Chapter 1952: Final Chapter

Final Chapter

Hu Xiaotian could no longer spare a thought for cherishing fragrance and jade at this moment; if the demonic phantom succeeded, the consequences would be unthinkable. He gathered all his strength and swung another sword downward at Qiqi's head.

Qiqi's body became extraordinarily agile, transforming into a streak of blue light that struck Hu Xian's black iron sword, shaking his bones to the point of nearly breaking. His body flew backward and slammed heavily against the wall, causing the illusions around the Smoke and Water Pavilion to vanish instantly.

Qiqi followed like a shadow, her ten fingers hooking toward Hu Xiaotian's chest. Hu Xiaotian inwardly cursed his misfortune, summoning all his strength, his movements shifting in an attempt to escape her grasp, but he was still seized on the chest. With a tearing sound, his clothes and armor were ripped open, barely avoiding being disemboweled.

Ji Feihua let out an angry roar and flew forward from behind, but she and Hu Xiaotian were still some distance apart, making rescue too late.

Hu Xiaotian shouted loudly: "Qiqi!"

Qiqi raised her right hand to grab Hu Xiaotian again. Hearing his loud shout, she froze for a moment, her gaze fixed on his face. This grasp did not come down. Hu Xiaotian seized this rare opportunity, pulled the trigger, and injected the gene solidifier given to him by Li Wuyou into her body.

Qiqi's bodily structure was nearly perfect—though unafraid of swords and possessing strong regenerative abilities, the genetic transformation of this body was not yet complete. After the gene solidifier was injected into her body, she instantly turned to stone.

The naturally petrified body lost its utility. The light ball detached once more, flying out and transforming in midair into a blade-like light resembling a long sword, shooting directly toward the Empty Seeing God Monk. Kongjian roared: "You go first, I'll hold it off!" He swung his right arm, sending an invisible palm blade toward the light blade, but it had no blocking effect whatsoever. The light blade severed his right arm, and blood sprayed out.

Qiqi, lying on the ground, saw the blue network on her body gradually fade, returning to a pallid hue. Hu Xiaotian's chest was also bleeding profusely. Ji Feihua shouted loudly: "Follow me."

Hu Xiaotian picked up Qiqi from the ground and ran forward with her. After a few steps, he saw Huo Xiaoru similarly unconscious on the ground. Unable to abandon her, he also lifted Huo Xiaoru and fled together with her. Ji Feihua did not stop Hu Xiaotian; taking Huo Xiaoru's body was not entirely without benefit, at least preventing the demonic phantom from possessing a body.

Ji Feihua was extremely familiar with the internal structure of the starship. She opened the hatch, rushed in first, then sealed the hatch. She shouted loudly: "These hatches cannot block the demonic phantom; she will break through soon. Only by rushing into the control cabin first can we gain a bit more time to resist."

Hu Xiaotian suddenly remembered the purple crystal gravity source Li Wuyou had given him. Looking down, he saw his chest bleeding profusely, yet the armor torn by Qiqi had also taken the purple crystal with it. Seeing that the purple crystal was now gone, he felt extreme regret.

Ji Feihua asked: "What happened? What occurred?"

Hu Xiaotian then told her about the purple crystal. Ji Feihua said: "It's too late. Let's go to the control cabin first." They continued running forward.

The light blade shot again toward Kongjian, but this time it did not kill him. Instead, it transformed into a light ball that directly entered his chest. Kongjian stood frozen in place for a while, then moved his neck slightly, his bones emitting crackling sounds like firecrackers. He strode to the sealed hatch, skillfully entered the password, and opened it.

Hu Xiaotian looked through the observation window of the hatch toward the rear and saw Kongjian pursuing from behind. Ji Feihua shouted loudly: "The demonic phantom has already taken control of his body—we must hurry!" Witnessing the phantom's terror, Hu Xiaotian was also filled with dread, but unfortunately he had lost the purple crystal. The only plan left was to destroy the starship to stop the phantom from leaving—other matters could wait.

