Hu Xiaotian did not leave. He had finally managed to get out for a breath of fresh air, and he had no desire to return so soon. 💝😎 ✋👽
Murong Feiyan could hardly refuse Yuan Shiqing's kindness. After all, Easy Origin Hall had done a great deal to help her with her injury. Thinking of their help finally reminded her of what Hu Xiaotian had done for her. Without his intervention, the Fang-Barbed Arrow would probably have been far harder to remove. Even if they had managed to extract it, they might have needed to gouge out a large chunk of flesh, leaving a horrifying scar. She had to admit that whatever surgery Hu Xiaotian had performed had reduced the damage from the Fang-Barbed Arrow to an absolute minimum. She had examined the wound on her shoulder carefully in a bronze mirror, and it was healing very well indeed. Although she acknowledged that Hu Xiaotian had done her a good turn, she still did not consider him a good person. Frivolous in his conduct and outrageous in his words and deeds-even if he had a little unconventional talent, he had ability without virtue!
It was not that Murong Feiyan was ungrateful. She simply believed she owed Hu Xiaotian nothing. During the fight on Camel Street, if she had not returned in time and thrown everything she had into protecting him, he would probably have died beneath the assassins' arrows. She had saved his life first; only afterward had he helped remove the Fang-Barbed Arrow. At most, that made them even. No, not even-he had come out far ahead, especially since he had also gotten a free look at her body. That thought made her pretty face burn. She stole a glance at Hu Xiaotian and found him deep in animated conversation with Yuan Shiqing, paying her no attention. Only then did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
Li Yifeng had originally agreed to join them for a meal at Swallowcloud Tower, but after vomiting several times in succession, he was now too weak even to walk, let alone go out to eat. Most people thought he had suddenly fallen seriously ill. Only Hu Xiaotian understood the truth behind it.
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As soon as they stepped through the doors of Easy Origin Hall, Hu Xiaotian's eight household servants gathered around him. He waved them away, signaling for them to disperse at once. There were simply too many of them; wherever they went, they looked like a mob gathering to cause trouble. 💝✌ 🐜💎 He cleared his throat and said, "I'm going to Swallowcloud Tower for a meal with Mr. Yuan and Constable Murong. Go find yourselves something to eat."
"I've already spoken to Boss Song over there," Yuan Shiqing said with a smile. "I've reserved a table for all of you on the ground floor." As the second-ranking figure at Easy Origin Hall, Yuan Shiqing was generous with his money and thoughtful in his arrangements.
Hu Xiaotian handed Liang Dazhuang the brocade box Li Yifeng had given him and instructed the servants, "Don't trail after me everywhere. With Constable Murong protecting me at close quarters, nothing will go wrong."
Almost all these servants had witnessed Murong Feiyan's abilities. They knew that even if they joined forces, they would be no match for her. With her accompanying Hu Xiaotian, there should be no trouble.
Murong Feiyan, however, was deeply displeased by his remark. The brat was treating her as his bodyguard! She shot him a fierce glare and, when no one was paying attention, whispered, "If anyone tries to assassinate you again, I won't lift a finger. I'll leave a shameless wretch like you to fend for himself!"
"Protecting citizens' lives and property is your responsibility," Hu Xiaotian replied with a smile. "Constable Murong, you're so dedicated to your work. How could you possibly stand by and ignore my troubles?"
Seeing how thoroughly he seemed to have her cornered, Murong Feiyan hated him so much that her teeth itched.
They had barely taken a couple of steps when a sturdy young man approached them. He was in his twenties, plainly dressed, short and dark-skinned. Although his build was lean, there was nothing frail about him. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and he looked shrewd and formidable. He carried two wild geese, with an arrow still lodged through their necks. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing unusual about them, but a closer look revealed that a single arrow had pierced both geese's necks. Unless someone had inserted the arrow afterward, this was truly two birds with one arrow. Hu Xiaotian had only heard of such feats in stories; this was the first time he had seen one with his own eyes. Wingdings: ⌛︎🖲︎⬧︎♒︎◆︎⌧︎📬︎♍︎□︎❍︎
Seeing a stranger approach, the eight servants immediately closed ranks around Hu Xiaotian. Since the assassination attempt in the street, they had clearly become overly vigilant, bracing for battle at the slightest rustle of wind or grass.
In truth, Hu Xiaotian had already seen these servants' abilities for what they were. Every last one was a paper tiger. They looked tall and imposing, but they were all silver spearheads made of wax-showy and useless. When real danger struck, they could offer no help at all. The peril he had faced on Camel Street was proof enough. Without Murong Feiyan's intervention, he would probably have lost his life long ago.
