Allow Me to Change My Clothes

Xu Mu didn’t turn around, but his senses allowed him to see everything clearly—the two men were both staring at him.

He decided to leave this place first. A fight might break out soon, and it was best not to involve innocent bystanders.

One of the men nearby set up a parasol and sat down, cracking open a can of beer.

"You want one?" the man asked, glancing at Xu Mu.

"No thanks, I’m driving," Xu Mu replied with a smile, waving his hand before turning to walk away.

But he hadn’t expected the people tailing him to be so reckless.

Even with other innocent people around, they still moved in, blocking Xu Mu from both sides.

Xu Mu activated his Divine Eye to see who had gone to such lengths to target him.

First, he checked the middle-aged man on his left—around forty years old, with a buzz cut.

Name: Zhao Fei

Identity: Bodyguard of the Dai Family

Favorability: -1

Fate Level: 1 (Max: 10)

A faint smile crossed Xu Mu’s lips. He already had a guess.

Right now, in Yang City, the ones most likely to come after him were either the Feng Family or the Dai Family.

Feng Jian still had leverage over him, so they wouldn’t make a move.

That left only the Dai Family.

Xu Mu then turned his gaze to the slightly younger man—around thirty, with messy hair.

No surprise, this one was probably also sent by the Dai Family.

But when he used the Divine Eye to check, Xu Mu was stunned.

Name: Zhang Wen

Identity: Assassin

Favorability: 0

Fate Level: 1 (Max: 10)

Something felt off. Recalling what he’d sensed earlier—these two had approached from different directions.

Were they not working together?

Now, the two men closed in on Xu Mu from either side.

Seeing this, Xu Mu decided to test them. He slid his hands into his pockets and said coolly, "Finally showing yourselves? I knew you were following me."

Zhao Fei and Zhang Wen both stiffened, immediately glancing at each other.

"Go on, then. Let’s see what you’ve got," Xu Mu taunted.

Zhao Fei and Zhang Wen exchanged a look before charging forward.

Both drew daggers from their sleeves.

Clang!

Their blades clashed, metal ringing sharply in the air.

Each had mistaken the other for Xu Mu’s ally.

Swish!

Zhao Fei swung a high kick.

Zhang Wen blocked with a punch.

Boom!

The impact sent a shockwave through the air.

Xu Mu and the man fishing nearby watched in disbelief.

Suddenly, Zhao Fei and Zhang Wen lunged at Xu Mu simultaneously.

They both remembered their real target.

But as they closed in, they clashed again.

Bam!

Their fists collided, sending both stumbling back.

In that moment, Zhang Wen flicked his sleeve—a throwing dart shot out, embedding itself in Zhao Fei’s knee.

Swish!

Zhao Fei retaliated by hurling his dagger, which sank into Zhang Wen’s thigh. Blood gushed from the wound.

"Hey, old man, you’re just gonna sit there and fish while this is happening?" Xu Mu called to the man nearby.

"You fight your fights. Doesn’t concern me," the man replied, side-eyeing Xu Mu. "But you? Heartless, aren’t you? Your own men are hurt, and you don’t even care."

"My own men? I’m alone here," Xu Mu said, amused.

"What?"

Now, three faces wore identical expressions of confusion.

Zhao Fei glared at Zhang Wen. "You’re here to deal with Xu Mu too?"

"Exactly! You too?"

Zhang Wen's expression suddenly darkened. "Damn it! We've been tricked!"

The fishing man couldn't help but laugh at this. "Hahaha! You’re really something, kid."

"I’m surprised too. How did you end up fighting each other?"

Xu Mu wore an innocent look.

"Xu Mu! Even with one leg useless, I can still kill you!" Zhao Fei growled.

"No! Xu Mu can’t die. I need him alive," Zhang Wen said coldly.

"Then you two should fight again. Whoever wins, I’ll go with them."

Xu Mu smirked as he glanced between the two.

"Damn it!"

Zhao Fei gritted his teeth against the pain and forced himself back up.

Seeing Xu Mu’s smirk only fueled his rage. Here he was, a master in the early stages of Dark Force, humiliated by some spoiled brat.

Xu Mu watched Zhao Fei approach and prepared to strike. With an outsider present, pulling out his Desert Eagle wouldn’t be wise.

Suddenly, Xu Mu narrowed his eyes. Damn, how could he have been so stupid?

He’d been too focused on the outsider, but this guy… something was off.

A martial arts battle, blood spilled, yet he just sat there fishing like it was nothing.

Even the most seasoned angler wouldn’t be this unfazed.

Xu Mu immediately activated his Divine Eye to observe.

Name: Du Yan

Identity: Cleaner (Dragon Nation)

Favorability: 5

Fate Level: 4 (Max 10)

Well, well.

Now it made sense. This guy was a Cleaner—no wonder he was so calm.

But in the original storyline, he hadn’t appeared, which was why Xu Mu didn’t recognize him.

Since he was a Cleaner, Xu Mu wouldn’t need to lift a finger.

"Who sent you? At least let me die knowing the truth."

Xu Mu looked at Zhao Fei as he approached.

"I’ll tell you at your grave after you’re dead!" Zhao Fei spat.

"There’s an innocent bystander here. If you kill me, he’ll be a witness."

Xu Mu subtly shifted the focus to Du Yan.

"No cameras around. I’ll just sink him in the river too!"

Zhao Fei was beyond reason, consumed by rage. He felt humiliated—today, Xu Mu had to die.

"Then let’s move somewhere else. No need to drag innocents into this."

Xu Mu started walking toward the road along the shore.

Above Du Yan’s head, the favorability meter ticked up. He found Xu Mu rather amusing.

Then he spoke up. "No need. I’m not innocent. I’m here for you."

Xu Mu blinked. "Old bro, I’m not into men."

"But I’m into you."

Du Yan chuckled, propping his fishing rod aside before turning to Zhao Fei. "Who sent you?"

"Who the hell are you?" Zhao Fei sneered.

"Apologies, that was abrupt. Let me change first."

Du Yan opened a nearby case and pulled out a crumpled black uniform.

After slipping it on, he lifted his drowsy eyes and fixed them on Zhao Fei. "Let me ask again—who sent you?"

At the sight of the uniform, Zhao Fei’s face went deathly pale.

Beside him, Zhang Wen’s expression also twisted in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing.

Xu Mu’s heart skipped a beat. Two white stripes?!

This was an Intermediate Cleaner.

According to the original plot, the Intermediate Cleaners were the most enigmatic, with power levels varying wildly.

The strongest among them could rival Advanced Cleaners, reaching peak-tier combat prowess.

"You little brat! A damn fisherman like you, trying to scare your own father?" Zhao Fei sneered coldly.

Du Yan slowly raised his hand, then abruptly pressed it downward.

It was as if a boulder weighing ten thousand pounds had crashed onto Zhao Fei, who had been standing just moments ago.

The terrifying pressure forced him to his knees instantly.

Boom!

Crack!

Two craters formed in the pavement where his knees struck, blood spraying out on impact.

"I hate it when people bring my family into this," Du Yan said, his face expressionless.

Zhao Fei’s face twisted in horror, the shock even dulling the pain.

Gang Qi!?