Chapter 1517

Hu Xiaotian's eyesight was strong; far away he already recognized that the red-clad lass was precisely the beloved daughter of Heavenly Wolf Mountain bandit chief Yan Kui, Yan Nujiao. No need to ask; the troop behind her was the Heavenly Wolf Mountain mounted bandits, that band of mounted bandits numbered about two hundred or more. After completing long-range shooting, they immediately dismounted, drew weapons, and began melee combat.

Those Heavenly Wolf Mountain mounted bandits were all well-trained, cooperating seamlessly; once they joined the battle, the situation quickly reversed. Hu Xiaotian's side was also spirited, regaining vigor; the warriors who had just been exhausted became fierce as if given stimulants, after all they had seen hope again.

Yan Nujiao led more than ten capable followers, cutting a bloody path to meet up with Hu Xiaotian and the others. She did not first attend to Hu Xiaotian, but instead asked Long Xi Yue with concern: "Big Sister Yue, are you alright?" Although they were born in the same month and year, Long Xi Yue was actually seven days older than Yan Nujiao; they had already become acquainted earlier.

Long Xi Yue smiled warmly: "Nujiao, your timing is perfect; we were about to collapse."

A Blue Wolf lunged out from the side; Yan Nujiao raised her right hand, and a sleeve-arrow shot straight into the Blue Wolf's mouth. The Blue Wolf howled in pain and collapsed to the ground.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You two look after each other; I'll go help Zhangming Xia." Seeing that the situation was basically under control and there would be no further danger, Hu Xiaotian hurriedly disengaged to help Zhangming Xia. He consecutively slew several evil wolves, arrived in the forest, but saw a flash of gold ahead—it was Zhangming Xia falling down; he had been injured in his earlier fight with Li Zhang'an. The Beast Demon Yan Huyiao must have sensed the arrival of reinforcements outside, so he did not linger in battle, promptly withdrawing; Zhangming Xia also dared not pursue, given his current condition, for if he were to clash head-on with the Beast Demon, he would certainly come off worse.

Hu Xiaotian went forward and chopped down two Blue Wolves that were about to attack Zhangming Xia.

Zhangming Xia's face was ashen; he leaned against a large tree, panting, and asked: "My lord and the princess—are they alright……"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "All's well, don't worry!" He stepped forward, supported Zhangming Xia, and handed him an Origin-Returning Pill to take.

At this point the fighting outside had also basically ended. After Beast Demon Yan Huyiao fled, the evil wolves' offensive quickly collapsed; the two hundred stalwart bandits brought by Yan Nujiao were skilled in mountain and forest warfare, and slaughtering wild beasts was their specialty—their arrival tilted the battlefield decisively to one side.

Hu Xiaotian and Zhangming Xia came out of the forest, seeing corpses of wild beasts strewn everywhere; the Heavenly Wolf Mountain bandits were pursuing the evil wolves that had not yet managed to flee.

After the crisis was lifted, Long Xi Yue also felt drained. She found a clean stone, sat down, and gazed weakly at the forest; seeing Hu Xiaotian and Zhangming Xia return safely, a hint of relief appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Yan Nujiao came over and sat beside her, handing her a waterskin. Long Xi Yue took it, drank a few sips, then returned it; the two smiled at each other. Long Xi Yue softly said: "This time we really owe you our thanks."

Yan Nujiao said: "Big Sister Yue, there's no need for such formality between us."

Hu Xiaotian handed Zhangming Xia over to his subordinate warriors for care; although they had endured several perilous battles tonight, fortunately only two of their warriors suffered minor injuries, and there was no major loss. Hu Xiaotian approached Yan Nujiao, gave her a smile, feeling somewhat embarrassed in his heart—this time he had decided to take the route via Black Cool Mountain to avoid Heavenly Wolf Mountain, intending to guard against Yan Kui being unfavorable to him, but he never expected that even in Black Cool Mountain things would be unsettled, and he actually encountered the joint pursuit of Beast Demon Yan Huyiao and Feather Demon Li Zhang'an.

Earlier, in Flaming Tree City, Hu Xiaotian had personally promised Yan Nujiao that he would go to Heavenly Wolf Mountain to see her father Yan Kui and explain matters between them; but in fact he had gone back on his word, and facing Yan Nujiao he naturally felt ashamed.

Yan Nujiao, on the contrary, showed considerable magnanimity, smiling: "As long as you're safe, that's good."

Hu Xiaotian avoided discussing the previous matter, deliberately changing the subject: "Nujiao, how did you end up appearing here?"

Yan Nujiao said: "Although our main stronghold is in Heavenly Wolf Mountain, in fact Heavenly Wolf Mountain and Black Cool Mountain and the surrounding area are all under our control; whatever happens here certainly cannot escape our notice." She gave Hu Xiaotian a meaningful look with her beautiful eyes, thinking inwardly, "You little brat, with your little tricks you still want to hide it from me."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Then why didn't you show up earlier? You made us fight so hard." This guy has always been someone who takes three parts of being unreasonable.

Yan Nujiao explained: "Someone spotted the mounts you left behind, and we just followed the clues here; Master Hu, you surely wouldn't suspect us of deliberately standing by, would you?" In her words she finally could not help revealing her disdain for this fellow.

Long Xi Yue laughed, took hold of Yan Nujiao's arm, and said: "Nujiao, don't bother with this person; you can't out-argue him, and how many in the world could?"

Yan Nujiao agreed with Long Xi Yue's remark, and softly said: "You must both be tired; let's go! Let's rest properly at the stronghold before moving on."

