I am a boss in the world of nine uncles

"Master Lingguan, what brings you here?"

Calming himself down, Shen Gongbao looked in the direction of the sound and forced a smile.

Dressed in a blue Taoist robe, the ethereal Ling Guan smiled and said, "I have come to protect Your Majesty, so that no villains may disturb Your Majesty's presence."

Shen Gongbao chuckled dryly: "I see. I was just passing by and was curious why Your Majesty was here, so I took a look."

Ling Guan said, "Since you're curious, I'll take you to see the king."

"No need, I have important matters to attend to. Farewell." Shen Gongbao bowed and hurriedly took the pheasant spirit with him as he soared into the sky.

Ling Guan smiled silently, and his body disappeared into the air once again.

In the center of the courtyard.

Qin Yao's gaze swept over the spot where Shen Gongbao had disappeared, finally settling on Lord He's face: "Lord He, are you aware that Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, has declared himself king?"

Lord He's expression changed slightly, and he lowered his eyes and said, "Your subject has heard something."

"He City is a key fortress for Xiqi to reach the south. If Ji Chang wants to unite with the Marquis of Nanbo to rebel against Shang, he must first open up He City. What are your thoughts on this, Lord of the City?" Qin Yao pressed.

Lord He suddenly knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject will resist to the death. As long as I am alive, the two regions of the southwest will never be connected!"

Qin Yao smiled and helped him up, saying gently, "The city lord's loyalty is commendable."

After saying that, he suddenly turned to look at the innocent-looking girl who was holding a black cat and dared not approach, and asked, "Who is this?"

"This is my daughter, Helan."

Lord He responded, then waved to the girl and said, "Lan'er, come and pay your respects to the King."

Helan arrived quickly and bowed gracefully: "This humble daughter, Helan, greets Your Majesty."

Qin Yao waved his hand, his gaze falling on the black cat: "No need for formalities... May I take a look at your cat?"

Helan immediately stood up straight, picked up the little black cat and came to him, saying softly, "Your Majesty, please be careful, this cat is a little shy."

"It's okay."

Qin Yao took the black cat, gently stroking its head. He quickly refined the ice shrimp's spiritual energy and opened up the Twelve-Story Bone, giving it the ability to speak.

The black cat nestled comfortably in his arms, a faint, almost human-like smile even appearing on its face.

Helan: "..."

This guy wasn't even this comfortable when he was in my arms. Could it be that he also values ​​women more than friends?
"Cat, I hereby appoint you as General Black Cat, hoping that you will protect He City and your master's family," Qin Yao suddenly said, bowing his head.

City Lord He: "???"

Has King Zhou gone mad?

“Yes,” the black cat said timidly.

Lord He's eyes widened instantly.

What sound is that?
Helan was even more surprised: "Mengmeng, you can talk?"

The black cat said, "Just now you could speak..."

Qin Yao smiled and handed the black cat back to Helan, then turned to Lord He and said:
"We will be staying in Hecheng for a few days. We would like to trouble Lord Hecheng to prepare a place for us to stay."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Lord Hecheng said, as if waking from a dream, suppressing a strange palpitation.

Meanwhile, after Shen Gongbao escaped Hecheng with the pheasant spirit, he slowly flew down to a mountain. Seeing that no one was chasing him, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's alright, I'll sneak into the city lord's mansion tonight and steal that black cat for you." The pheasant spirit said with heartache, looking at Shen Gongbao's disappointed expression.

Shen Gongbao shook his head: "You must not underestimate that Lingguan Zhenren. I'm afraid he will sense you the moment you step into the city lord's mansion."

The pheasant spirit hesitated and asked, "Isn't there any way to evade his senses?"

Shen Gongbao's eyes lit up slightly: "I've thought of someone."

"Who?" the pheasant spirit asked.

"Tu Xingsun!"

"What do you want?" That evening, in Feiyun Cave of Jialong Mountain, a short, ashen-faced dwarf with a mustache stared intently at the pheasant spirit's chest and asked softly.

Shen Gongbao saw this scene and smiled, saying, "I'd like to ask you for a favor."

Tu Xingsun showed no intention of looking away, nor did he show any shame for his actions: "What kind of help?"

“Infiltrate the city lord’s mansion in Hecheng and steal one of the black cats,” Shen Gongbao said slowly.

This fellow is skilled in earth-walking techniques and also adept at theft; his reputation in the Chan Sect is worse than a rotten egg.

But he didn't care about the other party's reputation at all, as long as they could help him get what he wanted.

"What kind of place is Hecheng?" Tu Xingsun asked.

“You don’t need to worry about where you are. I will take you to He City myself,” Shen Gongbao said.

Only then did Tu Xingsun deign to look away and ask, "What benefit would I get?"

"What benefits do you want?" Shen Gongbao asked.

Tu Xingsun grinned and pointed at the pheasant spirit: "I want her!"

