Chapter 881

Zuo Tang wanted to laugh but couldn't no matter what, standing there dazed like an idiot.

The other three guards hurriedly helped up their two companions; Hu Xiaotian's performance just now had already made them tremble with fear.

Hu Xiaotian didn't even glance at those six subordinates, his eyes fixed on the approaching group of monks.

Tongji came before him, palms together, and said, "You must be Lord Hu; I heard Lord Hu suddenly went missing, and we've been searching everywhere for you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Sorry to trouble you, venerable monks."

Tongji sized up Hu Xiaotian from head to toe, said nothing more, and slowly walked over to the guard Hu Xiaotian had blasted into the tree; the guard's left arm was dislocated, and he was groaning in pain. Tongji reached out and lightly tapped his shoulder, and the dislocated joint snapped back into place instantly. Hu Xiaotian secretly praised, the monk's reduction technique is excellent; even if he didn't hang out a shingle as a doctor, he'd never lack food and drink for the rest of his life.

After finishing that, Tongji didn't linger, leading the Discipline Court monks away quietly.

Hu Xiaotian coldly stared at the six guards who had overstepped their bounds; his killing intent made them shiver. Zuo Tang stammered, "Commander Sir… I… we were only following orders… Your Majesty…"

Hu Xiaotian gave a grim smile and said, "What's your status? Would the Emperor see you so casually? Speak! Who ordered you to do this?"

Once one feels the opponent can easily take one's life, fear arises from the heart. Zuo Tang said, "Although we've never had the chance to see the Emperor, what Elder Brother Qi says is never wrong." That sentence amounted to selling out Qi Daine.

Hu Xiaotian nodded; Elder Brother Qi, that is Qi Daine—these guards dared to overstep because Qi Daine had been egging them on behind the scenes. And Qi Daine had Mu Rongzhan backing him up. Thinking of this, killing intent flared in Hu Xiaotian's heart. He suddenly realized he was different today; his bloodlust had become unprecedentedly strong. Though the few guards had offended him, they didn't deserve death, yet he felt an urge to slaughter them all. If it weren't for Discipline Court's Tongji happening to pass by just now, those six would likely already be corpses on the spot.

Yuan Kong monk's lifetime of martial power had been completely absorbed by me; although I cannot wield it freely, now if we speak of inner strength, few in the world can match it. Hu Xiaotian clearly realized. Perhaps his violent impulses are also related to having absorbed Yuan Kong's power.

By now, Zuo Tang had already taken off his monk's robe; knowing the times makes a hero, nothing is more important than one's life. He held out the robe with both hands to Hu Xiaotian and said, "Commander Sir, please put this on first."

Hu Xiaotian took a deep breath, reminding himself to stay calm, ripped off his tattered monk's robe and tossed it aside, then put on Zuo Tang's robe. He whispered, "Where is this place?"

"This place isn't far from the Five Observances Hall, Commander Sir—don't you remember? It's where we draw water."

Hu Xiaotian gave an "oh" and said, "Let's go back first and talk later."

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's emotions settle, the six guards finally relaxed a bit; several accompanied him back to the Five Observances Hall. After Hu Xiaotian returned to his room, someone quietly went to the Puxian Institute to report the news.

Hu Xiaotian returned to his room, bolted the door from inside, and the first thing he had to do was examine his meridians. He focused his mind and steadied his breath; his internal energy slowly stirred from the dantian. In the Dantian Qi Sea, it surged like waves, an unprecedentedly vast internal force scouring his dantian. These surging tides were alien true qi unwilling to be bound by him. Practicing the Void Grand Method to its end would inevitably lead to qi deviation, but Hu Xiaotian was already riding a tiger he couldn't dismount, having absorbed so much alien true qi. If he didn't promptly circulate his energy to suppress it, he would soon face a backlash from that alien qi, and die even sooner.

Hu Xiaotian tightly closed his eyes, carefully circulating the Void Grand Method. In his mind's eye he seemed to see a phantom of the Dantian Qi Sea: the vast alien true force formed a boundless, surging ocean, dark clouds gathering, turbid waves towering, frenzied violent waves striving to break free from the space of the Dantian Qi Sea.

Given Hu Xiaotian's current meridians, they originally couldn't withstand such overbearing internal force. However, his internal energy was first drawn away by Yuan Kong, equivalent to Yuan Kong filtering it once; then he reabsorbed a small portion himself, after which Yuan Kong drew it back again. This back-and-forth meant Yuan Kong had used the Void Grand Method to help him eliminate much of the recoil force. Only after several filtrations was Hu Xiaotian able to fully absorb it into his body. From this perspective, it was precisely Yuan Kong's presence that saved Hu Xiaotian's life. If Hu Xiaotian had directly absorbed Yuan Kong's internal energy into his body, it would surely have clashed with the earlier corpse's internal energy, and he might have been instantly backlashed by alien true qi, dying from qi deviation.

