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

A-Bi hummed lightly and said nothing more. She took over the work and started packing the clothes.

After finishing the packing, it was already evening. Niu Dingtian led A-Bi and Black Rose and boarded the boat again to the island where Mantuo Villa was located.

Under the bright setting sun, the camellia flowers on the island are colorful, adding to the beauty of the setting sun.

"Why is she here?"

Li Qingluo, wearing an apricot-yellow silk shirt, walked forward gracefully and couldn't help but glare at A-Bi.

Usually she would kneel down, but today she stood up bravely.

Ah Bi subconsciously lowered her head, bowed, and whispered:
"Auntie."

There is no way, the memory of chopping people to make fertilizer for flowers is too deep.

But Niu Dingtian was a little unhappy. At this rate, won't you bully me to death after I leave? So he glanced at me and said calmly:
"Madam is glaring at me?"

As soon as these words came out, A Bi couldn't help but look at Niu Dingtian with her eyes wide open.

She thought the previous words of demolition were just words of comfort, but she didn't expect that he would dare to make trouble for her aunt.

Li Qingluo: “…”

When did I glare at you?
She cursed inwardly angrily.

This dead guy didn't give me any face at all. It was really a waste of my hospitality a few days ago!
Thinking of this, Li Qingluo said something rather stubbornly, snorting coldly:
"The surname of the manor is Wang, and I can glare at anyone I want!"

"Surname Wang?" Niu Dingtian sneered and said leisurely, "Madam, believe it or not, I have a hundred ways to make it surname Niu."

"You are shameless!"

Li Qingluo cursed in anger.

Niu Dingtian snorted, "If this young master is really shameless, this place will now be surnamed Niu. A-Bi is mine, and if Madam still wants to see your old lover, you'd better be polite to her in the future."

Old lover?
A-Bi was stunned and looked at Li Qingluo in shock. Could it be that what the old lady said all those years ago was true?

For some unknown reason, Madam Murong suddenly spread the news that my uncle's wife was behaving improperly, and the two of them almost had a fight over this.

From then on, my aunt never allowed anyone from Yanziwu to set foot in Mantuo Villa again.

A-Bi didn't expect that she would be able to eat such a big melon today. Meeting the murderous gaze from the opposite side, she was so scared that she hurriedly lowered her head and quickly hid behind Niu Dingtian.

"I, Li Qingluo, am innocent. How can I allow you to humiliate me like this?"

Li Qingluo was both ashamed and angry, her pretty face turned red with anger. She pulled out a dagger and pounced on Niu Dingtian.

She thought to herself, "It's a good thing I didn't bring any servants with me today. This guy actually had no moral principles and directly lifted up her skirt!"

"Mom, what are you doing?"

Just as the dagger was slowly stabbing towards Niu Dingtian, Wang Yuyan's soft voice suddenly came from a distance.

Li Qingluo's face changed slightly. She had no intention of really stabbing, so she hurriedly pretended to put away the dagger and glared at Niu Dingtian fiercely.

Let's see!
"follow me."

She gritted her teeth and said, gently twisting her slender waist and walking in front to lead the way.

"What are you still doing?"

Seeing that A-Bi was still in a daze, Niu Dingtian gently tapped her head.

The three of them walked up to Wang Yuyan. Niu Dingtian blinked at her and said with a smile, "Ms. Wang, long time no see."

It's so strange, as soon as I saw this person I remembered what my mother said that day.

Wang Yuyan's cheeks flushed slightly, and she whispered, "It's only been two days, how can it be that long?"

After saying that, he quickly set his eyes on A-Bi, smiled slightly, and said, "Why are you here, sister A-Bi? Isn't your cousin here?"

She was still unaware of the situation. After asking, she stretched her head and looked towards the dock a few times. Not seeing the person she was looking for, a sense of disappointment rose on her face.

A-Bi raised her eyes and glanced at Niu Dingtian, and whispered, "I was given away by the young master. From now on, I will follow Young Master Niu."

