Chapter 1344: [Soaring Over the Imperial City] (Part 1)

Hu Xiaotian guessed the mystery therein and burst out laughing. He stared at Hong Beimo and said: "If that's the case, then let us all perish together!" He made a motion to twist the sword hilt.

Hong Beimo was already frightened pale, he shouted loudly: "Don't!"

From Hong Beimo's reaction Hu Xiaotian already confirmed that the light sword indeed had self-destruct capability; he nodded smugly and said: "Having so many people buried with me is also worth it!" Xi Yan said nothing, just silently held Hu Xiaotian tighter.

Qiqi tightly bit her cherry lips, her expression extremely tense; she was exceptionally perceptive and already understood that the light sword in Hu Xiaotian's hand was a terrifyingly powerful killer; otherwise Hong Beimo would not have acted so nervously despite their side holding the advantage.

Qiqi said: "Hu Xiaotian, don't forget, your men are still in my hands."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If a person is determined to die, who still cares about so much? My death is no great loss, but if you die like this, what imperial dynasty's great cause, what grand ambitions would not all turn to ashes scattered and vanished?" He took a step toward Qiqi; everyone retreated, but Qiqi remained where she stood, eyes calmly fixed on him, showing no fear. Though young, her heart was steadier than most, which is why she could command these people. Qiqi calmly said: "I let you go!"

Hu Xiaotian sneered: "You think I'll believe you?"

At that moment a low hum came from the night sky above, echoing long in the heavens. Hu Xiaotian heard it, overjoyed; the cry clearly came from his falcon. He raised his head and let out a long whistle in response.

Soon two white lights appeared in the night sky overhead. Hu Xiaotian's keen eyes could see a dark shape between the two white lights—likely Xia Zhangming arriving with the Snow Eagle and falcon to meet him. Xia Zhangming's timing was perfect; from Hu Xiaotian's voice he pinpointed his position and swiftly rushed to the skies above Ethereal Peak.

Hu Xiaotian shouted loudly: "Whoever acts rashly, we will perish together!" His voice carried far, actually to let Xia Zhangming know the situation below and not rush to land.

Hong Beimo looked up at the sky, realizing Hu Xiaotian's reinforcements had arrived; he secretly regretted, never expecting that success would slip away at the last moment—Hu Xiaotian actually unleashed a mutual-destruction ultimate move. He had never imagined Hu Xiaotian would obtain a light sword. Hong Beimo warned those nearby to stay calm; given the situation, if they truly pushed Hu Xiaotian to the brink, they could not rule out him detonating the light sword. Although the light sword's energy was insufficient, an instant detonation could still raze everything within ten zhang to flat ground, and they would likely not escape disaster.

Hu Xiaotian looked at Qiqi and said: "Qiqi, our kindness and righteousness are severed; today I will not kill you. But if you dare harm even one of my brothers, don't blame me for being ruthless." He scanned Hong Beimo and the others: "I don't believe they can guard you day and night. If you dare harm one of my brothers, I will repay tenfold; I swear I will make you truly lonely and destitute."

Qiqi met Hu Xiaotian's cold gaze and suddenly felt a chill; she bit her cherry lips and said: "Letting them go is not hard for me. You must promise that in your lifetime you will not disturb Dakang's borders."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you! As long as you don't provoke me, I won't go looking for trouble."

Qiqi nodded: "I'll trust you this once."

At that moment a heart-shaking cry came from above—it was the falcon swooping down from high altitude, its spread wings blocking the moonlight. Although everyone held crossbows, they dared not act rashly for fear of Hu Xiaotian's light sword.

The falcon eyed the surroundings warily; Hu Xiaotian quickly moved to its side, embraced Xi Yan, and leapt onto its back, shouting loudly: "Everyone, we may never meet again!" The falcon flapped its wings and rose high.

Everyone looked up and saw the falcon carrying Hu Xiaotian and Xi Yan instantly soar to over ten zhang in height; Hu Xiaotian laughed and tossed something down from the air.

Seeing him throw something down, everyone thought he had activated the light sword; Hong Beimo roared: "Get out of the way!" After they scattered and fell to the ground, they waited a moment but saw no reaction. Hearing Hu Xiaotian's mocking laughter fade away, they got up; Mu Rongzhan cautiously approached the center, picked up the object Hu Xiaotian had dropped from the ground, unfolded it—it was a secret edict, which he hurriedly delivered to Qiqi.

Qiqi unfolded the secret edict; by firelight she saw it was indeed the succession edict personally written by Long Xuan'en. Gazing at it, Qiqi stood stunned: Was Hu Xiaotian repaying hatred with virtue? With this edict she could lawfully ascend the throne; yet she also thought Hu Xiaotian must have realized the tide cannot be opposed—whether or not he had this edict, nothing could stop her from taking the throne; better to give her a favor as a matter of course. But she treated him so well, he could easily destroy this edict and let it never see the light of day.

