Chapter 1325

Meng Zizai's expression was grim, but his gaze remained as still as an ancient well, showing that his outward changes and unfathomable inner self did not match; in fact, he had not grown angry at Xi Yan's reproach, and he said in a low voice: "Even without you, I and Sir Hu together should be able to cure the Princess."

Hu Xiaotian thought, this old thing still wants to trap me even now.

Xi Yan said: "Then you can go ahead and try."

Quan De'an said: "You had better hand over the antidote obediently, otherwise we will not be polite."

Xi Yan said: "Do you think I would be afraid of your threats?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "You say, as long as you detoxify the Princess, I will agree to any condition." He said this to lay groundwork for helping Xi Yan escape, knowing her wisdom she would not miss this opportunity.

Xi Yan looked at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Are you serious?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded without hesitation.

Hong Beimo and Meng Zizai exchanged a glance; not only them, but actually several people around them at the same time had the same thought: if this demoness demanded that Hu Xiaotian let her go, wouldn't Hu Xiaotian have to agree? In that case, the two of them must be colluding; Hu Xiaotian's eager rescue of this demoness amounts to digging his own grave.

Xi Yan said: "What guarantee do you have? Who can guarantee it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I can guarantee that as long as you cure the Princess, I guarantee you can leave the Imperial Palace safely." He wished Xi Yan would propose conditions, even if it meant repeating old tricks, even if it meant exchanging his life for Qiqi's. If Xi Yan were to meet misfortune because of him, he feared his conscience would never be at ease.

Xi Yan looked at Hu Xiaotian and gave a hehe laugh, then nodded: "I know what you're thinking; you're willing to die for her, right?"

Hu Xiaotian looked at Xi Yan, for a moment not knowing how to answer her; tears glistened in Xi Yan's beautiful eyes. She bit her cherry lips and said: "The more you worry about her, the less I will save her; I will watch her suffer torment to death!" Quan De'an suddenly struck, hitting Xi Yan on the back of the neck and knocking her unconscious with one palm. Hu Xiaotian almost rushed forward to fight him to the death, but his reason still effectively restrained him; even if he charged out now, it would be of no use.

Hu Xiaotian was shaken by Xi Yan's words. Clearly this matter was not done by her, so why does she still admit to it?

Quan De'an said with a sinister tone: "It seems we don't need some methods; this demoness refuses to tell the truth." He grabbed Xi Yan and headed toward the inner palace. Hu Xiaotian forcibly suppressed the urge to follow him, turning to Meng Zizai and said: "Mister Meng, how would you like to join forces with me?"

Meng Zizai furrowed his brows, he sighed softly and said: "Before the final step, it's better not to use my method; since we have already caught the culprit, we should first start from her, perhaps we can find the antidote, though it's not certain."

Mu Rongzhan also rose to take his leave; given the magnitude of the incident, he must immediately report to the Emperor.

Hong Beimo also excused himself, saying he had something to attend to.

Only Meng Zizai and Hu Xiaotian remained on the scene; Hu Xiaotian said with deep meaning: "I didn't expect Mister Meng's martial arts to be so superb."

Meng Zizai smiled lightly: "Sir Hu's martial arts are truly formidable. By the way, just now when I examined Sir Hu's blood, I found that his blood seems to contain some unusual components."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, given Meng Zizai's knowledge and ability, he should have already detected the components of the Five-Colored Spider King's Inner Elixir in my blood; this person clearly knows, yet still proposed the Push Palace and Exchange Blood method—could he not have considered the consequences of two different toxins counteracting each other? If I really were to transfuse my blood into Qiqi's body, it might kill her. From the palm he just struck Xi Yan with, it is clear he leaves no backup; to put Xi Yan to death, this person is truly vicious, his heart deserving of punishment.

Hu Xiaotian, hearing Meng Zizai mention this, deliberately feigned surprise: "What's different?"

Meng Zizai said: "Sir Hu, have you recently taken any elixirs?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head.

"Have you ever been bitten by poisonous insects?"

Hu Xiaotian pretended to be puzzled, thought a moment, then shook his head: "No, I haven't."

Meng Zizai said: "Sir Hu, would you allow me to take your pulse?"

If it were before today, Hu Xiaotian might have agreed to Meng Zizai's request, but now he regards Meng Zizai as a scorpion; of course he would not risk his body, for giving his pulse to this person would be handing over his life; if Xi Yan had not been warning him to guard against this person, she would not have ended up in this situation.

"Mister Meng, you need not worry about my affairs!" Hu Xiaotian firmly refused; Meng Zizai looked slightly embarrassed, coughed, and said: "Sir Hu still does not trust me."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Mister Meng truly has divine foresight!" Unbelievable, of course unbelievable. Now he wishes he could tear Meng Zizai to pieces, ten thousand times over. How did he not notice before how treacherous that old scoundrel is? For now he still can't figure out what role Meng Zizai is playing, and what his relationship is with Hong Beimo and Mu Rongzhan.

Qiqi's condition, Xi Yan's fate have become two swords hanging over Hu Xiaotian's heart, ready to fall at any moment and slash his inner self to bloody ribbons. Returning to the Storage Excellence Palace, Hu Xiaotian first went to see Qiqi. Although deep inside he was extremely anxious about Xi Yan, he believed that Quan De'an would not harm her before obtaining the antidote, and he could not show too much concern, for several people must have already grown suspicious of him.

