Chapter 1860

Hu Xiaotian also heard the commotion down the mountain; it should be Xia Zhangming and Liang Yinghao and the others arriving. He smiled and said: "Having a harmful heart is unacceptable, but having a defensive heart is necessary; the seniors' conduct makes one have to be on guard."

Bu Bu Ma said: "Tonight at midnight, I will bring Gang Bada, you bring Xi Ma, we will exchange mutually."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "Sounds fair enough."

Bu Bu Ma said: "Remember, besides Xi Ma, you can bring at most two people."

Hu Xiaotian said: "How many are you seniors preparing to come? Could it be you want to bully the few with the many?"

Bu Bu Ma let out a strange, grating laugh: "I have lived most of my life, experienced countless storms; do you think I fear you? Rest assured, I will come only with Gang Bada..." Saying this, she leapt into the air toward the distant forest, her body about to fall when she suddenly pushed off, soaring upward, spinning and rising, then gliding like a hawk for dozens of zhang before disappearing into the dense pine woods.

Bu Bu Ma had just left when Xia Zhangming and Liang Yinghao led the crowd over; seeing Hu Xiaotian unharmed, they all relaxed. Hu Xiaotian called Liang Yinghao over and asked him to check whether his mother's tomb had been disturbed. Liang Yinghao examined it carefully and reported to Hu Xiaotian: "Reporting, my lord, the old lady's tomb has absolutely not been disturbed."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, softly saying: "This old woman still has some bottom line in her actions." He then told the two about his earlier deal with Bu Bu Ma.

Xia Zhangming said: "My lord, I think this matter may be a trap; why would she want to deal with you alone? It cannot be ruled out that she might take advantage of the transaction to harm you."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "She shouldn't dare; even if she had such an idea, she lacks the ability." He had already seen Bu Bu Ma's skill at the inn and knew this top expert of Black Tiger had no chance of defeating him.

Xia Zhangming said: "In any case, caution is best; since she said you may bring at most one person, let me accompany you in the transaction."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and shook his head: "No need; you only need to set up defenses down the mountain, guard against Bu Bu Ma and any other helpers appearing—I have already arranged it, and someone will accompany me to meet this Black Tiger top expert."

The night deepened, nearing midnight; Hu Xiaotian did not leave his mother's tomb, taking the opportunity to keep her spirit company. Moonlight cast a black shadow across his face; he lifted his head, only to see a figure slowly walking toward him, wearing a silver mask, draped in a black cloak, holding a sack in hand; from the sack's shape, it seemed to contain a person.

A hint of a knowing smile appeared on Hu Xiaotian's lips; Ji Feihua had indeed arrived as promised, and fighting alongside her felt truly good.

Ji Feihua gently placed the sack beside Hu Xiaotian; his gaze swept over the sack and he lowered his voice: "Obedient or not?"

Ji Feihua laughed, revealing a mouth of even, white teeth: "She's asleep; feel free to speak boldly, she hears nothing."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, producing a wild flower from behind his back as if by magic and handing it to Ji Feihua: "Here, for you!"

Ji Feihua's pretty face behind the mask flushed slightly; after a moment's hesitation she took the flower and whispered: "I thought you would give me a weapon."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I don't like fighting and killing; I hope tonight's affairs can be settled peacefully."

Ji Feihua shook her head: "Do you think they would sacrifice Gang Bada to rescue Xi Ma?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "No matter what, she is far more important than a Tibetan monk's life."

Ji Feihua let out a faint sigh: "I always feel something is off, but I can't pinpoint what." Her gaze fell on Xu Fengyi's tombstone; she walked over slowly, knelt reverently before the tombstone, and bowed three times to Xu Fengyi's grave.

Hu Xiaotian watched Ji Feihua's back, his heart stirred; that Ji Feihua, with her temperament, would kneel before Xu Fengyi's grave like this was tantamount to already acknowledging her junior status. Though she had never confessed to him, Hu Xiaotian believed her gesture was entirely for him; perhaps deep in her heart she had already accepted him. It was time for him to summon some courage and tell her his feelings.

In the night sky, a patch of dark clouds gradually covered the moonlight; the surrounding light dimmed considerably; the night wind grew increasingly fierce; pine waves rose and fell on the hill, looking like rolling surges from afar; upon these rising and falling black pine waves, two figures rode side by side, like two gray flashes of lightning, approaching the tomb.

Though Ji Feihua did not raise her head, she already sensed the approach; she slowly rose, lifted her face, and the silver mask flashed with a cold glint in the heavy night.

The figure gradually became clear in Hu Xiaotian's sight—surely it was Bu Bu Ma and Gang Bada.

Seeing Gang Bada, Hu Xiaotian felt old enemies meeting, eyes red with hatred; the debt Baobao owed him he would surely settle with this scoundrel.

Ji Feihua keenly noticed the change in Hu Xiaotian's breath rhythm; she glanced at him and said: "I thought your mindset now would not be disturbed by anything."

