Chapter 1487

Yan Nujiao wanted to follow, but she worried that speaking up would make her master suspect her motives even more, so she could only suppress the thought and whispered, "Master, please be extra careful." Ying Popo came alone to the gate of the Butterfly Garden under everyone's gaze, knocked on the ring and said, "Hu Xiaotian, I have come specially to pay a visit; I don't know if you have the guts to meet me?" Though her voice wasn't loud, it carried clearly to every corner of the Butterfly Garden.

Qiao Fangzheng's ear twitched, and he said in a low voice, "I never expected the Wuxian Sect to have such an internal arts master; I always thought they only knew how to use poison."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Her coming is actually a good thing; Ying Popo probably doesn't know what her disciple has done." He told everyone, "I'll go meet her alone!"

Qiao Fangzheng warned him, "The Wuxian Sect excels at poison, and this Ying Popo is a top-tier elder of the sect—be careful, don't carelessly fall for her tricks."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Her disciple is in our hands—what's there to fear?"

Hearing Qiao Fangzheng say that, Long Xi Yue also couldn't help but worry; she bit her lip and gave Hu Xiaotian a concerned glance, but with everyone present she didn't say more. Hu Xiaotian saw her worry, smiled faintly, and gave her reassurance.

Hu Xiaotian came to the courtyard and gestured for the two warriors to open the gate.

Yet Ying Popo, frail and small, walked in slowly; wherever she passed, the green grass instantly withered. Seeing this, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but be startled—her poison skill was indeed formidable, with no sign of how she poisoned, the grass died just like that. She did this to give the other side a show of force; in the Redwood River area, few dare provoke her.

At this moment Hu Xiaotian had changed back into his own attire, hands behind his back, smiling at Ying Popo and saying: "I often heard that places someone passes through leave no grass growing, but hearing is not seeing; today, Granny, you have opened my eyes."

Ying Popo's eye sockets were deep, her gaze cold as she stared at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Opening your eyes is not easy; I guarantee there are countless sights you have never seen, and the places I pass leave not a single living soul."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing: "Looks like Granny can indeed sever all ties of kinship. Your chief disciple, the Spirit Maiden Tongyun, is still in the Butterfly Garden." This was both a reminder and a threat.

Ying Popo stood about a zhang opposite Hu Xiaotian, sized up the young man, and said softly: "Do you know? I hate most when others threaten me in my lifetime. It seems you don't understand me; what I excel at is returning their own methods against them. I will surely apply the same means to them." She paused, then said gloomily: "You don't believe me? Then just kill Tongyun—I'll immediately dig out Yan Nujiao's heart and show it to you!"

Hu Xiaotian's heart sank; only now did he realize how cunning Ying Popo was. It seemed that even while Yan Nujiao helped him escape, she had ultimately revealed a flaw. Though Ying Popo had discovered it, the old woman likely had no evidence, and her words were probably a bluff. If he showed concern, he would be falling right into her trap.

Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian gave a faint smile and said: "Then Granny would have no disciple left? To personally kill one's own disciple—such a scene of righteousness overriding kin is rare; when you act, be sure to call me, so I can follow and feast my eyes."

Ying Popo said: "Yan Nujiao helped you like this, yet you feel nothing for her safety; if she found out, who knows how heartbroken she would be." Hu Xiaotian spoke with such glee at her misfortune that it actually made her waver.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Granny came to see me—surely not just to spout such boring words? Don't you want to know why I, who have no grudge against Spirit Maiden Tongyun, would have her seized?"

Ying Popo said coldly: "If you're sensible, release her quickly; otherwise you'll be enemies of the entire Red Yi tribe, enemies of our Wuxian Sect, and I guarantee none of you will leave Redwood River alive." Her words were no exaggeration—the Red Yi tribe's influence spreads throughout Redwood River, the Wuxian Sect's influence covers the whole southwest, and Ying Popo holds great sway among both tribe and sect.

Hu Xiaotian fearlessly said: "Do you know, Granny, that your chief disciple, the Red Yi tribe's Spirit Maiden, is colluding with outsiders, intending to control Redwood River by selecting a Spirit Maiden?"

Ying Popo snapped: "You're talking nonsense!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since Granny is a member of the Red Yi tribe, you should know the rules for selecting a Spirit Maiden. Although your tribe's Spirit Maiden Jiaou went missing, there is no solid proof she is dead, so why is Spirit Maiden Tongyun rushing to choose a new Spirit Maiden? Don't you have the slightest doubt about this?"

Ying Popo's expression showed she was half-believing, half-doubting; this selection of a new Spirit Maiden was because Tongyun said the previously missing Spirit Maiden Jiaou had died and could no longer be sensed spiritually.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Let me be frank with Granny: in Coconut Wind City I have already found the Red Yi tribe's missing Spirit Maiden, and your chief disciple Tongyun is involved with the Beggar Sect's Junior Chief, intending to gain the tribe's trust through the Spirit Maiden they arranged, thereby achieving control of the entire Redwood River."

