Chapter 1289

Get lost!

In the world, only Hu Xiaotian could make Qin Yutong lose her temper, but when faced with the goddess doctor's rough treatment, Hu Xiaotian could still remain calm and composed, even feeling a bit pleased. He said softly, 'Those who know my heart have no worries for me; those who disturb my heart, what do they seek from me?' He lifted the wine cup before him and drained it in one gulp, then rose and said, 'Farewell! Miss Qin, take care!'

Qin Yutong watched Hu Xiaotian's straight-backed figure, a faint smile touching her lips. Since Hu Xiaotian was about to depart, there was no need to compete with him, to let him think he had angered her, to let him leave with a sense of superiority—this too could be considered a decent parting gift.

Hu Xiaotian's steps stopped, and he said softly, 'You probably aren't truly angry; no matter what, thank you for satisfying a man's self-esteem.'

This time Hu Xiaotian really went far away; Qin Yutong raised her head to look at the night sky and sighed helplessly. This bastard actually saw through her feelings, yet he thought he had everything figured out—there are things he would never anticipate.

Hu Xiaotian returned to the manor and saw Liang Da Zhuang waiting outside the door, looking expectant. Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, 'You've been waiting for me all along?'

Liang Da Zhuang said, 'I just came out a moment ago.'

Hu Xiaotian stepped toward the manor, noticing Liang Da Zhuang's hesitant expression, and smiled, 'Is there something you want to say to me?'

Liang Da Zhuang nodded and said, 'Yes! Young Master, when will you set off for Kangdu?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Soon!'

Can you take me with you?

Hu Xiaotian glanced at Liang Da Zhuang.

Liang Da Zhuang said somewhat urgently, 'Young Master, I know I am incapable, but having followed you for so many years, I understand your thoughts best. Moreover, on the day of your wedding, I wish to witness it myself. This is also the madam's wish.'

This reason was still quite persuasive, and Hu Xiaotian said, 'Da Zhuang, the journey to Kangdu is fraught with danger.'

I'm not afraid!

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, 'All right, but you cannot accompany me all the way. I have prepared some betrothal gifts; you and Chang Fanqi will escort them there.'

Liang Da Zhuang said, 'Is Chang Fanqi also going?'

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, 'He is exceptionally brave. Since following me, he hasn't had a real chance to use his martial skills. This time, sending him to Kangdu serves two purposes: first, to let him know of my trust in him; second, to give him an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities.'

Liang Da Zhuang said softly, 'This person is a former general of Da Yong; will he cause trouble from within?'

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, 'That's why I'm having you accompany him.'

Liang Da Zhuang nodded repeatedly, and Hu Xiaotian readily agreed to his request, which also made him feel greatly relieved.

Hu Xiaotian returned to his residence, where Weisa had already prepared the bathwater for him.

Hu Xiaotian removed his clothes, entered the tub naked, and beckoned to Weisa, indicating he wanted her to join him for a bath. Weisa shook her head. Knowing that Hu Xiaotian would depart tonight and that she was refused to accompany him, Weisa felt inevitably distressed and said softly, 'I will bathe my master.'

Hu Xiaotian did not insist. Feeling Weisa's gentle fingertips lightly massaging his scalp, he closed his eyes and said softly, 'Da Zhuang will escort the betrothal gifts back to Kangdu.'

Weisa leaned close to his ear and whispered, 'You aren't suspicious of him, are you?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'I can never truly determine whom he serves, but there is one thing I can be certain of: he likely bears no ill will toward me. This time returning to Kangdu, I suspect his backing will be revealed.'

Weisa embraced his shoulders from behind, her pretty face pressed against his neck, tears in her eyes, and said, 'I still can't put my mind at ease about you.'

Hu Xiaotian lightly patted the back of her hand, holding her bound hands in his palm, and said, 'Does that mean you lack confidence in me?'

Weisa shook her head vigorously.

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, 'Rest assured! I will definitely return safely!'

At Three More, Hu Xiaotian rose from the place of gentleness, quietly left Dongliang Jun, and came to the place he had agreed upon with Xia Zhangming. Xia Zhangming had already brought the Flying Eagle and the Snow Eagle there to wait.

The Flying Eagle hadn't seen Hu Xiaotian for several days; upon seeing him approach, it excitedly spread its wings and flapped vigorously, instantly sending sand and stones flying before Hu Xiaotian, with weeds scattering everywhere. This unique way of greeting gave Hu Xiaotian the feeling of 'blossoms in profusion dazzling the eyes,' and he laughed and scolded, 'Hey, little brother, you're really too crafty—I came up with a name for you; from now on, shall I call you Great Peng?' This name truly lacks creativity.

The Flying Eagle actually nodded its large head.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'You actually like it!'

Xia Zhangming said, 'My lord, let's set out!'

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, 'Set out!'

Zhan Peng and Liang Yinghao had both smoothly arrived at Fengyi Shan Zhuang. Most of the brothers from Liang Yinghao's past in the Hunshui Gang had remained at Fengyi Shan Zhuang. Now the area beneath Fengyi Shan Zhuang had been dug out into a crisscross network, four-way and eight-directional. Fengyi Shan Zhuang lies on Luoyun Mountain, which is at the midpoint between Kangdu and the imperial mausoleum. During the time Hu Xiaotian was away, those Hunshui Gang brothers were not idle; they had already dug two tunnels, one leading to Kangdu and the other to the imperial mausoleum. The tunnel to Kangdu had already been dug all the way to beneath the imperial city walls, while the tunnel to the imperial mausoleum encountered an obstruction after advancing fifteen li.

