Chapter 1489: [Arrow Hidden in Arrow] (Part 1)

Tong Yun paid no attention to him.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You don't need to pretend you don't understand. You, High Priestess Tong Yun, are erudite and versed in many tribal languages; when you spoke with Shangguan Yun Chong, there was no obstacle either."

Hearing him mention Shangguan Yun Chong's name, High Priestess Tong Yun instantly looked a little flustered, glaring at Hu Xiaotian she snapped: "Who are you? Why did you abduct me here? Do you not know what place this is? Do you not know the consequences of offending our Red Barbarian Tribe people?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "High Priestess, if I didn't know who you were I wouldn't have seized you; since I dared to seize you, I fear offending no one. Let me ask again: do you recognize that little girl just now?"

Tong Yun shook her head, responding in silence.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Even if you don't know her, you should recognize the wisdom bird tattoo on the back of her neck—you have the same one yourself. Tong Yun, as High Priestess of the Red Barbarian Tribe, you collude with outsiders, and despite knowing the Spirit Maiden still lives, you intend to appoint a fake Spirit Maiden to deceive the tribe—what crime do you deserve?"

Tong Yun snorted coldly: "Affairs of the Red Barbarian Tribe need no outsider like you to meddle in."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I certainly have no interest in meddling in the Red Barbarian Tribe's affairs, but I cannot ignore the matter of Xiao Ou; the troops at the gate must have been summoned by you, right? You are so vicious, to achieve your own ends you would actually kill the true Spirit Maiden."

High Priestess Tong Yun snapped: "You're spitting blood; what does the troops at the gate have to do with me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Tong Yun, dare you step outside with me to confront this? Before tens of thousands of Red Barbarian Tribe members, explain just what is going on with the Spirit Maiden you selected today? The true Spirit Maiden Jia Ou is still alive—how did you conclude she was dead? Could it be that you, this High Priestess versed in spiritual power, are nothing but a fraud?"

High Priestess Tong Yun angrily retorted: "How do you know you haven't found a impostor to deceive my people? Confrontation? Do you think they'll believe you or me?" Her attitude was extraordinary; even at a disadvantage she refused to yield.

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "You're truly unrepentant—no need for me to remind you of your relationship with Shangguan Yun Chong. It is said that, as Spirit Maiden, upon becoming High Priestess one must remain physically pure while residing in the Divine Temple; you, High Priestess Tong Yun, naturally should be spotless. Verifying the authenticity of the Spirit Maiden may be somewhat difficult, but verifying this matter should not be hard."

Hu Xiaotian's words struck Tong Yun's soft spot like a heavy hammer; her eyebrows flared, and she shouted: "Reckless madman, do you not know the consequences of desecrating the divine?"

Hu Xiaotian, however, saw that the louder she shouted, the more panicked she felt inside. He smiled: "Perhaps those outside still regard you as an inviolable holy maiden, but once they learn the truth, knowing the shameful deeds you committed within the Divine Temple, they will know who desecrated the divine—do you think they will let you off?"

At this moment Tong Yun's inner defenses were near collapse. She bit her lip hard, finally softened, and trembled: "What exactly do you want?"

Hiding behind the screen and eavesdropping, Shadow Granny already fully understood here—Hu Xiaotian had not deceived her; everything he said was true. Shadow Granny loved her two disciples as her own, and her affection for Tong Yun was even greater; her grief and anger were indescribable, and she could no longer restrain herself. She darted out from behind the screen, shouting sharply: "You wretch who desecrates the divine!"

Seeing her master suddenly appear, Tong Yun was terrified to the point of her liver and gall bursting, her soul fleeing, and she trembled: "Master, save me…" Even now she still wanted to conceal the past.

Shadow Granny raised her hand and brought it down hard on her face; the slap was fierce, blood seeped from Tong Yun's mouth corner, half her face swelled high. Still not appeased, Shadow Granny turned her palm into claws and drove them down onto the top of Tong Yun's head.

Seeing Shadow Granny truly about to deliver a killing blow, Hu Xiaotian silently thought, "Oh no." If she really killed Tong Yun, wouldn't all his efforts be wasted? He promptly extended his hand, using his wrist to block her claw; their wrists collided with a muffled "Peng!" Shadow Granny's slight frame trembled, her eyes filled with astonishment. This was the first genuine clash between her and Hu Xiaotian today. Shadow Granny's internal force ranks among the top three in the Wuxian Sect, yet Hu Xiaotian's internal force is clearly superior, leaving her bewildered: even if this brat had trained since the womb, he's only in his twenties—how could his internal force be so profound?

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Shadow Granny, please hear my junior words—killing her may not solve the problem; not only would the Spirit Maiden issue remain unresolved, but it would also cause your people to misunderstand."

Shadow Granny had merely been angry out of embarrassment, but hearing Hu Xiaotian say this she gradually calmed down; Hu Xiaotian made a good point: if Tong Yun were killed, it could indeed cover up her shameful deeds, yet how would she explain to the outside tribespeople? Those frenzied tribesmen would surely raze this place to the ground—not only would Hu Xiaotian's group suffer, but even the true Spirit Maiden might be caught in the fallout.

