Xiao Ran opened the passenger door and sat down uninvited.
"Xu Mu, what a coincidence. Saved me a taxi fare."
"Where to?" Xu Mu asked curiously.
Xiao Ran smiled. "Where else? To Wanyue's place, of course."
"Aren't you always with the Dragon King?" Xu Mu asked as he started the car and pulled back onto the road.
"I can't stay glued to him forever. He's got to give me a few days off once in a while."
Leaning back in her seat, Xiao Ran glanced at him. "There's something I'm not sure I should say."
"Since you've already said that, I'm curious now. Go on."
"The Dragon King plans to settle down in Jiangbei. I don't know exactly what he's thinking, but yesterday, he went to your Xu family to discuss cooperation."
She paused, then added, "From what I saw, he seems quite… interested in your sister."
Xu Mu's eyes grew cold.
"Not happy about that?" Xiao Ran teased with a smile. "Last time, he said those words to you — you didn't like him much, did you?"
"You don't like him either?" Xu Mu countered.
"Our relationship has nothing to do with liking or not liking," Xiao Ran said quietly. "He saved my life. I'm repaying that debt by working under him."
"So basically, you're his employee?" Xu Mu asked.
"Exactly."
"Then… would you dare to quit?"
"I…"
Xiao Ran didn't know how to answer, but she already knew in her heart.
If she really wanted to resign, the Dragon King might allow it.
But if she quit only to join someone else — say, Xu Mu — he would never agree.
That man was domineering to the extreme. He could refuse to use something himself, but he would never allow anyone else to have it.
"Are you tired?" Xu Mu asked softly.
Xiao Ran froze for a moment.
[Favorability +15]
Of course she was tired. She had barely rested in years — either accompanying the Dragon King on missions or fighting other experts in ancient ruins over treasures.
Every scar on her body, big or small, was a mark from those battles.
Tired? She was exhausted.
But she had never stopped to think about it — and no one had ever asked.
"I'm fine. Life's like that — busy, hazy, and before you know it, it's over."
She looked out the window, sighing.
"Life can be exciting too," Xu Mu said softly.
"You're right," Xiao Ran murmured, but she quickly changed the subject.
The topic had reminded her of Meng Wanyue — how she had gone from a killing machine to someone human again.
And she knew full well that it was all thanks to Xu Mu.
The more she thought about it, the more envy she felt toward Wanyue.
"This isn't the way to Wanyue's house," Xiao Ran suddenly said, noticing the change in direction.
"She's not home right now. Around this time, she trains in the forest," Xu Mu replied, steering toward the outskirts.
After a short drive, he stopped behind a small Wuling Hongguang van.
Xiao Ran looked at the license plate — it was indeed Meng Wanyue's car.
"I'll stay here. I've got other things to do. You go find her," Xu Mu said.
"Alright, thanks."
She waved and got out, then climbed down the slope below the road.
Just as she landed, she felt the ground tremble slightly.
Puzzled, she crept closer — and then saw Meng Wanyue in the distance.
Feeling the power radiating from her, Xiao Ran's eyes widened.
"Late Gang Qi stage? Impossible! Half a year ago she had just reached Gang Qi…" she muttered under her breath.
"Who's there!"
Meng Wanyue's shout rang out — and a black shadow shot from her body like lightning.
A thick tree nearby was sliced cleanly in half.
Seeing the attack rush toward her, Xiao Ran immediately leapt back. "Wanyue, it's me!"
Meng Wanyue stopped at once, and the black shadow vanished.
"Big Sister Ran! I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you!"
Meng Wanyue ran up to her.
"Wanyue, you're full of surprises. In just a few months you've reached late Gang Qi. Keep this up and soon you'll surpass me — then I'll have to call you Sister Wanyue," Xiao Ran joked with a smile.
"Sister Ran, don't tease me," Meng Wanyue said shyly. "You'll always be my big sister."
"How did your strength grow so fast? Do you have some secret technique? Come on, tell your sister."
"The secret?" Meng Wanyue smiled. "Manager Xu gave me a few Qi Sea Pills."
"What?! Qi Sea Pills? A few of them?"
Xiao Ran was stunned. "He actually gave you treasures of that level?"
Seeing her shock, Meng Wanyue realized just how valuable those pills were.
Especially remembering how, the first time, Xu Mu had even tricked her into taking one — she felt an even deeper warmth in her heart.
[Favorability +20]
"That's right. Not only did Manager Xu give me several Qi Sea Pills, he also gave me a few cultivation arts," Meng Wanyue said.
"Cultivation arts? Several?"
Xiao Ran was speechless. The shadow she'd seen earlier had been incredibly fast — clearly no ordinary technique.
Inside, her feelings shifted from envy to jealousy.
How long had Meng Wanyue been with Xu Mu?
A Grade-7 Qi Sea Pill — given without hesitation. Several cultivation manuals, just like that.
And yet she, Xiao Ran, had bled and nearly died for Ye Chen countless times. The best he'd ever given her was a Marrow Cleansing Pill and a Qi Gathering Pill.
At this rate, Meng Wanyue would surpass her in no time.
The little sister who used to only have Hidden Force cultivation was now almost stronger than her.
The thought stung bitterly.
Especially remembering the last dinner where Ye Chen had invited Xu Mu's family — afterward, Ye Chen had told Xu Mu to give up Ye Tong. Xu Mu refused outright.
Then Xu Mu told Ye Chen to give up her — and Ye Chen immediately agreed.
She'd risked her life for him again and again, but to Ye Chen, she was nothing more than an expendable subordinate.
How could there be such a difference between people?
"Sister Ran, you should follow Manager Xu too!" Meng Wanyue grabbed her hand. "He's way better than Ye Chen—"
Before she could finish, Xiao Ran raised a hand to cover her mouth.
"Wanyue, if you'd said something like that half a year ago, I would've slapped you."
Xiao Ran sighed. "If the Dragon King ever finds out you said that, do you think you'd still be alive?"
"That's exactly why I don't like him," Meng Wanyue said seriously. "You know what Manager Xu told me? He said he wants me to live freely, not to live for someone."
She looked at Xiao Ran earnestly. "Sister Ran, you're beautiful, strong, and righteous. President Xu will definitely welcome you."
"Precisely because I'm righteous, I can't abandon Ye Chen," Xiao Ran said, patting her shoulder. "Maybe Manager Xu treats you that way because he likes you — but me? I doubt it."
"Who says so? You're prettier and more charming than I am. Maybe with just a few words, Manager Xu would fall head over heels for you!"
Meng Wanyue grinned, pulling Xiao Ran's hand. "Come on, let's go find Manager Xu!"