Chapter 1820: Friends

"Yuehuli, you truly know how to conduct yourself!"

Even Hua Changdeng couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.

It was agreed that everything would be directed at Xu Xiaoshou. You didn't even need to exert yourself; you just needed to find him and expose any possible tricks he might have.

Yet, as soon as he was found, you immediately defected?

This was interesting.

Suddenly, the situation became that all the villainy was left to my Yunshan Dijin, while you, from Hanhuan, became the peacemaker.

And it was so absurd that you wanted me to give Yue Gongli face, to curry favor with Xu Xiaoshou before his death?

"Utterly shameless!"

Hua Changdeng’s inner voice seethed with low curses. Yue Dao truly lived up to its name; it was indeed a den of vipers.

Before the unworldly people of the Sheng Shen Continent, how precious must a scroll of Saint Emperor’s Golden Edict be?

But as the Yunshan Saint Emperor, Hua Changdeng knew that even if he wasn't a pure Ling Master, he could mass-produce such things.

They were merely external objects.

They just required some wealth and effort.

Hua Changdeng, however, remained silent, willing to give Yue Gongli face because Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t stupid and probably saw through everything.

And even if he agreed, in Hua Changdeng’s eyes, this child’s fate was sealed, set in stone.

Death was merely a matter of time.

"I've been to Ting Yu Ge," Xu Xiaoshou waited for a moment, and seeing that Hua Changdeng remained silent, he looked at the cunning Yuehuli and smiled subtly.

"I even played a game there. I imagine that with your foresight, Young Master Li, you must know when I went, what exactly I did, and what my intentions were."

"Given that, how could a lowly person and uninvited guest like me compel Young Master Li to condescend to welcome me and even swear an oath with a Saint Emperor’s Golden Edict, extending such a grand invitation?"

Upon hearing this, Yue Gongli’s expression was incredibly flustered, his mouth wide open.

His acting was truly superb. He ended up looking so flattered, almost saying, "Master Shou, please don't flatter me."

"Heaven and earth bear witness!"

"When Master Shou graced my Ting Yu Ge, my humble abode was utterly transformed. Forget a game, if you fancied any of the maidservants, I'd give them to you."

He swallowed with difficulty, then looked at Hua Changdeng.

"A guest from afar, Brother Hua, you tell me, I haven't even fulfilled my duties as a host, and now I'm acting as if I'm chasing Master Shou. Is this truly me?"

"This isn’t me, this isn’t my true intention. My feelings for Master Shou are known to heaven and earth, witnessed by the sun and moon..."

"Hmph." Hua Changdeng couldn't listen anymore. "Are you saying I'm forcing you?"

"Yes..." Yue Gongli "unconsciously" nodded, then suddenly "came to his senses" and quickly explained,

"Ah, no, Brother Hua, what are you talking about?"

"I am merely a dog with a keener nose. Dogs are not like humans; they have no intellect. You said I was responsible for finding people, and I don't know anything else, do I?"

Hua Changdeng’s gaze turned unkind as he looked at him now.

Yes, that was what was said at the time, but did the implications really need to be spelled out completely?

What was this now?

Was he trying to wash his hands clean of everything?

Was it necessary to go to such lengths just to deal with a Xu Xiaoshou?

"You're quite something..."

Xu Xiaoshou was also amazed.

If Dao Qiongcang’s thick skin was comparable to a city wall, making him the foremost in the world,

Then Yue Gongli, with his blatant lies spoken in front of two clear-headed people, so grandiosely, could be considered the second.

"What sinister intentions are you harboring, Yuehuli?" Xu Xiaoshou was too lazy to beat around the bush and spoke frankly.

"I told you, to make a friend!"

Yue Gongli’s face was full of righteousness. He pointed at the torn Saint Emperor’s Golden Edict, "I tore this thing; how could I be lying?"

He then looked at Xu Xiaoshou: "Master Shou, our journey in the Divine Remains, we could say, was a friendship forged through conflict. Later, under the influence of the Chong Yin, we shared a bond of hardship. Making friends with that flamboyant old Dao, and then with me..."

