Chapter 757: [Prince Yan Manor Banquet] (Part 1)

Hu Xiaotian shook his head like a rattle drum: "You must never come to me for this; it's not that I don't want to help you, but stealing chickens and dogs is definitely not my forte. If it's about fraud and deceit, I can manage."

Xi Yan said: "I'm not asking you to do it yourself; I just want you to accompany me. A girl doing this kind of thing is naturally a little afraid."

Hu Xiaotian thought she'd never be scared—she seemed afraid of nothing. After all he'd struggled to build his present situation, Xi Yan now actually wanted to drag him into thievery. If they succeeded, fine; but if they were caught or exposed, he'd be in big trouble.

Xi Yan said: "What are you afraid of? Your talent for escaping is unmatched under heaven."

Hu Xiaotian knew her flattery was just to lure him in, and he laughed: "I'm not afraid; I'm afraid of dragging you down."

Xi Yan said: "If I insist on making you go, you have no choice."

Hu Xiaotian silently sighed; Zhou Mo was right—he never gained any advantage before her. This demoness was too cunning, as if she had him figured out.

Xi Yan said: "But I'm not unreasonable; let's discuss terms."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I love to hear that."

If you help me accomplish this, I'll tell you a secret.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Empty words aren't proof; you'd better tell me first to see if it's worth it."

Xi Yan said: "Do you know who wants Princess Anping dead?"

Hu Xiaotian instantly perked up, leaning closer to Xi Yan: "Come on, tell me!"

Xi Yan said: "It's not Xue Daoming!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "How do you know?"

Xi Yan said: "I tampered a little with Xue Daoming."

Hu Xiaotian suddenly understood—no wonder Xue Daoming had acted so out of character; after visiting Xi Yan he'd abruptly become a lovestruck fool. After Princess Anping's assassination, his grief was no act; it turned out Xi Yan had been pulling the strings. Hu Xiaotian lowered his voice: "Did you poison him?"

Xi Yan said: "Just a few petty tricks; since you won't let me kill him, I can only give him a mild punishment."

Hu Xiaotian frowned, wondering what kind of method could be so powerful. Suddenly he recalled the legendary love gu; supposedly, once planted, it makes the victim utterly devoted to the planter. He asked: "Is it a love gu?"

Xi Yan smiled, her blossom-like dimples showing: "Pretty close."

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a breath of cold air.

Xi Yan said: "You're afraid, huh?"

Hu Xiaotian feigned calm: "What am I afraid of?"

Xi Yan said: "Aren't you afraid I'll get angry and do the same to you? Then you'll never dare oppose me again."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If you really used that method on me, what difference would there be between me and a walking corpse?"

Afraid? Then just obey.

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I became like that, what point would there be? Even if I obeyed you completely, you'd only feel bored. Hey, you've surely thought about it yourself. Perhaps you've already gone through a fierce inner struggle, but after all this thinking, I'm still the most interesting to you."

Xi Yan spat: "A horse doesn't know its own face length."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Was it you who played the huji that night?" He shook his head: "Doesn't sound like it; seems like someone else."

Xi Yan said: "You're sharp!"

I just can't figure out how Dong Tianjiang could be controlled by you; logically his martial arts are far superior to mine.

Xi Yan said: "I never actually planned to control him. He just rashly barged into my chambers; when the fire and explosion happened, smoke and dust filled the air. He'd inevitably inhale a lot of it, and if I'd slipped some powder in there, he wouldn't suspect a thing."

Hu Xiaotian said: "I inhaled it too!"

Xi Yan said: "That's why you're a total freak—those mind‑controlling drugs don't work on you, and even the Soul‑Losing Melody has no effect."

Hu Xiaotian understood why he'd repeatedly escaped assassination: first, he'd cultivated the Formless Divine Skill; second, his consumption of the Wind and Cloud Fruit was inevitably linked. No wonder Dong Tianjiang had been bewildered by the huji's sound, lost his reason, and together with the Tiger Banner Battalion's soldiers launched an attack on the Black Barbarians. He whispered: "Just who was the one playing the huji?"

Xi Yan smiled: "You're really curious, but I can only tell you—he's my fellow disciple."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Man or woman?"

Xi Yan giggled: "More handsome than you, smarter than you!"

Hu Xiaotian gulped down the cup of wine in one go: "I'm jealous!"

Xi Yan's pretty face flushed; she looked shy yet alluring, her charming demeanor only making her more lovable. She cooed: "I just love seeing you jealous."

Hu Xiaotian pointed at the wine jug: "Please bring me a jug of vinegar instead—I'll drink it right now for you to see."

Xi Yan giggled, her laughter making the blossoms tremble; being with Hu Xiaotian, this guy always manages to cheer her up.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Seriously, when do you plan to make your move?"

Xi Yan said: "Tonight at the Prince Yan mansion banquet, we'll sneak in together."

Hu Xiaotian said: "What?" He hadn't expected Xi Yan to act so soon.

Xi Yan said: "Don't startle like that—it's just the Prince Yan's manor, not some dragon's pool or tiger's den. Do you really need to be this scared?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Tell me your plan—how do we get in?"

Xi Yan said: "You don't need to worry about it; I have my own way."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Let's be clear up front—if you keep this secret from me again, I won't have any part in it."

