Chapter 78: Chapter Thirty-Two [So-Called Romance] (Part 1)

Ande Quan suddenly called out to Hu Xiaotian again: "Wait a moment!"

Hu Xiaotian stopped his steps, but saw Ande Quan take out a black box from his bosom. He had a deep memory of this black box—just now that little girl had used it to shoot him a needle. This thing made him rather jumpy, and he retreated two steps backward: "What do you want to do?"

Ande Quan said: "Don't be afraid, this is left for you for self-defense."

Only then did Hu Xiaotian understand his meaning, and he laughed with relief: "You didn't say earlier, you scared me!"

Ande Quan handed him the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needle, lowering his voice: "See the mechanism on top? Press it, and it will shoot out poison needles—one hundred at a time, and it can fire three times in succession."

Hu Xiaotian asked: "How to fire singly?" Seeing only one mechanism on top, he found it strange; just now that little girl had shot him with just a single needle.

Ande Quan gave a sinister chuckle: "Yours is far less refined than hers."

Hu Xiaotian didn't say anything else—no reason to refuse a free gift. Though it couldn't fire singly, being able to fire three times in succession also counts as having boundless power. He put away the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needle. While Ande Quan was talking with him, the little girl stood beside them the whole time. Hu Xiaotian said: "You two old-timers chat; I'll go check on the preparations."

Outside the rain had lessened considerably, turning into a light drizzle; several servants had already made ready, Murong Feiyan was tightening her raincoat, and seeing Hu Xiaotian approach, she couldn't help but ask: "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I'm kind-hearted and especially love to help others!"

Murong Feiyan looked at him with an expression of disbelief.

Hu Xiaotian knew that if he said he was doing a good deed she wouldn't believe him, so he shook the jade pendant in his hand and said: "This is my hard-earned fee!"

Murong Feiyan now understood, and she gave Hu Xiaotian a look of extreme contempt: "I should have known you weren't that kind-hearted."

Hu Xiaotian felt this stifling resentment in his heart; this brother's bellyful of grievance—who should he confide in? Thinking of the power of the Seven-Day Soul-Severing Needle, he couldn't help but feel a chill, and no matter what, he had to get past this hurdle first.

Taking advantage of the rain letting up, a group of people left Lanruo Temple and continued onward; because it was a mountain path, everyone went uphill on foot, the distant mountains stretched endlessly, like a verdant dragon flying toward the horizon, mountains piled upon peaks, layer upon layer, and like surging sea tides, huge waves clearing the sky.

The cloud layer in the sky remained low, as if one could reach out and touch it; everyone kept their heads down as they hurried, no one spoke, and in the empty valley the occasional roar of wild beasts could be heard, making the atmosphere feel very oppressive.

Shao Yijiao and Li Jin Hao led the way at the front of the group, Murong Feiyan and the little girl followed behind them, then came Hu Xiaotian, and bringing up the rear were Liang Da Zhuang and Hu Fo. The usually talkative Liang Da Zhuang finally fell silent; the beating Hu Xiaotian had given him earlier at Lanruo Temple had at least taught him a little restraint, and some things must not be spoken carelessly. If Ande Quan had not refused Hu Xiaotian's kindness, Liang Da Zhuang would still be staying at Lanruo Temple keeping company with the Senior Eunuch as he faced death.

Hu Xiaotian looked ahead; his gaze did not linger on Murong Feiyan's slender figure, but was fixed on the little girl's slightly immature back. This was not because he had any improper designs on her, but because he hated her to the point of his gums itching; from time to time he would touch the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needle at his waist, then look at his arm where a red spot the size of a copper coin had already appeared, now both itchy and painful—clearly the Seven-Day Soul-Severing Needle was genuine. Hu Xiaotian hardened his heart: if he couldn't survive, he would not bother with ladylike benevolence; he would definitely drag this little girl down as a cushion for himself. You have the Violent Rain Pear Blossom Needle, and now I have one too; if I don't make it out alive, I will surely turn you into a hornet's nest.

