Finally! Finally!

Huang Shang's judgment was correct; from beginning to end, Xu Feng and Xu Yue had been observing from the shadows.

His room had been fitted with eavesdropping devices.

These grain-sized goblin listening devices allowed the reincarnators, positioned a kilometer away, to hear the conversations inside the room clearly through their headsets.

Wang Jiantong was, after all, a first-class expert; if the two of them got too close, there was an unavoidable risk of exposure.

Only this method was truly impossible to guard against.

But as she listened, Xu Yue furrowed her beautiful, slender brows: "Huang Shang's ambitions are incredibly high, and his goals are far-reaching. Can our investment really be recouped?"

Xu Feng didn't think much of it: "Sis, isn't that just how intellectuals are? They shout slogans to the heavens, plaster banners everywhere, and put on a whole show..."

He didn't continue, suddenly noticing Xu Yue eyeing him sideways.

Xu Feng, possessing a strong survival instinct, pivoted naturally: "But being cultured is impressive; they can govern the state and pacify the people, unlike us brutes who only know how to fight. Since that Huang Shang wants to wipe out Western Xia, Liao, and Jin, we can just do it for him. I used to have dreams of time travel, of coming to ancient times and slaughtering all the foreign enemies invading our China. Now I can consider it a dream fulfilled. Ouch..."

Before he could finish, a slender finger flicked against his forehead.

Xu Yue rolled her eyes: "You think you're so capable? Is a country something you can just wipe out on a whim? The Heavens Consciousness worlds are not illusions; everything from top to bottom is real. Forget about a small fry like you who hasn't even reached two stars; even if the Sweeping Monk went on a killing spree, he couldn't shake Western Xia or the Liao Kingdom!"

Xu Feng shrank his head, knowing Xu Yue was in a foul mood and not daring to provoke her further, he quickly shut his mouth.

Xu Yue began to mutter to herself: "The Yang God soul cultivation technique, while we can't use it, is still worth over two thousand reincarnation points. If we use it on Huang Shang and fail to form a contract in the end, it would be such a waste..."

Why is it that among men and women, women are often more prone to impulsive spending?

It is not a matter of character discrimination, but a decision based on physiological traits.

Studies show that women's baseline dopamine levels are thirty percent higher than men's. When emotions are stirred, dopamine levels rise; because women start higher, they easily exceed the optimal threshold during emotional excitement, leading to a decline in cognitive ability.

Therefore, when women are in a high state of excitement, they disregard everything else and spend impulsively, only to reflect on their actions once they have calmed down.

Ever since she accidentally encountered Huang Shang, Xu Yue had been single-mindedly focused on contracting this future grandmaster, keeping her in a state of rising dopamine.

But as time passed, her dopamine returned to normal, and her sharp intellect reclaimed the high ground.

No one's money comes from a strong wind; reincarnation points are even more precious.

Knowing full well that Huang Shang was difficult to contract, to still foolishly invest such a high cost—wouldn't that make them complete idiots?

Seeing Xu Yue muttering for a long while, Xu Feng couldn't help but say: "Actually, we could get some martial arts from the Xiaoyao Sect or Shaolin Temple of this world to cultivate Huang Shang first. That would cost less; if we succeed in the contract, great, and if we fail, it's no big loss."

Xu Yue sighed: "That is indeed an idea, but then Huang Shang would be half-ruined. It would be hard for him to even reach two stars in the future. A grandmaster who creates his own techniques is vastly different from a successor who learns from others!"

Although unwilling, if there was truly no other way, they would have to settle for second best.

But just then, a clear, resonant voice suddenly rang out from the headset: "To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth! To establish a life for the people! To carry on the lost teachings of past sages! To establish peace for all generations! Even a wanderer in the Jianghu knows to protect their home and country; I should uphold what I have said even more, and not fail the teachings of my teacher!"

Xu Feng dug at his ear: "Is it necessary to keep repeating it? I'm sick of hearing it!"

Xu Yue, however, was different; her eyes suddenly shifted: "Wait, Wang Jiantong mentioned earlier that these Hengqu Four Verses were spoken by Huang Shang?"

Xu Feng also reacted: "Oh yeah, isn't this what Confucius said?"

Xu Yue retorted sharply: "Lack of culture is truly terrifying; this was said by Zhang Zai."

Xu Feng chuckled dryly: "You were the top scorer in the college entrance exam, I'm a failure; how would I know the source of these famous quotes? Anyway, anything I'm not sure about, I just say it was Lu Xun..."

