Chapter 781: One After Another, the Holy Slave's Hidden Moves, the Chess Master's Scheming

“Xu Shao!!!”

On one side, Xiao Wanfeng saw a dark sword materialize out of nowhere in front of Xu Shao, emerging directly from the void.

A surge of grief and power welled up from the soles of his feet to his core, then erupted from his throat in a piercing cry.

Immediately after, Xiao Wanfeng gripped the wooden sword on his back, nearly drawing it to strike.

But just then,

A graceful figure appeared abruptly in front of Xu Shao.

As soon as it materialized, two fingers clamped down on the dark sword.

The figure’s composure and elegance caused Xiao Wanfeng’s surging emotions to stall abruptly.

“Ah?”

It wasn’t just Xiao Wanfeng.

The pedestrians on the street were also startled by this sudden assassin.

“Oh my god, an assassination attempt on a Ban Sheng successor?”

“What has Xu Shao gotten himself into?”

“Why are there so many incidents these past couple of days!”

Everyone was terrified and quickly backed away.

The assassin was shrouded entirely in darkness, his face obscured.

Yet the aura of Dao rhythm surrounding him…

Even if they hadn’t experienced it themselves, people had heard of such things!

This was at least a Zhanda level!

Why stick around and get caught in the battle’s aftermath?

Xu Xiaoshou was also shocked.

Unlike the others, he wasn’t surprised by the assassin but puzzled by this sudden protective figure.

Its identity was…

“Mei Si Ren, mister!”

When Xu Xiaoshou uttered the first word, his tone was full of doubt.

But by the time the full phrase of four words came out, it had turned into complete certainty.

It was as if he truly was a Ban Sheng successor, with someone always watching over him.

And this protector was a Taixu, invisible to others, but one who would appear whenever Xu Shao faced real danger, intercepting any threats.

Shou Ye was stunned.

He had returned for one purpose: to probe Xu Shao’s Qi Hai.

As long as this sword broke through the young man’s physical defenses…

Shou Ye had even anticipated that Xu Xiaoshou, being at the Zongshi level, had strong defenses, so this strike was delivered without holding back.

He didn’t intend to kill.

He only wanted to sense the familiar power from the past within Xu Xiaoshou.

But then, this unexpected person appeared…

Just as Xu Shao had said earlier, he had a protector—a Taixu who remained hidden, undetectable by Shou Ye due to his own insufficient cultivation.

Shou Ye’s mind was in turmoil.

“Mei Si Ren…”

“The Seven Sword Immortals, Mei Si Ren, mister?”

In an instant, Shou Ye realized who this figure was that had gracefully landed between him and Xu Shao.

For most young people, Mei Si Ren of the Seven Sword Immortals might be just a legend.

Even portraits of him showed several dashing variations.

But Shou Ye had once followed Gou Wuyue.

He had seen Mei Si Ren before!

Yet he never imagined that Mei Si Ren, who had always been unaffiliated, would be the mysterious protector behind Xu Shao.

“Quite surprised?”

Mei Si Ren smiled as he deflected the sword condensed from Shou Ye’s dark power.

He knew exactly who the assassin was.

So, he had no intention of counterattacking to kill him.

In response to Shou Ye’s failed strike and his direct concealment into the void,

Mei Si Ren even extended his Taixu power to isolate the street’s pedestrians and Xiao Wanfeng, afraid of exposing the assassin’s true identity.

With a slight smile, he addressed the empty void in front of him: “As Xu Shao said, he has protection, but it’s from someone with such strong cultivation that ordinary people can’t perceive it.”

Xu Xiaoshou: “…”

At that moment, the tension in Xu Xiaoshou’s heart, which had been holding onto his passive points, finally relaxed completely.

So, Mei Si Ren had been there all along!

The information panel had been fluctuating steadily.

But earlier, when Shou Ye led a group over, even just being “watched” could add several passive points at once.

Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t determine the source of that scrutiny.

And once Shou Ye’s domain broke,

Xu Shao’s identity became common knowledge in Wangcheng.

Passive points kept popping up nonstop.

With so many mixed sources, unless there was a specific “being spied on” notification or something like Shou Ye’s sudden attack that triggered a instinctive sense,

Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t tell if someone was truly protecting him.

But looking at the situation now…

Clearly, ever since he verified with Mei Si Ren whether “concealment” could deceive Taixu senses, he knew the level of opponent he was dealing with.

Thus, protection had been in place all along.

A warm, thoughtful feeling arose, and Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely touched by Mei Si Ren’s warmth.

Thankfully,

Mei Si Ren had followed!

Otherwise…

Either Shou Ye would break his defenses and imprison his Yuanfu for life,

Or he’d have to unleash all his abilities, directly confront a Zhanda, and desperately knock out the shocked Shou Ye, then imprison his Yuanfu for life.

Neither outcome was what Xu Xiaoshou wanted.

After all, Shou Ye was a good person…

In the void,

Shou Ye, now identified, wouldn’t openly admit to being from Hong Yi and assassinating a Ban Sheng successor, but he didn’t need to hide his true thoughts in his words.

“Mei Si Ren, mister, why would you…?”