Ji Feihua was thoroughly familiar with the starship's internal structure. She opened a hatch and gestured for Hu Xiaotian to enter first.

Hu Xiaotian entered with Qiqi and Huo Xiaoru in his arms, then heard the hatch close behind him. He turned his head, expecting Ji Feihua to follow, but saw she had not entered. Thinking the hatch malfunctioned, he shouted loudly: "Ji Feihua, hurry in!"

The hatch sealed tightly. Ji Feihua could see his expression but could not hear his voice. She smiled, then raised her palm. Hu Xiaotian stared intently and saw that the purple crystal was trembling in her palm. Gazing at the sparkling purple crystal, he suddenly understood and shouted loudly: "Ji Feihua, don't do this!"

Ji Feihua laughed radiantly, kissed her palm, then pressed it against the window. Hu Xiaotian then realized he had been lured into the escape pod by Ji Feihua. He tried to open the escape pod's hatch, but no matter how hard he tried, it would not open. He set down Qiqi and Huo Xiaoru, then attempted to ram the hatch with his body. At that moment, Ji Feihua struck down the emergency escape lever with one palm.

Hu Xiaotian instantly felt his body being flung outward. He shouted loudly, hot tears streaming wildly from his tiger eyes.

The escape pod plunged into the Mercury River, and the massive oval starship slowly lifted off.

The ground trembled violently. Everyone around the imperial mausoleum felt the vibration from deep underground. They saw the massive mausoleum split open, and a huge oval silver hull slowly rose from within.

Everyone was stunned by the sight before them—the silver hull slowly ascended into the sky.

In the darkness, the screen lit up, and Ji Feihua's voice came from the lifeboat. Hu Xiaotian lunged frantically toward the screen, trying to embrace her image, but though she was near, she seemed as distant as the horizon.

"Ji Feihua! Ji Feihua! Why are you doing this to me? Why?" Hu Xiaotian had already shouted himself hoarse.

Ji Feihua sat in the starship's control cabin. She removed her hairpin, her cloud-like hair flowing like a waterfall over her shoulders. Her exquisite yet heroic face showed an unprecedented tenderness as her eyes gazed at Hu Xiaotian on the screen. She smiled gently: "Little bearded one, I never thought I'd still see you before leaving..."

Hu Xiaotian, tears streaming down his face: "Ji Feihua, you can't do this to me—I can't live without you..."

Ji Feihua whispered: "Without me, you still have so many beloved confidantes. Losing me, at least someone can still comfort and accompany you. But I cannot lose you, for if I lose you, I have nothing..." Her eyes were so tender, beautiful enough to intoxicate and suffocate.

She softly said: "I read the information from the two skulls, though I still haven't fully understood it. If I had known the demonic phantom was imprisoned in the underground palace, I would never have made this mistake no matter what."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Nonsense..." He had already wept uncontrollably.

Ji Feihua said: "Little bearded one, don't let me look down on you. You are a man, you are my man, Ji Feihua's man—how can my man shed tears so easily?"

Hu Xiaotian fiercely wiped away his tears, his Adam's apple trembling violently.

Ji Feihua said: "There are still thirty seconds. The demonic phantom miscalculated one thing—she didn't expect me to be more familiar with this starship than Hong Beimo. Even if she destroys the starship, she cannot break through my protective shield in thirty seconds. It's too late..." She paused, then finally thought of what she should say to Hu Xiaotian: "I love you..."

"I will go find you—I swear, even if I must search every corner of the universe, I will surely find you..." Hu Xiaotian shouted from the depths of his heart.

The silver starship suddenly vanished into the sky, leaving behind a massive pillar of light in everyone's vision. Dark clouds surged wildly toward it, and when the clouds parted and the mist cleared, a blazing red sun appeared out of nowhere in the sky.

The damaged imperial mausoleum, set against the green mountains and clear waters, appeared increasingly desolate. A gentle breeze stirred, and under the sunlight, a dandelion finally trembled and dispersed its seeds, drifting with the wind—unknown where it would land or take root...

