Xu Mu was also a bit surprised and asked curiously, "How did you know?"
"I have Wei Jingzhi's contact information. He told me. I heard he's one of the judges for this martial arts competition to choose a husband."
Xu Shou said with a smile, "He said he saw your name on the list."
"Xu Mu! How dare you! What has Ye Tong ever done to wrong you? You actually dare to participate in this kind of event?"
Xu Ningbing, sitting next to Xu Mu, directly wrapped her arm around his neck.
Driven by the momentum, Xu Mu's face was pressed against Xu Ningbing's chest.
He was forcibly given a "face wash."
"Misunderstanding!"
Xu Mu immediately shouted, but he didn't break free, instead continuing to press against her, "Let me go!"
Only then did Xu Ningbing release Xu Mu, "I'll give you a chance to explain."
Xu Mu pouted. Why was Xu Ningbing so obedient today?
Wasn't she usually the one who loved to contradict him the most, tightening her grip the more he told her to let go?
He leaned back on the sofa again and recounted everything that had happened.
He also specifically told them that he had already taken Jiang Huihui home and explained the matter to Ye Tong.
Ye Tong had already agreed.
Both Xu Shou and Xu Ningbing fell silent, pondering the situation.
"So, for this martial arts competition to choose a husband, you need to compete with disciples from martial arts sects?"
Xu Shou lit a cigarette and asked doubtfully, "Who exactly is this Jiang Huihui?"
"Her family runs a stir-fried chicken restaurant. It doesn't seem like a hidden clan. Oh, her grandfather's name is Jiang Sheng."
Xu Mu thought for a moment and said.
"What?"
Hearing this, Xu Shou's eyes widened, and the hand holding the cigarette trembled, "What is Jiang Mingzhuo to her?"
"Jiang Mingzhuo? I don't know. I only know her father's name is Jiang Xingjun."
Xu Mu explained.
"Xingjun? I see."
Xu Shou took a deep drag of his cigarette, performing an epic lung hit. "Kid, since you promised her, you need to see it through."
"I'll definitely do my best."
Xu Mu suddenly looked at Xu Shou with curiosity, "Who is this Jiang Mingzhuo you mentioned?"
"I met that person once. I heard his father's name was Jiang Sheng."
Xu Shou said with a smile.
"Then the person you're talking about might be Jiang Huihui's uncle."
"Oh? You've heard of him?"
Xu Shou was somewhat surprised.
"Jiang Sheng said it himself. He said his eldest son was a heinous villain, and it was because of his son that his family owed many favors."
Xu Mu looked at Xu Shou and laughed.
"A heinous villain? Indeed. The reason I've heard of him is precisely because he was very evil."
Xu Shou took a puff of his cigarette, swiveled his office chair, and looked out the window.
"Dad, we'll head off now."
Xu Ningbing spoke up.
"Mmm, go ahead and get back to work."
Xu Shou said softly.
Xu Mu and Xu Ningbing left the place together.
While waiting for the elevator, Xu Ningbing suddenly asked, "What do you think is up with Dad?"
"He probably knows Jiang Mingzhuo. Suddenly mentioning that name sent him reminiscing about the past."
Xu Mu said with a smile.
He understood clearly that Xu Shou was no ordinary man; he must have been a formidable figure in the past.
So, it was very likely he had met Jiang Mingzhuo, or even that the two were enemies and had crossed paths.
After all, Jiang Mingzhuo was a great villain.
Someone like his own father—a good father at home and a philanthropist out in the world—would definitely be sworn enemies with him.
Xu Ningbing nodded. That was indeed a possibility.
The two took the elevator. Xu Ningbing got off first, while Xu Mu returned to his own office.
He had just sat down and was about to check his lottery when Jiang Huihui called.
Xu Mu immediately answered, smiling as he said, "Huihui, what's up?"
"My grandfather plans to contact the municipal sanitation department today to request they provide a historical site as the venue."
Jiang Huihui said on the other end, "If the talks go smoothly, the martial arts competition to choose a husband should start tomorrow or the day after."
"That fast?"
Xu Mu was a bit surprised. It seemed Jiang Sheng didn't want to delay.
"Are you really up for this or not?"
Jiang Huihui asked over the phone, "I'm so nervous right now."
"Don't worry, I have a couple of plans. I'll definitely do my best to help you."
Xu Mu laughed.
"Alright, I'll let you know if there's more news."
Jiang Huihui hung up on her end.
Xu Mu got up from his chair. Since the competition was imminent, he needed to take some action now.
He sent a message to Chen Xuan and then drove to find him.
