"Driver, follow that sports car!"
Yun Wu pointed toward the distant Lamborghini.
"Miss, that's a Lamborghini. With this old taxi of mine, there's no way—"
[WeChat payment received: ¥1000]
Before the middle-aged driver could finish, his phone chimed.
"Miss! In the city, even a Lamborghini has to call my taxi daddy!"
With that, he floored the gas pedal.
Xu Mu wasn't planning to run too far. If he went deeper into Jiang City, Yun Wu might lose track of him.
His plan was simple — circle around the residential district until she found him.
That way, when Yun Wu arrived, he could spot her immediately.
He stopped at a red light, but before he could start again, a taxi shot past him.
Xu Mu raised an eyebrow and pressed the accelerator, overtaking it easily.
At the next corner, another red light — and the same taxi caught up again.
Now that was suspicious.
He extended his perception to scan the car's interior.
Sure enough — Yun Wu was sitting inside.
Xu Mu was mildly surprised. So fast? She must've headed straight for Jiang City right after splitting from Jiang Huihui. She hadn't even wasted time searching in Yang City.
Since she was here already, he wouldn't delay. Xu Mu accelerated toward the outskirts of Jiang City.
The taxi followed closely behind.
Only when they reached an empty road outside the city did Xu Mu finally stop.
He got out and casually raised his phone, filming the forested area below the roadside.
Behind him, Yun Wu saw him stop and frowned. What was he up to?
The driver was about to brake when Yun Wu suddenly said, "Don't stop! Drive past him!"
If they stopped right behind him, he'd surely notice.
But if they drove past, he probably wouldn't suspect a thing.
Yun Wu kept her eyes locked on Xu Mu and saw him leap off the road into the woods.
"Stop the car! Let me out!" she ordered.
"Alright."
The driver pulled over without argument.
Yun Wu grabbed her backpack and quickly turned back, sprinting toward the forest. She didn't know what Xu Mu was doing here — but he was alone.
Even if it was a trap, she wasn't letting this chance slip by.
She ran swiftly into the trees until a figure appeared ahead.
There — Xu Mu sat calmly on a large stone.
One foot rested on the rock, the other on the ground, his gaze steady as he looked at her.
Yun Wu's eyes narrowed. She scanned the area — no one else around.
Then she strode forward. "Do you think that pose makes you look cool?"
"Not cool? I posed on purpose."
Xu Mu lowered his leg and smirked. "You just don't know how to appreciate it."
"Posed on purpose? So you were waiting for me?"
Yun Wu sneered. "You saw that fight earlier. Do you really think you alone can handle me?"
"I want to use love… to change you."
Xu Mu shrugged. "Pretty lady, I've got no grudge with you. Why are you trying to kill me?"
"Someone paid for your head. I take the money, I finish the job."
Yun Wu drew a dagger and tossed her bag aside.
"Couldn't you just lie to your client? Say I'm dead, and we split the money — seventy-thirty. I'll even let you take seventy."
Before he could blink, Yun Wu blurred into motion — a streak of light rushing straight at him.
Not a word wasted.
Xu Mu kept one hand behind his back, opening his storage space. He pulled out a long black sword.
As Yun Wu closed in, he swung.
She raised her dagger to block—
Clang!
The blade shattered instantly, like paper.
Yun Wu's pupils shrank. She released her full Qi, her body erupting with glowing green light.
With a clawed hand, she slashed forward.
Five streaks of green energy tore through the air toward Xu Mu's face.
Xu Mu stepped back and swung his sword again.
Flames engulfed the black blade.
A phoenix's cry pierced the air, echoing for miles and scattering flocks of birds.
From the sword burst a fiery phoenix, its wings sweeping forward.
Whoosh!
The green claw marks met the firebird — and evaporated instantly.
The blazing phoenix was almost upon her; Yun Wu barely had time to react.
She forced her Qi outward, forming a barrier.
Boom!
Flames flared violently. Yun Wu's body was flung back, crashing through two thick trees before she stopped.
Xu Mu rested the sword on his shoulder, impressed.
As expected of a Earth-Rank technique — the Fire Phoenix Sword Art.
Not just powerful — even the visuals put the Yellow and Profound Rank arts to shame.
He walked toward her, but his gaze grew heavy when he saw her face.
Yun Wu's clothes and skin were scorched — particularly her face, where a large patch had burned away.
Or rather, the human-skin mask she wore had melted off.
She tore off the rest, revealing her true features.
She looked around thirty, slightly mixed-blood — full lips, high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, but an overall Eastern face.
Her demeanor was undeniably sensual.
What shocked Xu Mu most was that despite taking a direct hit from an Earth-Rank technique, she was barely injured.
"So that's why you're so calm," Yun Wu said with a faint smile. "Didn't think your strength would surpass that other woman's."
"If you give up the assassination, I'll spare you," Xu Mu said evenly. "You're ranked fifth on the Death List — 'The Waltzer.' I'd say you're one of the few killers with some sense of honor."
Yun Wu's eyes widened in disbelief.
He knew her identity? Already?
"Sorry," she said, clenching her fists as green motes of light flared around her. "But once I take a contract — I always finish it."
"I don't believe," she said coldly, "that you can escape me."
"Ah… relying on your mid-stage Mystic Art Realm, are you?"
Xu Mu sighed softly. "Since you refuse to repent… I'll have to use my method."
He clasped one hand behind his back again, opening his storage space and retrieving a dagger soaked in a strange red liquid.
Whoosh!
Yun Wu's body flickered. In an instant, she appeared beside her bag and pulled out two hatchets.
Apparently, someone had stolen her original weapons.
Store-bought daggers were too flimsy — so she'd bought two sturdy steel axes instead.
Swish!
She charged at Xu Mu again.
He twirled his wrist slightly, standing still as she attacked.
When she reached him, Xu Mu sidestepped — a left feint, a right lean.
Each movement was small, precise — but every time, he dodged flawlessly.
Yun Wu grew furious. She was one of the top assassins on the Death List — the only woman in the top five.
And yet she was being toyed with.
There was nothing more humiliating for an assassin than not being able to touch your target.
Swish!
Xu Mu's dagger nicked her arm, then in a flash he was behind her — slicing a shallow cut across her hip.
As a skilled medic, he had a very specific reason for striking those spots.