The pheasant spirit frowned, displeased.

Shen Gongbao secretly gave her a wink and coaxed Tu Xingsun, saying, "Alright, as long as you can steal that black cat for me, I will give Qingqing to you in marriage."

Tu Xingsun said confidently, "Qingqing... what a nice name. Just wait to marry me. I am the greatest thief of our time. I can steal anything, not just a cat, but even the most precious magical artifacts of immortals and gods."

The pheasant spirit remained silent; even speaking a single word to him felt disgusting.

It was the third watch of the night.

Shen Gongbao rode a cloud carrying Tu Xingsun and the pheasant spirit to the sky above He City, and pointed to the brightly lit city lord's mansion, saying:
"The black cat is in this mansion, but you must be careful, as a very powerful mage lives here."

If he catches you, I can't save you.

After catching the black cat, head immediately to the north gate; we'll be waiting for you there.

"Don't worry, if he catches me, I'll change my name." Tu Xingsun waved his hand, then jumped off the cloud, plunged into the ground, and disappeared.

"Gongbao, if he really brings the black cat, how are you going to explain it to him?" After watching him leave, the pheasant spirit couldn't help but ask.

Shen Gongbao laughed and said, "We'll just say he caught the wrong black cat and make him go look for it again."

The pheasant spirit was speechless, then said coquettishly, "You're so naughty."

“That shorty is no match for you,” Shen Gongbao said, shaking his head in a serious tone.

In the blink of an eye.

Tu Xingsun stealthily made his way to the city lord's mansion. Although he was underground, his vision was on the ground as he searched for the black cat's tracks.

Persistence pays off. Soon he found a black cat under a corridor. It suddenly burst out of the ground, cautiously approached the cat, raised its arms, and opened its hands, ready to pounce at any moment.

But at that moment, a hand suddenly grabbed the back of his shirt and lifted him up from the ground.

Tu Xingsun was shocked and hurriedly turned around, only to see that the newcomer was dressed in a black and gold royal robe, with a strong and resolute face, exuding an imposing aura without anger.

"Who are you? Let me go!"

The sound instantly startled the black cat from its slumber. It glanced at the dwarf-like Tu Xingsun, then looked at the person standing behind him, and stood up to greet him, "Your Majesty."

Qin Yao nodded slightly, cast a spell to seal Tu Xingsun's magic, and casually tossed him into the corridor: "Did Shen Gongbao send you?"

Tu Xingsun looked utterly astonished: "How did you know?"

"Because he tried to steal the cat during the day, but found he couldn't," Qin Yao said calmly.

Tu Xingsun sensed something was wrong and hurriedly explained, "Your Majesty, I am Tu Xingsun, a disciple of the Great Immortal Juliusun of the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain. I was completely misled by Shen Gongbao, which is why I came to steal the cat. Please forgive me this time for the sake of my master."

Qin Yao smiled and asked, "Can you tell me what benefits he promised you?"

Tu Xingsun hesitated and said, "He said that after the matter is settled, he will betroth Qingqing to me."

Qin Yao sighed, "How pitiful."

Tu Xingsun asked, puzzled, "What's pitiful?"

“You’ve been played for a fool by him.” Qin Yao said, “Do you know that Qingqing is his possession, and she’s completely devoted to him? How could he possibly give her up to you?”

Tu Xingsun looked astonished: "But that's exactly what he said."

"How about we make a bet?" Qin Yao asked.

"What are you gambling?"

"I'll bet on whether he'll keep his promise if you take the black cat back with you."

If he keeps his word and truly betroths Qingqing to you, I will give you ten thousand taels of gold as a congratulatory gift.

"If he makes up all sorts of excuses to refuse, or even tries to coax you by saying he caught the wrong cat, you'll have to serve under me from now on," Qin Yao said.

Tu Xingsun immediately looked at the black cat: "You're willing to let me take it back?"

Qin Yao shook his head, then suddenly reached out and plucked a hair. With a gentle blow, the hair transformed into the shape of a black cat, its appearance identical to Mengmeng's: "Just take it back with you."

Tu Xingsun said, "Then release me from my restraints."

"No problem."

With a flick of his finger, Qin Yao caused the laws that had imprisoned Tu Xingsun to vanish instantly.

Tu Xingsun picked up the black cat that the strand of hair had transformed into, and looked at Qin Yao, saying, "Aren't you afraid that I'll run away and never come back?"

Qin Yao laughed and said, "I can help you take revenge on Shen Gongbao... Otherwise, would you dare to kill your own martial uncle?"

Tu Xingsun was speechless, and instantly disappeared underground with the black cat and the strand of hair.

"Uncle Shen, Uncle Shen..."

Meanwhile, Tu Xingsun fled swiftly to the north gate, bursting out of the ground and calling out while holding the black cat in his arms.

In an instant, two streaks of light descended from the sky, landing right in front of him and transforming into two figures.

