Chapter 1518: [The Stronghold Chief Has Come] (Part II)

Hu Xiaotian heard that Yan Kui had returned and was also startled; he went to the window to look, only to see a group of about a hundred people slowly entering through the stronghold gate, with a burly, red-haired, bearded man leading the way—this man was clearly the chief of Heavenly Wolf Mountain, Yan Kui.

Although Hu Xiaotian had never met Yan Kui, he had dealt with Yan Kui's brother, Yan Tianlu, on Python Flood Island; Yan Kui's appearance looked even younger than Yan Tianlu's, and since Yan Tianlu was already over sixty, Yan Kui, as his elder brother, should be nearly seventy, yet he looked like a man in his forties— as a bandit chief, his upkeep is truly impressive.

Several children playing by the creek laughed and ran toward Yan Kui, who opened his arms and lifted one up; it seemed the children in the stronghold weren't afraid of him, making Yan Kui quite affable.

Hu Xiaotian inadvertently glanced at Yan Nujiao and saw her pretty face drained of color, obviously gripped by fear.

Hu Xiaotian reached out to put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her, but Yan Nujiao shuddered and hastily dodged; she whispered, "You must remember, you several must absolutely not reveal your identities."

Hu Xiaotian frowned involuntarily, "What?" Yan Nujiao's words left him puzzled.

Yan Nujiao said, "I have never told my father about us; he is wary of outsiders, so you must remember—never reveal your identity, because he hates you over what happened with my second brother."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Isn't your second brother acquainted with me?" Even if he tried to conceal his identity, it probably wouldn't work, since Yan Boguang knows me, and there's also a chance others might recognize me.

Yan Nujiao said, "Anyway, just don't say anything; I'll go deal with my father first. If there's nothing special, you all should try to stay out of sight."

Hu Xiaotian secretly smiled. Yan Nujiao had become so fearful, yet Yan Kui didn't seem that scary; perhaps she worried their private affair would anger him, but since she instructed this way, it's best to follow her advice.

Yan Nujiao had already left the stilted building, walking toward her father. Smiling like a blossom, her face bright as dawn, she cried, "Father! How did you come back?"

Yan Kui set the two children down, beaming, "After finishing business, one naturally returns. Nujiao, I heard you went hunting in the mountains last night?"

Yan Nujiao laughed, "A wolf pack attacked passing merchants; I led my brothers and rescued them."

"A wolf pack?" Yan Kui frowned, "How could Blackcool Mountain have so many wolves? This is highly unusual!"

Yan Nujiao hastily changed the subject, "Father, you must be tired. Go rest." Then she smiled at the middle-aged scholar behind him, "Uncle Qin, weren't you supposed to return at month's end? Why did you arrive so suddenly?"

That middle-aged scholar was Yan Kui's chief strategist, Qin Boyan. Qin Boyan smiled, "The matter was resolved smoothly, so I returned early; I had planned to go straight back to Heavenly Wolf Mountain, but the stronghold chief said it had been a long time since he'd visited Orchid Creek Stronghold, so he came to see—unexpectedly, the young lady is here as well. By the way, when did the young lady return from Redwood Creek?"

"Just returned not long ago." Yan Nujiao glanced at the crowd and saw a few unfamiliar faces. Yan Kui recalled something, pointing to a handsome young man behind him and said, "Right, I forgot to introduce you—this is the teenage hero who just joined our stronghold. His name is Ma Xinsheng, Xinsheng! This is my daughter, Yan Nujiao."

Ma Xinsheng clasped his fists in salute to Yan Nujiao, respectfully saying, "Xinsheng greets the young lady!"

Yan Kui said, "Young people, get acquainted; Xinsheng is visiting Orchid Creek Stronghold for the first time, Nujiao—take him around to see the sights."

Yan Nujiao grunted, though she felt somewhat reluctant inside.

Hu Xiaotian went to the stilted building where Long Xi Yue was, saw she was still asleep, and quietly stood guard; since Yan Nujiao didn't want him to meet her father, she must have her reasons, and Hu Xiaotian had no intention of confronting Yan Kui directly, so avoiding him also spared much trouble.

Long Xi Yue slept until noon before waking leisurely, seeing Hu Xiaotian sitting by the window reading, quietly guarding her; a blush rose on her cheeks as she softly asked, "How did I sleep so long?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "I'd like to keep you company while you sleep, but I'm afraid you'll wake up and think I'm taking advantage."

Long Xi Yue, knowing he often talked nonsense, lightly stepped to his side, placed her hands on his shoulders, and gently said, "You didn't go chat with Nujiao?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Her father has arrived."

Long Xi Yue blinked her bright eyes, "Shall we go pay a visit?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, "She seems terrified of her father, like a mouse seeing a cat, and she insists we absolutely must not reveal our identities."

Long Xi Yue said, "If so, we should follow her wishes and avoid unnecessary trouble."

At that moment, a Black Miao maiden knocked and entered, having been ordered by Yan Nujiao to come specially to deliver food.

