Pretending To Be A Boss

Dealing with the fish was an activity held in the courtyard, but Tang Xiaojiu, who was inside the house, woke up naturally, as if connected by telepathy.

By now, Tang Xiaojiu had realized that every time Tang Xian's cooking involved fish, scales needed to be removed. So she squatted beside him, helping to scrape off the fish scales.

Tang Xian didn't point out that Tang Xiaojiu's interest was more in playing with the fish than actually preparing it.

It didn't take long before the fish were all dead from the handling.

"Big sister, you're here," Tang Xiaojiu still remembered Qiao Shanshan.

Qiao Shanshan nodded, also remembering the little girl who had looked so doubtful about life after eating a Bogen Fruit.

"My name is Qiao Shanshan."

"Sister Qiao."

Qiao Shanshan remembered how Tang Xiaojiu used to address Dong Ran, suspecting that this was related to Tang Xian, so she preemptively told Tang Xiaojiu her own name.

"Speaking of which, why did you bring such a young child to the mining area?" asked Qiao Shanshan.

"She's six years old, can run errands. Not young at all. The mining area isn't dangerous for Tang Xiaojiu. You'll understand in the future."

After cleaning the insides of the fish, Tang Xian placed them in the pot.

"In the future, don't casually allow others to enter the forest sea; it's somewhat inconvenient to handle such matters, and we can't just kill them."

Qiao Shanshan felt somewhat embarrassed; how did this man know everything?

Simmering on a low heat, it would take about thirty minutes for the pot of soup to turn milky white. Tang Xian remembered the timing, instructing Tang Xiaojiu to watch the pot and warning her to wait for his return before eating, or else she might get sick.

Frightened, Tang Xiaojiu nodded vigorously.

He then gave Qiao Shanshan a meaningful look and started walking out of the courtyard.

Qiao Shanshan hurriedly followed.

To Qiao Shanshan, Tang Xian seemed like a legendary hidden master. If he wasn't bragging, based on the strength he had shown, he could easily handle the White Rose Hunter Group.

The White Rose Hunter Group had four members in total—three doctors and one warrior.

The warrior, who was the team leader, was named Huang Jie, known as the flower of hunters, a beauty among women. Inside the Pyramid, she was accustomed to the adoring look from men.

Because such a woman once she becomes powerful, always exudes a certain aura.

So on the edge of the forest sea, upon seeing Qiao Shanshan with a man who seemed frail, Huang Jie showed a disdainful look.

In the forest sea, Huang Jie was different, possessing robust physique and tremendous strength.

The reason why the White Rose Hunter Group had so many doctors, instead of a conventional composition like other teams, was precisely because Huang Jie had real formidable strength.

This was confirmed even by the hunter groups who were on the front lines, as none had been stingy in their praise when evaluating Huang Jie.

Few others could keep up with Huang Jie's actions. Coupled with her defensive power comparable to the elite creatures of the mining area, and her equipment starting with green-tier, with a weapon that was a blue-tiered thermal broadsword. Such high-end equipment allowed her to be extremely formidable in terms of offensive power.

Therefore, battles were often simple. When dealing with enhanced or even elite creatures, doctors only needed to keep healing her, allowing her to freely display her prowess.

Before long, these creatures would discover that this human possessed strength greater than that of wild beasts, a humanoid fierce beast.

"So it turns out you've been following a pretty boy. I invite you again, Qiao Shanshan. I respect you and hope you will join my team."

Huang Jie was actually somewhat surprised, such as the fact that Qiao Shanshan was genuinely here.

Looking at Tang Xian's worn clothes, she felt as if he was someone from the lower class; yet, the man was quite handsome. Thinking it over, she found it all the more laughable.

"She said you're a pretty boy," Qiao Shanshan said calmly, trying to provoke some animosity in Tang Xian.

"I have a small face, and it's fair, so she's not wrong there. You should respond to them now, or reject them. The forest sea is dangerous; humans shouldn't come here carelessly," Tang Xian replied with equal calm, ignoring the insult.

Qiao Shanshan was speechless, realizing that even Tang Xian knew the forest sea was dangerous.

"You heard, you saw; this is my partner, and I already have my own team," said Qiao Shanshan.

Tang Xian knew her words were somewhat theatrical, but he was still quite satisfied with Qiao Shanshan's choice.

Huang Jie remarked, "I thought you and your teammates were very close. Yet here you are, a few days later in the mining area, having an affair. Sorry, but I tend to speak bluntly; don't take it to heart."

Qiao Shanshan's expression faltered.

Tang Xian also slightly furrowed his brows.

"He saved me and invited me to a meal, nothing more," Qiao Shanshan managed to say, her tone much colder.

"Psychopath, who eats in the mining area? What good food can there be in the mining area? Are you trying to provoke me to come to the forest sea to challenge him? What, now you are worried about your man? Heh, girl, be bold enough to admit what you've done; it's nothing to be ashamed of.

In the Pyramid, it's quite normal for men to have multiple women and women to have multiple men, right?" Huang Jie added another barb:

"But you seem too lonely. It looks like those few teammates of yours aren't enough for you. Just a few days dead and you're already onto a new love. But it's okay, it's just a toy, sister understands. Would you consider joining us, I'll ask you one last time."

Qiao Shanshan was trying hard to control her emotions.

After Qiao Shanshan's statement of challenging her in the forest sea, Huang Jie lost any intention of recruiting Qiao Shanshan. She felt disrespected by Qiao Shanshan's foolish rejection.