Chapter 547: [Descending from the Heavens] (Part 1)

Leaving Phoenix Eye Gorge, everyone mounted their horses one after another. Hu Xiaotian looked around but couldn't find Xu Mitian's trace, feeling strangely puzzled in his heart. Could it really be Xu Mitian playing a prank, deliberately setting him up? But such matters could only be kept to himself; he couldn't mention them to others.

Zhan Peng also noticed Hu Xiaotian's strange behavior today and whispered, "Sir, it seems you're looking for someone?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "No, let's keep going. I always feel this place is eerie; the sooner we leave, the better."

Liang Yinghao slowed his horse to ride alongside Hu Xiaotian. After leaving Phoenix Eye Gorge and the wind and sand subsided, he visibly relaxed. Liang Yinghao laughed, "Sir, rest assured, the wind and sand have stopped and the sky has cleared. Although we're still in Peak Forest Gorge, the road ahead is flat and wide; just follow it to the end and we'll get out smoothly."

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Whether Xu Mitian was deliberately messing with him or not, taking a detour would just waste some stamina; as long as they passed through safely, it would be fine. But upon second thought, Xu Mitian wasn't someone who joked lightly; everything she did had a clear purpose. She shouldn't be so bored as to trick him for fun. Could this woman be plotting something else?

At that moment, Tang Qingxuan rode her horse to Hu Xiaotian's side and softly said, "Hu Sir!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Miss Tang, what's the matter?"

Tang Qingxuan lowered her voice and said, "The princess is sick!"

Hearing this, Hu Xiaotian startled and hurriedly followed her to the princess's carriage. He opened the carriage door and entered, only to see Princess Anping lying in Zi Juan's arms, her beautiful eyes tightly shut. Zi Juan, tears in her eyes, said, "Hu Sir, I don't know how the princess fell ill; she has already lost consciousness."

Hu Xiaotian snapped, "Why didn't you notify me promptly?"

Zi Juan replied, "The princess forbade me to speak. Actually, when we set out this morning she already had a fever. Fearing that Hu Sir would be distracted, the princess made me keep it a secret, thinking a short rest would improve her condition. But I never expected her condition to worsen; just now she started raving. She is now completely unconscious."

Hu Xiaotian reached out and touched Long Xi Yue's forehead; it was scorching hot. Based on his experience, her temperature should be above 39 degrees Celsius. He checked her pulse; her heartbeat was very fast, around 120 beats per minute.

Hu Xiaotian immediately ordered the troops to stop and rest. Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian wanted to rest on the spot again, Wen Boyuan and Wu Jing Shan rushed over to ask what was happening. Hearing that the princess had fallen ill, they were both startled. Originally Wen Boyuan had wanted to confront Hu Xiaotian, but now he had to restrain himself.

Hu Xiaotian had the camp set up and brought the princess inside. He summoned Tang Qingxuan into the tent, taught her physical cooling methods for Long Xi Yue, and quietly instructed her to carefully examine Long Xi Yue's body to confirm she had suffered no external injury. After giving these instructions, he left the tent and first went to Zhou Mo's side, asking whether anyone had entered the princess's carriage today. Zhou Mo had been guarding the princess's carriage; besides Zi Juan, no one else had entered. Tang Qingxuan had just come over to visit the princess and had only just discovered her illness.

Hu Xiaotian nodded. Seeing Wu Jing Shan anxiously waiting not far away, he walked over, but on the way he encountered Zi Juan, who was weeping silently. Upon seeing Hu Xiaotian, she knelt and cried, "Hu Sir, it's Zi Juan's fault; please punish me."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Zi Juan, please rise. The princess merely caught a chill; she'll be fine after resting. Since it's already happened, you needn't blame yourself."

Zi Juan nodded through tears.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Miss Tang is staying with the princess in the tent; you needn't worry. Tonight you can rest in the carriage."

Zi Juan blinked, understanding that Hu Xiaotian still suspected her; this was meant to keep her away from the princess.

Just as Hu Xiaotian was about to leave, Xu Mitian's voice sounded again in his ear: "It's not just a chill; she's been poisoned. Someone has poisoned her."

Hu Xiaotian looked around but saw no trace of Xu Mitian.

Wu Jing Shan had already come before him, asking with concern, "How is it? How is the princess's condition?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "It should just be a common chill, Sir Wu, no need to worry." But inside he was uneasy; Xu Mitian said Long Xi Yue was poisoned—could it be related to her?

Wu Jing Shan sighed in relief, "As long as it's nothing serious. If something happens to the princess, I'd have no face to return and meet the Emperor."

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Sir Wu, just relax and rest well; tomorrow we'll be able to leave this damned place..." He hadn't finished speaking when a piercing eagle cry rang from above. Hu Xiaotian snapped his head up to see a handsome white snow eagle spreading its huge wings, slowly circling over their camp.

Recalling the white flash in the sky just moments before, Hu Xiaotian suddenly realized this snow eagle was the very one Wen Boyuan had shot.

The snow eagle's wings stretched out to about two zhang; its spotless white feathers glimmered with a cold light under the lone moon. Its eyes were sharp and gloomy, filled with a chilling killing intent. It did not rush to land but continued to circle slowly over the camp, as if observing and searching for something.

