Chapter 1094: Xu Xiaoshou, call me teacher

"Mister Si Ren?"

"Mister Si Ren, wake up! Mister Si Ren, aren't you supposed to be protecting me? Why are you spacing out like this?"

This was too irresponsible... Xu Xiaoshou had just emerged from his heart sword technique cultivation and returned to reality. Glancing back, he realized he wasn't the only one who had gone into qi deviation—Mei Si Ren had as well.

He didn't dare move recklessly.

After waiting for a long time until the situation improved, he still had to pat Mei Si Ren for quite a while to snap the old sword immortal out of his vacant stare and bring him back to his senses.

"Die!"

As soon as Mei Si Ren opened his eyes, a torrent of demonic energy erupted, instantly enveloping hundreds of li around them. Behind him, a sword image materialized out of nowhere, radiating fierce killing intent, and slashed down directly.

"Under stealth attack, passive value: 1."

Xu Xiaoshou's heart nearly leaped out of his chest. Without a word, he cast "Disappear," then sidestepped to safety, staring in shock as Mei Si Ren's sword image struck viciously at his previous position.

—Utterly merciless!

The sword qi extended for thousands of li, ripping a bright path through the Juren Guodu and destroying countless ancient structures before fading into the distance.

A drop of cold sweat trickled down his temple as Xu Xiaoshou stood there, stunned.

What kind of move was that?

Mister Si Ren, were you really trying to kill me just now?

What did I do? I only patted you a couple of times, right? I even covered my hand with spiritual energy so it wouldn't hurt you.

How could you go that far!

"Uh..." As his eyes cleared and the demonic energy faded, Mei Si Ren stared at the sword strike he had just unleashed, frozen in place.

What have I done?

In that moment, Mei Si Ren nearly wanted to clutch his head and scream.

Has Xu Xiaoshou died?

Did I erase him with that single sword strike?

"Xu Xiaoshou?" He looked around frantically, calling out, "Xu Xiaoshou, where are you?"

Silence reigned, with no response.

Mei Si Ren's eyes filled with regret as he gripped the stone sword tightly, murmuring to himself, "I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry. I couldn't control myself..."

"Mister Si Ren?" A hesitant voice suddenly came from behind him.

Mei Si Ren whirled around and saw Xu Xiaoshou standing unharmed right there. His eyes widened in disbelief.

"You little rascal..."

He swung the stone sword down on Xu Xiaoshou's head. With his array of passive skills, including "Countershock" and "Toughness," Xu Xiaoshou was still knocked off balance by the rebounding force, slamming straight into a deep pit in the ground.

What technique was that?

Zhen Dao?

Clutching his head in confusion and grievance, Xu Xiaoshou flew back up and asked, "Why did you hit me, Mister Si Ren? You were the one who tried to kill me first, so I had to disappear and dodge."

"You..." Mei Si Ren was furious, having been genuinely terrified that he had accidentally slain Xu Xiaoshou with that strike.

After all, Xu Xiaoshou was only at the Zongshi level; no matter how skilled, he couldn't withstand a direct hit from Mei Si Ren's sword image.

Don't get angry, don't get angry...

As long as he's alive, everything's fine...

Mei Si Ren tried to calm himself, pushing aside thoughts of what he had done in Xu Xiaoshou's spiritual world, and decided not to dwell on it.

"Mister Si Ren, what happened to you earlier? Why were you standing there like a statue, not responding no matter how I called?"

As if stirring up trouble on purpose, Xu Xiaoshou asked with wide-eyed curiosity and innocence.

You called me? How long was I out of it... Mei Si Ren froze, his old face flushing red before he quickly composed himself. He coughed lightly and said, "I was... uh, deep in thought. How long was I like that?"

"About a dozen breaths, I suppose. I woke up, turned around, and there you were, lost in... er, whatever thoughts. What could be so important that it took that long?"

Xu Xiaoshou blinked innocently, though his vigilance was at its peak, ready to bolt if he provoked the old sword immortal.

I was out for a full dozen breaths?!

Mei Si Ren was stunned and asked again, "Did you see anything... unusual?"

