Chapter 274: Ranked Third

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but feel speechless.

"About that, I'm not going to eat you, so why are you so timid? Who's the real xian tian here anyway?" He paused, then explained, "I just have some private words I want to say to you."

Jiao Tangtang was so angry her gums ached. Xian tian...

Oh, right, this guy really is a xian tian expert, so why should she be afraid of him?

"Private words?"

"Then use sound transmission!"

As Jiao Tangtang spoke, she stepped back, her whole body on guard.

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

"I don't know how to use sound transmission!"

"You receive a curse, passive points: 1."

"You receive suspicion, passive points: 1."

"No, you definitely can!" Jiao Tangtang glared at him.

"I can't!"

"You can!"

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless again.

He gave up struggling and said directly in front of the onlookers, "If I'm not mistaken, you're looking for a gui shou ji ti?"

Jiao Tangtang: ???

You... how do you know?

And, are you really unable to use sound transmission? How can you just say something like that out loud!

Jiao Tangtang immediately rushed forward, trying to cover Xu Xiaoshou's mouth.

But Xu Xiaoshou reacted quickly, like a startled bird, and grabbed the white cat from his head, squeezing it hard.

"Meow!"

The cat beast let out a painful shriek, and Jiao Tangtang quickly stopped in her tracks.

"This..."

"Let it go, I'm not trying to snatch it!"

"Step back."

"Let it go."

"Step back!"

Xu Xiaoshou knew all too well that women could never be fully trusted—maybe this girl was just using this as an excuse to get close and then steal the white cat.

Things had reached this point—if the white cat was taken, he was definitely done for!

Xu Xiaoshou pretended to squeeze harder, and soon Jiao Tangtang backed down.

She sighed deeply, "Weren't you the one who called me over?"

"I called you over, but you can't just come over on your own."

Jiao Tangtang: "..."

"You receive a curse, passive points: 1."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, fully aware of how to maintain the upper hand.

Sometimes, even something as seemingly trivial as who's in control can give you the edge in momentum, increasing your negotiating leverage.

"Come here."

He beckoned with his hand, and Jiao Tangtang had no choice but to approach.

"A little closer."

Xu Xiaoshou gestured for her to get right up close, while he stayed on high alert, his heart pounding.

If this woman made any sudden move, the white cat in his hand might end up bloodied on the spot, potentially sparking a full-blown battle.

A Jie also sensed the tense atmosphere and started to stir restlessly.

Xu Xiaoshou used his spiritual sense to soothe it, signaling not to act yet.

In a critical moment, striking at the key time was the most terrifying strategy!

The onlookers all felt a knot in their chests and instinctively stepped back—this tension was obvious even to a fool.

Xin Gugu stayed in the rear, ready to spring into action.

As long as Jiao Tangtang needed him, he could strike in an instant!

Killing intent surged in Jiao Tangtang's eyes, but suddenly she calmed down completely, turning it into a teasing tone: "Little brother, is this close enough?"

With that, she pressed almost directly against Xu Xiaoshou's body.

Though she seemed to fear provoking the young man into rash action, she didn't make any excessive moves.

Even so, being this close was already quite provocative!

"You receive a curse, passive points: 1, 1, 1, 1..."

Without looking back, Xu Xiaoshou held down his shimei who was trying to step forward, then leaned in close to Jiao Tangtang's ear.

"Think about what I suggested earlier—I'm not joking."

"You're trying to find a gui shou ji ti for Tan Shen, right? This little thing probably loves life force. I've already got one 'milk bottle' on me, so I wouldn't mind adding another one, really."

Mu Zixi exploded with anger right away.

In front of his shimei, whispering in another woman's ear like that, and calling her a 'milk bottle'?

"Xu Xiaoshou, who are you calling a milk bottle!"

Xu Xiaoshou reached back and pinched the young girl's lips to silence her. "Don't interrupt!"

He turned back to Jiao Tangtang, his voice full of temptation.

"This is a deal that's all benefits and no downsides for you. What you'd have to give up probably isn't a big issue for you—just a casual lift of a hand or foot, at most?"

Xu Xiaoshou lifted his chin. "Think it over carefully!"

Jiao Tangtang fell silent.

She glanced at the Teng She Man Yan in her hand. Honestly, this xian tian-level medicinal herb was quite valuable to others, but to her, it really wasn't much.

But why had the two of them still ended up losing Tan Shen over just one xian tian-level spiritual herb?

The answer was simple... They couldn't afford to keep it.

Their Sheng Xuan Dan had been used up, and all sorts of master-level life spiritual herbs had been consumed. She and Xin Gugu had come from the Southern Domain, yet they still hadn't found a suitable gui shou ji ti.

It had led them to such a desperate state that they'd lost Tan Shen over a single xian tian spiritual herb—this was truly pitiful!

But...

If she took control of Xu Xiaoshou and made him the gui shou ji ti, that would be ideal.

The problem was, the situation had flipped—who was in charge now?

Based on Xu Xiaoshou's previous behavior, if Tan Shen was left with him, it might not survive even a month!

If they met again and all that was left was a person with the cat's remains turned to bones...

Who could bear that responsibility?

"Does it really need this much thought?"

Xu Xiaoshou spoke up. Seeing her silence, he knew deep down she was tempted.

But the bargaining chip still wasn't enough!

How to sweeten the deal...

Xu Xiaoshou pondered as well. Truth be told, he didn't know their real purpose.

Even the term gui shou was something he'd figured out through observation on the upper floor.

And just now, when he'd mentioned gui shou ji ti, judging by the woman's and man's reactions, his guess was probably spot on.

Thinking it through, Xu Xiaoshou said decisively, "If you don't plan to accept this deal, that's fine—I can go back to my original plan."

"But think carefully—if you pass on this opportunity, there might not be another one."

Xu Xiaoshou pulled out the white cat and blew on it right in front of her.

The little thing's fur puffed up, its eyes rolled back, and foam sprayed from its mouth.

Jiao Tangtang: "..."

"Fine, I agree!"

She finally stopped hesitating. As Xu Xiaoshou said, miss this village, and there might not be this shop!

"But I have one condition..."

"What condition?"

"No matter what, Tan Shen's safety must be my top priority!"

"Impossible!" Xu Xiaoshou rejected it without a second thought.

Jiao Tangtang was stunned and snapped, "That's the condition—there's no room for you to refuse!"

Xu Xiaoshou shrugged. "Then there's nothing more to discuss."

"This little thing is with me—never mind the trouble it might bring, that statement of yours just doesn't hold up."

"I'm the type who values my own life above all! Besides, look behind me... my shimei hasn't even said anything yet!"

"If this little cat is with me, at best, it can only rank third."