Chapter 1711

Baobao guessed his intention, extending a finger to lightly tap his chest: "You want to kill him, don't you?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "He's schemed against me so many times; even killing him would be justified." He reached out and embraced Baobao's slender waist, saying, "Once he's dead, no one will be able to threaten you."

Baobao twisted her delicate form, breaking free from his embrace again, and sighed softly: "Do you think he's that easy to deal with?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "A strong dragon does not crush a local snake; even if he is powerful, coming onto my turf he must obediently bow." He spoke these words with full confidence; this place being his sphere of influence is only one aspect. After learning the Heaven-Splitting Sword from the Sword Demon Dongfang Wuwo, Hu Xiaotian also found the lower half of the Void Great Law from Monk Bu Wu. During this period his martial arts advanced by leaps and bounds, and his confidence greatly increased. Even setting aside stratagems, he believes that in single combat he would not be inferior to anyone in the present age.

Baobao said, "You must never underestimate the enemy; Hong Beimo's strength is unfathomable, and what he has revealed is merely the tip of the iceberg. Moreover, to ensure the safety of the Yongyang Princess, Dakang has dispatched all its top experts; Mu Rongzhan and Quan De'an are no pushovers, and the most mysterious Dragon Unit of the Heaven's Secrets Bureau will also be mobilized for protection."

"The Dragon Unit?" Hu Xiaotian had only heard the name, but had never dealt with them before.

Baobao nodded and said, "The Dragon Unit's last deployment was over twenty years ago, during the suppression of Chu Yuanhai. The unit consisted of ten members, all of mysterious origins; not only are they matchless in single combat against any top expert, but their Dragon-Serpent Four Symbols Formation is immensely powerful, unbreakable, and even Hong Beimo would be no match for the ten acting together."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Have you seen them in action?"

Baobao shook her head: "I've only heard of them; I've never seen them. If it weren't for Mr. Hong mobilizing them this time, even the Heaven's Secrets Bureau would have thought they'd disappeared." Her beautiful eyes were full of myriad tenderness as she looked at Hu Xiaotian and said, "You'd better not act rashly this time; just marry the princess peacefully."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Baobao, do you not believe I have the ability to protect you?"

Baobao smiled sweetly: "I do believe you, but I still have unfinished business; once I fulfill my wish, I will definitely come back to find you, okay?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's a promise!" Although this is an age of male superiority and female inferiority, it does not mean that women are naturally men's dependents. At least among the confidantes Hu Xiaotian has encountered, each has her own personality. Having lived two lives, Hu Xiaotian finds it easier to accept their traits and is more willing to tolerate their private secrets. This very quality is precisely what most moves women's hearts.

The impact of Hu Xiaotian's grand wedding exceeded even his own expectations; he had sent invitations to both Da Yong and Xichuan, not expecting them to send representatives, yet both sides actually dispatched delegations to congratulate him. From Xichuan came Yao Wenqi. After Zhang Ziqian's death, he became the chief strategist under Li Tianheng, taking charge of planning for Li Tianheng. Da Yong's side was even more grandiose, sending the Eldest Princess Xue Lingjun. It is said that Xue Lingjun, upon hearing of Hu Xiaotian's wedding, voluntarily requested to come.

If the arrival of those two sides was within expectations, the Black Hu delegation came completely unexpected to Hu Xiaotian. He had not even sent an invitation to Black Hu, yet they dispatched a viewing team led by the Northern Marquis King Wanyan Lie Xin, whose size was second only to Dakang's, reaching as many as six hundred people. They entered the sea via the White Dragon River, headed south all the way, detoured around the warring Da Yong, entered inland at the mouth of the Yong River, and first visited Dongliang Jun.

When the Black Hu envoy reached Dongliang Jun, Hu Xiaotian received the news and responded extremely swiftly, immediately arranging for the governor of Dongliang Jun, Li Mingcheng, to accompany them throughout. The Black Hu delegation did not, like the Bohai State and Python Flood Island envoys, choose to continue by boat to Baiquan City; instead they disembarked at Wuxing Jun. For the Black Hu people accustomed to life on horseback, they prefer not to travel by water unless necessary, and these steppe peoples have an innate fear of water.

The Northern Marquis King Wanyan Lie Xin is a famed general of Black Hu. Although he comes from the Wanyan family, he has no imperial blood; he is the adopted son of Black Hu's Khagan Wanyan Luxi. Unlike other princes who esteem martial prowess, Wanyan Lie Xin favors literature over arms, enjoys calligraphy and literature, is erudite and versatile, especially fond of Central Plains culture, and even as a youth went south to study, visiting many learned scholars of the Central Plains. His ennoblement as Northern Marquis King was not due to military exploits but to his administrative achievements; he is a rare talent in domestic affairs for Black Hu in recent years.

The Black Hu people took the initiative to show goodwill, and Hu Xiaotian naturally had no reason to turn them away. When the Black Hu delegation arrived at Baiquan City, Hu Xiaotian personally went to greet them. Wanyan Lie Xin chose the Qingfeng Courtyard among the six great academies. In Hu Xiaotian's impression, although he and Black Hu have never engaged in direct warfare, there has been continual friction between them—from the assassination of Black Hu's Fourth Prince Wanyan Chixiong to his becoming a rival in the Tianxiang State over the marriage candidacy with Black Hu's Eighth Prince Wanyan Tian Yue—these events have left them with enduring hostility.