"Unusual?" Xu Xiaoshou tilted his head in thought. "Nothing unusual, really..."

That's good, that's good... Mei Si Ren sighed in relief internally, but his mind flashed back to the scene of being controlled by demonic energy and battling his inner demon, You Cha, for hundreds of rounds, filling him with shame.

I'm one of the Seven Sword Immortals, having just slain the half-saint incarnation of Jiang Buyi, yet I carelessly got trapped in Xu Xiaoshou's heart sword technique!

Though it was because I wasn't on guard, it shows that this kid's cultivation results are impressive.

Inner demon... Mei Si Ren sighed to himself and resolved not to mention it.

Unexpectedly, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly slapped his forehead as if remembering something and said, "Oh, right, if we're talking about something 'unusual,' there was a bit. Mister Si Ren, you had demonic energy surging around you earlier. That was pretty scary."

"Uh..." Mei Si Ren's face stiffened, a sense of dread rising in his heart.

"I thought maybe you had gone into qi deviation, but then I realized that couldn't be, since you were guarding me. Right?"

Xu Xiaoshou furrowed his brow thoughtfully.

"Um, I was just thinking about some things..." Mei Si Ren's voice dropped unconsciously. Seizing the opportunity, he asked, "Did you hear anything else?"

"Hear?"

Xu Xiaoshou pondered for a moment.

Mei Si Ren's heart raced.

"Yes!"

"Yes."

"Um."

"So, what did you hear?" Mei Si Ren tensed up, his grip on the stone sword sweating.

Is this something I can even say... Xu Xiaoshou stroked his chin, glanced at Mei Si Ren, and quickly looked away.

After a long silence, he decided not to miss this golden opportunity and said boldly, "I heard some secrets that can't be spoken."

"Speak!" Mei Si Ren demanded sternly, his expression turning serious.

"You have to promise not to kill me first." Xu Xiaoshou stepped back in fear. "No, promise not to hurt me at all."

"I told you to speak, so speak!" Mei Si Ren didn't make the promise, his face darkening before softening into a smile. "It's fine, just describe it casually. I won't get angry."

"You promise."

"Alright, I promise!"

As soon as Mei Si Ren finished speaking, Xu Xiaoshou leaped back, raising his stone sword high.

Under the old sword immortal's baffled gaze, he stepped forward and thrust the stone sword, striking a ridiculously embarrassing pose, and shouted dramatically:

"You Cha, take this sword!"

Mei Si Ren: ???

His eye twitched, his old face turning green, then red, his back teeth grinding audibly.

"Hey, hey..." Xu Xiaoshou quickly lowered the sword in fright. "Mister Si Ren, you told me to say it, and you promised not to hurt me!"

Mei Si Ren's face twisted with rage as he suppressed his anger and said as calmly as he could, "And then? What else did I say?"

As soon as Xu Xiaoshou started to pose, Mei Si Ren's gaze sharpened. "No more gestures!"

"Oh, oh." Xu Xiaoshou shrank back, his mouth twitching upward before he forced it down, putting on an innocent face. He suddenly looked up at the sky and shouted fiercely:

"You Cha, is that all you've got? Bring out your full power!"

Mei Si Ren: "..."

He clenched his left fist tightly, barely resisting the urge to punch Xu Xiaoshou's smug face.

I said no gestures!

And besides, I never made that kind of expression—even in qi deviation, it wasn't as exaggerated as you're acting!

"And then! What else did you hear!" Mei Si Ren forced the words through gritted teeth, his anger barely contained.

Do I have to say more? If I do, I'm done for... Xu Xiaoshou subtly shifted his attention away from Mei Si Ren's murderous fist and leaped back, hands on his hips, laughing maniacally at the sky:

"Hahahahaha..."

Mei Si Ren froze.

Was Xu Xiaoshou mocking him?

How dare he show it so openly!

"Don't misunderstand, Mister Si Ren, I'm not laughing at you." Xu Xiaoshou paused his laughter briefly to explain, then continued with hands on hips, mercilessly adding:

"I'm just imitating your final move..."

He seized the moment to keep laughing.

"Hahaha, You Cha, brother, what a thrilling battle today! You've finally fallen to my sword!"

