Chapter 1853: [Turbulent and Deceptive] (Part 1)

The Black Hu people's defenses were not strict; aside from the front and back gates, they had not stationed many guards. Hu Xiaotian had already familiarized himself with the layout of the inn beforehand, and upon entering he quickly located his position. The inn consists of inner and outer sections; the inner court is where important figures reside. Hu Xiaotian concealed himself and moved at night, entering the inner court without much difficulty, hiding behind a rockery. Looking ahead, he saw three small pavilions; the ones on the east and west had no lights, while only the three-story central pavilion had light shining out, indicating someone was inside.

Judging by the current time, it should not yet be bedtime. Hu Xiaotian glanced around, then, like a civet cat, climbed to the top of the rockery. Standing atop the rockery and looking around, he found the inn's inner court unguarded, which secretly pleased him. He lightly tapped the tip of his foot, his body leapt up, and using the Art of Soaring he glided soundlessly through the night sky to the front of the small pavilion. In midair he made a turn, his body twisted upward and rose smoothly, landing steadily on the pavilion's roof. He hooked his feet on the edge of the eaves, assuming an inverted golden hook posture, hanging upside down like a bat beneath the eaves. All movements were executed in one fluid motion without hesitation.

The curtain before the window was half‑drawn. Through the gap in the curtain Hu Xiaotian could faintly see the interior: a foreign‑race girl was propping her chin on her hand, sitting at the table, dazedly staring at the flickering candle flame. She had over a hundred fine braids on her head, her long eyebrows were like a painting, her blue‑green eyes sparkled like emeralds, her skin was smooth and white like porcelain, and her cherry‑small mouth was lovely and tempting.

Hu Xiaotian immediately judged from her facial features that this girl was the Black Hu princess Xima. After removing her disguise, especially wiping off the thick beard on her face, the Black Hu princess proved to be extraordinarily beautiful—no wonder she was called the Black Hu's number one beauty.

Xima let out a faint sigh, and at that moment the room door was lightly knocked.

Hu Xiaotian hastily held his breath to avoid being detected.

After receiving Xima's assent, an old woman with white hair and wrinkled skin entered from outside. She had a high nose and deep-set eyes, her stature unusually tall—Hu Xiaotian estimated she was half a head taller than himself—yet she was somewhat stooped, her shoulders raised, making her look like a fierce vulture. However, when her gray‑blue eyes gazed at Xima, they showed a loving light.

The old woman muttered something in a language Hu Xiaotian couldn't understand; he could only watch the two women converse helplessly. Just as he was bewildered, a familiar voice sounded in his ear: 'They're talking about you.'

Hu Xiaotian immediately recognized Ji Feihua's voice; delighted yet ashamed that she had approached without his notice, he had thought his martial arts had reached the peak, but compared to Ji Feihua he was still far inferior. He didn't even know when she had arrived; it seemed she might have been following him all along. Fortunately it was her—if it had been another expert, he would likely be in trouble now.

Ji Feihua seemed to guess his thoughts, smiled faintly, and said: 'Your Art of Soaring has reached a miraculous level; I might not even surpass you.'

Hu Xiaotian silently sighed; Ji Feihua appeared cold but was actually considerate, knowing how to give a man face. She mimicked his inverted golden hook stance and stood upside‑down beside him, then whispered via voice transmission: 'This old woman is the Black Hu's top expert Bu Bu Ma. She usually lives in seclusion and rarely leaves the Black Hu realm, so few have seen her true appearance. However, her two disciples, Black Corpse and White Corpse, are quite famous.'

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: Black Corpse and White Corpse were both killed by his hand; if the old woman learned this, she would surely regard him as an irreconcilable enemy.

Ji Feihua whispered: 'From her tone it sounds like she doesn't know you are the murderer who killed her disciples.'

'What?' Hu Xiaotian asked, full of curiosity.

'The Black Hu princess has taken a liking to you.'

Hu Xiaotian's face showed delight.

Ji Feihua shook her head: 'You really are a sentimental seed.'

Hu Xiaotian sighed: 'Is it my fault for being handsome?'

At this moment they saw Bu Bu Ma walking toward the window; both feared being discovered and fell silent. Fortunately Bu Bu Ma stopped midway, but then someone else knocked on the door.

Ji Feihua and Hu Xiaotian exchanged a glance; she nodded, then turned her pretty face to one side, signalling they should leave quickly, for being spotted would be bad.

The two left the inn; Ji Feihua did not take the usual route, walking along the wall tops and roof ridges, leaping over eaves and running on walls—her lightness was superb, as if walking on flat ground. Hu Xiaotian followed closely. When Ji Feihua landed, they had arrived before a small river. She stopped by the riverbank, hands behind her back, gazing quietly at the distant arched bridge, and said softly: 'Do you still remember this place?'

