After careful consideration, Li Wuyou finally deduced the likeliest possibility: perhaps there were no weapons in the Underground Palace at all, only a trap-a trap that favored Phantom. Perhaps Phantom intended to use this opportunity to eliminate Hu Xiaotian. As soon as this occurred to Li Wuyou, she sent Liang Dazhuang to the Prince's Residence again. It was already too late to warn Hu Xiaotian; she could only wait for news from him.
When she heard that Hu Xiaotian had returned, Li Wuyou felt a surge of delighted relief. Whatever had happened in the Underground Palace, at least he had come back safely.
The sight of Qiqi in Hu Xiaotian's arms startled Li Wuyou too. "What happened?"
Hu Xiaotian gave a bitter smile. "We fell into a trap. There was no lethal weapon in the Underground Palace at all, only an imprisoned sphere of light." He briefly told Li Wuyou what had happened after they entered the Underground Palace.
Li Wuyou showed no surprise. She had already guessed that it was a trap, though what had happened there still somewhat exceeded her imagination. She looked at Qiqi's pale face. By now, the blue web had spread all over her neck and was continuing up toward her face. Li Wuyou asked softly, "You mean that sphere of light drained her life force?"
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "That seems to be what happened."
Li Wuyou gave Qiqi a brief examination, then motioned for Hu Xiaotian to help lay her on the bed and remove all her clothes. This was the first time Hu Xiaotian had seen Qiqi completely naked. The girl had fallen into a deep coma, and the blue web covered her entire body. On the sole of her right foot were seven bright red moles-the so-called Treading the Seven Stars, the