For the next half month or so, Hu Xiaotian passed his days in depression and sorrow. No one knew what truly happened inside the imperial mausoleum. Although many witnessed that miraculous scene, they did not know what the silver sphere flying into the sky actually was. Even those present on-site—Huo Shengnan, Zhuge Guanqi, Xia Zhangming, and Zong Tang—only knew that after that day, some people never reappeared. Hu Xiaotian brought back the Yongyang Princess Qiqi and brought back Huo Xiaoru.

Qiqi had awakened, but Huo Shengnan remained unconscious to this day. Qin Yutong and Li Wuyou had examined her. According to modern medicine, Huo Shengnan had become a vegetative state.

After awakening, Qiqi forgot everything that occurred after entering the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's underground palace. Her genes had undergone an astonishing transformation—she is now a pure Heaven's Chosen One, with no other genetic components detectable in her body. Her temperament also became gentle and lovable; from the way she looks at Hu Xiaotian, it is clear she loves him more than her own life.

Hu Xiaotian woke from his hangover to find Long Xi Yue and Qin Yutong guarding his bedside. Qin Yutong's abdomen was already prominently swollen, her pregnancy very obvious, and Long Xi Yue wore a look of deep concern.

Hu Xiaotian sat up, yawned, and said: "You've been here a long time?"

Qin Yutong nodded slightly and whispered: "I just heard some good news—Xi Yan has awakened! She and Weisa are now on their way to Kangdu, and you'll see them soon."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, but his smile clearly carried sorrow. His mind continually replayed Ji Feihua's final smile as she departed, and his heart remained steeped in deep self-reproach. If only he had discovered Ji Feihua's motives earlier, perhaps things would not have turned out this way.

Long Xi Yue said: "Xia Zhangming has already received Murong Feiyan—she will come to see you in these two days."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, still silent.

Long Xi Yue's eye sockets involuntarily reddened.

Qin Yutong sighed: "Xiaotian, even if you don't think of us, think of the child in our wombs."

Hu Xiaotian froze for a moment, then saw Long Xi Yue's pretty face blush. He blinked, looking questioningly at Qin Yutong, who nodded and said: "Xi Yue and Shengnan already carry your flesh and blood. Before long, our family will welcome several new members."

Hu Xiaotian's heart filled with comfort. Seeing his two lovers visibly worn down, he felt remorse welling up—he had made them worry too much these days. He could torment himself over Ji Feihua, not forgive himself, but he could not let this affect others.

He stretched out his arms, then embraced the two softly, whispering: "Rest assured—I will surely be a good husband and a good father!"

Again it was Mid-Autumn, the night of the full moon. The Zhenhai Wang Fu echoed with songs and laughter, yet it was Zhenhai Wang Hu Xiaotian leading a group of beloved confidantes to share a reunion feast. On the surface, Hu Xiaotian seemed to have emerged from sorrow. After enduring countless trials, Long Xi Yue, Qiqi, Qin Yutong, Murong Feiyan, Huo Shengnan, Weisa, Xi Yan, Jian Rongxin, Yan Nujiao, Baobao, and Tang Qingxuan—all these beloved confidantes—had gathered around him. No matter how arduous the journey, in the end everyone could finally reunite. Naturally, there were endless heartfelt words and endless endearments. Of course, Huo Xiaoru was also there—though still alive, she had lost all consciousness and could not participate in such a gathering.

After the banquet, Hu Xiaotian quietly came to Yiyuan Tang. In fact, he had originally invited Li Wuyou, but for some reason she did not appear at the banquet.

Li Wuyou sat in her wheelchair, alone in the garden admiring the moon. Seeing the shadow approach under the moonlight, she smiled faintly: "Not eating the reunion feast at the mansion—why come to my place?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "At times like this, I should come visit you, my old friend."

Li Wuyou turned her head to look at him, then sighed softly: "You still haven't freed yourself from that matter!"

Hu Xiaotian said nothing, his eyes turned toward the bright moon in the sky, as if seeing Ji Feihua's graceful shadow within it.

