Chapter 688: Jiang Tai's Answer

"Pa."

The *Xiulian Fang* on the first floor was pushed open, and a faint smell of blood lingered.

Peering inside, the scene was impeccably clean, without even a drop of blood.

Except for the person lying unconscious on the long-backed wooden chair in the middle, there was no sign of any bloody scene, as if the place was eternally peaceful and serene.

Xu Xiaoshou was surprised and turned back to ask, "You didn't say you used severe torture and beat Jiang Tai back to his original form?"

Xin Gugu stroked his fair right palm, where the skin color starkly contrasted with his bronze complexion.

He cursed Xu Xiaoshou viciously in his heart using the foul words he had learned from Mu Zi Xi, then smirked and said, "It wasn't that heavy, just a beating."

"Oh."

Xu Xiaoshou nodded and stepped inside.

At that moment, a voice came from behind. "*Xiao* Xin *Ge*, the scene is all cleaned up. Xu *Shao* definitely won't notice it—want to check?"

Xu Xiaoshou stopped and turned around, seeing Xiao Wanfeng with blood on his shoes, pants, and a large patch soaked into his sleeve cuffs.

He glanced at the clean *Xiulian Fang*, then back at the bloodstains on Xiao Wanfeng's face that hadn't been wiped off, and the bloody wooden bucket he was holding.

Finally, his gaze settled on Xin Gugu's fair right palm.

"See, that's karma. I didn't mean to shake your hand—it was all heaven's will." Xu Xiaoshou pointed at the ceiling.

Xin Gugu was on the verge of cursing.

Isn't this all your orders? How are you blaming me for it?

Do you know how much I've had to bear, Xin Gugu, just to ease your guilt as Xu *Shao*?!

"Xu... Xu *Shao* is here too..."

Xiao Wanfeng had been about to hurry over with the blood bucket upon hearing Xu *Shao*'s voice, but he froze in place from fright.

"Come here."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't mind and stepped out of the room to wave at Xiao Wanfeng. "Come see the world. You're too timid, so take this chance to experience the black underbelly of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou. After all, once you're an accomplice, you can't be a traitor anymore."

Xiao Wanfeng's heart trembled at the words.

Accomplice...

Is this something you should say to me?

Isn't that just something you, Xu *Shao*, should keep in your heart? Why say it out loud?

But since Xu *Shao* had spoken, Xiao Wanfeng had no choice but to set aside his thoughts of quickly washing away the evidence. He hesitated and followed the two into the *Xiulian Fang*.

"Pa."

The door closed.

Xu Xiaoshou held up the Tian Shang Di Yi Lou command token and activated the array in the *Xiulian Fang*, instantly illuminating the room with lights.

At the same time, the person on the long chair, who had been unconscious, felt a chill in his lower body. His barely recovered *Ling Yuan* began to drain rapidly, and his body started convulsing violently.

Xiao Wanfeng watched in agony and held the blood wooden bucket in front of him.

But as soon as his eyes fell on the bucket, he felt nauseous and quickly moved it behind him, using the relatively clean part of his sleeve to cover his mouth and nose, leaving only a small gap to peek through.

"Jiang Tai?"

Xu Xiaoshou stepped forward and patted the night attacker's face.

"Uh."

Jiang Tai's eyelids twitched as he opened them slightly. His face was swollen, clearly from having been interrogated.

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated for a moment, then turned and explained, "This guy spoke disrespectfully first, insulting our Tian Shang Di Yi Lou, and then launched a night attack on our building. He was captured by the great array... And it was all your *Xiao* Xin *Ge* who did it, not my business."

Xin Gugu: ???

Xiao Wanfeng nodded frantically: "I understand, Xu *Shao*. You don't need to explain."

Xu Xiaoshou sighed. From his "perception," he could see Xiao Wanfeng's look of disbelief, so he spoke again. "I never need to explain my actions to anyone."

"It's just that I don't want you to get the wrong impression of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou as a 'just' organization. This isn't an explanation—it's a reminder."

Xiao Wanfeng: "I completely understand."

I really don't want to understand... Xiao Wanfeng added in his heart.

From being forced by *Xiao* Xin *Ge* to "serve tea" at the Tian Luo Zhan, and seeing Xu *Shao*'s methods after he took the stage...

Xiao Wanfeng was fully aware of what kind of organization he had joined less than a day ago.

