Counting the Spoils

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in life. The strategy of winning hearts and minds is a tactic, a perfectly legitimate conspiracy. That's why Si Ming concluded his opponent's defeat with the words, "Why should a defeated general say more?"

When Si Ming returned to his companions, he saw Liu Qingqing, who had regained control of her body, frowning at her hands with obvious dissatisfaction, almost as if she wanted to shout "Bad review, refund!"

"What's wrong? Are you injured, or is there some Power of Anomalies left behind?" Si Ming asked with concern.

Liu Qingqing shook her head, touching her arm, and said, "I'm unhappy because I can't transform."

Si Ming nearly fell over. "It's normal for a human body not to deform. Do you think it's putty? Don't get it wrong, the Myriad Filth Tainted Blood is just an incarnation; this is your true form."

The Myriad Filth Tainted Blood is absorbing the Beast King's essence, and it is currently undergoing a transformation. No one knows what it will become in the end, after all, this is a situation that has never been encountered before. Although the Power of Anomalies is not Demon Power and there is no such thing as becoming a spirit, such a strong source of power is poured in, even if half of it is lost along the way, it is enough to turn a sow into a flying pig girl.

To avoid any accidents, everyone decided to let Liu Qingqing return to her original form, but she herself seemed rather reluctant to leave.

Si Ming asked, "By the way, how is the third guest inside your body?"

"She's very shy and doesn't like to come out. Do you want to see her?"

Shang Yu and Wan Ziling's spiritual cultivation was stronger than Liu Qingqing's, so the two of them held the initiative and were able to turn the tables. However, the third victim of Myriad Filth Tainted Blood seemed to be just a girl from an ordinary family, so the initiative fell into Liu Qingqing's hands.

"Let's meet her anyway. Even if she doesn't want to come out and prefers to stay home, we need to understand what her wishes are so we can help her achieve them."

Hopefully, it wasn't some wish for world peace or anything like that, otherwise Si Ming could only say he was powerless to help. However, considering the other person's age, the more innocent the Ziyue likely they were to make grand ambitions, so he couldn't help but feel uneasy, instinctively sensing that this would be a tricky person.

If her wish is revenge, then there's no need to do anything special. The Blood Abyss Sect has already been destroyed. At most, she can sweep up the few who managed to escape. Or she can take revenge on those who bullied her in her previous life. That would be even simpler. The enemies that an ordinary girl can offend are not very powerful. They might not even need to take her life. They could just grab her and give her a spanking.

Liu Qingqing crossed her arms over her chest, closed her eyes, and her breath gradually faded away.

A moment later, when she opened her eyes, she immediately showed a timid expression, like a frightened little rabbit, shrinking back and looking as if she had shrunk a size.

Si Ming tried his best to show a gentle older brother smile and asked softly, "Little girl, what's your name?"

Calling your childhood sweetheart "little girl" feels strangely awkward; it feels like it's beyond being a creepy uncle...

But seeing different expressions on his childhood sweetheart's rarely emotional face still gave Si Ming a sense of novelty, as if he had gained something.

"I... my name is Xie Xiaomei," the other person said, shrinking back and lowering their head in a voice barely audible.

The name itself suggests easy to deal with; it feels like a lollipop would suffice. A man's intuition is indeed not to be underestimated.

Si Ming continued to coax, "Little Xie Xiaomei, is there anything you wish for? Anything is fine with you, even if you want the stars and the moon, big brother will pluck them down for you."

"I... have no wish." The other person seemed very nervous, as if facing a human trafficker who might attack her at any moment.

Desires are equivalent to obsessions; it's impossible to be without obsessions. If one were truly free from all attachments, one would have already become a Buddha or an immortal.

Si Ming had no choice but to change his questioning style. "Then you must have something you want to do, right?"

"..." The other person didn't speak, but simply shook their head.

So what exactly do you want?

"..."

This time there was no reaction at all.

That's why Laozi dislike children; I can't communicate with them!

Si Ming roared inwardly, but dared not show it.

If it were a bratty kid, that would be one thing; you could just hang him up and give him a beating. But if you're talking to a girl who looks introverted and shy, and your tone is a bit harsh, she'll probably hide in a corner and you won't be able to get her to talk.

If Hongdou were here, things would be great. Since they're both around the same mental age, they'd probably have a lot in common.

After racking his brains for a while, Si Ming suddenly had an idea. "That's right, little Xie Xiaomei, look at my face, can you remember anything?"

The other person timidly raised their head, peeking at Si Ming's face through the gap in their bangs, then their eyes lit up. "You're the older brother who saved me back then!"

"That's right, that's right, you have a very good memory." Si Ming felt that children should be given more encouragement, as this would benefit their healthy development.

"Thank you, big brother, for saving me."

Although Xie Xiaomei was still a little reserved, she still completed the formalities of expressing her gratitude. It was clear that she must have come from a good family and received a good upbringing when she was alive; she was by no means an ordinary Agricultural School girl.

The intimacy level has finally increased; it should have gone from strangers to acquaintances, right? Si Ming breathed a sigh of relief, then got back to the main topic and asked, "Big brother wants to help you fulfill your wish. Is there anything you want to do?"

The other person remained silent for a while, and finally spoke under Si Ming's expectant gaze, "Can... you just let me die like this?"

I take back what I said earlier; this guy is too difficult to deal with.

Chapter 612 Taking Stock of the Harvest

If it were anyone else, Si Ming might have said, "I've never heard of such a shameless request. I'll grant it," and then slapped them to their death. But the other person was just a little girl, and even when she made a mistake, the blame was placed on her guardian. Naturally, he couldn't just believe everything he was told. Besides, he had promised Wan Ziling that he would take good care of this little girl. A man's word is his bond, and he had to keep his promise. Even if he wasn't good at dealing with children, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and do it.

"Would you like some candied hawthorn berries? They're really delicious, even the older sister who tried them said they were great." Si Ming decisively unleashed the ultimate weapon: candied hawthorn berries.

My mom says I can't eat sweets, they'll ruin my teeth.

"How about I teach you martial arts, big brother? In the future, you can punch and Evil-Slaying Sect of East Mountain, kick the Glazed Temple in the South Sea, uphold justice, rob the rich to help the poor, and punish evil and promote good."

"My mother said that girls shouldn't learn anything about fighting and killing."

"How about I take you to the mountains to find some animals to play with? Like tigers, bears, and crocodiles. We'll find them and play house together."

My mother said, "Don't touch anything dirty."

Call your mother out here, I'm going to give her a beating!

This won't do, that won't do, what's the fun in life? With such strict discipline, no wonder she's so introverted and shy. These parents are way too controlling. Si Ming wondered if he'd misjudged her age; maybe she was actually younger than he thought?