Chapter 1292

Long Xi Yue shook her head and said: "Yingyue never thought of marrying; I hope the Empress Dowager will fulfill this."

Long Xuanjiao said: "I've considered it; keeping you always in the Green Shadow Pavilion is no long-term plan. How about this: I will outwardly claim to have adopted a foster daughter, then I will appoint you as Green Shadow Princess—would you be willing?"

Long Xi Yue said: "I don't want to be any princess anymore; I only wish to live a simple life. In fact, Yingyue's heart has never been as calm as it is now. If I could be an ordinary commoner girl, that would be Yingyue's greatest fortune." From beginning to end she refused to call Long Xuanjiao aunt, nor did she acknowledge herself as Long Xi Yue.

Long Xuanjiao said: "You need not worry about this; I will arrange everything."

Long Xi Yue's heart sank; she still understood this aunt somewhat. She took me as a foster daughter and appointed me Green Shadow Princess—surely she has another plan. However, I cannot change what the aunt decides; besides verbal refusal, what else can I do?

Hu Xiaotian stood silently before the Water Well Lane; before him was the place where his parents had temporarily resided when they suffered disaster. Now the gate is locked, spiderwebs fill the eaves, the steps are stained with green moss; time flies, revisiting the old place, everything has changed. Hu Buwei should now be in Tianxiang State with his old lover, living together, while Xu Fengyi already lies buried underground. Hu Xiaotian has finally established his own power, relying on his ability to gain a foothold in the Yongjiang region.

From afar came the sound of a door opening; Hu Xiaotian followed the sound and saw, not far away, a graceful young man like a jade tree in the wind appearing at the lane's end.

The green-robed young man also saw Hu Xiaotian, slightly startled, his sword brows slightly furrowed. Hu Xiaotian's gaze was unrestrained; he fixed his eyes on the man's face, staring directly into his eyes, for Hu Xiaotian had already recognized that this graceful young man before him was Huo Shengnan in disguise. During the days he had left Kangdu, Huo Shengnan had remained at the Shen Ce Palace, on one hand responsible for the important duty of protecting Qiqi, on the other hand responsible for directing and coordinating affairs in the capital. Ordinarily, Huo Shengnan lived in Water Well Lane, only two households away from the former residence of Hu Buwei and his wife.

The fact that Hu Xiaotian had arrived in Kangdu had not been told in advance to Huo Shengnan, so she knew nothing of it. Moreover, she had someone send a message telling Hu Xiaotian to try not to come back, although she understood Hu Xiaotian's nature and knew he would certainly return to Kangdu.

Seeing this sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked fellow lecherously staring at her, Huo Shengnan couldn't help but feel some anger; she had wanted to lash out, yet she felt the fellow's gaze was somewhat familiar. After thinking carefully, she still dared not conclude. Although Huo Shengnan had previously witnessed Hu Xiaotian's Tendon Changing Bone Shifting skill that altered his appearance, Hu Xiaotian had been gone for years, and during this time his martial arts had greatly improved, his disguise skills likewise made great progress.

Huo Shengnan thought for a moment. Then she unexpectedly retreated back, and Hu Xiaotian indeed followed her like a shadow.

Huo Shengnan stopped before the door, suddenly flicked her sleeve, and a sleeve arrow shot toward Hu Xiaotian's ear. She aimed not at him, but to graze past his ear to give him a fright.

Hu Xiaotian reached out his hand, intending to pinch the sleeve arrow between two fingers, but when he grasped it, he felt a strong force transmitted from the arrow shaft, almost making him lose his grip. Hu Xiaotian secretly marveled: he hadn't expected Huo Shengnan's inner strength to have become so great, surpassing even when his inner strength had been drained by him earlier; thinking about it, the Shooting the Sun True Classic must have taken effect.

Huo Shengnan glared at him tigerishly: "Do you believe I could turn you into a hornet's nest?"

Hu Xiaotian broke into a grin; this fellow's smile was instantly recognized by Huo Shengnan, who felt delighted and surprised that he had returned so early, yet she was annoyed at his teasing her; without a word, she hurried into her own courtyard.

Hu Xiaotian followed her into the courtyard and even backhanded the door bolt shut. As he was fastening the door, a whooshing sound came from behind; Hu Xiaotian hastily sidestepped, only to see a great spear thrust straight at his back, its red tassel blazing like a ball of fire in the void. The spear tip tore the air with a hissing sound like a venomous snake spitting its tongue; missing its target, it turned from a thrust to a sweep, sweeping horizontally across Hu Xiaotian's waist.

Hu Xiaotian thought Huo Shengnan hadn't recognized him, and hastily called out: "Shengnan, it's me!"

Huo Shengnan gave a cold snort: "It's you I'll kill!" She lifted the great spear with her left hand, her right arm trembling; the great spear writhed like a spirit snake, advancing forward, its bright spear tip conjuring dozens of spear shadows in the air, like plum blossoms bursting forth, like fireworks blooming, points of cold light covering Hu Xiaotian from head to toe.

Hu Xiaotian remained calm, performing the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps with flowing ease, dodging east and west in the courtyard; no matter how Huo Shengnan's attacks surged like a tide, this fellow always found a gap to slip away easily, while fleeing he restored his original appearance: "Damn! You don't recognize me? Are you trying to murder your husband?"

Seeing this fellow finally willing to show his true face, Huo Shengnan secretly amused, yet her assault did not cease: "Even if your frivolous, lecherous face were turned to ashes, I would still recognize it."

