They All Love Me, Do You Know Why

When Xu Mu saw Xu Ningbing leaning forward, he immediately knew what she intended to do.

Without hesitation, he threw his backpack aside.

Xu Ningbing’s head had just slammed against the stone wall behind her, but the backpack landed right between her and the wall.

Even so, a loud thud echoed through the cave.

It was enough to show just how much force Xu Ningbing had used moments ago.

Just as Xu Ningbing was about to try a second time, Xu Mu reached her side and grabbed her head.

“Xu Mu! Are you crazy? If you die, how am I supposed to explain this to Dad when I go back?” Xu Ningbing shouted, tilting her head back.

“Cut the crap!” Xu Mu snapped.

Noticing that Qin Ju hadn’t interfered, Xu Mu squatted down and began untying the ropes binding Xu Ningbing.

On closer inspection, the ropes were woven from ghost vine threads.

Even someone with Xu Ningbing’s strength would struggle to break free, let alone someone at the Gang Qi realm.

After loosening the ropes, Xu Mu waved at Xu Ningbing, “Follow those two and get out of here.”

“I’m not leaving! Not even if it kills me!” Xu Ningbing said coldly.

“Xingluo, take her out,” Xu Mu said, looking toward Dai Xingluo in the distance.

“Brother, I think we should respect her choice. If she doesn’t want you to die, why would you?” Dai Xingluo said, her beautiful eyes narrowing slightly.

The last thing Dai Xingluo wanted was to see Xu Mu die for this woman.

“Who said I’m going to die?” Xu Mu said calmly.

Hearing this, Dai Xingluo’s eyes narrowed even more.

If Xu Mu hadn’t reminded her, she might have almost forgotten that his strength far surpassed hers.

This time, it was mainly because Fan Shiyu had been acting as Xu Mu’s bodyguard, helping him fight.

That had subconsciously led Dai Xingluo to underestimate Xu Mu’s power.

“Brother, you owe me a favor,” Dai Xingluo said, rushing over to grab Xu Ningbing’s shoulder and start running out.

Xu Mu picked up the backpack and tossed it to Fan Shiyu. “You’re coming out too.”

“Xu Mu…” Fan Shiyu started to say.

“I’ll be fine,” Xu Mu interrupted her.

“All right, I’ll wait for you outside,” Fan Shiyu said, grabbing the backpack and following Dai Xingluo.

“Let me go!” Xu Ningbing’s angry shout echoed from inside the cave.

“You bitch! You think I want to take you away?” Dai Xingluo grabbed Xu Ningbing’s collar and slammed her against the wall. “You fox spirit, I wish you were dead…”

“I’m Xu Mu’s sister!” Xu Ningbing shouted back.

“Huh? Sister… well, that makes you the less guilty one,” Dai Xingluo said, feeling a bit relieved upon hearing that.

She had originally thought Xu Ningbing was a rival, but now that she knew she was Xu Mu’s sister, it made sense why Xu Mu called her family.

…

“Are you really so sure I won’t kill you?” Qin Ju asked Xu Mu with a cold gaze.

“I’m not sure. I just said that to get them to leave,” Xu Mu shrugged casually.

“I’ll make it happen for you,” Qin Ju said coldly, raising his hand.

“Senior, are you really willing to kill me?” Xu Mu asked, hands in his pockets, speaking slowly and deliberately.

Qin Ju stared at Xu Mu for a moment, then asked, “What makes you so special?”

“Those two women just now, weren’t they pretty?” Xu Mu suddenly asked.

“They are indeed good-looking, but none can compare to my granddaughter,” Qin Ju said with a calm expression.

“The reason these two women are so special isn’t just because they love me—they’re utterly infatuated. Want to know why?”

“If you say it’s because you’re handsome, I’ll kill you right now.”

Qin Ju’s eyes grew cold.

“No, it’s because standing before you is an expert appraiser, a pianist, a painter, a alchemist, an heir to a medical legacy, and more,” Xu Mu said casually, hands in his pockets as he leaned against the stone wall behind him.

At first, Qin Ju dismissed all the titles Xu Mu mentioned.

But when he heard “alchemist” and “heir to a medical legacy,” he was stunned.

“That’s why they like me. Whoever marries me, their family benefits along with them,” Xu Mu smiled and shrugged. “If you kill me, senior, you gain nothing. Better to let me owe you a favor.”

“Ha ha ha!” Qin Ju suddenly threw his head back and laughed out loud, then snapped coldly, “You brat, do you think I’m a three-year-old you can fool?”

“There’s fire and a pot here—I can make you a pill on the spot,” Xu Mu said, looking at Qin Ju. “But mainly, senior, you’re not sick, and that injury on your left shoulder is minor. Otherwise, I’d want to try healing you.”

Qin Ju stiffened at that.

He lightly moved his left arm. “Quack, who told you my left shoulder is injured?”

“I said it is. It must be, though it’s minor. I’d have to check carefully to be sure,” Xu Mu replied calmly.

“More than medicine, I want to see your alchemy skills,” Qin Ju said.

As the head of the Qin family, Qin Ju fully understood the value of an alchemist.

An alchemist possessed a godlike ability: the power to transcend levels.

Third-grade medicinal herbs, when refined by them, could produce effects of fourth or even fifth-grade herbs.

A top-tier alchemist could elevate ninth-grade rare treasures to nearly, if not equal to, divine-grade medicines.

“Alright, senior, do you have any low-grade rare treasures? The supplies here are limited; I can only make something simple.”

Xu Mu was just a beginner alchemist.

He hadn’t yet mastered the more advanced pills.

“Yes.”

Qin Ju leapt up, stepping on the wall to reach a high cave. He pulled out a backpack from inside.

Landing, he tossed the backpack to Xu Mu. “These are all third-grade or below. Pick whatever you want.”

Xu Mu opened the backpack and glanced through it. “I’ll make the most basic Qi Gathering Pill.”

As he spoke, Xu Mu began working.

He steamed the herbs over the fire using an iron pot.

Then he used his Qi to extract the essence of the herbs, maximizing their potency.

Qin Ju sat nearby, watching Xu Mu’s every move, noticing that Xu Mu could even project his energy outward.

In his heart, Qin Ju was almost certain this man wasn’t lying.

Finally, Xu Mu took three pills out from the fire after tempering them with flames and handed them to Qin Ju.

Qin Ju examined the pills. Their surfaces were smooth and slightly glossy.

He had also seen the herbs Xu Mu used—only a small amount of third-grade herbs, with the rest being first and second grade.

Qin Ju placed the elixir into his mouth. Before he could swallow, it transformed into vapor and dissipated, then merged into his body.

Feeling the surge of power growing within him, Qin Ju’s pupils suddenly contracted.

He had lived long enough to witness countless rare treasures and had consumed many of them.

The energy he just gained, though negligible for his current realm, was something he could clearly sense.

This was far beyond what a third-grade medicinal material could provide.

If he had taken a direct rare treasure, it would have to be at least fourth-grade to barely match this effect.

But he had only used a tiny amount of third-grade material; the rest were first and second-grade.

What did this mean?

Not only could this person refine pills, but his skill level was exceptionally high!

“Senior, how do you feel?” Xu Mu asked with a smile.

“I underestimated you. I never thought I’d meet such a young alchemist,” Qin Ju said, his heart filled with astonishment.

Having an alchemist indebted to him would undoubtedly be a great advantage.

Moreover, since he claimed to know medicine, perhaps he could cure his son’s illness.

“Young friend, what’s your name?” Qin Ju finally smiled.