Chapter 1798

Meizhuang shouted: "Hu Xiaotian, you faithless, ungrateful scoundrel! Qin Yutong, you shameless little wretch!" Seeing the two abandon her, as a grandmaster Meizhuang actually fell into disarray.

Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong had already entered another Stone Chamber; although Meizhuang's curses were vicious, they were completely blocked by the thick stone walls.

Hu Xiaotian first surveyed the surroundings; the Stone Chamber contained only a square jade platform, while the walls bore various carved symbols. He had no time to ponder their meaning; his main concern was Qin Yutong's condition, and he softly asked: "How are you?"

Qin Yutong shook her head and said: "It's fine..." She noticed the Lan-colored light on Hu Xiaotian's chest growing stronger, unable to curb her curiosity, she said: "Take out what's inside and let me see."

Hu Xiaotian replied somewhat embarrassedly, thinking this was your own request, not my concern. He helped Qin Yutong sit on the jade platform, then took out the Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram from his bosom and slowly unfurled it before her.

Qin Yutong stared intently; upon seeing the diagram's content, her face flushed hot, she almost wanted to disappear from shame, yet her gaze was drawn to the wondrous sight. After Hu Xiaotian unfolded the Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram, the Skull's light became unprecedentedly bright; Qin Yutong signaled him to pass the Skull to her, to help her wear it on her head.

Hu Xiaotian had previously seen Ji Feihua do this; based on his inference, Qin Yutong, like Ji Feihua and Qiqi, was likely also a descendant of those extraterrestrial visitors, and they possessed an exceptionally strong sensitivity to the Skull. Before them appeared a strange scene: the Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram spread on the jade platform exhaled waves of light-mist, which gathered and transformed into moving three-dimensional images; to Hu Xiaotian it looked like holographic technology, the technological civilization of those extraterrestrial visitors absolutely surpassing his past dead end. Qin Yutong closed her eyes tightly, her expression showing great pain; the Lan-colored transparent Skull light on her head blazed intensely, shifting from flickering to steady glow, and as the light grew brighter, the Skull changed from Lan to colorless transparency.

Hu Xiaotian was nearly blinded by the strong light, he lowered his head and watched the two tiny figures on the Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram constantly shifting patterns; aside from amazement, he couldn't help but think, isn't this situation like watching an adult film together with this ice beauty Qin Yutong? Once we escape, I wonder how Qin Yutong will face me.

The Skull's light grew ever brighter, Qin Yutong's expression became increasingly painful. Her brows knit tight, she bit her lips hard, her delicate body trembled continuously, evidently fully immersed in the world the Skull brought her. Seeing her state, Hu Xiaotian felt a twinge of worry, recalling that when Ji Feihua grasped the Skull's secret she hadn't seemed so anguished—perhaps because Ji Feihua possessed deep inner strength. Meanwhile Qin Yutong, having been schemed against by Ren Tianqing and Lady Meizhuang, was in a weakened condition. Hu Xiaotian wanted to intervene but dared not disturb her, fearing that any interference at this moment might cause her irreparable harm, for one who is utterly focused is precisely most prone to deviation.

Just as Hu Xiaotian didn't know what to do, he heard Qin Yutong utter a sharp cry, her beautiful eyes widened, and with a puff she spat a mouthful of blood, her delicate body went limp and collapsed; Hu Xiaotian hurriedly embraced her, the Skull's light instantly dimmed, and simultaneously the Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram showed no reaction whatsoever.

Hu Xiaotian held Qin Yutong in his arms, softly calling her name, his concern evident.

Fortunately Qin Yutong had not lost consciousness; she clung to Hu Xiaotian's body, her pretty face pressed against his chest, after a long while she caught her breath, weakly saying: "I cannot fathom the Skull's mystery..."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, taking her hand, and said: "This Skull is not the one from the Wuxian Sect's main altar; it seems those Heaven's Mandate ones each have their own inheritors, and without close blood ties, one cannot establish any connection with the Skull."

Qin Yutong had originally been schemed against by Ren Tianqing and Meizhuang; just now, to uncover the Skull's secret, she had nearly exhausted herself, suffering another heavy blow, now extremely weak, as if she might fall asleep at any moment. Seeing her state, Hu Xiaotian felt worried yet powerless, for Qin Yutong possessed the bloodline of the Heaven's Mandate ones, differing from ordinary people, and moreover her medical skill was not inferior to his. All he could do was comfort her: "Don't be anxious, just rest well."

Qin Yutong said: "Do you still remember what you once told me?"

Hu Xiaotian was startled by her question, thinking to himself that he had said too many things to her, not knowing which one she meant, yet he replied: "I remember!"

Qin Yutong clearly saw through his perfunctory reply, took a breath and said: "Then say it for me to hear!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I like you!"

