Chapter 965

Hu Buwei said: "Xiaotian, this time you must seize the opportunity to escape Dakang; never come back again." His heart was filled with anxiety and concern; thinking of his precious son about to enter the tiger's den again, his mind instantly fell into turmoil.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "Father, I am no longer the weak scholar who couldn't truss a chicken; the Emperor wanting to harm me isn't that easy. If he wants to harm me, he must wait until I safely reach Xizhou; this time I will thwart his treacherous scheme completely."

Hu Buwei said: "What do you plan to do?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Since the court is inhumane, don't blame us for being unrighteous; since he has made me a prince consort, I will fulfill that role well, help Qiqi ascend the throne, and drive that old scoundrel from the throne."

Hu Buwei exclaimed in surprise: "Are you planning to rebel?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Do lords and nobles have a special kind of birth? Who decreed that this world must belong to the Long family?"

Hu Buwei's lips curled with a knowing smile; he lightly patted his son's shoulder, realizing his son had truly grown up: "Not bad! Since he wants to drive our Hu family to a dead end, we father and son need not talk about loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness; marry the princess, seize the Long family's realm, and let that realm change its color."

Hu Xiaotian said: "As long as I thwart his plan to recover Xichuan, he will have to rely heavily on you, Father."

Hu Buwei nodded; as long as they open the sea grain transport route, it would be equivalent to the Hu family seizing Dakang's throat; even if the Emperor wanted to deal with them, he'd have to think twice. He said in a low voice: "Bring a few more aides to Xichuan; even if you encounter danger, it can protect your safety."

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said: "No need! I can certainly protect myself!"

Returning to his own residence, seeing the light on in Huo Shengnan's room, Hu Xiaotian walked over, knocked on the door, and from inside came Huo Shengnan's calm voice: "The door isn't barred; just come in."

Hu Xiaotian pushed the door open and entered; seeing Huo Shengnan arranging the roster of the Divine Strategy Manor under the lamp, he came up behind her, spread his arms, and embraced her delicate form.

Huo Shengnan rested her head back against his chest and softly said: "You didn't go to accompany the Yongyang Princess."

Hu Xiaotian chuckled: "Everyone says General Huo is magnanimous, yet your words are full of vinegar."

Huo Shengnan said: "I can't be bothered to be jealous for you."

Hu Xiaotian leaned close to her pretty face; Huo Shengnan turned her face away: "What are you doing?"

"Let me smell if there's any vinegar."

Huo Shengnan glared at him; Hu Xiaotian lifted her chin and lightly kissed her cherry lips: "Strange, it's fragrant, no vinegar."

Huo Shengnan's pretty face flushed: "Just a smooth talker taking advantage."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Smooth talker? Really? Have a taste!" This rascal stuck out his tongue.

Huo Shengnan spat: "Disgusting!" She suddenly drew her dagger, making a threatening gesture at Hu Xiaotian: "Believe it or not, I'll cut off your tongue!"

Hu Xiaotian grabbed her wrist in one swift move; after Huo Shengnan's internal energy had been sucked away by him, her martial arts were no better than an ordinary third-rate fighter, how could she be his match? With a startled cry, she was already hoisted horizontally by Hu Xiaotian, and the dagger clanged to the ground.

Huo Shengnan clenched her fists and pounded Hu Xiaotian's chest: "Let me down quickly!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "It seems we should practice cultivation."

Huo Shengnan coquettishly said: "I don't want to..."

Hu Xiaotian laid her on the bed. He lowered the curtains; not long after, the curtains undulated like water waves. As time passed, the undulations grew more turbulent, occasionally accompanied by Huo Shengnan's suppressed low moans. After a while, Hu Xiaotian's voice was heard: "Is this the Sun-Shooting True Classic practiced like this?"

Huo Shengnan, unable to contain her shame, gave an affirmative hum; after the curtains briefly stilled, they swayed even more violently, the candlelight flickering red, seemingly affected by the intense entwining within the curtains. The candle flames swayed violently, finally burning out completely. The room plunged into darkness.

In the darkness, Hu Xiaotian said: "This Sun-Shooting True Classic is indeed nefarious; it seems you're sucking my breath..." Before he finished, Huo Shengnan clapped a hand over his mouth, blushing fiercely: "You still dare to speak!"

Hu Xiaotian broke free of her palm: "You just grabbed my... and now you're touching my mouth."

Huo Shengnan couldn't help but giggle: "Let you taste your own flavor..." but her mouth was blocked by Hu Xiaotian.

After the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased, Hu Xiaotian, shirtless, got down from the bed, relit the candle, stretched his limbs, and said: "I feel much more comfortable all over."

Huo Shengnan's disheveled hair peeked out from the curtains; her face still flushed, her beautiful eyes watery and alluring, she softly said: "You just lost a lot of internal energy to me; hurry up and rest, absolutely do not harm your body."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "The internal energy I lost to you is less than one percent; just now I could sense your Dantian Qi Sea, and because I was worried about your capacity, I didn't dare pour in too much at once; otherwise, shall we do it again?"

Huo Shengnan, frightened, drew her head back, and within the curtains, ashamed, said: "Enough, I can't endure your torment like this."

