Chapter 1078: Giant CP~

"Alright, let's leave the past in the past and not dwell on the unnecessary things."

Xu Xiaoshou noticed that Xukong Shi had finally been thoroughly convinced, so he set the matter aside for the time being. He believed that after this thorough brainwashing, the faint aura from Shennong Yaoyuan on himself wouldn't bother this big guy anymore. With the last possibility of Xukong Shi attacking him eliminated, Xu Xiaoshou could finally proceed boldly with his next plan.

"Death countdown: eight days!"

From emptying Shennong Yaoyuan, to entering Yuanfu, and then coming out again, that timer had been ticking in his mind. No matter how his appearance changed, that thing was always there, impossible to shake off. Of course, he was panicking—it would be a lie to say he wasn't. But panicking wouldn't help. If you made a mistake, you had to find a way to fix it.

Based on the limited information he had about Xukong Island, the only solution Xu Xiaoshou could think of was the "Miansi Ling" that Xukong Shi had mentioned earlier. It was a special resource on Xukong Island, available only at Zui Yi Dian for exchange. The currency for exchange was "Xukong Jingjing."

How to get Xukong Jingjing?

Xu Xiaoshou didn't know other methods; the only way he knew was to get it from Xukong Shi.

How exactly?

Well, he couldn't just ask outright!

After giving Xukong Shi enough time to process the previous, uh, incident, Xu Xiaoshou patted its shoulder, gazed at the sky, and said with a touch of nostalgia, "Time flies so fast..."

"Huh?" Xukong Shi looked up, confused.

"I can still vividly remember those days when we played and messed around as kids. Looking back, they were such wonderful memories." From the corner of his eye, Xu Xiaoshou caught Xukong Shi's look of astonishment, but he continued with his sentimental tone.

"Huh." Xukong Shi nodded blankly, starting to feel puzzled. What was going on? Suddenly bringing up memories... Oh, right—he still didn't know the name of his lifesaving brother or who he really was. Xukong Shi was about to speak, but as it turned, it saw the brother deeply immersed in those memories, his face full of warmth, so it swallowed its words.

Was that an illusion? It seemed like the brother already knew him from before? But I don't remember having this friend. He mentioned "as kids"... Xukong Shi's heart skipped a beat. It quickly rummaged through its memories—sure, it had playmates as a kid, but not this one! Wait, no way? Did I sleep for so long that I forgot about my brother?

"Do you still remember, back then..."

Xu Xiaoshou gestured vaguely in front of him, not specifying any time or event, just smiling as he said, "It was so funny—you actually cried! How embarrassing. Good thing I was there, or who knows how you'd have gotten through it!"

Xukong Shi was baffled. "When did I ever cry?" It really wanted to ask that out loud, but for a moment, it didn't dare. Even someone as simple as Xukong Shi could figure out at this point—it was either that it had slept too long and forgotten some childhood things, or the brother had mistaken it for someone else.

Did he save me because he thought I was his friend? Xukong Shi wanted to ask for specifics about what the brother was talking about, to jog its own forgotten memories. But it didn't dare anymore! It could guess the outcome if it asked:

"What? You forgot about me? I risked my life to save you, and you forgot all our wonderful childhood memories?"

Or maybe...

"What? You're not my friend? I risked my life to save you, and you're saying I mistook you for another servant? Then what was the point of me saving you?"

How awkward would that scene be?

After just three breaths of stunned silence, Xukong Shi found the perfect solution. It looked up at the sky, following the brother's gaze, and let a reminiscent expression cross its face, saying with deep emotion, "Yeah, back then, it was all thanks to having a friend like you..."

No matter what the brother was saying, just go along with it! This misunderstanding was beautiful—let it continue, don't clear it up!

"Received suspicion, passive value, 1."

"Received affirmation, passive value, 1."

"Received following, passive value, 1."

The information bar jumped wildly, and Xu Xiaoshou almost burst out laughing, but he held it in. Good thing it didn't ask. There are many ways to build rapport, but everything falls apart if you start probing—just follow my lead, and things won't get awkward. Your lifesaver won't end up embarrassed and lashing out—though he probably wouldn't dare anyway.

Xu Xiaoshou composed himself, sighed deeply, and said, "Yeah, the past was truly wonderful, but this long sleep... I just woke up, and I almost witnessed my brother's fall."

