Chapter 750: 【Thunder from Flat Ground】(Lower)

The garrison commander firmly believed that the blue-clad person had entered the Red Mountain Hall, and not only that, he also thought the huji sound that triggered the mutual slaughter came from inside the Red Mountain Hall. Seeing the situation escalate, Wanyan Chixiong no longer insisted as he had just done, and finally agreed to open the gates so the Da Yong side could search the Red Mountain Hall. In fact, he was also puzzled in his heart—who exactly played the huji? Compared to that, the Tiger Standard Camp was more affected by the huji sound; although some in their ranks were also controlled by the huji sound, it was not as widespread as in the Tiger Standard Camp.

The garrison commander silently cursed Wanyan Chixiong as a bastard; if he had cooperated from the start, there would not have been such heavy casualties. It is hateful that tonight, in a confused state, he lost ten of his men. Having caused so many casualties, he does not know how to explain to the court when he returns.

When the garrison commander led his men to search the Red Mountain Hall, Hu Xiaotian did not go to join the commotion. Since they had found Princess Anping's corpse, their mission was considered complete; it would be better to return early to the Qichen Palace to handle the burial. Moreover, Xi Yan has endless schemes and tricks; if she stays here and causes another incident, implicating himself would be troublesome.

The garrison commander searched the Red Mountain Hall for two full hours, almost combing every corner of the hall, yet found nothing—not even a blue-clad person, nor any suspicious figure. He did find many huji, after all this instrument is the most common among the Black Hu; still, that does not prove the huji player must be from inside the Red Mountain Hall.

The garrison commander firmly believed he had not mistaken: he clearly saw the black eagle carrying the blue-clad person enter the Red Mountain Hall, but when it left, the eagle's back was empty. However, suspicion is suspicion, and the facts are before his eyes; he cannot simply deny them.

Seeing the garrison commander's search come up empty, Wanyan Chixiong immediately seized the moral high ground, his aura becoming arrogant. He coldly snorted and said: "Garrison Commander, you baselessly surrounded the Red Mountain Hall, disturbing my tranquility, killing my men. Dare I ask, is this how Da Yong treats foreign envoys?" He bowed to Xue Daoming: "Your Highness Seventh Prince, please be my witness. Even if this matter reaches the emperor, I will certainly demand justice."

Xue Daoming glared at the garrison commander, obviously blaming him for starting this farce without solid evidence. Now it's worse—not only did they not find the so-called blue-clad person, but they were turned against by Wanyan Chixiong. This has left even him feeling somewhat passive.

Xue Daoming apologetically said: "Your Highness, I am truly sorry about tonight's incident, but Garrison Commander is merely doing his duty, following protocol, and the situation has escalated to this point. In fact, nobody wanted this." Although he publicly rebuked the garrison commander, deep down he still protected this cousin of his.

Wanyan Chixiong said: "Your Highness, I, Wanyan Chixiong, have traveled ten thousand miles for the friendship between Black Hu and Da Yong. Now I am not only falsely accused and innocent, but my brothers have been slaughtered. If I let this go, how could I face my fallen brothers? It is not that I refuse to give you face, but today's matter must certainly be settled."

The garrison commander angrily replied: "Your brothers died. Am I not also mourning many brothers? If it were not for your Black Hu people firing the first arrows, how could the clash just now have occurred?"

Neither side would yield, and the recently eased atmosphere turned tense again, swords drawn and bows strung.

Xue Daoming stepped between them, sighed, and said: "Tonight's events are indeed strange. Based on what I know, someone must have been stirring the pot. You two might calm down first, bury the fallen brothers, and as for the cause of tonight's clash, I will personally investigate and will certainly give both sides an explanation."

Wanyan Chixiong coldly snorted: "Good! I will give Seventh Prince this face. Within three days, I hope you can clarify everything; otherwise, do not blame me for being ruthless."

Hearing his words so overbearing and domineering, the garrison commander could not help but flare with anger, about to retort, but was stopped by Xue Daoming's fierce gaze; he could only swallow his resentment.

Dawn arrived; the once exquisite Qichen Palace was now a mess of ruin. Hu Xiaotian placed the bundle containing Princess Anping's corpse into the jade coffin. Zhou Mo and Xiong Tianba together closed the coffin lid. Recalling the scene outside the Red Mountain Hall gate last night, the three felt lingering fear. Often, victory is not determined by martial skill; although the garrison commander's martial arts are strong, his mind was controlled by the huji sound then, and he still lost his nature.

Xiong Tianba said: "That flute sound is truly eerie; I felt nothing at first, but as I listened, my heart grew uneasy, as if everyone before me were mortal enemies I could not coexist with, and I wanted to kill them all. If not for my master and third uncle stopping me in time, I do not know what rash thing I might have done."

Zhou Mo sighed: "Little bear, you guard the princess's coffin; I and your third uncle will go inside to have a look."

