Having guessed the secret, Hu Xiaotian burst out laughing. He fixed his eyes on Hong Beimo and said, "In that case, we can all die together!" He made as if to twist the sword's hilt.
Hong Beimo's face had gone deathly pale. "Don't!" he shouted.
From Hong Beimo's reaction, Hu Xiaotian could now be certain that the Lightsaber did indeed have a self-destruct function. He nodded smugly. "With so many people to keep me company in the grave, it'll be worth it!" Xi Yan said nothing, merely tightening her arms around him.
Qiqi bit her cherry-red lip, her expression taut with tension. Exceptionally intelligent, she had already realized that the Lightsaber in Hu Xiaotian's hand was a weapon of terrifying power. Otherwise, Hong Beimo would never have looked so nervous when their side held an overwhelming advantage.
"Hu Xiaotian," Qiqi said, "don't forget that your men are still in my hands."
"Once a man has decided to die, how can he worry about all that?" Hu Xiaotian said. "My death is nothing to mourn. But if you die like this, won't your grand imperial enterprise and lofty ambitions all turn to ashes and vanish?" He took a step toward Qiqi. Everyone retreated, but she remained where she stood, watching him quietly without a trace of fear. Though young, she was far more composed than most people. No wonder she could make this crowd obey her every word. "I'll let you go," she said calmly.
Hu Xiaotian sneered. "Do you think I'll believe you?"
Just then, a deep cry suddenly sounded in the night sky overhead, lingering for a long time. Hu Xiaotian was overjoyed to hear it. That call had unmistakably come from his Flying Owl. He threw back his head and let out a long cry in response.
Before