Hu Xiaotian steeled himself. Today, I'll flatten this bandit den single-handed! He crept forward on tiptoe. Although he would be exposed sooner or later, later was still better than sooner. He had already worked out his plan: once he alerted those two men, he would take to his heels and lead them straight to Sumeru Heaven. Then she would have no choice but to act. Feeling rather pleased with himself, Hu Xiaotian glanced back at her-and went pale with shock. There was no trace of Sumeru Heaven. In those few moments, she had hidden herself somewhere.
Hu Xiaotian cursed inwardly. You rotten bitch, you set me up! You really don't have a shred of fellow feeling. Nobody's spotted me yet. I'd better get out while the getting's good. If I really stir up these four hundred vicious bandits, won't they slice me into a thousand pieces?
Hu Xiaotian began edging backward on tiptoe, but he had barely shifted one foot when a loud crash rang out. A chipped bowl came flying from somewhere and shattered right at his feet. The two bandits on night watch instantly grew alert and looked toward him.
Hu Xiaotian froze like a wooden puppet, silently chanting, You can't see me. You can't see me!
A thunderous roar exploded in his ears. "Halt! Who goes there? How dare you trespass on the Turbid Water Gang's headquarters!"
Knowing he had been discovered, Hu Xiaotian shook his head helplessly, then cupped his hands with a beaming smile. "Just a passerby who happened to come this way. No need to panic, brothers. I'll be leaving now."
One man drew a large chopping saber and charged after Hu Xiaotian, while the other rang a bronze bell. Its incessant clanging echoed throughout the underground cavern. In an instant, battle cries closed