Chapter 359: Kill (Part 2)

Ji Feihua narrowed his eyes toward the imperial palace; heavy snow swirled, making the outline of Huangcheng indistinct. Ji Feihua said: "In snowy weather I always feel an indescribable loneliness in this world, as if everything suddenly vanished, leaving only me alone."

Hu Xiaotian raised his wine bowl and said: "I am still by your side, Sir; you are not alone at all!"

Ji Feihua's eyes, which could rival the stars, fell on Hu Xiaotian's face; after looking a while, he shook his head and sighed, saying: "Actually, you are no less lonely and desolate." His gaze fell on the elderly couple still busy nearby, and he whispered: "Although they do not speak, they understand each other's every glance and motion; in a lifetime, how many can stay together like them, supporting each other in old age?"

Hu Xiaotian thought: This doesn't sound like you; you, Ji Feihua, are clearly a hegemon who dominates Huangcheng, so how did you suddenly become sentimental? Could it be because Wen Ya's entry into the palace stimulated you?

Hu Xiaotian asked: "Sir, do you still have family?"

A flicker of loss passed through Ji Feihua's eyes, fleeting; he shook his head, then immediately nodded: "This imperial palace is the home of the Zajia, and the Emperor is kin to the Zajia." Having said that, he drained the wine in his bowl and declared loudly: "Thus nothing that happens in this palace can escape the Zajia's eyes."

Hu Xiaotian's heart trembled; Ji Feihua's words seemed to have a hidden meaning—could he have discovered his own affair?

A figure suddenly fell from the bridgehead, with no prior sign, startling Hu Xiaotian. He stared intently and saw the person hanging there, hair disheveled, body swaying in midair, arms flailing continuously; however, his mute point had been sealed, so he could only gap like a dying fish, unable to make any sound.

The elderly couple continued silently preparing food, as if everything before them had nothing to do with them. Their composure alone showed they were no ordinary people.

By firelight Hu Xiaotian recognized the person hanging upside down at the bridgehead as Grand Senior Eunuch Rong Baoxing; his shock was indescribable.

Ji Feihua smiled: "You should know him."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "Lord Rong!" Rong Baoxing was the Emperor's personal eunuch; just moments ago he was still in the palace, yet now he was found hanging at West Phoenix Bridge. Undoubtedly, all this was clearly Ji Feihua's doing. Hu Xiaotian secretly speculated that Wen Ya's presentation to the emperor had angered Ji Feihua, prompting him to act against Rong Baoxing.

Ji Feihua said: "The Zajia protect their own; only my people may bully others, never let others bully my people. Want to hear what he has to say?" He flicked his chopsticks lightly; a peanut shot like a meteor and struck Rong Baoxing's chest. Rong Baoxing felt a pang of pain, but at last he could speak, wailing: "Lord Ji… spare me…"

Ji Feihua laughed: "You haven't offended me; why would I want you dead?"

Rong Baoxing wailed: "Lord Hu, spare me… I… I… shouldn't have let someone steal your Black Tiger Whip…"

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed. That Black Tiger Whip had indeed been stolen by Rong Baoxing. He feigned anger: "Why did you steal that thing?"

Rong Baoxing trembled: "It's because I was bewitched; I wanted to use that thing to please the Emperor… After several attempts to ask Lord Hu for it failed, I resorted to this."

Ji Feihua sighed: "You've served by the Emperor's side for so many years, yet you still lack sense—you still don't know what should or shouldn't be done; at your age, have you lived like a dog?"

Rong Baoxing wailed: "Lord Ji, spare me this time."

Ji Feihua's gaze turned to Hu Xiaotian.

Rong Baoxing said: "You cannot kill me; the Zajia personally attend the Emperor, and the Emperor will not ignore my fate. I only beg you to give me a way to live; afterward the Zajia will surely repay you."

Ji Feihua looked at Hu Xiaotian and said: "He stole your property; the Zajia helped you catch the thief. As for how to deal with him, that's up to you."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: Ji Feihua is giving me a difficult problem; in fact, Rong Baoxing offended him, and Ji Feihua harbors murderous intent toward Rong Baoxing—otherwise he wouldn't have snatched Rong Baoxing from the palace. But since Ji Feihua did this, he won't leave Rong Baoxing any escape; Rong Baoxing is doomed not to survive tonight. Stealing the Black Tiger Whip is probably not the main cause; what truly angered Ji Feihua is the matter of Wen Ya's presentation, which Rong Baoxing almost certainly arranged himself.

Hu Xiaotian slowly rose and walked toward Rong Baoxing.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian approach, Rong Baoxing's soul fled in terror, and he trembled: "Lord Hu, spare me… If you dare kill me, the Emperor will certainly not forgive you…"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your words actually reminded me." He stepped before Rong Baoxing, suddenly reached out, grabbed his throat with his right hand and squeezed hard; the clear sound of breaking bones echoed in the quiet night. Hu Xiaotian had long cultivated the Profound Ice Yin Wind Claw; dealing with a senior eunuch who had lost the ability to resist was easy. Rong Baoxing died with eyes wide open, full of resentment, staring at Hu Xiaotian.

