Chapter 1038

Hu Xiaotian said, "I heard people say Chu Fufeng was actually killed by his sworn brother's scheming." He did not explicitly say it was the old emperor Long Xuan'en who did this.

The old beggar said, "When wood stands out in the forest, the wind will destroy it. Chu Fufeng, who mastered heaven and man, single-handedly founded the Heaven's Secret Bureau, earning meritorious service for the emperor's ascension, but in this world everything is divided into two extremes. To protect oneself, it is best to follow the doctrine of the mean; once one's achievements overshadow the ruler, or if one grasps another's secret, one will unknowingly invite disaster."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought that Chu Fufeng's demise must have been for this reason.

The old beggar glanced at Hu Xiaotian and said, "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger. With your current martial ability and strength, why not early on bring your family to withdraw from the court and live in seclusion among mountains and waters, which could also bring carefree happiness."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Thank you for the reminder, senior. I also have such a plan, but living in troubled times, even if one hides in mountains and waters, true peace may not be attained. Senior, you who hide great seclusion in the city—do you truly achieve carefree freedom, free of bonds?"

The old beggar was left speechless by Hu Xiaotian's question. After a while he sighed and said, "People's hearts in this world are far more treacherous than you imagine."

"Could senior please give me some more enlightenment?" Hu Xiaotian asked humbly.

The old beggar said, "The more you know, the more you suffer; actually, often clever people are not as happy as a fool."

Hu Xiaotian sensed there was hidden meaning in his words; he himself had once been an ignorant fool, unaware of what sorrow was. Could the old beggar be referring to himself? What could cause him pain? Why didn't he speak plainly? Hu Xiaotian almost concluded that the old beggar was Xu Lingkong, his own maternal grandfather. Yet he also knew the old beggar would never easily admit it, so Hu Xiaotian said, "Senior is right, human hearts are unfathomable. Even siblings, even birth parents, cannot be fully trusted!" He said this deliberately.

But the old beggar, hearing this, changed color dramatically and exclaimed, "You... what did you say?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I mean that even one's parents might deceive you."

The old beggar asked, "Have your parents ever deceived you?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled lightly and said, "Just saying that, my parents treat me very well; they certainly would not deceive me."

The old beggar only then realized his earlier lapse, sighed deeply, and said, "Quite right. Feelings are as thin as paper; in this world, only the two words 'emotion' are the most unreliable."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Senior, have you been hurt in love, making your words so pessimistic?"

The old beggar said, "I have always been this pessimistic!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I just can't understand why, back then, my maternal grandfather left without saying goodbye, abandoning his wife and children. Do you think he was too heartless?"

The old beggar angrily said, "How would I know your family's affairs?" He seemed truly angry and abruptly stood up.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Senior, don't rush off. I still have questions for you."

The old beggar stomped his foot and said, "What the hell, my good mood's been totally ruined by you." He turned and pointed at Hu Xiaotian's nose, saying, "If you cherish your own life, leave the court's den of right and wrong as soon as possible."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Although senior's martial arts are superb, his thinking in this matter is rather simple."

The old beggar snapped, "Where am I simple?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "If I wanted to leave, I could do so anytime, but what about my parents?"

The old beggar said, "You worry about them. They might not need your worrying..." Having said that, he lingered not a moment longer, vanishing like a wisp of smoke beyond the wall.

Hu Xiaotian stood there dazed, the old beggar's last words echoing long in his ears: "You worry about them; they might not need your worrying." In his heart he had already determined that the old beggar was undoubtedly his maternal grandfather. His grandfather's martial prowess should rank among the few of the present age; why did he stand by and watch the Hu family suffer without lifting a finger? Moreover, the Xu clan of Jinling, Old Lady Xu, who was rich enough to rival a nation, why did she turn a deaf ear to the Hu family's affairs? Not even a sign was shown for his own maternal grandson who had entered the palace as a eunuch. What secret could lie behind all this?

His mother likely knew nothing of all this, while his father probably knew some of the inside story—why didn't he tell him what he knew?

When Hu Xiaotian woke up, he found it was already mid-morning outside. He had only returned to the inn at the second watch of the previous night; perhaps due to days of travel, he slept exceptionally well that night, so his original plan to rise early and set out seemed destined to fall through.

He opened the door and stepped outside, seeing Wei Sa walk over, her rosy-cheeked lovely face breaking into a delighted smile: "Master has awakened!"

Hu Xiaotian yawned and said, "It's so late, and you didn't even call me!"

Wei Sa said, "I felt you had worked hard and wanted to let you sleep a little longer." She brought hot water for Hu Xiaotian to wash his face; while he washed his face and rinsed his mouth, she also brought in the breakfast.

Hu Xiaotian asked, "What about Xiong Tianba and the others?"

Wei Sa said, "They got up early, said they were going out for a stroll, and should be back by now."

