After Mei Yinxue returned the rented truck to the rental company, she and Mu Jinyu went back to the hotel they stayed in when they first arrived in Capital City.
As Mei Yinxue entered the room, she suddenly thought of something and asked, "Hey, didn't you say you'd bring me to hold the fort? Why was there no role for me at all just now?"
Mu Jinyu was stunned for a moment, then replied, "The situation changed. I didn't expect it to be like this tonight; who knew it would be resolved so easily? Aren't you happy that you didn't have to hold the fort?"
"It's okay, I guess."
Mei Yinxue responded nonchalantly.
She thought to herself that she actually wanted to meet Su Zijin since both Gu Xiyan and Wen Rou had met her.
She was the only one who hadn't.
Then, Mei Yinxue asked again, "By the way, it seems like you didn't kill that man. Did you spare his life?"
Mei Yinxue used to be a soft-hearted person, but after going through so much, she had become ruthless. In her view, Shen Cangsheng dared to covet Su Zijin, so he should die; there was absolutely no reason to spare him.
Besides, that guy had a very powerful backing; if he sought revenge, it would probably be even more troublesome than dealing with Huang Qiuhua and the others.
Mu Jinyu shook her head and said, "I didn't kill him. Although today is an auspicious day for funerals and burials, killing someone in public is still not appropriate. Besides, he's from Dragon King Hall. If I were to kill him outright, wouldn't it mean my junior brother would have one less general when he takes over Dragon King Hall? It could affect many things in the future."
"Alright," Mei Yinxue conceded reluctantly, then finally advised, "But I still think it's better to kill him to avoid nurturing a threat that could lead to disaster later on."
Mu Jinyu didn't take it seriously and said, "With Ah-Xiang's abilities, she'll definitely keep him subdued. He won't dare to be disobedient, so there's no need to worry."
Seeing this, Mei Yinxue didn't urge further. Thinking of Xiang Mantang, who appeared at Yu Linglong's birthday party, although she had only met her once, she too sensed an intense evil Qi and the smell of blood on Xiang Mantang!
With her capabilities, perhaps she can indeed suppress Shen Cangsheng and prevent him from harboring any ill intentions?
Mei Yinxue murmured to herself.
Then, shaking her head lightly, Mei Yinxue stopped dwelling on these thoughts and said to Mu Jinyu, "Let's go, time to shower and rest."
"Mm," Mu Jinyu responded.
Soon after, both of them bathed, finished their business, and fell asleep in each other's embrace.
...
The next day.
Mu Jinyu got up, finished her morning routine, and had breakfast with Mei Yinxue on the first floor of the hotel. They checked out, ready to leave Capital City and return to River City.
Just as Mu Jinyu and Mei Yinxue stepped out of the hotel and hailed a taxi by the roadside, Mu Jinyu sensed that someone nearby was watching her.
"Someone's tailing us? Heh..."
Mu Jinyu sneered inside, not caring whether it was Shen Cangsheng or someone else, and not bothering to guess.
"Driver, head to the suburbs where there aren't many people," Mu Jinyu casually called out to the taxi driver.
"Alright!"
The taxi driver complied, started the car, and drove towards the suburbs.
Mei Yinxue, sitting beside Mu Jinyu, had a slight frown on her face but didn't ask why Mu Jinyu suddenly changed directions.
She guessed that Mu Jinyu was not heading to the airport but to an uninhabited suburb because someone had their sights on them.
So Mu Jinyu was planning to deal with the pursuer in the suburbs.
Whoever it was shadowing them—Gu Youlan? Zhu Yeqing? Shen Cangsheng? Or someone from Withered Tree Quest for Spring—
Mu Jinyu would not spare them again. She wouldn't generously allow them to keep acting recklessly over and over!
One hour later.
The taxi driver dropped Mu Jinyu and Mei Yinxue off at a deserted area.
"Here we are, young man."
The driver stopped the car and called out to Mu Jinyu.
"Mm."
Mu Jinyu paid the fare, then he and Mei Yinxue got out of the car.
The taxi driver happily counted the money, preparing to drive away, when something occurred to him, and he poked his head out to ask Mu Jinyu, "Young man, do you have some business to take care of here? If it won't be long, I can wait for you. It's pretty hard to find a ride in this place."
Hearing this, a smile spread across Mu Jinyu's face; he thought this uncle was quite kind. He then said, "I'm not sure how long it will take. How about this, you leave me your number, and I'll call you when I'm done. I'll pay for the round trip."
"Sure thing."
The driver was happy to hear this and left his number with Mu Jinyu before slowly driving away.
After the taxi had vanished from sight,
the smile on Mu Jinyu's face gradually faded to a cold expression. He turned his head to stare at the silent thicket not far away and said,
"Come out, you've followed me all the way here; it must have been tiring."
"Hehehe, such courage. No wonder that old nun died by your hand!"
Accompanied by a flirtatious laugh, a beautiful Taoist nun holding a dust whisk and wearing a Taoist robe emerged from behind an old tree.
Listening to the beautiful Taoist nun's words, Mu Jinyu instantly understood that she was from Withered Tree Quest for Spring; like the old nun, she had come to snatch the Beauty Pill recipe from his hands!
Mu Jinyu took a close look at the beautiful Taoist nun and noticed quite a few crow's feet around her eyes—she was an old woman, a haggard wife.
If she hadn't taken his Beauty Pills, she likely would be even uglier and wouldn't have had the face to come and see him!
"From Withered Tree Quest for Spring? You want me to hand over the Beauty Pill recipe?"
Mu Jinyu crossed his hands behind his back and looked at the beautiful Taoist nun, speaking softly.
"Oh, you even know about my Withered Tree Quest for Spring. You've got some capability."
The beautiful Taoist nun was slightly surprised to hear what Mu Jinyu said, but then, like ripples returning to calm, she regained her composure and watched him indifferently, saying,
"Since you know about Withered Tree Quest for Spring, then stop struggling. Hand over the Beauty Pill and any other formulas you have that are similar to it. If they are all genuinely effective, my Withered Tree Quest for Spring will not pursue revenge for the one you killed. We will grant you endless glory and wealth!"
Mu Jinyu heard the Taoist nun's words and was momentarily stunned, then he looked at her as one might look at a mentally challenged child, without saying a word.
"What's with that look? You think I don't have the power? You think I'm as useless as that old nun?"
The beautiful Taoist nun was immediately angered by Mu Jinyu's look and shouted at him, her voice becoming quite sharp.
Mu Jinyu shook his head and said, "No, I think you are capable, but... do you think I need the glory and wealth you're offering? I'm living quite comfortably on the Beauty Pills alone; why would I need to seek refuge with you?!"
"Because if you don't, you will die!"
The Taoist nun's voice was sharp as she said, "Anyone who has killed our members has only two paths to choose from."
Mu Jinyu knew that those two paths must surely be life or death. To choose life would mean to submit to them and give them everything they wanted.
Seeing that Mu Jinyu fell silent, the Taoist nun sneered, "So, which path will you take now?"
Mu Jinyu said, "I would like to take a third path!"
"There is no third path!" the Taoist nun angrily declared, "Let me tell you, Mr. Mu, killing you would take but a flick of my finger. Don't delude yourself!"
Mu Jinyu sighed softly and said, "Then give it a flick and see!"