Chapter 970: Go Down for Me

I'm very tempting...

Xu Xiaoshou stood there, his mouth agape for a long time.

This was utterly insane. He was just a minor grandmaster—how could he be worth such a massive bounty?

"Senior, you wouldn't kill me over this, would you? I assume even something like 'Feng Sheng Jing Yuan' wouldn't be enough to get someone of your stature to act?" Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely anxious.

Shui Gui stared at the young man in front of him with a mix of amusement and mockery for a full ten breaths before smiling gently. "Of course I wouldn't kill you for this—after all, I'm a good person. But you should know that the real purpose of a bounty order is 'reverse espionage'!"

Xu Xiaoshou pondered this thoughtfully.

Shui Gui continued, "According to some unknown statistics, about seventy percent of high-level bounties across the continent end up being claimed not by assassins, but by friends and family. You're smart—you get what I mean."

Where did they even get these statistics from... Xu Xiaoshou instinctively wanted to retort, but sensing the warning in Shui Gui's words, he took it seriously and asked, "So, Senior, are you saying I should watch out for my own people?"

"Better safe than sorry for a thousand years." Shui Gui chuckled and paced around. "I have my own path to Feng Sheng, but some people have been stuck at the Taixu realm for far too long. Sometimes, inner demons drive them to take desperate risks—you have to guard against that."

"Who should I watch out for?" Xu Xiaoshou suddenly felt threats lurking everywhere. This bounty order was too powerful; even people like the storyteller or Cen Qiaofu might be tempted to take the risk.

"You know exactly who to watch."

Shui Gui didn't answer directly and changed the subject.

"Anyway, I've given you the warning you need. It's been decades since we've seen a bounty this big—three incense sticks' worth, or something like that...

"Big bounties do exist, but they're usually for people like the storyteller or the Ba Zun An.

"The former is elusive, with endless ways to escape; the latter just has the title of 'Eighth Sword Immortal,' which alone deters most from acting.

"You're different!"

Shui Gui stopped walking and lowered his voice like a threat. "You're the most tangible wanted man—weak in strength, high in reward... Any assassin worth their salt knows this is an opportunity. They might not touch the Ba Zun An, but catching you? They just need to wait for the right moment."

Xu Xiaoshou let out a deep sigh.

It sounded like a scare tactic, but thinking it through, it was pure reality.

He had definitely gotten in over his head, thrust into the spotlight.

With his current cultivation, fending off enemies from all sides would be incredibly difficult—one misstep, and it would all fall apart.

"Who issued the bounty? That's some serious resources—not something an average person could pull off?"

Xu Xiaoshou reacted quickly, realizing that if he couldn't handle these unknown threats, he might as well go after the source of the trouble.

Take down that "mastermind," and the assassins would lose interest once they knew the reward was off the table.

After all, as "Sheng Nu Xu Xiaoshou," that "Sheng Nu" prefix still carried some serious deterrence.

"Ye Xiao."

Shui Gui seemed to have extensive connections and gave a definitive answer, pointing toward the bottom of Gu Yin Ya. "He's right down there. With the 'Jin Fa Jie Jie' in play, this might be your best chance to resolve the issue."

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned and looked down.

Are you kidding me with this cliff? Buddy!

You're a Shui Gui, but I'm a living person—if I go down there, won't I get torn apart by those big shots?

Even knowing the Jin Fa Jie Jie was there, his "Forging Body" and "Sword Dao" might be his strongest assets.

But down there, who among them was simple?

No matter how strong his Sword Dao was, he couldn't beat Rao Yao Yao.

No matter how tough his Forging Body, he couldn't match Wang Da Chui, the head of the Body Department, or Teng Shan Hai's Cang Shen Jia from the War Department.

Last time, he got lucky with Sheng Xue and Sheng Xiang to snatch Teng Shan Hai's Xiao Shen Spear, but inside the Jin Fa Jie Jie, without Sheng Xue, it would hit him harder than those big shots!

Xu Xiaoshou quickly dismissed Shui Gui's suggestion and turned to ask, "May I ask, Senior, what would it cost to have you act once?"

Shui Gui was momentarily taken aback.

He hadn't expected Xu Xiaoshou to ask for his help.

But in retrospect, it was probably the best option for the young man.

After all, he had just shown his ability to act freely within the Jin Fa Jie Jie.

However...