Behind him came crisp applause—Ji Feihua clapping for Hu Xiaotian: "Profound Ice Yin Wind Claw, this move truly captures the essence of Quan De'an."

Hu Xiaotian washed his hands in the river, then returned to Ji Feihua's side; Rong Baoxing's corpse continued to sway in the night wind. The old woman walked past the corpse, oblivious to the still-warm body.

Although Hu Xiaotian had personally killed Rong Baoxing, facing a corpse that died with eyes open he could not be as jovial as Ji Feihua; Ji Feihua's phoenix eyes glanced at the corpse and his smile grew brighter, his expression alluring and bewitching—if one did not know his true identity, one would surely take him for a woman.

Ji Feihua raised his wine bowl and said: "Drink!"

Hu Xiaotian cupped his wine bowl with both hands, clinked it against Ji Feihua's, then tilted his head back and drained it. The wine bolstered heroic courage; a fiery bowl entered his body, and with a "teng!" a surge of heat rose up, making Hu Xiaotian instantly feel much more comfortable.

Ji Feihua said: "You won't stay long at Bright Moon Palace; in a couple days something will happen—just go along with it."

Hu Xiaotian's heart sank; Ji Feihua clearly had no intention of letting Wen Ya off, apparently planning to act against her.

Hu Xiaotian said: "There's something I don't know whether I should say or not."

"Speak!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Wen Ya is merely a pawn; perhaps their purpose in sending her to the palace is not to please the Emperor."

Ji Feihua gently set his wine bowl on the table, twitching his pinky slightly.

"Have you ever considered, Sir, that if she is merely a bait, then rushing to act against her would play right into their hands?"

Ji Feihua smiled: "The Zajia hadn't thought of that, but knowing full well she is like a fly, yet being forced to swallow her is something the Zajia cannot do. The Zajia are fastidious; they cannot tolerate even a speck of dirt in their eyes."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: "Calling Wen Ya a fly? Is there such a beautiful fly in this world? If so, I wouldn't mind swallowing her."

Ji Feihua said: "The Zajia themselves know this is no good, yet they cannot change it." He picked up a Lan cloth bundle and slowly pushed it toward Hu Xiaotian; Hu Xiaotian recognized the item—inside was wrapped the Black Tiger Whip.

Ji Feihua said meaningfully: "Keep it safe! Do not let anyone steal it again!"

Rong Baoxing's corpse continued to sway nearby, the rope creaking against the bridge with squeaks and grates; Hu Xiaotian knew that beneath Ji Feihua's flower-like beautiful exterior lay an extremely ruthless heart. Although he currently treats me well, that is only because I still have use to him; if one day I no longer possess any value for him to exploit, Ji Feihua will unhesitatingly eliminate me, just as he did with Rong Baoxing.

Although Rong Baoxing died by my hand, it was actually Ji Feihua who decided his fate; stealing the Black Tiger Whip would not warrant the execution of the Emperor's personal attendant. The true reason Ji Feihua was angered was that Rong Baoxing had arranged the presentation himself, intending to send Wen Ya to the Emperor's bed, but Wen Ya's sudden menstruation ruined the planned night of attendance. Hu Xiaotian once again grasped Ji Feihua's cruel and decisive methods: even a Grand Senior Eunuch of the Emperor who offends him cannot escape death.

Upon returning to the imperial palace, it was nearly midnight; at the intersection Hu Xiaotian hesitated—straight ahead lay the Imperial Gardens Bureau, to the right the path to Bright Moon Palace. After a moment's pause he chose the right. Snow fell without cease, already deep enough to cover the ankles in many places; such a snowfall had not been seen in Kangdu for many years.

Entering Bright Moon Palace, seeing light still shining from the rooms, Hu Xiaotian realized that in this quiet night someone was still awake.

Meaning no disturbance to others' tranquility, seeing no one around, he performed the Golden Spider Eight Steps, leapt over the wall, landed in the courtyard, then tiptoed to his own room's door, about to push it open, when he heard a soft voice say: "I thought you wouldn't come back tonight."

Hu Xiaotian's heart startled; turning, he saw Wen Ya clad in a white fur coat standing in the wind‑swept courtyard. He did not know whether she had witnessed his scaling the wall, whether she had just arrived or had been there a while—the snow on her shoulders indicated she had been outside for some time; in any case, Wen Ya could not possibly have been waiting for him. Hu Xiaotian bowed and said: "I apologize for disturbing your rest, Talented Person; truly I deserve death."

Wen Ya said calmly: "I haven't slept at all, you can't be said to have disturbed me."

Hu Xiaotian said: "The wind and snow outside are too strong, Talented Person should hurry back to rest, absolutely avoid catching a chill, moreover your body is not convenient today." He tactfully reminded Wen Ya that she had just gotten her period today. (To be continued~^~)