Chapter 1478

Hu Xiaotian looked by the lamplight, and to his surprise, the young woman was Yan Nujiao. He didn't know why she had come here, and since there were outsiders present, he naturally couldn't go over and immediately recognize her.

But he heard Yan Nujiao say something to one of the white-clad women; he couldn't understand a word of their conversation. He quietly followed behind them and saw the two lead Yan Nujiao into one of the rooms.

After the two white-clad women walked away, Hu Xiaotian tiptoed to the door of the room where Yan Nujiao was and lightly knocked.

Yan Nujiao thought those two had returned, got up and opened the door; before she could see who was outside, Hu Xiaotian clapped a hand over her mouth and raised his index finger to his lips in a hushing gesture.

Yan Nujiao was startled by the sudden intruder and was about to retaliate when she realized the unexpected visitor was actually Hu Xiaotian; she could hardly believe her eyes. Before Hu Xiaotian could close the door, she had already bolted it herself, took his hand, and led him into the inner room, exclaiming delightedly, "You… you how did you come?" Since parting in Bohai State, it had been a long time since they last saw each other; her longing for Hu Xiaotian could truly be described as bone-deep.

Hu Xiaotian didn't say much more; he cupped her pretty face, lowered his head, and kissed her lips. Yan Nujiao only gave a token struggle before tightly embracing him, actively responding, and they kissed for a long while before parting.

Yan Nujiao's pretty face was flawlessly radiant, flushed and hot, pressed against Hu Xiaotian's chest as she whispered, "How did you know I was here?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Fate brings us together from a thousand miles away."

Yan Nujiao blushed and spat, "You're definitely not here just to see me, are you? Tell me, what scheme are you hatching?"

Hu Xiaotian took her hand and briefly told her why he had come to Red Wood Creek and why he had come to the temple.

After listening, Yan Nujiao finally realized they had merely bumped into each other; she pouted her cherry lips and said, "I haven't even congratulated you yet—you're already the prince consort of Tianxiang State."

Hu Xiaotian lightly flicked her nose and laughed, "Full of vinegar, I originally planned to look for you when passing Mount Tianlang, but I never expected to run into you here."

Yan Nujiao said, "What do you want from me? You're already a married man—why are you still looking for me?"

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but laugh, "When I went to Xizhou, I was already betrothed to the Yongyang Princess, yet you still willingly gave yourself to me…" Yan Nujiao clapped a hand over his mouth, blushing, and said, "Don't talk nonsense. I don't want to bring up those things. Anyway, there's nothing between us, and I haven't asked you to take responsibility."

Hu Xiaotian paid special attention to Yan Nujiao's belly, which showed no reaction either, making him feel he might indeed have some problem. Hu Shengnan, Weisa, Yan Nujiao—he had tilled the soil with them plenty, but only sowed without reaping; none of the three beauties had become pregnant. He wondered how Sumeru Tian was doing; since parting in Cangmu, he had heard nothing of her—had she vanished from the world?

Yan Nujiao had no idea what he was thinking. Seeing him stare blankly, she couldn't help but tug his arm and say, "What are you spacing out about? Which woman are you thinking of again?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "I'm thinking of you!"

"You're lying! I don't believe you!" Yan Nujiao said she didn't believe him, but her heart warmed and she found it utterly pleasing—women are like that. Even though she knew such sweet nothings were lies, she still preferred to believe them.

Hu Xiaotian said, "You still haven't told me what you're doing here."

Yan Nujiao replied, "The High Priestess Tongyun is my senior sister!"

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Who is your master, exactly?" He remembered that Yan Nujiao's master seemed to be the Wuxian Sect's Granny Ying; her detoxification skill was learned from her.

Yan Nujiao said, "That probably has nothing to do with you, but I could take you to see my senior sister." She paused and added, "Still no—these two days are fasting days; my senior sister sees no one. Not even I can see her."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I have an important matter to discuss with her; I must see her tonight."

Yan Nujiao replied, "No way—even if I went, her disciples would stop me."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If the open way won't work, let's try the sneaky way; if we can't walk in openly, can't we slip in secretly?"

Yan Nujiao glared at him and said, "You never teach me to do good deeds; why would I, Yan Nujiao, an upright person, do such sneaky, chicken-stealing business?"

Hu Xiaotian said earnestly, "For me!"

Yan Nujiao actually gave a heh, obviously a cold laugh.

Hu Xiaotian immediately put on a fierce, menacing look and said, "If you won't do it!"

"What? What dare you do?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I wouldn't dare do anything—I'd just strip naked and swagger out of here; would that be open and aboveboard enough?"

Yan Nujiao stared wide-eyed, as if she had just met Hu Xiaotian for the first time.

Hu Xiaotian thought he had gained the upper hand, but Yan Nujiao replied, "Then go ahead and strip naked and walk out, Hu Xiaotian—if you say you won't do it, you're not a man!"

