It's okay to deceive others, but don't deceive yourself.

Hearing this, Xu Mu smiled. "I'm not really interested."

He had his own ways of improving, even if in the future, the affection levels of everyone around him were fully maxed out.

He could always continue to search for other female leads.

Or ordinary people with high destiny levels, like Bai Yi.

If he couldn't even find people like that, Xu Mu still had one more method.

That was to do exactly what he did before when he performed on the piano—by doing good deeds in bulk to win the favor of the majority.

This way, he could harvest a continuous stream of Justice Points.

For now, however, he would definitely still obtain them from these female leads.

Because most of the male leads had an instinctive hostility towards Xu Mu, and the female leads were their right-hand women.

Normally, the male leads would obtain fortuitous encounters and grow stronger through plotlines involving the female leads.

By taking the female leads away ahead of time, Xu Mu would cause the male leads to lose these plotlines, thereby limiting their growth.

It was killing two birds with one stone.

Of course, Xu Mu also had a worst-case scenario plan.

If he truly couldn't acquire any Justice Points, he could still cultivate on his own.

"Are you sure you're not interested? This is a branch of the Immortality Research Institute, you know."

Shi Fumeng crossed her arms. "You have a good relationship with the Sanitation Department, so you must really hate them too, right?"

"Why do I feel like there's a conspiracy here? Since you know the address, shouldn't you just tell the Sanitation Department?"

Xu Mu remained highly guarded against Shi Fumeng.

"The Immortality Research Institute's branch has great treasures. If we tell the Sanitation Department, do you think we'll still get a share?"

Shi Fumeng looked at Xu Mu. "I know you're quite strong, which is why I specifically sought you out. I'm a loner right now and don't have anyone I can trust."

"Who are you trying to fool? That Wu Tian from last time, wasn't he your junior martial brother?"

There was something else Xu Mu didn't say aloud—that this woman was also an elder of the Valley of Ten Thousand Races.

Her, a loner?

"I've already broken ties with him. I despise people who don't keep their word the most. Associating with that kind of person will only lead to a backlash."

Shi Fumeng snorted coldly.

They clearly took the divine medicine but refused to admit it; otherwise, why would Lei Ao chase after them?

Xu Mu didn't say anything else. He didn't believe a single word this woman said.

...

Clutching her waist, Xiao Ran arrived at the place where Ye Chen was.

Huang Qu immediately took out a pill from his person. "Eat this, it's a Blood-Stanching Pill."

After catching it, Xiao Ran didn't take it right away. Instead, she lowered her head to Ye Chen. "I'm sorry, I failed to kill Meng Wanyue."

"I didn't expect Meng Wanyue to have grown to such an extent. If it weren't for the woman who showed up later, you definitely would have succeeded."

Ye Chen said to Xiao Ran, "I trust you, and I know you would absolutely never betray me. Take the pill."

Xiao Ran nodded and finally swallowed the pill.

"Xiao Ran, I am now at the Grandmaster realm. If I want to advance further, I need natural treasures of at least the seventh grade or higher. Most of my subordinates can't help me with that."

Ye Chen's face was as calm as water. "Xu Mu currently has a sect backing him, so I've decided to start making contact with the sects as well."

"What about the company? I remember the Dragon King urgently wanted to acquire money, didn't you?"

Xiao Ran looked up and asked.

"I only have two purposes for wanting money. One is to maintain our expenses, and the second is to spend money to get things done, such as finding my enemies."

Ye Chen paused before continuing, "Mu Qingying indeed has a mind for business. From now on, I'll leave commercial matters to her."

"Is the Dragon King planning to leave?"

Xiao Ran frowned slightly.

"You did remind me earlier that I need to calm down. Since meeting you, I've never stepped into any major traps, but lately, my state of mind has been a bit off."

Ye Chen said expressionlessly, "For the time being, I'm going to go out and clear my head. I'm leaving my subordinates in your hands for now."

Looking at Ye Chen's current expression, Xiao Ran felt as if the man he used to be had returned.

If that was the case, Xu Mu would be in danger.

"How long does the Dragon King plan to be away?" Xiao Ran asked.

"The time is uncertain, but I think it will be quick."

After Ye Chen finished speaking, he looked at Huang Qu. "Lao Huang, let's go."

"Alright."

Huang Qu smiled and nodded.

...

Xu Mu had already arrived at his villa along with the others.

This time, Shi Fumeng had followed them inside as well.

Xu Mu busied himself in the kitchen for a while and finally brought out a dark green ointment.

"Wanyue, let me apply this to your wound. It won't leave a scar."

"Thank you, Brother Mu."

Meng Wanyue nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Wait! Brother, it's improper for men and women to be too close. Let me apply the medicine for Meng Wanyue instead."

Dai Xingluo stood up with a smile and snatched the bowl from Xu Mu's hands.

Xu Mu and Meng Wanyue's expressions changed simultaneously, but neither of them found it appropriate to say anything.

"Sister Wanyue, let's go."

Dai Xingluo's eyes curved into crescents.

Meng Wanyue gave a cold snort and walked towards a nearby room.

Now, only Xu Mu and Shi Fumeng were left in the living room.

"Are you sure you have no interest in what I said earlier?"

Shi Fumeng flipped her long hair.

"Let me be completely honest, Shi Fumeng. I know absolutely nothing about you, yet you're deliberately getting close to me. Who knows if your intentions are good or bad? If you're trying to lead me into a trap, who am I supposed to complain to?"

Xu Mu smiled as he sized up Shi Fumeng's black pantyhose. "If you want me to help you, you need to show some sincerity."

"Sincerity?"

Noticing Xu Mu's gaze, Shi Fumeng immediately pressed down her short skirt. "Shameless! Pervert! Have you no decency?"

"It's your own mind that's too dirty. I just wanted you to introduce yourself properly."

Xu Mu shrugged his shoulders.

Shi Fumeng paused for a moment and said, "I come from the Valley of Ten Thousand Races."

Hearing this, Xu Mu's expression clearly froze. He frowned. What was the deal with this woman?

She wasn't lying.

"You're an alien race?"

Xu Mu asked expressionlessly.

"That's right, but my race is slightly different from the others."

Shi Fumeng shook her head gently. "Only if you promise to act together with me will I tell you which race I belong to."

"I'm not interested in your race. Since you're from the Valley of Ten Thousand Races, why not ask your own people for help instead of seeking out an outsider like me?"

Xu Mu asked with a furrowed brow.

"If you know about the Valley of Ten Thousand Races, you should be aware of the situation inside. Everyone harbors their own ulterior motives and wishes for the other races to perish. Rather than cooperating with them, it's far better to come to you."

Shi Fumeng twirled her long hair. "I'm a good judge of character. You aren't someone who goes back on his word."

Xu Mu pondered inwardly, then asked, "What is your position in the Valley of Ten Thousand Races?"

"An elder, though I inherited the position from my father. My father is already dead."

Shi Fumeng answered truthfully.

Xu Mu was genuinely starting to feel suspicious. What exactly was the deal with this woman?

She wasn't lying again.

"How old are you?"

Xu Mu continued to ask.

"Forty-four."

Shi Fumeng replied.

"Holy crap! Auntie, you're so old, yet you dress like this? Where is your sense of decency?"

Xu Mu pointed at Shi Fumeng and said.

"What do you know! The average lifespan of an ordinary person in our race is a hundred and fifty years, twice as long as yours. Converted to human years, I'm only twenty-two."

Shi Fumeng puffed out her cheeks slightly. "I'm still growing!"

"Auntie, you can fool everyone else, just don't fool yourself."

Xu Mu waved his hand.