Meng Wanyue looked at Xu Mu with a solemn expression. "The Dragon King has already given me orders to ensure their safety. I will do everything in my power, even at the cost of my life."
"Wanyue."
Xu Mu gazed into Meng Wanyue's cool, distant eyes. "I’d rather you protect them for my sake, not the Dragon King’s."
At these words, Meng Wanyue shuddered, unsure how to respond.
The Dragon King had ordered her to protect Ye Tong and Ye Yu. Xu Mu had asked the same.
This time, the task was identical, so she had no reason to hesitate.
But what if next time, the orders conflicted?
What if the Dragon King commanded her to kill someone, but Xu Mu forbade it? Whom should she obey?
Meng Wanyue’s mind went blank. As a former killing tool, she had never struggled with such dilemmas before.
But now, she didn’t know what to do.
"Wanyue, maybe I’m being sentimental. Don’t overthink it. Just focus on keeping them safe."
Xu Mu offered a faint smile.
"Boss Xu, regardless of the Dragon King, even if it were someone else, I’d protect them with my life if you asked."
Meng Wanyue met his gaze.
She understood her own heart. Compared to the Dragon King, she felt at ease and secure with Xu Mu.
Around the Dragon King, she was tense, uncomfortable.
She knew who truly cared for her.
"Wanyue, your words put me at ease. Here’s a gift—something I stumbled upon by chance."
Xu Mu handed her a rusted metal plate inscribed with the Mountain-Splitting Palm technique.
At first, Meng Wanyue didn’t recognize it. But after a closer look, her eyes widened in shock.
"Boss Xu, this… this is a cultivation manual!" she exclaimed.
"Exactly. I had someone check—it’s only a Yellow-grade technique, nothing too advanced. When I have time, I’ll find you something better."
Xu Mu grinned.
He had already mastered the Mountain-Splitting Palm himself. The technique was decent, allowing the user to channel energy into blade-like strikes.
Such attacks far surpassed ordinary energy projection.
"Boss Xu, this is too valuable! Even a Yellow-grade manual isn’t something just anyone can obtain. I can’t accept it."
Meng Wanyue shook her head vehemently.
In the world of assassins, only the elite few stood above the rest.
True masters disdained becoming hired killers.
Most cultivation techniques were hoarded by sects and hidden clans.
Assassins like her rarely had access to them.
Before, Meng Wanyue relied solely on skill and stealth for her kills.
But after joining the Dragon King, she nearly died on a mission once. As a reward, he granted her a Yellow-grade manual.
She had been endlessly grateful.
Yet here was Xu Mu, simply giving her one? How could she possibly take it?
"Not listening, are you?"
Xu Mu glared at her. "It’s not a one-time use item. Just take a photo of it."
He knew the lore—Yellow and Mystic-grade techniques could be recorded in writing.
Earth-grade and above, however, required the original manual to cultivate.
"But—"
"Keep refusing, and I’ll smack your fleshiest spot."
Xu Mu cut her off, pointing at her threateningly.
[Affection +10]
Meng Wanyue’s cheeks burned, but her heart swelled with joy and gratitude.
Nodding quickly, she pulled out her phone and photographed the manual.
"Boss Xu, I won’t let you down. I’ll master this technique as fast as I can." She tucked her phone away.
"Go on, then." Xu Mu waved her off with a smile.
"Right."
Meng Wanyue turned and left, eager to study the manual.
Once she was gone, Xu Mu stored the metal plate back in his spatial storage.
Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes in thought.
Ye Tong’s commute from home to work was along main roads—likely safe.
He had also instructed Ye Tong to tell Ye Yu to stay on campus and avoid unnecessary outings.
As long as those two were protected, everything should be fine.
Just as he mulled it over, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen—a virtual number.
Answering, he demanded, "Who is this?"
"Xu Mu? A video link will be sent to your phone shortly. Make sure to watch it."
The voice was distorted, impossible to identify.
