Chapter 1521: Seeking an Explanation (Part I)

Qin Boyan led people to take Ma Zhongtian away for interrogation; Yan Kui had Yan Nujiao and Long Xi Yue withdraw, wanting to speak privately with Hu Xiaotian for a few words.

An ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet her in-laws; Hu Xiaotian also understood he could not avoid this forever. In fact, from the moment Qin Boyan blocked them at the gate of Lanxi Stronghold, he had sensed possible exposure. Now looking back, Yan Kui's recent behavior was clearly meant to confuse everyone—this man appears rough but harbors deep scheming. He has dominated the Xichuan borderlands for many years; Li Tianheng has launched multiple campaigns against him, all to no avail, and he still roams the mountains, his power ever-growing, certainly not relying on mere luck. In fact, his sworn brother Yan Tianlu shares the same temperament.

Yan Kui pointed outside the hall and said, "Come with me for a walk outside."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, followed Yan Kui out of the Hall of Benevolence and Righteousness, walked up the stone steps on the right following the stream, arrived at the upper bamboo pavilion, where Yan Kui stopped. From here one could overlook the entire Lanxi Stronghold; most of the stronghold was lit, with occasional dog barks drifting over.

Yan Kui asked, "Is what Nujiao said all true?"

Hu Xiaotian feigned ignorance: "I don't know what the chief is talking about?" He understood perfectly in his heart.

Yan Kui glanced at him, his expression stern without anger: "Everyone says you, Hu Xiaotian, are bold beyond measure, yet you dare to act but not to own up!"

Hu Xiaotian broke into a sweat, embarrassed; Yan Kui really could say anything—this was clearly accusing him of having slept with his daughter.

Yan Kui said, "A father knows his daughter best; I naturally know what she's thinking. Do you think anything could be hidden from my eyes within my domain?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Chief, your vision is like a torch, your foresight divine—truly admirable to the point of prostration; my reverence for you is like endless river waters, like the Yellow River flooding, unstoppable." Classic sayings become classic for a reason; this obvious flattery never fails. Note its worth.

Yan Kui snorted coldly: "Stop the flattery, your honeyed words—my daughter was deceived by you like this." Yet the words still sounded pleasant, making Hu Xiaotian seem somewhat agreeable as well.

Hu Xiaotian coughed embarrassedly: "I hold Yan Nujiao in great respect, and I hold you, Chief, in great respect—these are sincere words from my heart."

Yan Kui stepped toward him. Yan Kui was already tall, half a head taller than Hu Xiaotian, and with his imposing aura he naturally gave off a strong pressure; ordinary people would likely tremble with fear before him, yet Hu Xiaotian still wore a carefree grin.

Yan Kui stared at him tigerishly and said, "You got my daughter pregnant, yet you dare claim respect?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed bitterly. He himself could not confirm this; he had not yet found Yan Nujiao to verify. If he truly had made her pregnant, it would not be entirely bad news.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's lack of response, Yan Kui grabbed his collar: "Kid, you still won't admit it?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile: "Please calm down, Chief. What exactly do you want me to admit?"

Yan Kui said, "The child in my daughter's womb."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Chief, I truly don't know about this; I only just heard of it."

Yan Kui snapped: "How could she blame you for this? Will you admit it or not?"

Hu Xiaotian bowed and pleaded: "Chief, uh… Uncle. I… I admit it—if she really is pregnant, I naturally will! But the last time I was intimate with her was in Bohai State; it's been so long that if she were pregnant, the child should already have been born, wouldn't you say?" Actually, Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao last were intimate in Huoshao City, just a few days ago, making pregnancy unlikely.

Yan Kui snorted coldly: "You finally admitted it? Good kid, you actually dared to do my daughter in Bohai State…" He raised his fist, not striking Hu Xiaotian's face but smashing the bamboo pavilion's pillar, making the whole pavilion tremble.

Yan Kui said, "Wait, if it was in Bohai State, the child should indeed have been born by now, yet I knew nothing—could Nujiao have lied to me?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I also think something's off!"

Yan Kui fumed: "What are you saying? Want to eat your fill then deny responsibility?"

Hu Xiaotian, troubled by this unreliable father-in-law, said: "I admit, I admit! Let's not talk about whether we've eaten our fill; we're not discussing whether she's pregnant or not. I think this is unlikely; Nujiao probably said that because you forced her hand—she simply doesn't want to marry Ma Zhongtian."

Yan Kui released Hu Xiaotian's collar, nodded and said: "Yeah, now that you put it that way, I also find this very suspicious. You say your most recent… uh… encounter with her was when?" The old man finally felt a bit embarrassed.

Hu Xiaotian, now indifferent, replied: "Which time are you asking about?"