"Uncle Shen, I've brought this cat to you," Tu Xingsun said with a beaming smile.

"Let me see," Shen Gongbao said, extending his hand.

Tu Xingsun immediately handed over the black cat, then stared intently at the pheasant spirit: "You're so beautiful."

Pheasant Spirit: "..."

“That’s not right,” Shen Gongbao suddenly said.

Tu Xingsun frowned slightly: "What's wrong?"

“Nephew, you’ve got the wrong cat. This isn’t the one I wanted,” Shen Gongbao said.

Tu Xingsun pursed his lips and said, "There's no mistake, there's only one cat in the entire City Lord's Mansion."

"You were really wrong."

Shen Gongbao said, "This could only be a stray cat that sneaked into the city lord's mansion, while the city lord's daughter's cat just happened to run away."

You should hurry back to the city lord's mansion; perhaps you can still find the cat I want there.

Tu Xingsun's pupils contracted, and his voice was deep: "Alright."

After saying this, he vanished into the earth, seemingly leaving at great speed, but in reality, after entering the city, he circled around and returned to the city gate, looking up through the soil.

"Today I've finally seen what it means to completely outwit someone," the pheasant spirit said with a laugh from the ground.

Shen Gongbao restrained the little black cat and slowly said, "He was blinded by lust, and actually dared to ask for you; otherwise, I really wouldn't want to play with him like this."

Upon hearing this, Tu Xingsun's breathing suddenly became heavy, and his fists gradually clenched.

The pheasant spirit's smile faded, and she hesitated, saying, "What if he senses something's wrong and turns against us?"

"So what if we turn against each other? I'm not well received at Jade Void Palace, but he's even less so. Does he dare to lay a hand on me? Just because I'm a generation older than him, for him to lay a hand on me would be an act of betrayal against his master and ancestors," Shen Gongbao said.

"Should we wait for him or not?" the pheasant spirit asked.

Shen Gongbao nodded: "We still have to wait. Although I'm not afraid of him, we should avoid offending him if possible, and there's no need to cause trouble for ourselves."

underground.

Tu Xingsun was furious, but he knew that Shen Gongbao was telling the truth, and he really couldn't act on his temper and attack him!

Therefore, he forcibly suppressed his rage and quickly fled to He City, only to find the King still waiting for him in the corridor...

"Tu Xingsun pays his respects to the Great King!"

Qin Yao looked up at the sound and calmly asked, "What was the result?"

Tu Xingsun gritted his teeth: "Just as Your Majesty predicted, Shen Gongbao was simply trying to fool me like a child."

Qin Yao asked, "Are you willing to accept the consequences of your bet?"

Tu Xingsun nodded heavily: "I am willing to obey Your Majesty's orders, I only ask that Your Majesty help me vent this anger."

Qin Yao smiled and said, "There will be opportunities, but right now... I need you to do something."

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty," Tu Xingsun said.

"Go to the vicinity of Yuquan Mountain and find a hunter named Yang Jian for me. Once you find him, bring him to me as quickly as possible," Qin Yao said.

"Why do you want to see him?" Tu Xingsun asked, puzzled.

Qin Yao smiled and said, "I have a father-son relationship with him."

Tu Xingsun: "???"

early morning.

As the sun rises, all things come back to life.

Outside the north gate of He City, the pheasant spirit gazed into the city and asked, "Why hasn't Tu Xingsun returned yet?"

“He hasn’t come back for so long, something must have happened,” Shen Gongbao said.

Pheasant's heart skipped a beat: "Should we go and save him?"

Shen Gongbao laughed and said, "Why would you save him? Do you really want to marry him?"

The pheasant spirit waved its hands repeatedly: "Of course not..."

"Come on, come back to Xiqi with me," Shen Gongbao said gently, taking her hand in his.

The pheasant spirit lowered her eyes silently, looking shy: "Okay..."

a few days later.

Sixty miles east of Yuquan Mountain lies a primeval forest.

A young man dressed as a hunter drew his bow and shot an arrow. He suddenly released his fingers, and the stone arrow streaked across the sky like a shooting star, hitting a pheasant with a soft thud.

"Good archery!"

Just then, a cheer suddenly rang out from his side.

The young man was slightly startled. He looked in the direction of the sound and saw that a dwarf had somehow gotten within seven steps of him, yet he hadn't sensed it at all.

"May I ask who you are?"

"My name is Tu Xingsun. I just came from Yang Family Village. Are you Yang Jian?"

The young man asked, "How do you know I am Yang Jian?"

"I don't know, so I'm just confirming with you," Tu Xingsun said with a smile.

The young man asked, "What business do you have with Yang Jian?"

Tu Xingsun waved his hand and explained, "It's not me looking for Yang Jian; it's that I've been entrusted by King Zhou of Yin Shang to come and find Yang Jian."

youth:"???"

King Zhou?

How could King Zhou know his name?! (End of Chapter)