Chapter 491: [Throwing the Embroidered Ball] (Part 1)

Long Xi Yue was watching the exciting part, unwilling to leave now, she softly said: "Watch her throw the embroidered ball and then go."

On the stage, Xi Yan's gaze fell on Hu Xiaotian; she obviously also recognized him in the crowd, she gave him a sweet smile, reached out, and took the embroidered ball from the maid's hand beside her. Raising her arm, her sleeve slipped down with her movement, revealing a pair of arms as white as snow, making the crowd dazzled and entranced.

Wen Boyuan furrowed his brows, he also felt that the enchanting girl on stage seemed somewhat strange, and whispered: "Protect the miss."

Xi Yan shook her hands, and the embroidered ball suddenly flew toward Hu Xiaotian's direction; at the same time, Wen Boyuan and the others had already escorted Princess Anping backward, the crowd surged toward Hu Xiaotian's position with a rush, such bewitching beauty had already left everyone dazed, everyone held the thought in mind: they must snatch the embroidered ball into their hands.

Hu Xiaotian retreated instead of advancing; after recognizing Xi Yan, he had no intention of rushing forward to join the fun—he wanted nothing more than to avoid this demoness at all costs; what embroidered-ball throwing? It was merely a trick conjured by that demoness.

After seeing her throw the embroidered ball, Xi Yan noticed that Hu Xiaotian not only failed to step forward to compete, but actually retreated and slipped away, the corner of her lips curling into a bewitching, alluring smile.

The crowd rushed forward, scrambling to grab the embroidered ball, but before they could seize it hanging in midair, the ball suddenly burst into flames; at the same time, dozens of dazzling fireworks shot out from its center, tumbling downward. Everyone cried out in alarm—though they were tempted by Xi Yan's beauty, they feared being burned by the fireworks, so no one dared to reach for the fireball with bare hands. They hurriedly scattered, fearing to be ignited.

That fireball seemed about to hit the ground, but then it suddenly flew up again, heading straight for Hu Xiaotian's back.

Hu Xiaotian felt vexed. Having crossed swords with Xi Yan many times, he was already mentally prepared for her troublemaking; he turned to look, only to see the embroidered ball had become a blazing fireball about a foot in diameter, hurtling straight at him. He dared not touch it with his hand, drew the black-gold knife at his waist, and slashed at the fireball.

From behind came Long Xi Yue's startled cry: "Xiaotian!" At the critical moment, she was so worried that she blurted it out.

Wen Boyuan heard it clearly, his heart filled with even greater jealousy and hatred, he told the surrounding warriors: "Escort the miss away first." As for Hu Xiaotian's life or death, he couldn't care less—it would be better if this eunuch died.

Long Xi Yue said: "Hurry and save him."

At this moment Hu Xiaotian had already slashed the embroidered ball with his knife—clang! —a clean hit. Countless brilliant rays burst from its center, dazzling and gorgeous, causing those nearby to instinctively close their eyes. At the same time, colorful thick smoke spread outward from the ball, the air filled with a sweet fragrance.

Long Xi Yue saw Hu Xiaotian in trouble. She cried out his name, wanting to go rescue him, but Wen Boyuan helplessly tapped her acupoint, then told the warriors on either side: "First take the miss back." And to Zhan Peng he said: "You go check on him."

Even if he hadn't spoken, Zhan Peng would have gone anyway. Hearing his order, he quickly moved toward Hu Xiaotian's side. Before he could get close, bang! bang! bang! —several loud booms rang out, several fireworks bloomed in the night sky. A fire dragon separated the crowd; after the fire dragon passed, Zhan Peng arrived at the spot where Hu Xiaotian had just stood, but his figure was gone.

Hu Xiaotian saw the smoke filling the air and thought, uh-oh; knowing Xi Yan, this smoke was almost certainly poisonous. He held his breath, preparing to withdraw, when he heard a soft, melodious voice beside his ear: "You'd better come with me obediently, or I'll unleash the snakes to bite your precious princess until not a bone remains."

Hu Xiaotian knew Xi Yan was again using voice transmission to speak to him; although he could use the old beggar's technique to hold his breath and avoid inhaling the thick smoke, in the smoke he couldn't see his surroundings clearly.

In the hazy smoke a soft, boneless little hand grabbed his wrist and whispered: "Come with me!"

Hu Xiaotian recognized the voice as Xi Yan's; although she was a demoness, he wasn't worried she would harm him—since she had appeared here, he might as well see what she wanted, so he followed her forward; by the time Zhan Peng reached the place where Hu Xiaotian had been standing, Hu Xiaotian had already left with Xi Yan.

Hu Xiaotian followed Xi Yan through the crowd, soon leaving it behind and arriving beneath the Mingjue Tower in Tianbo City; the nine-story treasure tower had red lanterns on each level, adorning the tower splendidly. Since everyone had gathered at the lantern fair on Guanglan Street, this place was comparatively deserted.

Xi Yan released Hu Xiaotian's wrist, climbed the tower's stairway step by step, only stopping at the base, she glanced back at Hu Xiaotian once, then turned her gaze toward the distant lantern market.

