Chapter 552

Xiong Tianba already believed it ninety percent, blinked his eyes: "You... you really know my father?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Why would I lie to you? If you don't believe me, ask your father when he returns. I said, you barbarian child, guests arrive at the gate and you block the city gate, not letting us in—what kind of hospitality is this? When your father returns, where will he put his old face?"

Xiong Tianba lowered his axe, nodded, and said: "Then... go in first. My father will be back in these two days; if you dare lie to me, I won't let you off."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "You're still worried about your own butt."

Xiong Tianba gave a hehe laugh, gesturing his men to step aside.

Wen Boyuan lifted the reins, preparing to charge first into Cangmu City, his eyes glaring viciously at Xiong Tianba—he too was accustomed to arrogance. But Xiong Tianba, a simple-minded blockhead, seeing Wen Boyuan look at him so maliciously, flared up again and said to Hu Xiaotian: "Is he your friend?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, being truthful—Wen Boyuan indeed was not his friend.

Upon hearing that Wen Boyuan was not Hu Xiaotian's friend, Xiong Tianba naturally concluded he couldn't be his father's friend either, and roared: "Pretty boy, who are you glaring at?"

Wen Boyuan seethed with anger—having been restrained by Hu Xiaotian all along the way, now in this border town of Dakang, even a simple-minded brat dared to oppose him; he snorted coldly, and with a clang drew the tiger-soul blade from his waist.

Don't underestimate Xiong Tianba's lack of wits—this fellow is born belligerent; seeing Wen Boyuan draw his sword, he already assumed an attack, and Xiong Tianba's movements were quicker than his thoughts; even his scrawny steed suddenly regained vigor, carrying Xiong Tianba like a black bolt of lightning toward Wen Boyuan as he raised his mountain-splitting axe high. He bellowed: "Pretty boy, take this axe!" Xiong Tianba struck before speaking.

Wen Boyuan never expected the brat to be this fast; he lifted his tiger-soul blade and slashed upward in a backhand. Though the opponent's axe weighed several times his blade, Wen Boyuan's sword was a gift from the Blade Demon FengXingyun, capable of cutting iron like mud. The axe and blade collided, producing a resounding "Dang!"—the tiger-soul actually chipped a notch in the axe's edge.

Everyone saw the spark-filled collision and felt a jolt. Although Wen Boyuan drew first, Xiong Tianba struck first and wielded the superior weapon; yet Wen Boyuan showed no sign of weakness. This shows Wen Boyuan is no empty reputation—his martial skill truly stands out among the younger generation.

Only the combatants know the true situation: although Wen Boyuan blocked Xiong Tianba's thunderous blow, his arms went numb from the shock; he truly hadn't expected this dim-witted, scrawny lad to possess such tremendous strength.

Seeing his mountain-splitting axe chipped, Xiong Tianba felt heartbroken: "Damn it, you actually broke my family heirloom, wah! Take another axe!" He tilted the axe blade, swinging it horizontally at Wen Boyuan's neck. The heavy axe felt as light as a feather in his hands, whooshing with wind and thunder toward Wen Boyuan's neck.

If judged purely by strength, Wen Boyuan falls short of Xiong Tianba, but having been instructed by a master, his martial foundation is far beyond what this blockhead can match. He leaned back, his back almost flat against the horse, the axe sweeping harmlessly overhead. Wen Boyuan cleverly reversed his tiger-soul blade upward; having learned from the blow, he knew not to clash head‑on with this fool. The blade struck the axe handle with a clang—two‑arms‑thick, fine‑cast steel—and he cleaved it in two. The axe head, freed, spun like a windmill toward the crowd.

Everyone shouted in alarm, scrambling to the sides, none daring to stop the uncontrolled axe. But moments later they realized the axe was flying toward Princess Anping's carriage.

At the critical moment, Zhan Peng drew a feathered arrow, bow drawn like a full moon; the released arrow tore through the air with a piercing screech, the tip glowing from air friction at high speed, and he shot it at the axe before it could strike Princess Anping's carriage.

Clang! Another loud bang—Zhan Peng's timely arrow altered the axe's trajectory, turning danger into safety for the princess, yet it could not fully halt the axe's momentum; the axe changed direction in midair and continued flying toward the right‑side crowd.

Seeing the gleaming large axe hurtling toward their heads, everyone's faces paled. Just then a burly figure strode forward as casually as a leisurely walk, extended his right hand, and his broad palm firmly caught the spinning axe.

Zhou Mo's expression was as calm as an ancient well, as if the incoming object were not an axe but a puff of cotton; the Divine Strategy Manor's warriors watched, their hearts shaken to the extreme—no one expected the carriage‑guard coachman to be such a hidden master. In fact, Zhou Mo had clashed with the Feather Demon Li Chang'an the previous day, but the scene had been chaotic and smoky, so few saw what really happened; now, before nightfall, everyone could see clearly.

