Chapter 1888

The weak live in deception; only the brave dare to face reality. In September, the north bank of Yong River already carries a hint of autumn chill; though the grass on the sandbank racetrack is lush green, the tiny blades have begun to shiver in the autumn wind.

Hu Xiaotian's first act upon arriving at the racetrack was to visit Xi Yan; although her condition was stable, she still had not awakened, and Qin Yutong was also at a loss, having completely removed the Heart‑Confusing Worm from Xi Yan's body, yet Xi Yan did not awaken as expected.

"Her body should have no problems; it has already returned to normal."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in surprise: "Since she has returned to normal, why hasn't she woken up yet?"

Qin Yutong sighed softly: "Her willpower is extremely strong; it seems some subconscious resistance is fighting the outside world—she is resisting awakening!"

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows and said in a low voice: "So you mean she herself does not wish to wake up?"

Qin Yutong nodded: "That seems to be the case, though I don't know exactly why." She apologetically said: "Sorry!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "You need not blame yourself; this matter has nothing to do with you." He recalled Zhou Ruiyuan's admonition, took out that hairpin and handed it to Qin Yutong; Qin Yutong took the hairpin, focused her attention for a moment, and looked glum.

Hu Xiaotian comforted her: "If you miss him, you can return to the capital anytime to see him; I believe he also thinks of you just as much."

Qin Yutong sighed: "Perhaps we've been apart too long, the misunderstandings run too deep; although everything is now clear, I still don't know how to face him—give me some time to accept these things." She shook her head and said: "Or perhaps tell me what happened after we parted."

Hu Xiaotian briefly recounted what had happened after their separation; hearing that Meizhuang had actually left through their escape tunnel, Qin Yutong also felt unwilling, her delicate brows slightly furrowed as she said: "Those two skulls hide too many secrets; it cannot be good for Xue Shengjing to obtain them, and who knows what turmoil they might stir up."

Hu Xiaotian nodded in deep agreement; if not for that, he would not have rushed to the Black Tiger Fan Yin Si to retrieve the skull, but this journey is fraught with danger, and he dare not reveal it to Qin Yutong, since her martial arts have not yet reached the top tier; it's better not to let her join the adventure. Hu Xiaotian recalled something, and said in a low voice: "There is something rather strange—I actually feel a resonance with the skull I found in the Wuxian Sect."

Qin Yutong asked: "Did you see that skull?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Before it was lost, I once had the chance to come into contact with it."

Qin Yutong said: "Could it be that you also possess the blood of the Heaven‑Chosen?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "I thought it might be because of you."

Qin Yutong stared for a moment, then immediately understood his meaning, her pretty face flushed as she spat: "Nonsense, what does that have to do with me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Heaven‑Man Myriad Forms Diagram—after that… not only did your body become perfected, I also benefited greatly."

Although Qin Yutong knew his words might be true, to speak so bluntly in broad daylight made her so ashamed she wished she could dig a hole and hide; she lowered her head, her beautiful eyes fixed on her toes, her ten fingers intertwined, utterly embarrassed.

Hu Xiaotian saw her bashful expression and grew fonder the more he looked; if it weren't broad daylight, and if there weren't still a sleeping Xi Yan beside him, he would surely now take Qin Yutong to the clouds and rain, to be intimate. Reflecting on how he had toiled for years without reward, Hu Xiaotian thought silently: Qin Yutong's medical skill is superb, her insight extraordinary—perhaps she would know what's going on. He was about to ask when he heard Qin Yutong say: "I have something I want to tell you…"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I also have something I want to say; you go first."

Qin Yutong bit her cherry lips, her pretty face flushed, turned and glanced once more at Xi Yan, then whispered: "Let's go outside to talk."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, followed Qin Yutong outside, and could not restrain his curiosity: "What matter makes you so mysterious?"

Qin Yutong, feeling a bit embarrassed, furrowed her brows and said: "It's not because you did something good… I… this month… my period hasn't come; maybe I'm pregnant…" She was so embarrassed she stamped her foot.

The joy came so suddenly that Hu Xiaotian could hardly believe his ears; after staring for a while he finally said: "What? You're pregnant? Mine?" This fellow was also overjoyed to the point of foolishness, his words utterly stupid.

Qin Yutong, originally embarrassed, felt half panic and half delight in her heart; she had expected comfort from him, but instead he uttered such nonsense, causing her brows to flare and she exploded in anger: "You bastard, what do you mean?"

Hu Xiaotian grinned widely: "I didn't mean it that way; I mean, we only did it once, and yet we got pregnant…" The more he spoke, the more wrong he became.

Qin Yutong's ears turned red with rage; she wished she could slap his face, then turned and walked away without looking back.

Hu Xiaotian saw that his wrong words had angered Qin Yutong, and hurried to chase after her, but after just a couple steps Tang Qingxuan came running up midway, calling sweetly: "Xiaotian!"

Hu Xiaotian had to stop; since they were both his women, he must treat them equally, cannot favor one over the other, he smiled: "Qingxuan, I was just looking for you—how convenient that you came."

