Chapter 4429: Chapter 2046: Three Daughters_2

Having grown to this point, Xu Xiaoshou is confident about facing Dao Qiongcang head-on, but if this guy appears straightforward and then disappears underwater to pull off a big surprise attack, it would be troublesome.

"Honestly, I don’t want to kill you."

Xu Xiaoshou mused for a long time before suddenly speaking.

Bazhun’an showed no surprise, for he expected this.

But Dao Qiongcang, whose only remaining self is a memory imprint, was startled into a strange shout upon hearing these words, as though he sensed Xu Xiaoshou’s "but":

"No, Lord Shou!"

"I know what you’re thinking, I just want to live. For that, you can plant a branding mark within me, let me serve as your humble servant..."

Xu Xiaoshou snorted with laughter at the words: "Spare me the grandiose talk. I can’t accept being marked like that; it’d just make me want to rebel."

Dao Qiongcang suddenly fell silent, and Xiao Qi promptly picked up the conversation with a look of serious contemplation about how to resolve the matter properly:

"Xu Xiaoshou is right, ’branding mark’ is absolutely inappropriate."

"Not to mention that Dao Qiongcang has countless methods to break branding marks; now everyone’s an Ancestral God, what they tolerate today might not be tolerable tomorrow."

"Xiao Qi does have a suggestion."

Xu Ba and his companion heard this and looked towards the small Divine Elf, unsure of what Dao Qiongcang was planning by splitting his words between two mouths, "Go on."

Xiao Qi bit his finger seriously, "Xu Xiaoshou can spare Dao Qiongcang, letting Dao Qiongcang repay this favor by reviving people from the Apricot Realm with black memory traces before leaving the Shengshen Continent, going their separate ways, never to trouble each other again."

Impossible...

Bazhun’an silently shook his head.

If Xu Xiaoshou doesn’t want to kill Dao Qiongcang, it won’t be to let a tiger return to the mountain, but rather to make use of Dao Qiongcang.

His current thought is simply about how to strategically balance Dao Qiongcang when using him.

This method can’t be as extreme as the "branding mark," which makes people feel uncomfortable from the heart, yet it must be as effective as the branding mark, able to truly control Dao Qiongcang when necessary.

Indeed, it’s troublesome...

The essence is a branding mark, yet maintaining dignity...

Better to kill him and be done with it, but killing Dao Qiongcang does not necessarily ensure his demise...

Bazhun’an already has a headache.

Compared to dirty mind games, he prefers direct combat, frankly speaking, just to be Xu Xiaoshou’s sword.

"Dao Qiongcang, what do you think?" Xu Xiaoshou asked the memory imprint.

"Not appropriate."

"With your ability, surely you have a more appropriate method than what Xiao Qi suggested?"

"Currently, none..."

Xu Xiaoshou completely distrusts Dao Qiongcang not having a better solution; he knows Dao Qiongcang lacks speaking authority, and Xiao Qi definitely can’t decide the direction.

Bazhun’an on this side only trusts himself, and some things indeed only he can say at this moment; no matter how perfect a plan Dao Qiongcang proposes, he must oppose it whether suitable or not.

Indeed troublesome!

But unlike Bazhun’an, Xu Xiaoshou excels at handling this kind of trouble.

He pondered briefly, seeming to finally have an answer, and smiled: "Then I have an immature suggestion..."

Phew!

Bazhun’an breathed a sigh of relief, his form dimming significantly; he was about to reach his limit, needing to leave.

"Lord Shou, please speak." Dao Qiongcang immediately responded, nearly crying out. After such a wait, they finally reached judgment.

"It might inconvenience you..."

"Not inconvenient! Not inconvenient!"

"I feel compassion in my heart..."

"Lord Shou, don’t beat around the bush; my heart is cut by knives now, just be straightforward!"

"Alright, I won’t mince words: I very much need you." Xu Xiaoshou changed his expression and said solemnly: "You can live, but from now on, you must ’strive to master Ancient Sword Technique’."

This...

Xiao Qi blinked in surprise, still waiting for more.

Dao Qiongcang seemed also bewildered, as though he didn’t understand.

Only Bazhun’an knew; perhaps he was the slowest to react among the four, but after brief thinking, he understood.

It’s brilliant!

If Dao Qiongcang "strives to master Ancient Sword Technique," then as Saint Xin uses Holy Path Spiritual Cultivation to balance Kui Leihan, Bazhun’an has absolute confidence that Dao Qiongcang cannot surpass him; he can always find and affect him through the Way of the Sword.

Here, Xu Xiaoshou doesn’t need to intervene.

The balance and counter-balance is only between Bazhun’an and Dao Qiongcang.

But Bazhun’an fundamentally differs from Saint Xin; he doesn’t resent someone reaching the end of the path along with him. Xu Xiaoshou is even someone Bazhun’an supported on the journey.

Dao Qiongcang understands this, so he needn’t worry about mastering Ancient Sword Technique and getting backstabbed by Bazhun’an.

Whenever Dao Qiongcang starts worrying, or suddenly inexplicably stops mastering Ancient Sword Technique, it proves he is rebellious, and Bazhun’an can act without hesitation.

Given the trust between Xu and Ba, the "act first, report later" right, Bazhun’an doesn’t even need to ask to know Xu Xiaoshou also thinks this way inside.

Use the Dao to govern Dao, use the sword to control people, and befriend the sword.

The phrase "strive to master Ancient Sword Technique" binds the Xu, Ba, and Dao trio into a perfect, stable triangle, mutually balancing yet subtly led by Xu Xiaoshou, who holds veto power.

Not about not killing, but delaying the kill until true rebellion occurs.

Not about unrestrained direct use of Dao Qiongcang, but slow simmering, using Dao Qiongcang’s essence to enrich the soup, which everyone enjoys, including Dao Qiongcang himself.