Xu Mu is definitely talking nonsense.

"Your Majesty! Our people are already in position all around. Once he arrives, he won't be able to escape without your command."

A middle-aged woman wearing leather armor respectfully knelt on one knee.

She appeared to be around forty years old, with her black long hair tied into a bun. Her complexion was not like Fu Jinyu's, which was fair as white jade.

Her face was very rough, dotted with quite a few freckles. Her eyes, however, were like Fu Jinyu's—with crimson irises and black sclera.

"Hongyu, from now on, do not call me 'Your Majesty.' You may address me as 'Miss.' My identity must absolutely not be known by outsiders."

Fu Jinyu was sitting on a small stool nearby, her black hair cascading onto the ground.

This Xu Mu is closely connected to the Cleaners.

And the Cleaners are enemies of the Tianyao Clan. If it were a normal Tianyao clansman, perhaps Xu Mu would treat them seriously.

But if Xu Mu were to find out that I am the Empress, he might very well attack me.

If that happens, with the leader gone, the Cleaners might launch an assault on our people.

"Yes, Miss."

Hongyu nodded respectfully.

"By the way, what is my second uncle's current situation?"

As Fu Jinyu mentioned this person, her eyes gradually turned icy.

"He is not aware that Your Majesty... that Miss is injured. I only told him that Miss has business to attend to outside and will return soon."

Hongyu explained respectfully.

Fu Jinyu gave a slight nod. She could only hope that this time, Xu Mu could truly heal her injuries.

Otherwise, her second uncle would certainly seize her position.

Although she is the Empress, many of the top experts under her command are actually her second uncle's people.

She knew all too well that the elders within the clan, led by her second uncle, were not satisfied with her becoming the ruler of the Tianyao Clan.

Just then, Hongyu's phone vibrated.

She took it out, glanced at it, and immediately answered. After hanging up, she reported, "Our people hidden at the village entrance say a car is heading this way."

"Good."

Fu Jinyu nodded.

Everything now hinged on Xu Mu. If he couldn't cure her...

Then Fu Jinyu would be doomed beyond redemption. You can't wrap fire in paper—sooner or later, her second uncle would find out, and death would await her.

"Miss, I will go to the entrance to greet him."

Hongyu bowed her head slightly.

"Let's go together. He doesn't know you."

Fu Jinyu stood up and walked outside.

On his way, Xu Mu's perception had already detected Tianyao Clan members hidden in the surrounding fields.

Their eyes were far too distinctive.

Following the map location Fu Jinyu had sent, Xu Mu arrived at the destination.

His perception had also already spotted Fu Jinyu.

At that moment, he noticed two figures emerging from a brick-and-tile house.

They were both wearing sunglasses, presumably to prevent ordinary people from seeing their eyes.

Xu Mu parked the car by the roadside, then took a plastic bag from a box, packing the tools he brought this time inside.

Mainly the pill he had bought, plus acupuncture needles, and a few other rare medicinal materials.

Chen Xuan also got out of the car, carrying a woven sack.

"You're here."

Only after confirming it was Xu Mu did Fu Jinyu remove her sunglasses, revealing her eyes.

"I thought we were meeting at the ruins, not in a village."

Xu Mu walked over and said.

"The clansmen in our ruins despise you descendants of Yan and Huang. I was afraid it might cause conflict."

Fu Jinyu turned and pushed open the door, heading into the house.

Xu Mu followed behind, surveying the surroundings. "Is there no one else in this village?"

"There are still over a dozen elderly people and a few left-behind children. However, the local authorities have had them live together in one area to look out for each other."

Fu Jinyu said plainly. "It's in the southern part of the village."

"Most of the young and able-bodied adults have gone out to work. Some have even taken their parents and children with them. Most only return for a few days during the New Year."

Chen Xuan explained from the side. "My master and I lived in a mountain village in northern Central Plains. The population decline there is also severe. Two widows who watched me grow up remarried and left a few years ago."

Xu Mu glanced at Chen Xuan. "Hard to say if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

"Who knows? Farming for a year only earns a few thousand. If they don't go out to work, how can they support their families?"

Chen Xuan placed the urea woven sack in front of him. "My master's little plot of land, just growing wheat and corn, makes about a thousand a year, and that's not even counting the cost of fertilizer and irrigation. Good thing my senior sister often came to see us, otherwise we might have starved."

"Let's not discuss farming anymore."

Fu Jinyu interjected. "I think the main business at hand is more important."

"Right, almost forgot the main event."

Xu Mu chuckled, then followed Fu Jinyu into the house.

Judging by the cobwebs in the corners, no one had lived here for a long time.

However, the worn-out sofa was relatively clean. They must have cleaned it specially before coming.

Xu Mu sat on the sofa and beckoned to Fu Jinyu.

Fu Jinyu didn't refuse and came to his side.

Xu Mu took Fu Jinyu's hand and placed it on his own leg. With his other hand, he grasped her wrist, carefully sensing.

"After you left last time, did you forcefully use your power again?"

A full few seconds later, Xu Mu looked at Fu Jinyu and asked.

"I... I was just testing my body."

Fu Jinyu's expression at that moment was like a young wife who had done something wrong.

After leaving, she still couldn't believe she was crippled.

So she tried to erupt with power, just like during the previous fight with Xie Wangwei. When her power surged to a certain level,

her body immediately deflated like a punctured balloon, unable to use any more strength.

"If you forcefully erupt like that a few more times, you'll be completely finished, and even I won't be able to cure you."

As Xu Mu spoke, he took out a large black pill from the plastic bag, about two fingers wide in diameter.

"What is this?"

Fu Jinyu asked.

"The two types of eighth-grade rare medicinal materials I mentioned to you before. To obtain this, I owed someone a huge favor and paid a great price."

Xu Mu looked at Fu Jinyu's pretty face. "Remember what you promised me, otherwise I'd be at a huge loss."

Upon hearing this, Fu Jinyu immediately reached out to grab the pill.

But Xu Mu quickly clenched his fist and hid his hand behind his back. "Don't be in such a hurry. Did you think just taking a pill would fix it? I still have preparatory steps. Old Chen, you and this elder sister should step out first."

"Alright."

Chen Xuan nodded.

But Hongyu did not leave. Instead, she looked at Fu Jinyu, awaiting her command.

"Go on out."

Fu Jinyu said to Hongyu.

"Yes."

Only then did Hongyu follow Chen Xuan out.

Now, only Xu Mu and Fu Jinyu remained in the room.

Xu Mu took out a box of acupuncture needles from the plastic bag and said to Fu Jinyu, "Take off the armor on top."

“What? Xu Mu! You're looking for death!”

Upon hearing this, Fu Jinyu's eyes immediately turned fierce and menacing.

"Isn't your wound on your front?"

"I..."

"You what? If you think I'm talking nonsense, then I won't treat you. I'll just return the pill and save myself from owing such a big favor."

Xu Mu was, of course, talking nonsense.

Fu Jinyu's chest armor was so prominent; he just wanted to check if it was hollow.

Of course, the most important thing was that he needed to make Fu Jinyu feel that treating her was not easy for him.