Chapter 1843: Yunshao Manor (Part 1)

Hu Xiaotian quietly gazed at Huo Xiaoru, suddenly feeling she had changed a lot; she did not directly answer his question. Previously, Yan Liexin had indirectly admitted that Xue Shengjing was in Black Hu, and the Black Hu envoy's banquet for him was probably no coincidence. Hu Xiaotian softly said, "Why did you change your name?"

Huo Xiaoru frowned slightly, looking puzzled: "What?" She obviously did not understand Hu Xiaotian's meaning.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why did you take down the sign of Yan Shui Ge?"

Only then did Huo Xiaoru realize what he was referring to, and she smiled: "Do you think the name of Huiwei Lou is not good?"

Hu Xiaotian fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "I recently heard a song; I'll sing it for you!"

Huo Xiaoru's gaze grew increasingly astonished.

"Time has passed and never returns; the past can only be reminisced. Remembering childhood days of bamboo horses and green plums, two innocent souls day and night together, the spring wind again blows red the flower buds, you have also added another year, you will soon change your heart, like time cannot be turned back, I can only lean on each other in dreams..."

Hu Xiaotian drained the tea in his cup in one gulp, turned and left, without even saying goodbye.

Huo Xiaotian's low, sorrowful song still echoed in Huo Xiaoru's ears; his voice, though imperfect, possessed a power that struck straight at the heart. Huo Xiaoru bit her lip, rose, and came to the window, but saw Hu Xiaotian's figure already gone from the rear courtyard.

In the deep night, Hu Xiaotian sat alone in the study, still pondering Huo Xiaoru's daytime behavior; from her words and deeds one could see everything was normal, with no sign of being controlled or coerced. Over the past few years since their separation, what exactly had happened? Why did he feel an unfathomable profundity toward Huo Xiaoru? Was it truly she who had changed, or had he misunderstood her?

The door was gently knocked, and Xia Zhangming entered from outside, following Hu Xiaotian's orders: he used the Black Kiss Bird to track Huo Xiaoru's movements, discovering that shortly after Hu Xiaotian left Huiwei Lou, she also departed, stopping for about an hour at the Butterfly Dance Pavilion in West City, then proceeding to Yunshao Manor at East Four Archway.

Hu Xiaotian was not unfamiliar with Yunshao Manor; back when he first met Huo Xiaoru, she had been responsible for teaching and rehearsing court song and dance there. After Qiqi took control of state affairs, she drastically reduced the huge court music and dance troupe, with Yunshao Manor's teaching and performance office bearing the brunt; many of its song and dance performers lost official support and inevitably sought livelihoods elsewhere. Some fortunately entered official households, while others fell into the dust. The once bustling East Four Archway thus fell into decline, and later the properties there were sold off, only a few buildings bought, most left idle.

After hearing Xia Zhangming's report, Hu Xiaotian already had a plan in mind: Huo Xiaoru's visit to Kangdu this time should not be merely to rescue Rongshi. After meeting Huo Xiaoru today, he felt even more that she had completely become another person; he secretly inferred that her change was mostly due to Xue Shengjing.

Even Xi Yan could be made to lose reason by the Wuxian Sect Leader Lady Meizhuang using the Heart‑Confusing Gu; how much more so Huo Xiaoru, who lacks the strength to truss a chicken? Hu Xiaotian harbored a strong desire: he must quickly uncover everything behind this—what exactly happened to Huo Xiaoru? Where is Xue Shengjing? Does the Black Hu envoy Yan Liexin have any contact with Huo Xiaoru's side? What is the relationship between Huo Xiaoru and Rongshi?

Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian wanted to secretly investigate Yunshao Manor at night, Xia Zhangming volunteered: "I will go together with my lord; if anything happens, we can look out for each other."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and whispered: "Summon Liang Yinghao; let us scout whether Yunshao Manor hides any secrets."

As midnight approached, three figures appeared at East Four Archway: they were Hu Xiaotian, Xia Zhangming, and Liang Yinghao, all clad in black and masked. They first sneaked into the abandoned western courtyard of Yunshao Manor, where no one lived anymore, waist‑high weeds grew, and moonlight like water illuminated the courtyard as bright as day. Liang Yinghao gazed at the round moon and suddenly recalled something, saying softly: "Today is the fifteenth of the seventh month."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize today was Zhongyuan Festival, commonly called the Ghost Festival; people usually observe some taboos, avoiding going out at night during Zhongyuan. Hu Xiaotian did not believe in such things, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Xia Zhangming said: "In a moment it will be tomorrow; the sixteenth of the seventh month is not the Ghost Festival."

Liang Yinghao laughed: he was not afraid, merely recalling the folk taboo.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Yinghao brother, you stay here to keep watch; I and Zhangming will go inside to investigate. If we do not return within an hour, you go back to the Prince's Residence to summon reinforcements."

Liang Yinghao laughed: "Then I'll wait here." He knew Hu Xiaotian's strength well; in single combat, few in this world could match him, and besides, he is resourceful and has Xia Zhangming, a beast‑taming master, beside him to assist; even in any situation these two should be able to retreat safely. Liang Yinghao's lightness skill is clearly inferior to theirs, his forte being digging tunnels and moving stealthily.

