Yun Wu saw that Jiang Huihui had grabbed her dagger. She clenched her other fist and punched at Jiang Huihui.
Jiang Huihui also threw a punch.
Boom!
Their power collided in an instant.
Cracks spread across the ground beneath their feet.
Jiang Huihui's body jolted; she immediately let go of the dagger and was blasted backward.
"Little sister, since you're pretty, big sis can't bear to kill you. But if you block me again, you'll die too!"
As Yun Wu spoke, specks of green light bloomed across the back of her hand.
Jiang Huihui's eyes went round.
Mystic Art Realm!
"If I capture you, I'll probably be just one step away from becoming a squad captain!"
Jiang Huihui, thrilled, charged Yun Wu again.
"Sigh, looks like big sis will have to be ruthless with a delicate flower!"
Yun Wu's eyes narrowed. She stopped holding back and used a killing move.
Boom!
Their outwardly released force clashed again.
Jiang Huihui was knocked flying, unable to control her body.
Seeing this, Xu Mu rushed forward and caught her from behind.
So, Jiang Huihui at peak Gang Qi couldn't handle it after all—he'd have to step in himself.
"Run! Leave this one to me!"
Jiang Huihui wriggled out of Xu Mu's arms, still visibly excited.
No sooner had she finished speaking than she coughed blood—her chewing gum popping out onto the ground along with it.
"You're coughing blood!" Xu Mu said from the side.
"I only get into the zone when I cough blood!"
As Jiang Huihui spoke, a faint, blood-colored mist began to seep from her body.
Whoosh!
The ground beneath her feet shattered, and she lunged at Yun Wu again.
Seeing that speed, Yun Wu looked incredulous. "This cultivation method… Grade-? Earth Rank? No—could it be Heaven Rank?"
Boom!
Their powers clashed once more.
The blood-qi surging off Jiang Huihui rolled like a landslide and a tidal wave.
Yun Wu, Mystic Art Realm, was forced back two steps.
Jiang Huihui seemed to enter a berserk state, launching attack after attack at terrifying speed.
Watching the excitement blazing in Jiang Huihui's eyes, a light kindled in Yun Wu's own.
This little sister… was kind of cool.
She was an assassin, and her target wasn't this woman. Moreover, Jiang Huihui was very pretty; she felt no urge to kill her—if anything, she wanted to win her over.
Yun Wu retreated swiftly, flicked two steel spikes at Xu Mu, and then turned to run.
Jiang Huihui waved her hand; the Qi she released knocked the spikes aside, and she immediately gave chase.
In the blink of an eye, both figures vanished from Xu Mu's sight.
"This Jiang Huihui has quite the background," Xu Mu murmured, shaking his head. Her grandfather was closely tied to the big shot Wei Jingzhi—no way her family was simple.
Xu Mu's gaze fell on the backpack Yun Wu had left behind. He walked over and opened it.
Inside were mostly weapons: daggers, short knives, steel spikes, throwing darts—
And a rope braided from ghost-vine fibers.
"This rope is a good piece."
He opened his storage space and stowed the rope away.
As for the other weapons, he tossed them all into the river.
Back at the roadside, Xu Mu sat on the e-bike and made a call.
After a few rings, Chen Cai picked up. "Young Master Xu, with all those trending topics today—that was your doing, wasn't it?"
"Don't worry about that. Feng Kang and Feng Ruili are in hiding. You need to return to the Feng estate immediately and take charge."
"But if I show up now… they'll definitely take me in for questioning, right? My son's already been taken."
"Let them. With your scheming, you shouldn't fear this. You didn't commit those crimes."
Xu Mu smiled.
"Do you have a plan for me?" Chen Cai asked.
"Go to Feng Yue. She's on my side. She'll give you a few good plays." Xu Mu added, "You have her number?"
"I do!"
Chen Cai let out a long sigh. She hadn't expected things to snowball like this, but now she could only follow Xu Mu's instructions if she wanted to stay alive.
—
Xu Mu looked into the distance. Jiang Huihui trudged back, dusty and disheveled.
There was blood on her face, and her clothes had several slashes.
"Huihui, are you alright?"
Xu Mu rode the e-bike over.
"I'm fine—but she got away."
Jiang Huihui shook her head. "Looks like I really am not strong enough for captain. The chance was right in front of me, and I still couldn't seize it."
"You already fought above your level. That's impressive."
Seeing how dejected she looked, Xu Mu comforted her with a smile. "Let's head back."
"...Alright."
This time, when Jiang Huihui sat on the back seat, she didn't deliberately keep her distance.
She simply rested her grimy cheek against Xu Mu's back.
She truly felt defeated.
Xu Mu wasn't in a hurry. Yun Wu would come for him again—maybe she'd even reappear soon.
If Jiang Huihui couldn't handle it, he'd do it himself.
According to the original plot, Yun Wu wasn't bad by nature.
Her organization didn't target righteous people.
Killing her would be a waste—he needed another way.
Suddenly, he smiled.
Got it.
Jiang Huihui stayed pressed against his back the whole way without saying a word, not even chewing her gum anymore.
Xu Mu stopped the bike and suddenly called, "Huihui!"
"What is it?"
She jolted and finally came to.
"What's our relationship right now?" Xu Mu asked.
Jiang Huihui thought for a moment. "Friends, I guess."
She didn't dislike Xu Mu; he was nothing like the rumors.
"Friends won't do," Xu Mu said, shaking his head.
"What do you mean?"
"If we're good friends, I want to give you a gift."
"What gift?"
"Qi Sea Pill."
Xu Mu took out a blue pill. "You're very strong already, but a Qi Sea Pill still has a high chance to push you up a realm."
No Favorability popped up over her head; instead, she sprang off the back seat, wary.
"Xu Mu! Something's off about you!"
"What's off?"
He put the pill away again.
"Just now you said I could fight above my level—how do you know my realm?" she pressed. "And you can just take out a Grade-7 pill? Who exactly are you?"
"What else could I be? I just know an elder. He thought my bones were extraordinary, so he taught me a few tricks. The pill's from him too."
Xu Mu shrugged.
"Why would you give such a precious pill to me?" Jiang Huihui's expression turned serious. Her throat bobbed; then she forced the words out. "Don't tell me… you like me?"
As she spoke, black text floated above her head:
[Favorability +20]
"Uh?"
Xu Mu was momentarily stunned.
"My standards are very high. My man… has to—has to treat me well," Jiang Huihui muttered, looking away, voice barely above a whisper.