Moreover, after cleaning up the *Xiulian Fang* where the blood was ankle-deep while holding onto his basic moral bottom line, Xiao Wanfeng didn't think Xu *Shao* needed to explain anything.

In his view, no extra explanation was necessary.

Perhaps Xu *Shao* himself hadn't realized how cruel "Tian Shang Di Yi Lou" appeared in outsiders' eyes.

"You understand, that's good."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the newfound composure in Xiao Wanfeng's eyes, as if he had seen the world, and sighed at how people could change overnight.

Just like the day he accidentally killed Wen Chong and stood by Goose Lake all night.

He believed Xiao Wanfeng had grown a lot compared to half a day ago.

"Very well, now it's your turn."

Returning to Jiang Tai, Xu Xiaoshou thought for a moment and said slowly, "I can see you've endured brutal torment... Now that your identity is exposed, I bet there's nothing left to hide."

"But!"

"I can also tell you don't have the energy to confess everything right now."

"And Pu Xuan Jiang Shi, a Ban Sheng family, probably means some things are beyond your power to confess fully."

"So, I'll only ask you a few questions. Don't think—just answer 'no' to all of them."

"I understand you, so I hope you understand me too, okay, dear?"

In Jiang Tai's half-open, mismatched eyes, there was a look of complete understanding—that's what Xu Xiaoshou saw.

"Good, first question: You're a man."

Xin Gugu's eyebrows twitched at that.

Xiao Wanfeng nearly bit his tongue, his teeth clacking.

Both their faces showed question marks. They had been eagerly awaiting Xu *Shao*'s questions, but they never expected him to start so explosively.

"Isn't this something you can solve by pulling down his pants?" Xin Gugu stepped forward to help.

Xu Xiaoshou slapped his hand away and glared. "Want to shake hands again?"

"Hiss."

Xin Gugu instantly retreated several steps, almost hiding behind Xiao Wanfeng.

"So, what's your answer?" Xu Xiaoshou turned back, smiling.

Jiang Tai felt utterly aggrieved inside.

He had been ready to confess everything, but after the physical torture from that Xin guy, what Xu *Shao* brought was mental torment.

"I... I'm a man!"

"You're not."

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, his kind face masking a cold gaze that crushed Jiang Tai's last shred of manly dignity.

"Don't worry about the question. I only want one answer from you: always just two words—'no'."

"I..."

Jiang Tai closed his heavy eyes.

"Congratulations, wrong answer—that's three words."

Xu Xiaoshou slowly lifted Jiang Tai's limp hand and grasped it firmly.

At that moment, Xin Gugu, cowering behind, tensed his neck. He could sense that in Xu Xiaoshou's palm was the same ability that had subjected him to countless attacks in an instant.

Sure enough—

"Ah—"

A piercing shriek echoed, startling everyone.

Jiang Tai struggled as if in a final burst of energy, trying to rise, but Xu Xiaoshou held him down with a single finger on his forehead, rendering him immobile.

"Ahhh—"

Xiao Wanfeng's body stiffened at the horrific screams.

His eyes were fixed on Jiang Tai, not wanting to look but unable to look away.

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't moved at all.

Yet, blood was steadily dripping from Jiang Tai's gripped hand and the spot on his forehead where the finger pressed.

"Drip, drip, drip..."

The blood from his hand hit the floor with a chilling sound.

The blood from his forehead trickled down his nose bridge, split, crossed his swollen lips, and finally dripped from his neck into his torn clothes on his chest.

—Utterly terrifying!

The screams lasted a full ten breaths before Xu Xiaoshou finally released his hand.

He exhaled a breath of "*life spiritual energy*," and Jiang Tai's wounds on his hand and forehead healed instantly as he gasped heavily.

"Demon..."

Xiao Wanfeng was even more convinced in his heart.

Xu *Shao* and *Xiao* Xin *Ge* were both terrifying beings from the depths of hell.

Hell is empty; demons walk the earth!

"This was just a little lesson. It won't really hurt you—it's just, well, pretty painful." Xu Xiaoshou said after a pause.

Truth be told, he wasn't good at torture, so he had left it all to Xin Gugu.

But after returning from Tian Luo Chang, he fully understood that his so-called kindness from modern civilized education didn't apply to this cruel world.

Pity for enemies would only come back as extreme harm to his loved ones.

That's how Xu Xiaoshou felt now.

Xin Gugu, standing aside, couldn't bear to watch anymore.

As the first to experience Xu's punishment, he knew Xu Xiaoshou's words were true.

