Chapter 1776: [Indifferent] (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian said: "This is my luck, meeting someone who knows how to cherish me. Although I'm not really a good person, if others treat me well, I certainly won't harm others."

Qiqi sensed his hidden meaning; it seems he still holds a grudge about what he did to her back then. She said calmly: "You've come all this way to see me, not just to say these things, right?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "I'm ordered to go on a mission to Xichuan; no matter the outcome, I must give an account."

Qiqi said: "I'm all ears!" She remained very polite toward Hu Xiaotian, paying attention to even the details of her speech. Although Hu Xiaotian had accepted her investiture, that didn't mean she could treat him like an ordinary subject. In fact, Hu Xiaotian now possessed strength equal to hers, so he didn't need to watch her expression.

Hu Xiaotian expressed satisfaction with Qiqi's attitude, not only because of her maturity but also because of his own strength; not just Qiqi, no hegemon in the world today dares to underestimate him. He said: "Forgive my bluntness, but your situation is quite dire!"

Qiqi frowned slightly, raising her delicate brows: "Fifty steps laughing at a hundred steps— the one in a bad situation might actually be someone else." She clearly understood Hu Xiaotian's predicament; even without saying more, just the hundreds of thousands of Xichuan refugees already put him under unprecedented pressure, and the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom tore up the alliance, refusing to supply him with grain. According to her information, his grain likely won't last until the autumn harvest, which is why he proactively came to Kangdu to meet her, probably seeking her aid.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've always been content to go with the flow; I've never had great ambition for the realm, status, or power."

Qiqi's expression was full of mockery; to her, his words were utterly hypocritical and shameless.

Hu Xiaotian, however, spoke seriously. When he first came to this world, he indeed planned to muddle through and enjoy a carefree life, but reality didn't allow him to squander his time leisurely; circumstances forced him to shift from passive to active. It was through repeated adventures that he discovered novelty and excitement, and began to notice the restless part deep within him—whether it was always so or the rebirth changed him, he started to enjoy an adventurous life. Having gained things, he fears losing them, so he continually strengthens himself to protect what he has and those he loves; perhaps this is what others call ambition.

Hu Xiaotian laughed first: "Knowing you won't believe it, my original wish was merely to live a simple life, with a lovely wife and beautiful concubines, and many children. It's a pity that I'm unambitious, yet others see me as a thorn in their eye and a splinter in their flesh, insisting on eliminating me. Even my fiancée, to whom I'm pledged, thinks the same way, which truly chills my heart."

Qiqi said calmly: "The world is full of people who mouth righteousness and morality but secretly act like male thieves and female prostitutes, always blaming others while indulging themselves, never considering others' circumstances." Since Hu Xiaotian went to Dongliang Jun, he seems to have completely forgotten himself. Looking at this man before her, Qiqi's heart hardened again; he was just spouting flowery words. When he expanded his influence and lived freely in Dongliang Jun, did he ever consider what kind of life she led in the palace?

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "In this matter, I truly owe you an apology for the grievances you've suffered, but I also have unavoidable difficulties."

Qiqi smiled faintly: "What a noble-sounding excuse—just two simple words to brush everything aside. Hu Xiaotian, you really are at ease with yourself."

Hu Xiaotian said: "At such a young age, your tone sounds like that of a resentful woman."

Qiqi said: "Nobody stays young forever."

Hu Xiaotian's gaze fell on Qiqi's chest; whether due to her male attire or because that part hadn't developed over the years, it still looked flat as before. Qiqi instantly understood from his gaze, her face flushed, but she couldn't bring herself to say it out.

Hu Xiaotian, however, sighed at that moment: "In my eyes, you have never grown up."

Qiqi retorted without hesitation: "In my heart, you're still as shameless as ever!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed, showing a row of neat white teeth: "It seems we haven't spoken so candidly in a long time. Do you know why I invited you here?"

Qiqi furrowed her brows; she of course knew, and as soon as she saw Hu Xiaotian's letter she understood his intention. Years ago she had brought Hu Xiaotian to the Pagoda Grove of the Great Prime Minister Temple to pay respects, and she had told him that his mother had died after crashing into one of the pagodas there.

Hu Xiaotian whispered: "My lord, why don't we go back to the Pagoda Grove? Perhaps we can recover some old memories."

