Chapter 434: Xu Xiaoshou, a Habitual Offender Who Tells the Truth with Eyes Open

A wheel war...

Xu Xiaoshou furrowed his brows.

Su Qianqian, that girl, had always been like a little sister to him, growing up under his watchful eye, so he couldn't just stand by and let this happen.

She was undoubtedly a genius and a Jian Zong disciple.

But the guys here weren't all just talk; they had real skills.

At the very least, Xu Xiaoshou had spotted several tough characters among them.

The reason they seemed underwhelming was simply because his own presence was so dazzling.

If he weren't in the picture, these young talents would still shine with their own light.

Su Qianqian was like a lone young tiger, no match for this pack of wolves!

"Worrying about it isn't so bad. If it comes to that, just mention my name—Xiao Shou gege—and it should scare off some of them." Xu Xiaoshou chuckled.

Su Qianqian smiled along, but the worry deep in her eyes lingered.

"Relax, there's no need to worry too much; it hasn't come to that yet!"

As he spoke, Xu Xiaoshou gazed into the distance, his tone meaningful: "Who knows whether an accident or tomorrow will come first?"

"Who's to say a huge meteor doesn't suddenly fall from the sky and smash the banquet hall, leaving everyone too dazed to even think about challenges?"

"Hee-hee." Su Qianqian was amused this time; she hadn't expected that the most naive one would turn out to be her Xiao Shou gege.

"That's it."

Xu Xiaoshou stood up and ruffled the girl's hair.

"Where are you going?"

Mu Zixi immediately became alert.

Su Qianqian might think Xu Xiaoshou was joking, but as the only one who truly knew him inside and out, she sensed something was off.

A meteor?

How could Xu Xiaoshou bring down a huge meteor?

But if he couldn't, was he just joking?

Yet...

Would Xu Xiaoshou joke around?

Only when mountains crumble and heaven and earth merge would Xu Xiaoshou joke!

"Sit down."

Xu Xiaoshou glared at Mu Zixi as she tried to follow.

He had already scanned the entire area with his "perception" and realized this was a prime opportunity.

That newly acknowledged big brother, Feng Lao, hadn't returned yet.

Fu Xing was unconscious.

Fu Zhi was probably still being held up by Feng Lao, chatting away.

The few Wangzuo-level big brothers he'd learned about from Feng Lao were clearly not going to show up unless the sky fell.

And Shou Ye and Shi Ti, unluckily, were both tied up by those four old Ling Zhen masters...

What was this?

It was the nearly perfect killing opportunity Xu Xiaoshou had been waiting for!

Even after gaining nearly 200,000 passive points from the earlier commotion, he hadn't forgotten his original goal.

His intent was to enter the city lord's mansion and find a chance to take out Zhang Taiying!

As long as Zhang Taiying lived, leaving the city lord's mansion would mean endless dangers ahead!

Now, looking at the situation:

Xin Gugu's line to the Zhang residence had been pulled back.

The Hua Hai array was already set up.

The ones he'd sent out, A Jie and Xu Xiaoji, were probably getting impatient by now.

Add to that, all the various Wangzuo experts were coincidentally held up by minor matters...

"Everything is ready; all we need is the east wind!"

Seeing Mu Zixi's highly vigilant eyes, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but laugh.

"What's with the nerves? Am I really going to dig up a meteor and smash this place?"

"Never mind the strict security of the city lord's mansion; just based on my current strength, could I even dig up a meteor?"

As he spoke, Xu Xiaoshou forcibly turned Mu Zixi's head back, making her face Su Qianqian.

"Stay with her. It's not easy for her to have a little friend; chat with her, help her relax."

"You girls are all too anxious at such a young age; it's easy to get wrinkles, and that's not good."

"I'm just going to take a leak; I'll be right back."

"Received suspicion, passive points: 1."

Mu Zixi quickly turned her eyes back and asked, "You can't dig one up, but what about Xin Gugu? Where did he go?"

