Chapter 685: [Slaying Heaven] (Part 1)

Hu Xiaotian figured out the direction of Yongdu City, strode off in big steps, but after only a few steps he heard voices from afar. Fearing he might run into enemies, he darted to a nearby large tree. That leap was easy, jumping over a zhang high, which startled Hu Xiaotian himself. Good grief, when did I become this strong? He grabbed the branches and, like a nimble monkey, scrambled into the thicket.

Hu Xiaotian looked ahead and saw two men approaching in the distance. Although both wore Han clothing, their appearance showed they were both Black Hu. One of the Black Hu said: "Just now I still saw that horse; how did it disappear all of a sudden?"

The other said: "The boss is really too harsh, making us search this area nonstop while he went back to sleep."

They spoke in the Hu language, which Hu Xiaotian couldn't understand. Seeing the two pass under the tree, he leapt down from the tree, grabbed both heads and smashed them together. Worried they might resist, he put all his strength into it. With a bang, the two Black Hu men's heads collided violently, their brains bursting and killing them instantly.

Hu Xiaotian hadn't intended to go on a killing spree; he just wanted to knock them out. But he could no longer precisely control his strength, and unexpectedly he used too much force, killing both in one blow. He checked their carotid arteries to confirm they were dead, amazed at his own arm strength—he had never been capable of this before. Still, what's done is done, and there's nothing to regret; these Black Hu folks don't deserve sympathy.

Hu Xiaotian quickly stripped the clothes off a Black Hu man of similar build and put them on, then dragged the two corpses and tossed them into the pool. He realized his strength had increased by more than double; tasks that once required all his effort now came easily, without any strain.

After finishing up, he slung the great sword across his back again and headed down the mountain. Worried about running into Black Hu scouts head‑on, he kept to the forest paths, where the dense woods were regrowing. He cleared the way with his great sword, which whirled in his hands, yet he felt no sign of fatigue in his arms.

Reaching the mountainside, Hu Xiaotian burst out of the thicket; the slope had eased, and the morning sun peeked over the eastern sky, golden light spilling across the hills. He stretched his arms, feeling utterly relieved. Wondering where Tang Qingxuan and Little Gray had gone, and whether they had fallen into the Black Hu's hands, he placed his fingers to his lips and blew a loud whistle—their private signal.

The sharp whistle carried far on the morning mountain wind, even the whistle itself sounded unprecedentedly loud. Hu Xiaotian looked around, worried that his whistle hadn't summoned Little Gray and might instead attract enemies.

To his delight, a gray streak shot from deep in the forest, parting the weeds and darting like an electric arc straight to him. Who else could it be but Little Gray? Hu Xiaotian smiled and went to meet him. When Little Gray ran to within about ten zhang of Hu Xiaotian, it suddenly slowed. Looking at this sooty black lump, he wondered if this could really be his master.

Hu Xiaotian blew another whistle and called out, "Little Gray, it's me!"

Only then did Little Gray dare confirm that the person before it was Hu Xiaotian, and it was overjoyed. It ran up to him again, affectionately rubbing its head against his body. Hu Xiaotian stroked its mane and pressed his forehead to its; the bond forged through life‑and‑death between rider and mount grew deeper.

Hu Xiaotian noticed Tang Qingxuan wasn't by its side and was about to ask, but Little Gray lowered its head, signaling him to climb onto its back.

Hu Xiaotian mounted, and Little Gray bolted off across the hills, taking him to the spot where it had just hidden. Dismounting, he saw Tang Qingxuan concealed in the undergrowth, wearing her own clothes, lying unconscious on the ground, her face slightly swollen, though far better than his own miserable state the night before, with many red spots on her skin. He checked her breath, confirmed she was still alive, felt a secret joy, lifted her onto the horse, and holding her close, galloped toward Yongdu City.

Although Hu Xiaotian had saved his own life, he didn't know how to treat Tang Qingxuan; as a surgeon he wasn't skilled in detoxification. Little Gray carried him from Dog Head Mountain all the way to Yongdu in less than half an hour. Instead of returning to Qichen Palace, he headed straight for the Divine Farmer Society with Tang Qingxuan.

The gatekeeper disciples of the Divine Farmer Society didn't recognize the black‑soot‑covered visitor as their honored guest Hu Xiaotian, assuming he was just another patient seeking medicine. They stepped forward to stop him, but he shouted, "Make way, I'm looking for Brother Yucheng!"

The Divine Farmer Society disciples heard him call out Liu Yucheng's name, the voice sounding somewhat familiar, and Fan Ling'er, hearing the commotion, rushed out as well.

Hu Xiaotian loudly said, "Ling'er, I'm your Uncle Hu!"