"It's all right. He's one of us!" Yuan Shiqing said with a smile. He evidently knew the young man. Even as a bystander, Yuan Shiqing felt that Hu Xiaotian's servants had overreacted. There was nothing unusual about the son of the Minister of Revenue traveling with a few personal guards, but a retinue of eight was rather excessive and far too conspicuous on the street. Those who knew him recognized the minister's son; those who did not might have thought a prince was out and about.
"Mr. Yuan," the young man said respectfully, "I've just shot two wild geese. I brought them especially for you to enjoy a little feast."
"Zhan Peng, let me introduce you," Yuan Shiqing said with a smile. "This is Young Master Hu. He was the one who stepped in and saved your father that day." So this young man was the son of the old man Hu Xiaotian had rescued.
Upon learning that his true benefactor stood before him, Zhan Peng hurried forward and bowed deeply, his expression utterly respectful. "Young Master Hu, my name is Zhan Peng. Thank you for your righteous intervention in saving my father. Please accept my bow!" His gratitude was heartfelt, and he bent so low that he almost prostrated himself on the ground.
Hu Xiaotian quickly stepped forward and caught his arm. "Brother Zhan, you're far too polite. It was a trifling matter. There's no need to take it so much to heart."
Liang Dazhuang studied Zhan Peng, feeling that he looked familiar. After thinking it over, he finally remembered that Zhan Peng had visited the Minister's Residence before. He seemed to have brought a wild deer on that occasion, saying it was a gift for the Young Master, only to be turned away by the servant guarding the gate. "I think I've seen you before!" Liang Dazhuang said.
"I did visit the Minister's Residence," Zhan Peng replied with a smile. "I wanted to thank Young Master Hu in person, but the gatekeeper was suspicious of my identity and wouldn't let me in."
Hu Xiaotian turned and glared at Liang Dazhuang, who inwardly cursed his own loose tongue. The incident had nothing to do with him-he was not the gatekeeper-but that unnecessary remark had evidently given Hu Xiaotian the wrong impression.
Zhan Peng handed the two geese to Yuan Shiqing. "Mr. Yuan, take these and make a stew. When I catch some good game later, I'll deliver it to Young Master Hu's residence."
For some reason, Hu Xiaotian felt an unusually strong liking for Zhan Peng. "How is your father's injured leg?" he asked with a smile.
"Thanks to your timely help, Young Master, he's been much better these past two days," Zhan Peng replied. "He's recuperating at my elder brother's home. Mr. Yuan says he's recovering well."
"Young Master Hu set the bone promptly and accurately," Yuan Shiqing said with a smile. "We brought Old Mr. Zhan back to Easy Origin Hall and applied our secret-formula Bone-Setting Paste. If everything goes well, he should be able to get up and walk in three months."
Hu Xiaotian nodded. "Wonderful!"
Listening beside them, Murong Feiyan grew increasingly puzzled. This wastrel, who supposedly stopped at no evil, actually did good deeds too. If his earlier help to her could be explained as repayment for saving him, why had he rescued an old man he had never met? It could hardly be dismissed as a passing whim or a moment of hotheaded impulse.
Zhan Peng had come specifically to deliver his game and happened to encounter the benefactor who had saved his father. Being able to thank him in person fulfilled a wish he had harbored for days. He had intended to take his leave, but Hu Xiaotian warmly invited him to join them for a meal at Swallowcloud Tower. Hu Xiaotian was merely letting the current carry him into doing someone a favor-the meal would cost him nothing anyway. As the son of the Minister of Revenue, he would hardly have cared about such a small sum. The main reason was that Zhan Peng's feat of shooting two birds with one arrow had astonished him and stirred his admiration, leaving him eager to make the man's acquaintance.
People with ability were in demand in any society, and others invariably regarded them in a different light. Zhan Peng was an ordinary hunter who had seldom dealt with people of high station. Deep down, he actually disliked the sons of official families, but Hu Xiaotian had saved his father and was a benefactor to the Zhan family. Refusing his invitation would therefore have been discourteous. Still, he silently resolved to settle the bill for their drinks before anyone else could.
Poverty did not diminish a man's resolve. The ancients' understanding of dignity and moral duty far surpassed that of modern people. ********** I just noticed that the novel has reached a hundred thousand characters and entered the Dream Cup contest. You should all have some free votes available. Since starting this novel, Octopus has hardly asked for votes. If you happen to have a vote left and haven't cast it yet, please vote for Medical Dominion. The voting link is just below the synopsis. Thanks in advance!
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