Chapter 426: [One Question, Three Unknowns] (Part 2)

Qiqi glanced at him dubiously, then turned and looked again toward the pond ahead.

Hu Xiaotian said, "This place is not suitable for lingering; if we stay too long in the wine cellar, outsiders will become suspicious."

Qiqi asked, "Is that the Jade Pool outside?" The Jade Pool is the largest body of water in the imperial palace; it's not hard to figure that out.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I don't know how to swim; going down I'd probably drown—how would I know?"

Qiqi said, "I'll go take a look." She actually handed the lantern in her hand to Hu Xiaotian, took off her outer robe, and prepared to go into the water.

Hu Xiaotian hurriedly stopped her, saying, "Your Highness, it's the depths of winter now; the pond water is freezing cold. You are a noble princess—if anything happened to you down there, I couldn't bear the responsibility." He then fell silent, seeing that beneath her outer robe Qiqi wore a silvery tight-fitting garment resembling a modern wetsuit; judging by its texture and sheen, it must be some kind of animal hide. Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize that Qiqi had indeed come prepared.

The outfit Qiqi wore was made of shark skin, with an inner layer of fire-bird down for warmth, completely blocking the cold; inside her outer robe she also hid a small bundle containing a hood, gloves, and flippers.

Qiqi's body had begun to develop; although still a bit immature, some parts were already taking shape. Watching her, Hu Xiaotian felt this little girl was gradually growing up—indeed, she shouldn't be treated as a child at all. This lass was far from the willful, spoiled demeanor she showed; perhaps that was merely a protective guise she used to hide her true feelings.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Your Highness, you'd better not go down."

Qiqi moved her hands and feet a bit, crossed her arms, thrust her chest forward—even this motion still couldn't match Hu Xiaotian's current stature. She softly said, "Wait here for me; I'll go take a look." Then she dove into the pond with an exceptionally graceful dive.

Seeing Qiqi's silhouette disappear underwater, Hu Xiaotian hurried to her robe to search; just as he lifted it, her head surfaced again, clearly seeing his actions. Caught red-handed, he felt embarrassed and gave an awkward smile, saying, "I'm just helping you put away your clothes."

Qiqi coldly said, "We'll settle this later!" and her body sank back beneath the water.

Hu Xiaotian raised his fist as if to strike, but it was merely a gesture behind her back. He checked Qiqi's robe—there was no Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needle inside; this lass had actually learned to bluff.

Hu Xiaotian could only wait on the shore, but after half a day Qiqi still hadn't surfaced, and he began to feel anxious. Although she was fully equipped, he didn't know how well she could swim; if she met with any mishap underwater, the blame would surely fall on him. Recalling that the affair at Bright Moon Palace had just been settled, he couldn't afford more trouble, and Hu Xiaotian instantly grew uneasy, pacing back and forth along the bank.

After waiting a full half-hour, Qiqi still hadn't returned, and Hu Xiaotian could no longer restrain himself. Though he knew her nature was crafty and she was likely up to some trick again, this girl was after all a noble princess—he couldn't be careless. After a moment's hesitation, he finally took off his outer robe and jumped in with a splash; the pond water was bone-chilling cold. The cold numbed his hands and feet, but once asleep, his internal qi, stimulated by the cold, spontaneously generated a warm current from his dantian qi sea, forming a spiraling warm flow that quickly spread through his meridians, instantly dispelling the chill.

Hu Xiaotian felt both astonished and delighted; if he hadn't jumped into that icy pond, he wouldn't have realized his internal cultivation had made progress—this Formless Divine Skill was truly extraordinary. In fact, his current achievement wasn't solely due to the Formless Divine Skill; Quan De'an had first transmitted ten years of cultivation to him, but that ten years of alien true qi couldn't be freely controlled within him. All the changes actually stemmed from that night at Bright Moon Palace, when Wen Ya forced all seven Red Yang Burning Yin Pills down his throat, intending to kill him—yet unexpectedly Hu Xiaotian released a Blood Shadow Golden Silkworm, inadvertently forming a karmic bond. Wen Ya finally succeeded in expelling the Blood Shadow Golden Silkworm, achieving the Blood Shadow Silkworm King. Hu Xiaotian also benefited: he not only gained control over the medicinal potency of the Red Yang Burning Yin Pills, but his stagnant internal cultivation finally broke through, completing the first layer of the Formless Divine Skill.

The greatness of the Formless Divine Skill lies in its colorless, formless, endless generation; when faced with external environmental changes, the dantian qi sea within the body naturally reacts. Hu Xiaotian quickly realized that, unbeknownst to him, his body had undergone a transformation. As he dove underwater, preparing to swim into the Jade Pool through an underground cavern, he sensed a disturbance in the water ahead—someone was speeding toward him. He hastily retreated, and the figure flashed past his side; undoubtedly it was Qiqi. He hadn't expected her swimming to be so superb, and he followed closely behind, breaking the surface.

