Chapter 71: Chapter Twenty-Eight [The Fallen] (Part 2)

After surviving a life-and-death ordeal, the four attendants were utterly ashamed; their purpose on this journey was to escort the young master along the way, yet they ended up having to be looked after by him. Setting aside other matters, tonight's ordeal alone—if not for the young master's alertness, they would have long been tossed off the cliff to feed the wolves.

Hu Xiaotian acted as if nothing had happened, and he didn't blame the attendants for tonight's events—what's done is done, and he couldn't be bothered to lecture them. He had only one word for these four attendants: failure! These guys aren't fit for important tasks; though they swagger about in the capital, once out in the field and faced with a life-and-death test, each flees faster than the last. By the time we reach Azure Cloud, I'll have them scramble—they're not just useless, they're outright burdens.

After regaining their strength, Shao Yijiao and Li Jin Hao went straight to the temple, tore off several old door panels, split them with their swords, and lit a fire in the side hall.

Murong Feiyan had already been quite cautious; she had even checked the food beforehand with silver needles, but she never expected these monks to be so treacherous, slipping poison into the charcoal they gave us. As the charcoal burned, toxic smoke seeped unnoticed into the air, and after inhaling it they all collapsed unconscious. Hu Xiaotian, however, had not eaten and happened to step outside just as the smoke spread, so he escaped this fate. Murong Feiyan couldn't fathom how Hu Xiaotian had sensed something amiss with those monks, enabling him to stay so alert.

Hearing Murong Feiyan's question, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but chuckle, and he said softly, "If there's anything wrong, it's the temple's name."

Murong Feiyan asked, "Orchid Hermitage Temple?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Exactly, Orchid Hermitage Temple! My hometown once had a temple of the same name, which we regarded as an ominous place."

Murong Feiyan believed Hu Xiaotian's explanation, but she remained curious—how could a mere name provoke such vigilance in him?

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's haunted!"

Hearing this explanation, Murong Feiyan sucked in a breath of cold air; in this era, too many things defy scientific explanation, and most people believe in spirits and gods, so Hu Xiaotian's reasoning made sense. He didn't elaborate further, and she didn't press him.

To be cautious, Hu Xiaotian had the four attendants search Orchid Hermitage Temple inside and out, ensuring no one—and not even a ghost's trace—remained in the ancient temple. By the time they finished, it was already the third watch.

Sitting around the blazing bonfire, none of them felt the slightest trace of sleepiness.

Listening to the fierce wind and rain outside, Murong Feiyan couldn't help but sigh, "I don't know when this rain will stop." The four attendants were also worried. Only Hu Xiaotian was an optimist. He smiled and said, "When it rains, the daughter marries—let it be. Past this mountain lies Xichuan; I'm sure we'll see clear skies after the rain."

Perhaps infected by Hu Xiaotian's optimism, Murong Feiyan nodded and said, "We still have eleven days; we have plenty of time to reach Azure Cloud. For now, the most important thing is to rest well, replenish our energy, and then continue our journey once the rain stops."

Hu Xiaotian yawned and said, "I'm getting sleepy; everyone should go to sleep. There are their meditation rooms in the courtyard to the right—they look clean enough—let's sleep there."

The attendants, their courage shattered by the recent ordeal, all shook their heads; they'd rather stay here.

Hu Xiaotian looked at Murong Feiyan and said, "Let's go!"

Murong Feiyan bristled at his use of "we" in front of the attendants, as if he were implying some special closeness—was he doing this on purpose to invite gossip? Ever since that scoundrel emerged from her room at Wangjing Yi Zhan and was seen, the attendants have been giving her strange looks all along the way. Though they say nothing, who knows what they're imagining? Thinking of this gives her a headache; she's been ruined by this rascal, and her reputation—how will she ever marry if people find out?

Hu Xiaotian said, "There are plenty of meditation rooms, and they're much better than this place."

