Chapter 1933

Before dawn, Hu Xiaotian had already awakened, gazing at Long Xi Yue in his arms, her hair disheveled, finding her beauty like jade, love at its peak, he quietly shifted his body, covered her with a brocade quilt, put on his clothes, and stepped outside.

Outside it was still pitch black, a lone crescent moon hung in the western sky, Hu Xiaotian stretched his arms, walked slowly to the outer garden, and saw Hu Fo already there trimming the flowers and plants.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian, Hu Fo immediately put down the shears, came before him and respectfully greeted, 'Good morning, young master!' Although this place had long since changed from the former Secretary's Residence to the Zhenhai Wang Fu, and Hu Xiaotian had gone from a former mansion scion to the renowned King of Zhenhai, the elders in the household still habitually addressed him this way.

Hu Xiaotian looked at Hu Fo's graying temples, sighing inwardly, how many years had passed in a flash; Hu Fo too had grown old. All the guards and servants of the former Hu household had undergone meticulous investigation and screening, and those remaining could be said to be without fault. He couldn't help but think of Liang Da Zhuang—where is that scoundrel now? Having betrayed him, he might not even be able to curry favor with the Xu family; no matter what, they were once master and servant, so he hopes that scoundrel can find a place to live out his days in peace. This is not because Hu Xiaotian is merciful or repays evil with virtue, but because having lived two lives, he views things differently from others.

Hu Fo said, 'Young master, General Huo just sent someone over, saying that Chancellor Zhou's side needs someone to look after things; she stayed there to accompany Miss Qin.'

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Since arriving in Kangdu, Huo Shengnan has been together with Qin Yutong, going to Zhou Ruiyuan's place, saying they are helping look after Qin Yutong, but actually leaving Hu Xiaotian and Long Xi Yue some private time to reunite. What pleases Hu Xiaotian is that all the lovely confidantes around him are very understanding and considerate of each other. Of course, Qiqi is an exception; I wonder if this girl's temperament can fit into my originally harmonious harem.

Hu Xiaotian asked, 'Is Baobao still at the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau?'

Hu Fo nodded and said, 'Yes! Miss Baobao voluntarily asked to go there; Mr. Hong invented something that aids her recovery. Before you returned, the Princess Consort specially went to the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau to visit her, because she was at a critical stage of her recovery, so she did not bring her back, nor did she inform her of your return.'

Hu Xiaotian said: "That's best." Long Xi Yue is gentle and kind, meticulous in her work; surely Baobao's condition doesn't allow it, otherwise she would definitely bring Baobao back to reunite with her.

When the two were speaking, the sky had already brightened; the Heavenly Secrets Bureau's Hong Beimo had someone deliver an invitation early that morning. Hu Xiaotian originally thought Hong Beimo had said yesterday he would personally come to visit him, but unexpectedly he changed his mind, cancelled the visit, and instead asked Hu Xiaotian to go to the Heavenly Secrets Bureau to meet. He had thought Hong Beimo was putting on airs, but upon reflection, Hong Beimo probably had no need to do so, since he would have to go to the Heavenly Secrets Bureau to visit Baobao anyway, so he simply accepted the invitation.

What surprised Hu Xiaotian was that Hong Beimo not only had no intention of slighting him, but personally brought a carriage and horses to come greet him.

Hu Xiaotian boarded Hong Beimo's carriage and couldn't help but smile, saying: "Mr. Hong, you're being overly extravagant; how can I let you personally come to show me the way? This makes this prince feel somewhat uneasy."

Hong Beimo smiled faintly: "Your Highness's gracious presence naturally warrants my coming to greet you; otherwise, how could Your Highness trust my sincerity?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "Just arriving in Kangdu, I've already received Mr. Hong's two welcomes; such warm hospitality truly moves me." Yet he secretly thought, courtesy shown to others always seeks something in return; Hong Beimo's lowering his stance this much upon returning cannot be without reason—could it be that my influence is growing daily, and Hong Beimo knows he cannot rival me, so he can only choose to submit and cooperate?

Hong Beimo said: "Actually I had originally planned to call on you in person, but yesterday something sudden happened that made me change my mind."

"What matter?"

Hong Beimo handed Hu Xiaotian an object, which turned out to be a willow-leaf blade; such a shaped willow-leaf blade does not belong to this world. Hu Xiaotian took the blade, originally thinking this surgical knife was something he had commissioned the Heavenly Craft Workshop to make, but upon closer inspection the engraved name read Guiyi Fuluo, and his heart shuddered—this surgical knife actually came from Guiyi Fuluo. Hong Beimo would not give him this surgical knife for no reason; could this blade signify an inseparable connection between him and Guiyi Fuluo?

Hu Xiaotian silently examined the blade, and after a long silence he asked: "Do you know his whereabouts?"

Hong Beimo nodded: "He's right in the Heavenly Secrets Bureau!"

Guiyi Fuluo sat upright, properly seated; although he sat very straight and proper, Hu Xiaotian could still tell at a glance that his condition was poor, and he smiled, nodding at Guiyi Fuluo and said: "Senior, how have you been?"

