Chapter 895: 【Bewitching Hearts】（Part 1）

The next morning, Hu Xiaotian woke up, opened his eyes, and saw that Mingsheng next door was gone; the whole cell held only him alone. He yawned; that sleep was fairly peaceful. Thinking back to last night's events, he didn't know how these monks would treat him today.

While he was pondering, he heard footsteps outside; it was Mingzheng leading two monks in. After sizing up Hu Xiaotian outside, he waved his hand and said, "Open the door!"

One of the monks opened the door.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Is this to let me go?"

Mingzheng entered, coldly staring at his eyes, and said, "Consider yourself lucky; the elder has ordered you to go back."

Hu Xiaotian said, "You let me go, I go; you tell me to go back, I go back?"

Mingzheng whispered, "Aren't you afraid we'll tell the emperor that the Eternal Life Buddha was destroyed? Then you might not be able to bear the consequences."

Hearing Mingzheng actually threaten him, Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but chuckle. He thought, Mingzheng nodded and said, "I really can't bear it; do you think Heaven Dragon Temple can? Does the emperor believe me or you? If the emperor insists you hand over the culprit who destroyed the Buddha statue, I'm afraid everyone in Heaven Dragon Temple, top to bottom, will be suspect."

You……

"What do you mean, you? As a monk, you don't understand compassion and kindness; you always wear a stern face like a widower, and you've ruined the image of Heaven Dragon Temple."

You……

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said, "Look at you; we both cultivate Buddhism, but your senior brother Mingsheng is far stronger than you. I see you spending this life just doing odd jobs in the Discipline Institute; don't even think about achieving fruition."

Mingzheng's forehead veins bulged with anger. If it weren't for the two junior disciples present, and if it weren't for the master's earlier orders, he would not let this rest with Hu Xiaotian. Suppressing his anger, he said, "After you go back, you decide what to say and what to do."

Hu Xiaotian said, "To Heaven Dragon Temple I'm just a passerby. You monks should understand that grudges are better resolved than clung to; in short, we should forge more good karma. Good deeds bring good rewards, evil brings evil rewards—not that they go unreported, but the time hasn't come yet."

Mingzheng said, "I'll take your lesson!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I have no grudge against you; though we may not become friends, we shouldn't be enemies either. My temper has always been bad—I always want to argue right from wrong. Last night you brought people to seize me here and locked me up for a night; now you say it's nothing and let me go. Do you think I'm your little monk you can summon and dismiss at will? Keeping me locked all night, you don't even have an explanation?"

Mingzheng had never before encountered such a difficult person, but his master's task was to send Hu Xiaotian back safely, avoiding a big fuss. Thinking this, he suppressed his anger and softly said, "Sir, what do you want?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Three conditions: first, prepare hot water and a new set of clothes for me to wash and change."

Mingzheng nodded, but it sounded like only two conditions.

"Second, you must apologize to me!"

"What?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Otherwise, let me lock you up for a night to settle the score."

Mingzheng's scalp tightened; he inwardly sighed at how he'd provoked this evil star, not knowing why his master wanted him to do this. After thinking, he bowed to Hu Xiaotian and said, "Hu benefactor, last night I brought you here without investigation, causing you grievance; please forgive me."

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said, "Although the sincerity is lacking, it's passable; let this matter drop. Third condition: release Mingsheng. He was punished because of me; now that I'm released, it proves the incident had nothing to do with me, so Mingsheng naturally shouldn't be punished."

"Uh…… this matter I need to consult the master before I can answer."

Hu Xiaotian impatiently waved his hand and said, "Hurry up and consult; I'm going to wash and change, and I'm hungry—get me something to eat."

The monks were both laughing and crying; this guy really pushes his luck. But since the elder agreed to let him go, they couldn't complain and had to follow Hu Xiaotian's conditions.

Hu Xiaotian took a warm bath, changed into a new monk's robe, and while eating a plain broth breakfast, saw Mingsheng walk in—indeed, after Mingzheng consulted, he had released Mingsheng.

Having all three of his requests met, Hu Xiaotian couldn't say much more; leaving the Discipline Institute with Mingsheng's company, he had originally planned to head to Split Cloud Valley, but Mingsheng asked, "Benefactor, where are you going?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said, "Call me junior brother; why, after not seeing each other for over ten days, do you suddenly act distant?"

Mingsheng embarrassedly laughed and corrected, "Junior brother, where are you headed?"

Hu Xiaotian pointed toward Split Cloud Valley and said, "The emperor ordered me to continue burning incense and chanting sutras in Split Cloud Valley for seven days; I still lack two days, so I must naturally complete the emperor's task, otherwise it would be deceiving the sovereign."

Mingsheng said, "Junior brother, you might not know, but the abbot has decided to seal and investigate the valley starting today; no one may enter."

Hu Xiaotian scratched his head; plans change. It seems Heaven Dragon Temple suspects something inside Split Cloud Valley, but investigating might not clarify what happened there. Since Abbot Tongyuan has already spoken, I see no need to provoke this hornet's nest; I'll first go to Universal Virtue Academy and inform the old emperor.

