I Am Loaded With Passive Skills

Chapter 3920: Chapter 1877: Leveraging_3

"The Demon Ancestor befriends me, and though we are strangers, He is the Ancestral God while I am but an ant. Meeting on the river of time, He wishes to collaborate with me. Is it for my future, or something upon me... Brother Yu Hen can ponder carefully, what is the Demon Ancestor thinking?"

Why, after those words.

When Kong Yuhen looks again, the figure before him is not just a mere youth but seems transformed into yet another Ancestral God.

He smiles knowingly, and they both sit at the starry chessboard, across which are several supreme Ancestral Gods and the few ambitious and capable Ten High Nobles striving for supremacy.

"Returning a favor, I, Xu Xiaoshou, have always been such a person."

"Few in the five regions, even Ancestral Gods, recognize me, yet I know my worth as I sail along the river of time."

"This is not boasting, merely stating a fact."

Xu Xiaoshou calmly gazes opposite, his voice serene and poised: "Kong Yuhen, do you recall my first time entering the All Time Forgotten Sorrow Pavilion?"

He points to the tea table, to the wooden wall where the Time Ancestor Shadow Staff once was.

Kong Yuhen looks towards it.

Of course, he remembers.

Back then, Xu Xiaoshou was so young and green.

He even struggled against the inherent power of time from the pavilion, needing assistance.

"You were the first to call out ’guest from another world,’ you might guess my past and future are extraordinary, hence you gifted me the Time Ancestor Shadow Staff."

"This staff has repeatedly helped me avert crises and survive near-death situations, all etched in my heart, thus at this moment!"

Xu Xiaoshou points downwards, to the present: "The middle choice represents an equitable transaction... I consider you, Kong Yuhen, a friend in my heart, hence this choice."

And that’s sufficient.

Kong Yuhen understood too, quietly sighing, he cupped his fists in gratitude, but switched topics:

"Then Lord Shou, what about the upper choice?"

Xu Xiaoshou points out the window, glancing at Hua and Bazhun’an without directly answering, implied: "You should see that they all are about to ’exit.’

Kong Yuhen turned to look but remained silent.

"The upper choice is simpler."

"I will still tell you everything, the price being, once Bazhun’an exits, you protect his life."

Kong Yuhen hesitated a moment, slightly surprised: "That’s it?"

"That’s it."

Xu Xiaoshou chuckled softly: "For you, this should be the easiest and simplest choice, this is the upper choice."

"And what about you?" Kong Yuhen thought of something.

Xu Xiaoshou withdrew his smile, saying faintly: "Choosing the upper choice means severing all past ties with me, in future layouts, I will view you as a variable, employing every conceivable means."

The atmosphere turned cold.

All Time Forgotten Sorrow Pavilion faded away, transforming again into that starry battleground.

Now, Kong Yuhen discovered himself at the table as well, precisely one of the players, across sat the Demon Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, Cursed Yin, Sword Deity Hua, Bazhun’an, Hallmaster Dao Qiongcang...

Plus, suddenly Xu Xiaoshou appeared!

Just Xu Xiaoshou, none of his backing entities.

"Lord Shou, this really puts me in a bind."

Kong Yuhen clenched his palm, feeling slightly chilled.

In truth, he never wished to sit at the table, to scheme for anything, nor was he inclined to probe which Ancestral God’s scheme lurked behind Xu Xiaoshou.

Yet he knows that if the situation continues like this, with more he learns and gains, if he doesn’t want to sit at the table, intertwining factions will compel him.

Free will is an illusion.

Once on the table, alone and unsupported, with every party calculating, all old and cunning foxes and young foxes.

Escaping later will likely be exceedingly challenging!

"I..."

Kong Yuhen hesitated long to reach a decision.

Xu Xiaoshou smiled: "Brother Yu Hen need not choose now, you can completely think it over before deciding."

"Alright." That puts one’s mind at ease.

"But you and I don’t have much time." Xu Xiaoshou walked toward the window, stepping onto it, poised for his heroic entrance.

"What do you mean?" Kong Yuhen looked over.

Xu Xiaoshou turned back, grinning: "Brother Yu Hen, I don’t wish to deceive you... The choices I’ll present to you now, I will speak with the Demon Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, Cursed Yin individually."

What?!

Kong Yuhen’s back grew cold.

Looking at that seemingly harmless smiling face, he only felt like facing a demon.

"Once any among them makes a choice, and I find it fitting, then I need to preemptively say ’sorry’ to you..."

Is this a threat?

Kong Yuhen focused intensely, staring at the youth clinging by the window, yet unable to speak.

Should Xu Xiaoshou not act this way?

From his perspective, he should behave exactly like this!

"In pursuit of answers, I too seek, and the battle to rob paths inevitably draws blood, a senior once told me..." Xu Xiaoshou weighted the relationships and situation, considering what’s important:

"Brother Yu Hen, though we have substantial companionship, thus I inform you first, yet our bond is static, only friendships; I can wait for a moment, but not an eternity. What do you think?"

One cannot govern compassionately.

From the moment Bazhun’an entrusted him, after returning from the river of time, Xu Xiaoshou began plotting everything.

He refused to await death.

He always knew that behind him, slithered a serpent named Dao far colder, scarier than he.

As the youth was about to leap from the window, Kong Yuhen seemed unable to endure the invisible pressure driving him, voiced out:

"I choose..."

"Brother Yu Hen!" Xu Xiaoshou interrupted.

He half-stepped into the space-time vortex, yet returned gently: "No need to rush, you may watch Hua Ba’s battle, then answer."

Kong Yuhen panicked.

Who knows during Hua Ba’s battle, whether you plan to contact several starry Ancestral Gods, pulling the rug from under everyone?

Know this: Those alliances harbor deep-seated intentions, and their relations fundamentally lack stability.

Xu Xiaoshou’s silver tongue, should he sway any one, even after making his choice, what’s the point?

"I’ve decided." Kong Yuhen firmly declared.

As Xu Xiaoshou mentioned, with all encounters, when joining is inevitable, Bazhun’an with Xu Xiaoshou is whom he finds most trustworthy.

Regardless of situation, not involving friendship, the strengths of each party Kong Yuhen couldn’t fully discern, success hinges on fate and fortune.

But solely based on personality charm, and comfortable companionship, he chooses Bazhun’an.

"Not important."

Xu Xiaoshou leapt out, standing atop the space-time vortex, his form fluctuating between solidity and blurriness, he waved, smiling:

"Brother Yu Hen, words and pledges here aren’t important, actions are most important."

"Once you’ve made your choice, whichever it is, be steadfast in yourself."

"I have eyes..."

He extended his hand, tapping his own eyes, his form gradually faded away:

"I have eyes, I will see."

"When the time comes, you will understand."

This fellow...

Is this artful coaxing?

Once more Kong Yuhen experiences Lord Shou’s negotiation prowess.

He feels himself a fish in the river of time, clearly seeing Xu Xiaoshou’s hooks and baits cast into the waters, they’re so evident.

But as for himself, despite knowing, he anxiously wants to bite, to eat, feeling if he doesn’t, those not-so-tasty baits will be snapped up by eager fish!

"Xu Xiaoshou, I choose..."

Buzz!

The All Time Forgotten Sorrow Pavilion shook, subsequent words halted.

Xu Xiaoshou’s figure completely vanished into the spatial vortex, while the Time Ancestor Shadow Staff quietly resting on the tea table, flew after him.

His presence gone, leaving only a sound, free:

"Kong Yuhen, I don’t accept rash declarations."

"Thank you for the Time Ancestor Shadow Staff, I will keep using it for now."