Chapter 1813

Baobao gazed at Hu Xiaotian, her face full of admiration. The two walked inside, where ahead lay the cavern used to store ice blocks. Although the cavern wasn't small, it was packed with ice, leaving little room; only a few narrow passages remained for walking and moving the ice.

"Baobao looked at Hu Xiaotian, face full of admiration, the two walked inside; ahead was the cavern used to store ice blocks. Although the cavern wasn't small, because it was piled full of ice blocks, there wasn't much space left; only a few passages remained, for walking and moving ice."

Make sure to keep meaning.

They searched the ice cavern thoroughly but found nothing—just ice everywhere. Yet they wondered why Ren Tianqing had set up so many mechanisms here.

"Baobao and Hu Xiaotian searched the ice cavern thoroughly, but found nothing; here there was nothing but ice blocks, yet I don't know why Ren Tianqing set up so many mechanisms."

Note: Ren Tianqing is the intended name.

Baobao suddenly grabbed Hu Xiaotian's arm. He looked at her, and she pointed subtly at the ground ahead. He looked up and saw a drop of blue blood on the floor. Startled, he gave her a look, signaling her to stay quiet and listen, but heard nothing. Baobao pointed upward; they had already searched below and found no one, meaning the only place someone could be hiding was above the ice.

"Baobao suddenly grabbed Hu Xiaotian's arm; Hu Xiaotian looked at her, only to see Baobao secretly pointing at the ground ahead. Hu Xiaotian looked up and discovered a drop of blue bloodstain on the ground. Hu Xiaotian's heart skipped a beat; he gave Baobao a look, signalling her not to make a sound, and listened closely, but heard nothing. Baobao pointed upward; they had already searched below thoroughly and seen no one, meaning the hiding place could only be above the ice."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, and they both leapt up, landing on the stacked ice bricks. Not far away they saw a set of clothing. Approaching, they recognized it as a man's outfit missing a sleeve. Hu Xiaotian immediately identified it as belonging to Ren Tianqing; the missing sleeve had been cut off by his own light sword. There were also some blue bloodstains nearby, but the clotting indicated they were old, suggesting that after fleeing the palace, Ren Tianqing had once been here.

"Hu Xiaotian nodded; the two leapt up together and landed on the layered ice bricks. Not far away they saw a set of clothing; they walked over slowly. The clothing seemed to be for a man, missing a sleeve. Hu Xiaotian immediately recognized it as belonging to Ren Tianqing; the missing sleeve was because he had cut off his own arm with his light sword. There were also some blue bloodstains beside the clothing, but from the clotting of the bloodstains it seemed a long time had passed, indicating that after fleeing the palace, Ren Tianqing had once come here."

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself that Ren Tianqing likely hadn't entered through the ice cellar's main door; in other words, besides the path they had just taken, there must be another route connecting to the outside. He unfolded the map Baobao had given him, but it bore no markings.

"Hu Xiaotian secretly thought that Ren Tianqing must not have entered through the ice cellar's main gate; in other words, besides the road they had just taken, there must be another passage connecting to the outside. He unfolded the map Baobao had sent, but the map bore no markings."

Baobao said, "Who would have thought someone's blood could be blue."

"Baobao said: 'It's surprising that someone's blood would be blue.'"

Hu Xiaotian said in a low voice, "Ren Tianqing, he must have already left." From their current position they could see the entire ice cavern.

"Hu Xiaotian said in a low voice: 'Ren Tianqing, he should have already left.' From their current position they could overlook the entire ice cavern."

Baobao picked up the clothing, smelled it, furrowed her brows, and asked, "Why would he leave this behind?"

"Baobao picked up the clothing, smelled it with her nose, furrowed her brows and said: 'Why would he leave this clothing behind?'"

Hu Xiaotian, prompted by her question, also felt puzzled. Indeed, why would Ren Tianqing leave the clothing? He could have easily destroyed the evidence, yet he was careless. His gaze swept the surroundings; everything seemed normal. Then he recalled the intimate moments he and Baobao had shared in the palace wine cellar, his heart warmed, and he was about to reminisce with her.

"Baobao's question made Hu Xiaotian feel strange as well; indeed, why would Ren Tianqing leave this clothing? He could have destroyed the evidence as much as possible, so why be so careless? His gaze swept around; everything seemed normal, when suddenly he recalled the various romantic events he and Baobao had shared in the palace wine cellar, his heart warmed, and he was about to reminisce with Baobao."

At that moment Baobao exclaimed, "Bugs!"

"At that moment Baobao exclaimed: 'Worms!'"

