Grand Purchase

"Though you may hate me now, and perhaps seek someone out to retaliate against me the moment I leave, that will be a matter for later." Mu Xiao stood, walked around the desk, and came to Shangguan Yuanxin's side. Looking down at her from above, he said, "But don't forget that I hold the greatest initiative in this room right now. Your life or death depends on a single thought of mine. If you want revenge, get through this crisis first... Miss Shangguan, I believe you understand that a wise man submits to circumstances. This is also my final warning. I don't have time to play with you any longer."

Shangguan Yuanxin watched Mu Xiao approach with a face full of vigilance, yet she maintained her calm and composed demeanor without showing the slightest panic. She believed in her own ability to handle things, and she believed that, backed by the foundations of two great families, she was not someone an ordinary person or a single family could shake—unless that person was a suicidal madman.

Yet Mu Xiao's unconventional behavior and threatening words made Shangguan Yuanxin feel that this man was precisely a "madman," and an exceptionally calm one at that. Otherwise, he either had some hidden trump card or simply did not care about retaliation from the two great families, which was why he dared openly extort the Shangguan family's heir and the future daughter-in-law of the An family.

"I don't know where your confidence comes from, but I want to tell you this: you will definitely pay the price for what you did today." Shangguan Yuanxin's voice was icy.

Mu Xiao's expression did not change in the slightest. He did not even blink, as though any threatening words were meaningless in his eyes.

Shangguan Yuanxin understood that if this continued, she would be the only one at a disadvantage. Even ten times the value of Bauhinia Group was not worth more than her life.

In the end, Shangguan Yuanxin coldly gave him Bauhinia Group's correct account.

Mu Xiao opened the account information. The enormous figure displayed there satisfied him greatly, and he smiled in a particularly punchable way. "Thank you, Miss Shangguan, for your cooperation and generosity."

"You're welcome!" Shangguan Yuanxin's exquisitely beautiful face seemed so dark it could drip water. "I hope that before we find you, you'll live long enough to spend all that money."

"Don't worry. I'll use it all up right away." Mu Xiao had already turned his attention to the light screen, his fingers moving rapidly as he answered casually.

Shangguan Yuanxin did not believe Mu Xiao could spend such an enormous amount of credits so quickly. Yet when her gaze unconsciously fell upon his light screen, she saw a dazzling stream of purchase orders, all for extremely expensive medicines. The vast number of credits was dropping at high speed. In an instant, Shangguan Yuanxin's soft and alluring face looked utterly terrible.

"What exactly is that madman trying to do?!"

Shangguan Yuanxin roared furiously in her heart.

Various kinds of genetic serums, Chinese medicinal herbs of different ages, nutrient solutions containing different plant extracts... Everyone knew these things could not be consumed and digested all at once. Nor were they miraculous pills that could turn someone into a "superhuman" through mindless overeating. They merely had effects such as saving lives, preserving lives, and nourishing lives. Most people took them as supplements to regulate their bodies, but no one would consume too many supplements at once. Otherwise, they would not be supplements, but poison.

Moreover, the higher the quality of these "supplements," the more exorbitant their price. Some rare medicines cost hundreds of millions of credits for a single plant, vial, or bottle. For example, the genetic serum needed for "regrowing severed limbs" cost at least two or three hundred million credits. Yet Mu Xiao's casual order contained more than ten vials of that kind of genetic serum, spending over three billion credits in one go.

At this rate, no amount of credits would be enough for him.

That was why Shangguan Yuanxin felt so suffocated and furious. She thought Mu Xiao had come purely to disgust her and spite her. His true purpose was not money at all.

Unable to calm her heart, Shangguan Yuanxin said coldly, "I don't know why you're taking such a great risk to purchase so many expensive medicines, but I can tell you clearly that after today, I have ways to return every one of these medicines and prevent Bauhinia Group from suffering losses. I advise you to state your true purpose. Otherwise, you may never have another chance to say it."

"Can you shut up and be quiet?" Mu Xiao did not even glance at her as he continued his frenzied shopping spree across the major online stores.

His dismissive attitude angered Shangguan Yuanxin so much she nearly coughed up blood. But she quickly calmed down again. Seeing how focused Mu Xiao was, it seemed he was not paying attention to her. Her thoughts stirred, and her fingers quietly traced an invisible symbol. Once she completed it, she would be able to reactivate all the alarm systems he had shut down earlier.

The ring on Shangguan Yuanxin's finger was one of the miniature optical computers capable of secretly activating the system.

Just as she was about to succeed, Mu Xiao spoke in the helplessly sighing tone of an adult talking to a child. "You really are a troublesome one."

Then Shangguan Yuanxin felt a flash of light strike her body. After an instant of stabbing pain, her entire body went numb and limp. She could not even raise a finger, having completely lost the ability to move, yet her mind remained crystal clear. A thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

"A paralysis gun! What exactly do you want to do to me?!" Shangguan Yuanxin's beautiful face, white as congealed cream and radiant with charm, turned deathly pale. Panic surged in her heart as she truly felt that something terrible might happen next. She did not even have a chance to fight desperately or kill herself, only to helplessly endure whatever abuse came her way.

