Chapter 267: [No Survivors] (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian then released her, took her hand and went back to sit down, recounting his thrilling experiences of this period one by one.

After listening, Murong Feiyan also felt this was truly unbelievable, yet she could not deny that Hu Xiaotian's news had turned her emotions upside down, instantly making the whole world seem beautiful again; some things, even if not admitted aloud, are tacitly accepted in the heart. Although Murong Feiyan would never despise Hu Xiaotian no matter what, given a choice, of course a whole man is far better than a eunuch.

After the joy, she couldn't help but worry about Hu Xiaotian, whispering: "This means Eunuch Quan might be plotting a great conspiracy; he wants to use you."

Hu Xiaotian did not tell her that Quan De'an had transmitted ten years of his internal energy to him, sighing: "Even though I clearly know I'm being used by him, for now I can only be used by him; the lives of my entire Hu clan are in his hands, and I still don't know what he wants me to do. In short, this old fellow is very sinister, seeming to plan a major move."

Murong Feiyan nodded in deep agreement: "Was your letting me and Zhan Peng join the Divine Strategy Manor also his secret instruction?" Hu Xiaotian said: "Naturally it was him."

Murong Feiyan said: "Yesterday I already received the notice; both I and Zhan Peng passed the preliminary selection."

Hu Xiaotian said: "No matter what conspiracy there is, we'll take things step by step; he has his Zhang Liang plan, I have my wall-climbing ladder; as soon as we sense the situation is wrong, we'll immediately flee the capital."

Murong Feiyan said: "For now, escaping seems unrealistic; you should stay peacefully in the imperial palace as your eunuch post, merely……"

"What is it?"

Murong Feiyan glanced with her lovely eyes at his lower body, instantly blushing: "Just what if you accidentally expose yourself?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do you think I'll expose myself just by casually meeting anyone? Rest assured, that old fellow taught me the art of raising Yin and shrinking Yang; once I master it, I'll be able to control it at will."

Murong Feiyan blinked doubtfully, having heard of the Yin-raising and Yang-shrinking technique before, but could one really control it at will? She wondered what it was like, and really wanted to witness it if the chance arose; immediately, Murong Feiyan became shy and uneasy from her own thought. She realized she had been completely led astray by Hu Xiaotian, this shameless rascal.

Hu Xiaotian also dared not linger too long, rising to say: "I must leave; being out too long will easily arouse their suspicion." Murong Feiyan nodded: "I'll go first; by the way, there's something I haven't told you yet—Gao Yuan is also in the capital, and he insists on staying to rescue you."

Thinking of that comrade-in-arms boy, Hu Xiaotian's heart warmed again. He smiled: "If I get the chance, I'd like to meet him."

Murong Feiyan and Hu Xiaotian agreed on how to meet in the future, then quickly left the Jade Abyss Pavilion.

After waiting a while, Hu Xiaotian went out and met Xiao Zhuozi and Xiao Dengzi returning from the market; he sent them off so he could meet Murong Feiyan alone. They had agreed to go to the market that afternoon to check the seasonal vegetable prices, and dealing with profiteers requires extra caution.

The three were about to head to the market when they saw a palace-attired eunuch walking toward them from afar, calling out: "Eunuch Hu! Please stop!"

Hu Xiaotian had never seen this person before, but judging by his attire he seemed to be a palace person. He smiled: "What advice do you have for me, Eunuch?"

That eunuch smiled, bowed to Hu Xiaotian and said: "Eunuch Hu, you don't recognize me—truly, the prominent forgetful. Since Eunuch Hu was promoted to the Imperial Gardens Bureau, you've forgotten us old brothers from the Imperial Kitchen Bureau."…

Hu Xiaotian looked left and right; Xiao Zhuozi and Xiao Dengzi were also bewildered. Neither had ever seen this eunuch before.

The eunuch said: "I am He Yuexi; I used to work in the washing room of the Imperial Kitchen Bureau. The three eunuchs were in the Cattle and Horse Stable, and after you were promoted to the Imperial Gardens Bureau, I filled your vacancies. Though in the Cattle and Horse Stable the three eunuchs don't know me, I have always admired them greatly."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled; this fellow was indeed eloquent and slick.

He Yuexi said: "To be frank, I now serve Eunuch Zhang, who previously oversaw the Cattle and Sheep Room. Thanks to Eunuch Zhang's favor, he brought me out of the palace to purchase supplies. Just now at the cattle market I met Cao the boss of Feihui Hall; hearing that several eunuchs were dining here, Eunuch Zhang sent me over to ask you, Eunuch Hu, to meet him."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize that He Yuexi was a man of Zhang Defu; although Zhang Defu could be considered his benefactor—if not for Zhang Defu, he would not have passed the body verification upon entering the palace—and since Zhang Defu is a man of Quan De'an, Zhang Defu's summons might be merely a pretense; perhaps the real person seeking him is Quan De'an.

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Where is Eunuch Zhang now?"

He Yuexi replied: "Over at the cattle market; I brought a carriage and horses."