Li Wuyou said: "This matter is my fault. Actually, the demonic phantom wasn't as powerful as imagined. Qiqi's recovery was due to the Heaven's Chosen One's powerful genes. If I had had more time back then, I could have devised a way to defeat it."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "This is fate—just as fate cast us into this world and arranged for us to unknowingly accomplish the deed of saving the world."

Li Wuyou said: "I've always been thinking that the Mirage is more complex than we imagined; she can split, she can recombine and reunite, she has subjective consciousness, she has creativity, but a complete life must necessarily have both good and evil sides, because any sentient intelligence is destined not to be pure."

Hu Xiaotian said: "She has already disappeared; now she should have remained forever in the Dark Age." Speaking of this, his heart involuntarily felt a hidden pain; others disappeared with the Mirage as well, and also Ji Feihua; even if they are still alive, they cannot escape that enormous black hole, spending the rest of their lives in darkness.

Li Wuyou said: "Since part of the Mirage is sealed in the underground palace and part can transform into Ling Jiazi and Huo Xiaoru, could it be that she still has other split forms living in this world?"

Hu Xiaotian said nothing.

Li Wuyou sighed and said: "Perhaps I am saying this too late now, but the Mirage should not yet have reached her most powerful state; even if she is left in this world, perhaps she cannot cause too great a crisis, let alone destroy the world."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Life must go on; we cannot spend all our days in the shadow of the past; we should learn to look forward, don't you agree?"

Li Wuyou stared for a moment, then laughed again: "You can think like that, I am relieved, but I heard someone is gathering skilled artisans to study the escape pod brought out from the imperial mausoleum; I don't know what their purpose is again."

Hu Xiaotian gave a bitter laugh; the only thing he has left now is that escape pod; he has already begun dismantling and researching it, hoping through research on the escape pod to quickly build a spaceship that can go to the Dark Age; he has never forgotten his promise, even if he searches every corner of the universe, he must find Ji Feihua. Originally Qiqi was his hope, but after Qiqi recovered her health, she miraculously forgot all the information in the skull, and those two skulls have completely disappeared; even if found, the skull's energy is completely exhausted and will have no effect.

Li Wuyou said: "I only want to remind you, given the current conditions, the possibility of building a spaceship is less than one in ten thousand; even if you luckily succeed in developing a spaceship, you must first master the method to completely restrain the Mirage before you can embark on the journey."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You will always have a way, right?"

Li Wuyou said: "Hope is always..."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Perhaps I should go out for a walk to clear my mind."

September 16, on the Broken Cloud Mountain, Idle Cloud Pavilion, Hu Xiaotian sat alone in this stone pavilion, watching the cloud sea rise and fall; the deep autumn mountain top weather had already turned chilly; looking around, the frost leaves were dyed red. Hu Xiaotian did not come here for no reason, but because he remembered his promise with Xumi Tian three years ago; at that time, Xumi Tian and he had made a three-year agreement, giving him half of a jade pendant, letting him come to the Broken Cloud Mountain Idle Cloud Pavilion to meet after three years.

Hu Xiaotian had ridden the flying eagle here last night, waiting until sunset, yet saw no one come; just as he began to gradually lose hope, he heard a loud infant crying not far away; Hu Xiaotian wondered strangely in his heart, in this desolate mountain wilderness, where does a baby's cry come from? He followed the crying and soon saw a baby girl lying on a large rock; the baby was about six or seven months old, delicately carved like jade; seeing Hu Xiaotian arrive, a pair of dark, shiny big eyes fixed on him, and she actually stopped crying; her chubby little hands opened, clearly asking for a hug. Hu Xiaotian picked up the baby, but saw she wore half a jade pendant around her neck; Hu Xiaotian hurriedly took out his own half; the two halves of the jade pendant fit perfectly, with no difference; Hu Xiaotian immediately concluded in his heart that this child must have been sent by Xumi Tian.

Looking again at the large rock, three characters were carved on it——Your daughter!

