Chapter 249

Zhan Peng said: "My father taught me since childhood: to repay a drop of kindness with a spring. Master Hu has shown me kindness; he saved my father first, then rescued me from danger. Now he is in trouble. If I turn a blind eye, what face do I have to live in this world?? 。。"

Yuan ShiQing nodded slowly: "Master Hu is a rare talent of the age, his medical skills are marvelous and unmatched; I have practiced medicine for so many years, yet I have never seen a young person with such talent. I hope he does not encounter any trouble." After saying this, he shook his head again: "Why does Master Hu want to become an official? With his medical skills, he could comfortably be a doctor and would not have so much trouble."

Hu Xiaotian secretly laughed at Yuan ShiQing's pedantry upon hearing this; even if he were a doctor, he would not escape when this political storm arrives, for the Emperor is targeting the Hu family; in politics, dealing with enemies of differing views calls for ruthlessness, even exterminating them root and branch, only thus can future troubles be avoided.

Zhan Peng may have a good capacity for alcohol, but he is not fond of drinking; after three bowls of wine he began to eat. Having eaten his fill, he bade farewell to Yuan ShiQing. Shouldering his pack, readying his bow and arrows, he stepped down the stairs. Yuan ShiQing saw him all the way out of the tavern, and after parting with Zhan Peng he went straight to the nearby Easy Origin Hall. Hu Xiaotian saw Zhan Peng untie the tether of the yellow horse tied to the tree, thought it over, and finally walked over.

Zhan Peng is vigilant; even while drinking with Yuan ShiQing he had already noticed that the middle-aged man at the neighboring table seemed to be paying them close attention. When he went to get his horse, he again saw the man following him on foot, and instantly became alert. However, he did not look over at Hu Xiaotian, but instead vaulted onto his horse; the man was on foot while Zhan Peng mounted, shaking off the tail should be easy.

Hu Xiaotian saw he was about to leave and called out: "Brother Zhan, please stay!"

Zhan Peng blinked slightly; he had no impression of this stranger, yet he did not know how the man knew his name. Zhan Peng reined in his horse. His twin sword-like brows knitted together, his gaze sharp and full of vigilance as he looked at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Sir, are you calling me?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Exactly!"

Zhan Peng said: "It seems we have never met before."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Brother Zhan, although you have never seen me, I have seen you; your double-eagle archery technique is still fresh in my memory."

Zhan Peng, upon hearing Hu Xiaotian mention this matter, carefully distinguished his voice; from the voice he vaguely guessed Hu Xiaotian's identity, but the face before him was utterly unfamiliar. For a moment he could not be certain, and his expression grew increasingly bewildered. Hu Xiaotian looked around and said: "This place is crowded and noisy, not suitable for talking. Let's change location." Having said that, he hurried off toward the distance.

Zhan Peng gazed at Hu Xiaotian's back, and soon found it somewhat familiar. Recalling Hu Xiaotian's voice from just now, his expression instantly turned excited.

Hu Xiaotian came to the Small Commerce River bank, walked slowly down the levee; Zhan Peng followed, galloping to catch up, dismounted, and tethered the yellow horse to the weeping willow.

Hu Xiaotian turned and smiled at him: "Brother Zhan, how have you been?" He had already removed his mask, appearing before Zhan Peng in his true face.

Only then did he dare to conclude that the person before him was undoubtedly Hu Xiaotian. He could not restrain his inner excitement, quickly stepped forward to Hu Xiaotian, clasped fists in salute, and said: "Benefactor. Indeed it is you; just now, how did you become like that?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Within this capital, the court's eyes and ears are everywhere; if I had not changed my appearance, I would have long been seized."

Zhan Peng was both surprised and delighted; he could hardly imagine that Hu Xiaotian's disguise technique could be so superb. He whispered: "Benefactor, I have heard that the Hu family has met with misfortune, that Xichuan is in rebellion, and I was preparing to go to Xichuan to find you."

Hu Xiaotian nodded gratefully: "Brother Zhan, I already heard that at the Swallow Cloud Tower just now."…

Zhan Peng said: "If not for a fortunate coincidence, we would have almost missed each other." He then asked Hu Xiaotian the reason for his going to the Swallow Cloud Tower.

Hu Xiaotian then recounted in detail how he had gotten there to Zhan Peng; upon hearing Hu Xiaotian finish, Zhan Peng could not help but sigh over his fate. In the past few days, rumors in the capital have been many, but given Zhan Peng's status he could not access more internal information. The reason he had just sought out Yuan ShiQing to say farewell was also to learn about the Hu family's recent situation through Yuan ShiQing.

Zhan Peng said: "At present, the Censorate is handling the investigation; in the past three days, seven officials of rank three or higher have been arrested in succession, and among them Sir Hu bears the gravest charge—he is the only one accused of colluding with rebels and plotting to overthrow Dakang." As he spoke these words, Zhan Peng's expression was full of sympathy; he neither understood nor cared about officialdom's affairs, and whether Hu Buwei was loyal or treacherous mattered nothing to him, but Hu Xiaotian is his benefactor; the Hu family's misfortune has already plunged Hu Xiaotian into difficulty.

Hu Xiaotian sat on the levee, broke off a stalk of grass, gently pulled it apart in his hand, and fixed his gaze on the slowly eastward-flowing Small Commerce River; his expression showed utter bewilderment.

