Chapter 217

Xi Yan glared at Hu Xiaotian; if her gaze were two sharp daggers, she would have already pierced him full of holes.

Hu Xiaotian gave Murong Feiyan a look: "Don't let her talk nonsense."

Murong Feiyan understood Hu Xiaotian's meaning, she extended a finger and sealed Xi Yan's acupoint.

Qin Yutong quietly took out a silver needle and stabbed it into Xi Yan's left lower rib; Xi Yan's expression turned grim. She had been meticulous but overlooked that Qin Yutong would pose as a constable and follow Hu Xiaotian. Although Liang Qing is highly skilled in martial arts, his acupuncture techniques could not subdue himself; his earlier collapse on the ground was merely a feint. Now Qin Yutong, by inserting the silver needle into her acupoint, has seized her lifeline, and Xi Yan cannot free herself in the short term.

Hu Xiaotian's greatest worry was alarming the Prince, but the commotion here was too great; the Prince had already noticed. Before Liang Qing and Qin Yutong could escort Xi Yan away, the Prince's voice rang out: "Hold on!"

As soon as Hu Xiaotian heard Long Yefang's voice, he knew trouble was coming; this seventeenth prince was deeply infatuated with Xi Yan, and while they were busy here, the Prince might have already seen them—he was picking the right moment to step forward, just in time to play the hero saving the beauty.

The Prince looked displeased: "Hu Xiaotian, what's going on?"

Hu Xiaotian thought, "You're asking knowingly," and hurried forward, bowing: "Your Highness, you've always wanted to capture the demoness of the Wuxian Sect—I've caught her for you."

The Prince gazed at Xi Yan's face, showing a pained expression; Xi Yan is absolutely a master of acting. Though she cannot speak, her eyes flow with sorrowful beauty, and that gaze alone has made the Prince unable to bear it. He then turned to Zhu Qifan and asked: "What exactly is happening?"

Seeing the Prince's displeased expression, Zhu Qifan hurriedly said: "Sir Hu says she is a rebel of the Wuxian Sect."

The Prince gave a cold snort, glared fiercely at Hu Xiaotian: "Do you have any evidence? I don't think Miss Xi Yan is that kind of person!"

Hu Xiaotian felt vexed. I said, "Old Zhao, you've provoked me; you brat, trying to win a little girl's favor, you shouldn't step on the old superior—really unkind."

The Prince approached Xi Yan, his expression gentle: "Miss Xi Yan, what's wrong with you?"

Having her mute acupoint sealed, Xi Yan naturally could not speak. She bit her cherry lips, and two lines of crystal tears slid down her pretty face. This tear moved the sympathy of most people around; even Zhu Qifan secretly blamed Hu Xiaotian for meddling—how could such a frail, beautiful, gentle woman be a rebel? It must be that Hu Xiaotian, seeing her beauty, harbored lustful thoughts.

Someone in the crowd said: "She must have had her mute acupoint sealed, which is why she can't make a sound."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed; Xi Yan's talent for gaining sympathy is top-notch, and now he's run into the Prince, who fancies himself a suave fool. This is trouble.

The Prince said: "Hurry up and release her acupoint."

Liang Qing dared not defy the Prince's order; he stepped forward and tapped Xi Yan's chest. Qin Yutong also quietly drew out a silver needle, retreated to Hu Xiaotian's side, and sent a mental transmission: "It's fine; she can't stir up any trouble."

Xi Yan could indeed speak, though her limbs were sore and she could barely walk; she trembled: "Your Highness Prince... I, a common woman, am wronged..."

Seeing the beauty weep, the Prince felt his heart melt; he spoke gently: "Miss Xi Yan, don't cry—tell me any grievance you have."

Xi Yan choked: "I was on my way to Xiezhou... I didn't expect the horse to suddenly collapse; I truly didn't mean to block your path. This person came over, without distinguishing right from wrong, accused me of being a traitor of the Wuxian Sect and let people humiliate me... Your Highness... I am just a weak woman... I have never done anything that harms heaven and reason..." Saying this, she seemed utterly aggrieved and burst into tears.

The Prince said: "Miss Xi Yan, don't be sad; I will personally see justice done. The carriage breaking down is no matter—I happen to be heading to Xiezhou as well; I'll give you a ride."

Hu Xiaotian thought, "Well, looks like he's picked up a white-boned spirit. I thought the Prince, as a seventeenth prince, would have some discernment, but now it seems he's just a mortal-eyed fool; this girl is here to trap you, and you can't even see it?"

The Prince had a carriage prepared and had Xi Yan helped aboard.

Hu Xiaotian watched helplessly as Xi Yan boarded the carriage, joined their entourage, and, summoning courage, warned the Prince: "Your Highness... this woman has ulterior motives."

The Prince gave a faint smile, lowered his voice: "I've wronged you; I have my own sense of proportion." After all, he's not a fool; he didn't get too close to Xi Yan, and entrusted the carriage carrying her to Hu Xiaotian's group to guard.

Hu Xiaotian silently spat twice: "You still think you've got it figured out, acting like an old fool who can't see, trying to pull the trick of stripping off the sugar coating to throw the grenade back? You're too tender—this is playing with fire, and those who play with fire will **, and Xi Yan is no easy character to provoke."

