Chapter 1904

Hu Xiaotian sighed, covering his head with both hands and crouching down: "I didn't travel all this way to the bitter cold of the northern desert just to sell my looks."

"Saving a life beats building a seven-story pagoda; even sacrificing a bit of one's looks, what's the harm?" Ji Feihua actually advised Hu Xiaotian like that.

Hu Xiaotian countered: "What if I'm in trouble? Would you save me?" This time he locked eyes with Ji Feihua; her calm gaze rippled under his stare, yet she showed no hesitation, softly saying: "Save!"

Hu Xiaotian took a step forward, about to shamelessly say "I'll have you save me now," when he heard a thin, sharp voice from outside the snow cave: "Hey there, little friends, how have you been?"

Hu Xiaotian looked at Ji Feihua with some surprise; this place is so hidden that without a prior arrangement, no one would find it here.

Ji Feihua smiled faintly: "I've already met Lord Liu."

Hu Xiaotian inwardly sighed; after all this effort, he turned out to be the last to arrive at Gu Ying Bao. He coughed and said: "Lord Liu, please come in quickly, don't let yourself freeze."

Liu Yuzhang shuffled in with his small, stooped frame, shook off the snow on his body, then unfastened his fur coat, raised his snow-white eyebrows, beaming, and cupped his fists toward the two: "Meeting an old friend on a snowy night calls for a couple of drinks!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Too bad there's no wine here."

Liu Yuzhang said: "We have it here!" He untied a beautifully carved gourd from his waist, filled with Nine Yang Spring liquor. He first handed it to Ji Feihua, who didn't refuse; after taking it, she pulled out the stopper, tipped a stream of liquor into her mouth, then passed it to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian took a gulp, feeling warm and extremely satisfying; he glanced oddly at the two, thinking how times change—never would he have imagined that the two, who were once bitter enemies in the palace, fighting to the death, could now sit together.

Liu Yuzhang, somewhat taking over as host, finally took the wine pot, drank a sip, then said: "Let's sit down and talk."

The three reseated themselves around the campfire. Liu Yuzhang said: "We've been here a few days already, scouting the surroundings; just the other night, while spying on Fan Yin Si, we happened to run into the Commander." Although he and Ji Feihua had long left the Dakang palace and were publicly declared dead, they still habitually used their former titles.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Looks like you've already got everything planned."

Liu Yuzhang said: "We can now be certain that the two skulls have been sent to Fan Yin Si; as for their whereabouts, only the Living Buddha Jia Luo knows, so to retrieve the skulls, the key is to control Jia Luo."

Hu Xiaotian said: "With just us few, even razing Fan Yin Si wouldn't be that difficult."

Liu Yuzhang chuckled: "With our current strength, it's naturally not a problem, but if we barge in, the Living Buddha Jia Luo will sense something's off and surely hide; Fan Yin Si's interior is complex, we have a map but it's missing a part—precisely the most important Golden Top Hall." He paused, then smiled at Hu Xiaotian: "Heaven helps those who strive; it seems even the heavens are aiding us this time, for the Black Hu Princess has come to meet the Living Buddha to receive blessings—this is a perfect opportunity for us."

Ji Feihua and Liu Yuzhang both looked at Hu Xiaotian; he understood they were thinking the same thing—having him use his looks to win over Xima. Indeed, they were deep‑scheming, ruthless heroes; perhaps they'd already worked this out beforehand.

Ji Feihua said: "Of course, it's best to persuade Princess Xima to join our side; if that fails, the only option left is to storm Fan Yin Si by force."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Even if I could sneak into Fan Yin Si, there's no guarantee I'd get a chance to approach the Living Buddha Jia Luo."

Liu Yuzhang said: "Princess Xima has a female priest named Ya Su attending her; she came especially to accompany Xima, and by old custom, this priestess stays with Xima throughout, even when meeting the Living Buddha."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed: "You want me to impersonate that priestess?"

Liu Yuzhang chuckled: "Although your disguise skills are superb, many details would still give you away; to slip through, it must be a real woman doing the posing." He gave Ji Feihua a meaningful glance with his narrow eyes; Ji Feihua had been by his side since entering the palace, and he had drunk her blood for years, so he naturally knew her true identity.

Hu Xiaotian already understood their meaning: have him persuade Xima, then he and Ji Feihua would disguise themselves as her retinue to infiltrate Fan Yin Si—quite a tall order in such short time. No wonder Ji Feihua said he must sacrifice his looks; it seems the only way to make Xima wholeheartedly help him is this.

