Chapter 185

The black carriage stood silently in the black night; the middle-aged coachman saw Hu Xiaotian come out and swiftly opened the carriage door. Hu Xiaotian, supported by Murong Feiyan, slowly approached the carriage; inside it was pitch dark, tightly sealed, with not a glimmer of light.

In the darkness, Xiao Tianmu's voice sounded: 'Sir, please take a seat!'

Hu Xiaotian's eyes took a while to adjust to the darkness inside the carriage; he could barely make out Xiao Tianmu's outline, he smiled and sat beside him, having intended to look for Xiao Tianmu, but Xiao Tianmu had come on his own.

Murong Feiyan stepped out; the middle-aged man closed the carriage door and walked slowly to one side. Murong Feiyan watched the man warily, judging from his every move that he was an internal martial arts expert. In her mind, Red Willow Manor grew ever more mysterious; Xiao Tianmu was a blind scholar who appeared to have no strength to truss a chicken, yet she wondered how such a person could command so many martial arts masters to willingly serve him.

Xiao Tianmu said in a low voice: 'To me, day and night are no different, since I cannot see either. Therefore I do not like meeting people in sunlight; it makes me feel unsafe.'

Hu Xiaotian recalled the scene of his first meeting with Xiao Tianmu, which had taken place in daylight; Xiao Tianmu could not see him, but he could see Xiao Tianmu. Although Xiao Tianmu's eyes could not see, his mind was perfectly clear; this man possessed extraordinary wisdom and deep scheming, otherwise Zhou Batian would not have entrusted him with all external affairs. Hu Xiaotian said: 'Now we are the same!' Xiao Tianmu let out a faint laugh: 'Not the same; we will never be the same.' After a pause, he added: 'Sir Hu, your injury does not appear to be serious.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Your information is quite well-informed.'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'Good news stays at home, bad news travels a thousand miles; the news of Sir Hu's assassination attempt in Flying Eagle Valley has spread throughout all of Qingyun.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'I never expected these scoundrels to be so bold and reckless as to dare assassinate an official in broad daylight.'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'You are not the first magistrate to be killed in Qingyun; you are merely luckier than the rest.'

Hu Xiaotian was taken aback. Suddenly he recalled the conversation from his first meeting with Xiao Tianmu, when Xiao Tianmu had told him that his predecessor, Magistrate Yang, had carelessly fallen into Tongji He, his body never found, and after death was slandered as corrupt; Madame Yang, humiliated, committed suicide. Their only son, Yang Lingqi, disappeared while rushing to mourn, which is why Xiao Tianmu spoke as he did. Hu Xiaotian said: 'In that case, my luck is indeed not bad.'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'One cannot always be lucky; I heard you have captured two assassins.'

Hu Xiaotian slowly nodded and said: 'They have already been locked up in the jail; I will interrogate them properly another day.' Xiao Tianmu said: 'Are you intending to use them as bait, to lure the snake out of its hole?'

Hu Xiaotian, having his thoughts guessed, gave a hehe laugh.

Xiao Tianmu said: 'Do you suspect that someone inside your Government Office is behind this?'

Although Xiao Tianmu is blind, he is nonetheless the undisputed military leader of Red Willow Manor; these past months Zhou Batian has been hiding in prison, while everything outside is directed and planned by him. Though Hu Xiaotian has only had two brief contacts with him, he already has a full understanding of the man's scheming and wisdom, knowing that his intellect is certainly not inferior to his own. Having decided to cooperate with Zhou Batian's side, there is no need to conceal certain matters, and Hu Xiaotian recounted to Xiao Tianmu in detail everything that had happened from last night to today.

After listening, Xiao Tianmu pondered for a moment and then said: 'Yan Boguang is the son of Yan Kui, the bandit chief of Tianlang Mountain; Yan Kui has three daughters and only this son. He cherishes this son more than his own life. However, according to what Sir has said, Yan Boguang's injury—Yan Kui may possibly be unaware of it.'…

Hu Xiaotian said: 'It is a fact that the Tianlang Mountain bandits kidnapped Wan Tingchang; Wan Bocheng would not lie about that.'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'The Wan Family is the wealthiest in Qingyun; for years they have been doing business with Nan Yue State. Sir Hu, do you know that the nearest route from Nan Yue to Dakang passes through Tianlang Mountain? Since the mountain became plagued by bandits, this road sees few merchant caravans, yet the Wan Family happens to be an exception. Over the years, although they have also suffered robberies on this route, they have not incurred major losses.'

Hu Xiaotian said in a low voice: 'Are you suggesting that the Wan Family is colluding with the Tianlang Mountain bandits?'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'I merely feel this situation is abnormal, but I have no definite evidence; let us make a hypothesis. If the Wan Family and the Tianlang Mountain bandits had some connection, they have coexisted peacefully for many years, so why would the Tianlang Mountain bandits suddenly abduct his eldest son?'

Hu Xiaotian bit his lip, finally resolved, and said: 'This time Yan Boguang's injury occurred at the Wan Family.'

