Chapter 1755

Hu Xiaotian heard her directly call out his name, his heart involuntarily startled, the first thought that arose was that Granny Ying might be deliberately deceiving him; logically he shouldn't be so easily seen through. So he feigned ignorance while understanding, saying: "Old lady, are you speaking to me?"

Granny Ying sighed and said: "In front of me, why bother hiding?" She sniffed: "A person's physique and appearance can be changed through martial arts, but it's hard to change one's own scent; I only need to see someone once to remember their scent."

Hu Xiaotian secretly admired, recalling when he once fought the Old Monster of Bei Ze, the old monster also had such ability; he didn't expect Granny Ying's nose to be so keen, now it seems having a keen nose isn't bad.

Granny Ying also said: "Next time you disguise yourself, remember not to laugh lightly; your smile is really too easy to give away."

Since the other party had spoken to this extent, Hu Xiaotian saw no point in further concealment; besides, his whereabouts were already exposed, so he might as well appear openly, with nothing to fear. Hu Xiaotian grinned and said: "Granny Ying, you're truly brilliant; there's really nothing you can't see through!"

Granny Ying said: "I really admire your courage; do you truly not know what place this is?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I know, but I'm not an outsider either; your precious disciple is my wife, one day as a teacher, lifelong as a mother—in fact, you're practically my mother-in-law."

Granny Ying knew this fellow was sharp-tongued and eloquent, and in debate she was no match for him, but he hadn't gotten this wrong—Yan Nujiao is her disciple; although Hu Xiaotian hasn't formally married Yan Nujiao, they've long since turned raw rice into cooked rice.

Granny Ying said: "What are you doing here?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've come specially at someone's request to deliver a message."

Granny Ying said: "Give me the token; I'll help you pass it on."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Thank you for your kindness, Granny, but I still need to handle this myself; may I ask if the sect leader of your teachings is present?" He didn't mention wanting to see Xi Yan because his whereabouts were already exposed; meeting Xi Yan would inevitably require passing the sect leader of the Wuxian Sect, so he simply brought it up directly. Earlier, when he was at the Sword Palace, he had heard Qin Yutong say that Meizhuang was the leader of the Wuxian Sect; if that were true, he still had a way to deal with it.

Granny Ying said: "You think just anyone can casually see the sect leader?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "You just need to tell her I've come, and that I want to discuss a deal regarding the 'Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Picture' with her!"

Upon hearing the name "Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Picture", Granny Ying's eyes involuntarily brightened, and she whispered: "Come with me!"

Hu Xiaotian knew Granny Ying had been persuaded by his words, secretly delighted, he followed her forward; they walked along the winding stream, the water being hot spring water spurting up and converging, still steaming; by the stream one could occasionally see jumping colorful frogs, some scarlet red like fire, some blue like gemstones, some crystalline jade-green. Hu Xiaotian knew these frogs tend to be more toxic the brighter their color, so he'd better not touch them lightly.

Granny Ying said: "In the past thirty years, you're the first outsider to enter our main altar."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but smile at her still calling him an outsider, and changed the subject: "Granny Ying, have you heard about the events in Red Wood River?"

Granny Ying nodded and whispered: "Whether Red Wood River belongs to you or to the Tianxiang State, it makes no difference; what matters is that the Red Yi people can live in peace and stability." She herself was a Red Yi person, and naturally did not want her people to fall into war.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Granny Ying, have you also heard about the affairs of Xichuan?"

Granny Ying said: "The Wuxian Sect is located in Xichuan, so naturally we know of whatever happens there." As they spoke, she had already led Hu Xiaotian into the mountain cave; the cave entrance was extremely narrow, barely allowing one person to pass, but once inside it immediately opened up, and after just a few steps a subterranean lake came into view. Though Hu Xiaotian was well-traveled and knowledgeable, he had never before seen the marvel of a lake hidden within a mountain; he sighed in admiration. A canoe waited by the small lake's shore, its ends curved upward like a crescent moon, and a hunchbacked old man in Black Miao attire was responsible for rowing.

Granny Ying made an inviting gesture; Hu Xiaotian stepped into the boat, and she then leapt aboard as well. Though elderly, her movements remained agile, like a withered leaf lightly landing on the deck, and then she sat down. Hu Xiaotian sat opposite her, and the Black Miao man rowed with his oar, the canoe darting toward the lake's center like an arrow released from a bow.

Points of light dotted the lake surface, countless fireflies drifting in the cavern; the scene was utterly romantic, a pity that his fellow passenger was a white-haired, wrinkled old lady, which somewhat spoiled the mood. Granny Ying gazed at the fireflies, her eyes distant in thought.

