Almost Caught

Shi Fumeng hugged Xu Mu’s legs, knowing that this was her last chance.

She didn’t even dare to hope it was a divine-level cultivation technique—even a heaven-grade or earth-grade would be acceptable.

She had missed this opportunity once before; if she missed it again, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

Especially since this technique belonged to the Gonggong clan and naturally resonated with her affinity.

With that thought, Shi Fumeng suddenly raised her hand and grabbed the divine weapon.

She had made up her mind to trade her most precious thing at the moment.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Xu Mu pushed Shi Fumeng away and stood up from his chair, saying calmly, “Do you think my divine weapon is something you can just grab and use as you please?”

He was a principled man and firmly refused to engage in intimate exchanges with people he didn’t know well—unless it was unavoidable.

He had a flaw: if a woman was with him for the first time and they became intimate,

he would instinctively feel that she was his and that he needed to treat her well.

For now, the relationship between him and Shi Fumeng was far from that point.

Shi Fumeng looked at Xu Mu in surprise, then tears of gratitude streamed down her face.

“Xu Mu, I was right about you. You truly are a gentleman.”

[Affection +20]

Still, this confirmed one thing: Xu Mu hadn’t lied. He really wasn’t interested in her.

She believed that most men wouldn’t have been able to refuse what she had just done.

“Shi Fumeng, I can give you the technique. As you said, from now on, whatever I tell you to do, you’ll do it.”

Xu Mu looked down at Shi Fumeng, who was kneeling. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you die, and I won’t interfere with you all the time. But when I need you, you have to appear by my side immediately.”

“Okay, I agree.”

Shi Fumeng nodded firmly.

To her, this was already a great deal—she wouldn’t die, nor would she be restricted in her actions.

She only had to come when needed, but…

“You seem to have something else to say?”

Xu Mu noticed her hesitation.

“No, that was my final moment of weakness. I can tell you what I was thinking just now—I was about to say that I didn’t want to die for you yet, because I still have revenge to take. Once I’ve avenged myself, even if you told me to take my own life on the spot, I wouldn’t say a word.”

Shi Fumeng paused, then continued, “But I realized that’s not right. From now on, no matter what you ask me to do, I’ll face it with the resolve to die.”

“I’ll take your word for it… for now.”

Xu Mu nodded slightly.

This was the outcome he wanted. He didn’t really care about Shi Fumeng’s loyalty.

The filial piety value only reflected her current state, and that could change at any time—since a person’s mindset is always shifting.

A person at fifteen or sixteen is completely different from one at forty or fifty.

Xu Mu’s goal was simply to prevent Shi Fumeng from holding leverage over him. What if the technique actually damaged his mind?

He had a system, and theoretically, the power of fate could repair it.

But what if he became too stupid to even know how to use the system? That would be the end.

That was Xu Mu’s concern. By putting it this way, Shi Fumeng felt she owed him a huge favor.

Until the technique was fully mastered, she definitely wouldn’t do anything to threaten him.

“Get up.”

Xu Mu grabbed Shi Fumeng by the shoulder.

Shi Fumeng wiped away her tears, and with her JK uniform on, she looked pitiful and endearing.

[Affection +10]

"Alright, the technique is on me now. How do I pass it to you?"

Xu Mu glanced coldly at Shi Fumeng.

"I can't do it at the moment. We need to go back to my old hometown—there's a transfer altar there."

Shi Fumeng spoke softly. "Most of our techniques are like water; they don't gather but flow through your blood vessels everywhere. Without the altar, even you can't use them."

Xu Mu was startled inside and almost slipped up. Luckily, he had said 'on me' and not 'in my head.'

If he'd said 'in my head,' Shi Fumeng would definitely have found him out.

"I came this time specifically for you. Since you know how to get the technique, let's head to your hometown now."

Xu Mu walked outside.

"Okay."

Shi Fumeng tidied up quickly and closed her flower shop.

If she could get this technique, who would still run a flower shop?

Shi Fumeng couldn't wait to follow behind Xu Mu, took the passenger seat voluntarily, and buckled her seatbelt even before he did.

"Where's the place?"

Xu Mu glanced at Shi Fumeng.

"It's Gongcheng in Central Plains."

Shi Fumeng smiled.

"Don't smile. Every time you smile, I feel like you're lying to me."

Xu Mu muttered and started the car.

"That's because I'm happy."

Shi Fumeng looked at Xu Mu.

[Affection +10]

Xu Mu started the car, planning to drive to Jiangshi first and then fly a helicopter; otherwise, it would take at least eight hours.

Suddenly, Xu Mu thought of something and asked, "How did you meet Wu Tian?"

"We didn't know each other, but the soul of my master is in his body. It's a god-level technique, the Indestructible Soul-Shifting Art."

Shi Fumeng turned to Xu Mu and explained. "I find it unbelievable too, but it's true. I really heard my master's voice from within him."

"I didn't say I didn't believe you."

Xu Mu knew all along about the old coot in Wu Tian. If not for that old man, Wu Tian would have died countless times.

"Who is your master? How powerful was he alive? Wu Tian and I are at a point of no return now, so I need to understand the details."

Xu Mu said this, turned to look at Shi Fumeng, then faced the road ahead. "Don't worry, I won't make you get involved in dealing with Wu Tian or your master."

[Affection +20]

Hearing this, Shi Fumeng's eyes were full of emotion. She propped her cheek on her hand and looked out the window. "I knew from a long time ago that you're a good person."

"Answer my question."

"My master's name is Li Poshan. His identity is very mysterious, and I don't know much about him, but he knew my father."

Shi Fumeng explained. "After my father was killed, the tribe fell apart, and I had nowhere to go. Then my master appeared."

"Did he take you away?"

Xu Mu asked.

"Yes. My master is not a non-human, but he maintained good relations with many non-human factions. I was still young back then, and I followed him. There were a few others with me, his other disciples, and we were all non-humans."

Shi Fumeng paused and continued. "He was very biased, but he still taught me some combat skills."

"What happened next?"

“Later, he simply disappeared. In the beginning, a few of us disciples searched everywhere for him, spending a full two years without finding a trace. Then, we each went our separate ways.”

Shi Fumeng cracked the car window open a sliver and continued, “Later on, I heard that some of my clansmen had pledged allegiance to the Ten Thousand Clans Valley, so I followed them there.”

“You still haven’t told me his cultivation level.”

Xu Mu suddenly turned his gaze toward Shi Fumeng.