HIDDEN EVIL [XIAO SHUXIANG THE SERIES]
167 - Play Strategies

"Are you right, Elder Meng?" Elder Murong Xun seemed to be in disbelief at what Meng Hao Niang had just said. "It's impossible to include someone like Xiao Shuxiang, he's too young."

Elder Murong Xun shook his head softly, "I am indeed amazed at that boy because he can defeat the members of the Demon Valley Sect. But that doesn't mean we have to leave a big deal like this to a kid who .... Just born yesterday."

"Chairman Murong" Meng Hao Niang said. "I'm not saying we'll directly attack the Demon Valley Sect using the help of that Little Rascal. My point is .... That kid could potentially beat them,"

Elder Meng Hao Niang continued, "That Little Reliability looks quite smart. Under the supervision of the elders, I believe his practice will increase. You know what I mean, right?"

Elder Chen Duan Shan gasped, he looked at Elder Meng Hao Niang and said. "You want that child to study under the guidance of the Great Elders?"

"Since he's not part of the Upper Cultivation Realm, then I guess no one would have taken issue with him if he were to learn from the Elders of the Fifth Great Sect."

!!!

Elder Chen Duan Shan and the other elders were very surprised. They looked at each other and thought of Meng Hao Niang's bold words.

"This ...." Elder Shang from the Heavenly Valley of Light said softly, "I'm not sure this is a good plan. The teaching in my sect is different from the other sects of elders. Although both from the White School, but our teaching methods are different."

Elder Shang explained, "For example, if one were to study under the auspices of five different elders, then the burden would be five times greater. Not to mention, the teaching methods of every elder could have been incompatible with each other."

Elder Jing Yufeng nodded in agreement, "That's absolutely right. It will feel like a pot of water filled with oil, then given charcoal. No one can blend in well, nor can the child's body if it gets a lesson from a different elder."

"If this problem .... It depends on the ability of the Little Reliant. I'm just saying that he has the potential to grow."

Elder Shang from the Heavenly Valley of Light exhaled and said, "If Elder Meng can be this confident. Then it seems that I really need to meet directly with the intended child. I have to see for myself what he is. Only then, do we discuss this matter again."

Elder Wang Haoran, Elder Jing Yufeng and the others nodded in agreement. Elder Chen Duan Shan also took a breath and agreed with the words of the Great Elder of the Heavenly Light Valley.

Elder Chen Duan Shan got up from his seat and said, "I myself will bring Shuxiang here. We can't impose our will on the boy either,"

"Mn," Elder Meng Hao Niang drank the wine back into his lab jug. He remained with the elders and waited for the arrival of Chen Duan Shan who was now going to meet Xiao Shuxiang.

*

*

Inside Xiao Shuxiang's room was currently seen Liu Wei Lin and his friends. They chatted while waiting for Xiao Shuxiang with Zhi Shu to return. I don't know where the two men went.

The young cultivators were actually only discussing trivial matters such as planning a walk together and a little alluding about the hot spring baths around the region of the Thousand Sword Palace.

Just now Jian Yang was about to suggest a location when the sound of knocking on the door sounded. Lan Guan Zhi got up from his seat and walked over to see who was knocking.

Upon opening the door, Lan Guan Zhi was somewhat jolted when he realized that the one standing before him was the Great Elder of the Thousand Sword Palace. He put his hands together and saluted.

"..... Elder Chen,"

"A-Yuan, you're here..." Elder Chen was actually also somewhat jolted. He had not expected Lan Guan Zhi to be inside Xiao Shuxiang's room and apparently not only this talented young man, but the other cultivators as well.

"Great Chief Chen?" Jian Yang blinked and immediately got up from his seat when he saw the person Lan Guan Zhi had let in was the Great Elder of his own sect.

Yan Tianhen, Wen Gao Chong and the others, including Ling Qing Zhu, got up from their seats. The youngsters politely greeted Elder Chen Duan Shan and saluted.

"You guys sit down," Elder Chen Duan Shan smiled and kindly said, "I'm actually surprised you all gathered here, there's even Miss Ling as well. May I interrupt your time?"

Yan Tianhen flinched and quickly said, "Sa-not at all, Elder. We're just doing regular visits, nothing special."