Hu Xiaotian looked down and saw countless red, transparent tiny worms pouring from the cracks in the ice bricks, each the size of a sesame seed, swarming thickly and instantly filling every ice seam, looking like blood flowing through the cracks. He grabbed Baobao's waist, preparing to jump down, but saw the red worms rapidly spreading across the ground below, leaving no place to stand.

"Hu Xiaotian looked down and saw countless red translucent tiny worms, each the size of a sesame seed, swarming out from the cracks in the ice bricks, densely packed, instantly filling every ice fissure, appearing like blood flowing in the ice cracks. Hu Xiaotian grabbed Baobao's waist, preparing to jump down, but saw that on the ground below the red worms were rapidly spreading, leaving no place to stand."

The red worms spread at astonishing speed, and they showed no fear of Hu Xiaotian, quickly advancing toward his position.

"The red worms spread at astonishing speed, and they seemed unafraid of Hu Xiaotian, quickly advancing toward his position."

"Above!" Baobao pointed upward, raised her right hand, and fired a sleeve arrow deep into the rock above, a steel wire attached to its tail and fastened to her wrist guard. She shouted, "Hold onto me!"

"'Above!' Baobao pointed at the spot above; she raised her right hand, a sleeve-arrow shot deep into the upper rock layer, the tail of the sleeve-arrow had a steel wire attached to her wrist guard: 'Hold onto me!' Baobao shouted loudly."

Hu Xiaotian held Baobao tightly; she pushed off the ice bricks with her toes, launching them both like a swing back toward the entrance they had just used. Mid‑air they saw the red worms spreading rapidly across the floor. Their bodies swung to the far end; Baobao released the wire, and Hu Xiaotian, still holding her, used the momentum to glide forward, outpacing the worms' advance to the exit and reaching the stone door outside. He quickly aligned the pattern above, and the three stone doors began to close. The worms' spread was just a moment too slow, and they were sealed inside the ice cavern by the doors.

"Hu Xiaotian held Baobao tight; she pushed off the ice bricks with her toes, and together they swung like on a swing, flying toward the passage they had just entered. Mid-air, they saw the red worms on the ground also spreading outward at astonishing speed. Their bodies swung to the end; Baobao released the steel wire, Hu Xiaotian held her and used the momentum to continue gliding forward, beating the worms to the exit, they first returned outside the stone gate. He quickly arranged the pattern above; the three stone doors slowly closed, the red worms' spread was finally a step too late, and they were sealed inside the ice cavern by the stone doors."

Seeing the stone doors completely shut, Baobao finally exhaled in relief. She and Hu Xiaotian exchanged a glance, both still shaken.

"Seeing the stone doors completely sealed, Baobao finally let out a long breath; she and Hu Xiaotian exchanged a glance, both still shaken."

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, thinking Ren Tianqing was truly vicious. He had anticipated that the Xuantian Manor would be investigated and seized, so he had laid a trap in the ice cavern, waiting to lure them in. Fortunately only he and Baobao had entered; had they brought a crowd, many would likely have died.

"Hu Xiaotian silently cursed: Ren Tianqing is truly vicious; he must have anticipated that Xuantian Guan would be investigated and cleared, so he set up a deceptive formation in this ice cavern, waiting to lure someone into a trap. Fortunately only he and Baobao entered the ice cavern just now; if they had brought a crowd, many would likely have died."

Baobao, still shaken, said, "He actually knows how to command poisonous worms."

"Baobao, still uneasy, said: 'He actually knows how to drive poisonous worms.'"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "He originally came from the Five Immortals Sect—nothing surprising about that."

"Hu Xiaotian said: 'He originally came from the Wuxian Sect; what's so surprising about that?'"

Both gazed at the stone door, which was sealed tight with no worms escaping. Seeing the pattern lock on the door, Hu Xiaotian felt a stir—normally an ordinary person could not open such a lock, and Ren Tianqing's trap inside was likely meant for his own people. An image of Qin Yutong appeared in his mind; he could solve the lock because he had gained some of her knowledge from her, and the Heaven‑Man Myriad Images diagram, while helping repair her internal defects, also subtly imparted her understanding to him. In other words, without realizing it, both of their bodies had changed, enabling him to open the complex lock.

"Their gazes simultaneously turned to the stone door; the stone door was tightly sealed, not a single red worm had crawled out from inside. Hu Xiaotian saw the pattern lock on the stone door, and his heart stirred; normally an ordinary person could certainly not open this pattern lock, the trap Ren Tianqing set inside was likely meant for his own people. Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but picture Qin Yutong's lovely appearance; the reason he could open the pattern lock was because he had obtained some knowledge from Qin Yutong, the Heavenly Myriad Images Diagram, while helping repair Qin Yutong's bodily defects, also subtly transmitted some of what she mastered to him. In other words, without realizing it, both of their bodies had undergone changes simultaneously; otherwise he could not have opened this complex pattern lock."