"Give it away?" Wang Yuyan opened her mouth and stared at A-Bi.

Although the other party was just a maid of the Murong family, she still found it hard to believe that she was treated like a commodity and given away casually.

My cousin is a man of great loyalty and friendship, why would he give A-Bi away?
A-Bi bit her lower lip, nodded, and said nothing more.

Li Qingluo snorted coldly, glanced at her daughter, and walked towards a secluded path.

Niu Dingtian smiled and followed with his horse.

"Miss Cousin, I'm leaving now. From now on, A-Bi can't call you Miss Cousin anymore."

Seeing that Niu Dingtian had walked away with Li Qingluo, and Wang Yuyan was still in a daze, A-Bi whispered something and quickly chased after him holding the flower pot in her arms.

After a cup of tea, they crossed a stone bridge and arrived at the lakeside on the east side of the island.

There are red flowers and green willows on the beach. In addition to camellia, there are dozens of green weeping willows, shading the spacious pavilions.

A plaque with the words "Sun and Moon Temple" inscribed on it hangs above the high pavilion in the middle, with a couplet on each side:
My heart is like a white cloud, always at ease.
The mind is like flowing water, going east or west.

"How about it?"

Seeing Niu Dingtian staring at the plaque in a daze, Li Qingluo walked forward slowly, her gentle tone filled with complacency.

No matter how annoyed she was before, the man in front of her was her close friend. Regardless of whether her lover could be abducted, at least no one would dare to invade Mantuo Villa anymore.

In fact, although she was related to the Murong family by marriage, she could not count on Murong Fu. All she thought about day and night was the Langhuan Jade Cave and her own wealth.

As for the father of the "Xingxiu Old Immortal", although he is very famous, he is far away in the Western Regions. It is difficult to meet him, let alone count on him.

"Yes, ma'am, you are thoughtful."

Niu Dingtian turned his head and looked at Li Qingluo.

"that matter……"

Li Qingluo's eyes were eager.

"I told you, one year at the latest." Niu Dingtian smiled and said softly, "I will be going on a long trip the day after tomorrow and will be back in about half a month. Before I leave, there is one thing I have to remind Madam. A-Bi saved me, and I hope Madam can understand."

Li Qingluo's face froze for a moment, and she couldn't help but snorted, "This lady is still taking you in, but you're so heartless that you didn't even say a word."

Niu Dingtian smiled and said nothing more. He seemed to understand this woman's temperament. He couldn't flatter her like Duan Zhengchun did, so he had to suppress her.

……

Seven days later at noon, Dingzhou.

Taoyuan County.

There are mountains one after another and the Yuan River is like a belt. The sound of horse hooves can be heard. A horseman and a man gallop along the west bank of the Yuan River to the Guanlingge Wharf, then head northeast and enter Taoyuan County.

After searching outside for two consecutive days, Niu Dingtian was already looking quite dusty.

After entering the county town and finding an inn, I took a shower and then drank some wine downstairs while thinking about how to find out the location of Black Dragon Pond.

After all, it has been more than a hundred years, and the grass and roads have changed a lot. Having the starting point of Heilongtan is better than being like a headless fly like these past two days.

"Little Second!"

Hearing the noise coming from the street, Niu Dingtian suddenly put down his wine cup and waved to the waiter in the distance.

"Sir, please give your orders!"

The waiter hurried forward with a smile.

Niu Dingtian took out a piece of silver and placed it on the table. He was penniless and could only extort money from Li Qingluo as protection money from his henchmen.

"Have you ever heard of a place called Black Dragon Pond near Taoyuan?"

He paused, then pondered and said, "It's a muddy pond in the woods, about...less than two acres."

The waiter glanced at the Shura Sword on the table and suppressed the urge to talk nonsense. Although he had no impression of it in his mind, he still thought about it seriously.

"Little brother, are you looking for Black Dragon Pond?"

