Chapter 1460

Xia Zhangming and Qiao Fangzheng set off together for Red Wood River; with Xia Zhangming's skill in commanding birds and Qiao Fangzheng's martial arts, the two should be safe along the way. Ji Feihua did not come as promised, but her martial arts are superb and her wisdom extraordinary; even if she encounters danger, she can resolve it with her abilities. Compared to that, what worries Hu Xiaotian most is actually Long Xi Yue's side, for although he sent Zhan Peng and Liang Yinghao to lead twenty warriors as an escort, Liang Yinghao excels at various fortifications and tunnels, while Zhan Peng's strength lies in long-range attack, his archery first-rate, yet neither is adept at close combat; those twenty escort warriors, though brave and fierce, when facing true top-tier masters, can only be slaughtered.

Recalling the setbacks Long Xi Yue had previously suffered, Hu Xiaotian felt anxious beyond measure; he could not let her encounter danger again no matter what. If he repeatedly let his woman face peril, he could not even guarantee her safety—what face would he have to live in this world?

Although Long Xi Yue's party had set out a day earlier, given their travel speed they should not have gone too far; at most that day's journey would have covered two hundred li. If I rush over now, I should be able to catch up with them before dawn.

His mount was killed, yet he had not detected the enemy's movements, showing how superb the opponent's concealment skill is; perhaps they had been lurking in the dark, watching him. Hu Xiaotian dared not linger; he left Happy Forest and hurried westward, determined to catch up with the party ahead in the shortest time possible, even if it meant going without sleep or rest.

As night fell, heavy rain fell again; the escort convoy for Long Xi Yue arrived at Lianyun Mountain. Since the rain grew heavier, Zhan Peng sought Long Xi Yue's instructions and then decided to take temporary shelter for the night in a ruined temple at the mountain's base.

Liang Yinghao had already gone ahead to inspect the ruined temple inside and out. Finding nothing amiss, he returned to report to Long Xi Yue.

Everyone drove their carriages and horses into the ruined temple; Liang Yinghao selected a relatively intact meditation chamber and asked Long Xi Yue and Xiao Rou to enter and rest. He then had people search the temple for old furniture to split for firewood, but they discovered that plenty of split firewood still remained in the main hall. It must have been that someone had come here before, chopping up many offering-table carvings for firewood.

Liang Yinghao had a bonfire lit.

Zhan Peng then deployed his twenty subordinates; Hu Xiaotian entrusted Long Xi Yue's safety to them, allowing no mishap whatsoever.

After all arrangements were made, Liang Yinghao and Zhan Peng lit a bonfire in the corridor outside the meditation chamber where Long Xi Yue stayed, preparing to keep watch all night. Before Hu Xiaotian arrived to join them, they would not leave her side, guarding the princess.

The rain outside showed no sign of stopping; instead it poured harder. The four warriors tasked with patrolling outside, wearing rain cloaks, made a circuit around the temple and then returned to report to the two. The surrounding area temporarily showed no abnormality.

Zhan Peng nodded, lowering his voice: 'Don't be careless; I estimate that at the latest, our lord will be able to catch up with us by tomorrow night.'

Liang Yinghao skewered a flatbread on a stick, roasted it over the fire until the outside was charred and the inside tender, then took it off, broke off half and threw it to Zhan Peng, and took a big bite of the other half, saying: 'I just looked around—this ruined temple is surrounded by flat wasteland. There is nowhere suitable for concealment.'

Zhan Peng said: 'The heavy rain itself is the best cover; I only hope we can get through tonight safely.'

Liang Yinghao knew Zhan Peng was conscientious in everything, and he said softly: 'Brother Zhan, we'll split the night—you take the first half, I'll take the second; go rest first.'

Zhan Peng shook his head: 'I can hold out; our lord has entrusted us with such an important task—we must absolutely not allow any mishap.'

At that moment the door moved slightly, and Xiao Rou came out, bringing a can of tea leaves as Long Xi Yue had instructed, to refresh them.

They thanked her, and Xiao Rou said: 'Your Highness has asked me to tell the two generals that if Lord Hu arrives, no matter the time, they must inform her immediately.'

Zhan Peng and Liang Yinghao exchanged a glance, knowing Long Xi Yue worried about Hu Xiaotian's journey; this Princess Anping and Hu Xiaotian are truly a devoted couple. In their view, Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue are indeed an ideal match—not only because Long Xi Yue is beautiful and wise, gentle and lovable, but also because of her princess status; given Hu Xiaotian's standing, only Princess Anping is worthy of him. Although Hu Xiaotian already has Huo Shengnan and Weisa beside him—one a Da Yong general, the other a foreign woman—by the principle of matching families, they seem less suitable. As for Yongyang Princess Qiqi, though her rank and status are fitting, her heart is too vicious, so in most people's eyes, the Princess of Tianxiang State before them remains Hu Xiaotian's best companion.

