So it turns out I'm the demon!

The old monk was like a fish whose tail was being pinched, being slammed to the ground again and again.

Each time, it creates craters, some deep and some shallow, all connected together.

"This is outrageous!"

After being repeatedly smashed, the old monk finally lost his temper.

It is unknown what method he used, but his body suddenly exploded, turning into a cloud of bloody mist.

The next moment, a golden Buddha figure, tens of feet tall, rose from the ground.

The Buddha's shadow bore a striking resemblance to the True Ancient Buddha that Tian Wenyuan had summoned before. It had three heads and six arms, with each hand holding a spinning Dharma wheel, radiating an oppressive aura that suppressed heaven and earth.

However, before the Buddha image could display any supernatural powers, Bai Xiang slapped it down from across the void.

The giant hand of moonlight expanded tenfold in an instant.

The five fingers spread wide, covering half the sky, and slammed down on the Buddha's figure with a force as powerful as if the sky were collapsing.

Click!

With a casual slap from Bai Xiang, the magnificent Buddha image split open from the top of his head and then exploded into a golden rain of light.

Not even a wisp of his soul remained.

However, Bai Xiang tilted her head slightly, her gaze falling on a fleeting, dim star in the night sky. She raised an eyebrow and murmured, "Using star positions to escape... this old bald monk's escape skills are quite impressive."

The commotion from the fight alerted many powerful cultivators who were secretly lurking in the city of Fazhou.

Powerful divine senses and streaks of light rushed in from all directions, eager to investigate the competition.

However, before these divine senses could even reach the edge of the dilapidated temple, they crashed into an invisible wall. It was as if an unseen mountain was pressing down from the sky, crushing their divine senses back inch by inch.

The star position was suppressed by an even higher-level force.

They were so frightened that their hair stood on end, and they almost simultaneously shrank back, never daring to cross the line again.

After shooing away the annoying flies, Bai Xiang's cool phoenix eyes finally fell on Jiang Mu, who was covered in dust and dirt below.

She said calmly, "If you want to live, hand over the things."

She needed to find an excuse.

I can't let this man think I came here to rescue him in the middle of the night out of boredom, lest this shameless guy overthink things and guess my true identity.

"thing?"

Jiang Mu was taken aback upon hearing this. "What is it that you desire, Senior?"

Could it be that he wants the Star Core he just acquired?

Bai Xiang snorted coldly and made a hand seal in front of her chest.

In an instant, white vein-like rays of light appeared on the ground centered on her.

The light crisscrosses and intertwines, like the earth's open veins.

Then it quickly spread to Jiang Mu's feet.

One of them burst forth from the ground less than three feet to his side, carrying a ball of crystal-clear white light.

The white light slowly drifted towards Bai Xiang.

Within the light, a crystal could be faintly seen, radiating a soft yet ancient aura; it was clearly no ordinary object.

"You hid it quite well; did you really think I couldn't find it?"

Bai Xiang took the ball of white light into her palm.

In fact, it was just a stone, an ordinary stone that couldn't be more ordinary.

It's just that she applied a dazzling, ethereal filter, making it look radiant and incredibly high-class.

Jiang Mu, standing below, looked completely bewildered.

Holy crap?

What is this?

I actually found such an unparalleled treasure buried under my feet?

"Next time, don't try to play these petty tricks in front of me."

After leaving behind this cold and domineering warning, Bai Xiang waved her sleeve and disappeared without a trace, leaving only a messy courtyard.

Jiang Mu scratched his head, completely bewildered.

That treasure must be the old monk's trump card to save Ku Hai's life.

Thinking back to that thing that looked like a priceless treasure, I felt as sour as if I had eaten a basket of lemons.

That was a huge miscalculation!

If he had known there was treasure down there, he would have dug it out beforehand and stuffed it into his storage space. Even if that woman is incredibly powerful, she can't just conjure something out of thin air, can she?

Thinking about it this way made me even angrier.

He killed the man, he fought the fight, but the spoils were stolen by a big shot who appeared out of nowhere with just a few words.

In this world, might makes right.

Of course, the big shot still saved him, although one thing is one thing.

After thoroughly searching the site like a groundhog, and confirming that not a single coin was left, Jiang Mu returned home dejectedly.

Although the struggle for the star position was full of twists and turns, the result was still quite good.

More importantly, he extracted valuable information from Ku Hai: Prince Sheng was very likely not dead.

This intelligence is of great value.

After all, Jiang Mu and Prince Sheng were already sworn enemies.

If that guy were to be reborn through another's womb, lurking in the shadows like a venomous snake, he might suddenly jump out and kill you or the woman beside you.

Now that we know this news, at least we have some room to take precautions.

Back at the mansion, Jiang Mu took a hot bath, washing away the blood and exhaustion.

