Chapter 565

At this moment there was no time to think of anything else; Hu Xiaotian turned and ran, perhaps the only way was to run back onto the ice surface, break the ice and enter the lake water to escape the raging flames, but he was now far from the lake surface, his desperate running speed could not match the spread of the fire. Moreover, rockets kept shooting into the air, flying to the highest point then slanting down swiftly, sealing off his retreat before he could leave this reed marsh.

In an instant, smoke and fire raged everywhere, flames filled the scene; Hu Xiaotian was terrified out of his wits, silently cursing his own carelessness. Having managed to survive the hands of the two great masters, Xu Mitian and Li Chang'an, he never expected to capsize in a gutter, to be burned alive in the reed marsh by Wen Boyuan's henchmen. Could it be that his fate was thus? If he truly were to die here, at the hands of these petty villains, how could he resign himself to it?

Hu Xiaotian bent his body, held his breath; no matter how perilous the situation, he would not easily give up until the very last moment. He lifted his head trying to locate the North Star that had just guided him, but thick smoke and flames had completely blocked the sky above him; most frustratingly, beneath his feet there was still only frozen ground, the ice that had been visible everywhere moments ago had vanished without a trace.

Hu Xiaotian could only pick a direction and flee for his life; after a few steps the path was blocked by fire again. Just as he found himself with no way up to heaven nor down to earth, a familiar voice reached his ears: 'Let me find you; if it weren't for this fire, I really wouldn't know where you're hiding.'

Hu Xiaotian recognized the voice as Xu Mitian's; he looked up, but all around were raging flames, with no sign of Xu Mitian. Ahead, the fire parted and a figure walked out of the sea of fire, draped in something like a black blanket—presumably fire‑proof. She came to Hu Xiaotian's side and whispered, 'What are you standing there for? Hurry up and leave this place.'

Xu Mitian unfolded the black cloak, covering both of them; each took a corner and pulled it over their bodies. Xu Mitian pointed to the place she had just entered; Hu Xiaotian saw that the fire was even more fierce than before. A chill ran through him, and Xu Mitian said, 'If you want to live, follow me.'

Hu Xiaotian steeled himself; staying would surely mean death. Since Xu Mitian had been able to find her way here from the fire, the cloak must have decent fire‑proofing, so he gritted his teeth and charged into the blaze alongside her.

As they neared the fire, a thread of icy chill emanated from Xu Mitian's surroundings. It turned out she was using the cold of the Ice Soul Asura Technique to counteract the flames' heat; while the surrounding fire raged, the two huddled together, relying on the black cloak's cover to inch outward from the fire zone.

Hu Xiaotian glanced at Xu Mitian, seeing only half of her pretty face illuminated by the firelight—radiant and charming. He thought to himself, no matter what, this demoness had at least been decent to him; at least she hadn't disregarded her own safety, persistently tracking the Snow Eagle to this place. Had she not appeared at this life‑or‑death moment, he would likely have ended up as a roasted pig today.

Suddenly a few peals of wild laughter rang in his ears; one man lowered his voice and said, 'Boss Dong, I fear that eunuch has already turned into a roasted pig.'

Another replied, 'You're outrageous. Lord Hu is trapped in the fire; we ought to feel grief, not take pleasure in his misfortune.'

Someone nearby chimed in, 'Yeah, yeah! We truly wanted to rescue Lord Hu, but we never expected that feathered demon to be so vicious, setting fire and burning Lord Hu alive here.'

Dong Tieshan said, 'What a pity, how lamentable—Lord Hu can also be considered to have died for the country. Brothers, after the fire dies down, let's go in and look; perhaps we can find a bone or two to present to General Wen as proof of duty.'

The several people around burst into loud laughter together.

Hu Xiaotian listened closely, killing intent flaring in his heart. Xu Mitian turned her face to look at him; from the inferno of anger in his gaze she already knew what he was thinking.

Outside the fire, Dong Tieshan and more than ten warriors stood watching the blaze, having been ordered to pursue outside the city. Since the Snow Eagle had long since flown away, neither they nor Ying Peng knew Hu Xiaotian's whereabouts; the two groups split up to search—Ying Peng went south, Dong Tieshan's party went north. This place is Qing Sha Dian, a small lake that connects northward to the Yong River; its banks are thick with reeds, which in spring and summer look like green gauze curtains stretching endlessly, hence the name. Although it is early spring now, northern spring arrives late, so the reed marsh shows no sign of spring, remaining withered and dry; that is why Dong Tieshan's group could set the fire and have it spread so rapidly in a short time.

As Dong Tieshan and his more than ten warriors gazed at the raging fire with satisfaction, suddenly two black shadows shot out from within the flames.

They had assumed Hu Xiaotian was surely dead, had already put away their weapons, and never expected two people to come bursting out of the fire.

