Chapter 1016

Hu Xiaotian said coldly: "Then wouldn't I be unable to rest peacefully? I'd have to guard against someone harming me every day."

Xi Yan giggled: "How could I bear to? Besides, you're so capable, even if I wanted to harm you I couldn't. Now your disguise skill has reached this level; if I hadn't heard your voice, I almost would have been fooled by you." Her beautiful eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian's face: "Sly eyebrows and mousey eyes, this mask really suits you." She thought Hu Xiaotian wore a human skin mask.

Hu Xiaotian felt somewhat pleased inside; it seemed his disguise was quite practiced. If not for his build and voice giving him away, Xi Yan probably wouldn't have recognized him. He was about to further press Prince Long Yefang for his whereabouts when he suddenly heard panicked shouts from outside.

"Catch the assassin! Catch the assassin!" Voices rose and fell; in a moment the whole Grand Marshal's residence was in an uproar.

Hu Xiaotian felt a jolt of astonishment? I was careful when I came in; could it be that even this was seen through my tracks?

Xi Yan said: "Something happened!"

Hu Xiaotian worried she was tricking him, still didn't let go; Xi Yan said: "Let go of me, something definitely happened!"

Hu Xiaotian then let her go; Xi Yan took out a human skin mask, quickly put it on, pushed open the door and went out, obviously flustered, to the point that even Hu Xiaotian was neglected.

Hu Xiaotian also followed behind her and went out; just as they stepped outside, they saw a huge white snow eagle swoop down from above; amidst the chaotic crowd below, a gray figure suddenly leapt onto the eagle; the eagle carried that person, flapping its wings and soaring into the sky.

Xi Yan angrily shouted: "Where do you think you're going!" She raised her right hand, several cold lights shot toward the snow eagle; the gray-clad person on the eagle's back waved his long sword, deflecting all the steel needles Xi Yan had shot; the eagle's speed was like wind and lightning. In an instant it had flown into midair.

Those below all shot arrows upward, but the eagle's momentum was too fast; soon it flew out of their range, and in a blink it became a tiny white dot in the sky.

The banquet hall descended into chaos; Hu Xiaotian took advantage of the turmoil to prepare to leave, but saw Li Honghan rush out with blood-covered hands, shouting loudly: "Quickly summon a physician! Quickly summon a physician!"

Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat; if anyone else were injured, Li Honghan would never show such panic—could it be that Li Tianheng had been assassinated? At this moment the entire Grand Marshal's residence was in utter chaos, and the guests were all fleeing the scene.

Then another voice sounded: "Seal all exits of the Grand Marshal's residence; no one may leave at will!" The person issuing the order was Zhang Ziqian, further confirming Hu Xiaotian's earlier suspicion.

Although Zhang Ziqian had issued the order that no guest may leave at will, many people had already left; the scene was temporarily out of control. Hu Xiaotian dared not linger, and taking advantage of the fact that the Grand Marshal's residence had not yet completed a full lockdown, he slipped out with the crowd.

After leaving the Grand Marshal's residence, escaping this sealed area posed no difficulty for Hu Xiaotian. He dared not return directly to the Xuan Ning posthouse, because since Li Tianheng had already formed the idea of imprisoning him, he would act against his companions.

The atmosphere in Xizhou had become much tenser; troops were stationed everywhere searching. A city-wide sweep was launched, and for a time Xizhou was filled with alarming cries and people's hearts trembled with fear. Hu Xiaotian also dared not wander about, lest he attract attention, until dusk when he duly arrived before Zhong Xiang Lou as agreed. News from the Grand Marshal's residence was blocked tightly; to this day no exact information has been released about who was assassinated, but from the sudden solemn and tense atmosphere pervading the whole Xizhou city one could infer that some important figure had been struck down. It is even highly likely that it was Li Tianheng.

Liang Yinghao had already been waiting here for him a long time, though he couldn't help but stare at Hu Xiaotian's current appearance. Hu Xiaotian first observed the surroundings, convinced there were no suspicious persons, then approached him to meet.

Liang Yinghao recognized Hu Xiaotian's identity only upon hearing his voice; seeing Hu Xiaotian's current appearance also amazed him greatly. Hu Xiaotian's actions always exceed others' expectations, so it's no wonder he let me leave first. It turns out he possesses such a superb disguise technique; if Hu Xiaotian hadn't come forward voluntarily to identify himself, even face to face I wouldn't have recognized him.

The two went to a nearby tavern, chose a window seat to sit down for easy observation of outside movements, ordered dishes, and then Liang Yinghao lowered his voice to Hu Xiaotian: "They have already moved in advance; for now they are temporarily staying in a manor on Xiangyang Street."

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows, inwardly wondering how they could have found a place to stay so quickly.

Liang Yinghao explained: "It was provided by Miss Yan."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; the bandits of Tianlang Mountain have extensive influence across Xichuan, so it seems their foothold in Xizhou is not limited to just Qingyun Mountain Villa. Learning that his subordinates have all been safely relocated, with no immediate danger, Hu Xiaotian relaxed.

