Chapter 748

This fight was basically provoked by La Han actively; encountering Xiong Tianba, an unreasonable character, it serves him right to be unlucky. Xiong Tianba's first punch already made his qi and blood surge, and moreover La Han had previously fought with Dong Tianjiang, expending considerable strength. Xiong Tianba's punches grew fiercer each time, showing no sign of waning strength; these three punches were all head-on clashes with La Han. La Han was shaken back repeatedly, and when he stubbornly blocked the last punch, he felt his throat heat up—pu! —another mouthful of fresh blood spurted out.

Seeing this guy spit blood, Xiong Tianba stopped advancing, stood with hands on hips, and with a big grin said to La Han: 'Damn it, think I'm easy to bully? This time I beat you till you vomit blood; next time I'll drag your head off to use as a urinal.'

La Han felt both ashamed and angry, spitting blood while shouting angrily: 'Wa ya ya ya…… I'm so angry I could die!' He drew a saber from his waist, ready to rush forward recklessly. Then he heard a gloomy voice from behind shout: 'La Han! Step back!' It was Wanyan Chixiong arriving just in time.

Wanyan Chixiong led a group of warriors striding over with tiger-like vigor, his tiger eyes blazing, his face full of anger, truly imposing and magnificent.

Hu Xiaotian used voice transmission to order Xiong Tianba to retreat, and he exchanged a glance with Zhou Mo, both understanding that keeping a low profile tonight was best.

Hu Xiaotian had fully grasped Xi Yan's entire plan; her aim was to lure Dong Tianjiang and the troops of the Hu Biao Camp here, provoking conflict between them and the Black Hu envoy. Hu Xiaotian secretly mused that Xi Yan never left her gates, so how could she know that Wanyan Chixiong and his party were staying at the Red Mountain Villa? Surely someone must be feeding her information, and even if she had an insider in the Qichen Palace, it remained uncertain. The Wuxian Sect's influence spread across the south and north of the great river; unexpectedly, in Yongdu their power was also widespread.

Wanyan Chixiong came before Dong Tianjiang, staring coldly at him; in fact there had been no prior grudge between them. Although Dong Tianjiang had once followed Grand Marshal Weichi Chong in campaigns in Bei Jiang, slaying many Black Hu soldiers, there had never been direct conflict between Wanyan Chixiong and Dong Tianjiang, and he genuinely could not fathom why Dong Tianjiang would lead troops to besiege the Red Mountain Villa and openly provoke them.

Wanyan Chixiong suppressed his anger and said: 'General Dong, you led troops late at night to besiege my Red Mountain Villa, injuring my men—what is your intention? We came here upon the invitation of the Da Yong Emperor; are you not afraid of incurring his Majesty's blame?'

Dong Tianjiang clasped his hands and said: 'Your Highness the Fourth Prince, we disturbed you at night out of necessity, because an assassin set fire to the Qichen Palace and fled all the way here.' Before coming to the Red Mountain Villa, Dong Tianjiang did not know that Wanyan Chixiong stayed there; Da Yong had arranged the Black Hu envoy's lodging at the Songtao Villa. Although Dong Tianjiang knew Wanyan Chixiong was present, he had no intention of backing down: first, tonight's situation was grave, and if he failed to find that Lan-clothed person, he might also be held accountable; second, he felt no particular awe toward this Black Hu Fourth Prince, since his own Dong family was also a prominent clan of Da Yong. His maternal aunt was an imperial consort, and he was a bona fide royal relative.

Wanyan Chixiong said: 'What do you mean, General Dong? Are you suspecting that I harbor a fugitive?'

Dong Tianjiang said: 'I have no such intention. Searching the Red Mountain Villa is also for the Fourth Prince's safety.'

Wanyan Chixiong gave a hollow chuckle: 'Thank you, General Dong, but my safety needs no worry from you.'

Dong Tianjiang stood firm: 'This is Da Yong territory; we naturally bear responsibility for the Fourth Prince's safety.'

Wanyan Chixiong sneered: 'I heard the safety of Dakang's Princess Anping is also your responsibility, yet look at her now—she died mysteriously in the Qichen Palace.'

"You?" Dong Tianjiang finally had his anger provoked by Wanyan Chixiong. He had not expected Wanyan Chixiong to be in the Red Mountain Villa, and originally he did not want to clash with him, but tonight's events at the Qichen Palace were no trivial matter—Princess Anping's corpse had been stolen from under his very eyes and then flung from a height to become a pulp; he had taken over the palace guard duty from Shi Kuan, and thereafter he must bear responsibility for whatever happened. Dong Tianjiang was no fool; his insistence on searching the Red Mountain Villa aimed to find the culprit, and even if he could not locate that Lan-clothed person, he would seek someone to shift blame onto.

Hu Xiaotian, who had been silent all along, suddenly said: 'What do you mean by that, Your Highness? My princess was killed for no clear reason, and tonight someone sneaked into the Qichen Palace to steal her corpse—that person entered the Red Mountain Villa!'

Wanyan Chixiong gave a cold snort: 'Nonsense! Are you saying my involvement with the Princess Anping's death?'

Hu Xiaotian said: 'I didn't say that; you said it yourself.'