Shadow Granny said: "Wench, I'll spare your life for now—you ought to know what to do."

Tong Yun closed her eyes, lifted her face, revealing her snow‑white neck, and said: "Master, I know my sins are deep; kill me." Seeing the matter exposed, she realized she could not escape fate, and simply wished for death.

Shadow Granny chuckled: "Killing you would be too lenient—dying isn't that easy. Even if you died, the matter wouldn't end; do you think the man who brought you misfortune will come to a good end? Do you think I'd let him off so easily? I have at least a thousand ways to torment him, leaving him unable to live or die." As she spoke, her gaze fell on Hu Xiaotian; his skin crawled under her sinister stare, and he mused, "What business is this of mine? You want to torment Shangguan Yun Chong—yet on reflection, Shadow Granny's words might also be a threat against me. Shangguan Yun Chong slept with her senior disciple, while I secretly dealt with her junior disciple; in her eyes, our transgressions are roughly equal."

Although for now Hu Xiaotian and Shadow Granny reluctantly stand on the same side, it's merely a matter of interest; once this affair is over, there's no guarantee Shadow Granny won't come back to settle scores later.

Shadow Granny's threat clearly affected Tong Yun; she opened her eyes, showing a frightened gleam, and trembled: "Master, I know I was wrong—I alone bear responsibility for my actions; do not take your anger out on others."

Seeing her reduced to this state yet still pleading for her lover, Shadow Granny's fury grew; she suppressed her anger and snapped: "You ought to know your standing in the tribe's heart; while the situation can still be salvaged, you should mend your ways and return to the right path."

Tong Yun, tears streaming, said: "Master, you must promise me that after this you will no longer pursue his responsibility." She, too, was lovesick, having given no thought to her own safety, still preoccupied with Shangguan Yun Chong.

Seeing Tong Yun thus, Hu Xiaotian felt a twinge of sympathy: Tong Yun entered the Divine Temple at eight and has remained there a full eighteen years—who could be free of the seven emotions and six desires? Shangguan Yun Chong is also an outstanding youth; unknown by what means he approached Tong Yun, but her being deceived by him is quite understandable.

Shadow Granny said: "You just saw the Spirit Maiden yourself—now tell me, is her identity genuine or not?"

Tong Yun, tears in her eyes, nodded and said: "She is the Spirit Maiden Jia Ou." In fact she had recognized Jia Ou at first sight; she simply refused to admit it.

Shadow Granny heaved a sigh of relief; after the Spirit Maiden had been missing for two years, she was finally found safe and sound—a tremendous joy for the entire Red Barbarian Tribe. Shadow Granny said: "I want you to announce this personally to all the tribespeople."

Tong Yun said: "Disciple is willing to follow your orders—just please keep your promise."

Shadow Granny nodded: "I have always been true to my word; as long as I live I will no longer seek trouble for him." Shadow Granny secretly thought, "I won't kill your lover, but I can just as easily kill his kin and friends—I will certainly make him unable to live or die; living is more painful than dying."

Tong Yun eased a little, whispering: "Master, disciple will immediately announce the Spirit Maiden matter to the tribe." She glanced at Hu Xiaotian, after all she was still under his control.

Shadow Granny said: "Have Baheer withdraw the troops before the gate!"

Tong Yun said: "Baheer's leading troops here has nothing to do with me; I truly don't know why he came."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "The Spirit Maiden affair is also known to City Lord's Wife Ga Nuo; likely she inadvertently leaked the news, so Baheer's coming this time is not only aimed at us but also harmful to the Spirit Maiden."

Shadow Granny, somewhat puzzled, asked: "Why would he be adverse to the Spirit Maiden?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Spirit Maiden is the offspring of the former city lord Ba Ge and Ga Nuo; Ba Ge died in Coconut Wind City, and to this day his cause of death remains unverified. Though I had no intention of meddling in the Red Barbarian Tribe's affairs, this Redwood River is my territory—I must certainly get to the bottom of Ba Ge's death."

Shadow Granny had no interest in the ownership of Redwood River; she cared only about the Spirit Maiden, and coldly said: "I will now take you out to announce the Spirit Maiden matter." She reached to pull Tong Yun up, but Hu Xiaotian blocked her again, smiling: "Shadow Granny, before Baheer's people withdraw, High Priestess Tong Yun must stay here—rest assured, I bear her no ill will."

Shadow Granny glared at Hu Xiaotian, who showed no sign of backing down; Shadow Granny inwardly sighed, thinking that taking Tong Yun away now was impossible—not to mention Hu Xiaotian's formidable martial arts, and even the old blind man behind the screen possesses unfathomable skill; she would surely gain nothing from opposing the two of them. She nodded: "All right, I will go out and have Baheer withdraw his troops." (~^~)