Pretending To Be A Boss

Tang Xian didn't know how Qing JiuYu got her name, but Qing JiuYu knew that the name Tang Xian wasn't quite pleasant to the ear.

She somewhat expectantly said, "Are you willing to give him your surname?"

"What's wrong with that?"

"Our names are mostly derived from ancient apes that we understand best, and surnames are actually more important to us than given names as they represent belonging. It's just that Xiao Ni, she…"

"Alright, I know this little girl is very special, and you have some unspeakable difficulties that you can't talk about. I'll be appearing in the Sea of Trees often, and if she follows me, having my surname will be more convenient. It'll save a lot of unnecessary suspicion."

Tang Xian spoke in a calm tone that also felt very sincere.

Qing JiuYu looked at Tang Xian with some gratitude, then said, "You will always be a friend of the fox clan, as long as I'm in it for one more day."

This treatment surprised Tang Xian a bit. It seems this little girl was indeed very important.

Qing JiuYu then smiled and said, "However, she can't be called Tang Chiyu, that's a bit too unpleasant to the ear. I know this name is very casual. You need to put more thought into it."

Tang Xian didn't agree.

Take Dong Ran's codename Tang, for instance—one could immediately tell she was on his team, and it was clear what her distinctive feature was. Wasn't it wonderfully vivid and direct?

But since Qing JiuYu had asked, Tang Xian still nodded and said:

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"I originally planned to call you Tang Xiaoyu, but I know an idiot whose name sounds the same as yours. Hmm, you can't end up like her in the future. So let's call you Tang Xiaojiu."

"Qing, do I have a name now?" the little girl asked with wide eyes, looking at Qing JiuYu.

Qing JiuYu gently replied, "Tang Xiaojiu does sound quite cute. You, do you pick names just because they are easy to remember?"

Nine represents the nine tails, and Tang Xian's idea was very simple: if he would encounter more bosses entrusting their children to him in the future, he might as well start a nursery.

To avoid confusing these people, having a word in the name that related to their true form was a good method.

Of course, the nursery was just an exaggerated joke. Having one cute child was nice, but more could be a hassle.

Qing JiuYu's entrustment of the little girl to Tang Xian wasn't purely done to please her. When he looked at the little girl, he genuinely felt compassion.

"So it's settled. From now on, you'll be called Tang Xiaojiu. I'll come to see you often, and I'll take you out to catch fish to eat. Oh, I'm Tang Xian."

"Okay, Tang Xian," Tang Xiaojiu seemed very happy to have a name.

"It's uncle... never mind, brother it is."

He always felt that calling Qing JiuYu "Qing" and himself "brother" somehow seemed to be inadvertently demoting himself a generation. But children speak their minds, and besides, who can blame him for being young?

"I'm about to take Tang Xiaojiu to catch fish. What about you?" Tang Xian looked at Qing JiuYu.

"Once I've settled her, I must go, now. The fox clan up ahead still needs me." Qing JiuYu suddenly felt a bit reluctant.

"The farewell seems to have come quite quickly. When will we meet next?"

"I don't know, probably not until the Nvwa Snake has retreated."

Tang Xian frowned slightly.

Deep down, he didn't want to side with either the fox clan or the snake clan. He was interested in the war but didn't want to get involved.

He didn't reveal his thoughts.

The Nvwa Snake and the various other snakes were natural disaster-class creatures that preferred cold environments. Forced to migrate south and wage war with the fox clan for territories suggested there might be even stronger creatures emerging in the north.

This was just one of Tang Xian's guesses.

"Humans have been studying the art of war and combat techniques in a way that other animals can't compare. Many ancient texts that have been preserved are about the aesthetics of war.

There are actually many interesting techniques in 'The Art of War by Sun Tzu.' I'll tell you about them when I have the chance, but for now, you might want to try and understand why the White Phosphorus Demon Snake led the Nvwa Snake to invade the south."

Qing JiuYu nodded.

"Well, separation will eventually lead to reunion. Take care on your journey. I'm off to catch fish with the little girl," said Tang Xian nonchalantly.

Qing JiuYu was slightly stunned as Tang Xian simply took Tang Xiaojiu by the hand and walked out of the fox burrow.

She didn't know when they would meet again. Tang Xian's carefree attitude was not that of someone facing farewell; it was as if he was leaving for the day and would return in the evening.

This man was truly interesting.

Tang Xian's thoughts weren't that complicated.

Many people had some sort of relationship with him, like those classmates from his past, or those old temps from the mining area.

As people got to know Tang Xian, they grew fonder of him.

He was that kind of person, carrying a bit of pride. But once you got to know him, he was very comfortable to be around.

But no matter how much others liked Tang Xian, he always seemed lukewarm to everyone.

Farewells were the same, seemingly neither painful nor itchy.

…

…

Tang Xiaojiu was very lively.

Catching fish, the little girl didn't care about getting herself wet and walked barefoot by the riverside, energetically starting to fish.

Compared to Tang Xian, who needed to wait patiently for the right moment to catch a fish, Tang Xiaojiu's reaction and speed were much faster.

Even if the fish swam swiftly, aware that two hungry creatures on the river's surface were after them, Tang Xiaojiu could violently outpace them with speed.

"The gap brought by bloodline really can't be bridged," Tang Xian muttered with a wry smile.

Just as Tang Xiaojiu was about to spout a mouthful of foxfire and then consume the fish in flames, Tang Xian said:

"Eating like this is quite wasteful, you know."

Tang Xiaojiu paused and asked, "What does wasteful mean, Tang Xian?"