"He's sleeping in the Yuan Fu!"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced downward and thought to himself that the ancient saying was true.

Big chest, no brain—spot on!

He had considered bringing Mu Zixi along.

But what good would it do? She was just at Ju Wu peak.

"Stay here; I'll be back soon. Keep an eye on Su Qianqian and make sure she doesn't get hurt."

Xu Xiaoshou pointed to the high platform where Fu Xing lay and said, "Remember that spot. If the wheel war gets too out of hand, go find him."

"Fu Xing?"

Mu Zixi was stunned: "Fu Xing is out cold; how can he help?"

"You're silly!"

Xu Xiaoshou patted his junior sister's head. "He's knocked out, so he won't resist at all. Go tie him up, threaten the whole crowd, and wait for me to get back."

Mu Zixi was momentarily stunned.

Su Qianqian was completely dumbfounded.

This...

Her Xiao Shou gege felt a bit different now.

But...

His concern for her was still the same as ever!

"Stay put."

Xu Xiaoshou calmed the two of them, then pretended to stretch lazily, though his intense gaze was fixed unreservedly on the distant Zhang Taiying.

This guy, without waiting for any signal, had already turned his eyes toward him.

"Heh, our third meeting?" Xu Xiaoshou mouthed the words.

As the saying goes, things don't go beyond three times.

So, there wouldn't be a next time!

With a slight nod, Xu Xiaoshou gestured toward the door without saying a word, then got up and left directly.

Would Zhang Taiying follow?

The question should be, was Zhang Taiying an idiot?

He could see this was the best time for a kill, so how could that guy miss it?

Even if it was just for a quick leak outside, Zhang Taiying would find an excuse to tag along!

As for whether Zhang Taiying suspected a trap or was predicting if he'd follow...

It didn't matter anymore.

A Wangzuo could kill on a whim, brush it off, and at worst, apologize and offer compensation if caught.

But even if Zhang Taiying racked his brains, he wouldn't think a mere Xiantian like him would plot to take him out—right in the city lord's mansion!

Stepping back, if he could even imagine it, he'd think the person was insane.

Stepping even further back, if anyone dared to try, Zhang Taiying would just respond with a scoff.

Stepping out the door, Xu Xiaoshou looked up at the moon, feeling the gentle breeze, his heart calm as still water.

"The night is truly beautiful."

"What do you mean?"

Zhang Taiying, sitting at the stone table, narrowed his eyes, his muscular arms flexing as his fingers tapped the table rhythmically.

"What was he trying to say?"

"Calling me over?"

Zhang Taiying thought Xu Xiaoshou must be crazy.

Was this guy oblivious to the undisguised killing intent he had toward him?

Or was he completely unafraid?

"Heh."

The idea of being unafraid made Zhang Taiying chuckle to himself.

If he were unafraid, that day in the city lord's mansion, this kid should've gone all out and taken down Zhang residence's three Wangzuo.

Instead, he played tricks and ended up with nothing.

Truth be told, thinking back to how Xu Xiaoshou had intimidated him, Zhang Taiying felt a burn on his face.

If he hadn't been influenced by Zhang Chongmou's judgment at the start and had just charged in, maybe Xu Xiaoshou would've been a cold corpse by now.

"What Wangzuo body? Maybe that little boy had it, but Xu Xiaoshou was just a fake!"

"A challenge?"

Watching Xu Xiaoshou disappear through the door, Zhang Taiying's mind flashed to the figure of Xin Gugu mixed in the crowd earlier.

"Think Zhang residence's three Wangzuo are untouchable? Now that you've brought one Wangzuo, you feel confident enough to bury me, alone, here?"

"Can Wangzuo strength be measured by numbers?"

Zhang Taiying was certain in his heart.

He turned and called over an old Zongshi from Zhang residence.

"Master, what are your orders?" the old Zongshi asked via sound transmission.

"If I remember right, we control sixteen factions from Tian Sang City and twenty-two from the other counties?" Zhang Taiying asked, tilting his head.