Qiqi remained in a deep sleep; Hu Xiaotian did not wake her, slipping out quietly.

Just after leaving, he saw a young eunuch waiting outside; it was Quan De'an who had summoned him, asking Hu Xiaotian to come over.

The young eunuch led Hu Xiaotian to the door; Hu Xiaotian gently knocked, and from inside came Quan De'an's indifferent voice: "Come in!"

Hu Xiaotian pushed the door open and entered; the young eunuch, without waiting for instructions, closed the door from outside. The room was dimly lit; Quan De'an stood silently, and curled in the corner was a person—none other than Xi Yan, whose acupoints had been sealed.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Quan, what do you want with me?"

Quan De'an glanced at Xi Yan and said: "It's nothing major; I just wanted to ask Sir Hu to come over for a private discussion about the princess."

Hu Xiaotian remained silent, and in the faint light he saw Quan De'an's face—his features chiseled like a knife and axe, stiff and cold, his whole person exuding a sinister eeriness.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch, how do you intend to question her?"

Quan De'an slowly turned his face. His deep eyes locked onto Hu Xiaotian's: "Did you know her identity from the very beginning?"

Hu Xiaotian stayed calm under pressure, speaking calmly: "You suspect me?"

Quan De'an shook his head and said: "I don't care about these entanglements; I only want to save the princess. I saw clearly just now that someone wanted her dead. If she truly is the one who poisoned and plotted against the princess, then those eager to kill her cannot escape being accomplices."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch, have you considered that this might have nothing to do with her? Someone else could have done the poisoning, and killing her would conveniently pin all the blame on her."

Quan De'an said meaningfully: "Then Sir Hu, perhaps you could tell me why she came to see you."

Hu Xiaotian met his gaze without fear and said: "What do you think?"

Quan De'an said: "Your relationship with her is not simple, is it?"

"At a time like this, Eunuch Quan, are you still interested in these matters?"

Quan De'an said: "I've heard that many women would give up their lives for the one they love."

Hu Xiaotian's heart sank; Quan De'an was indeed crafty and cunning, apparently having long seen through his relationship with Xi Yan, and even guessed the true purpose of her daring visit this time.

"Blood‑exchange therapy! It is an extremely risky healing method; although it might save the princess, it offers you no benefit at all."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why didn't you say that earlier?"

Quan De'an spoke without concealment: "I care only for the princess's safety; if I had to choose between you and the princess, I would not hesitate." The implication is that even if he could see through Meng Zizai's intentions, he would not spare Hu Xiaotian's life to save the princess.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I have no grudge against Meng Zizai; I don't even know why he would want to harm me."

Quan De'an said: "The frenzied flame hornet's poison is definitely a secret concoction of the Wuxian Sect; I don't want to get involved in your grudge, nor will I speak of it. But the princess's safety is something I cannot ignore."

Hu Xiaotian turned his gaze to Xi Yan and said: "She should have a way."

Quan De'an slowly nodded and said: "That's why I had her brought in. If she fell into others' hands, it would cause great trouble, especially for Sir Hu." He stepped closer to Hu Xiaotian and lowered his voice: "Persuade her to heal the princess, and I will give her a way to live."

Hu Xiaotian looked at Quan De'an; from his gaze he already realized that Quan De'an knew everything inside out: "How can I know you won't harm me?"

A faint, inscrutable smile touched Quan De'an's lips: "Do you still have a choice?"

Xi Yan woke slowly, opened her eyes, and as she gradually grew accustomed to the dim surroundings, she saw Hu Xiaotian right in front of her. Her heart filled with panic; first she thought that their relationship had been exposed, that Hu Xiaotian, like her, was imprisoned. When she saw that Hu Xiaotian was unharmed, she relaxed, then immediately snapped: "Kill me if you want, but you'll never get the antidote from me."

Hu Xiaotian heard her blurt out those words, and tears nearly fell from his moved eyes. Even now, Xi Yan's thoughts are not about her own safety but about how to protect herself, to cover for herself; this deep affection leaves him wondering how to repay it.

Hu Xiaotian pressed his lips, calmed his emotions, then sent a mental transmission: "You don't need to do this; Quan De'an is a sensible person, he gave me this opportunity, as long as you cure Qiqi, he promised to spare you a way out."

Xi Yan blinked her beautiful eyes, sorrowful tears glimmering in her gaze: "I don't care what he says; I only listen to you. Do you want me to save her?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Xi Yan gestured for him to lean his ear closer; Hu Xiaotian followed her words and brought his ear to her cherry lips, Xi Yan whispered beside his ear: "That Black Ice Clam I hid in the Cangshuge..." After finishing her whisper, she lightly kissed his cheek.

Hu Xiaotian never expected she would tell him so easily; he stared blankly at Xi Yan.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Why are you being so good to me?"

Xi Yan smiled gently: "I just want you to feel guilty, I just want you to owe me a lifetime!"

Recently my condition is partly the reason, and some plots need careful consideration before I can write; Zhangyu has always been a responsible writer, as for the so-called manuscript burst, there really isn't any—not even a single word's worth! (To be continued~^~)