Chapter 75: I'm Just Asking for Directions

The rain pattered on relentlessly.

A black-clothed masked figure appeared before him, wrapped up tightly from head to toe, with even the fingers concealed by thick gloves.

The only exposed part was a pair of eyes, murky and dim, as if seeing only a hazy yellow gloom.

Xu Xiaoshou was certain that if he saw those eyes in a crowd again, he wouldn't recognize them.

They were just too ordinary!

Almost like those of a normal person!

But could this person really be normal?

Xu Xiaoshou stared blankly at the "Zang Ku" sword extended between them. In less than a split second, he had reacted.

At that moment, the sword tip was still a hair's breadth from the masked person's heart, yet the person's two fingers had already clamped it firmly.

Xu Xiaoshou was completely stunned.

This was a Jiu Pin Ling Jian he had bought for thousands of Ling Jing, launched with powerful Xian Tian Jian Yi—how could it be clamped so easily?

And from the way things were going, it seemed that with a slight twist of those fingers, the sword blade would snap.

"Ah, don't!"

Xu Xiaoshou quickly closed in, cradling the masked person's fingers in his hands under the other's bewildered gaze. "Don't break it! This is my lifeline—if it breaks, where am I supposed to cry?"

The masked person was taken aback by this move...

He isn't afraid of me?

"I wasn't going to break it, just let go..."

"Hmm? And let go of your feet too!"

His expression darkened instantly, though hidden behind the black cloth where no one could see.

But this kid...

In an instant, he had circled around from under the armpit with his other hand to grab the fingers, leaving both of the masked person's hands immobilized.

At the same time, his legs wrapped around the masked person's thighs.

Not only did it twist the lower body off balance, losing equilibrium, but it also left the legs wide open, a sudden rush of cool air surging in.

Such a strong body control technique...

Human-shaped restraint?

Is he some kind of octopus?

"Let go!"

"I'm just asking for directions!"

Xu Xiaoshou listened to that raspy voice, like a saw grating against wood, and his eardrums trembled, goosebumps erupting all over.

Was that even a human voice? It was disgusting!

But from the sound, this masked person seemed to be quite old, at least a middle-aged man.

Xu Xiaoshou tightened his hold. "Not letting go—who asks for directions in the middle of the night... er, the early morning?"

"And in such heavy rain? Are you sick!"

The masked person took a deep breath: "If I weren't just asking for directions, do you think you'd still be alive?"

Xu Xiaoshou snorted. "If I hadn't pinned you down, do you think I'd still be alive?"

"Receive curse, passive value, +1."

The masked person was at a loss. What kind of opponent was this? Was he cursed or something?

"Let go!"

"Not letting go!"

"Are you sure?"

Xu Xiaoshou fell silent for a moment, then, taking advantage of the other's momentary distraction, he relaxed his two fingers, thrust his chest forward, and drove the black sword into the masked person's heart.

"Uh!"

The masked person's eyes widened in disbelief.

Even through the black mask, Xu Xiaoshou could smell the blood from the corner of his mouth. Confirming it was safe, he finally spoke:

"Alright, what did you want to ask?"

"???"

"Receive curse, passive value, +1."

"Receive resentment, passive value, +1."

"Receive fixation, passive value, +1."

Oh, fixation?

Does that mean you're thinking of biding your time and killing me later?

A surge of killing intent rose in Xu Xiaoshou, and he thrust his chest forward again, about to pierce the person straight through.

Whoosh!

At that moment, a sharp pain stabbed his palm where it gripped the fingers. Xu Xiaoshou involuntarily loosened his hold, and the masked person flicked his finger, sending the black sword flying.

Bang!

Seizing the opportunity, the masked person slammed his head against Xu Xiaoshou's forehead, as if trying to knock him away.

In the next second, he was the one clutching his forehead and hissing in pain.

"Damn..."

"Are you made of iron?!"

Xu Xiaoshou's legs were still wrapped around him, immediately looping back to lock him in place again, leaving the masked person unable to even move his head.

Only after securing everything did Xu Xiaoshou's shock set in late.

What skill had this guy used? Two fingers had actually cut his palm?

After all, his body was enhanced by the eight great Xian Tian Bei Dong Ji...

This masked man was off—something wasn't right!

From the corner of his eye, Xu Xiaoshou caught a glimpse of the fading Jian Yi on the person's fingers.

Jian Yi?

Such weak Jian Yi!

If not for his keen "perception," he might not have noticed it at all...

So why could this person flick his hand away, but end up hurting himself when headbutting?

This was uncanny—this guy was too uncanny!

He considered pulling off the black mask that covered even the hair, but worried that seeing the face might get him silenced.

This person's strength was a mystery.

"You're not from Tian Sang Ling Gong—how did you get in?" Xu Xiaoshou probed.

The masked person stayed silent for a while, not speaking, until he finally couldn't hold back and coughed. Xu Xiaoshou suddenly realized.

He slightly loosened his chokehold.

"Pfft! Cough cough..."

The masked person said calmly, "I am!"

"Receive deception, passive value, +1."

Xu Xiaoshou looked at him speechlessly. He wanted to laugh, but couldn't quite manage it.

This guy was shameless, but since he'd lied, that meant he really came from outside Tian Sang Ling Gong.

This...

Xu Xiaoshou started to panic. The Ling Gong had a grand array for protection, and the two he'd killed earlier were probably insiders.

With their strength, they couldn't have gotten in from outside.

But this masked person had come from outside? That would make him an absolute expert!

Yet why was he so weak? This didn't match his strength at all!

"What exactly are you..."

Xu Xiaoshou trailed off, realizing he might not want to know the identity anymore, and changed his question: "What exactly do you want?"

"Asking for directions!" The masked person gritted out.

"The road to heaven?"

"Receive curse, passive value, +1."

Heh, quite the inner monologue!

Xu Xiaoshou tightened his grip on the neck. "Spill it!"

"Cough cough! Let go..."

The masked person struggled violently. Xu Xiaoshou saw the two fingers separate again, with a faint Jian Yi appearing, and panicked, quickly loosening a bit.

"Huff..."

The masked person gasped for breath and finally held back from attacking. He kept reminding himself that this was just an insignificant fish—he couldn't alert anyone.

After resting for a while, he said slowly: "How to get to the inner courtyard?"

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

"Just that?"

After all this, you just wanted to ask that?

Why didn't you say so earlier!

The masked man felt a surge of killing intent but suppressed his inner rage and nodded slightly.

This was probably the most ridiculous thing that had happened to him in decades—asking for directions and ending up with a bloody head and a stab to the heart.

And now, even getting mocked...

It stung!