Chapter 1497

The Red Sea is not a true sea, merely a saltwater lake; its surface is vast, its circumference about two hundred li, and in the lake's center lies a lone small island named Wind and Wave Island, where the Beggar Sect's gathering that night was held.

All the landings leading to Wind and Wave Island were already under the control of Beggar Sect disciples; although Jiang Shaoyang was merely a five‑bag disciple, he was in fact the chief organizer of this Red Sea gathering, as the host he had done much preparatory work for the meeting, and leading Hu Xiaotian and the others to the landing, someone immediately came forward to greet him, seeing Jiang Shaoyang he cupped his fists and said: "Jiang rudder master, where have you been these past two days? Why haven't we seen you appear?"

The recent events in Huoshan City had caused quite a stir, so Jiang Shaoyang's remarks did not arouse anyone's suspicion.

That man was originally Jiang Shaoyang's subordinate; without further questioning he had a small boat readied, and Jiang Shaoyang, Hu Xiaotian, and the others boarded it together.

The small boat pushed off from shore toward Wind and Wave Island, and Hu Xiaotian sent a voice transmission to Jiang Shaoyang: "You had better be completely honest with me; under no circumstances try any tricks."

Jiang Shaoyang whispered: "Rest assured!"

Long Xi Yue sat at the bow, watching a bright moon rise slowly from the lake surface; the whole Red Sea shimmered with rippling light, the scene dreamlike. Although her beloved was beside her, Long Xi Yue had no mind to admire the intoxicating view, for she had come tonight to rescue her master. Thinking of Qiao Fangzheng, who had departed without farewell, Long Xi Yue grew even more uneasy.

Hu Xiaotian sent a voice transmission to Xia Zhangming: "Once we reach the island, we will split up; blending into the crowd is safest. Many Beggar Sect members have come tonight—nearly a thousand have landed. Hiding among them is no great difficulty."

Xia Zhangming nodded.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You need not act unless absolutely necessary." In the shortage of manpower, Xia Zhangming's assistance became especially important; he could command flying birds, and at a critical moment it was tantamount to having a large air force, and previously in the affair of abducting the Great Priest Tongyun, Xia Zhangming had played a key role.

Xia Zhangming glanced at Jiang Shaoyang and asked: "What should we do with him?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'll keep an eye on him!"

The small boat traveled across the lake for about half an hour, reaching Wind and Wave Island at the lake's center. Upon landing, someone came over to check their identities; Jiang Shaoyang acted very cooperatively, dismissing the person with just a few words. Although he hated Hu Xiaotian in his heart, he dared not play any tricks, for his life was in the other's hands, and if today's affair were exposed, bringing the enemy onto Wind and Wave Island, mingling with the sect's assembly, the end result would be a dead end. Thus he could only honestly cooperate with Hu Xiaotian; he was naturally quick-witted, understanding how to weigh pros and cons, and being able to live another day was a day gained.

After passing the checkpoint, Jiang Shaoyang said to Hu Xiaotian: "I can only escort you this far; if we go further and the young sect leader sees us, it might arouse suspicion."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are you trying to escape?!"

Jiang Shaoyang gave a bitter smile: "Young Master Hu, I have taken your pill. Where could I flee if I tried? Rest assured, I have brought you here and in fact become a traitor to the sect; I now have no retreat. Following you is merely a burden; if you trust me, I will wait at the dock, ready a boat, and stand by to receive you; if you do not trust me, I can only risk accompanying you, laying down my life to keep you company—but if I delay your important affair, do not blame me."

Hu Xiaotian knew his words were also true; if seen by Shangguan Yun Chong, he would certainly interrogate Jiang Shaoyang about where he had been these two days, and once a flaw was spotted it would be disadvantageous to him. He therefore nodded and said: "I will trust you this once; as long as you honestly help me, I will give you the antidote when we return." In fact there was no antidote; what he had given him was not really the Ten Thousand Insects Bone‑Eroding Pill, but merely a random trauma pill he had picked up, which did no harm to Jiang Shaoyang's body; this method amounted to a psychological suggestion, and Hu Xiaotian had found it reliable time and again, with few daring to risk their lives in such a gamble.

Jiang Shaoyang nodded and said: "Thank you, young master." His face showed no joy; in his view, the actions of Hu Xiaotian and his companions were no different from moths flying into a flame—essentially seeking their own death. Once their whereabouts were exposed, they would surely become the target of everyone's hatred. For now he only hoped that Hu Xiaotian had mixed in merely to eavesdrop on some secrets and absolutely not to be exposed. However he believed Hu Xiaotian was also a smart person who should know how to assess the situation and would not lightly do foolish things.

After Jiang Shaoyang left, Xia Zhangming immediately separated from them and blended into the ranks of the beggars.

Long Xi Yue gazed at Jiang Shaoyang's back and whispered: "Do you trust him?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "He probably would not dare to cause trouble; keeping him nearby is merely a burden."

Hearing the word "burden," Long Xi Yue could not help but wrinkle her nose: "Do you also see me that way in your heart?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Not bad, yet this little burden of yours I am willing to carry for a lifetime."