"Luckily, the fluctuations from the Shengli Dazhan didn't cover up the connection of our shared bloodline, and I found you at the last moment." Xu Xiaoshou took Xukong Shi's hands, his gaze intense and sincere. "So many years have passed, old friends have faded away one by one, but you're still here... It's wonderful."

Xukong Shi didn't even know where the emotion was coming from; it just teared up a little and murmured, "Mm..."

"Let's not talk about that anymore." Xu Xiaoshou was starting to feel a bit nauseated himself, so he let go of Xukong Shi's hands, turned his gaze elsewhere, and asked casually, "Your guarded treasure is gone now—what's your next move?"

Xukong Shi finally felt like it had a question it could handle. It had been afraid the brother would keep dwelling on the past, leaving it completely lost. But faced with this question, Xukong Shi couldn't come up with an answer right away.

"I don't know." It shook its head slightly.

The loss of Shennong Yaoyuan wasn't just about a few missing spiritual herbs—it was the entire thing vanishing. The responsibility was huge! Xukong Shi figured it would have to go to Zui Yi Dian to confess its sins, and maybe even end up at Sheng Xing Chang afterward. But that pain... it could bear it alone! The brother had nearly given his life to save it. Its own negligence wasn't something the brother should share. Xukong Shi believed that if it told him everything, the brother would stand by him through thick and thin, given their bond. But it didn't want that. My mistake, I'll handle it. You've just woken up—you should explore Xukong Island again, revisit our old home.

"What about you?" Xukong Shi turned the question back, wanting to use a name but not knowing it. "...Friend, where do you want to go?"

"Me?" Xu Xiaoshou had been waiting for this question. He turned his head toward the three humans behind him and said, "I have a task ahead. We'll have to part ways soon, though it's regrettable, it has to be this way."

The "task" he mentioned was naturally the one Xukong Shi had assigned him earlier—to kill the "double dullards." But to Xukong Shi, those words meant something entirely different.

A task?

Xukong Shi was slightly stunned, realizing that the newly awakened brother might have been noticed by the Xukong Island spirit because of saving it, and now he was being given an important role.

"Does it involve those three humans?" Xukong Shi followed his gaze.

"Mm." Xu Xiaoshou nodded. Of course, he wanted to take Mei Jiren and the others along, and using the task as a cover was perfect. He also believed Xukong Shi had the sense not to ask about the details. And even if it did, Xu Xiaoshou had ways to handle it.

In the end, Xukong Shi didn't ask. Because it knew that the tasks given by the Xukong Island spirit to each guardian were unique and confidential. At that moment, it was deep in thought, considering only one thing...

"The brother just saved my life, and now we're parting before I can repay him. Now he's taken on a task from the Xukong Island spirit, and he has to travel with those three humans—that means I need to assign a task and give them instructions."

In an instant, Xukong Shi thought of how to repay the favor.

"Friend, since you've just woken up, your things..."

As soon as those words came out, Xu Xiaoshou was so excited he almost planted a kiss on the big cutie's head. How did you get so perceptive? I hadn't even started guiding you, and you're already thinking of repaying me with treasures?

Xu Xiaoshou suppressed his inner joy and said sorrowfully, "Humans! Despicable! When I woke up from my sleep, everything I had was stolen clean..."

Exactly!

Xukong Shi felt a surge of delight in its heart. It had guessed right—the brother must have suffered the same fate. Xukong Island hadn't been peaceful lately; humans kept sneaking in and stealing treasures. Who knew how many items had been lost from the nine great forbidden zones. The brother had slept for so long; even with strong seals on his resting place, they couldn't compare to the nine great zones, so his savings must have been wiped out!

"Friend, since you're traveling with humans, you'll definitely need to assign them tasks." Xukong Shi paused and said, "Xukong Island's rule is equivalent exchange. You have nothing now, so you can't issue tasks. I don't have much saved up, but you have to take these."

With that, it flipped its hand, and a small pile of black hexagonal crystals appeared in its massive palm.

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up instantly. Xukong Jingjing! This was exactly what he wanted! With a quick "perception" scan, he instantly counted the Xukong Jingjing in Xukong Shi's hand.

Fifty pieces!

