Chapter 1828

Gangbaduo and Xima followed the thief's footsteps, Gangbaduo reminded Xima: "Pay attention to his escape route, follow him, and absolutely do not fall into an ambush." The two did not know what place this was, only seeing that everywhere was pitch black, with no lights in the rooms. The thief fled to a small building, then climbed up directly from the eaves. Gangbaduo secretly admired, this person's movement skill was not inferior to his own; with such ability, why become a thief? The more he thought, the more wrong it felt. Seeing the thief climb to the third floor of the small building, he opened a window and entered with practiced ease.

Xima also felt that everything before her was somewhat strange, she whispered: "Master, he seems to be deliberately leading us here."

Gangbaduo nodded, and using voice transmission told Xima: "This is not right; we should first leave, then report to the Northern Court Prince before making a decision."

Xima bit her cherry lips; although she was unwilling, she also understood that continuing the pursuit would likely bring trouble.

Just as they were about to leave, suddenly someone shouted, "Thief!" In an instant, countless torches lit up all around the courtyard, illuminating the entire place brightly. Gangbaduo and Xima's expressions both darkened; they had indeed fallen into someone else's trap. Gangbaduo secretly wondered, with his cultivation, how could so many people lying in ambush here go unnoticed? Since it had come to this, regret was useless. He looked toward the small building ahead, only to see a plaque on its front bearing several large characters—Seven Treasures Exquisite Pavilion. Xima also saw the plaque on the building, secretly thinking, what exactly is this Seven Treasures Exquisite Pavilion? Why is the security so tight?

Gangbaduo looked around and saw that over two hundred people had already surrounded them, and these two hundred-plus were arranged in formation with orderly tactics; this place was clearly not an ordinary location. Gangbaduo secretly thought, could they have mistakenly stumbled into the imperial palace?

At that moment, a solemn voice from the crowd shouted: "Who dares to trespass the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau?"

Gangbaduo, hearing that it was not the imperial palace, relaxed a little; he had also heard of the name Heavenly Mechanism Bureau. He spoke loudly: "I am the Black Hu State Preceptor; I entered this treasure land by mistake while chasing a thief, please do not misunderstand." His Chinese, though stiff, was still clear enough for the other side to understand.

The voice from the opposing side sounded again: "It seems you do not know the rules here; seize him and interrogate him thoroughly!"

Seeing that revealing his identity had no effect, Gangbaduo could not help but fly into a rage: "I, your monk, want to see who dares to be rude!"

Xima had now completely calmed down; tonight's events were all because of her. She had pursued the thief to retrieve her belongings, but instead fell into the opposing side's trap, leading them into the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau's forbidden area, thus causing this trouble. Seeing Gangbaduo angry, she recalled the purpose of this envoy to Dakang; if conflict broke out, the situation would only become increasingly uncontrollable. She whispered: "Master, you must absolutely not get angry; this might be a trap."

After her reminder, Gangbaduo also knew that anger would not help; he suppressed his anger and said: "Please summon Hong Beimo, I wish to speak with him face to face."

A middle-aged man stepped out from the crowd; he was Fu Yuhong of the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau Eagle Squad. Fu Yuhong sneered: "What do you think our Mr. Hong is? You think you can see him just because you want to?"

Gangbaduo glared at Fu Yuhong; in Black Hu he was the State Preceptor, and Hong Beimo in Dakang held an equivalent position, so his request to meet Hong Beimo was not excessive, but the other side obviously did not see it that way.

Xima said: "Please trouble you to inform the Black Hu envoy; once our people arrive, everything will naturally become clear."

Fu Yuhong laughed loudly: "Calling for reinforcements?"

Gangbaduo coldly stared at Fu Yuhong and said: "It seems you have long set up a trap, intending to frame us?" The other side refused to let them leave and also refused to inform the Black Hu envoy, so Gangbaduo inevitably thought these people and the thief who led them here were all in cahoots.

Fu Yuhong said: "Shouting 'catch the thief' while being a thief?"

Gangbaduo clenched his fists, powerful inner energy surging through his body; his deep red kasaya billowed without wind, fluttering loudly in the night breeze.

Seeing the monk's inner power so formidable, Fu Yuhong was also secretly startled; he made a gesture, and the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau warriors around took up strict positions.

The atmosphere was tense, on the verge of battle, when a graceful figure approached Fu Yuhong's side—it was Baobao, leader of the Fox Squad. She sent a voice transmission to Fu Yuhong: "Senior brother, this matter is somewhat suspicious; we must absolutely not let it escalate."

Fu Yuhong whispered: "The master is not here." Hong Beimo had gone to the imperial mausoleum today and was not in the Imperial City; to notify him, one would have to wait until he returns, which might not be until dawn tomorrow. Moreover, Hong Beimo's actions are always elusive—appearing and disappearing without trace—so even if he were at the imperial mausoleum, he might not be found.

While the two were discussing countermeasures, they heard Xima say: "We are both guests of the King of Zhenhai; aren't you afraid of incurring his displeasure?"