"Who would've thought you'd have this day? Ha! Ha, ha!"

As his laughter trailed off, Xu Xiaoshou vanished in a flash, stepping into the air.

Sure enough, the next second, a terrifying sword qi slashed through where he had been, followed by an earth-shattering, hysterical roar that echoed everywhere:

"Xu! Xiao! Shou!!!"

Mei Si Ren finally realized...

He knew everything!

It turned out that every embarrassing thing he had done in his qi deviation state had been seen and heard by Xu Xiaoshou.

The kid had pretended not to know earlier, but when asked, he performed it all perfectly.

He had baited Mei Si Ren, hooking him like a fool, then used reverse psychology to make him demand the most shameful details.

And Mei Si Ren had fallen for it!

This was utterly humiliating... In that instant, Mei Si Ren, curling his toes in embarrassment, even considered silencing Xu Xiaoshou to save face.

But his furious sword strike missed, as Xu Xiaoshou had already flown away, clearly anticipating it.

After the strike, killing him now was impossible.

"You little brat, you're asking for it..." Mei Si Ren fumed, teeth itching with anger. For the first time, he truly understood the deeper meaning behind Ba Zun An's words about teaching Xu Xiaoshou swordsmanship—only through beatings.

Discarding his image as one of the Seven Sword Immortals, he transformed into an irate teacher snatching up a slipper to chase the class troublemaker in the back row, hurling it as he went:

"Stop right there!"

Sword qi flew wildly, about to split Xu Xiaoshou in half.

"No way!"

Xu Xiaoshou yelled in panic, stepping into the air repeatedly, refusing to stop.

"You dare play me for a fool? Where did you get the nerve?"

Mei Si Ren bellowed, beard bristling, swinging his stone sword chaotically, turning the ravaged area into even more of a ruin.

"You told me to say it yourself! I hesitated forever and was clearly reluctant, but you saw through it and still forced me. As your student, I... had no choice!"

Xu Xiaoshou clutched his head, grinning ear to ear, though his words were full of feigned innocence.

Even calling me "old man" now? No, no, I need to run longer, or Mister Si Ren won't cool off. This is hilarious... Xu Xiaoshou thought as he fled, clutching his sides in laughter.

"You know exactly what you were thinking! I kindly taught you heart sword technique, and you turn around and mock me."

Mei Si Ren chased relentlessly, unable to hold back any longer. His sword image rose from behind.

With a boom, immense pressure descended.

"You're cheating..." Xu Xiaoshou was slammed to the ground on the spot, terrified. He quickly covered his head and stopped yelling, admitting his fault.

"I was wrong, Mister Si Ren, I was wrong. It's all my fault—kill me to vent your anger if you want..."

Still trying to retreat to advance?

Mei Si Ren chuckled in anger; he saw right through Xu Xiaoshou's scheme. He sneered, stone sword in hand, and flashed to the cowering figure on the ground.

"I won't kill you..."

"Today, I'll teach you another technique—the one that just knocked you flying!"

Watching Xu Xiaoshou huddle with his head in his hands, slowly peeking out, Mei Si Ren snorted and swung the stone sword down hard.

"Using high-frequency vibrations to concentrate multiple hidden forces, even with your strange sword body, I can use your own strength against you..." He paused, his eyes fierce, and roared, "Zhen Dao!"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't even have time to flash away. A terrifying force crashed down on his head, shattering even his "Toughness." He was blasted into the deep earth like a potato.

"Huff..."

Standing on the cracked stone slab, gazing into the bottomless pit, Mei Si Ren finally exhaled, feeling like he'd regained some dignity.

What nerve!

Xu Xiaoshou, that kid, was way too bold!

How many years had it been? Since becoming one of the Seven Sword Immortals and teaching countless students, Mei Si Ren had never lost his composure like this—he couldn't even remember the last time he was this angry!

But today, Xu Xiaoshou had pulled a fast one on him, grabbing his weakness.

And the brat had the audacity to perform it all!

Mei Si Ren felt a mix of fury and frustration. As he dwelled on it, an unfamiliar emotion surfaced.

He hadn't felt this in ages...