As they spoke, Liang Yinghao had already returned, first coming to Hu Xiaotian's room to report in. Hu Xiaotian saw that Xiong Tianba had not returned with him and worried that the lad might cause trouble.

Liang Yinghao said, "Manor Lord, there's no need to worry; Mr. Yang is with them, buying local specialties on the street, and Xiong Tianba said he would bring them back for his father."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "That's a filial child."

Liang Yinghao said, "Manor Lord, when shall we set out?"

Hu Xiaotian glanced at the outside sky; it was already noon. He had originally planned to leave Xiezhou early, but because he had overslept, his schedule was delayed. He thought and said, "We won't go today; we'll stay another day in Xiezhou and set out early tomorrow."

Liang Yinghao laughed and said, "That's perfect; everyone can just adjust and rest for a day. I'll go notify them."

Hu Xiaotian said to Wei Sa, "Wei Sa, let's also go out for a stroll, see what tasty and fun things there are to buy and bring back."

Wei Sa nodded, cheerful as a little bird.

The three of them went together to the market Liang Yinghao spoke of; Hu Xiaotian accompanied Wei Sa as they leisurely strolled the streets, while Liang Yinghao parted from them to go find Xiong Tianba and the others.

Although Wei Sa had come to the Central Plains for the second time, previously she had always arrived as a female slave, never having the chance to properly experience the local customs and culture, let alone enjoy leisurely shopping; moreover, she had always been anxious. Now, with Hu Xiaotian by her side, she felt an unprecedented sense of safety and steadiness. Wei Sa, after all, was a foreign beauty; her blond hair and blue eyes, upon arriving at the market, attracted the gazes of countless passersby.

Wei Sa felt a bit embarrassed from being stared at, but Hu Xiaotian remained calm. Wei Sa whispered to Hu Xiaotian, "Let's go back; lots of people are staring at me."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "It's because you're beautiful; eyes grow on other people's bodies, they just want to look however they please."

Wei Sa bit her cherry lip and said, "I feel like a monster."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "Is there such a beautiful monster in the world? You needn't care about others' gazes; just remember that in my eyes, Wei Sa is the most beautiful."

Wei Sa's pretty face flushed crimson as she softly said, "As long as the master doesn't find me strange, that's fine; I don't care about their gazes, as long as the master doesn't dislike me, that's enough!" Speaking thus, she was exceedingly shy, her bashful demeanor setting Hu Xiaotian's heart aflutter.

He pointed to the jewelry store ahead and said, "Let's go take a look; I'll buy you some Central Plains ornaments."

Wei Sa shook her head and said, "Wei Sa doesn't want it; just looking is fine, I don't want the master to spend money on my behalf."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing, "This foreign lass is really simple and honest."

At that moment, someone suddenly came running from the front, while shouts of pursuit echoed from behind.

"Catch that freeloader eating rice, don't let him get away!"

It was a disheveled, sturdy young man, fleeing in panic, running this way while gnawing on a roasted chicken in his hand; behind him followed a group of men wielding kitchen knives and sticks, precisely those who had rushed out from a nearby restaurant.

Seeing the youth, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but start; it turned out the youth was someone he knew—Liu Kuohai, who had once followed him in Qingyun County, though he didn't know why he had fallen to such a state.

Hu Xiaotian stepped forward to block Liu Kuohai's path; Liu Kuohai, busy escaping, didn't even clearly see who was before him, swung a fist and shouted, "Get out of the way!"

Hu Xiaotian was quick-eyed and quick-handed, in one grab he seized his wrist; Liu Kuohai was gripped by Hu Xiaotian's wrist, feeling as if clamped by iron pliers, his wrist bone seemed about to break, pain made him grit his teeth, only then did he realize he might have encountered a master, he looked up, unable to believe, he stared his eyes wide, then his eye sockets reddened, he hoarsely shouted from his throat: "Sir Hu... really you? Kuohai, am I not dreaming?"

Hu Xiaotian saw him recognize him and just now released his wrist, saying: "Kuohai, what's going on?"

At that moment the pursuers had already come near; Liu Kuohai said: "Sir Hu, I alone do things, I alone bear the responsibility; just pretend you never met me!" He threw the roasted chicken in his hand to the ground, raised his fists and roared angrily: "I have no money, so what? Come all at once, let me have a good fight."

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed; this Liu Kuohai really is a brute, not having money to eat rice yet acting so self-righteous. Since problems solvable with money aren't problems, he patted Liu Kuohai's shoulder, came beside him, and said to the crowd: "This little brother of mine deliberately played a joke on you; I made a bet with him—if he dares to eat rice without paying and run here, I will lose five taels of gold to him." He took out a gold ingot from his waist and threw it to the debt collectors. Those people were actually the kitchen staff of the restaurant; they had come out only to collect meal money. This gold ingot would more than cover Liu Kuohai's meal expenses, so upon receiving the gold they were naturally satisfied, nodded, and left. (To be continued~^~)