Chapter 583: Willow Dark Flower Bright, Another Village

Chapter 584: The Little Receiver Bends at the Waist

"No, no... this can't be happening!"

When he saw who was approaching, Xu Xiaoshou's face puffed up like he was constipated, full of sheer discomfort.

"Is the sky out to get me?"

The person in front of him was none other than Shuo Shuren, the storyteller, along with Luo Leilei—who else could it be?

But how on earth had these two shown up here?

Hadn't Shuo Shuren been strictly following the orders of Shengnu Lao Er, keeping an eye on that group in red robes at Li Jian Grassland?

"And now, they're here?"

Damn it all!

How was Xu Xiaoshou supposed to survive this?

What the hell is wrong with everyone? Why is the whole world targeting me?

Xu Xiaoshou cursed inwardly; he could feel the deep malice of the world toward him.

Wolves like Shou Ye guarding the front, and tigers like Shuo Shuren at the back.

Would he have to endure eighty-one minus two trials just to escape Bai Ku safely, even if he got through this?

"Heh, heh..."

Xu Xiaoshou let out a dry laugh, then suddenly switched to "Heh heh heh."

"Old man..."

Before he could finish, Shuo Shuren interrupted with a beaming smile: "Little brother, have you forgotten? You're not in disguise right now, you know."

Xu Xiaoshou's smile froze on the spot.

Oh, right!

What the hell was I thinking, turning off "Bianhua"?

Why?!

"Don't blame yourself."

Shuo Shuren gestured with a delicate hand, gently patting his chest. "The suspicion wasn't something I noticed on my own—it's all thanks to my sister here."

He pointed with his hand, and Xu Xiaoshou's gaze followed to the young woman standing nearby.

"Xu Xiaoshou..."

Luo Leilei looked at him like he was some kind of monster, her eyes full of surprise. "Long time, no see?"

"Cough, cough."

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly started coughing violently, choking on his own saliva.

"Luo Leilei, long time no see."

Why are you screwing me over like this!

The last part stayed stuck in his throat.

Xu Xiaoshou forced a strained smile, barely tugging at the corners of his mouth to show some friendliness.

"What kind of ling ji is that?" Luo Leilei asked bluntly, without any hesitation.

"What ling ji?"

Xu Xiaoshou glanced stealthily at Shuo Shuren, avoiding a direct answer.

Even though the man in the red skirt was all smiles, Xu Xiaoshou knew exactly what unforgivable things he'd done before.

Scolding, reprimanding, interrupting, ordering around, cursing... He'd tried every way to dig his own grave with Shuo Shuren.

Oh, no—not just once!

In this situation, it was hard to imagine how Shuo Shuren could stay so gracious and smiling after figuring out the whole truth.

Or perhaps...

Xu Xiaoshou leaned more toward another theory: Shuo Shuren was probably just hiding his emotions behind that smile, not knowing how else to face him.

Which meant...

Beneath that clear blue sky facade, there were storm clouds, raging waves, and thunder—if he said one wrong thing, he could be finished on the spot!

God, save me!

I'm Xu Xiaoshou, still just a kid!

Luo Leilei, knowing Xu Xiaoshou was playing dumb at a masterful level, cut straight to the chase: "You know, the kind that can even fool Shuo Shuren here..."

The word "fool" made Shuo Shuren's expression stiffen subtly.

Xu Xiaoshou snapped out of his thoughts and roared to interrupt:

"Bianhua!"

"It's called 'Bianhua.' It can mimic anyone's appearance, just like what you saw before."

Luo Leilei was startled, clearly thrown off by the outburst.

Then, a slight smile tugged at her lips.

"Oh, so that's it."

She tilted her head and asked again: "Bianhua... how did you learn such a special ling ji?"

"Heh."

Xu Xiaoshou exhaled heavily, noticing Shuo Shuren wasn't reacting, and decided he didn't even want to answer.

But Luo Leilei's voice piped up again: "After all, it's the kind that can even..."

"Tianfu!"

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly shouted: "It's like a tianfu skill, something like bloodline limits... ah, I mean, like a ling ti or sheng ti. Does that make sense to you?"

"I can't teach it to you, and don't even think I will!" Xu Xiaoshou added.

"Oh, tianfu, huh?"

Luo Leilei's smile grew even wider.