The next morning, snow still fell without end; Gu Ying Bao's buildings were all blanketed in white, silver‑clad and pure. Xima had slept none; rising at dawn, she leaned against the window, watching the drifting snow outside, when a jet‑black bird landed on the sill, shook off a few snowflakes, and its glossy little round eyes met hers.

Xima gazed at the bird and sighed involuntarily, thinking, "If only I had wings like that bird, I could fly out of this cage and far away." The image of Hu Xiaotian's handsome face flashed in her mind; she shook her head, trying to drive his image away, when she inadvertently saw the bird holding a small bamboo tube in its beak. The bird set the tube on the windowsill, tapped the window with its beak, then flapped its wings and flew off into the distance.

Xima felt a quiet surprise; she glanced behind her and outside, confirming no one was paying attention, then opened the window, swiftly took in the bamboo tube—only as thick as a pinky—and unscrewed it to find a slip of paper inside. She unfolded it to read: "I'll come see you tonight at the hai hour." Brief and to the point, signed Hu Xiaotian.

Seeing those three words, Xima's heart pounded uncontrollably; she could hardly believe her eyes, first thinking it was almost certainly a prank. But who would go to the trouble of crafting such a prank to deceive her? Hu Xiaotian? He's supposed to be in Dongliang Jun—how could he possibly be all the way out here at Gu Ying Bao, ten thousand li away?

This letter threw Xima's calm heart into turmoil; unbeknownst to her, Hu Xiaotian was also agonizing over it. After having Zhang Ming dispatch the Black Kiss Bird to deliver the note, he sighed repeatedly: "Zhang Ming, using this method on a little girl—isn't that immoral?"

Zhang Ming actually nodded.

Hu Xiaotian thought Zhang Ming was an honest man; since his nod proved this act was definitely immoral, he let out a long sigh: "Even I look down on myself."

Zhang Ming said: "Everything has two sides; good can turn bad, bad can turn good. By ordinary reasoning, your conduct does have an immoral aspect, but if you didn't do this, what would become of Princess Xima?"

Hu Xiaotian stared at him blankly, not knowing what lofty argument Zhang Ming was about to make.

Zhang Ming said: "After Princess Xima receives the Living Buddha's blessing, her elder brother will send her off to Sha Jia to marry a man she utterly dislikes; do you think she favors you or Huo Ge more?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "That goes without saying?" He thought to himself, "I leave Huo Ge in the dust by ten streets at least."

Zhang Ming said: "If that's the case, why agonize, my lord? As long as you can give Princess Xima lifelong happiness, why fuss over means and ends? Moreover, your act is to save all living beings; though motivated by self‑interest, only this can split the Black Hu–Sha Jia alliance, and in the whole affair, the greatest sacrifice is yours." He paused, then added: "My lord, how do you view Princess Xima?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "What do you mean?"

"Do you like her or not?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I wouldn't say I like her much, but I don't dislike her either."

Zhang Ming said: "My lord, do you harbor even a hint of desire for her?"

Hu Xiaotian's face actually grew warm; he gave Zhang Ming a white look and said: "Don't be so blunt with your questions!"

Zhang Ming said: "Just answer honestly, my lord: if Princess Xima were to throw herself into your arms willingly, would you reject her from the bottom of your heart, or would you just go along with the act?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "You saying that makes me somewhat understand."

Zhang Ming said: "Understood?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "You and Xiao Rou—has it already become a done deal?"

Zhang Ming's face flushed red, embarrassed: "My lord, I won't marry anyone but her!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily: "You, you—I always thought you were an honest fellow, but it seems you're not……haha……"

Actually, deep down Hu Xiaotian no longer resisted playing the beauty scheme; his worry was how Ji Feihua would view him—would she think he's too casual with women? Originally, this northern desert trip had him steeling himself to win Ji Feihua's heart, but now this sudden turn leaves him feeling conflicted and wondering how to face Ji Feihua. Though he hides behind the noble excuse of "picking up women for the nation," recalling Ji Feihua's indifferent eyes stirs his unease again. If Ji Feihua liked him, why would she show no concern over this, acting like a mere bystander? Could it be she feels nothing for him at all? Even when he sneaks off to flirt with other women, she doesn't muster a shred of jealousy? If that's true, then his future with Ji Feihua looks bleak.

Hu Xiaotian inwardly sighed, then heard Zhang Ming delightedly say: "The Black Kiss Bird has returned, having completed its mission perfectly, my lord—now it's all up to you. My lord, you'd better rest well and prepare for tonight's affair."

Hu Xiaotian glared at him, thoroughly displeased: "What do you take me for? A stud?" (To be continued~^~)