Xi Yan glared at him: "You've got a temper, but there's really nothing to keep secret—we'll just walk in openly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Wouldn't that be exposing ourselves?"

Xi Yan said: "What's there to fear? We do have invitations—tonight the Prince Yan mansion is hosting guests, all big names from Da Yong's collecting world, a mixed crowd of all sorts. The mansion's guards can't possibly know everyone, so as long as we have the invites we'll get in smoothly."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Where are the invites?"

Xi Yan smiled, pulling an invitation from her sleeve—sure enough, it was the invitation to tonight's Prince Yan mansion banquet.

Hu Xiaotian frowned—Xue Shengjing had just seen him off to the Ministry of Justice without mentioning this, even saying he'd specially come to see him off. The ready-made banquet hadn't invited him either. But after Hu Xiaotian had ruthlessly cut Xue Shengjing today, he guessed the man was still smarting from it. Hu Xiaotian habitually rubbed the jade pixiu he'd just acquired.

Xi Yan's gaze fell on the pixiu, her beautiful eyes lighting up: "Not bad, this pixiu."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's a wealth‑bringing item, for good luck. Xue Shengjing gave it to me as a gift; if you like it, I'll pass it on to you."

Xi Yan gave a sweet smile, two adorable dimples appearing on her pretty face, and she actually reached out her hand.

Hu Xiaotian unhesitatingly took off the jade pixiu and placed it in Xi Yan's crystal‑clear jade‑like hand; Xi Yan held the pixiu in her palm, examined it, saw many speckled cloud‑like inclusions within the translucent jade, and murmured: "Looks like rain is coming."

Hu Xiaotian blinked in surprise, glanced out the window—outside the sun was still blazing high.

Xi Yan said: "This jade pixiu is also called the rain-avoiding pixiu. It can foretell the weather's yin and yang, cold and warmth; it is a priceless treasure, to say its worth rivals a city is not an overstatement."

Hu Xiaotian then recalled what Xue Shengjing had said to him earlier; could it be that this jade pixiu truly has the function of forecasting the weather?

Xi Yan said: "Such a precious thing you give me, are you really not feeling any pain?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "A precious sword goes to a warrior; cosmetics to a lovely lady. A thousand gold cannot buy a beauty's smile; as long as you're happy, what's a mere stone?"

Xi Yan's smile blossomed like a flower. But suddenly she put on a stern face, threw the jade pixiu to Hu Xiaotian: "You're the one selling laughs. Do you think I can't tell you're mocking me?"

Hu Xiaotian was both laughing and crying; he picked up the pixiu and looked at it, and indeed saw the speckled turbidity inside. At that moment a dark cloud covered the scorching sun. In an instant the sky dimmed, a spring rain was about to fall. Unexpectedly this jade pixiu truly is a treasure; since Xi Yan does not want it, Hu Xiaotian re-hangs it on himself.

Xi Yan said: "If you truly want to give me a gift, another day paint me a portrait, would that be alright?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Good!"

Xi Yan said: "Come on, while the rain hasn't fallen yet, let's go prepare."

"Where are we going to prepare?"

"There is a place."

Gazing at his reflection in the mirror, Hu Xiaotian could hardly believe his current appearance; he looked exactly like a middle-aged man, with fair skin, a face like a full moon, appearing somewhat like a merchant. Hu Xiaotian touched his face—after all, it was a human-skin mask, which felt somewhat numb—he grinned at his reflection, baring his teeth; the expression in the mirror was utterly natural, showing no flaw.

Xi Yan walked out from the inner room, having finished changing her attire; she was still a youthful maiden, though not as stunningly beautiful as her true appearance, she was nonetheless lively, charming, playful, and cute, her originally oval face now turned into a small round face, red and plump like an apple.

Hu Xiaotian was utterly impressed by Xi Yan's disguise skills, noticing she still held something in her hand: "What is it?"

Xi Yan laughed: "Belly!"

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize that Xi Yan had him disguise as a fat man—the identity of this fat man being Hai Dasheng, the richest man of Da Yong Sea Mausoleum Commandery—and Xi Yan was disguising as his daughter, Hai Xiaohong.

Hu Xiaotian took off his upper garment, revealing a strong, muscular build; this guy was quite pleased with his physique, not forgetting to strike a couple of poses for Xi Yan to admire.

Xi Yan fastened the big belly onto his body; Hu Xiaotian touched the belly, feeling it soft, not much different from real skin, but extremely heavy, he exclaimed in astonishment: "What exactly have you stuffed inside this?"

Xi Yan laughed: "Entering the prince's residence will involve inspections; if we want to bring in some necessary tools, we have to rely on this big belly." She fastened the belly onto Hu Xiaotian's body; he roughly estimated it weighed at least thirty catties, but Xi Yan didn't fear he would tire.

With the belly in place, Hu Xiaotian put on his long robe again, came before the mirror and turned around; seeing the portly middle-aged man in the reflection, he could hardly recognize his former self.

Xi Yan walked over and actively linked her arm with his, speaking softly: "You must remember, from now on you are Hai Dasheng, and I am your daughter, Hai Xiaohong."

Hu Xiaotian cleared his throat and said: "Daughter!"

"Ah!"

"Call out 'dad' and let us hear it!"

Today's monthly tickets are a bit few; although it's the weekend, I hope everyone votes more, support Zhangyu! (To be continued~^~)