Guiyi Fuluo glanced at Hu Xiaotian with narrowed smiling eyes, then softly told Hong Beimo: "You may go first."

Hong Beimo withdrew respectfully and closed the door for the two. Seeing this scene, Hu Xiaotian already understood that Guiyi Fuluo and Hong Beimo were not only long acquainted, but their relationship was extraordinary. This man Hong Beimo, whose wisdom borders on the demonic, commands the world's largest intelligence organization, and shows utmost reverence toward Guiyi Fuluo—this alone speaks volumes.

Hu Xiaotian deliberately glanced at the door that had just been closed behind him and remarked: "He really listens to you, huh!"

Guiyi Fuluo said: "He is my adopted son."

"A spark?"

Guiyi Fuluo gave a noncommittal nod: "If it weren't for me, he would have long died at the hands of Old Lady Xu."

Hu Xiaotian sighed: "As it turns out, when we first met, you didn't tell me a single truth, and even spoke of destroying the airship—actually, the one behind Hong Beimo's airship project is you."

Guiyi Fuluo said: "There are some truths, too—for instance, the Space-Venture Plan, and also that I am going to die..." He paused, his expression showing a hint of sorrow, and added: "You should be able to see that my days are numbered."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "They say hearing is false, seeing is believing, yet sometimes what you see with your own eyes isn't necessarily true; I once personally witnessed someone's death, only to later discover I had been deceived—that person was actually doing just fine, blissfully unaware."

Guiyi Fuluo said: "You're speaking of Liu Yuzhang, right?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It sounds like you're quite familiar with him?"

Guiyi Fuluo exclaimed: "How could I not be familiar! In the years of the Space-Control Squad, he and I were both members, and he was our captain! He must have told you quite a bit about me, right?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "He hasn't really mentioned you; instead, he's spoken more about Old Lady Xu."

Guiyi Fuluo said: "That's only natural; they were originally a couple."

Hu Xiaotian had never before heard that Old Lady Xu and Liu Yuzhang were a couple; in the past he had made such guesses, otherwise he couldn't explain why Liu Yuzhang hated Old Lady Xu to the bone, or claimed someone had betrayed him—seen this way, the one who betrayed him must certainly be Old Lady Xu; could it be that Old Lady Xu and Guiyi Fuluo had an affair, joining forces to give Liu Yuzhang a green hat? Thinking this, Hu Xiaotian grinned and said: "Back then, Liu Yuzhang volunteered to sacrifice himself to save your Space-Control Squad; I fear Senior and Old Lady Xu may not have been entirely honorable in their actions." He was basically guessing and bluffing.

Guiyi Fuluo said: "What have you heard? And what nonsense are you spouting? I have no connection whatsoever with Xu Mingying, nor have I done anything wrong to him..." As he said this, he couldn't help but start coughing.

Hu Xiaotian carefully observed Guiyi Fuluo's demeanor, secretly estimating that this old fellow wasn't lying.

Guiyi Fuluo coughed for a good while, then finally caught his breath, shook his head and said: "I'm about done for; cancer cells have spread throughout my body, my condition has taken a sharp turn for the worse these past few days, and I estimate I may not last this month."

Hu Xiaotian actually had made this judgment the moment he first saw him; Guiyi Fuluo's condition is much worse than when Hu Xiaotian last saw him, and if it weren't at death's door, he wouldn't have shown himself voluntarily to meet Hu Xiaotian, let alone openly reveal the relationship between Hu Xiaotian and Hong Beimo.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Senior, you sought me out—is there something I can help with?"

Guiyi Fuluo said: "You and Liu Yuzhang joined forces to attack Fan Yin Si—did you see the Heaven's Chosen?" His eyes were full of expectation.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head; he indeed had not personally seen that Heaven's Chosen.

The light in Guiyi Fuluo's eyes instantly dimmed, and he whispered: "You're lying to me; you must have seen him. This matter is of utmost importance, concerning the survival of this world and our past world—can you tell me the truth?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I truly have not seen any Heaven's Chosen."

Guiyi Fuluo sighed: "No, he should clearly be hiding in Fan Yin Shan... No... could it be that he's already dead?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although I haven't seen him, someone has seen him!"

"Who?" Guiyi Fuluo became agitated again, and his agitation provoked a violent cough.

Hu Xiaotian began to worry that this old fellow might stop breathing at any moment, and advised him: "Sir, please calm down; why not first tell me what you know, and then I'll tell you what I know." He pulled a chair over and sat opposite Guiyi Fuluo, then softly asked: "Sir, have you ever seen the Heaven's Chosen?"

Guiyi Fuluo nodded: "I have seen him!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Have you seen any white-furred monsters?"

Guiyi Fuluo said: "Those are Star Beasts, the animals the Heaven's Chosen used for experiments; when they first arrived here, they used Star Beasts and the humans of this world to create hybrid monsters."

Hu Xiaotian drew a sharp breath; these Heaven's Chosen are truly wicked.

Guiyi Fuluo said: "Hu Xiaotian, I will tell you everything I know, and you must also fully disclose everything you hold; this is no trivial matter—if we cannot be frank with each other, there will be no time left for regret later."