Chapter 930

Hu Xiaotian shook his head and said, "What can be done?"

Huo Shengnan looked extremely hesitant; after a while she gathered her courage and said, "This picture actually records a method."

"What method?" Hu Xiaotian unfolded the thin silk again; apart from the Hehuan picture, there were no characters at all. To see characters one must bake it with fire, but even if he saw them he wouldn't recognize them, for they were all in the Black Barbarian script.

Huo Shengnan said, "The Archery Sun True Classic was actually written by a woman; she went from a weak woman who couldn't even truss a chicken to a peerless master in just ten years."

Hu Xiaotian exclaimed in amazement, "That impressive? Could she have also cultivated the Void Great Law?"

Huo Shengnan shook her head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "The cultivation method she practiced is called 'Stealing Yang with Yin'."

Hu Xiaotian understood immediately upon hearing it, but he deliberately feigned ignorance and said, "What does 'Stealing Yang with Yin' mean?"

Huo Shengnan's long black eyelashes drooped; she dared not meet Hu Xiaotian's gaze, embarrassed she said, "It is... it is that she used her beauty to lure men of high martial skill, then stole their internal energy and made it her own."

Hu Xiaotian said, "But how could she steal others' internal energy? If not through the Void Great Law, then what method?"

Huo Shengnan, unable to contain her shame, pointed at the thin silk in Hu Xiaotian's hand.

Hu Xiaotian, knowing full well, asked, "Is it using the method written on this?"

Huo Shengnan spat, "You obviously know, why ask?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "If you don't tell me, how would I know?"

Huo Shengnan struggled to sit up from the bed, greatly embarrassed, and said, "I'm leaving; I won't keep talking nonsense with you."

Hu Xiaotian, however, grabbed her in one embrace, holding her warm jade and fragrant body close, and said, "This is your room, after all."

Huo Shengnan, unable to contain her shame, realized she had forgotten this fact—obviously it was her room; if anyone should leave, it should be Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Why don't we give it a try?"

Huo Shengnan shook her head vigorously; Hu Xiaotian reached out and gently lifted her chin. Huo Shengnan closed her eyes tightly. This heroine who once roamed the battlefield and would not even frown facing a million Black Barbarian troops had now completely become a bashful girl unable to endure her shyness, burying her head in Hu Xiaotian's embrace. She whispered, "You just love to bully me."

At this moment Hu Xiaotian had no hesitation left; he pushed Huo Shengnan onto the bed and pressed his whole body atop hers.

Huo Shengnan said shyly, "Get lost!"

Hu Xiaotian said earnestly, "Shengnan, save me once!"

Huo Shengnan coquettishly said, "I can't save you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Even if there is only a sliver of hope, we must try it, don't you agree?"

Huo Shengnan said, "But what is recorded there is basically heretical demonic cult..."

Hu Xiaotian kissed her cherry lips, preventing her from continuing; after a while he heard Huo Shengnan's ragged breathing, and he said, "An unorthodox remedy for a serious illness—perhaps it can solve my trouble."

"Get up, you're pressing so hard I can barely breathe."

"That's because you're bound too tight across your chest; I'll help you loosen it."

Immediately thereafter came Huo Shengnan's startled cry; the curtain before the bed fell, the red candle on the table—its flame began to jump frantically.

"Mmm… pain…"

But it was Hu Xiaotian who cried out; this fellow, overly hasty, accidentally bumped the wound at the base of his thigh.

Huo Shengnan asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said, "Your knee knocked into me; spread your legs a bit."

"No… ah…"

The curtain before the bed rippled. Inside, the two were silently engaging in their final struggle; the curtain suddenly stilled. At the same time a soft, melodious moan was heard.

The red candle on the table was about to burn out, thumping wildly, until finally the flame sputtered out and everything fell into darkness.

Under the moonlight, a peony blossom quietly opened in the garden. Bathed in the gentle, water-like moonlight, the bright, pure moon seemed to have heard the commotion from inside the room, shyly hiding behind the clouds; but the night wind suddenly rose, the peony swayed in the breeze, a bolt of lightning tore through the clouds, illuminating the whole world as if it were daytime, and that peony flower displayed a beauty never before seen amidst the strong wind and lightning. After the thunderclap, a timely sweet rain arrived, drop after drop of crystal‑clear water falling from the sky, striking the peony petals and making them tremble.

Dawn arrived unnoticed; clouds dispersed, rain stopped, red petals littered the ground, and the entire garden had been washed by the night's joyful rain, becoming exceptionally bright and lovely.

The curtain stirred slightly; Hu Xiaotian's bald head popped out from within, his face still bearing traces of rouge. This fellow turned his head to look at the still‑asleep Huo Shengnan beside him, only to see her hair disheveled, her pretty face wearing a lazy, alluring charm, her bare shoulders of ice‑white skin truly beautiful enough to move the heart.

Hu Xiaotian put on his clothes and tiptoed off the bed.

Huo Shengnan opened one beautiful eye a crack and whispered, "You're leaving already?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled with eyes crinkling, "I just wanted to let you sleep a little longer."

Huo Shengnan coquettishly said, "Why didn't you let me sleep last night?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled, "I would have liked to, but someone wouldn't let me stop."

Huo Shengnan's pretty face flushed crimson; she grabbed an embroidered shoe and hurled it at Hu Xiaotian: "Get lost!"

Hu Xiaotian ducked low, the embroidered shoe whizzing past his head. He turned and flew back to the bedside, seized Huo Shengnan's arms, and pressed her down again: "It's you who provoked me!"

