Pretending To Be A Boss

"Baichuan City, the place where humans reside."

"I remember you promised to invite me first. And you said you'd absolutely never deceive me about this matter."

Tang Xian sighed at Bai Mansheng's really good memory.

The Nvwa Snake lineage was, after all, a cold species, and Bai Mansheng's body was entirely in white.

When she looked at Tang Xian with knitted brows and cold eyes, he felt the autumn chill intensify.

He had indeed stood Bai Mansheng up again, and for a moment, he did not know what to say.

After some thought, Tang Xian took out several books. These were hardcover audio books and were considered bestsellers in the library.

They came with narration and texts in various languages. For a clever little white snake like Bai Mansheng, they were excellent materials for learning human languages.

Tang Xian also knew early on that Bai Mansheng would probably ask about Qing JiuYu.

After all, the matter had already spread throughout the Beast Tribunal. Therefore, he had come prepared, bringing quite a number of books along.

Bai Mansheng's mood improved a bit at the sight of these books.

Just like Qing JiuYu liked the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid and sparkly ornaments,

Bai Mansheng liked those stories that could touch the heart.

However, because the stories Tang Xian had previously given were quite tragic, although they were also very good, she still said,

"By the way, do any of these stories have a happier tone? Let's see, in human terms, that would be 'healing.' I don't like it when interesting central characters are forcibly killed off just to create a tragic atmosphere."

Tang Xian pretended to think seriously. In fact, according to large statistics, the more seriously people take their artistic pursuits, the more they liked tragic stories.

Bai Mansheng's request did catch Tang Xian somewhat off-guard.

He started flipping through two very soothing books in the pile, and responded earnestly,

"Indeed, although Mr. Lu Xun believes that tragedy is about showing people broken beauty, the core of a true tragedy is much broader than that. The tragedy that comes from killing off interesting characters is ultimately inferior."

Saying this, Tang Xian finally found two books.

One was the Blade Factory boss's "Dragon Clan," and the other was George Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire."

"These are two very interesting stories, joyful, heartwarming, healing; one is an Eastern fantasy, with a delicate, exquisite style and full of youthful exuberance. The other is a Western fantasy, with grand and majestic prose, embodying an epic that has been passed down through ages. The characters in the books all live to the very end unharmed. They're very suitable for you."

Bai Mansheng, looking at Tang Xian's serious words and earnest expression, was delighted and said,

"Thank you, I will take a look."

"You're welcome, but good stories should be saved for last, and since I'm here for another reason this time, there's no need to rush into such warm stories."

Tang Xian thought to himself that he was not a devil, for in a sense, these two stories were quite healing.

Of course, that was from the point of view of the masked persona of Song Que.

Bai Mansheng nodded and asked,

"So, what is the reason you came to find me this time?"

"I promised to take you to the world of humans for a visit, though I also promised to take you there first..."

Bai Mansheng smiled faintly and said,

"Tang Xian, I'm not blaming you. I'm just rather envious of Qing JiuYu."

"She was exiled, which isn't something to envy," Tang Xian said with a wry smile.

"Though I despise her, the Fox Clan she led at least didn't mess around or declare war on other races everywhere. And... she was lucky to be rescued by you."

Bai Mansheng shook her head slightly and said,

"At least you saved her, and you had quite an eventful experience with her."

"If it had been you in trouble, I would have rescued you too. Even though you two don't get along, you are both my friends. I don't think there's much to lament about in this matter."

"But after all, I haven't had the same life-and-death experiences with you as she has," Bai Mansheng insisted stubbornly.

Tang Xian's smile gradually faded, and he looked at Bai Mansheng. After several seconds, he said,

"In beautiful stories, the emotions between people seem to be maintained through life-and-death experiences.

It seems that in novels, if you haven't killed or been hunted together, you can't call it friendship.

But life isn't like that."

Suddenly, Tang Xian took back the two books and said,

"Perhaps I should recommend some more everyday-type stories to you, and then you will understand that human relationships are valued for their long-term companionship and coexistence."

