Chapter 932

Li Yuncong laughed and said: "Is there any trouble you can't solve?"

Hu Xiaotian picked up his Chazan, took a slow sip of tea, and said: "Eunuch Li, how is what you promised me?" Before going to Tianlong Temple, he and Li Yuncong had reached an agreement: he would handle affairs for Li Yuncong, Li Yuncong would help him rescue Baobao, and also help inquire about Murong Feiyan's whereabouts. Now both matters have made no progress, and Li Yuncong dare not try to pump information from him.

Li Yuncong let out a sinister chuckle: "If you don't speak, Zajia almost forgot—Murong Feiyan is in Kangdu, working on the imperial mausoleum under the Emperor's orders."

"What?" Hu Xiaotian's expression turned to shock. Murong Feiyan is in Kangdu; given that, she should have already received news of my arrival, so why hasn't she come to see me yet?

Li Yuncong said: "The imperial mausoleum is being built day and night; it is 230 li from Kangdu, troops are stationed within its precincts, and aside from laborers, no one is allowed to approach. The overall commander of the mausoleum is Jiang Shaoli, who is also a favored disciple of Mu Rongzhan."

Upon hearing this, Hu Xiaotian immediately understood why Murong Feiyan had been unable to meet him until now—it must be Mu Rongzhan secretly sabotaging, having confined Murong Feiyan there. A strong longing surged in his heart; he wished he could sprout wings and fly to her side at once.

Li Yuncong said: "The Emperor knows his days are numbered; since retaking the throne, he has urged the imperial mausoleum project to speed up, placing great importance on it. Anyone who dares to interfere with the mausoleum's work would essentially be opposing the Emperor."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed; Mu Rongzhan was indeed vicious, sending his daughter there just to prevent him from seeing her. If he went openly, there would be an eight or nine out of ten chance that Mu Rongzhan would make an issue of it, possibly framing him for intending to destroy the imperial mausoleum—a charge he could not bear. However, Mu Rongzhan likely hadn't anticipated that he had mastered the art of changing his appearance and Tendon Changing Bone Shifting, which would allow him to infiltrate the mausoleum unseen if he wished; but his leg injury hasn't healed yet, so if he wants to meet Murong Feiyan, he may have to endure for another two days.

And Baobao?

Li Yuncong said: "She heads the Fox Unit at the Bureau of Machinery and has earned Hong Beimo's deep trust; she is also his adopted daughter. If you want to see her, you can go to the Bureau of Machinery anytime. You asked me to bring her back to your side, but Zajia is willing yet unable—her legs are her own; if she wanted to come find you, she would have already done so."

Hu Xiaotian furrowed his brows. After the incident of Long Xi Yue's departure without farewell, he was no longer surprised by anything that happened. Baobao and he had met in the palace; from the start, each had their own agenda, though they developed private feelings along the way. Now both could openly be themselves again, having found their life paths once more, so their states of mind were bound to change. Li Yuncong's remark was not wrong—her legs are her own; if she wanted to come find him, she would have already done so.

Li Yuncong said: "Since ancient times, deep affection leaves only regret; being too affectionate is hardly a good thing."

Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly: "Being too indifferent is also not a good thing, Eunuch Li—do you have any relatives at home?"

Li Yuncong said: "Just one nephew, you know him—Fan Zongxi of the Imperial Stables."

Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: "You're almost certainly Mu Yuming; how could you have a nephew? Fan Zongxi almost certainly shares no blood relation with you." Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Li, you're not being honest enough with me!"

Li Yuncong's heart jolted; he didn't know what Hu Xiaotian meant by that, but on the surface he remained calm, gazing steadily at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian leaned in closer, lowering his voice: "Don't you realize that the reason for going to Tianlong Temple is actually a fake emperor?"

At that moment, Li Yuncong finally understood the true meaning of Hu Xiaotian's words, and he let out a bewildered laugh: "Zajia also only learned of this after you left; the Emperor and Hong Beimo have deceived us all." He set down his Chazan slowly and said in a low voice: "What exactly has happened at Tianlong Temple during this time?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Hong Beimo wanted to take this opportunity to get rid of me, but unfortunately the lackeys he sent were too useless—they not only failed to kill me, but I……" He paused deliberately, then fixed his gaze on Li Yuncong's eyes and said: "I drained their internal energy."

A twitch crossed Li Yuncong's lip as he began to realize that the deception he had long fabricated had been uncovered by Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Li, can you now explain why you originally taught me this set of the Formless Divine Skill?"

Li Yuncong said: "If Zajia hadn't taught you this skill, how would you have neutralized the ten years of internal energy that Quan De'an gave you?"

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Eunuch Li's skill at stealing beams and replacing pillars is unmatched under heaven; I suddenly feel like I've been sold out and still have to help count the money for the buyer."

Li Yuncong said: "If you think that way, Zajia can't help it, but from Zajia's perspective, I have never done anything to harm you."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Don't you realize the drawbacks of cultivating this skill?"