Tang Qingxuan gave him a seductive glance and said: "You're lying; I'm afraid you've already forgotten me."

Hu Xiaotian gave her round, full chest a fierce glance and said: "They seem to have grown even larger."

Tang Qingxuan bashfully replied: "Anyway, they're yours—what's there to look at?"

Hu Xiaotian was overjoyed; thinking that Qin Yutong might be pregnant made him feel refreshed and exhilarated. Good grief! At last he could hold his head high—it wasn't that his seed was impotent, he just hadn't found the right soil before; once he meets the proper ground, he can take root and sprout just as well.

Tang Qingxuan said: "Rongxin asks you to come over."

Hu Xiaotian then remembered that he had also brought Rongshi along this time; just now Xiong Tianba had delivered Rongshi to Jian Rongxin's place for a sibling reunion, which must be for this reason, he cheerfully nodded: "Sure!"

Tang Qingxuan said: "She has asked me to fetch you right away."

Hu Xiaotian looked around, unable to find Qin Yutong's silhouette, feeling inevitably disappointed; Tang Qingxuan sensed his thoughts and softly said: "My father has already had people prepare a welcome feast; tonight everyone will come."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, thinking that Qin Yutong, being clever and wise, would understand that he had merely spoken nonsense in a daze earlier and would not truly be angry with him.

Jian Rongxin and Rongshi had already recognized each other as siblings; the brother and sister embraced and wept bitterly. After hearing the cause of their father's death, Rongshi hated Li Chen Zhou to the core, wishing he could immediately go to Da Yong to take revenge.

By the time Hu Xiaotian arrived, their emotions had settled; Jian Rongxin, not having seen him in a long time, could not conceal the longing in her beautiful eyes. Rongshi, also extremely perceptive, saw the lingering affection in his sister's gaze, and together with the outside rumors, already understood their relationship. Upon realizing his own identity, Rongshi naturally rejoiced for his sister's future. Hu Xiaotian is a peerless talent of the age, a dragon among men; for his sister to marry him is naturally a perfect fulfillment, also described as hardship turned to sweetness.

Jian Rongxin made an excuse to go pour tea, and together with Tang Qingxuan they withdrew.

Hu Xiaotian and Rongshi sat down together again; their relationship had clearly grown closer by one degree, and Rongshi, full of gratitude, said: "Thank you, Prince, for everything you have done for our Jian family."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing: "Rong brother, you're being too polite—we're already one family; I ought to call you elder brother." Having said that plainly, I and your sister may not have held a ceremony, but we are in fact already your brother-in-law, so what's there for you to stand on ceremony about?

Rongshi smiled, not thinking much of it, merely happy for his sister; he softly said: "Then I'll call you younger brother, Hu Xiaotian—could you please tell me in detail how you discovered my father's last words?" Although Jian Rongxin had already told him earlier, the details were naturally something she felt shy to speak of; after all, one cannot say that their father left something that caused her and Hu Xiaotian to fall into confusion and bewilderment, leading to a muddled marriage.

Hu Xiaotian nodded, naturally understanding that Rongshi wanted to get to the bottom of things; so he recounted the whole sequence in detail. This fellow's cheek is certainly not ordinary—since the brother-in-law wants to ask, we might as well lay everything out clearly, so you understand that the bond between me and your sister was entirely orchestrated by your father.

If Rongshi knew how shameless Hu Xiaotian was, he would never have asked for clarification; as the brother of Jian Rongxin, hearing the full details, he too would blush scarlet, yet he cannot help but acknowledge that the union between Hu Xiaotian and his sister is a heaven‑ordained match—his father had originally intended to arrange a match between Li Chen Zhou and his sister, but instead ended up messing up the mandarin‑duck registry.

After hearing Hu Xiaotian finish, Rongshi gave a dry cough to ease the embarrassment, then said softly: "I simply don't understand why Li Chen Zhou is so heartless."

Hu Xiaotian said: "He's a pervert, not a normal man at all, so his disposition is twisted; after Rongxin married into his household she suffered many grievances."

Rongshi nodded, clenched his fists, and said: "I will surely avenge my father."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Elder brother, there's no need to rush; Li Chen Zhou's current situation is dire. Although your uncle's death years ago was directly related to him, it was actually Prince Yan Xue Shengjing who, from behind the scenes, had you taken away from your uncle's side, intending to use you to threaten your uncle into doing things against his will."

Rongshi sighed with a heavy heart: "These years I've been muddled, acknowledging a thief as my father, aiding the tyrant in his wickedness—I haven't even seen my own biological father's face." Thinking of his deceased father, Rongshi's eyes reddened.

Hu Xiaotian comforted him, saying, "Some things aren't your fault; when you were taken away, you were just a baby in swaddling clothes—how could you choose your own fate?"

I overslept; just got up and typed a chapter, and another chapter will follow! Everyone, don't stop your Monthly Ticket! (To be continued~^~)