Chapter 279: What Did I Do Wrong Again?

Xiao Shiliu was completely dumbfounded.

His memories were still fixated on that flirtatious kick from Jiao Tangtang, but why, after waking up, was the person in front of him now of a different gender?

Were these two in cahoots?

Did Xu Xiaoshou have such a powerful backer?

No!

Clearly, this wasn't the time to ponder that...

Xiao Shiliu lowered his head, only to feel a heavy weight on it, as if it might fall off entirely. He jerked his head up.

With a sweep of his spiritual sense, he was horrified to discover that this guy had completely dislocated his limbs. If any more force was applied, he might end up as nothing but a limbless trunk!

But why?

Xiao Shiliu's face was full of question marks; he was utterly confused.

Even if he had been captured, fallen into a deep pit, and his plans had capsized... why was he subjected to such torture before the interrogation even began?

Was this guy even human?!

Xiao Shiliu grimaced in pain, unable to utter a word.

The relentless agony assaulting his body reminded him of the dark days when he first entered the assassin trade and underwent training.

But even that psychopathic trainer back then hadn't been this ruthless!

Today... he was done for!

Xiao Shiliu felt numb, his heart sinking to the depths.

Xu Xiaoshou watched as Xiao Shiliu's expression shifted erratically, waiting until the frenzied updates in his information panel finally slowed down. Only then did he turn to him and force a smile.

"Can you move?"

Move...

I can't freaking move even if I want to!

With you like this, do I dare to move?!

Xiao Shiliu cursed wildly in his mind. He wanted to try, but blood was gushing from his neck.

Ling Yuan!

Right, Ling Yuan could save him!

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he heard Xu Xiaoshou cautiously say, "From now on, you can't move at all, including your Ling Yuan. If you do, I'll panic!"

This was a Zongshi!

A Zongshi-level assassin!

Even though he knew this guy couldn't cause any more trouble, for safety's sake, Xu Xiaoshou wanted to stay extra vigilant from the bottom of his heart.

He was afraid.

Afraid of those hundreds of array disks, afraid of the near-Wangzuo-level power of the spiritual arrays, and even more afraid that this guy might have some hidden tricks up his sleeve!

But he couldn't kill him—there were too many questions that needed answers right now!

"What I say, you answer. Okay?"

Xu Xiaoshou's tone was gentle, trying to make both of them relax. It would be better for everyone that way.

Xiao Shiliu's whole demeanor darkened. He was furious, trembling, and wanted to resist.

But the overwhelming weakness in his body, combined with the fingers on his neck that gleamed like a blade, made him feel utterly drained.

He didn't even dare to mobilize his Ling Yuan!

"Okay..."

Hearing the hoarseness in Xiao Shiliu's voice, Xu Xiaoshou realized he might have been overly cautious.

Seeing that Xiao Shiliu's neck was on the verge of breaking, he quickly pulled out a jar of honey, applying it as he asked, "What's your name?"

Feeling the coolness on his neck, Xiao Shiliu finally regained some awareness and struggled to reply, "Xiao Shiliu."

"Was the assassin from the back street your companion?"

Xiao Shiliu was startled, realizing that his seventh brother was probably already dead at this demon's hands. A wave of grief washed over him.

"Yes."

"How old are you?"

Xu Xiaoshou, who had been about to ask about the Zhang family situation out of habit, was taken aback. "That old?"

He looked no older than his early twenties...

Xiao Shiliu: ???

"Received curse, passive points, 1."

An awkward silence fell over the scene. Xu Xiaoshou embarrassedly realized that his habitual interrogation style had been derailed by himself.

But besides that, he hadn't learned many other interrogation techniques...

The effects of the "Chi Jin Ye" were excellent. In just a few breaths, tender flesh had already grown on Xiao Shiliu's severed wound, rapidly mending it.

Xu Xiaoshou decided not to overthink interrogation methods and just went with the flow. "Were you sent by the Zhang family?"

Xiao Shiliu hesitated. Even in this dire situation, his assassin's professional ethics made him reluctant to reveal anything...

"Hiss—"

"Damn! What are you doing?!"

Before Xiao Shiliu could think it through, he was horrified to find that the newly healed flesh on his neck had been sliced open again by Xu Xiaoshou!

Sliced right open!

"I—"

"Received resentment, passive points, 1."

"Don't move!" Xu Xiaoshou's hand trembled as he spoke. He wasn't some sadist—this kind of interrogation was really bloody, but for his own safety...

"I'll ask you one last time. Were you..."

"Yes, yes, yes! Zhang family head, Zhang Taiying!"

Xiao Shiliu trembled, blurting it out before the demonic youth could finish.

"Zhang Taiying put a bounty on you through 'An Ming Jie,' offering fifty thousand Ling Jing. I was just..."

"Fifty thousand?" Xu Xiaoshou's hand shook, deepening the wound slightly. He exclaimed in shock, "I'm that cheap? You took it for fifty thousand?"

Xiao Shiliu gasped for air; he was beyond caring about the pain in his body.

He felt that if this continued, he really would get his head chopped off.

"If you can't do it cleanly, just make it quick—don't leave it half-done!"

Xiao Shiliu was on the verge of breakdown.

For the love of—interrogate if you're going to, but stop shaking your hand! It hurts like hell!

Xu Xiaoshou hurriedly applied more honey and apologized, "Sorry, you keep talking. I didn't mean to."

Xiao Shiliu could barely get the words out.

"Received resentment, passive points, 1."

"Keep talking!" Xu Xiaoshou raised his voice.

"Okay, okay..." Xiao Shiliu forced himself to perk up and continued, "I'm an assassin from 'An Ming Jie.' This job wasn't just for the Ling Jing—it was mainly for the 'Wangzuo Jingxue.'"

"Wangzuo Jingxue?"

"Yes!"

Xiao Shiliu nodded quickly, afraid that any delay might trigger more of this guy's erratic behavior. He rushed to explain:

"The Wangzuo Jingxue contains the ancestral bear bloodline of the Zhang family. It has even stronger heavenly dao power than other Wangzuo Jingxue and can grant profound insights."

"It's something every Zongshi expert dreams of, even those from major factions."

"For us small-time assassins, it's an absolute treasure!"

Xu Xiaoshou recalled Zhang Xin Xiong's "Zu Xiong Ling Ti" and Yuan Tou's super mutation, and he roughly understood what it was.

Xiao Shiliu didn't dare slack off—this kid was too terrifying. If he slowed down even a bit, he might face more flaying torture.

With the wound on his neck feeling slightly cool and barely movable, he lowered his head, intending to pull out the bounty deposit from his ring: that drop of Wangzuo Jingxue.

But as soon as Xu Xiaoshou saw him glance at the ring, he reacted like a startled bird. His expression panicked, and he suddenly lunged forward, plunging one hand straight into Xiao Shiliu's chest!

"Don't move!"

"Pfft—"

Xiao Shiliu spat a mouthful of blood right onto Xu Xiaoshou's head. He stared wide-eyed, his gaze filled with terror.

I...

What did I do wrong this time?!