Hu Xiaotian's heart gave a jolt; could the stronghold she mentioned be on the Heavenly Wolf Mountain side?

Yan Nujiao seemed to have guessed his thoughts, pointing to the opposite valley and saying: "Lanxi Stronghold! The mountainous areas of southern Xichuan are now largely under our control." In her heart she secretly thought, "You little brat, do you still think you can escape my grasp in this place?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed, his earlier reconnaissance had been inadequate; he hadn't realized that this entire region was under Yan Kui's control—had he known, there would have been no need to painstakingly detour around Heavenly Wolf Mountain.

Long Xi Yue said: "If that's the case, then this time we might have the honor of paying a visit to the stronghold chief."

Yan Nujiao secretly praised, thinking Long Xi Yue truly was as sharp as ice and snow; the same sentence from her made people feel comfortable. Actually Yan Nujiao also knew Long Xi Yue was asking whether her father was present at Lanxi Stronghold; she smiled: "I'm afraid we won't see him—my father went to Xichuan on business and hasn't returned yet."

Hu Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart; "If only you'd said so earlier! I would have taken the route via Heavenly Wolf Mountain—what a shortcut that would have been."

Lanxi Stronghold is located in the Lanxi Valley at the southern foothills of Black Cool Mountain; because a thoroughfare runs north-south through the valley, the stronghold got its name, and most of the residents here are the families of Heavenly Wolf Mountain mounted bandits.

When the party arrived at Lanxi Stronghold it was already daybreak; the stronghold was shrouded in a thin mist, hundreds of stilt houses lined the banks of the small stream, the stream water was clear to the bottom, flowing gently down from higher ground, the current smooth, and in the morning light it looked like silk and satin.

The women who had risen early were already washing up by the stream; Yan Nujiao had her subordinates guide Zhangming Xia and the five warriors to rest, while she personally led Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue along the stream upstream to a stilt house hidden among the trees. Entering, they saw the interior decorated in an antiquated, fragrant style; a string of bronze wind chimes hung before the door, and as a breeze brushed past, it emitted a series of pleasant ding-dong sounds. Looking out from the various windows of the stilt house, the scenery varied, with mountain and water views filling the sight—truly a feast for the eyes.

This was Yan Nujiao's residence in Lanxi Stronghold.

Yan Nujiao took Long Xi Yue's hand and went up, then had someone take Hu Xiaotian to the adjacent stilt house to bathe and change clothes.

Hu Xiaotian entered the neighboring stilt house; its furnishings naturally could not compare to Yan Nujiao's, but the conditions were decent—the wooden tub already had hot water prepared, and beside it a wooden stool held neatly stacked clothing.

After Hu Xiaotian finished bathing, he put on the clothes prepared for him—a set of Black Miao Tribe attire; since this area is inhabited by the Black Miao people, even other ethnic groups who come here follow local customs.

Having changed clothes and returned to Yan Nujiao's residence, he saw her tiptoeing out, and Hu Xiaotian whispered: "Where's Yue?"

Yan Nujiao pointed inside; Hu Xiaotian peered in and saw Long Xi Yue already asleep—these past two days had been truly exhausting; she was used to a life of comfort, never having endured such hardship, and though her will was strong, her constitution ultimately could not hold up.

The two went downstairs, and Yan Nujiao said: "You're not tired? Aren't you going to rest?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Not tired!"

Yan Nujiao said: "Full of energy—aren't you ill?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, showing a neat row of teeth; Yan Nujiao pointed to the stilt house where he was to rest and said: "Go inside to talk."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; by now the sun had risen, and the people of the stronghold were coming out to go about their business—talking outside would indeed be inconvenient. Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao went together into the stilt house, standing by the window to gaze at the beautiful scenery outside.

Hu Xiaotian had wanted to say something, but when the words reached his lips he hesitated.

Yan Nujiao looked at him with a hint of resentment and said: "I knew you wouldn't go to Heavenly Wolf Mountain."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Sorry! Why don't you give me a beating? I'm just putting on a brave face—my words are tough, but deep down I'm still a bit afraid of your father."

Yan Nujiao said: "You, Hu Xiaotian, have always feared neither heaven nor earth—how could you possibly be afraid of my father, a mere mountain stronghold chief?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Having taken someone's hand short and eaten their words soft, I've taken advantage of their daughter, and I feel guilty about it." This explanation was quite reasonable.

Yan Nujiao coquettishly scolded: "Get lost! You good-for-nothing, you don't have me in your heart at all."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Heaven and earth, my conscience……"

"Your conscience? It's long been eaten by dogs!"

Hu Xiaotian approached with a grin, reaching out to lift Yan Nujiao's chin.

Yan Nujiao said: "Show some respect, or I'll call for help!" Though her expression was fierce, deep down she actually felt a hint of anticipation; she realized she was utterly done for, and in the face of this brat she had absolutely no capacity to resist.

Hu Xiaotian already had her in his grasp; he hooked her slender waist, pulled her into his embrace, and rudely ravished her cherry lips.

Yan Nujiao was dazed and enamored by his kiss, when suddenly a commotion arose outside, and a child's cheer rang out: "The chief of the stronghold has come!"

Yan Nujiao flung open her beautiful eyes; the stronghold chief was naturally her father Yan Kui, and she did not know why he would come to Lanxi Stronghold at this moment. She hurriedly pushed Hu Xiaotian away, went to the window to look out, and exclaimed: "Oh no, it's really my father returning!"

More updates at dawn! (To be continued~^~)