The spear thrust a line upward from below; a arc of light shot straight at Hu Xiaotian's crotch. Hu Xiaotian widened his eyes, "Your move is vicious—do you want to ruin my happiness for the rest of my life?" He leapt into the air, his legs splitting into a perfect side split, then pressed his hands down, accurately grasping the spear tip.

Huo Shengnan, however, released her grip at that moment; her lithe form flashed, she snatched a longbow from beneath the porch, and in an instant had already nocked three feathered arrows onto the bowstring.

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile: "Still playing? I've come all this way, and you greet me like this?" He tossed the long spear aside, puffed out his chest, closed his eyes, and said: "Shoot! If I dodge, you're the one who gave birth to me."

Huo Shengnan bit her cherry lip, released the bowstring with her right hand—whoosh! whoosh! whoosh! —three arrows flew together. Hu Xiaotian indeed did not dodge; he had expected Huo Shengnan would not truly harm him. One arrow struck his hair bun, one struck between his legs, and another arrow directly shot up into his crotch from inside his trousers.

Although Hu Xiaotian had been prepared, when that arrow drilled into his trousers' crotch, he also broke out in a cold sweat; he immediately opened his eyes, covered his crotch and exclaimed: "You're vicious! It went right through!"

Huo Shengnan spat: "Don't pretend, I know what I'm doing!"

Hu Xiaotian almost couldn't help laughing out loud, "You know what's on my body: 'It's been so long since we last saw each other, it's grown! Ow! It kills me!'"

Huo Shengnan gave a hum, then leisurely nocked another feathered arrow: "Since it hurts so much, I'll help you cut it off!" A phantom flickered before her eyes; Hu Xiaotian had already circled behind her, arms outstretched, he embraced her lithe form, gritting his teeth: "Little poisonous woman, you're trying to make me childless and end my line!"

Huo Shengnan, held tightly in his embrace, her lithe form went limp; the bow and arrow fell from her hand. The lover she had day and night longed for had finally returned to her side, held in his arms; her longing and grievance instantly poured out. Despite Huo Shengnan's strength, for a moment she could not control her emotions, and tears streamed down her beautiful eyes.

Hu Xiaotian hehe-laughed: "Crying? It's too late to regret now; today I will surely punish you severely—you stabbed me with a spear, I'll repay you ten spears; you shot me once, I'll repay you a hundred times."

Huo Shengnan turned, her arms tightly embracing Hu Xiaotian's body; her soft lips actively met his, giving him a deep, lingering kiss. After parting, she whispered softly: "You keep your word—one hundred times, miss one and you're not a man..."

Hu Xiaotian realized that a man's dignity mostly rests on ability; with his current strength and skill, even before General Huo he had gained little dignity.

"Help..." Hu Xiaotian's hair bun disheveled, eyes wide open, mouth gaping, his hands exaggeratedly clutching the headboard.

Huo Shengnan giggled, languid and weak, she leaned against his chest, whispering: "You rascal have become much more savage."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Each to the other!" His large hand gently stroked Huo Shengnan's beautiful back; his heart felt warm and happy.

Huo Shengnan extended her slender hand to lightly caress his face, whispering: "I knew you'd come back; I just didn't expect you to return so soon—it seems Qiqi truly holds an important place in your heart."

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily: "Full of jealousy, I came back for you."

"You're lying, but I love hearing it!" Huo Shengnan felt content and closed her eyes.

Hu Xiaotian said: "It looks like it's raining outside."

Huo Shengnan said: "Never mind that; today we won't go anywhere, we'll just stay here, just you and me, alright?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, recalling Huo Shengnan's loneliness and wait during this period; it was time to properly compensate her. He leaned close to her ear and whispered: "Continue, we're still far from a hundred."

Huo Shengnan, frightened, grabbed the blanket and fled to the corner of the bed, looking pitiful and hesitant, she stammered: "Master Hu, please spare me this time; I'll never dare again."

Hu Xiaotian put on a fierce, menacing look and snickered: "Now you know how formidable I am, right?" This fellow also lacked confidence in his heart; although his body was sturdy, if he really carried out his promise, he might well exhaust himself to death—know this: in this world only the ox that dies from overwork exists, not the field that is ruined from tilling. General Huo was still understanding, knowing how to give a man face, she actively gave him a way out; nevertheless, being tossed about by Hu Xiaotian was no small matter either.

Huo Shengnan rose, having dressed herself; Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in surprise: "How come? Weren't we supposed to stay put today?"

Huo Shengnan sighed: "We had agreed to go to the Yongyang Prince's mansion; the princess summoned me for an afternoon meeting—how could I not go?" Although she felt reluctant, she could not neglect her duties.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If that's the case, I'll go with you."

Huo Shengnan blinked her beautiful eyes and asked: "Do you miss her?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Not at all; I just want to go over and check the situation."

Huo Shengnan said: "Then there's no need for you to come; I'll go myself." She returned to the bedside, lifted Hu Xiaotian's chin, and kissed his lips, saying: "Be good and listen; wait for me to return!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you planning to keep me as a pet?"

Huo Shengnan extended a finger toward him and said: "Just one day, alright?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, covering his face like a little girl, and said: "Everyone listens to you!"

Huo Shengnan couldn't help but laugh; her pair of beautiful eyes shone like stars. (To be continued~^~)