After he finished writing, he suddenly felt that it was somewhat absurd.
Who could have imagined that a young doctor who had just graduated and had not even officially started working was now researching the efficiency of cross-temporal logistics?
Xiao saw the words “Cross-Door Whole-Cart Transportation Plan” and struggled desperately to hold back his laughter.
Su Muchen looked at him coldly.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing,” Xiao said. “I just feel that Gui Chen Zhai can soon be renamed Cross-Realm Freight.”
Su Muchen: “……”
Xiao Yuan lowered his head and looked at that cart.
A trace of an extremely faint smile appeared in his eyes.
These otherworldly objects were often neither ornate nor unusual, yet they were practical.
A single cart could actually allow them to take away several times more supplies.
And the person who had thought of this was currently lowering his head and writing, his brows and eyes focused, as though every troublesome matter that reached his hands could be dismantled piece by piece.
Xiao Yuan suddenly felt that Su Muchen might be more suited to being the owner of Gui Chen Zhai than he himself had imagined.
◆◇◆◇◆
After Xiao Yuan left the capital, Gui Chen Zhai suddenly became quiet.
This kind of quiet was different from before.
The former quiet was desolation, the deathly silence of a shop about to go bankrupt after being forgotten by the city.
The quiet now, however, was like an empty space left behind after some storm had temporarily retreated.
The shelves in the front hall had been reorganized.
Tea canisters, incense products, paper umbrellas, old books, and handmade soap were arranged in neat order.
In a corner of the rear courtyard were several empty boxes that had not yet been completely unpacked.
Behind the counter, meanwhile, the notebook was filled with the supply lists, monetary records, Dasheng medicinal-material comparison table, and “Cross-Door Whole-Cart Transportation Plan” that Su Muchen had organized over the past few days.
He deliberately recorded everything using traditional paper and pen rather than a cloud system, precisely because he was afraid the Sheng family might hack into it and steal the cloud data.
Su Muchen stared at those final few words for a long time.
The more he looked at them, the more absurd they seemed.
He had once thought that after graduating, he would enter a hospital, start from the most basic work, slowly repay his student loan, and slowly endure the days.
Now he had not entered a hospital, yet he had begun researching how to use a cart to improve cross-temporal logistics efficiency.
Life really could not be decided too early.
Xiao sat by the window, leisurely drinking tea.
The black markings on his wrist were concealed beneath his sleeve, and he still looked as lazy and refined as ever.
Su Muchen glanced at him.
“Hand.”
Xiao’s movements paused.
“Muchen, you’ve already looked three times today.”
“Look again.”
Xiao helplessly extended his hand.
Su Muchen lifted his sleeve and took out a measuring tape to measure it, confirming that the circle of black markings had not continued spreading upward. Only then did his expression ease slightly.
“If it starts spreading, tell me immediately.”
Xiao smiled. “Will telling you be useful?”
Su Muchen looked at him coldly.
Xiao immediately changed his words. “Useful. At least I can be scolded by you. It feels very much like the warmth of ordinary human life.”
Su Muchen: “……”
He really was going to be angered to death by this group of people.
Just then, the phone rang once.
Su Muchen picked it up and saw that it was a bank deposit notification.
The amount was not exaggerated, but it was enough for him to clear another batch of overdue interest.
The deposit description was still “Settlement Payment for Consignment Sale of Old Items.”
Su Muchen stared at those words. His heart was not as excited as it had been the first time he saw them, yet he still let out a long sigh of relief.
This was the first payment processed from the box of gold Xiao Yuan had brought last night.
Xiao’s connections remained clean enough to make one uneasy.
At least, on the surface, they were clean.
Su Muchen opened the account book and recorded everything one entry at a time.
—Xiao Yuan, total amount of gold this time.
—Deducted for supply purchases.
—Deducted for gold-processing costs.
—Remaining funds used to repay debts.
Halfway through writing, he suddenly stopped.
Xiao Yuan should have already left the capital.
He did not know whether the journey was going smoothly.
He did not know whether the abdominal binder was working properly.
He did not know whether Chi Banyue could really restrain those two people who refused to follow medical instructions.
Thinking of this, Su Muchen lowered his head and added another line beside the notebook.
—Add next time: Observation Table for Wound Condition During Carriage Jolting.
Xiao leaned over to look and laughed.
“Muchen, this doesn’t look like doing business.”
“Then what does it look like?”
“Like raising an expeditionary force.”
Su Muchen said indifferently, “I can’t afford to raise an expeditionary force. I’m merely maintaining my only major customer.”
Xiao drawled, “Oh, major customer.”
Su Muchen said expressionlessly, “If you keep being sarcastic, handle lunch yourself today.”
