Chapter 1676

Hu Xiaotian didn't defend himself, but continued: "When I woke up, I found myself in ancient times, appearing in a world I had never imagined; I became Hu Xiaotian, son of Dakang Ministry of Revenue Minister Hu Buwei. What happened next, you probably already know."

Qin Yutong turned away, her beautiful eyes quietly fixed on Hu Xiaotian's, as if trying to see into his heart.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've told this to others before, but no one would believe me."

Qin Yutong said: "I don't believe it either!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why did the Master of Meizhuang and Ren Tianqing want to kill your mother?"

Qin Yutong's beautiful eyes turned cold: "My family affairs are none of your business!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "You're not refusing to answer or avoiding it; even you yourself can't figure out the truth behind it, so let me tell you—do you want to hear it?"

Qin Yutong didn't speak, but her gaze softened, indicating a kind of submission. Hu Xiaotian was right; although she knew many things, there were still too many confusions she couldn't explain.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you want to listen, you must agree to one condition: can you take off your mask from now on?"

Qin Yutong's brows furrowed; this fellow is indeed incorrigible, never missing a chance to propose conditions.

Hu Xiaotian himself took another step back: "Then when we're alone together, could you not wear the mask?"

Qin Yutong said: "We won't have another chance to be alone together."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help laughing, then said: "I'll take it as your agreement; I once discovered a mural in the Dakang imperial palace that recorded a past event." This fellow deliberately used a low tone to narrate, adding much mystery to his account.

Qin Yutong initially remained skeptical, thinking Hu Xiaotian was being mysterious for effect. But the more she listened, the heavier her mood became.

Hu Xiaotian stopped at the crucial point, then laughed and said: "I won't say more; I have things to do and must leave."

Qin Yutong said: "You've only said half; why not finish before leaving?"

Hu Xiaotian gave a mischievous smile: "In my memory, this seems to be the first time you've tried to detain me like this."

Qin Yutong glared at him: "What exactly do you want?"

At this moment, An Dizhao walked over to them. Although Qin Yutong wished she could have Hu Xiaotian tell her everything he knew in one go, it wasn't appropriate to press him in public, so she whispered: "You're not allowed to leave; I have something important to tell you."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and approached An Dizhao.

An Dizhao clasped his fists: "Thank you, Sir Hu, for your help. If it weren't for you this time, we brothers of the Beggars' Sect wouldn't know how many would have died needlessly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "We're brothers who share our hearts and gall; why be so formal?" He patted An Dizhao's shoulder: "If thanks are due, they should go to Miss Qin; I can't cure your brothers."

An Dizhao glanced at Qin Yutong from afar and gave an embarrassed smile: "Miss Qin has a rather peculiar temperament. Let Sir Hu thank her on my behalf."

Hu Xiaotian put his arm around An Dizhao's shoulder, stepped aside, and whispered: "I'm about to leave; what are your plans, Brother An?"

An Dizhao said: "Elder Mu came this time to lead us in eradicating the influence of Shangguan Tianhuo and his son."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, taking in his meaning. These people won't leave for a while. He cautioned: "Brother An, remember, do not act rashly; the forces behind Shangguan Tianhuo and his son are enormous, and I don't want Elder Xue's tragedy to repeat."

An Dizhao said: "A gentleman's revenge may come after ten years; it's not too late. Elder Xue's tragedy has made us reflect deeply; the urgent priority is not to recklessly seek them, but to resolve the matter of the Jiangbei branch." He smiled: "As the saying goes, a loss may be a blessing in disguise; this epidemic has also greatly affected the Jiangbei branch. Sir Hu and Miss Qin have helped us greatly. After this incident, the brothers' hearts will unite, and I believe they'll soon return to how they were."

Hu Xiaotian felt relieved to hear that resolving the Jiangbei branch matter was promising.

The two chatted for a while, then he returned to Qin Yutong's side. Qin Yutong was guiding Fan Ling'er on the details of medicine use, and Hu Xiaotian patiently waited nearby. After Qin Yutong finished her instructions and came to him, Hu Xiaotian said: "I don't have much else; I just wanted to tell you before I leave."

Qin Yutong said: "I'll see you off!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Can you get away?"

Qin Yutong said: "Ling'er has already mastered it; whether I'm here or not makes no difference."

The two exited the Shennong Society one after another, and Qin Yutong looked back at its signboard.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If Mr. Liu knows in the afterlife that the Shennong Society can reopen, he would surely smile even in the Nine Springs."

Qin Yutong said: "This is all thanks to you; if you hadn't persuaded Xue Daoming, the Shennong Society would never have seen the light of day again."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "I dare not take credit; if you hadn't resolved this epidemic, Yongdu would now be filled with wailing refugees."

