Chapter 1855

Xiong Tianba's godlike strength is astonishing; relying solely on brute force, he has never seen anyone who could defeat him.

Hu Xiaotian also had considerable confidence in Xiong Tianba's strength; this kid not only possesses innate divine strength, but also absorbed the inner power of the two great masters Li Yuncong and Bu Wu; in terms of inner power he is not inferior to himself; actually even Hu Xiaotian can't figure it out, he absorbed so much inner power yet still cannot fully make it his own; in order to digest and absorb all that inner power, he practices the Void Great Law diligently every day, while Xiong Tianba didn't need to expend any effort at all and already completely integrated all that inner power; in this regard this foolish kid can also be considered a genius.

Xiong Tianba's hands were already not small, but Bu Bu Ma's hands were even one size larger than his; when their hands clasped together, the muscles in Xiong Tianba's arms bulged strand by strand; he belonged to the lean and dark type, his muscles not well-developed, yet with a little exertion the muscles on his arms protruded like steel rods; although Bu Bu Ma was tall and sturdy, Xiong Tianba had already known beforehand that she was a woman and also that she was the Black Hu's top expert; his earlier words were purely intentional, the true purpose being to provoke Bu Bu Ma's anger, while deep down Xiong Tianba never truly intended to strike an old woman; he only wanted to pull her off balance, give her a lesson, make her Retreat When Facing Difficulty. So Xiong Tianba initially did not exert his full strength, estimating that six-tenths of his force would be enough to pull her away, but upon actually striking he realized that his sixty percent strength was like a stone sinking into the sea, she remained unmoving, not even a flicker of expression on her face.

Bu Bu Ma's expression remained calm, but inside she was shocked beyond measure; how old is this black kid to possess such divine strength? No wonder Hu Xiaotian could rise to prominence in a short time, dominating both banks of the Yong River; just seeing that he has such formidable followers shows his achievements today are no accident. Bu Bu Ma coldly stared at Xiong Tianba and said: 'Boy, what are you doing grabbing this old woman's hand? Let go!'

Bu Bu Ma had thought Xiong Tianba's earlier pull had already used all his strength, but she didn't expect that before she finished speaking, Xiong Tianba not only failed to Retreat When Facing Difficulty and release her big hand, but instead gripped it tightly and pulled with all his might; this time his strength seemed to be double that of before.

Bu Bu Ma's arms visibly exerted force, she covertly circulated inner power, planting her feet into the ground like roots; Xiong Tianba this time exerted his full strength, yet even so he could not budge Bu Bu Ma half a step; he had never in his life seen such an overbearing figure, sweat the size of soybeans beaded on his forehead and trickled down; at this moment he felt Bu Bu Ma's great hand begin to increase force, like an iron hoop tightly gripping his right hand. Xiong Tianba was born with an unbending nature, and moreover his own strength was not inferior to Bu Bu Ma's.

Although neither of them made any major movement, both had already exerted their full strength with their hands.

Hu Xiaotian saw Xiong Tianba exert his full strength yet still unable to drag Bu Bu Ma away; he secretly sighed, this old woman's strength is indeed formidable, no wonder she is called the Black Hu's top expert. He also had no intention of joining the fray, and walked slowly toward the small building.

Bu Bu Ma saw Hu Xiaotian trying to go around her side, she extended her left arm outward; Xiong Tianba, by nature unyielding, had his competitive spirit stirred by Bu Bu Ma; seeing her reach out, he promptly extended his left hand as well, firmly grasping her left hand; they went from single-handed to double-handed grip, now even a blind person could tell they were locked in a contest of strength.

Hu Xiaotian seemed to have changed his mind, he gave a slight smile, stepped back, then reached out and lightly patted Xiong Tianba's shoulder, saying: 'Xiongzi, do not be rude to the elderly.' He patted three times, but Bu Bu Ma felt three extremely vigorous streams of force transmitted from Xiong Tianba's arm to her, like wave after wave, each stronger than the last; her arm shuddered violently, and she actually voluntarily released Xiong Tianba's hand. Although Hu Xiaotian appeared to be persuading Xiong Tianba, in reality, while patting his shoulder he used the technique 'striking the mountain to shake the cow' to send inner power toward Bu Bu Ma; thus it was as if he and Xiong Tianba jointly attacked Bu Bu Ma. Even if Bu Bu Ma were even more overbearing, she could not withstand their combined impact; if she tried to resist head-on, she feared she would be injured by the shock.

Xiong Tianba likewise released Bu Bu Ma's right hand in the same motion, secretly sighing that if not for his third uncle's intervention, he would likely have fallen into this old woman's hands nine times out of ten; after this incident Xiong Tianba finally understood that there are always people stronger than oneself and skies beyond the sky; no matter how strong his martial arts become, there are always stronger experts among the strong.

Bu Bu Ma coldly regarded the two youngsters with formidable martial arts, speaking in a sinister tone: 'Are you really intending to bully this old woman?'

Hu Xiaotian laughed: 'What are you talking about?' He turned to Wanyan Liexin and said: 'Wanyan brother, didn't you say she doesn't understand the Central Plains language?'

Wanyan Liexin couldn't help but show an embarrassed expression, thinking to himself that Bu Bu Ma was too uncooperative; he had just lied for her, and she exposed him.

