The deal

Meeting Wen Xiancheng's gaze, Yang Mu shook his head. "You're just a kid. Of all the things you could do, why did you have to steal?"

Yang Mu walked over to Xiao Xiao and reached for her belly, but she slapped at him.

Yang Mu's expression shifted slightly, and he met her strike with his own palm.

Boom!

Xiao Xiao retreated two steps in succession, while Yang Mu only took one step back.

"Huh?" Yang Mu lunged forward again.

Without a trace of fear, Xiao Xiao attacked him head-on.

The two exchanged more than twenty moves.

Boom after boom rang through the air, which seemed to churn around them.

The longer Yang Mu fought, the more alarmed he became.

How could this little girl, only eleven or twelve years old, meet every single move with brute force?

There wasn't the slightest ripple of spiritual power!

Most importantly, she seemed completely unfazed. No matter how he attacked, every one of her moves remained the same!

"Stop!" His aged face looking rather grim, Yang Mu hastily retreated two steps.

Xiao Xiao stopped as well and returned to her place behind Wen Xiancheng.

Yang Mu asked Xiao Xiao, "Kid, how can you withstand my attacks with your body alone, without using any spiritual power?"

Xiao Xiao acted as though she hadn't heard his question.

Yang Mu: "..."

Seeing this, Wen Xiancheng explained on Xiao Xiao's behalf, "Xiao Xiao doesn't like talking. Even when she talks to me, she only says a few words."

Yang Mu turned to Wen Xiancheng. "Why is this kid so tough?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that," Wen Xiancheng said.

Yang Mu felt rather frustrated.

After giving Xiao Xiao another look, Yang Mu's gaze settled on the Mouse Clone still standing in Wen Xiancheng's palm. "Kid, let's make a deal."

"What sort of deal?" Wen Xiancheng asked warily.

Yang Mu pointed at Xiao Xiao. "Those medicinal ingredients are on this kid. There's no arguing your way out of that. If I report this to the Royal Family, do you know what you'll face? Surely I don't need to tell you?"

Wen Xiancheng's heart pounded violently as he stared fixedly at Yang Mu.

Then Yang Mu changed his tone. "Of course, you're still young. If I really did that, I'd be ruining your future. Who hasn't made mistakes in the recklessness of youth? I'm willing to give you a chance."

Pointing at the Mouse Clone, Yang Mu said, "Here's my offer. I can forget everything you've done, and no one will ever ask about it again. I won't take back the medicinal ingredients you acquired, either. Your aptitude seems quite poor, which is why you're still only a junior martial warrior at your age. Seen that way, stealing the ingredients for an Aptitude Marrow-Cleansing Pill is understandable."

"I only want one thing."

"Your pet mouse."

"Give me your pet mouse, and I can even make a call to Sun Ying in the Wu Kingdom for you. Kid, since you've collected all these ingredients, I'm sure you know that Sun Ying helps people refine Aptitude Marrow-Cleansing Pills. But surely you don't think he'll refine them for absolutely anyone who gathers the ingredients?"

"If he did, wouldn't he work himself to death? There are so many wealthy people in this world! An Aptitude Marrow-Cleansing Pill might be expensive for ordinary people like you, but to the rich, it's nothing."

"With my recommendation, he'll definitely see you. Sun Ying and I met once before. He'll do me that courtesy."

"What do you say?"

"It's only a pet mouse. Even if it's a demon beast, it isn't some rare breed. Buying one would only cost a few thousand high-grade spirit stones."

"Compared with everything I've offered you, that's nothing at all. The reason I want this pet mouse is simply that I've never seen a mouse become a demon beast before."

"Don't worry. Once I have it, I'll refine all sorts of pills for it to eat and help it improve its cultivation. I also have friends who can teach demon beasts combat skills. If you kept it yourself-"

Before Yang Mu could finish, Wen Xiancheng agreed decisively. "Deal!"

He let out a huge sigh of relief inwardly.

The Mouse Clone was actually himself.

