The moment Xu Mu saw Xu Ningbing lean forward, he knew what she intended.
He instantly hurled his backpack.
Just as her head slammed back toward the rock wall, the backpack wedged perfectly between her skull and the stone.
Even so, a dull thud echoed through the cave—proof of how much force she'd used.
When she braced to try again, Xu Mu was already in front of her, gripping her head.
"Xu Mu! Are you crazy? If you die, how am I supposed to explain it to Dad when we get back?" Xu Ningbing cried, tipping her face up.
"Cut the nonsense."
Seeing that Qin Ju wasn't stopping him, Xu Mu crouched and untied the rope binding her.
A close look showed it was braided from Ghost-Vine silk—something even a Gang Qi expert would struggle to break, let alone someone at Internal Force.
Once she was free, Xu Mu waved her toward the others. "Go with them. Now."
"I'm not going! I'll die before I leave!" Xu Ningbing said coldly.
"Xingluo, take her out," Xu Mu said, glancing at Dai Xingluo.
"Brother, you should respect her choice. If she doesn't want you to die, why force it?" Dai Xingluo hated the idea of Xu Mu dying for this woman.
"Who said I'm going to die?" Xu Mu replied evenly.
At that, Dai Xingluo's beautiful eyes narrowed. If he hadn't reminded her, she might've forgotten—his strength surpassed hers by a good margin.
This time it only felt otherwise because Fan Shiyu had kept acting as his bodyguard and doing most of the fighting, which subconsciously made Xu Mu seem weaker.
"Brother, you owe me one for this," she said, then rushed over, grabbed Xu Ningbing by the shoulders, and hauled her toward the exit.
Xu Mu picked up the backpack there and tossed it to Fan Shiyu. "You go too."
"Xu Mu—"
"I'll be fine," he cut her off.
"Alright. I'll wait outside," Fan Shiyu said, clutching the bag as she followed Dai Xingluo.
"Let me go!" Xu Ningbing's shouting still echoed from the tunnel.
"Shut it, woman! You think I want to drag you?" Dai Xingluo slammed her against the wall by the collar. "You fox— I'd be happier if you—"
"I'm Xu Mu's older sister!"
"Huh? Sister… then I'm the one in the wrong," Dai Xingluo muttered, feeling a bit better instantly.
She'd thought rival; turns out, sister. No wonder Xu Mu had called her "family."
…
"You're that sure I won't kill you?" Qin Ju asked, gaze indifferent.
"I'm not sure," Xu Mu shrugged. "I only said that to get them out."
"I can oblige you," Qin Ju said coolly, lifting his hand.
"Senior, would you really kill me?" Xu Mu asked, hands in his pockets, unhurried.
Qin Ju stared at him, then asked, "What's so special about you?"
"Those two women—pretty, aren't they?" Xu Mu asked suddenly.
"They're decent-looking. Not as pretty as my granddaughter," Qin Ju replied blandly.
"Their backgrounds aren't ordinary, but both are madly in love with me. Want to know why?"
"If you say it's because you're handsome, I'll kill you now," Qin Ju said, eyes growing cold.
"No. It's because standing before you is an appraisal expert, a pianist, a painter, an alchemist, the heir to a medical grandmaster's lineage, and so on," Xu Mu said, still leaning back against the stone with his hands in his pockets.
Qin Ju dismissed the first few titles with a flicker of disdain—
until he heard "alchemist" and "medical heir." Then he froze.
"That's why they like me. Whoever marries me elevates her entire clan," Xu Mu said with a small shrug. "If you kill me, you gain nothing. Or… you could let me owe you a favor."
"Hahaha!" Qin Ju threw his head back, then barked coldly, "Brat, do you take me for a three-year-old?"
"There's fire and a pot right here. I can refine a pill for you on the spot," Xu Mu said. "It's a pity you're not ill. That left-shoulder injury is minor—otherwise I'd treat you too."
Qin Ju stiffened, flexing his left arm. "Quack talk. Who said my left shoulder is injured?"
"I did. Which means it is—just not serious. I'd need a closer look," Xu Mu replied calmly.
"More than your medicine, I'd like to see your alchemy," Qin Ju said. As the Qin patriarch, he knew exactly how valuable an alchemist was.
Alchemists could overclock materials—
with third-grade herbs, they could produce fourth- or even fifth-grade effects.
A top alchemist could push a ninth-grade treasure close to—even up to—the level of Divine Medicine.
"Fine. Do you have some low-grade spiritual herbs? Given the conditions, I can only make something simple," Xu Mu said. He was, after all, only a junior alchemist; high-tier pills weren't in his comfort zone yet.
"I do."
Qin Ju vaulted up the wall to a high alcove, retrieved a backpack, and tossed it down. "All third-grade or below. Take your pick."
Xu Mu opened it and skimmed the contents. "I'll make the most basic Qi-Gathering Pill."
He set to work immediately: using the iron pot over the fire to decoct the herbs, then guiding and extracting their essences with externalized Qi to maximize potency.
Watching closely, Qin Ju realized Xu Mu could project Gang Qi—and began to believe the boy wasn't bluffing.
At last, Xu Mu tempered the pill mass over the flames and produced three pills, handing them to Qin Ju.
Their surfaces were smooth with a faint sheen. Qin Ju had seen what Xu Mu used—just a bit of third-grade material, with the rest first- and second-grade.
He put a pill in his mouth. Before he could swallow, it dissolved into vapor and merged into his body.
Feeling the surge within, Qin Ju's pupils contracted.
He'd lived long and seen countless treasures, swallowed plenty, too.
The Qi increase wasn't much for someone at his realm—
but it was far beyond what third-grade materials should deliver.
To match this by eating raw materials, you'd need at least fourth-grade.
And Xu Mu had used only a little third-grade—everything else first- and second-grade.
What did that imply?
Not only could he refine—his level was high.
"How does it feel, Senior?" Xu Mu asked, smiling.
"I underestimated you," Qin Ju said, shock churning beneath his calm. "I didn't expect to see such a young alchemist."
If he could secure a favor from an alchemist—that would be ideal.
And if the boy truly knew medicine… perhaps his own son's illness could be cured.
"What's your name, young friend?" Qin Ju finally smiled.