The cattle market is about three li or more from this market; Hu Xiaotian thought it over and decided to split up with Xiao Zhuozi and Xiao Dengzi, letting them go to the market to check the seasonal vegetable prices, while he himself would take He Yuexi's carriage to the cattle market to meet Zhang Defu.

The carriage did not enter the cattle market but came to the street north of it, stopping in front of a lane called Osmanthus Lane; He Yuexi said: "Eunuch Hu, please trouble yourself to walk a few steps."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, got off the carriage, and saw osmanthus trees in full bloom at the lane's entrance; the autumn breeze brought waves of fragrant osmanthus, refreshing the heart and lungs. He hadn't felt such ease in days; his cheerfulness also came from having confessed to Murong Feiyan the secret hidden deep in his heart. Being a man, one ought to have some dignity; at least now Murong Feiyan understands he is a genuine man. Thinking of Murong Feiyan's deep affection for him, Hu Xiaotian felt moved—a woman who doesn't care that he is a eunuch is true human affection; what more could a husband ask for? Who says there is no Platonic love in this world? We are it.

However, Hu Xiaotian also understood that if he truly became a eunuch, he might not be able to guarantee keeping this passion; Murong Feiyan could manage Platonic love, but he could not; fundamentally, he remains a lowbrow vulgar person.

Reaching the end of the lane, He Yuexi smiled broadly: "Eunuch Hu, we're here!" He pushed open the gate.

Hu Xiaotian entered, but noticed He Yuexi had not followed him inside, and a doubt arose: "Why aren't you coming in?"

He Yuexi said: "Eunuch Hu, Eunuch Zhang instructed me to have you come in and then stand guard outside."

Hu Xiaotian nodded. It seemed Zhang Defu had summoned him for a matter, possibly at Quan De'an's behest. He stepped into the courtyard; a gust of autumn wind blew, pale yellow osmanthus petals fell like snow, drifting with lingering fragrance onto his shoulders. He flicked the osmanthus off his shoulder, turned to glance at the gate, and heard it shut with a bang from outside.

Inside, footsteps sounded; four sturdy men rushed out from within, each taking a corner. Hu Xiaotian silently thought: "Not good." He had actually stumbled in a ditch, falling into He Yuexi's trap; He Yuexi was indeed cunning, using Zhang Defu's full name to deceive him, the pretext so believable that he must have spent considerable effort beforehand to learn about him.

Hu Xiaotian's first thought was to flee, but before he could reach the door he heard the lock click—obviously He Yuexi had barred the door from outside. At that moment a burly man rushed out from the rear courtyard. All five were tall and strong, glaring at Hu Xiaotian with eyes full of icy killing intent. The last one to emerge, his face bristling with beard, slowly drew a steel knife from his waist.

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Are you looking for the wrong person?" Seeing that they made no effort to hide their true intentions, the situation was very bad; these five radiated killing intent. Clearly they wanted to put him to death, not leaving a single survivor. Although Hu Xiaotian had received ten years of internal energy from Quan De'an, he had not even mastered the basic Yin-raising and Yang-shrinking technique, let alone the skill of disarming an opponent barehanded.

Seeing the five men brandishing steel knives and steadily advancing, Hu Xiaotian felt a chill; he looked around and spotted a door bolt beside the door, grabbed the arm-thick bolt, and shouted loudly: "Do you know who I am? In broad daylight, daring to act against me—if this gets out, you'll each surely face the punishment of having your homes ransacked and your clans exterminated."

Several of the men laughed; the leader said: "Here, no matter how loudly you shout, no one will come to your rescue."

At that moment two men swung their knives first, brandishing their steel blades to chop down at Hu Xiaotian's head and face, obviously intending to leave no survivor. As the two approached, Hu Xiaotian did not decide to meet them head-on to block; lacking combat experience and lacking confidence to fend off both attacks simultaneously, he leapt sideways, trying to jump out of their encirclement before they could surround him.

He bent his toes on the ground, lowered his knees, then sprang upward with all his strength; Hu Xiaotian's jump actually lifted him over two zhang high—though he knew he was different now, he never imagined he could leap that high in one bound, almost clearing the wall. Before he could react, gravity pulled him down in a headfirst tumble, and Hu Xiaotian screamed, even calling for his mother.

Looking down, he saw a bandit gazing up at him; the bandit clearly hadn't expected Hu Xiaotian's leap to be so astonishing, raising his head only to admire, momentarily forgetting to strike. He forgot that Hu Xiaotian could not be forgotten—at this moment it's either you or me. Hu Xiaotian, from above, raised the door bolt with both hands and smashed it down onto the bandit's skull. By the time the bandit realized he should dodge, it was too late; Hu Xiaotian's strike was so swift that in the scramble the bandit could only raise his knife to block.

Hu Xiaotian's descending strike, fierce and forceful, hit before the bandit could fully raise his knife; the door bolt greeted his skull with a puff, smashing his large head into a pulp, white and red brain matter spraying everywhere.

Third Update delivered; everyone should have plenty of free evaluation tickets in hand. The writing has reached this point, the plot has basically unfolded, so you can rate it—if you like the flavor, give a good review; if not, still give a review, so Zhangyu has a basis and can improve. (.)