Chapter 564: Addicted to Killing (Part 1)

Although Hu Xiaotian wasn't prepared either, he used his internal force to blast open his acupoints the moment he fell into the water; plus he was an excellent swimmer, so he immediately reacted, moved his arms underwater, held his breath, and swiftly swam upward. He soon found the cracked ice hole, climbed out of the water, and upon reaching the ice surface, discovered Li Chang'an had vanished. Gazing at the spot where Li Chang'an had been, he saw the ice completely shattered; surely Li Chang'an had also fallen into the water, eight or nine out of ten.

The thought of saving someone flashed through Hu Xiaotian's mind and then vanished. Li Chang'an was his enemy; if he rescued him, who knew he wouldn't repay kindness with vengeance and take his life? Hu Xiaotian bit his lip. This was the perfect chance to escape—why wait? He steeled himself, ready to leave the reed marsh. After taking a few steps, he suddenly felt a faint tremor underfoot, instinctively looked down, and saw moonlight shining like water on the ice. Through the ice he could dimly see what lay beneath: a deathly pale face pressed against the underside of the ice—none other than Li Chang'an. At this moment Li Chang'an was no longer the aloof, cold-hearted demon; his eyes were wide open, his gaze filled with despair and unwillingness.

Seeing this, Hu Xiaotian felt a twinge of reluctance. He recalled how Li Chang'an had spared him several times before—even at the life-and-death showdown in the City God Temple and against Xu Mitian, he had not been ruthless enough to take his life. Judging by his actions, Li Chang'an seemed still an upright person. Hu Xiaotian hesitated a moment, then sighed, feeling for the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needle at his waist—still there. Now that the demon Li Chang'an had lost his right arm, he likely could not threaten him anyway; whether blessing or curse, he would save him once.

Hu Xiaotian turned and plunged back into the icy lake, found Li Chang'an in the water, and dragged him to the opening in the ice. He shoved Li Chang'an up, then climbed out himself.

Li Chang'an lay stiff as a board on the ice, his true qi deranged and his body numbed by the freezing water, leaving him completely rigid. Seeing him like this, Hu Xiaotian thought to himself: I never expected you to end up like this. But having decided to do a good deed, I must see it through. He took from his waist the Soul-Returning Pill Qin Yutong had given him, pried open Li Chang'an's lips, crushed the pill, and shoved it in. After a moment, seeing Li Chang'an still unresponsive, his mouth still open as before, he glanced by moonlight. The crushed Soul-Returning Pill remained largely unmelted in his mouth.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head. It seemed Li Chang'an was indeed in serious trouble this time; looking at the self-amputated right arm, the wound was already covered by ice. He grabbed Li Chang'an's left hand and poured his own internal energy into Li Chang'an's body.

The internal energy Hu Xiaotian cultivated had its own method for countering cold poison; it could even withstand the icy poison of Xu Mitian's Ice Soul Asura Palm, let alone the chill from ordinary freezing water.

As Hu Xiaotian's warm internal energy flowed in, Li Chang'an's nearly frozen body gradually softened, and his opened mouth finally closed slowly. After the Soul-Returning Pill melted, a warm current streamed into his chest and abdomen. Under the combined effect of the medicine and Hu Xiaotian's internal energy, Li Chang'an soon dispelled the chill and attempted to draw his deviant internal energy back into his Dantian Qi Sea.

Hu Xiaotian also sensed the flow of internal energy within Li Chang'an, knowing that once Li Chang'an regained the ability to regulate his breath on his own, his life would be out of danger. He therefore gradually withdrew his internal energy, preparing to leave before Li Chang'an fully recovered.

Just then, a strong gust of wind struck from behind—it was the Snow Eagle returning. Seeing the scene below, the Snow Eagle thought Hu Xiaotian had harmed its master. In a flash of protectiveness, it raised its wings and slammed them hard into the back of Hu Xiaotian's head. The Snow Eagle was swift and mighty; this blow used all its strength. Happening suddenly, Hu Xiaotian had no defense and was flung sideways, flying over three zhang before crashing heavily onto the ice. Before he could get up, the Snow Eagle swooped down, its sharp talons aiming for his chest. The Snow Eagle's astonishing strength meant its powerful claws could tear apart a full-grown goat; if they caught Hu Xiaotian, he would surely be disemboweled. Terrified, he cried out for his mother.

At the moment of life and death, Li Chang'an whistled; the Snow Eagle's body stalled in midair, then slowly flapped its wings down, its talons planting on Hu Xiaotian's chest while its sharp beak locked onto his right eye. By now Hu Xiaotian had broken out in a cold sweat. As the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished—if he hadn't been so meddlesome, he would already have fled to safety, yet here he was, ambushed by a feathered beast and reduced to this sorry state.