Hu Xiaotian lowered his head to look at the baby's eyebrows and eyes, which indeed resembled him greatly; he could still faintly see Xumi Tian's appearance; Hu Xiaotian was both surprised and delighted, never expecting that Xumi Tian and his three-year agreement were actually for this matter, meaning that during these three years she had secretly given birth to a daughter for him; if calculated according to normal pregnancy duration, Hu Xiaotian would certainly not believe this child is related to him; however, Qin Yutong also has a pregnancy lasting two years and has still not given birth, so it seems Xumi Tian's bodily structure is also different from ordinary people.

But why did she leave her daughter behind and refuse to appear to meet him? Hu Xiaotian held the baby, stood on the large rock, looked around, but saw only vast twilight with no trace of anyone.

Lowering his head to look at the jade pendant, he found the two halves had actually stuck together, with a blue fine line growing between them.

Hu Xiaotian named the baby Ping'an, taken from the four characters embroidered in the swaddling clothes: Ping'an Fugui; compared to that, Ping'an sounds better, Fugui is really too vulgar, especially for a girl's name; moreover, his Hu Xiaotian's daughter was born destined for great wealth and honor. After Hu Xiaotian brought Ping'an back to Kangdu, this child naturally received the welcome of being held aloft by all the stars; all of Hu Xiaotian's red beauties treated her as their own daughter; however, the one closest to Ping'an has always been Huo Xiaoru, ever since she began to toddle, almost every day she would go to Huo Xiaoru's side to play and visit; everyone says this child has an affinity with Huo Xiaoru.

That jade pendant Hu Xiaotian gave Ping'an to wear; at first the jade pendant only had a blue fine line; later, holding the jade pendant would cover it with a blue network; then later, the entire jade pendant turned blue. Long Xi Yue thought this jade pendant strange, worried it might be harmful to the child, and asked Hu Xiaotian to put it away; but Hu Xiaotian thought Xumi Tian could never possibly harm his own flesh and blood.

Although Long Xi Yue and Huo Shengnan became pregnant after Qin Yutong, they both were pregnant for ten months and gave birth, giving birth to daughters before Qin Yutong did.

After Qiqi recovered, she lost her former desire for power and ambition; after marrying Hu Xiaotian, she wholeheartedly became the woman behind him; after marriage, in that month she became pregnant; Hu Xiaotian originally thought her pregnancy would last seven years, but unexpectedly Qiqi gave birth after only seven months, and bore Hu Xiaotian's first son; according to their initial agreement, this son would take the surname Long, named Long Husheng; this name also has no great meaning; according to Hu Xiaotian's words, it is just to make a mark, so that everyone in the world knows this is his Hu Xiaotian's offspring.

The reason for letting him take the surname Long is nothing more than to block some idle gossip; this child has been established as the sole heir to the Dakang throne since birth; if he took the surname Hu, it would be openly usurping the Dakang realm; in fact, Hu Xiaotian was overly cautious, since after he took control of Dakang's power, Dakang gradually recovered its vitality, and national strength even surpassed the past.

Compared to Dakang's prosperity, Da Yong is like a patient entrenched in illness; even if Prince Yan Xue Shengjing holds great power, he cannot reverse Da Yong's gradual decline; domestic rebellions arise one after another; fortunately, the Black Hu Khan Wanyan Liezu ascended the khanate not long ago, but soon encountered a joint challenge from several major northern tribes; he could not attend to himself, so naturally he had no more energy to continue the southern grand endeavor.

After Hu Xiaotian stabilized the domestic situation, his first target was Xichuan; although Xichuan is actually controlled by the Xiangguo State, the people of Xichuan mostly lean toward Dakang; moreover, Hu Xiaotian had long operated within Xichuan; after sending troops, the advance was like splitting bamboo; furthermore, within Xichuan there were the Li family's old generals Yan Hu Cheng maintaining contact and coordination; when Hu Xiaotian sent troops, the Tianlang Mountain Yan Kui led his subordinates to attack from the rear; only a short month later, he had already recovered all of Xichuan.

