At the beginning of Niujia Village, my sister-in-law and I depended on each other.

In the lotus pond, the figures of Murong Fu and his party had just disappeared. Li Qingluo stared at Niu Dingtian with a burning gaze and sneered:
"If you still want to marry my Yuyan, then stay away from Fuguan in the future, or else that little bitch might buy you off."

They were all experienced people, so she had no idea what the two of them were doing just now.

"Mom! What are you talking about!"

Wang Yuyan's cheeks flushed instantly, and she felt ashamed. When did she say she wanted to marry this man? She only had her cousin in her heart!

"It's not me who wants to marry, it's my wife who wants to marry." Niu Dingtian shook his head while chuckling, then looked at Li Qingluo and said thoughtfully:
"Help me build a few houses here. Can you do it in half a month?"

If nothing unexpected happens, Murong Fu will give A-Bi to him soon. By then, it will be inconvenient to squeeze into a thatched hut.

"Don't even think about it!" Li Qingluo refused directly with a cold face.

What do you mean I want to marry? And I pinched and hugged her just now, making her look so embarrassed. Don’t I have any dignity?

Niu Dingtian smiled and said, "If you can do it, you two can leave at any time."

Li Qingluo was stunned and looked at Niu Dingtian with a hint of suspicion in her eyes.

"You don't want martial arts anymore?"

She still didn't believe it. Anyone who could ask for Xiao Wuxiang Gong must know how profound that martial art is. Probably no martial artist could refuse it.

Likewise, she didn't believe that any man could be willing to give up such a beautiful girl like his own daughter.

“No more.” Niu Dingtian shook his head, turned around and stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the lake, and said leisurely: “If it is built well, I, Li Qingluo, will protect you from now on.”

Li Qingluo's face immediately lit up with joy, and when she was about to open her mouth to agree, her bright eyes suddenly turned, and she pushed her daughter away, walked slowly to his side, and stood beside him, looking at the lake.

"Actually... it's easy to build a house, but your place is too low-lying. I'm afraid it won't last even through midsummer after it's built."

Niu Dingtian looked at Li Qingluo's profile with interest and said, "So..."

Li Qingluo smiled and said, "There is a small platform next to my manor, which is much higher than this one, and there are already several pavilions on it. As long as you promise to help me with a small thing, I will give you that place and make it beautiful for you."

As he listened, Niu Dingtian's eyes lit up with a smile. He pursed his lips, and his gaze lingered on her charming almond eyes for a moment. He smiled and said, "Madam, you don't want me to help you kidnap someone, do you?"

Li Qingluo's smile froze slightly, her face looked a little unnatural, and she couldn't help but avoid looking.

She fiddled with her hair in front of her chest and said casually, "How could that be? I just want you to help me hire someone."

"Who please?"

Niu Dingtian asked even though he knew the answer.

"You agreed?" Li Qingluo let down her hair and looked at him eagerly.

"Madam, please tell me who it is first."

Niu Dingtian smiled but didn't give in.

Li Qingluo glanced at her daughter not far away, a hint of hesitation appearing on her face.

"Come closer."

she whispered.

"It's the same if Madam comes closer." Niu Dingtian gently shook his head to refuse. It would make a difference if someone came closer and let others see them.

Li Qingluo gritted her teeth and cursed inwardly, but still stood on tiptoe, quickly leaned close to Niu Dingtian's ear and said a name.

"How?" She looked expectant.

Niu Dingtian frowned, looking rather embarrassed, and said thoughtfully: "It can be done, but the risk is too great, and the conditions given by the Madam are not enough."

"Small Wuxiang Gong!"

Li Qingluo gritted her teeth and said.

"Deal!" Niu Dingtian grinned and said, "In one year at the latest, I will make him come to my house obediently. Whether you can keep him depends on your ability."

"Do you want to see what I can do..."

Li Qingluo's face flushed a little.

She secretly made up her mind that even if she had to break her legs, she would definitely keep Duan Lang forever!

……

half an hour later

It was almost noon when Li Qingluo and Wang Yuyan, mother and daughter, were sent back to Mantuo Villa.

