Xu Mu had intended to tell the truth right away, but he hesitated and pretended to agree first to see how Dai Xingluo would react.
"Right, I killed him."
"Dai Dongyang isn't weak, but he's nothing before my brother."
Dai Xingluo nodded lightly, then poured another cup of tea.
Xu Mu looked up at her. "You don't hate me?"
"I'm more than happy — how could I hate you, brother?"
Dai Xingluo pinched the teacup between two fingers and took a small sip. "Among the three sons of the Dai family, if you really compare them, Dai Xiao isn't even the worst."
Back when she lived at the Dai household, the second and third sons had shown talent since childhood. The family favored them more; Dai Xiao, as the eldest, had often been picked on. That was why, when Dai Xiao once came to find Dai Xingluo, she went with him. If it had been Dai Dongyang who came, she'd have been lucky not to strike him.
"I see. Then I can rest easy. Actually I didn't kill him — I only slapped him." Xu Mu smiled.
"Then why did you lie to me?" Dai Xingluo asked calmly.
"I wanted to see how you'd react — whether you'd side with him or with me." Xu Mu drained his tea at one gulp.
"Of course I side with you." Dai Xingluo winked at him. "Is there a reward?"
Without hesitation Xu Mu produced another Qi Sea Pill and set it on the table.
"Holy—!"
The exclamation came from Li Zizai at the side. He was dumbstruck: three Grade-7 pills in one go. If the person in front of him weren't Dai Xingluo, he might've thought of robbery.
"Take one every three days and see if your strength progresses."
Xu Mu stood. "I've got an even better treasure. Want it?"
Dai Xingluo's pupils constricted. "Better than a Qi Sea Pill? Brother, what are you up to?"
"Come with me." Xu Mu turned and walked out. Earth-Grade techniques were too dangerous to show Li Zizai, so he kept him out of sight.
Dai Xingluo popped one Qi Sea Pill into her mouth and stowed the remaining two, then quickly followed, slipping her arm through his. Xu Mu narrowed his eyes, savoring the contact; it gave him an initial assessment. She felt slightly less intense than Xu Ningbing had earlier — but still powerful.
"Brother, what treasure do you have?" Dai Xingluo asked, swinging his arm.
"If I give this to you, you'll work for me for a year."
Xu Mu glanced at her. "Meaning you'll obey whatever I ask of you for a year?"
Dai Xingluo blushed shyly. "Brother, you're so naughty."
"Don't act cute. I'm serious." Xu Mu's face grew stern as he pulled his arm free. "Answer me first — have you joined any organization?"
His Divine Eye had already shown him that Dai Xingluo was an outer-disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, but she hadn't actually entered the sect's inner halls.
"Do you want the truth?" she asked, her gaze suddenly steady.
"Of course."
"I was once taken by an elder to a sect called the Heavenly Sword Sect," Dai Xingluo explained. "Right now I'm, technically, an outer disciple."
"A sect? Then why have you been staying here?" Xu Mu asked curiously.
"I offended someone there. They're powerful in the inner hall and swore I'd never be allowed to train in the inner hall," she shrugged. "I learned everything the outer hall could teach, then came down the mountain."
"You didn't formally quit?"
"No, so I'm still considered an outer disciple." Dai Xingluo nodded.
"Honest enough." Xu Mu nodded and walked out to the parking lot.
"Honest? How do you know i telling the truth?" Dai Xingluo asked, trailing after him.
"I guessed."
At the car, Xu Mu opened his storage space and took out the Fire Phoenix Sword manual — a dark red metal plate. He shut the door.
"Brother, what is it? So mysterious." Dai Xingluo hurried up behind him. Seeing the metal plate, she guessed it was a technique.
"If this gets out, it'll stir up blood and chaos," Xu Mu warned, handing it to her. "Even your antique-shop buddy Li Zizai would be unable to resist."
Dai Xingluo's face grew grave as she took the plate. On it was only the image of a phoenix — no words. She hesitated, then infused a little Qi into it. The metal gleamed faintly and a flood of images hit her mind. She stepped back, breathless.
Her eyes widened. "An Earth-Grade technique — the Fire Phoenix Sword!"
"What do you think of it?" Xu Mu asked.
"Brother, where did you get this? This is the legendary technique our sect lost. Why is it with you?" Dai Xingluo was stunned.
"Do you want it?" Xu Mu asked.
"Of course I want it!" Dai Xingluo gripped the metal plate tightly; her look at Xu Mu was burning. A legendary Earth-Grade technique — and he was willing to share it with her. Was this a confession?
When she thought about it, even women who married into sects or hidden families often weren't qualified to learn such powerful techniques.
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"Keep it secret. No one else can know." Xu Mu looked serious. "I heard there's an ancient ruin in Jiangbei. Train hard — I'll need your help."
"I understand, brother." Dai Xingluo nodded. As a former sect disciple, she knew what an Earth-Grade technique represented.
"I'll go now." Xu Mu got into his car, planning to look up Miao He and to check on the situation with the three lieutenants of the Zang-Ai family.
Dai Xingluo hugged the metal plate to her chest and called out toward the driver's seat in a moon-shaped smile, "Brother, I love you."
Xu Mu waved and vanished.
"If you ever change your mind, I'll kill you," Dai Xingluo said, smiling even as she meant it. "No — I should give you a chance. First I'll kill every woman you love."