Chapter 1700

Although Guo Guangbi's subordinates were many, they were ultimately just a rabble; seeing the Grand Marshal captured, and then seeing Liu Hutou, famed for his bravery, charge out only to be pulverized by a single hammer blow from Xiong Tianba, they were all terrified, their hearts shaking, let alone any fighting spirit.

How astute Xie Jian is—he has fully understood what happened today. Hu Xiaotian did not lack a chance to escape; they deliberately chose not to flee, taking a risky gamble to eliminate Guo Guangbi in one fell swoop. Although I felt something was off, I ultimately failed to see through their scheme and fell into their trap. Hu Xiaotian is not only extraordinarily wise but also remarkably courageous; daring to seize a leader amidst ten thousand troops, without exceptional bravery and solid ability, such a feat would be impossible.

Xiong Tianba's strike that killed Liu Hutou shocked Xie Jian greatly; he began to realize that at this distance, the opposing side could easily kill him, and numerical superiority did not guarantee everything—Hu Xiaotian and Xiong Tianba possessed the power to overturn heaven and earth. Although his heart started to waver, Xie Jian still had to put on a show before the crowd, shouting loudly: 'Hu Xiaotian, you dare harm a single hair of my Grand Marshal? I'll make you regret ever being born into this world.'

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly, grabbed Guo Guangbi with one hand, turned his horse and galloped off into the distance, while Xiong Tianba closely followed behind to guard him.

Hu Xiaotian's voice echoed between heaven and earth: 'Xie Jian, if even a single one of you dares to pursue us, I will kill this old scoundrel Guo Guangbi.'

Everyone's gaze turned to Xie Jian; with Guo Guangbi seized by Hu Xiaotian, what to do next depended entirely on Xie Jian's decision. Xie Jian secretly sighed, realizing Hu Xiaotian's actions today clearly meant he was determined to kill Guo Guangbi; the situation was now settled, beyond human power to reverse, and Guo Guangbi and his son were doomed. Their internal affairs would surely fall into chaos. Xie Jian dispatched a thousand-strong cavalry to tail and pursue, while the main force followed behind. In truth he already understood that even if they caught up, it would be futile, and he ought to consider what comes next.

Hu Xiaotian and Xiong Tianba managed to shake off the pursuing troops far behind them. It wasn't because their horses were faster, but because Guo Guangbi's soldiers had been terrified by the duo's valiant display; none dared to give chase wholeheartedly, none wanted to risk their lives, and besides, if they got too close, Hu Xiaotian might kill Guo Guangbi in a fit of rage—a responsibility no one could bear.

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said, 'I thought you were someone of note, but you are utterly contemptible.' He seized Guo Guangbi and flung him hard to the ground; Guo Guangbi could not withstand such a mighty blow. Being hurled by Hu Xiaotian, he was smashed to pieces and died on the spot.

Xiong Tianba was also startled by Hu Xiaotian's action; he hadn't expected Hu Xiaotian to strike even more swiftly and decisively than himself.

It wasn't that Hu Xiaotian was ruthless; to him, Guo Guangbi was merely a pawn being used by others, and he had not originally planned to deal with him so soon. However, Tang Tiehan's death spurred him to act early, as Guo Shaoxiong and the Han'erjin Tribe jointly fabricated this bloody incident. The real cause lay behind the little monk Bu Wu, and behind Bu Wu there must certainly be someone pulling the strings.

Those who personally dealt with Tang Tiehan have now received their due fate—Guo Shaoxiong, Guo Guangbi, and even the little monk Bu Wu have all died one after another, finally giving Tang Tiehan and his fallen brothers some closure. Yet for Hu Xiaotian, this matter is not over; he will inevitably investigate it to the end, uncover the true mastermind behind the scenes, and see that they receive the punishment they deserve.

Hu Xiaotian and Xiong Tianba sprinted all the way; upon reaching a grassy hill and looking back, they saw that the place where they had just dumped Guo Guangbi's corpse was now lit with many torches—his subordinates had tracked them there.

Hu Xiaotian asked Xiong Tianba, 'Do you think they will come after us?'

Xiong Tianba replied, 'When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter; with the Grand Marshal dead, what point is there for them to come and fight desperately?'

Indeed, he had guessed right—after discovering the corpse, Guo Guangbi's men did not continue the pursuit and soon withdrew. Hu Xiaotian gazed into the distance where they departed, secretly sighing that Guo Guangbi was never destined for greatness, as this scene showed. Among Guo Guangbi's many subordinates, Xie Jian was undoubtedly the one he admired most; he had once tried to persuade Xie Jian to join his camp, but Xie Jian gave a clear refusal. Tonight he had beforehand informed Xie Jian of his resolve to kill Guo Guangbi, believing that once Xie Jian saw the situation could not be reversed, he would swiftly make a choice beneficial to himself.

On their way back to Eagle Creek Valley, Hu Xiaotian and Xiong Tianba encountered the Han'erjin Tribe's troops hurrying back to their main camp; the two chose to avoid them. After this battle, the Han'erjin Tribe suffered heavy losses, and with Guo Guangbi's death their alliance ceased to exist. The pattern of the Ankang Grassland will surely be reshaped; without Guo Guangbi's forces interfering, the other tribes should be able to match the Han'erjin Tribe in strength and even gain the upper hand.

