You can’t negotiate with the iron-fisted; no dictator in human history has ever been an exception. If they could be reasoned with, they wouldn't be dictators, wouldn’t be absolute, and certainly wouldn't be unreasonable. Xiao Shu, who had studied history to perfection, understood this well. From that moment on, she dared not make any further demands, only urging Zhang Yuqiu to leave quickly.

However, how could Zhang Yuqiu, who had come under strict orders, simply let her go? What if Xiao Shu was taken back by them as a hostage or something? He would then be forced to flee across the world. Fleeing was the lesser issue; if he were tossed into the Sea of the Dead to feed the fish, he wouldn't even have a chance for rebirth. If he stayed by Xiao Shu’s side continuously, even if he ended up killed by the living dead or eaten by the man-eating nether-worms, just like those six doctors, his soul would return to the Sea of the Dead, be fished out by the Monkey Tribe, and inserted into the body of a newborn little monkey. When the time was right, Li Xiaohao would surely find them new bodies.

After careful consideration, the most cost-effective and ideal plan was to follow Xiao Shu without fail. Once his mind was set, Zhang Yuqiu no longer skulked behind Xiao Shu like a timid kitten. Instead, he strode forward, head held high, walking shoulder-to-shoulder with her.

Yuan Qi walked far ahead and hadn't noticed the change in the procession behind him. However, those companions waiting for him near the rubble pile—which should probably be called the corpse pile now—were pointing and roaring with laughter at the three of them.

“What are you laughing at?” At their mirth, Yuan Qi’s tightly set face suddenly flushed crimson like a tomato, completely obscuring his original pale complexion.

The youth who had just mimed a beheading action ran over and delivered a swift kick each to Xiao Shu and Zhang Yuqiu, sending both tumbling to the ground. Yuan Qi grew increasingly bewildered and asked again, “Why did you kick them? What just happened?”

“Hahahaha…” The others’ laughter intensified, showing even less regard for Yuan Qi. While still laughing, one of them said, “Hey, what did the three of them look like just now?” “When the police escort a prisoner, the cops always walk behind, and the prisoner walks in front.” “And usually there are two of them.” It was that same youth, who made a cross-eyed face at Yuan Qi, held up two fingers in a V-sign, raising the number high above his head, which sent everyone into another fit of wild laughter.

This outburst drew a burst of fury from Yuan Qi, who, right in front of everyone, slapped the youth across the face with the back of his hand.

The slap was no small matter; the youth’s rage immediately ignited. With eyes blazing red, he whipped out a sickle from his waist and swung it toward them with a whoosh. It wasn't aimed at Yuan Qi, but at Li Xiao Shu behind him. Why? Because he knew a common weapon like a sickle couldn't kill Yuan Qi; it was only effective against living mortals. He thought: Isn't Li Xiao Shu the one Yuan Qi is desperately trying to capture to present to the higher-ups? I’ll make you a criminal and teach you about seniority! Don’t think you can boss people around just because you’ve lived a few more years; you just passed that trial and earned this body!

However, though he thought it, as he lunged toward Xiao Shu, he abruptly stopped his attack. Zhang Yuqiu had already positioned herself as a shield in front of Xiao Shu. In that split second before the sickle would have struck, the youth suddenly perceived an ineffable allure emanating from Zhang Yuqiu’s eyes. The sensation was like a gust of spring breeze brushing his face, making him want to look, like an addict craving his next fix, wanting to keep looking, unable to look away.

Only when Xiao Shu finally got up from the ground, pulling Zhang Yuqiu up with her, did the youth’s dazed eyes finally leave the woman. He seemed momentarily lost, unsure of what had just possessed him. He was about to return to his companions with the sickle when he suddenly spun back, transferring the weapon to his left hand, extending his right hand, and gripping Zhang Yuqiu’s hand tightly. “My name is Fan Jia.”