Chapter 26: Tricky Questions

Zu An didn't know how long the drug's effects would last. Once these men recovered, he would be in deep trouble. So, naturally, he had to eliminate all dangers discreetly.

He felt he was already being kind to them by not turning them to dust and performing a full burial ritual with a rebirth incantation, like a certain protagonist from his previous life.

Ji Xiaoxi recalled the lustful gazes those men had directed at her earlier. Realizing there was some truth to his words, she bit her lip and stopped trying to persuade him.

Zu An moved on to the next person. The man, seeing his two companions senselessly killed one after another, steeled himself and declared, "If you want to kill me, just do it. Don't pretend you'll let us live. We're all bandits; not a single one in our entire stronghold knows how to play a musical instrument!"

Zu An frowned. "Oh, is that so? Then I'll ask a different question. A common sense question that anyone should be able to answer."

The man, surprised by the sudden turn of events, looked pleased. "Alright, ask away."

Zu An pondered for a moment, then pointed to his face and asked, "Am I handsome?"

The man quickly replied, "Handsome! I've never seen such a handsome man. You're the most handsome man in Moonbright City—oh no, you're the most handsome man in the entire world! Even an elf prince would kill himself out of shame if he saw you. Oh, and that Lady Yu, the so-called 'Capital's Foremost Beauty' over there, just one look at you would probably make her ovulate on the spot and actively offer herself to you, though you might not even deign to look at her..."

In this situation, even if Zu An looked like a ferocious black jackal, the man would still praise him to the heavens.

The other Blackwind Stronghold companions looked on with sympathy, thinking, "Poor guy, what a tough spot you're in. We never realized you had such a talent for flattery before."

Meanwhile, the Yu family guards glared furiously. Having just witnessed the scene, they didn't dare to direct their anger at Zu An. Instead, they aimed murderous glares at the man spewing such sickening flattery.

Rage value from Yu Yanluo +99!

Zu An was somewhat amused. It was the first time he had received a rage value from Lady Yu, which meant the flattery was indeed a bit excessive.

Noticing the smile on Zu An's face, the black-clad man's heart brightened, and he quickly asked, "Are you satisfied with my answer?"

"You know too much," Zu An said, and with a swift flick of his wrist, he dispatched another one.

Rage value from Blackwind Stronghold bandit +666!

The Yu family guards' eyes went wide instantly. "What the hell? That's allowed?"

A faint chuckle came from inside the carriage, though it was quickly muffled, and silence returned.

Zu An approached the fourth black-clad man. "Am I handsome?"

The man gulped, his companion's grim lesson fresh in his mind. "You're very ugly, but that only highlights your masculinity more..."

Before he could finish, Zu An's hand moved, and the blade fell, ending him. "Lying through your teeth."

Rage value from Blackwind Stronghold bandit +666!

He continued to the next black-clad man, repeating the same question.

Having witnessed both previous men killed for their answers, whether positive or negative, the man nearly wet himself. He stammered nervously, "I... I don't know."

Zu An's hand rose and fell, and he sighed deeply. "If you don't even know that, what's the point of living?"

Rage value from Blackwind Stronghold bandit +666!

He continued killing his way through until he reached their leader, Bao Gang. "Your turn."

Bao Gang snorted coldly. "No matter what I answer, I'll die. You decide the answer anyway. So, why should I bother answering? Kill me if you want! But my two brothers will definitely avenge me; you'll be cut into a thousand pieces then!"

Zu An hummed. "Indeed, that was a bit bullying just now."

Bao Gang almost cried. "You *do* know that was bullying, you bastard! Don't you know I nearly peed myself?"

"How about this," Zu An said, "This time I'll ask you a question with a standard answer. If you get it right, I'll definitely let you go."

"Are you serious?" Despite Bao Gang's skepticism that the other party would let him go, his survival instinct made him ask. After all, life was so carefree and enjoyable – stealing money, sleeping with wives and daughters – but once dead, there was truly nothing left.

Zu An nodded. "Of course it's true. This question absolutely has a standard answer. If you feel unconvinced afterward, I can tell you the correct answer to make you truly accept it."

Bao Gang gritted his teeth. "Alright, ask."

Zu An said, "What's the next line after 'Three hundred lychees daily'? I doubt you'll know this ancient poem from Earth."

Bao Gang, however, brightened. "I know! I know! The next line is 'And gladly be a southerner for life!'"

Zu An was stunned. He had previously felt that this world's culture was very similar to his previous one, but he never expected even these ancient poems to exist. How was he supposed to act cool by reciting poetry like the transmigration seniors now?

"Wrong answer," Zu An said, his face darkening, as he prepared to strike again.

Bao Gang shrieked like a pig. "Impossible! I've heard this poem before: 'Four seasons spring at Mount Luofu, kumquats and bayberries fresh in turn. Three hundred lychees daily, and gladly be a southerner for life!' The next line is exactly what I just said! Tell me where I was wrong!"

Zu An snorted. "The next line is clearly 'Eating one hundred nine thousand five hundred lychees a year'! I was testing your math, not your poetry!" With that, his hand moved, and the blade fell.

