Chapter 416: Can't Wait Anymore, Xu Xiaoshou Has Made a Move

Shou Ye’s impassioned speech failed to sway many people.

Everyone was utterly shocked by this firsthand intelligence.

If the people from the various counties around Bai Ku were to confront the sword cultivators of the entire Dong Yu, it would be completely mismatched!

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it an act of striking a stone with an egg.

The intelligence from Shou Ye in red robes would likely spread across the entire Jiangnan region by the end of tonight.

Announcing it in such a setting meant it couldn’t be suppressed even if someone tried.

At this moment, the only thing people felt grateful for was their proximity to Bai Ku.

Perhaps, if Bai Ku opened a bit earlier, they could seize the initiative before others arrived.

At the wine table,

Mu Zi Xi finally pieced together what was happening.

She hadn’t known earlier what Xu Xiao Shou meant by "Shijie Yuandian," but considering the situation and the terrifying aftereffects she was still experiencing after swallowing that thing,

Could it be that what she had swallowed wasn’t some namesake object, but the real Shijie Yuandian from Bai Ku?

"Xu Xiao Shou, what’s going on here?" she asked via voice transmission.

In stark contrast to everyone’s surprise, Xu Xiao Shou was still lost in the words Fu Xing had spoken at the beginning, unable to snap out of it.

"Lian Ling Dao, Jian Dao, Dan Dao, Zhen Dao..."

"Was Fu Xing doing this on purpose? Does he want me to monopolize all the Bai Ku spots by myself?"

"This... this is way too embarrassing!"

Xu Xiao Shou thought it over and decided it probably wasn’t.

Clearly, his nephew Fu Xing hadn’t seen his "textile technique" like his father had!

But why...

Was he so understanding?

"Xu. Xiao. Shou!"

Mu Zi Xi saw Xu Xiao Shou zoning out and couldn’t help but shout.

"Received fright, Passive Value, 1."

Xu Xiao Shou jolted and came back to his senses.

"What’s up?"

"Shijie Yuandian, what’s that about?" Mu Zi Xi puffed out her cheeks.

"It’s the thing you swallowed!"

Xu Xiao Shou said it as if it were obvious, but Mu Zi Xi jumped in fright because he spoke out loud instead of transmitting his voice like she had.

There were so many people around.

And it turned out what she had swallowed was real?

What if someone figured it out?

"Relax, no one knows what you ate."

Xu Xiao Shou waved with a smile: "Even if you told someone, they probably wouldn’t believe it."

The people around heard Xu Xiao Shou muttering to himself and were completely baffled.

Mu Zi Xi felt her gums ache.

"Received curse, Passive Value, 1."

She glanced at the young talents around her and transmitted again: "Can’t you clear them out first?"

Xu Xiao Shou found it amusing.

These guys had seen Mu Zi Xi sitting alone at a table with no elders around her, so they excitedly swarmed over from the platform.

But after chatting for so long, and with Xu Xiao Shou hanging around, none of them had even gotten a glance from the beauty.

They were like monkeys with red butts, scratching their ears and cheeks in frustration.

"I say..."

Xu Xiao Shou stood up, drawing everyone’s attention, and said earnestly: "You guys aren’t doing this right. Picking up girls requires technique."

The others at the wine table were stunned.

"Xu Xiao Shou, what are you up to?" someone asked.

After his earlier fight with Wen Song, Xu Xiao Shou was well-known in the banquet hall.

But that was only among those who had arrived earlier.

These ones bold enough to approach Mu Zi Xi had clearly arrived later and missed the whole Wen Song incident.

"Move aside."

Xu Xiao Shou pushed the person away and walked straight up to Mu Zi Xi.

Everyone turned to look, and even though this table was at the very back, it still drew attention from those nearby.

The distance to the high platform was too far, though.

Shou Ye had already stepped down after his announcement, and Fu Xing was still speaking.

Since it was Xu Xiao Shou, and it wasn’t overly disruptive, Fu Xing figured it was the result of the kid holding back and didn’t intervene.

Xu Xiao Shou sat right in front of his junior sister, then scooted closer toward her, almost touching her leg.

The monkeys were furious, grinding their teeth, but to their shock, Mu Zi Xi didn’t resist and just frowned back: "What are you doing?"

"Didn’t you call me over?" Xu Xiao Shou said right back.

Mu Zi Xi’s eyes widened: "I told you to get rid of them!"

She was transmitting her voice and keeping it low, but the crowd watching around her had her face flushing red.

Not everyone was as thick-skinned as Xu Xiao Shou.

At this age, few girls could handle so many strange stares.

Xu Xiao Shou glanced back and whispered: "Watch and learn."

