Chapter 537

Wu Jing Shan said: "Both Sirs need not argue; I think what you both say makes some sense, but our trip's main purpose is only one: to escort the princess safely to Yongdu. Matters have priority and urgency; right now the most important thing is to first escort the princess out of this dangerous place."

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed Wu Jing Shan as an old turtle, a coward who only thinks of fleeing when danger strikes, utterly lacking any courage.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Whoever wants to leave can leave; anyway, I won't go." After saying that, he paused a moment and then said: "The princess won't go either." After saying that, he didn't even glance at the two, turned and left.

Wu Jing Shan stared dumbfounded, then turned to Wen Bo Yuan and said: "General Wen, what do you think we should do about this?"

Wen Bo Yuan said: "Sir Wu, I cannot decide this matter, nor can you; the decision can only be made by the princess. Why don't you, Sir Wu, personally go to the princess's tent and ask her opinion?"

Sir (official) Sir (official) - adult (glossary)

Wen Bo Yuan understood this principle all too well, but hearing Wu Jing Shan state it so plainly to his face still stirred a sharp pain in his heart. He harbored sincere feelings for Long Xi Yue, yet received not even a hint of reciprocation; usually she wouldn't even spare him an extra glance, while she heeds and follows this eunuch, gaining ever more favor—truly infuriating. Recalling his father's instructions before departure, Wen Bo Yuan hardened his resolve: "Long Xi Yue, Long Xi Yue, do not blame me for being ruthless; it is you who are too heartless."

Hu Xiaotian returned to the tent to sleep, secretly calculating how to force out the bandits hidden underground; if push came to shove, perhaps he could only rely on Xu Mi Tian. But recalling her promise earlier to circle him three times without dying, he couldn't casually waste such an opportunity. Environment forces change; the perilous journey compels Hu Xiaotian to practice the Formless Divine Skill more earnestly than before. Although Li Yuncong taught him only the most basic qi cultivation method, every marvelous technique of the Formless Divine Skill is built upon this foundation; since he grasped the gateway of qi cultivation, Hu Xiaotian's progress in cultivation has been rapid as a thousand miles a day.

His body had undergone changes unnoticed; the most notable improvement was that, although his daily sleep time was short, he remained full of energy—considering that these past two days he had been on a long march while also training with Xu Mi Tian in the foundation of the Myriad Poison Spiritual Body.

At midnight, Hu Xiaotian finished his breathing exercise. Opening his eyes, he heard faint snoring outside, the footsteps of patrolling soldiers, and the crackling of the campfire. Pulling open a small gap in the tent flap to look out, he saw several warriors marching back and forth outside his tent—nominally to protect him, but in fact likely sent by Wen Bo Yuan to monitor him. Looking farther, he saw outside the princess's tent the burly silhouette of Zhou Mo, standing like a mountain, unmoving.

Hu Xiaotian felt secretly moved; without this good elder brother's selfless righteous aid along the way, who knows how much trouble he would have encountered. Not far away, a yellow earth pillar also had a warrior on guard—he was a member of the Divine Strategy Manor Yan Squad. Hu Xiaotian realized his tent lay entirely within the patrol zone; even a fly flying in would be detected by them. He wondered why Xu Mi Tian would have him camp here; she said she would come at night to find him—was she just joking, or did she truly intend to come? Under such surveillance, unless she could turn invisible, or… could she burrow up from underground?

Thinking of this, Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted—burrowing was Xu Mi Tian's forte; he gazed down at the ground, only to see a corner of the blanket beneath him slowly bulge upward, then lift open.

Hu Xiaotian had already anticipated this, but he still felt the scene was too eerie. In a panic he picked up the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needle placed to one side, and Xu Mitian's gloomy voice sounded in his ear: "If you dare to shoot me with that needle again, I'll slash off your manhood with one stroke."

Hu Xiaotian stuck out his tongue in fright, hastily putting the needle case back, his face beaming. Although he didn't know whether Xu Mitian could see his expression at that moment, Xu Mitian had already appeared in his tent.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, lay spread-eagled on the ground, and whispered, "Come!" Since he couldn't resist, he could only silently endure; Hu Xiaotian was definitely a sensible man—today the master was in a bad mood, so do whatever you want to torment him.

But Xu Mitian twisted his ear hard, and Hu Xiaotian felt pain so intense he almost cried out.

Xu Mitian sent a mental transmission: "You bastard, what do you take me for?"

Hu Xiaotian thought to himself, "What kind of person are you? I, your father, certainly know— from head to toe, every hair I know. Now you're acting all ladylike again, truly wanting to be this and that. Bottom line, you're just after my little treasure."

Xu Mitian said, "Come down with me and we'll talk."