Bai Mansheng was stunned, then she realized that she had been tricked by Tang Xian again.

Those two books probably aren't any heartwarming, healing stories.

She had rarely seen Tang Xian look so serious and earnest.

"If possible, I wish both my friends and I won't have to go through any painful separations or inexplicable life-and-death experiences," he said.

Bai Mansheng seemed to half understand, responding,

"Because you can't bear to let go?"

"Yes, because I can't bear to let go," Tang Xian affirmed.

Tang Xian said,

"David Eagleman once wrote in 'Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives': a person dies three times. The first time is when the heartbeat stops, the breath ceases, and he is declared dead biologically; the second time occurs when people wear black to attend his funeral, marking his absence from society, and the third death happens when the last person in the world who remembers him also forgets him, then he truly perishes. The entire universe will then have nothing to do with him."

"It does seem to make some sense," Bai Mansheng nodded.

Tang Xian shook his head and said,

"This statement seriously underestimates death. Death is simply death; what's called the second and third is merely an artistic expression, an inevitable outcome. Anything that fades away will be forgotten.

Death itself is the most resolute and cleanest form of erasure in this world. There is no second time. If you die, all the effort you've made amounts to nothing.

So don't expect any heroic deaths or dying together; better to expect that I become unrivaled in the world and appear just in time to solve your troubles."

"Alright, then I wish you become unrivaled in the world soon." Bai Mansheng suddenly laughed again and added in a soft voice,

"Seeing you so serious, are you saying that my life is somewhat important to you?"

This was the reason Tang Xian thought men were better than women.

Even Li Xiaoyu would be excessively emotional at times.

And it was even less surprising when it came to Bai Mansheng.

Yet Tang Xian disliked answering such questions, even though he agreed inwardly.

After some thought, Tang Xian said:

"So, are you coming or not?"

"To the world of humans?"

"Yes, but not Baichuan City, rather the Pyramid."

"It's all the same to me, they're places I've never been to, and I want to go. But I'll listen to your arrangements," Bai Mansheng paused before continuing,

"I'll go pack, wait for me. Oh, and give me those two books."

Tang Xian thought that it was her own wish to read them, so he handed them to Bai Mansheng.

He liked people who were prompt in their affairs, and Bai Mansheng's preparations were indeed swift.

Before long, she had clearly explained some of the affairs of the Nvwa Snake tribe.

The creatures of the Nvwa Snake tribe held great respect for Bai Mansheng.

Tang Xian could see that, although Bai Mansheng had a cool nature,

she was also passionate.

In dealing with tribal affairs, Bai Mansheng was decisive and efficient, lacking the tentative disposition some artistic young women had.

That the Nvwa Snake tribe was able to defeat the Fox tribe had something to do with Bai Mansheng.

Tang Xian was en route to Fortress 39 mainly to find Shang Lu and inquire about the Zuston Sacred Tree.

According to its cycle, if the Zuston Sacred Tree were to bear fruit again, it should have started growing by now.

Bringing Bai Mansheng along, on one hand, was to fulfill a promise, and on the other hand, he was somewhat worried about her.

This feeling was rare for him; ever since he came to the mining area, he always felt like he was being targeted by some powerful creature.

Normally, it was he who actively hunted others. This time, however, he felt that some formidable creature was out to hunt him.

Tang Xian was not overly concerned—Bai Mansheng's combat abilities were still inferior to Qing JiuYu's, and he was not one to make the same mistake twice.

On the way from March Marsh to Tianque Plains, Tang Xian encountered several waves of creature migrations.

He was well aware of the patterns of the creatures in the mining area, and was thus certain that this was abnormal.

Something big was about to happen in the mining area, perhaps related to him.

Tang Xian did not continue to ponder over it; he went with the flow, took Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji with him, and headed to Fortress 39.

He had become Don Quixote, with Bai Mansheng and Tang Feiji as his lady-in-waiting and guard.