Chapter 541: A Game

Xu Xiaoshou, I'm not here to fight you.

Jiao Tangtang said this very calmly.

Xu Xiaoshou saw the message and burst out laughing.

As expected, Jiao Tangtang had been planning to assume he wouldn't agree easily and would force him into signing a Gui Shou contract through coercion.

But now, seeing the group of figures he had summoned, she was panicking.

How could she not panic?

If he had only summoned A Jie, even if Jiao Tangtang sensed that A Jie was no ordinary being, the latter's appearance was too deceptive. She might still choose to fight.

However, the appearance of the two super-large white skeletons changed everything.

Individually, these two might not be as strong as A Jie.

But their massive, imposing bodies naturally inspired fear, especially since he had summoned two at once.

In short, with this lineup, in Bai Ku, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't fear anyone in a one-on-one fight!

Even if Shou Ye showed up, it would be the same.

At the very least, he could escape if needed.

Unless the opponent called for reinforcements…

But right now, Jiao Tangtang clearly had no one to call.

“Hey, little lady, you were acting all tough earlier. Why stop now?” Xu Xiaoshou lifted his chin.

Jiao Tangtang’s eyes twitched wildly, and black mist surged from her body, rising three meters high.

“Oh crap, wait, wait!”

Xu Xiaoshou jumped in fright. “Slip of the tongue, just a slip! I don’t want to fight you either. Let’s just chat like this from a distance—it’s fine.”

Seeing the girl on the other side looking ready to charge and brawl, Xu Xiaoshou quickly backed down.

Gui Shou!

This was a Gui Shou!

If they could talk it out calmly, he, Xu Xiaoshou, didn't want a real fight.

Otherwise, if his two new bodyguards got damaged before they even bonded, he’d be heartbroken.

“Huff!”

Jiao Tangtang took a deep breath and said through gritted teeth, “Xu Xiaoshou, if you say one more pointless word, do you believe I’ll really go all out and chop you into pieces today?”

“I don’t believe it…”

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head instinctively, but seeing her face flush red in an instant, he quickly corrected himself: “I do, I believe it! I’ll believe in Jesus too!”

“Received a glare, passive value +1.”

“So, what now?”

The other side fell silent, the atmosphere tense as if it could explode at any moment. Xu Xiaoshou gritted his teeth and spoke up. “There’s an important principle I’m not sure if I should mention…”

“Shut up!”

“Okay.” Xu Xiaoshou nodded, then continued, “It’s about this ‘Gui Shou contract’—I really can’t sign it with you…”

“Shut up!”

Jiao Tangtang stepped forward angrily.

“Protect me.”

Xu Xiaoshou retreated behind the ice shield, pulling A Jie in front of him.

“It’s a principle!” he shouted from behind his cover.

“Hiss.”

Jiao Tangtang took a deep breath to steady herself, ignoring the young man’s words and continuing on her own: “Xu Xiaoshou, I’m not actually trying to force you to sign the ‘Gui Shou contract’…”

“Isn’t that forcing? Do you have some misunderstanding of the word ‘forcing’?”

“Shut up!” Jiao Tangtang snapped. “Let me finish!”

“Oh.” Xu Xiaoshou finally went quiet.

After a pause, Jiao Tangtang changed the topic: “Xu Xiaoshou, do you know the truth about Gui Shou?”

“Oh?” Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes lit up.

The truth?

This woman seemed to be a Gui Shou host from an organized group. Maybe he could find answers to his questions about the red-clothed ones and Gui Shou through her?

He had many thoughts, but he didn’t dare voice them.

“Say something!” Jiao Tangtang glared.

“Didn’t you tell me to shut up?” Xu Xiaoshou shrank back.

“Hmph.”

The black mist around Jiao Tangtang trembled as if it might burst from her purple chains. The ground was invaded by a sinister force, and her eyes turned blood-red with rage.

