As Hu Xiaotian was preparing to leave Wuxing Commandery, Gao Yuan brought someone to see him. It was Xia Changming, Li Chang'an's junior fellow disciple. Hu Xiaotian had been so busy dealing with matters concerning Jiang Zhengyang these past two days that he had almost forgotten Li Chang'an's recommendation. Hearing that Xia Changming had arrived, he immediately asked Gao Yuan to show him in.
Xia Changming was even younger than Hu Xiaotian had expected, having just turned nineteen that year. He had dark skin and an honest, simple face. His coarse clothes had been washed until they were somewhat faded, and several conspicuous patches covered them, giving him a distinctly unassuming air. Without Li Chang'an's recommendation, Hu Xiaotian would never have noticed this young man, who would have been impossible to pick out in a crowd.
Of course, Hu Xiaotian did not judge people by their appearance. He walked over warmly and said with a smile, "Mister Xia, Mr. Li told me about you some time ago. I've been waiting for you these past two days."
Xia Changming was not good at socializing and seemed rather ill at ease before Hu Xiaotian. He cupped his hands in salute. "Xia Changming pays his respects to Lord Hu!"
Hu Xiaotian nodded with a smile. Seeing a bamboo flute hanging at his waist, he wondered, Could that bamboo flute be what he uses to command birds and beasts?
Noticing that Hu Xiaotian and Li Yongfu were dressed to go out, Gao Yuan asked curiously, "Young master, are you going somewhere?"
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Yes!"
"Why not take me along?" Gao Yuan said. He was still a child, after all, and grew excited when he heard that Hu Xiaotian was going out.
Hu Xiaotian laughed, then turned his gaze to Xia Changming. "Mister Xia,