Chapter 218: Do you think I still have a chance?

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

Zhao Xidong arrived at the entrance of Ling Shi Ge, completely dumbfounded.

These people were truly insane. How could an unknown figure like Xu Xiaoshou suddenly possess such appeal?

Back when he was at the top of the thirty-three in Nei Yuan, he never had people asking for his autograph!

Inside Ling Shi Ge, the crowd was like a tidal wave, with people stacked on top of each other.

Of course, no one noticed that the main target had already disappeared.

Xu Xiaoshou pulled Zhao Xidong into a corner to hide.

"If it weren't for that passive skill..."

He shivered, his face etched with lingering fear.

"What's wrong with you? You're covered in blood," Zhao Xidong said, eyeing him suspiciously from head to toe.

"No fighting involved, and none of it's mine," Xu Xiaoshou quickly waved his hands.

He didn't want this to happen, but passive skills were unavoidable.

There were always some with restless hands wanting to touch him, and naturally, they were pricked by his human porcupine self.

"So it's their blood? You fought back?" Zhao Xidong's gaze turned sharp in an instant.

"Ah, it's a long story, maybe best not to get into it."

Xu Xiaoshou slung an arm over his shoulder. "Are you all recovered? I saved your life the other day, you know."

Zhao Xidong: ...

Damn it!

He was speechless!

"Received a curse, passive value +1."

"What's up? Did you come looking for me?" Xu Xiaoshou asked.

Zhao Xidong showing up at Ling Shi Ge wasn't because of the chaos here.

This level of trouble wouldn't bring out the big shot from Ling Fa Ge, so it must be something more serious.

"Yeah, the dean wants to see you," Zhao Xidong nodded.

"The dean?"

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised. His only real interaction with Ye Xiaotian was that time he made Lei Shuangxing so angry he vomited blood.

Why would he summon him out of the blue?

"Give me a hint, is it good news or bad?"

"Just come with me and stop asking questions."

Zhao Xidong walked off without looking back.

The two things he dreaded most were seeing Xu Xiaoshou and talking to him.

If it weren't for the dean's orders, he wouldn't have bothered coming.

Xu Xiaoshou held back from following and quietly slipped away in the opposite direction.

His intuition told him that anything not to be shared was bad news.

He patted the iron ball in his pocket; A Jie had learned to communicate through spiritual thoughts.

Although every word was still "mama," its presence was much less noticeable, so there was no reason to get caught.

"Which thing did I mess up?"

Xu Xiaoshou winced, realizing he couldn't even keep track of them all...

Wait, had he really done that many shady things?

Zhao Xidong hadn't gone far when he noticed the problem—Xu Xiaoshou wasn't following.

"This..."

He was so angry he started shaking. This guy was toxic!

The dean's message was serious—who did Xu Xiaoshou think he was, making up orders?

If this delayed anything, he'd be in deep trouble too!

"Xu Xiaoshou! Where do you think you're going?" He turned around, his voice cold and menacing.

"Ling Zang Ge," Xu Xiaoshou pointed in a direction. "Sang Lao called me..."

Zhao Xidong's teeth ached.

Sang Lao called you!

Again with Sang Lao!

Did he think he was Mu Zixi, Sang Lao's disciple? Couldn't he come up with a new excuse?

He barely managed to suppress the urge to lash out—after all, as an enforcer, breaking the law would get him in hot water even faster.

"Which is more important, the dean's order or your excuse?"

"It's not an excuse."

Xu Xiaoshou looked genuinely wronged. That night, after Sang Lao said a few words, he really did tell him to rest and then come to Ling Zang Ge.

He couldn't ignore that old man's command!

"Fine, not an excuse. So, between the dean's order and the vice dean's, which one matters more?" Zhao Xidong sneered.

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated, then countered, "What do you think?"

Zhao Xidong was about to reply when he continued, "If you had both orders in front of you, which would you pick?"

Zhao Xidong froze.

What the hell—so many loaded questions!

"Received a curse, passive value +1."

"Xu Xiaoshou, Xu Xiaoshou..."

Watching the usually cool enforcer Zhao muttering like he was possessed, Xu Xiaoshou shivered.

See, you know the answer yourself—why make me choose?

Then, Zhao Xidong suddenly leaped up, wrapped his arm around Xu Xiaoshou's neck, and hoisted him into the air.

Caught off guard, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't react in time.

"What the hell are you doing? This is abuse of power!"

"Heh, for someone acting up, you need unconventional methods."

"You're attacking me? Where am I acting up? Let go—believe me, I'll counterattack passively!"

"Heh, go ahead and try?"

Zhao Xidong chuckled, thinking entry into Xiantian didn't make him untouchable.

I'm from the Zong...

A surge of immense force hit his chest, jarring Zhao Xidong's thoughts and sending him flying upward with a back bow from Xu Xiaoshou.

In an instant, they broke free from the shadows and into the daylight.

Such a flight in Wai Yuan was a rare sight, especially right after the "senior brothers' martial displays" in Nei Yuan.

"Wow, look, a flying person!"

"That's amazing, he can fly! But why's he bleeding from his chest?"

"Flying always comes at a cost. I heard Ling Zang Ge has a blood sacrifice technique that lets even Lingjing Three Realms fly."

"Really?"

"Who knows, just heard it!"

Zhao Xidong nearly spat blood. This guy...

They really were fated to clash!

"Xu Xiaoshou, how dare you resist orders?" he roared in shock.

His furious shout stunned everyone.

"Xu Xiaoshou?"

"He's not in..."

The crowd glanced toward the human pyramid in Ling Fa Ge, and the people inside clearly heard Zhao Xidong's voice, falling silent.

Only then did the muffled cries from the bottom emerge:

"Please, stop piling on, I'm bleeding! Who cut my finger?"

"My bones are broken! Some bastard used a technique on me, it was fixable, but now it's dislocated from the pressure."

"Help! I can't breathe!"

"Don't touch me, I'm not Xu Xiaoshou... ahh!"

The air went deathly silent, especially after that last manly squeal, sending chills through everyone.

Zhao Xidong had heard the cries too, and as the upright star of Ling Fa Ge, his sense of justice flared. He thundered:

"Xu Xiaoshou, look at the mess you've made!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked innocent—he was glad he had escaped early, or he'd be the one screaming.

"It's not my fault. Besides, you started with the violence—this is self-defense."

"Hah."

Zhao Xidong exhaled his rage, landed on the ground, and calmed his voice.

"Restrain yourself. We're going to Ling Fa Ge."

"Why?"

"Why? You tell me why?"

Zhao Xidong pointed a trembling finger at the blood on his chest, baffled. It was just a back bow, but it felt like being sliced by a sword.

This kid—was he part hedgehog?

Xu Xiaoshou thought for a moment and said, "If I remember right, you were the one who told me to try it."

"I..."

Zhao Xidong stopped short.

He realized his fatal mistake—he'd unconsciously started chatting with Xu Xiaoshou again!

"Received a curse, passive value +1."

"Sorry, none of that matters now—the dean really needs to see you!"

Zhao Xidong gave up, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes, and stared intently at Xu Xiaoshou.

"Look, do I still have a chance? Will you come with me?"

"Received concern, passive value +1."