Chapter 75: I Just Want to Ask for Directions

The rain continued its pitter-patter, showing no signs of easing.

Standing before him was a masked figure in black, completely shrouded from head to toe. Even his fingers were encased in thick gloves. The only exposed parts were his eyes, which were incredibly murky, as if only a dull yellow light resided within them.

Xu Xiaoshou was certain if he ever saw those eyes in a crowd again, he wouldn't recognize them. They were too ordinary! Just like a normal person's!

But could this guy possibly be normal?

Xu Xiaoshou stared blankly at the ‘Hidden Agony’ that had shot out between them. In less than an instant, he had somehow reacted.

At that moment, the sword tip was still a hair's breadth from the masked man's heart. Yet, two of his fingers instantly clamped around it.

Xu Xiaoshou froze. This was a ninth-grade spiritual sword he'd spent thousands of spirit crystals to buy! When unleashed, it even carried a powerful innate sword intent. How could it be so easily gripped? And judging by the next move, it seemed that if the man merely twisted his fingers, the sword would snap.

“Hey, stop!” Xu Xiaoshou instantly closed the distance. Under the masked man's bewildered gaze, he cupped the man's fingers. “Don't break it! This is my lifeline! Where will I go to cry if it breaks?”

The masked man was startled. This move... He's not afraid of me?

“I wasn't going to break it. Let go of my hand...”

His expression instantly darkened. Though hidden by the black cloth, others couldn't see it. But this kid... In an instant, Xu Xiaoshou had somehow slipped his other arm around his armpit and now held the masked man's fingers with both of his own. Now, both of the masked man's hands were immobilized.

At the same time, Xu Xiaoshou's legs wrapped around his thighs. Not only did this hook his lower body off-balance, causing him to lose his footing, but it also left his crotch wide open, sending a chill rushing through him.

Such powerful body manipulation... Human-form restraint? Is he an octopus?

“Let go!” the masked man demanded.

“I just want to ask for directions!”

Xu Xiaoshou listened to the voice, raspy as if sawed. His eardrums quivered, and goosebumps erupted all over his body. Could a human even make that sound? It was disgusting! However, judging by the voice alone, the masked man seemed to be quite old, at least a middle-aged uncle.

Xu Xiaoshou tightened his grip. “No,” he said. “Who would ask for directions in the middle of the night... er, in the early hours of the morning, for no reason?”

“And in such heavy rain? Are you crazy?!”

The masked man fell silent.

The masked man took a deep breath. “If I wasn't just asking for directions, do you think you'd still be alive right now?”

“Heh!” Xu Xiaoshou scoffed. “If I hadn't restrained you, do you think I'd still be alive right now?”

The masked man fell silent again.

*Cursed, Passive Points, +1.*

The masked man was completely flustered. What kind of damn person was this? He must be toxic!

“Let go!” the masked man insisted.

“No!” Xu Xiaoshou replied.

“Are you sure?”

Xu Xiaoshou paused for a moment. Taking advantage of the masked man's momentary lapse in concentration and the slight loosening of his fingers, he thrust his chest forward, driving the black sword into the man's heart.

“Ugh!” The masked man's eyes instantly widened, filled with disbelief.

Even through the black mask, Xu Xiaoshou could smell the metallic tang of blood welling from the man's lips. Only after confirming his safety did he finally speak: “Alright, what did you want to ask?”

“???”

*Cursed, Passive Points, +1.**Resented, Passive Points, +1.**Targeted for Retribution, Passive Points, +1.*

“Oh, ‘Targeted for Retribution’?” Xu Xiaoshou thought. “Don't tell me you're planning to wait for another day and find a chance to get rid of me?”

Xu Xiaoshou's killing intent flared instantly. He was about to thrust his chest forward again, to impale the man completely.

“Schwing!” Just then, a sharp pain flared in the palm holding the man's fingers. Xu Xiaoshou involuntarily loosened his grip slightly. The masked man flicked his fingers, and the black sword was instantly sent flying.

Bang! Seizing the opportunity, the masked man suddenly slammed his head against Xu Xiaoshou's forehead, seemingly trying to knock him away.

The next second, he was clutching his own forehead, hissing in pain. “Damn it...” he muttered. “Are you made of iron?!”

At this point, Xu Xiaoshou's legs were still wrapped around him. He immediately re-wrapped them, locking the man in place again. Now, the masked man couldn't even move his head.

Only after all this was done did Xu Xiaoshou's alarm finally set in. What kind of skill did this guy just use? His two fingers actually managed to cut his palm? After all, his body was bolstered by eight innate passive abilities... This masked uncle, something's not right about him!

Xu Xiaoshou glanced out of the corner of his eye, and seemed to catch sight of a fading sword intent on the man's fingers. Sword intent? Such weak sword intent! If his 'Perception' hadn't been keen, he might not have even noticed it... So, the question is, if he could flick his hand open, why did he hurt himself by headbutting Xu Xiaoshou? Strange. This guy was too strange!

He was tempted to pull off the black mask that covered even the masked man's hair, but he was afraid of being killed to silence him if he saw the man's face. The man's strength was a mystery.

“You're not from the Tiansang Spiritual Palace. How did you get in?” Xu Xiaoshou probed.

The masked man remained silent for a long while, not uttering a word. It wasn't until he seemingly couldn't hold it in anymore and coughed once that Xu Xiaoshou realized. He slightly loosened his chokehold.

“Pfft! Cough, cough...”

The masked man composed himself. “I am!”

*Deceived, Passive Points, +1.*

Xu Xiaoshou stared at him speechless. He wanted to laugh, but somehow couldn't. Although this guy was shameless, the fact that he lied meant he really did come from outside the Spiritual Palace. This...

Xu Xiaoshou felt a pang of panic. The Spiritual Palace was protected by a grand formation. The two he'd just killed must have been insiders. With their strength, if they had been outside, they likely wouldn't have been able to get in. But this masked man really came from outside? Didn't that mean he was an absolute master? But why was he so weak? This didn't match his strength at all!

“Just who are you—...” Xu Xiaoshou's question faltered. He felt it was better not to know the man's identity now. He changed his question: “What exactly do you want?”

“Directions!” the masked man spat out, holding his breath.

“Directions to heaven?”

The masked man fell silent.

*Cursed, Passive Points, +1.*

“Heh, quite a lot going on in his head!” Xu Xiaoshou thought.

Xu Xiaoshou tightened his grip around the man's neck. “Speak!”

“Cough, cough! Let go...” The masked man struggled violently. Xu Xiaoshou saw him clench two fingers, and a faint sword intent reappeared. Feeling a little flustered, he quickly loosened his grip slightly.

“Hah...” The masked man gasped for breath, finally resisting the urge to attack. He repeatedly told himself that this was an insignificant small fry; he couldn't stir up trouble. After a long pause, he slowly said, “How do I get to the inner courtyard?”

Xu Xiaoshou: “???” “That's it?” All this time, that's all you wanted to ask? You should have said so earlier!

Upon hearing this, the masked man's killing intent surged. Finally, he suppressed his inner rage and nodded slightly. This was probably the most absurd thing that had happened to him in decades of life. Not only had asking for directions led to him getting a bloody head, his heart had even been stabbed. And after all that, he was still being mocked... It was infuriating!