The road ahead suddenly narrowed, no longer wide enough for two to walk side by side, so they had to pass single file. Below lay an abyss of ten thousand fathoms; lowering their heads, they could see only clouds and mist, the depth unfathomable. The one in front, Shao Yijiao, walked with trepidation, while behind them the pack animals were led, their eyes blindfolded; if these beasts were to see the scene to the side, they would surely go mad.

Murong Feiyan walked in the middle of the group but grew slower and slower; seeing that the little girl had already moved ahead, Murong Feiyan was left far behind, and Hu Xiaotian caught up. Seeing her pretty face turn as white as paper, devoid of color, her forehead covered in cold sweat, she clenched her lower lip, her beautiful eyes filled with panic. Hu Xiaotian glanced aside and immediately understood: it turned out Murong Feiyan had a fear of heights; upon reaching this spot and seeing the ten-thousand-fathom abyss to the side, she was frightened limp, having just barely managed to hold on a moment earlier, now she couldn't even move her feet.

Hu Xiaotian moved close to her side and whispered: "Are you afraid of heights?"

Murong Feiyan nodded pitifully.

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "No way—you used to climb up and down with ease, walking on walls and roofs as if on flat ground; how did you suddenly become afraid of heights?"

Murong Feiyan's voice trembled: "How high is that, compared to… this place?" Because of her fear, her voice kept shaking.

Hu Xiaotian felt gleeful inside, having thought this girl feared neither heaven nor earth; as it turned out, she also had a weakness. Since most people's happiness is built upon others' pain, seeing Murong Feiyan like this made Hu Xiaotian happy, and he temporarily forgot that he himself had been afflicted by the Seven-Day Soul-Severing Needle.

Seeing that this guy was still gloating over her misfortune, Murong Feiyan spat angrily: "You dare laugh at me? Believe it or not, I'll kick you off the cliff..."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You can't even walk the path, yet you're saying this kind of thing, girl—actually, normal people more or less have some fear of heights; it's just psychological. As long as you overcome the mental barrier, you'll be fine afterward—don't look down, look to the left."

Murong Feiyan turned her face to look at the cliff beside her, feeling a large hand lightly support her right waist. No need to ask—aside from Hu Xiaotian, there was no one else; this jerk even at a time like this couldn't resist taking advantage of her.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Walk slowly, I'll hold you from behind—don't be afraid!"

Strangely enough, although Murong Feiyan suspected Hu Xiaotian of taking liberties, deep down she did not show much resentment or resistance to his behavior; instead, she felt much more reassured in her heart.

The mountain wind blew, clouds and mist gathered around them, shrouding this winding, steep mountain path in an intermittent veil; even though they were close, the outlines of their companions ahead became hazy.

Sparse raindrops fell on Murong Feiyan's forehead and shoulders, continually bringing her a faint, cool sensation; this feeling quickly calmed her originally uneasy heart.

Behind her, Hu Xiaotian suddenly sighed: "I really wish I could become rain!"

Murong Feiyan did not turn around, inhaled a breath of fresh, moist air, and asked curiously: "Why would you want to become rain?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I turned into rain, I could fall onto your shoulders, right?"

Murong Feiyan laughed: "Then wouldn't I end up soaked?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "In this situation, don't you think even losing your virtue would be incredibly romantic?" The "losing virtue" he meant and Murong Feiyan's getting wet are not the same thing.

At this moment Murong Feiyan also realized it; her pretty face flushed crimson, she silently cursed this jerk for being shameless and again taking advantage of her—if they were on level ground she would surely beat him until his teeth flew out, but here on the cliff edge she dared not move; the best course was to feign ignorance, pretending not to understand: "What is romance?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "This phrase comes from my hometown dialect, also called 'romantic'; romance is when it's raining and someone hands you an umbrella—romantic rain; romance is when it's cold and someone embraces you in their arms; romance is when you're happy and the person you love is by your side..."

Listening to Hu Xiaotian's words, Murong Feiyan found herself somewhat intoxicated; she slowly closed her eyes, and at this moment she suddenly grasped the meaning of the romance he described.

But then from ahead came a cold snort: "Sweet words and slick talk—using such clumsy methods to deceive Miss Murong, what ulterior motive do you actually harbor?"

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