"We are merely visiting friends," Liu Wei Lin smiled amiably and politely asked, "Did the Elder also come to see my brother Xiao?"

Elder Chen Duan Shan smiled and nodded slowly. "I came here because of that, but .... Where is Shuxiang? I didn't see it,"

"G .... Mister Xiao had come out," Wang Zhao replied softly and was snubbed by Mo Huai.

"out? But isn't he hurt?" Elder Chen Duan Shan asked back.

"Mn, not as bad as before." Lan Guan Zhi replied calmly.

Elder Chen Duan Shan exhaled and looked at Mo Huai for a moment before turning his head back towards Lan Guan Zhi. He smiled and said, "It seems that it was because of the help of alchemist Mo as well that Shuxiang got good treatment,"

Mo Huai gasped and only smiled bitterly upon hearing Elder Chen Duan Shan's words. He did not have the courage to reply to the words of the Great Elder of the Thousand Sword Palace.

"Dark... Brother Xiao, you are so rude..."

Mo Huai heard Zhi Shu's voice and immediately turned his head. He saw the girl walking in while complaining of pain in her neck. Behind the girl was also seen Xiao Shuxiang who seemed to cross his hands.

"You should treat girls more gently, how can it be this rude? Do you want to be called 'Just Dare to Oppress Women'?"

"I don't see you as a woman,"

"Brother Xiao..!" Zhi Shu exclaimed. He was shocked by Xiao Shuxiang's statement just now. He shook his head, "Wah .... You're so outrageous. You're a bad brother-in-law,"

"Hmph, look who's talking?" Xiao Shuxiang sneered, "You yourself started it first. If I'm bad, then what are you? Dirt?"

"Brother Xiao...!" Zhi Shu was so upset, he grumbled. "You're annoying, outrageous, rude and heartless. I swear I will marry Young Master Lan!"

Lan Guan Zhi gasped when she heard herself being offended by Zhi Shu. Xiao Shuxiang himself snorted and was seen clucking, "What was that earlier? You've sworn yourself to marry Lan Zhi?"

"Yes-yeah... Doesn't matter if I try? Maybe the sky heard my words and made them happen,"

Zhi Shu rubbed his arm and clucked several times due to Brother Xiao's behavior. He muttered with words whose meaning was only known to himself.

"Chairman Chen? What brings you here?" Xiao Shuxiang honestly did not expect Chen Duan Shan to come to his room.

"I want to see you. How are you now? Is it getting better?"

Xiao Shuxiang sighed and said, "Chairman Chen .... Look at these kids. They came to visit, but did not bring any hands. Now you come and you bring nothing. Seriously, is this how you go to see a sick person?"

"Young Master Xiao?" The pale-faced Mo Huai heard Xiao Shuxiang's complaint just now. Wang Zhao felt the same way.

Liu Wei Lin and the others were different again. They looked at Xiao Shuxiang and felt that this young man was too bold to say such a disrespectful thing to the Grand Elder of the Thousand Sword Palace.

Elder Chen Duan Shan himself did not mind it at all and instead laughed quite loudly. He looked at Xiao Shuxiang and was greatly amazed at the bravery of this young man.

"You're really a fun young man," Elder Chen Duan Shan smiled and waved his right hand softly.

A bamboo woven basket full of fresh fruit is now visible on the table. Elder Chen Duan Shan had just taken it out from within the Spatial Ring he had.

Xiao Shuxiang blinked and then smiled happily, "This just visited an actual sick person. Children, you must learn from Elder Chen."

"Brother Xiao, call us children as if you are old." Liu Wei Lin waved his fan softly and seemed to shake his head.

Yan Tianhen was actually also a little uncomfortable with the call of 'children' that Xiao Shuxiang had said earlier. His age was young, but he was not a boy and to be honest, he was older than this young man.

"Brother Xiao, sorry to offend you. But I don't like it when you call us 'kids'. The impression we had was like a boy under 10 years old," Jian Yang expressed his heart and it got the gazes of Li Huanshou, Yan Tianhen, including Wen Gao Chong.

