Chapter 1190: [Old Spicy] (Part 2)

Hu Zhongyang cried out in distress: "A mere thousand naval troops—how could they threaten Python Flood Island? I only borrowed troops from Hu Xiaotian to escort; I had no intention of targeting Python Flood Island. Hey! Now saying anything is useless—the island lord is already gone…" Hu Zhongyang truly seemed to have deep feelings for Yan Tianlu; as he spoke, he began to weep.

Hu Xiaotian, having heard this, basically confirmed that although Hu Zhongyang was allied with Yan Tianlu, his original intention was not to harm him, so he no longer concealed his identity, using voice transmission to say to Hu Zhongyang: "Hu Caidong! Look at who I am!"

Hu Zhongyang stared at him in shock, but saw Hu Xiaotian's face appear before him; Hu Zhongyang was stunned, thinking he had misseen, he blinked hard, convinced it wasn't an illusion, and whispered: "You… you…" He couldn't fathom how Hu Xiaotian had gotten here, that this person dared to sneak into Python Flood Island alone—his courage was immense. Recalling his own words just spoken, hadn't he revealed his connection to Python Flood Island? Hu Zhongyang didn't know how to explain for a moment, standing there dumbfounded.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Hu Caidong, don't panic; today Python Flood Island has suffered a major upheaval—Lu Qingyuan and Luo Qianfu colluded with the Tang Jiu Cheng father and son of Falling Cherry Palace to secretly harm the island lord; the Third Chief has already been killed."

Hu Zhongyang caught some hints from his tone, lowering his voice: "You mean the island lord… he's alright?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Of course he's fine; he pointed outside." Hu Zhongyang followed his gaze and saw Yan Tianlu's stalwart back, only then realizing Hu Xiaotian had come with Yan Tianlu this time; his heart was both startled and delighted—startled that they had brazenly entered the prison, constantly risking exposure; delighted that he finally had hope of rescue.

Hu Zhongyang whispered: "I'd long sensed Lu Qingyuan was off; it turns out he's the mastermind behind all this."

Hu Xiaotian said: "A typhoon has arisen outside; the fleet that came with me cannot reach Python Flood Island for the time being—we must turn the situation ourselves."

Hu Zhongyang nodded.

Hu Xiaotian drew a dagger—a treasure blade he carried specially that could cut iron like mud—and silently cut the shackles on Hu Zhongyang's hands and feet. He then handed the dagger to Hu Zhongyang, whispering: "Keep this dagger for now; after we leave, find a way to free yourself and then rescue our others."

Hu Zhongyang said: "Although the prison's defenses are tight, there aren't many experts inside; I can control the situation here."

Hu Xiaotian said: "After you rescue them, temporarily seal the prison gate; the terrain here is unique, easy to defend, hard to attack, and whatever happens here will surely draw most of the island's attention. Once you act, I and the island lord will seize the chance to strike at Lu Qingyuan and Luo Qianfu." Hu Xiaotian had thought it through carefully. To win with fewer against many, he must adopt the strategy of capturing the leader first; his biggest trump card now is Yan Tianlu—if he controls the two rebel masterminds, then once Yan Tianlu reveals his true identity, everyone will naturally submit; perhaps they can retake control of Python Flood Island without bloodshed.

After hearing Hu Xiaotian's plan, Hu Zhongyang nodded repeatedly; Hu Xiaotian didn't linger long, leaving immediately after speaking.

Yan Tianlu hadn't spoken a word from start to finish. Following Hu Xiaotian out of the prison, the wind and rain outside seemed to have lessened a bit; Yan Tianlu looked toward the prison and asked: "How? What exactly did he say?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Before dawn, he will take action to rescue all the prisoners in the jail."

Yan Tianlu asked: "How to rescue?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "He has his own way; all we need to do is seize the time to control Lu Qingyuan—this man is the chief culprit of the island-seizing rebellion; only by controlling him can you restore your identity openly."

Yan Tianlu nodded: "Capture the bandit leader first—just what I was thinking."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "This is 'using their own methods against them.'" He reached out and patted Yan Tianlu's shoulder: "Old sir, as island lord for so many years, you surely have a few escape tunnels, right? As the saying goes, a crafty rabbit has three burrows…"

Before he could finish, Yan Tianlu glared at him—this brat was really outrageous, comparing himself to a rabbit; did he think he was that timid? Yan Tianlu nodded angrily: "Come with me!"

Yan Tianlu certainly had a secret passage, known only to him; although he had never seen through Lu Qingyuan's deceit, as the lord of Python Flood Island he naturally kept a retreat for himself, and now this retreat finally proved useful.

Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao followed Yan Tianlu into the secret passage; midway, a fork appeared, and Yan Tianlu pointed to the left opening: "Going this way leads straight to my residence."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Where does the right lead?"

Yan Tianlu replied: "It leads to the water source; most of Python Flood Island's daily water comes from there."

Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered why Yan Tianlu would build such a branch in the secret passage—had he anticipated a day when everyone might turn against him, and if so, would he retaliate by controlling the water supply? Recalling his method of dealing with the shark swarm, Hu Xiaotian felt a chill; if he scattered Seven Star Snake Venom in the water source, probably most of the island's pirates would die.

Yan Tianlu said: "We'll split up—I'll go back to check the situation; you two go to the water source and pour this bottle's contents into the well." He handed a porcelain bottle to Hu Xiaotian.

Yan Nujiao beside them involuntarily sucked in a cold breath, thinking her uncle intended to poison the water source.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Most people are innocent—isn't this a bit too harsh?"

Yan Tianlu let out a grim chuckle: "No poison, no man! Don't think me so cruel—most of the island's folk are my brothers; this bottle is called Lax Bone Powder, not a poison; once dispersed in the water source, whoever drinks the water will feel weak and limp all over."

Hu Xiaotian received the porcelain bottle; Yan Tianlu told them how to enter the well, then said: "After you finish, wait here for me—at most half an hour, I'll return to meet you."

Hu Xiaotian guessed Yan Tianlu surely had more secrets he didn't want him to know, so he made an excuse to send him away; Yan Nujiao said anxiously: "Uncle, you must be careful!"

Yan Tianlu laughed: "Rest assured, only I am the true master of Python Flood Island!" Having said that, he strode forward.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, took Yan Nujiao's delicate hand, and said: "Let's hurry too!"

Yan Nujiao hummed in acknowledgment.

Hu Xiaotian worried about her injury, murmuring: "Shall I carry you?"

"No need!" After escaping danger, Yan Nujiao instead became bashful.

The two walked toward the right-side cave opening; after going about three li, they reached the end. Following Yan Tianlu's instructions, Hu Xiaotian moved aside the wall bricks, and soon an opening appeared. He poked his head out to find the wall outside was a well; from his position to the water surface at the bottom was over ten zhang. He opened the porcelain bottle and poured all the white powder into the deep well.

Actually, the water source had dedicated guards day and night, but no one would have imagined there was a souterrain leading down here, let alone that the lord of Python Flood Island would send someone to poison it.

After finishing, Hu Xiaotian restored the wall bricks to their original state, then saw Yan Nujiao leaning against the wall, her face devoid of color—she was clearly still suffering internal injuries. Approaching her, he seized the moment when she was off guard and lifted her in a horizontal embrace; Yan Nujiao, still not understanding what was happening, blushed and said: "Put me down, don't let anyone see!"

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but laugh; in this cavern besides the two of them there was no one else, and he whispered near Yan Nujiao's ear: "I'm afraid you'll tire."

Yan Nujiao stopped struggling—whether from lack of strength or tacit approval of Hu Xiaotian's actions—her cheek pressed against his chest, she quietly listened to his strong, powerful heartbeat; her heart warmed immensely, wishing this moment would never end.

Hu Xiaotian arrived at the spot where they had just parted from Yan Tianlu; waiting left, he saw no sign of Yan Tianlu; waiting right, still no one—even Yan Nujiao grew anxious: "Why hasn't my uncle returned after so long? Could something have happened to him?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Let's go see!"

Yan Nujiao hesitated a moment, then nodded.

The two entered the left-side cave; after walking about two li, they reached the end. Looking up, they saw a shaft going straight up—Yan Tianlu must have climbed up from here. Hu Xiaotian saw a line of writing ahead, took out the Night Pearl to illuminate it, and read: "You brat, going back on your word, breaking your promise! Stay honestly in the souterrain to guard my precious niece; I can settle the affairs of Python Flood Island myself."

Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao exchanged a glance; he sighed: "Old fox, he actually stood us up!"

Yan Nujiao's main concern was still Yan Tianlu's safety; she bit her lip and asked: "What should we do? My uncle is injured—how could he possibly stand against so many villains?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "As the lord of Python Flood Island, he surely has many hidden trump cards; I think this old fellow went to find reinforcements." Only now did he realize he had done Yan Tianlu a great favor—if not for the human-skin mask he had given him, Yan Tianlu would never dare show his face.

Yan Nujiao said: "Let's go up and see!"

Near month's end, begging for a few monthly tickets—although aware recent updates haven't been strong, trivial matters entangle me, preventing full focus; Zhangyu will try to adjust his condition, and once he has spare time, he will give it his all! (To be continued~^~)