Hu Xiaotian secretly groaned; Xu Mitian really had a variety of tricks, truly despicable and shameless—her body wasn't her own, and she shouldn't be treated like this. Fortunately it had fallen into his hands; if it fell into others' hands, his charming, lovely, and understanding little widow Le Yao would surely suffer humiliation. Xu Mitian, Xu Mitian, if I get a chance I'll definitely kill you. But on second thought I really can't kill you, because if I killed Xu Mitian, that would be equivalent to killing Le Yao. Hu Xiaotian now finally understands what it means to have a grievance that cannot be redressed, a hatred that cannot be avenged.

Following Xu Mitian into the cave she had entered earlier, it was narrow at first but became spacious once his feet hit solid ground. A light shone in the darkness— it was Xu Mitian taking out a Night Pearl to illuminate; she was still dressed as she had been in the daytime, disguised as a wounded soldier. Seeing her, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive; fortunately nothing had happened between them just now, for if he saw this dignified appearance, he feared he'd vomit his guts out.

Hu Xiaotian said, "My cultivation is successful, but I have a condition: you must show your true appearance."

Xu Mitian glared at him fiercely and said, "Don't think wildly; I came to see you tonight to help you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Help me?"

Xu Mitian said, "The hidden caves beneath Peak Forest Gorge form a labyrinth; the Muddy Water Gang knows the structure intimately, and if you try to leave Peak Forest Gorge you will inevitably pay a heavy price."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Is there any condition for this help?"

Xu Mitian nodded and said, "Smart!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "If it's too much, I might not agree."

Xu Mitian said, "You only need to tell me one thing: have you cultivated the Formless Divine Skill?"

Hu Xiaotian said nothing.

Xu Mitian said, "Actually, even if you don't say it I know— you must have cultivated the Formless Divine Skill; where exactly did you obtain this technique?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "You said you only wanted one thing, so why is there now a second?"

Xu Mitian said, "Whether you like to speak or not, if you don't tell me the truth, I'll spread the news that you cultivate the Formless Divine Skill. The Formless Divine Skill is the supreme martial arts mental method in the world; if the news leaks, people of the jianghu will learn that the long-lost Formless Divine Skill is actually in your hands— just think what consequences that would bring."

Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but feel a jolt of alarm, yet he smiled and said, "Don't try to scare me—I've been frightened since I was little. You're just talking big; you only have one more mouth than me down there, and even put together you might not be able to outtalk me."

Xu Mitian glared, eyes wide, and a chilling killing intent spread like a blanket toward Hu Xiaotian; in this cramped underground space it was especially palpable, and Hu Xiaotian almost knelt from the pressure. A warm current arose spontaneously in his Dantian Qi Sea, silently resisting Xu Mitian's cold, chilling killing intent. Only then did the feeling of pressure in his chest ease slightly.

Hu Xiaotian took a deep breath and then said, "You can spout nonsense, and so can I. My meager, ordinary martial arts— even if you spread it across the world, no one might believe it. But you're different: my martial arts may be low, but I still have some eyesight. Though you're the world's number one poison master, making martial artists tremble at the mere mention of your name, that's all in the past. You used the demon ** to plant the demon fetus into Le Yao's body, taking over her physique. Yet if you want your martial arts to return to its peak, it will still take a considerable amount of time and require a suitable opportunity— and coincidentally, I am exactly that opportunity."

Xu Mitian angrily said, "You shameless wretch, if it weren't for you wounding my spirit body with the Blood Shadow Golden Insect, I wouldn't be in this state." Every time he thought of this he hated Hu Xiaotian so much he wanted to cut him into ten thousand pieces and scatter his ashes, just to relieve his hatred—but Hu Xiaotian spoke the truth: he is the one who destroyed her achievement of the Ten Thousand Poisons Spirit Body, yet he is also her only chance to achieve it; now that he has him in his grasp, he really has few options.

Having realized this, Hu Xiaotian dared to act so brazenly before Xu Mitian, and he smiled, saying, "One day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of gratitude."

Xu Mitian exclaimed, "Nonsense! I have no affection for you at all!"

Hu Xiaotian grinned and said, "Even without affection there is fate; if a deal fails, there's still righteousness. Moreover, we've already done eight deals in these two days— if you weren't satisfied, you wouldn't keep patronizing my business, right?"

Xu Mitian felt both ashamed and indignant at his words, yet had no rebuttal, for what he said was indeed true.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Since it's business, we should cooperate well for mutual benefit. You take what you need from me, and I should also gain something from you; it can't be all you taking advantage of me— surely there's no such thing in the world."

Xu Mitian said, "Make me angry, and I'll drag you down with me— jade and stone burned together."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Don't bother—I'm just a lowly little eunuch, while you're the world-renowned top poison master. If you, with your status, were to suffer mutual destruction with me, wouldn't that be a laughingstock? What's the point of comparing your precious Ming blue-and-white porcelain to my broken brick?"

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