Chapter 896: Bewitching Hearts (Part 2)

Hu Xiaotian received a scolding at the Universal Virtue Hall, but the Laohuangdi merely scolded him, there was no substantive punishment; Hu Xiaotian returned from the Universal Virtue Hall to the Five Observances Hall, a group of Guards gathered around, asking after his well-being, the palace interior went missing, these guards instantly lost their backbone, and furthermore, after Hu Xiaotian revealed his strength, he had already successfully intimidated these guards.

Zuo Tang was the quickest to shift his stance; seeing Hu Xiaotian beam with delight, he rushed ahead of everyone and said, 'Sir Hu, you're back—are you tired? Why don't I help you beat your back and rub your feet?'

Hu Xiaotian unexpectedly did not refuse, nodded, and Zuo Tang immediately had someone fetch hot water.

Hu Xiaotian, surrounded by a group of people, returned to his room; someone immediately brought a basin of hot water, Hu Xiaotian soaked his feet in it, and Zuo Tang had already come behind him to beat his back and rub his shoulders, being extremely attentive.

A Guard said, 'Sir, was it arduous for you in the Cloud-Splitting Valley?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'It was quite arduous, but it is the Emperor's order—even if it were more arduous, the Zajia must still do it!' He inadvertently blurted out a eunuch's line.

A group of Guards wanted to laugh but dared not, feeling extremely strained; Hu Xiaotian self-deprecatingly said, 'In the past, I went undercover in the palace by imperial decree; after too long, I almost forgot I was a normal person—there are probably few who, like me, first became a eunuch and then a monk.'

Zuo Tang said, 'Sir, your loyal courage is admirable; we will surely take you as our model and learn from you as much as possible.'

'What is there to learn from me? We can experience the monastic life together; if you want to become a eunuch, I can even coordinate with Eunuch Quan.'

Zuo Tang turned pale with fright, hastily saying, 'Subordinate dares not, subordinate dares not; looking across the world, few have your gall, Sir.' This fellow ran around to the front and squatted down, beginning to wash Hu Xiaotian's feet. Hu Xiaotian looked at these obsequious Guards, inwardly sighing, 'Changes really happen fast; if I lose power, I fear they'll turn on me faster than flipping a book—this is reality. Worldly sentiments are fickle, human feelings warm and cold; if you want people to always treat you as a patriarch and provide for you, you must have capital that earns their respect and the power to intimidate them.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Are you all familiar with the eight Guards attending the Emperor?'

The surrounding Guards shook their heads simultaneously: 'Chief Sir, they are all persons of Mr. Hong from the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau; we cannot say we are familiar with them.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Protecting the Emperor in close attendance was originally our responsibility; now they have taken over our nest. Those who know understand what's happening, while those who don't still think we, the Imperial Guards, are incompetent, and the Emperor fundamentally distrusts us.'

Zuo Tang raised his head: 'Indeed, a few days ago a Guard came to interrogate us in every possible way. His attitude was arrogant, as if the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau considered itself superior to us—truly depressing.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Brothers, continuing like this is no solution. The reason we became Imperial Guards is that our duty is to personally protect the Emperor at his side. Now all our duties have been taken over by others; surely the Emperor believes we lack the ability to guarantee his safety—I think our dismissal from the Imperial City is not far off.'

A group of Guards, hearing this, all felt Hu Xiaotian made sense. One said, 'Sir, I've long felt this is off—the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau is trying to kick us out of our livelihood!' That remark instantly aroused the Guards' mutual hatred against a common enemy. Although everyone knows the principle that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, each still strives to get close to the Emperor for greater profit, the higher the risk, the greater the reward; actually, close personal protection of the Emperor isn't that risky. Since Dakang's founding, which emperor has died by assassination? The closer to the Emperor, the safer; even if there are assassins, the outer Feather Forest Army dies first.

Moreover, merely serving as an ordinary Guard beside the Emperor already earns them considerable respect from outsiders; while in the Emperor's presence they are servants, once they leave the palace they all swagger with pride. If their positions were completely taken over by the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau, it would mean all their past benefits are gone. Involving their vital interests, how could these Guards not be anxious?

For a moment, passions ran high, everyone indignant; ultimately all eyes turned to Hu Xiaotian: 'Chief Sir, what should we do? We will follow your lead.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Actually, when I first arrived at the Heaven Dragon Temple, I was strict with you—not because I deliberately targeted you, but because I noticed you lacked any sense of crisis, each of you still leisurely content; I am worried for you. If the Imperial Guards were replaced by others, at worst I would quit this deputy chief position—but what about you?'

A group of Guards lowered their heads, their mood turning heavy. Zuo Tang, while vigorously massaging Hu Xiaotian's feet, said, 'Sir, we are foolish; only now do we understand your painstaking efforts. From now on, we swear to follow you unto death—if you let us go east, we will absolutely not go west.'

'Exactly!' a group of Guards chorused in agreement.

'Sir, tell us what to do! We will obey you.'