Hu Xiaotian asked her where Yan Nujiao was, but the Black Miao maiden was tight-lipped, knowing nothing. Hu Xiaotian guessed Long Xi Yue surely couldn't free herself; for now, the only plan was to wait, since Yan Kui couldn't stay long here, and even if he lingered a few more days, they could still leave when chance arose—better to await Yan Nujiao's arrangements.

After lunch, Hu Xiaotian took a moment to visit Xia Zhangming and the others; Xia Zhangming's recovery was going well, and Hu Xiaotian specifically instructed them to avoid public exposure as much as possible and never reveal their identities, deciding their next steps after Yan Nujiao returned.

Not until dusk did Yan Nujiao return; upon entering, she said, "Pack up—I'll see you off now."

Hu Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief at finally being able to leave the stronghold, and softly asked, "What about your father?"

Yan Nujiao replied, "He's entertaining the new brothers at the Hall of Benevolence and Righteousness; he's tied up right now."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, he and Long Xi Yue picked up their luggage, summoned Xia Zhangming and the others, and headed toward the stronghold gate.

Yan Nujiao accompanied them to the stone bridge over the small creek, then stopped and said softly, "I can only see you this far, Sister Xi Yue—please take good care of yourselves!"

Long Xi Yue nodded, gave Hu Xiaotian a light nudge with her elbow to signal him to go say goodbye to Yan Nujiao, while she and Xia Zhangming and the others went ahead to wait below.

Hu Xiaotian smiled at Yan Nujiao and asked, "You're not coming with us?"

Yan Nujiao bit her cherry lips, her eyes rimming red, and whispered softly, "We are ultimately not of the same kind."

Hu Xiaotian said, "In my heart I've long regarded you as family; I've never treated you as an outsider."

Yan Nujiao pressed her lips together, suppressing her sorrow to force a smile, "Hurry off, treat the princess well; if fate allows, we may meet again someday."

Hu Xiaotian gazed at her, feeling a pang of guilt—he knew he still owed her; he opened his mouth to offer comforting words, but Yan Nujiao shook her head, "Don't say anything; I understand, I fully understand—just go."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, thinking silently that more sweet words and promises would be empty; he would surely come for her later, and since Yan Nujiao was already his woman, he could not let her spend her life waiting and resenting.

He turned, about to step onto the stone bridge, when a steady voice from behind called, "Miss! At this hour, where are the guests headed?"

Yan Nujiao's body trembled; she hastily wiped her tears. Hu Xiaotian slowly turned and saw a middle-aged scholar smiling toward him, with a warrior following behind—this scholar was none other than Heavenly Wolf Mountain's chief strategist, Qin Boyan.

Hu Xiaotian had never seen Qin Boyan before and didn't know who he was, but Yan Nujiao inwardly groaned; although in Heavenly Wolf Mountain Qin Boyan was merely the Fourth Chief, he was deeply respected in the stronghold, his prestige second only to the chief's, and even the chief relied heavily on him—his extraordinary wisdom was why Heavenly Wolf Mountain had stood undefeated for decades on the Xichuan frontier.

Yan Nujiao forced calm, "Uncle Qin, these are the merchants attacked by the wolf pack; they have urgent business and must leave."

Qin Boyan smiled, "Haste makes waste; it's nearly dusk, and leaving Orchid Creek Stronghold now would mean traveling in darkness, with wild beasts prowling the mountains—if you ran into another wolf pack, this young master might not be so lucky. Why not stay one more night? Tomorrow at dawn we can send an escort. What do you think, sir?" His deep eyes fixed steadily on Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Sir, you're too kind; it's not that we don't want to stay, but we truly have urgent affairs at home and must return promptly."

Qin Boyan said, "I didn't happen to pass by here; I was ordered by the stronghold chief to invite you gentlemen to the Hall of Benevolence and Righteousness for a drink."

Yan Nujiao wanted to say more, but saw the gate of Orchid Creek Stronghold slowly closing; Qin Boyan had clearly made preparations in advance.

Seeing this, Hu Xiaotian felt he couldn't force his way out; although he anticipated trouble, events had unfolded this way, so he could only go with the flow and adapt—moreover, he didn't want Yan Nujiao caught in the middle, so he smiled, "Since the stronghold chief shows such generosity, we'd rather obey than stand on ceremony."

Qin Boyan chuckled, "You seem like a straightforward young master; may I ask your esteemed name?"

Before Hu Xiaotian could speak, Yan Nujiao promptly replied, "He is Master Wu Neng!"

Hu Xiaotian wanted to cry but had no tears; "Don't be so obvious in disparaging someone," he thought. "Incompetent? Where am I lacking? You know full well how strong I am."

Qin Boyan smiled, "Master Wu Neng, I am Qin Boyan."

Long Xi Yue and the others also turned back; Hu Xiaotian excused himself to put down his luggage, then headed to the Hall of Benevolence and Righteousness. Qin Boyan didn't press them to go immediately, merely saying the banquet would start in half an hour, urging them not to be late.

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