Shou Ye was truly frightened.

Xu Shao had said he had protection, and it turned out to be real?

If it was real, then all his previous deductions based on that…

Were they just castles in the air?

Illusions?

Ready to collapse at a touch?

“No need to be surprised…”

Mei Si Ren fanned his folding fan and explained calmly:

“I have a good relationship with the Xu family elder. This trip to Dongtian Wangcheng was just along the way.”

“The one truly protecting Xu Shao is someone else.”

“I simply can’t stand by and watch you two create a deadly feud over a misunderstanding.”

Xu Xiaoshou felt a surge of surprise in his heart.

Mei Si Ren was actually helping him cover up the lie!

The biggest flaw in his story since entering Wangcheng was the lack of anyone to verify the truth of the Beiyu Taixiang Xu family.

But with Mei Si Ren’s words now filling that gap,

The lie became reality!

Flawless!

Xu Xiaoshou could even imagine that when Shou Ye left alive and carried this information to the higher-ups in Sheng Shen Hall,

The continent would suddenly have a hidden Ban Sheng Xu family!

Shou Ye was equally shocked, unable to shake it off for a long time.

The Xu family…

It was real!

Everything Xu Shao said…

Was true!

Then all of it…

Including Xu Shao’s reactions when questioned before.

At that time, there were two possible outcomes, leaving Shou Ye uncertain.

Now, only one remained!

During the square table trial, when Ban Sheng successor Xu Desai was probed by Shou Ye’s forceful action, his reactive resistance suddenly made perfect sense.

That rightful anger, the standard responses, the confidence of a Ban Sheng successor…

In this moment, it all added up.

And furthermore,

It was the only explanation!

Shou Ye calmed down.

Mei Si Ren, one of the Seven Sword Immortals, had no affiliations for hundreds of years.

This couldn’t be explained as the real Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou colluding with Mei Si Ren to fabricate a story.

Such a ridiculous idea…

Shou Ye barely dared to entertain it before his own convictions crushed it.

Because that would be too terrifying.

If Mei Si Ren sided with the Shengnu, it would open up a whole new level of upheaval, far beyond just capturing Shengnu Xu Xiaoshou.

It would involve major continental instability!

“I was presumptuous.”

Shou Ye now had thoughts of retreat.

He didn’t hide his identity, knowing the other side was aware he was from Hong Yi.

But clearly, Xu Shao was giving face by not letting Mei Si Ren expose him, simply because the Ban Sheng Xu family didn’t want to clash with Hong Yi.

That was all.

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou’s face showed traces of lingering fear and suppressed anger.

But as a Ban Sheng successor, he had a broad mind and vision. He slightly eased the anger on his face and softened his voice:

“In my life’s journeys, I’ve faced countless assassination attempts. A Zhanda is just one drop in the ocean.”

“I utterly despise assassins like you.”

“Sometimes, the forceful methods you use on ordinary people—think carefully if you’re qualified to apply them to a Ban Sheng successor.”

“You can go. I won’t hold it against you. Reflect on this and take care of yourself!”

With that,

Xu Xiaoshou flicked his sleeve, clearly too upset to say more.

His current demeanor perfectly captured the scene: after the square table trial where he was probed by Shou Ye, now facing another forceful test, he couldn’t save face, but because the other was from Hong Yi and the Ban Sheng forces had their own reservations, he had to swallow his pride again.

Shou Ye couldn’t find any fault.

Even if he did, he wouldn’t dare act against Mei Si Ren, one of the Seven Sword Immortals.

In an instant, his figure vanished.

Shou Ye disappeared without a trace.

“Is he gone?”

It wasn’t until a long while later that Xu Xiaoshou dared to speak.

He could no longer sense any assailant’s presence, but he was truly terrified of a Zhanda’s attack now.

If Shou Ye was still lurking, just listening in,

Any reaction from him after relaxing could still arouse suspicion.

“He’s really gone.”

Mei Si Ren turned back with a smile, seeing the young man behind him sigh in relief, and couldn’t help but chuckle.

What a genius!

Having followed along, Mei Si Ren had watched the entire trial.

He knew Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t just a swordsmanship prodigy; he also had his own unique insights in dealing with people.

A Zongshi-level cultivator, enduring Zhanda pressure, stubbornly upholding his lie.

Then, leveraging a fabricated Ban Sheng successor identity, he cornered Hong Yi’s Shou Ye at every turn.

Even with a slight flaw at the end, for a young person, this performance was absolutely flawless.

“Thank you, Mei Si Ren, mister…”

Xu Xiaoshou cupped his fists in gratitude.

But before he could finish, Mei Si Ren’s expression turned serious as he looked toward another direction: “Some have left, but others are still hiding.”

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned: ???

He quickly glanced at his information panel.

No fluctuations.

“Someone else?”

Xu Xiaoshou was shocked.

There was a third party here, yet they hadn’t been watching him, so it hadn’t triggered the panel?

“Mei Si Ren, mister, are you teasing me?” Xu Xiaoshou immediately put on his Xu Shao airs, though his face showed disbelief.

