Xu Mu, You Can't Possibly Escape My Grasp

Xu Mu slightly furrowed his brows, but then they smoothed out. "Beautiful, you are very beautiful."

He wasn't lying. Some people are the type that grows on you, becoming more attractive the longer you look. Others are the stunning type, breathtakingly beautiful at first glance.

The Tantai Quan before him was the stunning type.

Especially when combined with the intimidating aura of the Twin Heavenly Thunder, most people really couldn't handle it.

"Then I'll test you. If you can answer smoothly, you can take the Blood Essence Grass for just one Qi Sea Pill."

Tantai Quan said with a smile.

"What test?"

Xu Mu looked at her and asked.

"I want you to prove I'm beautiful in one sentence, but you cannot use any words related to beauty to describe me."

Tantai Quan smiled, taking out her phone. "I'll only give you one minute. If you can't do it, you can leave."

"No need for a minute, I've already thought of it! Basically, you want me to express that you're beautiful without saying it directly."

"Correct."

Tantai Quan nodded. "Since you've thought of it, go ahead and say it."

"Actually, I'm a Taoist priest. I've been away from the mountain for many years."

Xu Mu looked at Tantai Quan. "But seeing you today makes me think of the temple."

"Huh?"

Tantai Quan didn't react at first.

But suddenly, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. "You scoundrel! That doesn't count!"

"Why doesn't it count? My standards are very high. If you weren't beautiful enough, I wouldn't be thinking of the temple."

Xu Mu shrugged.

Bai Yi beside them was still pondering carefully what Xu Mu meant.

She didn't understand. Her master just wanted to return to the temple, yet this woman scolded him. How hateful.

"You... very clever!"

Tantai Quan was saying this when she suddenly covered her mouth, giggling.

At this moment, she was not only shaking with laughter, but her... assets were doing the same.

She took out her phone and sent a message.

Not long after, a young man in a suit walked in respectfully, carrying a wooden box.

"Sister Quan, I've brought the item."

"Put it down."

Tantai Quan smiled and nodded.

The young man placed the wooden box on the table and retreated.

Tantai Quan opened the wooden box. Inside was a dried plant, but its color was a dark red.

"What you said just now wasn't the answer I wanted to hear, but it indeed counts as a success."

Tantai Quan looked at Xu Mu. "I'll consider it a half-win for you. So besides one Qi Sea Pill, you also owe me a favor."

Xu Mu thought for a moment and understood this woman's intention.

She had watched the martial arts contest for marriage, so naturally she also knew he was an alchemist.

Alchemists are almost universally sought after, and this woman before him was no exception.

However, now that he knew her thoughts, Xu Mu could take the initiative.

"My favors are very valuable. A mere seventh-grade natural treasure isn't worthy enough."

Xu Mu looked at Tantai Quan. "I'm lacking Blood Essence Grass while refining pills. I just happened to be near here. If I wait until dawn, one phone call and someone will deliver it to me."

Hearing this, Tantai Quan took another puff from her jade pipe. "Mr. Xu makes a fair point. Let's just consider it making a friend then."

"Alright."

Xu Mu took out the Qi Sea Pill he had on him and handed it to Tantai Quan.

They exchanged contact information. Tantai Quan smiled and said, "I'm older than you. You can call me Sister Quan from now on."

"Okay, Sister Quan."

Xu Mu walked up to Tantai Quan, bent down, and took out the Blood Essence Grass.

But his eyes couldn't help but wander elsewhere.

He sighed inwardly. Truly wealthy, and generous.

This person clearly knew how to be filial, taking such good care of her grandmother.

So far, Xu Mu had seen quite a few beauties, but of this... magnitude, aside from Tantai Quan, there were only three others.

Xu Ningbing, Mu Qingying, and Li Yun.

But they usually kept themselves very well-covered, never as boldly exposed as Tantai Quan.

"Mine are natural."

Tantai Quan suddenly smiled at Xu Mu.

Even with Xu Mu's thick skin, hearing this made his cheeks feel slightly warm.

"Ahem!"

He coughed awkwardly a few times. "Sorry, it's just... too eye-catching."

Tantai Quan wasn't angry. Instead, she smiled. "You can look, but you can't touch, okay?"

Hearing this, Xu Mu knew he had encountered a high-level woman.

"Of course I know. The world is turbulent nowadays, but wanting to firmly grasp global opportunities and deeply understand supply channels isn't that easy."

Xu Mu raised his hand and clenched it firmly. "Sister Quan, I'll be leaving if there's nothing else."

"Travel safely."

Tantai Quan smiled and nodded.

Xu Mu looked at Bai Yi beside him. "Let's go."

"Yes."

Bai Yi quickly followed behind Xu Mu.

Watching Xu Mu leave, Tantai Quan lit her jade pipe again. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly. "Such a young alchemist, his future is limitless. Xu Mu, you definitely won't escape my grasp."

...

Not long after leaving the exchange, Xu Mu opened his storage space and placed the Blood Essence Grass inside.

He took Bai Yi with him and left the ruins.

As they walked out of the hotel, before they could even get into the car, a figure in a black robe appeared in the distance.

"Out already? Since you went to the exchange, you must have some treasures on you now, right?"

The black-robed man said calmly.

Hearing this voice, Bai Yi's body immediately tensed up. "Master, it's that old man Li from before!"

"Hehe, not bad, ugly girl. Since you're no longer from Reckless Mountain, I can finally indulge myself properly."

Old Man Li laughed lewdly. "I've always liked your type, a legal loli. Your hands are very pretty."

"You're really bold, daring to attack me out in the open world?"

Xu Mu's expression remained calm. "Aren't you afraid of the Cleaners?"

"Should I explain it to you? Within a two-kilometer radius, there's only this one hotel."

Old Man Li pointed at the hotel. "And the exterior of this hotel has no cameras."

"Is that so?"

Xu Mu was somewhat surprised. These people were truly reckless, daring to rob customers right after they stepped out.

"Don't worry, you won't live long enough to run back to the hotel for help."

A dagger appeared in Old Man Li's hand.

"Old Man Li, please don't kill him. I'm begging you."

Hearing this, Bai Yi mustered all her courage and stepped in front of Xu Mu.

The reason she feared this old man was precisely because she had seen him kill people, a great many people.

He was simply a disgusting devil.

Before, she was often threatened by him into cleaning his room.

More than once, she had discovered that Old Man Li kept hands hidden in his home. Judging by the slender fingers, they were women's hands.

And several times, the hands were different.

"Not kill him? Then how will you repay me?"

Old Man Li said with a smile. "How about you serve me well for a few nights?"

"As long as you let him go, I'll agree to anything!"

After saying this, Bai Yi's tears began to fall.

She didn't know why she was saying such things.

She had only known Xu Mu for such a short time.

Perhaps it was because she didn't want to watch someone who had given her warmth die right before her eyes.

At that moment, her trembling body was embraced once again.

Xu Mu's voice sounded beside Bai Yi's ear, "From now on, I will protect you."