"Yes, Master."

"Good. During the challenge later, don't worry about the rest; Su Qianqian must die."

The old Zongshi lowered his eyelids.

"This old servant understands."

Waving the old Zongshi away, Zhang Taiying's eyes turned dangerous.

He grieved over the Su family's fate.

As one of Tian Sang City's four great families, he didn't want to see such a disruption to the balance.

But since it had happened...

The Su family's end must be certain!

Any unstable factors that could harm Zhang residence's expansion plans had to be eliminated promptly.

Including Su Qianqian, and also...

Xu Xiaoshou!

"Excuse me for a moment."

Zhang Taiying stood up and bid farewell to the heads of the families at the table, then walked off to the side.

The night was deep, and the evening breeze was gentle.

Looking up at the moon, Zhang Taiying smiled softly.

"The night is truly beautiful."

Tap, tap, tap.

The rhythmic footsteps came from behind.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't need to look back to know these couldn't be from Zhang Taiying.

"Stop right there!"

A sharp rebuke came.

Xu Xiaoshou halted and turned around.

Two people.

"Fu Yin Hong... Oh! You're here too? Weren't you supposed to oversee everything?"

Fu Yin Hong's face darkened.

She was indeed supposed to oversee everything.

But for her to come out like this meant she prioritized whatever Xu Xiaoshou might be up to over the bigger picture.

"Xu Xiaoshou, what mischief are you planning now?"

Not wanting to waste words with the young man in front of her, Fu Yin Hong got straight to the point.

"I said I'm going to take a leak; do you believe me?"

Xu Xiaoshou grinned. Though his eyes were on the woman, his "perception" had already thoroughly scanned the old man behind her.

A Zongshi at Xing Si realm.

Based on that aura of returning to simplicity, he was probably the strongest below Wangzuo.

But as long as it wasn't Feng Lao, everything was manageable.

Fu Yin Hong bringing this person along meant, first, the old man was strong—at least in her eyes, he could keep an eye on him.

Second, Fu Yin Hong herself couldn't keep following him; she'd ask a few questions and leave.

Third, Feng Lao was truly unreachable for now; otherwise, this old man wouldn't have shown up, and he probably wouldn't appear in time later.

Fourth, even that beautiful Wangzuo woman by Fu Yin Hong's side was tied up, or rather, Fu Yin Hong didn't value him as much as she did Fu Xing.

Whether it was because she was occupied or underestimated him, or the city lord's mansion's defenses were spread thin...

It was all good for him.

Fifth...

Well, that should be enough.

He couldn't overdo it.

In the blink of an eye, Xu Xiaoshou had figured all this out.

He never slacked off when it came to major matters.

Especially when it could affect his life.

But Fu Yin Hong's focus was completely off from his.

Or rather, in Xu Xiaoshou's playful tone, she always got led astray.

"Take a leak?"

This guy...

Couldn't he speak more elegantly?

Facing a refined lady, didn't he know to use more polite phrasing?

Before she could respond, Xu Xiaoshou slapped his forehead as if remembering something and laughed: "Oh, right, we agreed to go together when we had time. I forgot to call you this time; my bad."

Fu Yin Hong: "..."

"Received curse, passive points: 1."

Xu Xiaoshou's ability to clown around was too strong.

She almost got pulled into a verbal spat.

But the unattended banquet hall was like a sword hanging over Fu Yin Hong's heart.

She didn't lose her composure and asked directly: "Xu Xiaoshou, be honest—what are you really going to do?"

"Always running off to... do that. Can't you hold it?"

"You're a mature Ling Lian Master; going out so many times in one evening—do you have health issues?"

Fu Yin Hong felt like she was turning into a thug.

What she was saying would be embarrassing on any normal day.

But with Xu Xiaoshou, she felt she had no choice but to provoke him.

"Health issues?"

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't bothered at all; he looked her up and down.

Well, without her armor and in that dress, her figure was quite curvaceous, and with that red hair, she had an unusually alluring vibe.