Hu Xiaotian rose, lifted the curtains, sat beside Huo Shengnan, and smiled: "Just now, who said I was coming?"

Huo Shengnan, embarrassed, pressed her forehead against his chest, her hands continually pounding his chest, making a thumping sound; having internal energy makes a difference; her blows gave Hu Xiaotian a grimace: "Girl, your hand is too heavy."

Huo Shengnan only then realized she had absorbed quite a bit of internal energy from Hu Xiaotian; blushing, she pushed him away: "Serves you right; who let you keep spouting those lewd remarks?"

Hu Xiaotian urged: "Hurry up and circulate your energy to adjust your breath; see if your body has any abnormalities."

Huo Shengnan nodded, sat cross-legged on the bed, began to regulate her breath; internal energy flowed from her Dantian Qi Sea, running through the major meridians of her body; to her delight, the internal energy she had lost not only fully returned but seemed even greater than before; after her internal energy circulated three cycles within her body, she slowly opened her eyes, only to see Hu Xiaotian looking at her with concern; her heart warmed involuntarily, and she gave Hu Xiaotian a charming smile.

"How do you feel?"

Huo Shengnan said: "It seems my internal energy has fully recovered; indeed, it should be said to be stronger than before, but... this way, hasn't your internal energy been greatly depleted?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "No problem; I have more internal energy than I can use; giving you some actually reduces the pressure in my Dantian Qi Sea, delaying the date of qi deviation; it's a good thing, a great thing."

Huo Shengnan said: "I never expected the Luoying Palace's cultivation method to be so nefarious." As she spoke, her pretty face involuntarily flushed; she was dying of embarrassment.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "Practicing cultivation brings enjoyment without conflict; I think this technique is the most comfortable cultivation method in the world."

Huo Shengnan spat: "You certainly like it."

"You seem to like it too."

Huo Shengnan didn't want to continue entangling in this ambiguous topic; she whispered: "Are you departing the day after tomorrow?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded and said: "The twenty-third of next month is Li Tianheng's birthday; from here, rushing there should take about a month's journey; I'll set out early to avoid delays."

Huo Shengnan said: "Why not let me come with you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "The Divine Strategy Manor has just been established; someone must stay behind to manage the overall situation. Moreover, I'm heading to Xichuan, and my father will soon set sail for Luo Song; the household will lack a person to hold things together. Leaving my mother alone here worries me; if you stay in Kangdu, you can help look after my mother—she is not only my mother but also your future mother-in-law."

Upon hearing this, Huo Shengnan's pretty face flushed; she whispered: "I have never thought of marrying; if it weren't to save you, I wouldn't be with you..."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Our situation amounts to a de facto marriage; whether you marry or not, you are my woman, and my mother is your mother-in-law." He put his arm around Huo Shengnan's fragrant shoulders; she struggled a bit, then leaned into his embrace, whispering: "On this journey to Xichuan, with its high mountains and long waters, you must take good care of yourself; absolutely no mishaps."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Rest assured, this trip should be a cushy assignment, with no danger at all." He did not tell Huo Shengnan that this mission was actually a plot by the Emperor; the more people who know, the more people worry.

Huo Shengnan said: "Elder Brother Zhou has formidable martial arts; why don't you invite him to come along?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "As I've said before, this time I'm trying to improve relations with Xichuan, not to fight; Elder Brother Zhou also has to manage the Divine Strategy Manor, and he used to be the commander of Xichuan's Tiger Banner Battalion; I'm worried that Li Tianheng might recognize him and cause trouble."

Huo Shengnan nodded and said: "In any case, you must be careful."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Don't worry, I will definitely return within three months; by then, who knows..." He reached out and touched Huo Shengnan's flat belly, laughing: "Who knows, you might already be pregnant with my child."

Huo Shengnan, unable to contain her shame, pressed her forehead against his shoulder: "I certainly don't want to be pregnant; could it really be that coincidental?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled narrowly: "I really want to see what you look like with a big belly."

"You're such a pervert!"

Getting a beautiful woman pregnant—just thinking about it gives a sense of accomplishment.

Hu Xiaotian decided to bring Yang Lingqi along on this trip to Xichuan, and also summoned Liang Yinghao and Xiong Tianba; Xiong Tianba was asked by Zhou Mo to come along—first to serve as Hu Xiaotian's assistant, second to let Xiong Tianba broaden his horizons. This kid is also someone who can't stay still; after staying in the capital for just two days he grew restless and insisted on going out for a stroll. Upon hearing that Hu Xiaotian was being sent to Xichuan, he clamored to tag along to broaden his horizons. Hu Xiaotian also brought Tang Tiexin, since the journey to Xichuan is long and they must have someone who knows horses along.

Huo Shengnan, because her lover was about to leave, was extremely gentle these two days, granting Hu Xiaotian whatever he wished, letting him enjoy the bliss of fish and water for these two days. By contrast, Murong Feiyan deliberately avoided Hu Xiaotian, spending most of her time accompanying Madam Xu Fengyi by Hu Xiaotian's side, leaving Hu Xiaotian no chance to be alone with her. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come and

!!