Chapter 79

Muron Feiyan suddenly came to his senses thanks to the little girl's timely reminder. He opened his eyes wide as if waking from a dream and then chuckled, "His clumsy tricks are only suitable for young girls who haven't reached puberty. What kind of 'luo mai tie ke'? It's just too sour."

Hu Xiaotian was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. The little girl in front had ears like a bat. All the romantic atmosphere he had painstakingly created was destroyed by her one sentence. "It's not 'luo mai tie ke,' it's 'romance.' Little girl, you haven't even reached puberty yet. When you grow up, you'll understand that an outstanding woman must know how to appreciate romance."

The little girl huffed in front of Muron Feiyan, "What's so great about it? Men are no good!"

This comment sparked public outrage. Even the four servants felt that the little girl was being too hasty, condemning all men with a single stroke. The young master might not be a good person, but they, the servants, were poor and had nothing to lose. They didn't consider themselves bad people.

Hu Xiaotian secretly found it amusing that a girl around eleven or twelve years old could say such things, as if she had a rich emotional history.

Liang Dazhuang said from behind, "Not all men are bad. Our young master is an extremely perfect man." This guy had leaked Hu Xiaotian's identity at Lanruo Temple and felt guilty. When he saw an opportunity to flatter, he immediately rushed forward without hesitation.

Hu Xiaotian secretly cursed this guy for his lack of skill in flattery. "Extremely perfect man? Did I hear wrong? Why does it feel so sarcastic? Is he speaking in reverse?"

Muron Feiyan giggled, thinking it was definitely a sarcastic remark.

The little girl said, "The more perfect a person is, the sooner they die. Haven't you heard that good people don't live long, but evil people live for a thousand years?"

Liang Dazhuang, indignant, said, "How can you talk like that? You're cursing our young master. Do you have any conscience? If it weren't for our young master, you and your grandfather would have been eaten by wolves long ago."

Even Muron Feiyan felt that the little girl's words were too harsh. Although Hu Xiaotian was a bit of a scoundrel and had a sharp tongue, he hadn't done anything evil on this journey. He had even saved the little girl and her grandfather, making him their savior. The little girl, instead of showing gratitude, spoke so harshly, which indeed seemed like ingratitude. Muron Feiyan had seen many girls of this age, but this type was the first she had encountered. The little girl exuded an eerie aura from head to toe.

Hu Xiaotian didn't think the little girl's words were wrong, because her actions were even more venomous than her words. She had already shot him with a poisonous needle at Lanruo Temple, the Seven-Day Soul-Cutting Needle. It was too venomous!

After passing through the narrow mountain path, everyone rested on a flat section of the road. Hu Xiaotian took the opportunity to roll up his sleeve and examine the area where the poisonous needle had hit. It had already expanded to the size of a silver dollar. At this rate, his entire arm would turn red in no time. He quietly pressed the wound with his finger, and the skin was already numb. It was definitely poisonous, and his nerves were paralyzed. He found a crooked pine tree and sat down, watching the little girl from a distance. She was standing at the edge of the cliff, looking toward the direction of Lanruo Temple. The mountains were shrouded in clouds and mist, with occasional drizzle, making it impossible to see anything. However, from her expression, it seemed she was still very concerned about the old eunuch An Dequan, showing some conscience.

Thinking of An Dequan, Hu Xiaotian had to admit that he was indeed a remarkable person. Despite the lack of medical resources, he had survived an amputation surgery, which was not just a matter of willpower. Reflecting on his previous surgical experiences, Hu Xiaotian realized that the people in this world seemed to have a higher tolerance for pain and a better ability to fight infections. This might be related to the lack of large-scale industrialization, the relatively unpolluted environment, and the absence of widespread antibiotic use. Of course, the physiological structure might also differ from his previous understanding, but the anatomical structures he had seen during surgeries did not differ significantly from his medical knowledge.

Muron Feiyan came to Hu Xiaotian's side and handed him a water bag. As the journey progressed, the relationship between the two had gradually improved, and Muron Feiyan had completely let go of her hostility.

Hu Xiaotian took a sip from the water bag.