Wanyan Chixiong said: 'This Red Mountain Villa is the Black Hu merchants' association; it's not a place you can just search. Anyone who dares set foot inside even a single step is tantamount to infringing upon Black Hu territory!'

Dong Tianjiang snapped: 'Fourth Prince, don't forget that every inch of land beneath our feet belongs to Da Yong; your Black Hu envoy should be residing in the Songtao Villa, so why are you showing up at the Red Mountain Villa?'

Wanyan Chixiong snorted coldly: 'I need not explain myself to you; where I choose to live requires no instruction from you. If you wish to search my Red Mountain Villa, fine! Produce the Da Yong Emperor's imperial edict, and I will gladly open the gates to welcome you; if not, leave at once! Anyone who dares trespass my Red Mountain Villa shall be killed on sight!' His words were spoken with absolute certainty, exuding overbearing might.

Although Dong Tianjiang had personally seen the Lan-clothed person enter the Red Mountain Villa, he still harbored reservations and dared not act rashly. Thinking it over, since most of his Hu Biao Camp's men had already arrived, if he surrounded the villa, that Lan-clothed person would find it hard to escape. Just as Dong Tianjiang was about to give the order, a faint sound of huji drifted from afar; the melody was bleak and sorrowful, carried on the night wind into everyone's ears. The previously confronting parties both fell silent, involuntarily turning to listen to the huji.

At first Hu Xiaotian heard nothing special, but upon careful listening he felt the melody was like a magical force, echoing deep in his eardrums; the mournful tune reverberated through the night sky, twisting and turning, weeping and lamenting, like a woman bitterly recounting her miserable fate, actually causing his qi and blood to churn. Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, realizing the huji sound was strange; he hurriedly focused his mind, calmed his breath, and quietly cultivated the Formless Divine Skill, forcing himself not to heed that odd sound.

If even Hu Xiaotian was thus affected, how much more so for the ordinary soldiers.

Zhou Mo also simultaneously sensed with Hu Xiaotian that the sound was odd, and he whispered a warning: 'Don't listen to that sound.'

At that very moment, from the ranks of the Black Hu troops, a cold arrow suddenly whooshed forth; it struck the throat of a Hu Biao Camp soldier, the arrowhead piercing out the back of his neck. The poor soldier couldn't even utter a sound before he collapsed backward, already dead. Then a Black Hu warrior launched the first attack, his eyes blood-red as he fixed his gaze on the Hu Biao Camp officers, his throat emitting a beast-like howl: 'Kill!'

The Hu Biao Camp officers reacted swiftly, frantically lowering their bows; before they could form ranks, another cold arrow shot into their camp, eliciting a miserable cry as another soldier was pierced through the chest by a feathered arrow, also perishing. At that moment someone in the Hu Biao Camp bellowed with grief and indignation: 'Brothers, the Black Hu have slain our brothers; let us fight them to the death!'

Dong Tianjiang had not yet grasped what was happening when his own side already had two soldiers fallen; his fury blazed, and the incessant strange huji sound stirred his grief and indignation, making him feel as if he stood on a battlefield, watching his subordinates slain; his anger boiled his blood, and he let out a roar.

Wanyan Chixiong was also bewildered; he had not ordered the archery, and did not know which scoundrel had dared to act.

Whoosh! Another cold arrow flew up, this time shot from the Hu Biao Camp toward the Black Hu. Wanyan Chixiong saw the feathered arrow aimed at himself, hastily dodged to the side; he evaded it, but a retainer behind him did not, and with a muffled 'pu!' the arrow pierced his abdomen.

The scene instantly descended into chaos, as the darkness prevented anyone from seeing clearly who was shooting arrows. At that moment someone in the crowd shouted to shoot, and archers on both sides drew their bows, nocked arrows, and fired at each other; after this volley of arrows, both sides suffered further casualties.

Dong Tianjiang's eyes turned crimson, as if a demon god possessed him; he seized his own halberd from a subordinate's hand, let out a fierce shout, and with a single stride surged forward. Facing the dozen or so Black Hu warriors advancing toward him, he swung his halberd like a windmill; its blade gleamed like molten silver poured onto the ground, and wherever his halberd passed nothing could withstand it. In moments, flesh and limbs flew everywhere, wails unceasing. More than ten Black Hu warriors who tried to block him all fell beneath his halberd.

Hu Xiaotian remained standing aside; as the saying goes, 'the bystander sees clearly, the participant is confused.' He observed both sides' movements plainly, certain that the strange huji sound could bewilder the mind, which is why the Black Hu took the initiative to attack, and after the Hu Biao Camp soldiers were shot down, his comrades' hatred and valor were fully aroused.

The huji's rhythm grew ever more urgent; at this point the melody became like wailing ghosts and howling gods, as hundreds of Hu Biao Camp officers rushed forward to storm the Red Mountain Villa. Although the Black Hu were formidable, they were outnumbered, and being on Da Yong's own territory left them lacking confidence.

The Hu Biao Camp officers already harbored enmity toward the Black Hu; seeing their brothers slain for no reason, old and new grudges surged in their hearts, and they charged heedlessly into the Red Mountain Villa.

Third Update presented, seeking Monthly Ticket, seeking Recommendation! (To be continued~^~)