Chapter 541: A Game

"Xu Xiaoshou, I'm not here to fight you," Jiao Tangtang said calmly.

Upon seeing this message, Xu Xiaoshou immediately smiled.

As expected, Jiao Tangtang's original plan was to assume he wouldn't agree easily, then use forceful means to compel him to sign the Ghost Beast contract. Now, seeing the figures he had summoned, she panicked.

She couldn't help but panic. If it had merely been Ah Jie, even if Jiao Tangtang realized Ah Jie wasn't simple, his appearance was far too misleading. In that scenario, resorting to force would have been entirely possible.

However, with the appearance of two colossal white skeletons, the situation was entirely different. Although their individual strength might not surpass Ah Jie's, their immensely muscular and towering bodies naturally instilled fear, not to mention he had summoned two at once. With this lineup alone, Xu Xiaoshou feared no one in a solo fight within the White Cave. Even if the Night Watch came, it would be the same. If things still went awry, he could certainly escape. Unless the opponent also called for reinforcements... And at the moment, Jiao Tangtang clearly had no one to call.

"Hey girl, weren't you quite arrogant just now? Go on, keep it up?" Xu Xiaoshou lifted his chin.

Jiao Tangtang's eye twitched uncontrollably, and the black mist around her suddenly surged three zhang high.

"Whoa, wait, wait!" Xu Xiaoshou was startled. "Slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue. I actually don't want to fight you either. It's perfectly fine for us to just communicate from this distance."

Seeing the girl opposite him about to charge forward and fight, Xu Xiaoshou quickly backed down.

A Ghost Beast! This was a Ghost Beast! If they could communicate peacefully, Xu Xiaoshou truly didn't want to start a fight. Otherwise, if his two new bodyguards weren't even properly acquainted yet and lost a few "attachments," Xu Xiaoshou would be heartbroken.

"Hmph!" Jiao Tangtang exhaled deeply, saying angrily, "Xu Xiaoshou, say one more piece of nonsense, and do you believe I'll truly risk my life to tear you limb from limb today?"

"I don't believe you..." Xu Xiaoshou subconsciously shook his head, but seeing the other side's face instantly flush, he quickly changed his tune: "I do, I believe it, I believe in Jesus!"

"Received angry glare, Passive Point +1."

"So, what's the plan?" The other side remained silent, the atmosphere utterly oppressive, as if on the verge of eruption. Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but bite the bullet and speak. "There's an important principle that I don't know if I should mention..."

"Shut up!"

"Alright." Xu Xiaoshou nodded, then continued, "It's just that I really can't sign this 'Ghost Beast Contract' with you..."

"Shut up!" Jiao Tangtang angrily stepped forward.

"Protect me." Xu Xiaoshou immediately retreated behind the ice shield, pulling Ah Jie directly in front of him. "This is a principle!" he poked his head out and yelled.

"Hiss." Jiao Tangtang took a deep breath, calming herself. Ignoring the young man opposite her, she spoke to herself, "Xu Xiaoshou, I'm not really trying to force you to sign the 'Ghost Beast Contract'..."

"This isn't forcing? Do you have some misunderstanding of the word 'forcing'?"

"Shut up!" Jiao Tangtang snapped angrily. "Let me finish!"

"Oh." Xu Xiaoshou finally fell silent.

After a moment of silence, Jiao Tangtang changed the topic. "Xu Xiaoshou, do you know the truth about Ghost Beasts?"

"Oh?" Xu Xiaoshou's eyes suddenly lit up. The truth? Yes, this woman in front of him seemed to be an organized Ghost Beast host with a background. Perhaps his previous confusion about the Red Clothes and Ghost Beasts could find a breakthrough through her?

Many thoughts ran through his mind, but Xu Xiaoshou didn't dare to speak them aloud.

"Speak!" Jiao Tangtang glared.

"Didn't you tell me to shut up?" Xu Xiaoshou cringed.

"Hmph!" At this, the large purple chains on Jiao Tangtang seemed barely able to contain the surging black mist. The ground was directly encroached upon by an eerie power, and the furious woman's eyes turned scarlet.