Although neither of them had pierced the fact that this skill was the Void Grand Method, they each fully understood it in their hearts.

Li Yuncong said: "The drawbacks vary from person to person; if someone had only three days left to live, giving him a poison that would let him live another year—would he take it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If that's the case, why didn't you tell me the truth from the start, instead of lying to me?"

Li Yuncong smiled faintly: "If Zajia had told you at the beginning that what I taught you was the Void Grand Method, not the Formless Divine Skill at all, would you have practiced it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "If I don't practice it, I'll die—do I have a choice?"

In that case, why bother agonizing over it?

Hu Xiaotian said: "I hate being lied to the most."

Li Yuncong said: "It seems you must have encountered quite a few things at Tianlong Temple." His deep eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian, quietly awaiting his next words.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Nothing much—I did ask about the Heart of Prajnaparamita Sutra you mentioned, and people said that scripture is actually in the imperial palace."

Li Yuncong nodded, understanding that getting the truth out of this brat's mouth would not be easy. Since that was the case, he saw no point in wasting words, and was about to leave when Hu Xiaotian added: "Have you ever heard of the book The Creation of Heaven and Earth?"

Li Yuncong furrowed his brows and said: "You're referring to the Kaiwu Qiankun written by Chu Fufeng; that collection is already stored in the Cangshuge."

Hu Xiaotian said: "If it's already in the Cangshuge, why did Hong Beimo send people to Tianlong Temple to look for this set of books?"

Li Yuncong said: "Although the Cangshuge has it in its collection, the set is not complete—it's missing the Dan Ding chapter. I think they're looking for that missing piece."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's said that many editions of the Kaiwu Qiankun circulate in the world, so it shouldn't be considered rare, nor is it a martial arts secret—why would the Bureau of Machinery go to such lengths over it?"

Li Yuncong said: "It's simply because the Kaiwu Qiankun was authored by Chu Fufeng, the founder of the Bureau of Machinery; Chu Fufeng is a once-in-a-century genius, versed in astronomy, geography, numerology, and astrology. According to legend, before his death he was studying the art of cinnabar furnaces, seeking to forge elixirs that prolong life, and the Dan Ding chapter records his lifelong findings in that regard."

Hu Xiaotian snorted disdainfully: "How could there possibly be a technique for eternal youth in this world?"

Li Yuncong smiled: "Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter; what matters is that the Emperor believes it." From Hu Xiaotian's words he sensed something, and he lowered his voice: "Have they discovered anything inside Tianlong Temple?"

Hu Xiaotian shook his head: "Nothing at all."

Li Yuncong said: "But according to what Zajia knows, the Bureau of Machinery has suffered considerable losses this time—many of the experts sent to Tianlong Temple have gone missing." His gloomy gaze fixed on Hu Xiaotian, already convinced that Hu Xiaotian wasn't telling him the truth.

Hu Xiaotian said: "As for the Bureau of Machinery's affairs, Eunuch Li should go directly ask Hong Beimo; I believe you would have more face in his presence than I would."

Li Yuncong said: "If you don't want to speak, forget it—but there's something Zajia must remind you: opposing Hong Beimo is not wise. The Emperor's return to the throne this time was due to Hong Beimo's great efforts, and the Emperor holds him in high esteem deep down. Although you have earned the favor of the Yongyang Princess, taking on the Bureau of Machinery would still be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot." In Li Yuncong's view, the current Hu Xiaotian and Hong Beimo simply lack the strength to fight each other; blindly choosing to oppose Hong Beimo would be no different than using an egg against a stone.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Does what you just said mean you want to help me?"

Li Yuncong said meaningfully: "Although we have no formal teacher-student relationship, we have indeed shared instruction; Zajia also doesn't want you to run into trouble, but your future path depends on your sincerity." Li Yuncong essentially laid it out plainly: you've hidden too much from me and aren't sincere enough; if that's the case, even if you died, I wouldn't lift a finger to help you.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Li, can you dispel the foreign true qi within my body?"

Upon hearing that, Li Yuncong couldn't help but start slightly; he had no way to remedy the drawbacks of the Void Grand Method, but if he spoke plainly it would be tantamount to losing a chance to control Hu Xiaotian. Thinking this, he smiled faintly: "Zajia already said it would depend on your sincerity."

Hu Xiaotian silently cursed Li Yuncong: "You still dare to deceive me even now—even masters like Yuan Kong and Bu Wu can't resolve the Void Grand Method, so you think you can? It's clearly just a ploy to keep me under your thumb and continue using me. But since you can use me, I can use you too." Hu Xiaotian said: "Eunuch Li, how do you plan to help me?"

Li Yuncong had figured it out—this brat learns from his mistakes; this time he won't spill the beans unless he gets a sweetener. After some thought he finally said: "Zajia, how about I take your pulse?"

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