Chen Xuan was Xu Mu's second plan.
Arriving in front of the hotel.
Chen Xuan walked over from a distance, his woven bag slung over his back.
Seeing this, Xu Mu couldn't help but say, "Old Chen, it's nothing major today. You can leave the woven bag in the hotel."
"There are still valuable items in here. I'm afraid of losing them. It's better to keep them with me."
Chen Xuan smiled as he approached Xu Mu, "What's up, Brother Mu?"
"Jiang Huihui's martial arts competition to choose a husband will start in a day or two. I want you to participate too."
Xu Mu got straight to the point.
"What? Me participate? No, no, no! I just managed to call off my engagement. How can I participate in something like this?"
Chen Xuan waved his hands repeatedly.
"You misunderstood. I want you to help me eliminate some of the stronger competitors. When we meet, you can intentionally forfeit."
Xu Mu laughed and patted Chen Xuan's shoulder.
Hearing this, Chen Xuan relaxed, "Brother Mu, you should have said so earlier. I agree to that. I'll work hard to clear the obstacles for you."
"With your word, that's enough."
Xu Mu didn't voice his real thought: in case he lost, Chen Xuan might win.
If someone on his side won the competition, there would be plenty of room for maneuvering later.
"By the way, Brother Mu, you said I just called off my engagement. Now if I participate in this competition, will Senior Jiang Sheng say anything?"
Chen Xuan suddenly asked.
"I've thought of that too. Probably not."
Xu Mu patted Chen Xuan's shoulder again.
From the moment Jiang Sheng included painting as one of the competition criteria, it proved his original intention was also for Xu Mu to win.
So, Xu Mu could use any method, and Jiang Sheng wouldn't mind.
Later, they just needed Chen Xuan to use a fake name.
"By the way, are you used to staying at the hotel? If you are, I won't look for an apartment for you."
Xu Mu had been so busy these past few days he'd forgotten about this.
"Better find one. On the high floors of the hotel, I don't dare practice my martial arts."
Chen Xuan said with a smile, "I'd like to live in a village outside the city. The rent is cheap, and there's more space."
"Get in the car first. Money isn't a problem."
Xu Mu took Chen Xuan and headed to the eastern part of Yang City.
His family's villa was in the east district. If Chen Xuan lived in the eastern outskirts, it would be closer.
Xu Mu sent a message to Wang Biao, telling him to immediately find a small courtyard on the eastern edge of Jiang City.
By the time Xu Mu reached the eastern outskirts, Wang Biao had already sent the address.
Following the navigation, they arrived at a row of small courtyards outside the city.
Xu Mu stopped in front of one. It was a two-story building, similar to those in villages.
"How about this place?"
Xu Mu said after getting out of the car, "It has a yard, and there are woods not far behind. It's convenient for training too."
"This place is perfect."
Chen Xuan got out of the car with his woven bag, looking around at the environment, "Brother Mu, how much is it here? I still have some money. I can't always spend yours."
"Don't speak!"
Xu Mu grabbed Chen Xuan's shoulder.
The two of them remained completely still for dozens of seconds.
Chen Xuan felt somewhat awkward and whispered, "Brother Mu, what's wrong?"
"Nothing much. It's just that in the last few dozen seconds, my family earned enough money to cover your rent for a year. Do you really think I still need you to give me money?"
Xu Mu said with a smile.
"Damn! Brother Mu, as expected of you, that's insane!" Chen Xuan gave a thumbs up.
"Oh my! Are you the new neighbors?"
Right at that moment, a woman appeared from around the corner in the distance.
This woman was wearing black stockings and a bodycon skirt, swaying her hips as she walked over.
Xu Mu looked at her. She appeared to be around thirty-five years old, with a round face and a slightly plump figure.
Yet, enhanced by her makeup and her posture and expression, she possessed a certain charm.
Xu Mu used his God's Eye to look at her.
Name: Zhou Xia
Identity: Disciple of the Yin-Yang Sect
Favorability: 20
Fate Level: 1 (Max Level 10)
Yin-Yang Sect?
Xu Mu had heard of it in the storyline before. It belonged to the lower-tier evil sects, comprised of people who enhanced their power through... harmonizing yin and yang.

close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"

grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)

ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!

] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"