Chapter 1589: [As Promised] (Lower)

Hu Xiaotian went to find Zan Buliu not because he was desperate and grasping at straws, nor because he was just trying his luck; he still understood Zan Buliu quite well, knew Zan Buliu's connections in Da Yong, and understood this person's abilities—if Zan Buliu were willing to help, they should be able to uncover some clues.

When returning from Qili Ping to their lodging, Hu Xiaotian deliberately took a detour to the East City Prince Yan's mansion; the road to the mansion had been blocked, and Hu Xiaotian dared not approach openly, instead gazing from afar and seeing soldiers searching the Prince Yan's mansion. Li Chenzhou would inevitably ransack the mansion over this incident, recalling the Prince's rare treasures once kept in the Buddha Laugh Pavilion, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help feeling sorry for him—first the Gathering Treasure Studio had been seized by Xue Daohong, now that Xue Daohong is dead, Xue Shengjing bears the false charge of plotting to usurp the throne, and even this last bit of family property cannot be retained.

Walking westward along the Prince Yan's mansion, passing by the Shennong Society, Hu Xiaotian saw its gate sealed; once bustling with patients coming and going, now it was deserted, after Liu Changsheng and his son were arrested many disciples were implicated, many others fled luckily, yet the Shennong Society stood empty.

As Hu Xiaotian stood before the Shennong Society's gate watching, he suddenly heard a wild laugh; turning, he saw a middle-aged man with disheveled hair running toward them, arguing. In the depths of winter, the man ran barefoot on ice and snow, laughing foolishly: "I'm back… I'm back…" Seeing the Shennong Society's gate, he was overjoyed, slipped, and fell flat on his back with a thud.

Seeing the man fall so badly, Hu Xiaotian wanted to help him up, but inadvertently saw his face—it was Fan Mingyu, the eldest disciple of Liu Changsheng from the Shennong Society. Hu Xiaotian felt even more astonished, wondering how Fan Mingyu had fallen to such a state; judging by his appearance, he seemed to have gone mad.

At that moment a girl in a blue cotton robe rushed over from afar, her eye sockets red, she bit her lip tightly as she helped Fan Mingyu up, trembling: "Father, what happened to you?"

Hu Xiaotian looked at the girl; her outline seemed somewhat familiar. After a moment's thought, he realized this girl was Fan Ling'er, whom he hadn't seen in years, now grown into a lovely young lady.

Fan Mingyu pointed at the Shennong Society's gate and said: "Home, home! I want to go home."

Fan Ling'er warily glanced around; she did not recognize the disguised Hu Xiaotian, and softly urged: "Father, you've taken the wrong way; I'll take you back now."

But Fan Mingyu stubbornly shook off Fan Ling'er's arm, strode to the Shennong Society's gate, and actually tore off the seal on the door.

Seeing her father act thus, Fan Ling'er's face changed, she rushed to his side, supporting his hands: "Father, hurry! Hurry!"

Fan Mingyu not only didn't leave, but kept pounding on the door, shouting hoarsely: "Why won't you open the door? Why won't you let me in?" His mind was addled; he couldn't see that the door was locked.

Fan Ling'er was both startled and frightened, fearing her father's knocking would summon officials, yet she couldn't stop him.

Sure enough, four warriors came running from the alley's entrance, knives and spears in hand, pointing at Fan Ling'er and her father, shouting: "What are you doing? Still not surrendering?"

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows, and via mental transmission told Fan Ling'er: "Why don't you leave quickly?"

Seeing the warriors approach, Fan Mingyu seemed to regain a bit of clarity, frightened, he turned and fled.

The four warriors, seeing them flee, would not let them go so easily; they sped up the chase. Unexpectedly, Hu Xiaotian stepped forward to block their path; before they could question him, he struck—moving like a fleeing rabbit, he delivered a series of clean punches and kicks, felling all four warriors to the ground, then brushed off his hands and walked away.

Fan Ling'er led her father along secluded lanes, fearing pursuit by those warriors; after taking a long detour, they arrived before an old dwelling; she pushed her father into the courtyard, followed him inside, peered left and right at the door, confirming no one followed, then shut the door and bolted it.

Fan Mingyu stood barefoot in the snow, trembling from cold or fear.

Fan Ling'er sighed, speaking gently: "Father, go inside first; I'll heat a basin of water for you to wash your feet."

Fan Mingyu stood there foolishly, pointing at Fan Ling'er's back and asking: "Who are you?"

Fan Ling'er turned hastily, only to see the ugly man who had helped them escape standing behind her; she jumped, his movements were mysterious—he had been following them all along without her noticing, showing his martial skill must be high; yet he seemed to bear them no ill will, otherwise why wait until now to act?

Fan Ling'er drew a quiet breath, reminding herself to stay calm, and softly said: "Father, go inside first."