Xiao immediately shut his mouth.
◆◇◆◇◆
At the same time.
The top floor of the Sheng Consortium’s headquarters in Yunjing City.
Outside the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, skyscrapers stood densely throughout the new district. Driverless vehicles flowed along the roads below, while small drones occasionally swept through the aerial lanes.
Sheng Chengxiu sat behind his desk.
On the desk lay the latest financial report concerning Su Muchen.
The assistant stood in front of the desk, his expression not looking very good.
“President Sheng, Su Muchen has repaid another portion of his debts.”
Sheng Chengxiu raised his eyes.
“Source?”
The assistant said quietly, “We still can’t find a definite source. On the surface, it is listed as a settlement payment for the consignment sale of old items from Gui Chen Zhai. It passed through two intermediary channels before finally entering Su Muchen’s account.”
Sheng Chengxiu opened the file.
Several recent payments were listed on it. None of the amounts were particularly large.
But that was precisely the problem.
They appeared far too consistently.
It was as though someone were deliberately controlling the amounts, preventing them from becoming large enough to attract the attention of financial regulators while still making them sufficient to keep the foreclosure proceedings dragging along step by step.
This was not something a young man who had just graduated, was burdened with debt, and had no background could accomplish.
Sheng Chengxiu lightly tapped his fingertips against the desk.
“Are those old items from Gui Chen Zhai really worth that much?”
The assistant was silent for a moment.
“According to public valuations, no.”
“Then there’s something else.”
Sheng Chengxiu’s gaze fell upon the photograph of Gui Chen Zhai in the materials.
Deep in Changning Lane, with blue-tiled roofs, wooden doors, and an old-fashioned signboard.
That shop still looked dilapidated and inconspicuous, yet it was like a box covered in thick layers of dust, with something hidden inside that he had to obtain.
Sheng Chengxiu’s gaze darkened slightly.
He had originally thought Su Jiancheng was the best breakthrough point.
Greedy, foolish, indebted, easy to control.
As long as he pushed him into desperation, Gui Chen Zhai would sooner or later fall into the Sheng family’s hands.
Unfortunately, that family of three had died too suddenly—so suddenly that it made him feel there was something strange behind it.
However, he had ordered people to investigate deeply and had found nothing.
And yet Su Muchen had been left behind as an unexpected variable.
A young man who had been abandoned by the Su family for many years, seemingly clean-cut and frail, yet far more difficult to deal with than expected.
Sheng Chengxiu suddenly laughed.
“Interesting.”
The assistant lowered his head and did not dare respond.
Sheng Chengxiu closed the file.
“Invite Su Muchen over for a talk.”
The assistant hesitated. “Under what pretext?”
“Debt negotiation.”
Sheng Chengxiu said indifferently, his fingers habitually turning the gold ring on his middle finger.
“Tell him the Sheng family is willing to restructure part of his debts for him.”
The assistant immediately understood.
On the surface, it was an invitation.
In reality, it was a warning.
Although Su Muchen had temporarily repaid some money, his overall debt was still enormous.
As long as the Sheng family made even the slightest move along the debt chain, they could make it impossible for him to catch his breath.
“Yes.”
The assistant turned and left.
Sheng Chengxiu sat in the office, his gaze once again falling upon the photograph of Gui Chen Zhai.
After a long while, he said quietly, “Su Muchen, how long can you keep your secret hidden?”
◆◇◆◇◆
When Su Muchen received the call, he was rewrapping a batch of soap in waxed paper.
The person on the other end spoke politely—so politely that it was irritating.
“Hello, Mr. Su. This is the Asset Management Department under the Sheng Consortium. Regarding some of the debts you currently hold, we would like to meet with you in person to negotiate a more suitable debt restructuring plan.”
The movements of Su Muchen’s hands stopped.
Xiao sat beside him and looked up.
Su Muchen immediately turned on the speaker.
The person on the other end continued, “President Sheng is very concerned about your situation and also hopes to help you get through your current difficulties.”
Su Muchen almost laughed.
Sheng Chengxiu was concerned about him?
What was he concerned about?
Concerned about why he had not been forced to death yet?
He said lightly, “What if I don’t go?”
There was a pause on the other end before the tone remained polite.
“Mr. Su, this negotiation is beneficial to you. If you refuse, some of the creditors may subsequently restart collection efforts and legal proceedings.”
Su Muchen lowered his eyes, his heart sinking.
Sure enough, Sheng Chengxiu was not inviting him.
He was forcing him to go.
Xiao picked up his teacup and silently mouthed lazily:
—Don’t go.
Su Muchen glanced at him, but said to the person on the phone, “Time and place.”
