Chapter 144 - 101: Publicly Thrashing a Green Tea

Chapter 144: Chapter 101: Publicly Thrashing a Green Tea

"So has your brother proposed yet?" Jiang Mu asked.

"Not yet."

Zhang Xiaokui shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "The girl hasn’t given him a straight answer. She’s just been vague."

"No straight answer?"

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow, half-joking. "Is your brother too stingy? Didn’t he treat her to a nice meal?"

"How is that possible!"

Zhang Xiaokui complained bitterly,

"Forget treating her to meals, he’s already given her a mountain of gifts! My salary is almost completely gone because of it!

One day, the girl says she likes a bracelet from a certain shop, and my brother goes and buys it. The next day, she says a particular brand of rouge and powder is good, and my brother goes and buys that too.

The day after, she mentions that a certain fabric would make for a beautiful dress, and my brother rushes off to have it tailored...

If this keeps up, I won’t even have money for food next month. I’ll have to take on some side jobs."

Jiang Mu’s brow gradually furrowed.

"So what you’re saying is, the girl accepts all the gifts without fail, but she just won’t give your brother a straight answer on whether she’ll marry him or not, right?"

"Exactly!"

Zhang Xiaokui nodded furiously.

’Damn it!’

’Daxie is being completely strung along!’

Jiang Mu was left speechless.

Zhang Daxie always seemed like such a steady, shrewd man. How did he turn into such a sucker when it came to a woman?

’Is this the legendary ’childhood sweetheart filter’ at work?’

Just then, the closed door opened with a CREAK.

Zhang Daxie walked out.

His entire presence was revitalized, his aura focused and dense. He had clearly broken through successfully.

"Brother!"

Zhang Xiaokui shouted in delight and rushed over. "You succeeded?"

Zhang Daxie gave a simple, honest smile and nodded forcefully. His gaze shifted to Jiang Mu, his expression filled with emotion. He strode forward and fell to his knees with a THUD.

"Sir! My successful breakthrough this time is all thanks to the resources you granted me. Without your guidance, I would never have reached this point! I will never forget this immense kindness for the rest of my life!"

His gratitude came from the bottom of his heart.

Without Jiang Mu, he might never have even touched the threshold of the Fourth Realm in his entire life.

Jiang Mu smiled and helped him up.

"Get up. We’re all brothers here, no need for formalities. This is also the result of your own hard work."

After a pause, he added, "By the way, how did you know I broke through to the Fourth Realm a step ahead of you?"

Zhang Daxie: "..."

Seeing Zhang Daxie’s stunned expression, Jiang Mu felt a sense of satisfaction, his daily quota for showing off now complete.

He waved his hand grandly and said with magnanimity,

"Since we’ve both broken through, this calls for a double celebration. Tonight, it’s my treat. We’ll go have a great meal. We’ll call up Xu Fu and Yan Fenghuo, too. Let’s all liven things up."

"As you arrange, Sir," Zhang Daxie replied, his feelings complicated.

"Oh, right."

As they were about to leave, Jiang Mu suddenly stopped and looked back. "Bring along that childhood sweetheart you’ve been chasing. I’ll help you check her out."

Zhang Daxie paused, a bit embarrassed, but still nodded. "Yes, Sir."

...

News of Jiang Mu’s breakthrough spread quickly.

Upon learning that Jiang Mu had broken through yet again, the members of the Demon-slaying Bureau had become accustomed to the cycle, moving from shock to numbness.

Ran Qingshan was even more speechless when he heard the news.

’Others go through a thousand hardships to break through, so how is it as easy as eating and drinking for you?’

’Could this kid have the legendary ’Fortune Dao Body’?’

「That evening.」

Jiang Mu, Xu Fu, Yan Fenghuo, and a few trusted subordinates from their respective halls went to a restaurant together.

"Where’s that childhood sweetheart of yours?"

Jiang Mu scanned the group but didn’t see Zhang Daxie with a girl. "What’s the matter?" he asked, puzzled. "Did she think we’re too boorish and was too scared to come?"

Zhang Daxie scratched his head awkwardly and said with a wry smile,

"She caught a cold and isn’t feeling well. She’s at home recovering, so it wasn’t convenient for her to come."

"Oh, is that so."

Jiang Mu narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

"Let me ask you this, then. Besides the times you’re buying her gifts, when you just ask her to meet up, does she come?"

Zhang Daxie froze at the question, scratching his head as he tried to recall.

"Alright, I get it."

Jiang Mu waved his hand. "Let’s just drink for now. Don’t think about it. I’ll talk to you about it in detail tomorrow."

Zhang Daxie was completely baffled, but he didn’t dare ask any more questions.

Perhaps it was due to Jiang Mu’s personal charisma, but the Demon Slayer Envoys from different halls, who normally had a competitive relationship, all set aside their differences at the dinner table. They toasted one another, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Even Yan Fenghuo, who was always stone-faced and rarely smiled, had a constant grin on his face.

It made those who knew him click their tongues in amazement.

’Indeed.’

’It takes an even more ruthless man to make a ruthless man submit willingly.’

After three rounds of drinks,

the group, reeking of alcohol, staggered out of the restaurant.

By now, the night was deep. A bright moon hung high in the sky, its clear light showering down, draping the gradually quieting streets and alleys in a hazy silver veil.

Xu Fu, perhaps discouraged by the speed of Jiang Mu’s breakthrough or simply drunk, had barely taken a few steps from the restaurant when he started wailing a vulgar little tune he must have heard somewhere.

The lyrics were quite explicit.

The others, caught up in the mood, slung their arms around each other’s shoulders and began to roar along, their voices shaking the long street.

Passersby shot them sideways glances and gave them a wide berth.

After a while of this rowdiness, Xu Fu suddenly waved his arm and proposed, "Let’s go, brothers! To the pleasure houses to listen to some music! My treat!"

"Yeah!"

"Let’s go, let’s go!"

The crowd roared in agreement, their spirits high.

Jiang Mu was a bit hesitant at first.

’After all, I’ve resolved to turn over a new leaf.’

But on second thought, ’just going to listen to some tunes and cultivate my sensibilities, as long as I don’t do anything... for real, it wouldn’t be going against my resolution.’ So, not wanting to be a spoilsport, he agreed.

Zhang Daxie hadn’t wanted to go, but his younger brother, Zhang Xiaokui, pulled and dragged him until he was forced to join the group.

The noisy group of men arrived at Yanchun Tower.