Chapter 1507

Xu Lingkong shook his head and said: "If it weren't a matter of the Beggars' Sect's life and death, I, an old man, wouldn't bother coming out to deal with these things."

Qiao Fangzheng said: "From now on, I can also let go of the Beggars' Sect affairs and find a place to peacefully await death."

Xu Lingkong, however, said: "You still can't; you must go to Dongliang Jun, Hu Xiaotian's side needs help."

Qiao Fangzheng said: "You care so much about him, why don't you go yourself?"

Xu Lingkong said: "You owe me a life; as a person, you should know to repay kindness!"

Qiao Fangzheng hearing him say this couldn't help but wryly smile: "I didn't ask you to save me; I don't acknowledge this favor, but I do owe Hu Xiaotian a favor."

Xu Lingkong smiled slightly, knowing Qiao Fangzheng had agreed, and softly said: "During this time I will go to Bei Jiang; I entrust the Central Plains affairs to you."

The outcome of the Red Sea Conference was still satisfactory; although it let Shangguan Tianhuo and his son escape, for Hu Xiaotian it was actually a good thing, as it amounted to proving Shangguan Tianhuo and his son were guilty thieves, not to mention they killed three Beggars' Sect disciples while fleeing, which already established their guilt.

Huo Shu City, under the joint presiding of the High Priest Tongyun and the city lord's lady Ganuo, remained stable; although the city lord Baheer was killed, his past plot to harm his brother Bage and the conspiracy to assassinate the Spirit Maiden Jiaou were also exposed, so the Red Yi people despised him, with no one expressing sympathy for his death, while the return of the Spirit Maiden Jiaou immersed the entire Red Yi in joy; as the fasting day ended, the whole city fell into fervent celebration and revelry.

Zhan Peng's injury had recovered well, but he still couldn't travel far in the short term; however, Hu Xiaotian couldn't stay long in Huo Shu City, and they preliminarily decided to leave Huo Shu City in three days, heading north all the way to leave Red Wood Chuan and enter Xichuan territory, actually to return there to his base.

Hu Xiaotian preliminarily set a strategy to maintain the status quo in Red Wood Chuan. For such a multi-ethnic region, the best approach is non-interference; the Red Yi's leadership position in this area has already been tacitly accepted, and if he forcibly changed it, it would easily cause chaos. Faith will play a key role in ruling Red Wood Chuan; Ganuo and Jiaou mother and daughter are now on their side, and they need to rely on their assistance.

Zhan Peng must stay to recuperate. Hu Xiaotian decided to let Liang Yinghao stay temporarily to accompany him, which also serves to consolidate their influence in Red Wood Chuan. Since the Red Sea Conference, Jiang Shaoyang has obviously changed his attitude; previously there might have been a reluctant component, but now he exerts himself fully for Hu Xiaotian. This person is fluent in the Red Yi language and extremely familiar with the internal situation of Huo Shu City; now his defection is a great boon for Hu Xiaotian.

Several elders of the Beggars' Sect, after finishing the affairs of the Red Sea Conference, specially came to Huo Shu City to pay respects to the new sect leader Long Xi Yue.

Long Xi Yue has now changed back into women's attire, and Hu Xiaotian has also resumed his original appearance, but he did not prepare to participate in this internal meeting of the Beggars' Sect, after all he is an outsider. Moreover, Long Xi Yue had already discussed this with him beforehand, so she knew exactly how to respond, and Hu Xiaotian still had confidence in her ability to handle the big picture.

Coming alone to the front courtyard, I saw Xia Zhangming and Liang Yinghao pushing a wheelchair to accompany Zhan Peng in basking in the sun.

The three saw Hu Xiaotian approach and prepared to salute. Hu Xiaotian waved his hand and said: "No need, no need, what are you chatting about?"

Zhan Peng laughed: "I'm just saying goodbye to Zhangming." His tone was somewhat helpless. In fact, he also missed his fiancée Fang Fang, but his current physical condition doesn't allow for long travel.

Hu Xiaotian said: "No rush, we'll head back first; when we return to Dongliang Jun, the weather should have turned cool, and then I'll have Zhangming ride the Snow Eagle over to pick you up." Hu Xiaotian wasn't saying this just to reassure them; according to the current progress, returning to Dongliang Jun will already be early winter, and the Snow Eagle and the Flying Owl should have returned; with their help, the journey from Dongliang Jun to Red Wood Chuan would take at most three days.

Liang Yinghao said: "I'm not in a hurry anyway; the Red Yi women here are very enthusiastic, and Lady Ganuo even promised to help me find a Red Yi maiden to marry."

Everyone laughed at the same time.

At this moment, several elders of the Beggars' Sect had arrived; the few of them lifted their heads and looked far away, seeing Long Xi Yue come out to greet them and lead them inside. Xia Zhangming curiously asked: "My lord, aren't you going?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "To the Beggars' Sect I'm an outsider; I'd better not meddle in their internal affairs." As he spoke, he saw a towering man walking toward them; Hu Xiaotian immediately recognized him as Zhu Dali, Zhu Ba's younger brother, with whom he had crossed blades many times; they first met through combat, so they could be said to have become acquainted through fighting.

Hu Xiaotian went forward to meet him, clasped his fists and said: "So it's Brother Dali!"

