Chapter 1894

While Hu Xiaotian and the others were nervously performing surgery on Xia Zhangming, Vesa entered the back courtyard of the Benevolent Hall. A young woman was tied to a corridor pillar, with Zhan Peng guarding her; that woman was Zeng Xiaorou. Vesa said: "Who is she?"

Zhan Peng glared at Zeng Xiaorou and said, "A woman with a heart of snakes and scorpions, it was she who plotted to harm Zhangming." Zeng Xiaorou was rescued by Hu Xiaotian on his way to the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom at South Ferry Island; she was then a courtesan of the Gold-Spending Den. Xia Zhangming saved her, and on the journey to the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom they secretly developed feelings for each other, yet Zeng Xiaorou not only failed to feel gratitude, she ultimately chose betrayal.

Zhan Peng drew his short sword and pressed it to Zeng Xiaorou's throat, demanding, "Speak! Who sent you? Who plotted to frame Zhangming?" He was usually reasonable and understanding; if Zeng Xiaorou hadn't betrayed her friend, he wouldn't have been angry to the point of nearly losing his sanity.

Vesa said, "Big Brother Zhan, something seems off." She saw that Zeng Xiaorou appeared dazed and her spirit was scattered; it was clearly not due to fear, but rather her mind was being controlled. Vesa herself was an expert in Soul Capturing Technique, so she immediately noticed the abnormality in Zeng Xiaorou.

Zhan Peng lowered his short sword and stepped aside. Vesa fixed her gaze on Zeng Xiaorou's eyes and said, "If you're tired, just go to sleep." Her voice seemed to carry a kind of power, and upon hearing it Zeng Xiaorou fell into a deep sleep.

The best way to break a Soul Capturing Technique is to let a person completely lose their will, then awaken them—somewhat like the saying "place oneself in a deadly situation to then survive."

Vesa reached out, steadied Zeng Xiaorou's shoulders, then pulled out the Hairpin and stabbed its tip into the Hukou point on Zeng Xiaorou's right hand. The intense pain made Zeng Xiaorou jolt awake; she screamed and stared wide-eyed at everything before her, asking, "Where am I?" Seeing Zhan Peng, her heart jumped and she turned to flee, but Zhan Peng would not let her go so easily, shouting angrily, "If you dare to run again, I'll make you bleed five paces!"

A dark, thin man entered through the gate—it was Xiong Tianba. Seeing that all roads were blocked and she had no chance to escape, Zeng Xiaorou stopped her steps and said gloomily, "Why go to such trouble just to deal with a weak woman?"

Zhan Peng snapped, "You still have the nerve to call yourself a weak woman? You've reduced Xia Zhangming to this wretched state, despite his deep affection for you—you repay kindness with hatred; how vicious your heart is!"

Hearing this, Zeng Xiaorou panicked: "What are you saying? Zhangming? What happened to him?" Overwhelmed with worry, tears streamed down her face involuntarily. Zhan Peng thought she was pretending, but Vesa knew that Zeng Xiaorou's consciousness had just been under someone's control, so she feared Zeng Xiaorou didn't even know what she had done.

Xiong Tianba cursed, "Damn it, I can't stand this hypocritical woman—let me grab her and feed her to the bears!"

Zeng Xiaorou, tears streaming down her face, said, "If you want to kill me, then kill me—just tell me where Zhangming is now and how he's doing."

Zhan Peng and Xiong Tianba both thought she was feigning pity, and none would be fooled by her tears. Zeng Xiaorou fell to her knees with a thud, sobbing, "I don't even remember meeting Zhangming, so how could I have harmed him… The person I least want to hurt in this world is him… Xu Fengwu told me to deceive him, but I never agreed… Believe me… I'm willing to die for Zhangming."

"Don't believe him!" Xiong Tianba snapped angrily.

From the side, Vesa let out a soft sigh: "You naturally don't understand women!"

Xiong Tianba retorted, "Only you understand!" But then he realized it was Vesa, and embarrassedly stuck out his tongue, saying, "Sister Vesa, you're naturally different from her—you truly treat my third uncle well."

Vesa stepped forward, helped Zeng Xiaorou up, and said, "Someone used Soul Capturing Technique to control your consciousness; in that unconscious state you lured Xia Zhangming to a certain place. The plotters had set an ambush there beforehand, intending to harm Elder Brother Xia, and they likely used your life as leverage to force Elder Brother Xia to comply. He risked his life to bring you back."

Upon hearing this, Zeng Xiaorou burst into tears.

Xiong Tianba couldn't bear to see a woman cry; seeing Zeng Xiaorou weep so sorrowfully, he felt a twinge of reluctance and muttered, "Don't cry—worst case, I won't feed you to the bears."

Zhan Peng, however, remained half-believing, half-doubting.

Vesa helped Zeng Xiaorou up from the ground and gently advised, "Elder Brother Xia is currently receiving treatment; he hasn't yet escaped danger, and the outcome is still uncertain."

Zeng Xiaorou wept bitterly: "Take me to see him; if he's dead, I won't live either."

Vesa asked, "Do you know who exactly applied the Soul Capturing Technique to you?"

Zeng Xiaorou replied, "It must be Xu Fengwu."

Zhan Peng said, "That's the proprietor of the Gold-Spending Den on South Ferry Island."

Vesa asked, "Do you have a way to find him?"

Zeng Xiaorou shook her head and began to cry again; seeing her emotions near collapse, Vesa did not press further.