Qin Yutong spat, knowing Hu Xiaotian had utterly failed to grasp her meaning, yet hearing his words warmed her heart immensely; she instinctively tightened her embrace of Hu Xiaotian, and in this setting, at a moment of life and death, the ice beauty Qin Yutong finally let go of her reserve.

Hu Xiaotian lowered his head and lightly kissed her lips; Qin Yutong's pale pretty face flushed with two rosy clouds from shyness, yet she did not dodge, she slightly opened her lips to meet his kiss. In the darkness their tongues entwined, their hearts drew closer than ever; after a long embrace, Qin Yutong softly said: "I can't catch my breath."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian release her.

Qin Yutong caught her breath and then said: "That Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram is utterly useless to ordinary people."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I thought it was a spring palace picture!"

Qin Yutong softly spat: "Nonsense, I ought to be the descendant of the Heaven's Mandate ones you spoke of, and Ren Tianqing should be the same as me..."

Hu Xiaotian nodded; he could already determine this, yet what struck him as odd was that Ren Tianqing's blood was Lan, while Qin Yutong's blood was red, indicating that the descendants of those Heaven's Mandate ones, after coming to this world, have undergone various mutations.

Qin Yutong said: "Our bloodline... is not pure... thus there are more or less defects, and the Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram arose precisely to compensate for such defects."

Upon hearing her, Hu Xiaotian instantly understood much; no wonder Ren Tianqing spared no effort to obtain the Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram—for him and Qin Yutong, a diagram that could remedy defects was even more vital than the Skull. Yet why did Lady Meizhuang also join in the fun? Could she too be a descendant of the Heaven's Mandate ones? Hu Xiaotian voiced his doubt.

Qin Yutong shook her head and said: "She isn't... she's merely been deceived by Ren Tianqing..."

Hu Xiaotian said: "But how should you make up for this defect?"

Qin Yutong's face reddened again at his question, she bit her lips, and after a moment she embarrassedly said: "This Heaven-Man Myriad Phenomena Diagram should be in two volumes, yin and yang; the two volumes probably have no relation."

Hu Xiaotian said: "This must be the yin volume!" Qin Yutong nodded, and Hu Xiaotian had a brainwave: "In other words, it's useful for you, but of no help to males."

Qin Yutong found it hard to speak, her pretty face flushed as she lowered her head: "Annoying, don't ask!"

Seeing her bashful demeanor, Hu Xiaotian's heart stirred; he embraced her delicate body and asked: "Exactly how can we compensate for the defect?"

Qin Yutong lowered her chin, gathered her courage, and said: "Bearing offspring, reforging the meridians."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing upon hearing that.

Qin Yutong, flushed with anger and embarrassment, lifted her head: "What are you laughing at?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I would be willing to help!" However he still felt somewhat lacking in confidence; speaking of the many lovely confidantes he had been intimate with, none had borne fruit, and if his remedy were wrong, wouldn't he be harming Qin Yutong?

Qin Yutong pressed her forehead against his chest: "You're so shameless..."

Hu Xiaotian said: "As long as I can save you, being shameless doesn't matter; Qin Yutong, another day is no better than today—let's try it now."

Who would try with you...

You mean you want to be completely open with me?

How annoying... I won't pay you any mind anymore. Qin Yutong tried to push Hu Xiaotian away, but her body was soft and lacked any strength.

While the two were entwined in the secret chamber, Meizhuang sat alone outside, lonely; she searched every corner, found no mechanism to open the hidden door, and in desperation explored the cavern as well, only to discover there was no exit she hoped for. Having been callously abandoned by Ren Tianqing, now she was schemed against by Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong together, truly becoming a solitary widow; after all her scheming came to naught, she ended up in this outcome—how could she resign herself to it?

Meizhuang waited alone for two hours with no sign of movement; she couldn't help but feel the loneliness of being abandoned by everyone, perhaps Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong had already found an escape route and fled; as for Ren Tianqing, he simply wouldn't care about his own life or death, and moreover he likely had no idea of the secret chamber beneath the square cauldron.

Meizhuang thought it over; perhaps her only hope lay in Quan De'an, who is a favorite before the Yongyang Princess; his disappearance should draw her attention, and maybe outside they have already begun searching Long Ling Shengjing.

Meizhuang's guess was correct; the night banquet at Yunyao Terrace had ended, all feasts must disperse, Qiqi could not possibly keep everyone here forever; after the banquet broke up, several people took their leave one after another, while Hong Beimo deliberately stayed till the end.

Qiqi said: "Mr. Hong, do you still have business?"

Hong Beimo said: "Nothing much, just tonight I didn't happen to see Eunuch Quan." (To be continued~^~)