"It's not that bad, it's not that bad..." Xu Xiaoshou immediately grew nervous. "You really are something. You tell me to shut up, then tell me to speak. What do you want me to do? I'm helpless too!"

"I..." The surging black mist around Jiao Tangtang began to tremble.

"Roar!" A hostile growl from the Blazing White Skeleton appeared at the right moment, causing her to calm down.

"Mama..." Another glance showed the small boy clinging to Xu Xiaoshou's side. Clearly, the idea of charging forward and giving him a beating was highly unrealistic. If an internal conflict truly broke out, it would only benefit others for free, a thankless and arduous task.

"I'll endure!" "Jiao Tangtang, endure it. This is Xu Xiaoshou. You're not unaccustomed to his way of speaking. Endure it!"

After mentally reassuring herself a few times, Jiao Tangtang pressed her hands down, drawing the Ghost Beast black mist back into her body.

"Xu Xiaoshou, stop joking with me. My patience has limits." Ignoring the young man's reaction, she immediately continued, "Ghost Beasts aren't as simple as you imagine. You should know that I come from a power called 'Xuanyue Grey Palace'."

"Hmm?" Xu Xiaoshou nodded, no longer daring to joke. Clearly, Jiao Tangtang intended to reveal some insider information.

"Is your... 'Palace' a purely Ghost Beast power?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, unsure.

"Yes."

Receiving a positive answer, Xu Xiaoshou was somewhat surprised and doubtful. He had harbored similar suspicions when he first met Xin Gugu and Jiao Tangtang. But after seeing the ruthless methods of the Red Clothes throughout their journey, he had dismissed the idea. After all, how could Ghost Beasts, almost driven to extinction on this continent, still exist in groups without being discovered by the Holy Divine Palace? Yet now, the other party had admitted it!

"You're not afraid of the Holy Divine Palace?" he continued to ask.

"We are, but it's pointless." Jiao Tangtang shook her head. "'Xuanyue Grey Palace' is located in the Southern Region, a chaotic place where the Holy Divine Palace's order struggles to establish itself. Unless they are determined to uniformly clear out all those disparate yet troublesome factions in the Southern Region, they won't be able to catch 'Xuanyue Grey Palace'."

"I see..." Xu Xiaoshou nodded in understanding. That explained it. The Southern Region was chaotic. And the Holy Divine Palace's power was mostly concentrated in the Central and Eastern Regions, so they couldn't interfere for now?

"But if that's the case, won't it just be a matter of time before your... 'Palace' is destroyed once they free up their resources?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, puzzled.

"Xuanyue Grey Palace!" "Xu Xiaoshou, can't you say anything nice?" Jiao Tangtang was irritated again. "Destruction is impossible. Where there is oppression, there is resistance. Ghost Beasts are forced to band together for warmth in many places; 'Xuanyue Grey Palace' is just a larger operation."

"Where there is oppression, there is resistance..." Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. Was that how that phrase was used? "You talk as if you're the righteous ones," he couldn't help but mumble.

"Received angry glare, Passive Point +1."

"I'm not going to argue with you about that!" Jiao Tangtang forcibly pulled the conversation back from the tangent. "I can't reveal too much about Ghost Beasts before you sign the contract. But there's one thing you can know right now."

"What?" Xu Xiaoshou looked up curiously.

"The origin of Ghost Beasts!" Jiao Tangtang stated.

"What do you mean?" This puzzled Xu Xiaoshou. "Aren't Ghost Beasts just life forms born from a different dimension?"

"Yes." Jiao Tangtang nodded, continuing, "But these Ghost Beasts born from different dimensions all need to grow, just like Lord Greed in your hand. This type of Ghost Beast has a very long growth cycle. Only by signing a contract with a Spirit Refiner and continuously feeding them spiritual items can their growth cycle be shortened. However, while the growth cycle can be shortened, the development of their intellect is not so fast. It's like a normal human. No matter how talented they are, they might cultivate to become a Grandmaster or King at a young age. But their thinking, consciousness, how they conduct themselves... these things won't significantly develop without the accumulation of time. Do you understand what I mean?"

Xu Xiaoshou stared blankly. After a long time, he blinked. Wasn't this just a normal thing? Did it need special explanation? "Understood."

