Xiao Han's fingers, clutching the raw meat, tightened abruptly, and the devil-may-care expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an extreme vigilance: "Prying into abilities? Holy cow, there's such a perverted thing?"
He threw the piece of meat back into the package as if it were a hot potato, having lost all appetite: "Then, damn it, in front of him, aren't we like being naked, with all our trump cards exposed?"
Li Kui's face instantly turned pale, his lips trembled uncontrollably, and his throat felt dry: "Then... then if he wants to... wants to harm us... wouldn't we just..."
He glanced around in terror, feeling Pan Yong's invisible gaze now plastered on the wall, sending shivers down his spine.
His own capabilities were being assessed clearly, and even his hidden skills might be exposed right before others' eyes?
This thought sent a chill up Su Wan's spine, and her abdomen tightened.
Xiao Han turned to Lu Shiyan, his voice tinged with coldness: "If he truly possesses that ability, then how much of that note, 'Tiger in Danger, Proceed with Caution,' was a genuine warning, and how much was a scheme?"
Lu Shiyan remained silent, his slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the cold windowpane, emitting a monotonous "tap, tap" sound that resonated with everyone's nerves in the room.
"There might be a little sincerity, but the scheming definitely takes the larger share," he said, word by word, with absolute certainty.
"He has figured out our strength, so he doesn't dare to act rashly, and even takes the initiative to show goodwill. But at the same time, he is also calculating whether these few stones, when thrown into the troubled waters he intends to stir, can create the ripples he desires."
He paused, his voice growing a few shades colder: "Or, to see if we are qualified to be his whetstone."
"Whetstone?!" Li Xinhu gasped, a chill running from the soles of his feet straight to his head. "We've just settled down! And we already have to contend with this old fox hiding in the shadows?"
This was too thrilling; he felt his heart was about to leap out of his throat.
"Where there are people, there are Jianghu ; where there is Jianghu, there are schemes; and where there are schemes, fighting and killing are inevitable. In the apocalypse, this is an iron law, and no one can escape it."
Xiao Han's lips curled into a grim smile, and he picked up the piece of meat again, casually tossing it to Li Kui, who was still trembling beside him.
"Here, Old Li, you and your brother should get some sustenance. Pan Laoda's 'goodwill' delivered to our doorstep, it's a waste not to eat it. Even if we eat it... it's still a waste."
His voice carried a hint of mockery, but his eyes were as cold as ice. "He wants to use us as a whetstone? Heh, he's not afraid of breaking his own shoddy knife."
"Lu Da Shao, what do you say?"
Lu Shiyan had been listening in silence.
Then, he smiled.
The smile was faint, almost devoid of emotion, yet it inexplicably loosened the tense atmosphere in the room. He looked at Xiao Han, their gazes meeting in the air. No words were exchanged, but they seemed to instantly understand each other's thoughts. It was an unspoken understanding, a trust and comprehension cultivated together through countless life-and-death situations.
Su Wan also noticed the brief exchange between them. She frowned slightly; Lu Shiyan's calmness surprised her, but it also somewhat eased her hanging heart.
A meaningful curve played on his lips: "Didn't he say, 'The net is cast, the tiger is in danger'? Since the net is already there, why don't we also play the part of fish entering the net? Only, who nets whom remains to be seen."
Xiao Han's eyes instantly lit up upon hearing this. The previous irritation and vigilance were replaced by an eager excitement: "You mean... to counter their scheme with our own?"
Lu Shiyan neither confirmed nor denied, merely stating calmly: "In the face of absolute strength, all schemes are futile. But before that, there's no harm in playing along with them." He looked at Su Wan: "Regarding your concern about your abilities being exposed, since it might already have happened, we must not panic. The more this is the case, the more we must act... in accordance with his 'expectations,' or perhaps, exceed his expectations."
Li Kui was completely bewildered, but seeing the confident expressions on Lu Shiyan and Xiao Han's faces, his fear gradually dissipated. He quietly asked Li Xinhu next to him: "Brother, what does Brother Lu mean? Are we... are we not running away?"
Li Xinhu understood a little more than him, but only vaguely. He lowered his voice: "It seems to mean... we pretend to obey Pan Yong, and then secretly mess with him?"
A Mo, who had been silently standing in the corner, also looked up at Lu Shiyan, a hint of imperceptible determination flashing in his eyes.
Su Wan took a deep breath. Lu Shiyan's words greatly relaxed her tense nerves. Yes, if she might already be seen through, being overly cautious would only put them at a disadvantage.
She nodded, "I understand. If he wants to see, let him see his fill. However, what he sees may not be the whole truth."
Xiao Han burst out laughing, slapping his thigh: "Right! Let's do it! I'd like to see what tricks this Pan Yong, and Lei Laohu behind him, can pull! They want to use us as pawns, but they need to see if they're worthy!" He glanced at the meat in Li Kui's arms, teasing: "Brother Tiger, you can eat this meat with peace of mind. Who knows, maybe there will be even more advanced 'bait' waiting for us later!"
Li Kui nodded blankly, feeling the atmosphere change too quickly for him to keep up. But seeing that everyone seemed less afraid, he also mustered some courage and mumbled softly: "Then... then should I roast the meat first?"
Li Xinhu and Li Kui were busy in the kitchen, pots and pans clanging, the stove fire burning brightly, and the aroma of meat mixed with the pungent smell of spices wafting out. Li Kui held a large ladle in one hand and gripped the edge of the pot with the other, laboriously stir-frying something, muttering to himself, "Add more oil, Brother, Brother Lu and the others definitely like rich, oily food!" Fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, but his face was alight with excitement.
Li Xinhu was relatively calmer, focusing on cutting the meat on the chopping board. His knife skills weren't exquisite, but each cut was steady and precise.
Hearing Li Kui's words, he hummed in agreement, a smile unconsciously curving his lips. Once upon a time, let alone so much meat, even a decent compressed biscuit had to be rationed. This kind of life now was simply unimaginable.
Before long, several steaming dishes were laid out on the dining table. A large plate of fragrant roasted meat, sizzling with oil on the surface, next to it a pot of tender, stewed potatoes, and a plate of golden fried eggs with beautifully browned edges.
Li Kui brought out the last dish, placing it on the table as if presenting a treasure, wiping his nose with his sleeve, and chuckled: "All done! Brothers, come and taste my cooking!"
He looked at the table full of dishes, his eyes gleaming, and couldn't help but swallow, "Goodness, this is so much better than gnawing on those hard compressed biscuits! Life before was truly unbearable!"
Xiao Han had already come over, unceremoniously tearing off a strip of roasted meat and stuffing it into his mouth. He exhaled noisily from the heat, praising indistinctly, "Not bad, Kui Zi, you've got some skills! This meat is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, very flavorful!"
Li Xinhu untied his apron, feeling a sense of peace and relief as he watched everyone eat without restraint. Looking at the substantial food before them and his no longer tense companions, he felt that his previous worries had been somewhat unnecessary.
He picked up his chopsticks, also took a piece of meat, and chewed slowly, savoring the satisfaction the food brought.
This team was indeed different. He glanced at Li Kui, who was grinning, and thought that this kid finally wouldn't have to complain about not having meat every day.