Chapter 1407

Hu Xiaotian would not sneak away without a word even if he faced a huge emergency; moreover, he has been missing for so long that not a single word has been heard. After several people discussed, they decided to send Zhao Wusheng to Yuqing Treasure Manor to seek help from Hu Xiaotian's cousin Xu Mubai. Zhan Peng then went to contact Prince Fu Yang Longyue, asking him to think of a solution. After all, Hu Xiaotian openly feuded with the Beggars' Sect over the Tong Tie Jin matter; open spears are easy to dodge, hidden arrows hard to guard against. After all, the Beggars' Sect's headquarters is in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, so we cannot rule out the possibility that they might strike in secret.

Hu Xiaotian's disappearance naturally reached the ears of Hu Buwei, who is one of the few informed people; it was he who put forward the conditions and provided the clues, after which Hu Xiaotian went to the Clear Mystic Temple. From Hu Xiaotian's disappearance we can infer that his mission this time has most likely failed; Su Yujin is indeed formidable.

Xu Mubai stood silently to the side; it was he who brought this news to Hu Buwei. Seeing Hu Buwei remain silent for a long time, he finally couldn't help but say: "Uncle, I have already sent people to look for him."

Hu Buwei said calmly: "You're looking? Where would you look?"

Xu Mubai was at a loss for words; in fact he did not have many clues and did not know where to start. He said cautiously: "Are we just going to sit idly by? I suspect this matter is likely related to the Beggars' Sect."

Hu Buwei gave him a cold glance and said: "It's best not to speak without evidence. Although Shangguan Tianhuo is not a good person, he still knows when to advance or retreat; at a time like this he would hardly move against him. The matter of Xiao Tian probably has some hidden machinations behind it. The Empress Dowager just struck his name from the register, and now this incident has occurred—there must be someone pulling strings behind the scenes. In that case, we should still follow proper procedure. As a member of the Xu family, it is only natural for you to take the lead, but try not to use the Xu family's influence. The main thing is to mobilize the imperial court."

Xu Mubai said: "Understood."

Hu Buwei said: "Spread some suspicious rumors. I heard that Su Yujin has recently gone into seclusion at the Clear Mystic Temple; she has always liked to oppose me, so we can also use this occasion to give her a warning."

Xu Mubai instantly understood Hu Buwei's meaning. He had previously doubted that, despite blood being thicker than water, Hu Buwei and Hu Xiaotian were related; perhaps Hu Buwei's abandonment of their mother and son was a helpless choice. But now it seems Hu Buwei is indeed ruthless and unfeeling, not recognizing his own kin. The disappearance of Hu Xiaotian has not moved him in the slightest; what he thinks of is actually using this incident to create trouble.

Hu Xiaotian's disappearance has already lasted two days and two nights, and this news is spreading wildly throughout Piaoxiang City. Many people do not think it is merely a coincidence, and many have linked his disappearance to earlier incidents such as the assassination of the prince of Shajia Kingdom. They suspect someone wants to sabotage the prince-consort selection, but this reasoning is somewhat unfounded, since Hu Xiaotian had already been eliminated before his disappearance and did not make it into the final shortlist of one hundred candidates.

Prince Fu Yang Longyue entered the palace to request an audience with Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao over this matter.

Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao listened to his account of the incident, and her expression became extremely grave. Hu Xiaotian's disappearance is no trivial matter; although several people had been killed before, none of their identities could compare to Hu Xiaotian's. If it were not for her deliberately striking his name from the candidate list, Hu Xiaotian's inclusion in this hundred-person shortlist would have been certain; in fact, even if he ultimately became the prince consort of the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, he would still be qualified.

Yang Longyue said: "Mother Empress, Hu Xiaotian controls the three districts of Yongjiang, his troops are elite and his commanders fierce; he is a force not to be underestimated under heaven. If something were to happen to him in our Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, there would surely be trouble!"

Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao gave a cold snort, feigning calm as she said: "He's just a rebel from Dakang; what can his followers do to me? Rise up in arms and attack us? With Dakang in between, they'd have to get past that first before they could even think of fighting us. I see, if Hu Xiaotian meets with misfortune, his followers will likely scatter like monkeys when the tree falls, and the territory they painstakingly seized will quickly be snatched up by others."

Yang Longyue felt a darkening in his heart; he had originally regarded Hu Xiaotian as a partner with whom he could cooperate and achieve mutual benefit, but he never expected that after coming to the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom Hu Xiaotian would suffer repeated setbacks—not only was his name crossed off the candidate list by the Empress Dowager, but now he has mysteriously disappeared. Is he deliberately creating a smokescreen, or did Yang Longyue misjudge him, overestimating his abilities? Yang Longyue also felt a sense of bewilderment. He said in a low voice: "Mother Empress, do not judge only by appearances; Hu Xiaotian and the Yongyang Princess once had a Marriage Pact."

Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao chuckled: "When was that? It was already dissolved!"

Yang Longyue said: "But I have heard that the Yongyang Princess still harbors Lingering Feelings for Hu Xiaotian; in fact, the Empress Dowager should have heard as well, otherwise she would not have removed his name from the hundred-person shortlist..."

Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao heard this and flew into a rage, slamming the table and standing up as she shouted: "Impudent! Are you accusing me of using public resources for private gain? The selection of the prince consort is fair and just, choosing the best; I have not altered the outcome because of my own preferences. If these words were to spread, others would think what kind of person I am!"