Hu Xiaotian nodded: 'West Phoenix Bridge!' How could he forget? Back when he served as a eunuch in the imperial palace, Ji Feihua had brought him here more than once. He recalled that at the foot of West Phoenix Bridge an elderly couple ran a night market; Ji Feihua liked to come here for drinks, and he also remembered the scene of Ji Feihua executing Rong Baoxing beneath the bridge.

Ji Feihua nodded.

Hu Xiaotian said: 'I remember that an elderly couple used to run a night market here.'

A trace of sorrow flickered in Ji Feihua's eyes as she softly said: 'They are no longer among the living.'

Hu Xiaotian reached out and gently patted her shoulder to comfort her—something he would never have dared to do back then, for it would have been the crime of a subordinate overstepping his rank.

A hint of a smile appeared on Ji Feihua's lips: 'I never expected that we could both still be alive and appear here.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'The virtuous enjoy heavenly favor.' He walked two steps toward the riverbank and whispered: 'I don't know why, but suddenly I really want to eat the food that old couple used to make.'

Ji Feihua lightly clapped her hands, and a small boat slowly drifted out from beneath the arch of West Phoenix Bridge. Hu Xiaotian stared and saw the rower was an old acquaintance—formerly Ji Feihua's carriage driver Wu Renxing. He hadn't seen him in years, never expecting to meet him again in Kangdu.

Red lanterns swayed from the boat's flagpole, glowing brightly in the night. Inside the cabin lay a square table set with familiar dishes: steaming braised beef, white lotus root, and freshly fried small fish—crisp outside, tender within, fragrant. The wine was still Jade Hall Spring; as it went down the throat, its mellow, crisp sensation spread, first cool then warm. Hu Xiaotian closed his eyes contentedly and murmured: 'This wine has been chilled.'

Ji Feihua laughed: 'Even a fool could taste that.'

Hu Xiaotian opened his eyes to see the small boat rocking gently as it drifted downstream; Wu Renxing remained as silent as ever, and were it not for his rowing, one would hardly notice his presence.

Hu Xiaotian asked: 'When did you start following me?'

Ji Feihua drained her cup, then set it on the small square table between them: 'I wasn't following you; when you sneaked into the inn, I was already hiding there—otherwise I couldn't have deceived your ears.'

Hu Xiaotian laughed: 'My cultivation level is still far below yours.'

Ji Feihua shook her head, clearly rejecting his claim: 'You are Prince Zhenhai of Dakang; you could openly enter the inn, so why sneak in? Are you intending to steal fragrance and jade, only for me to unwittingly ruin your plan?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Others don't understand me; don't you? I have always been clear about right and wrong. Moreover, in feelings I especially stress mutual consent—I never engage in stealing fragrance and jade or forcing the unwilling.' He locked eyes with Ji Feihua.

Even faced with Hu Xiaotian's aggressive gaze, Ji Feihua remained composed, lifted the wine jug to fill his cup, raised her glass and said: 'Clear breeze and bright moon, lovely time and beautiful scene—perfect for drinking. Come, cheers!'

Hu Xiaotian accompanied her in downing a cup.

Ji Feihua asked: 'How is Baobao's injury?'

Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered: the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau had sealed news of Baobao's injury, yet she knew—her information seems unusually well‑informed; could she have people inside the Bureau?

Ji Feihua said: 'I personally witnessed her being injured.'

Hu Xiaotian's heart surged; although the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau had blamed Baobao's injury on Gang Bada, he wasn't fully convinced, and now with Ji Feihua as an eyewitness he could surely uncover the truth. He demanded solemnly: 'Were you there?'

Ji Feihua nodded: 'I had intended to investigate the Seven Ingenious Linglong Tower, but I didn't expect someone to get there first.'

'Who?'

Ji Feihua said: 'One is Xiang Shancong, the other is Gang Bada.'

Hu Xiaotian asked: 'Did they enter the Seven Ingenious Linglong Tower?'

Ji Feihua nodded: 'They entered the Seven Ingenious Linglong Tower. I had wanted to follow them into the small pavilion, but I lacked the ability to solve the mechanisms inside, so I waited outside for a chance to seize the skull. After they came out, noticing they were being tailed, they split up; I could only pursue one, so I chased Xiang Shancong. This man's martial arts were strong; although I struck him with a palm, he still managed to break free, yet he had no skull on him. Unable to find the skull, I turned back and followed the trail of those Heavenly Mechanism Bureau people to track Gang Bada.' She paused there.

Hu Xiaotian eagerly asked: 'Have you found him?'

Ji Feihua said: 'When I arrived, I saw him injuring Baobao. I originally had a chance to stop him, but then another expert appeared midway; though she changed her appearance, I could still tell it was Bu Bu Ma.'

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