Perhaps because she would soon see her lover, Li Qingluo was in a very good mood and directly set up a banquet and dinner at Yunjin Tower.

During the banquet, not only was Niu Dingtian invited to sit at the seat of honor, but he also called his daughter to sit below to accompany the Prime Minister.

After three rounds of drinks, thinking of the injured person at home, Niu Dingtian decisively said goodbye, packed a portion of bear paws and quickly left Mantuo Villa.

After the boat left the lotus pond and docked, the lakeside was silent and quite depressing. Niu Dingtian felt touched in his heart, and when he stepped into the house, he was dumbfounded.

How could there be someone on the empty bed?
"He really left..."

After searching through the reeds on the shore, Niu Dingtian returned to the house and muttered to himself as he looked at the Shura knife left on the bed.

The crossbow that he had untied before leaving was gone, and the few things that belonged to his daughter were also gone. Apart from a knife, there were only two lines of words carved crookedly on the wooden board beside the bed:
"I'm going to go back and ask my master. I'll give you the knife. If you dare to marry that little bitch, I will kill you!"

The word "kill" still stands out.

Niu Dingtian was watching and finding it funny, but suddenly he was stunned:
"How did she get away without a boat?"

Thinking of a possibility, Niu Dingtian's heart tightened. He quickly left the house, jumped on the boat, and started driving out to search.

……

An hour later, the sun was setting, and at the wharf outside Wuxi City—

After searching in vain, as soon as the boat docked, Niu Dingtian went to the nearby fishermen to inquire about Mu Wanqing's whereabouts.

"Young Master, are you looking for someone?"

After asking a few people, the old man sitting on a rock pier on the shore suddenly came forward.

Niu Dingtian said quickly: "Have you seen the girl in black? She came from the lake, wearing a green satin cloak."

"But your last name is Mu?"

A smile broke out on the old man's face.

"Yes, yes, yes, where is the girl? Please take me to see her." Niu Dingtian breathed a sigh of relief. He was afraid that Mu Wanqing would be stubborn and wade through the water with injuries.

The old man smiled and waved, leading Niu Dingtian to a small courtyard not far away.

The gate opened, and the yard was filled with old fishing nets. As soon as the two stepped into the yard, a long horse neigh suddenly sounded from the east side of the yard. "What a good horse!" Niu Dingtian looked over and couldn't help but exclaimed.

I saw a black horse tied next to a jujube tree by the wall. The horse's eyes were sparkling, and the horse looked around with extraordinary spirit.

After seeing Niu Dingtian, the black horse snorted, made a few soft clattering sounds, and tapped the ground lightly with its hooves, as if showing off its thin body and long legs.

The old man smiled and said, "This is the horse that the girl left here. When she left this afternoon, she told him that if anyone came to find her, she would give him the horse."

"she left?"

Niu Dingtian frowned.

"Let's go." The old man nodded, walked into the house, took out a piece of clothing and handed it to Niu Dingtian.

"This dress should belong to you. Horses are psychic. If you can't smell the scent, you probably can't ride it."

Niu Dingtian took the clothes and remained silent. It was the long gown he had changed out of this morning.

"Thank you for your help, old man."

After expressing his gratitude, Niu Dingtian did not stay long. He stroked the black horse and said goodbye to the old man.

"Your name is Black Rose?"

On the lake embankment, Niu Dingtian was walking slowly, leading a black horse, gently stroking the mane on the horse's neck.

Hearing the sound, the black horse snorted, turned around, and rubbed Niu Dingtian's arm with a very affectionate look.

"Run a lap with me!"

Niu Dingtian was delighted to see the prey and was in the mood to gallop. This horse was more majestic than any he had seen in his previous life.

After climbing onto the horse, Black Rose neighed and let go of her four hooves. In a few leaps and bounds, she was already dozens of feet away. In the sunset glow, the horse galloped like flying, and the willow forest beside the embankment retreated rapidly, constantly passing by her eyes.

……

"Have you heard? Someone had a fierce battle with Master Murong in Taihu Lake this morning."

"Master Murong? Master Murong from North Qiao Feng and South Murong?"

"That's right! I heard that it was a man in black who used a knife. His knife skills were so superb that Master Murong was almost unable to defend himself!"