"No, you don't," Jiao Tangtang sighed. "Think about the Ghost Beasts you've encountered in the past."

Ones I've encountered? Xu Xiaoshou immediately thought of the Grey Mist Man. But was there anything special about them? He looked at Jiao Tangtang opposite him, perplexed. But she said nothing, merely staring at him with a calm, unblinking gaze. It seemed she wouldn't say more until he understood.

Ghost Beast birth, intellectual development? Xu Xiaoshou tried hard to align his thoughts with Jiao Tangtang's wavelength. After a long time, his thoughts stalled. How they conduct themselves? Intellect? An inexplicable pang struck his heart. He felt as though he had grasped something crucial, but when he tried to articulate it, it remained unclear and elusive.

"What exactly do you mean?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, surprised.

"That's all I can reveal. Think carefully about what I just said," Jiao Tangtang clearly didn't want to say more.

How would I know what you said... Xu Xiaoshou felt a suppressed frustration. He vaguely sensed something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what it was. He pulled Lord Greed down from his head. Xu Xiaoshou stared at it carefully, but found nothing amiss.

"Meow." Lord Greed extended its tongue and licked Xu Xiaoshou's wrist.

At this, Xu Xiaoshou was startled as if by an electric shock. "Wait, intellect?" If there was truly a difference between the Grey Mist Man and Lord Greed, it was that the former would never lick himself like this little fat cat. So...

"You just said that for a Ghost Beast to mature intellectually from birth, it needs almost the same length of time as a human?" Xu Xiaoshou swallowed.

"Correct," Jiao Tangtang nodded.

"Impossible!" Xu Xiaoshou was horrified. How could this be? The White Cave had only opened twice in total. And the last time it opened was when the White Cave miniature world first came into being. The Ghost Beasts born at that time were the Grey Mist Men. But in just a few years, according to Jiao Tangtang's theory, how could the Grey Mist Men have developed such sophisticated ways of acting? Even disregarding their strength, just looking at their combat awareness and how they handled people, matters, and things... They were completely old monsters who had seen through the mundane world and understood human nature! Just a few years! How could such thoughts be cultivated and formed, and how could their intellect grow to such a high degree, in just a few years?

Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts were in turmoil again. He frantically replayed Jiao Tangtang's words, his memory flashing back frame by frame until a scene froze in his mind. "This type of Ghost Beast born from a different dimension..." Sharply catching the information Jiao Tangtang had inadvertently revealed, Xu Xiaoshou's heart skipped a beat. He looked up and asked, "Are there two types of Ghost Beasts?"

Jiao Tangtang's red lips curved upwards, and she merely shook her head gently without speaking.

"Well, say it!" Xu Xiaoshou grew anxious. This woman, was she crazy?! At such a critical juncture, why was she still playing coy? Was this fun?

"I told you, I can't reveal much information to you before you become a Ghost Beast host," Jiao Tangtang said.

"Okay, I won't ask for specific information. You just need to shake your head or nod," Xu Xiaoshou rephrased.

"Isn't that an answer?" Jiao Tangtang chuckled. "I won't do it."

Xu Xiaoshou nearly threw Ah Jie in front of him to beat the woman down. He forced himself to calm down.

"Alright, I'll try a different approach. Next, I'll ask a question. You don't have to do anything, not even control your expression or tone. Just cooperate by saying one word, okay?" Without waiting for her reply, Xu Xiaoshou raised Lord Greed high in his hand. "If you don't do it, I'll choke it to death!"

Jiao Tangtang: ??? "Meow." "Received fear, Passive Point +1."

"Just one word." Xu Xiaoshou, seizing the moment before she could get angry, quickly put down the white cat. "It's just a game, want to play?"

"A game?" Jiao Tangtang asked, seething.

"Yes."

"What word?"

"Is!"

"Is?"

"Yes." Xu Xiaoshou nodded. "Like if I ask if you're a woman, you just say 'yes'."

"You!" Jiao Tangtang nearly lunged forward, wanting to kick the young man to death.

"It's just a game, don't take it seriously," Xu Xiaoshou cowered behind Ah Jie.

"Heh, Xu Xiaoshou, you really know how to play... I'm talking to you about Ghost Beasts, and you're talking to me about games?"