"Really going to dive into such a deep topic?"

Xu Xiaoshou sidestepped and gestured for her to walk with him: "It's not impossible; we can... chat while we walk?"

Fu Yin Hong: ???

This...

Was this what she meant?

She had clearly meant to provoke him, but now Fu Yin Hong felt her own words sounded off.

She realized once again that talking to Xu Xiaoshou, even with provocation, put her on a different level.

She abruptly stopped.

Fu Yin Hong didn't engage and said coldly: "I don't have much time for this. You went out once before, and Feng Lao lost you, so something's fishy."

"Spill it—what are you up to?"

Xu Xiaoshou's face turned bitter.

"I said I'm going to take a leak, and you don't believe me. If I say I'm going for a walk, you'd believe that even less. You're just totally distrustful of me. What answer do you even want?"

"I..."

Fu Yin Hong was at a loss for words.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't give her a chance: "Or do you want me to say something like, 'I'm going to do something outrageous'? Would that satisfy you?"

"But if I were going to do something outrageous, would I tell you?"

"You're sick!"

Fu Yin Hong's eyes widened in shock; she hadn't expected to end up getting scolded after going in circles.

And yet...

He made so much sense!

Was it her fault?

She really didn't think this guy was up to any good when he went out, and he wouldn't admit it anyway, so what was the point of asking...

Ugh, she was getting sidetracked again!

Even her brother had warned to take him seriously, and she could sense something was wrong—Xu Xiaoshou was definitely up to no good!

By now, Xu Xiaoshou's emotions had peaked.

He ignored Fu Yin Hong's furrowed brows and grabbed her wrist, pulling her along as he walked.

"Come on, come on."

"I'll tell you the truth: bro's going to kill someone, right in your city lord's mansion, and take out a Wangzuo."

"Not only that, I brought backup—three Wangzuo, no less. Scared?"

"I've even set up an ambush in advance!"

"You don't need to think anymore; I told you straight. Your intuition was spot-on; it's all your dad's fault."

"His eyes are basically blind; he didn't see that the Hua Hai explosion was my doing, all to set up that ambush for a better kill."

"Everything was my plan. Your woman's sixth sense was right; I was wrong."

"Come on, I'll take you to see the show!"

Xu Xiaoshou rattled off like a machine gun, firing shots non-stop!

The old man behind was dumbfounded by what he heard.

He stared blankly as Xu Xiaoshou dragged the city lord's little princess away, forgetting to chase after them for a moment.

Young people these days...

Were they all this bold?

Blowing smoke like that and smoothly whisking away a girl, not even giving her time to react?

"Ah!"

Fu Yin Hong was pulled along for several steps before she snapped back.

Staring at her gripped wrist, her face flushed red; she hadn't expected Xu Xiaoshou to be so direct.

She tried to shake free.

"Uh!"

The flush turned purple as pain shot through her, almost making her cry out.

"Let go of me!"

Xu Xiaoshou immediately released her and said with teary eyes: "Even this explanation won't do? What more do you want from me?"

What more do you want?

Fu Yin Hong was so frustrated she nearly stamped her foot; wasn't that her line?

She clenched her fists, her teeth gritted tight, but in the end, she didn't dare respond to Xu Xiaoshou.

"Fine, you're going to kill someone, right? Then take Sun Lao with you; he'll watch you do it." Fu Yin Hong squeezed out the words like toothpaste.

Xu Xiaoshou burst out laughing: "Are you kidding? I'm going after a Wangzuo, and he's just a Zongshi; what can he do? Be a bystander?"

Sun Lao: "..."

Just a Zongshi...

I'll endure it!

"Received curse, passive points: 1."

Fu Yin Hong tilted her head back and forced out a couple of "ha-ha" laughs, then turned cold: "Xu Xiaoshou, weren't you the one joking first? Killing a Wangzuo with three Wangzuo helpers?"

"Do you think I'm a three-year-old you can fool?"