Hu Xiaotian silently chastised himself; at this moment Bu Bu Ma and Gang Bada had already arrived before him.

Gang Bada's face showed no fear; he glared at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Hu Xiaotian, you are so despicable, actually kidnapping Xi Ma!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I am rescuing her, not abducting her; Gang Bada, the truly despicable one is you—you used Xi Ma to probe the secrets of the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau, colluded with Xue Shengjing to steal the royal treasures hidden in the Seven Ingenious Delicate Pavilion, and still refuse to hand over the skull."

Bu Bu Ma said with a sinister tone: "I brought the person; I don't know whether the princess is inside that sack."

Ji Feihua struck out with a palm in the void; the palm wind hit the sack, which instantly tore apart, fragments flying; the unconscious Princess Xi Ma emerged from within.

Bu Bu Ma was both startled and delighted—delighted that Xi Ma indeed appeared, startled that this mysterious silver-masked person's martial arts were so high he could shatter the sack without harming Xi Ma inside; this person's control of power had reached the exquisite level of a silk thread.

Ji Feihua said indifferently: "I brought the person; if I cannot see the skull, I will still kill her before your eyes."

Bu Bu Ma glared at Hu Xiaotian: "According to our prior agreement, we exchange Gang Bada for Xi Ma."

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "I did promise you, but now the person is not in my hands."

Gang Bada said coldly: "I already said these southern barbarians would never keep their word; now you believe it."

Hu Xiaotian stared at Gang Bada: "You'd better think for yourself—you injured Baobao; today I will make you repay this blood debt tenfold!"

Gang Bada sneered: "Then let's see if you have the ability!" He tapped his toe and lunged forward at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian had not expected Gang Bada to strike first; he stepped forward and threw a punch; as Gang Bada punched, his arm instantly engorged and swelled, his fist more than doubling in size—this was the Great Compassion Fist of Fan Yin Si.

Hu Xiaotian didn't care how big his fist was; this showdown was purely a contest of strength, fist size irrelevant; he met the punch with his own, using the God-Demon World-Ending Fist transmitted to him by the Void Spirit; this technique's power was extraordinary, and combined with Hu Xiaotian's own formidable inner force, this punch's power had already been raised to its peak.

Bang! The two fists collided; Hu Xiaotian felt his chest surge with qi and blood; Gang Bada's swollen fist shrank back to its original size at the instant of impact; the expansion and contraction released all latent power; still, it could not match Hu Xiaotian's vast inner force, and Gang Bada staggered backward three steps.

Hu Xiaotian, never letting an advantage go, gave Gang Bada no chance to breathe; he snorted coldly: "Bald thief, take another punch." He launched a punch like chasing wind and lightning toward Gang Bada's chest.

Seeing this punch's momentum fierce, Gang Bada realized his previous punch had exhausted all his strength and he had not yet adjusted; in desperation, he used his right foot as a pivot, spun his body like a top, and barely dodged Hu Xiaotian's heavy punch.

Just then Bu Bu Ma slowly drew a pair of curved blades from behind, her gray-blue eyes fixed on Ji Feihua; though she did not attack, a chilling killing intent already spread.

Ji Feihua stared calmly at Bu Bu Ma, already understanding; she said softly: "So you don't care at all whether Xi Ma lives or dies."

Bu Bu Ma sighed: "Only now do you realize it's perhaps already too late?"

Ji Feihua said: "Just the two of you?"

Bu Bu Ma's curved blade slashed toward Ji Feihua with inconceivable speed; light tore the night sky, inner force infused the blade, blade aura burst forth, like a comet in the sky, dazzling to the extreme. Though the blade aura was swift, it still could not surpass Ji Feihua's footwork; her body flew backward, the blade's edge only an inch from her, yet that inch was like a moat; Bu Bu Ma strained with all her might but could not cross it.

At the same moment, Ji Feihua struck the ground with a palm, sending Xi Ma flying; Xi Ma's delicate body arced through the air.

Bang! A hole appeared in the ground; a black shadow rose from below like a ghost, punching upward at Ji Feihua.

Ji Feihua had not expected an ambush underground; in the critical moment, her body drifted like willow fluff, weightless, and under the opponent's punching force she actually floated upward, rising.

Bang! Another loud boom; Xu Fengyi's tomb burst open from within; two figures leapt out, one rushing straight at Hu Xiaotian, the other flanking behind Ji Feihua.

The one blocking Hu Xiaotian was a monk clad entirely in black as ink; he raised his iron bowl and hurled it toward Hu Xiaotian's back; the iron bowl spun in the air, emitting a strange wailing sound. Though the bowl had no blade, when thrown barehanded by the monk it was like a cannonball, its force tremendous.

Hu Xiaotian had been preparing to launch a third attack on Gang Bada; feeling the air behind him part like waves under the iron bowl's pressure, he already knew the momentum was terrifying, and the opponent's martial arts were certainly not inferior to Gang Bada's. (To be continued~^~)