Dai Xingluo was full of surprise. Moments ago, she'd thought this man was only flirting and too stingy to pay.
Now that she knew the pendant's value, she realized she'd misunderstood him.
…
Xu Mu had no intention of pestering her.
Only boot-lickers cling to women. High-level hunters usually appear as prey.
He would wait for Dai Xingluo to seek him out on her own.
He didn't leave right away; he planned to pick out a few good items here to bring back for Ye Tong and the others.
Suddenly, Xu Mu sensed an item radiating spiritual charm and walked toward the stall.
It displayed many bronze pieces. His gaze fixed on a corroded, broken bronze shard.
He crouched, picked it up, flipped it over, and saw small characters on the back.
Xu Mu was inwardly startled—he hadn't expected to find a Profound-Rank (玄級) cultivation method in the antique market: Gale Slash.
"Boss, how much for this bronze piece?" Xu Mu asked, pointing.
"I bought that at a high price from tomb raiders. At least—"
"I'll take it for one thousand," Xu Mu cut off the bearded middle-aged vendor.
After all, it was only a Profound-Rank technique. A photo would be enough for others to practice it.
"Minimum three thousand," the bearded man said.
Xu Mu snapped a photo of the text on the back with his phone, then said, "It's just a bronze shard. For three thousand I could buy a pile of old coins," and set it down to leave.
"Bro! Deal—one thousand!" the vendor blurted when he saw Xu Mu really walking away.
It had actually been found by an old farmer while plowing; the vendor hadn't paid a cent—just gave the old man a cigarette, and the shard was his.
Hearing that, Xu Mu nodded lightly. A thousand yuan for a Profound-Rank technique—if the hidden clans knew, they'd go mad.
After paying, Xu Mu took the shard in hand.
At that moment, a white-haired elder in a Tang-style jacket, rolling prayer beads, walked past Xu Mu. Seeing the shard, his face changed sharply. "Young man! Wait!"
Xu Mu looked back. "What is it?"
"May I see the shard in your hand?" the old man asked with a smile.
"There are plenty more here. Find one yourself," Xu Mu said, pointing at the bronze stall.
"I only want to see yours—to confirm if it's what I'm looking for. If it is, I'll pay ten times your price to buy it."
The elder rolled the beads between his fingers.
The bearded vendor cursed inwardly. Had he known, he wouldn't have sold it to the young man. But the antique trade has its rules: cash for goods, no returns once the buyer takes possession.
"No need. I'm not short of money," Xu Mu waved and walked off.
The elder turned to the vendor. "How much did he pay?"
"One thousand," the vendor said, holding up a finger.
The elder hurried after Xu Mu. "Young man, I'll pay ten times. I'll buy it for one hundred million."
The vendor was stunned, plopping onto his stool. "I said one thousand—not ten million!"
…
Chasing Xu Mu, the elder sent messages on his phone.
It was likely a cultivation method—he'd glimpsed a few characters just now.
Those characters frequently appeared in techniques.
If it truly was one, they would seize it by any means necessary.
Sitting on a bench in the antique shop, Dai Xingluo toyed with the jade pendant Xu Mu had given her.
Thinking of him calling her "cute but a little silly," she couldn't help but smile.
Her phone buzzed.
After reading the message, the classical beauty's face took on a slightly deranged look.
That sickly smile was chilling. "A cultivation method! Ordinary people don't live long holding one!"
She immediately picked up a dagger, lifted her hanfu skirt, revealing long, jade-white legs.
She strapped the dagger to her thigh, lowered her skirt, and strode out quickly.
…
Xu Mu had already left the antique market, but he noticed the elder still tailing him.
As expected, the man probably knew it was a cultivation method.
He stopped and used the Divine Eye to inspect the man's identity.
Name: Zhang Zizai
Identity: Assassin
Favorability: -5
Fate Level: 1 (max 10)
Xu Mu nodded inwardly. Just as he thought—most likely an ancient martial artist as well.
He hesitated briefly and didn't get in his car; if an assassin memorized his plate, they might cause trouble in Jiang City.
He decided to find a deserted spot and test the assassin's ability.
He headed another direction.
Spotting a narrow alley, he stepped in—yet the man didn't appear.
"Young man! You'd turn down money?" a voice called as the white-haired elder appeared at the far entrance of the alley ahead of Xu Mu.
At the same time—
Dai Xingluo appeared at the near entrance behind Xu Mu, eyes bright with excitement, blocking the alley.
Smiling with dagger in hand, she advanced quickly toward him.
Xu Mu spun around and saw her closing in.
Dai Xingluo's eyes went wide in surprise. She swiftly hid both hands behind her back. "It's you?"
Xu Mu's perception had no blind spots.
He clearly saw the dagger behind her.
He cursed inwardly. This damn woman—truly a vicious supporting role. Planning to take me out?
If not for dealing with the Dai family, he wouldn't bother with a woman like this.
What good is a pretty face?
Still, since he meant to use her, Xu Mu decided to play the part to the end.
"Run!"
He grabbed Dai Xingluo's hand and sprinted out of the alley.
The elder—Zhang Zizai—was dumbfounded. What was going on?
He didn't pursue; with Dai Xingluo present, the technique should be secure.
Xu Mu pulled Dai Xingluo along at a quick pace, finally ducking into a nearby residential compound.
"Why were you there?" he asked, feigning ignorance.
"I…" Dai Xingluo didn't know how to answer.
"You saw me and wanted to say hello, right?" Xu Mu offered her an excuse.
"R-Right! I wanted to thank you—for saving me money today."
She kept the hand holding the dagger hidden behind her back.
"Save it for later. I'll give you something first."
Xu Mu handed her the bronze shard—no risk, he already had photos.
Giving it to Dai Xingluo was fine; he didn't care much for a mere Profound-Rank technique anyway.
"What… is this?" she asked, puzzled.
"You might not understand—it's a cultivation method, a powerful Profound-Rank one. That old man wanted to snatch it," Xu Mu explained. "All you need to know is—it's valuable."
"Why give it to me?" Dai Xingluo asked.
"Because you're kind of cute. Better I give it to you than let someone else steal it," Xu Mu said, turning to leave the compound. "Hide it. I'll draw him away."
Dai Xingluo stood frozen, watching his departing back.
[Favorability +30]