Before the Xichuan campaign began, Hu Buwei coincidentally fell seriously ill; similarly, the actual controller of the Xu family, Xu Fengmei, also fell ill; their symptoms were similar, only Xu Fengmei's condition was worse; when the news came that Xichuan had been completely conquered, Xu Fengmei was already on her last breath.

In the Yuching Baolou, the emaciated Hu Buwei gazed sorrowfully at Xu Fengmei; he had invited famous doctors, hoping to save Xu Fengmei's life; however, no matter how hard he tried, he could not stop Xu Fengmei's condition; gazing at the bedridden Xu Fengmei on her last breath, Hu Buwei felt indescribable sorrow; he covered his mouth and coughed a few times, opened his palm, and found his palm stained with fresh red blood. No matter how great the ambition, in the face of reality it must bow; he originally wanted to unify the world, but Hu Xiaotian's strong rise forced him to face reality, hoping to divide the world into north and south with Hu Xiaotian and coexist under heaven, but he never expected to suddenly contract a stubborn illness.

Xu Fengmei was awakened by Hu Buwei's coughing; she opened her eyes, her dull, unfocused gaze stared at Hu Buwei, and she said bitterly: "You... you are also sick..."

Hu Buwei smiled, but immediately began coughing again.

After coughing for a long time before it subsided, he took a breath and said: "Not only me, but many others are also sick, especially those from the Xu family."

Xu Fengmei nodded: "Since the old lady disappeared, our Xu family has suddenly undergone a change...... cough cough...... could it be that the Xu family's fate has truly run out......" she then began coughing violently; her pale face, due to violent coughing, showed a hint of blood; the blue veins on her forehead, beneath the thin skin, became exposed.

Hu Buwei gazed at Xu Fengmei, tormented by illness to the point of being inhuman, his heart aching to the extreme; he reached out to grasp Xu Fengmei's weak wrist; formerly plump skin now only remained as skin over bone; including himself, the entire Xu family up and down was tormented by illness; at first he thought it was merely accidental, but as more and more Xu descendants fell ill, even some Xu sons, hiding their identities, unknown to outsiders, they also successively contracted the illness, and their symptoms were the same as his.

The defeat of Xichuan was by no means accidental; although Hu Xiaotian's strength is extremely great, our side is also not utterly weak; but the reality is that the core strength of the Xu family fell ill one after another; without saying more, just in Xichuan, the Xu family's layout there—Yang Haoran, Zhou Mo, Xiao Tianmu—all are ill, currently all confined to bed.

Xu Fengmei tightly gripped Hu Buwei's big hand; although she used force, yet she still felt as if she could not hold him, as if he would slip away at any moment; she trembled and said: "Buwei, have you noticed, have you noticed...... all those who fell ill are Xu family people...... in this world there should not be such a coincidence......"

Hu Buwei's eyes were filled with sorrow; his former heroic spirit had already been covered by a thick layer of gray due to the torment of illness; he even had the thought of giving up just like that; if he could exchange for Xu Fengmei and all the Xu family's safety, he would rather abandon his ambition to contend for the world; but the reality is, they will die one by one because of this sudden illness; in this world, what could be more painful than separation in life and death?

"How is the situation on the Xichuan front?" Xu Fengmei still cared about Hu Buwei's affairs.

Hu Buwei did not directly answer her question, but said lightly: "It has long ceased to be important." Yes, if the limit of life is approaching, what meaning does victory or defeat have? No one can fight fate; he suddenly thought of the old emperor Long Xuan'en, who sought immortality by any means, sparing nothing; in the past he even despised Long Xuan'en's behavior; but now he finally understood, he himself cannot see through, he himself also fears death.

Xu Fengmei said: "I...... I if I die...... you......" Hu Buwei covered her mouth, not wanting her to continue speaking; recently he had seen too many deaths; his greatest fear was Xu Fengmei leaving, he could not even imagine how he would face the blow of losing her; but the blow is only temporary, he himself also will not live long; it will not take much time before they meet again in the Yellow Springs.