Qiqi's heart fluttered; she couldn't help recalling when she first brought Hu Xiaotian here, he called her princess and she let him address her as lord. In just a few years, so many changes have occurred— their relationship shifted from cooperation to opposition, and now they can sit together again, as if they had been walking back‑to‑back, thinking they'd drift apart, yet they ended up meeting again after going round a circle. Yet she knows neither will easily stop; this meeting is likely just a brief interlude, perhaps soon they'll part ways again, and she wonders when they'll meet next after their previous hostility lasted several years. Looking up at Hu Xiaotian again, he had already risen and was walking toward the Pagoda Grove.

Qiqi also rose to her feet, seeing Quan De'an looking anxious in the distance, she gently shook her head to signal that he need not follow.

Hu Xiaotian walked ahead of her; his broad back gave a sense of steadiness. Qiqi suddenly felt a wave of fatigue, recalling the days she used to lean on his shoulder— though much time has passed, that warmth remains.

Hu Xiaotian stopped abruptly without warning; Qiqi almost bumped into his back, but she halted in time and whispered: "Why did you stop?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I walked too fast, worried you couldn't keep up."

Qiqi shook her head, walked past him, and strode ahead; she didn't want to follow behind him, she wanted to be the guide between them.

Hu Xiaotian followed behind her with a smile, admiring Qiqi's graceful figure, which was also a fine sight. Although her bust remained the same, her waist‑hip curves had become perfect, showing she had grown into adulthood.

The Pagoda Grove was serene and empty; the two stood silently within it. Hu Xiaotian no longer remembered that pagoda from years ago, assuming Qiqi would recall it, but she shook her head and said: "I can't find it either."

Hu Xiaotian looked at Qiqi in surprise; a pagoda that meant so much to her— how could she not find it? Unless she was doing it on purpose, or perhaps that pagoda was never the place where Ling Jiazi met her end.

Qiqi's gaze was filled with bewilderment; she whispered: "Forgotten things may never be recalled."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you can forget it, it shows it wasn't deep enough; whether love or hate, if it's profound, you can't forget it."

Qiqi stared into his eyes and asked: "Will you forget me?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head without thinking: "Never forgettable!"

Qiqi chuckled: "I never expected you to hate me so much!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you think I would hate you?"

Qiqi felt her heart race; not hatred, perhaps love? This fellow still speaks sweetly, how could she easily be deceived?

Hu Xiaotian was about to discuss possible cooperation with her when he heard footsteps echoing from deep in the Pagoda Grove— light, steady, even paced; from the way the steps were controlled, one could tell the comer was surely an expert, yet since they weren't trying to hide their footsteps, they shouldn't be a sneak.

Hu Xiaotian looked ahead and saw a young monk emerging from behind a pagoda to the front‑right— none other than Mingjing, the outstanding young talent of Heavenly Dragon Temple. Life really is coincidental; today in the Pagoda Grove of the Great Prime Minister Temple it feels like a replay of the past— he remembered that the last time he and Qiqi came here they met Monk Mingjing, and now they encounter him again.

Seeing them, Monk Mingjing's expression remained as calm as an ancient well; after several years apart, his cultivation seemed to have progressed further, appearing to have reached the transcendent state of being unmoved by gain or loss.

Hu Xiaotian and Qiqi exchanged a glance; they each thought Monk Mingjing's appearance was arranged by the other, but seeing each other's eyes they immediately realized today's meeting was purely coincidental.

Hu Xiaotian said: "One flower, one world."

Qiqi said: "One tree, one fleeting life."

Monk Mingjing's expression remained calm and undisturbed; with palms together he said: "Amitabha, have you two been well?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "All is empty; if you can let go in your heart, you'll naturally be at ease."

Monk Mingjing, however, grew solemnly respectful because of Hu Xiaotian's words, and said softly: "It is I, the lowly monk, whose vision is shallow."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Master, as a monastic you can achieve the four empties, but we are laypeople; there are simply too many things in this world we cannot let go of, so it's not that your insight is lacking, but that you measure us by your own breadth of mind and vision— we cannot now be like you."

Qiqi said: "The four empties? I see it merely as an excuse to avoid reality. If one wishes to save the world, how can one be empty of the four? If one is unmoved by the world's birth, aging, sickness, death, love, hatred, and emotions, indifferent to all, how can one be called compassionate at heart?"

Faced with these two formidable figures, Monk Mingjing was left speechless by their questions; after a while he sighed: "I, the lowly monk, have shallow insight, and have made you two laugh."

Please stay tuned (to be continued~^~)