She was furious, her tone turning aggressive: "I'll tell you straight, sister; tonight, no matter where you go, Sun Lao has to follow."

"Even if you're going to... leak, he'll stand right there and watch!"

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the girl in surprise.

Good, she was really losing it!

Exactly the reaction he needed.

He kept his heart calm and his face fierce.

"Miss, isn't this too much? Are you really afraid I'll blow up your city lord's mansion?"

Fu Yin Hong's face reddened.

Well, that was exactly what she was thinking deep down.

"So what if I am?"

Xu Xiaoshou reached out and pressed his hand to her smooth forehead, feeling its soft warmth.

Fu Yin Hong recoiled in shock, her face flushing even more, turning from red clouds to full sunset.

"What are you doing!"

"No fever..."

Xu Xiaoshou muttered: "Girl, you should get your head checked."

"Is killing a Wangzuo that exaggerated, or blowing up your city lord's mansion that unrealistic? You really need to think about it."

With that, Xu Xiaoshou sniffed his hand. "So fragrant."

He turned and walked away.

Fu Yin Hong's eyelids twitched wildly, her earlobes burning red.

She swore he was the first to dare touch her like that and spout nonsense so boldly.

And after all that twisted logic, he seriously told her she had brain issues.

"Despicable..."

"So hateful!"

"Xu Xiaoshou...!!!"

"Received curse, passive points: 1, 1, 1, 1..."

"Received fixation, passive points: 1."

Watching Xu Xiaoshou walk away, Fu Yin Hong didn't follow.

Maybe he was just spouting nonsense, but that last remark rang true.

No matter how terrifying he was, he couldn't possibly blow up the entire city lord's mansion.

The city lord's mansion wasn't like the defenseless Dan Ta.

It had Wangzuo by the handful!

But why...

Did her heart still feel a bit uneasy?

For some reason, her mind flashed to the image of Xu Xiaoshou confidently grabbing her wrist...

"What nonsense!"

Fu Yin Hong quickly stopped her thoughts.

She had to admit, Xu Xiaoshou had completely disrupted her rhythm.

At least, thinking back to why she'd come out...

His hand had already touched her forehead.

"Hmm?"

Fu Yin Hong's cheeks reddened again, and she shook her head to dispel the image.

Standing there, she straightened her slightly disheveled hair and forced herself to calm down.

"Sun Lao, follow him!"

"Don't lose him, and don't let your guard down. I told you, Feng Lao lost track of him before."

The old man finally snapped out of his "youth is wonderful" reverie.

"Yes."

After responding, his thoughts wandered again.

He could grab the little princess's hand like that, touch her cheek, and she didn't even resist.

There was even a hint of charm in her words that wasn't there before.

Tsk, tsk...

Such a hero was hard to find in all of Tian Sang City!

This guy was no ordinary man!

"Sun Lao!"

Fu Yin Hong saw Sun Lao's "spring has arrived" expression and stamped her foot.

"Oh, oh."

Sun Lao finally came to his senses and said seriously: "I know Feng Xiong's strength; don't worry, I'll be careful."

"Best to walk shoulder to shoulder; don't let the distance exceed a zhang... a cun!" Fu Yin Hong instructed.

A cun?

Sun Lao thought it was overkill.

But her serious tone made him realize the gravity.

"Don't worry; I'll stick to him like glue."

With that serious promise, the old man hurried after Xu Xiaoshou.

Fu Yin Hong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She soothed her racing heart, looked up at the sky.

The breeze messed up her red hair, blowing the strands she'd just fixed to one side.

Fu Yin Hong bit her lip and murmured softly.

"The night is quite beautiful..."

"I just hope nothing big happens tonight. My brother is already down; that's bad enough."

"Why hasn't Father come to take charge yet?"

"But..."

Suddenly, Xu Xiaoshou's unreasonable figure barged unreasonably into her mind again, and her face flushed once more.

"But after all, it's been years since he and Mother were apart; they must have a lot of private things to say..."

"Hmph!"