Qiqi lifted her head; the falcon's shadow had vanished from the night sky; it must have flown off with the demoness, wings side by side. Thinking of this, she felt as if her heart were being torn apart by a knife.

Quan De'an approached Qiqi with concern: "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Qiqi shook her head and handed the secret edict to Quan De'an; after reading it he was naturally overjoyed. Although Qiqi had found a good excuse to remove the old emperor, in taking the throne she still lacked a legitimate reason; the appearance of this edict undoubtedly solved that problem.

Hong Beimo came before Qiqi, bowed and apologized: "It's all my negligence that allowed that villain Hu Xiaotian an opening; please punish me, Your Highness."

Qiqi glanced at him lightly and said softly: "You already knew there was something hidden in that sword, didn't you?"

Hong Beimo said: "I never imagined a light sword would end up in his hands."

Qiqi sighed: "Perhaps heaven arranged it; his fate is not to die." She turned her beautiful eyes toward Ren Tianqing: "Sir Ren, have you carried out my orders?"

Ren Tianqing smiled: "Your Highness, rest assured, everything has been arranged."

Qiqi nodded, hands behind her back, she lifted her gaze to the night sky where Hu Xiaotian's trace had long disappeared; after a long while she sighed: "Commander Mu Rong, issue the order: release Hu Xiaotian's followers."

Mu Rongzhan thought he had misheard: "What?"

Qiqi said: "He has escaped; what point is there in killing his men? Release them!" After saying that, she walked slowly toward the Cloud Temple; after a few steps she said: "Mr. Hong, come with me."

Hong Beimo followed her into the Cloud Temple, raised a lantern to light her way; Qiqi entered silently, gazed at the portraits hanging on the temple walls; when she saw the empty spot on the wall, she pointed and said: "There should be a portrait here."

Hong Beimo said: "It is the crown prince's consort's."

Qiqi nodded, stared at the blank wall in a daze, seemingly pondering; after a while she said: "If I hadn't recalled the contents of the Pill Cauldron chapter, would you have betrayed me?"

Upon hearing this, Hong Beimo suddenly knelt, respectfully: "Your Highness is the mandate of heaven; I am loyal to you with all my heart, harboring no trace of betrayal; if I utter even half a lie, may thunder strike me down."

Qiqi shook her head: "Even if you harbored thoughts of betraying me, I would not blame you; these years you have toiled hard, it's truly not easy; whatever you have in mind, I understand."

Hong Beimo said: "I dare not conceal anything from Your Highness."

Qiqi said: "You had better not entertain thoughts of concealment; without me, you will never achieve your aspirations."

At this moment Hong Beimo's forehead was beaded with sweat.

Qiqi asked: "Just what is Hu Xiaotian's origin? Is he of the same kind as us?"

Hong Beimo whispered: "I too have been doubting his background, but so far there is no solid evidence linking him to us."

Qiqi said: "For now we need not worry about him; in the north he does us no harm."

Hong Beimo said: "Please forgive my frankness, Hu Xiaotian's existence remains a constant threat to Your Highness."

Qiqi smiled faintly: "His days will not be easy; of those who escaped alive back then there were four, and one went missing; I spared him precisely for that reason."

Hong Beimo said: "Are you intending to follow his trail to find that missing person from years ago?" He sighed inwardly; indeed Qiqi is heaven's chosen, the memories she inherited from Ling Jiazi are gradually returning, some of which even I do not know.

Qiqi nodded: "Some things you cannot see." A faint orchid-like glow shimmered in her beautiful eyes.

The falcon carried Hu Xiaotian and Xi Yan into the night sky; two Snow Eagles flew left and right to flank it and join; Xia Zhangming stood aloft on the Snow Eagle's back, delighted: "My lord, I knew a virtuous person would enjoy heavenly favor."

Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly, glanced at Xi Yan in his arms; she had closed her beautiful eyes, apparently asleep; he said to Xia Zhangming: "Has something happened at Fengyi Shan Zhuang?"

Xia Zhangming replied: "All the brothers have been captured."

"How did you know I was at Ethereal Peak?"

Xia Zhangming said: "After things went wrong here, Liang Yinghao left the palace to contact me; it was he who entered the palace, sent a signal, and thus I learned you were on Ethereal Peak."

Hu Xiaotian slowly nodded.

The falcon and Snow Eagles flew out of Kangdu, landing in a mountain hollow a hundred li north of the city, where they had previously rested.

Hu Xiaotian jumped down from the falcon with Xi Yan in his arms; Xi Yan opened her beautiful eyes, blinked, and said: "We've escaped?" Her pretty face showed no fear.

Hu Xiaotian gave a slight smile and nodded.

Please vote for the guaranteed monthly ticket! (To be continued~^~)