Chapter 984

Because the stream wound and twisted, the tree shadows happened to block the spot where the river lanterns were placed. Hu Xiaotian glanced at the night sky and judged that the appointed midnight meeting time had already passed—let alone Xi Yan not showing up, even Xiang Qin hadn't come.

Hu Xiaotian went upstream along the little stream, the lotus lanterns one after another guiding his way, he went past the thicket ahead and saw by the Wanhu Creek a white-clad girl standing alone, lighting the lotus lanterns beside her and placing them one by one into the stream.

Hu Xiaotian did not disturb her, standing silently to the side, gazing at her flawless outline—every move she made was breathtakingly beautiful, the scene like a painting with her in it, and Hu Xiaotian found himself somewhat entranced by the sight before him.

The white-clad girl placed the last lotus lantern in her hand into the Wanhu Creek, her beautiful eyes following its trajectory, and she softly said, "Did you not see a woman in your past life?"

Hu Xiaotian broke into a bright, sunny smile: "I've seen many women, but none as special as you—this is the first time I've met someone like you." This demoness Xi Yan truly is unlike any other.

Xi Yan slowly turned her body, presenting a flawlessly exquisite face under the moonlight, her beautiful eyes sparkling like starlight: "What's special about it?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Not like a person!"

"Are you praising me or scolding me?" Xi Yan bit her cherry lips, her delicate brows already furrowed—this brat always has nothing good to say, yet even knowing he won't say anything nice, she still wants to hear it; a girl's thoughts are often contradictory like that.

Hu Xiaotian said: "At midnight, dressed all in white and standing here, those who know think you're releasing river lanterns, while those who don't suppose a female ghost is manifesting its power."

"Pah! I knew you had nothing good to say."

"But such a lovely female ghost would probably stir even the King of Hell's heart, let alone a vulgar mortal like me."

Hearing this, Xi Yan's lips curled into a smile despite herself: "When did you become a vulgar mortal again? Your identity shifts like a revolving lantern, leaving me bewildered—playboy, Qingyun County Magistrate, son-in-law of the Li family, palace eunuch, marriage envoy, imperial guard, and now you've turned into a Prince Consort of Dakang. Yet you're still a commoner; if anyone in the world is the most changeable, it's surely you."

Hu Xiaotian smiled narrowly: "Same to you!"

Xi Yan's pretty face suddenly turned icy cold: "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think I'm like you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I was wrong—with my brains I dare not even be mentioned in the same breath as a lady!"

Xi Yan could hardly miss the sarcasm in his words, and she softly sighed: "You're a grown man, yet your mind is so petty."

Hu Xiaotian said: "It's not that my mind is small; it's that I've gained wisdom from the pits I've fallen into—having been tricked many times, I naturally have learned more lessons."

Xi Yan said: "I know any explanation would be useless—you can think of me as a bad person, or as someone who has deceived you repeatedly; I can't be bothered to explain. I came to find you today to ask: since you and I have performed the heaven-and-earth ceremony, why did you then agree to become someone else's prince consort?"

Hu Xiaotian was left speechless by her question: "This…"

Xi Yan said: "You betray trust and abandon righteousness, forget kindness and violate duty, love the new and despise the old, start chaotic and end abandoned. Hu Xiaotian, Hu Xiaotian, you are the number one scoundrel, the biggest bastard under heaven!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Weren't you previously unwilling to admit that we performed the heaven-and-earth ceremony?"

Xi Yan said: "Even if I say no, what happened is still a fact—I can deny it, but you cannot."

Hu Xiaotian knew women are unreasonable by nature, but he had never before encountered a woman as unreasonable as Xi Yan. Seeing that he was at a loss in this argument, he decided not to dwell on it and changed the subject: "Hey, don't say that—you actually look quite good in that outfit."

Xi Yan coldly replied: "Can't you see I'm wearing mourning attire?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Um. I'm really sorry—I didn't know a relative had passed away, miss. Which relative is it?"

Xi Yan said: "My faithless, treacherous husband!"

"Um…" Hu Xiaotian was speechless again.

Xi Yan's beautiful eyes filled with killing intent as she stared at Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian said: "You want to kill me?"

"Why not?" Xi Yan's voice turned soft and alluring again—even when she wants to kill someone, she can make the victim feel pitiful; she could well be the first of her kind.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Actually there's nothing wrong with that, but I still have many things left undone and many wishes unfulfilled; why not wait a few more years, and I'll personally come to your door so you can kill me?"

Xi Yan shook her head and cooed: "But I can't wait! If I don't kill you, I won't be able to rest or eat in peace."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Miss, I still have my parents!"

"I'll take care of them—since we've performed the heaven-and-earth ceremony, I am your wife, your parents are my parents, and if you die, they will naturally be looked after by me."

"Besides, I have plenty of lovely confidantes—if I died, wouldn't they be heartbroken?" Having become shameless, Hu Xiaotian dared to say anything.