Hu Xiaotian and Mingsheng parted ways at the West Court; Mingsheng went to Five Observances Hall, while Hu Xiaotian headed to Universal Virtue Academy.

The old emperor heard he had returned and sent someone to summon him. Upon entering, Hu Xiaotian loudly said, "Your Majesty, your subject has failed to fulfill your command; I beg you to punish me." He dropped to his knees, inwardly cursing, "Old thing, nine times out of ten you're a fraud, making me kneel before you twice or thrice. Once I find your flaw, I'll make you repay principal and interest."

The old emperor asked, "How did you come back so early?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Your Majesty, it's because Heaven Dragon Temple is sealing and investigating Split Cloud Valley, so they had me cleared out early."

The old emperor frowned and asked, "Why must they clear you out?"

Hu Xiaotian didn't rush to answer; he first rubbed his knees.

The old emperor understood his meaning: "Get up!"

Hu Xiaotian hurriedly stood, smiled at him, and said, "Your subject has been kneeling day and night before the Eternal Life Buddha these past ten-odd days, chanting sutras; my knees are swollen from kneeling." This fellow's pitiful act—yet he never once knelt before the Buddha.

"I'm asking you a question," Long Xuan'en frowned impatiently.

Hu Xiaotian leaned in and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, you should remember that I told you about the disappearance in the Great Inner Palace."

"How?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "During these days in Split Cloud Valley, I've heard ghosts wailing and gods howling every day; I imagine Heaven Dragon Temple heard it too, which is why they sealed the valley to investigate."

Long Xuan'en nodded: "But they didn't need to send you back."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I think they might suspect the Great Inner Palace disappearance is related to me, or that my repeated trips into Split Cloud Valley hide some ulterior motive." Since his trips to Split Cloud Valley were all assigned by the old emperor, saying this indirectly implies Long Xuan'en has an ulterior motive.

Long Xuan'en's face showed displeasure: "You're overthinking it."

Hu Xiaotian said, "It's not that I'm overthinking; Heaven Dragon Temple is clearly on guard against us. I can determine that the Mingsheng monk at Five Observances Hall is actually assigned to monitor me. Moreover, on my way back I encountered many monks who were all wary of me—I see they're guarding not just me, but the emperor as well!"

Long Xuan'en shouted, "Bold!"

Hu Xiaotian lowered his head: "Your subject always thinks of the emperor; I hope the emperor will reconsider."

Long Xuan'en turned away, walked a few steps, and said softly, "What else happened in Split Cloud Valley? Are you hiding something from me?"

Hu Xiaotian inwardly sneered, "Trying to deceive me? The old thing is playing mind games with me—you're still lacking." He wore a look of deep thought, then after a moment said, "Nothing at all."

Long Xuan'en said, "You still dare to deceive me? Weren't you taken to the Discipline Institute last night?"

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted. How could the old emperor know so clearly? Perhaps he sent people to tail me? No, with my perception I'd surely notice those guards' tracks; moreover, those guards sneaking from the West Court into the East Hall might not escape the eyes of the Heaven Dragon Temple monks. Besides, there's Bu Wu in Split Cloud Valley—any change there wouldn't escape him. Since the old emperor said that, it shows he has firm proof; could there be his confidants among the Heaven Dragon Temple monks?

Hu Xiaotian said, "Your Majesty is sage; indeed nothing can be hidden from you." At this point he could no longer deny it.

"Why didn't you speak up?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I didn't want to worry Your Majesty."

Long Xuan'en shouted, "Outrageous! You clearly intend to deceive the sovereign!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your Majesty, my chest is full of hot blood and a loyal heart; I am loyal and devoted to the Emperor, I serve Dakang with utmost loyalty—heaven and earth can bear witness, sun and moon can attest."

Long Xuan'en glared with eyes wide open at Hu Xiaotian; Hu Xiaotian this time actually did not kneel to apologize, but instead fearlessly looked at the Dakang Emperor. Long Xuan'en glared at him for a long while, then only nodded and said: "You have some guts, no wonder Qiqi values you so much."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Your Majesty, do you still remember what you said to me back then in Lingxiao Palace?"

Long Xuan'en calmly said: "Too much time has passed; I no longer remember."

Hu Xiaotian said: "You once said that a state has only one ruler, and you asked me to serve you loyally for life."

Long Xuan'en pressed his lips, sighed, and said: "It's rare that you still remember those words."

Hu Xiaotian, hearing this reply, became even more convinced that the old emperor before him was nothing but an impostor; back then he never said such words, and I had shoved him to the ground to save Long Xi Yue, yet Long Xuan'en never mentioned it in my presence.

Hu Xiaotian said: "I dared not reply to Your Majesty at the time due to the circumstances; the Emperor grew angry and even slapped me, and even now I still feel a burning sensation on my face."

Long Xuan'en said: "As long as you remember, if you dare to deceive me, I will certainly take your head when we return."

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, "Damn you, I thought you were the Emperor, but after all this fuss you're just a stunt performer, making me kowtow to you how many times? You bastard, wait for me, whether you're Hong Beimo or Hei Beimo, I'll make you lose your bearings!" (To be continued~^~)