Baobao said, "If the ice cavern is merely a trap, there probably isn't anything important hidden inside."

"Baobao said: 'If the ice cavern is merely a trap, there probably wouldn't be anything important hidden inside.'"

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Since Ren Tianqing had been here, even if there had been something valuable, he would have taken it; he wouldn't leave it behind for others. He said softly, "Let's go up."

"Hu Xiaotian nodded; since Ren Tianqing had been here, even if there had originally been something important, he would have taken it away, and wouldn't leave it for others to benefit from. He said softly: 'Let's go up!'"

The two returned outside the cellar and saw Liang Da Zhuang still faithfully guarding the door, never imagining the peril Hu Xiaotian and Baobao had just faced in the ice cavern. He grinned widely and said, "Young master, did you find any treasure down there?"

"The two returned outside the cellar, seeing Liang Da Zhuang still honestly guarding the door; this fellow never imagined the dangerous experience Hu Xiaotian and Baobao had just had in the ice cavern, he grinned widely and said: 'Young Master, did you find any treasures down there?'"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head. At that moment Zuo Tang had finished a preliminary inventory and approached. Hu Xiaotian told them to fill the cellar with earth and seal it, to prevent the red worms from crawling out and harming people later; although the stone doors already blocked the lower level, an extra precaution would be safer.

"Hu Xiaotian shook his head; at this moment Zuo Tang also finished a preliminary inventory and walked over here. Hu Xiaotian had them fill and seal the cellar with earth, to prevent those red worms from crawling out later to harm people; although the lower part had already been sealed with stone doors, an extra precaution is safer."

Zuo Tang noticed Hu Xiaotian alone, stepped over respectfully, and said, "My lord, I've just taken a quick inventory—there are still plenty of treasures in the Xuantian Manor."

"Zuo Tang noticed Hu Xiaotian alone present, quietly approached, and respectfully said: 'Prince, I just did a quick tally; there are still quite a few treasures in Xuantian Guan.'"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Tell me what treasures you have."

"Hu Xiaotian smiled: 'What treasures? Tell me about them.'"

Zuo Tang replied, "There are famous calligraphy and paintings, rare antiquities, and valuable medicinal herbs."

"Zuo Tang said: 'There are famous calligraphy and paintings, rare curios, and valuable medicinal herbs.'"

Hu Xiaotian nodded.

"Hu Xiaotian nodded."

Zuo Tang lowered his voice and said, "I've prepared two ledgers—one to send to the court, and another to keep for you, my lord."

"Zuo Tang lowered his voice again: 'I have prepared two ledgers, one to send to the court, and another to keep for the Prince's storage.'"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, eyes narrowing, "Are these two ledgers very different?" He already understood that Zuo Tang was trying to give him a gift under the guise of this opportunity.

"Hu Xiaotian smiled narrowly: 'Are these two ledgers very different?' He already understood that this fellow was taking advantage of the opportunity to give him a gift."

Zuo Tang beamed and said, "Actually, Ren Tianqing is just a physician; he doesn't possess any priceless treasures."

"Zuo Tang beamed: 'Actually Ren Tianqing is just a physician, and doesn't possess any priceless treasures.'"

Hu Xiaotian smirked inwardly; he wasn't the type to be swayed by money, but even if he didn't take these items, turning them over to the state wouldn't guarantee they'd reach the treasury—officials in the Dakang administration would skim off the top, leaving only scrap metal. Better to keep them himself, since Dakang would eventually be his anyway. He smiled and said, "Go ahead and handle it; I trust you."

"Hu Xiaotian secretly amused, he wasn't a money-grubber; however, even if he didn't take these things, turning them over to the state might not all end up in the treasury—he knew Dakang's bureaucracy well: after officials layer by layer skimmed off the top, only scrap copper and iron would reach the state coffers; better to keep them himself than let mid-level officials embezzle, after all Dakang will eventually be his anyway; he smiled: 'You handle it, I'm at ease.'"

Zuo Tang immediately understood, laughing, "Thank you, my lord!" It's odd to thank someone for giving a gift, but Zuo Tang has a thick skin.

"Zuo Tang immediately understood, smiling: 'Thank you, Prince!' To give a gift and still say thanks—Zuo Tang's cheek is truly something."

At that moment a warrior approached, carrying something, and bowed to Hu Xiaotian, saying, "My lord, we found this in Ren Tianqing's study."

