Pretending To Be A Boss

"But this is still one of my biggest secrets, so you all have to keep it confidential just like last time when we encountered the humanoid nine-tailed fox and the White Phosphorus Serpent Demon. Understand?"

Everyone nodded their heads. Tang Xian wasn't worried about the loyalty among his teammates. Throughout these days, whether it was Dong Ran or Qiao Shanshan, the level of frankness and fondness had been within a safe range, which was why he felt comfortable sharing this today.

Then Tang Xian began to describe how he met Qing JiuYu and Bai Mansheng, and he also mentioned another one of his abilities.

"I can hear the words of boss-level beings. And they can understand my responses as well. This is why I became friends with the little fox and little white snake."

After his explanation, Dong Ran and Qiao Shanshan finally understood the many questions they had previously.

The group also cleverly guessed the true identity of Tang Xiaojiu.

But no one voiced it out loud.

Tang Xian saw this and understood everything in his heart.

He didn't mention the unique talent he saw. Regarding that matter, Tang Xian had no plans to tell anyone.

He was subtly instilling a new concept in his teammates.

People without talent might not be unable to awaken abilities.

Because of their trust in Tang Xian, everyone accepted this assertion.

As for his strength displayed in the Pyramid and the evolutionary zone, Tang Xian directly used the evolutionary zone's concept of synchronization rate.

Akasi accepted it easily as well.

Some things were not about deceiving his teammates, but rather that Tang Xian hadn't completely figured them out himself yet.

What he could do was to make his teammates have a roughly accurate assessment of his strength.

It also established the combat and problem-solving style of the Sheng Tang Squad for the future.

For instance, when facing boss beings, fighting wasn't always necessary. Cooperating with Tang, the Shadow Emperor, in acting might bring unexpected rewards.

...

...

Previously, due to the destruction caused by the Sky Guardian Fortress Hunter's Group, the Hundred-Handed Wood outside the wooden house broke, and the fence was also damaged.

The very next morning after Tang Xian returned, he urged the hardworking model Dong Ran to repair and build the treehouse courtyard.

Dong Ran was very reasonable and incredibly diligent. With Tang Suoye's telekinetic assistance, the work became incredibly simple.

They even added several more rooms to the wooden house.

Each person now had their own private room.

Tang Xian inquired with Qiao Shanshan about the reason Tang Suoye couldn't speak.

Qiao Shanshan explained that Tang Suoye's language nerves had changed.

This was the result of erosion by the blood serum of a calamity beast, but the erosion had stopped.

Whether it might mutate again in the future or improve was still unknown.

This was a complex medical condition that was irreversible by current human medical science.

Tang Xian nodded.

Some things cannot be forced.

By noon, Dong Ran and Tang Suoye had almost doubled the size of the treehouse, giving it quite the fortress-like appearance.

To reward them for their great achievements, Tang Xian also took a few of the tastiest Dragon Spine fish from the small pond.

Afterward, he went to check Tang Bingxiang's storage and discovered that all the meat in the ice cellar was gone.

Just as Tang Xian was feeling somewhat regretful, Qing JiuYu came to visit.

Bringing with her the meat of a Mountain Taming Beast.

Although Dong Ran and the others were still very frightened of Qing JiuYu, even Tang Suoye felt afraid.

But they had already shared a meal together before, so they were all much calmer than last time.

Tang Xian should have felt very happy, but the scent in the air made it hard for him to feel joyful.

Because, inconveniently, Bai Mansheng had also arrived.

The two formidable women, one from the due north and the other from the northwest.

Tang Xian guessed that they had sensed each other from a certain distance.

But neither of them stopped their steps or acknowledged the other.

Qing JiuYu's pace was nevertheless much faster.

She arrived first.

Upon seeing Qing JiuYu, Tang Xiaojiu happily threw herself at her.

Especially upon seeing the meat wrapped with hemp twine that Qing JiuYu had brought.

This was a technique Tang Xian had taught her, where the best pieces of meat with an even distribution of fat and lean, were typically tied into neat, square bundles with hemp twine.

Tang Xian remained calm. He had bluffed his way through a dangerous situation like the one before, so the heavens probably wouldn't play him again with an even tougher deadly question.

With that thought, he asked:

"How come you're here?"

"The distance between the wilderness and the forest ocean isn't far for me. I felt like eating meat, so I came over," she replied.

Tang Xian took the mutton that Qing JiuYu handed him.

