Chapter 690: I, Xu Shao, Pity the Heavens and People

Rumbling sounds echoed...

Xiao Wanfeng had just finished cleaning up the battlefield on the first floor when the rumbling persisted from the second and third floors. He could vaguely see the branches of lush, leafy trees swaying.

"Late at night, can't you all settle down a bit?"

Xiao Wanfeng sighed.

There was no way Tian Shang Di Yi Lou would suddenly grow trees out of nowhere—this was clearly the work of Mu Guniang.

And why was Mu Guniang causing trouble?

Obviously, it had to be Xu Xiaoshou's doing.

Silently carrying his bucket to the door to keep watch, Xiao Wanfeng knew he probably wouldn't get any sleep tonight.

Once the two main figures in Tian Shang Di Yi Lou finished their business, the one left to clean up the mess would be him, the tea server, Xiao Wanfeng!

"Hmm, what's that?"

Leaning against the door, Xiao Wanfeng seemed to spot a dark figure on the treetops in the moonlight's silhouette.

He jumped in fright and immediately rubbed his eyes.

But when he looked again, the figure was gone.

"An illusion?"

Xiao Wanfeng's heart raced.

Was this the aftereffect of staying up all night—his eyes starting to play tricks on him?

On the third floor:

"Hey, hey, hey, that's enough! I was just testing whether you've really been possessed or if it's a second personality. Do you have to chase me like this?"

Xu Xiaoshou dodged frantically as ancient trees thrust up from under his feet, which he skillfully evaded.

"I've already told you!"

Mu Zixi was furious not only that Xu Xiaoshou had dared to provoke her but also that he didn't believe what she had said before.

Now, with her palms reddened from slapping, the entire third floor had been transformed into a dense forest by the ancient trees.

A Bing and A Huo squeezed through the gaps, carefully maneuvering their bodies so as not to disrupt the scene and risk drawing her ire.

A Bing was fine, just rolling her eyes to watch the two bickering.

A Huo was more mischievous, stepping around while letting out "hoho" calls, as if cheering for Mu Zixi.

Xu Xiaoshou leaped from the third floor to the second, then up to the fourth.

Fortunately, the ceiling of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou could open; otherwise, if he had to use the stairs, Mu Zixi would have cornered him for sure.

"I said, just a test—stop messing around."

"Even if it's true like you said, or like I guessed, whichever it is, she needs to be stimulated to come out and awaken, right?"

"Who knows if you'll still be you after the fight!"

Xu Xiaoshou argued, but since he had started it, he had no ground to stand on.

"Stimulate me, will you..."

Mu Zixi's face was flushed, her hands red as she waved the branches to ensnare Xu Xiaoshou.

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou stopped, spreading his arms to shatter the branches.

Mu Zixi roared immediately: "Try moving an inch!"

Snap, snap, snap!

Vines and branches instantly wrapped around Xu Xiaoshou's body, while tall, swinging wooden whips struck hard at his backside.

"I won't move, I won't move..."

Xu Xiaoshou didn't dare budge and even pretended to wail in pain, though he felt nothing.

"Ow!"

"Hiss!"

"It hurts!"

With another smack, Xu Xiaoshou's cries prompted the door of a cultivation room on the third floor to swing open, and Mei Siyi stepped out.

He stared at the scene, momentarily stunned, then his face darkened: "You young people want to play, but can't you do it in a room?"

Xu Xiaoshou was embarrassed.

The room had been arranged by Xin Gugu, and he hadn't realized Mei Siyi was so close.

"Ahem, sir, it's not what you think..."

Before he could finish, Mu Zixi, seeing Mei Siyi for the first time, widened her eyes: "Old man, who are you? What's it to you?"

Mei Siyi was taken aback, and so was Xu Xiaoshou.

Little junior sister, you're quite bold!

From now on, I, Xu Xiaoshou, might as well be called Xin Gugu Number Two!

"Ow!"

Xu Xiaoshou snapped out of his daze and quickly covered it with cries of pain to drown out his junior sister's words.

He shook off the vines at lightning speed and turned to Mei Siyi with a grin: "Mr. Mei Siyi, I had no idea you lived here. It's so late; the rooms should be soundproof, right? Did we disturb you?"

Mu Zixi paused at Xu Xiaoshou's sudden politeness.

When had this guy become so courteous?

Just then, she heard Xu Xiaoshou's rapid voice transmission: "Qi Jianxian, Qi Jianxian, Qi Jianxian..."

Qi Jianxian?

Was this old man one of the Qi Jianxian?