A commotion suddenly arose in the distance; the two looked up and saw a large boat docking at the island's pier, from which a group of people disembarked, among them a man whose arms were bound in iron chains—it was Qiao Fangzheng. His feet were also shackled, making a clanking sound as he walked; because he was blind and unable to see, he was shoved forward, the former transmission elder who once held an exalted status now reduced to a prisoner of the Beggar Sect.

Concern gleamed in Long Xi Yue's lovely eyes as she bit her cherry lips; seeing her master tormented thus, her heart grew even more sorrowful.

Hu Xiaotian lightly touched her shoulder and whispered: "You must have more patience; I think Old Master Qiao is not so easily caught." He secretly mused that given Qiao Fangzheng's martial prowess, he should not have been captured so easily—could it be that he allowed himself to be taken?

Afterward, from the same large boat descended a man missing his right arm—it was Shangguan Yun Feng, whose arm had been cut off by Ji Feihua. Seeing him, Hu Xiaotian suddenly recalled that Shangguan Yun Feng had long been posing as Shangguan Yun Chong within the Beggar Sect; thus Shangguan Yun Chong might not appear publicly tonight, perhaps he too was hiding among the beggars just like them.

The safest way to conceal oneself is to blend into the crowd; Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue followed the throng of beggars toward the center of Wind and Wave Island, where there stood a earthen platform. Once a Wind and Wave Pavilion had stood upon it, but the pavilion collapsed from age, and all surface structures have long since vanished; now only this platform remains, ten zhang square and about three zhang high, retaining the old name as Wind and Wave Terrace.

The gazes of all the beggars present were fixed on the Wind and Wave Terrace; Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered whether the Beggar Sect's chief, Shangguan Tianhuo, would actually appear tonight. During this period the sect had undergone many events, and logically the chief should have shown himself to boost morale.

As the crowd of beggars swelled, by the time of the hai hour all participants in the Beggar Sect assembly had arrived; on the Wind and Wave Terrace appeared a middle‑aged beggar, none other than Zhao Shenxiong, chief of the sect's seven great guardian elders. He wore a patchwork robe and held in his hand a glossy black dog‑beating staff; standing on the terrace, he cupped his fists and said: "Fellow sect brothers, tonight our disciples have gathered on Wind and Wave Island to hold a meeting, in order to discuss the sect's survival; you have come from afar, braving mountains and rivers, dust and toil; here I, on behalf of the chief, thank you all." He then bowed deeply.

Upon hearing his words, everyone was startled, and someone immediately asked: "Wasn't it said that the chief would come to attend the meeting tonight?"

Zhao Shenxiong spread his arms, pressed them downward to signal silence, and loudly declared: "First I will mention several recent major events within the sect!" He glanced behind him, whereupon two beggars carried up a sedan chair, on whose seat sat one man—none other than Tong Tie Jin, one of the sect's six great transmission elders.

Many in the crowd had already recognized Tong Tie Jin's identity, whispering among themselves; as a newly appointed transmission elder, his standing in the sect was exalted, yet his nature was wild and tyrannical, always arrogant, and his reputation within the sect was not good. Nevertheless, being an important figure of the Beggar Sect, seeing him reduced to this state evoked in everyone a feeling of pity akin to "the rabbit dies, the fox grieves".

Zhao Shenxiong's face filled with indignation as he said: "Elder Tong was harmed by treacherous men in the Kingdom of Tianxiang; they not only cut off one of his ears, but also severed the tendons in his hands and feet, rendering his martial arts completely useless."

The beggars below, hearing this, were roused to fury, shouting: "Who did this?" "We must make him pay with blood for blood!"

Tong Tie Jin, seated in that chair, suddenly bellowed hoarsely: "Hu Xiaotian! It is Hu Xiaotian who harmed me!" He hated Hu Xiaotian to the extreme; these words were practically blood‑stained. His cry ignited the beggars' hatred, and they all shouted wildly: "Kill Hu Xiaotian to avenge Elder Tong!"

Long Xi Yue had been startled by the mountain‑shouting, sea‑roaring howl, but seeing Hu Xiaotian also wave his fists and shout for revenge against him, she felt a bit amused; Hu Xiaotian winked at her, she understood, and raised her own fists, feigning vigor as she joined the chant. Hu Xiaotian took in the scene and silently sighed, "Good heavens, this dragon"—if his identity were exposed now, he feared this gang of furious beggars would tear him apart limb from limb.

After much effort, Zhao Shenxiong finally managed to quiet the beggars below, then he shouted loudly: "That Hu Xiaotian not only harmed Elder Tong, but in order to become a prince‑consort of the Kingdom of Tianxiang he resorted to despicable means, kidnapping the Tianxiang king and framing our young sect leader, causing the young leader to lose an arm, and bringing upon our Beggar Sect an unjust blame; the Kingdom of Tianxiang mistakenly believed we had abducted their monarch, and therefore expelled our disciples from the entire realm." (To be continued~^~)