"If you keep talking so much, I don't mind doing some of the things you're thinking about to you." Mu Xiao deliberately swept his gaze over Shangguan Yuanxin's alluring, graceful, and proud figure as she lay limply slumped there. It was as if she had suddenly been bitten by a venomous snake. Her crimson, moist lips pressed tightly together, while her beautiful eyes stared fiercely at Mu Xiao, as though trying to drive back his improper intentions with her gaze.

Mu Xiao turned his attention back to the light screen and did not act on any improper intentions toward Shangguan Yuanxin. Only then did she relax for the moment, but she no longer dared provoke Mu Xiao with words, lest he find an excuse to let his beastly nature run wild.

The spacious office was deathly quiet. Shangguan Yuanxin's mood grew increasingly panicked and awful. She had never been in such a disadvantageous situation, nor did she know what Mu Xiao was plotting. She could only hope that the people outside would come in soon...

After a long while, Mu Xiao finally exhausted the enormous funds Shangguan Yuanxin had provided. He had directly bought a huge pile of expensive medicines and supplies, and even paid a high price for the online merchants to deliver everything to his residence within an hour.

After all, in the prosperous City of Magic, although there were far too many valuable goods involved, there was still enough capacity to deliver them all. Besides, transportation technology had already reached the point of remotely transmitting goods, so delivery time was not a problem—only the price was rather high.

When Shangguan Yuanxin saw Mu Xiao dismiss the light screen, her heart immediately leaped into her throat. Forcing herself to remain calm, she said, "Now that you've achieved your objective, shouldn't you leave?"

As though recalling something, she added, "Don't worry. I won't make a move against you here."

Mu Xiao studied this exquisite beauty with great interest and thought to himself, I gave her a shot with the electromagnetic gun just now. The low-power discharge only paralyzed her body, but her consciousness still seems very clear. That'll make things easier...

"Don't worry. I'm not interested in your body, and you're not my type either." Mu Xiao teased Shangguan Yuanxin. Seeing her embarrassed and angry expression, he added, "But at a critical moment, I wouldn't mind making do with you and..."

"What exactly do you want to do?! Say it!" Shangguan Yuanxin was nearly driven mad by his taunting.

"I want the intelligent control authority for this room." Seeing that she had yielded, Mu Xiao stated his purpose. This time, Shangguan Yuanxin did not say much. She directly told him that the ring on her finger was the control device, and that he only needed to change its password to use it.

Mu Xiao removed her ring. With the password she provided, he smoothly changed the password and gained intelligent control over the entire room, along with the weapon systems in the corridor outside.

Then Mu Xiao walked up to Shangguan Yuanxin. Under her horrified gaze, he lowered his head and leaned closer. Gradually, his face came within an inch of her enchanting yet proud and pure, exquisitely beautiful face, delicate as congealed cream. The rich, fragrant scent emanating from her body lingered clearly at the tip of Mu Xiao's nose.

"Listen carefully to every word I say now."

The warm breath Mu Xiao exhaled as he spoke brushed against Shangguan Yuanxin's smooth face. A girlish shyness flickered in her eyes, but there was more hurried unease, irritation, and resentment. She did not say any powerless nonsense like, "Touch me and I'll make you wish you were dead."

Instead, she remained silent and stared fixedly at Mu Xiao with eyes cold enough to freeze everything, as though she wanted to carve his appearance into her bones.

"I know you won't believe anything I say right now, but I'm someone who distinguishes clearly between gratitude and grudges. I don't like owing favors without repaying them. So I promise you this: if you survive, and if you encounter me again, you may make one request within my ability. Consider it repayment for the enormous funds you gave me this time."

Mu Xiao stood straight as a spear and watched Shangguan Yuanxin gradually calm down. He continued, "Just now, under your name, I ordered a large amount of food and some things you may need, and had them delivered to Warehouse No. 9 of the company. If something happens, that might be a decent safe place—provided you can make it there alive. As for the two S-class robots in your room, I won't take them. You may very well need them later. And you have a squad of bodyguards as well, so you should be able to get through this 'unforgettable day.'"

Shangguan Yuanxin's mind was full of doubts, while a bottomless fear rose in her heart. It felt as though some unknown and terrifying event was about to occur. Yet she hoped Mu Xiao was merely putting on an act to distract her from seeking revenge against him...

"What are you talking about?" Shangguan Yuanxin took a deep breath, recovering the bearing of a powerful businesswoman as she asked, "If our family is facing some great disaster and you know some news, I can pretend today never happened. I can even agree to any request of yours that isn't excessive..."

Mu Xiao ignored her and spoke to himself. "Next, I hope you'll cooperate with me in finishing the final act. Call your bodyguards in."

"I'm talking to you. Can't you at least give me an explanation?" The irritation in Shangguan Yuanxin's heart grew stronger, and her tone regained its usual authority.

"Oh, right. Now that the room's weapons are under my control, I don't need you to do anything anymore." A gentle smile appeared on Mu Xiao's face. In a tone like he was coaxing a child, he said to Shangguan Yuanxin, "Go have a good sleep first. Restore your energy and welcome the arrival of this great era."

"Wait..." The moment Shangguan Yuanxin felt a bad premonition rise within her, she saw a gun-shaped object appear in Mu Xiao's hand. A flickering flash of electricity struck her body, followed by a pain even more intense than before. In an instant, she lost consciousness.