Mu Zixi's heart skipped a beat, but the next second, she dismissed the idea.

What a joke!

The Qi Jianxian were on the same level as Gou Wuyue and others. Could one of them really live in Tian Shang Di Yi Lou?

She had only been out for a morning—how could Xu Xiaoshou have brought in a Qi Jianxian?

Maybe this Xu guy was just making it up to cover for attacking her?

Had Xin Gugu transformed into this?

Or...

"Xu Xiaojia!"

Mu Zixi's eyes lit up, convinced as she pointed at Mei Siyi and scolded: "Don't think you can turn into this ghastly..."

"Umph."

Xu Xiaoshou moved in a flash; no matter how much trouble he wanted to stir, he wouldn't lead his junior sister to her doom.

After covering her mouth to stop the outburst, he grinned at Mei Siyi: "Please forgive her, Mr. Mei Siyi. She's always like this—simply put, she's got issues."

Mu Zixi: ???

"Under a curse, passive points, 1, 1, 1, 1..."

Mei Siyi sighed and shook his head, unbothered by such trivialities. He turned back to his room and shut the door, leaving only a parting remark.

"Don't get carried away, and besides, someone's here."

With a click, the door locked, and the third floor fell silent.

"Someone?"

Xu Xiaoshou released his junior sister and asked: "Did you sense it?"

"Hmm."

Mu Zixi didn't deny it. By now, from Xu Xiaoshou's attitude, she realized the old man might not be a fake after all.

She felt a bit uneasy and didn't dare act out anymore. "Is he really one of the Qi Jianxian?"

"You're still doubting?"

Xu Xiaoshou smacked the girl's head. "I even transmitted it to you. Do I look like someone who transmits messages for no reason? Just to keep you out of trouble, got it?"

Mu Zixi shrank back, not daring to resist or even curse.

"What's going on?" Xu Xiaoshou turned and scolded. "You sensed someone and didn't say anything? Don't you know priorities? What if it's an attack..."

"My business isn't a priority?" Mu Zixi rolled her eyes inwardly but kept it to herself.

She pointed toward the entrance downstairs, where two shadowy figures had suddenly appeared.

"Looks like they're not here to attack—just have business."

"No visitors without purpose, always welcome guests?"

Outside Tian Shang Di Yi Lou, a middle-aged man in white holding a jade xiao stared at the door couplet with a smile, while Liu Lu stood behind him.

The two strolled right up to Xiao Wanfeng.

Xiao Wanfeng acted as if he saw nothing, his gaze still vacant on the trees, pondering whether to ring the bell.

"Si Dangjia, is this necessary? That Xu Shao is not to be trifled with. Shouldn't we just show ourselves properly?" Liu Lu asked anxiously from behind.

Yuan Haisheng smiled. "Tian Shang Di Yi Lou does have that eccentric vibe you mentioned. A force backed by a Ban Sheng family, and their gatekeeper is just an ordinary person?"

He even waved his jade xiao in front of Xiao Wanfeng.

But Xiao Wanfeng truly seemed blind to it.

"Interesting."

Yuan Haisheng chuckled.

Such security was unprecedented for him.

With a wave, the domain concealing him and Liu Lu vanished.

"Whoa..."

Xiao Wanfeng yelped in surprise, stumbling backward.

His eyes had been fixed on the treetops, and in a blink, two people appeared.

"Ghosts?"

Xiao Wanfeng crossed his wooden sword over his chest. Though it wasn't peach wood, it still gave him a sliver of security.

Hearing the question, Yuan Haisheng's smile deepened. He ignored the gatekeeper and said, "Hello, please announce my arrival—Ye Mao, Yuan Haisheng seeks an audience."

"Si Dangjia!"

Liu Lu gestured emphatically from behind: "This is our Si Dangjia, the one Xu Shao wants to see. Don't slight him!"

"Oh, oh..."

Xiao Wanfeng nodded subconsciously.

Someone Xu Shao wanted to see?

That must be from earlier; otherwise, he would have known, having followed Xu Shao all day.

As he turned to report:

"Whoa..."

Xiao Wanfeng jumped again at the two figures—one tall, one short—that appeared behind him.

Even recognizing them as Xu Shao and Mu Guniang at first glance, he couldn't stop his feet from twisting, sending him tumbling toward Yuan Haisheng.

Xu Xiaoshou: ...

Mu Zixi: ...

What a scaredy-cat!

They both thought simultaneously.

Yuan Haisheng, of course, wouldn't catch a gatekeeper in his arms. He used his jade xiao to steady Xiao Wanfeng in midair.

