Chapter 78

Andequan suddenly called out to Hu Xiaotian, "Wait a moment!"

Hu Xiaotian stopped in his tracks and saw Andequan take a black box from his chest. He remembered this black box very well; the little girl had used it to shoot him with a needle. This made him quite nervous, and he took a few steps back, "What do you want to do?"

Andequan said, "You don't need to be afraid. This is for your protection."

Hu Xiaotian finally understood his meaning and laughed with relief, "You should have said so earlier, you scared me!"

Andequan handed him the暴雨梨花针 (Bao Yu Li Hua Zhen) and whispered, "See the mechanism on top? When you press it, it will shoot out poisonous needles. It can shoot 100 needles at once and can be fired three times in succession."

Hu Xiaotian asked, "How do you shoot a single needle?" He was a bit puzzled because he only saw one mechanism, and the little girl had only shot one needle at him.

Andequan smiled sinisterly, "Yours is far less refined than hers."

Hu Xiaotian didn't say anything. He figured it was better to have something than nothing. Even though it couldn't shoot a single needle, being able to fire three times in succession was still quite powerful. He carefully put away the暴雨梨花针 (Bao Yu Li Hua Zhen). While Andequan was talking to him, the little girl stood to the side the whole time. Hu Xiaotian said, "You two chat, I'll go check on the preparations!"

The rain had lessened outside, turning into a light drizzle. A few servants were already ready, and Murong Feiyan was fastening her raincoat. Seeing Hu Xiaotian walk over, she couldn't help but ask, "Why did you suddenly change your mind?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "I have a kind heart and love to help others!"

Murong Feiyan looked at him with disbelief.

Hu Xiaotian knew she wouldn't believe he was doing a good deed, so he waved the jade pendant in his hand, "This is my hard-earned fee!"

Murong Feiyan understood and looked at Hu Xiaotian with extreme disdain, "I knew you weren't that kind-hearted."

Hu Xiaotian felt quite depressed. To whom could he诉说 (sue shuo) his grievances? Thinking of the power of the seven-day soul-severing needle, he couldn't help but feel a bit scared. He had to get through this first.

Taking advantage of the break in the heavy rain, the group left the Lansi Temple and continued on their journey. Since it was a mountain path, everyone walked up the mountain. The distant mountains stretched endlessly, like a blue dragon flying to the horizon, with layer upon layer of peaks, like surging waves in the sea, crashing against the sky.

The clouds in the sky were still low, as if they could be touched. Everyone kept their heads down and walked, no one speaking. The silent valley occasionally echoed with the roars of wild beasts, making the atmosphere very oppressive.

Shao Yijiao and Li Jinhao led the way at the front of the group. Murong Feiyan and the little girl followed behind them, then came Hu Xiaotian, and Liang Dazhuang and Huo Fu were at the rear. The usually talkative Liang Dazhuang finally shut up. Hu Xiaotian's beating at the Lansi Temple had taught him a lesson. Some things shouldn't be said lightly. If Andequan hadn't refused Hu Xiaotian's offer, Liang Dazhuang would still be at the Lansi Temple, accompanying the old eunuch to his death.

Hu Xiaotian looked ahead, but his gaze didn't linger on Murong Feiyan's slender figure. Instead, it remained fixed on the slightly immature back of the little girl. This wasn't because he had any ulterior motives, but because he was seething with anger. He kept touching the暴雨梨花针 (Bao Yu Li Hua Zhen) at his waist and looking at the coin-sized red spot on his arm, which was now itchy and painful. It seemed the seven-day soul-severing needle was real. Hu Xiaotian made up his mind that if he couldn't survive, he wouldn't show any mercy. He would make sure the little girl paid with her life. If he couldn't survive, he would turn her into a pincushion.

The path ahead suddenly became narrow, unable to accommodate two people walking side by side. They had to pass one by one. Below was a sheer drop into the abyss, shrouded in clouds and mist, deep and bottomless. Shao Yijiao, at the front, walked with trepidation, leading the horses, which had their eyes covered. If the animals saw the scene beside them, they would likely panic.

Murong Feiyan, walking in the middle of the group, slowed down more and more. The little girl had already moved ahead, and Murong Feiyan was left far behind. Hu Xiaotian followed her and saw her pale face, devoid of color, her forehead covered in cold sweat, her lower lip tightly bitten, and her beautiful eyes filled with fear. Hu Xiaotian looked to the side and immediately understood. It turned out Murong Feiyan had acrophobia. Seeing the sheer drop beside her, she was so scared that her limbs felt weak. She had managed to hold on for a while, but now she couldn't even move.

Hu Xiaotian moved closer to her and whispered, "You're afraid of heights?"

Murong Feiyan nodded pitifully.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "I didn't know. You used to climb up and down so nimbly, walking on walls and roofs as if they were flat ground. How did you suddenly become afraid of heights?"

Murong Feiyan's voice trembled, "That was how high? Compared to... here?"

Hu Xiaotian found this amusing. He thought she was fearless, but it turned out she had a weakness. Most people's happiness comes at the expense of others' suffering. Seeing Murong Feiyan like this, Hu Xiaotian felt a bit of joy and temporarily forgot about the seven-day soul-severing needle.

Murong Feiyan, seeing him actually gloating, spat, "You dare to laugh at me? Do you believe I'll kick you off the cliff..."

Hu Xiaotian said, "You can't even walk, and you're still saying such things. Girl, actually, most people are a bit afraid of heights. It's just a psychological effect. Once you overcome it, it won't be a problem. Don't look down, look to the left."

Murong Feiyan turned her head and looked at the mountain cliff beside her, feeling a large hand gently supporting her right waist. It could only be Hu Xiaotian. This guy was still taking advantage of her even in such a situation.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Walk slowly, I'll support you from behind. Don't be afraid!"

Strangely, although Murong Feiyan thought Hu Xiaotian was taking advantage of her, she didn't show much disgust or resistance. Instead, she felt a bit more at ease.

The mountain wind blew, and the clouds gathered around them, obscuring the steep and winding mountain path. Even at close range, the outlines of the people ahead became blurry.

Sparse raindrops fell on Murong Feiyan's forehead and shoulders, bringing a cool, refreshing sensation. This feeling quickly calmed her originally anxious heart.

Hu Xiaotian suddenly sighed, "I wish I could turn into rain!"

Murong Feiyan didn't turn around, took a deep breath of the fresh, moist air, and asked curiously, "Why would you want to turn into rain?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "If I turned into rain, I could fall on your shoulders, right?"

Murong Feiyan laughed, "Then I would get wet!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "In this situation, don't you think even getting wet would be very romantic?" The "wet" he meant and the "wet" Murong Feiyan thought of were completely different.

Murong Feiyan realized this and blushed, inwardly cursing this guy for being shameless and taking advantage of her. If they were on flat ground, she would have beaten him to a pulp, but now, on the cliff, she didn't dare move. She bit her lip and decided the best way was to pretend she didn't understand: "What do you mean by romantic?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "This is a phrase from my hometown, also called 'romantic.' Romantic is when someone hands you an umbrella in the rain; romantic is when someone holds you in their arms when it's cold; romantic is when the person you love is by your side when you're happy..."

Listening to Hu Xiaotian's words, Murong Feiyan couldn't help but feel a bit entranced. She slowly closed her eyes and, at that moment, suddenly understood the meaning of the romance Hu Xiaotian described.

Suddenly, a cold snort came from ahead, "Flattery! Using such a crude trick to deceive Sister Murong, what ulterior motives do you have?"