Instead, Hu Xiaotian found himself outmaneuvered by her. He had only wanted to scare Yan Nujiao, but she turned out to be so bold. Reflecting, Yan Nujiao had always been daring and straightforward, carefree and open-minded; even when she was still a maiden, to save her brother she had unhesitatingly given her purity to him, and afterward never caused him any trouble—perhaps because she herself had some non-human blood. Hu Xiaotian grinned and said, "You still don't know whether I'm a man or not?" He moved close and put his arm around her slender waist.

Yan Nujiao gave him a fierce glare and said, "You're not a man—you say you won't do it but you don't dare!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I concede, but today this matter is especially important—it concerns my future and fate. If you won't help me, I'll have to force my way in to find your senior sister." Since the hard approach wouldn't work, he immediately switched to a soft one; as he spoke, his large hand slid down the curve of her waist and hips, giving a squeeze to her jade buttocks, while Yan Nujiao was still hesitating.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Nujiao, do you realize that during this time apart, I have constantly missed you? Have you noticed I've lost weight?"

Yan Nujiao glanced at him; indeed he was a bit thinner than the last time she saw him, but that didn't necessarily prove it was from longing for her.

Hu Xiaotian gazed into her beautiful eyes and said passionately, "For her I grow thin and weary, yet my belt loosens and I have no regrets."

Upon hearing this rascal recite such ardent love poetry to her face, and seeing his gentle gaze, Yan Nujiao felt her breath quicken; she couldn't help but cover her fluttering deer-like heart, silently sighing, "What to do? What to do? I have no defenses against him at all—this damned fellow, why does he recite poetry? Doesn't he know people can't stand it? Women are far more prone to infatuation than men."

Seeing that this tactic worked, Hu Xiaotian quickly added another line: "Heaven does not age, love cannot be severed. Hearts are like twin silk nets, with a thousand knots within." He tightly grasped Yan Nujiao's wrapped hand and said, "Nujiao, don't you now understand my feelings?"

Yan Nujiao looked at him, moved to tears almost spilling over: "Tianti, I know, I understand..." She flung herself into Hu Xiaotian's embrace, not caring how much of his words were true or false.

Hu Xiaotian embraced Yan Nujiao, his face involuntarily showing a hint of slyness and satisfaction. Of course one must coax women; some falsehoods are necessary to say. This guy doesn't feel his conscience is troubled, after all his intentions are good; with so many red‑beauty confidantes, it wouldn't be fair to be wholly devoted to any one of them—one heart must be divided into several parts, who made him so amorous! Or perhaps ancient society was better; if he lived in the past, he'd be a classic scoundrel, yet this fellow at least has some self‑awareness.

Lovers' sweet words never seem corny to women; even a clever woman like Yan Nujiao is no exception. Who says only men value lust over friendship? Women are the same. Hu Xiaotian's few lines of love poetry were like fine wine to Yan Nujiao, giving her a tipsy feeling, and she willingly became his guide.

Yan Nujiao had not deceived Hu Xiaotian; she had arrived in Huoshao City some time ago, but still had no chance to meet her senior sister, the High Priestess Tongyun. To see her, she would have to wait until the fasting period ended.

Inside the temple there were no tight guards; for the faithful, religion itself is the strongest restraint. Though outside there were hundreds of thousands of devout believers praying, no one dared step even half a pace into the inner sanctum. Naturally, for someone like Hu Xiaotian who lacks faith, there are no such constraints. Yan Nujiao is not a Red Yi person; her greatest belief now is Hu Xiaotian—for him she would brave blades and fire, let alone sneak into the temple's interior.

With Yan Nujiao as his guide, Hu Xiaotian reached the temple's central area without effort. The two lay against the outer wall, confident no one was guarding the perimeter, then slipped inside silently, hiding among the osmanthus bushes, breathing in their faint fragrance, leaning close to his beloved. Yan Nujiao felt her heart warm beyond measure; at that moment she sensed that any adventure would be worth it.

At that moment the door made a soft sound; the two hastily crouched, only to see a tall, beautiful woman peek out from inside, glance outward, then close the door. Yan Nujiao whispered into Hu Xiaotian's ear, "That's my senior sister!"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, feeling inevitably strange; the High Priestess Tongyun's recent actions were clearly wary—had she sensed someone outside? He sent a mental transmission to Yan Nujiao: "Wait here, I'll go check."

Yan Nujiao shook her head and said, "No, I want to go too."

Hu Xiaotian could only agree. As the two were about to approach the room, he suddenly pressed down on Yan Nujiao's shoulder, forcing her to hide again—then he saw a shadow slide silently down from the east wall into the courtyard. It turned out that tonight's nocturnal investigation of the temple wasn't just the two of them; there was someone else as well. (To be continued~^~)