Chapter 279: I Did Something Wrong Again?

Xiao Sixteen was completely dumbfounded. His memory was still lingering on the alluring kick from Jiaotangtang, but upon waking, the person in front of him had changed gender.

Were these two working together? Did Xu Xiaoshou actually have such powerful backing?

No! This was clearly not the time to ponder that…

Xiao Sixteen lowered his head, but felt a sudden heaviness, as if his head was about to fall off. He abruptly looked up. His spiritual sense swept through, and he was horrified to discover that this guy had completely dismembered his limbs. If he applied a little more force, Xiao Sixteen estimated he would become a mere trunk!

But why?

Xiao Sixteen's face was a mask of confusion; he didn't understand. Even though he had been caught, fallen into a deep pit, and completely messed up... why was he already suffering such cruel torture before the interrogation had even begun? Was this guy even human?!

Xiao Sixteen grimaced in pain, completely unable to speak. The ceaseless, excruciating pain in his body reminded him of the dark period of training he underwent when he first entered the assassin profession. But even that psychopath from back then hadn't been so ruthless!

Today… he was truly done for! Xiao Sixteen seemed numb; his heart sank to rock bottom.

Xu Xiaoshou watched his face fluctuate between expressions, and only after the frenzied scrolling of the information bar completely slowed down did he look at him, forcing a smile.

“Can you move?”

Move… I can't move even if I wanted to! Given how you are, do you think I dare move?! Xiao Sixteen cursed wildly in his mind. He did want to try, but blood gushed from his neck.

Spiritual energy! That's right, spiritual energy could save him!

Just as his thoughts turned, he heard Xu Xiaoshou cautiously speak, “From now on, you cannot move haphazardly, and that includes your spiritual energy. If you move, I'll panic!”

This was a grandmaster! A grandmaster-level assassin!

Even though he knew this guy couldn't cause any more trouble, Xu Xiaoshou still genuinely wanted to be more cautious, just to be safe. He was afraid. He feared the hundreds of formation plates, the power of spirit formations nearly equivalent to a King's might, and even more, he feared this guy in front of him might also be hiding some dark tricks!

But he couldn't kill him; there were too many questions that needed answers right now!

“Whatever I say, you answer. Can you do that?” Xu Xiaoshou's tone was gentle, trying his best to make both himself and the other person relax, believing it would be better for everyone.

Xiao Sixteen's entire demeanor darkened. He was angry, trembling, and wanted to resist. But various sensations of helplessness assailed his body, and feeling the blade-like sharpness of the fingers on his neck, he felt even weaker. He didn't even dare to use his spiritual energy!

“Alright…”

Hearing Xiao Sixteen's hoarse voice, Xu Xiaoshou realized he had been overly cautious. Looking at the guy's nearly severed neck, he immediately pulled out a jar of honey, and while applying it, asked, “What's your name?”

Feeling the coolness on his neck, Xiao Sixteen finally regained some consciousness and spoke with difficulty, “Xiao Sixteen.”

“Was that assassin in the back alley your companion?”

Xiao Sixteen was startled, realizing that Brother Seven had probably also fallen at the hands of this devil. A wave of sorrow immediately surged in his heart. “Yes.”

“How old are you?”

Xu Xiaoshou, who had just been about to ask about the Zhang family out of habit, was surprised. “That old?” He looked barely twenty-something…

Xiao Sixteen: ???

Cursed, passive value, 1.

The scene fell into silence for a moment. Xu Xiaoshou awkwardly realized that his habitual interrogation method had been interrupted by himself. But apart from this, he hadn't learned many other interrogation techniques…

The "Crimson Gold Liquid" was highly effective; in just a few breaths, new flesh had grown on Xiao Sixteen's severed wound, quickly reattaching itself. Xu Xiaoshou was too lazy to think about interrogation methods, so he simply gave up and asked, “Are you guys sent by the Zhang family?”

Xiao Sixteen hesitated. Even in his dire situation, his professional assassin's ethics made him truly unwilling to expose anything…

“Aaaargh—” “What the hell are you doing?!”

Xiao Sixteen, who hadn't pondered for long, was horrified to discover that the newly healed flesh on his neck had been severed again by Xu Xiaoshou! Cut right through!

“I can't…”

Hate received, passive value, 1.

“Don't move!” Xu Xiaoshou said, his hand trembling. He wasn't a pervert, and this kind of interrogation was indeed quite bloody, but for his own safety… “I'm asking you one last time, are you…”

“Yes, yes, yes, it's the Zhang family patriarch, Zhang Taiying!” Xiao Sixteen trembled, interrupting the demonic youth before he could finish. “Zhang Taiying put a bounty on you in 'Dark Nether Street,' offering fifty thousand spirit crystals. I'm just…”

“Fifty thousand?” Xu Xiaoshou's hand trembled, deepening the wound slightly. He was astonished, “I'm that cheap? You'd take a bounty for fifty thousand?”

Xiao Sixteen gasped for air; he could no longer think about the physical pain. He felt that if this continued, he would truly be beheaded. “If you can't go on, just finish me off quickly! Don't drag it out!” Xiao Sixteen broke down. “This damn interrogation, just interrogate, but don't let your hand tremble! I'm in pain, you know!”

Xu Xiaoshou quickly applied honey and apologized, “I'm sorry, please continue. I didn't mean to.”

Xiao Sixteen could barely speak now.

Hate received, passive value, 1.

“Keep talking!” Xu Xiaoshou's voice rose.

“Alright, alright…” Xiao Sixteen forced himself to perk up and continued, “I'm an assassin from 'Dark Nether Street.' This job isn't mainly for spirit crystals, but for 'King's Essence Blood.'”

“King's Essence Blood?”

“Yes!” Xiao Sixteen nodded, afraid that if he spoke too slowly, this guy in front of him would get overly emotional again. He hastily said: “The King's Essence Blood, containing the Zhang family's ancestral bear bloodline, possesses more Heavenly Dao power than other King's Essence Blood, and can grant greater insights. This is something all grandmaster-level experts dream of, even major powers. For us minor assassins, it goes without saying—it's a supreme treasure!”

Xu Xiaoshou remembered Zhang Xinxiong's "Ancestral Bear Spirit Body" and Yuan Tou's super mutation, and he roughly understood what it was.

Xiao Sixteen didn't dare to be slow. This guy was too terrifying; if he delayed even a moment longer, he might suffer torture again. The wound on his neck felt slightly cool, allowing him to move slightly. He lowered his head, intending to pull out the bounty deposit from his ring: that drop of King's Essence Blood.

Xu Xiaoshou watched him glance at the ring, but like a startled bird, although his expression flashed with panic, his body suddenly lunged forward, and with one hand, he plunged it directly into Xiao Sixteen's chest!

“Don't move!”

Pfft— Xiao Sixteen spat a mouthful of blood directly onto Xu Xiaoshou's head. He looked up, eyes wide with terror.

What did I… What did I do wrong again?!