Jin'er gave him a white-eyed look, then seemed to think of something, a faint gleam flowing in her eyes, looking at Niu Dingtian with a half-smile, she asked:

"It is said that Divine Physician Yan's daughter is also a renowned beauty and quite skillful; Uncle, you should have seen her a few days ago, right? Could it be that you truly aren't moved?"

Niu Dingtian heard this, his expression flickered slightly, but this fellow now has achieved divine skill and his skin is not thin either; his heart stirred, and then, with his usual composure, he replied seriously:

"I only stand guard at the gate from afar; how could I see the people inside? Even if she truly were a beauty, she could never compare to sister‑in‑law's looks."

Chen Jin'er, hearing this man boast about himself in a roundabout way, felt delighted inside, though a hint of embarrassment colored her face; she shot him a sideways glance and said:

"Uncle, your words have no proper form; could it be that you think no one can control you?"

Having said that, he raised his hand as if to strike.

Niu Dingtian, seeing this, quickly dodged, swiftly changed the subject, and in a serious tone said, "Sister‑in‑law, do you still remember Senior Sister Bao?"

Chen Jin'er was momentarily stunned, and her mind was indeed pulled back.

She was someone she had both heard of and seen; she was naturally delicate and beautiful, a memory still fresh. When Niu Dingtian was studying in Hongmei Village, Senior Sister Bao had often taken care of him, so he couldn't help but ask:

"But the daughter of Mr. Bao, the one who vanished ten years ago in Niu Clan Village?"

Niu Dingtian rose, crossed his arms behind his back, gazed at the pomegranate tree in the courtyard, and replied:

"That's right. A few days ago, a scout from Beidi reported that Senior Sister Bao might be stranded in the capital of Jin State. Mr. Bao owed me a teaching debt; before his death he entrusted Senior Sister Bao to me. Now my martial arts are also fairly accomplished, and in a few days I plan to go personally to investigate. If it is true, I will find a way to bring Senior Sister back."

Chen Jin'er, after hearing this, pressed her lips together and couldn't help but ask with concern:

"Since Uncle has decided, I won't stand in the way; fulfilling Mr. Bao's last wish would be best. But Uncle, you must be extremely careful; your own safety is paramount. If an accident occurs, my sister and I…"

"Pah pah. Look at my broken mouth, always saying unlucky words."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Jin'er reacted, hastily covering her mouth.

Niu Dingtian laughed heartily at the sight, inevitably feeling a surge of heroic spirit, and thus comforted her, saying:

"Sister-in-law, rest assured; although I dare not say my martial arts surpass the Five Absolutes, those who could make me flee in defeat among the martial world are absolutely few and far between. Once I have arranged the family of Divine Doctor Yan, I will set off immediately."

Seeing his smug look, Chen Jin'er no longer teased him; her beautiful eyes glimmered as she gazed at him with a smile.

In the course of their conversation, they did not notice that the sky had already grown dark.

After dinner, they waited a while longer in the manor; seeing that the time was about right, Niu Dingtian silently slipped out of the estate.

(End of chapter)