The fact that Black Hu could proactively dispatch an observation team to congratulate indicates they are actively extending goodwill, making it clear that Black Hu wishes to improve relations and does not want to accumulate too many enemies.

Wanyan Lie Xin differs from the Black Hu people Hu Xiaotian imagined. He is thirty-one years old, with a slender, refined appearance and genteel bearing. Having come to the Central Plains, he has adopted local customs and dressed in Han attire, his gestures graceful. He and Hu Xiaotian took their seats in the flower hall, and he smiled: "I have heard of the King of Zhenhai's wedding; my Khagan has specially sent me with this delegation to attend the ceremony and present a gift; I hope Your Majesty will accept it graciously."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Your Excellency is too kind!"

Wanyan Lie Xin clapped his hands, and his attendants carried in an exquisite leather case that looked very heavy.

Hu Xiaotian also felt curious, but did not know what gift the Black Hu Khagan had sent him.

Wanyan Lie Xin handed the key to his attendant, and before Hu Xiaotian's eyes opened the leather case, revealing a statue of the Child-Giving Guanyin inside. The statue is entirely translucent, showing an extremely pleasing pale blue hue, with a solemn countenance and exquisite carving. What is more remarkable is that, once exposed to light, it emits a faint halo.

Hu Xiaotian could tell at a glance that this Child-Giving Guanyin is a peerless treasure.

Wanyan Lie Xin said, "This Child-Giving Guanyin was purchased at great expense by my ancestors. Hearing of the King of Zhenhai's wedding, my Khagan has specially ordered me to present it to Your Majesty, hoping the Bodhisattva will bless you with an early noble son."

Had it been a farewell gift, it would still be acceptable, but this present is very much to Hu Xiaotian's taste. First, the preciousness of the Child-Giving Guanyin needs no mention; moreover, Hu Xiaotian has long harbored a knot in his heart—he has never managed to get any of his beloved confidantes pregnant with his own flesh and blood. Although he is not superstitious, this gift is nevertheless a good omen. He smiled and nodded, saying, "Such a precious gift is truly hard to refuse." He walked around the statue once more and asked, "What material is this? I seem never to have seen anything like it before."

Wanyan Lie Xin replied, "This is a very rare gemstone called star crystal. Because of its extraordinary hardness, it is difficult to carve. This Child-Giving Guanyin is said to be over a hundred years old; rumor has it that the famed craftsman, the heavenly artisan Lu Jingyuan, carved it by hand, though what tools were used is unknown. Such a massive piece of star crystal, there is no second piece known to exist in this world."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, the more he looked at the statue the more he liked it; he secretly thought that star crystal might be a kind of meteorite. It truly looks splendid and magnificent—rarity makes value—and this statue seems worthy of a priceless treasure.

Wanyan Lie Xin added, "This time the Khagan also ordered me to send Your Majesty twenty of the finest Ferghana horses, as well as fifty beautiful maidens from our Black Hu."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, "The Khagan is truly overly generous." Yet he secretly thought, where in the world does such a good thing come from? The Black Hu Khagan Wanyan Luxi giving him such a great gift cannot merely be to improve relations; there must be another motive. He saw no need to avoid the issue, smiling: "Your Khagan sending me such a precious gift makes me feel uneasy; I wonder what matter the Khagan wishes me to handle?"

Wanyan Lie Xin smiled, "I had intended to discuss this after Your Majesty's wedding, but since you have asked, if I did not answer it would be a breach of etiquette." He invited Hu Xiaotian to reseat himself and had his attendant maid serve fragrant tea.

Hu Xiaotian took a sip, yet he saw that the maid had a slender, graceful figure, and her pair of emerald-like clear beautiful eyes kept scanning him. Although veiled so only her eyes were visible, from her pure gaze one could tell she was not very old; however, barbarian women differ from Central Plains ladies, and her physique had already developed to an extremely mature and alluring stage.

Wanyan Lie Xin waved his hand, signaling that the Hu woman should retreat; a maid daring to scrutinize a guest in such a manner is indeed a breach of propriety. That maid departed gracefully, and Wanyan Lie Xin apologetically smiled, saying, "These maidens do not understand the rules; please forgive any offense, Your Majesty."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "The customs of Black Hu and the Central Plains differ; why should we impose our etiquette upon you?"

Wanyan Lie Xin continued the previous topic: "That's right; my Khagan has heard that Your Majesty has newly taken Ji City, and thus wishes to join forces with Your Majesty in an alliance."

Hu Xiaotian's guard rose instantly; sure enough, there's no such thing as a free lunch from heaven—could the Black Hu people be intending to join with him to attack Da Yong from both front and rear?

Wanyan Lie Xin said, "My Khagan intends to invade the Yulang Kingdom, so he has sent me to first discuss an alliance with Your Majesty."

Hu Xiaotian had not expected that the Black Hu's purpose in seeking an alliance with him was to attack the Yulang Kingdom; this was somewhat unexpected.

Yesterday there was actually a break in updates; Zhangyu's full attendance for this month is gone. I'll first send one update; today there should still be two more. Everyone with monthly tickets, please hurry and vote for me. Please follow Zhangyu's public WeChat account stonesquid; wonderful content will be pushed daily (to be continued~^~)