Dai Xingluo's gaze grew heavier; she had to admit, Feng Yue's words made a lot of sense.
With Xu Mu this strong—and even able to refine pills—he wouldn't just attract ordinary women. There would definitely be women from hidden clans and sects.
Dai Xingluo herself was from a hidden clan and had trained in a sect; she knew exactly how valuable an alchemist was.
"Are you telling the truth?" she asked Feng Yue.
"Of course."
Feng Yue couldn't care less about competing for favor. She had never even considered "official status."
"Fine! Feng Yue, as long as you help me move up, I promise your standing will be beneath only mine and Ye Tong's."
Dai Xingluo sheathed her dagger, chin tilted in pride.
—
Back at home, Xu Mu was sorting herbs when he suddenly frowned. Something about Dai Xingluo seemed off today. She'd come all this way to find him, then left far too quickly.
Did she go after Feng Yue?
He immediately called Feng Yue.
"Young Master Xu, what's wrong?" came her voice.
"Did Dai Xingluo come to you?" Xu Mu asked.
"She already did. Told me to stay away from you. Said if I dared show up before you again, she'd kill me."
"She didn't do anything to you?"
"No. I defused it in the end," Feng Yue said, then gave a brief rundown of what had happened.
When Xu Mu finished listening, he couldn't help shaking his head. Feng Yue could really spin a tale—and the key thing was that Dai Xingluo actually believed her.
Thinking it over, though, in the original plot Dai Xingluo lashed out at Shen Wanning precisely because Shen refused to yield. As the pampered daughter of the Shen family, she'd been indulged since childhood—everyone gave way to her. When had she ever yielded to anyone?
Feng Yue was different. She excelled at survival; admitting defeat was normal to her. That's why Dai Xingluo hadn't harmed her.
"As long as you're fine," Xu Mu said, and hung up, returning to his alchemy.
Barely a moment later, his phone rang again. The caller ID read Zhang Shuaikai—Feng Kang's illegitimate son.
Xu Mu answered. "What is it?"
"Young Master Xu, is the Feng family finished?" Zhang asked.
"Violent demolition and forced sales, even killing people; loan-sharking and coercing women into illegal 'work.' With all that, you think they're walking free?" Xu Mu's tone was cold.
"I figured. Then I'll call the police," Zhang said flatly.
"What do you mean?" Xu Mu asked.
"Just now, my dad—no, Feng Kang—called me. Said where he's hiding has probably been exposed and told me to take them somewhere else."
"Hold on," Xu Mu said sharply. "Don't call yet!"
"What do you need me to do, Young Master Xu?"
"Where does he want you to take them?"
"A village outside Yang City. I don't know the exact spot."
"Take them there first. When you arrive, send me the location. I'll come."
"Got it."
Xu Mu pocketed the phone and checked the flame for his pill furnace.
So—Feng Kang still had crystal-clear instincts. Even in dire straits, he hadn't asked Feng Yue for help, which meant he never truly trusted her. Zhang Shuaikai was obedient by nature; if Xu Mu hadn't intercepted him, he might still be quietly doing Feng Kang's bidding. That's why Feng Kang picked him.
—
An hour later.
Xu Mu's pills were finished.
Since he was refining anyway, he didn't stop at one. He used up the remaining ingredients and produced five pills in total. After setting one aside for Dai Xingluo, he still had four left. He'd distribute them as needed and refine more in the future if he could.
Right then, Zhang Shuaikai sent the address.
Xu Mu glanced at it and moved.
—
Feng Kang and Feng Ruili were huddled in the courtyard of a rural home.
Gone were their tailored suits; both now wore plain clothes, faces haggard. Not much time had passed, but to them it felt like an eternity.
"Dad, what are we doing here?" Feng Ruili muttered around a piece of cheap bread Zhang had bought at a corner shop—its taste and texture almost unbearable.
"I used to live here," Feng Kang sighed. "This is where I met your mother."
"Too bad her family won't pick up my calls. We'll lay low here for a few days and then go to them in person."
Back then, after he'd gotten into trouble and needed to evade arrest, his father had hidden him here. Fate was a cruel joke; he never thought he'd be back in this life.
"You're right. For my mom's sake, they might take us in," Feng Ruili said, eyes growing darker. "The Dai family, Chen Cai—I'll never forgive them!"
Feng Kang slammed a fist on the table as he looked at his phone. "Damn it! That 'Moonlight Dancer' is utter trash—couldn't even kill Xu Mu! If not for him disgracing me, things wouldn't have blown up like this! If my assets weren't frozen, I'd sell all of Feng Group just to buy the Dai family's heads!"
"Dad, forget it. The instant noodles are ready," Feng Ruili said, eyeing the two foam cups on the table.
"Maybe I'm just too strong," said a light voice as the door swung open. "The assassins you hired don't work."
Xu Mu stepped in with an easy smile.
The sudden voice scared them half to death. They rubbed their eyes, thinking they were seeing things—why was Xu Mu here?
"Xu Mu, you—"
Before Feng Kang could finish, Xu Mu was already in front of him, making Feng Kang collapse in terror.
Xu Mu plucked the phone from his hand. The app on-screen was Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts. He opened the chat log, skimming the messages, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I'm a wanted man now!" Feng Ruili roared, clenching his fists. "And you dare come here? Do you have a death wish?!"
Xu Mu casually flicked his hand. Feng Ruili's body jolted and flew backward, smashing into the wall.
"Urgh!" A mouthful of blood sprayed out.
Feng Kang went rigid with horror, nearly losing his soul.
What is happening?
That useless spendthrift from the Xu family—a martial artist? Impossible!
"Password?" Xu Mu asked, looking down at him.
"If I tell you, I die. If I don't tell you, I also die. So why should I talk?" Feng Kang snarled, jaw clenched.
"Tell me the password and I'll leave right now. If I kill you, I won't die a good death," Xu Mu said, raising his hand to swear. "If I call the police to arrest you, I also won't die a good death."
"You swear to that?" Feng Kang stared at him.
"I just did. If you don't believe me… I can only kill you both." Xu Mu took a step forward.
"Don't! I believe you—I'll tell you."
Feng Kang recited the lock-screen passcode and the Night Parade account login. Xu Mu tried it—correct.
"I keep my word," Xu Mu said, turning to leave.
Feng Kang hurried to haul up Feng Ruili. "Let's go—now! We need a new hideout!"
Feng Ruili had just gotten to his feet when his eyes went wide.
Feng Kang turned too—and saw another figure enter.
Chen Cai.
Behind her came a dozen burly men in masks.