Xi Yan said: "Rest assured, I won't give any other woman the chance to mourn for my husband; any woman who has been involved with you I will surely slaughter to the last, not leaving a single one, and as for your princess consort who hasn't yet entered the door, I will send her to Zhong Xiang Lou and make her the top courtesan there."

Hu Xiaotian sucked in a breath of cold air—this girl couldn't be serious, could she? When a woman goes mad she truly loses reason, and Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I don't seem that outstanding; I'm not worth you doing this for me."

Xi Yan said: "Whether it's worth it, I know myself; since childhood I've disliked sharing anything with others, even pain." Having said that, her delicate form shot toward Hu Xiaotian like a phantom. Hu Xiaotian started, knowing Xi Yan's temper was unpredictable and that anything she did wouldn't surprise him, so he had always been on guard against her sudden attack. When she struck, Hu Xiaotian reacted instantly, his body shooting backward into the air; before his feet could land on the bank, Xi Yan spread her fingers and five blades of cold light shot toward him.

Hu Xiaotian had no choice but to draw another breath, lifting his body again just as he was about to land, dodging Xi Yan's shooting attack, he spun like a top and fell into the Wanhu Creek, landing on a lotus lantern there. Although he couldn't achieve the state of Yuan Kong, who could float in midair, after following Bu Wu to learn the Art of Soaring, treading on water and leaving no trace in snow should be no problem, and standing on a lotus lantern without sinking is likewise effortless.

Although Xi Yan knew Hu Xiaotian's martial arts were not weak, she never expected that in just a few months apart his skill would have improved so dramatically, describable as making leaps and bounds. Her beautiful eyes widened in shock, full of astonishment; she tapped her toe and, like a shadow following, her delicate body spiraled upward in the air, and as she rose, multicolored blossoms rained down from the sky, enveloping Hu Xiaotian from head to toe.

Hu Xiaotian gazed at the splendid sight in the air, lost in admiration—what a beautiful woman, fighting in such a tasteful, romantic, gorgeous way. He said: "Wife! Is this the heavenly maiden scattering flowers?" As he spoke, he noticed that amid those blossoms suddenly flew out bees, each as transparent as amber. Hu Xiaotian cried out in alarm; he knew Xi Yan's methods all too well—if it were pure martial skill, he would certainly dare to go all out with her, but Xi Yan is a master of poison, with extraordinary wisdom and countless schemes, so in a real fight he would gain absolutely no advantage. Moreover, his feelings for Xi Yan are a tangled mess he can't untangle, and he is reluctant to use his true killing techniques against her.

Bee after bee swiftly formed ranks and launched a frantic assault on Hu Xiaotian, who leapt from one lotus lantern to another. Xi Yan is truly formidable! Is she a successor of Xiao Longnu? She even learned to command bees! Though Hu Xiaotian fled quickly enough, the bees grew ever more numerous, seeming about to surround him from all directions. He silently lamented his bad luck; the only option seemed to be to dive into the river water, for bees fear water and only by entering it could he escape their frantic pursuit.

Having thought this through, Hu Xiaotian no longer cared about dignity and plunged headfirst into the Wanhu Creek; the water where he was was fairly deep, about two zhang, and he held his breath as he sank to the bottom, inwardly relieved that his swimming was good, otherwise today he would surely be beaten into a pig's head.

His delight had not yet faded when he felt the surrounding water ripple; looking up, he saw black snake shadows silently approaching him. Hu Xiaotian started in alarm—Xi Yan's change of face truly is faster than turning a page, for there lay an ambush underwater as well. He hurriedly drew the soft sword from his waist and lashed out, cleaving the first water snake that swam up beside him. Who knew whether these water snakes were poisonous? He had thought hiding underwater would turn danger into safety, but he hadn't expected the depths to be even more perilous than land.

Hu Xiaotian panicked, not choosing a path—better to risk surfacing and fight the bee swarm for a chance to escape than to be surrounded by snakes at the bottom. He strove desperately toward the shore; just as his head broke the surface, a sudden flash of strong light blinded his eyes temporarily. He had thought it was Xi Yan's trick, but then her frightened voice suddenly came from his ear: "Watch out!"

On the riverside willow, a man clad in black armor lunged at Hu Xiaotian like a tiger; his right fist, encased in iron armor, struck Hu Xiaotian's face with the speed of thunder before one could cover one's ears, and this blow sent Hu Xiaotian sinking back into the river.

Hu Xiaotian felt his head buzz, golden stars exploding before his vision, his mind instantly turning to chaos—this attack came all too suddenly: first the blinding light that caused temporary blindness, then the hidden assailant in the dark launched his strike; this punch poured out all his strength, clearly aiming to kill him with one blow. Had it been anyone else, their skull would likely be shattered and brains spilled. In the critical moment Hu Xiaotian protected himself, drawing his head back to shed a quarter of the opponent's force, and his great resilience ensured he could survive the heavy blow. Echoing in his ears was Xi Yan's terrified cry of "Watch out!" and his dazed mind could infer that the attacker was not sent by Xi Yan.

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