Chapter 993

Hu Xiaotian appears at Qingyun Mountain Villa.

Xue Lingjun appears.

Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun, and the Eldest Princess appear.

Hu Xiaotian, Little Gray, and Hu Xiaotian's mansion in the capital appear.

Hu Xiaotian, Heavenly Wolf Mountain, and Xizhou appear.

Hu Xiaotian, Qingyun Mountain Villa, Yan Boguang, and a household servant appear.

An arrogant voice said: "You all keep a close watch on them; if anything happens to those girls, I'll take your heads."

Lord Hu appears.

No names.

Hu Xiaotian, Hu Jinniu, Heavenly Wolf Mountain, Cinnabar Script Iron Voucher, Emperor, and Dakang Jingguo Duke appear.

Hu Jinniu walked toward the front courtyard. Several servants wanted to follow, but Hu Jinniu scolded them back. Hu Xiaotian saw him enter the courtyard alone, and after the servants left, Hu Xiaotian quickly went to the small courtyard, leapt over the wall, and hid behind a large tree.

Hu Jinniu crouched not far away; ahead of him was a cellar, from which came the weeping and cries for help of women.

Hu Jinniu looked around, sighed, and said: "Ladies, you should eat something; if you don't eat or drink, you'll likely starve to death."

A sorrowful voice from below said: "Big brother, please spare us; in our next life we will be oxen and horses to repay your kindness……"

Hu Jinniu's expression showed considerable anguish; he bit his lip, sighed, and said: "I'll have someone bring you food later; you'd better take care of your health."

Respectable women appear.

Hu Jinniu shook his head, feeling extremely torn inside.

Hu Xiaotian, Qu Guangbai, and Yan Boguang appear.

Hu Jinniu also heard the commotion and hurriedly stood up.

Qu Guangbai approached him with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, lightly waving his folding fan: "Old Fifth, so you're here!"

Hu Jinniu appeared quite wary of Qu Guangbai, accompanying his words with a smile: "Big brother has arrived; I'm here to check, to see if anyone has escaped."

Qu Guangbai looked at Hu Jinniu full of suspicion and said: "How could anyone escape when they're all in the cellar?"

Hu Jinniu smiled and said: "It's always good to be extra careful."

Qu Guangbai, Hu Jinniu, the Young Chieftain, and a mountain villa appear.

Hu Jinniu said anxiously: "Big brother, please don't let this matter get out."

Qu Guangbai, Hu Jinniu, and Hu Xiaotian appear in Qingyun.

Hu Jinniu said: "Big brother, rest assured, I'm still the same as before—I won't even frown at licking blood off a blade."

Qu Guangbai sneered: "No one knows what you're really thinking." He glanced at the cellar and said: "Lock the cellar well, lock the courtyard gate too; no one is to approach. When the young lady arrives, you must absolutely not let her know what's happening here."

Hu Jinniu nodded repeatedly and said: "Big brother, rest assured, I will settle this matter; when is the young lady coming?"

Qu Guangbai said: "He just arrived." He seemed to think of something, stared at Hu Jinniu and said: "You'd better remember, this matter must not be leaked to the young lady; if she finds out, I'll hold you responsible."

Hu Jinniu pressed his lips, wanting to say something but ultimately didn't speak.

After Qu Guangbai turned and left, Hu Jinniu came to the cellar entrance, locked the iron door, his expression showing considerable anguish; he took two steps, then turned back to look at the cellar, whispering: "Heaven above, this matter has nothing to do with me; please don't blame me……"

As he turned to leave, he suddenly saw a figure appear before him; Hu Jinniu was terrified out of his wits, opened his mouth to shout, but the other party clapped a hand over his mouth, shoved him against the tree trunk, and raised the index finger of his right hand to his lips, making a hushing sound.

Hu Xiaotian, Hu Jinniu, and the Qingyun County Magistrate appear.

Hu Xiaotian lowered his voice and said: "Don't shout, or I won't be polite."

Hu Jinniu had previously experienced Hu Xiaotian's methods; deep down he felt some fear of this guy. He nodded, glanced toward the cellar, then shook his head, meaning this matter had nothing to do with him; he thought Hu Xiaotian had come especially to rescue those women.

Hu Xiaotian, Hu Jinniu, Emperor, Dakang Jingguo Duke, Cinnabar Script Iron Voucher, and Minister Hu appear.

Hu Xiaotian released Hu Jinniu's mouth; Hu Jinniu indeed did not cry out for help, his voice trembling: "I know, I certainly know, you are the son of Minister Hu; we are cousins."

Hu Xiaotian patted his shoulder and said: "Jinniu brother, when you left before you clearly said you would cut ties with Tianlang Mountain, why are you still acting as a bandit? You bring shame upon our ancestors."

Hu Jinniu's face was full of shame; he bit his lip and said: "I... I really have no other way……"

Hu Xiaotian said: "This isn't the place to talk, Jinniu brother; I have a friend who's been poisoned, and the antidote is in Yan Boguang's hands—could you take me to find him?"

Hu Jinniu glanced behind Hu Xiaotian, his expression very hesitant.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Don't worry; if you help me accomplish this, I'll help you leave here, take your family and go to Kangdu—how about that? Our family reunited; I'm sure my parents would be delighted to see you."

Hu Jinniu, Hu Xiaotian, and Sir Hu appear.

Hu Jinniu nodded, but he dared not utter the word "brothers," given their vastly different stations—one an official, the other a bandit; he would not presume to call him brother. Hu Jinniu said: "These women weren't captured by me; they're all the doing of the young village chief. I sympathize with them, but I simply don't dare to release them."

Hu Xiaotian said: "First tell me where Yan Boguang is; I'll take care of this matter."

Hu Jinniu said: "The young village chief is guarded by four top experts; it will be hard for you to get close to him."

Hu Xiaotian, Hu Jinniu, Zhou Mo, Tiger Head Battalion, Prince of Southern Yue, and Heavenly Wolf Mountain appear.

Hu Jinniu said: "If you trust me, first hide here; I'll go scout the situation, then come find you once I have a clear picture."

Hu Xiaotian said: "All right!" He then truly released Hu Jinniu.

Seeing Hu Xiaotian place such trust in him, Hu Jinniu felt a stir of emotion, took two steps, then turned back: "You really aren't worried I'll betray you?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "We share the same clan and bloodline; if I can't even trust you, who in this world can I trust? Go! I'll wait here for your news."

Hu Jinniu nodded heavily, turned, and left.

Hu Xiaotian naturally didn't fully trust Hu Jinniu, but he was full of confidence in his current strength; even if Hu Jinniu betrayed him, he still had confidence to fight his way out of Azure Cloud Mountain Villa, and the Mandarin Duck Union Happiness Powder that had affected Xue Lingjun wasn't really a highly toxic drug; if worst came to worst, he could simply serve as her antidote. (To be continued~^~)