Chapter 66: Is He Really Xu Xiaoshou?

“He’s Xu Xiaoshou!” Shao Yi’s whispered message came through, his voice heavy with dread.

Feng Kong’s gaze was fixed on the figure by the rockery. “Xu Xiaoshou is at Level Eight cultivation; he’s Level Nine!”

“He’s not Xu Xiaoshou!”

“He broke through!”

“Heh, what a coincidence?”

“He doesn’t dare turn around! His back and the description of Xu Xiaoshou in the intelligence are too similar! His cultivation is definitely not at the Innate stage! He’s wearing white; an assassin wouldn’t be foolish enough to wear white!”

Shao Yi rattled off the words. He knew Feng Kong could deduce this information in an instant, perhaps even more than he could. Yet, he still felt compelled to speak. He needed a signal from Feng Kong to make a move. Even if that signal meant Shao Yi’s immediate and utter ruin, it could buy Feng Kong a sliver of a chance to escape.

“Is it really as simple as it appears on the surface?”

Feng Kong hesitated, admitting to himself that he was intimidated. Even if this person was ninety-nine point nine percent Xu Xiaoshou, what if he wasn’t? The large pit in the ground, the vanished main house, and the clear presence of someone inside moments ago who had offered no response... How could these be explained? Could Shao Yi allow himself to stake his life on this, to be utterly cold-blooded?

If the person before them wasn't Xu Xiaoshou, then it was a terrifyingly powerful figure, even better at concealing their cultivation than himself. It could even be one of the small group of thirty-three who had disappeared from the Inner Court long ago! If he didn’t act and only saw a back, he still had a reason to live. If he made a move, he’d give the other party an excuse to silence them. Was it worth it, just for a Xu Xiaoshou?

Shao Yi waited a long time for a response, his heart churning. Feng Kong was hesitating! He had actually seen this man hesitate! Heaven knew how terrifying that was for a professional killer.

A silver arc flashed across the sky with a rumble, and the rain suddenly intensified. The courtyard fell silent, save for the patter of the rain. The figure by the rockery remained silent, and the two who had stumbled into this perilous situation were also quiet. Perhaps they each harbored a multitude of questions, but they knew that whoever spoke first would lose.

“Suspicion, passive points, +1.”“Suspicion, passive points, +1.”“Suspicion, passive points, +1.”“…”

The notification bar was flooded with messages, hundreds of them in just a few breaths! Who was the mysterious figure standing on the rockery? Was that even a question? It was Xu Xiaoshou! Why was he wearing white? Because he didn’t have time to change! Why wouldn’t he turn around? Because he was Xu Xiaoshou! But then, why did he dare stand openly before the two of them? Because there was no other way!

Xu Xiaoshou’s legs were practically jelly. If these two attacked immediately, he wasn’t even sure he could dodge in time. However, his brief observation had shown him that these two were incredibly patient, meticulous, and deliberate in their actions. They were definitely professionally trained killers! Furthermore, these two would undoubtedly think things through; or rather, with the presence of the one behind them, they were compelled to overthink. If they thought, they would certainly overthink!

His earlier chaotic outbursts, which had left the courtyard in its current state, had ironically become his lifeline. Could he anticipate their thoughts, lead them to consider what he wanted them to consider—or not—and then make them reconsider, allowing their minds to wander freely and wildly? Xu Xiaoshou felt a little dizzy. But he knew he had to think right now; it was his only chance to survive. In short, these were two intelligent individuals with high cultivation, and confronting such people head-on was like hitting a rock with an egg; he could only outwit them. Whether he lived or died depended on his brain.

To bluff them, he had to take control, giving them a hint of information and letting them deduce his identity from it, which would lead to the following questions: “Who exactly is he? If he’s Xu Xiaoshou, why does he dare to stand so brazenly before us, and why is the courtyard in such a state?” and “If he’s not Xu Xiaoshou, then he must be here to kill Xu Xiaoshou, which explains the courtyard’s state. But since we’ve stumbled upon him, and his strength far surpasses ours, why hasn’t he acted to silence us immediately?”

Xu Xiaoshou trembled with fear. His identity now had to constantly switch between these two possibilities, never allowing the other side a definitive answer. He had to keep them guessing and throw them off balance. But could he really deduce their thoughts with perfect accuracy? Impossible! So, he also remained silent, knowing that the more he spoke, the more mistakes he would make. Sometimes, when dealing with clever people, a bit of subtraction could yield unexpected results. Therefore, he had only offered an ambiguous remark and was instantly rewarded with the frantic screen-scrolling in his mind. He knew he had succeeded by a small margin.

However, even with a ninety-nine percent chance of bluffing them, if they attempted to move, he would surely die. So, how was he going to proceed from here? Frankly, he had no idea! Xu Xiaoshou had his back to them, but his “perception” allowed him to clearly observe their facial expressions, which was his biggest advantage. The silence continued; the three of them, each with their own ulterior motives, were waiting for the other to speak.

In his mind, the rate of "Suspicion" messages flashing across the screen slowed significantly, and Xu Xiaoshou’s heart tightened. These two were calmer than he had imagined, leaving him no opportunity to interject and guide the conversation. No, he had to speak. Waiting any longer would lead to their second round of verification. But… what to say? Xu Xiaoshou knew his next words would determine his life or death. He hesitated.

“Heh, are you two also here to kill Xu Xiaoshou?” he said, deepening his voice. “Too bad, you’re late.” he added, with a hint of profound meaning.

What a joke! If he said those two sentences, wouldn’t that just be admitting guilt? Only a fool would think that!

Feng Kong’s eagle eyes were fixed on the figure by the rockery, missing not a single detail. Sweat mixed with rain trickled down the back of his neck, and a chill seeped into him from the outside in. He still believed this person was Xu Xiaoshou, but he had already shown such extreme doubt and suspicion, so why… why could this person remain so composed?!

With a subtle glance, Shao Yi instantly received the message: Move!

“Tsk!”

A faint, mocking chuckle, barely audible, successfully interrupted Shao Yi’s movement. The figure on the rockery seemed to murmur, head bowed, “Can’t help yourselves, can you…?” The two of them almost didn’t hear what he said, but the mockery in his tone was unmistakable. He was playing a cat-and-mouse game; life and death were already decided, and he merely wished to witness his prey’s struggle.

Feng Kong’s pupils contracted, and he felt a cold dread envelop him. He could see them! He hadn't even turned around. How could he have seen the subtle understanding between him and Shao Yi?!

“So, are we moving or not?!” Shao Yi was going mad. Even he, as obtuse as he was, knew these two powerful figures were engaged in a psychological battle, but he couldn't intervene. He could only wait for Feng Kong’s signal. And now… the damn signal was cut off again!

“Oh, damn it!” Shao Yi snapped.