But before Hu Xiaotian could act, a shrill voice rang out from outside. "Hu Xiaotian, you really do refuse the toast only to drink the penalty wine!" The speaker was Ji Feihua. Dressed in black palace robes with a deep purple cloak over them, he stood quietly outside the door, watching Hu Xiaotian's sudden attack with mockery filling his phoenix eyes.
The guard's face turned ashen with fright. He had never imagined Hu Xiaotian could move so deftly.
Hu Xiaotian clamped his left hand around the guard's throat and drew the saber from his waist with a clang! Although he knew he could not withstand even a single exchange with Ji Feihua, he would still stake his life on a desperate fight. If he had to die, he would go out with a bang, not meekly await his execution.
Ji Feihua sighed and walked toward him, one step at a time. Hu Xiaotian pointed the gleaming steel saber at him, every nerve on alert.
After entering the room, Ji Feihua showed no intention of attacking. Instead, he bent down, picked up the wine pot from the tray on the floor, and poured himself a cup. Tilting his head back, he drained it and said softly, "Jade Yao Spring aged in a cellar for thirty years. You really have no appreciation for quality."
Only then did Hu Xiaotian believe that neither the wine nor the food had been poisoned. He must have been too suspicious and misunderstood Ji Feihua's intentions. He pressed his lips together, casually slid the saber back into the guard's scabbard, and slowly released his throat.
Having escaped death, the guard was drenched in cold sweat. He wanted to say something, but after glancing at Ji Feihua, he swallowed his words.
"Go outside first," Ji Feihua said. "Let