Chapter 1675: [Do You Know?] (Part 1)

On New Year's Eve, the streets and alleys of Yongdu still saw few pedestrians; the shadow of the plague was hard to lift from people's hearts in a short time, and firecrackers sounded everywhere. In fact, far more firecrackers were set off this year than in previous years, as ordinary people hoped the New Year would sweep everything away, using the firecrackers to drive away this terrifying plague.

Hu Xiaotian stood silently before the Great Buddha Temple of Yongdu; in past years the temple gates would be thronged with crowds, half of Yongdu's populace coming to hear the New Year's first bell toll and scramble for the first incense stick, but now the temple gates stood deserted, the doors wide open yet no one came.

Hu Xiaotian walked slowly toward the mountain gate, arrived before it, turned around and saw Ji Feihua appearing behind him at some unknown time; he couldn't help but smile: 'You're punctual!' He had come here because Ji Feihua had invited him to offer incense.

Ji Feihua gave a light smile, came to his side, and said softly: 'I didn't expect the Great Buddha Temple to be so quiet.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'This epidemic has thrown people into panic; ordinary folk dare not go out casually in the short term.'

Ji Feihua seemed not very interested in this matter, and stepped forward into the Great Buddha Temple.

The monk on duty at the temple had not expected any worshippers tonight; he gave them a surprised glance, then lowered his head and began chanting sutras in a murmuring, 'eee-ya-ya' tone.

As the New Year's bell rang, Hu Xiaotian and Ji Feihua arrived before the Mahavira Hall to offer incense. Hu Xiaotian had intended to let her have the first stick, but he hadn't expected she had no intention of offering incense; he said softly: 'I never believe in gods and buddhas; I invited you here merely to meet.'

Although Hu Xiaotian also didn't believe, he nonetheless wanted a bit of auspiciousness, so he respectfully offered incense and donated a thousand taels of incense money.

Leaving the Great Buddha Temple, Ji Feihua asked: 'What wish did you make?'

Hu Xiaotian's lips curled into a faint smile: 'I can't say; if I say it, it won't come true.'

Ji Feihua chuckled: 'Even if you don't say it, I know—it's nothing more than praying for yourself to achieve greatness, to unify the realm soon and become the ruler of ten thousand chariots.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Brother Ji is about to become a roundworm in my stomach.' Actually, that's not the wish I made. Looking at Ji Feihua, he said: 'Where did those two **** go? I've been worried about you.'

Ji Feihua said: 'What do I have to worry about? I searched around Dog Head Hill and found no trace of the Black Hu people; it seems they have withdrawn.' She laughed again as she said: 'Da Yong sent a troop over, burning that ruin to the ground; even if anyone hid in earth caves, they'd probably end up as roasted pig.'

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: 'Indeed, it's necessary to clean that place thoroughly, after all it's the source of the plague's spread.'

Ji Feihua asked: 'When will you go back?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Maybe the third day; Zhangming should arrive tomorrow.' Xia Zhangming escorted Jian Rongxin and the others back to Dongliang Jun. Snow Eagle and the Flying Hawk flew back with him.

Ji Feihua said: 'I should also be going!'

Hu Xiaotian gazed at Ji Feihua; hearing that they would soon part, a sudden reluctance welled up in his heart, and he gathered his courage to say: 'Why don't you come back with me?'

Ji Feihua said: 'I have my own affairs!'

'What affairs?'

Ji Feihua said nothing, lifted her head, and gazed silently at the night sky.

Hu Xiaotian asked: 'Is it related to that skull?'

Ji Feihua said softly: 'You are a unique person. Don't you find this series of events strange?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Of course it's strange!'

Ji Feihua asked: 'Do you believe or not that gods still exist in this world?'

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, then immediately nodded.

'Do you believe?'

'I believe in the goddess!'

Ji Feihua keenly sensed there was more to his words, was about to respond, but suddenly saw a splendid streak trace across the night sky: 'A shooting star!'

Hu Xiaotian followed the sound and looked up, indeed seeing a shooting star slash across the velvet-like night sky. He then looked at Ji Feihua, only to see her close her eyes, clasp her hands together, and pray devoutly for something.

Hu Xiaotian didn't believe that wishing on this shooting star could come true, yet everyone has their own faith. Ji Feihua was no exception; he admired her, yet deep down he also felt awe toward her, unable to tell himself exactly why.

'What wish did you make?'

Ji Feihua gave a faint smile, a rare charm flickering across her usually stern face, and Hu Xiaotian's heart gave a sudden leap.

Ji Feihua said: 'If I say it, it won't come true.'

Hu Xiaotian asked: 'Where are you preparing to go?'

Ji Feihua's clear, deep eyes swept over Hu Xiaotian: 'Don't you feel like you're being overly fussy?'

Hu Xiaotian laughed: 'You act so manly; of course I have to be a bit motherly in front of you.'

Ji Feihua spoke very frankly: 'To uncover the secret of the skull, besides the one in Hu Wuwei's hand, there is another.'