“No need to get that worked up, no need…”

Xu Xiaoshou tensed up. “You’re really something—you tell me to shut up, then want me to talk. What do you expect me to do? I’m helpless here!”

“I…”

The black mist around Jiao Tangtang quivered even more.

“Roar!”

The Jin Zhao Bai Gu Kulou let out a low, hostile growl, which helped calm her down.

“Mama…”

Glancing at the little boy who stayed close to Xu Xiaoshou, she realized that charging in for a beating was unrealistic.

If an internal fight broke out, it would only benefit others, and she’d gain nothing.

“I’ll endure it!”

“Jiao Tangtang, endure it! This is just Xu Xiaoshou—you’re used to his way of speaking. Just endure!”

After mentally reassuring herself, Jiao Tangtang pressed her hands down, retracting the Gui Shou black mist into her body.

“Xu Xiaoshou, stop joking with me. My patience has limits.”

Without waiting for his response, she continued: “Gui Shou isn’t as simple as you think. You should know I come from a force called Xu Yue Hui Gong.”

“Hmm?”

Xu Xiaoshou nodded, no longer playing around.

Clearly, Jiao Tangtang was about to reveal some inside information.

“Is your palace a pure Gui Shou force?” Xu Xiaoshou asked uncertainly.

“Yes.”

Getting the affirmative answer, Xu Xiaoshou was a bit surprised.

He had suspected this when he first met Xin Gugu and Jiao Tangtang.

But after witnessing the red-clothed ones’ ruthless methods along the way, he had dismissed the idea.

After all, on this continent, Gui Shou were almost wiped out. How could they form groups without being detected by Sheng Shen Dian Tang?

Yet now, she admitted it!

“Aren’t you afraid of Sheng Shen Dian Tang?” he asked further.

“We are, but it’s useless.”

Jiao Tangtang shook her head. “Xu Yue Hui Gong is in the Nan Yu region, a chaotic place where Sheng Shen Dian Tang’s order barely holds.

Unless they’re determined to wipe out all the messy, troublesome forces in Nan Yu, they can’t touch Xu Yue Hui Gong.”

“I see…” Xu Xiaoshou nodded in understanding.

No wonder.

Nan Yu was chaotic, and Sheng Shen Dian Tang’s main forces were in Zhong Yu and Dong Yu, so they couldn’t interfere for now.

“But if they free up resources, won’t your palace be destroyed eventually?” Xu Xiaoshou asked doubtfully.

“Xu Yue Hui Gong!”

“Xu Xiaoshou, can’t you say something positive for once?”

Jiao Tangtang was annoyed again. “Destruction is impossible. Where there’s oppression, there’s resistance. Gui Shou have no choice but to band together for survival—it’s common, and Xu Yue Hui Gong is just on a larger scale.”

Where there’s oppression, there’s resistance… Xu Xiaoshou was stunned.

Was that how the saying went?

“You make it sound like you’re the just ones.” He couldn’t help muttering.

“Received a glare, passive value +1.”

“I won’t argue with you about that!”

Jiao Tangtang steered the conversation back. “About Gui Shou, I can’t tell you too much until you sign the contract.

But there’s one thing you can know now.”

“What?” Xu Xiaoshou looked up curiously.

“The origin of Gui Shou!” Jiao Tangtang said.

“What do you mean?”

Xu Xiaoshou was confused. “Aren’t Gui Shou just life forms born from other-dimensional spaces?”

“Yes.”

Jiao Tangtang nodded. “But these Gui Shou born from other-dimensional spaces need time to grow, like the Tan Shen adult in your hands.”

“Such Gui Shou have long growth cycles. Only by signing a contract with a Lian Ling Shi and continuously feeding them spiritual items can you shorten that cycle.

But while the growth cycle can be shortened, their intelligence doesn’t develop as quickly.

It’s like a regular human—even with great talent, they might become a Zong Shi or Wang Zuo at a young age.

Yet their mindset, behavior, and decision-making… those need time to mature and can’t grow much without it.”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

Xu Xiaoshou stared blankly.

