Chapter 297

Wang Ping'an

Niuda

Since Niuda kindly offered to give him a ride, and he is not a bad person, there's naturally no need to refuse Niuda's kindness.

He knows why Niuda is so enthusiastic toward him, and he doesn't care; after all, he and Niuda have no relation, let alone Niuda—even if it were any person or even a monster—if there's no way to gain anything from him.

Wu Zi

Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan

Niuda fawned with a smile; although he had much to say, he wanted to speak in front of Wang Ping'an, hoping to draw closer to Wang Ping'an, so that the Third Miss would value it more.

But it clearly knows that now is not the time for idle talk; never mind whether Wang Ping'an is willing to listen to his nonsense, the Third Miss is still waiting.

Low-grade Spirit Stone

The Third Miss currently doesn't know that Daoist Li has come to Jiu tou shan ji shi, but the Third Miss had indeed said before that if Daoist Li comes to Jiu tou shan ji shi, he must notify it immediately.

Former Squad Leader

It hasn't forgotten that its current status is thanks to whose blessing.

Niuda walked in front, respectfully leading Wang Ping'an toward the Nine-headed Mountain Fox Clan's merchant association headquarters; as they passed Zhu wu, Niuda lifted his nostrils and commanded:

"Zhu wu, guard this place well, don't let any bad person in, and don't neglect to collect even a single low-grade spirit stone; of course, as the Third Miss said, we cannot collect the entry fee from Fellow Daoist Li."

"Fellow Daoist Li is a valued guest of our Nine-headed Mountain Market; please treat him well!"

Zhu wu suppressed the anger in its heart; it was already furious because that beast Niuda had just found an excuse to beat it with fists and feet, filling it with rage, wishing it could swallow Niuda whole.

Upon hearing Niuda's words, the anger in its heart instantly ignited.

Where would any good people come from in the Nine-headed Mountain Market?

That beast Niuda deliberately said those words in front of it, clearly looking for trouble.

Niuda paid no attention to Zhu wu's angry expression and snapped: "Why aren't you speaking? Did you not hear my words clearly, or do you have an opinion about what I said?"

Not long ago.

It had just seized an opportunity to give Zhu wu a fierce beating; if Zhu wu weren't a little angry, Zhu wu ought to be wary, for this damned creature might look for a chance to strike Zhu wu from the shadows.

Even to the point of taking advantage of its unpreparedness to take its life!

Zhu wu's current stance of being angry but not speaking especially pleases it, showing that this damned creature fears the authority of its squad leader; even after being beaten badly by it, it dare not seek revenge.

Zhu wu shuddered all over, not because Niuda's fierce gaze frightened it, but because it knew that now was not the time to clash with Niuda, nor to seek revenge against that beast; it suppressed the fury blazing like fire in its heart and said:

"Captain Niu, that's what you said!"

If it were before, before this beast had the chance to give it a brutal beating, it might have had thousands of words of flattery, but now it even harbors the desire to kill that beast—how could it still have the mind to flatter it?

Not being able to, under the drive of anger, forcibly act and slay that beast on the spot to vent its hatred already counts as strong willpower.

Of course.

It hasn't sought revenge against Niuda, not only because its willpower is strong, but also because it knows Niuda's prowess and that it is no match for Niuda.

Moreover, that beast is clearly preparing to take Fellow Daoist Li to see the Third Miss; if it were to clash with that beast, delaying Fellow Daoist Li's visit to the Third Miss, given its understanding of that beast, the beast would very likely slander Fellow Daoist Li in front of the Third Miss.

Like Hu Jiushisan, being outright expelled from the North Gate Guard Squad would be considered mild; the fear is not knowing how one might die.

"Zhu wu, it's not me saying this—I don't even know who provoked you to put on a dead‑mother face, and I don't know who you're showing it to—but Fellow Daoist Li is a valued guest of our Nine-headed Mountain Market; you need to smile, do you understand smiling?"

Niuda barked, completely indifferent; Zhu wu's eyes burned with fury like flames, yet he put on a fawning smile and flattered Wang Ping'an, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Li, don't stoop to its level; it's just like that, not intentionally targeting you!"

Wang Ping'an smiled and said nothing more.

He's not stupid; how could he fail to see that Niuda is deliberately teasing Zhu wu.

From Niuda's earlier beating of Zhu wu to now repeatedly mocking and ridiculing him, he wonders what Niuda's purpose is in doing this.

Isn't he afraid that Zhu wu will bear a grudge and later seek an opportunity to take revenge on him?

However.

=9+Book Bar

He didn't press further; he was just someone who enjoys watching the spectacle, not the type who likes to break the sandpot to ask the bottom line.

"Niuda beast, you wait; if I don't find a chance to kill you to vent my hatred, I will take your surname!"

Zhu wu's face turned feral as he watched Niuda lead Wang Ping'an into the Nine-headed Mountain Market; he could no longer suppress the killing intent spreading in his heart.

In the Nine-headed Mountain Market, Niuda, walking ahead, saw that Wang Ping'an had not said anything to him for a while; he knew this wouldn't do, as it would affect his efforts to grow closer to Wang Ping'an.

Niuda put on a fawning smile and asked: "Fellow Daoist Li, I don't know if you're curious, but why did I just treat Zhu wu—that pig demon just now—with punches and kicks, and repeatedly mock and ridicule him?"

Wang Ping'an could tell that Niuda was deliberately bringing up a topic to talk about in front of him, so he asked that way rather than to show off.

Of course.

There might be a bit of showing off, but not much; from the pleasant things it just said, flowing out as if they were free, one can tell it is also a clever person.

It knows what can be done and what cannot.

Wang Ping'an sent a mental message, curious: "Fellow Daoist, don't say it—I'm really curious about your purpose in doing this; with your repeated humiliations of it, aren't you afraid it will bear a grudge, seek revenge on you, even kill you to vent its hatred?"

"Fellow Daoist Li, if you don't mind, you can call me Little Ox!"

Niuda's expression turned serious; without asking whether Wang Ping'an is older than it, even if he isn't, let alone calling him 'Little Ox', even if he called it 'Ox Grandson', it would be very happy.

If Wang Ping'an called it 'Ox Grandson', that would show Wang Ping'an's closeness to it; if possible, it would gladly truly become Wang Ping'an's grandson.

Niuda explained: "Fellow Daoist Li, it's not that I look down on that pig demon; based on my understanding of it, my repeatedly humiliating it will make it bear a grudge, even to the point of wanting to kill me!"

"But as for that, it only dares to think about it; expecting it to have the courage to act is impossible!"

"My repeated humiliations of it just now were actually deliberate; I only yesterday assumed the position of squad leader of the North Gate Guard Squad."

"It is a veteran member, on very good terms with the previous squad leader, and perhaps also harbors ambitions for the squad leader position; by doing this, I am actually trying to test how well it tolerates my taking the squad leader role!"

(End of chapter)