Chapter 411: Walking Freely on the Edge of Life and Death

Xin's actions froze.

Hongyi Shouye turned back with great interest.

Fu Xing turned around in surprise: "Shou brother? What are you doing here?"

Xu Xiaoshou arrived alone.

Using weaving techniques to set up a spiritual array was a quick task that didn't take much time.

Afterward, he led Mu Zixi back to the banquet hall.

To his surprise, the main event of the banquet hadn't started yet. Upon asking, he learned that Fu Xing had temporarily left to welcome guests at the city lord's mansion gate.

As he hurried along, not far from the gate, he spotted the figure of the red-robed elder.

Clearly, this was the person Fu Xing had been waiting for.

What he never expected was that this late-arriving guest would be Hongyi Shouye!

Dressed in red robes, exuding a fierce killing aura, and with the words "just arrived from Bai Ku," Xu Xiaoshou knew that Xin Gugu was in grave danger.

This guy had been so reluctant to set out, afraid of running into Hongyi Shouye.

He himself had sworn it wouldn't happen, and now here they were, proven wrong.

How could a Hongyi member really show up for the banquet?

This Fu Xing family must be no simple matter!

Despite his anxiety, Xu Xiaoshou didn't act impulsively. Instead, he slowed his steps and observed the situation.

Things were indeed heading in the worst direction.

This one called Shouye had actually detected Xin's presence and seemed to sense something more.

Xu Xiaoshou had no choice but to step forward.

He couldn't just watch Xin Gugu die like this—it was too absurd!

From the elder's words and actions upon appearing, Xu Xiaoshou deduced that this was a hot-tempered, straightforward person.

Someone like that wouldn't beat around the bush.

He had noticed Xin Gugu but hadn't struck immediately, which meant there was still some doubt.

That was their slim chance of survival.

Xu Xiaoshou kept his composure, smiling as he approached and came to Fu Xing's side.

"You're waiting for your guest, and I'm picking up my friend—same thing."

Fu Xing was stunned. He glanced at Xin Gugu. "Your friend?"

"Yes."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded with a smile.

Hongyi Shouye suddenly laughed. Tonight's trip had netted him two big catches?

The one in front was alright—nothing unusual to detect.

But that golden Zen staff seemed a bit suspicious, based on his instincts from slaying so many gui shou.

As for this young man who just arrived...

He wasn't hiding it at all. The stench on him was even stronger than from a sewer.

This was a major lead!

This person had definitely been in contact with gui shou, and not just one.

Perhaps he was already on the path to becoming a gui shou host!

Was this guy asking for death?

Daring to show up right in front of him?

"You boy, who are you?"

Hongyi Shouye smirked and asked.

"This junior is Xu Xiaoshou. Is senior the legendary Hongyi?"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes showed a hint of admiration.

He had only heard about Hongyi.

From Elder Qiao and Elder Sang's words, his impression was that Hongyi was one of the most powerful organizations in the world.

It was an existence that roamed other-dimensional spaces, maintaining world peace. Xu Xiaoshou truly felt a bit of reverence.

But Hongyi Shouye's eyes showed outright disdain.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

"You're too stinky."

Xu Xiaoshou was taken aback, not understanding what that meant.

Fu Xing, however, was completely shocked.

He knew the internal terminology of Hongyi—"rat" meant "gui shou," and "stink" referred to the gui shou's aura!

How could Xu Xiaoshou be involved with gui shou?

"Hongyi senior, you must be mistaken. Brother Shou comes from a clean background and couldn't possibly be tainted by gui... that thing."

Fu Xing was anxious.

"Mistaken?"

Hongyi Shouye's gaze swept over Fu Xing. "Do you think I'd make a mistake?"

"This..."

Fu Xing hesitated for a long time before saying, "Senior naturally wouldn't be wrong, but Brother Shou... Xu Xiaoshou really isn't that kind of person. He's from Tian Sang Ling Gong!"

"Tian Sang Ling Gong?"

Hongyi Shouye raised an eyebrow, then lowered his eyelids.

"So what? I only trust my nose and my eyes."

Despair flashed in Fu Xing's eyes. No matter how much he resisted or disbelieved internally, reason told him that the elder before him couldn't be wrong. That meant Xu Xiaoshou really...

"Oh, so when senior says 'stinky,' you mean the gui shou's stench!"

Xu Xiaoshou put on an expression of finally understanding, spreading his hands. "Then of course I have it."

There was a click— not only did Fu Xing turn to stone, but Xin Gugu froze on the spot.

Confessing?

This...

I haven't even reacted yet, and you're just blurting it out?

Xin Gugu's face turned green.

If you die, that's one thing, but don't drag the Greedy God into it!

Why...

He looked at the composed Xu Xiaoshou and suddenly felt tears welling up.

This guy wasn't even a full gui shou host yet; he hadn't undergone the ceremony.

Why go to such lengths for me?

It's not worth it!

Hongyi Shouye, however, was stunned by the young man's composure.

When had a gui shou host ever faced Hongyi with such ease?

Could a rat tease a cat to its face?

Wait...

This guy's stench was strong, but it probably hadn't reached the level of a gui shou host yet.

"What are you trying to say?"

A flash of killing intent crossed Hongyi Shouye's eyes.

No matter what, these scum that disrupted world stability deserved to die for daring to appear before him!

Xu Xiaoshou knew his next words would decide life or death, but he wasn't panicked.

First, he really wasn't a gui shou host.

Second, the Greedy God's little white cat had the foresight to be tossed into the Yuan Fu beforehand.

It was probably still catching fish in the spiritual pool right now.

If this old man could sniff it out across two worlds, then he probably wouldn't be standing here as just a guardian of Bai Ku.

So, what the guy smelled was just the residual gui shou scent on him!

Why did he have it?

Because he had been in contact with gui shou!

Did contact mean he deserved death?

Xu Xiaoshou smiled nonchalantly and calmly said, "I can smell a stench on you too, senior. What are we going to do about that?"

Hongyi Shouye was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

After a while, he composed himself and said sternly, "Youngster, are you courting death?"

A mere innate level daring to mock a Hongyi member—such disrespect.

If this were outside Bai Ku, he could chop him down on the spot!

"What's this about courting death..."

Xu Xiaoshou shrank his neck, playing it safe for the moment. "Senior, you're talking about gui shou aura, right? If you've been in contact with it, you'll naturally have some."

"You smelled it on me, and I smelled it on you, didn't I?"

"Is having a keen nose a crime?"

Hongyi Shouye was taken aback. He finally realized that this guy might not be lying.

"So, you're saying you've been in contact with gui shou, but you're not a gui shou host?"

He sized up Xu Xiaoshou from head to toe. A mere innate level—you're really saying this?

Gui shou, except for those newly born from other-dimensional spaces, started at the throne level as soon as they emerged.

Could a kid like you handle that?

Xu Xiaoshou, however, just smiled faintly.

"Not only have I been in contact, I've fought them, battled them, and even sealed them away."