Li Chang'an let out a long breath. His spirit remained weary, but the period of breath regulation had restored his ability to move. He slowly rose and walked over to Hu Xiaotian. Moonlight washed over him like water; his white robe was completely stained red with blood, his right arm empty. To prevent the Blood Shadow Demon King's toxin from invading his heart and lungs, he had decisively severed his own right arm to save his life. He quietly regarded Hu Xiaotian: "You gave me the Soul-Returning Pill?"

Hu Xiaotian replied: "As long as you know, I was trying to help you out of goodwill!"

Li Chang'an said indifferently: "Saving me is true, but whether it was out of goodwill I don't know..." He waved a hand; the Snow Eagle jumped down from Hu Xiaotian's body to his master's side, thrusting its beak toward Li Chang'an.

Only then did Hu Xiaotian notice the Snow Eagle clutching a small porcelain bottle in its beak. Li Chang'an picked up the bottle, intending to twist off the cap with his right hand, but remembering he had lost the entire arm, he felt a pang of gloom. He could only bite open the stopper with his teeth, pour out a pill, and pop it into his mouth. It turned out the Snow Eagle had flown off earlier to fetch medicine for him.

After the medicine dissolved in his belly, Li Chang'an's gaze returned to Hu Xiaotian's face: "Do you know who Xu Mitian is? Yet you aid the tyrant in his wickedness!"

Hu Xiaotian blinked and said: "I don't know who Xu Mitian is." This guy's lies flow as soon as he opens his mouth; knowing Li Chang'an utterly despises Xu Mitian, if Li Chang'an learned of her intimate connection with him, he might well bear a grudge against him again.

Li Chang'an sighed: "Forget it; today, in consideration of you saving my life, I won't kill you. You'd better look after yourself from now on."

Hearing this, Hu Xiaotian knew his life was finally spared; it seemed good deeds were still rewarded—not everyone repays kindness with enmity, nor does every rescue turn one into Dong Guo Mr. (the ungrateful savior). He asked curiously: "I don't know what deep grudge lies between Mr. Li and Xu Mitian."

A look of profound sorrow appeared on Li Chang'an's pale face; he bit his lip hard and clenched his left fist, obviously struggling to contain his anger and anguish. Turning away, he left Hu Xiaotian a lonely, desolate back view: "She killed my wife Qingling—is that reason enough?"

Hu Xiaotian remained silent, speechless. If the same thing happened to him, even if he had to scour the ends of the earth, he would hunt down the murderer and hack him to pieces. From this perspective, Li Chang'an was not wrong; unconsciously, Hu Xiaotian found himself feeling some sympathy for him.

Li Chang'an climbed onto the Snow Eagle's back, gently stroking the feathers on its neck, and said softly: "Hu Xiaotian, I'll give you a piece of advice: whether you know her identity or not, you need to stay far away from her. Xu Mitian is cold-hearted and ruthless; even a minor offense will draw her most vicious retaliation."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I've taken note of it, Mr. Li, take care."

Li Chang'an nodded, lay upon the Snow Eagle's flawless bonded feathers, and the Snow Eagle spread its wings, carrying Li Chang'an into the night sky.

Hu Xiaotian gazed after Li Chang'an's receding figure, feeling as if a great weight had lifted. Though he had endured danger, he had ultimately escaped disaster—he truly lived a charmed life. Lying on the ice to rest awhile, the daze from the Snow Eagle's blow gradually cleared. He rose and walked along the ice toward the edge of the reed marsh. Although the reeds had withered, they still formed a maze-like tangle. Hu Xiaotian determined his direction by the position of the Big Dipper in the sky, heading straight north. After walking about half an hour, he still hadn't found his way out of the reed marsh.

Just as Hu Xiaotian felt a headache coming on, he heard shouts from ahead: "Sir Hu... Sir Hu..."

Hu Xiaotian realized reinforcements had arrived—surely the city's warriors coming to look for him. Overjoyed, he raised his voice and shouted: "I'm here! I'm here!"

Someone outside heard him: "Sir Hu is inside, Sir Hu is in the reed marsh!" Estimating from where the sound came, their distance was likely less than a li. Hu Xiaotian pushed through the reed thicket and strode forward; after just a few steps, he saw firelight seeping through the gaps in the reeds.

At that moment someone outside called again: "Is Sir Hu still inside?"

Hu Xiaotian answered, "I'm inside..." Before he could finish, he saw a fire line swoosh in from outside. His heart jumped; he instantly realized someone was shooting fire arrows into the marsh—clearly not for lighting him up. In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen fire arrows struck the reed marsh. This season's reeds were dry and flammable; not only arrows, even a spark would ignite them instantly. In a moment the marsh burst into roaring flames. Wind blew toward Hu Xiaotian, driving the fire forward at astonishing speed. He stared, heart pounding, as the few sparks the arrows had lit instantly turned into towering walls of flame several zhang high, then surged toward him like a red tide. Ahead there was no path forward; even without the blaze, those damned hidden arrows lay in wait for him. (To be continued~^~)