Chapter 1779

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

Qiqi heard the implication in his words; it seemed he still held a grudge over what he had done to her initially. She said calmly: "You've come all this way to find me—surely not just to say these things?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "I was sent on a mission to Xichuan by order; no matter the outcome, I must give an account."

Qiqi said: "I'm all ears!" She remained very polite toward Hu Xiaotian, paying close attention to every detail of her speech. Although Hu Xiaotian had accepted her investiture, that did not mean she could treat him like an ordinary subject. In fact, Hu Xiaotian now possessed strength equal to hers; he had no need to watch her facial 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. Hu Xiaotian 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 precarious situation is likely someone else." She knew Hu Xiaotian's predicament all too well; even without saying more, the sheer number of hundreds of thousands of Xichuan refugees alone had placed unprecedented pressure on him. Moreover, the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom had torn up the alliance and refused to supply him with grain. According to the information she possessed, his food stores probably wouldn't last until the autumn harvest. That was likely why he had come proactively to Kangdu to see her—probably to seek her assistance.

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

Qiqi's expression was full of mockery; to her, these words were utterly hypocritical, the height of shamelessness.

Hu Xiaotian, however, spoke very seriously. When he first came to this world, he indeed intended to muddle through, to live a carefree life; but reality did not allow him to squander his time leisurely. Circumstances forced him to shift from passive to active. It was through one adventure after another that he discovered novelty and excitement, and began to uncover the restless part deep within his heart. Whether it was always thus or the rebirth that changed him, he started to enjoy the adventurous life. Having gained things, he fears losing them, so he continually strengthens himself to protect what he possesses and everyone he cares about—perhaps this is what others call ambition.

Hu Xiaotian himself first laughed: "You won't believe this, but my original wish was merely to live a plain, simple life— a beautiful wife and concubines, children galore. Too bad I'm unambitious, yet others see me as a thorn in their flesh, a splinter in their eye, insisting I be eliminated. Even my fiancée, to whom I was pledged, thinks the same way, which truly chills my heart."

Qiqi said calmly: "The world is full of people who mouth righteousness and morality while secretly acting like male thieves and female prostitutes— hypocrites who always blame others, only caring about their own ease, 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 merely spouting flowery words. When he was expanding his influence and living carefree in Dongliang Jun, had he ever wondered what kind of life she was leading 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 self-satisfied."

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 upon Qiqi's chest; whether due to her male attire or because that part of her had never developed over the years, it still looked flat as before. Qiqi instantly understood from the direction of his look, her face flushed, yet she could not bring herself to speak of it.

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

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

Hu Xiaotian laughed, revealing a mouth of even, 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 had understood his intent the moment she saw Hu Xiaotian's letter. Years ago she had once brought Hu Xiaotian to the Pagoda Forest of the Grand Prime Minister Temple to pay respects, and had also told him that his mother had died after colliding with one of the Buddhist pagodas there.

Hu Xiaotian whispered: "Young master, how about we go to the Pagoda Forest again? Perhaps we can recover some of those old memories."

Qiqi's heart fluttered; she couldn't help recalling when she first brought Hu Xiaotian here, he had called her princess and she had let him address her as young master. In just a few short years, so many changes had occurred— their relationship had shifted from cooperation to opposition, and now they could sit together again, as if they had been walking back‑to‑back, thinking they were drifting apart, yet they had instead followed a circular path and ended up side by side. Yet she understood in her heart that neither of them would easily stop moving; this meeting was likely only a brief interlude, perhaps soon they would part ways again. She did not know when their next encounter would be. Looking up at Hu Xiaotian again, she saw he had already risen and was walking toward the Pagoda Forest.

Qiqi also rose to her feet, seeing Quan De'an anxiously looking from afar; she gently shook her head, indicating that Quan De'an need not follow.

Hu Xiaotian strode ahead of her, his broad back giving a sense of steadiness; Qiqi suddenly felt a wave of fatigue, recalling the days when she used to lie against his shoulder— though much time had passed, that warmth remained.

Hu Xiaotian stopped abruptly; Qiqi almost collided with his back, but she halted in time and whispered softly: "Why did you stop?"

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

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

Hu Xiaotian followed behind her with a smile, appreciating Qiqi's graceful figure, which was also a splendid sight; although her bust remained as before, the curves of her waist and hips had become perfect, showing that she had matured into an adult.

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

Hu Xiaotian gazed at Qiqi in surprise; a pagoda of such significance 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 eyes were filled with bewilderment; she whispered: "Things forgotten may never be recalled."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If something can be forgotten, it proves it wasn't deep enough; whether love or hate, if it's profound, it cannot be forgotten."

Qiqi locked eyes with him and asked: "Will you forget me?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head without a thought: "Never to be forgotten!"

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

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

Qiqi felt her pulse quicken—not hatred, perhaps love? This smooth‑talker still spouts flowery words; how could she easily be taken in?

As Hu Xiaotian was about to discuss possible cooperation with her, he heard footsteps echoing from deep within the Pagoda Forest— light steps, steady pace, regular rhythm; from the way the person controlled their stride alone, one could tell they were an expert, yet they made no effort to conceal their footsteps, which under normal circumstances would not be the behavior of a sneak.

Hu Xiaotian looked ahead and saw a young monk emerging from behind a pagoda to the right‑front— none other than Ming Jing, the outstanding young talent of Heavenly Dragon Temple. Life really is coincidental; today the Pagoda Forest of the Grand Prime Minister Temple seemed to recreate the past. He recalled that the last time he and Qiqi came here, they had encountered Monk Ming Jing, and now they ran into him again.

Seeing them, Monk Ming Jing's expression remained as calm as an ancient well; after several years apart, his cultivation appeared to have progressed further, seeming to have reached the transcendent state of being unmoved by external gains or personal sorrow.

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

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

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

Monk Jing's expression remained still and calm, palms together in greeting: "Amitabha, have you two been well?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "All is empty; if the heart can let go, there is naturally no affliction."

Monk Jing, however, grew reverent upon hearing Hu Xiaotian's words, and said softly: "It is I, the lowly monk, whose vision is shallow."

Hu Xiaotian said: "A master, as a renunciant, can achieve the four great emptinesses; we, however, are worldly people— there are far too many things in this world we cannot set aside. Thus it is not the master's vision that is lacking, but rather the master measures us by his own breadth of mind and perspective; we simply cannot attain his level now."

Qiqi said: "The four great emptinesses? I see it merely as an excuse to escape reality. If one wishes to save the world and aid humanity, how can one embrace the four great emptinesses? If one remains unmoved by the world's birth, aging, sickness, death, love, hatred, and emotion, indifferent to all, how can one claim to have compassion as one's heart?"

Mingjing encountered these two formidable characters, being questioned by them both, he was left speechless, for a moment he could not answer, after a while he sighed and said: "This humble monk's knowledge is shallow, I have made the two benefactors laugh."

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