Muron Feiyan said, "After we pass through Pengyin Mountain, I will escort her to Xiezhou. You can go directly to Qingyun County to take up your post, so as not to delay things."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head, his eyes fixed on the little girl. Seeing that she wasn't paying attention, he rolled up his sleeve and showed his left arm to Muron Feiyan. When she saw the large red spot on his arm, she couldn't help but gasp.

Hu Xiaotian signaled her not to make a fuss and whispered, "The little girl shot me with a poisonous needle. According to her, I only have seven days to live. If I don't deliver her to her destination within seven days, I'm dead."

Muron Feiyan drew a sharp breath, her face showing concern. She then became indignant and said, "I'll go find her..." Hu Xiaotian quickly pulled her back and whispered, "Pretend this never happened. She doesn't trust us at all. My life is in her hands, and she uses it as a guarantee for her own safety."

Muron Feiyan said, "How can she do this? It's pure ingratitude!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I'm not worried about her ingratitude. What I'm really worried about is the powerful enemy they have provoked." At that moment, the little girl looked over, and Hu Xiaotian quickly stopped talking.

Muron Feiyan whispered, "What do you plan to do?"

Hu Xiaotian waited until the little girl looked away and then said, "We can only take her to Xiezhou first. I hope we have a safe journey."

Muron Feiyan bit her lip and said, "Don't worry, if she dares to harm you, I won't let her off."

Hu Xiaotian suddenly smiled, his smile bright and infectious. Muron Feiyan felt a bit embarrassed facing his smile and spat, "You can still smile at a time like this?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Smiling is a lifetime, crying is a lifetime. I've decided to face life with a smile!"

This simple and sincere statement moved Muron Feiyan. To maintain such optimism despite being poisoned was a sign of a strong mindset. What kind of person was Hu Xiaotian?

The clouds in the valley were quickly dispersed by the mountain wind, revealing the continuous outline of the mountains. The sky, however, became increasingly dark, with leaden clouds covering their heads, making everyone feel heavy-hearted.

A suspension bridge spanned the gap between two peaks, the only way to cross Pengyin Mountain. The mountain wind caused the bridge to sway in the air, and the rusted iron chains produced a sharp, grating sound that echoed deep into the hearts of the people, making them shudder.

Everyone stopped at the eastern end of the suspension bridge. Muron Feiyan's face turned as pale as paper. Just looking at the scene made her dizzy and disoriented. Below the bridge was a bottomless abyss, and a fall would mean certain death.

The faces of the servants were also grim. If they had known the path was so dangerous, they would have chosen to go around Pengyin Mountain, even if it meant a longer journey. The horses, which had endured the previous treacherous mountain paths, refused to move forward at the suspension bridge. Some of the horses had already begun to neigh in fear. Hu Fuo went over and stroked the horses' manes to calm them down. After the horses had calmed down, Hu Fuo came to Hu Xiaotian's side and whispered, "Young master, these horses can't cross!"

---

The clouds and mist in the valley were quickly dispersed by the mountain wind, revealing the continuous outline of the mountains. The sky, however, became increasingly dark, with leaden clouds covering their heads, making everyone feel heavy-hearted.

A suspension bridge spanned the gap between two peaks, the only way to cross Pengyin Mountain. The mountain wind caused the bridge to sway in the air, and the rusted iron chains produced a sharp, grating sound that echoed deep into the hearts of the people, making them shudder.

Everyone stopped at the eastern end of the suspension bridge. Muron Feiyan's face turned as pale as paper. Just looking at the scene made her dizzy and disoriented. Below the bridge was a bottomless abyss, and a fall would mean certain death.

The faces of the servants were also grim. If they had known the path was so dangerous, they would have chosen to go around Pengyin Mountain, even if it meant a longer journey. The horses, which had endured the previous treacherous mountain paths, refused to move forward at the suspension bridge. Some of the horses had already begun to neigh in fear. Hu Fuo went over and stroked the horses' manes to calm them down. After the horses had calmed down, Hu Fuo came to Hu Xiaotian's side and whispered, "Young master, these horses can't cross!"