Xiao’s brows lightly furrowed.
The person on the other end immediately said, “Three o’clock this afternoon, Sheng Consortium Building. Someone will be waiting for you on the first floor.”
Su Muchen said, “Got it.”
The call ended.
Xiao put down his teacup.
“Muchen.”
“I know what you want to say.” Su Muchen lowered his head and continued wrapping the soap. “But I have to go.”
Xiao said, “Sheng Chengxiu isn’t a good person.”
“I know.”
“He invited you over, so it definitely isn’t simply to discuss the debt.”
“I know that too.”
Su Muchen placed the wrapped soap into a box.
“But he’s already watching me. Rather than wait for him to make a move in secret, I might as well go and see what he actually wants.”
Xiao looked at him.
“You’re getting braver and braver.”
“It’s not that I’m brave.” Su Muchen said indifferently. “I’ve simply been forced into having no way out.”
“Then you can’t go completely unprepared.”
Xiao opened the drawer beneath the counter, took out a stun gun, and said with a smile, “It’s legal. Take it with you for self-defense.”
Su Muchen accepted it with a wry smile.
Back when he had interned at a hospital, he had seen doctors use defibrillators to save patients. Now he actually had to carry a stun gun for self-defense. It seemed somewhat ironic.
But Xiao was completely right.
Precautions still had to be taken.
From now on, he should stop being afraid of trouble and carry it with him every day.
◆◇◆◇◆
Three in the afternoon.
Su Muchen stood beneath the Sheng Consortium headquarters building—the Shaohua Center.
He looked up.
The entire building was so tall it seemed almost to pierce the clouds. Its glass curtain walls reflected the cold white light of the sky, like a monument to power suspended in the center of the city.
Gui Chen Zhai in Changning Lane was like a piece of old wood forgotten by the era.
This place, meanwhile, seemed like proof that the Sheng family had trampled the entire Yunjing beneath its feet.
Someone from the reception desk quickly came forward to greet him.
“Mr. Su, President Sheng is waiting for you.”
Su Muchen nodded and followed the person into the elevator.
The elevator rose steadily, the numbers constantly changing.
Beyond the glass walls, the streets of Yunjing City grew smaller and smaller. The crowds became tiny dots, while the traffic resembled flowing lines of light.
Su Muchen stood inside the elevator, his expression calm, his fingertips slightly cold.
It was not that he was not afraid.
It was simply that being afraid was useless.
The elevator doors opened.
The assistant led him down a long corridor and finally stopped before a dark wooden door.
“Mr. Su, please.”
The door opened.
Sheng Chengxiu sat inside the office.
Today, he wore a dark gray suit. His features were handsome, his expression cold, and his every movement carried the composure of someone who had occupied a position of power for a long time.
Seeing Su Muchen enter, he smiled slightly.
“Mr. Su, please sit.”
Su Muchen did not sit immediately. Instead, he swept his eyes across the office.
There were no unnecessary people, only Sheng Chengxiu and the assistant.
A stack of documents sat on the desk, with two cups of tea beside them.
A surveillance camera in the corner of the ceiling watched everything.
Su Muchen said, “President Sheng asked me here to discuss the debt?”
Sheng Chengxiu’s smile remained unchanged.
“Sit down and talk.”
Su Muchen looked at him for a moment before sitting opposite him.
Sheng Chengxiu pushed the documents over.
“You’ve repaid several payments recently.”
Su Muchen said, “I owe money, so I repay it. Is there a problem?”
“No.” Sheng Chengxiu said, “I’m just somewhat curious.”
Su Muchen looked at him.
Sheng Chengxiu’s gaze fell upon his face.
“Where did you get the money?”
Su Muchen calmly said, “Consignment sales of old items from the shop.”
Sheng Chengxiu laughed once.
“You already gave that answer last time.”
“Then why is President Sheng asking again?”
Sheng Chengxiu leaned back against his chair, his gaze turning slightly cold.
“Su Muchen, I’ve investigated Gui Chen Zhai’s accounts. That shop has been operating at a loss for many consecutive years, and there aren’t many genuinely valuable things in its inventory.”
Su Muchen said indifferently, “President Sheng certainly investigated thoroughly.”
“I always investigate thoroughly when it comes to something I want to buy.”
“Unfortunately, I’m not selling.”
Sheng Chengxiu looked at him.
The office was silent for several seconds.
Sheng Chengxiu suddenly said, “Do you know your current situation?”
Su Muchen said nothing.
Sheng Chengxiu slowed his tone.
“You’re still young, you’ve just graduated, and you should originally have had a normal life. Those debts your father left behind shouldn’t have been your responsibility in the first place.”