Zhan Peng said: "Benefactor, Dakang is no longer a place to linger; I have a suggestion: why not disguise yourself, and I will escort you north to Da Yong, where at least you can live a stable life."

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Brother Zhan, from now on do not call me Benefactor; just call me by my name."

Zhan Peng blinked slightly; Hu Xiaotian's remark was somewhat off-topic and did not answer his question. He asked softly: "What do you intend?"

Hu Xiaotian still did not answer his question, and said softly: "Actually, when I initially left the capital to take up my post in Azure Cloud, I had once thought of inviting Brother Zhan to go with me, but later I changed my mind." He turned to Zhan Peng and asked: "Do you know why?"

Zhan Peng pursed his lips, not knowing the true meaning of what Hu Xiaotian was now saying.

"While parents are alive, one does not travel far; Uncle Zhan is advanced in age and needs someone to attend to him nearby."

Zhan Peng nodded.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I wanted to preserve my life and live out my remaining years in peace, I would not have come back; but if that were truly the case, my parents would suffer misfortune while I abstained from involvement, scraping by in cowardly survival—how would others view me? Even if I hid in a deserted corner, what of my conscience? I would spend my whole life in self-reproach and guilt; what meaning would my life have then? I am no great hero, yet I am no coward either; a person lives a lifetime, and some things must be done."

Zhan Peng, hearing this, felt his eyes blaze with light; a surge of admiration rose in his heart for this young master. He had always thought Hu Xiaotian was a pampered aristocrat, but he had not expected Hu Xiaotian to possess a manly spirit equal to his own, bold and discerning.

Zhan Peng no longer urged Hu Xiaotian to leave, and said softly: "What do you plan to do? I will spare no effort to help you."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "You cannot help me; no one can. Given the Hu family's present situation, unless the Emperor changes his mind, there is absolutely no chance of a turnaround." He reached out and patted Zhan Peng's shoulder: "The reason I appeared today to meet you is that I do not want Brother Zhan to make a wasted trip; Brother Zhan's deep affection for me, I keep it in my heart, and if I ever have the opportunity, I will surely repay his kindness."

Zhan Peng exclaimed emotionally: "I do not ask for repayment; all along I have owed you a favor, Xiao Tian—you must let me do something for you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Zhan, if Xiao Tian happens to survive, we brothers will surely meet again; if Xiao Tian meets misfortune, then, Brother Zhan, if you keep our today's affection in mind, please help us Hu family collect the bodies, bury me and my parents together, so that our remains may have a peaceful resting place."…

Zhan Peng's heart overflowed with sorrow; suddenly he raised his fist and slammed it hard onto the levee, the fist sinking deep into the soil, and he exclaimed angrily: "A gentleman may take ten years to exact revenge—why not preserve your life, leave this land of tigers and wolves, and make plans later?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "As long as there is a sliver of hope, I will act on it, Brother Zhan! You need not advise me further."

Zhan Peng nodded: "Good! Since your mind is made up, I will not stop you; Zhan Peng swears before his brothers that if the Hu family suffers catastrophe, I will certainly collect the bodies of the entire Hu clan and give your family a proper burial."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Thank you, Brother Zhan!"

Zhan Peng rose and went to the yellow horse's side, untied the wine gourd from the saddle, opened the lid, and handed it to Hu Xiaotian, saying: "This shall be your farewell drink, brother!"

Hu Xiaotian received it with both hands, tipped his head back and glug-glugged three large mouthfuls in succession, shouting: "Satisfying!"

Dusk arrived unnoticed; after Hu Xiaotian bade farewell to Zhan Peng by the river, he put his mask back on and wandered alone through the capital, perhaps for the last time. Worried that Zhan Peng might follow, he circled repeatedly until he was certain no one was tailing him, then returned to the Bearer of Grace Manor.

As before, the little eunuch stood at the gate; seeing Hu Xiaotian approach, he hurriedly rose and went forward to greet him: "Sir, you have come; Eunuch Quan has already returned and is waiting for you inside."

Hu Xiaotian, upon hearing that Ande Quan had returned, could not help but feel great joy; now the Senior Eunuch had become his sole hope.

Following the little eunuch into the Bearer of Grace Manor, the interior was empty and bare—not a tree in sight, not even a single blade of grass; the ground was paved with blue stone slabs, stone tables and chairs were placed in the center of the courtyard, the lingering glow of the setting sun shone in from the other side of the high wall, and looking up, the wall seemed to have been coated with a golden edge. Passing through the second gate, one finds a sizable courtyard still devoid of vegetation; in the middle stands an artificial mountain, bald and shiny, like a gaunt, bony old man naked** standing in the light and shadow of the waning sun.

The corridor columns fragmented the sunset's light and shadow into alternating strips, and Hu Xiaotian's face shifted with the changing interplay of light and dark.

The little eunuch bent at the waist, extended his hand, and guided him from the side.

Upon passing through the third gate, at last five large trees came into view, yet without exception they were all dead, leafless, devoid of any green; only withered trunks stretched out in the gradually dimming light. The sole sign of life was a single old crow perched on the central willow, its head facing west, the sunset gradually sinking in its eyes; darkness spread across the ground at a visible pace, and once night fully shrouded its eyes, the old crow let out a mournful, piercing cry, then, startled, flew off toward the horizon.

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