Qiqi had just broken the surface, saw no one on the shore, and was wondering when Hu Xiaotian emerged from behind her, startling her. She clambered out of the water first, pointing at Hu Xiaotian and angrily saying, "You liar—you just said you couldn't swim!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Just a joke, and you can't even take it?" He followed her out of the water; this guy was bare-chested above the waist, and although he wore trousers below, they were soaked through and clung tightly to his skin.

Looking at Hu Xiaotian's appearance, Qiqi's pretty face suddenly flushed; for the first time before him she showed a bashful expression, biting her cherry lips and saying, "Shameless fellow, put on your clothes quickly."

Hu Xiaotian also knew his appearance was improper and worried his secret might be exposed; although he wore two layers of small underwear, the water soaking through could still cause a wardrobe malfunction, so he quickly found his outer robe and threw it on.

Qiqi removed her hood, then tidied her hair; thanks to the hood's protection, not a single strand of her hair was wet.

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed, "Comparing people makes one angry"; looking at Qiqi's gear and then at his own, he thought that without the Formless Divine Skill as a foundation, jumping into the water would likely have turned him into a popsicle.

Qiqi hid in a dark spot, straightened her clothes, then emerged to see Hu Xiaotian already neatly dressed; she gave him a resentful nod and said, "Hu Xiaotian, you actually dared to deceive me."

Hu Xiaotian put on an innocent face and said, "Your Highness, where does this come from? How could I dare to deceive you?"

Qiqi coldly replied, "You just said you didn't know how to swim—turns out your swimming is quite good."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I was just being modest; in this freezing weather, the pond water is bone‑chilling cold—only someone courting death would jump in."

"Then why did you jump in just now?"

"Xiaotian was worried about the princess's safety, so he risked his life to jump in and rescue her—but now it seems I was just needlessly anxious."

Qiqi gave him another glare, but didn't press the matter further. Hu Xiaotian had thought she would energetically investigate the other two secret passages, yet he hadn't expected her to choose to leave—which, for him, was of course the best outcome.

Returning to the wine cellar, Hu Xiaotian first changed out of his soaked trousers, then accompanied Qiqi outside. The little eunuch of the Imperial Gardens Bureau pretended not to notice the princess's arrival—not out of disrespect, but because everyone knew her temper; seeing the little princess's grim, murderous expression, it was best to stay as far away as possible.

Hu Xiaotian respectfully saw Qiqi to the gate of the Imperial Gardens Bureau, where she said to him, "Regarding the secret passage, you must not utter a word to Eunuch Quan, or I will certainly not forgive you."

Facing Qiqi's threat, Hu Xiaotian treated it as wind in the ears; he could do nothing about this little princess, and in fact she could do little to him either.

Hu Xiaotian said, "From now on, the little princess had better stay away from the Imperial Gardens Bureau, lest people gossip."

Qiqi sneered, "I'd like to see who dares to gossip."

After seeing Qiqi off, Hu Xiaotian decided to go to the Hall of Ice Jade to check; Lin Wan had said she would send Baobao back, but many days had passed with no sign of Baobao, and Hu Xiaotian couldn't help worrying about her situation. Passing by Bright Moon Palace, he saw a group of palace servants tidying the site; the fire that had razed Bright Moon Palace's former splendor to ruins had left only the little cottage where Hu Xiaotian once lived.

Hu Xiaotian stood before the ruins, recalling Li Yuncong's inference, and felt a creepy sensation—if some demonic great art truly existed in this world, Wen Ya was likely Mount Sumeru; just what happened that night? Mount Sumeru had originally intended to kill him, yet why did it change its mind, spare him, and even leave a testament to exonerate him? Hu Xiaotian stared blankly at the broken walls and rubble, lost in thought, when suddenly he heard a cough behind him.

Hu Xiaotian jerked awake, turned around, and saw Baobao standing behind him, silently gazing at him. After days apart, Baobao had grown gaunt; her delicate face was pallid, devoid of color, her brows like smoke, her eyes shimmering with tears as she clenched her cherry lips, using this to restrain her emotions; the slight rise and fall of her chest still betrayed her inner agitation.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, revealing a neat row of white teeth, like a warm spring breeze blowing straight into Baobao's innermost heart.

The two thus stood silently, gazing at each other; without further words they already sensed each other's longing and yearning.

Baobao took light steps forward, stood shoulder to shoulder with Hu Xiaotian, and gazed at the ruined walls of Bright Moon Palace, sighing softly, "Bright Moon Palace is gone..." Although she had originally come to Bright Moon Palace for a special purpose, seeing its splendid halls reduced to rubble overnight filled her with regret, for Bright Moon Palace had borne her beautiful dreams.

Hu Xiaotian said, "We're still here!"

Baobao nodded; nothing remained but the two of them, the sole survivors.

Hu Xiaotian whispered, "Has she given you trouble?"

Baobao shook her head and said, "No; her attitude toward me has suddenly improved a great deal." (To be continued~^~)