Yan Kui's eyes widened, glaring as if he wanted to devour him: "Your ancestors, how many times have you actually… been with her?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "Uncle, does this concern you? There's a saying: elders shouldn't meddle in the young's affairs. Do you think it's appropriate for you to pry into this? Is your curiosity a bit excessive?"

Yan Kui roared: "I'm worried about my daughter, damn it! You, this oily-faced, sweet-talking brat, deceived her—how could I rest easy?"

Hu Xiaotian actually patted his shoulder and sat down in the bamboo pavilion.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's calm composure, Yan Kui was instead a bit dazed: "Damn! This kid is clearly a free-loader!" Yan Kui gave Hu Xiaotian a sinister look, nodded, and sat beside him: "Speak!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "This story is long."

"Old man, I have plenty of time!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Let's start from the first time then…"

Yan Kui stretched out his palm, big as a cattail fan: "Enough, I don't want to hear it."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Then just tell me about the most recent time—you look so curious, you surely want to know."

Yan Kui sneered: "I already know without you saying—it definitely happened in Huoshao City."

Hu Xiaotian slapped his thigh hard: "Admirable, truly admirable! Nothing escapes your notice, old man."

Yan Kui gritted his teeth: "You're basically a beast; going by my old temper, I'd slap you to death."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Hold on—if Nujiao really is pregnant, killing me would be killing her husband, and you'd become the murderer of your own grandson's father; you'd spend the rest of your days in regret."

Yan Kui blinked: "Then what do you suggest we do?"

"What do you mean, what should we do?"

Yan Kui jabbed his finger hard into Hu Xiaotian's forehead: "You want to enjoy the benefits then deny responsibility? My daughter, my Yan Kui's daughter, can't be taken advantage of for nothing—you owe us an explanation!"

Seeing this notorious mountain lord at a loss, Hu Xiaotian secretly amused: "An explanation, fine—I'll admit it, I haven't denied it."

"What should we do?"

"What should we do? We've already done it; I can't pretend nothing happened, nor can I turn back time."

Yan Kui finally managed to say: "You must marry her!" After saying it, he felt a wave of relief; he had originally hoped Hu Xiaotian would propose voluntarily, but this slippery fellow kept beating around the bush, never getting to the point.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Old man, be frank with me—did you already know about… that?"

Yan Kui rolled his eyes, face full of arrogance: "I've roamed the world for half a lifetime; what haven't I experienced? Do you two really think you can fool me?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "If you clearly know, why did you just propose to marry her off to Ma Zhongtian?"

Yan Kui said, "I was…"—he immediately realized he had slipped, admitting he had deliberately tested Yan Nujiao and Hu Xiaotian's reactions, but this time he had fallen into Hu Xiaotian's trap.

Hu Xiaotian let out an "oh," eyes widened, as if dawning comprehension: "Oh! Oh! Oh!"

Yan Kui retorted: "Oh what? Speak up if you have something to say, pass gas if you have gas to pass—I hate your indecisive, wishy-washy attitude."

Hu Xiaotian said, "You really are sly, old man."

Yan Kui said, "And I'm not like you—shameless, disgraceful, tight-lipped about propriety, I… I'm embarrassed to even mention it; you stealing someone's daughter is simply… utterly shameless!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "You haven't heard the saying: mutual affection, voluntary consent, the deed is done, dry kindling meets fire, one clap doesn't make a sound—anyway, what's bound to happen has happened; if you feel upset, why not just kill me?"

Yan Kui raised his fist, waved it in the air, then lowered it helplessly: "Utterly shameless—how could Nujiao like someone like you? What's wrong with today's youth?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "At least I dare to act and own up—that's a merit, right?"

"You have all kinds of problems, no strengths at all." Yan Kui said: "What should we do?" He was made dizzy by Hu Xiaotian, only now remembering he was supposed to reason with him and make him take responsibility.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You old man, not the slightest bit straightforward, you've been going around in circles all this time—you just want me to marry Nu Jiao, don't you?"

"Ah, that's right… huh, what do you mean? You think my daughter can't get married? You can't find a good family?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I didn't mean it that way. What kind of person are you? There's nothing in the world that could embarrass you. Besides, apart from me, you need to find a real father for the child in Nu Jiao's belly."

"You..." Yan Kui almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "What's the big deal? What matter can't be sat down and talked about? You old man, say it—love between men and women is naturally a good thing of mutual consent; you're all fierce and menacing, wanting to fight and kill—isn't that just spoiling the mood? Because of Nu Jiao, we could be considered relatives, right?"

Yan Kui was so angry his eyes rolled up; he cursed, "Damn it, why does this brat piss me off so much? He clearly took advantage of my daughter, yet he talks as if I owe him—really makes me furious!"