Bai Xiaodu felt like his head was about to explode.
Director-General Shen's intimidating presence in his mind instantly shot up several notches.
Just who was this person?
As he rapidly pondered how to handle the situation, the system, unhelpfully, popped up.
【Facing overwhelming pressure, the desperate outlaw has nowhere to retreat! It's time for the King to descend from the heavens in wrathful fury!】
【Binding successful!】
System, are you out of your damn mind?
I'm trying to figure out a serious problem: how to escape pursuit from this mind-reading-like ability and avoid becoming a tragic experimental subject.
And you're telling me—
“Bai Xiaodu requests to establish a lover relationship with you. Come to our exclusive space now.”
The next steps were familiar; another exquisite half-body portrait appeared. “The other party has accepted.”
However, this time, all of Director-General Shen's information was marked with question marks. Including her name.
Only her Affection score was still visible, showing 23.
Seeing her cyan-blue eyes still calmly fixed on him, Bai Xiaodu suddenly calmed down.
He knew all too well the effects of attribute points. Such numerical increases to the six basic physical stats either required level breakthroughs or years of consuming rare treasures.
Moreover, he had relevant memories, and their effects were very clear.
If she truly had mind-reading and understood all this, it would be impossible for her to resist immediately capturing him for research.
The conclusion was clear.
At worst, if she really did have mind-reading, then his thoughts about the system were likely directly blocked. Director-General Shen would have no way of knowing.
But once a seed of suspicion was planted, it was difficult to eradicate. Especially for someone in a high position like Director-General Shen, whose mind was more calculating than a hornet's nest.
How could he escape her relentless pressure?
Bai Xiaodu had a bold idea.
Rather than sitting idly by, it was better to take the initiative.
Bai Xiaodu suddenly gave up his instinctive resistance and gently leaned into her.
“That's a desert Gobi I once saw on a poster, but I suppose it must be a trick.”
His wine-red eyes narrowed slightly. Then, Bai Xiaodu twitched his nose a few times, putting on a deeply infatuated expression. He even deliberately stole glances at her, as if afraid of being discovered.
He quickly chanted inwardly, forcing these thoughts to flood his mind.
No other way, Mischievous Mind Activated!
Mind reading, is it? Today, Bai Xiaodu will make you regret having mind reading!
Director-General Shen, she smells so good. Director-General Shen, she's so beautiful. Director-General Shen, hehehehe.
I just learned a spell, and I'm under so much pressure. I feel like I don't know anything. Actually, I'm a dark, twisted older woman-lover. I love it when beautiful big sisters like Director-General Shen take the dominant role while making a peace sign.
I wonder how I can get Director-General Shen's attention. Her rank is so high, her figure is so sexy. I really want to be in a relationship with her. During the day, she can harshly educate me, and at night, she can harshly raise me.
The Affection progress bar convulsed violently, as if struck by electricity.
Bai Xiaodu clearly saw a sudden tremor in Director-General Shen's calm, cyan-blue eyes, as if she was startled by a newly opened world.
After a frantic fluctuation, the final Affection score settled at 24.
How did it even go up?
In that brief moment, Bai Xiaodu felt Director-General Shen's gaze on him change. From initial curiosity and amusement, it shifted to a sense of incomprehension, and even a hint of…
Resignation?
It was understandable when he thought about it: imagine excitedly discovering a cultivation genius, wanting to nurture him well, only to find that you're having a terrible time in his mind. It was probably a mixture of anger, amusement, and a sense of resignation.
The two of them were very close now; Bai Xiaodu could even feel the faint warmth radiating from her skin. But for some reason, Director-General Shen didn't stop this somewhat presumptuous intimacy.
Instead, she reached out a hand, palm down, and stroked his two fluffy fox ears from the top of his head. After doing all this, she nodded calmly.
“Mm.”
There was even a hint of pity in her eyes.
“Be careful. If you're worried about danger, you can stay in the Association's housing. You're young, so the subsidy can cover the full cost. This is my number; contact me if you need anything.”
“Mm, thank you for your care, Director-General Shen.”
“Good boy… Oh, and be mindful of moderation.”
“?”
She stroked his head again. Bai Xiaodu closed his eyes, showing a comfortable expression, and she walked into the Association.
President Liu, who had been frantically waiting for ages and was bewildered that he couldn't understand their conversation, finally breathed a sigh of relief. He quietly approached Bai Xiaodu, lowering his voice.