Hu Xiaotian felt a bit bored sitting in the boat; he dipped his right hand into the water to feel its temperature—warm, likely from hot spring inflow. If there weren't others present, he would even have wanted to strip naked and jump in for a good bath.

Granny Ying said in a dark tone: "If it were me, I'd never do that; watch out, or a fish might swallow your fingers."

After her warning, Hu Xiaotian felt the water rippling around his right hand; he looked up and saw a spindle-shaped black shadow shooting toward him at high speed. He hastily pulled his hand back; though he withdrew in time, a two-foot-long large fish leapt from beneath the water, its fins long as if they were wings, it opened its huge mouth revealing saw-tooth-like teeth. Had he delayed a fraction more, the fish might have bitten him. Hu Xiaotian turned his palm into a fist and punched the fish's head, smashing it sideways so it flew out ten zhang before falling into the lake. The fish could not withstand that blow; upon hitting the water it was already dead, and the spot where it fell suddenly boiled, as hundreds or thousands of fish swarmed to feast on its corpse.

Seeing the scene before him, Hu Xiaotian also felt a chill run down his spine; the main altar of the Wuxian Sect truly exuded eeriness everywhere.

Granny Ying said: "The weak are prey to the strong; all things in heaven and earth cannot escape this principle."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Hearing your words is better than ten years of study; Granny Ying's insights are always so profound."

Granny Ying said: "Having become the King of Zhenhai, your talent for flattery and fawning hasn't diminished at all; no wonder so many girls are willingly coaxed by you—you really know how to please women."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Looking at Granny Ying's current appearance, her charm remains; surely in her youth she was also a great beauty capable of toppling states and cities, and those who admired her back then must have been many?" This statement was somewhat insincere, for Granny Ying's present look bears no connection to such allure, yet flattery never fails—who doesn't like hearing praise?

Granny Ying did not object, but instead let out a long sigh: "I can't even remember what I looked like when I was young."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Granny Ying, do you still have family?" Originally a caring greeting, but unexpectedly it struck her reverse scale; Granny Ying's eyes narrowed, her face overcast with a chill, and she shouted sharply: "What business is it of yours?"

Hu Xiaotian also hadn't expected this question to hit her sore spot; he gave an embarrassed laugh: "Granny Ying, don't blame me—I was just asking casually; actually I and Nujiao are both your family."

Granny Ying certainly wouldn't believe his words, and said softly: "When you see the sect leader, be sure not to speak recklessly; she doesn't have as good a temper as I do."

Hu Xiaotian almost laughed out loud—she, a good temper? Just now she almost tore him apart.

The canoe had already approached the island in the lake's center; at the dock stood a Lan-clothed man waiting.

Although Hu Xiaotian had never seen that man, his build and bearing seemed somewhat familiar; after thinking it over, he suddenly realized the man resembled the one who had once rescued Xi Yan. The Lan-clothed man bowed to Granny Ying and said: "Granny Ying, why have you brought an outsider here?"

Granny Ying said: "He has important business and wishes to see the sect leader."

The Lan-clothed man said: "The sect leader is in cultivation; tonight no one will be admitted."

Granny Ying furrowed her brow, approached the man, and transmitted a few words to him via voice technique.

Though Hu Xiaotian was close by, he couldn't hear what Granny Ying was saying; the Lan-clothed man glanced at Hu Xiaotian a few extra times, and Hu Xiaotian secretly thought that Granny Ying had most likely explained his identity to the man.

After finishing her words, Granny Ying told Hu Xiaotian: "Leave your affairs to Rong Shi to arrange; the sect leader is in cultivation, so even if she sees you it won't be until tomorrow morning. Tonight you'll stay here; I'll take my leave." She turned and boarded the canoe again.

Thus Hu Xiaotian was handed over to the Lan-robed man Rong Shi by her.

Rong Shi looked Hu Xiaotian up and down and said: "Master Hu, why not meet in your true appearance?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "This guise is more convenient."

Rong Shi nodded and led him toward the island; this island in the lake's center is not large, about twenty-plus zhang in length and width, with five structures built entirely of white jade marble. The four surrounding buildings are slightly shorter, each a three-story small tower of the same layout, while the central building has seven stories, its top level connecting directly to the rock strata above; rather than a small tower, it is more like a high tower.

Hu Xiaotian pointed at the central building and said: "Brother Rong, does the sect leader live inside?"

Rong Shi did not answer his question, but instead asked: "Did you come this time to look for Xi Yan?"

Hu Xiaotian, hearing him state his purpose in a single sentence, felt both surprised and curious; besides Li Wuyou, no one else knew why he had come this time, so how could Rong Shi know? Most likely he had guessed; the people of the Wuxian Sect are not only ruthless in their methods, but each one is deeply scheming. (To be continued~^~)