Su Muchen raised his eyes but did not respond.
Sheng Chengxiu continued, “As long as you hand over Gui Chen Zhai, I can take care of the remaining debts for you.”
“And then?”
“Then you can go to whatever hospital you want and do what you originally wanted to do. If necessary, I can also help recommend you for a position at the hospital you want to work at.”
Those words sounded far too tempting.
If this had been a few days ago, Su Muchen might genuinely have been tempted.
No…
Perhaps it was not temptation.
Perhaps he simply had no choice at all.
But now, things were different.
He knew there was a door inside Gui Chen Zhai.
He knew that behind the door was a Dasheng, and Xiao Yuan was currently heading toward the northern border while carrying an injury.
He knew those supplies were saving lives.
And he knew even more that what Sheng Chengxiu wanted was definitely not merely a dilapidated shop.
Su Muchen looked at him.
“President Sheng, do you actually believe what you’re saying yourself?”
Sheng Chengxiu’s eyes shifted slightly.
Su Muchen said, “If Gui Chen Zhai were really just an ordinary run-down shop, you wouldn’t be this persistent.”
Sheng Chengxiu’s smile slowly faded.
“People who are too smart tend to live difficult lives.”
“People who aren’t smart tend to get eaten by people like you until not even their bones remain.” Su Muchen said, “I’d rather have a slightly harder life.”
Sheng Chengxiu looked at him, and a trace of genuine interest finally surfaced in his eyes.
He suddenly stood up, walked around the desk, and came to Su Muchen’s side.
The distance was close enough to make one uncomfortable.
Su Muchen instinctively tensed his back.
Sheng Chengxiu lowered his head and looked at him.
“Su Muchen, do you know? You’re somewhat different from the information I found. According to the files, you’re rational, obedient, short of money, and have no backing.”
His voice lowered.
“But the current you looks as though you’ve suddenly gotten hold of some trump card. Even your eyes have changed.”
“President Sheng has quite an imagination.”
Su Muchen raised his eyes and noticed Sheng Chengxiu reaching out, as though he wanted to touch his face.
Su Muchen abruptly turned his head away and stood up.
“President Sheng, please show some restraint.”
Sheng Chengxiu’s hand stopped in midair.
After a moment, he laughed.
“You’re afraid?”
“Afraid.” Su Muchen admitted it very quickly. “Any normal person would be afraid of a conglomerate heir with excessive possessiveness who also likes getting handsy.”
Sheng Chengxiu’s smile stiffened. He had not expected him to speak so directly.
Su Muchen continued, “I came today because you used the debt proceedings to force me here. I didn’t come to play psychological games with you.”
The atmosphere in the office suddenly turned cold.
The assistant standing nearby went pale.
Sheng Chengxiu looked at Su Muchen, his eyes gradually darkening.
“You really think that with that small amount of money of unknown origin, you can protect Gui Chen Zhai?”
Su Muchen’s heart sank, but his expression did not change.
“The source of my money is clear. If President Sheng has doubts, you can proceed through legal channels.”
“You think I don’t dare?”
“You dare.” Su Muchen looked at him. “But you don’t want to make this matter too big and attract other jackals.”
Sheng Chengxiu narrowed his eyes.
Su Muchen said word by word, “You’re afraid more people will find out about Gui Chen Zhai.”
In that instant, the smile on Sheng Chengxiu’s face completely disappeared.
Su Muchen knew he had bet correctly.
The Sheng family knew that Gui Chen Zhai held a secret, but they might not know exactly what the secret was. More importantly, they did not want anyone else setting their sights on it.
Sheng Chengxiu stared at him for a long time, so long that the air throughout the entire office seemed to freeze.
Finally, he suddenly gave a low laugh.
“Good. Su Muchen, you really are full of surprises.”
Su Muchen did not respond.
Sheng Chengxiu said, “Since you refuse to sell, then we’ll take our time.”
He returned to his seat behind the desk.
“As for the debt restructuring plan, I’ll have someone send it to Gui Chen Zhai. You can take your time considering it.”
Su Muchen said, “There’s no need to send it. I won’t sign it.”
Sheng Chengxiu smiled. “Don’t speak so absolutely.”
Su Muchen stood up.
“Then wait until I change my mind. Wait until the end of time.”
With that, he turned and walked out.
When his hand grasped the doorknob, Sheng Chengxiu’s voice came from behind him.
“Su Muchen.”
Su Muchen stopped.
Sheng Chengxiu said indifferently, “The more interested you make me, the less I want to let go.”
Su Muchen did not turn around.
“President Sheng, I suggest you see a psychiatrist.”
With that, he pushed open the door and left.