Within the Dantian Qi Sea, huge waves surged; lightning leapt amid the dark clouds, and at the sea's center a vortex finally formed. The violent waves were swept up by the vortex, and Hu Xiaotian's breathing adjustment this time proceeded smoothly—no longer did his internal energy run wild, uncontrolled, crashing and expanding outward as it had the previous night. After completing one circuit, he felt the sea within calm down; the surging waves, following the vortex, turned into azure clouds, then into fine mist that seeped into his meridians throughout his body. Thereafter the dark clouds dispersed, the red sun rose, and for a moment clouds glowed and rosy light spread; his entire Dantian Qi Sea became bright and clear.

Hu Xiaotian circulated his internal energy once more through his meridians, feeling no stagnation. Not only did fatigue and pain disappear, but his bones, muscles, and every part of his body brimmed with vigorous vitality and unprecedented strength.

Opening his eyes, he realized his clothes were completely soaked with sweat. Hu Xiaotian found a clean monk's robe, changed into it, opened the door and stepped outside. The sun shone brightly, bathing him in light; he felt as if reborn, and drew a deep breath of fresh, rain-washed air.

Yet he saw his subordinates staring at him from afar, each gaze filled with awe, none daring to approach. Surely his earlier strike had awed Zuo Tang and the other six, and the news had spread through their talk.

At that moment footsteps sounded outside the door; Hu Xiaotian easily judged there were three people. Indeed, it was Qi Daine leading two guards to the Five Observances Hall to fetch the Emperor's lunch.

Qi Daine took the opportunity while the two guards went to fetch lunch, smiling as he approached Hu Xiaotian and said, "Commander Sir, you're back—where have you been this whole day and night? We've been worried sick."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "You're perfectly fine and alive."

Qi Daine gave an embarrassed laugh, "Commander Sir, you're joking." He leaned close to Hu Xiaotian's ear and whispered, "The Emperor has heard about your affairs, thunderously furious, and ordered us to drag you back; we're in a tough spot too."

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brow, covered his nose, and said, "Stay away from me, your breath stinks!"

Qi Daine never expected him to say such a thing; in front of so many, his expression was extremely embarrassed, and a group of guards hearing it struggled not to laugh—this deputy commander really gave no face.

The two guards brought out the food containers.

Hu Xiaotian coldly said, "Who let you come fetch the lunch?"

The two guards simultaneously turned their gazes to Qi Daine.

Hu Xiaotian said, "By imperial decree, all of the Emperor's meals must be personally delivered by us to the Puxian Institute, then handed over to Eunuch Yin; your duty is the Emperor's safety within the Puxian Institute—this doesn't seem to be your responsibility."

Qi Daine said, "Commander Sir, you weren't missing, so…"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Are you perhaps hoping I'd go missing, or even disappear forever?"

Qi Daine laughed, "Lord Hu, please don't say that; I've always been very concerned about you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Since the meals are in your hands, then fine—you'll bear responsibility for any mishap."

Seeing Hu Xiaotian's imposing aura, Qi Daine felt a spark of anger rise in his chest, and he said calmly, "Since we've come, we naturally can shoulder this responsibility; Commander Sir, you needn't worry." He then added, "Lord Hu, the Emperor summons you to see him now!" That was his true purpose for coming this time.

Hu Xiaotian didn't take Qi Daine seriously, but since Qi Daine had left the imperial capital he had repeatedly schemed against him behind the scenes—this could not be tolerated. Although the true instigator was Mu Rongzhan, recalling that the month of the ancient Buddha's green lamp had only just begun, if he didn't give Qi Daine a lesson, the other guards might not submit either. Suddenly, Hu Xiaotian felt the urge to quietly eliminate Qi Daine. As soon as that thought arose, he realized his killing intent had become extremely heavy; absorbing Yuan Kong's internal energy had also subtly altered his temperament.

Hu Xiaotian secretly reminded himself he must control his mindset; if he couldn't properly manage these alien true qi, he would become their captive, lose reason, and possibly do unimaginably crazy things.

Hu Xiaotian arrived at the Puxian Institute; Yin Zheng saw him coming and couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. Hu Xiaotian had been missing a day and night, which also worried him a little; Yin Zheng held Hu Xiaotian's future in high regard and certainly didn't want him to vanish for no reason.

Yin Zheng glanced at the two food containers Qi Daine had brought and said, "His Majesty doesn't want to eat; just leave them here for now." Then he waved at Hu Xiaotian and said, "The Emperor is sitting in the courtyard; when Commander Hu arrives, go see him."

Hu Xiaotian followed Yin Zheng to the rear courtyard; Yin Zheng whispered, "Big Brother, where have you been all this day and night? Little Brother is worried sick."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "I took care of a few small matters for the Emperor."

Only then did Yin Zheng realize Hu Xiaotian's absence was due to handling business for the Emperor, so he stopped asking and quietly reminded him, "The Emperor's mood today seems not good; watch what you say."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, inwardly glad to have such a capable junior; Eunuch Yin is slick and adaptable, having navigated two emperors' courts like a fish in water. Thinking further, if Ji Feihua suspects that the old emperor who came to Tianlong Temple this time is actually Hong Beimo in disguise, then Yin Zheng is likely one of Hong Beimo's men, and we must guard against this kid as well.

Please follow Zhangyu's public account Stonesquid (to be continued…~^~)