Spring Night Grass, Xu Mu's Coping Method

Xu Mu couldn't help but laugh as he looked at Jiang Huihui’s current expression.

This striking, effortlessly cool woman somehow looked oddly adorable right now.

“So, do you want it or not?”

Xu Mu took out the Qi Sea Pill again.

“Don’t think a single pill is enough to win me over. I’m not that cheap!”

Jiang Huihui stuffed her trembling hands into her pockets.

Then, with shaky fingers, she pulled out a piece of gum and nervously popped it into her mouth.

“I’ll give you this pill, and in exchange, you work for me for a year.”

That was Xu Mu’s plan. Judging by Jiang Huihui’s high-level cultivation techniques, her background was anything but ordinary.

Plus, she had an overwhelming sense of justice—once she agreed to something, she’d see it through.

In Xu Mu’s eyes, trading a Qi Sea Pill for an expert like her was more than worth it.

Given his current progress, within a year, even hidden families would be insignificant.

By then, the only competition left would be the major sects.

At that point, he wouldn’t need Jiang Huihui’s services anymore.

“No way! ‘Working for you’ is just a cover—your real goal is to take advantage of me, isn’t it?”

Jiang Huihui’s expression turned icy.

[Affection -1]

Men. Always the same.

“You’re overthinking it. I’m a married man.”

“Married men are even more likely to pull this kind of stunt—they do it for the thrill!”

Jiang Huihui stepped closer to Xu Mu. “Get off my scooter. Now.”

“You sure know a lot. Even if I did want to take advantage of you, do you really think I could?”

Xu Mu met her gaze steadily.

Jiang Huihui frowned. He had a point.

After consuming the Qi Sea Pill, there was at least a 50% chance she’d break through to the Divine Ability realm.

How could Xu Mu possibly force her into anything?

“Then what exactly do you mean by ‘working for you’?”

Jiang Huihui kept her hands in her pockets as she asked.

“You must’ve looked into my family. Our recent growth has been too rapid, and it’s bound to attract envy from hidden families and other powerful figures.”

Xu Mu glanced at her. “For example, the assassin earlier was hired by the Feng Family. The one before that was sent by Lin Yang.”

“You want me to protect you?”

Jiang Huihui finally caught on.

“Not just me. If you work for me, you follow my orders. Whoever I tell you to protect, you protect.”

Xu Mu parked the scooter and stepped off. “I won’t ask you to harm the innocent, and you’ll earn your share of rewards. But if you’re not interested, we’ll part ways here.”

[Affection +20]

Jiang Huihui flushed with embarrassment. She’d completely misjudged him.

Seeing Xu Mu turn to leave, she quickly grabbed his arm. “Brother Xu Mu, I was wrong. Don’t go.”

Regret flooded her heart. Xu Mu had been thinking of her all along, while she’d assumed the worst.

“If our paths don’t align, there’s no point forcing it. I can always give the Qi Sea Pill to someone else.”

Xu Mu remained expressionless as he pulled his arm free.

“Brother, there are too many people here. When we’re alone, I’ll even kneel for you, okay?”

Jiang Huihui wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her face against his back. “Don’t leave, don’t leave. I’m sorry.”

If she could reach the Divine Ability realm, her strength would qualify her for a position like sanitation team leader.

Even if she didn’t get promoted, she’d at least have an excuse.

“Let go.”

Xu Mu maintained his aloof demeanor.

“Boss, from now on, my phone’s on 24/7 for you. Just say the word.”

Jiang Huihui pulled out another piece of gum and offered it to him. “Here, let’s forget what just happened.”

“Tsk, you’ve got a silver tongue.”

Xu Mu took the gum. “One year. On call, anytime.”

“I swear!”

Jiang Huihui raised her hand solemnly.

“Here.”

Only then did Xu Mu hand over the Qi Sea Pill.

Jiang Huihui sniffed it first, then swallowed it whole.

The surging energy in her body confirmed it was the real deal.

She couldn’t understand why Xu Mu would give her such a precious pill instead of using it himself.

He hadn’t mentioned it earlier—only when he noticed her low spirits did he offer it.

Wasn’t this his way of cheering her up?

And he still claimed he didn’t like her? What a flimsy excuse!

Suppressing her excitement, Jiang Huihui asked, “Where to next?”

“Drop me at the company, then you’re free to go.”

Xu Mu had already decided how to deal with Yun Wu.

For an ordinary person, his plan might seem underhanded and cruel.

But since Yun Wu had tried to kill him, Xu Mu felt no guilt whatsoever.

---

After returning to the Yang City branch office, Xu Mu dismissed Jiang Huihui.

Before leaving, she warned him to stay indoors for the next few days—the assassin would surely return.

Xu Mu saw her off, then drove back to Jiang City.

It was basic logic: after an assassination attempt, most people would hole up at home.

He was certain Yun Wu would do the same.

This time, he’d be waiting for her.

Back at his villa, Xu Mu retrieved a pale pink herb from his storage space—the third-grade heavenly treasure, Spring Night Grass.

The same poison Xia Sihan had been exposed to.

He’d once thought an upright man like himself would never resort to such dirty tricks.

But against an enemy who wanted him dead, all bets were off.

Of course, Xu Mu wasn’t the type to exploit someone in a vulnerable state.

Because he was kind.

At worst, he’d just use his judo skills to fulfill her “dreams.”

With his small alchemy furnace, Xu Mu refined the Spring Night Grass into two pills, enhancing its potency with additional herbs.

Holding the dark-red pill, he murmured, “This should be extremely potent. No ordinary person could withstand it.”

He crushed one pill into a bottle, mixed it with water, and stirred until it became a faint red liquid.

Then he soaked a dagger and several silver needles in it before storing them away.

The Spring Night Grass was most effective when ingested, but tricking an expert like Yun Wu into drinking it was impossible.

So Xu Mu’s plan was to deliver it through a wound—even a minor cut would suffice, given the enhanced dosage.

Not wanting to risk Ye Tong or Ye Yu getting caught in the crossfire, Xu Mu decided against waiting at home.

Instead, he took out his Lamborghini for a drive.

---

Yun Wu had already arrived in Jiang City.

Thanks to the intel from Feng Kang, she knew everything about Xu Mu.

If she couldn’t find him, she’d wait near his home.

He had to return eventually.

Pulling out her phone, she sent a message to Fan Shiyu: “I shouldn’t have snapped at you earlier.”

Fan Shiyu had also made it onto the Death Rankings, and the current “buy one, get one free” assassination deal was partly because of her.

But her first mission had ended in failure.

When Yun Wu heard, she’d been harsh in her criticism.

Who could’ve guessed Xu Mu had a peak-level expert by his side? The fact that Fan Shiyu made it back alive was impressive enough.

Just as Yun Wu was about to head to Xu Mu's villa, she happened to spot a sports car pulling out of the driveway.

The license plate number confirmed it was Xu Mu's car.