"Look, this is me..." Old Man Mu stood on the grassy hillside, arms spread wide as he breathed in the fresh air and gazed up at the sky. His heart swelled with delight, and even nearly dying in Rouge Forest just now hadn't spoiled his good mood.
"Anyone can buy me off: the Dragon King, the Unrivaled King, He Nu, Queen Ju. As long as the price is right, I'll take the offer." Old Man Mu's eyes widened. He looked quite serious, as if afraid she wouldn't believe him. Pointing at his chest, he said, "Why? Because my heart has always been loyal to myself. I've never wavered. Loyalty to others, groveling at their feet—it's all like a gentle breeze beneath a bright moon, a fleeting bubble, gone with a single thought and leaving no trace."
Watching Old Man Mu bluster, Shangguan Ru felt both exasperated and amused. "You can't keep playing both sides forever. Everyone will see what you're really like soon enough."
The good girl didn't even sound especially angry, and Old Man Mu's excitement rose another notch. "You're young, good girl. So very young. When you've lived as long as I have, you'll understand: this world is never short of people who think they're clever, always believing they can toy with others in the palm of their hand. The more you play both sides, the more they'll want to use you. Ha ha! That's human nature. Clever people will think, 'Old Man Mu managed to fool the Dragon King, so he must have some ability. But I'm even better than the Dragon King. I can certainly make Old Man Mu work for me.' When everyone finally sees my 'true colors,' I'll head to the Central Plains and have some fun. Then it all starts over. Once I've