The instant the door closed, the smile on Sheng Chengxiu’s face completely disappeared.
The assistant cautiously asked, “President Sheng, should we…”
Sheng Chengxiu raised a hand and interrupted him.
“Keep a close eye on him.”
“And Gui Chen Zhai.”
He looked toward the window.
“I want to see how long he can hold out. I, Sheng Chengxiu, have never failed to get something I want.”
◆◇◆◇◆
When Su Muchen returned to Gui Chen Zhai, the sky was already nearly dark.
He pushed open the door, and the copper bell rang with a tinkling sound.
There were no customers in the shop.
Xiao sat behind the counter, wiping his glasses.
Seeing him come in, he raised his eyes.
“Back?”
Su Muchen gave a hum.
Xiao looked at his complexion.
“Did Sheng Chengxiu touch you?”
Su Muchen’s footsteps paused slightly.
“No.”
“Wanted to?”
Su Muchen frowned in surprise. “How did you know?”
He suspected that Xiao had installed not only a tracker on him, but also a surveillance camera.
Xiao put his glasses back on. His smile was faint, but he did not answer directly.
Su Muchen still did not understand what sort of man he had provoked, which was why he had recklessly gone to the meeting today.
Sheng Chengxiu was not only arrogant and extremely possessive; Su Muchen’s repeated refusals and resistance had instead ignited the desire within him.
Sheng Chengxiu’s gaze toward Su Muchen had never been innocent in the first place. Su Muchen going there was practically a wild rabbit walking straight into a jackal’s mouth.
Su Muchen took off his coat and tossed it over the back of a chair.
Thinking back on what happened today, he felt somewhat shaken in retrospect. Only today had he clearly realized that what Sheng Chengxiu wanted might not merely be Gui Chen Zhai, but him as well.
He could not help pinching the bridge of his nose.
He considered his appearance ordinary, merely refined and scholarly, nothing particularly stunning.
Perhaps because he was accustomed to Xiao Yuan’s handsome, celebrity-like appearance and Xiao’s mysterious, beautiful-man aura, he felt that no one would take an interest in an ordinary person like him.
He had never imagined that he would actually be targeted by someone—and moreover, the heir of a major conglomerate.
He remembered that this heir already had a fiancée!
He shook away these distracting thoughts and continued speaking.
“He couldn’t trace the source of the money, so he’s getting anxious.”
Xiao said, “That isn’t a good thing.”
“I know.”
The more anxious Sheng Chengxiu became, the more it meant he would accelerate his actions.
Gui Chen Zhai had been temporarily protected, but Sheng Chengxiu would not stop.
Su Muchen rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.
“Has Xiao Yuan come?”
Xiao paused.
“Not yet.”
The moment the words fell, a soft sound came from deep in the corridor.
Click.
Su Muchen instinctively looked up.
But the white light only flashed for an instant before darkening again.
Xiao’s brows lifted slightly.
“Looks like His Highness is on the road. Opening the door isn’t very stable.”
Su Muchen’s heart tightened slightly.
“Could something have happened?”
“Not necessarily.” Xiao said, “The farther he is from a fixed doorway point, the more difficult it is to open the door. Once he finds a stable place to stop, it should get better.”
Su Muchen fell silent.
Xiao Yuan really had already left the capital.
◆◇◆◇◆
That night, the door of Gui Chen Zhai lit up for the second time.
This time, Su Muchen had just gone to the rear courtyard to count the remaining supplies.
Only Xiao was in the front hall.
White light seeped out from deep within the corridor.
Xiao Yuan stepped out from the light.
He was still dressed in black robes, with a dark-colored cloak over them. His complexion looked more exhausted than when he had been in the capital.
As usual, he held a box of gold in his hand.
He swept his eyes across the shop.
“Where is Su Muchen?”
Xiao sat behind the counter and smiled.
“Went out.”
Xiao Yuan’s eyes darkened.
“Where?”
“He just came back. He’s in the rear courtyard now.” Xiao drawled lazily, “Your Highness, with that tone, you sound like you’re checking up on him.”
Xiao Yuan ignored his teasing and placed the gold on the counter.
He raised his eyes and stared at Xiao, not overlooking the words Xiao had just mentioned—just came back.
“Where did he go today?”
Xiao raised his eyes to look at him.
The two stared at each other for a moment.
Xiao’s smile faded slightly as he slowly said, “Sheng Consortium headquarters.”
Xiao Yuan’s eyes suddenly turned cold.
“To meet Sheng Chengxiu?”
“Mm.”
The atmosphere in the shop instantly sank.
Xiao Yuan said, “Why did he go?”