"Watch out."

"Oh, oh..."

Xiao Wanfeng's face turned red with embarrassment.

Being startled by outsiders was one thing, but by his own masters? He felt utterly ashamed.

But now wasn't about him. He stepped back, landing beside Liu Lu, as the leaders faced off.

Xiao Wanfeng and Liu Lu exchanged glances, feeling an odd sense of camaraderie.

"From Ye Mao?"

Xu Xiaoshou asked, eyeing Liu Lu behind.

Liu Lu stayed silent.

"Yuan Haisheng."

Yuan Haisheng smiled, twirled his jade xiao, and cupped his fists: "I've long heard of Tian Shang Di Yi Lou's reputation and that Xu Shao has matters to discuss, so I've come to pay a visit."

With that, he gestured invitingly to Xu Xiaoshou.

"Shall we go inside to talk?"

His words made it clear he wasn't treating himself as an outsider.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the night sky, marveling that they were indeed "Ye Mao"—not visiting during the day but at night. At least they were polite; otherwise, the consequences would be dire.

"The night is quite nice tonight..."

Xu Xiaoshou remarked while gazing at the moon, not immediately inviting them in.

Yuan Haisheng was taken aback.

He had already taken the initiative to suggest a proper place for discussion, yet Xu Shao was talking about the night?

"It's quite nice."

Yuan Haisheng glanced up briefly and agreed, waiting for Xu Xiaoshou to continue.

After his comment, Xu Xiaoshou quickly transmitted to Mu Zixi: "Get Xin Gugu and Mo Mo to go back to sleep. Secure the ceiling, make sure A Bing and A Huo don't jump down, and tell A Jie to stay put on the top floor. Oh, and shut down the great array—this isn't an enemy; we don't want to scare them."

Mu Zixi blinked her big eyes and turned to leave.

Yuan Haisheng watched the girl walk away for no apparent reason, puzzled as he looked back at Xu Xiaoshou.

"Si Dangjia of Ye Mao?"

Xu Xiaoshou met his gaze and asked: "Organizations like Ye Mao usually use code names, right? Why are you giving your full name and being so upfront?"

Yuan Haisheng frowned slightly. Xu Shao seemed off.

Was he... stalling for time?

For what?

But while his mind raced, he kept a smile on his face: "For others, I only use my code name. But for Xu Shao, it's different. I'm here to make friends, so naturally, I should be straightforward."

A voice transmission of "All set" came through, and Xu Xiaoshou nodded firmly: "Alright, I'll be your friend then. Let's talk inside."

Once inside the first-floor hall, the scene came into view.

The cultivation room blown up by Jiang Tai had only been cleared of debris; the door would need fixing during the day.

Overhead, branches and roots sprawled like an old forest.

Though traces of the battles had been erased, the trees growing from the ceiling were odd enough.

Yuan Haisheng took it all in and chuckled: "Your establishment is quite... unique."

Xu Xiaoshou facepalmed.

He had forgotten the command token was still with him, so his junior sister couldn't control the ceiling's opening and closing. And the battle scars couldn't be wiped away quickly.

"We're doing some landscaping, heh..."

After brushing it off, Xu Xiaoshou led them to the modified meeting room and sat down.

"I'll get straight to the point."

He looked at Yuan Haisheng, knowing he was likely one of Ye Mao's key figures, and didn't bother with preliminaries: "Xukong Dao—I'm sure you've heard of it, Yuan Dangjia?"

Yuan Haisheng remained impassive: "Xu Shao, go ahead."

As expected, this old fox. Xu Xiaoshou thought. Such a veteran shows no reaction.

He paused and said: "I've got intel that Xukong Dao is about to open. Visitors from all sides are heading to Dong Tian Wang Cheng, and chaos is brewing. It's like... storm clouds gathering over the building."

"But in all this, the people of Dong Tian Wang Cheng are completely unaware. It makes me anxious just thinking about it."

"I won't say more. Out of compassion, as long as you spread this information and alert the city..."

"The cost—whatever it is—I'll cover it."

Xu Xiaoshou waved his hand grandly.

Liu Lu, standing behind, was stunned by Xu Xiaoshou's righteous demeanor.

He hadn't been like this before, had he?

How could he change so much?

One day apart, and it felt like three autumns?

Yuan Haisheng laughed: "Xu Shao, this isn't about alerting the city—it's about stirring it into chaos!"

"So what?"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't expect the old fox to buy his excuse, but he stuck to his story.

"We're paid to do a job; mind your own business."

"I only have two questions for you: First, how much? Second, can you pull it off?"