Hu Xiaotian and Xia Zhangming scaled the wall into Yunshao Manor; though only a wall apart, the two sides were worlds apart. The previous courtyard was overgrown with weeds, while here everything was neat and orderly, clearly tended regularly.

The Black Kiss Bird led the way; Hu Xiaotian and Xia Zhangming both possessed superb lightness skill, following silently behind the bird as they approached the Light Dance Pavilion of Yunshao Manor.

The lights were still on in the three‑story Light Dance Pavilion.

The two leapt over eaves and walked along walls, as if on level ground, reaching the third floor. Through the drifting curtains they saw two figures. Hu Xiaotian and Xia Zhangming exchanged a glance and hid in a dark corner. Looking ahead, they saw one was Xiang Shancong, the other an old woman with white hair and wrinkled skin. Hu Xiaotian had never seen this old lady; seeing that Huo Xiaoru was not here, he inevitably felt a little disappointed.

The old lady coldly said: "Xiang Shancong, I have already fulfilled my promise; you have not yet handed over Rongshi to me."

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; this old lady cared so much about Rongshi, though he had never heard her voice, from her speech rhythm he still felt somewhat familiar. Looking at her wicked gaze, he suddenly realized: this old lady is clearly the Wuxian Sect Leader Lady Meizhuang. No wonder Huo Xiaoru came to rescue Rongshi—it was Lady Meizhuang who sought her out. But when and how did Huo Xiaoru meet Lady Meizhuang and reach an agreement?

Xiang Shancong smiled: "Why be anxious? Once my lady verifies the authenticity of the item, she will immediately return your disciple to you."

Lady Meizhuang angrily said: "A whole hour has already passed; can you still not tell real from fake? I think you are deliberately stalling. That item is something I painstakingly brought out of the Long Ling Shengjing realm; how could it be counterfeit?"

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian already guessed what they referred to as the "item"; he silently cursed his bad luck. It seemed the skull stored in Long Ling Shengjing had ultimately fallen into Lady Meizhuang's hands. After he used the light sword to blast open the cave and escape, Lady Meizhuang must have followed the same opening to leave.

It is no surprise that Lady Meizhuang could obtain the skull, but why does Huo Xiaoru need it? Could it be that she is acting on Xue Shengjing's commission? Yet Xiang Shancong said she needs to verify authenticity—does Huo Xiaoru also possess the ability to discern the skull's information? The more Hu Xiaotian thought, the more terrifying it became.

Xiang Shancong asked: "Where is Ren Tianqing?"

Lady Meizhuang replied: "How would I know where he is? If I knew his whereabouts, I would be the first to rush over and kill him!"

Xiang Shancong half‑believed, half‑doubted, while Hu Xiaotian, hidden in the dark, believed Lady Meizhuang possessed such determination and courage.

Xiang Shancong said: "Everyone says Lady Meizhuang is cold‑hearted and ruthless, yet I did not expect her to treat Rongshi so well, even willing to sacrifice such an important thing for his safety."

Lady Meizhuang said: "After all, he is someone I raised from childhood; in my heart he is as my own biological son."

Hu Xiaotian silently sighed: Xi Yan is also someone you raised from childhood; why do you favor one and neglect the other? Your treatment of Xi Yan is perhaps too cruel.

Xiang Shancong said: "Man is not grass or wood; who can be without feeling?"

Lady Meizhuang said: "Stop the nonsense; quickly bring your lady to see me."

Xiang Shancong said: "Given my understanding of you, you have always been indifferent; this time treating Rongshi so kindly, if it is not because of feeling, then it must be because he is extremely important. You still have use for him, am I right?"

Lady Meizhuang coldly stared at Xiang Shancong: "Although Xue Shengjing is not a good person, he has always kept his word. As his subordinate, do you intend to go back on your word?"

Xiang Shancong smiled: "I have no such intention; I am merely curious, so I asked casually."

Lady Meizhuang said: "My patience is limited; either you return the skull to me, or you bring Rongshi to me."

Xiang Shancong said: "The skull has already been taken away by my lady."

Lady Meizhuang angrily said: "What are you saying?" Earlier Xiang Shancong said he would first take the skull for appraisal, and he even let Lady Meizhuang glance at Rongshi from afar; now he claims the skull has been taken away, yet Rongshi still has not appeared.

Lady Meizhuang said: "Regardless, the skull is of no use to me; you may take it away. Now bring Rongshi over, and our transaction still stands."

Xiang Shancong said: "Lady Meizhuang, you have raised Rongshi since childhood, thinking no one knows his origin, but you probably do not know that it was I who originally gave him to the Daoist Tiancan."

Lady Meizhuang stared in disbelief at Xiang Shancong, almost unable to believe her own ears.

Xiang Shancong smiled: "Later, the Daoist Tiancan handed Rongshi over to you for fostering; you should know what value Rongshi possesses."

Lady Meizhuang coldly glared at Xiang Shancong: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Xiang Shancong asked: "Is Rongshi originally surnamed Jian, correct?"

Lady Meizhuang's hands instinctively clenched into fists; hidden in her sleeves, no movement showed.

Xiang Shancong said: "Do you want to kill me?"

Newly built Octopus Group: 516764203, Zhangyu in charge, welcome to join. (To be continued~^~)