You know, the buttocks have very rich muscle tissue.
Blood vessels are dense within the muscle, so drugs can be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream.
That's why, back in the day, injections were often given there.
Swish!
Feeling the cut on her body, Yun Wu immediately retreated several meters.
She stared fixedly at Xu Mu, waves surging in her heart.
As much as she hated to admit it, she knew she couldn't beat him head-on.
But as an assassin, you usually don't need to fight face-to-face.
Ambush and assassination are where they're terrifying.
Thinking of this, Yun Wu turned and sprinted into the forest. She would have to look for another opening later.
There was no way Xu Mu would let her run—especially now that the drug had entered her system.
Running was perfect; the faster her blood circulated, the faster the Spring-Night Grass would spread through her body.
He opened his perception and kept tracking her direction, pursuing closely from behind.
…
After about five minutes, Yun Wu felt her heart pounding and her breathing quickening.
Beads of sweat rolled from her brow.
Something was wrong. She hadn't taken any serious injuries—just two shallow cuts.
The fight hadn't lasted long, either; she hadn't burned much Qi.
Not right!
Panting hard, she found her limbs growing unresponsive—then stumbled and fell with a thud.
"Could it be…"
She tore open her sleeve and checked the wound on her arm.
She'd basically guessed it: Xu Mu's dagger was poisoned.
Her face went a little pale. She didn't know exactly what the poison was, but it clearly restricted movement.
Glancing back and not seeing Xu Mu, she scanned the area, found a patch thick with fallen leaves, burrowed in, and pulled the leaves back over herself.
Suddenly she felt an odd, welling sensation in her body.
She hadn't even thought about that kind of thing—so why now?
Unless…
A shiver of fear ran through Yun Wu.
"Sigh, who knows where she went. Guess I'll take a leak first."
Xu Mu appeared near the leaf pile, pretending to undo his belt.
Yun Wu burst out of the leaves, clawing at him—
—only to meet two silver needles.
She yanked them from her arm and staggered into a run again… took a few steps… and collapsed once more.
Hands in his pockets, Xu Mu strolled over at his leisure until he stood before her.
Yun Wu looked up at him, trying to clench her fists—
but her whole body was numb; even her fingers wouldn't obey.
"What did you poison me with?" she growled coldly.
"Spring-Night Grass."
He didn't bother to hide it.
"You—"
She had suspected as much, but she'd never been poisoned by this before and didn't know the exact effects.
Now she did.
She bitterly regretted not leaving when Xu Mu let her go earlier.
Too late for regrets now.
He was a man—and he'd used this kind of poison on her. His intention was obvious.
[Favorability −20]
"Why wouldn't you listen to reason?"
Xu Mu crouched, lifting her chin with his hand.
"Don't touch me!"
Yun Wu jerked with sudden intensity.
He remembered—she doesn't like men.
"There's a theory that women love saying the opposite of what they mean. When they say 'don't,' they actually mean 'do.'"
As he spoke, he gripped her head and turned her over so she faced up.
From her exposed arm, the goosebumps were obvious.
Clearly, her aversion to men had crossed into a visceral reaction.
Xu Mu stared, surprised—she still had that kind of… presence even lying flat.
He'd underestimated her.
"Xu Mu! I was wrong. I won't kill you. Please let me go, okay?"
Her voice turned pleading; she truly regretted it.
Why had she provoked this man? She'd had a chance to leave.
"I gave you that chance," he said evenly.
"Then… just kill me!"
Tears welled in Yun Wu's eyes.
"Either way you die. When I'm done using you, killing you won't be too late."
He drew a dagger and sliced a seam down her black clothing from top to bottom.
[Favorability −30]
"Xu Mu! You bastard!"
She cried and struggled. Not only wouldn't her body move, her head was burning and her thoughts were blurring.
"Your logic is a mess," Xu Mu said calmly. "You tried to kill me; I mercifully let you go. You refused and kept coming. Now I've got you under control and I'm the bastard?"
"If you're going to kill me, then kill me. What kind of man insults a woman?"
"I never claimed to be a 'good man.' Also, you're an assassin—I need to check you for hidden weapons."
He reached through the slit and searched her.
His eyes went mock-grave. "Good thing I came prepared. Hiding such a massive weapon—if I got careless, I'd be doomed!"
"Xu Mu!!"
She broke out in goosebumps and kept struggling.
Suddenly she went still. "Aren't you afraid of infections? I'm sick—that kind of disease."
"What a coincidence. So am I. Maybe poison fights poison and we both get cured."
He continued searching.
Yun Wu was stunned, tears streaming. She bitterly regretted ever crossing Xu Mu.
"What will it take for you to let me go?" she sobbed.
"To be honest, I really don't want to kill you."
Xu Mu took out his phone. "How about this—we record a quick video."
"A video of what?" she asked.
He pulled her upright against a tree and, while continuing his "search" for weapons with one hand, started recording with the other.
Yun Wu turned her face away.
"Whatever I ask, you agree. Go along with my lines, and smile," Xu Mu said coolly. "Do that, and I'll spare your life—and I won't do that to you."
She looked back at him. "Really?"
"I keep my word," he nodded.
"Fine!"
Right now she didn't care about anything else—she just wanted to protect her purity.
"Baby, first time playing in the forest, huh?"
Yun Wu's mouth twitched, but she forced a smile. "Mm."
"Look at the camera."
"Yes…"
"Am I strong or what?"
"Strong."
"Coming back again?"
"Will."
…
When he was done, Xu Mu put the phone away.
Yun Wu lay prone, eyes icy on the ground. She wanted to tear him apart.
If that video ever leaked, she'd rather die—she had to find a way to delete it.
"As long as you don't try to kill me again, I won't release it," Xu Mu said, standing. "If you do, I'll show it to the rest of your organization first."
"You…" She swallowed. "Fine. I won't kill you. I absolutely won't."
She just wanted him gone; she could barely hold on.
"I've heard this drug can fry your brain," Xu Mu added, glancing at her.