There was a trace of anger hidden in his tone, one that even he himself had not noticed.
Xiao said, “He was invited to discuss the debt.”
“Invited?”
Xiao Yuan sneered.
When the word came from his mouth, it practically carried the edge of a blade.
Xiao looked at him, his tone leisurely.
“Your Highness wants to kill someone?”
Xiao Yuan said indifferently, “If necessary.”
Xiao laughed. “Muchen won’t let you kill.”
“Then I won’t kill him in front of Muchen.”
Xiao: “……”
This man was honestly terrifyingly straightforward.
Xiao Yuan looked at him.
“How much do you know about the Sheng family?”
Xiao leisurely put down his teacup.
“More than Your Highness imagines.”
“And how much do you know about Gui Chen Zhai?”
“Also more than Your Highness imagines.”
The air between the two gradually tightened.
Xiao Yuan’s gaze was deep.
He had suspected Xiao for a long time.
This man knew far too much and could do far too much. He was definitely not an ordinary person.
This man knew about the ancient door, could handle gold from another world, and could shield Su Muchen from many troubles.
More importantly, after Xia Lanshi had been attacked, he had once told him that the person who saved him was a man dressed in black. There had been a unique exotic fragrance on him, unlike any type of incense in Dasheng, and not belonging to any foreign tribe beyond the border.
Coincidentally, Xiao also carried a unique exotic fragrance, different from Su Muchen’s clean scent that carried a faint trace of disinfectant.
This man who claimed to be an ordinary shop clerk was definitely not ordinary.
Xiao Yuan took one step forward.
“That night, it was you who saved Xia Lansi.”
It was not a question, but a statement.
Xiao smiled. “Do you have evidence?”
“The wound. The strange fragrance.”
“That doesn’t count as evidence.”
“You have no inner power, yet you know how to kill. The strange fragrance is used to eliminate the smell of blood.”
Xiao Yuan’s voice was indifferent, but his gaze fixed on Xiao was stern.
There was more than just the strange fragrance on Xiao. There was also a faint smell of blood, a blood scent similar to his own. It was the aura of the same kind—someone accustomed to killing.
The smile on Xiao’s face finally paused slightly.
After a moment, he slowly stood up.
“Your Highness, are you interrogating me?”
Xiao Yuan said, “Testing you.”
The instant his words fell, Xiao Yuan had already moved.
He did not draw his sword. He merely raised his hand and grabbed toward Xiao’s shoulder.
His movement was extremely fast.
If it had been an ordinary person, they would not have been able to react at all.
Yet Xiao stepped back.
It was not the graceful evasion of a martial arts expert.
Rather, he used an extremely small and extremely precise sideways movement of his body to avoid Xiao Yuan’s hand.
At the same time, the small folding knife in his hand had somehow already slipped out, its back pressed against the side of Xiao Yuan’s wrist.
Xiao Yuan’s eyes turned slightly cold.
In the next instant, he changed his move with his reverse hand, his knuckles striking toward Xiao’s wrist bone.
Xiao withdrew the knife, twisted his wrist, and retreated.
His movements were so clean that he did not look like a martial artist of Dasheng.
There was no inner power.
There were no named techniques.
Yet every move was aimed directly at the joints, tendons, and vital points.
The two exchanged more than ten moves in the front hall within just a few breaths.
The teacup on the table trembled.
The sachets on the shelves swayed lightly.
Xiao Yuan was injured and did not use his full strength.
Xiao was clearly holding back as well.
But even so, within a short time, both of them had determined how dangerous the other was.
Xiao Yuan finally drew his sword half an inch, and a flash of cold light appeared.
Xiao’s eyes changed slightly, and he reversed his grip on the folding knife against his palm.
The atmosphere instantly became extremely dangerous.
Just then, Su Muchen’s voice came from the back courtyard.
“—Xiao, how much oral rehydration salt is left?”
The two stopped at the same time.
Su Muchen walked in carrying a box of things.
Then he saw one person with a sword drawn half an inch and the other holding a folding knife.
The shelf was slightly crooked.
One teacup had fallen over.
There was still a trace of killing intent lingering in the air.
Su Muchen stood where he was and was silent for three seconds.
“What are you doing?”
Xiao immediately put away his knife, smiling gently.
“Exchanging pointers.”
Xiao Yuan sheathed his sword, his expression cold.
“Testing each other.”
Su Muchen looked at Xiao Yuan.
Then he looked at Xiao.
Finally, he put the box heavily on the counter.
“Fine.”
He gave a cold laugh.
“I was only in the back courtyard for three minutes, and you two were fighting in my shop?”
Xiao coughed lightly. “We didn’t break anything.”
Su Muchen pointed at the crooked shelf.