Even if Yang Mu took it away, he didn't need to worry that the Mouse Clone would forget him.

On the contrary, with the Mouse Clone clinging to such a powerful backer, wouldn't he be able to take whatever medicinal ingredients he wanted openly in the future?

Then he could cultivate under this man named Yang Mu while establishing a mouse organization, bringing all the nearby mice under his command.

What difference did it make who the Mouse Clone served?

Yang Mu clearly hadn't expected Wen Xiancheng to agree so readily and was somewhat dazed.

Wen Xiancheng forced a smile. "Well, just as you said, trading a pet mouse to wipe the slate clean and get your recommendation to Sun Ying is as good a bargain as I could ask for."

Coming back to his senses, Yang Mu hurriedly said, "Exactly, exactly! Kid, a wise man knows which way the wind blows!"

As he spoke, he reached for the Mouse Clone.

Wen Xiancheng took a notebook and paper out of his Storage Ring. "Wait. Let's sign an agreement. You know everything that happened before, but you must guarantee that you gave all those things to me."

Writing quickly, Wen Xiancheng continued, "Let's settle the unpleasant details first, then act like gentlemen. We've only just met, after all. What would I do if you turned your back on me once you had my pet mouse? I'm just a boy with no power or influence. How could I possibly stand against you?"

Yang Mu looked at Wen Xiancheng in surprise.

This kid seemed more mature and thorough in his thinking than any of the disciples he had seen at the Royal Academy.

Although he had been somewhat panicked earlier, the fact that he could still think things through to this extent meant his intelligence was not to be underestimated.

If he really succeeded in cleansing his marrow with an Aptitude Marrow-Cleansing Pill, he might become an extraordinary figure someday.

With that thought, Yang Mu took out his phone, opened his contacts, found "Sun Ying," and called him.

The call connected shortly afterward, and a hoarse voice came from the other end. "Who is it?"

"It's me, Yang Mu. Senior Brother Sun Ying, do me a favor."

Hearing Yang Mu's words, Wen Xiancheng stopped writing and looked over.

This old man certainly acted fast!

Without moving away from Wen Xiancheng, Yang Mu said, "I have a nephew on my cousin's side whose aptitude is rather poor. I've already gathered four sets of ingredients for Aptitude Marrow-Cleansing Pills for him. I'll have him deliver them to you in person. Help him refine them, and I'll owe you a favor."

"Oh? You have a nephew like that? And you're actually pleading someone else's case? You must think highly of him. Planning to have him take over from you? Not a bad idea. You've already reached the limits of your abilities, so it really is time to find a successor. But aren't you afraid I'll keep him here?" Sun Ying teased.

Yang Mu laughed. "It's not what you think. His name is-"

Yang Mu looked at Wen Xiancheng.

"Wen Xiancheng," he said.

"His name is Wen Xiancheng. Remember it. That's all, then," Yang Mu said.

With that, Yang Mu hung up.

Putting his phone into his Storage Ring, Yang Mu looked at Wen Xiancheng. "Kid, you saw that. I've already done my part."

Wen Xiancheng nodded and continued writing the agreement. "Thank you."

Once he finished the agreement, Wen Xiancheng had Yang Mu sign it and press his fingerprint onto it before handing over the Mouse Clone.

Staring at the Mouse Clone in his palm, Yang Mu was so excited that his lips trembled. He whistled. "Little Gray, from now on, I'm your master."

As he whistled, air leaked through the gap where his front teeth were missing!

The Mouse Clone turned his head away in disgust.

Rather than getting angry, Yang Mu rocked back and forth with laughter. "Amazing! Just what I'd expect from a demon beast. This intelligence really is just like ours!"

Taking a jade bottle from his Storage Ring, Yang Mu tipped out a tiny pill and placed it in his palm as he walked outside. "Eat this. It's called a Blood-Congealing Pill. It contains a tiny amount of blood essence from some powerful demon beasts. Once you eat it, it'll allow your blood to evolve slowly."

(End of chapter)