Xu Mu didn't answer the call immediately. Instead, he hung up and sent Feng Yue a message: "I'll call you back in a bit."
Then he turned to Ye Tong.
"Wife, try it out first."
"Okay."
Ye Tong found the feeling incredible. It was like picking up a tool she'd never used before — yet she instantly knew how to operate it.
She circulated the Qi in her body.
Buzz!
In an instant, a fierce gust of wind swept through the villa. Around Ye Tong, a translucent black bell appeared — roughly 1.5 meters in diameter and three meters tall.
Xu Mu looked up at the ceiling. Fortunately, they lived in a villa with a high roof — if this were a normal apartment, the bell would've shattered it.
Once she finished releasing it, Ye Tong was panting heavily, her Qi nearly exhausted.
After all, this was an Earth-Rank technique, and her cultivation was only at the early Hidden Force stage.
Gradually, the black bell faded, blending into the surroundings like a chameleon until Ye Tong herself disappeared from sight.
Xu Mu approached and could still perceive faint distortions nearby.
But in a mountain forest or at night, it would be almost impossible to detect.
He rapped his fist lightly against it — it felt as solid as steel.
Then he punched.
Buzz!
The Shadow Bell resonated with a deep hum.
He first used early-stage Hidden Force.
Bang!
The bell boomed, perfectly blocking the strike.
Then he increased his strength to mid-stage Hidden Force — again, the bell held firm.
Xu Mu nodded in satisfaction.
It could defend even against an opponent of a higher realm — excellent.
He tested once more, using late-stage Hidden Force.
Crack!
A fracture spread across the bell.
With another burst of force, the Shadow Bell shattered, revealing Ye Tong inside.
"Not bad. This technique is quite good," Xu Mu said with a pleased smile.
Ye Tong was the type of woman who could never kill unless something extreme drove her to it.
At early Hidden Force, she couldn't match a mid-stage opponent — but this technique would let her hide and defend.
All she needed to do was stay put, message him, and wait for rescue.
"Wife, I have another technique for you."
He took her hand again. After the first successful attempt, transferring skills now felt effortless.
He bestowed Shield of Wind upon her next.
"The technique you just used keeps you stationary," Xu Mu explained. "But this one works while you move."
He led her to the courtyard. "Alright, use it."
Ye Tong nodded and took a deep breath. A soft breeze began to swirl around her body.
Xu Mu suddenly threw a punch toward her stomach.
Before his fist could land — still twenty centimeters away — Ye Tong's body flew backward as if pushed by invisible air cushions.
She nearly hit the wall, but at the same distance — twenty centimeters — she rebounded back unharmed.
"Wow! This one's fun!" Ye Tong gasped in amazement. "It's like I'm wrapped in a thick cushion!"
"Exactly," Xu Mu smiled. "That's how this technique works. It's like you're surrounded by a buffer zone. Use it whenever someone attacks you."
"I got it!" Ye Tong nodded eagerly. "Honey, you're giving me such powerful techniques… do you still have more?"
"Don't worry," Xu Mu said, patting her shoulder. "I've got plenty better ones."
"You're all set. You can go to work now."
Ye Tong lowered her head, cheeks warm. She had thought at first that Xu Mu hadn't been satisfied last night —
but in reality, he was just worried for her safety and teaching her strong defensive arts.
Touched, she tiptoed up, planted a quick kiss on his lips, and hurried off toward the garage.
Xu Mu chuckled as he watched her retreating figure.
Then he went back inside, sat on the sofa, and called Feng Yue.
The moment she answered, her voice trembled. "Boss, help me! Please!"
"What happened?" Xu Mu's tone instantly grew tense.
"The security guard — the middle-aged man with the missing arm — I can't stand it anymore!"
Feng Yue quickly explained everything that had happened the night before.
Xu Mu wasn't surprised. In the story's original plotline, the man was described just like that — brutal, cold-blooded, a killer who'd taken countless lives.
Losing one arm was practically an act of mercy.
"Hold on. I'll come find you right now," Xu Mu said firmly.
He could hear the fear in her voice. No wonder — having someone like Zhang Que right under her nose, anyone would be terrified.
Xu Mu arrived at Moonlight Group just after nine in the morning.
Right at the gate, he spotted Zhang Que sitting outside the guard booth, smoking a cigarette.
Xu Mu smiled and walked over. "Senior, you really are a man of your word. I heard you protected Feng Yue last night."
He started with some flattery — a good way to appeal to Zhang Que's pride, and to ensure he wouldn't cause Feng Yue any trouble.
"Heh, I told you yesterday — I don't take a salary for nothing," Zhang Que said with a grin, puffing on his cigarette.
"Someone like you probably isn't short on anything," Xu Mu replied, pulling out two cartons of Tianye Slims. "I picked these up on the way here — my old man smokes this brand."
"Your old man… Xu Shou, right?"
Zhang Que accepted the cigarettes. Above his head, Xu Mu faintly saw +1 Favorability.
"You know my father?" Xu Mu asked, a bit surprised.
"In Jiang City, Xu Shou's a well-known businessman. It'd be strange if I didn't know of him."
Zhang Que chuckled, setting the bag beside him.
"True enough." Xu Mu smiled. "Then I'll head in first."
Zhang Que nodded. After Xu Mu walked away, he turned, quietly watching Xu Mu's back with a thoughtful look.
As Xu Mu followed the path toward the office building, he noticed the ground and nearby grass were stained with blood.
Two workers were hosing it down.
"Uncle, why's there blood here?" Xu Mu frowned. Feng Yue should've cleaned this up last night.
One middle-aged man laughed. "The boss said he'd treat us to fresh beef today. Bought a live cow and had the security guard slaughter it right here."
Xu Mu blinked, then nodded. Smart of her.
When he entered the office, Feng Yue had dark circles under her eyes — it almost looked like smoky makeup, but it somehow made her even more alluring.
"Boss! Oh, my dear boss!"
The moment she saw him, she lunged forward and buried her face in his chest.
"You look exhausted," Xu Mu said, holding her by the shoulders.
"I can't sleep! I really can't sleep!" Feng Yue's eyes were red. "It's just me and Zhang Que in the whole company at night — I'm terrified he'll come and tear my arms off!"