Yang Longyue said in alarm: "I spoke without thinking; I beg the Mother Empress's forgiveness. However, the matter of Hu Xiaotian's disappearance has now spread far and wide, and even the selected guests are feeling uneasy; many have begun to publicly blame us for not taking sufficient measures, failing even to guarantee their basic safety. I have also heard a rumor that Hu Xiaotian visited the Clear Mystic Temple before his disappearance."

Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao, somewhat impatient, waved her hand and said: "You don't need to worry about this; I will have the Phoenix Feather Guard investigate."

Yang Longyue felt extreme resentment toward Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao's arbitrary and domineering conduct, but he dared not show it openly; he nodded and took his leave.

After Yang Longyue left, Empress Dowager Long Xuanjiao ordered that the leader of the Phoenix Feather Guard, Rong Feiyan, be summoned and sent to the Clear Mystic Temple to find out whether Hu Xiaotian had been there.

Upon receiving the order, Rong Feiyan immediately went to the Clear Mystic Temple. She learned that her master had not yet emerged from seclusion; today is the fourth day of the ninth month, and in five days it will be the day the Moon-Reflecting Princess officially selects her prince consort. According to the prior agreement, her master should emerge from seclusion on the seventh day of the ninth month, which is three days away. Although her fellow disciples reported nothing unusual, Rong Feiyan still conducted a routine search of the Clear Mystic Temple, which left many of them puzzled, thinking her actions showed disrespect to the master; yet no one would know her anxious heart at this moment.

In fact, Rong Feiyan has been Murong Feiyan from beginning to end; her consciousness has never been lost for a moment. It is only because of some reason that prevents her from speaking that she has not recognized Hu Xiaotian. Upon hearing the news of Hu Xiaotian's disappearance, she immediately fell into disarray.

While the outside world was in an uproar over Hu Xiaotian's matter, Hu Xiaotian and Ji Feihua had already endured nearly three days and nights in the ice cave; the ice cave still showed no signs of melting. The breath-holding technique that Ji Feihua taught Hu Xiaotian, though profound, has already reached the limit of what they can endure while remaining conscious for three days and nights. To survive in this dark underground cavern for months or even longer, they would need to enter a state of suspended animation, but neither of them knows that technique.

Ji Feihua slowly opened her eyes, seeing Hu Xiaotian also widen his gaze and stare at her silently; they both smiled at the same time, without speaking, yet they understood that the time left for them was short.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I never imagined that we would ultimately be unable to escape the fate of being trapped to death."

Ji Feihua whispered: "At least I have you, so it's not lonely!" They began to consume the little air left in the cavern; since their fate is already sealed, what difference does an earlier or later moment make? Rather than silently fading away, they might as well speak a few more words while they are still clear-headed.

"Older Brother Ji, there is something I have never told you the truth about: I am not actually a person of this world."

Ji Feihua gave a faint smile: "I know!"

Hu Xiaotian wondered inwardly, I haven't even told you—how could you know?

Ji Feihua said: "My grandfather is a descendant of the survivors of that ancient Heaven-Human War; I carry his blood in my veins, and Hu Buwei should also be a descendant of those survivors. In a sense, we are still fellow villagers."

Hu Xiaotian knew Ji Feihua still misunderstood his meaning; he shook his head and said: "You don't know where your ancestors came from, but I know where I come from."

Ji Feihua blinked her eyes; she also felt a strong curiosity about where her ancestors truly came from, and if she could learn her homeland before death, that would fulfill one of her wishes.

Hu Xiaotian said: "The world I live in is called Earth; in my previous life I was a surgeon, somewhat well-known in the field and having achieved some success in my career, but I devoted myself entirely to work, knowing nothing of life, and in the end I worked myself to death on the operating table."

Ji Feihua listened to Hu Xiaotian's account with some surprise, feeling that his experience was rather extraordinary.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I originally thought I was dead, but in a daze I woke up again; only after waking did I realize I had come to a world where ancient people walk everywhere. I somehow became the son of the Minister of Revenue, and I originally wanted to live comfortably as a rich second-generation heir, squandering this life in a carefree manner, taking several wives and fathering several children, but later I discovered that this world is no easier than the one I came from."

Ji Feihua laughed, and truly her smile could overturn a city.

Hu Xiaotian gazed foolishly at her pretty face, murmuring: "You are truly beautiful!"

Ji Feihua glared at him and said: "Your boldness keeps growing; if this were the past, I might have chopped off your head."

Hu Xiaotian, knowing his death was near, spoke without restraint and laughed: "Before I die, let me say a few frank words; Older Brother Ji, you won't be angry with me, will you?"

Ji Feihua shook her head and said: "What is there to be angry about? A hundred years of cultivation lets us share a boat; a thousand years lets us share a pillow. That we brothers can rest in the same grave is already a blessing from a thousand years of cultivation. If there is a next life…" He trailed off here, and after a long while he continued: "If there is a next life, I will be reborn as a daughter; perhaps I would consider marrying you." For the haughty, heaven-defying Ji Feihua to say such words—only in this moment could it happen.

Hu Xiaotian also never imagined that, on the brink of death, he would be exchanging sweet words with a eunuch, and that his heart would feel a little stirred, without even a trace of disgust—could it be that in this environment even his sexual orientation has changed? (To be continued~^~)