Hu Xiaotian said, "The only thing I can't be sure of is whether Ji Feihua has counted me among his targets too. If he intends to sacrifice me as well, this will be much more dangerous."
Zhan Peng said, "I'm a fairly good swimmer. Leave Wen Boyuan to me."
Hu Xiaotian shook his head. "Wen Boyuan already suspects you. You'll have a harder time finding an opening." He crouched, picked up a dry twig, and drew a boat on the ground. "If I'm right, the princess's boat will be the one to meet with trouble. Wen Boyuan will certainly choose to ride with her as her guard. Brother Zhou will protect the princess, and you'll help me eliminate the people around Wen Boyuan and stop them from rescuing him. Leave everything else to me."
Zhan Peng said, "But wouldn't that put you in grave danger, young master?"
Hu Xiaotian said, "Other than me, none of you can easily get close to Wen Boyuan. And when it comes to what I can do underwater, few people can match me." Hu Xiaotian was not boasting. Ever since learning how to feign death from Old Beggar, then discovering the knack of staying underwater in Changliu without drawing breath while accompanying Qiqi to explore Misty Mountain, he had become a swimmer few ordinary people could rival. Even if Wen Boyuan's martial arts surpassed his, once that landlubber went underwater, he could only wait for death.
Zhan Peng said, "What if Ji Feihua has other plans?" He meant the possibility Hu Xiaotian had just mentioned.
Hu Xiaotian stood and looked toward the southeastern sky, in the direction of Kang Capital. Although he shared that concern, for some reason he felt the possibility was vanishingly small. Deep down, he still believed Ji Feihua had no intention