At the same moment, Wen Boyuan noticed the snow eagle in the sky. Reacting instinctively, he again took down his longbow; before the feathered arrow could even be nocked, he sensed a person standing on the snow eagle's back. Looking closely, he saw a white-haired man with hair flowing over his shoulders, eagle nose and deep eyes, tall and stalwart. With his burly stature perched on the snow eagle, one couldn't help but worry the bird couldn't bear his weight.

The snow eagle wheeled and side‑slipped in the air, yet no matter how it changed its flight posture, the man's body remained utterly still, his feet seeming to take root, as if he and the eagle had become one.

Everyone stared at the astonishing sight before them, mouths agape.

The white‑haired man suddenly leapt from the snow eagle, drifting down like a willow fluff to land in the camp, hands clasped behind his back, expression haughty and cold, his dark eyes fixed on Wen Boyuan as he demanded, "Where is Xu Mitian? Hand her over!"

Wen Boyuan, by nature proud and aloof, had suffered repeated setbacks at Hu Xiaotian's hands since leaving Kangdu; today Hu Xiaotian had completely taken the lead, and he had been seething with anger. Seeing this white‑haired man's arrogance, his pent‑up fury burst forth, and he shouted, "What Xu Mitian? I've never heard of it. Who are you? How dare you barge into our camp!"

The white‑haired man's deep eyes flashed with cold light: "Looks like you're asking to die!"

"How dare a reckless lunatic be rude to General Wen!" cried Dong Tieshan, bravely charging forward and swinging his great sword at the white‑haired man.

The white‑haired man's eyes narrowed; he raised his right fist and actually met Dong Tieshan's sword blade head‑on. Dong Tieshan, whose skill earned Wen Boyuan's trust, was no ordinary fighter—his slash carried the sound of wind and thunder, a formidable sight. He even imagined himself cleaving the white‑haired man in two, a grim picture that curled the corner of his mouth with a cruel smile.

Dong Tieshan's smile suddenly froze on his face. Hearing the clash of fist and great sword, his fist—made of flesh, bone, and marrow—actually shattered his precious great sword at the midpoint, then drove straight into his chest. Dong Tieshan's burly body shot upward like a cloud‑riding steed, flying over ten zhang before slamming into a yellow earth pillar, which halted his forward momentum. As he fell, blood gushed from his mouth.

The white‑haired man coldly said, "I'll spare you a dog's life; next time you won't be so lucky."

Wen Boyuan's face grew grave. His hand gripped the shark‑skin‑wrapped scabbard and slowly drew the Tiger Soul from it.

Seeing the sword in Wen Boyuan's hand, the white‑haired man gave a slight nod and said, "Tiger Soul! I never expected FengXingyun to give his beloved blade to you. Out of regard for the friendship I shared with him, I won't quarrel with you, a junior."

Wen Boyuan stared, half‑drawing his long blade but holding back. Since the other could instantly recognize the origin of his sword, it proved they had some connection with his master. Not knowing whether friend or foe, he dared not act rashly. He became cautious and asked in a low voice, "May I ask your name, sir?"

The white‑haired man replied, "Li Chang'an!"

Hearing that name, Wen Boyuan couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. Before him stood Li Chang'an, known as the Feather Demon, once the top Beast Tamer of the Heavenly Secrets Bureau. After falling out with Hong Beimo, he had left in anger—a decade ago. Still, the Feather Demon shared some camaraderie with his master, the Blade Demon FengXingyun. Wen Boyuan had heard of this from his master during his training. Though this was his first encounter with the Feather Demon, learning his identity made him considerably more courteous. He sheathed his sword and bowed, saying, "So you are Mr. Li; I, Wen Boyuan, offer my respects."

Li Chang'an's expression remained cold: "Is Xu Mitian here or not?"

Wen Boyuan said, "We are on this journey to escort Princess Anping to Da Yong for her wedding; there is no one named Xu Mitian in our party."

Li Chang'an scanned their camp and said in a low voice, "Xu Mitian is a master of disguise; if she were hidden among us, we might not notice."

Wen Boyuan's heart also sank at those words. He had heard of the title "number one poison master, Xu Mitian." Li Chang'an insisted she was hiding in their ranks, and without evidence he wouldn't have come alone. Recalling how his own soldiers had all been poisoned before, Wen Boyuan grew ever more suspicious. He asked softly, "Mr. Li, what do you intend?"

Li Chang'an said, "Rest assured, I bear you no ill will. My purpose here is simply to find Xu Mitian; once I locate her, I'll leave at once."

Wen Boyuan replied, "If that's the case, I'll have someone count the heads."

Hu Xiaotian pushed through the crowd and stepped forward, declaring loudly, "What do you think this place is? Do you think you can just come and search?"

Zhangyu truly feels ashamed, didn't expect to cause such a big mix-up, thought I had posted more than three chapters, but actually only posted two, hurriedly sending up chapter three, good thing it's in time, uh, those with Monthly Ticket keep voting! (To be continued~^~)