Chapter 1644

Meng Guangxiong said: "Fate is heaven's decree; Master Hu need not worry. If there is ever a use for me, Sir Hu, just call."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, Meng Guangxiong waved his hand in the distance, a beggar walked over from behind, presenting a gift box with both hands to Hu Xiaotian, Meng Guangxiong said: "Inside is the fine monkey tea I brought from Xichuan; Master Hu, please accept it with a smile."

Hu Xiaotian saw Meng Guangxiong's friendly gesture toward him, unlike the senior power figures of the Beggars' Sect such as Mu Shengsheng and Xue Zhenhai, the newer generation represented by Meng Guangxiong and An Di showed him greater closeness; Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Then I shall obey rather than stand on ceremony." He took the gift box.

When the beggar handed over the gift box, his finger touched Hu Xiaotian's, and Hu Xiaotian suddenly felt a chill run along his skin; astonished, he looked up, only to see the beggar had already withdrawn, and from his eyes he saw a familiar glint, while an indifferent voice came from beside his ear: "Little bearded one, I await you at the southeast Lijiang River ford."

A feeling of extreme joy instantly filled Hu Xiaotian's heart; the nameless beggar before him was actually Ji Feihua in disguise, as the saying goes, "Having worn out one's iron shoes in search, one finds it without effort." Hu Xiaotian harbored too many doubts and troubles awaiting her answer, and during this time he had learned too many secrets; these secrets weighed on him with no one to share the burden, and even if he were willing to speak, others might not believe him, but Ji Feihua is different—she is exceptionally wise, and moreover she can obtain information from the Lan-colored transparent skull; even if she is not the Heaven's Chosen One, she must still have countless ties to those extraterrestrial visitors.

The surprise on Hu Xiaotian's face was merely a fleeting glance; he then cupped his fists in farewell to Meng Guangxiong. Xia Zhangming waited in the distance; Hu Xiaotian took the reins from Xia Zhangming's hand, mounted his horse, and after riding together for a stretch, he lowered his voice to say: "You go ahead; I still have business."

Xia Zhangming nodded, whipped his horse and rode off first; Hu Xiaotian looked around, making sure no one was following, then turned his horse southeast. After traveling about ten or more li, he saw the Lijiang River ford ahead, which had long been abandoned, though many ancient structures still stood on the ford. Hu Xiaotian saw a white horse tethered to a flagpole, spurred his mount over, tied the horse to the pole, and looked ahead—only to see a black-clad figure with his back to him standing on the river's edge, his wide robe fluttering in the gusts of north wind, as if about to take flight at any moment—who else could it be but Ji Feihua?

Hu Xiaotian suppressed his inner excitement, slowly stepping up behind her; although he had long known Ji Feihua was a woman, he did not reveal it in her presence, perhaps she did not realize he had already seen through her true identity.

Hu Xiaotian came to Ji Feihua's side, following her gaze toward the frozen river ahead, and said softly: "This ford has long been abandoned."

Ji Feihua turned her head, her clear eyes sweeping over his face as she said: "Even if it weren't abandoned, it would serve no purpose now; the ice on the river is about half a foot thick, so even carriages and horses could cross it."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Three feet of ice does not form in a day's cold; the weather is getting colder and colder."

Ji Feihua found his lament somewhat laughable, though she could not say why: "The New Year is just around the corner; after the year passes, each day will be warmer than the last."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Elder Brother Ji, I never expected you to come!"

"How come? Don't you want to see me?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Yes, I do—very much so; these days I think of Elder Brother Ji day and night, even dreaming of him."

Ji Feihua felt her face flush; this fellow's tone was clearly that of speaking to a woman—could he have already seen through her true identity? Yet she thought it unlikely; but Hu Xiaotian had not seen through it, so why would he show such enthusiasm toward a man? Thinking this, Ji Feihua suddenly felt a creepy sensation deep inside—could Hu Xiaotian have some problem in that regard?

Ji Feihua said: "I came to see you specifically to return something to you." She drew out the light sword and handed it to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Keep it; I've found another." That light sword, ever since he retrieved it from Emperor Jingde's Huangling Digong, had been with him constantly; he had tried exposing it to light, baking it with fire, soaking it in water—every method he could think of—but the sword still showed no reaction, and Hu Xiaotian believed the sword must have been damaged.

Ji Feihua was also greatly surprised to see Hu Xiaotian produce another light sword; she reached out and took his sword, twisted the hilt, and immediately found no reaction; she brought the hilt close to examine the inscriptions, her brows slightly furrowed in thought.

Hu Xiaotian naturally could not read the inscriptions, merely guessing they were similar to those on the previous sword; since Ji Feihua knew that turning the sword to its final setting could trigger an explosion, it stood to reason she understood this script.