"Tsk, what's the use of knife skills? I was there at the time. The man's name was Niu Dingtian, and he was only in his early twenties. Guess what martial arts he used in the end?"

"Which martial arts?"

"Dali Duan's One Yang Finger!"

……

As the evening approached and the sky gradually darkened, the Jianghu Inn became lively.

Most of the gangsters in Wuxi City were discussing the battle at Taihu Lake that took place that morning.

The name of Niu Dingtian also spread among some people in the underworld, gradually breaking out of the Taihu Lake area and spreading to all directions.

A careless person might just be there to watch the fun, but a careful person would notice something unusual going on.

The One Yang Finger is a secret martial art of the Duan family of Dali that is not passed down through generations. How could it be mastered by someone from an outsider?

If this is true, it won’t be long before Taihu Lake becomes bustling.

Niu Dingtian didn't care much about the discussions of the outside world. He rode Black Rose around the lake embankment. Then, he returned to the lake shore again under the cover of night with one man, one horse and one boat.

three days later

As Niu Dingtian expected, Murong Fu came to visit again and brought A Bi with a complicated expression and a contract.

Niu Dingtian returned the favor and talked eloquently. In order to place the bait, he also put in all his strength.

After chatting for half a day, Niu Dingtian brought the tea. Although Murong Fu was still not satisfied, he left tactfully.

Sun Moon Temple became quiet. Seeing Ah Bi staring at the lotus pond in a daze, Niu Dingtian walked over to her and said softly, "He just gave you away like that. Are you disappointed?"

Ah Bi came back to her senses, shook her head, and whispered: "Sister Ah Zhu told me that the master and the mistress have trained us like this. If the young master is still not interested, he will be sent away sooner or later."

"Your sister Azhu is quite clear about this." Niu Dingtian smiled and said comfortingly, "Wait a few more days, I will find a way to get your sister Azhu back as well."

As he said that, he reached into his bosom, took out her body contract, activated the profound power in his palm, and crushed it to pieces.

After clapping his hands, he smiled and said, "From now on, just serve me peacefully. Can you sing a little song every day?"

Ah Bi was stunned and said stupidly, "Sir, aren't you afraid that Ah Bi will run away?"

"Dare to run?" Niu Dingtian squinted at her and snorted coldly, "I'll give you a discount if you dare to run errands!"

A-Bi couldn't help but chuckle and laughed with her hands covering her mouth. Her mood instantly became much better.

"Ah Bi will sing any ditty you want to hear. But there are no musical instruments here, so I'm afraid you won't enjoy it."

She looked at Niu Dingtian and smiled happily.

No matter how depressed I was before, it is worth being happy to meet such a considerate master.

She suddenly felt fortunate that she had been able to rescue such a strange man from the lake a few months ago.

"It will be there soon." Seeing the girl's innocent smile, Niu Dingtian smiled slightly and walked towards the thatched hut, greeting her:
"Pack your things first and move with me later. I'd like to learn how to play the piano and flute from Sister A-Bi tonight."

"Moving?" A-Bi looked puzzled and hurried into the house to ask:

"Young Master, are you moving into the city?"

"Mantuo Villa."

Niu Dingtian said casually.

Seeing Ah Bi's eyes suddenly widen, he said unhappily, "Is Li Qingluo so scary?"

"Terrible!" A-Bi nodded quickly, looking as if she was still frightened.

"Don't be afraid anymore." Niu Dingtian gently tapped her forehead.

After thinking for a while, he encouraged her and said, "You are mine. If Li Qingluo dares to threaten you again, tell me and I will kill her. I will go on a long trip in two days. You must not embarrass me if you stay at home."

Ah Bi was listening happily, but was startled when she heard the last part. She suddenly became nervous and said cautiously:
"Sir, are you leaving?"

Having just been abandoned by her previous owner, she instinctively feared that Niu Dingtian would never come back.

Niu Dingtian hummed softly, and seeing that A-Bi looked strange, he smiled and comforted her:
"Don't worry, I can't bear to leave Sister A-Bi. I'll just go to Taoyuan County and stay there for half a month at most. You wait for me at home." (End of this chapter)