After a long moment, he blinked.

Wasn’t that just normal? Why explain it like that?

“I get it.”

“You don’t.” Jiao Tangtang sighed. “Think about the Gui Shou you’ve encountered before.”

The ones I’ve encountered?

Xu Xiaoshou immediately thought of the Hui Wu Ren.

But what was special about it?

He looked at Jiao Tangtang, puzzled, but she just stared back flatly, as if she wouldn’t say more until he figured it out.

Gui Shou birth and intelligence growth?

Xu Xiaoshou tried to align his thoughts with hers.

After a while, his mind stalled.

Behavior and intelligence?

His heart twitched inexplicably, as if he’d grasped something crucial, but he couldn’t quite articulate it.

“What exactly do you mean?” Xu Xiaoshou asked in shock.

“I’ve said all I can. Think back on what I told you.” Jiao Tangtang clearly didn’t want to elaborate.

How am I supposed to know what you said… Xu Xiaoshou felt frustrated inside.

He sensed something was off, but couldn’t pinpoint what.

He pulled Tan Shen down from his head and examined it closely, but saw nothing unusual.

“Meow.”

Tan Shen licked Xu Xiaoshou’s wrist with its tongue.

This jolted Xu Xiaoshou awake.

“Wait, intelligence?”

If he had to compare Hui Wu Ren and Tan Shen, the former would never lick him like this little fat cat.

So…

“Are you saying that for Gui Shou to go from birth to full intelligence, it takes nearly as long as for humans?” Xu Xiaoshou swallowed hard.

“Correct.” Jiao Tangtang nodded.

“Impossible!”

Xu Xiaoshou was horrified.

How could that be?

Bai Ku had only opened twice.

The first time was when the small world of Bai Ku was born, and the accompanying Gui Shou was Hui Wu Ren.

In just a few years, according to Jiao Tangtang’s theory, how could Hui Wu Ren develop such sophisticated behavior?

Not even considering its strength—if you looked at its combat awareness and how it handled people and situations…

It was like an ancient, worldly-wise monster!

In just a few years, how could it cultivate that mindset or develop such high intelligence?

Xu Xiaoshou’s thoughts were in turmoil.

He desperately recalled what Jiao Tangtang had said, replaying it frame by frame in his mind until it stopped on one point.

“Such Gui Shou born from other-dimensional spaces…”

Sensing the subtle information Jiao Tangtang had let slip, Xu Xiaoshou’s heart skipped a beat. He looked up and asked, “Are there two kinds of Gui Shou?”

Jiao Tangtang’s red lips curved slightly, and she shook her head gently without speaking.

“Come on, say something!”

Xu Xiaoshou was anxious.

This woman was infuriating!

Right at the critical moment, and she’s playing coy? Is this fun?

“I said, before you become a Gui Shou host, I can’t reveal much.” Jiao Tangtang replied.

“Fine, I won’t ask for details. Just nod or shake your head.” Xu Xiaoshou changed his approach.

“Isn’t that still answering?” Jiao Tangtang chuckled. “I won’t do it.”

Xu Xiaoshou nearly threw A Jie at the woman to knock her down.

He forced himself to calm down.

“Okay, let’s try another way.

Next, I’ll ask a question, and you don’t have to do anything—not even change your expression or tone. Just say one word. Okay?”

Without waiting for her response, Xu Xiaoshou held up Tan Shen high. “If you don’t, I’ll strangle it!”

Jiao Tangtang: ???

“Meow.”

“Received fear, passive value +1.”

“Just one word.” Xu Xiaoshou quickly put the little white cat down before she could get angry. “It’s just a game, come on?”

“A game?” Jiao Tangtang asked through gritted teeth.

“Yeah.”

“What word?”

“Yes!”

“Yes?”

“Yes.” Xu Xiaoshou nodded. “Like, if I ask if you’re a woman, you say yes.”

“You!” Jiao Tangtang nearly kicked him on the spot.

