Chapter 193: What a Ruthless Scheme

This sudden, outrageous act left the entire scene in stunned silence!

Everyone watched as Xu Xiaoshou dashed away holding Mu Zixi, standing there like wooden chickens, seemingly unable to recover from his flashy maneuver.

The standoff between the Dean and the Sheng Nu powerhouse was intense, yet here was a mere outer court disciple like you, daring to charge right into the line of fire and stir up trouble?

"Under suspicion, Passive Value, 465."

"Under admiration, Passive Value, 166."

"Under concern, Passive Value, 2."

In the blink of an eye, a flood of thoughts and emotions contributed over a thousand Passive Values to Xu Xiaoshou.

Lei Shuangxing felt the wind brushing past as he watched Xu Xiaoshou's retreating figure.

He was shocked.

With two major jade stones in his own hands, how could anyone dare to pull such a stunt?

His sense of control over the situation vanished in an instant, and he felt an unfamiliar emotion bubbling up inside—one that hadn't surfaced in years...

Dissatisfaction?

Indignation?

Or perhaps the stinging pain of being completely ignored?

Xu Xiaoshou's talent for drawing aggro was unmatched. Lei Shuangxing instinctively aimed the jade stones at his back, ready to crush them, but then he suddenly froze.

"No! This guy is doing it on purpose!"

He remembered the Jian Dao Sha Li that had been overlooked by everyone due to Xu Xiaoshou's hate-transfer tactic.

His own Gu Jian Shu cultivation had reached the Jian Yi realm of a Zong Shi. How could this guy suppress his Jian Yi temporarily if he wasn't from the Jian Zong?

He's trying to provoke me into acting!

Lei Shuangxing broke out in a cold sweat.

He only had two jade stones left. If he used one on that young man, Ye Xiaotian would seize the chance to strike forcefully.

And if the remaining "Jian Qi Jade Stone" failed to harm Ye Xiaotian fatally, the outcome would be...

Certain death!

"This kid's scheme is vicious!"

Lei Shuangxing gripped his purple cane tightly, his heart shaken. He realized his only weakness had been exposed by this unknown figure.

Though he held the power to dominate like a king, that power was most threatening before it was unleashed. Once used, he would be like a lamb without divine strength, easy prey.

"Who is he?"

Lei Shuangxing didn't turn around. He had no trace of Ling Lian cultivation and couldn't even see clearly, but that voice was one he'd never forget.

Someone who could make such a judgment in this situation and act on it was no ordinary person!

In the void, Luo Leilei, who was restrained, gazed at Xu Xiaoshou carrying someone away, her delicate face full of complexity.

She had also figured out Xu Xiaoshou's intention and knew that this stalemate was about to be broken.

"Truly worthy of you..."

This was why Luo Leilei wanted to recruit Xu Xiaoshou into Sheng Nu—he always found a way, in critical moments, to turn the tide with an almost absurd move.

After a moment of daze, Ye Xiaotian also came to his senses.

No wonder Sang Lao had taken an interest in him—this strategy to resolve the crisis was brilliant!

"Everyone, retreat!"

He wasted no time, immediately ordering all the enforcement personnel to leave.

Lei Shuangxing's Jian Dao Sha Li had been temporarily suppressed, and by the time it tried to rise again, the crowd had already scattered like birds and beasts.

He suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. He had the upper hand, but now, without these hostages, rescuing Luo Leilei would be nearly impossible.

"Damn it..."

"Great, those guys didn't react in time!"

The instigator, Xu Xiaoshou, was sprinting through the woods, his heart full of relief.

He had planned to counter the blind man's attack with his own "Ren Ji Shi Jian" technique, or at worst, use his Zong Shi-level body to tough it out. As long as he avoided a fatal blow, he wouldn't die.

But he never expected the guy to react so slowly and not strike directly...

"It's like heaven is helping me!"

His Zong Shi "Agility" wasn't just for show. As soon as he moved, Xu Xiaoshou escaped in the blink of an eye.

Just then, the information panel started scrolling again.

"Under admiration, Passive Value, 56."

"Under gratitude, Passive Value, 77."

Xu Xiaoshou was startled and glanced back to see a group of black-clad figures following him, which made him shrink back in fear.

Why were these guys coming out too? Like persistent ghosts? With Ling Gong facing a huge crisis, were they still chasing spies?

To his surprise, as they approached, not only did they not attack, but they casually slung arms around him like old friends.

"Xu Xiaoshou, good job!"

"Kid, that move was killer! I should've just bolted out too!"

"Forget it, you think you could've pulled that off? You'd just be charging into nothing. But seriously, who knew that guy was all bark and no bite? Still, how did you dare? What if he had more than two jade stones—what then?"

"Under praise, Passive Value, 44."

Xu Xiaoshou was completely baffled. Before he could ask more, the group chattered on, and he soon pieced it together, leaving him both amused and exasperated.

"It's not that... I didn't think that much. I was just in a hurry."

Mu Zixi in his arms was burning up with fever. Xu Xiaoshou didn't know what medicine she had taken, but her mind was already a bit off—who knew what would happen if it got worse?

He needed to find Sang Lao fast!

"Kid, still being modest? I knew you were something special when I saw you take down Feng Kong that night, but I told the others, and they didn't believe me."

"Yeah, and escaping from that masked person proved you're no ordinary guy. Today, you've really transformed—impressive!"

"Under suspicion, Passive Value, 32."

"Under praise, Passive Value, 21."

Xu Xiaoshou nearly had his head turned by this wave of flattery. But he kept his wits about him—these guys were just grateful for being saved and had no better way to show it. It didn't mean much.

Don't get carried away!

After holding back for a bit and watching the Passive Values climb, Xu Xiaoshou finally couldn't help but grin:

"Say more if you can talk—keep it going!"

Everyone paused, then started praising again, turning the woods into a rainbow-filled sky after rain.

"Under praise, Passive Value, 46."

"Under flattery, Passive Value, 21."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

As the flattery grew over-the-top and started to stink, he sobered up.

Once his mind cleared, he stopped running and looked at the group, feeling like something was missing.

"Where's Zhou Tianshen?"

"Huh?" Everyone froze. Oh, right—Zhou Tianshen?

Wait, not just him—Zhao Xidong and the four Zong Shi were missing too. Those immobilized ones seemed to be...

Still back at the pavilion!

"I..." Xu Xiaoshou's mentality shattered.

From everyone's expressions, he realized what had happened—these guys had only thought of themselves and left those people behind!

Finally, someone in the black-clad group regained their senses and said, "No, they're in too much danger. Someone has to go back and save them."

Everyone stopped and turned their eyes to Xu Xiaoshou in unison.

His face turned green.

What the hell? Did they expect him to go back again?

Are you kidding?

That was their job as enforcement personnel!

He clutched the girl in his arms, looking anxious: "Sorry, I've got an emergency..."

"Xu Xiaoshou!" The black-clad representative stepped forward. "I hate to admit it, but in our group, aside from those five laid out back there, you're the only one who can counter that blind guy's Jian Yi."

"I can't!"

"Under suspicion, Passive Value, 46."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

"As an enforcement officer of Ling Fa Ge, I order you to carry out the mission immediately." The representative's voice boomed, then softened as he advised, "Xu Xiaoshou, make up for it. If you rescue them, you can prove you're not a spy!"

"We've got dozens here to vouch for you."

"I..." Xu Xiaoshou looked at the crowd surrounding him, his eyes narrowing.

This bunch of ungrateful wolves!