Xiong Tianba's roar drew everyone's attention back to the two combatants; heartbroken over his ancestral weapon destroyed by Wen Boyuan, he raised the remaining axe shaft and thrust it at Wen Boyuan's heart.

Wen Boyuan snorted coldly, killing intent rising; he struck the axe shaft with the blade's spine to open it, pulled the reins, charged forward, and slashed his tiger‑soul blade diagonally down at Xiong Tianba's left shoulder—if the blow landed, Xiong Tianba would likely be severed head from body. The dark-skinned youth saw Wen Boyuan's blade flash like lightning, his face changed, and he stammered: "Oh no… it's over!"

Seeing Wen Boyuan draw his blade, Hu Xiaotian sensed trouble and shouted loudly: "Spare his life beneath the blade!"

Wen Boyuan would not grant him that courtesy; seeing the tiger‑soul about to strike Xiong Tianba, he suddenly felt a metallic wind from the side, and instinctively abandoned his killing move, swinging the blade toward the attacker—clang! It was the broken axe shaft; Zhou Mo, at the moment of Xiong Tianba's life‑or‑death, intervened and saved his life.

Although Xiong Tianba lacked wits, he wasn't truly stupid; he knew he was no match for Wen Boyuan, and stubborn resistance would be suicide, so he tugged the reins and fled to his own side. Wen Boyuan glared at Zhou Mo with vengeful hatred, wishing he could cut down this meddlesome fellow; Zhou Mo met his gaze without fear. Wen Boyuan pressed his lips together, refraining from action—just from Zhou Mo's earlier move he could see that Zhou Mo's skill likely surpassed his own; this man was definitely a trump card in Hu Xiaotian's hand.

Hu Xiaotian said: "General Wen, with your stature, you wouldn't quarrel with a mere child, would you?"

Wen Boyuan snorted coldly: "He disturbed the princess's carriage; his crime deserves death! Men…"

At that moment, dust rose in the distance as three riders galloped swiftly toward the city gate—none other than Xiong Anmin, the magistrate of Cangmu County. He had been on official business in Wuxing Commandery seven days prior and had only just returned; before even entering Cangmu City he sensed something amiss, guessing that trouble had surely broken out here, and that nine times out of ten it involved his blockheaded son, so he hurried over.

Xiong Anmin shouted loudly: "Everyone, stop! Everyone, stop!" Having heard in Wuxing Commandery that Princess Anping was to go to Wuxing Commandery, and noting that she had not followed the planned route, he surmised she might have taken the Fenglin Gorge straight to Cangmu, which was why he had returned early.

Approaching, Xiong Anmin saw the formation of Hu Xiaotian's side and guessed eight or nine times out of ten it was the princess's convoy; he inwardly groaned, hoping his foolish son would not offend the princess.

Seeing his father return, Xiong Tianba spurred his horse forward and cried loudly: "Father! You've come just in time—that pretty boy is bullying me……"

Xiong Anmin didn't let him finish, rebuking: "Nonsense, what rubbish!" He dismounted, approached Wen Boyuan, and cupped his fists: "May I ask, sir, are you the escort for Princess Anping's carriage?"

Wen Boyuan snorted coldly, completely ignoring him, his expression extremely arrogant.

Seeing Wen Boyuan be rude to his father, Xiong Tianba flared: "Pretty boy, my father is speaking to you."

Wen Boyuan said coldly: "You have collided with the princess's convoy, endangered her safety, and insulted a court official—do you know your crime?"

Upon hearing this, Xiong Anmin immediately knew his son had surely caused a major disaster; he hurriedly dropped to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Highness Princess, this humble official was unaware that the Princess of Thousand Years graced us with her presence; please forgive any offense."

"Father……"

"Kneel down!"

Xiong Tianba wore an unwilling expression.

"I order you to kneel!" Xiong Anmin roared.

Xiong Tianba said: "Father, you always say a man's knees hold gold, don't you?"

Xiong Anmin inwardly groaned; today he had stirred up a tremendous trouble.

From the side rang a hearty laugh—it was Hu Xiaotian riding the little gray horse slowly over.

Seeing him, Xiong Tianba looked as if he had seen a savior: "Uncle, you're my father's good friend—don't let anyone bully him!"

Xiong Anmin had never seen Hu Xiaotian, but noticing his splendid attire already knew his status was extraordinary; he hastily rebuked his son: "You brat, don't talk nonsense!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Brother Xiong, please rise—there was really no major issue, just a small misunderstanding that's already been cleared up."

Xiong Anmin felt uneasy, his voice trembling: "This humble official is deeply humbled, I dare not presume…" Hu Xiaotian already reached out and pulled him up, then announced loudly: "Your Highness Princess, Xiong Anmin, the magistrate guarding Cangmu City, has come to greet you."

Long Xi Yue's gentle voice came from within the carriage: "Please rise."

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