“It’s just a game, don’t take it seriously.” Xu Xiaoshou hid behind A Jie.

“Hah, Xu Xiaoshou, you really know how to play… You’re talking about Gui Shou, and I’m talking about games?”

“Right, we can only move to the next step after the game.”

Xu Xiaoshou forced a smile. “We’ll talk about signing contracts later. No game, no cooperation.”

“Fine!”

Jiao Tangtang was amused by his absurdity.

If this Xu Xiaoshou wanted to go crazy, she’d play along.

“What’s the question?”

“First question…” Xu Xiaoshou held up one finger. “Are you a woman?”

Jiao Tangtang’s face darkened.

“It’s a game!” Xu Xiaoshou emphasized.

“Yes!” Jiao Tangtang snapped irritably.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at his info panel and sighed in relief.

Good. This hot-tempered one was indeed a tigress.

“Second question…” He held up another finger. “Is Xin Gugu a woman?”

“No—”

“It’s a game!” Xu Xiaoshou raised his voice, cutting her off. “Just answer with yes!”

Jiao Tangtang gritted her teeth.

She felt this game was… embarrassing!

Not just embarrassing, but stupid!

But… it was exactly the kind of silly trick Xu Xiaoshou would pull.

I’ll endure it.

“Yes!” she shouted.

Xu Xiaoshou let out a breath and held up a third finger, calmly asking, “Is Gui Shou only the kind like Tan Shen, yes or no?”

Jiao Tangtang’s eyes narrowed. She pondered for a moment. “Xu Xiaoshou, you wouldn’t happen to have some kind of ‘mind-reading’ ability, would you?”

“How did you know?” Xu Xiaoshou feigned surprise.

Jiao Tangtang was taken aback. “Really?”

“Yeah!” Xu Xiaoshou nodded. “I can even read that you feel really embarrassed about this game right now. If it weren’t for my two big friends behind me, you’d probably slap me. Am I right?”

At that moment, she felt pain in her liver, lungs, and everywhere.

Was this guy really acting crazy, or did he have some special power?

Maybe he thought he could peek into her thoughts through her unconscious reactions while answering?

Fine!

If you have that ability, Xu Xiaoshou, then let me show you!

“You’re wrong.”

Jiao Tangtang relaxed completely, her red lips parting as she said, “I don’t like using hands. I solve everything with my legs.”

Xu Xiaoshou’s gaze instinctively dropped.

Those were a pair of full, round, long legs exposed by the torn gray robe, glistening and full of elasticity.

“Have your legs ever had surgery, yes or no?”

This Xu Xiaoshou…

He’s insane!

She crossed her arms, completely unfazed, and lifted her chin defiantly.

“Yes.”

The info panel didn’t move.

Real legs… Xu Xiaoshou nodded to himself.

“Continue.”

“Is Gui Shou only the kind like Tan Shen, yes or no?” Xu Xiaoshou repeated.

“Yes.”

Jiao Tangtang smiled charmingly, her face unreadable.

Xu Xiaoshou saw it but didn’t react.

He sped up, mixing questions with nonsense.

“In Bai Ku space, do you only have Xin Gugu as a companion, yes or no?”

“Yes.”

Damn, there are others?

Xu Xiaoshou kept a poker face. “Is Xu Yue Hui Gong actually a third-rate force, yes or no?”

“Yes.”

Wow, how high-class must that force be?

“Is Xu Yue Hui Gong’s real strength almost on par with Sheng Shen Dian Tang, yes or no?”

“Yes.”

“You really…” Xu Xiaoshou trailed off, suddenly sensing something wrong.

Wait! Where’s the info?

“Received deception”?

Damn!

Another big revelation?

He nearly stumbled but kept going. “Do you really want me as your companion, yes or no?”

“Yes.” Jiao Tangtang didn’t notice anything amiss.

Hah, pretty honest?

“Am I handsome, yes or no?” Xu Xiaoshou lifted his chin.