'I'll go with you!' Hu Xiaotian blurted out.

Ji Feihua said: 'Not needed!'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'But I can't rest easy letting you go alone!' His concern for Ji Feihua was evident.

Ji Feihua gave a light smile: 'I'm used to it.' She had long grown accustomed to being alone, to this solitude; when she was with Hu Xiaotian, although she felt an unprecedented warmth and steadiness, she also felt an inexplicable fear, which made her unable to resist the urge to escape.

Hu Xiaotian asked: 'Are you going back to Dakang?'

Ji Feihua shook her head: 'Not now.' She said softly: 'We will meet again!'

Hu Xiaotian watched Ji Feihua's departing figure, feeling a sense of loss; the beloved had already gone, so sudden, just as her appearance had been. Although he wanted to detain Ji Feihua, he knew he could not keep her, and there were things he wanted to say but dared not; he had never imagined he himself would feel such turmoil.

On the first day of the New Year, the streets remained empty, yet all the major clinics bustled with crowds. The Da Yong emperor Xue Daoming issued an edict: all patients could receive free treatment, no clinic could refuse or turn away patients for any reason, all costs borne by the court; he dispatched officials to supervise the clinics, ensuring orderly proceedings while strictly preventing any failure to comply.

For the Divine Farm Society, today was an extremely important day; as early as two days prior, the Society had received a pardon, and the disciples originally implicated because of Liu Changsheng and his father were also released. Under the leadership of Fan Ling'er, all the fellow brothers and sisters gathered again at the Divine Farm Society; today was the day the Society reopened for business, and even the muddled Fan Mingyu wore a simple, foolish smile on his face.

Qin Yutong directed everyone in decocting medicine, while Fan Ling'er and An Zhai led more than ten beggar-gang disciples there to help distribute the herbal soup.

As Hu Xiaotian entered the Divine Farm Society, he happened to see this bustling scene; the morning glow enveloped Qin Yutong's delicate form, her pair of bright eyes fixed on the soup pot, occasionally directing assistants to add herbs into the pot.

Hu Xiaotian came to her side and silently gazed at her; not long after, Qin Yutong sensed his presence, turned her head, and said softly: 'If you're idle with nothing to do, go help distribute the medicine.'

Hu Xiaotian laughed: 'Happy New Year, wishing you wealth!' He handed Qin Yutong a red envelope.

Fan Ling'er came running over, laughing: 'Handing out red packets!'

Hu Xiaotian laughed: 'Naturally you get a share too!' He handed Fan Ling'er a red envelope.

'I won't disturb your chat, Sister Qin; I'll keep watch, you go ahead and talk.' Fan Ling'er took the red packet and laughed.

Qin Yutong, having been busy for several days and nights, was indeed somewhat fatigued; she nodded, walked to a side, found a square stool to sit on, and felt Hu Xiaotian's large hands land on her shoulders. Her body instinctively straightened, and she immediately felt his gentle massage, unable to deny that his technique was really not bad.

Hu Xiaotian said: 'You've gone two days and nights without rest; you don't need to push yourself so hard—your body is your own, and if you wear yourself out I'll feel heartbroken.'

Qin Yutong said: 'Sometimes I often think, you spend all day saying these hypocritical words—are you yourself tired?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Are you tired from living your whole day wearing a mask?'

Qin Yutong did not answer him.

Hu Xiaotian said, "If you're not tired, I'm not tired, but I've never lied to you."

Qin Yutong said, "No matter what, you did a good deed this time, although your motives aren't pure."

Hu Xiaotian looked ahead at the long line of people waiting to collect medicine, each thanking profusely, and he whispered, "You always see me as an ambitious person, but my original intention in coming to this world wasn't that ambitious; I just want to live well."

You're living well.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said, "Danger is everywhere." He lowered his head to whisper near Qin Yutong's ear, "There's something I've always wondered: what kind of person is your mother?"

Qin Yutong's beautiful eyes flickered with a ripple; after a moment of silence she said, "A fool who's been idiotic for sixteen years—how did he become a talent versed in both civil and military arts overnight? Can you explain that to me?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled smugly, "You finally admit I'm a talent." He lowered his voice further, "Actually, I'm not really Hu Xiaotian."

Qin Yutong showed no surprise: "I already thought of that."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Do you believe that after a person dies, their consciousness doesn't perish and can be reborn by borrowing another body?"

Qin Yutong said, "You mean Daoist possession? I've only heard of it, but I don't believe it."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Even I don't believe it myself—I used to be a doctor living in a hyper‑advanced sci‑fi civilization you can't even imagine, working diligently, healing the sick, and I literally worked myself to death."

Qin Yutong said, "Are you making up a story for me?"

At noon I drank a little wine, got a bit tipsy, couldn't get into the mood; now I've sobered up, just started writing, sending the First Update—sorry for the delay, Zhangyu will continue typing! (To be continued~^~)