Zixu watched Jia Xu with a wary expression. From the first moment he had encountered Jia Xu, he had felt an intense sense of danger.
"It's not that I don't know, but rather that I don't dare to speak," Zixu sighed, sitting down with a look of helplessness. "As you said, I am indeed a Daoist and do know some things. Though I'm not sure where I exposed myself, your confident demeanor suggests that you've already figured everything out."
"Not daring to speak?" Jia Xu glanced at Zixu. "Between two evils, one should choose the lesser. Which side do you think is the lesser evil?"
"Must I answer?" Zixu asked with a dark expression.
"Indeed!" Jia Xu stared at Zixu, ready in case Zixu attempted to act violently.
"Compared to the plotting of the Cao family and the Yuan family... Sigh, can't I just avoid answering?" Zixu responded with a bitter smile. Even though the Yuan family's cause and effect were minor, it was still not something he could bear. If he spoke, the resulting entanglements could potentially lead to his complete annihilation.
"And what about the plotting of the Liu family?" Jia Xu's eyes gleamed with interest. He had expected to get no clear answers but had asked nonetheless.
"This one is also difficult," Zixu replied, visibly wavering. After calculating internally, he realized that the consequences of revealing this were bearable. Yet, he didn't agree immediately, aware that Jia Xu was merely testing the waters. Now that he understood, Zixu felt less inclined to resist.
A faint smile appeared on Jia Xu's face. He enjoyed situations like these.
Jia Xu quietly pieced together the information Zixu had inadvertently revealed. While Zixu might not have realized it, every word was valuable intelligence to Jia Xu.
Zixu remained solemn, but since noticing that Jia Xu wasn't pressuring him, he felt more at ease. Little did he know, Jia Xu had never intended to force anything out of him. His goal had been to confirm a few things, and now that he had, Jia Xu was satisfied.
"This is difficult too... Fine, something simpler then," Jia Xu said, frowning. "Tell me, who will take control of the southeast?"
"No! Absolutely not! I cannot reveal the identity of the one who takes control!" Zixu exclaimed. Though revealing this information wouldn't directly harm him, he wanted to use this moment to weaken Jia Xu's leverage over him.
Jia Xu glanced pityingly out the window. This "immortal" really wasn't very clever.
"If that's not an option, how about telling me how Cao Cao plans to advance westward? That should be easier, right?" Jia Xu asked after staring at Zixu for a long time, finally switching to another question.
"Well... Can you ask something else? I can't reveal this either," Zixu responded with a feigned expression of difficulty. The implications of this question were even greater than the last one. Although Zixu was confident that he would be fine if he answered, he had no intention of inviting trouble. Having already declined the previous question, he saw no reason not to do the same here.
The look of pity in Jia Xu's eyes deepened.
Jia Xu frowned slightly, realizing he had underestimated Cao Cao. The man's potential was not to be taken lightly.
After hearing Zixu's response, a cold gleam flashed in Jia Xu's eyes as he glanced at Zixu. "Zixu, if none of these are possible, then what is?"
Zixu thought for a moment, realizing he might have gone too far. Jia Xu had asked multiple questions, and he had rejected every single one. With a bitter smile, Zixu finally said, "Jia Changshi, it's not that I don't want to answer. It's that I don't dare. If I were to speak, misfortune could soon follow, leading to my demise. Please ask something within my capabilities. Although these questions seem within reach, I truly cannot answer them."
Jia Xu stared at Zixu for a long time. When Zixu started feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Jia Xu finally said, "I'll believe you this time, but don't let me find out you've deceived me. If I ever confirm that you have, I'll make sure you pay dearly."
"I wouldn't dare," Zixu replied, tugging at his robes. Internally, he thought, I must be more cautious around this man.
"Let me think... You haven't been able to answer any of my questions. I need to come up with a simpler one," Jia Xu said, tilting his head as he pondered.
Given his current grasp of the situation and his understanding of Zixu's character over the past few days, Jia Xu suspected that Zixu would eventually give him an answer, as long as the question wasn't too difficult.
Jia Xu frowned slightly.
"Come on, Wenhe, all this thinking is making me nervous. Whether I answer now or later, it's all the same. Just ask your question quickly," Zixu said, feigning a troubled expression and cautiously probing Jia Xu.
Though he was laughing inwardly, Zixu outwardly maintained a pitiful demeanor.
"Hold on a moment!" Jia Xu shot Zixu a dissatisfied look.
"Got it!" Jia Xu suddenly smiled and turned to Zixu, grinning as he grabbed Zixu's arm. "Zixu, you just reminded me of something I've been curious about."
"Go ahead. If I know the answer and can share it, I will," Zixu said, letting out a long breath as if relieved.
"When my lord bestows titles upon his ministers, where will I rank?" Jia Xu asked, posing an odd question.
Zixu stared at Jia Xu for a long time, but Jia Xu remained unperturbed. Eventually, Zixu sighed and replied, "That... I really can't tell you."