Perhaps this was the kind of "playful banter" that could exist between a teacher and student?

No, no!

This couldn't be normal—Xu Xiaoshou was just an exception!

"Mister Si Ren, calmed down now?" From the pit, a timid head popped up, asking carefully.

Mei Si Ren snorted without responding, glaring at the little troublemaker.

Xu Xiaoshou scratched his head awkwardly but met his gaze steadily.

Soon, both seemed to tune into the same wavelength, recalling that rare moment of "embarrassment" unique to the old sword immortal.

The old man and the youth burst into unrestrained laughter amid the ruins.

"Hahahaha..."

"Hehehehe..."

In the laughter, Xu Xiaoshou's mind flickered with memories of joyful times at Tian Sang Ling Gong.

That was when he first tried cultivating the Five Finger Seal technique and accidentally shot a fire seed into Elder Sang's nose...

That was when he first attempted the Jin Zhao Condensation Pill technique and accidentally blew up the entire third floor of the Spirit Repository Pavilion, even drawing the enforcement team...

That was when he and his junior sister were leaving Ling Gong, and Elder Sang became chatty, nagging about all sorts of nonsense...

He hadn't understood back then.

Now, recalling Elder Sang's last appearance before his own qi deviation, Xu Xiaoshou realized it was all fated karma.

Xu Xiaoshou's laughter faded.

Mei Si Ren's did too, his eyes softening as he noticed the faint melancholy on Xu Xiaoshou.

"Missing your master?"

"A bit..." Xu Xiaoshou, still in the pit with just his head showing, shrank down a little, not hiding his feelings.

Mei Si Ren's smile vanished as he sighed deeply, reaching out to ruffle Xu Xiaoshou's head, rubbing for a long time and feeling the slight sting in his palm.

He stopped and looked up at the sky.

The Void Island's light was an eternal daylight; there was no darkness, but that didn't mean people here could always face the sun.

"Mister Si Ren..." Xu Xiaoshou's mood remained low, following the old sword immortal's gaze to the sky.

"Xu Xiaoshou." Mei Si Ren withdrew his hand and said suddenly, "Call me 'teacher.'"

He smiled at the youthful face peeking from the pit, his tone as warm as the Void Island's daylight: "'Master' is a heavy word; a person can only have one in their life.

"I believe that since we've only known each other a short time, I can only teach you in the way of the sword. I can be a 'teacher,' but not a 'father.'

"Because you've grown up, and we didn't meet in innocence or hardship, so just call me 'teacher.'"

Xu Xiaoshou froze, his hands on the pit's edge going limp as a wave of emotion surged in his nose.

"Teacher..." he murmured softly.

"Get up." Mei Si Ren smiled, extending a hand to the lonely figure in the pit, pulling him up. Together, they turned to face forward.

"The road ahead is long. I can walk with you for a while, but how far you go depends on you."

"Mm..."

Xu Xiaoshou responded quietly, his gaze fixed ahead.

From the thousand-li sword qi path Mei Si Ren had carved earlier, the end was invisible, and the distance unfathomable.

"Then, it's time to move to the next step."

Mei Si Ren paused briefly, confirming Xu Xiaoshou had shaken off his momentary sadness, and subtly guided him: "While you were cultivating heart sword technique, someone else carried the burden for you, holding off two Taixu experts!"

With that, he stepped forward, his demeanor still warm, though deep in his eyes, hidden from Xu Xiaoshou, lurked a sharp killing intent.

What a big mouth... Xu Xiaoshou thought with a smile; dirty work always fell to that guy. How exhausting for him.

"Xu Xiaoshou, have you mastered heart sword technique?" Mei Si Ren asked without turning back, though he already knew the answer.

"Mm."

"And the Mu Xia Shen Fo as well?" He confirmed once more.

"Mm."

So fast—you've really broken the record, the fastest in history to master heart sword technique... Mei Si Ren marveled inwardly, then his expression turned solemn.

"Then it's perfect. He's not done over there yet. A sharpened sword only reveals its true brilliance through blood."

"It's time to test the sword!"

To read the fastest updates of "I Have a Body Full of Passive Skills," please enter the browser and search for it to view.