Li Huanshou gave a pale expression, "What are you saying, Brother Jian? I told you not to look for things with Xiao Shuxiang. We've agreed not to oppose anything that sucks this young man, but you're-"

"Because I'm married, of course, I'm not a child anymore. Unlike you who are still single so that it is called children no problem. Hmph, pity..."

Xiao Shuxiang's thump interrupted Li Huanshou's curse in his heart. Xiao Shuxiang's words this time deeply pierced the hearts of bachelors like them.

"Experience," Liu Wei Lin clucked and appeared to hold his breath, "I don't think the difference between a cultivator who is married to one who hasn't yet will be this big,"

"You must also immediately find a partner because those who are married are equal to having taken one step towards the ladder of maturity," Xiao Shuxiang smiled proudly without realizing Lan Guan Zhi and Ling Qing Zhu gave him a strange look.

The two Xiao Shuxiang friends were clearly thinking the same thing. For Lan Guan Zhi and Ling Qing Zhu-Xiao Shuxiang was still childish despite being married.

Elder Chen Duan Shan himself smiled seeing how communication was intertwined between Xiao Shuxiang and Jian Yang as well as other cultivators. He felt bad nodding their togetherness, but he had to tell her the real reason he had come here.

Elder Chen Duan Shan said, "I'm glad to see you all can be so familiar and like being in a strong bond of brotherhood. But I'm sorry I had to interrupt her a little bit,"

Xiao Shuxiang and his companions looked at the Great Elder of the Thousand Sword Palace Sect. They listened as Elder Chen Duan Shang spoke.

"Shuxiang, the great elder from the Valley of Heavenly Light wishes to see you. I'm here to take you to see him,"

Xiao Shuxiang frowned, "Meeting me? Is .... What's up?"

Not only was Xiao Shuxiang curious, but also his friends. They looked at the Grand Elder of the Thousand Swords Palace solemnly.

Elder Chen Duan Shan said, "I want you to come with me in order to know about it directly. I can't say it here,"

"..............."

"How, do you want to come?" Elder Chen Duan Shan persuaded, "You don't worry. I'll always be there to help you,"

".......... I'm not worried at all," Xiao Shuxiang breathed slowly and got up from his seat. "Where is the great elder of the Heavenly Valley of Light now?"

"All right, come with me." Elder Chen Duan Shan also woke up and started to take Xiao Shuxiang away.

"Shuxiang," Lan Guan Zhi actually wanted to ask Elder Chen Duan Shan, but his good friend smiled and seemed to signal that his good friend would not be in trouble.

Ling Qing Zhu even though he had a calm face, but the look in his eyes also showed a sense of worry. It was just that he could calm down a little when he saw the smile of his Guardian Master.

"Young Master Xiao...?" Mo Huai spoke softly,

"Master Xiao ....?" Wang Zhao was too.

"Don't worry, I'll be right back." Xiao Shuxiang so calmly followed Elder Chen Duan Shan from behind.

Yan Tianhen and the others were very curious as to what Elder Chen Duan Shan was about to discuss until Xiao Shuxiang had to be taken to another place.

"Somehow why I feel so uncomfortable. It feels like my Xiao brother is about to get involved in a big deal," Zhi Shu held her breath.

She was indeed a girl who liked to tease and joke around with Xiao Shuxiang. But that doesn't mean he can't be serious and alert. Zhi Shu actually carried the mission of the current Great Elder of the Butterfly Sect, Aunt Xiao WeiWei.

Every brother of Zhi Shu was indeed given this mission. They were asked by Xiao WeiWei to keep an eye on Xiao Shuxiang and the people close to the young man. This is also the reason why Zhi Shu often looks for opportunities to get close to Lan Guan Zhi.

Xiao Shuxiang, aside from his extraordinary identity was also the greatest asset of the Butterfly Sect and obviously many people were eyeing the young man. Zhi Shu was not distrustful of Lan Guan Zhi, but his sense of caution should not be reduced just because he knew her.

In the past, Ro Wei who was his only childhood friend and brother-in-law Zhi Shu had once been a traitor. Yi Wen also betrayed. So it is impossible if the incident will not happen again.

Zhi Shu knew, His Brother Xiao had already thought about this. But Xiao Shuxiang could not show that vigilance clearly. It could be said, they were playing a tactic in addition to taking care of the highly contested Book of the Sun Killer.

******