Chapter 1178

Hu Xiaotian lay there feigning unconsciousness, and not long after a pirate came up to him, feeling his neck side, and exclaimed delightedly, "There's still a living one here!"

At that moment, Yang Yuan, who had been hiding in the dark, was also found.

After Luo Qianfu confirmed that the situation outside was safe, he then walked out of the Flying Fish Cave; Hu Xiaotian saw that this bastard was unharmed, and secretly resented him, thinking that if it weren't for those bats and mastiffs blocking his path, this bastard would already be a corpse.

Because the wind and rain outside were growing stronger, everyone temporarily retreated into the Flying Fish Cave to talk.

Luo Qianfu had deployed more than ten subordinates today to surround and hunt the flying roc, but the plan ended in failure, leaving him greatly annoyed; hearing that two of his subordinates were still alive, Yang Yuan being his old subordinate, he naturally had no suspicions, and upon seeing Hu Xiaotian, his eyes filled with doubt as he coldly asked, "Just now, while I was hunting, where did you go?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Fifth Lord… I at that time threw myself forward, grabbing the iron chain on the flying roc's body; I never expected that the roc's strength would be enormous, dragging me aloft and flinging me aside, after which my vision went black and I fainted; when I woke up I discovered I had become like this…"

Qin Dongluo said, "Fifth Brother, what exactly happened? I see many brothers wounded by sharp weapons; it shouldn't be the work of wild beasts."

Luo Qianfu sighed and said, "I today set a trap hoping to capture that flying roc alive, but unexpectedly a camel-like assailant appeared midway, his martial arts so high he had reached the realm of emitting sword qi; if I hadn't directed the bats to block his path, even I would have lost my life at his hands."

Upon hearing this, Qin Dongluo's face also grew solemn; emitting sword qi is absolutely a top-tier master, and in the present age there are likely only a few such individuals—how could Luo Qianfu provoke such a formidable opponent? Qin Dongluo said, "Fifth Brother, it's not me saying this, but you've already captured one flying roc; why be so greedy? Just properly tame this one? Now you haven't only failed to catch another, but you've even killed this one." In his view, Luo Qianfu's actions tonight were a loss outweighing the gain: not only did he lose so many subordinates, he also pointlessly killed a flying roc—truly a case of losing the wife and losing the troops.

Luo Qianfu said, "Third Brother, you don't know. The flying roc I captured is already aged; even if I didn't kill it, it wouldn't have many good days left, whereas the one in the sky is different—it's in its youth, with at least a hundred years of life, making it a priceless treasure!" Saying this, he felt even more regret. He glared angrily at Yang Yuan and Hu Xiaotian, shouting, "You're all useless! I feed you fine wine and food day after day, yet at the critical moment you're of no use! Men! Throw these two into the sea to feed the sharks!"

Yang Yuan, frightened, thumped to his knees: "Fifth Lord, spare my life. Fifth Lord, spare my life!"

Hu Xiaotian, however, showed no panic, and arrogantly said, "Fifth Lord, if even you can't trap the flying roc, what ability do we, your subordinates, have? You want to kill us to vent your anger—we have no complaints. But treating your own subordinates this way, what will the other brothers think?" Hu Xiaotian secretly weighed his options; at worst he'd carve a bloody path out. He believed these pirates lacked the ability to restrain him.

Luo Qianfu angrily shouted, "Impudent!" He was of a strange and vicious temperament; originally having lost the flying roc and being furious, now hearing a lowly subordinate dare to talk back made him blazingly furious.

Qin Dongluo said, "Fifth Brother, please calm your anger; although we lost the flying roc tonight, the blame does not lie with these subordinates of yours. You also said that the camel-backed assassin could reach the level of emitting sword qi, already a master's realm—if they encountered him, they'd only be sending themselves to their deaths, so let it be."

Luo Qianfu remained furious and unable to calm, gnashing his teeth: "For Third Brother's sake I'll spare your two lives—men, take them to the prison!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian's heart leapt with great joy; he had been worrying about how to find a prison in the wind and rain, and as the saying goes, "After wearing out iron shoes with no success, it comes without effort"—you sending me to jail is exactly what I've been hoping for.

Qin Dongluo laughed, "The prison over there is already packed to capacity; there's no room for them to stay. Fifth Brother, you've lost so many subordinates today—this is precisely a time when we need people; I think we should let them redeem their crimes through service."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed at Qin Dongluo's meddling; this great opportunity was ruined by his remark.

Luo Qianfu had now calmed a bit; setting aside other matters, even just the mess outside needs manpower to clean up. He glared fiercely at the two and said, "For Third Lord's sake I'll spare you this time—hurry and thank Third Lord!"

Yang Yuan hurriedly kowtowed to Qin Dongluo; Hu Xiaotian didn't kowtow, merely cupping his fists in a bow and saying, "Thank you, Third Lord!"

Luo Qianfu was about to scold him when someone else entered the Flying Fish Cave from outside; tonight's commotion had been quite large, alarming many powerful figures on the island.

Before the person arrived, his voice had already come through: "Fifth Brother, in the middle of the night, are you still not letting people sleep? You've caused chickens to fly and dogs to jump; the entire Python Flood Island can't find peace."

Upon hearing that voice, Qin Dongluo and Luo Qianfu both rose to their feet simultaneously.

Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered, the newcomer called Luo Qianfu Fifth Brother—surely he must be his sibling—so why would Luo Qianfu rise to greet him, and even Qin Dongluo, the third chief, likewise stand? It seems this person's status on Python Flood Island must be extremely important.

The one who entered the Flying Fish Cave was a young, handsome gentleman—this is Lu Qingyuan, the Sixth Chief of Python Flood Island, the youngest among the chiefs; although young, his martial arts and strategy are first-rate, and he is deeply trusted by Island Master Yan Tianlu; although ranked sixth, his actual standing on the island is only beneath Yan Tianlu, so even Qin Dongluo and Luo Qianfu must yield to him three parts.

Luo Qianfu laughed, "So it's Sixth Brother who's come; sorry, tonight I was encircling the flying roc and didn't expect to disturb your rest, brother."

Lu Qingyuan said, "Among our own people, what need for ceremony? I'm only worried about disturbing the island's honored guests—the Island Master's nephew and niece have just arrived at Python Flood Island; bothering them is never good."

Luo Qianfu, upon his reminder, suddenly realized: "I had forgotten!"

Hu Xiaotian glanced over discreetly and saw that Lu Qingyuan possessed an outstanding appearance—nothing like a murderous, arsonist pirate who plunders the seas; he looked more like a frail scholar—unexpectedly, among Yan Tianlu's subordinates there is also such a remarkable young talent.

Luo Qianfu said, "I've heard the Island Master's niece is extremely beautiful; Sixth Brother, have you seen her?"

Lu Qingyuan smiled, "Indeed she is beautiful."

Luo Qianfu said, "I also heard that this Yan Young Master has come this time to request a supreme treasure from the Island Master." Saying this, the three laughed aloud together, as if they'd heard an enormous joke.

Qin Dongluo laughed, "I've heard that too; supposedly he wants the seven-colored blood crystal."

Luo Qianfu said, "The seven-colored blood crystal is a secret treasure hoarded by the Island Master, the utmost yang thing under heaven, specifically used to treat men's hidden ailments—could it be that this Yan Young Master has a problem down there?" The three laughed again together, though each laughed differently: Qin Dongluo found it amusing with a knowing smile; Luo Qianfu guffawed mockingly; Lu Qingyuan smiled warmly and elegantly, evidently just being polite to go along with the two.

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred involuntarily; it wasn't that he was moved by the seven-colored blood crystal itself, but hearing the three discuss the two relatives who had just arrived on the island to visit family—the Yan siblings—made him think of two people, Yan Boguang and Yan Nujiao. If the seven-colored blood crystal truly had the miraculous effects they described, it would surely be something many men dream of; it seems too coincidental! Yet upon reflection, it's quite possible: Yan Tianlu is a pirate overlord of Python Flood Island, while Xichuan's Yan Kui is a mountain bandit holding Tianlang Mountain; moreover, it's a coincidence they both bear the surname Yan, and even more coincidentally, this Yan Young Master just happens to have that lower‑body ailment. Recalling that he had once tampered with Yan Boguang's body, Hu Xiaotian became ever more convinced that these two honored guests on Python Flood Island are almost certainly Yan Boguang and Yan Nujiao.

Hu Xiaotian felt nothing for Yan Boguang, but he and Yan Nujiao share an unbreakable bond; during his mission to Xizhou, he and Yan Nujiao, through a twist of fate, entered into an illicit affair—though at the time it was unavoidable, and Yan Nujiao never blamed him for it—yet whenever Hu Xiaotian thinks of this, he feels guilty toward Yan Nujiao, since back then she was still an unmarried Yunying, and he was her first man; picturing her charming, lovely appearance, his heart involuntarily heats up.

The camel-backed assassin Luo Qianfu mentioned put everyone on alert; they sent people to search around the Flying Fish Cave for a while, but found no trace of the camel-backed assassin, and Luo Qianfu himself never imagined that the assassin was actually lurking nearby.

Hu Xiaotian secretly felt pleased; it seems the Bu Wu teachings he received are quite practical— the art of disguise can only change a person's appearance, but cannot alter their body's fatness or thinness, whereas Tendon Changing Bone Shifting can cause a person to undergo a metamorphosis in a short time; no one would expect a tall, vigorous seven‑foot man to turn into a short, thin hunchback.

After this commotion, everyone felt weary; Qin Dongluo said, "It's getting late; everyone should go back to rest."

Lu Qingyuan said, "I must leave first; tomorrow morning I still need to accompany the guests around the island."

Luo Qianfu let out a strange, grating laugh: "Who knows how long this hurricane will last; Sixth Brother, where do you plan to take the guests for a tour? Surely you're not thinking of going out to sea in such awful weather?"

Lu Qingyuan smiled lightly: "Of course not, Fifth Brother; if the wind and rain continue tomorrow, I intend to take them to have a look at the Crystal Palace."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qianfu's smile instantly faded: "Has Sixth Brother obtained the eldest brother's approval?"

Lu Qingyuan smiled: "It is indeed the eldest brother's intention; the eldest brother dotes on his nephew and niece greatly, and has instructed me to look after them thoroughly—only the Crystal Palace's interior roads are labyrinthine, and no one knows that area better than Fifth Brother, so I'd like to ask Fifth Brother to come out and guide the way." (To be continued~^~)