Murong Feiyan finally rose and said, "Come on, let's head over there." She picked up her luggage, and she and Hu Xiaotian exited the side hall, one after the other. Hu Xiaotian led the way, and seeing how he remained composed after killing three people, Murong Feiyan couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

Hu Xiaotian himself couldn't fathom why he seemed so numb; aside from the enlightened monk, the other three lives were taken by his hand. Perhaps it stems from his past as a doctor, accustomed to death, rendering him indifferent, or perhaps today's circumstances left him no choice—if he didn't kill them, he'd die at the hands of those evil monks.

Murong Feiyan said, "You must not tell anyone about tonight's events."

Hu Xiaotian turned to face Murong Feiyan, stared for a moment, then broke into a smile, revealing a mouth of white, even teeth—his signature grin. In the past, Murong Feiyan would have mentally cursed him as a scoundrel, but now she finds him pleasing to the eye, likely because he rescued her from that lecherous monk just in time.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian offer no reply, Murong Feiyan stopped in her tracks and repeated, "Remember this: you must not tell anyone about tonight's events!"

Hu Xiaotian still wore his harmless smile: "What incident tonight? You're perfectly fine—not a hair out of place—what's there to fear?"

Murong Feiyan's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment, and she spat, "In short, in short, don't go blabbing."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, "Are you afraid people will misunderstand, ruin your reputation, and make you unmarriageable?"

Murong Feiyan snapped, "If you dare spout nonsense again, I'll turn against you!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Don't worry—there are plenty of decent men out there; with your looks, you'll never lack suitors!"

"You!" Murong Feiyan exclaimed, raising her pink fist in anger—just then she heard a knocking at the door.

The wind and rain were too loud, so the knocking sounded fragmented and unclear; Murong Feiyan thought she might have misheard, she leaned in to listen, and through the storm she heard a faint cry for help: "Save me… open the door… save me…" The voice sounded like a girl's.

The smile on Hu Xiaotian's face faded as he, too, almost simultaneously heard the cries for help outside—given the midnight hour, the relentless storm, and the fact that we'd just finished off four evil monks, the most crucial point being that we're at Orchid Hermitage Temple; he recalled the female ghosts from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, and his head began to throb.

Murong Feiyan had already opened her umbrella and set off toward the gate; Hu Xiaotian hurried after her, still wearing the monk's large bamboo hat on his head, which offered only modest protection from the rain.

Hu Xiaotian warned Murong Feiyan, "How could a woman be calling for help out in these wild mountains? Be careful—it might be a trick!"

Murong Feiyan replied, "Perhaps she really is in trouble; let's go see what's happening first."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I didn't get a chance to tell you that story earlier."

"Your hometown's Orchid Hermitage Temple?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Orchid Hermitage Temple is haunted, they say—a female ghost named Xiao Qian lures passing men with her beauty…" A bolt of lightning split the night sky, followed by a rolling thunderclap that made Hu Xiaotian flinch and grab Murong Feiyan's arm; he wasn't taking advantage—he was genuinely spooked.

Murong Feiyan bit her lip, and in the flash of lightning she saw Hu Xiaotian's deathly pale face, wondering why he was scared again.

They reached the triple gate, and the cries for help grew clearer—through the wind and rain came a girl's voice: "Is anyone there? Save me! Please, open the door!"

Pressed against the door crack, they peered out; in the lightning's glow they saw a white‑clad girl about eleven or twelve, her long dress soaked through, her black hair wet and clinging to her shoulders, her bare feet pounding the temple door—an utterly bizarre sight.

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a cold breath, saw Murong Feiyan reaching to open the door, and hastily blocked her arm: "Have a good look first!"

Murong Feiyan glared at him and said, "She's just a little girl!"

"What little girl would be out in the wilderness at midnight during the third watch? Please, use your brain!" Hu Xiaotian was convinced something was fishy. Please vote for the Three Jiang Ticket; after logging in there are free votes, so please cast as many as you can!

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