“What is that?”
Xiao fell silent.
Xiao Yuan said, “I’ll pay for it.”
Su Muchen looked at him.
“You’re very rich, are you?”
Xiao Yuan nodded. “Adequately.”
Su Muchen: “……”
He nearly choked on his breath.
Xiao turned his head away, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Su Muchen said coldly, “What are you laughing at? You pay too.”
Xiao immediately became serious. “Okay.”
Su Muchen took a deep breath, feeling that sooner or later, this group of people was really going to send him off early.
“Xiao Yuan.”
“Mm.”
“Your wound didn’t split open, did it?”
Xiao Yuan was silent for a moment.
Su Muchen’s gaze immediately turned cold.
“Sit down.”
Xiao Yuan: “It didn’t split.”
“Sit down.”
In the end, Xiao Yuan still sat down.
Xiao stood beside them, struggling desperately not to laugh.
Su Muchen glared at him.
“You sit down too.”
Xiao was stunned. “Me?”
“You just fought, right?” Su Muchen said coldly. “Health check.”
Xiao: “……”
Thus, a moment later.
The dignified Prince Su of Dasheng sat on the left.
The mysterious shop assistant sat on the right.
Both of them were having their injuries examined by Su Muchen with a cold expression.
The front hall was so quiet that only the sound of bandages being torn open could be heard.
As Su Muchen examined them, he said coldly,
“New rules for Guichen Studio.”
“First, no fighting in the shop.”
“Second, if you have a grudge, settle it outside.”
“Third, report it before settling it.”
Xiao could not help saying, “Isn’t the third rule a little strange?”
Su Muchen looked at him. “Any objections?”
Xiao immediately said, “No.”
Xiao Yuan looked at Su Muchen.
At some point, a very faint smile surfaced in his eyes.
In Dasheng, he had seen too many people establish rules.
The Emperor established rules to control his ministers.
The Crown Prince established rules to eliminate those who opposed him.
The military established rules to constrain life and death.
But when Su Muchen established rules, it always seemed as though he was trying to forcibly drag a group of people who refused to live properly back from the brink.
Crude. Direct.
Yet warm enough to leave people at a loss.
Only after Su Muchen confirmed that Xiao Yuan’s wound truly had not reopened did his expression improve slightly.
“I’ll count it as you showing restraint this time.”
Xiao Yuan said, “I controlled my strength.”
Su Muchen said coldly, “And you’re quite proud of that?”
Xiao Yuan fell silent.
Xiao wanted to laugh again.
But when he saw Su Muchen turn his gaze toward him, he forcibly held it back.
After finishing the examination, Su Muchen finally began asking about the important matters.
“Where are you now?”
Xiao Yuan said, “Forty li from the capital. Temporarily staying at an inn.”
Su Muchen frowned. “Can the door still be opened?”
“Yes,” Xiao Yuan said, “but it takes more effort than when I was at the palace.”
Xiao added, “The farther away from the fixed door point, the greater the consumption. If Your Highness reaches the northern border, he may need to find a stable location to use as a temporary door point.”
Su Muchen immediately took note.
“Conditions for a temporary door point at the northern border?”
Xiao said, “Quiet, enclosed, with few people coming and going. Preferably thick walls, little metal interference, and stable ground.”
Su Muchen raised his head and looked at him.
“Why are you only saying this now?”
Xiao smiled. “You only asked now.”
Su Muchen: “……”
Xiao Yuan said, “I’ll have Xia Lansi arrange it.”
Su Muchen immediately looked at him.
“Xia Lansi is still on the road. Stop making a patient do things.”
Xiao Yuan: “……”
“Have Chi Banyue arrange it.”
Xiao Yuan nodded. “Okay.”
Only then was Su Muchen somewhat satisfied.
He pushed over the cart he had prepared that evening.
“This is today’s shipment. Mainly oral rehydration salts, soap, water filters, and medicine for wounds. Use them on the road first. Once you reach the northern border, distribute them according to the situation.”
Xiao Yuan pushed over the box of gold.
“Today’s.”
Su Muchen glanced at it.
“I know. I’ll record it in the accounts.”
Xiao Yuan said, “As for the Sheng Corporation…”
Su Muchen’s movements stopped, his expression somewhat stiff.
Xiao, who had originally been leisurely drinking tea nearby, also stopped drinking.
Su Muchen raised his head. “Xiao told you?”
Xiao Yuan looked at Xiao.
Xiao said innocently, “I only said that you went to the Sheng Corporation.”
Su Muchen closed his eyes briefly. He clearly did not want to discuss this matter. It was not only complicated, but also mixed with some things difficult to speak about.