Zhu Dali hehe laughed: "My older brother sent me to find you, Master Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, followed Zhu Dali out, and saw Zhu Ba standing outside the Butterfly Garden waiting; Hu Xiaotian smiled and stepped forward to salute: "Elder Brother Zhu, you've come—why don't you go inside?"

Zhu Ba, face full of shame, said: "The sect elders have come to discuss matters with the sect leader; as one bearing guilt, I dare not enter."

Hu Xiaotian saw that not far behind him stood another person—it was Xie Tianqiong, whom he had befriended in the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom. Xie Tianqiong had once followed Tong Tiejiang to learn martial arts; although he had not formally become a disciple, he was in fact his student.

It was already noon; Hu Xiaotian saw they had come but didn't want to go in, yet from their appearance they also had something to say, so he nodded and said: "How about this: there's a decent tavern up ahead; I'll invite you all to go sit there."

They went to the tavern and picked a secluded corner to sit. After the food and drinks arrived, they each had three cups of wine before Xie Tianqiong explained his purpose: that day, after the Red Sea Conference, Shangguan Tianhuo and his son fled, but Tong Tiejiang couldn't escape; he was found to have been a lackey for tigers, having oppressed fellow disciples and maimed brothers during Shangguan Tianhuo's tenure as sect leader; he has now been detained by the Beggars' Sect, and according to sect law he deserves the death penalty, which still needs the sect leader's final approval. Xie Tianqiong came this time to plead for him; he has no close ties with the new sect leader, so he could only come to ask Hu Xiaotian.

After hearing this, Hu Xiaotian laughed: "It's not a big deal; although he has committed many evils, he has already met his retribution. Xie Brother being able to come find me shows you think highly of me; I'll take care of this."

Xie Tianqiong clasped his fists in thanks: "Many thanks, Master Hu, for fulfilling this."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xie Brother, why stand on ceremony? What are your plans for the future?"

Xie Tianqiong said: "I've always made a living on the blade's edge; when others pay me, I do their bidding. I used to think my swordsmanship was decent enough to make a name in the martial world, but this trip to the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom made me realize I'm just a frog in a well." He spoke entirely the truth; after a series of setbacks, his former lofty ambitions have turned into dispirited despair. Often such a situation yields two outcomes: one is to sink into decadence, the other is to know shame and then find courage, striving for self-improvement.

Hu Xiaotian said: "A man's life isn't solely about pursuing martial prowess and reveling in the martial world, Xie Brother; you're in your prime—why not embark on a career?"

Xie Tianqiong sighed: "I've thought about that too, but I don't know what I should do."

Zhu Ba's eyes shifted; he had already guessed that Hu Xiaotian cherished talent and wanted to win over Xie Tianqiong, so he readily did a favor, smiling: "Older brother Xie, Master Hu is contending for supremacy under heaven, governing Red Wood Chuan, and now is the time to employ talent—your martial skills surely have a place to be used."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I just don't know whether Xie Brother would be willing to take a subordinate post."

Xie Tianqiong clasped his fists: "Thanks to Master Hu's favor, though I have yet to repay the life-saving kindness you once gave me, today I again receive your righteous assistance; as long as Master Hu does not abandon me, I am willing to devote my utmost effort."

Hu Xiaotian burst into laughter: "Xie Brother, you're being too polite."

Zhu Ba smiled: "Congratulations, Master Hu, on gaining another capable aide."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Speaking of this, I ought to raise a cup to Elder Brother Zhu; back then, if it weren't for Elder Brother Zhu leading two thousand brothers to deliver aid in the snow, I too would not have been able to secure a foothold on the Yong River so quickly, and might have already been defeated by the Da Yong navy."

Zhu Ba took the cup of wine Hu Xiaotian offered, sighed, and said: "This makes me feel unworthy to accept it. Actually, back then I led two thousand brothers to go help, which was Elder Xu's intention; Master Hu, the one you should truly thank is him."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's a pity that he works like a dragon—showing his head but not his tail; at this Red Sea Assembly, I didn't even get a chance to meet him."

Zhu Ba, face full of shame, said: "I also had no chance to meet him; I suppose Elder Xu is angry with me. I originally had no face to stay in the gang, but the gang leader's benevolence gave me a chance to redeem myself through merit."

Hu Xiaotian said: "No one would find it easy to make a decision under those circumstances; one cannot just stand by and watch one's relatives die."

Zhu Ba said: "Now I have been relieved of all duties in the gang, my heart feels somewhat relieved. In the future I will certainly reform myself and start anew; I hope Master Hu will help me thank the gang leader, for with my status I am not qualified to see the gang leader." Actually Zhu Ba understood in his heart that although Long Xi Yue had become the gang leader of the beggar gang, the person who will ultimately control the beggar gang's fate is necessarily Hu Xiaotian. Compared to other members of the beggar gang, Zhu Ba knows Hu Xiaotian quite well, knowing that Hu Xiaotian's abilities are outstanding, and only such a person can lead the beggar gang to get out of difficulties and return to prosperity. As for the present situation, the Red Barbarian people have voluntarily submitted to Hu Xiaotian, and the Red Barbarians in Red Wood River also hold a dominant position, meaning that Red Wood River is basically under his control. The original purpose of the beggar gang convening the Red Sea Assembly was to take root in Red Wood River; now that Long Xi Yue has become the gang leader, this issue no longer exists. (To be continued~^~)