She seemed to have figured out how to deal with someone as uncommunicative as Xu Xiaoshou.

"So, how did you master the You Si Jian?"

"Even Shuang Xing Ge couldn't hold it that long, and from what I see, you haven't fully gained its recognition—just some acknowledgment, right?"

Xu Xiaoshou's facial muscles started twitching.

You little brat...

Just you wait!

This is definitely revenge!

Women...

Tsk, still holding a grudge from that Black Falling Cliff at Tianxuan Gate?

"Jian Nian."

Xu Xiaoshou said dejectedly: "I have jian nian, so You Si Jian feels closer to me. Plus, I'm at the Zongshi level, so I can hold it longer."

"But I'm at my limit now. I can't keep it up."

"Do you want this sword?"

As he spoke, Xu Xiaoshou lifted You Si Jian, ready to toss it over.

Shuo Shuren and Luo Leilei both jumped in fright.

Clearly, that "Shengnu Lao Er" in the ancient texts had left a deep shadow on them.

"Wait, don't move!"

Luo Leilei quickly stopped Xu Xiaoshou's action. "Let me ask one more question... Jian Nian—Shuang Xing Ge has it too, and he admitted it himself, but he couldn't last as long. So, what's the deal?"

Xu Xiaoshou's hand hovered awkwardly in mid-air as he replied helplessly: "Not lasting long? That's his problem, not mine."

Luo Leilei: "..."

"Cursed, passive value, 1."

She gritted her teeth, fuming: "Xu Xiaoshou, you..."

"Ask away!"

Xu Xiaoshou simply gave up entirely; he'd accepted his fate.

"I've messed up."

"You can ask whatever you want, and I'll tell you everything I know."

"If you can spare my life, I'd be eternally grateful."

"If not..."

"It doesn't matter!"

"This doesn't matter at all!"

Xu Xiaoshou declared firmly: "But before that, please allow me, Xu Xiaoshou, to offer Shuo Shuren a sincere apology."

Without waiting for a response, Xu Xiaoshou bowed deeply, more than ninety degrees.

"I'm sorry!!!"

He didn't straighten up until his head nearly touched his knees. "It was my fault earlier; I shouldn't have deceived Shuo Shuren."

"But there were reasons for it, and the story is long. I won't go into details right now."

"I just ask that you, as a senior, consider my master Sang Lao—who is Shengnu Lao Er's right-hand man—and Shengnu Prime, that masked figure, and the connection between Shuang Xing and Luo Leilei, and let me off the hook!"

"Thank you so much!"

Xu Xiaoshou bowed again.

Luo Leilei's mouth twitched wildly.

Unbelievable!

Xu Xiaoshou, should I call you flexible or just utterly shameless?

Dragging Shuang Xing Ge into this?

Are you only doing that because he's not here to call you out?

Why not rope in Cen Qianfu while you're at it?

"Oh, right!"

Xu Xiaoshou seemed to remember something and added: "And Cen Qianfu, that senior—I haven't forgotten our encounter at Tian Sang Ling Gong. I've admired him greatly and hope you..."

Sensing Shuo Shuren's expression growing more unpredictable, Xu Xiaoshou quickly changed tack.

He turned to Luo Leilei: "How about you pass on my message to Senior Cen? Just say it's been a while, and I miss him. Next time we meet, we'll share a drink..."

But as he "sensed" Shuo Shuren's face darkening like ink, Xu Xiaoshou's voice trailed off.

"...and talk."

"Cough, cough."

"Have I said too much?"

He muttered to himself: "It's fine. Even though there were special reasons, I did deceive Shuo Shuren."

"If you want to kill me or whatever, just say the word. I, Xu Xiaoshou, won't complain!"

With that, Xu Xiaoshou lifted his chin, closed his eyes, and put on a face of resolute determination.

He had his "sensing" at full alert, with "Disappearing Technique" and "One Step to Heaven" ready to go.

If Shuo Shuren made any wrong move, he'd ditch the apologies and bolt.

"Watched, passive value, 1."

"Liked, passive value, 1."

Shuo Shuren stared straight at him.

Though his face was now covered in frost instead of a smile, that sudden message made Xu Xiaoshou's body tremble uncontrollably.

Liked?

What the hell do you mean, liked?

Are you sick? I've laid it all out, and a normal person would either lash out or let it slide as a joke from a junior.

