At this moment, Xu Ningbing couldn't hide her excitement.
She had loved sports since childhood—competition, especially.
She'd dreamed of becoming a martial artist, all the more after witnessing Xu Mu help Xu Shou step into martial cultivation.
She was envious to death.
She'd been searching for the heavenly materials and earthly treasures on the list Xu Mu gave her.
In just a few days she'd spent several million, yet hadn't even seen a single hair of a true treasure.
Seeing her expression, Xu Mu continued, "Sigh, what a dilemma. If only Ye Tong had your temperament."
"W-what do you mean?" Xu Ningbing asked, pretending not to care.
"I'm a normal guy. I know who treats me well and who's closer to me. You and Ye Tong are the women closest to me—but if I had to choose, you already know the answer, don't you?"
Reclining on the sofa, Xu Mu glanced at her.
Xu Ningbing nodded slightly—of course she knew.
Even just days ago, she still looked down on Xu Mu.
Since childhood his temperament had been too unruly—a textbook wastrel.
She'd never given him a pleasant face.
Ye Tong was different: gentle, the opposite of Xu Ningbing.
It was obvious who Xu Mu preferred.
"So you choose Ye Tong?" Xu Ningbing asked.
"That's right. She's my first choice. But she's too gentle—
even if she became a martial artist, I wouldn't feel at ease letting her fight."
Xu Mu looked at her. "Now that we've returned to Yang City, the hidden families may target us. Who in the Xu family would be in the most danger?"
"Dad, you… and me," she said after thinking.
"Sis, you should rank ahead of me. So—the pill I risked my life to obtain goes to you!"
Xu Mu took a red plastic bag from his pocket; inside was a black pill.
[Favorability +15]
Black text floated above Xu Ningbing's head.
Seeing it, Xu Mu nodded inwardly. It was the first time his elder sister's favorability had jumped by 15 at once.
"Xiao Mu…"
A warm current welled up in Xu Ningbing's heart, her eyes stinging slightly.
She had been sensible since young—only a year older than Xu Mu, yet she had basically raised him.
Before age six or seven, he was her little tail.
She never hit back when he hit her, never talked back when he scolded her, and always gave him the better share.
Even then, she could tell their parents favored Xu Mu.
But as they grew, his infuriating personality emerged. In the end she decided he was hopeless.
From then on she hated it when he hit her—because she would hit back on the spot.
If he cursed her, she hit back too.
As years passed, dislike turned to hatred: he shamed the Xu family. That feeling lasted until now.
But after hearing what he said last time—that he had been yielding to her since childhood—
and realizing he had deep study in music, pharmaceuticals, combat, painting…
she finally understood: her brother was truly wise beneath a foolish mask.
"Tell me—what are your conditions?"
Xu Ningbing took a breath, eyes drifting aside, embarrassed. "This time… I'll keep my word. I'll definitely agree."
[Favorability +5]
Looking at her now, Xu Mu wondered—was she shy?
After all, she'd once promised to smile at him when they met and hadn't done so.
Memories of the villain Xu Mu's childhood flashed through his mind, and he grinned. "No conditions. I just want to relive our childhood for a moment."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Didn't I like to sleep on your lap when I was little? I want to reminisce."
Xu Mu smiled.
She froze for a second, then nodded lightly.
Sitting on the edge of the sofa, she said, "Come on."
Xu Mu lay across her lap. As she adjusted her posture, a pair of thunderous… weights descended onto his face, plunging his vision into darkness.
Her facial cleanser was top-tier, with a faint fragrance—refreshing to the senses.
Among the people Xu Mu knew, only Xu Ningbing and Mu Qingying could achieve this level.
Well, add Li Yun to that list too.
Noticing this herself, Xu Ningbing's cool face flushed. She quickly leaned back against the sofa.
Light returned to Xu Mu's eyes; he covered them with his hand. "Ah! So bright!"
"Get lost!"
How could she not guess what he was thinking?
She pushed him away at once and stood. "You've got some nerve! Taking advantage of your sister!"
"But aren't you—"
He stopped himself mid-sentence.
The matter of her being adopted could wait.
"Aren't I what?" she asked coldly.
"Didn't you promise to let me reminisce? It hasn't even been a minute.
Give me three more."
"Fine—but don't you dare try that again."
She sat down once more.
He lay down again, but since she was leaning back, there'd be no more "facial cleanser." He had to make do.
When they were done, Xu Mu handed her the pill.
Then, using the Divine Eye, he checked her stats.
Name: Xu Ningbing
Identity: President of Xu Group, Female Lead of The Dragon King's Return
Favorability: 27
Fate Level: 10 (Max 10)
Xu Mu was shocked—her favorability had already turned positive.
No wonder she'd allowed him to rest on her lap without making a fuss.
He tapped for details:
Strength: 32
Speed: 32
Endurance: 37
Defense: 25
He nodded inwardly. As expected, she was formidable.
Xu Shou's numbers were high because he'd been concealing himself.
By contrast, per the core plot, Xu Ningbing hadn't hidden anything—she went from zero to something.
She'd been carried home as an infant by Xu Shou, never practiced for over twenty years, then, with the Dragon King's help, stepped into martial cultivation and soared ever since.
"Eat," Xu Mu said with a smile.
"Okay."
She nodded firmly and swallowed the pill in one go.
At the same time, Xu Mu used his Fate Power to boost her strength.
He currently had 195 Fate Power; he spent 18 to raise her Strength to 50.
Black text appeared before his eyes:
[Detected the other party's physical threshold—attributes have reached the human peak.]
[Unlocking Cultivation Talent Panel.]
Name: Xu Ningbing
Identity: President of Xu Group, Female Lead of The Dragon King's Return
Favorability: 27
Fate Level: 10 (Max 10)
He opened the details; a new section unfolded:
Realm: Early Stage of Internal Force
Physique: 30
Spirit: 30
Xu Mu was astonished—her Spirit stat was that high?
When he first reached Early Stage of Internal Force, his Spirit had only been 10.
After taking the pill, Xu Ningbing could clearly feel the changes in her body—
until she sensed herself breaking through a barrier.
She clenched her fist; now she could feel power flowing within.
Walking to the standing sandbag, she threw a punch.
Bang!
Her fist pierced into the sandbag like a blade. She stared, stunned for a long moment.
"Xiao Mu, thank you."
Turning back to him, Xu Ningbing gave a faint smile.
This time, it wasn't a fake one.