Chapter 710

"Little brat! Back down!" Hu Xiaotian only just drove off Xiong Tianba; earlier Xiong Tianba made a move because he was closest to the gate, plus another reason, Hu Xiaotian wanted to test the other's strength through Xiong Tianba—knowing Xiong Tianba's godlike strength, his punch could crack monuments and split stone, but this punch landed on Shi Kuan, and Shi Kuan didn't budge at all.

Shi Kuan stepped forward, his mighty aura like Mount Tai pressing down, bearing down on Xiong Tianba; Xiong Tianba was always brave and fierce, yet before Shi Kuan he inexplicably felt a pang of guilt, feeling pressure from all sides closing in, about to make him suffocate.

Zhou Mo walked over, lightly patted Xiong Tianba's shoulder, and smiled at Shi Kuan: "This kid has a few screws loose; Sir, please don't take him seriously."

Shi Kuan nodded and said: "Your kid? Keep an eye on him from now on!"

Zhou Mo said: "If my kid did something wrong, I'll naturally discipline him." His gaze was calm as water, yet his whole person was like a barrier that completely blocked Shi Kuan's icy killing intent before him. If Shi Kuan were a surging torrent, Zhou Mo would be a solid, strong dam; no matter how the waves churned, the dam would stand firm as ever.

Shi Kuan's eyes showed appreciation; he slowly nodded, indeed there was an expert beside Hu Xiaotian—judging by that person's aura, their martial skill should not be inferior to his own.

Huo Shengnan said softly: "Who did I think you were? Turns out you're Commander Shi; you're not in the palace protecting the Emperor, so what are you doing at Ningxiang Pavilion?"

Shi Kuan said: "General Huo, without the Emperor's order, I would never dare to abandon my post; Sir Hu, the Emperor summons you."

Hu Xiaotian's heart gave a start; he had been in Yongdu for over a month. Although he tried every means, he still hadn't received an audience with the Da Yong Emperor. He had thought that before the grand wedding he would never get a chance to see this Da Yong emperor, yet unexpectedly he was suddenly summoned—was this real or fake? He didn't know who Shi Kuan was, and just based on his word alone might not be trustworthy.

After speaking, Shi Kuan produced a coiled-dragon gold tablet. This coiled-dragon gold tablet was personally bestowed by the Da Yong Emperor Xue Shengkang; seeing the tablet is like seeing the Emperor himself in person. Huo Shengnan, Zong Tang, and Liu Yucheng—all subjects of Da Yong—knew what the tablet signified, and hurriedly knelt down.

Hu Xiaotian and his companions came from Dakang; they didn't need to buy into this tablet's authority. In fact, Hu Xiaotian also had a few tokens in Dakang, but compared to Shi Kuan's tablet they lacked that much authority.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sir Shi, no need to make such a fuss; since Your Highness wants to see me, I'll go, but I haven't finished this cup of wine. Let me finish it first, okay?"

Shi Kuan cupped his fists toward him and said: "I'll wait for you outside!"

After Shi Kuan led his men away, Xiong Tianba said: "You absolutely must not go—he might be deceiving you!"

Huo Shengnan said: "That coiled-dragon gold tablet is no fraud; nobody would have the gall to fake an imperial decree."

Hu Xiaotian nodded. He picked up the cup of wine on the table and drank it, smiling: "Looks like today really brings double joy. Even the Emperor of your country wishes to see me; tonight I'll go and get things straight—what exactly are your plans regarding this marriage alliance?"

Zhou Mo said: "I'll go with you!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "You'd better just return peacefully to Qichen Palace. I'm heading to the Da Yong imperial palace—that's not a place just anyone can just walk into."

Zhou Mo knew Hu Xiaotian's words were true; even if he followed, it would be useless, so he had to stay outside waiting for Hu Xiaotian's news. Hu Xiaotian sent a mental transmission to Zhou Mo: "Big brother, rest assured, I'll be fine; you and the brat go back, protect the Princess well, and make sure nothing goes wrong at Qichen Palace."

Hu Xiaotian walked out of Ningxiang Pavilion, only to see Shi Kuan leading twenty Golden Scale Guards waiting outside, a fine horse already prepared for him. Hu Xiaotian grinned, took the reins, mounted, and turned to Shi Kuan: "Commander Shi, right? Since you're on duty today, I won't invite you for a drink; next time we have the chance, let me treat you to a good round, how about that?"

Shi Kuan's icy face still showed no smile: "Sir Hu's kindness is appreciated by me, but we should hurry into the palace to avoid delaying the Emperor's affairs."

Hu Xiaotian grinned: "Commander Shi, could you reveal what exactly the Emperor wants with me?"

Shi Kuan ignored his question, coldly saying: "Escort Sir Hu into the palace at once!"

Hu Xiaotian and Shi Kuan rode side by side; this guy gazed at the stars, content, then suddenly blurted out: "Commander Shi, do you feel that entering the palace is a skillful endeavor?"

Shi Kuan gave him a puzzled look.

Hu Xiaotian raised his face again, gazing at the crescent moon in the sky, putting on an inscrutable expression: "Entering the palace is actually like being reborn—it's definitely a skillful endeavor." He smiled at Shi Kuan and asked: "Didn't get it?"

Shi Kuan looked utterly bewildered; understanding it would be a miracle.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Just as with rebirth—some are born into noble families, others into poor households; likewise, entering the palace—some become guards, others become eunuchs—truly fate toys with people!"