Tears actually welled up in the corners of his eyes: "You, you... do you look down on me? Am I, Yue Gongli, unworthy?"

Hua Changdeng truly wished to strike him down with a sword.

Xu Xiaoshou felt the same, though he didn't show it: "Do you know what Dao Qiongcang sacrificed to be friends with me in the Divine Remains?"

What?

To make a friend, did one really need to sacrifice something?

Hua and Yue were both stunned, somewhat unable to follow Xu Xiaoshou's line of thought.

"He gave you..." Yue Gongli was greatly astonished.

"Yes."

"I mean, what did he give you!" Yue Gongli had a headache; Xu Xiaoshou was even better at riding the coattails.

"Friendship fee."

As these three words were uttered, the scene fell into a strange silence.

Having cultivated to the level of Saint Emperor, Hua Changdeng never doubted himself.

But sometimes he found that he, and people like Xu, Dao, and Yue, seemed to live in different worlds. How to put it, their lives were more... exciting?

"I'll give it!"

Yue Gongli seemed to have made a momentous decision, his expression exceedingly solemn.

Xu Xiaoshou found it amusing: "I don't easily make friends. What makes you think you can, and what can you give me?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Changdeng opened his mouth to speak.

What did it mean to be an eye-opener?

Today was truly an eye-opener!

A lowly fellow who smuggled himself up from beneath the Heavenly Ladder was forcefully demanding a friendship fee from the successor of the Han Gong Emperor.

And Xu Xiaoshou was willing to demand, and Yue Gongli was actually willing to comply. This world...

Hua Changdeng was already having trouble understanding human speech. He pondered each word, struggling to discern its true meaning.

Yue Gongli was incredibly rich, not just materially, but spiritually as well. He heavily patted his chest, brimming with confidence:

"What makes me think so? Just this sincere heart of mine..."

"Worthless."

"Uh, then this scroll of Saint Emperor's Golden Edict..."

"No one forced you to tear it."

Two sentences dragged Yue Gongli from heaven to earth.

Xu Xiaoshou genuinely seemed to disdain his friendship, even if it was Yue Gongli's impulsive thought.

Yue Gongli became agitated!

It was merely a joke, but he suddenly took it seriously.

Why could Dao Qiongcang be your friend, and I... couldn't?

"What do you want? I can afford anything!"

Hua Changdeng was surprised; he could tell that Yue Gongli’s words were different from before.

Xu Xiaoshou pondered, glanced at Hua Changdeng, who was still unmoved and studying, and asked with a chuckle:

"Yuehuli, are you serious?"

"I was joking just now, but now my heart is truer than pure gold!"

"Good." Xu Xiaoshou immediately nodded. "Since that's the case, Yuehuli, I'll give you a chance."

What in the world was this...

For a moment, Hua Changdeng wondered if these two were putting on a show, acting in front of him, but for what purpose? He couldn't figure it out.

Xu Xiaoshou stared at Yue Gongli and said bluntly, "I want to live one more day. If you consider me a friend, protect me for one day."

Yue Gongli was not stupid; he immediately looked at Hua Changdeng, his gaze piercing: "Brother Hua..."

So, this was aimed at me?

Hua Changdeng shook his head coldly: "I can only give you two at most one stick of incense time. One day? I can't wait."

Yue Gongli grew anxious; he truly wanted to do Xu Xiaoshou this favor, a favor of convenience. "Brother Hua, after today, no matter what happens to Yunshan..."

"Stop."

This remark, however, did not come from Hua Changdeng's mouth.

Instead, Xu Xiaoshou extended his hand, signaling the two to stop their good cop, bad cop routine.

Hua and Yue both turned back.

They saw Xu Xiaoshou staring at them, chuckling, "We're not even close. I haven't finished speaking yet."

Yes, Xu Xiaoshou's friendship fee, how could it be so simple?

Yue Gongli took a long breath, and said earnestly, "Master Shou, please speak."

Xu Xiaoshou’s face grew serious: "During this one day, you must fully fulfill your duty as a protector, ensuring my safety, and accompany me to Shang Beiming. After one day, I, Xu Xiaoshou, will sincerely befriend you. If you offer a peach, I will surely return a plum."

