Without a doubt, Fu Xuan had misunderstood Chu Mu again.
That left Chu Mu utterly drained.
He said wearily:
"Do I really look like a bad person?"
"What do you mean?" Fu Xuan frowned. "What exactly are you plotting?"
"The truth is, I happened to pick up the dragon lady while she was wandering around outside, and now I'm ready to hand her back to you." Chu Mu shook his head and frankly abandoned all the roundabout talk.
He said helplessly:
"Surely I've made myself clear enough this time."
Fu Xuan: "???"
She fell silent for a moment, then said:
"In this world, most coincidences are carefully engineered inevitabilities."
"You have a point." Chu Mu nodded. "But the dragon lady running away had nothing to do with me. You'll be able to confirm that when you see her."
"You're really prepared to hand her back to me?" Fu Xuan stared at Chu Mu across from her. "At what price?"
"What price?" Chu Mu asked.
"That's what I'm asking you." Fu Xuan said flatly, "Everything comes at a price. What must I pay to get the dragon lady from you?"
Chu Mu: "..."
He shook his head and said:
"I suspect you're overthinking this a little. It's hardly any trouble for me. You don't have to pay anything."
Chu Mu felt he had already shown more than enough sincerity.
But Fu Xuan didn't seem to buy it. Still full of suspicion, she said:
"You're that kindhearted?"
"I don't think my heart is all that black." Chu Mu shrugged. "Besides, the dragon lady is of no use to me. If you take her back, perhaps you can awaken the High Elder's power within her and save the Luofu from disaster."
"You've even considered that?" It was hard to tell whether Fu Xuan