Then, he hooked his finger under Mu Zi Xi’s chin and said in a flirtatious tone:

"Little sister, where are you headed tonight? If you’ve got nowhere to go, I’ve got a manor on South Heaven Street. Come with me tonight?"

Mu Zi Xi froze on the spot.

The monkeys were petrified.

"Received suspicion, Passive Value, 1."

"Received curse, Passive Value, 14."

"Shameless!"

Someone instantly scolded: "How can you be so..."

"So direct?" Xu Xiao Shou finished for him. "I’m just saying out loud what you’re all thinking inside."

The speaker choked up and quickly looked at Mu Zi Xi: "That’s not what I meant!"

"Tch, so you mean ‘how can you express it so directly’?" Xu Xiao Shou raised an eyebrow.

"I—"

The speaker froze, at a loss for words.

The others who wanted to chime in found they had nothing to say.

Xu Xiao Shou chuckled: "You guys showed up late, right? Didn’t you see this girl came in with me? How dare you flirt with her like that?"

"Flirting’s one thing, but I’ve been watching you for ages—zero progress. You’re embarrassing!"

Mu Zi Xi: ???

So you were just playing dead earlier?

"Received curse, Passive Value, 1."

Xu Xiao Shou turned to her: "You haven’t given me an answer yet?"

Answer what?!

The young girl nearly killed him with her glare, but just as she was about to speak, Xu Xiao Shou covered her mouth.

"Not saying anything means you’re agreeing. Come with me tonight."

This left not just Mu Zi Xi with question marks all over her face, but everyone around was shocked too.

"Received curse, Passive Value, 1, 1, 1, 1..."

"Received contempt, Passive Value, 2."

"Received resentment, Passive Value, 12."

The one who spoke first couldn’t sit still anymore. He was a latecomer and didn’t know Xu Xiao Shou at all.

But seeing him treat such a cute girl so rudely—how could anyone hold back?

"You brat, who do you think you are? Get your filthy hands off her!"

Xu Xiao Shou smiled slyly and turned back. Got you.

Ever since he learned about Fu Xing’s rules, he decided tonight wouldn’t be low-key.

This round of the arena fight, he had to join in—not just join, but make it spectacular!

He was going to rack up those Passive Values—not just rack them up, but fill his pockets to the brim!

He’d set aside Zhang Tai Ying’s matter for now. Tonight, he was going to squeeze some Grandmaster-level Passive Values out of these young folks.

If he didn’t, Xu Xiao Shou wouldn’t deserve his last name!

"What’s your name?" Xu Xiao Shou narrowed his eyes.

"Qiu De Jian!"

"Qiu... Are you the one with the innate sword intent that the old man mentioned earlier?" Xu Xiao Shou asked in surprise.

"Old man?"

Qiu De Jian’s eyes flashed with killing intent.

This guy was groping her and now spouting nonsense?

Xu Xiao Shou looked at him dismissively, still pinching Mu Zi Xi’s plump cheek without letting go.

If it were anyone else, a little provocation would suffice.

But the Qiu family...

These people who wanted to kick Su Qian Qian while she was down—he wouldn’t let them off.

Since tonight was destined to be a spectacle, he’d start with you!

With that in mind, Xu Xiao Shou arrogantly lifted his chin.

"What’s wrong? Can’t stand it, can’t look away?"

"You little punks, spoiled at home, forgotten about the bad guys in the outside world?"

"That’s right, no need to doubt—I am a bad guy..."

"Hmm? Can’t take just a couple of words?"

Qiu De Jian stared at that detestable face looking down its nose at him, trembling with rage.

Xu Xiao Shou scoffed dismissively and continued prodding: "Young man, full of spirit—wanting to make a name for yourself is good, but Fu Xing is speaking. I bet you don’t dare make a move."

"Shut your mouth!"

Blood vessels bulged in Qiu De Jian’s eyes—he was furious.

Someone nearby quickly grabbed him to prevent things from escalating.

"De Jian, forget it. I think this guy knows the girl..."

"Let go!"

Qiu De Jian wasn’t listening, roaring lowly.

This even made Fu Xing on the high platform frown slightly, but he was almost done with the fight rules, so he held back.

Xu Xiao Shou...

He figured the kid had some sense.

They’d talk later.

Xu Xiao Shou knew his limits.

He didn’t throw the first punch but teased: "Oh, how scary. I almost couldn’t hear you. Want to yell?"

"Yell out loud. You’re a grown man, but you sound like a whiny woman. Boring."

"Look at your old man—earlier, when he was mocking people, he was leaping around like a monkey, full of energy."

Old man?

Qiu De Jian paused for a second, then realized Xu Xiao Shou meant his third elder.

In that moment, he smelled a trap.

But the raging anger had already shattered what little reason he had left.

