Pretending To Be A Boss
Chapter 39: Chapter 28: The No-Loss Deal_2

Travelers heading to the mining area could choose from several teleportation stations, which were mostly established in relatively safe regions.

They could also choose to teleport directly back to the last place they left from. However, this memory was retained only once.

Now, the tree sea had become a red zone due to Qing JiuYu's appearance. Tang Xian guessed that if he didn't take action himself, the Hell Flame Wolf that Jiang Ming was concerned about might never be killed by anyone.

The Biphasic Orchid could only be found at the edge of the tree sea, so Tang Xian did not rush to venture deep into it.

Although he was considered a real boss-level existence to the human factions, he was still quite weak compared to the creatures of the mining area.

He had taken only a few steps when he stopped.

[Calamity-level boss Jiuye Fox has learned your location through sharing, sharing time remaining: 5 days, 21 hours, 19 minutes, 44 seconds]

Tang Xian frowned.

This was what Qing JiuYu had done to him last time, but he didn't know what the implications of it were.

Because right after that he had left the mining area.

Now that he thought about it, as long as he was in the mining area, Qing JiuYu would probably know his whereabouts for nearly the next six days.

Tang Xian shook his head.

Dong Ran was now a member of his team, codenamed Tang, and as the team leader, it was natural for him to help rectify the mistakes made by his team members. So he didn't mind.

[You have learned the location of the Jiuye Fox, Qing JiuYu]

At this moment, a certain image came into his mind through his sea of consciousness.

It was at the edge of the tree sea, relatively far from the fox's lair, but the Jiuye Fox moved very quickly. In Tang Xian's sea of consciousness, there was a map.

A red dot was approaching him at high speed.

At this rate, Qing JiuYu would be close to him in less than ten minutes.

Tang Xian slowed his pace.

Before long, he smelled a faint fragrance.

After a while, the owner of the scent appeared in his line of sight.

"It's really strange, I couldn't sense you with my Soul Crystal the day before yesterday. You were like you had disappeared from this world."

Qing JiuYu was very puzzled, as this had never happened before.

Tang Xian figured out what the situation was and improvised an excuse,

"I went to a very special place and picked a few Biphasic Orchids for you."

Qing JiuYu's eyes instantly lit up.

Tang Xian opened his item bag.

"This seems to be something humans use."

"Humans are smart. They've invented many useful things, which we should learn from."

Qing JiuYu nodded, replaceing the statement logical.

Tang Xian took out three Biphasic Orchids.

Qing JiuYu covered her lips. Despite being prepared, she was still overjoyed at the sight of the three Biphasic Orchids.

Tang Xian had to admit that the evaluation of her charm as devastatingly enchanting was very fitting. The woman's every grimace and smile carried an immense seductive power.

"How did you obtain these?"

"Like I said, it was a rather special place. I can't tell you."

"Hmph, stingy."

Qing JiuYu happily took the Biphasic Orchids.

"Alright, your pet... oh, no, your underling's killing of my clan member can be considered squared away."

It wasn't that the life of a clan member was worthless, but that Biphasic Orchids were too rare in this world. Otherwise, Qing JiuYu wouldn't appear here when the flowers blossomed.

"But you still have to do what you promised me. It's not been a week yet; I'll tell you when the time comes."

Women tend to be coy, expecting men to be persistent. But the thinking of the fox clan and the humans was different.

Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu, with the sincerity rating system evaluating her as: her word was as good as gold. Therefore, he didn't ask further and nodded in agreement.

He didn't want to work for free, but this was an opportunity to penetrate the "upper tier" of the mining area.

However, Tang Xian still wanted to strive for some legitimate rights.

"This Biphasic Orchid, I actually know of a few other places where it can be found. I can get some more for you."

"Really?"

Women love flowers, especially those that are etched into their genetic memories. It's probably the same reason cats love fish snacks.

"Yeah, I keep my word, and you should have realized that by now."

Qing JiuYu nodded.

At first, when Tang Xian boasted about replaceing three Biphasic Orchids of Jiuye, Dong Ran was skeptical.