"The price for my help is something you probably can't afford." Shui Gui shook his head.

"How do you know I can't afford it if you don't say, Senior?" Xu Xiaoshou said this with full confidence.

He had pulled off empty-handed schemes before.

Worst case, he could use a favor to call on Ba Zun An, have Ba Zun An help Shui Gui, and then use Shui Gui to take down Ye Xiao.

That way, he'd only owe Ba Zun An another favor.

As for why "another"...

Last time, to save people at the Ling Que trade meet in Tian Shang First Tower, he had already racked up debt.

People are like that—when debt-free, they overvalue their own favors.

But after owing a big shot once and realizing you can't pay it back with your current abilities, you just think, what's one more debt?

Besides, Xu Xiaoshou had noticed Ba Zun An had used him in the dark more times than he could count.

That old schemer was too cunning. Since he couldn't fight back yet, he might as well learn to use him in return—tit for tat.

Shui Gui laughed out loud at this.

"You couldn't hire me!

"I'm just a nominal figure in Sheng Nu and never get involved. This is the first time in thirty years I've acted for Ba Zun An.

"To get me to do it, he paid a tremendous price—something you couldn't give at your current level."

"But I'm looking forward to when you grow up. Maybe then, you could offer what I want."

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help his curiosity and asked, "What was the price he paid?"

"An answer." Shui Gui's response was unexpected.

An answer... Xu Xiaoshou thought back to Bai Ku, when he met Ba Zun An at the Xu Kong Dao rift.

It seemed like many strong figures in this world were searching for "answers" they could never find, yet Ba Zun An always seemed to have them.

Was it because he was better at bluffing than me... Xu Xiaoshou mused.

Shui Gui smiled, as if reading the young man's thoughts. "You should know that at my level, I have power, fame, and influence—I lack for nothing.

"Even Feng Sheng is just a thought away for someone who's mastered water mysteries completely. So, what I want goes beyond worldly things.

"As for Ye Xiao..."

He paused suddenly, then chuckled. "I have connections in both the black and white worlds. Not to mention Ba Zun An, Sheng Shen Dian Tang owes me plenty of favors.

"Just Ye Xiao alone, I could make him repay a few old debts with minimal effort.

"But to kill Ye Xiao for you would mean cutting off my own connections.

"After all, Sheng Shen Dian Tang owes me far more than just him."

At this, Shui Gui spread his hands and eyed Xu Xiaoshou's head with a playful smirk. "So, even if I sold you, it wouldn't cover a fraction of the cost. What reason do I have to act for you?"

Xu Xiaoshou was dumbfounded.

What kind of person was this?

Playing both sides of the law?

That sounded even more explosive than Ba Zun An's "black and white master."

And Ba Zun An could get him with just an "answer"?

Well, perhaps only something as abstract and beyond material value as an "answer" could cover the cost of hiring Shui Gui... Xu Xiaoshou thought.

Shui Gui flatly refused Xu Xiaoshou's request and walked straight to the edge of the Gu Yin Ya ruins, gazing out at the vast sea of clouds. "The second matter."

"Please go ahead, Senior." Xu Xiaoshou followed him, standing behind, and inwardly gave up on asking for his help—it was just too expensive.

Shui Gui stared into the distance at the misty cliffs and said, "The second thing is an explanation.

"Ba Zun An wants me to tell you that he was the one who acted this time, using your identity to gather everyone here.

"For his scheme, you had to bear pressure far beyond your cultivation level.

"In simple terms, he used you, and he's honest about it. He says he's sorry."

Xu Xiaoshou was completely stunned.

Is that it?

Just that?

Do you know how close I came to dying on Gu Yin Ya? I only got through by quickly kicking Shou Ye off the cliff and bluffing my way past Rao Yao Yao... Otherwise, I'd be dead!

And it turns out this was all Ba Zun An's doing behind the scenes?

"So, you're saying my coming here was all his arrangement?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, a mix of anger and frustration.

"Yes." Shui Gui nodded with a chuckle. "Technically, I used Sheng Di Yi Nian to guide you here. It's not just you—Ye Xiao Tian and Gu Qing came the same way." He waved the Sheng Di Long Lin.

Xu Xiaoshou was speechless, his inner thoughts raging like a storm.

Wow, how honest!

How am I supposed to handle this honesty?

Just go and kill him?

Sorry, my strength doesn't allow it right now!