But even without gripping hard, the damage Jiang Tai endured was something outsiders couldn't feel—though Xin Gugu could empathize completely.

"Damn it, that's way harsher than my fists..."

Xin Gugu was puzzled.

If Xu *Shao* had such methods, why bother having him interrogate? It was unnecessary.

"Adding insult to injury!"

After this interlude, Jiang Tai was clearly much quieter.

*Wang Zun* might not fear death, but that didn't mean they could ignore pain.

Especially someone like him, raised in luxury in a Ban Sheng family, who probably couldn't handle even ordinary torture.

And what Xu *Shao* used was far from "ordinary."

"You're a man." Xu Xiaoshou asked again.

Jiang Tai's response was lightning fast.

Xu Xiaoshou nodded in satisfaction—that was the rhythm he wanted.

"Was it Jiang Xian who sent you?"

It really was that Jiang Xian guy. He's so arrogant; I could tell from that day he's no good... Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself.

"Did you come for me, wanting to capture me back?"

"Was it for him?" Xu Xiaoshou pointed at Xin Gugu.

Xu Xiaoshou paused.

He was completely sure now.

These guys were after Mu Zi Xi or perhaps Mo Mo.

Thinking of his junior sister's "*San Yan Tong Mu*," Xu Xiaoshou grew worried.

If Jiang Shi had figured out Mo Mo was a ghost beast host, that was fine.

They'd just embarrass themselves trying to capture her.

But if it was because of Mu Zi Xi's "*Shen Mo Tong*"...

"Did you want to capture my woman?"

Indeed...

A cold light flashed in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes.

It was okay if they targeted him—even if a Ban Sheng came, Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't back down.

But going after his junior sister...

They were practically begging for death!

The room's temperature dropped with Xu Xiaoshou's shifting emotions. Xin Gugu and Xiao Wanfeng exchanged glances, both seeing traces of fear in each other's eyes.

Xu *Shao* must have uncovered something.

Otherwise, his aura wouldn't turn this frightening.

At this moment, the sharpness on Xu Xiaoshou was nothing special to Xiao Wanfeng—he just thought it was business as usual.

But Xin Gugu knew!

He had followed Xu Xiaoshou for a while, and even in the most dire situations, he hadn't seen him this unfeeling.

At most, Xu the Demon King would playfully toy someone to death, but not like this, with emotions completely unchecked.

And just through those absurd "no" answers, he could really get information...

To Xin Gugu and Xiao Wanfeng, Xu *Shao*'s interrogation method was nothing short of a miracle!

"Mind reading?"

Both thought of it simultaneously.

Combined with how Xu *Shao* had recruited people that morning, they were even more convinced.

But...

"Could mind reading, that kind of *Ling Ji*, really exist?"

"Xu *Shao* is probably just deducing something from Jiang Tai's subtle expressions when he answers 'no'?"

Yet, when they looked at Jiang Tai, their doubts vanished instantly.

What expressions could Jiang Tai have left?

His face was just swollen and pained, twitching constantly from the *Ling Zhen* draining his *Ling Yuan*.

Even the strongest psychologist couldn't read anything from that face right now.

"Profound and unfathomable..."

Unable to determine the truth, they could only vaguely conclude that.

With the questions progressing, Xu Xiaoshou finally grasped the intent. He got straight to the point.

"Is Jiang Xian's pair of eyes '*San Yan Tong Mu*'?"

Jiang Tai's muddled consciousness was jolted awake by the question. "You..."

Before he could say "How do you know" with its five words and questioning tone, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly raised his hand and pierced straight through Jiang Tai's chest.

"Hiss—"

The shrill scream accompanied the spraying blood from Jiang Tai's chest, even making Xin Gugu's heart skip.

Xiao Wanfeng now fully understood why Xu *Shao* had called him here to build courage.

The blood and flesh he had cleaned up before were just aftermath.

Seeing this scene now, he knew his future nightmares would include this moment.

"Sizzle, sizzle..."

Blood sprayed out.

Xu Xiaoshou's finger, enhanced with "*Zhi Jie Li Chang*," stayed in Jiang Tai's chest for a full ten breaths before slowly withdrawing.

He exhaled another breath of "*life spiritual energy*," and Jiang Tai's wound healed quickly.

Then, with the same expressionless face, Xu Xiaoshou said, "Remember, your answer can only be two words, and it must start with 'no'..."

"Got it?"