He had planned to find the young healer Chu Lingzhu and, under the cover of night, explore the "deep structure of the human body's meridians" to continue his unfinished mission of creating a child. But when he pushed open the door to the side courtyard, he found the girl already asleep, cuddling Lan Rou'er like two kittens curled up in a ball.

The girl's foot rested on Lan Rou'er's waist.

Jiang Mu stood by the bed for a moment, tucking the blankets around them, but ultimately couldn't bear to wake them.

Back in the courtyard, the night was deep, and the moonlight spread a layer of silver frost.

He suddenly remembered Bai Xiang.

After hesitating for a moment, he simply climbed over the courtyard wall and went to Bai Xiang's house across the street.

Using teleportation, Jiang Mu sneaked into the woman's bedroom.

By the silvery moonlight, one could see the delicate, undulating contours of the bed.

The woman was lying on her side, her breathing steady.

The thin blanket was loosely draped around her waist, outlining the smooth, undulating waistline and hip curve on one side. At first glance, it looked like a landscape painting with ink wash, with just the right amount of light and dark shades and just the right amount of blank space.

Her dark hair was scattered on the pillow, with a few strands falling from the edge of the bed.

Jiang Mu quickly took off his shoes and outer garment, tiptoed around, lifted the corner of the quilt, and slipped into the faintly fragrant bed like an eel. He then pulled the woman's soft, delicate body into his arms from behind.

It felt warm and soft in my arms.

Even through the thin nightgown, I could feel the warmth of her skin, like hugging a cloud warmed by the sun.

Bai Xiang was naturally awake the whole time.

She had noticed it the moment Jiang Mu climbed over the wall into the courtyard.

When the man's arm wrapped around her, a vortex of energy quietly gathered beneath the covers.

It hangs in the palm of your hand, ready to be released but not yet released.

If this guy dares to cross any line, she will not hesitate to slap him away.

Fortunately, the man simply held her tightly and didn't do anything else inappropriate, which made Bai Xiang relax.

The vortex in his palm dissipated.

"Butler, are you asleep?"

Jiang Mu leaned close to the woman's rounded earlobe and whispered, "What do you want to ask?"

His warm breath sprayed onto Bai Xiang's fair neck, causing her to get goosebumps.

Bai Xiang kept her eyes tightly shut and ignored her.

Jiang Mu reached out and shook the woman a few times, whispering, "Are you asleep? At least give me an answer."

Bai Xiang finally couldn't take it anymore.

She suddenly opened her long, bright eyes and turned to stare coldly at the man.

"Uh... I was just asking if you were asleep."

Jiang Mu gave an awkward laugh. "Since you're asleep, then keep sleeping. I won't disturb you."

Bai Xiang took a deep breath, closed her eyes again, and told herself not to stoop to someone so shameless.

However, Jiang Mu started shaking her again:

"Hey, how long are you planning to pretend to be asleep? Just to chat with your husband for a pittance."

Bai Xiang clenched her fists, swung them back, and punched the man's arm, pushing him away.

Jiang Mu wasn't annoyed; instead, she pressed herself even closer to him.

He embraced the woman's slender waist again, his chest pressed tightly against her soft back, as if he wanted to embed himself into her body.

"Ah Xiang, let's get down to business."

Jiang Mu changed to a more serious tone.

"Things have been unsettled outside these past few days, so try to stay indoors. I've heard that a powerful demon has left behind a cave and its legacy in Fazhou City, attracting many evil spirits and heretics. If you encounter danger, stay away and don't get involved in anything reckless."

At this point, he suddenly changed his tone, and his voice became smug again.

"But then again, you're so ugly, and you always have such a cold face. Even if you encounter a womanizer, he'd probably look down on you. There's probably no danger that could befall you."

Bai Xiang narrowed her phoenix eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.

"Bang!"

An elbow strike landed on Jiang Mu's chest.

"Cough cough cough..."

Jiang Mu clutched her chest, letting out an exaggerated cough and gasping for breath, "How could you be so strong... I can't take it anymore, you must have broken my bones. Hurry up and rub them for me, it hurts so much."

Bai Xiang ignored his poor acting skills.

She remained with her back to him, as steady as a mountain.

"Okay, if you won't massage it for me, then I'll massage it for you."

Jiang Mu moved closer.

As he spoke, the man's hand slipped under the woman's clothes.

Bai Xiangjiao's body stiffened.

She grabbed the jade hairpin from beside her pillow and waved it in the darkness as a silent warning.

Jiang Mu looked at the jade hairpin and pursed her lips:

"Isn't that a bit pointless? I already touched you on the rooftop in Huzhou City. Besides, I was just rubbing your stomach, I wouldn't do anything else. Don't you trust my character, Mr. Jiang?"

