Jiang Huihui finally pulled her hands from her pockets and swung them sharply in front of her.
Bang!
The throwing knives flying toward her were blasted away midair by the surge of Qi she released.
Not only that — the middle-aged man's body convulsed violently as if struck by a shockwave, sending him hurtling backward.
Boom!
He slammed into a car behind him with such force that the door caved in, a line of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
"Gang Qi!"
The man's expression changed drastically. He immediately turned and bolted down the slope.
What kind of monster was this Xu Mu — even his bodyguard had reached the Gang Qi Realm?
"Didn't you just say the strong make the law? Looks like I'm stronger — so you'd better submit to it."
As Jiang Huihui spoke, the ground under her feet cracked. Her figure flashed, and in an instant, she caught up to him.
She raised her hand and pressed downward.
The man felt as though a mountain had dropped onto his back — his legs gave way, and he collapsed face-first into the dirt.
Xu Mu leaned casually against his car, watching Jiang Huihui from afar with a faint smile.
He had to admit — when this woman fought, she was all power and precision. Like him, she even liked keeping her hands in her pockets. There was no delicate grace about her — but a kind of fierce, confident charm.
Jiang Huihui took out an ID card and held it up.
"In the name of the Cleaner Division, you're under arrest!"
"Cleaner…?"
The man blinked, then looked toward Xu Mu and let out a bitter laugh.
"So that's it. You're a clever one, aren't you?"
"Xu Mu, thanks for the assist," Jiang Huihui said with a grin. "You can go now."
"No written report?" Xu Mu asked.
"No need. Just send me the dashcam footage from your car," Jiang Huihui replied.
"Alright, then we'll be off."
Xu Mu tossed the tracking device from under his car onto the roadside and turned to Meng Wanyue.
"Wanyue, let's go home."
Meng Wanyue nodded.
By the time Xu Mu arrived home, it was already 9:30 p.m.
He had texted Ye Tong earlier, telling her to rest early.
But when he stepped inside, he saw both Ye Tong and Ye Yu sitting on the sofa watching TV.
Seeing him, Ye Tong stood up with a smile. "You're back?"
"Mm." Xu Mu nodded.
"Brother-in-law, I thought you weren't coming home tonight," Ye Yu said with a grin.
"Why would you think that? When have I not come home lately?" Xu Mu asked as he sat down.
"You promised me that since it's the weekend, I could sleep with my sister. It's Friday today," Ye Yu said, hugging Ye Tong. "I was afraid you'd decide you can't sleep with her tonight and go find another woman instead."
"When did I ever say you could sleep with your sister?" Xu Mu asked, confused.
"Hmph! Don't play dumb! Anyway, I'm sleeping with my sister tonight. If you've got the guts, you can sleep between us." Ye Yu pouted.
"Alright, that's enough."
Ye Tong flicked her younger sister's forehead and then turned to Xu Mu. "Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet," Xu Mu said with a smile. "It's been a busy day."
"I'll make you something. What do you want to eat?"
"Just noodles — I'm craving something with soup."
"Okay, give me a minute."
She tied on her apron and went into the kitchen.
Xu Mu leaned back on the sofa. Ye Yu scooted close and whispered, "Brother-in-law, I've decided to allow you to rest in my room tonight."
"Why's that? Even if you're sleeping with your sister, can't she just go to your room?" Xu Mu teased.
"Because…" Ye Yu's cheeks flushed a soft pink. "Your bed's comfier."
Not long after, Ye Tong came out with a steaming bowl of noodles.
"Eat it while it's hot."
"Thanks."
Xu Mu nodded, surprised by how much her cooking had improved lately.
After dinner, Ye Tong took the dishes back to the kitchen to wash them.
When she returned, Xu Mu pulled out four Qi-Gathering Pills and handed two each to Ye Tong and Ye Yu.
"Take them — two at once. They'll help strengthen your bodies."
The first ones he'd given them were to open their meridians. Now that some time had passed, it was time to continue strengthening.
Neither refused; both swallowed them obediently. They'd already felt how beneficial cultivation was.
For Ye Tong, her long hours in the lab used to leave her dizzy and drained — but ever since stepping into the martial path, those symptoms vanished.
As for Ye Yu, she'd always hated PE class. Running felt like dragging weights behind her. But today, she had to hold herself back just so she wouldn't break school records.
Both could feel warm currents coursing through their meridians.
"Brother-in-law! It doesn't hurt this time!" Ye Yu said, teeth clenched in anticipation of pain — only to find it was a gentle warmth instead.
"Of course. The first time's always rough — that's when the path is being opened," Xu Mu chuckled. "Any signs of breakthrough?"
"No," Ye Yu said, shaking her head.
He looked at Ye Tong, who also shook her head.
"Alright, that's fine. Go rest," Xu Mu said.
He wasn't disappointed. The Qi-Gathering Pills were designed for steady improvement, not instant advancement.
Getting them both to the Internal Force peak was already more than enough.
At that level, they'd be safe from most trouble.
Xu Mu and Ye Tong naturally returned to their room — but Ye Yu bolted ahead and jumped into it first.
Hands on her hips, she glared up at Xu Mu. "Brother-in-law! You promised!"
Xu Mu looked at Ye Tong. "Do you want to sleep with Ye Yu tonight?"
"I… I don't know if I do or not."
Ye Tong's face flushed red.
It wasn't really about wanting — it was about fear. If she let Ye Yu sleep with her, Xu Mu might decide to "play a duet" the next day… and that, she could not handle.
Xu Mu couldn't help but laugh at her expression. He patted her back. "I'll sleep over there tonight."
He turned toward Ye Yu's room.
Ye Yu followed quickly and locked the door behind them. "Sister! Where's your courage? You're spoiling Brother-in-law too much — that's not good!"
Ye Tong rolled her eyes. She wanted to retort, Why don't you take my place, then?
Maybe then she'd understand what a "soul-touching duet" really meant.
"Sis, looks like I need to teach you something. With men like Brother-in-law, you have to make him listen to us — I mean, you — or he'll get spoiled." Ye Yu spoke earnestly, holding her sister's hand.
Xu Mu climbed into bed, inhaling deeply.
It smelled amazing — similar to Ye Tong's scent, but not quite the same.
Using his perception, he checked on the two sisters — they were lying side by side, chatting.
What surprised him most was that Ye Yu was lying in his spot, using his pillow.
That cheeky girl — and she'd been the one complaining before that he "smelled weird."
Meanwhile, in a distant hotel suite, Chen Cai sat silently on a sofa, waiting.
Two hours had passed, and there was still no news. The GPS tracker on her phone hadn't moved.
"Director Chen! Something's happened!"
A mustached middle-aged man burst through the door.