Xiao Yuan sensed that something was wrong, and his voice lowered.
“Did he make things difficult for you?”
“No.”
Xiao Yuan stared into his eyes, as if scrutinizing him.
Su Muchen added, “It was only a conversation.”
“He touched you?”
Su Muchen froze, looking at Xiao Yuan in astonishment.
He had never even met Sheng Chengxiu. Why had he made such an association?
Xiao Yuan’s gaze instantly became even colder.
“He wanted to touch you.”
This was not a question.
Su Muchen was silent for a moment, somewhat awkward.
“No, no. He didn’t touch me.”
The atmosphere in the shop suddenly became cold as ice.
Xiao Yuan said nothing.
But Su Muchen could almost see those familiar words in his eyes.
—Do you need me to kill him?
Su Muchen immediately said, “No!”
Xiao Yuan looked at him, killing intent still lingering in his eyes.
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“Your eyes said it.”
Xiao Yuan fell silent.
Su Muchen walked over to him, his tone very serious.
“Xiao Yuan, Sheng Chengxiu is a modern person. Matters on this side have to be handled using the methods of this side.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t,” Su Muchen said. “You’re on your way to the northern border now. Don’t get distracted, and even less should you do something reckless because of matters on my side.”
Xiao Yuan looked at him.
“What if he hurts you?”
Su Muchen paused.
Xiao Yuan’s voice was very low.
“If he really hurts you, I can’t act either?”
The shop fell silent.
Su Muchen had originally wanted to say no.
But when he met Xiao Yuan’s eyes, he suddenly could not say it.
That was not merely killing intent.
It was more like an extremely clumsy, yet overwhelmingly strong protection that he could not suppress.
Su Muchen’s heart tightened slightly.
In the end, he could only avert his gaze.
“We’ll talk about it when that happens.”
Xiao Yuan looked at him.
“Okay.”
But this “okay” clearly did not mean he had completely listened.
Su Muchen pressed his brow with a headache.
Now, he not only had to guard against Sheng Chengxiu, he also had to guard against Xiao Yuan committing murder across time and space.
How had his life ended up like this?
◆◇◆◇◆
The delivery that night went smoothly.
The entire cart passed through, and the door’s reaction was steadier than the previous times.
After Su Muchen recorded the data, he suddenly remembered something.
“Xiao Yuan.”
Xiao Yuan turned around.
“If there’s something going on with the Sheng Corporation while you’re on the road, I may not necessarily be in the shop every day,” Su Muchen said. “If you come and see that I’m not here, don’t fight with Xiao.”
Xiao Yuan fell silent.
Xiao said with a laugh, “Did you hear that, Your Highness?”
Su Muchen said coldly, “You don’t provoke him either.”
Xiao shrugged, looking completely innocent.
There was a trace of a smile in Xiao Yuan’s eyes.
Although he had not yet let go of his wariness toward Xiao, he could not remain by Su Muchen’s side. The only person capable of protecting Su Muchen was Xiao. He acknowledged Xiao’s strength.
“Then I’ll have to trouble you to take good care of Muchen.”
Xiao Yuan stared at Xiao. This was not merely a reminder, but also contained a warning. If anything happened to Su Muchen, he would not get away either.
This was the first time Su Muchen had heard him address him by his name like this, and he was somewhat surprised.
When had he agreed to that?
But he suddenly felt the suppressed irritation in his heart fade a little, even though there were still plenty of troubles.
Debts, the Sheng Corporation, the northern border, the epidemic, the Crown Prince, and a group of people who refused to follow medical instructions.
At least at this moment, Xiao Yuan could still stand here.
He could bring a box of gold.
He could be scolded by him.
He could even sit down and let him examine his wounds.
That probably already counted as pretty good.
Xiao Yuan pushed the goods toward the white light, but suddenly stopped.
“Muchen.”
“Mm?”
“If Sheng Chengxiu looks for you again, tell me.”
Su Muchen was just about to refuse.
But Xiao Yuan spoke first.
“I won’t kill him.”
Su Muchen looked at him suspiciously.
Xiao Yuan added, “For now.”
Su Muchen: “……”
He knew it.
“See you tomorrow.”
The white light swallowed his figure.
After the door closed, Guichen Studio became quiet once again.
Su Muchen stood where he was. Only after a long while did he mutter,
“Who said I’d see you tomorrow!”
Xiao leaned against the counter, smiling meaningfully.
“Muchen, why are your ears red?”
Su Muchen turned his head and looked at him.
“Xiao.”
“Mm?”
“There’s no dinner for you tonight.”
Xiao: “……”
He sighed.
The owner of this shop was truly becoming harder and harder to coax.