“Xiaodu, did Director-General Shen use some kind of spell to talk to you? Uncle is telling you, absolutely, absolutely do not provoke her.
It's said that Director-General Shen can see through everyone's thoughts. She's a top-tier figure sent from above, and she handles things with ruthless decisiveness.”
Bai Xiaodu nodded unfazed.
“Don't worry, President Liu. My thoughts are always simple, and I always speak my mind. Otherwise, Director-General Shen wouldn't have overlooked my earlier remarks.”
President Liu nodded approvingly, then laughed heartily again.
“Alright, kid, hurry up and improve your strength. If you can really get close to someone like Director-General Shen, to put it bluntly, even being her loyal enforcer would be a huge leap for people like us.”
“Don't worry, Uncle Liu. If I, Bai Xiaodu, ever become Director-General Shen's loyal enforcer, if I get a good cut, you'll get your share.”
Then came an awkward exchange of compliments. The more they talked, the more President Liu regretted not having met Bai Xiaodu sooner, wishing they could become sworn brothers, born on the same day, month, and year, and die on the same day, month, and year. Given his thinning hair, Bai Xiaodu ultimately politely declined.
He took a taxi, preparing to go home. Looking out the window, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his wine-red eyes.
Director-General Shen was a dangerous person. His test was brief, but quite effective. She did possess mind-reading abilities, and her strength was extremely dangerous.
But the good news was that Director-General Shen couldn't read anything related to the system. This could be expressed as: she could read all thoughts except those related to the system. Or it could be stated as: she couldn't read anything except the thoughts he wanted her to read.
What kind of reward would an Affection score of 30 from such a dangerous person bring him? The thought alone was exciting.
Halfway to his destination, Bai Xiaodu called out for the driver to stop. He hadn't forgotten Director-General Shen's warning about a bloody disaster today. Bai Xiaodu felt that someone of her caliber wouldn't lie to him.
Thinking about the people he had offended, there was only the Jackal Gang. Would those guys really fight him to the death? That didn't quite align with gang survival logic. Or perhaps, someone else was trying to harm him?
The Pingshan District wasn't large. If the so-called bloody disaster was an accident, then so be it, but if someone genuinely intended to harm him, Bai Xiaodu didn't want to lose sleep over it. In that case, he might as well resolve it completely.
After a long trip, Bai Xiaodu carried a bulging cowhide bag containing nearly three hundred pure razor blades quietly stacked together. He had also bought some small items, like lime powder and knockout drops, stuffing them all in. 【Gust】's essence was to create a wind field that pushes outwards; Bai Xiaodu planned to use these blades to create a stacking effect. After all, firearms were officially banned in the Federation, and he couldn't get his hands on any good weapons in such a short time.
The fox, carrying his bulging bag of blades, arrived outside the market. After a moment's thought, he started making a call.
“Hello, is this the Pingshan District Transportation Bureau? I'm a member of the Explorers Association, I have something to discuss with you… Yes, President Liu needs it; he instructed me to handle it as quickly as possible. You can verify my identity, don't worry. It's just a temporary rental; I'll return it soon after I'm done.”
After explaining everything, Bai Xiaodu found a quiet spot and sat cross-legged. The magic scroll page in his hand fluttered slightly, then quickly transformed into specks of starlight, merging into his mind.
This was far better than those spell recording discs. His sea of consciousness reappeared, and Bai Xiaodu skillfully engraved the spell. First time unfamiliar, second time familiar; even without Lingxin's personal instruction this time, he independently grasped the technique.
He pulled out a few blades, then flung them sharply upwards. The blades glinted coldly, then fell with gravity. Bai Xiaodu aimed at a nearby tree trunk.
“Gust!”
Pale blue energy suddenly flickered in his hand. In a flash, it surged forward with fierce momentum.
Bang bang bang!!!
The blades were propelled one after another, their sharp bodies arcing through the air, whistling as they pierced the tree trunk, causing the leaves to tremble continuously.
Not bad.
He slowly stood up; it was almost evening now. Not far away, two beams of approaching bright headlights shone on Bai Xiaodu, making his silver tail sparkle. He casually waved his hand.
The lights stopped.
The sixteen-wheeler heavy semi-trailer carrying those headlights also came to a halt.
Rate on N.U.
