Chapter 1374: [Limbs Reattached] (Lower)

Hu Xiaotian said: "He wouldn't come without a reason; this bastard doesn't know what matter he has again."

Zhao Wusheng said: "Should we invite him up?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "Staying on the ship this long is boring; let's go downstairs for a walk!"

Thus Zhao Wusheng followed him down the gangway together.

Xu Fengwu saw Hu Xiaotian come down from the ship, his face instantly broke into a smile, completely different from his gloomy, cruel look yesterday. Hu Xiaotian, however, showed him no pleasant expression at all; however, Zhao Wusheng's remark yesterday reminded him, and he began to suspect that the Money-sinking den and the Jinling Xu Family were related.

Xu Fengwu chuckled and said: "Really sorry to disturb Hu Caidong's rest so early in the morning."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Knowing it's rude, why bother?"

Xu Fengwu hit a snag, the smile on his face turned a bit awkward, yet his laughter grew sharper and more grating: "Heh, it's like this; yesterday I had no intention of disrespecting Hu Caidong, it's just that my subordinates are clueless, they made me lose my head, so I sent them to teach him a lesson. After Hu Caidong left, I thought it over; this matter was originally my fault. I brought the bank notes: fifty thousand taels is what you deserve, and ten thousand taels as my modest compensation."

Hu Xiaotian bluntly took the bank notes; something sent to the door shouldn't be refused—damn it, I don't care what your motive is.

Xu Fengwu saw Hu Xiaotian accept the bank notes, his face broke into a smile, and said: "Please trouble Hu Caidong to hand over Xiao Rou for me to take back; that girl is after all a member of our Money-sinking den."

Hu Xiaotian narrowed his eyes, looking contemptuously at Xu Fengwu: "What do you mean?"

Xu Fengwu said: "You didn't refuse the bank notes..."

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly: "You just said the bank notes were what I deserved, and the extra ten thousand taels were compensation for me; I've taken the sixty thousand taels. As for Xiao Rou, yesterday I spent fifty thousand taels to redeem her—clear accounts, clear debts. You wouldn't mix these two matters together, would you?"

"You..." Xu Fengwu's mistake was being overconfident, thinking he was the tyrant of this tiny plot of land on South Ford Island, that no one could touch him; unexpectedly, he was outmaneuvered, his face instantly turned cold, his smile vanished instantly. He said gloomily: "Young man, leave yourself a way out; hopefully we'll meet again someday!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "I never leave loose ends in what I do; you're no different." He took a step toward Xu Fengwu and said: "Don't think I dare not move you just because you're of the Jinling Xu Family!" Actually, Hu Xiaotian had no idea of the other's background; the purpose of this remark was to probe.

Xu Fengwu's face changed drastically: "Who exactly are you?" This statement amounted to admitting Hu Xiaotian's guess.

Hu Xiaotian fluke guessed correctly; he hehe coldly laughed: "You're not qualified to ask, not even you. Even if Old Lady Xu came in person, I wouldn't hand the person over to her. Sensible people, get out of my sight quickly; if you don't know what's good for you, I'll immediately tear down your Money-sinking den, leaving you no foothold on South Ford Island." Hu Xiaotian originally held the thought of enduring a moment's anger, but upon learning that the Money-sinking den was an asset of the Jinling Xu Family, he instantly flared up, recalling Old Lady Xu's coldness toward his family back then, and everything she did to Xu Fengyi, his hatred making his teeth itch.

Xu Fengwu was stunned. A strong dragon does not crush the local snake; he had never seen anyone dare to threaten him so recklessly, and moreover on South Ford Island, his own turf. He even said that even if Old Lady Xu came in person, he wouldn't give her face.

Zhao Wusheng also felt a bit stunned; wasn't it agreed last night that lack of forbearance leads to great schemes? How could he change his mind just like that? However, he unconditionally supports Hu Xiaotian; even if Hu Xiaotian changed, there would be reason. Whether Hu Xiaotian chooses to endure or to strike, as his subordinate he will firmly stand by his side.

A twitch crossed Xu Fengwu's lip muscle, then he let out a grating, strange laugh; he pointed his head at Hu Xiaotian and said: "You've got guts!" He glanced at the large ship docked behind Hu Xiaotian: "If you don't leave the person behind, don't even think of leaving South Ford Island!" Before his words faded, his face changed abruptly.

Hu Xiaotian had already struck out, a fist aimed at Xu Fengwu.

Hu Xiaotian struck out suddenly with no warning; Xu Fengwu also didn't expect him to say he'd hit and then hit. He only felt an invisible force deep as mountains, the fist wind like a towering wave sweeping over him; the powerful inner force made Xu Fengwu change color, he dared not meet it head-on, tapping the ground with his toes, his body lightly flew backward. Hu Xiaotian saw clearly: this person's footwork shared the same marvel as his own Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps, but this punch of his was the God-Demon World-Destroying Fist; the exquisite footwork and overbearing fist technique both came from his maternal grandfather Xu Lingkong.

Hu Xiaotian had no intention of concealing it; as Xu Fengwu shifted his footwork, Hu Xiaotian also closed in, sticking close like a shadow.

Xu Fengwu originally intended to use his exquisite footwork to dodge Hu Xiaotian's attack and then counterattack, but the opponent actually understood the same footwork as his, and it appeared even more exquisite; like a tremendous pressure of Mount Tai pressing down, it constantly enveloped him, no matter how he hid he could not escape Hu Xiaotian's attack range; although this punch had not yet landed on Xu Fengwu's body, the unprecedented pressure already terrified him to the point of panic, his nerves all taut; only now did he understand why the other would say such big words, and what frightened him even more was that the opponent's martial arts seemed to share the same origin as his.

