Chapter 1520

Long Xi Yue and Yan Nujiao both felt their cheeks flush; others mocked Hu Xiaotian, and they empathized.

Yan Kui no longer paid attention to Hu Xiaotian, then turned to Yan Nujiao and said, "Why are you unwilling?"

Yan Nujiao said, "I already have someone in my heart!" Her nature differed from that of Central Plains women, so she spoke those words openly in public.

Yan Kui snapped, "Who?"

Hu Xiaotian's blood surged; he really couldn't bear to see Yan Kui pressuring her like that, thinking to himself, "Old man, I might as well admit it." Long Xi Yue seemed to guess his thought, and under the table she grabbed his hand—standing up now would not be wise.

Yan Nujiao exclaimed, "Hu Xiaotian!" with a look of utter fearlessness.

Upon hearing Hu Xiaotian's name, everyone fell silent.

Hu Xiaotian then realized he was Wu Neng, not Hu Xiaotian.

Ma Xinsheng heard those three characters "Hu Xiaotian" and a flash of cold killing intent crossed his eyes.

Yan Kui snapped, "You dead girl, you're talking nonsense!"

Yan Nujiao replied, "I'm not spouting nonsense—you know it yourself. You clearly know I only like him in this world; besides him, I won't like anyone else. Why do you still want to marry me off to someone else? I'm not afraid to tell you—just wait till you become a grandfather!"

Upon hearing this, Yan Kui exploded with rage, grabbed a wine jug and hurled it at Yan Nujiao, but Qin Boyan stopped him, smiling, "Chief, please calm down, chief, please calm down."

Yan Kui roared, "You've thrown away all my face!"

Yan Nujiao glared fiercely at Ma Xinsheng, blaming all the responsibility on him; Ma Xinsheng looked innocent, and indeed he had not brought up the marriage—it was Yan Kui who had initiated it.

Hu Xiaotian heard Yan Nujiao's recent remark and felt both startled and delighted—startled, wondering if she might truly be pregnant; delighted, because his far‑flung sowing had finally borne fruit in at least one spot—but seeing Yan Nujiao's expression, he guessed eight or nine times out of ten she was just speaking in anger.

Qin Boyan finally managed to pacify Yan Kui with difficulty, then approached Yan Nujiao and had her bring wine to apologize to her father. Since things had gone this far, Yan Kui naturally could no longer raise the matter of marrying his daughter to Ma Xinsheng—his daughter had even publicly declared she wanted him to prepare to be a grandfather, so bringing up the marriage again would only bring shame upon himself.

Ma Xinsheng was also broad‑minded and magnanimous. Even after what just happened, his bearing remained impeccable; he smiled and said, "Chief, there's no need to be angry. Actually, there's something I haven't had a chance to mention: I was already betrothed in childhood. Thank you for your kindness, Chief, though I do admire the young lady's grace. But we certainly have no fate together."

Yan Kui had just been jumping about like thunder, his ferocious aspect fully revealed, yet now he unexpectedly calmed down, nodded and said, "If that's the case, then I won't insist."

Ma Xinsheng laughed and said, "I've just arrived at the stronghold; according to its customs I must present a gift." What he said was indeed true—many strongholds have this rule: to join, one must submit a pledge of allegiance, which can be a life or wealth, essentially a declaration of intent.

Ma Xinsheng had his two subordinates lift a chest up.

Everyone's attention shifted from the recent marriage proposal; they all wanted to see what gift he was presenting.

Ma Xinsheng's two subordinates opened the chest; immediately a strange fragrance assailed the nose. They lifted out an object wrapped in red velvet, placed it carefully on the table, and Ma Xinsheng glanced around the crowd with a faintly pleased expression. He lifted the red velvet—only to reveal a white jade Guanyin statue. Its carving was exquisite beyond compare, the jade warm and lustrous, the Buddha's countenance solemn and majestic. In the lamp light the statue was surrounded by a seven‑colored halo, and even more remarkably it gave off a faint scent that left one feeling refreshed and delighted.

Yan Kui, also a man of wide experience, rose and walked over to the Guanyin statue, his eyes blazing with fascination as he stroked his beard and asked, "Is this not the Miao Xiang Wu Liang Guanyin statue?"

Ma Xinsheng smiled and nodded. "Exactly! Chief, you truly have a discerning eye."

Yan Kui said, "I've long heard of this rare treasure, but never had the chance to see it—indeed its reputation is not empty; it is a marvelous work that seems to snatch beauty from heaven itself, exquisite beyond compare."

Hu Xiaotian gazed at it from afar and thought the statue was fine, yet wondered whether a mere white jade Guanyin truly deserved Yan Kui's such praise. He sniffed the faint fragrance, glanced at Yan Nujiao—who happened to be looking his way and gave a hint of a meaningful smile—and Hu Xiaotian silently resolved to find an opportunity to ask her plainly whether she was carrying his child.

Ma Xinsheng then took a white jade bottle from the chest and said to Yan Kui, "Chief, you may not know another marvel of this Guanyin statue!"

Following his instructions, Yan Kui dripped a little of the clear water from the white jade bottle onto the lotus pedestal. A wondrous sight occurred: the pedestal, originally the same pure white as the Guanyin, instantly turned pink like a lotus blossom, while the statue itself remained spotless white. Yan Kui burst out laughing, "Indeed a rare treasure—such a valuable gift, I hardly dare to accept it."