Hu Xiaotian and Zhou Mo entered the dilapidated palace chambers; the luxurious chambers where Princess Anping once lived now only have broken walls and ruins. Hu Xiaotian looked up, saw the large hole in the roof, recalled last night's astonishing sight of a bat-formed fire pillar swooping down, and secretly sighed: Xi Yan's power exceeds what he had imagined.

Zhou Mo said: "If we had not stopped the bear boy last night, perhaps Wanyan Chixiong would already be dead."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Some things are fated by heaven; when we stopped the bear boy, a sudden thunderclap rang out from flat ground, and that thunder helped the garrison commander break free from the huji sound's control." Although Hu Xiaotian also understands that, when he stopped the bear boy, he inevitably affected the garrison commander to some extent; otherwise Xi Yan would not have used sound transmission to blame him for ruining her great plan. Xi Yan's disguise technique has reached perfection; she should have been nearby then, perhaps mixed among the Tiger Standard Camp soldiers, and he lacks the ability to recognize her. If Xi Yan was nearby, then the huji player must be someone else; at that time, the huji sound came from a distance away from the confrontation site.

"Is it all her doing?" Zhou Mo gazed ahead, his eyes falling where the princess's jade bed once lay, now empty.

Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly, of course understanding that the "she" Zhou Mo referred to is undoubtedly Xi Yan.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Regardless, we have suffered no loss; after last night's events, Wanyan Chixiong has gained another enemy."

Zhou Mo said: "I always have an ominous feeling; third brother, we must leave Yongdu quickly, lest unexpected troubles arise, and the night brings too many dreams."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It is time to go…"

At that moment, a commotion came from outside; Hu Xiaotian and Zhou Mo went out together, only to see Seventh Prince Xue Daoming and the garrison commander returning to the Qichen Palace. Everyone's faces were grim; Xue Daoming walked straight to the jade coffin, face full of sorrow, hand resting on the lid, grief-stricken. The garrison commander wanted to go over to console him, took a step forward, but Xue Daoming waved his hand: "You need not attend to me; let me be alone for a while."

When the Seventh Prince spoke, everyone understood he wished to be alone with the princess's coffin to mourn this ill‑fated princess.

Hu Xiaotian also withdrew with the crowd, thinking about whose bones lie in this coffin; even if Seventh Prince Xue Daoming is heartbroken, it would be in vain, for Xi Yan, that demoness, has employed the golden cicada shedding its shell ploy.

Upon reaching outside, the garrison commander strode up to Hu Xiaotian, clasped his fists and said: "Sir Hu, last night we owe you thanks!"

Hu Xiaotian replied: "General Xue, what brings this on? I have done nothing."

The garrison commander said: "Do not hide it from Sir Hu; during the melee I was confused by the huji sound, and if not for your loud shout to stop then, I fear I would have remained lost and unable to recover my nature. I still wonder: in martial prowess I should surpass Sir Hu, why was I not controlled by the huji sound while I lost my nature? Evidently, the huji player's main target then was me and the Tiger Standard Camp soldiers."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian believe the garrison commander truly awoke thanks to his shout; at that time his aim was to stop Xiong Tianba, yet he inadvertently woke the garrison commander—no wonder Xi Yan blamed him for spoiling her grand scheme.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Last night's events were indeed strange; that huji sound can actually make one lose one's nature."

The garrison commander coldly said: "This matter must be related to the Black Hu people; Sir Hu, you do not know that Black Hu has a group of mysterious shamans who specialize in various ways to make people lose their nature. On the battlefield I have once suffered their wicked tricks; yesterday I was merely careless, otherwise I would not have been controlled by that sound."

Hu Xiaotian sighed sadly: "Who would be so vicious? The princess is already dead, why still desecrate her corpse?" Hu Xiaotian of course knows the true culprit behind all this is Xi Yan.

Mentioning this, the garrison commander also felt a darkening in his heart; he is victorious in every battle, yet this simple task assigned by his aunt ended in such a disaster—this blunder is truly heavy. He lowered his voice: "Sir Hu, rest assured; even if I have to search all of Yongdu, I will ferret out the mastermind."

At that moment a report arrived: Consort Shu and Princess Xue Lingjun had come, accompanied by the Minister of Rites Sun Weiyuan. Originally the affair of Princess Anping's assassination had already left the Da Yong side embarrassed; because of this, the officer in charge of guarding, Hou Shengnan, had been temporarily jailed, yet unexpectedly, just as the garrison commander and his Tiger Standard Camp took over this post, the princess's corpse was snatched. Although the corpse was eventually recovered, it was already mashed into pulp, and in terms of etiquette Da Yong has utterly lost the argument.

Daily outbreaks have become routine; this outbreak will also be seen as natural. Two updates, everyone will think Zhangyu is slacking; this month only twenty days have passed, there is really no reason to slack, we must burst forth, we must seek votes—old rule: two updates guaranteed, fifty monthly tickets per update! Zhangyu continues to strive, wishing everyone a happy 520; happy as you are, don't forget to read, and after reading, don't forget to vote! (To be continued~^~)