Meng Wanyue looked at Xu Mu seriously.
"The Dragon King already gave me orders — to protect Ye Tong and Ye Yu's safety. I'll do whatever it takes, even if it costs my life."
"Wanyue."
Xu Mu met her cool, steady gaze.
"I'd rather you protected them because of me, not because the Dragon King told you to."
Her slender shoulders trembled slightly. She didn't know how to respond.
The Dragon King had told her to protect them.
Now Xu Mu was telling her the same. This time the people overlapped — so there was no conflict.
But what about next time?
What if the Dragon King ordered her to kill someone, and Xu Mu forbade it?
Whose command should she follow then?
Her mind blanked out.
Once, she'd been nothing but a tool — a weapon that killed on command, never hesitating.
But now… she was confused for the first time.
"Maybe I'm being sentimental," Xu Mu smiled softly. "Don't overthink it — just keep them safe."
"President Xu, this has nothing to do with the Dragon King. Even if it were anyone else, if you gave the order, I'd protect them with everything I have."
She said it gently, meeting his eyes.
Inside, she knew the truth:
Next to the Dragon King, she was tense, alert — always on edge.
Next to Xu Mu, she could breathe, relax.
She knew exactly who treated her like a person.
"Wanyue, that's enough to ease my mind," Xu Mu said warmly.
"Here, a gift — something I happened to pick up by chance."
He handed her the bronze tablet of the Mountain-Breaking Palm.
At first, she didn't understand what it was.
But when she looked closely, her eyes went wide.
"President Xu, this… this is a technique!" she gasped.
"That's right. I had someone check — it's only a Yellow-Rank technique, nothing too high-grade. When I have time, I'll get you a stronger one."
He smiled.
He had already learned it himself — a useful skill that let the user turn their palm into a blade and release slicing attacks, far stronger than ordinary Gang Qi projection.
"President Xu, this is too valuable! Even a Yellow-Rank technique is beyond what most people can obtain — I can't accept it!"
She shook her head quickly.
As an assassin, she knew how rare martial techniques were.
Only the best killers could even dream of owning one; most relied purely on stealth and skill.
True masters never stooped to hired killing, so techniques like these were monopolized by sects and hidden clans.
She herself had survived years without one — until a near-fatal mission, when the Dragon King rewarded her with a single Yellow-Rank manual.
She'd been endlessly grateful then…
And now Xu Mu was just giving her one outright?
She didn't know how to accept that.
"Not listening, huh?" Xu Mu narrowed his eyes.
"It's not a one-time item. Just take a picture of it."
He knew the rules of this world: Yellow-Rank and Profound-Rank techniques could be recorded by text or photo.
Only Earth-Rank and above required the original manual for cultivation.
"But…"
"If you keep arguing," Xu Mu interrupted, smirking, "I'll have to smack you where it's softest."
[Favorability +10]
Meng Wanyue's cheeks flushed red, but her heart swelled with warmth and gratitude.
She nodded repeatedly, took out her phone, and snapped detailed photos of the engravings.
"President Xu, I won't let you down. I'll master it as soon as possible."
"Good. Now head back," Xu Mu waved casually.
"Yes, sir."
She turned and hurried off, already eager to study her new technique.
When she was gone, Xu Mu placed the bronze tablet back into his storage space and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes in thought.
Ye Tong's route from home to work was all along main roads — she should be safe.
He'd also told her to remind Ye Yu to stay on campus for now.
As long as those two were fine, nothing serious should happen.
Just as he was thinking that, his phone buzzed.
He glanced down — a virtual number.
He answered. "Who is this?"
"Xu Mu? You'll get a video link on your phone soon. Watch it."
The voice was clearly altered — impossible to identify.
"What if it's a virus? I'm not watching that!"
Before he could finish, the line went dead.
Seconds later, a text message appeared — with a link.
Xu Mu frowned. He opened a drawer and pulled out an old phone.
It wasn't truly old; he'd only used it a few days before switching to the latest triple-fold model.
This one he kept specifically for risky links — even if it got infected, it didn't matter.
He typed in the URL and opened the video.
The image flickered — and a familiar woman appeared.
If he hadn't seen her again, he might've forgotten her: Mu Qingying, the gentle, close-contact teacher the villain Xu Mu had once chased.
Pretty oval face, single ponytail —
but now she was tied to a pillar.
"Xu Mu," said the voice behind the camera, "the goddess you once courted is in my hands. She's waiting for her hero to save her.
If you're not here by 4 p.m. today, who knows what she'll suffer?
If you call the police, she dies — and you're next.
If you're a man, come alone to the old fertilizer plant in Wucheng County, under Jiang City's jurisdiction.
Someone will be waiting."
The video ended there.
Xu Mu stared speechlessly.
Why did they keep kidnapping people he wasn't interested in anymore?
He was beginning to doubt Lin Yan's intelligence.
First Feng Yue, now Mu Qingying —
should he be panicking… or just go sit in the restroom for half an hour?
Still, it made sense.
Back then, he'd gone to Feng Yue's bar almost every night to spend money,
and to the school daily to deliver flowers to Mu Qingying.
Anyone could have guessed his "targets."
Lin Yan wasn't wrong —
he just didn't realize Xu Mu had changed souls.
Xu Mu rubbed the corner of his eye, conflicted.
Should he go or not?
If Mu Qingying didn't work, Lin Yan might start grabbing other people — and then he'd really have a problem.
At least with Mu Qingying, there was room to maneuver. She posed no real threat to him.
Decision made, he pressed his palms on the desk and stood up.
This was a dragon's lair — and he was going to walk right in.
Just as he opened the office door, he almost bumped into Meng Wanyue, coming from the corridor.
"President Xu, where are you going?" she asked curiously.
"I…"
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to take her along.
"Come with me."
More people meant more strength — and their enemies were after him anyway.
This would be a perfect chance for Meng Wanyue to test her new technique…
and for Xu Mu to see just how much stronger he'd really become.