"So, what now?" Xu Xiaoshou suppressed his urge to act, reminding himself that impulsiveness is the devil and that revenge is a dish best served cold.

A hint of amusement played on Shui Gui's lips as he replied, "Ba Zun An says he's sorry and wants me to tell you that the last time you used him to save the situation, we're even now. You don't owe him anything anymore."

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

Is that it?

Just that?

You sly old Ba Zun An, what a clever plan you've got!

No compensation, and even your apology has to come through someone else's mouth—how insincere can you get!

"Huff... inhale..."

"Huff... inhale..."

Xu Xiaoshou's face flushed red and pale as he took deep breaths to calm himself.

Shui Gui glanced back, feigning ignorance. "What are you doing?"

Xu Xiaoshou choked up, thinking that this Shui Gui was full of tricks too, but he stopped and coldly replied, "I'm breathing. Didn't you see?"

Shui Gui was momentarily stumped by the brazen answer.

Then, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly turned to stare straight at the golden mask on Shui Gui's face. He kept staring until Shui Gui looked puzzled and was about to say something.

Xu Xiaoshou spoke calmly. "You have eye gunk."

Shui Gui: ???

His eyes widened in disbelief that this junior would speak to him like that.

"Under suspicion, passive value +1."

"Under angry gaze, passive value +1."

"Under lock-on, passive value +1."

Three messages popped up in the info panel, showing just how shocked Shui Gui was.

Xu Xiaoshou acted as if he were frightened by the look, quickly backing away and cowering. "Sorry, Senior, I'm just straightforward by nature and stated a fact. If I offended you just now..."

This humble attitude successfully quelled Shui Gui's anger.

Just as Shui Gui decided to let it slide, Xu Xiaoshou stopped retreating, straightened up, and said calmly, "I'm very sorry."

Click—Shui Gui felt like all the moisture had been drained from him, turning to stone on the spot.

His pent-up frustration surged, realizing Xu Xiaoshou was getting back at him for his earlier words and Ba Zun An's schemes.

But being mocked by a junior like this was embarrassing.

He subtly moved his fingers.

At that moment, Shui Gui saw Xu Xiaoshou pull out what looked like a protective talisman from his spatial ring—a "Ba Zi Ling"—and tilt his head away while subtly waving it.

Shui Gui: ...

He was amused despite his irritation and held back from acting. "When did Ba Zun An give you his token?" Deep down, he was genuinely surprised—this was a clear sign of succession!

"A long time ago." Xu Xiaoshou stared into the air and whistled twice.

"Hah!" Shui Gui was irritated by the attitude but finally let go of his anger, knowing the young man had been played by him and Ba Zun An and had every right to be upset.

It took guts to vent like that.

The offense deserved punishment, but the courage was commendable.

Forget it.

"The third matter." Shui Gui shifted topics, not wanting to dwell.

"Please go ahead, Senior." Xu Xiaoshou put away the token, thinking to himself, Can't kill you, but I can sure annoy you.

"Ba Zun An says you're growing too slowly and wants to offer you an opportunity, though it comes with a tiny bit of risk. He wants to know if you're interested." Shui Gui said calmly.

An opportunity?

Just a "tiny" risk?

Xu Xiaoshou hesitated, wondering if this was another scheme.

And my growth is slow? Really?

It's only been a few months, and I'm already a grandmaster. With the right conditions, my combat power rivals Dao Cutter level, and I've even got a top-tier black gold bounty. That's slow?

Do you think everyone is like your Ba Zun An?

"No, thanks." Xu Xiaoshou shook his head and refused outright.

Shui Gui smirked expressionlessly. "He said he'd know you'd refuse and that you wouldn't fall for it."

"Hah?" Xu Xiaoshou had never seen such shamelessness, openly admitting to a trap.

He was momentarily speechless, thinking it was all schemes.

"Look!"

Shui Gui suddenly pointed to the clouds below the cliff, his expression full of surprise. "It's that thing!"

What thing?

Xu Xiaoshou instinctively turned to look, but all he saw were ordinary clouds.

At that moment, a message popped up:

"Under sneak attack, passive value +1."

Simultaneously, Shui Gui's aura exploded as he swiftly lifted his right leg and kicked hard toward Xu Xiaoshou's back.

"You little brat, who do you think you are to mock me? I was going to go easy, but now you have no chance...

"Get down there!"