Li Tianheng proved true to his word. Not only did he allow Hu Xiaotian and his party to leave freely, he also gave Hu Xiaotian a command token that would grant him unhindered passage throughout Western Sichuan. As the sun rose, Hu Xiaotian's party had already passed through the eastern gate of Western Prefecture City. They had barely left the gate when a rapid clatter of hooves sounded behind them. Turning around, they saw a troop of black-armored cavalry racing after them.
Hu Xiaotian's party immediately grew wary. Xiong Tianba took down the two great hammers hanging from his saddle. If these men had come to kill them, he would be the first to charge forward and fight them to the bloody end.
With his keen eyesight, Hu Xiaotian recognized the leader as Huo Ge, the Twelfth Prince of Shajia. "Don't panic. I'll handle this," he said calmly. Although Li Tianheng had agreed to let them leave, their party now included an extra person: Visa. To be safe, Tang Tiexin and Liang Yinghao had modified the carriage, allowing Visa to hide in a compartment beneath its floor so she would not be discovered.
Hu Xiaotian turned his mount around and rode Little Gray slowly toward them, stopping ten zhang away. Cupping his fist in his other hand, he called out, "I was wondering who it was! So it's you, Big Brother!"
Huo Ge laughed heartily. Beside him rode a tall, thin Black-Armored Warrior with a sallow face, a high nose, and deep-set eyes. His blue eyes shimmered with unfathomable depths. Beneath his hooked nose sat a drooping mustache, and his lips were so thin they might have been carved with a knife. One glance was enough for Hu Xiaotian to recognize him as the Soul Controller who had ambushed him