Chapter 1414

Ji Feihua didn't want to discuss this issue further, she said calmly: "So you don't need to worry at all; just hand it over to Hu Buwei, that way Hu Buwei can help you become a prince consort, and you just happen to toss this hot potato to him; if Su Yujin knows the Skull has fallen into Hu Buwei's hands, she will naturally turn her target onto Hu Buwei."

Hu Xiaotian said: "But if we hand the thing over to Hu Buwei, it might not be easy to get it back later."

Ji Feihua said: "Just give it to him; when we need to take it back, it will be much easier than now."

Hu Xiaotian looked at Ji Feihua with some surprise, not knowing why she had such confidence; could it be that she and this Skull have already established some unknown connection, so that whenever she wants to retrieve the Skull, she can find where it is?

Ji Feihua raised her head to look at the sky and said: "It's almost dawn; we should go." She handed that light sword to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You hold it first; keeping it is useless for me."

Ji Feihua said: "All right, I'll temporarily keep it for you for a few days, and meanwhile study its mysteries."

Hu Xiaotian nodded repeatedly; if it were someone else he might suspect, but he had not the slightest suspicion toward Ji Feihua. He reminded Ji Feihua never to twist the light sword to the last setting; actually he had said before, worrying that Ji Feihua would forget. How strange, he slung the satchel containing the Blue Skull onto his back: "How can I contact you?"

"When it's time to meet, I will naturally contact you!" Ji Feihua said, then turned and left; she always acts swiftly and decisively, never dragging her feet.

Hu Xiaotian's return was as sudden as a disappearance; he went straight to the Jing Shan cottage. Hu Buwei, hearing he had come, hurriedly had someone invite him inside. After dismissing everyone, Hu Xiaotian placed the satchel on Hu Buwei's desk.

Hu Buwei, seeing the satchel's shape, could not restrain his inner excitement. As he reached out to grab the satchel, Hu Xiaotian pressed it down again, quietly looking at Hu Buwei and said: "Don't forget the condition you promised me!"

Hu Buwei said: "Rest assured, as long as this Skull is genuine, I will certainly not go back on my word."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian move his hand away from the Skull.

Hu Buwei took a deep breath; usually calm, he now couldn't help feeling a little nervous. As the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment; he didn't want his wish to be dashed again, recalling the previous scene in the palace.

Seeing his nervous expression, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help laughing: "Don't worry, this Skull is one I snatched from Su Yujin's head; it should be correct."

Hu Buwei suppressed his inner excitement, slowly opened the satchel, and carefully examined the blue-transparent Skull. His gaze involuntarily turned fervent; after much effort he controlled his emotions, rewrapped the Skull, and the corners of his mouth curled into a relieved smile: "Xiaotian, you really haven't let me down."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I really can't figure out what this thing is used for. You all treat it like a treasure, scheming and fighting over it—nothing more than fighting over a crystal-carved Skull." Hu Xiaotian of course knew the Skull was genuine, not a crystal carving; he said that only to confuse Hu Buwei.

Hu Buwei indeed fell for it. He inwardly laughed, "You brat, this time you misjudged—such a treasure. You actually don't recognize its worth," Hu Buwei said: "For most people it might be useless, but for me it still has some use." He lowered his voice: "How did you disappear for so many days?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "Hard to put into words; that Su Yujin is no ordinary person. To obtain this Skull I practically put life and death aside, endured countless hardships, nine deaths and one life before I managed to get this done for you." He wasn't exaggerating at all.

Hu Buwei originally wanted to get more information from him, but this kid is slippery; trying to get more info from him seems hard. Hu Buwei said: "I know you've worked hard. By the way, the prince consort matter I'll settle for you right away; at the latest tomorrow your name will appear on the candidate list."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Isn't it just directly letting me become the prince consort?"

Hu Buwei smiled faintly: "Although it's said to be a candidacy, Princess Yingyue will certainly choose you from among these hundred; why worry about haste? Moreover, the Tianxiang Kingdom may need to give the world an explanation; otherwise so many nobles coming from afar would end up with no chance of selection, and they wouldn't just give up. Are you lacking confidence in me, or in yourself?"

Hu Xiaotian knew Hu Buwei's words made sense; he nodded and said: "A few days won't matter, but could you arrange for me to meet the princess first?" Bargaining has always been his forte.

Hu Buwei said: "This is beyond my ability; these two days the Empress Dowager has strictly guarded the Green Shadow Pavilion, ordering no one to approach. Moreover, meeting at this sensitive time would be pointless. Xiaotian, you needn't rush; I have another important piece of news for you: there's news about your maternal grandfather!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian felt a surge of joy; it seemed Hu Buwei was going to give him some interest, but then he thought this person is never that kind; everything he does is carefully considered before deciding, and he won't do anything that brings him no benefit. He inwardly stayed alert, putting on an appearance of deep concern: "Where is the old man? Is he safe?"