"Exactly. Only after we finish this game can we proceed to the next step." Xu Xiaoshou forced a smile. "Signing the contract and all that can wait. If this game isn't completed, I won't cooperate at all."

"Fine!" Jiao Tangtang was so annoyed she almost laughed. Since Xu Xiaoshou truly wanted to act crazy, she would play along.

"What's the question? Go on."

"First question..." Xu Xiaoshou raised a finger. "Are you a woman?"

Jiao Tangtang's face darkened.

"Game!" Xu Xiaoshou emphasized.

"Yes!" Jiao Tangtang responded impatiently.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the info bar and sighed in relief. Excellent. This temper, she truly was a tigress.

"Second question..." He raised a second finger. "Is Xin Gugu a woman?"

"No..." "Game!" Xu Xiaoshou's voice rose, interrupting her. "You don't need your brain; just answer with one word. 'Yes' is correct!"

Jiao Tangtang gritted her teeth. She felt this game... So embarrassing! Not just embarrassing, but idiotic! But... indeed, this was the kind of outrageous stunt Xu Xiaoshou would pull. "I'll endure." "Yes!" she answered loudly.

Xu Xiaoshou exhaled lightly, extended a third finger, and calmly said, "Is Lord Greed the only type of Ghost Beast?"

Jiao Tangtang's gaze sharpened, and she mused, "Xu Xiaoshou, you don't happen to have some kind of 'mind-reading' ability, do you?"

"How did you know?" Xu Xiaoshou asked, feigning surprise.

Jiao Tangtang, in turn, was stunned. "You really do?"

"Of course!" Xu Xiaoshou nodded. "I can even read that you currently feel extremely embarrassed by this game, and if not for these two big friends behind me, you'd even want to come over and slap me to death. Am I right?"

At this moment, she felt her liver ache, her lungs ache, her entire body ache. Was this guy truly pretending to be crazy and foolish, or did he possess some special ability? Could it be that he thought he could peek into her mind through the small, inadvertent gestures and details she revealed while answering questions? Very well! If Xu Xiaoshou had such an ability, then what harm was there in exposing it to him?

"You read it wrong." Jiao Tangtang completely relaxed. Her red lips parted slightly as she said, "I don't like to use my hands. All problems are solved with my legs."

Xu Xiaoshou's gaze instinctively slid downwards. There, exposed by the torn grey robe, were a pair of full, shapely long legs, gleaming with a surprising elasticity.

"Your legs haven't had any surgery, have they?"

This Xu Xiaoshou... He's sick! She crossed her arms, genuinely indifferent, and lifted her chin, adopting an attitude that said, "Ask whatever you want." "Yes."

The info bar remained motionless. These were real legs... Xu Xiaoshou nodded to himself.

"Continue."

"Is Lord Greed the only type of Ghost Beast?" Xu Xiaoshou posed the previous question again.

"Yes." Jiao Tangtang's face was now adorned with a captivating smile, showing no signs of disturbance.

Xu Xiaoshou saw it, but his expression remained unchanged. He sped up his speech, throwing out questions and nonsense simultaneously. "In the White Cave space, is Xin Gugu your only companion?"

"Yes."

Damn, there's still someone else? Xu Xiaoshou's face was as calm as an ancient well. "'Xuanyue Grey Palace' is actually just a third-rate power, isn't it?"

"Yes."

Goodness, how 'upper-tier' must that power be then?

"The true strength of 'Xuanyue Grey Palace' can almost rival the Holy Divine Palace, can't it?"

"Yes."

"You're very..." Xu Xiaoshou stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something was wrong. Holy crap! Where was the info? Where was "Received Deception"? Damn it! Another big revelation?

He almost staggered, then used the momentum to take a few steps forward, continuing to ask, "You really want me to become your companion, don't you?"

"Yes," Jiao Tangtang replied, seeing nothing amiss.

Heh, quite sincere?

"Am I very handsome, or not?" Xu Xiaoshou lifted his chin, continuing to ask.

"Hmph!" Jiao Tangtang let out a stifled laugh. "Sorry, I couldn't hold it in... Yes."