His words were firm and resonated with conviction.

Yue Gongli's pupils constricted. Xu Xiaoshou seemed to be serious now too?

He keenly realized this was an opportunity. Regardless of Xu Xiaoshou's intentions, as long as this one day passed...

In the future, he could use this as an excuse countless times to pry open Xu Xiaoshou’s heart, making him reluctant to harm him or those around him.

He deeply understood that a person like Xu Xiaoshou, though resolute in action, was tender at heart, repaying grievances with grievances and kindness with kindness.

Any favor he owed, regardless of how it was incurred, would always be repaid!

Just...

"Shang Beiming?" Yue Gongli hesitated.

"Yes."

"What are you going to do there? It's not a good place..."

"To make friends."

What... Yue Gongli was stunned. "What do you mean by that?" A hint of green appeared on his face.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled: "There's some misunderstanding between Beihuai and me. I plan to personally go to Beiming to clear things up with him, and then we'll walk hand in hand."

Yue Gongli’s composure shattered.

Where does that leave me?

I earnestly begged you to be my friend, even paying a friendship fee, and you want to use me, bypass me, to go to Beiming and befriend that freak instead?

"Am I some kind of matchmaking madam!"

Others are matchmakers, building bridges and fostering good marriages.

I'm being so humble, all for you to follow my lead and board the fast ship of Beihuai?

"Xu Xiaoshou, you're playing with me." Yue Gongli's face was not good.

"I am very serious."

Serious?

Haha...

Turning to glance at Hua Changdeng's subtle expression, like watching a monkey show, Yue Gongli knew he was the monkey and couldn't laugh at all.

He was genuinely annoyed.

He thought he had offered his sincere heart, and Xu Xiaoshou would take it seriously.

He never expected to have his warm face met with a cold shoulder; from beginning to end, Xu Xiaoshou had been toying with him!

"If I really do this, what am I?" Yue Gongli finally couldn't hold back the question and asked it directly.

"Hahahaha..."

Xu Xiaoshou looked up and laughed loudly, his laughter wild and unrestrained.

Yue Gongli's expression darkened. If Hua Changdeng weren't nearby, he might have been able to respond more freely.

Now, he was truly in a difficult position, having put himself on a pedestal, and Xu Xiaoshou wasn't giving him a way down. With an outsider watching, he felt incredibly uncomfortable:

"What are you laughing at?"

"I'm not laughing, I'm praising you."

"Praise me for what?" Yue Gongli took a deep breath to calm himself.

Xu Xiaoshou was still laughing, and amidst his laughter, he sighed deeply: "I praise the Young Master of the Han Gong Emperor Realm as a dragon among men, higher than the clouds. I praise Young Master Li of Ting Yu Ge for his unwavering integrity, second to none."

Yue Gongli’s expression was grim.

He could tell it was veiled praise with hidden criticism.

But why the sudden change, using such veiled words...

Xu Xiaoshou paused, reined in his smile, and returned to a serene demeanor. He looked at the two prominent figures before him and spoke calmly:

"During Bai Ku, I was only at the Innate Realm of spiritual cultivation. I saw Ba Zun'an as if I saw the blue sky, unattainable."

"He insisted I join the Saint Slaves. I couldn't resist. To protect myself, I feigned compliance and subjected myself to it."

Yue Gongli was startled, not understanding Xu Xiaoshou's sudden shift to the past, or what his intention was. But then he heard him change his tone and continue:

"But Ba Zun'an never acted superior towards me."

"Even if I was in the lowest position, and he was in the clouds, using me as a pawn, putting me in danger time and again, when we met, his words were always sincere and heartfelt..."

Yue Gongli scoffed, shaking his head and interrupting, "Ba Zun'an might have been three parts like that, but the other seven parts were feigned sincerity."

He simply didn't believe that someone as intelligent as Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't see through these things, and then would deceive himself into being moved by Ba Zun'an's "sincere emotions."

Xu Xiaoshou stared at him, silent for a long time, then slowly said:

"Regardless of whether it was feigned sincerity or not, when I was in the Innate Realm, he was renowned, yet he always treated me as an equal."