Zhao Wusheng also noticed some clues; the footwork of Hu Xiaotian and Xu Fengwu likely came from the same master, though Hu Xiaotian's seemed more exquisite and complex; certainly one of them had not received the true transmission.

Zhao Wusheng did not forget to stay on guard against the two women who had come with Xu Fengwu.

Just then, a voice suddenly came from afar: "Stop, everyone stop!"

Hu Xiaotian saw in the distance a person whipping his horse and galloping toward them; the man wore white like snow, exactly the Xu nobleman he had met before. Hu Xiaotian curled the corner of his mouth in a faint smile, threw a straight punch at Xu Fengwu's face; Xu Fengwu, chased by him to the point of having no retreat, could only grit his teeth and meet it with a punch of his own.

Hu Xiaotian was not a reckless person; although he had no fondness for the Jinling Xu Family, he also knew that the man was probably eight or nine out of ten a Xu clansman, so he still pulled his punch a bit.

Although Xu Fengwu's character was not great, his martial arts were not lacking; after exchanging this punch with Hu Xiaotian, he was shaken until his qi and blood boiled, he retreated several steps consecutively, yet somehow managed to steady his footing; even so, his face turned ashen from fright.

Hu Xiaotian unleashed the God-Demon World-Destroying Fist and the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps; one purpose was to draw out the person behind Xu Fengwu. Although Xu Fengwu's martial arts were not weak, this person's vision and breadth had serious problems; Hu Xiaotian relied on his own intuition to judge that Xu Fengwu should not be considered an important figure of the Jinling Xu Family; this morning he came to the door demanding a person, perhaps not his own intention, and behind him someone likely pulled the strings. Indeed, as Hu Xiaotian expected, the moment he struck, the white-clad nobleman appeared; this Xu Mubai had probably been observing the situation from afar early on, and seeing things turn unfavorable, he showed up.

Xu Fengwu was shaken by Hu Xiaotian's punch to the point of chest pain, almost spitting out a mouthful of old blood; looking at Hu Xiaotian, he was both shocked and afraid—shocked that the opponent's footwork actually shared the same origin as his, fearful that such a young person could possess such formidable skill; if Xu Mubai had appeared a moment later, he might truly have fallen into his hands.

Xu Mubai sat upon a white horse, truly a man like a jade tree, a horse like a flood dragon, and like a silver flash of lightning he instantly arrived before the two, dismounted, clasped his fists and bowed: "Hu Caidong, please show mercy; for any offense, I will make amends on your behalf!" After saying that, he bowed deeply to Hu Xiaotian.

Xu Fengwu stood there dazed, not knowing what to say; in fact, he just wanted to say that he couldn't say anything right now.

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought, all these people before him were Xu family members; this graceful young man in white, though young, likely held a higher status in the Xu family than Xu Fengwu; having just displayed his two martial arts, they probably already noticed, and if they were inclined they might guess his origin. This place is not within Dakang's borders, so Hu Xiaotian naturally had no fear of revealing his identity. He smiled at the white-clad gentleman and said: "Sir, we have no grudge between us; this matter originally was just a private affair between me and him, and has nothing to do with you."

Xu Mubai said: "He is my paternal uncle, his nature has always been violent; please forgive any offense, Hu Caidong."

Hu Xiaotian smiled narrowly at Xu Mubai, unable to deny that Xu Mubai was handsome enough, graceful, like a jade tree in the wind, plus his spotless white robe, which could easily win favor; too bad he's an Xu. Hu Xiaotian said indifferently: "We're just passing acquaintances; I don't have to give Master Xu this face."

Xu Mubai said: "Even if Hu Caidong doesn't give me face, he should give the Jinling Xu Family some face." He lifted his head, his clear bright eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian, and said with deep meaning: "The Heavenly Net Mysterious Steps are the Xu family's exclusive footwork; even the Xu family's direct line masters at most seventeen steps, but Hu Caidong has integrated and mastered all the steps; I think I've already guessed your identity."

Hu Xiaotian slowly shook his head and said: "What I use is certainly not the Heavenly Net Mysterious Steps; this is the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps!" He also only just learned the full name of the footwork today; to say that his maternal grandfather Xu Lingkong treated him well is no exaggeration—even the Xu family members hadn't learned the full set of steps, yet he passed them all to him; don't underestimate this step, it is precisely this step that can fully connect the eighteen steps, integrating them seamlessly. If Xu Fengwu were to completely master the footwork, Hu Xiaotian might not necessarily be able to hit him in a short while.

Xu Fengwu listened on the side, his face alternating red and white; he was no fool, even if he couldn't tell from the footwork, he now understood the conversation between Xu Mubai and Hu Caidong: this Hu Caidong must have close ties with the Jinling Xu Family; with a little thought one could guess who he was—the Jinling Xu Family has only one Hu-surname relative, and among the younger generation of the Hu family, only one stands out as exceptional. This person is undoubtedly Hu Xiaotian; Xu Fengwu, though also an Xu and of the same generation as Xu Fengyi, is not born of Old Lady Xu, merely a member of the Xu clan, and his standing in the family is far inferior to that of Xu Mubai, the Xu family's lineal heir.

First Update delivered (to be continued~^~)