Chapter 1522

But Yan Kui couldn't deny that what this guy said was true; because of his daughter, aren't the two of them relatives? Yan Kui had a lot to say, but he always felt that saying it would make him look shabby; today's behavior really seems a bit eager to marry his daughter off to someone. He furrowed his brows and gave a hehe laugh: "I, Yan Kui, love nothing more in my life than Nujiao; those who know me know I'm naturally protective of my own—whoever bullies my daughter, hehe..."

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said: "Can we two have a proper talk? A son-in-law is half a son; later, you might end up pointing to this half-son of yours to be filial."

"I have my own son!" Yan Kui shouted loudly.

Hu Xiaotian sighed again: "You're talking about Yan Boguang, my brother-in-law; you still don't know what kind of person he is? To put it bluntly, as long as you're alive you can still protect him, but once you pass away and die a natural death, who will protect him?"

"You..." Yan Kui felt like he was about to spit blood—having a son-in-law speak to his father-in-law like that? Yet he couldn't help admitting that Hu Xiaotian made sense; his own son was utterly useless, finally having settled down and cultivated his nature, and even found him a wife, but that daughter-in-law has been mourning-faced all day since the marriage; Yan Kui went to great trouble to find out that his precious son is now incapable of marital relations, basically a living eunuch; this matter has given Yan Kui a huge headache. And this matter just happened after Hu Xiaotian treated his injuries; Yan Kui has also heard many rumors about Hu Xiaotian's medical skills—could his son's inability in this regard be related to him?

Hu Xiaotian said: "Uncle!"

Yan Kui glared at him: "Don't call me uncle!"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, then shamelessly called out: "Father-in-law, Sir!"

Yan Kui had actually already accepted this son-in-law, but hearing him call that way still startled him; he froze for a moment before saying: "What are you calling me?"

"Father-in-law, Sir!" Hu Xiaotian's skin had long been trained to be impervious to oil and salt.

Yan Kui pointed at his nose and said: "Kid, listen carefully—you haven't married my daughter. My daughter couldn't possibly sneak into your Hu family secretly and obscurely; besides, before a proper wedding, I'm not your father-in-law!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It doesn't matter to me; I'm thinking of you. A proper wedding is naturally appropriate. But if I were to have a proper wedding, it would be a earth-shaking big deal—don't you think becoming my father-in-law would give you a special sense of security?"

Yan Kui's heart sank; Hu Xiaotian wasn't just talking nonsense—this kid may not be weak in Yongjiang, but he's made plenty of enemies; if the news spread that he married my daughter, at least for now it wouldn't benefit me.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why not ask Nujiao what she thinks?"

Yan Kui said: "Hu Xiaotian, if it weren't for you coaxing my daughter, I wouldn't look at you at all."

Hu Xiaotian said: "That's only fitting; how about this—let me propose the next betrothal gift?"

Yan Kui said: "The betrothal gift certainly can't be lacking; I'll have someone draw up a list shortly."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Although I can't produce much, I'll name one thing that you'll surely be satisfied with."

Yan Kui looked at him half-believing, half-doubting; Hu Xiaotian leaned close to his ear and whispered something, causing Yan Kui to stare with his mouth wide open: "Really?"

Hu Xiaotian grinned: "Indeed. I cure illness with a touch—what do you think of this betrothal gift?"

Yan Kui struggled to suppress his joy: "You wouldn't be deceiving me, would you?"

"Between us two, who's with whom? I might deceive anyone else, but I would never deceive my father-in-law!"

Yan Kui was truly convinced by him. Yet this time he didn't show opposition, speaking with a sour tone: "Kid, are you afraid there aren't enough fathers-in-law under heaven?"

"You're the first one I've ever called that."

"Believing you would be strange!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you like it, from now on I'll only call you father-in-law." Hu Xiaotian, while saying this, cursed himself inwardly for being shameless. But coming back to it, he actually doesn't have any father-in-law for now—the Laohuangdi barely counts, but he's dead! Huo Shengnan has no parents! Weisa also has no parents! Xi Yan's side hasn't even gotten a single stroke of the eight characters; Mu Rongzhan is in that undead-like state, even Murong Feiyan doesn't acknowledge him, so I certainly couldn't call him father-in-law.

Although Yan Kui clearly knew this kid was talking nonsense, hearing it still felt very gratifying, yet he wasn't dazed by the kid's sweet talk; he whispered: "If my daughter becomes the principal wife, won't Princess Yingyue have any objections?"

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed; the old geezer was slippery enough, actually helping his daughter argue about seniority; Hu Xiaotian laughed: "The princess certainly won't have any objections."

Yan Kui nodded happily, but immediately became wary and looked at Hu Xiaotian: "Is my daughter going to be the principal wife?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Of course she will be!"

"Principal wife?"

"Principal wife!"

Yan Kui, satisfied, said: "At least you still have a conscience, but a wife is inferior to a concubine, a concubine inferior to a lover; status doesn't matter, treating her well is what counts."