Liang Yinghao laughed: 'Miss Zeng, rest assured—once Sir Hu returns, we will let him go find the Princess. However, according to our estimate, our lord cannot catch up with us before tomorrow night at the earliest, so please, Your Highness, do not worry; just rest in peace.'

Xiao Rou returned to the meditation chamber, and Long Xi Yue asked: 'What did the two generals say?'

Xiao Rou said: 'The two generals said that Lord Hu will at the earliest be able to catch up with us only tomorrow night, so you need not worry, Princess.'

Long Xi Yue nodded: 'They've worked hard; out there the wind and rain are so fierce, yet they must keep watch all night. Did you remind them to rest and not overexert themselves?' She is kind-hearted; even now she does not forget to care for her subordinates.

Xiao Rou said: 'Your Highness, I truly don't understand why we have to separate from Lord Hu, nor why we are in such a hurry to rush on.'

Long Xi Yue said: 'I'm not entirely clear either; I just do as he instructs.' Although she knows the reason, she has not revealed the inner details to Xiao Rou, even though their feelings grow day by day; some things cannot be lightly disclosed.

Xiao Rou said: 'Lord Hu being able to marry the Princess is truly his good fortune.'

Long Xi Yue shook her head: 'No, it's my good fortune; without him, I would probably have died long ago.' She couldn't help recalling that year, when her father, to obtain a brief peace with Da Yong, sacrificed his own happiness and married her off to Da Yong's Seventh Prince Xue Daoming in a marriage alliance for temporary peace, while Wen Boyuan had plotted to kill her en route; had it not been for Hu Xiaotian's meticulous protection all along, she would likely have perished midway. Though she and Hu Xiaotian have been apart for so long, their feelings have not lessened in the slightest—in fact they have grown deeper; perhaps this is what the world calls true love. Thinking of this, a warm sweetness welled up in Long Xi Yue's heart, as if the chill brought by the wind and rain had instantly vanished.

At that moment, amid the wind and rain, faint neighing of horses could be heard, clearly coming from outside. Long Xi Yue and Xiao Rou exchanged a glance, their eyes tightening—who would come at such a time? Could someone indeed intend them harm?

A warrior on duty at the main gate hurriedly came to Zhan Peng and Liang Yinghao, cupped his fists and reported: 'Generals, a troop is approaching from that direction.'

Zhan Peng sprang to his feet: 'I'll go take a look!'

Liang Yinghao said: 'Wake all the brothers and prepare to meet the enemy.'

Before Zhan Peng reached the gate, he heard a series of bangs on the door, and from outside came a rough shout: 'Open the door! Open the door!'

Peering through the crack in the door, Zhan Peng saw outside a convoy of about thirty people; the one knocking was a burly man. He shouted loudly: 'Who goes there?'

The voice outside replied: 'We are merely traveling merchants passing through Baodi; caught in the heavy rain, we humbly ask for lodging for the night, intending no disturbance.'

Zhan Peng frowned, yet he heard another voice outside call out: 'Brother Zhu Three, why waste words with them? When we arrived, this temple was empty—just a deserted ruin, not theirs—let's just kick the door in and go inside.'

The man called Zhu Three said: 'Brothers inside, we previously lodged in this ruined temple; the firewood there is what we left last time. All under heaven are brothers; this temple is so big you couldn't possibly monopolize it entirely—couldn't you make things convenient?'

Zhan Peng detected that they all spoke with a Xichuan accent; the man called Zhu Three actually looked somewhat familiar. After a moment's thought, he realized this man seemed to be a subordinate of Li Honghan of Xichuan, and he mused that the party might indeed be from Xichuan, possibly with Li Honghan himself among them. Since this place is a necessary passage on the return to Xichuan, if he insisted on refusing them entry, he might provoke them, and they might force their way in. Zhan Peng said: 'Friends outside, hear us—we will give you the front courtyard; let us each take shelter from the rain without interfering with each other, how about that?'

The man surnamed Zhu outside burst into loud laughter: 'This brother is also straightforward—rest assured, we will certainly not enter your quarters. When out and about, a bit of vigilance is unavoidable; frankly, we don't want to get too close to you either—we only ask for a corner to stay in, and we would already be deeply grateful.'

Zhan Peng had the gate opened, then led his men back to the rear courtyard to take up a defensive position.

Outside, more than thirty people entered one after another; amid the crowd, Li Honghan indeed walked in. These people had just encountered this rainstorm, each soaked to the skin, looking quite disheveled; beside him followed the Xichuan chief strategist Zhang Ziqian. They had come to Tianxiang State this time mainly to seek an alliance through marriage, but in the end it came to nothing—like trying to draw water with a bamboo basket. They ought to have left several days earlier, but because Zhang Ziqian was occupied with affairs in Tianxiang State, they had waited for him, and only today did they arrive here.

Zhan Peng summoned his men to retreat to the rear courtyard, yielding the front courtyard to them.

Li Honghan and his party arrived at the front hall; that surnamed Zhu man just mentioned was his capable subordinate Zhu Jingyao, the leader of the Xichuan Four Heroes, greatly trusted by Li Tianheng.

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