Pretending To Be A Boss

"You really do treat this child as nothing more than a tool?"

"You can also treat me as a tool, if there's any area where you can make use of me. Moreover, I initially treated others as tools too. Take Tang Feiji, for example, he has always played the role I assigned to him very well."

"Furthermore, I am not biased, it's the same with humans. Shang Lu, Yu Xiaozhe, Ke Ye, Liu Lang, all the same, each person has their own unique tool-like attributes, even Li Xiaoyu."

Tang Xian spoke so candidly that Bai Mansheng didn't know what to say for a moment.

Seeing the surprised look on Bai Mansheng's face, he said:

"This isn't something shameful or dishonorable. It's good for everyone to be useful in their own way. Most people like to put on airs, pretending that friendships can't involve personal gain? Using others for something that benefits oneself alone, that's calculating and exploitative. But if it benefits both parties, it only deepens the relationship."

Tang Xian turned to Duck and said:

"Are you willing to keep helping me like this in the future? I will encounter many powerful enemies from the Court of Myriad Beasts."

Duck nodded; he wasn't much of a talker.

However, sensing that Bai Mansheng seemed to be arguing with Tang Xian over his own issues, he still awkwardly added:

"Tang Xian, if trouble, I help."

Tang Xian shrugged, sporting a look that said his popularity was just that good.

Bai Mansheng, resigned though she was, quickly understood the reason.

Perhaps it was precisely because Tang Xian had treated Duck so well that Duck was willing to lay down his life for Tang Xian in such a short period.

The child had made a mistake once and suffered for years because of it.

His tribe had rejected him, and the organization that had taken him in conducted all sorts of experiments on him, turning him into a ghastly monster.

As he harbored hatred for the world and his soul became twisted, Tang Xian appeared, treating him with utmost care as if to compensate for the suffering he had endured over the years.

Lonely and hesitant people are especially likely to open their hearts to one who treats them kindly."

"Talking about money hurts feelings, and talking about feelings hurts one's financial interest; essentially, talking about money implies making the other party lose out, and the same goes for feelings. But my relationship with you all is different. Those who transact with me won't suffer a loss. Talking business with me leads to profit, and if there's a utilitarian purpose, there will be joy in meeting a good judge of character with me."

After thinking it over, Bai Mansheng realized that this person always seemed to know what others needed.

Which is why more and more people were gathering around him.

Bai Mansheng said:

"What if one day I'm no longer of any use to you? Are all the people you're involved with useful to you? Isn't there anyone you'd want to befriend just for the sake of it?"

"From the moment I consider you a friend, your usefulness to me is greater than you might imagine, even if you think you are useless. The same goes for others; some roles are on a spiritual level."

Bai Mansheng smiled, her usually cold demeanor melting away, making even the coldest caverns seem less frigid.

It was unclear whether she was happy or mocking herself. Bai Mansheng just thought she might also be able to accept Tang Xian's theory of "mutual benefit" or "coexistence of emotional and material interests."

"What are you going to do next?"

"Next, there's another fight to be had."

Bai Mansheng and Duck were taken aback; hadn't Chaos been vanquished?

Tang Xian said:

"It's been a long time since those long-eared ancient apes scattered and fled. Considering the ancient apes' speed, it is likely that a suppressor will soon appear in the vicinity of Nether Valley."

Pointing to Chaos, who had reverted back to Duck, Tang Xian said:

"In the coming month, it won't doubt its identity anymore. Chaos is now under our control, and it poses no threat to me at this point; I could easily kill it. However, its powers are very useful, and taming Chaos is a long-term process. However troublesome, it is worth it because Chaos will be quite useful to me in the future. Of course, it's not just Chaos itself that knows its weakness and recovery time; surely some entities within the Court of Myriad Beasts also know."

"And they won't be able to find where Chaos is, but they will probably show up today."

Bai Mansheng nodded; Tang Xian's analysis made sense.

The long-eared ancient apes had been running for a while; the vast Nether Valley and the grand castle of the Court of Myriad Beasts wouldn't be abandoned.

Tang Xian was certain that a fierce battle was likely to happen soon.

But he was brimming with confidence.

If he were to compare the mining area to a game, Tang Xian felt that although he hadn't lost any skills, he seemed to have drawn a trump card.

With Duck around, it would be difficult for the Court of Myriad Beasts to hunt him down if they continued sending combat-type creatures instead of rule-type beings.

"You don't seem worried."

"Do you think I should be?" Tang Xian's gaze rested on Duck.

Bai Mansheng smiled, admiring Tang Xian's luck and judgment.

"What about that monster? You don't mean to tell me that while searching for Lei Xiao, you're going to keep hauling around a flock of ducks?"

"It will stay with its kind, and I'll take it back to Baichuan City."

Bai Mansheng was startled again; she just couldn't grow accustomed to Tang Xian's audacity.

"That's like a ticking time bomb."

"A stag surrounded by a flock of ducks will surely be comical."

"What are you talking about?"

Bai Mansheng had seldom seen Tang Xian with such a mischievous, almost wicked smile.