Bai Xiang remained motionless, her face cold.

Jiang Mu tentatively placed his palm on the woman's soft, snow-white, flat abdomen.

The touch from my fingertips is warm and smooth.

Seeing that the man's hand stopped moving after resting on her lower abdomen, Bai Xiang put down the jade hairpin, closed her eyes again, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

Not bad, this guy knows his limits.

As long as he doesn't cross the line, she's too lazy to argue with him.

Jiang Mu buried his face deep in the woman's neck, greedily inhaling the unique, cool fragrance of cypress, and said in a muffled voice, "Ah Xiang, I might have to go out to take care of some important business in a couple of days. I'm worried about you living here alone. Why don't you move in with Lingzhu and the others? Although that girl's cultivation isn't high, her skill with poison is top-notch. I've made too many enemies lately, and I'm afraid they might do something desperate and cause trouble for you."

Bai Xiang gently shook her head.

"You don't want to?"

Jiang Mu frowned slightly.

Suddenly, he pulled his hand out and slapped the woman's plump buttocks with a crisp "smack".

Bai Xiang turned around as if struck by lightning.

A pair of phoenix eyes glared at him in the darkness, radiating murderous intent.

"What are you glaring at me for? I'm your master, and you're my butler. You have to listen to me in this house."

Jiang Mu displayed the authority of the head of the family.

Bai Xiang stretched out her hands and forcefully pushed and rubbed the man's chest, then lifted her foot, as if to make him get off the bed directly.

"Fine, fine, I won't go then, just don't do anything."

Jiang Mu had no choice but to give in, and was pushed by the woman until half of his body was hanging off the bed, almost rolling off.

He quickly rolled over and crawled back into bed, pulling the woman who was still pushing him back into his arms, his grip tightening even more than before.

Bai Xiang struggled for a moment and then gave up, turning away and ignoring him.

Jiang Mu slipped his hand under her clothes again, this time slightly higher.

Bai Xiang frowned, her body involuntarily tensing up.

She gritted her teeth, hesitating whether to really push the man away, when Jiang Mu suddenly asked softly:

"Ah Xiang, when you left Huzhou City, did you ever imagine that we would meet again? And that we would be living as neighbors across the hall, just like now?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Xiang's arm, which was about to lash out, paused slightly, and her gaze softened.

She shook her head slightly.

Yes, she had considered that the two might meet again someday in the future.

But she never dared to hope that the reunion would be so dreamlike and so dramatic.

It was as if there was an unseen hand binding them together.

Jiang Mu rested his chin on her shoulder, his tone tinged with amusement:

"Believe it or not, this is the destiny that God has ordained for you and me. It means that we are bound together by an unbreakable bond from birth."

As he spoke, he tightened his embrace around the woman's body, his hands moving slightly further away.

Bai Xiang was somewhat dazed and didn't notice his movements for a moment.

Was it a stroke of luck?

Is there really something called a bond between them?

Thinking back on everything since I met Jiang Mu...

Everything was indeed as unreal as a dream, yet so real that it was irresistible.

But what exactly does this line connecting the two sides represent?

Is it the red thread in the hands of the Old Man Under the Moon?

Bai Xiang, however, felt no confidence whatsoever.

She was constantly resisting, resisting the tangled and complicated entanglement between herself and Jiang Mu.

She always felt that she and Jiang Mu belonged to two different worlds.

Admittedly, with Jiang Mu's monstrous physique and cultivation speed, she might one day reach a level comparable to hers. However, she herself is unable to maintain this stability.

As long as the Mirror Kingdom's fortunes do not recover, her star position and cultivation level are like a rootless duckweed, constantly at risk of falling and perishing. The deep-seated hatred of the destruction of her country and the loss of her family weighs on her like a mountain.

She could not wash away her hatred until her country was restored.

Under such heavy responsibilities, how could she possibly have the leisure to indulge in romantic love?

Those feelings that occasionally surfaced in her heart late at night were quickly suppressed by her own actions.

It's not that I don't want to, it's that I don't dare.

Just as the woman was struggling with her emotions...

But they discovered that the other person's hand was placed in an inappropriate place, a move that was subtle and gradual, like boiling a frog in warm water.

Bai Xiang was furious!

However, before she could react, Jiang Mu suddenly spoke, his tone calm:

"Don't move. Let me feel your heartbeat and see if you've fallen for your master. Don't worry, I won't do anything rash."

Oh, so it was just feeling your heartbeat...

I thought this guy was taking advantage of the situation to be a pervert.

Bai Xiang's hand stopped in mid-air.

Seeing that the man's hand was indeed just resting there and he didn't make any further excessive moves, she finally lowered her arm.

This guy had already touched my lower abdomen all over before, so checking my heartbeat now doesn't seem like such an unforgivable line, right?