Xu Mu was surprised. He walked over and opened the door. "Did you fly here? I just hung up, and you're already here?"
"I was almost there when I called," Dai Xingluo replied.
As soon as she entered, her gaze landed on Feng Yue, who was sitting elegantly in a long dress.
"Oh my, looks like I came at the wrong time," Dai Xingluo said teasingly.
"Hello, I'm Feng Yue."
Feng Yue looked at the young woman before her — dressed in traditional hanfu, her posture graceful, her aura ethereal.
Feng Yue was secretly startled. This girl is stunning.
Her beauty carried that soft, scholarly air of a classical maiden — and with that outfit, she looked like she'd stepped straight out of an ancient painting.
"And you are?" Feng Yue asked with a polite smile.
"I should be asking you," Dai Xingluo replied, scrutinizing her. This woman is way too charming — definitely trouble.
"What's your relationship with my brother?"
"I work for Young Master Xu," Feng Yue answered smoothly, then added with equal poise, "You're his sister, I presume?"
"Wrong. I'm his wife — not officially married yet," Dai Xingluo said as she hooked her arm around Xu Mu's, smiling sweetly. "Brother, you're an adult. You should know which women are worth staying away from."
Feng Yue's smile deepened.
This girl really thought she could play clever in front of her?
Women who said things like that were never the main wife — which meant she didn't need to hold back.
"This little sister is right," Feng Yue said with a nod. "Some women should indeed be avoided."
"Who are you calling little sister?" Dai Xingluo's tone sharpened instantly.
"Oh? You mean you're older than me? Sister, what's your secret to staying so young?" Feng Yue asked innocently.
"Brother~ my legs hurt," Dai Xingluo ignored her, shaking Xu Mu's arm and pouting. "You kept me up all night. It's all your fault I can't even stand."
"Then I'm better than you," Feng Yue smiled lightly, folding her arms. "I was able to get up by noon."
"You…"
Dai Xingluo glared daggers at her, her eyes cold as frost.
This woman… was dangerous.
Normal women couldn't say something like that with a straight face — but Feng Yue had done so without a blink.
She'd guessed right — this woman wasn't simple.
"Enough, both of you."
Xu Mu stood between them helplessly.
He could already sense the killing intent in Dai Xingluo's gaze.
"Xingluo," he said, patting Feng Yue's shoulder, "Feng Yue is indeed one of my people. She works for me."
"Oh? And you're explaining this because you think I'm being unreasonable?" Dai Xingluo said with mock grievance. "Fine, fine, it's my fault then."
"No, it's my fault," Feng Yue said sorrowfully. "I shouldn't have talked back when Sister was only trying to guide me. Young Master Xu, I'll take my leave. I've ruined your mood — I deserve to die."
Xu Mu looked at the two of them.
Both wore expressions like they'd suffered heaven's greatest injustice.
Their acting was impeccable.
Did they really think he couldn't tell?
Still, he had to admit — any ordinary man would've already melted at their pouting faces.
Xu Mu just kept his hands in his pockets and said flatly, "Stop arguing. You're both my wings."
Both women froze, staring at him like he'd gone mad.
Wings? Seriously? Could he sound any more shameless?
"And what about Sister Ye Tong then?" Dai Xingluo asked coldly.
"Oh, then you're all my feathers," Xu Mu replied calmly.
Even more shameless.
"Alright, enough. Didn't you come to me for alchemy? Hand me the materials."
Dai Xingluo huffed but took off her small shoulder bag and handed it to him.
"I want a pill that can enhance my strength."
Xu Mu nodded lightly. He'd given his last Qi Sea Pill to Jiang Huihui, but if not, he would've made one for Dai Xingluo.
"Alright, leave it to me."
"Then I'll be off. I won't disturb you further."
This time Feng Yue really meant it. She waved softly, then turned and left without waiting for a reply.
Xu Mu opened the bag and glanced at the herbs — among them, he spotted Blue Sunflower.
Perfect. With that, he could refine another Qi Sea Pill for Dai Xingluo.
"How long will it take to refine?" Dai Xingluo asked.
"A few hours," Xu Mu replied casually.
"Then I'll head off. I have something to take care of."
"Alright," Xu Mu said with a nod as he began preparing the ingredients.
Dai Xingluo walked briskly out of the villa complex.
As she reached the main gate, she saw Feng Yue getting into a Porsche Cayenne.
Her lips curled coldly. That vixen dares to challenge me?
You're not Ye Tong — and you expect me to back down?
Dai Xingluo jumped into her Mercedes AMG and tailed her.
Feng Yue drove toward the outskirts of Jiang City. Just as she was about to merge onto the highway, another car cut her off.
Dai Xingluo got out immediately, striding toward her.
Feng Yue frowned and tried to reverse, not wanting to argue.
But Dai Xingluo leapt onto the hood in one swift motion.
Seeing that, Feng Yue stopped the car.
So she's a martial artist too — and stronger than me.
From Dai Xingluo's behavior back at the villa, Feng Yue had already guessed her temperament.
She just hadn't expected her to act so fast.
Still, Feng Yue had her own ways of handling such people.
She'd been surviving in the world since she was young — this kind of confrontation was nothing new.
She opened the door, stepped out, and smiled sweetly. "Sister, what brings you—"
Swish!
Dai Xingluo appeared before her in an instant, pressing a dagger against her throat.
Feng Yue raised both hands immediately.
"Old woman! You're older than me!" Dai Xingluo hissed.
"But I called you younger sister earlier, and you didn't agree," Feng Yue said pitifully.
"Drop the act! You think I'm like that gullible brother of mine who can't smell the fox scent on you?"
Dai Xingluo grabbed her shoulder, yanked open the Cayenne's back door, and shoved her inside.
Then she followed, dagger still at Feng Yue's neck.
"What do you want me to call you then?" Feng Yue asked cautiously.
"You don't need to call me anything," Dai Xingluo said coldly. "Just know this — if you dare show your face around my brother again, I'll kill you."
Her tone was deathly serious. "I'm not joking."
"I can't," Feng Yue pleaded. "Young Master Xu saved my life. He gave me orders, and I must complete them."
Her voice softened, trembling slightly. "Sister, I was wrong. Please forgive me. I'll fulfill my duty as your little sister from now on."
That was Feng Yue's way — always yield when she wasn't certain she could win.
No need to clash head-on when her life was at stake.
"Save your fake—"
"You need me," Feng Yue suddenly interrupted, her tone calm but sharp.
"What do you mean?" Dai Xingluo narrowed her eyes.
"Xu Mu has several women around him, all powerful in their own right. You can threaten me to stay away, but not them. If they unite, do you really think you'll have peace?"
Feng Yue looked her straight in the eyes. "If I stand with you, you'll have an ally. Even when you sleep, I'll be the one in front of you — watching your back."
…