Hu Xiaotian wanted exactly this effect; he smiled faintly and said, 'The key to keeping our livelihood lies with the Emperor—if we can restore his trust in us, no one could replace us.'

'Sir, please elaborate further.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Regaining trust may not be easy; as I have heard, someone is slandering us before the Emperor, claiming we are nothing but deaf men's ears—mere decoration!'

'How outrageous!' a group of Guards exclaimed, filled with righteous indignation.

Zuo Tang said, 'It must be the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau slandering us; since they can do the first of the month, we can also do the fifteenth—worst case, we'll spread rumors detrimental to them.'

Hu Xiaotian looked at him with contempt: 'That's all you're capable of; they are beside the Emperor, and whatever they say he will surely believe, while we can hardly even see the Emperor's face—do you think the Emperor would believe what you say?'

Zuo Tang was speechless, only able to devote all his effort to Hu Xiaotian's feet.

Moreover, his foot‑kneading technique is actually not bad; Hu Xiaotian grinned in comfort and whispered, 'I just don't believe they have no faults; as soon as we uncover their negligence and mistakes, I will fiercely impeach them before the Emperor, leaving them unable to get by.'

'But how can we catch their faults?'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'They have eight, while we have a hundred; as long as the brothers keep their eyes peeled and watch their every move, I don't believe we can't catch their faults.'

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Zuo Tang, I entrust this to you; you must be extremely careful and cautious, and absolutely must not leak our discussion.'

Everyone declared, 'Sir, rest assured, we will under no circumstances spread this matter.'

Hu Xiaotian said, 'Remember, we share weal and woe; as long as you work with me wholeheartedly, you will surely suffer no loss.'

For three straight days they passed in peace; the Laohuangdi no longer sought fault with Hu Xiaotian, and the Heaven Dragon Temple side did not continue to pursue the matter of the Cloud-Splitting Valley, yet Hu Xiaotian sensed that beneath the surface calm, undercurrents were stirring.

Recently, the monks of the West Courtyard have been replaced by many unfamiliar faces; though their numbers haven't increased, Hu Xiaotian could tell from their gait and aura that these monks are no ordinary folk. It seems the Heaven Dragon Temple has grown suspicious of the Emperor's purpose for this visit and is taking precautions.

Hu Xiaotian had his subordinate Guards investigate the duty schedule of Long Xuan'en's personal guards, and meanwhile marked out the environmental map of the West Courtyard; actually this was to fulfill his promise to Bu Wu—with many hands, the task that previously required great effort from him alone progressed swiftly, and in three days the map had been considerably improved. However, regarding the Sutra Pavilion, it remains a blank; although their location is close to the Sutra Pavilion, that area is heavily guarded, and even ordinary monks are forbidden entry.

Besides his necessary daily activities, Hu Xiaotian spent most of his time training, especially in Tendon Changing Bone Shifting and altering his appearance—concealing his identity was crucial for him. That night, with a light drizzle, he finally seized a suitable opportunity; in the early hours he quietly left his room, those Guards already asleep in the neighboring room, Hu Xiaotian leapt onto the roof, looked all around—he could see in the dark and his vision was exceptionally sharp, the rain was not heavy, and no one guarded the perimeter of the Five Observances Hall. Hu Xiaotian sprang upward, inhaled, then rose another three zhang or more, then plunged downward from midair, gliding through the rainy night like a great bird; his target, however, was not the Sutra Pavilion but the Universal Virtue Hall.

Gliding over twenty-plus zhang, his toes lightly tapped the treetops and his body rose again; Hu Xiaotian had mastered the secrets of the Art of Soaring—with each inhale and exhale he could cultivate while ascending and gliding. In midair his joints cracked, after more than ten successive rises and falls he had burrowed into a massive camphor tree; at this point his body had shrunk considerably, his back and chest protruding, making him look like a hunchback, his facial muscles sunken, appearing skin and bone, utterly grotesque. During the earlier glide, Hu Xiaotian had already completed Tendon Changing Bone Shifting and altering his appearance. Tonight he intends to sneak into the Universal Virtue Hall to see what secret the Laohuangdi harbors and who is impersonating him.

In the distance, a pair of Guards walked along the small path surrounding the Universal Virtue Hall; they were the Imperial Guards on night patrol—thirty Imperial Guards formed into five squads, rotating in six shifts daily to guard the hall's perimeter. These Guards also complained bitterly; such arduous, thankless work used to belong to the Feather Forest Army, who should have been guarding the Emperor's side, but have now been replaced by experts from the Heavenly Mechanism Bureau.

After those Guards passed, Hu Xiaotian flew out silently from the treetops and landed on the courtyard wall without lingering; he then leapt, covering over ten zhang like a falling leaf, and lightly landed on the roof of the Meditation Chamber where the Emperor resided.

I returned home late today; having finished the two installments, I submit them together, earnestly requesting monthly tickets to protect the chrysanthemum! (To be continued~^~)