Xiao Tianmu showed a clear start; Hu Xiaotian then recounted how, the previous night, Yan Boguang had sneaked into the Wan Family intending to abduct the Wan Family's third daughter-in-law. After hearing this, Xiao Tianmu slowly nodded and said: 'Hu Xiaotian hears his analysis and finds it meticulous, secretly admiring Xiao Tianmu's tight logic; though he is blind, his mind is far clearer than most people's. However, Yan Boguang's current condition is probably not yet the time for revenge; I do not know how his injury stands—is he dead or alive? He said in a low voice: 'In that case, this is merely a trap.'

Xiao Tianmu nodded and said: 'Even if Yan Boguang was injured at the Wan Family, the fault still lies with him; he has no reason to resent the Wan Family, and I believe this is almost certainly a trap.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Could it be that Wan Bocheng is aiding the bandits to harm me?'

Xiao Tianmu slowly shook his head and said: 'There are many doubts in this matter; as Sir said, Yan Boguang's life or death is unknown, and Sir saved his life. For that reason, before Yan Boguang is out of danger, they ought not to act adversely toward Sir.'

Hu Xiaotian said in a low voice: 'Let us make a hypothesis: Wan Bocheng and the Tianlang Mountain bandits are colluding; the bandits want me to help treat an illness, but after last night's events they know I would certainly refuse, so they went to Wan Bocheng for assistance, prompting him to devise the idea of his son being kidnapped, in order to solicit my help.'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'Sir's hypothesis is based on the premise that Wan Bocheng and the Tianlang Mountain bandits are colluding.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'It is quite possible; I asked Mister Zhou, and he told no one about last night's events, yet Wan Bocheng knows this matter so clearly—one of the two must be lying, and now it appears to be Wan Bocheng. Moreover, his eldest son's abduction was never reported to the authorities; he merely sought my help privately. I believe his true aim is to get me to rescue someone; in fact, his son may be hiding somewhere, enjoying himself.'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'Regardless, Sir would do well to exercise extra caution; your presence has already affected many people's interests, so they are eager to strike and eliminate you.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Mister Xiao, what news do you have?'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'The assassins who targeted Sir are members of the Wuxian Sect, which holds great power in the Xichuan region; this time Sir has inflicted heavy casualties upon them, and this grudge is likely to be settled.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Wuxian Sect? Could it not be a branch of the Black Miao Tribe?'

Xiao Tianmu said: 'The Wuxian Sect was indeed founded by the Black Miao people, but later it became intolerable to them, for in pursuit of power they did not hesitate to betray their own tribe's interests, recruiting widely, harming clansmen, advocating heretical arts; expelled by the tribe, and because their assassination activities attracted the court's attention, a large-scale suppression and extermination campaign was launched in Xichuan, driving the Wuxian Sect underground and into a situation where everyone cries out against it. Though it has vanished without a trace for nearly fifty years, recent signs of a resurgence have appeared; as the saying goes, a centipede, even dead, does not topple over. Lately many incidents in Xichuan are said to be related to them, and I have come this time to remind Sir Hu to be ever more vigilant.'…

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: 'Thank you for the reminder, Mister Xiao.'

Xiao Tianmu said with deep meaning: 'Qingyun County may be small, but there is much at stake within it. If Sir wishes to accomplish something, he must strike first.'

Hu Xiaotian's heart gave a jolt; indeed, after today's assassination attempt, he had thought of this matter, and Xiao Tianmu's words hit exactly his train of thought. Hu Xiaotian deliberately sighed: 'Alas, having just arrived in your esteemed locality, I am unfamiliar with people and place; some things, though I will them, I lack the power to effect.'

Xiao Tianmu calmly said: 'Sir, just focus on your plans; for some matters, a word to me will suffice. I ask Sir Hu to convey a message to my elder brother; the affair of the Wuxian Sect is no trivial matter.'

'Rest assured, I will go see him early tomorrow morning.'

Having heard Xiao Tianmu's words, Hu Xiaotian naturally did not stand on ceremony; he assigned the task of monitoring Yan Nujiao and her party at Black Stone Stronghold to Xiao Tianmu, who gladly accepted.

Stepping out of the carriage, the sky was already filled with stars; Hu Xiaotian's inner gloom vanished at once. He lifted his head to gaze at the river of stars in the night sky, drew a deep breath, and the gentle evening breeze carried the fading sound of hooves. Opening his eyes again, he saw Xiao Tianmu's carriage disappear at the end of the street.

Murong Feiyan came to his side and whispered: 'What are you discussing so mysteriously?'

A hint of a knowing smile appeared at the corner of Hu Xiaotian's mouth; Xiao Tianmu's last words before leaving had already sealed their mutual alliance, and there are matters Xiao Tianmu is willing to undertake for him. Hu Xiaotian naturally understands that there is no free lunch in this world; Xiao Tianmu's willingness to serve him stems from hoping for future repayment. This person acts mysteriously, and undoubtedly hides many secrets behind him.

Murong Feiyan finally grew impatient: 'Stop beating around the bush, speak!'

Hu Xiaotian raised his right arm, adopting a posture of waiting for her support; Murong Feiyan gave him a sideways glance, yet ultimately yielded and took hold of his arm. She has never been the type to kick someone when they're down; her concern for Hu Xiaotian always shows itself silently.