This time Fan Mingyu seemed to understand her words, nodded, turned, and entered the house.

Fan Ling'er bowed to Hu Xiaotian: "Many thanks for your rescue, benefactor."

Hu Xiaotian said nothing, his gaze fixed on the west wing; he had followed Fan Ling'er and her father here, but upon entering the courtyard he sensed a fourth person inside—faint breathing came from the west wing; though the person tried to conceal it, Hu Xiaotian's ears still caught it.

Hu Xiaotian whispered: "So Miss Fan's household still has other guests?"

Fan Ling'er didn't know how he knew her surname; his words clearly had hidden meaning, yet besides herself and her father there was no one else here—why would he say that?

Hu Xiaotian strode toward the west wing; before he reached the door, it slowly opened, and a masked woman wearing a bamboo hat stepped out lightly; though her face was hidden, Hu Xiaotian recognized her from her graceful figure—it was Qin Yutong. He felt both surprise and joy: surprised that Qin Yutong appeared without warning, pleased that her arrival could become a great aid to him.

Fan Ling'er did not know Hu Xiaotian, but she recognized Qin Yutong and exclaimed happily: "Auntie has come!" Qin Yutong and her father Fan Mingyu are of the same generation, so she addresses her thus.

Qin Yutong nodded: "Ling'er, I have some private words to speak with your uncle; I'll find you later."

Fan Ling'er looked at Hu Xiaotian, still unable to recall where she had met him before.

After Fan Ling'er entered the house, Qin Yutong approached Hu Xiaotian and said softly: "In the end I couldn't hide from your ears." Though Hu Xiaotian had changed his appearance, she recognized him at a glance.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "I thought you wouldn't recognize me."

Qin Yutong said: "Your disguise isn't very skillful, especially these eyes—too sharp, you don't know how to conceal them."

Hu Xiaotian replied: "Fooling most people is enough." His gaze fell on the light gauze on Qin Yutong's face: "Isn't this just trying to hide and ending up more conspicuous? Going out like this, others would surely suspect."

Qin Yutong lifted the veil, revealing a pale, ordinary face, her eyes lacking luster, looking sickly; though the ugly scars she had shown Hu Xiaotian before were gone, her current appearance could not be called peerless beauty—at most she was an ordinary woman.

Hu Xiaotian knew this was not Qin Yutong's true face; the highest level of disguise is to appear as an ordinary person, featureless and plain, so that one is forgotten at a glance—Qin Yutong has clearly reached master level in this.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've known you this long, yet I still can't remember your looks."

Qin Yutong replied calmly: "Normal!"

Hu Xiaotian asked: "When did you arrive?"

Qin Yutong answered: "I don't trust others with certain matters, so I came to see for myself."

Hearing this, Hu Xiaotian felt a secret shame; although he had promised her and done his best to help, human plans fall short of heavenly ones, and in the end he failed to rescue the Liu father and son; now their fate is unknown, all signs show they have been completely dragged into this court intrigue—if he hadn't sought help from Grand Princess Xue Lingjun, perhaps things wouldn't have deteriorated so badly; in a sense, he is the one who harmed this father and son.

Qin Yutong sensed a hint of guilt in Hu Xiaotian's eyes; she did not blame him, speaking softly: "No one expected Da Yong to undergo such a change."

Hu Xiaotian sighed, he did not hide anything, and recounted how he first went to find Prince Yan, then followed the Prince's advice to seek aid from Grand Princess Xue Lingjun, blaming himself: "If it weren't for my going to see Xue Lingjun, perhaps she wouldn't have used Mr. Liu's and his son's lives to blackmail me into working for her."

Qin Yutong bit her lip, then comforted Hu Xiaotian: "Things have come to this; you needn't blame yourself—still try to learn their whereabouts as soon as possible." Man proposes, heaven disposes; even if Hu Xiaotian possesses great ability, this is not his turf, he cannot decide what happens in Da Yong, and unfortunately he encountered a palace upheaval—anyone facing this situation would be powerless.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've had people inquire from all sides, hoping to find them soon, but…" He didn't finish the sentence, yet his expression already showed the matter was not promising.

Qin Yutong said: "Do your best and leave the rest to fate!" Her voice carried a faint sorrow; she and Liu Changsheng were forgotten-year friends, Liu Changsheng not only had superb medical skill but also noble character—such a person meeting such misfortune makes one lament the injustice of fate. Besides sighing and sympathizing, Qin Yutong wondered what else she could do? A physician can save others' lives, yet cannot save himself—saving people is easy, saving a state is hard! In such a chaotic age, even peerless medical skill cannot fully display one's ambition; she suddenly understood why Hu Xiaotian, clearly possessing divine medical ability, chooses to contend for power and carve out a domain—perhaps he has long seen through this truth.

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