Xu Mu naturally noticed Bai Yi's expression at that moment.
From the look in her eyes, he could tell she was extremely afraid of this old man.
She was hanging her head low, instinctively wanting to hide behind Xu Mu.
But she had only taken a tiny step when she stopped.
Because, at present, she didn't understand her new master at all.
As a servant, if she hid behind her master when facing danger, she would likely get beaten unless something unexpected happened.
Yet the next second, Bai Yi's body stiffened; she felt as if her brain had stopped thinking.
She simply couldn't process the scene before her.
Because Xu Mu had proactively reached out and pulled her into his embrace.
[Favorability +15]
Bai Yi couldn't believe it. Everyone hated seeing her face, enjoyed teasing her, insulting her.
In her memory, this seemed to be the first time someone had held her in their arms like this.
She didn't understand her own feelings; it was just very warm.
Like winter sunlight, it made her body go weak, wanting to close her eyes for a little nap.
But when she saw the bald old man approaching, her expression immediately turned vigilant again.
"Ugly girl, go to my place and empty my chamber pot. Remember to wash it clean. I left a mess in it last time."
The bald old man said with a laugh, "I just got back from a mission and remembered because of the smell."
"She's my person now. You're not qualified to order her around."
Xu Mu looked at the bald old man with a placid expression.
"What do you mean? That ugly girl is clearly a worker here at Reckless Mountain. Since when did she become your person?"
The bald old man's eyes instantly turned icy.
"Her boss just sold her to me."
After saying this, Xu Mu smiled at Bai Yi. "Let's go. Take me to the exchange."
"Yes."
Bai Yi's heart was still filled with fear towards the old man. Upon hearing Xu Mu's instruction, she immediately started leading the way.
The bald old man looked back at Xu Mu's departing figure, a cold sneer appearing on his face.
...
Led by Bai Yi, Xu Mu arrived in front of a light-gauge steel villa. The villa was very large, its length appearing to be over thirty meters.
Lights were on inside, and four middle-aged men in suits stood outside the door.
Clearly acting as bodyguards.
Xu Mu, holding Bai Yi's hand, walked into the villa.
Once inside, he was truly somewhat taken aback. This place was more like a bank counter.
There was a whole row of them, far more than the few counters at a bank.
Moreover, the staff here all had computers.
This place was much more advanced than the Tianjian Sect ruins.
Even though it was night, over a dozen people were sitting on chairs, conducting transactions with the staff inside.
Xu Mu approached a counter. As soon as he sat down, the staff member inside spoke.
"Sir, are you looking to buy or to sell?"
"I want to buy Blood Essence Grass. Do you have it here?"
Xu Mu crossed his arms and asked with a smile.
"Let me check for you."
The woman inside searched on her computer, then said, "Sir, we do have Blood Essence Grass here. However, transactions for seventh-grade natural treasures are beyond my authority. Please proceed to the member's room, just to your left."
Xu Mu was quite surprised. This place felt rather formal.
Nevertheless, he got up and went to the left with Bai Yi.
A staff member here personally escorted Xu Mu to a room.
Xu Mu observed the room and found it very modern.
He sat on the leather sofa and stretched lazily.
Bai Yi stood behind Xu Mu.
"Sit down. Why are you standing?"
Xu Mu turned and smiled at Bai Yi.
"Master, it's fine if I stand."
Bai Yi hurriedly waved her hands and then lowered her head.
"If I tell you to sit, you sit. From now on, your primary task is to obey."
Xu Mu pulled Bai Yi, making her sit beside him.
Bai Yi nervously clenched her fists, her legs trembling slightly.
"Look at you."
Xu Mu's hand rested on Bai Yi's leg. "Skinny as a stick. From now on, follow me and eat well."
"Yes, Master."
Bai Yi said softly.
Just then, the door was pushed open.
A woman wearing a gorgeous Hanfu, holding a slender jade tobacco pipe, walked in with a smile.
This woman appeared to be around thirty years old. Although she also wore Hanfu, she was a completely different type from Dai Xingluo.
When Dai Xingluo wore Hanfu, she was the epitome of a classical beauty, appearing like a well-bred lady from a respectable family.
But this woman before him, if in ancient times, would be more like the top courtesan from a pleasure house.
Her entire being exuded a kind of allure.
For example, the collar of her Hanfu was very open, very generous.
A deep cleavage spoke of formidable assets.
Xu Mu sighed inwardly. To be frank, this woman was on par with Xu Ningbing.
"Hello, sir. My name is Tantai Quan."
This woman walked with graceful steps and sat opposite Xu Mu. Her every smile and gesture was textbook perfection.
She exuded the same allure as Feng Yue, but they were different.
Feng Yue pretended deliberately for survival.
But this woman seemed to possess it innately, etched into her very bones.
"My name is Fang Chu."
As Xu Mu spoke, he used his God's Eye to look at her.
Name: Tantai Quan
Identity: Controller of Reckless Mountain, Female Lead of "The Evil God Breaks Out of Prison"
Favorability: 0
Destiny Level: 9 (Max 10)
Seeing this information, Xu Mu was filled with surprise. Another member of that Evil God guy's harem.
However, one thing did catch him off guard. He hadn't expected the boss of a place like Reckless Mountain to be a woman.
Given the prevailing atmosphere at Reckless Mountain, this woman before him was likely no pushover.
Perhaps this woman was a bad person herself, who later became part of the Evil God guy's harem due to certain events.
"Hello, Mr. Xu. I am the person in charge of this exchange. Are you in need of the seventh-grade natural treasure, Blood Essence Grass?"
Tantai Quan asked with a smile.
"That's right, I..."
Xu Mu was speaking when he suddenly paused. "I believe I just said my name was Fang Chu."
"So Mr. Xu is named Fang Chu. A pleasure."
Tantai Quan took out tobacco from a pouch, stuffed it into the front of her pipe, and said with a smile.
"How do you know about me?"
Xu Mu's expression immediately turned serious.
"I was present at the Jiang family's martial arts contest to choose a son-in-law. I happened to watch the excitement. Mr. Xu certainly made a stunning debut."
Tantai Quan took out a match, struck it to light her pipe, took a few gentle puffs, and tapped out the ash.
Xu Mu didn't like women who smoked, but watching her, even smoking a pipe seemed to carry a certain artistic conception.
"I see."
Xu Mu remembered that there were many people in black robes outside the arena at the time; she must have been one of them.
"So, what price is the gentleman willing to pay? After all, it is a seventh-grade natural treasure."
Tantai Quan asked with a smile.
"I have a Qi Sea Pill here. I'm willing to trade it for the Qi Sea Pill."
Xu Mu looked at the woman before him. "The Qi Sea Pill contains seventh-grade Blue Sunflower. It should be quite valuable, right?"
"Not valuable enough. One Blue Sunflower can produce several Qi Sea Pills. The Blood Essence Grass I have here is complete. So you would need to offer at least three Qi Sea Pills."
Tantai Quan said with a smile.
"But I only have one on me."
Although Xu Mu had several, he certainly wouldn't use his own things.
Helping the Sky Sword Sect was supposed to be free of charge to begin with; he wasn't about to end up losing his own treasures on top of that. He wasn't that generous.
"In that case, there's nothing to be done," Tantai Quan shook her head. "Please leave."
"I say, sister, can't you make an exception?" Xu Mu asked Tantai Quan.
"Of course an exception can be made," Tantai Quan replied with a radiant smile. "Am I beautiful?"

to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”

orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"

his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…

uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.