Ma Xinsheng said, "Chief, why stand on ceremony? Since I have decided to serve under you, not only this Guanyin statue but even my life henceforth belongs to you; at your command I would rush into blades and fire without so much as a frown."

Hu Xiaotian silently sighed, no wonder Yan Kui takes a liking to this fellow—he's generous with his gifts and knows how to flatter; such a person is naturally popular.

Long Xi Yue at his side suddenly grabbed Hu Xiaotian's arm; he turned to see her brows knit tightly, hand pressed to her forehead, weakly saying, "I… I suddenly can't catch my breath…" Before she finished speaking she fainted into his arms. Hu Xiaotian started, then saw everyone around him collapsing one after another; he realized at once that the Guanyin statue must be problematic, and feigned dizziness, holding Long Xi Yue as he slowly sank to the ground.

Yan Kui, being the nearest, naturally took the brunt; his burly body toppled straight over.

Ma Xinsheng's formerly respectful, fawning smile instantly turned grim and cold as he watched the people in the hall collapse one by one; he lifted his foot and kicked Yan Kui's body, seeing no reaction, only then did he relax.

In the whole hall the only ones still able to stand were he and his two attendants; Ma Xinsheng bowed his hands to them and said, "This Yan Kui is yours to deal with."

The two nodded.

Ma Xinsheng drew his waist blade and strode straight toward Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian heard his footsteps drawing nearer and his heart jumped—this fellow was clearly coming for him? I have no grudge against you; why not go after Yan Kui, why come after me?

Ma Xinsheng came up to Hu Xiaotian, lifted his leg and turned his body over, then stared at him through gritted teeth and said, "Traitor, even if you were burned to ash I would still know you—you killed my father and destroyed the Blackwater Stronghold; today I will dig out your heart and liver to sacrifice to my kin and brothers."

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian's heart already understood—this fellow was none other than Ma Zhongtian, son of Ma Xingkong of the Blackwater Stronghold on Bixin Mountain, the junior chief; no wonder he had assumed the name Ma Xinsheng. Although his eyes were closed, Hu Xiaotian knew Ma Xinsheng's every move as if reading his palm.

Ma Zhongtian raised both hands with his saber, ready to hack down hard on Hu Xiaotian's neck, when suddenly two anguished cries rang out behind him. The two followers who had come with him were already spitting blood and flung backward—it was the supposedly unconscious Yan Kui, whose pair of iron fists smashed into their chests, his blows matchless, shattering every bone in their fronts, rupturing their organs; they were dead before they even hit the ground.

This sudden change startled Ma Zhongtian; Yan Kui gave a cold snort and said, "Do you really think you can fool an old man's eyes with just that?" He seized the Miao Xiang Wu Liang Guanyin statue and hurled it violently at Ma Zhongtian.

Ma Zhongtian, frightened, scrambled aside; the Guanyin statue grazed his arm, landed far away and shattered to pieces, and at once the fragrance in the room grew stronger.

Only then did Ma Zhongtian realize Yan Kui had been feigning the whole time; he raised his right hand and loosed a volley of sleeve arrows at Hu Xiaotian, determined to kill this slayer of his husband even if he himself had to flee.

Hu Xiaotian had no intention of moving, but Ma Zhongtian's close‑range shooting forced him to act; he flung up his hand and caught all the incoming sleeve arrows, then sprang from the ground like a leopard, darting forward and landing a punch on Ma Zhongtian's jaw that sent him flying sideways.

Ma Zhongtian's martial skill was nowhere near Hu Xiaotian's; seeing his body fly toward him, Yan Kui spread his huge palm like a cattail fan, seized his collar, tapped his pressure point and tossed him to the ground. His tiger‑like eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian, the corner of his mouth curling in a meaningful smile: "Kid, it seems you're not useless after all—you've hidden yourself quite deeply."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Aged ginger is spicier; no matter how deep you go, you can't match the chief!"

At that moment the people who had just fainted all came to, for the antidote was hidden inside the Guanyin statue; breaking it released the fragrance, which revived everyone. Yan Nujiao, though a disciple of the Granny Shadow, was not exempt this time; she rubbed her sore, numb shoulders, seeing her father and Hu Xiaotian standing together, Ma Xinsheng curled at their feet, and two more corpses lay in the hall—she had no idea what had just happened.

Long Xi Yue also woke up leisurely; the first thing she did upon waking was look for Hu Xiaotian, and only when she saw he was unharmed did she put her mind at ease.

Qin Boyan and the others hurried over to Chief Yan Kui's side, learned what had just occurred, and were still filled with lingering fear; Qin Boyan felt ashamed and said, "Fortunately the chief was wise, otherwise we would all have fallen victim to foul play."

Yan Kui lifted his foot and kicked Ma Zhongtian's body, saying, "If he weren't so impatient, he wouldn't have exposed himself so soon." He glanced at Hu Xiaotian and asked, "Does he bear a deep grudge against you?"

Hu Xiaotian feigned ignorance, replying, "I myself don't understand why he hates me so much."

Yan Kui glanced at his daughter and said, "It's either love or hatred! By this point, Master Hu, are you still intending to conceal your identity?"

Hu Xiaotian, hearing this, already realized they had long known his identity; he smiled and said, "It's not that I want to hide it—Miss Yan gave me a name, and if I refused I'd be showing her too little respect."

Yan Nujiao's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment; she had still been a little worried, but seeing her father's face lacking much hostility, she finally relaxed.

Third Update delivered; there are two more updates tonight, Zhangyu will keep striving! (To be continued~^~)