Fan Ling'er recognized his voice as Hu Xiaotian's, but wondered how his appearance had become like this—he looked as if he'd been dragged out of a charcoal pile. Full of confusion, she asked, "Uncle Hu?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "Exactly, I'm Hu Xiaotian! I need to see Master Liu!"

At that moment, Fan Ling'er's father, the senior brother of the Divine Farmer Society, Fan Mingyu, also came out upon hearing the noise, and seeing Hu Xiaotian's state he was stunned. Liu Yucheng wasn't at the Divine Farmer Society; he and Hu Xiaotian had agreed the previous day to go early that morning to the Grand Princess's residence to perform a double‑eyelid procedure on Grand Princess Xue Lingjun, so he had set off on time, never expecting Hu Xiaotian to be delayed by affairs.

Fan Mingyu saw Tang Qingxuan in Hu Xiaotian's arms, instantly grasped the seriousness, and said softly, "Sir Hu, come with me."

Had it been an outsider, the Divine Farmer Society disciples would never lightly allow him to see Liu Changsheng, but Hu Xiaotian had earned their gratitude and was a close friend of Liu Yucheng, so his request was naturally an exception.

Liu Changsheng's leg injury had largely healed; at that moment he sat in his wheelchair, enjoying the plants in his small courtyard. Hearing the noisy clamor outside, he couldn't help but frown—he preferred tranquility and hated anyone disturbing this hard‑won peace.

Hu Xiaotian's voice rang out from outside: "Master Liu!"

Liu Changsheng's furrowed brows smoothed again. Why would Hu Xiaotian come to the Divine Farmer Society so early? Shouldn't he be at the Grand Princess's residence? He had clearly agreed with Yucheng to go there together—how did he end up at the Divine Farmer Society?

When Hu Xiaotian arrived before Liu Changsheng holding Tang Qingxuan, the latter already understood everything. He had Hu Xiaotian place Tang Qingxuan in the west wing, lay her on the bed, felt her pulse, and quickly judged: "It's poisoning!"

Hu Xiaotian recounted Tang Qingxuan's ordeal. Upon hearing about the peach‑blossom‑like jellyfish in the pool, Liu Changsheng's brows knit and he said in a low voice, "Mingyu, go fetch a Nine‑Revolutions Blood Cleansing Pill."

Hu Xiaotian had heard of the Nine‑Revolutions Blood Cleansing Pill before, and Liu Yucheng had even given him a bottle, but he wasn't carrying it on him.

Liu Changsheng also had a basin of hot water readied; once the pill arrived, he would give it to her first, while the hot water was already prepared. He selected dozens of medicinal herbs, had them boiled, and poured the decoction into the tub, then had Hu Xiaotian immerse Tang Qingxuan in it—to cleanse her body of toxins and also help dispel any confounding drugs.

After everything was done, Liu Changsheng had Fan Ling'er keep watch and called Hu Xiaotian into the adjoining room, where he quietly asked what had happened. Hu Xiaotian then related the full story. Liu Changsheng, indignant at the Black Hu's villainy, seeing Hu Xiaotian's soot‑black skin, said, "Xiaotian, how did your skin turn this color?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said, "That's a long story." He recounted how he had been chased by a python in the pool and nearly lost his life.

After listening, Liu Changsheng also thought it utterly bizarre, and said softly, "I know that kind of jellyfish—it's usually called the crescent jellyfish, appearing on moonlit nights. It not only drinks human blood but also contains toxin, which it injects while feeding. Such jellyfish are normally found in the northeastern part of Da Yong, favoring icy waters, so it's surprising to find one near Yongdu."

Hu Xiaotian recalled the pool's freezing temperature; it was no surprise that a crescent jellyfish could survive there.

As for the water python, Liu Changsheng had never heard of it either. He had heard that Hu Xiaotian had also been stung by the jellyfish, checked his pulse, and found nothing abnormal. He clicked his tongue in wonder, guessing that Hu Xiaotian's body must have a natural resistance to the crescent jellyfish's toxin, though he didn't know what caused the black coating on his skin.

Hu Xiaotian entrusted Tang Qingxuan to Liu Changsheng's care and immediately headed for the South Wind Inn.

At the South Wind Inn, they had also received the news: Hu Xiaotian had left yesterday and still hadn't returned, so Zhou Mo and his companions had split up to search. The one holding down the inn was Xiong Tianba; seeing Hu Xiaotian enter, he was startled, his first thought being, "Where did this kid come from? He's even darker than I am."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Xiong kid, I'm your Uncle Hu!" He hurriedly identified himself, fearing this hotheaded youth might not distinguish right from wrong and attack him.

Xiong kid blinked, not looking at all like Hu Xiaotian, curled his lip in a cold sneer and said, "Where does this bold lunatic come from, daring to impersonate my Uncle Hu? You're asking for death—take this!" Before he finished speaking, he threw a punch at Hu Xiaotian's chest. (To be continued…~^~)