At that moment the waiter brought the food and drink; both having been on the road all day were hungry. Liang Yinghao picked up the wine pot and poured Hu Xiaotian a cup, then asked softly: "What exactly happened at the Grand Marshal's residence? Soldiers are searching everywhere in Xizhou, making people panic."

Hu Xiaotian whispered: "Someone attempted an assassination; after succeeding, the assassin fled immediately. We still don't know who was the victim."

Liang Yinghao said: "What does the Chief intend to do? When will we leave Xizhou?"

Hu Xiaotian drained the cup in one gulp and said: "No rush; go back first and tell them to stay calm, I need to find out exactly what happened before making any plans."

Liang Yinghao said: "Chief, the situation is tense now; in everything we must be extra cautious."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Don't worry, I have my own plans."

The two finished their meal hastily, then parted outside Zhong Xiang Lou; after careful consideration, Hu Xiaotian decided to go to the posthouse where the Da Yong envoy resides to gather information.

Night fell; the Prince Yan of Da Yong, Xue Shengjing, and the Princess Long, Xue Lingjun, had just returned to the posthouse. Both wore solemn expressions; as they stepped down from their carriage, they noticed that troops had been stationed around the posthouse under the pretense of protecting their safety, but in fact they were being closely monitored.

Xue Shengjing's chubby face showed a hint of coldness; after entering the posthouse's main gate, he said to Guo Zhenhai, who was in charge of their security: "Heighten vigilance; tonight no outsider may enter the inner court."

"Yes!"

The brother and sister walked along the posthouse's rain‑shelter corridor toward the inner court where they would rest; Xue Lingjun let out a long sigh and said: "I don't know whether Li Tianheng is dead or alive."

Xue Shengjing's small eyes revealed a sinister and crafty glint: "Even though the Grand Marshal's residence is heavily guarded, an assassin managed to infiltrate; Li Tianheng, famed as the hegemon of Xichuan, has countless experts under him, yet now it seems no different."

Xue Lingjun said: "Second Royal Brother, what do you mean by that?"

Xue Shengjing said: "Today's affair feels full of doubts, yet I can't figure out exactly where the problem lies."

Xue Lingjun said: "Do you suspect Li Tianheng is deliberately feigning, staging a fake assassination in front of all the guests?"

Xue Shengjing narrowed his eyes: "If that were true, it would be understandable; he could claim outwardly that the Dakang emperor wants him dead, and through this incident stir up the Xichuan military and populace to unite against a common enemy."

Xue Lingjun nodded: "If everything is exactly as Your Highness supposes, then Li Tianheng would not be unworthy of being a hero of an age."

Xue Shengjing said: "Paper can't ultimately wrap up fire; they may fool the people of Xichuan, but they cannot escape our eyes."

Xue Lingjun smiled: "In any case, for Da Yong this is all good; isn't your mission this time to destroy the possibility of Xichuan returning to Dakang, to cut off Dakang's retreat?"

Xue Shengjing gave a sinister chuckle: "But I wonder how Hu Xiaotian is faring now."

Upon hearing him mention Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun's beautiful brows involuntarily knit; having seen Hu Xiaotian hastily leave his seat at the banquet, she had already guessed he'd run into trouble. Not long after Hu Xiaotian departed, Li Tianheng was assassinated, and all this blame will likely fall on his head—Hu Xiaotian's predicament has grown serious.

Xue Shengjing sighed: "I genuinely want to help him, after all we are sworn brothers; I cannot bear to watch him walk toward ruin, but unfortunately this lad is overly cautious and fails to see the situation clearly; his falling into this predicament is his own doing."

Xue Lingjun said: "Regardless of his martial skill and stratagems, he is extraordinary; perhaps he has his own way to escape."

Xue Shengjing shook his head: "No matter how formidable one's martial arts, they ultimately cannot withstand tens of thousands of troops; although he is clever, he still has weaknesses after all."

Xue Lingjun said with interest: "I would like to hear what his weaknesses actually are."

Xue Shengjing said: "Not ruthless enough, yet overly amorous and lustful." As he spoke he glanced at his sister, intentionally or not.

Xue Lingjun smiled alluringly: "I think he is actually quite steadfast; he can hold himself together at critical moments."

Xue Shengjing said: "That's because he hasn't yet met a woman who moves his heart!" Though it sounded offhand, it was like a thorn‑tipped whip lashing hard at Xue Lingjun's heart, making her feel as if her innermost self were bleeding; she refuses to believe her second brother spoke without thought—his words were clearly pointed. Xue Lingjun has always been proud of her beauty, and believes that few men can resist her charm, yet in Hu Xiaotian's presence she has repeatedly been rebuffed. This fellow is clearly a sentimentalist, yet he feels nothing for her, leaving Xue Lingjun puzzled.

Xue Lingjun's pretty face instantly turned cold; she yawned and said: "I'm exhausted from today; I really need a good sleep."

Xue Shengjing said: "The long night stretches ahead; we still don't know what will happen in Xizhou city."

Xue Lingjun said: "Whatever happens has nothing to do with me; I originally wanted to come here to sightsee leisurely, but now I have no mood at all."

Xue Shengjing watched his sister's retreating back, his small eyes flashing with resentful malice. (To be continued~^~)