“No teasing…”

Mei Si Ren kept his gaze fixed on the empty space behind.

Xu Xiaoshou looked over as well.

From the nameless void, an elderly man truly emerged.

He wore simple hemp clothes, with visible bandages wrapped around his sleeves and neck. His face was weathered, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

At his waist hung a small axe, and with each step, he covered a zhang, shrinking the distance as if the ground folded beneath him.

In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Xu Xiaoshou and Mei Si Ren.

“Old Woodcutter?!”

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded.

There really was someone?

And this person was Shengnu’s fourth-in-command, Cen Qiaofu?

He had been following all along?

Xu Xiaoshou’s mind raced back to the storyteller’s words.

From last night’s battle, before parting with the storyteller, he had mentioned that Haitang Er and others had gone to the trading event site, and that someone from Tian Shang First Tower was protected, advising him to hide.

But after Xu Xiaoshou went to the trading site, he hadn’t detected any Shengnu presence.

Now, he never expected that the backup had already arrived—it was just hidden.

And instead of the Zhanda Haitang Er, it was the Taixu Cen Qiaofu.

This person had been secretly protecting him?

In that moment, Xu Xiaoshou thought of many things.

Perhaps without Mei Si Ren’s intervention,

If Shou Ye had uncovered something during the trial or noticed any anomalies,

Or if he had returned without Mei Si Ren’s presence…

Shou Ye couldn’t have harmed him.

Because of Cen Qiaofu, the result would have been Shou Ye and his entire Hong Yi team wiped out.

Xu Xiaoshou’s heart shuddered.

He suddenly understood another layer of meaning in what Sang Lao had said before.

“Before you have absolute strength, be a proper pawn!”

Perhaps there was a second half:

“As long as you’re an outstanding pawn, the player will protect you; as long as you’re outstanding enough to handle most troubles on your own, the rest is just the player’s effortless move.”

Shou Ye might have seen through his identity.

That would be a huge problem for Xu Xiaoshou.

But for the one controlling the game, Xu Xiaoshou had done enough.

The remaining loose ends could be casually erased, leaving no aftermath.

Gazing at Cen Qiaofu’s bandaged figure, Xu Xiaoshou vaguely recalled the scene in the Eight Palaces where he fought fiercely against hundreds of white-robed figures and the Tianji Puppet, wrapped in blood trees.

He couldn’t help but marvel at Shengnu’s arrangements.

Everyone was so clever, and their backup plans were hidden so deeply!

While he was still reflecting,

On the other side, Mei Si Ren had already started conversing with the revealed Cen Qiaofu.

“I’ve seen you before…” Mei Si Ren tapped his folding fan, his eyes reminiscing. “In Nanyu?”

“Yes.”

Cen Qiaofu’s expression was indifferent. He walked over and gave the unguarded Xu Xiaoshou a knock on the head before replying, “Back then, I was just a woodcutter chopping in the mountains. Meeting the Sword Immortal was like encountering a deity from the heavens.”

Mei Si Ren laughed and shook his head. “But now you’ve joined Shengnu and become a Taixu. I never imagined that a mountain dweller could achieve Zhanda in a single night and rise to Taixu.”

Cen Qiaofu rubbed Xu Xiaoshou’s head, feeling a slight sting in his palm, and released his hand with a strange expression—this kid was like a porcupine…

He looked at Mei Si Ren and responded seriously: “The good wood in the mountains never runs out, even after centuries of chopping; but the world’s messes sometimes need someone to step up and strike them with a heavy axe.”

Mei Si Ren just smiled without replying.

Cen Qiaofu naturally wouldn’t say more.

At this point, Xu Xiaoshou interjected into their conversation: “Old Woodcutter, are you the reinforcement sent by the Eight Honored Ones?”

Cen Qiaofu knocked him on the head again and scolded, “No respect for elders!”

This kid’s every word reminded him of the only black-eyed old man in Shengnu who could sit down for a game with him.

What a pity…

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t think that far. He finally had someone to answer his questions and immediately asked: “Xuankong Island…”

Cen Qiaofu knew what he was thinking and cut him off directly: “Not a coincidence. I had the leader act when you were questioned by Hong Yi. If you hadn’t been questioned, you might have had more time to settle.”

“Hiss—”

Xu Xiaoshou drew in a sharp breath, his expression shocked: “True God! Summoning Xuankong Island and controlling time? Then, from when have you been following me…”

Cen Qiaofu interrupted again: “From when you returned to the trading site, I’ve been protecting you. Haitang Er switched tasks and couldn’t come, but you absolutely couldn’t have an accident.”

“Oh.”

Xu Xiaoshou responded and smiled contentedly.

He finally felt the security of having someone at his back.

Or rather, he always had, but couldn’t see it before.

Now, as his cultivation grew, these deeply hidden forces were finally surfacing, giving him a glimpse.

Xu Xiaoshou pondered briefly and was about to speak: “Then…”

“So much nonsense?”

Cen Qiaofu gripped the axe at his waist and cut him off: “Head back to Tian Shang First Tower first. We’ll talk about the rest later. If Yao Yao and the others launch a counterattack, even I might not hold them off.”