Hu Buwei sighed: "According to what I've found, your maternal grandfather was indeed imprisoned by the Beggars' Sect's Shangguan Tianhuo; he is currently detained in the dungeon of the Xiejian Mountain Villa."

Hu Xiaotian angrily said: "That scoundrel actually dares to be so bold."

Hu Buwei said: "Shangguan Tianhuo's courage is indeed not small; your maternal grandfather, although not the Beggars' Sect leader, has always served as its chief transmission elder. Shangguan Tianhuo deceived the previous sect leader's eyes, and the successor leader controls the sect, but your grandfather does not like him. However, Shangguan Tianhuo is extremely scheming; his son Shangguan Yuncong left his side from childhood, hid his name and followed one of the transmission elders, growing up while enduring humiliation, eventually approaching your grandfather. This Shangguan Yuncong is also a rare talent; he is versatile, gained the trust of four transmission elders, learned astonishing martial arts, and later set a scheme to gather the inner power of the three transmission elders into one body; his martial prowess and scheming are truly rare in the present age."

Hu Xiaotian said: "So it seems he is also involved in harming my maternal grandfather."

Hu Buwei nodded: "Not bad!"

Hu Xiaotian half-believed, half-doubted his words; one thing he could be certain of: Hu Buwei and the Beggars' Sect are surely on bad terms, otherwise he wouldn't tell me these things, stirring up my hatred toward the sect; his motives are absolutely not simple.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since you know so much, why don't you go rescue my maternal grandfather?"

Hu Buwei shook his head: "His life or death is none of my business; I owe him no favor. If it weren't for your asking, I wouldn't bother with his affairs."

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed him as cold-hearted and unfeeling; if so, Xu Lingkong is probably not his biological father, for a real father wouldn't be so heartless. Then it occurred to him that Hu Buwei has always been unfeeling toward relatives; what wouldn't he do?

Hu Xiaotian said: "Give me the detailed address of where he's imprisoned, and I'll go rescue him."

Hu Buwei said: "Trying to rescue someone from the Xiejian Mountain Villa is basically impossible; however, I can teach you a method: Shangguan Yuncong is now in Piaoxiang City; if you just control him, using him to exchange for your maternal grandfather will naturally not be difficult."

Hu Xiaotian already understood Hu Buwei's true intention; regardless of whether Xu Lingkong is actually controlled by the Beggars' Sect, Hu Buwei's real aim is to stir up a dispute between me and the sect. Since I already have a grudge with the sect over Tong Tie Jin, if I then move against Shangguan Yuncong, it would be tantamount to openly declaring war on the Beggars' Sect, the world's largest gang; anyone having such an enemy will have a hard time.

Since Hu Buwei can do that, Hu Xiaotian likewise has a way to deal with him; you take the first, I'll take the fifteenth—you aren't without a handle in my hands, nor are you without weaknesses.

Leaving Hu Buwei's place and returning to Cuiyuan, I saw from afar a troop of soldiers encircling Cuiyuan; Hu Xiaotian was slightly startled, not knowing where this troop came from. Upon closer look, he realized they were the Fengying Guard's forces; today the team was led not by Murong Feiyan but by the Fengying Guard commander Ying Tianhong. Hu Xiaotian swaggered up to the gate and noticed the soldiers who had come with him hurriedly went to report.

From the Fengying Guard's ranks a gap opened; Ying Tianhong, clad in red outer armor, rode a rosy-cheeked horse slowly out of the formation, his eyes coldly fixed on Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Commander Ying, what's the meaning of this? I don't know what law of your state I've broken; why have you surrounded my residence?"

Ying Tianhong's lips curled with a faint cold smile: "Lord Hu, don't misunderstand; we are acting on the Emperor's orders to specially come investigate Lord Hu's disappearance; I didn't expect Lord Hu to return safe and sound."

Hu Xiaotian said: "A fortunate person has natural omens; I'm not missing, I just took some time to stroll around the vicinity."

Ying Tianhong said: "Lord Hu, you really have leisure and elegance!"

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed: "I just want to stay honestly in Piaoxiang City; unfortunately I have no fate to see the princess. Is it even forbidden to look at the scenery? Your Tianxiang Kingdom's control is really extensive!"

At that moment Zhao Wusheng and others, hearing that Hu Xiaotian had returned safely, each overjoyed went out to greet him at the gate; the Fengying Guard blocked the gate, not letting them out, and a clash seemed imminent. Hu Xiaotian spoke up to stop them, told his men to stay calm, then said to Ying Tianhong: "Commander Ying, what exactly do you mean?"

Ying Tianhong clasped his hands: "Lord Hu, don't misunderstand; the Empress Dowager has ordered that if the lord returns, you should immediately enter the palace to meet." She used the honorific "nin", fully showing respect for Hu Xiaotian.

Zhao Wusheng shouted loudly: "My lord, why bother with them! The Tianxiang Kingdom doesn't understand the two words 'etiquette' at all; treating my lord so rudely, better to leave this place!"

Request for Monthly Ticket (to be continued~^~)