What's this "liked" supposed to mean?

Xu Xiaoshou shuddered in fear.

Facing Shuo Shuren was even more torturous than facing ten Shou Ye.

You could never grasp the emotions of someone from "Shengnu."

You never knew what they were like one second to the next.

Shou Ye appreciated him, so Xu Xiaoshou could read and manipulate that.

But with Shuo Shuren...

Forget manipulating—he couldn't even process this "liked."

"I'm sorry, if I did something just now that you liked, tell me..."

"I'll change it, okay!!!"

Xu Xiaoshou screamed inwardly. He couldn't afford to mess with this red-skirted weirdo.

"Not bad—he's the one brother has his eye on!"

Shuo Shuren held back for a moment, then shook his head and clapped in admiration.

"Luo girl, are you sure you didn't mix him up? Is he really Wen Ming?"

More than any other issue—even more than being scolded by the disguised Shengnu Lao Er in the ancient texts—Shuo Shuren seemed most concerned about this.

"Mm."

Luo Leilei nodded: "At Tian Sang Ling Gong, besides Xu Xiaoshou, no one else caught the Prime's eye."

"Good." Shuo Shuren pursed his red lips and asked: "Have you asked all your questions?"

"Mm..."

Luo Leilei wanted to keep going; she had so many unanswered questions that needed Xu Xiaoshou's answers.

But Shuo Shuren clearly wasn't waiting around.

Fine.

She nodded and stepped back half a pace.

Shuo Shuren's face lit up with a smile again.

"Wen Ming, I've finally met you! So, you're Wen Ming!"

Xu Xiaoshou's skin crawled with goosebumps.

He realized there were things worse than dying.

"Staying alive..."

"In front of this red-skirted weirdo, as a man—it's more painful than death!"

Shuo Shuren shook his head in wonder, his mind flashing back to scenes from the ancient texts.

One moment fierce, the next full of admiration.

After a long while, his final gaze settled on... kindness.

Pure kindness!

"Wen Ming, you're probably wondering why I didn't stick to your orders at Li Jian Grassland and came here instead, right?" Shuo Shuren asked, blinking.

"Not wondering, not wondering at all..."

Xu Xiaoshou immediately shut his eyes and shook his head like a rattle. "You're all-powerful, senior; nothing's impossible for you..."

"Just call me brother." Shuo Shuren tucked his hands to his chest, gazing at Xu Xiaoshou with growing fondness.

Brother's pick, after all.

"What?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes flew open in shock.

"Brother," Shuo Shuren said coyly, swaying his waist. "Just call me that."

"Bro."

"Brother."

"Bro..."

"Brother!!!" Shuo Shuren suddenly roared.

With a boom, the void exploded, and the world shattered in an instant.

Xu Xiaoshou was utterly terrified, his soul nearly shaking out of him.

He jolted, a shiver racing from his feet to his crown.

"Brother."

Xu Xiaoshou choked back tears as he said it, feeling utterly humiliated.

But a man can be shamed; he just can't be killed.

What was a little humiliation compared to that?

In the face of power, bowing his head was something Xu Xiaoshou did often.

"Everything... for staying alive—no, for clinging on!"

Glancing around at the completely collapsed void, yet feeling no effect on himself, Xu Xiaoshou realized Shuo Shuren's strength was far beyond Shou Ye—several times over, with flawless control.

Cowardly?

Well, yeah, he should be.

"Mm-hmm."

Shuo Shuren pressed his elbows to his chest, as if that one word had cleansed his soul.

In a flash, he vanished from sight.

Before Xu Xiaoshou could react in horror, Shuo Shuren had already wrapped an arm gently around his shoulders and whispered in his ear: "So, little brother, don't you want to know why I could come here from Li Jian Grassland?"

"I don't, I don't want to!"

Xu Xiaoshou felt a hot breath that nearly shattered his soul.

He tried to pull away, but found himself completely trapped.

Not by Shuo Shuren's arm, but by the space, the heavens, and everything in Bai Ku.

Or put another way...

With that one embrace, Xu Xiaoshou was cast out by Bai Ku's heavenly rules.

The world was vast, but in that moment, there was no place for him.

So, escape was impossible!

"Hiss."

Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"I do."

"I want to know... please explain, brother. I, Xu Xiaoshou, am very curious!"