Lin Yan couldn't understand why Xu Mu had appeared here as well.
He returned to the hotel front desk and asked with a smile, "Miss, is there a guest named Xu Mu staying here?"
"Sorry, we can't disclose client information," the receptionist said calmly. She despised men like Lin Yan the most.
"He's my friend. I came here just to find him," Lin Yan replied, still smiling.
If Xu Mu was indeed here, that would be perfect.
That brat had ruined his plans over and over again. If they were abroad, Lin Yan would've already sent him to heaven.
But if Xu Mu was also participating in this ruins expedition, then this was the best news possible — because inside, Lin Yan could finally kill him without restraint.
Meanwhile, Xu Mu had already reached the other side of the mountain.
After passing through a patch of flowers and grass, he noticed that many of the plants had been deliberately broken.
It seemed he and Xu Ningbing had arrived late — others had already taken the good stuff.
Just then, Xu Mu sensed vibrations in the distance — the unmistakable sound of experts fighting.
He immediately hurried toward the commotion, heightening his perception to monitor everything around him.
Soon, a woman appeared, running in his direction.
It was Fan Shiyu, the woman he'd met earlier.
She dashed through the forest and, upon seeing Xu Mu, grabbed his arm and dragged him away at full speed.
They ran nearly a kilometer before stopping. Fan Shiyu leaned against a tree, panting heavily.
"What happened?" Xu Mu asked curiously.
"There's a master—I can't beat him! He tried to steal my backpack."
Xu Mu was shocked. Fan Shiyu was already in the Gang Qi Realm, yet someone had overpowered her?
That meant there were even stronger experts in this ruin.
"Do you have any water? My throat feels like it's on fire," Fan Shiyu said hoarsely.
Ever since she entered the mist, she'd noticed the temperature was abnormally high. Her backpack had only contained two bottles of mineral water, which she'd tried to ration carefully. But one of them had been stolen when her bag was snatched.
"I have some, but not much. Drink sparingly."
Xu Mu handed her a half-finished bottle of water.
[Favorability +10]
"Thank you—you're a good person."
Fan Shiyu tilted her head back, taking a small sip. She didn't swallow right away but let the moisture slowly soothe her parched throat before drinking another.
Then she handed the bottle back to Xu Mu.
"Have you seen a woman? Long hair—"
"No," Fan Shiyu said after swallowing the last bit. "Since I got here, I haven't seen any other women."
"I see." Xu Mu nodded slightly.
Could it be that Xu Ningbing had fallen off a cliff right from the start?
"So, you came here looking for a woman. Don't tell me—your girlfriend?" Fan Shiyu teased. "You're quite handsome. I bet she's beautiful."
"She's average-looking—just a good figure," Xu Mu replied. "You're prettier than her."
[Favorability +6]
"I feel like you're mocking me. Look at my face—it's full of acne scars. What's pretty about that?"
"Scars can be treated," Xu Mu said with a smile as he stood up. "Anyway, I can't stay here. I have to keep looking for her."
"All right," Fan Shiyu nodded softly.
The heat around them was getting worse. Every moment he delayed meant greater danger for Xu Ningbing.
As Xu Mu started walking away, Fan Shiyu noticed he'd left his bottle of water behind. "Your water!" she called out.
"It's yours now," Xu Mu said, waving a hand without looking back.
[Favorability +10]
Fan Shiyu smiled faintly. What a good man, she thought. Even knowing how scarce water was here, he still left it for her.
"I didn't even ask his name," she murmured, taking another gentle sip from the bottle. If I get the chance, I'll thank him properly once we're out.
Just then, she heard movement in the distance.
She quickly hid behind a large tree and peered out cautiously.
Two figures soon came into view — her eyes widened instantly.
She pulled out her phone, checked a photo, and smiled coldly. "Finally, the target shows up."
Once she finished this mission, she could focus on finding a way out.
Fan Shiyu took two steel nails from her pocket, aimed carefully, and flicked them with deadly precision.
Dai Xingluo caught a flicker of movement from the corner of her eye and immediately reacted, kicking Dai Xiao out of the way.
"What are you doing?!" Dai Xiao shouted—
Thunk! Thunk!
Two steel nails embedded themselves into the tree—exactly where Dai Xiao had been standing.
If not for Dai Xingluo, he'd already be dead.
Just then, Fan Shiyu charged from the distance. Dai Xingluo met her head-on.
But Fan Shiyu ignored her completely—her eyes were locked on her true target.
Whoosh!
She struck out, palm aimed to blast Dai Xingluo aside.
However, Dai Xingluo countered with her own palm strike.
Even though they were still two meters apart, their Qi forces collided violently.
Boom!
The explosion of force sent leaves flying everywhere.
Both women staggered back under the impact.
Fan Shiyu steadied herself in two steps. Dai Xingluo needed four.
"Impossible," Fan Shiyu narrowed her eyes. "The Dai family is just an ordinary secluded clan. Even your patriarch should only be at the Gang Qi Realm. How can someone your age already be this strong? Who are you?"
"Not that I care for the Dai family," Dai Xingluo smiled coldly, "but who told you it was just an ordinary clan? Looks like you didn't come here for water—you came for us."
"Not for you—for him!"
Fan Shiyu launched herself toward Dai Xiao.
Dai Xingluo's smile widened, excitement flashing in her eyes. She charged forward without hesitation.
Clang!
Their daggers collided, sparks flying.
Boom!
They clashed again, every strike aimed to kill. Neither held back.
Seeing this, Dai Xiao turned pale and immediately fled into the distance.
She's here for me!
How did this woman know he was coming?
Dai Xiao's eyes went cold as ice. Ding Daqiang!
Aside from Ding Daqiang, the only person he'd told was Dai Xingluo. The leak was obvious.
He looked back at the furious battle behind him and cursed under his breath. I should've never come to this damned place.
He hadn't gone far when an old man wearing sunglasses appeared ahead.
The bald old man, judging by his wrinkled face, was around sixty.
"Just arrived?" the man asked coldly, glancing at Dai Xiao's uncracked lips—proof he wasn't yet dehydrated.
"W-What do you want—"
Before he could finish, the old man appeared right in front of him.
Terrified, Dai Xiao stumbled backward and fell.
"Give me your water, and I won't kill you," the bald man said flatly.
"I'll give it! I'll give it!"
Dai Xiao quickly handed over his backpack.
The old man opened it, found several bottles of water, and smiled with satisfaction. "You can go."
Dai Xiao scrambled away, terrified.
Meanwhile, Xu Mu, still searching for Xu Ningbing, had already drunk three bottles of water. Feeling bloated, he needed to relieve himself.
He was about to just go on the ground but thought twice—then used an empty bottle instead.
After all, this was the spring of life. He might not need it, but someone else probably would.