Chapter 1225

Of course, another possibility cannot be ruled out: could Xue Daohong have deliberately sent Xue Lingjun to Bohai State on a mission during this sensitive period, thereby taking the opportunity to plunge her into trouble, killing two birds with one stone and eliminating both elders at once? If that is the case, then there is a possibility for me and Xue Lingjun to join forces.

Xia Zhangming said, 'Shopkeeper, what have you gained?'

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'I've managed to make contact with the people of Python Flood Island; I estimate that Yan Tianlu will come to contact me in the next two days.'

Xia Zhangming nodded, 'Right, you had me inquire about Yanxi Hall; so far I haven't heard any news of the Bohai State king taking action against Yanxi Hall. Its main business is still maritime transport, and at least on the surface everything appears normal.'

'Has the boss of Yanxi Hall been identified?'

Xia Zhangming said, 'It is said that his surname is Xiang and his name is Xiang Shancong.'

Hu Xiaotian frowned, having thought that the boss of Yanxi Hall was Huo Xiaoru, but it turned out to be an old man. Xue Shengjing really hides his deeds deeply; although he proactively sought my help, he has concealed the true situation too much. It seems he had made preparations in advance: if Bohai State cannot find anything about Yanxi Hall, that would be best; if they do find something, he surely expects that I, for Huo Xiaoru's sake, will not stand idly by.

Thinking of Huo Xiaoru, Hu Xiaotian suddenly felt a sense of loss. Since parting in Da Yong, she has never contacted me again; I don't know what place I occupy in her heart. If she has no feeling for me, why was she so affectionate toward me in Da Yong? If she does have feeling for me, why, after leaving, has she been like a vanished yellow crane, sending no word at all?

Hu Xiaotian is a broad-minded person; these losses are merely fleeting clouds in the sky, easily brushed away. Although his reason for coming to Bohai State this time is Xue Shengjing, and indeed for Huo Xiaoru, he also bears a more important mission: he intends to use this opportunity to expand his influence in Bohai State, and helping Xue Shengjing is actually helping himself. He wishes to establish a strong rival for Xue Daohong within Da Yong, for conquering mighty Da Yong in the short term by strength alone is insufficient; only if Da Yong splits from within will he have an opening to exploit.

Xia Zhangming added, 'Yanxi Hall has no branch in Looksea City; its headquarters is in Beneficent Prefecture, over two hundred li away from here.'

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, 'Zhangming, you should still go yourself to Beneficent Prefecture. Help me check the situation there.'

Xia Zhangming said, 'I'm getting ready to depart.'

Hu Xiaotian took out a painting from his luggage and handed it to Xia Zhangming, saying, 'When you get there, give this painting to Xiang Shancong; he should understand upon seeing it.' This painting is a portrait hand-drawn by Hu Xiaotian himself, and the subject of the portrait is naturally Huo Xiaoru.

Later that day, Wan Li Yu also brought Hu Xiaotian two pieces of news: first, the Eldest Princess of Da Yong, Xue Lingjun, had arrived; second, Da Yong's envoy Li Chenzhou also reached Looksea City today.

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel puzzled. Xue Lingjun's visit this time is under the banner of promoting friendship between the two states, so why has Li Chenzhou come? Considering Li Chenzhou's relationship with the new ruler of Da Yong, Xue Daohong, it's not hard to guess that he is here to carry out Xue Daohong's orders. From this, it appears that Xue Lingjun is not representing Xue Daohong's interests. In other words, Xue Lingjun's appearance in Bohai State is likely deliberate on Xue Daohong's part.

Hu Xiaotian asked for Xue Lingjun's current residence; Wan Li Yu was indeed capable, having investigated her lodging in detail, but the place where she stays is heavily guarded. It would not be easy for an outsider to infiltrate.

After Wan Li Yu left, the shop assistant delivered a letter to Hu Xiaotian, but it was sent by someone on behalf of Old Knife Feng. The letter was written in shaky characters: 'Meet me at Yellow Steed Port tonight,' and the signature read simply 'Old Knife'.

This letter was rather headless and tailless; Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile, as no specific time was mentioned. Looking out the window, he saw that night had fallen, so he had someone bring his horse, asked for the location of Yellow Steed Port, and rode off.

Yellow Steed Port is the largest harbor on the Bohai State's inland waterway, the Rich River, which is a canal running north–south through Bohai State. Goods arriving from the northern and southern coasts are unloaded on either bank and then continuously conveyed via this canal to Bohai State's capital, Looksea City.

Because of Yellow Steed Port's important geographic location, this place has become the busiest spot in Looksea City. Although night has fallen, there is still a constant flow of vehicles and horses; carts transporting goods come in an endless stream, and the dockworkers loading and unloading cargo still toil late into the night, sweating profusely.

Hu Xiaotian gazed at the forest of masts at Yellow Steed Port and felt a headache coming on; Old Knife Feng really is a clueless idiot, having sent him a vague letter—trying to find him here is like looking for a needle in the ocean. As Hu Xiaotian looked around, a boy carrying a bamboo basket approached him and called out, 'Are you Sir Hu?'

