Chapter 698

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Qiu Muhua coldly stared at Hu Xiaotian and said: "Hu Xiaotian, what do you mean by that?" Directly addressing Hu Xiaotian by name, it was obvious that Qiu Muhua had truly flared with anger.

Hu Xiaotian said with a grin: "It's nothing, I just admire Young Master Qiu's magnanimity—being able to let go of such a great hatred, truly a model for our generation; anyway, I couldn't do that, I admire you, I admire you!" He said while cupping his fists toward Qiu Muhua.

Qiu Muhua was so angry his lungs felt like they'd explode, and he snapped: "Hu Xiaotian, even if you insult me, that's fine, but you dare insult the forefather of my Sword Palace!"

Hu Xiaotian put on an innocent face and said: "When have I ever insulted the forefather of the Sword Palace? It's been so long—surely Young Master Qiu can't still hold onto this old grudge? Or are you still thinking of taking revenge for the forefather?"

Qiu Muhua never expected Hu Xiaotian to be so silver-tongued; in verbal sparring Hu Xiaotian was already a grandmaster-level existence, leaving Qiu Muhua sputtering, unable to figure out how to respond.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Looks like Young Master Qiu has forgotten!"

Qiu Muhua roared: "How could I have forgotten!" This roar came from the depths of his heart, making the entire banquet hall buzz.

Everyone around wore extremely strange expressions; Li Chenzhou secretly sighed, Qiu Muhua being young actually fell into Hu Xiaotian's trap—this Hu Xiaotian is truly sly as a ghost.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "So Young Master Qiu hasn't forgotten after all! That means Young Master Qiu has always been thinking of taking revenge for the forefather."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall was startled; Xue Daohong silently cursed Hu Xiaotian for being wicked, with just a few sentences he pointed the blame at the Sword Palace.

Wanyan Chixiong gave a heh heh cold laugh: "Taking revenge? Just come at me openly—why sneak around doing these shameful, underhanded deeds!" Now even Qiu Muhua came to hate him; in fact, the Black Hu's hatred for the Sword Palace runs deeper—if it weren't for the Sword Palace's founder Lin Bautao's assassination, the Black Hu Khagan wouldn't have died from his old ailment aggravated by his wounds. Later, the Black Hu dispatched their National Preceptor Timoduo, who personally led eight masters to sneak into Yongdu intending to kill Lin Bautao, but ended up perishing together—a huge loss, which the Black Hu people regard as a great disgrace.

Seeing Wanyan Chixiong glaring at him, Qiu Muhua refused to back down, glaring back at Wanyan Chixiong and said: "Our Sword Palace always acts openly and honorably. We fear no admission for what we have done, and no one should try to pin on us what we haven't done."

Xue Daohong laughed: "Both of you, calm down; everyone, give me some face—let's not bring up those unpleasant matters."

General Dong Tian said from the side: "What His Highness the Prince said is right—don't let those with ulterior motives stir you up and fall into his scheme."

Hu Xiaotian hehe laughed: "General Dong, your words are truly tactful—there are only a few of us here. Who exactly has ulterior motives? Who is stirring things up? Why not speak up so everyone can discuss it."

General Dong Tian glanced at him and said: "Isn't it obvious? Do I really have to name names?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Everyone says General Dong is heroic and courageous, unmatched in bravery, but now it seems he's nothing special—he can't even utter a frank sentence openly."

Dong Tianjiang knew Hu Xiaotian was using the provoke-the-general tactic, but he couldn't swallow this anger in front of everyone. He shouted loudly: "It's you I'm talking about!"

Xue Daohong had long been dissatisfied with deliberately provoking Hu Xiaotian; now Dong Tianjiang jumped out and openly blamed Hu Xiaotian, which was exactly what he wanted, so he remained silent and watched the developments. As for Wan Yan Chixiong and Qiu Mubai, they both understood that the escalation of their conflict was entirely thanks to Hu Xiaotian. As for the others, they had little to do with this matter originally, and moreover, even Crown Prince Xue Daohong did not step in to smooth things over, so they had no need to speak. Zan Buliu, who stood closest to Hu Xiaotian, secretly sighed, thinking this kid really isn't afraid of offending people; everyone around him has been offended by him. In fact, he also noticed that the atmosphere at the banquet was off from the start, and most of those who came were targeting Hu Xiaotian.

The smile on Hu Xiaotian's face suddenly faded. He cupped his fists toward Xue Daohong and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince. Since everyone has taken the matter to this point, I, Hu Xiaotian, cannot help but defend myself a few words. Qiu Gongzi just said something well: I, Hu Xiaotian, have always acted openly and aboveboard; I admit what I have done, and no one can try to pin the blame on me for what I haven't done."

Qiu Mubai was practically speechless; this guy really is shameless—did he just say that himself a moment ago? He seems to have changed quite a bit.

Hu Xiaotian looked around at everyone and said, "Everyone says I have a grudge with the Fourth Prince; since we're both here, the Fourth Prince might as well lay out our grudge publicly for all to hear—how did our grudge arise?"

Wan Yan Chixiong was actually left speechless by Hu Xiaotian's question. Although at the banquet hosted by the Eldest Princess, Hu Xiaotian's subordinate had punched La Han until he vomited blood, that incident doesn't count as a grudge—it was merely a martial arts exchange. Their real grudge stems either from Tang Tiehan or from that nonexistent book Baojun Qilu Record. Wan Yan Chixiong certainly couldn't make this public, after all, the reasoning isn't on his side.