At this moment, a man at the table inside suddenly put down his wine cup and asked.

This man is tall and has an elegant appearance. He looks like a respectable and cultured person who values ​​status.

Niu Dingtian remembered that he seemed to have had a quick glance with this man when he entered the city, so he smiled slightly and asked:

"Do you know where it is?"

The man cupped his hands, with a hint of elegance, and said with a smile: "Although I don't know, I know someone who can help you find out."

"Oh?" Niu Dingtian raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at the man carefully.

"What's your name?" He bowed in return and smiled slightly.

"My name is Quan Guanqing."

The man smiled and stood up, then clasped his fist towards Niu Dingtian and said, "May I ask your name?"

"Quan Guanqing?"

Niu Dingtian was stunned. How could he encounter this thing just by stopping to eat?
"Your Excellency, is it inconvenient to say?"

The smile on Quan Guanqing's face faded a little, but he still maintained his elegant temperament.

"Niu Dingtian."

Niu Dingtian smiled faintly.

"Niu Dingtian?"

Quan Guanqing's expression changed slightly.

"Are you Niu Dingtian, who fought against Gusu Murong Fu in Taihu Lake a few days ago?" He stared at the Shura Sword beside the table, and he was already 80% sure in his heart.

Niu Dingtian nodded slightly, looked at Quan Guanqing, and chuckled:
"Master Quan just said that someone can help me find out the location of Black Dragon Pond. I'll treat you to a drink. Please lead the way, Master Quan."

As he said that, he stood up with a knife, threw the silver to the waiter beside him, and said, "That table of wine is mine, and the rest will be put on the bill."

When Quan Guanqing saw this, a hint of unnaturalness flashed across his face, and he thought to himself that it was bad luck.

When he entered the city, he saw the boy riding a top-quality horse and became interested, so he followed him to look for an opportunity to take action. Unexpectedly, he ran into a tough guy.

"Master Quan, let's go."

Niu Dingtian said with a smile, and at the same time extended a gesture of invitation.

"I didn't expect to meet Young Master Niu today. It's really an honor for me!" Quan Guanqing suddenly laughed, and a sense of boldness suddenly emerged from his elegance.

His eyes flickered slightly, he raised his hand towards Niu Dingtian and said with a smile:
"The Dazhi branch of the Beggars' Sect is in Taoyuan County. If you don't mind, Young Hero Niu, please follow me back to the branch to have a cup of tea. I will then ask the Beggars' Sect disciples to help Young Hero Niu find out the whereabouts of the Black Dragon Pond. How do you think?"

"Then Niu is sorry to bother you."

Niu Dingtian smiled gently, called the waiter to bring Black Rose from the stable, and walked out of the inn with Quan Guanqing.

The Dazhi branch of the Beggars' Gang is located in a secluded location in the west of the city. From the outside, it looks no different from an ordinary folk institution.

"All helmsmen!"

"All helmsmen!"

After entering the courtyard, two beggars in dirty clothes with three bags hanging from their waists who were squatting at the door quickly stood up and saluted.

Quan Guanqing hummed lightly.

He winked at one person, and when that person hurried into the courtyard, he said to another person, "Are Elder Xu and Elder Bai here?"

The man clasped his fists and said, "Elder Xu and Elder Bai just arrived from Luoyang this morning."

"Go and invite Elder Xu and Elder Bai." Quan Guanqing nodded and ordered, "Also, notify all the Seven Bag disciples in the branch to gather and tell them that a distinguished guest has arrived."

"Young Master Niu, please come in!"

After giving the instructions, Quan Guanqing turned to Niu Dingtian beside him and asked for help.

Seeing that she was standing still and just looking at him with a smile, his heart couldn't help but tighten.

"Your gang's headquarters is in Luoyang, and the law enforcement elders and your gang's elders have come all the way to Xiangxi. Is something big going to happen in Xiangxi?"

Niu Dingtian asked casually. (End of this chapter)