Qin Yutong said: "In court struggles, the common people are utterly innocent; since ancient times, with contending lords vying for dominance, it's always the populace that suffers in the end."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your heart is truly kind."

Qin Yutong said: "Were you deliberately telling me those things just now?"

Hu Xiaotian countered: "Do you believe it?"

Qin Yutong didn't answer right away, but whispered: "Let's find a secluded spot to talk privately."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I promised Commander Dong Tianjiang I'd go to his manor for drinks at noon; why don't you come with me, and we can talk as we walk?"

Qin Yutong hesitated, then finally nodded.

Hu Xiaotian arrived by carriage, had his waiting carriage come over, and he and Qin Yutong boarded it together; the coachman drove the carriage toward the residence of Minister of Personnel Dong Bingtai.

Qin Yutong turned her face and actually took off her mask. Hu Xiaotian then recalled his earlier request that she not wear the mask when alone with him; unexpectedly, Qin Yutong kept her promise, a pair of eyes fixed on Qin Yutong's nation-toppling beauty, and he whispered: "I'm afraid I won't be able to eat lunch."

Qin Yutong glared at him: "Did my appearance scare you?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "A beauty like you is a feast for the eyes; seeing you so lovely, I have no appetite."

Qin Yutong ignored his praise, softly saying: "I've read some things in a book, and what it records differs greatly from my understanding."

Hu Xiaotian whispered: "The Scripture of Creation and Transformation?" The Master of Meizhuang once forced Qin Yutong to produce this book, even abandoning the human-skin map for it, proving how vital it is to her.

Qin Yutong said: "That book records many medicinal and poisonous methods; the Wuxian Sect's rise to its present strength can be said to rely entirely on it."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What is your relationship with the Master of Meizhuang?" Without waiting for Qin Yutong's answer, he continued: "If I'm not mistaken, the Lady of Meizhuang, your mother, and your master Ren Tianqing are all from the same sect."

Qin Yutong silently nodded.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you feel that the Lady of Meizhuang, Ren Tianqing, and others possess strength beyond imagination?"

Qin Yutong said: "They are already top-tier masters."

"How else can my master's situation be explained? His martial arts are peerless, his swordsmanship unmatched, yet he ended up being controlled—surely it can't be explained by martial prowess alone. How do we account for the Thousand Illusion Demon Eye and my light sword?"

Qin Yutong furrowed her brows, bit her cherry lips, and said: "Those things perhaps don't belong to this world at all."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Some people originally don't belong to this world." He gazed quietly at Qin Yutong, who instantly understood his meaning—he was referring to the two of them.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, the stars we see are each a world; although they appear within reach, they are immeasurably distant from us. Given this world's current state, we cannot reach those worlds, but the people of those worlds possess technology far surpassing ours; if they wish, they can come here at any time."

Qin Yutong whispered: "Is that story you just told about those Lan-colored giants coming to this world?"

"It's not a story; it's a fact—I've personally seen those two skulls." Hu Xiaotian moved closer to Qin Yutong, who didn't dodge, and he whispered: "When those extraterrestrial visitors arrived, two were captured and killed by Dakang, while the others escaped. They couldn't return home, so they tried to adapt to this world, striving to survive here, and they would have descendants." Hu Xiaotian stopped there, his gaze fixed on Qin Yutong.

Qin Yutong felt a little unnatural under his gaze: "What are you staring at me for?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I suspect Ren Tianqing, Hong Beimo, the Plum Manor owner, and your mother are all their descendants."

Qin Yutong whispered, "Nonsense!" Her rebuttal was feeble; Hu Xiaotian claimed her mother was a descendant of extraterrestrial visitors—doesn't that amount to saying she herself is such a descendant? She turned her face away, lifted the carriage curtain, glanced outside, after a while lowered the curtain, turned her head back, and softly said, "The thief cries 'catch the thief'; perhaps you are the descendant of extraterrestrial visitors."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "I've told you my whole background; believe it or not, it's up to you."

Qin Yutong said: "Don't you think your story is utterly absurd?"

Hu Xiaotian took out the hilt of the light sword and said: "Then give me a reasonable explanation."

Qin Yutong gazed at the light sword, speechless; she bit her cherry lips and said: "If your assumptions are all true, what do you plan to do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If those people want to conquer this world and bring death and war to it, which side would you choose to stand on?"

Qin Yutong didn't even think, and replied: "This place is my homeland!" She thereby gave a clear answer.

Two updates delivered! (To be continued~^~)