Ye Tong Was Wrong, Very Wrong

"Annoying."

Ye Tong shot Xu Mu a glare and pulled him upstairs.

She had spent so long on this plan, and today she had finally succeeded.

She was also glad she hadn't misjudged him; from the start, she knew Feng Yue would be the first to take this step.

Today, she had to say what she'd always wanted to: "Honey, it's okay. You're already amazing."

...

...

Ye Tong's eyes were vacant, their sparkle gone.

Like a puppet, she lay motionless, slumped over.

She had been wrong, terribly wrong.

Her earlier illusions had turned out to be bubbles.

Her strategy of waiting at ease for an exhausted enemy was useless against absolute power.

"Honey, I seem to be getting interested. How about..."

"No! I need to cook. We haven't eaten yet."

Ye Tong hurriedly raised her hands in surrender. She immediately supported herself against the wall and headed outside, looking like she was fleeing.

"Honey, how about some post-dinner activities?"

Xu Mu's voice came from behind Ye Tong.

She was so startled that she trembled and nearly lost her footing.

Something was off!

Was that woman Feng Yue lying to her?

Thinking this, Ye Tong, now downstairs, quickly sent Feng Yue a message: "Did you not, you know, do it with hubby?"

"Sis, why don't you come to my room and see the battlefield remnants? For your sake, I really went all out."

Feng Yue's reply came through.

Seeing this, Ye Tong collapsed onto the sofa.

She had thought this through too simply. She had assumed it would be enough to make Xu Mu give in, but she had clearly underestimated him.

Still, Ye Tong knew her strategy of waiting him out wasn't flawed in theory.

The only mistake was that there weren't enough people to truly wear him down.

Ye Tong took a deep breath. It seemed she needed to work even harder. Feng Yue's level alone was far from enough.

"Honey, weren't you going to cook?"

Xu Mu came downstairs just then.

"I'm going right now."

Ye Tong scrambled to her feet and rushed toward the kitchen.

...

At dinner that day, Feng Yue didn't come over.

Xu Mu didn't bring out any pills this time, since they had just gathered and earned a fair amount of justice points.

He needed to give these people some time before revealing the pills.

Tomorrow, he planned to visit Mount Lumang. He intended to trade two tons of spirit stones for some celestial herbs and treasures.

He currently had too many spirit stones on hand; they were taking up space.

After dinner, everyone else left.

Xu Mu took Ye Tong's hand and headed back to their room.

Ye Tong's face showed resentment; she was still too slack.

She silently vowed to speed up her plan.

If she couldn't gather enough people, she wondered if she should have Ye Yu come over to help hold the line.

Xu Mu was often away from home lately, and she often chatted with the people around her.

She had heard from Tong Guoguo that it was indeed common for big shots from hidden families or sects to marry sisters.

This, they said, prevented jealousy and brought stability to the household.

As the older sister, Ye Tong could naturally see Ye Yu's feelings for Xu Mu.

However, Ye Tong wasn't sure whether Ye Yu's feelings were genuine love or just familial affection.

What if she brought it up and Ye Yu thought she was crazy?

...

The night passed without words, only the rhythmic sounds of Tang poetry chanting like geese.

The next morning, after Ye Tong left for work,

Xu Mu took out his phone and dialed Tan Tai Quan's number.

Soon, a laughter-filled voice came from the other end: "What a rarity. You actually calling me."

"I have two things to discuss with you this time."

Xu Mu said into the phone. "First, I want to make a deal with you. Second, I'm here to hold you accountable."

On the other end, Tan Tai Quan was taken aback. "What did I do to offend you? You're not just trying to find an excuse to squeeze me for a better deal, are you?"

"Hear me out. First, I have two tons of spirit stones. How many celestial herbs and treasures can I get from you for that?"

Xu Mu asked over the phone.

"That depends on the grade you want."

"I only want ninth-grade."

Xu Mu said directly.

He wasn't short on lower-grade treasures at all. Besides, as the people around him improved in strength, low-grade treasures were no longer useful.

This was exactly why, even in the top clans, those privileged second-generation disciples with poor talent mostly only reached the Grandmaster level.

Using treasures to forcibly push them there was about the limit. To go further, they'd need eighth- or ninth-grade treasures.

But such treasures—even the elders of those strong second-generation disciples wanted them—so why would they share?

"It depends on the type of ninth-grade. Simply put, one ton of spirit stones can get you about three or four types of ninth-grade materials. For other attribute medicines, like antidotes or stamina restorers, you'd get two or three plants. For strength-enhancing ones, at most one plant."

Tan Tai Quan said on the other end. "Of course, for cultivation breakthrough necessities like ninth-grade Ice Glaze Stone, I wouldn't trade for even three tons, let alone two."

"Given our relationship, what can you give me for two tons?"

Xu Mu asked with a smile.

Tan Tai Quan's estimate was about right. He recalled from the original story that it was roughly accurate.

A typical ninth-grade celestial herb or treasure was worth about one ton of spirit stones.

Of course, if he traded for lower grades, he'd get more.

"Two strength-enhancing ninth-grade plants. But no cultivation breakthrough ones—I'd lose too much."

Tan Tai Quan said.

"Is the Dragon Princess of the Jiao clan this stingy?"

Xu Mu suddenly laughed.

As soon as he said this, the line went silent.

Xu Mu checked his phone—the call wasn't disconnected.

After a full ten seconds or so, Tan Tai Quan's deep voice came through: "How do you know?"

"That's the second thing I'm here to talk about."

Xu Mu said calmly. "Yesterday, two Jiao clan members infiltrated my home, causing serious trouble for my people."

"What? That's impossible..."

"Where else would I have gotten the information? They've been investigating you for a long time. They said you rarely leave Mount Lumang, yet you've come to see me several times."

Xu Mu's tone grew cold. "You can't even keep your movements secret. I think we shouldn't cooperate anymore. You'll have to find someone else for alchemy."

"Xu Mu, don't hang up!"

Tan Tai Quan immediately said. "This is very important to me. I'll come find you right now. We'll talk face to face."

"No need. I'm afraid of danger."

"Two tons of spirit stones, three ninth-grade celestial herbs—strength-enhancing ones. How's that?"

Tan Tai Quan, afraid Xu Mu would end the call, hurriedly said.

"I'll come to you."

Xu Mu said into the phone.

"Fine, I'll be waiting."

Tan Tai Quan replied.

Xu Mu smiled. Wasn't this the perfect way to handle Tan Tai Quan?

Especially someone like her, secretly nurturing her own power, was the easiest to exploit.