Baobao glanced at Xima and said: "Who are you again?"

Xima said: "I am the Black Hu Princess Yixing Xima; if you go ask Hu Xiaotian, everything will become clear."

Baobao couldn't help but glance at Xima again; this Black Hu princess actually had a big beard, presumably a disguise, and her voice was rough and gruff, likely from taking a voice-changing pill or something similar. Hu Xiaotian, Hu Xiaotian, you really are flirtatious, even secretly hooking up with a Black Hu princess. Actually, Baobao this time wronged Hu Xiaotian; although Hu Xiaotian had met this Black Hu princess face to face, they had hardly any interaction. It was Xima who, seeing the situation was wrong, had no choice but to come up with this plan.

Hu Xiaotian naturally could not command these people of the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau, yet they also dared not easily offend this youngster, for Hu Xiaotian's methods had been experienced by many; Fu Yuhong had even personally experienced them. Hearing Xima mention Hu Xiaotian's name, his heart began to hesitate, and he lowered his voice to Baobao: "What should we do?"

Baobao said: "The King of Zhenhai is responsible for receiving the Black Hu and Da Yong envoys; it would be best to notify him as soon as possible."

Hu Xiaotian was awakened from sleep, hearing that the Black Hu Princess Xima had been detained by the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau; he hurriedly rose and headed to the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau. He asked the people who had come from the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau, learning that they had not yet publicized this matter. After thinking, he still decided to let Liang Da Zhuang go to the relay station to inform the Northern Court Prince Wanyan Liexin of Princess Xima's whereabouts, lest Wanyan Liexin become anxious and cause even greater trouble.

Riding his horse to the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau's gate, he saw Baobao already waiting there; he dismounted and came to her side, asking: "What's wrong? What happened?"

Baobao then recounted the entire incident from beginning to end. Hu Xiaotian felt a headache coming on; the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pavilion is a forbidden area of the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau, not only because of Hong Beimo, but also for a more important reason: the actual control of this small pavilion within the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau lies in Qiqi's hands, and inside is stored the skull retrieved from the main altar of the Wuxian Sect. Hu Xiaotian does not know the Black Hu princess, but he does know the Black Hu State Preceptor Gangbaduo; they have crossed blades before, and from Hu Xiaotian's perspective, Gangbaduo could possibly be stealing the skull.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian lost in thought, Baobao couldn't help but ask: "Are you worried about your big-bearded princess? Rest assured, we have not made things difficult for her."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but laugh at her words: "What big-bearded princess? I am not acquainted with her at all."

Baobao was half-believing, half-doubting; unless they caught this rascal in the act, he would never admit it.

From her gaze, Hu Xiaotian already knew what she was thinking; he gave a wry smile: "Heaven and earth, my conscience, I had not even seen her before tonight."

Baobao said: "No matter what, you should still be more vigilant; don't get dizzy at the sight of a woman and fall for someone's beauty trap."

"Am I that kind of person? Besides, even if I fell for a beauty trap, it would have to be your doing; she doesn't seem to have that much charm."

Baobao laughed: "Eating too many mountain delicacies and seafood can get boring; maybe you want to change your taste, seeking a big-bearded princess for some excitement."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I haven't even tried you; since you said that, another day I'll gladly give you a proper taste."

Baobao glared at him and said: "Finally admitted it, huh? You're interested in that big-bearded princess."

Hu Xiaotian gave a wry smile and shook his head: "Women are truly unreasonable; am I saying I want to taste that big-bearded princess?"

Before the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pavilion, both sides remained in a standoff, but fortunately no further conflict had erupted. Hu Xiaotian pushed through the crowd and entered; at a glance he saw the big-bearded Princess Xima, beside whom stood the imposing Tibetan monk Gangbaduo.

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Even in the middle of the night you won't let me sleep soundly—what's the situation?" His gaze swept over Xima; she was obviously a little embarrassed, her eyes drooping.

Gangbaduo, however, revealed his domineering side, coldly saying: "They say Dakang is a land of rites and propriety; is this how you treat guests?"

Hu Xiaotian had come tonight mainly to help them out of their siege; seeing Gangbaduo so rude, he instantly felt anger rising from all sides, and he smiled: "Does your country not understand the principle of no entry without invitation? The host never invited you, yet you barged in; in Dakang this is already a violation of the law."

Gangbaduo chuckled: "This is Dakang; naturally you can say whatever you like."

Xima said: "We did not barge in here; my belongings were stolen, and the thief led us all the way to this place." She pointed to the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pavilion behind her.

Hu Xiaotian nodded; her explanation sounded reasonable. Judging by the timing, Princess Xima must have left his mansion before this happened. Yet she had clearly left together with Wanyan Liexin, so why did she split from him midway, and why did she end up with Gangbaduo in the same place? Hu Xiaotian gazed at Gangbaduo full of doubts.

Gangbaduo shouted: "If you have doubts, just go into the building and find that thief; then the truth will come out."

Hu Xiaotian shouted sternly: "Impudent! Do you know what place this is?"

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