"You bastard, you deliberately tricked me!"

Rage value from Bao Gang +1000!

Zu An wiped the blood from his blade onto Bao Gang's body, then let out a long sigh. "You finally realized."

The remaining Yu family guards collectively swallowed hard, thinking, "Did we just curse at this guy?"

"We're dead, we're dead!"

Zu An, however, paid them no mind. Instead, he went to Bao Gang's and the other men's corpses and rummaged through them.

Ji Xiaoxi, a little curious, leaned closer. "Brother Zu, are you looking for something that proves their identity?"

Zu An shook his head. "No, I'm just checking if they have anything valuable on them... Damn it, not even a single copper coin!"

Ji Xiaoxi: "..."

The Yu family guards: "..."

Ji Xiaoxi weakly ventured, "These people came out to rob; they probably wouldn't carry money on them, right?"

Zu An thought about it and realized she was right, but he still felt a pang of regret. He had wasted half a day for nothing and even lost a bottle of paralyzing poison.

"Wait, you mentioned rage value? Can rage value be eaten? No one else in this world recognizes this stuff."

Suddenly, he noticed the trembling Yu family guards and put on what he thought was a kind smile. "How about you all answer my question? How are you going to repay me for saving you?"

The Yu family members were utterly terrified. They had personally witnessed the gruesome deaths of the Blackwind Stronghold men, and now just hearing the word "question" made their scalps tingle.

"Many thanks, young hero, for your assistance," a soft, charming voice rang out. "I am willing to offer ten thousand taels of gold as a token of my gratitude. Is that satisfactory, young hero?"

The carriage, which had been silent until now, finally moved. A slender, fair hand parted the curtain, and then a breathtaking beauty slowly emerged.

Zu An had always thought he had high resistance to beauty. After all, in his previous life, what kind of beauties hadn't he seen online, in movies, or on television? Chinese, European, Japanese, even those from two-dimensional anime, plus endless scrolling through TikTok like choosing concubines. Because of this, he wasn't particularly bothered by titles like "Foremost Beauty of XX" in this world, simply assuming these bumpkins had no taste.

But it wasn't until this moment that he realized how terribly wrong he had been. Beauties seen through computer or phone screens simply couldn't compare to the intense impact of seeing one in person.

Lady Yu, who descended from the carriage, possessed skin so delicate that even young maidens couldn't rival it, smooth and fine as milk. Her eyes were as deep and beautiful as stars in the night sky. Her flawless face, without a single blemish, and her long neck complemented by the coiled bun on top of her head, further accentuated her noble and mature demeanor. His gaze involuntarily slid downwards, past her perfectly ample bosom. Her form-fitting white dress cinched at her waist, making her slender waist appear almost graspable, and then delineated a breathtakingly perfect curve at her hips.

Ji Xiaoxi, standing nearby, immediately felt a sense of inadequacy. Although people around her often praised her beauty, compared to the lady before her, the naturally emanating mature and elegant aura of this woman was something she simply couldn't emulate.

"Am I beautiful?" Lady Yu asked, noticing Zu An's slightly bold gaze. She showed no hint of anger; instead, a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"Beautiful," Zu An nodded. "I originally thought I was the most handsome person in the world, but I didn't expect you to be just a tiny bit less so than me."

Ji Xiaoxi couldn't help but chuckle, her previous feelings of dejection and sadness instantly vanishing.

Yu Yanluo was also taken aback. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to the astonished gazes of countless men, but no one had ever been so... natural.

"You are quite interesting," Yu Yanluo said, a slight smile playing on her lips, instantly like melting ice and blooming flowers. "What is your real name? You introduced yourself as Cheng Shoubing, but this young lady just called you Brother Zu. That must be your true name, right? So, what is your name?"

"I'm a man who does good deeds without leaving my name," Zu An shook his head. He had given the name Cheng Shoubing to serve as a scapegoat. Currently, he was surrounded by danger in the Chu family, and until he figured things out, he didn't want his true identity known prematurely.

Yu Yanluo glanced at the Blackwind Stronghold bandits' bodies, which he had rummaged through and left in disarray on the ground. A beautiful curve subtly appeared at the corner of her lips. "But I don't have that much money on me right now. If I don't know your real name, how can I give it to you later?"

Zu An scratched his head, clearly conflicted. However, he ultimately decided to yield to the allure of money. He grabbed her hand and pulled her aside. "Come with me!"

Yu Yanluo's gaze fell on the hand gripping her arm, a flicker of cold light in her eyes. But in the end, she said nothing.

The Yu family guards standing by were wide-eyed. Their lady had always detested any physical contact with men, yet she allowed him to hold her and didn't stop him? They wanted to rebuke him, but remembering how he had tormented the Blackwind Stronghold men, they were still filled with lingering fear and dared not speak.

Zu An led Yu Yanluo to a secluded spot some distance away and then said, "Just to be clear, I'm not saying this because of the ten thousand taels of gold..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted. Yu Yanluo's gaze fell on his hand. "Can you please release my hand first?"