"I wanted freedom, he gave freedom. I wanted to start my own sect, he was willing to release restraints..."

"I can too." Yue Gongli's expression was sincere.

Xu Xiaoshou ignored him and continued to speak to himself: "To this day, I don't know what he was thinking at the time, whether it was feigned sincerity, but the words he spoke and the promises he made at that time have all come true, without exception."

Hua and Yue were both startled.

They were both important figures, holding high positions. They both somewhat understood what Xu Xiaoshou was trying to convey:

Perhaps it was a lie.

But a lie that lasted a lifetime was no longer a lie; it was a "promise" as good as gold.

"Can you?" Xu Xiaoshou looked at the two, asking both of them in one sentence.

Hua Changdeng was silent.

Bai Ku, that was before and after he first met "Xiao Shitan Ji" in the Eight Palaces.

At that time, as he watched Xu Xiaoshou from behind the screen and candles, he saw him as a heavenly immortal being and earthly dust, someone insignificant.

Yue Gongli was silent.

When he first entered the Sheng Shen Continent, Xu Xiaoshou had already shown his sharp edges and made a name for himself, but he still hadn't caught his attention.

Otherwise, during the Divine Remains,

He wouldn't have made a move so easily, using the method of controlling an ant, ordering the head of the Yi Bu to launch a sneak attack on Xu Xiaoshou, intending to easily eliminate him.

He should have unleashed all his skills—even a lion uses its full strength to fight a rabbit—even sacrificing the Three Corpses would have been insufficient!

At this moment, recalling Xu Xiaoshou's "praise" that contained both overt praise and veiled criticism, Yue Gongli understood his unspoken meaning:

From the beginning, to the end.

Even up to this very moment.

In Yue Gongli's heart, Xu Xiaoshou and he were still not on equal footing.

And that was indeed the truth.

Yue Gongli searched his heart and found that no matter how humble he appeared, deep down, he always treated Xu Xiaoshou from a superior perspective, even calling him "Master Shou."

But...

Always holding a high position, always like this, is it my fault?

If it were someone of similar status, it would be impossible to treat you as an equal. Being born as the successor to a Saint Emperor is not the same as becoming the head of the Saint Slaves through struggle, is it?

Yue Gongli opened his mouth, knowing that Xu Xiaoshou was no longer the same as he used to be and that he needed to salvage the situation. He wanted to say something.

"Stop."

Xu Xiaoshou held out his hand to stop him, and with a slight lift of his lips, he said again: "Yuehuli, do you know how Dao Qiongcang would respond if he were in your position, in your situation, facing my 'friendship fee'?"

Yue Gongli's pupils suddenly dilated.

He suddenly realized that there seemed to be an exception?

Xu Xiaoshou smiled: "In the Divine Remains, he was constrained by me, and like you, he wanted to let bygones be bygones with me. The friendship fee I asked him for was a huge secret, even bigger than yours. To this day, he is even more constrained by me because of it, but he gave it at the time. Couldn't he have anticipated now?"

He was Dao Qiongcang...

Hua Changdeng's face showed surprise; he had never heard this story from Yue Gongli's mouth.

Indeed, this fox probably didn't even know.

Yue Gongli gritted his teeth somewhat. What did Xu Xiaoshou mean by this?

Was he saying that compared to Dao Qiongcang, his capacity was insufficient, or was he half a step weaker?

Xu Xiaoshou looked at him with a smile: "In the same position, in the same situation, if I posed the same question to Dao Qiongcang, asking if he was willing to go to Beiming with me, how do you think he would answer?"

Without waiting for Yue Gongli to reply, he answered himself, unequivocally:

"He would agree without hesitation, even slapping Brother Hua next to you, precisely calculating that it would be blocked. His only intention would be to accompany a humble person at the risk of his life, to give me enough face, to protect me from Wu Rao, and to go to Beiming with me."

"And this is the gap that you and that flamboyant old Dao will never be able to cross in your lifetime..."

He spoke slowly, word by word:

"The difference between heaven and earth."