Bu Bu Ma remained standing proudly before the small building, showing an unyielding posture; Hu Xiaotian nodded slightly and said softly: 'It seems you do not wish us to enter the small building today, sir.'

Bu Bu Ma said: 'How can the princess's dignity be violated!' As her words fell, a startled cry came from inside the small building.

Everyone was startled, simultaneously looking toward the small building; Hu Xiaotian's smile unchanged, he said: 'It seems something has happened inside, sir, why don't you go check? If the princess suffers any mishap, I fear you cannot bear the responsibility.'

Bu Bu Ma glanced at Wanyan Liexin, who nodded; the startled cry just now was clearly from Xi Ma, her voice filled with panic and fear, yet unknown what trouble she had encountered again.

Bu Bu Ma turned and ran toward the small building, while Hu Xiaotian did not hurry to follow, deliberately saying to Wanyan Liexin: 'I hope the princess is unharmed.'

Wanyan Liexin looked at his demeanor and felt something odd; his smile was full of schadenfreude, secretly suspecting: could this fellow have anticipated this scene all along?

Not long after, Bu Bu Ma hurried out of the small building, chattering something to Wanyan Liexin.

Wanyan Liexin's face changed abruptly.

Hu Xiaotian said: 'Wanyan brother, what exactly happened?'

Wanyan Liexin bit his lip; what Bu Bu Ma said was that Princess Xi Ma had gone missing; he did not answer Hu Xiaotian's question, turned and rushed into the small building, Hu Xiaotian and Xiong Tianba followed to watch the spectacle, and now no one could stop them.

Upon entering the small building, they saw that the floor of the first-floor hall had been cut open into a large hole, the edges neat as if sliced by a knife; this tunnel led outward beyond the north wall of the relay station; Princess Xi Ma was not inside the building, apparently having been abducted through this tunnel.

The group followed the tunnel to the outside of the north wall, finding the tunnel's other opening in the rear green willow grove; the princess's disappearance was a major matter for the envoy, the Black Hu envoy dispatched all personnel to search nearby; Hu Xiaotian also had his subordinates assist in the search, his men focusing more on the interior of the relay station.

Wanyan Liexin's face turned ashen; he secretly suspected that the princess's disappearance was most likely related to Hu Xiaotian; this fellow deliberately created a disturbance, detaining Bu Bu Ma in front of the small building, then while everyone's attention was focused on them, had someone enter the building through the pre-dug tunnel and abduct Princess Xi Ma; although Wanyan Liexin had figured out the subtle tricks involved, he lacked any evidence and could only watch Hu Xiaotian put on an act before his eyes.

Hu Xiaotian came before Wanyan Liexin, sighed, and said: 'It really is troublesome; we've searched inside and out thoroughly, yet still no trace of Princess Xi Ma; I don't know who is so bold as to abduct the princess in broad daylight.'

Wanyan Liexin silently cursed this fellow for shouting 'catch the thief' while being the thief, sighed, and said: 'This scoundrel is extremely bold; if I were to capture this villain, I would surely tear his corpse into ten thousand pieces to quell my hatred.'

Hu Xiaotian also nodded, saying: 'I think the same way; Princess Xi Ma is a honored guest of Dakang, just who dares to do this?' He rolled his eyes, looking at Wanyan Liexin with suspicion: 'Wanyan brother, you just tried hard to stop me from entering the small building to see the princess… could it be… that the princess had already gone missing?'

Wanyan Liexin never expected him to be so shameless as to turn the tables; he exclaimed angrily: 'Your Highness, are you doubting me? Why would I act against my own princess?'

Hu Xiaotian sighed: 'Guard against thieves day and night, but domestic traitors are hard to prevent; I am not doubting Wanyan brother, I naturally trust his loyalty to your country, but your followers may not be reliable; perhaps there are spies from another state among them, intending to use this incident to sabotage our two countries' friendship, don't you agree?'

Wanyan Liexin had already concluded in his mind that everything was this fellow's doing; hearing him say that, he immediately realized he still wanted to use this incident to stir up trouble; he gritted his teeth and said: 'No matter who the abductors are, I only wish for my princess's safety.'

Hu Xiaotian generously said: 'If it's for ransom, I will provide this sum of money; after all, it happened on Dakang's soil, I also bear a slight responsibility.'

Wanyan Liexin silently cursed, this fellow is simply hypocritical to the extreme, sinister to the extreme; because of this matter he also couldn't be bothered to put on a smile in front of Hu Xiaotian, he said coldly: 'Can we even afford this money? Moreover, your country's public order really needs to be straightened out; if the princess suffers any mishap, the khan may blame us, which would likely damage the friendship between our two countries.'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'If your khan is truly unable to distinguish right from wrong, then there is nothing to be done; Dakang can only prepare its troops and await the day your country destroys Da Yong, after which we will fight.' His meaning: the Black Hu wants to go to war with us, fine, but you must first pacify Da Yong before you can face us.

Wanyan Liexin facing Hu Xiaotian, such a lazy fellow, presently has no recourse; his earlier remarks were indeed somewhat excessive, no matter how many threats he utters, the other side won't be frightened; he sighed and said: 'Your Highness, I fear you have misunderstood my intention.' (To be continued~^~)