“Pfft!” Jiao Tangtang chuckled. “Sorry, couldn’t hold it… Yes.”

The info panel didn’t react?

Xu Xiaoshou paused, confirming: “I’m really handsome?”

“Heh, yes!”

Jiao Tangtang rolled her eyes dramatically.

Women are so unpredictable… If it weren’t for the info panel, he’d have been fooled.

Turns out, I really am handsome!

Regaining his composure, Xu Xiaoshou asked cheerfully: “Are there only two kinds of Gui Shou, yes or no?”

Jiao Tangtang’s smile faded. “Xu Xiaoshou, after all that chatter, you’re finally showing your true intent?”

“Yes or no?” Xu Xiaoshou pressed on.

“Yes.”

The info panel remained still.

Xu Xiaoshou sighed inwardly.

So, it was as he suspected.

Hui Wu Ren and Tan Shen were two different kinds of Gui Shou.

Tan Shen was the true one born from other-dimensional spaces.

Then, what about Hui Wu Ren?

He wanted to ask, but based on Jiao Tangtang’s words, she wouldn’t tell him without signing the contract.

Asking more would be pointless.

“Done?”

Jiao Tangtang lowered her arms. “I don’t have much time; I won’t play this boring, childish, embarrassing, stupid game with you!”

“One last question.”

Xu Xiaoshou finally looked serious.

“Spit it out!” Jiao Tangtang huffed, deciding to go along.

“Huff.”

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath in and out, his expression solemn and grave. “I, Xu Xiaoshou, am the handsomest man under heaven, yes or no!”

“Pfft!”

Jiao Tangtang burst into laughter, her body shaking so much that her gray robe revealed glimpses of spring. Could that thing not shift so wildly?

“What are you laughing at?”

Once she calmed down, Xu Xiaoshou frowned. “Be serious—this is the last question; you have to answer.”

“Serious?”

“Okay, I’ll be serious.”

Jiao Tangtang held her stomach and suppressed her laughter, then seriously held up a finger and said heavily, “First, you’re not even a man…”

“Received affirmation, passive value +1.”

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

He stared at the info panel, feeling a surge of anger that made his hair stand on end and flames of rage billow.

You…

Damn system!

Are you glitched?

Is this the time to pop up?

Can’t you just vanish?

His inner rage boiled, but he kept his face neutral and said seriously, “You’re wrong. The game’s over; let’s not talk about that.”

“Don’t! Let’s talk!”

Jiao Tangtang was still giggling, enjoying Xu Xiaoshou’s reaction. “I haven’t answered your question yet. Really not playing anymore?”

“No!”

“Are you sure?”

Jiao Tangtang looked at Xu Xiaoshou’s darkened face and thought there was nothing funnier in the world.

But if he was this upset, would he cooperate later?

No, she needed to give him an out.

“Play on, sister won’t tease you anymore. Ask again.” Jiao Tangtang reined in her laughter.

“Okay.”

Xu Xiaoshou felt he’d lost all face and wanted to turn it around. “Am I… forget it, I can’t ask. Just give the answer.”

“Yes!” Jiao Tangtang replied immediately.

Xu Xiaoshou’s smile hadn’t fully formed yet.

Damn system!

Go to hell!

“A Jie, let’s go.”

Xu Xiaoshou turned and walked away.

“Mama?”

A Jie looked at his “mama” with a face as dark as ink, utterly confused.

A game?

It was still learning human games and hadn’t figured them out yet.

Were human games always this unsatisfying?

“Xu Xiaoshou!”

Seeing the young man leave without a word, Jiao Tangtang stopped laughing.

Was he really hurt?

“Xu Xiaoshou, get back here! We haven’t settled things yet!” she shouted.

“We have nothing to settle. No cooperation, and… we won’t meet again.” Xu Xiaoshou didn’t even turn his head.

“Won’t meet?”

Jiao Tangtang was furious. “We just played the game, and now you say that?”

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