Shi Kuan's expression instantly petrified—could this also make him utter a lament?

Hu Xiaotian knew this palace visit must involve something major; otherwise they wouldn't have chosen this time. The Da Yong Emperor must have suddenly wanted to see him, with no prior plan. Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered: Could it be that his defeat of the Sword Palace's junior sect leader Qiu Mubai had such a huge impact? Logically, that shouldn't be—the Da Yong Emperor Xue Shengkang has no reason to care about such a trifle. But if it were official business, why summon him at night? This is certainly unusual.

When they reached the west gate of Da Yong, Shi Kuan asked Hu Xiaotian to dismount; a soft sedan was already waiting inside. Shi Kuan made a gesture inviting Hu Xiaotian into the sedan. Hu Xiaotian knew the palace had many rules, so he entered and sat down; the interior was pitch black, the sedan's curtains sealed shut. Shi Kuan said: "Sir Hu, please forgive me; the palace's rules must be observed."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually, there's no need for all this trouble—just blindfold me directly."

Shi Kuan said: "Sir Hu, please calm down; after a short rest you'll be able to see Your Majesty."

Although Hu Xiaotian entered the palace alone, he wasn't afraid, for Huo Shengnan had said Shi Kuan could produce the coiled-dragon gold tablet, which surely wasn't a fraud. Having come, he might as well make himself at home; perhaps the news that he helped Prince Yan Xue Shengjing get circumcised had reached the Emperor's ears—they're not brothers, after all, maybe they share the same ailment, an unspoken difficulty, resolved by a simple cut, and thus he thought of himself.

Hu Xiaotian sat in the black sedan, regulating his breath; taking advantage of this moment, he circulated his internal energy through a full cycle, instantly feeling refreshed. Recalling his daytime battle with Qiu Mubai, it seemed the sword manual hidden inside the black iron tablet was truly the supreme sword art; if he mastered the entire set, achieving the point where he could release and retract sword qi at will, his killing power would surely increase manifold—could the scripture recorded here be the Seven Slays of Heaven? The focus of the Seven Slays of Heaven taught is not sword technique, but the way of emitting sword qi.

The sedan finally stopped; Shi Kuan waved his hand for the bearers to set down, the sedan chair lowered, and Shi Kuan personally lifted the curtain, whispering: "Sir Hu, you may come out!" Inside came a faint snore. A Golden Scale Guard brought a lantern close to the sedan door and saw Hu Xiaotian slumped inside, sleeping soundly.

Shi Kuan's voice remained as low as before, but he sent it into Hu Xiaotian's ear canal with inner strength: "Sir Hu!" The sound buzzed.

Hu Xiaotian had been feigning sleep; Shi Kuan's voice made his eardrums ring, and he inwardly cursed, "Old man, I'm not deaf—why are you blasting like that?" He pretended to be awakened, opened his eyes, and exclaimed in astonishment: "Have we arrived?"

"We have arrived!" Shi Kuan responded.

Hu Xiaotian stepped out of the sedan, stretched his arms and yawned after coming out, then said: "That nap was really comfortable." He looked toward the palace gate ahead, feigning surprise: "What place is this?"

Shi Kuan said: "The Hall of Diligent Governance!"

Hu Xiaotian saw the Hall of Diligent Governance lit up inside, light streaming through the lattice windows casting mottled shadows on the ground before the hall; four Golden Scale Guards stood motionless before the gate, like statues.

Shi Kuan had Hu Xiaotian wait outside the gate, then stepped forward toward it; he needed to first report to the Emperor before determining when to summon Hu Xiaotian. Arriving at the gate, the doors opened and a figure emerged—her posture graceful, her noble and charming bearing undimmed by the thick night: it was the Da Yong Eldest Princess Xue Lingjun.

Seeing Xue Lingjun, Hu Xiaotian's heart involuntarily leapt with joy—she was here, but he didn't know whether the Da Yong Emperor's summoning of him today had anything to do with her.

Shi Kuan respectfully bowed to Xue Lingjun and said: "Eldest Princess, how is the Emperor?"

Xue Lingjun said: "He's already asleep after taking the medicine prescribed by Physician Xu; for now, don't disturb him."

Shi Kuan acknowledged, and Xue Lingjun also saw Hu Xiaotian standing in the courtyard; a faint smile touched her lips as she lightly stepped down the stairs.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Xiaotian pays respects to the Eldest Princess."

Xue Lingjun said: "How did you come here?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart gave a start; he had thought Xue Lingjun had summoned him, but since she asked that, it must be unrelated to her. Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Even I don't know how I ended up here."

Shi Kuan approached Xue Lingjun's side and said: "May I report, Eldest Princess, it was Physician Xu who recommended this to the Emperor."

Hu Xiaotian grew even stranger: Physician Xu? How would the Da Yong's imperial physician know me? I have no connection with him; even if I'd gained some fame in Yongdu, as an imperial physician he wouldn't dare recklessly recommend me to their Emperor.

Xue Lingjun said: "The Emperor finally managed to fall asleep; for now, still don't disturb him."

Shi Kuan said to Hu Xiaotian: "Please trouble Sir Hu to wait a bit longer."

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, "They said the Emperor wanted to see me, I came rushing in the dark, and now this Xue Shengkang is asleep again and won't let me disturb him—deep in the night, am I just supposed to stand here foolishly waiting for him?" (To be continued~^~)