The Mere Eternal Life Research Institute

Hearing this, Xu Mu asked curiously, "Is Dad at home?"

"He just came back this morning. Recently, he's been dragged around by a few of his old army buddies, constantly going out to have fun. I'm sure he's the one paying for everything."

Xu Ningbing put the contract in her hands into her spatial ring and walked briskly down the mountain.

"How much money can those old guys spend? As long as they don't gamble, it's fine."

Xu Mu smiled as he followed behind Xu Ningbing.

The group arrived at the foot of the mountain together. This time, Xu Ningbing drove, and they headed back to Jiang City without stopping.

Xu Mu sat by the window, deep in thought. His primary goal right now was to eradicate the branch in Jiangbei first.

Xu Mu couldn't stand letting the Immortality Research Institute commit evil deeds right under his nose.

But then, Xu Mu frowned. He felt that things were not that simple.

Wang Hun clearly knew that Xu Mu was still alive.

Yet, he deliberately placed one of the branches in Jiangbei.

There must be something fishy going on here.

Resting his chin on his hand and feeling the breeze from the window, Xu Mu pondered continuously until his eyes suddenly widened.

He finally figured it out. This so-called branch was nothing but a trap.

If no one had gone to the Xu family to collect protection money, then this branch might have been real.

After all, they needed to stay hidden.

But as it happened, Wang Hun established the branch in Jiangbei and specifically sent someone to the Xu family to collect protection fees.

Wasn't his purpose simply to tell Xu Mu that there was a branch of the Immortality Research Institute in Jiangbei?

Next, Xu Mu would definitely try to destroy this location.

And that would mean falling right into the trap.

Inside this branch, there would surely be experts waiting for him. It was even possible that Wang Hun himself was in there.

Xu Mu took a deep breath. That was close.

Just a moment ago, he had been planning to take Meng Wanyue and Dai Xingluo inside to gain some combat experience.

If he had actually done that, it would have been a disaster.

Xu Mu shook his head slightly. This Wang Hun was truly skilled at playing mind games and schemes.

...

The Xu Family Manor.

Xu Shou was currently sitting in the courtyard, and beside him was Zhang Que.

He was wearing a suit, and his right sleeve fluttered gently in the wind.

Holding a cigarette in his left hand, he sat there with a calm look in his eyes.

Sitting opposite Xu Shou was a man in a black robe. This person had already taken off his hood, revealing a bald head.

He sat there trembling; even the hand holding his teacup was shaking.

His superiors had ordered him to come and collect protection money. He originally thought it was a cushy job, but to his surprise, he ran right into Zhang Que at the Xu family.

As a Grandmaster-level martial artist, he naturally knew this person's identity.

One of the Two Cripples from the infamous "One Madman, Two Cripples."

However, that title was already a thing of the past. Compared to being one of the Two Cripples, Zhang Que now had a much more terrifying identity.

That was being a member of "Salvation."

Although the Immortality Research Institute was trying its best to cover up what happened last time, people like him who frequently carried out missions outside could definitely hear about the recent events from others.

The boss of the Immortality Research Institute, Mr. Soul, had been instantly defeated by Salvation member Jiang Mingzhuo.

There was barely any prolonged fight. Right after the clash began, he was beaten so badly that he had to go into hiding.

Zhang Que, who was right in front of him, was also a member of Salvation.

Even if his strength wasn't on par with Jiang Mingzhuo, his level of terror was still not something a guy like him could mess with.

Furthermore, he had heard a rumor that Zhang Que liked to sever other people's arms.

So he had been trembling the entire time, terrified that Zhang Que would suddenly rip his arm off.

He still needed to continuously carry out missions to get money for drinks. If he lost an arm, his strength would be greatly reduced.

It might even spell his death.

"Don't be nervous. When they come back later, just say what your superiors instructed you to say,"

Xu Shou smiled at the bald man.

"Uh... yes."

The bald man carefully placed the teacup back onto the stone table and nodded vigorously.

"Brother Shou, why go through all this trouble? Brother Zhuo knows where the Immortality Research Institute is. We can just go over there and wipe them out,"

Zhang Que took a deep drag of his cigarette and looked at Xu Shou.

"Wiping out a mere Immortality Research Institute is easy, of course."

Xu Shou lit a cigarette. "But if they are destroyed, the clues leading to the people hiding behind them will be cut off."

Hearing this, the bald man sitting opposite them trembled even more in fear.

Such a powerful Immortality Research Institute, and this guy actually used the word "mere"?

Was he kidding?

The combat power of the Immortality Research Institute was completely comparable to a top-tier sect.

At the Sanitation Department, they were a Red Class-A wanted organization.

Why did it feel like in their eyes, the institute was just some third-rate group?

"That makes sense."

Zhang Que nodded slightly and stood up from the stone stool. "Brother Shou, since there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first."

"Alright, go back and rest up."

Xu Shou nodded gently.

Zhang Que walked towards the side wall of the manor. With a light leap, he jumped over and disappeared from the area.

"It seemed like you tensed your legs just now?"

Xu Shou took a puff of his cigarette and looked at the bald man. "Were you betting that my strength is inferior to Little Que's? Were you preparing to run away?"

"I... I wouldn't dare."

The bald man broke out in a cold sweat.

The thought had only flashed through his mind for a second, but he didn't expect this person to notice it.

Thinking about it carefully, if his strength was really inferior to Zhang Que's...

...Zhang Que wouldn't have left so casually.

Moreover, Zhang Que's attitude towards this person seemed extremely respectful. Without even thinking, it was obvious that this guy had to be a top-tier big shot.

...

"Dad!"

Not long after, a car drove into the parking spot of the manor.

Xu Ningbing quickly got out of the car.

Xu Mu followed suit. When he saw the bald man sitting opposite Xu Shou, it further confirmed his suspicions.

"You're back just in time. This friend here says he wants to cooperate with us, but since I've already handed the company over to Ningbing, my words don't count anymore."

Xu Shou looked at the bald man opposite him and said with a smile, "Now the head of the house is here, you can talk to them."

The bald man first glanced at Xu Shou before standing up and walking towards Xu Ningbing.

Xu Ningbing narrowed her eyes slightly. "What kind of cooperation do you have in mind?"

"From now on, I will be responsible for the safety of your Xu family. But in return, you must give me forty percent of your family's net profits!"

The bald man said calmly.

"What do you think you are? You think you can protect our Xu family?"

Xu Ningbing shouted coldly.

"I..."

The bald man felt a bit awkward. He really wasn't qualified to protect the Xu family.

Who knew your family had such a big shot sitting right here?

However, after looking back at Xu Shou, he continued, "Since you say I'm not qualified, then I'll just wipe you all out!"

"Buddy, you must be from the Immortality Research Institute, right?"

Xu Mu walked towards the bald man. "Did Mr. Soul send you?"

"I'm not qualified to contact Mr. Soul yet. My boss sent me here. Our Jiangbei branch is short on money lately, and your Xu family is on the list."

The bald man said with a calm expression.

Xu Mu smiled. It seemed his guess was right; everything was Wang Hun's conspiracy.

His goal was to lure him there.

But Wang Hun had forgotten one thing: Wei Jingzhi was in Jiangbei.