The procession continued; Hu Xiaotian gave a look, letting Liang Qing closely follow the carriage and keep watch on Xi Yan.

Gazing ahead at the carriage carrying Xi Yan, he sighed worriedly: "The Prince is bewitched by beauty; this matter won't be easy to handle."

Qin Yutong said: "No need to worry; I've sealed her acupoint, so she shouldn't be able to stir up any trouble."

In July, the weather changes as it says; just moments ago it was clear skies, but by afternoon it became overcast with dense clouds—less than five li from Yongji Bridge, and crossing Yongji Bridge means leaving the Red Valley region.

Having heard Hu Xiaotian's earlier words, Zhu Qifan wished to hurry and send the Prince's party away quickly; he didn't expect the weather to change mid-route, seeing a violent wind and rainstorm about to strike. He suggested taking shelter nearby, but the Prince had no intention of stopping, ordering everyone to speed up, striving to cross Yongji Bridge before the storm arrived.

The sun had been buried under piles of gray-black cloud sheets; light kept dimming, as if someone had smeared a thick layer of black ink across the sky's canopy. Without lightning, the heavens turned into an endless black curtain, except for the western horizon where a break revealed a small patch of purple cloud. Lightning sparked from that purple cloud gap, blinding electric light like bizarrely shaped branches reaching in all directions, tearing the black canopy to shreds.

Boom! A tremendous roar— the ground beneath their feet seemed to flip over, rocks and mountains heaved with the thunder's roar, and the large trees, arms-thick, lining the road seemed unable to stand, ready to topple at any moment.

This deafening blast struck straight at the heart; the blinding lightning made everyone's complexion turn ashen as paper in an instant. The advancing procession halted noticeably because of the roar; many horses, frightened by the thunder, refused to move, women's panicked cries, livestock's neighs, and the drivers' and guards' whip cracks intertwined, plunging the group into chaos.

Prince Long Yefang rode a yellow flank horse, surrounded by eight guards, appearing at the very front of the procession; just moments ago he had been inside the carriage, switching to horseback only after Xi Yan appeared.

Hu Xiaotian gazed from afar at this fellow's arrogant, imposing bearing and silently cursed him for showing off; his display was merely to attract Xi Yan's attention.

Indeed, it proved true—soon the Prince spurred his horse to Xi Yan's carriage; she happened to lift the curtain to look out, her pretty face showing a pitiful expression, and the Prince comforted her: "Miss Xi Yan, don't be afraid; with me here, no one dares to harm you."

Hu Xiaotian still felt uneasy, lowering his voice to Qin Yutong: "Will Xi Yan pull some trick?"

Qin Yutong calmly replied: "She now has the will but not the strength."

Although there was lightning and thunder, the rain never fell; after a brief panic, the procession continued onward.

Red Valley County Magistrate Zhu Qifan received a report that there was no unusual activity around. Yongji Bridge lay ahead in sight; once past it, his duty would be considered complete. Zhu Qifan's mood gradually lightened; he glanced at Hu Xiaotian and secretly blamed this fellow for alarmist talk.

Hu Xiaotian himself also felt puzzled; it seemed today there was no wind or wave, and the rumor that the Heavenly Wolf Mountain bandits might raid the Sha Jia envoy had also come from Xiao Tianmu and Zhou Mo. Judging by the current situation, the bandits likely got the news and chose to retreat when facing difficulty.

When the procession reached Yongji Bridge, the rain finally began—windless, the rain fell in straight sheets, pulling heaven and earth together, no distinct lines visible, just a vast white expanse; the ground seemed to shoot up countless arrows, raindrops hammered the earth with a patter, and in an instant heaven and earth became indistinguishable, as if an empty river flowed downward, while the gullies carved by rainwater crisscrossed the ground, turning it into a dim, murky yellow, sometimes a bright white water world.

The Tongji River lay ahead, surging tumultuously; its flow mixed with upstream silt, already turned into a murky yellow, its waves like snow foam layered and surging, striking the banks.

Orders came from ahead: rest after crossing the river; this was also a reluctant choice, since there was no shelter from the rain nearby, so the only option was to keep moving forward.

After the Prince had shown off his suave demeanor for a while, not long after he was drenched by rain back onto his mount. All officials had prepared rain gear; Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong also had straw hats and raincoats, but the most pitiable were the soldiers, who not only endured the torment of wind and rain, but also had to wade into the mire to push and pull the stuck carriages.

The Prince ordered that the Red Valley County's militia need not continue escorting; for Zhu Qifan and his men, this amounted to a relief—once past Yongji Bridge, whatever happened would have nothing to do with them.

The carriage carrying Xi Yan also sank into the mire; while a group of militiamen busied themselves pushing it, Hu Xiaotian and Qin Yutong stood aside watching coldly. Liang Qing came through the rain to Hu Xiaotian's side and whispered: "Sir Hu, that demoness says she has something to ask you."

Hu Xiaotian coldly replied: "No need to pay her any heed."

The eighth watch erupts; Zhangyu sincerely needs no more words—please, after reading, cast your guaranteed monthly ticket! (To be continued…)