But Tang Xian was highly efficient, and Qing JiuYu's impression of him improved significantly.

Tang Xian also noticed that Qing JiuYu's favorability towards him had risen to 45, described as "heart-racing."

Giving flowers to a woman really can boost the relationship.

Taking advantage of the moment, he said,

"If you like other flowers as well, I can help you get them."

"You're a person who talks about interests, what do you want me to do?" Qing JiuYu was calm.

"Occasionally I purely want to help people out of sentimentality, especially beautiful women."

"Heh, you have a way with words. But I don't like owing others."

Tang Xian nodded.

Continuing with pleasantries was the style of humans. Facing a fox with such high candor, Tang Xian said,

"Has a Hellhound with three heads recently come to the Forest Sea?"

"That's right. It's quite large and seems to be in an evolutionary phase. It may enter the next stage after a while."

Tang Xian's pupils contracted.

An evolutionary phase?

Indeed, in Steven's "New Mine Area Evolution Theory," it is mentioned that the evolutionary cycles of mine area creatures are much shorter than earth creatures.

But this requires some luck, probably related to Soul Crystals. Most creatures do not evolve until their death. A select few, however, can evolve into the next form of their kind.

"Hell Flame Wolf?" Tang Xian said.

Among canine creatures, there are not many existences above the elite level boss. The perfect level creature Hell Flame Wolf is one of them.

"Yes. It's been in the mine area for a while and has been quite well-behaved. What about it? Did it offend you? If you want to kill it, I don't mind."

Tang Xian nodded, thinking that he was pretending to be an entity capable of standing on equal footing with a calamity-level boss. Not to mention a Hellhound with three heads, even a Hell Flame Wolf would be as good as dead if he said so.

"What about the Beast Court?"

"As long as you're discreet enough."

"I tend to be rather heavy-handed in my actions, and I have some connections with the bone hyenas of the Red Soil Forest. When the Hellhound sees me, it might fight to the death, unavoidably leaving clues. Not all creatures in the Forest Sea recognize me; they won't necessarily help me."

Qing JiuYu watched Tang Xian with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Tang Xian didn't beat around the bush.

"Your kin hold a certain prestige here, not to mention you, and women are meticulous by nature, making few mistakes. Conveniently, it is not wary of you. In my hands are exactly two more Biphasic Orchids of Jiuye. Why shouldn't we be good friends and solve each other's needs?"

"Tsk tsk, you speak just like a shrewd and cunning human, yet so straightforward. Okay, I agree."

"It has one ear missing, and it's also missing an eye. If possible, spare me the three heads, don't burn them to nothing."

When a calamity-level boss takes on an elite-level boss, Tang Xian didn't even need to imagine it; the fight would surely be over in an instant. A breath of foxfire would leave nothing but ashes.

He needed to make some requests.

"Any other requests?"

"Yes, it would be best to keep the belly intact as well."

Qing JiuYu thought Tang Xian was amusing, curious about what he needed the head and belly for.

Seeing the confusion, Tang Xian said,

"Do you eat meat normally?"

"Our fox clan has always eaten meat."

"That's good, I love meat too. It's just that my way of eating it differs from yours."

Then Qing JiuYu understood.

"I will disappear for another two days. Next time I see you, I'll bring the Biphasic Orchids you need. If there's any other plant you like, feel free to tell me as well."

Qing JiuYu nodded, replying, "Wait a few days, and I'll come to you, bringing what you want."

The deal was struck.

Having a calamity-level boss work for you naturally saves effort.

Latter on, Qing JiuYu chatted casually with Tang Xian about personal preferences, and he managed to learn some things.

For example, the fox clan actually likes Portugese Lilies, the Nvwa Snake that's in conflict likes White Mulberry best, and Qing JiuYu herself is quite fond of shiny objects.

Mostly he knew already.

But for an entity like Qing JiuYu capable of assuming a human form, there ought to be a few private likes. Pleasing Qing JiuYu became a higher priority than the next plan.

Tang Xian did some calculations, seeing it as a deal that couldn't lose.

The leg of a calamity-level boss was outstretched; it would be a mistake not to cling to it, wouldn't it?