"What if it’s malware? Not clicking."
Before Xu Mu could finish, the call ended.
Seconds later, a text arrived with the promised link.
Hesitating briefly, Xu Mu pulled an old phone from his desk drawer.
It wasn’t truly old—just replaced after he upgraded to the latest triple-fold model.
This spare had no sensitive data, used mainly for risky browsing. Even if infected, no harm done.
Typing the URL into the spare phone, he opened the link—a video.
The footage began with a woman tied to a pillar.
Had it not been for this, Xu Mu might have forgotten her: Mu Qingying, the flat-chested schoolteacher the original Xu Mu had pursued.
Her oval face was framed by a ponytail, but now, fear twisted her features.
"Xu Mu, your beloved ‘goddess’ is in my hands, waiting for her hero. If you don’t come to the abandoned chemical plant in Wu City, Jiang Province, by 4 PM today, who knows what’ll happen to her?"
The recorder paused, then added, "If you call the police, Mu Qingying dies. Then you. Be a man—come alone. Someone will meet you there."
The video ended.
Xu Mu sighed. Why did the kidnappers keep targeting women he didn’t care about?
He was starting to question Lin Yang’s intelligence.
First Feng Yue, now Mu Qingying. Should he panic or take a leisurely bathroom break?
Then again, he understood Lin Yang’s logic.
The original Xu Mu had showered Feng Yue’s bar with cash daily—his crush was no secret.
Similarly, he’d sent Mu Qingying flowers at school every day.
Lin Yang’s choices made sense.
His mistake was not realizing Xu Mu’s soul had been replaced.
Rubbing his temples, Xu Mu debated whether to go.
If Mu Qingying failed as leverage, Lin Yang might escalate—and then Xu Mu would really have to worry.
But since it was Mu Qingying, he had room to maneuver. She posed no real threat to him.
Decision made, he pushed off the desk, ready to move.
This dragon’s den was worth storming.
As he opened his office door, Meng Wanyue appeared in the hallway.
"Boss Xu, where are you going?" she asked curiously.
"I—"
After a brief hesitation, Xu Mu decided to bring her along. "Come with me."
An extra hand never hurt. Their target was him—perfect for Meng Wanyue to rescue Mu Qingying unnoticed.
Plus, he wanted to test his recent progress firsthand.
...
s + Rent Collection Wealth】 At the start, he inherited a rundown house in the urban village from his grandfather. The house had no tenants, but the moment he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, a self-proclaimed empress from the Tianxuan Continent arrived as his first tenant. Ye Chuan soon discovered that with every new tenant moving in, not only did he receive massive daily payments, but he also obtained unique items related to their backgrounds. 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Tiger Strength Pill—dramatically enhances physical power!】 【Acquired Bai Qianshuang’s related item: Deer Blood Pill—significantly boosts vitality!】 …… From that day on, all sorts of bizarre tenants began appearing in the house: the empress from Tianxuan Continent, an apocalyptic sorceress from the Magic Realm, a mysterious scientific girl who fell through a spacetime rift… Every single day, he received strange, powerful items and endless money. Then one day, he suddenly realized—he had become invincible. Enough, enough! Stop giving me more!
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
with countless casualties. As a top-tier gamer, Liu Xuan volunteered to join the fight, intending to dominate with his skills, but instead he obtained the hidden class: [Pacifist]. Unable to attack. Unable to use active skills. Fortunately, with each level gained, he acquired a new passive skill. And so, armed with a body full of passives, Liu Xuan slaughtered his way through the battlefield of ten thousand races! [You attacked Liu Xuan] [You gained the debuffs: 'Poison', 'Fear', 'Burning', 'Bleeding', 'Freeze', 'Silence', etc.] [Your attack speed has been reduced by 99%] [Your armor and magic resistance have been reduced by 99%] Warriors of the Ten Thousand Races: How the hell am I supposed to fight this?!
