"Pan Shi, I've signed the contract. Have the brothers come over and drive the car away," Miao He said, then shot Xu Mu a glance. "I don't need anyone telling me how to manage my own people."
With that, she headed outside.
Pan Shi turned back and glared at Xu Mu, mouthing silently: "Just you wait!"
Xu Mu shrugged. Arrogant woman.
But she wouldn't be cocky for long—after he dropped Li Yun off, he planned to tail her. Even if he couldn't win her Favorability, he had to ruin any "chance encounter" between Miao He and Fang Chu.
Before long, Li Yun came back with a document bag, smiling.
"All set?" Xu Mu asked.
"Mhm. They even offered a delivery ceremony. I said no." She added, "I only took the morning off. I have to get back to work."
"Then let's head back," Xu Mu nodded.
Since her illness, Li Yun hadn't driven in a long time. But she used to drive frequently for deliveries—muscle memory kicked in. Her start was a bit slow, but she got the hang of it quickly.
Xu Mu got in his own car and followed behind hers.
In the rearview mirror, he noticed a car tailing them.
A quick sweep with his senses—Pan Shi.
Xu Mu sneered. He hadn't even gone looking for the guy, and the guy brought himself to the chopping block.
He messaged Li Yun to head back on her own. At the next intersection, he split off to see whom the tail would follow.
Just as he expected, Pan Shi chose to follow him.
Perfect.
Xu Mu drove toward the outskirts and texted Yun Wu, who was also in the assassin world, asking if she'd heard of the Mourning Love Clan.
Since killers were after him, he figured he'd give Jiang Huihui another "win" too; after calling her, he shared his location.
Outside Yang City, by the riverside.
Xu Mu parked along the road. As soon as he got out, Yun Wu's reply arrived.
He skimmed it, eyebrows lifting—so the Mourning Love Clan was actually quite formidable.
Per Yun Wu, Mourning Love was a new assassin organization, all members under forty, led by three powerful heads:
First Head: Forgotten Love
Second Head: Crying Rose
Third Head: Heartbreak
Love, tears, heartbreak—fits the "Mourning Love" theme, alright.
Each head commanded several Hall Masters; beneath them were the lowest-rung lackeys. They'd sprung up seemingly out of nowhere; nobody knew the true identities of the three heads.
In the Hundred-Ghosts Night Parade organizational rankings, they were 5th, just below Moonlit Dancer. However, none of the three heads had participated in the Death List trials, so none of them appeared in that individual ranking. Even so, their high organizational rank spoke volumes.
Xu Mu shook his head. The world truly had all kinds.
Just then, a Wuling Hongguang pulled up at a distance. Three men hopped out—two he recognized: Pan Shi and the burly thug he'd disciplined earlier. The third was new: also red-haired, styled like a peacock's tail, with bangs covering one eye.
"Kid, I'm not the type to hold grudges—because I settle them on the spot," Pan Shi sneered, striding toward Xu Mu. "You know who I am? You got what it takes to compare with me, Pan Shi?"
Xu Mu spread his senses, sighing inwardly. Where's Jiang Huihui? If she didn't arrive soon, he'd finish this himself.
Swish!
As Pan Shi closed in, he pulled a dagger from his clothes.
Xu Mu stepped back. At the same time, the "peacock-head" flanked from the side, drawing a dagger of his own, and the two lunged together.
"Ai…" Xu Mu sighed, flicking out both hands—catching both blades between two fingers.
Pan Shi and the peacock-head yanked and shook their knives to no avail.
"Die!" Pan Shi roared, pulling his fist back to smash Xu Mu.
Xu Mu rolled his fingers—both dagger blades snapped.
He raised his palm and intercepted the incoming punch.
Pan Shi grinned coldly. "Iron-Shattering Fist!"
Boom!
His Hidden Force crashed into Xu Mu's palm. The shock made the ground tremble.
"Kid, that was a Profound-Rank technique just now. Your hand must be—"
He stopped mid-sentence: Xu Mu's palm was perfectly fine.
Pan Shi's eyes bulged. "Impossible! You—"
"Xu Mu!"
A crisp, valiant voice rang out from the distance.
"You're finally here—I almost died!" Xu Mu shouted, sprinting toward the voice.
Pan Shi and the peacock-head froze, not giving chase.
"You putting on an act or what?" Pan Shi spat.
That had been a technique, not just Hidden Force. With his mid-stage Hidden Force on top of it, he could punch a hole in steel—yet the guy's hand was unscathed. If you're going to pretend, at least pretend properly—shake your hand a little, act like it hurts!
Bang!
Jiang Huihui's whip kick smashed into the peacock-head, launching him straight into the Wuling's door, caving the panel in.
Seeing this, Pan Shi's heart sank—this woman was even stronger.
He threw another technique, punching at Jiang Huihui.
But her speed blurred into afterimages as she slipped aside and appeared at his flank, hands still tucked in her pockets, black hair swaying.
Boom!
A vertical axe-kick crashed down on Pan Shi's shoulder, forcing him to his knees in an instant.
"Argh!" he howled, clutching his knee as he toppled.
Pop!
Jiang Huihui blew a bubble with gum, then looked at Xu Mu as he approached. "Done."
"What about that one?" Xu Mu pointed at the burly thug.
The man had tried to run, but the driver's door of the Wuling was crushed inward—no escape. Hands up, he surrendered.
"Huihui, what took you so long? I almost died, you know?" Xu Mu said.
"Bad luck. I ran a red on my e-bike and got stopped. Twenty-yuan fine—wasted my time," she said, pulling out a piece of bubble gum.
"Don't be mad."
Xu Mu took the gum and nodded at the trio. "They're assassins—from the Mourning Love Clan."
"What? Assassins from Mourning Love?" Jiang Huihui's eyes widened. That famed organization—caught by her?
[Favorability +10]
"Brother Xu Mu, you're amazing—seems like everyone wants you dead," she said, hugging his arm and shaking it enthusiastically.