"Let's get one thing clear, this mutton is mine," he blurted out without any context.

Qing JiuYu responded:

"Fine then, if you say it's yours, then it's yours."

Qing JiuYu didn't quite understand what was going on, and Tang Xian said nothing.

At this time, Bai Mansheng also arrived.

Bai Mansheng's arrival wasn't for the sake of eating meat.

It was because that damn Tang Xian had, yet again, cut the story off at the most captivating part!

"Different from Qing JiuYu, Bai Mansheng appeared furious.

How could the world tolerate such a story-cutting cur?

Carrying the discs that Tang Xian had given her, Bai Mansheng even ignored Qing JiuYu and demanded,

"Xu Xian, come out here!"

Tang Xian obediently came out, looking at Bai Mansheng with a puzzled face.

"What's the matter? Could it be that the player is broken? It shouldn't be, even though it's an antique, I made sure to buy the real deal."

Tang Xian feigned ignorance as he spoke.

Qing JiuYu was also curious, Bai Mansheng had called for Xu Xian, and she remembered that this white snake treated Xu Xian much better than Tang Xian.

Dong Ran, Qiao Shanshan, Tang Suoye, Akasi, and others all went back to their own cabins, showing no intention of coming out.

Compared to the fearful expressions they had last time, everyone seemed to be relishing the excitement after Tang Xian's explanation the night before.

"I'm asking you, these stories were clearly almost over, so why did they cut off right at the crucial part again?"

Bai Mansheng managed to restrain her temper. Qing JiuYu became even more curious about what Bai Mansheng was holding in her hands.

Tang Xian spread his hands and explained,

"These stories are actually merchandise, and all merchandise experiences times of abundance and shortage. What I gave you is top-quality stuff, not the kind that you can finish in one go. The last time I gave you stories, those authors were still writing them. You came at just the right moment this time; I've just received the endings."

As Tang Xian spoke, he went inside the cabin and rummaged underneath the wooden bed for those discs.

He came out holding the discs and nonchalantly said,

"Your timing is impeccable, I just got them this morning and was thinking about when to deliver them to you."

Bai Mansheng's expression eased slightly as she took the discs from Tang Xian's hands and asked,

"You're not deceiving me, right? This time it's really complete, right?"

"Of course, I guarantee they are finished."

"Okay then."

The two women in the cabin shook their heads in unison, feeling somewhat sorry for Bai Mansheng.

Because of those stories, they too had listened to the audio content found in the cabin during their free time.

The stories were indeed concluded.

But those authors had written open-ended conclusions, leaving them half-told.

Some even ended abruptly, leaving the listener infuriated.

After Bai Mansheng got the discs, she didn't leave but just stood there quietly, glancing at Qing JiuYu.

Tang Xian instinctively wanted to frown, but his actor's nature allowed him to calmly suggest, Explore new worlds at empire

"Since you're here, why not have a meal before you leave?"

"Sure."

Bai Mansheng didn't refuse at all.

Qing JiuYu was about to have an outburst, as it was her meat, after all. Why should she give it to this white snake to eat?

Just as she was about to erupt, the words on her lips, she remembered Tang Xian had just said that this meat should be accounted as his, Tang Xian's.

Thinking of this, Qing JiuYu laughed angrily.

Tsk tsk, this white snake hadn't even arrived yet, and he was already worrying about someone else, plotting against me.

With a twinkle in her beautiful eyes, Qing JiuYu chuckled and said,

"Miss Bai is holding some interesting things; Tang Xian, why don't you get a set for me too?"

Tang Xian didn't pay much attention as he responded,

"Sure, I'll arrange some for you later."

"These should be items from the human world, right?"

Tang Xian suddenly realized something and shook his head as he said,

"They were taken from someone else."

"Didn't I hear you just now saying you bought them? Have you been to the human world?"

Tang Xian remained silent.

Qing JiuYu then pinched Tang Xiaojiu's face and asked, "Xiao Ni, tell Qing, is the human world fun?"

"It's fun, yeah, but the food isn't tasty." Tang Xiaojiu replied without thinking.

This was bad.

Tang Xian frowned.

He anticipated that things might really develop in some unpredictable direction now.

Bai Mansheng also realized something.

She said,

"You've been to the human world? Do you know how to get there? I'm worried you'll give me more half-finished stories, so why don't you just take me to the human world instead?"

"Hehe, I'd like to take a look too," said Qing JiuYu.