Hu Buwei whispered: "I'll go check if the medicine is ready......" Before leaving, he left behind a string of coughs.

Passing through the Back Garden, seeing the ground covered with fallen leaves, he only then realized that the southern country had already entered deep winter; although the weather is not particularly cold, the season still left its due mark; the fallen leaves have also gone several days without being swept; the Yuching Baolou has recently seen many deaths, including the white-clad graceful Xu Mubai; the successive deaths of Xu family members have made the former bustling Yuching Baolou also become deserted; the attendants inside vied with each other to leave; the great hall had no one cleaning; Hu Buwei could not help but think of the court of Xiangguo State, his own painstakingly cultivated and carefully arranged power circle, now also beginning to totter due to everyone's successive illnesses; although as long as he stands firm, the great power of Xiangguo State will not fall elsewhere, but his current condition—how many more days can he endure?

He covered his mouth and coughed again, coughing until he bent over; his whole person looked like a large shrimp; when he lifted his head, he was surprised to discover that opposite him stood another person.

Hu Xiaotian stood tall and upright, arrogantly standing opposite him.

Hu Buwei blinked his eyes, confirming what he saw was not an illusion.

Hu Xiaotian nodded at him and said softly: "Long time no see?"

Hu Buwei responded with a cough, then after recovering, he gave Hu Xiaotian a light smile and said: "You came to kill me?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, looking at Hu Buwei with pity, and said softly: "Just came to see you; your illness seems very serious?"

Hu Buwei said: "People grow old, they are not like when they were young."

Hu Xiaotian, however, knew Hu Buwei's illness had nothing to do with age; he said softly: "Many in the Xu family, from top to bottom, have fallen ill, especially those related by blood to the old lady."

Hu Buwei said: "You seem to be fine."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Because I am immune to this illness!"

Hu Buwei did not understand his words, his eyes widened even more.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I can save you, but you need to agree to two conditions."

Hu Buwei said: "Taking advantage of fire to rob or kicking someone when they're down? You are indeed worthy of being my Hu Buwei's son......"

Hu Xiaotian laughed loudly, came to Hu Buwei's side, gently patted his shoulder, and said softly: "What exactly is our relationship? Actually, I understand it much better than you do. Given your current condition, you fundamentally lack the ability to cure the illness; if I do not intervene, these people's lives will not exceed two months."

Hu Buwei remained silent, because he knew everything Hu Xiaotian said was true.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Take all the Xu family members away, hand over the old lady's underground treasury; I will not hold past matters against you."

Spring wind again greens the Jiangnan banks; amidst the misty rain, Hu Xiaotian and Li Wuyou came together to the Xu family in Jinling; although they knew the secret of the old lady Xu was in Jinling, if there were no cooperation from Hu Buwei and Xu Fengmei, they feared they might spend their whole lives and still fail to find it.

Opening the thick door of the underground cold storage, a burst of icy cold air rushed toward them; Hu Xiaotian pushed Li Wuyou inside; before their eyes everything made them stare in astonishment; this place is clearly a modernized underground cold storage; Li Wuyou looked at everything before her, her beautiful eyes flashing with excited light.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Are all the remaining fire seeds stored here?"

Li Wuyou nodded, she maneuvered her wheelchair to a freezer, entered the password, opened the freezer; in the cold mist appeared rows of test tubes; she said softly: "This stores the fire seeds of the top aerospace experts of that time; although she was formidable, she does not know what the most important wealth among these twenty thousand fire seeds is; only I can master all classifications and search directories."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Is there a medical expert?"

Li Wuyou nodded, opened another refrigerator, and Hu Xiaotian immediately noticed an empty spot on the test tube rack, pointed to it, and asked curiously: "Where did this spark go?"

Li Wuyou said: "After such a long time, it will take time to sort everything out clearly. Give me some time, and I will definitely give you a clear answer."

Finding the remaining sparks collected by Old Lady Xu was equivalent to finding a vast treasure trove of wisdom. Building a spaceship, leaping through time and space, and wandering the universe were no longer unattainable dreams. Hu Xiaotian firmly believed that it would not take long before he could accomplish this earth-shattering feat. His goal was not conquest, but merely to seek.