Qiu De Jian shook off his companion’s hand and stepped forward, shouting furiously: "He’s not my dad! He’s my third grandfather!"

"Oh, my bad."

Xu Xiao Shou didn’t even glance at him and just patted Mu Zi Xi’s head.

"The feel changed."

Mu Zi Xi: ???

Qiu De Jian: !!!

Ignoring me?

This guy...

Ignoring me?!

"I—"

His eyes nearly popped with rage.

The image of Xu Xiao Shou’s "I bet you don’t dare" smirk flashed in his mind, and in that instant, Qiu De Jian felt endless mockery.

"Ah!"

He couldn’t hold back any longer and threw a punch.

"Stop!"

His companion called out behind him, but it was too late—they could only watch as Xu Xiao Shou, completely unguarded, exposed his back to Qiu De Jian’s fist wreathed in dark flames.

It’s over—someone’s going to die!

Boom!

An explosion rang out, sending shockwaves through the banquet hall.

Fu Xing sensed something wrong, but it was too late.

The boom echoed from the far back, making everyone at the tables flinch.

Crashes followed one after another as tables and chairs flipped.

Some elders still holding wine cups were caught off guard and sent flying onto other tables.

Some even landed straight into another elder’s arms, staring at each other in dumbstruck silence.

With a final thud, the figure that had plowed a path through the feast came to a stop at Shou Ye’s feet.

Fu Xing swallowed hard.

If that hadn’t stopped, his platform would be gone too.

His face darkened like ink.

Causing trouble at any other time was one thing, but why right before the fights, making him lose face?

"What happened?"

He glared down at the young man at Shou Ye’s feet—Qiu De Jian, equally stunned.

The shock in his eyes faded as the chaotic scene sank in.

Hundreds of gazes focused on him, and despair flooded Qiu De Jian’s heart—he nearly wet himself.

"What the hell just happened?"

"I... I wasn’t the one hitting him?"

"Why... why am I the one flying?"

Qiu De Jian screamed internally.

He forced a smile at the grim-faced Fu Xing, propping himself up with his right hand to speak.

"Hiss!"

Intense pain shot through him, making him gasp.

He turned to see his right arm twisted like a lotus root—and shorter?

Sunk in?

"Holy—"

He couldn’t hold back and cursed out loud.

A flash of killing intent crossed Fu Xing’s eyes.

"I... sorry, I didn’t mean you."

Qiu De Jian’s legs went weak. "I I I, I..."

Suddenly, a wail came from the far back.

"Damn it, Fu Xing, someone just ambushed me!"

Qiu De Jian: ???

"Received curse, Passive Value, 1."

That cry drew all eyes in the banquet hall, even pulling attention from the other side of the main platform.

"A fight? Already?"

"It’s started just like that?"

"So bold? Couldn’t wait a bit longer?"

Everyone was stunned.

"Received scrutiny, Passive Value, 1420."

"Received suspicion, Passive Value, 1243."

Fu Xing looked at Xu Xiao Shou, his mouth twitching so hard it nearly stayed crooked.

Attacked? And you flew?

What are you implying, Xu Xiao Shou!

Can’t you just behave?

Do you know how embarrassing this is for me, Fu Xing!

I must have been out of my mind to invite you to the city lord’s mansion!

Why didn’t I stop him earlier? Waaah...

—Why don’t you just explode on the spot?!

"Brother Shou, what happened to you?" Fu Xing asked with a forced smile.

"He hit me."

Xu Xiao Shou looked aggrieved, glancing at the shocked young people around and adding: "These people can vouch for it."

"Received suspicion, Passive Value, 13."

Qiu De Jian’s face turned deathly pale.

He had indeed thrown the punch.

But the situation wasn’t like that at all.

"I..."

"Guards, take him away and ban him from the city lord’s mansion forever."

Fu Xing’s face returned to a calm like still, dead water, his words measured: "The ban is for life!"

With a clang, several white-armored guards hoisted the astonished Qiu De Jian like a chick.

"This won’t do, Young Lord Fu!"

Qiu San Zhanglao immediately paled. "There must be some misunderstanding. Please..."

Fu Xing flicked his sleeve: "Ban him too."

Qiu San Zhanglao’s eyes bulged, his Grandmaster cultivation feeling suppressed.

In the next second, his feet left the ground, and everything blurred.

The hall was cleared.

The banquet fell silent.

Everyone turned back to Xu Xiao Shou, all in a daze.

"He’s the victim? How does he look completely fine?"

"It’s this guy again?" Clearly, some recognized him.

"Huh? Is he famous?"

"Not really, but he is now."

"Uh, what’s his name?"

"Xu Xiao Shou."

"Received suspicion, Passive Value, 1420."

"Received suspicion, Passive Value, 1211."