Damn, killing a double dullard only gives two as a reward... And here you are, handing me this many just from a little persuasion?! What is this? Is this Xukong Jingjing? No! This is twenty-five Taixu lives! Or in a two-person team scenario. If it were a solo task from you, Xukong Shi, this would be fifty Taixu lives!

But while he thought that, "No, no, brother, you're treating me like an outsider. I saved you, not just for these things..."

Xu Xiaoshou desperately tried to push Xukong Shi's hand back. As a mighty giant race, capable of stomping Taixu with one foot or punching through mountains, at that moment, he felt as weak as if he hadn't eaten or drunk for millions of years—he could barely move that hand; it was unbudging!

Xukong Shi pretended to be annoyed: "Friend, no matter how good our past friendship was, you just saved my life. If you don't accept this gift, I won't be able to face you in the future."

"I..." Xu Xiaoshou's hand went limp, almost forming a pocket—damn it, Xukong Shi, why don't you have pockets? "It's not right to put it that way. I did save your life..."

"This is the greatest kindness!" Xukong Shi interrupted, grabbing his hand without another word and slapping the pile of Xukong Jingjing into it. After thinking for a moment, it gritted its teeth. "Friend, you've just woken up and have tasks ahead that will need these more than I do..." It flipped its hand again, adding another ten Xukong Jingjing on top.

Xu Xiaoshou was trembling with emotion, his hand already poised to tuck them away, but it suddenly steadied. There's more? His features twisted, and tears nearly spilled out. Then, holding back the overwhelming emotion, he kept his hand cradling the Xukong Jingjing in front of his chest, bowing slightly, his eyes glistening. "If you do this..."

"Keep them safe." Xukong Shi released his hand and gripped his shoulder.

Of course I'll keep them safe. What I mean is, is there more? More, please... Xu Xiaoshou hadn't withdrawn his hand yet; it still hovered in front of his chest. "Brother, I..."

"This is what you deserve, and my way of saying thanks!" Xukong Shi interrupted again, his expression serious.

Since it's thanks, how about a little more... Xu Xiaoshou waited a bit longer, but finally realized Xukong Shi probably didn't have more. He figured that "Xukong Jingjing" wasn't something you counted in hundreds or thousands—maybe these sixty pieces were already the top value. In Xukong Shi's eyes, this was even enough to repay a life-saving favor!

Know when to stop... Xu Xiaoshou understood that principle. He quickly shoved the Xukong Jingjing into his Yuanfu world, then clenched his fist and thumped his chest. "Brother, I've just woken up and really need this, so I won't be polite. But I'll always cherish this bond."

"Mm."

Xukong Shi nodded vigorously, stepped back with a boom, and extended its fist with utmost seriousness. "Good brother."

Xu Xiaoshou paused, then stepped back with a boom of his own, extending his fist sincerely to gently bump Xukong Shi's. "For life!"

Their fists met, sending waves rippling through the air. What was a mere breeze to Xukong Shi's massive form was a raging wind to humans, stirring up chaos. The sight was utterly disarrayed!

Mei Jiren, Xiao Kongdong, and Ye San were stunned. Even as sand and dust flew into their eyes, the three stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the scene ahead. The daylight glow of Xukong Island bathed the messy battlefield of Qiji Zhisen, illuminating the two dark Xukong Shi figures. Their fist bump seemed like an eternal bond witnessed by heaven and earth.

This moment etched itself into Mei Jiren and the others' minds from every angle, large to small.

"Damn!"

Xiao Kongdong couldn't hold back and spoke first. If it were just two Xukong Shi, even if it was all an act, it might make sense. But they all knew that one of those giants up front was Xu Xiaoshou in disguise! How could he blend in so perfectly and pull off this scene so smoothly?

Are you two swearing brotherhood? Wait, is the other one male or female? If female, are they about to kneel and bow as a couple next? Everyone loves a good romance—Sword Immortals and Taixu have their stories, it's human nature... Xiao Kongdong even shipped his teacher and teacher's wife; just thinking about it was sweet.

But right now... Am I the one who's crazy? Or has the world gone mad? The vibe suddenly shifted in some weird new directions!

The three exchanged glances, their words stuck in their throats like thick phlegm, unable to come out.

Yet even in silence, they all knew the shock in each other's hearts...

"Has Xu Xiaoshou... hooked up with Xukong Shi?"