Hu Xiaotian put his hand on Yan Kui's shoulder; this old father-in-law hit the nail on the head, so he couldn't help but give praise: "Father-in-law, Sir, I truly admire you—if it weren't for personal experience, if it weren't for having gone through a hundred battles in the realm of love, I could never have such deep insight; admire! admire!"

Yan Kui said: "Get lost, you calf! Before I lose my temper, get far away from me."

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly, bowed deeply to Yan Kui: "Son-in-law, I take my leave!"

Yan Kui glared at him fiercely, but after Hu Xiaotian left, he couldn't help laughing; to say this kid really matches his temperament—being able to make the renowned Hu Xiaotian call him father-in-law is also quite an honorable thing.

Yan Kui shook his head and walked to the right, arriving at the place where Ma Zhongtian was imprisoned; Qin Boguang stepped forward and said: "Chief, you've arrived!"

Yan Kui nodded and said: "Any ideas?"

Qin Boguang laughed: "This kid's bones aren't that tough—he's spilled everything. He's the son of Ma Xingkong, chief of the Blackwater Stronghold on Jade Heart Mountain; because Hu Xiaotian led the navy to occupy Cloud Marsh, seize Jade Heart Mountain, and kill his father, he fled to the ends of the earth, later seeking refuge with Xichuan's Li Tianheng; this time we went out, he took the chance to get close to us, but his real aim is to infiltrate our interior, then coordinate with Xichuan from inside and out to storm our Heavenly Wolf Mountain."

Yan Kui chuckled: "Li Tianheng that old tortoise really knows how to use people—he actually sent him over."

Qin Boguang said: "Chief, you're wise; you saw through his intentions early on."

Yan Kui said: "I originally wanted to have more fun with him, but this kid is too impatient; as soon as he entered our stronghold, he wanted to wipe us out in one sweep—do you really think we're all vegetarians?"

Qin Boguang said: "It's not that he's impatient; it's because he utterly hates Hu Xiaotian. He hadn't planned to act so soon, but seeing Hu Xiaotian made him unable to resist seeking revenge."

Yan Kui nodded: "Keep questioning him; squeeze out everything he knows."

"Then what?"

Yan Kui gave a cold snort: "Leave no future trouble!"

Long Xi Yue and Yan Nujiao were both waiting in the room for Hu Xiaotian; seeing him return, they stood up at the same time; Hu Xiaotian smiled: "What's up? Are you both worried about me?"

Yan Nujiao said: "My father has a bad temper; hasn't he given you a hard time?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Not bad; we've been getting along swimmingly."

Long Xi Yue yawned: "I'm tired; I'll go rest first—can you two move somewhere else to keep talking?" After saying that, she smiled and turned to walk into the room; Hu Xiaotian and Yan Nujiao glanced at each other, neither speaking; Hu Xiaotian left first, returning to his stilted house; after a while, Yan Nujiao followed.

She stood at the door but didn't rush inside, feeling a bit embarrassed: "The more the princess acts like this, the more I feel sorry for her."

Hu Xiaotian reached out to take her hand and led her into the room, speaking softly: "She wants to give us a chance to have a proper talk."

Yan Nujiao flung herself into his embrace, whispering: "Did my father really not give you a hard time?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "No, I just asked a few things about us."

Yan Nujiao lifted her head, her cheeks flushing: "What did you say to him?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Of course, I said whatever there was to say."

Yan Nujiao, shy, buried her head in his embrace: "How can you be like this?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "You already have my flesh and blood—what else is there for me to fear?"

Yan Nujiao shook her head: "Xiaotian, it's not true—I said that on purpose; back then he wanted to betroth me to that Ma Zhongtian, and in a moment of panic she said that."

Hu Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief, yet couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed; it seemed his joy had been in vain, and he still hadn't succeeded in sowing his seed.

Yan Nujiao said, "What else did he say to you?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Nothing much, just that he wants you to be my chief wife."

Yan Nujiao and Hu Xiaotian separated; she, feeling both shy and anxious, stamped her foot and said, "I'm going to find him—how could he say such things?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Parents' hearts are the same everywhere; he's doing it for your own good."

Yan Nujiao said, "I never even thought of wanting any status, much less hoped to compete with the princess for it; Xiaotian, I swear I haven't."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "No need to swear—I know what kind of person you are. As long as you don't feel wronged being with me, I will certainly treat you both fairly from now on; in my heart there will be no partiality."

Yan Nujiao bit her cherry lips, her heart overflowing with joy, and she flung herself into Hu Xiaotian's arms once more. She had thought she'd face her father's opposition, but she never imagined today's events would take a turn for the better—her and Hu Xiaotian's union actually won his approval, and she still can't believe it's real. Feeling the warmth and steadiness from her lover in his embrace, she suddenly pushed him away and said, "I should go back."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed, "Where are you going?"

Yan Nujiao said, "I'm going to keep Xi Yue company and have a good talk with her."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Isn't she asleep?"

Yan Nujiao laughed, "Not at all!" She waved her hand, turned, and floated away.

Hu Xiaotian watched her walk away, then came to his senses: "Hey, you all left? Who's going to keep me company?" (To be continued... ^~^)