Wan Yan Chixiong said coldly, "If Da Yong allies with the Black Hu, I'm afraid the person here who's least pleased would be you."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "What the hell does it have to do with me!" As soon as he said it, everyone in the hall was startled; for him to utter such vulgar language in such a setting was truly disgraceful to scholarly decorum. Li Chen Zhou's lips curled with a faint smile; he found Hu Xiaotian really interesting. Zan Buliu secretly chuckled, thinking this remark was blunt and straightforward—Hu Xiaotian really dares to speak his mind, completely disregarding the Crown Prince Xue Daohong present.

Xue Daohong couldn't help but show displeasure on his face upon hearing Hu Xiaotian utter vulgarities right in front of him.

Hu Xiaotian said, "According to your logic, the marriage alliance between Dakang and Da Yong would make the Black Hu the most unhappy, so then all those hundreds of brothers who have died or been wounded along our journey should be charged to your account?"

Wan Yan Chixiong roared, "What the hell does it have to do with me!"

Everyone couldn't help but smirk; this Black Hu Fourth Prince was clearly made nervous and restless by Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said, "You lost nine men, so of course you're unhappy; I lost over five hundred ninety—just think how I must feel. Everything requires evidence; without proof you can't just suspect others. Fourth Prince, I want to ask: where did those subordinates of yours who were killed die? And what weapons killed them? Did the enemy use knives or swords?"

Wan Yan Chixiong furrowed his brow and said in a low voice, "Most of their fatal wounds were sword injuries."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Well, that settles it—among my entourage, nobody is skilled with the sword." He said this while looking at Qiu Mubai.

Qiu Mubai snapped, "Hu Xiaotian, I've had enough of you!" He thought Hu Xiaotian repeatedly bringing up the sword matter was just trying to draw the blame toward the Sword Palace.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Qiu Gongzi, that makes no sense at all—I was speaking calmly with the Fourth Prince, why are you jumping in? Could it be you're involved in these matters?"

Qiu Mubai slammed the table and rose angrily, "Hu Xiaotian, I demand a duel with you!" In this day and age, dueling is undoubtedly the simplest and most direct way to settle a dispute, especially for martial artists—when words fail, they draw their swords to determine superiority, to see who is truly strong, for only the strong can survive, using swords to uphold their dignity and honor.

The scene fell silent again. Qiu Mubai stared at Hu Xiaotian and said, word by word, "Do you dare or not?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "What deep hatred or grudge do I have with you that we must settle it with a life-or-death duel?"

Qiu Mubai said, "A scholar may be killed but not humiliated; you have insulted the Sword Palace's reputation twice today, making you an enemy of the Sword Palace. Whether you accept it or not, I, Qiu Mubai, will not let you off."

Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing, "What grandeur! What killing intent! If the Sword Palace disciples are so spirited, why has the grudge of their founding master been dragged on for fifty years without resolution?"

"You!" If it weren't for Crown Prince Xue Daohong being present, Qiu Mubai would have already rushed over to fight Hu Xiaotian to the death.

Hu Xiaotian said, "I suppose I've gotten a taste of the Sword Palace's grandeur."

"Do you dare or not?" Qiu Mubai pressed aggressively.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "As long as it's an open and aboveboard fair contest, there's nothing I wouldn't dare—but tonight's banquet really has left me somewhat disappointed." He turned to Xue Daohong and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince should have more conviction and not be easily swayed by others' opinions. Since you originally didn't want to invite me, why force yourself to do so? This fine banquet I've disrupted—isn't that a loss outweighing the gain? I'll take my leave now so as not to spoil everyone's drinking mood." He cupped his fists toward Xue Daohong, preparing to bid farewell and depart.

Qiu Mubai said, "You still haven't given me an answer!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Just think of the Sword Palace's founding ancestor, Senior Lin Bai Tao—what a hero he was, alone with a single sword he stormed the Black Hu, earning Da Yong an unparalleled merit; single-handedly he contended against the Black Hu's national master and eight top experts. What people admire about him is not only his peerless martial arts, but also his righteousness in disregarding personal safety, sacrificing himself to save the nation and ethnicity." He gave Qiu Mubai a contemptuous glance and said, "Although you're hailed as a once-in-fifty-years genius of the Sword Palace, in my view you will never be able to measure up to Senior Lin's stature. If you want a duel, I'll accompany you anytime—but tonight is an exception. If you lose, you'll certainly lose face; if you win, I won't have anything to be proud of either, for to outsiders it will look like you're merely being used." Having said that, Hu Xiaotian strode out.

Crown Prince Xue Daohong's face darkened; Hu Xiaotian proved harder to deal with than he had anticipated.

Qiu Mubai bit his lip hard, then suddenly stepped forward and followed him out.

The rest of the people all looked at Xue Daohong, because since he hadn't spoken, others found it inconvenient to follow out and see what was happening.

Wan Yan Chixiong said, "Although reckless, it's also straightforward!" After the recent events, Wan Yan Chixiong actually dispelled his suspicions about Hu Xiaotian—killing his subordinates, Hu Xiaotian seemingly no longer had reason to do so. After all, he had already released Tang Tiehan; Hu Xiaotian's situation is now much like his own, both being envoys to Yongdu, with no reason to risk such trouble.

Xue Daohong sighed and said, "I really can't manage all these personal grudges; don't let this matter spoil the mood, everyone, drink." (A great activity like a pie falling from the sky—cool cell phones await you! Follow and click/subscribe to the public account (add friends on WeChat—add public account—enter qdread), join now! Everyone gets a prize; immediately follow the qdread WeChat public account!) (To be continued~^~)