Everyone waited about two hours before seeing Fang Fang accompany Qin Yutong out of the operating room; all gathered around, asking anxiously, "How is he?"

Fang Fang said, "Go fetch a cup of tea!" But Qin Yutong's body could no longer hold up—her face was pallid, her forehead covered in cold sweat. Everyone hurriedly brought chairs; Vesa and Fang Fang helped her sit down. Qin Yutong took the tea Xiong Tianba brought, sipped a few mouthfuls, exhaled in relief, and said, "Rest assured, with Xiao Tian's intervention, Elder Brother Xia's life has at least been saved."

Hearing this wonderful news, everyone broke into smiles.

Vesa said, "Sister, let me help you rest inside." Qin Yutong nodded and went with her.

Fang Fang said, "The Prince is performing the final sutures; he'll be out soon." Actually these tasks could be done by an assistant, but Hu Xiaotian insisted on doing them himself, showing how important Xia Zhangming is in his heart.

After a while, Hu Xiaotian emerged, whispered a few instructions to Fang Fang, then stepped before the crowd, his gaze falling on Zeng Xiaorou. Although she was extremely concerned about Xia Zhangming's safety, she dared not speak to him, feeling that his current condition was entirely her fault, and she lowered her head in guilt.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Even when Zhangming's mind was muddled, he still cared for your safety."

Overwhelmed with guilt, Zeng Xiaorou let out a sob and burst into tears again.

Hu Xiaotian asked, "Who harmed Zhangming to this state?"

At that moment a crane's cry rang out from the sky—actually it was Xia Zhangming's two Snow Eagles swooping down from above; one of the Snow Eagles was streaked with blood. In fact, the two Snow Eagles had been circling in the sky for a long time, worrying about their master's safety, and only when Hu Xiaotian appeared did they land on the ground.

Hu Xiaotian examined the Snow Eagle's injuries and found that the bird still had a black arrowhead embedded in its body—clearly the feathered arrow had been poisoned. Fortunately the Snow Eagle's constitution was unusual, so it had managed to hold on until now. Hu Xiaotian summoned Vesa, had her dissolve the Blood-Cleansing Pill, and gave it to the Snow Eagle to drink; he also personally treated the bird's wounds. Luckily, the Snow Eagle suffered no fatal injury.

The uninjured Snow Eagle had earlier gone north to summon the Warhawks, yet unexpectedly it also returned. Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, "If it has come back, could the Warhawks have also arrived in Dongliang Jun?"

Xia Zhangming awoke at dusk. Zeng Xiaorou was eager to visit him, but feared the others would suspect her of harming him, so she dared not ask; instead Hu Xiaotian voluntarily suggested that Vesa accompany her to see Xia Zhangming.

Zeng Xiaorou had cried until she had no tears left, but upon seeing Xia Zhangming's body wrapped entirely in white cloth, grief welled up in her heart and tears began to fall again.

Xia Zhangming, seeing Zeng Xiaorou, strained to ask, "Are you alright?"

Seeing that Xia Zhangming's wounds were not yet healed and his thoughts still concerned her safety, Zeng Xiaorou's guilt deepened; she wept uncontrollably, "Zhangming, I have failed you; only death can repay you."

Xia Zhangming shook his head: "…I know…you didn't want this…" His trembling hand reached out to Zeng Xiaorou, and she clasped it with both of hers.

Xia Zhangming said, "Please don't go, alright?"

Zeng Xiaorou nodded through tears: "Even if you drive me away, I won't leave—in this life, whether dead or alive, I will stay by your side."

Vesa quietly slipped out the door.

Hu Xiaotian saw her return and asked, "What's wrong?"

Vesa let out a soft sigh: "If I stay longer, I fear I'll start crying too."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Zeng Xiaorou was being used; Zhangming realized that, so he desperately rescued her."

Vesa asked, "Did they say who did it?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "The Feather Demon Li Chang'an, the Beast Demon Yan Huyao, and the mastermind behind them is Xu Fengwu!" His gaze turned to the injured Snow Eagle as he said, "The Snow Eagle can locate their hideout; I will settle this score with them."

At this moment, Zeng Xiaorou came out, her eyes red and swollen, and said to Hu Xiaotian, "Benefactor, Zhangming is looking for you."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and turned to enter the room.

Although Xia Zhangming was seriously wounded, his spirits were still decent—perhaps because he had finally won Zeng Xiaorou's heart, and joy refreshed his mind.

Seeing Xia Zhangming out of danger, Hu Xiaotian also felt relieved from the bottom of his heart; he smiled and said, "Zhangming, we can discuss anything later—first rest properly, and I'll arrange for Zeng Xiaorou to look after you."

Xia Zhangming asked, "You…are you still doubting her?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Vesa has already freed her from the Soul Capturing Technique; the reason she lured you there was because she herself had been subjected to Xu Fengwu's Soul Capturing Technique."

Xia Zhangming nodded and asked, "How are the Snow Eagles?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's fine; they're thick-skinned and tough, just some superficial wounds. Now they're gathering strength to help you take revenge."

Xia Zhangming pointed to the spot opposite the window; a Black Kiss Bird fluttered its wings and flew in through the window. Xia Zhangming said: "Snow Eagle... although it can find the place of the incident, they must have already left; when I escaped... I released a Black Kiss Bird to follow... it can bring you to the place."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Don't worry, I will definitely help you get justice back." (To be continued~^~)