Ji Feihua looked for a moment, then turned the setting on the sword Hu Xiaotian had given her two notches, and also turned the setting on the sword she carried one notch; she aligned the tails of the two swords, feeling a suction, and with a "tok!" the two swords merged into one; Ji Feihua then turned the setting on her carried sword one more notch, and a blade of light shot from the sword, while the sword Hu Xiaotian had given her also emitted a faint blade of light about half an inch long.

Hu Xiaotian was overjoyed; it seemed Ji Feihua indeed recognized the inscriptions, and he whispered: "Yin-Yang Twin Swords!"

Ji Feihua smiled faintly and said: "To be precise, it should be called the Mother-Child Sword."

After the two swords joined as one, their light quickly extended, soon reaching about three feet in length. Hu Xiaotian puzzled: "It turns out the sword wasn't broken; it just needed to draw energy from you."

Ji Feihua said: "The first time is like this; once activated, it can store energy using light." She separated the two swords, deactivated the blades, and handed Hu Xiaotian's sword back to him, but Hu Xiaotian pointed at her sword and said: "Give me the male sword!"

Ji Feihua blinked slightly; she had intended to return it to him, but just now he had refused, and now he says this—after a moment's thought she sensed there was more to his words; why would he want the male sword? What is he implying?

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I prefer the male sword!"

Ji Feihua said: "They were originally yours anyway; just take them both."

Hu Xiaotian said: "One is enough; you keep the other for self-defense."

Ji Feihua did not stand on ceremony with him either; she put away her sword, then asked about the origin of Hu Xiaotian's sword.

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said: "This is a long story..." Then he recounted in full how he entered Emperor Jingde's Huangling Digong and how he found this sword; as for the matter of the Ghost Doctor's talisman, he did not mention it—although Ji Feihua treated him well, after all her identity is doubtful; if she truly is the Heaven's Chosen One spoken of by the Ghost Doctor, who knows she might not have other motives? Everyone comes from different backgrounds, their allegiances may differ; all that was said was that a letter was discovered in Emperor Jingde's mausoleum, recording the affairs of the Heaven's Chosen One.

Ji Feihua listened to his finish, her eyes deep as the sea, gazing at the frozen Lijiang River in contemplation for a long while before she said: "Little bearded one, do you believe it or not—I might be a descendant of those extraterrestrial visitors."

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

Ji Feihua furrowed her brows and asked: "Do you believe whatever I say?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Yes!"

Ji Feihua said: "Are you not worried that I might deceive you?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said: "I have never worried; if there is still someone in this world who sincerely treats me well, that person is you." This fellow's words were heartfelt and sincere, yet absolutely just sweet talk.

As clever and wise as Ji Feihua, she could not fail to hear that he was deliberately saying this to win her favor; yet hearing it in her heart she actually felt somewhat moved, and naturally could not bear to expose his lie, she whispered softly: "Even I myself am not clear about who I really are; you should remember the matter of the Chu family's extermination?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "I remember." Back when he and Ji Feihua had a deep conversation on the Yongjiang River, Ji Feihua told him about the Chu family's extermination and some entanglements between the Chu family and the Jinling Xu family; although she did not openly admit it, in fact she had already told Hu Xiaotian that she was a descendant of the Chu family.

Ji Feihua said: "When the Chu family was exterminated, only a small child escaped the calamity; she was only six years old then, not because her fate was grand, but because someone helped her."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Who? Could it be... Liu Yuzhang?"

Ji Feihua showed an appreciative expression; Hu Xiaotian's mind is indeed agile, able to deduce from her words that it was Liu Yuzhang, showing how meticulous his thinking is.

Ji Feihua said: "Liu Yuzhang is a person who hides his talents; on the surface he appears loyal and devoted to the Emperor of Dakang, indifferent to fame and profit, but in fact his mind is deep and scheming, old and crafty, harboring other schemes while lurking in the imperial palace."

Hu Xiaotian gazed at Ji Feihua, secretly thinking: When she entered the palace at age six, if not for Liu Yuzhang covering for her, her female identity would surely not have escaped the notice of so many in the palace. Recalling Liu Yuzhang's past deeds, it is hard to imagine that this kindly old man who showed such meticulous care for him could be so deeply concealed. Moreover, Li Yuncong had previously said Liu Yuzhang faked his death to escape a calamity. With his two lifetimes of experience, being that age in the palace feels like walking on thin ice, heart pounding at every step; thinking back to when Ji Feihua entered the palace at six, he truly does not know how she managed to endure. He whispered: "Back then you must have suffered many injustices."

Ji Feihua pressed her lips and continued: "That child soon discovered Liu Yuzhang was far from a benevolent old man; his sole purpose in helping her was to rely on her blood to nourish his illness."

Hu Xiaotian widened his eyes; no matter what, he never would have imagined such a thing. (To be continued~^~.)