Ping'an was intelligent and clever, yet she only learned to speak at the age of two. Her first word was "Mother!" The person she called was neither Long Xi Yue, who treated her as her own, nor Qiqi, who often teased her for fun, nor any of Hu Xiaotian's close female confidants.

One day, Ping'an suddenly lay beside Huo Xiaoru's bed and clearly called out "Mother."

This call actually woke Huo Xiaoru, who had been asleep for many years. Hu Xiaotian was nearby at the time. Hearing Ping'an speak was already shocking enough, but what shocked him even more was that Huo Xiaoru, who had been lying asleep in bed, actually responded: "Good daughter!"

Hu Xiaotian was so startled that he dropped the teacup in his hand onto the floor, staring blankly at the two of them. Ping'an called Huo Xiaoru "Mother," but her biological mother was Sumi Tian.

Huo Xiaoru clearly had no possibility of waking up, yet she not only woke but responded so readily, as if she had long had this daughter Ping'an. Everything seemed natural and inevitable.

Huo Xiaoru sat up from the bed, her cloud-like hair disheveled, she opened her beautiful eyes, and two blushes appeared on her lovely face, as if she had not slept for three years but only taken a brief nap. Her beautiful eyes gazed at Hu Xiaotian, and a flirtatious, soul-piercing expression flitted across her face. She cooed: "Idiot, don't you recognize me?"

Hu Xiaotian opened his mouth wide, startled to the point that his jaw almost fell to the ground: "Ah..."

Huo Xiaoru lightly leapt down from the bed, opened her arms to embrace her daughter, and extended her fingers to pick up the jade pendant on Ping'an's chest. Originally entirely azure blue, the jade pendant had now become pure and flawless white, with no trace of its former cracks.

Hu Xiaotian continued to stare blankly, as if he had become foolish.

Huo Xiaoru kissed Ping'an's chubby little face and softly said: "Good daughter, has Hu Xiaotian treated you well these past few years? Have that group of stepmothers bullied you?"

Ping'an giggled: "No, Dad dotes on me, and all my mothers dote on me." She stretched out her little arms, wrapped them around Hu Xiaotian's neck, and dragged the bewildered Hu Xiaotian over. Surprisingly, she had some strength, enough to bring Hu Xiaotian's face close to Huo Xiaoru's.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You..."

Huo Xiaoru said: "Don't speak, don't ask questions. You, such a flirtatious person—what difference does it make which woman is by your side?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "There is a difference!"

"Speak!"

Hu Xiaotian looked at the child; some things are simply inappropriate to say in front of a child.

Huo Xiaoru set down Ping'an, letting her go out. Ping'an had just stepped out the door when she happily announced loudly: "My mother woke up, my mother woke up!"

"What difference?" Huo Xiaoru's charming eyes flickered with provocation.

Hu Xiaotian coughed and said: "The difference between being intact and not! Huo Xiaoru is still a maiden, while Sumi Tian has long been a married woman..."

Bang! Hu Xiaotian's eyes were firmly struck: "Today I will let you know exactly who the old lady is..."

"So shocking, so shocking! Miss Huo has woken up, she's fighting with the Prince, the entire prince's mansion is in chaos, chickens flying and dogs jumping, utter disorder. The Princess Consort begs you to come over..." Liang Da Zhuang arrived breathlessly before Li Wuyou to report. Although Li Wuyou was not one of Hu Xiaotian's wives or concubines, she was his most respected confidante, so any matter in the prince's mansion would be reported to her, and when encountering difficulties, they would ask her to come and resolve them.

Li Wuyou furrowed her brow, and the page of paper in her hand fluttered to the ground. This was a document she had not yet had time to deliver to Hu Xiaotian. It contained a biography: Hu Tian, male, medical expert in surgery, chief physician, doctor of neurosurgery, born July 1986, died September 2014, cause of death unknown...