The info bar didn't react? Xu Xiaoshou was startled for a moment, then confirmed, "Am I really handsome?"

"Hehe, yes!" Jiao Tangtang returned a huge eye-roll.

Xu Xiaoshou thought, a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea. If it weren't for the info bar, he really would have been fooled by this woman. So, I really am handsome! Composing himself, Xu Xiaoshou happily asked, "Are there only two types of Ghost Beasts?"

Jiao Tangtang's smile vanished. "Xu Xiaoshou, after wasting so much breath, are you finally revealing your true intention?"

"Is it or isn't it?" Xu Xiaoshou was unmoved.

"Yes."

The info bar remained unmoving. Xu Xiaoshou sighed inwardly. So, this was indeed as he had expected. The Grey Mist Man and Lord Greed were two different types of Ghost Beasts. And Lord Greed was truly born from a different dimension. So then, what kind of existence was the Grey Mist Man type? He really wanted to ask. But according to Jiao Tangtang, if he didn't sign the Ghost Beast contract, she certainly wouldn't reveal it. Asking more would clearly be useless.

"Are you done?" Jiao Tangtang lowered her crossed arms. "My time is limited. I don't have time to play such boring, childish, and embarrassing idiotic games with you!"

"One last question." Xu Xiaoshou's expression finally turned serious.

"Spit it out!" Jiao Tangtang snorted, agreeing.

"Hmph!" Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath, then another, his expression solemn and grave. "I, Xu Xiaoshou, am the most handsome man under heaven, am I not?!"

"Pfft!" Jiao Tangtang burst into laughter as if her funny bone had been tickled, shaking uncontrollably like a trembling flower branch, even momentarily mesmerizing Xu Xiaoshou. Your torn grey robe is revealing too much! Can't you be less dramatic?

"What are you laughing at?" Once the girl had almost stopped laughing, Xu Xiaoshou frowned and asked, "Be serious. This is the last question, and you must answer."

"Serious?" "Alright, I'll be serious." Jiao Tangtang held her stomach, suppressing all laughter. With a very serious expression, she raised a finger and stated emphatically, "First of all, you're not even a man..."

"Received affirmation, Passive Point +1." Xu Xiaoshou: ??? He looked at the info bar, feeling a surge of anger, his hair standing on end, raging flames, fury... You, you...! You damn system! Are you poisoned or something? Huh? Why are you butting in at a time like this? Is this when you should be making your presence known? Can't you just obediently die?! With furious beasts rampaging in his heart, Xu Xiaoshou remained outwardly unmoved, stating seriously, "You're wrong. The game's over. We're not discussing this anymore."

"No, wait! Let's talk! We must talk!" Jiao Tangtang was overjoyed. Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's reaction, she fully understood everything. "I haven't even answered your question yet. Are you really not playing anymore?"

"Not playing!"

"Are you serious?" Jiao Tangtang looked at Xu Xiaoshou's darkened face, feeling there was nothing funnier in the world. But if he was provoked this much, would it be difficult to cooperate later? No, she needed to give him an out.

"Come on, let's play. Big sis isn't teasing you anymore. Ask again," Jiao Tangtang suppressed her smile.

"Alright." Xu Xiaoshou also felt he had lost face and wanted to win this round back, so he said, "Am I... never mind, I can't bring myself to ask. Just tell me the answer directly!"

"Yes!" Jiao Tangtang immediately responded.

Xu Xiaoshou's smile hadn't even begun to blossom. You damn system! Go to hell!

"Ah Jie, let's go." Xu Xiaoshou turned and left.

"Mama?" Ah Jie looked at "Mama's" face, which was as dark as ink and seemed to drip with frustration, feeling a little confused. A game? It hadn't fully grasped human games yet? So, did human games always end like this, with everyone unhappy?

"Xu Xiaoshou!" Jiao Tangtang couldn't smile anymore, seeing the young man turn and leave directly. Was he really hurt?

"Xu Xiaoshou, get back here! We haven't clarified our business yet!" she shouted.

"We're fine. What business could we have? No cooperation, and... goodbye," Xu Xiaoshou said without looking back.

"Goodbye?" Jiao Tangtang was fuming. "I played your game, and now you're telling me this?"