Xu Yue ignored his banter and pondered to herself: "Huang Shang is a disciple of Zhang Zai, yet he speaks Zhang Zai's Hengqu Four Verses. Is this a change in the world?"

Xu Feng felt it was a matter of course: "After all, this is Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, not a historical time-travel story. It's normal; in history, there was no Guo Jing defending Xiangyang or Yang Guo killing Mongke either!"

"Not failing the teachings of my teacher... this teacher, is it Zhang Zai, or someone else entirely?"

As Xu Yue analyzed this, her expression suddenly turned ugly: "Could it be that besides us, other reincarnators have set their sights on Huang Shang?"

Xu Feng was startled; he immediately wiped the playful grin off his face, assumed a combat stance, and looked around.

Xu Yue spoke to herself: "There are only two possibilities. Either it is an arrangement by the Heavens Consciousness—Huang Shang is a martial arts grandmaster in his later years and a Confucian scholar in his early years, and these four verses demonstrate his breadth of spirit—or there are other reincarnators who have moved a step ahead of us and are laying their pieces to cultivate Huang Shang."

Xu Feng asked urgently: "Which is more likely?"

Xu Yue bit her lip gently: "Of course, the possibility of the Heavens Consciousness changing is higher. We should be the only ones who descended into the Eastern Capital Kaifeng Prefecture, but..."

Xu Feng continued: "But what if there's a hidden schemer? Sis, let's show ourselves. If there really is someone else hiding in the dark, we can force them out. If we guessed wrong, we'll just treat it as an investment. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world; if you want a return, you have to pay!"

He had previously been reluctant to part with the Yang God inheritance, and his passive attitude had influenced Xu Yue to some extent.

But now, he had done a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

When a person chooses between two things, they weigh them, nitpick, and compare, being perfectly rational.

But when two people fight over one thing, regardless of whether it's good or bad, they grab it first.

This is why salespeople often say there is only one left, and if you don't buy it now, it will be gone.

There are many such tricks in later generations, and customers wouldn't believe them, but in the case of the current Huang Shang, there was truly only one.

Xu Yue had been extremely tempted by Huang Shang's character card to begin with, and under Xu Feng's urging, she finally hesitated no longer: "Fine, we will make formal contact."

Xu Feng's face lit up with joy, only to see his own sister suddenly turn her head and look at him with a gentle, kind expression: "I originally planned to let Huang Shang face a crisis so we could step in to save him, but there's no time for that now. Let's reverse it; you have thick skin, so just bear with it!"

A moment later, Xu Feng's muffled cry rang out.

"Sis, that hurts!"

Huang Shang lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

After reciting the Hengqu Four Verses and following it up with those misleading words, those two reincarnators must have heard it.

If their knowledge of history was decent, they should be able to spot the inconsistencies.

When he first decided to become a literary plagiarist, he had considered using this as a tactic to conjure up a non-existent reincarnator, thereby creating competitive pressure.

However, he had not intended to do it in such a crude manner.

Alas, Wang Jiantong had disrupted his plans, forcing a last-minute change.

At this point, everything that could be done had been done.

From here on out, it would depend on the whims of fate.

What I dislike the most is fate.

With a silent sigh, Huang Shang closed his eyes.

Time to sleep.

Thump!

Just as he was drifting into a haze, the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground suddenly echoed from the backyard, followed by the sound of pained groaning.

Huang Shang, who was not sleeping soundly to begin with, snapped his eyes open but did not rise.

The groaning persisted relentlessly for a full quarter of an hour before Huang Shang finally got out of bed, lit an oil lamp, and walked toward the courtyard.

Under the dim light, he saw a burly figure collapsed in the backyard, a ghastly wound across his back dripping with blood, the man appearing to be on the verge of death.

Huang Shang couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

Was this not the son of Bao Zheng?

Xu Feng, unaware that he had been given such a nickname, recited his lines meticulously: "Young Master, do not make a scene. Quickly help me inside. I possess a great secret that concerns the very fate of the Great Song!"

Seeing Xu Feng appear and employ a bitter-meat ruse, the heavy stone in Huang Shang's heart finally settled, and he stepped forward to help him up.

The moment their bodies touched, a flash of relief crossed both their eyes, and they thought in unison:

You finally arrived!

(Seeking recommendations and bookmarks; the new book period is very important.)

Thanks to book friends "Marvel Iron Man," "Heaven Crystal Hun Tian Treasure Mirror," "Feng Yu Wu Fei," and "Xiao Luo Luo" for their tips.