Ying Popo snapped: "Don't spout baseless words—Tongyun is the Temple's Spirit Maiden, a perfect virgin!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't know whether she is a perfect virgin, but verifying this should not be hard—just find a midwife to examine her; if Granny is willing, she can go herself."

Ying Popo said: "Bold madman, you're just spouting nonsense, wanting to insult my disciple's purity."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If your disciple has no problem, why, while the Spirit Maiden is clearly still alive, does she select another Spirit Maiden? Doesn't she understand that there can be only one Spirit Maiden at a time?"

Ying Popo said: "If you say the Spirit Maiden is with you, then let me see her so I can personally verify the truth."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Come with me!" Although Ying Popo is an elder of the Wuxian Sect, she is also a Red Yi tribe member who follows the tribe's religion; if she learned the truth, she might not side with Spirit Maiden Tongyun. Given the circumstances, we must unite anyone we can, especially since today's matter concerns not only his interests in Redwood River but also the welfare of hundreds of thousands of Red Yi tribespeople—if Shangguan Yun Chong's scheme succeeds, the Red Yi will be deceived by him and Tongyun working together.

Ying Popo followed Hu Xiaotian into the room, where Qiao Fangzheng had already been accompanying Jiaou, waiting. Although they wanted to prove Jiaou's Spirit Maiden status to cooperate with Ying Popo, given her unpredictable temperament, for Little Ou's safety the two masters guarded her side simultaneously, preventing any possible danger.

Hearing Ying Popo's footsteps, Qiao Fangzheng said coldly: "You'd better not play any tricks, or I'll not only slaughter all your disciples, but kill every Red Yi I can find."

Hearing his voice, Ying Popo stared at him closely and couldn't help but cackle: "Who did I think you were? Turns out you're the Beggar Sect's Elder Qiao—wasn't it said you were dead? Yet you're still alive; where are your eyes? Who is so fierce as to have gouged them out? Perhaps you saw something you shouldn't have." Ying Popo's words were utterly venomous.

Qiao Fangzheng gave a cold snort and ignored her.

Hu Xiaotian beckoned Little Ou to turn around, reached out and pulled down her collar; when Ying Popo saw the tattoo on Little Ou's neck, she couldn't help but start slightly—the mark of the Wisdom Bird tattoo is a sign only Spirit Maidens may bear, and this tattoo technique is exceptionally unique, mastered by only one lineage in the entire Red Yi tribe.

Ying Popo said: "May I, the old woman, come closer to have a look?"

Qiao Fangzheng said coldly: "No! Who knows what your intentions are?"

Ying Popo snapped: "If I were to prove she is the Red Yi tribe's Spirit Maiden, how could I possibly harm her? You blind fool, truly despicable!"

Qiao Fangzheng struck the ground hard with his dog‑beating staff, the blue bricks instantly cracking; he gave a cold snort: "Others fear you, but this old man does not—your teaching lacks direction? You indulge and cover up, actually doing this deceitful, heinous act against the tribe; if the disciple is like this, the master can't be much better." After saying this, his own old face flushed, for he realized he too was lacking in guidance, having taught a disciple who harmed even his master.

Ying Popo snapped: "Blind man, you've lived long enough!"

Seeing the two arguing, Hu Xiaotian hurriedly stepped in as mediator: "Seniors, there's no need to get worked up, Ying Popo—with your eyesight you should have seen clearly; whatever the truth, once I question Tongyun everything will become clear. Rather than have the seniors stay behind the screen, let me call Tongyun over and question her thoroughly."

By now Ying Popo had believed three‑tenths of Hu Xiaotian's words; she nodded and no longer insisted on approaching Little Ou to check her neck tattoo—Hu Xiaotian made sense, with her eyesight she could discern the tattoo's authenticity at this distance, and indeed there was no need to insist; as for how things really stood, better to ask Tongyun first.

Hu Xiaotian also had Qiao Fangzheng hide behind the screen—first, his presence would be inconvenient; second, it meant keeping an eye on Ying Popo.

Seeing the old blind man follow up again, Ying Popo silently cursed Hu Xiaotian's deceit, still full of suspicion toward him.

Zhan Peng and Xia Zhangming brought Spirit Maiden Tongyun before Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian first brought Little Ou before Tongyun, letting her examine the tattoo on Little Ou's neck closely, then had Zhan Peng and Xia Zhangming take Little Ou away.

Tongyun did not know that two people were hidden behind the screen; given the cultivation levels of Qiao Fangzheng and Ying Popo, it would not be easy to conceal themselves from her perception.

Hu Xiaotian unlocked Tongyun's mute point and said: "Spirit Maiden, you should recognize that little girl, right?" (To be continued~^~)