Although Hu Xiaotian set out later, he had already arrived the day after Zhan Peng and Liang Yinghao reached Fengyi Shan Zhuang.

Hu Xiaotian used Tendon Changing Bone Shifting to alter his appearance, while Xia Zhangming also wore a human-skin mask, and the two swaggered into Fengyi Shan Zhuang.

Steward Hu Fu heard that someone had come to visit Liang Yinghao and came out from inside; with his eyesight he naturally could not recognize the altered Hu Xiaotian. As he was inquiring about the two men's identities and origins, Zhan Peng stepped forward and laughed, 'Brother Yuanjia has arrived!'

Hu Xiaotian couldn't be bothered to think of a name, so he directly used the alias of the Jinmen hero Huo Yuanjia; he didn't use Li Xiaolong because the character 'dragon' is taboo.

Hu Xiaotian clasped his fists toward Zhan Peng and said, 'Brother Zhan!'

Zhan Peng said to Steward Hu, 'Steward Hu, these two are both my friends.'

Upon hearing this, Steward Hu's suspicions naturally faded, and he smiled, 'You gentlemen chat; I won't disturb you.'

Zhan Peng invited Hu Xiaotian into the manor, came to the western courtyard, saw that no one was around, and then laughed, 'I never expected the lord to arrive so swiftly; we only got here yesterday, and the lord is already here today.'

Hu Xiaotian laughed, 'Flying is always faster than walking!'

Zhan Peng clicked his tongue in amazement; Hu Xiaotian indeed was favored by heaven, and this strange encounter alone is not something an ordinary person could obtain.

Hu Xiaotian said, 'And Liang Yinghao?'

Zhan Peng said, 'He and those brothers went to the rear mountain lumber yard to inspect the progress of the tunnels.' After digging nearly finished at Fengyi Shan Zhuang, they temporarily sealed the manor's underground entrance, sought another exit from Luoyun Mountain to continue excavation, and in daily life they posed as woodcutters for cover; their location is also the lumber yard nearest to Kangdu.

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, 'I want to first go to my mother's grave to offer incense.'

Zhan Peng said, 'I will make arrangements for my lord.'

Hu Xiaotian did not linger long at Fengyi Shan Zhuang; accompanied by Zhan Peng, he came to his mother's grave, saw that the tomb mound had been swept clean, with fresh flowers and offerings placed before it, the flowers apparently having been picked not long ago.

Hu Xiaotian, confident that no one was nearby, then knelt before his mother's tomb and offered incense.

Gazing at those offerings, he asked, 'Who has come here recently?'

Zhan Peng said, 'The Yongyang Princess came yesterday; she stayed only briefly, leaving right after sweeping the tomb, and did not go to Fengyi Shan Zhuang.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Anything unusual happening at the manor?'

Zhan Peng said, 'Steward Hu should be trustworthy; according to the feedback from the brothers Liang Yinghao planted, there should be no suspicious persons inside the manor. My lord, rest assured—even Steward Hu is unaware of the tunneling work beneath the manor.'

Hu Xiaotian nodded, rose to his feet, and silently gazed at the inscription on the tombstone; before his eyes appeared the kind smile of Xu Fengyi, whom in his heart he considered his true mother. Her fate was truly tragic, and her tragedy was brought about by her so-called mother, Xu Laotai.

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Have the people from the Minister of Revenue's residence all been investigated?'

Zhan Peng said, 'At present, only Steward Hu remains at Fengyi Shan Zhuang; the others have all been dismissed.'

Hu Xiaotian said: "I promised to let Liang Da Zhuang come back."

Zhan Peng said: "What is he coming back to do?" In Zhan Peng's view, Liang Da Zhuang might not be able to help much in the upcoming matter.

Hu Xiaotian walked forward a few steps, hands behind his back, and said: "Liang Da Zhuang is not an ordinary person."

Zhan Peng blinked slightly: "My lord, do you suspect him?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not suspicion; since Zhou Mo and Xiao Tianmu betrayed me, I have started to reexamine some matters and some people, and I found that Liang Da Zhuang, this loyal servant, has too many coincidences. From the time I went to Azure Cloud to take office, he always created things that surprised me; those things seemed reasonable, but upon careful reflection afterward, they turn out to be highly suspicious."

"My lord, why not interrogate him?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "Although I find him suspicious, he seems not to have done anything against me; I am merely curious about his stance and motives. I don't understand why he endures humiliation and bears burdens staying by my side. When we were in Dongliang Jun, I once had Wei Sa use the Soul Capturing Technique against him, but Liang Da Zhuang's resolve exceeded my imagination; Wei Sa was powerless against him."

Zhan Peng sucked in a breath of cold air; he knew how formidable the Soul Capturing Technique was—even he could not withstand its bewilderment, and Liang Da Zhuang's resolve was so strong that it seems his martial skill might be above his own. He whispered: "Could he be a person of Minister Hu?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "My father should know he possesses martial arts, which is why he sent him to accompany me to Azure Cloud, but Liang Da Zhuang hid his strength and feigned ignorance along the way, showing no trace of knowing martial arts at all; I suspect he may have a double identity."

Zhan Peng said: "Could he be someone from the imperial court?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "I have thought of a person, but I still cannot confirm it now; perhaps this time the truth will finally come to light."

Regarding Hu Xiaotian's wisdom, Zhan Peng has always trusted it without doubt; since he said he could find out, it should be close.

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