Xiong Tianba gazed at the Han'erjin troops hurrying forward under the golden morning light and murmured, 'I really wish I could charge down and slaughter them to my heart's content.'

Hu Xiaotian looked at this silly lad and noticed that overnight he had undergone a complete transformation—his black-and-white eyes shone with sharp light, his whole being exuding immense confidence and aura. Hu Xiaotian knew this was because Xiong Tianba had obtained the inner strength of Li Yuncong and Bu Wu, but one problem troubled Hu Xiaotian: even though he had mastered the upper half of the Void Grand Method, he still could not fully assimilate the absorbed inner strength for his own use, whereas Xiong Tianba managed to do so. Xiong Tianba's internal foundation was far inferior to his own, yet in a short time he had absorbed the inner strength of two top experts and could even exert it—could it be that this guy's Dantian Qi Sea and his meridians are naturally formidable?

Hu Xiaotian could not fathom this problem, and Xiong Tianba naturally could not explain it either; but for Hu Xiaotian, this is a good thing, a great thing—the deaths of Li Yuncong and Bu Wu have helped him forge a figure capable of joining the ranks of top-tier experts.

Returning to Eagle Creek Valley, Hua Li, Zong Tang, Tang Qingxuan, Weisa, Liang Yinghao and others came out to greet them; everyone rejoiced at their victory. Upon hearing that the murderer who plotted against her elder brother had been executed, Tang Qingxuan could not hold back hot tears, and her wish to avenge her brother and wipe away the shame was finally fulfilled.

Hua Li and his tribesmen regarded Hu Xiaotian as the benefactor who had saved their tribe's fate, thanking him profusely and treating him with great hospitality. Hu Xiaotian did not linger; after the noon banquet he led his men out of Eagle Creek Valley, heading east. Two days later they neared Ji City, and at dusk they camped on the grassland. Hu Xiaotian saw Tang Qingxuan in the distance, kneeling on the grass with palms together, silently praying toward the setting sun. He quietly approached her from behind without startling her, and only after she finished her prayer did he realize his arrival; at last a long‑absent smile touched his lips: 'Xiao Tian, thank you!'

Hu Xiaotian draped his own cloak over her shoulders; the grassland wind at dusk was strong, the cold wind sweeping across the plain with a beast‑like howl. Hu Xiaotian gently stroked Tang Qingxuan's head and said softly, 'Between us, there's no need for such polite words—you don't have to thank me. In truth, I feel deep remorse this time; if I had not seized Xingzhou in the first place, Guo Guangbi and his son would not have moved against your elder brother.' He did not reveal the true details of this matter to Tang Qingxuan, for if she knew the real culprit was someone else, her heart would still not find peace. Let her believe that the great vengeance has been avenged, so she may rest easy.

Tang Qingxuan shook her head, her forehead resting against Hu Xiaotian's shoulder, tears falling silently as she choked out, 'My elder brother always doted on me; from now on, no one will ever… be like him… indulge me the way he did…'

Hu Xiaotian grabbed her shoulder, made her lift her head, lowered his head, lightly kissed her smooth forehead, then forcibly drew her delicate form into his embrace, and solemnly declared: "I am still here; I swear before my elder brother's spirit in heaven that I will not let you suffer the slightest injustice."

Their campsite was only thirty li from Ji City; the sunset on the Ankang Prairie comes late, and with their marching speed they could completely enter Ji City before nightfall, but Hu Xiaotian, using the excuse of avoiding trouble, decided to spend the night on the prairie and enter Ji City in batches at dawn the next day.

As night fell, Hu Xiaotian quietly left his tent; Liang Yinghao had already prepared a horse for him, and Hu Xiaotian rode alone toward Ji City, the main purpose of this trip being to meet Xie Jian at night.

Although it was already deep night, the lights in Ji City's Marshal's residence remained brightly lit; two coffins were placed in the memorial hall, and Guo Guangbi and his son had both died, plunging Ji City into a state of leaderless chaos. Guo Guangbi was a cruel and obstinate man; after losing Xingzhou, he not only failed to reflect on himself but became even harsher, treating his subordinates with increasing severity, so his death did not evoke much grief among his followers; instead, many secretly gloated.

After they returned to Ji City, Xie Jian gathered the generals to discuss future plans; he had originally intended to nominate a temporary leader, but unexpectedly opinions diverged, each acted independently, and they even nearly came to blows with swords in the memorial hall. Xie Jian barely managed to temporarily quell the disturbance, and the matter of selecting a leader had to be set aside for now. Exhausted in mind and body, he withdrew to a side room to rest for a while.

Just as he lit the oil lamp on the table, he saw someone sitting on the bed, smiling and looking at him—who else could it be but Hu Xiaotian? Xie Jian was greatly startled; this fellow was truly bold, having somehow infiltrated Ji City and dared to come into the Marshal's residence. Xie Jian turned, bolted the door, approached Hu Xiaotian, and lowered his voice: "You have gall! You plotted against my lord, and yet you dare to show up here—if I shout once, I will surely leave you without a burial place." (To be continued~^~)