Hu Xiaotian blinked in surprise, looking at the boy's dark, shiny eyes, and asked, 'Do you know me?'

The boy laughed, 'I don't know you, but someone does.' He pointed to a small boat moored in the harbor and said, 'The person is inside waiting for you.'

Hu Xiaotian turned and looked around, estimating that he had been tailed since he left the Immortal Guest Inn; he just hadn't noticed this time, after all, he was in the open while the watcher lurked in the shadows—even a tiger dozes sometimes, and with the crowds surging here, it's hard to spot a tail right away.

Hu Xiaotian dismounted, and the boy said, 'Just hand the horse over to me, Sir Hu, and I'll watch it for you.'

Hu Xiaotian smiled and tossed him a piece of broken silver; the boy took it, bit it with his teeth, and instantly broke into a grin.

Hu Xiaotian, moving with swift steps, had already reached the small boat, leapt lightly aboard, and came to the cabin door, where he respectfully said, 'I don't know which old friend has summoned me; could you show yourself?'

No one answered from inside. Hu Xiaotian turned and saw the boy leading his horse and tying it to the flagpole. He listened closely and heard soft breathing from within the cabin, indicating someone was there. He pushed open the door and saw red candles flickering; a radiantly beautiful woman sat upright, her pretty face showing a mix of delight and anticipation—it was Yan Nujiao.

Hu Xiaotian also hadn't expected her to appear here, and he smiled, 'Nujiao, it's really you!'

Yan Nujiao said, 'How come? Don't you want to see me?' From her voice alone, his identity was already determined.

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing, walked over to her, and said, 'Since our parting on Python Flood Island, Nujiao has been thinking of me constantly, yet now that I'm actually before her, I feel a little embarrassed.' He pointed at his face and said, 'Take it off!'

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'Are you afraid I'm an impostor?' and removed his mask.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's handsome, resolute face, Yan Nujiao's heart fluttered. Hu Xiaotian smiled and opened his arms; she bit her lip, finally mustered the courage, and threw herself into his embrace. They held each other for a long time before parting, and she whispered, 'I thought I would never see you again,' her words revealing her resentment at his sudden departure.

Hu Xiaotian stroked her hair and lightly kissed her forehead, saying, 'I ran into some troubles, so I had to deal with them, and I didn't want you to worry, so I could only leave without saying goodbye.'

Yan Nujiao nodded, 'I didn't expect you to come to Looksea City.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'I didn't expect you to come either; we are probably bound by the red thread of fate across a thousand miles, as the saying goes.'

Yan Nujiao blushed, embarrassed to admit it, but she had already secretly given her heart to him.

Hu Xiaotian asked, 'Has your uncle arrived?'

Yan Nujiao then recalled her main purpose for coming, and gave an embarrassed smile, 'I almost forgot.' As the saying goes, a daughter's nature is to look outward; even before marriage she has already cast her uncle to the clouds.

She stepped out of the cabin and lightly waved her hand; immediately someone from a nearby fishing boat came over, took up the oars, and began rowing the small boat deeper into the harbor. The boat wound its way through the forest of masts—thousands of large ships fill Yellow Steed Port, their hulls separating the waterways, making passage feel like a maze. Without a guide, eight or nine times out of ten one would get lost.

Yan Nujiao accompanied Hu Xiaotian as they sat in the cabin, her head resting on his shoulder, listening to the sound of the oars cutting through the water; even without speaking, they felt an indescribable warmth and sense of ease.

Hu Xiaotian asked, 'Why did you come here to take this risk?' Actually he had already guessed that Yan Nujiao's reason for coming to Bohai State was, nine times out of ten, to see her brother Yan Boguang; it seems Yan Tianlu has already received news of Yan Boguang, and likely cannot stop Yan Nujiao from coming.

Yan Nujiao's reply indeed confirmed this; various indications show that Yan Boguang is currently in Bohai State, which is why she insisted on coming along.

Their small boat came alongside a huge merchant ship, where a rope ladder had already been lowered. Yan Nujiao led the way, climbing up the ladder to the deck.

Just as Hu Xiaotian stepped onto the deck, he heard a hearty laugh from above: 'Kid, you're already here? Did you fly here on a bird?' He looked up and saw Yan Tianlu, standing on the ship's second level with his hands on the rail, gazing down at him.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'Old sir, I hope you've been well; is your health still robust?'

Yan Tianlu spat, strode down the gangway, and Hu Xiaotian went to meet him, clasping his hands in salute. Yan Tianlu laughed, grabbing Hu Xiaotian's arm and said, 'You promised to do something for me, but you haven't come through.' He was referring to the matter of sending his son Yan Xuanming back to Python Flood Island.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, 'His legs are his own; he refuses to acknowledge you as his father, so I can't very well tie him up and drag him along.'

Yan Tianlu laughed, patted Hu Xiaotian's shoulder, and said, 'Staying with you is fine; I'm reassured.' Then, hand in hand, they entered the second-level cabin together, where food and drink had already been laid out. After they sat down, Yan Nujiao filled their cups with fine wine. (To be continued~^~)