"At this moment a warrior approached carrying something, saluted Hu Xiaotian and said: 'Prince, we found this in Ren Tianqing's study.'"

Hu Xiaotian looked at it and his heart leapt with joy—it was a copy of the Heart Sutra of Prajnaparamita—but his delight quickly faded, as the sutra appeared to be of recent origin.

"Hu Xiaotian looked at it, his heart leapt with great joy—it was a copy of the Banruo Boluomiduo Xin Jing, though his pleasure was fleeting; at a glance this Buddhist scripture appeared not very old."

The warrior said, "This is imperial property; for Ren Tianqing to have privately kept it is a crime of deceiving the sovereign." In truth they didn't think it was that important, but seeing the library seal and the imperial seal stamped on it showed the sutra belonged to the imperial collection—such items rarely leave the palace—so the warrior presented it as evidence of guilt to Hu Xiaotian.

"The warrior said: 'This is imperial property; Ren Tianqing daringly hoarded palace items, which is truly a crime of deceiving the sovereign.' Actually they didn't think it was that important; they only saw that the cover bore the seal of the Cangshuge and also the imperial seal, indicating this Buddhist scripture is part of the imperial collection, which normally never leaves the palace, so the warrior presented it as evidence to Hu Xiaotian."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Very well, reward a hundred taels of silver." He kept the sutra; the remaining work was merely to inventory and check, a tedious task he had no desire to do, so he decided to return home.

"Hu Xiaotian said: 'Very good, reward a hundred taels of silver.' He kept the scripture; the remaining work was merely to investigate and inventory, a boring task he didn't want to do, so he decided to return to his residence."

Arriving at the gate, Baobao bade him farewell; she couldn't stay long, as she still had to report to Hong Beimo. Hu Xiaotian saw her to the crossroads and whispered, "If you ever grow tired of this, just let me speak to Hong Beimo and have you come live with me."

"Arriving at the gate, Baobao bade him farewell; she couldn't stay long, still needing to report to Hong Beimo. Hu Xiaotian saw her to the crossroads and said softly: 'If you find it tiresome, why not have me speak to Hong Beimo to bring you over?'"

Baobao laughed, "How so? Do you think I'm something you can just take whenever you want?"

"Baobao laughed: 'How? What do you think I am? Wanting things just because you want them?'"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head. "No, I'm just worried he might harm you."

"Hu Xiaotian shook his head: 'No, I'm just worried he might be adverse to you.'"

Baobao bit her lip and said, "Actually, my adoptive father understands our relationship very well. In the past, when you and he were opposed, he never used me as leverage against you. Now that you've chosen to cooperate, he certainly won't harm me. I'm a free‑spirited person; I don't like staying constantly by your side, nor do I enjoy serving others."

"Baobao bit her cherry lip and said: 'Actually my foster father understands our relationship very well; in the past when you two were opposed he never used me to threaten you, and now that you have chosen to cooperate he certainly won't harm me. I am a free-spirited person by habit; I don't like staying dutifully by your side, nor do I like serving others.'"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "If you come to be by my side, I'll naturally be the one serving you."

"Hu Xiaotian laughed: 'If you come to my side, naturally I will serve you.'"

Baobao wrinkled her nose, looking utterly adorable, and said, "Believe you? Not a chance, Hu Xiaotian—I refuse to be your concubine."

"Baobao wrinkled her nose, looking extremely cute: 'Believe you? Fat chance, Hu Xiaotian—I'd never become your concubine.'"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "Of course not as a concubine—I will make you my wife; in my eyes there is no hierarchy or distinction."

"Hu Xiaotian said: 'Naturally not a concubine; I will certainly make you my wife, in my eyes there is no distinction of high or low, big or small.'"

Baobao smiled sweetly and said, "A wife is worse than a concubine, a concubine worse than a lover; I'd rather stay just as we are now."

"Baobao smiled charmingly: 'A wife is inferior to a concubine, a concubine inferior to stealing; I'd rather stay as we are now.'"

Hu Xiaotian said, "So you mean you're willing to sneak around with me…"

"Hu Xiaotian said: 'You mean you're willing to steal with me...'"

Baobao had already swung onto her horse, saying, "Nice try."

"Baobao had already swung onto her horse: 'Nice dream...'"

Hu Xiaotian watched as she galloped away, leaving only a string of bell‑like laughter behind.

"Hu Xiaotian looked ahead; that girl had already galloped away on horseback, leaving only a string of silver-bell-like cheerful laughter."

First Update delivered, there are still two more updates in the early morning, Medical Union is making a final push for the Monthly Ticket Ranking this month; brothers with Monthly Tickets, please support Zhangyu! (To be continued~^~)