Huo Shengnan blinked her beautiful eyes, looking timid and bashful: "You're so fierce, I'm scared…" A woman's transformation can happen overnight; although General Huo doesn't understand romance, Hu Xiaotian felt a heat rise in his chest, and a certain part began to stir again.

At this moment, Liang Da Zhuang's voice came from outside the courtyard: "Young master, are you awake?"

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed, "Liang Da Zhuang, fuck your old man, can't you let me have a day of peace? Looks like I'll have to set some rules for him—don't come bothering my good dreams for no reason."

Huo Shengnan's pretty face showed a faint smile, as if mocking Hu Xiaotian for being unable to get his way.

Hu Xiaotian reached his hand into the covers and gave a squeeze to her full, firm chest, making Huo Shengnan let out an "Eh!" moan. Then he saw his silhouette drift to the doorway. Hu Xiaotian whispered low, "Just wait till I turn back—I'll punish you."

This fellow, having dressed, stepped out of the room, drew a deep breath of fresh air, feeling refreshed and invigorated throughout. It turned out that doing such things relieves stress so obviously—any unhappiness just gets vented out.

However, they had not succeeded in cultivating the Yin‑Stealing‑Yang method. In fact, last night they hadn't even thought about practicing cultivation at all; Huo Shengnan did remember, having reminded Hu Xiaotian once, but Hu Xiaotian only said that no matter what skill one practices, one must start from the basics; the basic exercises of the Archery Sun True Classic are naturally to practice the movements, and only after the movements are well drilled and the partners are in sync can one consider advancing the cultivation. Recalling what he said last night, even Hu Xiaotian himself found it funny.

Huo Shengnan would surely not believe it, but regardless of whether she believes or not, she still ends up doing as she pleases.

Liang Da Zhuang's voice sounded again: "Young master…"

Hu Xiaotian said, "What's wrong with you! Yelling like a ghost first thing in the morning? Don't you know I'm sick and need plenty of rest?"

Liang Da Zhuang said, "Young master… it's not that I, the servant, intentionally disturb you; a beggar has come outside looking for you, insisting he's your friend, and I couldn't send him away. All I can do is come over and tell you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Who is it?"

"He says his name is Yang Lingqi!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian started; it turned out that Yang Lingqi himself had once told him to wait in Tianbo City, but after completing his mission in Da Yong, he and Huo Shengnan had chosen another route and never passed through Tianbo City, thus standing him up. Hu Xiaotian hurriedly said, "Go tell him I'll go see him right away."

Yang Lingqi sat quietly in the flower hall; it had been several months since they last met. He looked increasingly disheveled, his clothes torn and ragged. His hair was a messy tangled mess, he had grown much thinner, his face showed bluish and purple patches—likely from being beaten. His straw shoes were caked with mud, making him look utterly bedraggled; no wonder Liang Da Zhuang mistook him for a beggar, for there was not a trace of scholarly air left about him.

Hu Xiaotian, with a bald head, directly came to see Yang Lingqi; his leg injury had improved considerably, but walking was still somewhat inconvenient, and he limped. Seeing Yang Lingqi, he exclaimed overjoyedly: "Yang Big Brother!"

Yang Lingqi hurriedly rose, his face full of shame, and said: "Sir Hu!"

Hu Xiaotian laughed heartily, stepped forward and firmly grasped Yang Lingqi's both hands: "I was about to send someone to Heaven Wave City to invite you, and fortunately you just came."

Yang Lingqi said: "It's rare that Sir Hu still remembers me."

Hu Xiaotian sighed and said: "Originally I had promised Elder Yang to pass through Heaven Wave City and meet up with him, but some circumstances arose along the way, so I had to detour around Heaven Wave City, return to the Capital City, and then the Emperor summoned me to Heaven Dragon Temple to offer incense. After spending a month there, I have just now returned."

Yang Lingqi said: "I also heard the news that the Young Master had safely returned to the Capital City, so I came to seek refuge with him."

Hu Xiaotian felt greatly relieved and said: "It's good that you've come; from now on, Elder Brother Yang, please help me as much as possible."

Yang Lingqi sighed and said: "A down-and-out person possesses nothing of value; I hope Sir Hu will not look down on me."

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "What nonsense, have you eaten yet?"

Yang Lingqi shook his head; in fact, he had not eaten anything for three days. If it were not for his destitution leaving him with no other recourse, given his proud nature, he would not have come to seek refuge.

Hu Xiaotian had Liang Da Zhuang instruct the kitchen to quickly prepare food, and also had someone prepare hot water and a change of clothes for Yang Lingqi to change into.

After Huo Shengnan cleaned herself up, she came to the front courtyard to look for Hu Xiaotian; just now she heard that a beggar friend had come to see Hu Xiaotian, and Hu Xiaotian is currently keeping him company while having breakfast.

Huo Shengnan found them, and saw Hu Xiaotian sitting opposite a raggedly dressed youth, who was wolfing down his breakfast; Hu Xiaotian looked at him with a smiling gaze, and upon seeing Huo Shengnan approach, Hu Xiaotian waved at her and said: "Brother Feihong, let me introduce you to a friend."

Yang Lingqi heard someone coming, panicked and stopped eating, but accidentally choked, his face flushed red, he picked up that bowl of soup and gulped it down, but the soup was too hot, scalding Yang Lingqi so he stuck out his tongue, Huo Shengnan seeing his embarrassed state couldn't help laughing.

Hu Xiaotian laughed and said: "Brother Yang, don't panic, this Brother Feihong is my senior fellow disciple, we're all our own people."

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