Hu Xiaotian watched her stand alone in the wind, forlorn and solitary, and felt a pang of pity arise; thinking back, since they met, Xi Yan truly hadn't done anything too sorry to him—if she wanted to harm him, he didn't know how many times he would have died.

Xi Yan let out a faint sigh and said: "Do you really think I've always been a bad person in your heart?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and replied: "How does it matter to you what I think?"

Xi Yan blinked her beautiful eyes and said: "Of course it matters!"

Hu Xiaotian slowly walked up and stood shoulder to shoulder with her; inhaling her faint body fragrance, he couldn't help but draw a deep breath—this girl really smelled wonderful. The night breeze gently brushed, her red robe fluttering in the wind, tracing her graceful curves; this girl is definitely all about style, not warmth.

Perhaps because the cold wind hit her face, Xi Yan shivered and then sneezed. She glanced at Hu Xiaotian with some dissatisfaction, seeing that he still showed no reaction, merely tightening his fur coat around himself a bit more.

Seeing that he only looked out for himself, Xi Yan glared at him fiercely and said: "Are you even a man? You don't even know the basics of cherishing fragrance and valuing jade."

Hu Xiaotian said: "No! I forgot to tell you—after we parted, I entered the palace and became a eunuch; now I am the Director of the Imperial Gardens Bureau."

Xi Yan stared at Hu Xiaotian, biting her cherry lips, and said: "Really?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "After all, we've acquainted; why would I lie to you?"

Xi Yan suddenly burst into a giggling laugh, her whole body shaking, laughing until she couldn't straighten her waist.

Hu Xiaotian, on the contrary, felt a bit at a loss: "Hey girl, even if I became a eunuch, you wouldn't be this happy about it."

Xi Yan said: "Of course I'm happy—don't you know what 'heavenly principle cycles, retribution never fails' means? You are it; you brought it upon yourself."

Hu Xiaotian sighed; just then snow began to drift down from the sky, he took off his fur coat and draped it over Xi Yan's shoulders.

Xi Yan was somewhat surprised; she had thought he should display some gentlemanly demeanor just now, but this fellow ignored her, after scolding him a few words he actually came over to fawn on her—even if it's a sugar-coated cannonball, at least it makes one feel good inside.

Hu Xiaotian said: "In such freezing weather, you're really wearing too little."

Xi Yan snorted and said: "I'm happy!"

"If you really want to tempt someone else next time, you'd better not wear a skirt—coming out naked would be best."

Xi Yan's brows furrowed, then she broke into a flower-like smile, leaning close to Hu Xiaotian she said: "Actually I only want to seduce you; otherwise, if I stripped naked in front of you, would that be all right?" Her voice was soft and coquettish, seductive to the marrow.

If Hu Xiaotian hadn't had much experience dealing with her, he really couldn't tolerate this. He smiled, nodded, and said: "Fine! Anyway, there's no one else here—you take off, I'll hold your clothes."

Xi Yan, furious, jabbed a finger at his forehead: "Are you even human? With the wind blowing and snow falling, you actually want me to strip—hey, you bastard, you deserve to be castrated."

Hu Xiaotian stepped back: "We've at least acquainted; there's no need to be so vicious."

Xi Yan said: "So what if I'm vicious? I'm not only vicious but also suspicious; today I want to see what skills you've learned in the palace, daring to cleave the embroidered ball I gave you." She spoke and moved at once, her delicate body turning, her fur coat sweeping over like a dark cloud to engulf Hu Xiaotian from head to toe.

Hu Xiaotian knew her moods were unpredictable, always on guard, so when Xi Yan made a move, he instantly reacted, sliding his foot backward in a side-step, vanishing from before her eyes like a shifting star.

Xi Yan's sudden attack missed; she blinked her eyes in disbelief, her face full of astonishment—in her impression, Hu Xiaotian's martial arts were utterly feeble; this fellow, whenever he met her, if he didn't rely on roguish tricks, had no chance to escape her grasp, yet just now, despite her striking unexpectedly while he was off guard, she never imagined he could still slip away so calmly.

This Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps was the first time Hu Xiaotian had truly employed it against an opponent; he had never been certain of its power, yet facing Xi Yan's swift and mysterious footwork, he easily evaded it, feeling pleased, his confidence soared, and he smiled: "You really want to strip for me to see? If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered undressing for you."

Xi Yan chuckled: "Yes, I want to undress—but it's your clothes I want off." She tapped her toe, shooting like a red lightning bolt toward Hu Xiaotian; he laughed: "Bring it on!" As they spoke, his steps shifted, not daring to be careless.

Xi Yan clearly saw Hu Xiaotian right before her eyes, she reached out to grab him, but only brushed past him; after several such attempts, she immediately realized why he was so fearless—he had mastered a marvelous footwork, so much that she couldn't even graze his garment's edge.

Hu Xiaotian successfully dodged Xi Yan's attacks several times in a row, his confidence bursting, he laughed: "Girl, with such skill you dare to say you'll strip my clothes?"

Morning: Two More Updates—yesterday was just a regular Saturday break, but we didn't miss a update; a poor monthly ticket makes Zhangyu's heart feel chilly, friends, could you spare another monthly ticket so Zhangyu gets double blessings, otherwise Old Zhangyu—how can one bear it? How can one bear it? (To be continued~^~)