Dong Tieshan panicked and reached for his sword; his hand had just touched the hilt when Hu Xiaotian, like a leopard, darted to his front and launched a thunder‑like punch straight at his face. Dong Tieshan leaned back, trying to dodge, but Hu Xiaotian's punch was a feint; the real killing move was his right foot, which he coiled with full power and slammed hard into Dong Tieshan's groin, sending him crashing to the ground.

The remaining warriors, seeing the situation turn bad, frantically drew their weapons; one notched an arrow to shoot, but before the arrow left the string, a flash of movement—Xu Mitian seized the arrowhead, raised her right hand, and with a fingertip flashing azure light, swish! plunged it into the warrior's skull. The warrior fell without a sound. Seeing this, the other warriors were terrified out of their wits; none dared to stay and fight—fleeing for their lives was the only option.

Xu Mitian snorted coldly and shot out several points of cold light from her hand—her hidden weapon, the cross‑star. Although the cross‑stars did not kill the warriors outright, they succeeded in knocking them to the ground.

Hu Xiaotian planted a foot on Dong Tieshan's chest; Dong Tieshan turned ashen and trembled, 'Hu… Sir… it's all… General Wen who ordered me… all…' Hu Xiaotian lifted his foot and stomped hard on Dong Tieshan's face, driving his head deep into the frozen earth with a crack—his cervical vertebrae snapped, and he died.

The more than ten warriors lying on the ground kept begging. Xu Mitian lightly brushed Hu Xiaotian with her shoulder and whispered, 'Leave your enemies for you to settle.' She also did him a considerable favor.

Hu Xiaotian said, 'You think I've become addicted to killing?'

Xu Mitian's pretty face turned cold in an instant; her goodwill had been wasted on this stubborn fool.

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, pondering how to deal with these warriors, when Xu Mitian suddenly flicked her right hand; a dozen cross‑stars flashed like lightning into the warriors' throats, and in an instant another ten‑plus lives were lost at her hand. Although Hu Xiaotian also hated these warriors to the bone, watching ten‑plus living lives vanish before his eyes stirred a twinge of pity; as Li Chang'an had said, Xu Mitian was indeed cold‑blooded and ruthless. He sighed softly, 'Let's go.' Turning away, he saw blood seeping from Xu Mitian's body—it was the wound from Li Chang'an's Lone Moon Slash, which had been aggravated when she dispatched the warriors, causing the injury to burst open again.

Xu Mitian said coldly, 'You go your way, I'll go mine.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'You're bleeding!'

Xu Mitian stubbornly replied, 'I won't die!' The pain in her shoulder made her frown involuntarily. Hu Xiaotian stepped to her side, suddenly extended his arms and lifted her in a waist embrace. Xu Mitian never imagined Hu Xiaotian would treat her this way; she had wanted to struggle free from his arms, yet she felt his hold warm and solid, and deep inside she was filled with longing and reluctance.

Hu Xiaotian had indeed endured countless trials tonight, yet his physical condition remained largely unaffected; he realized this must be due to his cultivation of the Formless Divine Skill. Though only a basic qi‑training exercise, it had transformed his constitution as if he were reborn—no wonder the world regards the Formless Divine Skill as a supreme treasure, and countless people have sacrificed their lives in the relentless pursuit of it.

Midway along the road, he suddenly saw specks of firelight ahead and heard hoofbeats drawing near from afar. Hu Xiaotian worried that it might still be Wen Boyuan's men sent to hunt him down; he hastily held Xu Mitian and hid in the woods. Through the gaps in the trees he looked out and saw that the vanguard of the troop consisted of Ying Peng and Tang Tiehan. Hu Xiaotian wanted to call out, but Xu Mitian covered his mouth. He instantly realized Xu Mitian did not trust him, fearing that if reinforcements arrived he would turn on her and deny her.

Watching the troop recede into the distance, Xu Mitian finally released her grip. Hu Xiaotian whispered, 'Are you afraid I'll repay kindness with betrayal?'

Xu Mitian replied coldly, 'Repaying kindness with betrayal is not the first time for you.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'If we don't go out now, I fear we'll cause them to worry for me.' The first person who came to mind was Long Xi Yue; he had once promised her he would no longer court danger or cause her anxiety, but some things are simply beyond his control—living in troubled times, there are far too many circumstances beyond one's power.

"Are you thinking of your precious princess?" Xu Mitian's voice carried a hint of sarcasm.

Hu Xiaotian gave a faint smile; using the dappled moonlight filtering through the treetops, he saw her complexion as pale as paper, realizing her condition was not good. Tonight she had indeed defeated Li Chang'an, but she herself had suffered considerable injury; she could have withdrawn to a safe place to heal, yet she disregarded her wounds to come looking for him, showing how important he was to her. Perhaps it was not merely so that he could help her achieve the Myriad‑Poison Spirit Body; one wonders whether deep in Xu Mitian's mind there still lingers a trace of Le Yao's consciousness.

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