Chapter 362- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (01)

After completing the mission this time, Mu Jin didn’t stay long in the system space. He noticed that the luck accumulated from the previous world had been entirely transferred to Qiong Qi after Qian Chen accepted the small world.

Now, the missing parts of Qiong Qi’s divine soul had been reduced to almost nothing. It was evident that Qian Chen had done this to ensure their unwavering loyalty in helping him.

Even so, Mu Jin felt grateful because he could sense that Qian Chen had used his own abilities to aid Qiong Qi. If Qiong Qi’s divine soul could continue to be fortified with Qian Chen’s help, there was no doubt that once they returned to their original world, Qiong Qi’s power would ascend to even greater heights.

When Mu Jin opened his eyes again, he felt momentarily blinded by the dazzling sight before him. Everything was shimmering with a golden glow, and he couldn’t help but wonder about the original owner’s sense of taste and style.

Additionally, a wave of drowsiness washed over him, making Mu Jin want to fall back into slumber. It left him curious about how lazy the original owner must have been to let such lethargy seep into him.

However, Mu Jin forced himself to stay awake and observed his surroundings. He quickly realized that he was in an enormous, luxurious palace filled with piles of gold and jewels everywhere.

So, in this life, he was immensely wealthy?

Yet, instead of resting on a soft, plush bed, he was lying on a wide platform made entirely of solid gold. Strangely, despite such an unconventional resting spot, he didn’t find it uncomfortable.

But when Mu Jin lowered his gaze, he caught sight of his enormous claws and the smooth scales covering his body. His eyelids twitched violently as a thought crossed his mind—had he become a monster in this life?

He quickly instructed 003 to transmit the storyline of this world and the original owner’s memories into his mind.

After receiving the information from 003, Mu Jin finally understood that, in this life, he had become a dragon—a mighty abyssal dragon that commanded fear and respect in its domain.

The people outside didn’t know the dragon’s true name; they only knew of its existence. This dragon had lived for tens of thousands of years. After the original owner annihilated the demon army in the last battle, it retreated to the abyss and had been in deep slumber ever since.

Thus, most people referred to the dragon as the Abyssal Lord when speaking of it.

The world Mu Jin now found himself in was a Western fantasy world of magic.

In this world, the protagonist was originally a mercenary. However, he tragically died during a mission and then transmigrated into this magical world, becoming Gardner, a knight’s squire in the Church of Light. Along with this new life, a system also appeared in his mind.

The original Gardner was an obscure character—a mere orphan taken in by the church. Due to his diligence, the church granted him the position of a knight’s squire.

However, now that the protagonist’s soul had taken over, especially with the system’s support, he wasn’t willing to remain mediocre. With the system’s help, he accessed the original Gardner’s memories and began to understand the world.

This world had a strict hierarchy, and commoners had few privileges. Nonetheless, the protagonist was fortunate. Shortly after his arrival, he had the chance to participate in the one-time magical aptitude test available to commoners when they came of age.

He went to the church, where, to everyone’s astonishment, he awakened the ability to wield all elements of magic. Moreover, his aptitude in each type of magic was extraordinary, leaving everyone in awe. Gardner was thus formally knighted, quickly rising to fame as a prodigy.

The subsequent storyline followed Gardner as he leveraged his talent, hard work, and the system’s assistance to defeat enemies, level up, and win the hearts of countless admirers along the way.

In the original storyline, Gardner was exceptional—full of a strong sense of justice, intelligent, brave, and constantly helping others. He grew at an astonishing speed, surpassing what most could ever achieve.

During his adventures, he defeated ogres, killed the treants that plagued the forests, rescued the orc king, and inherited the goblin seal, becoming the master of all goblins. He even won the favor of the human princess, Bernice, and the elven queen, surrounding himself with countless admirers.

However, where there is a righteous protagonist, there must also be an antagonist. In this world, the ultimate villain was a dragon.

This dragon was infamous, having supposedly slumbered in the abyss for tens of thousands of years. But just as people began to forget about the dormant beast, the dragon awoke.

Upon awakening, the dragon made its first demand to the human world: to marry the most noble, pure, and kind person in the human kingdom. To everyone, it was clear that only Princess Bernice met these criteria.

Bernice’s brother, Norris, unwilling to let his sister be forced into marrying the dragon, went to plead with the abyssal dragon but was mercilessly killed.

The king, left with no other options, agreed to marry the princess to the dragon. But how could the protagonist bear to see the woman he loved wed such a brutal monster?

With the help of the orcs, the elven queen, and the most advanced weapons crafted by the goblins, Gardner ventured into the abyss alone. There, he confronted the dragon and ultimately slew it.

Gardner not only gained the dragon’s treasure but also destroyed the entire abyss in the process.

Having killed the dragon, Gardner became a celebrated hero. Princess Bernice later married him, and before long, she succeeded her ailing father to become the new queen.

Who would have thought that not long after this matter concluded, the continent would be engulfed in demonic energy, and the demon army would suddenly rise in power, plunging the land into endless war and chaos?

By this time, the protagonist, having absorbed the dragon’s magic, had become incredibly strong. He easily killed the Demon King and even subdued the demon army, ultimately becoming the undisputed leader of the entire world and reaching the pinnacle of his life.

Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel speechless at the revelation that he was now a boss-level character in this life. Was this the benefit of collaborating with Qian Chen—being cast as such a powerful role?

Still, given how strong this character was, Mu Jin was rather satisfied, even if he was a villain.

Mu Jin understood that, although the original storyline portrayed the protagonist as a hero, with his omniscient perspective, things weren’t as simple as they seemed.

It was true that the dragon’s attempt to forcefully marry the princess was wrong. However, much of the dragon’s infamy over the years was the result of exaggeration and rumor.

The dragon’s fearsome reputation arose because it had once slaughtered and intimidated the demon army into submission. Its millennia of slumber in the abyss weren’t out of indolence but rather to suppress the demonic energy within the abyss.

In truth, the dragon had been continuously depleting its own power to protect the world. By killing the dragon and destroying the abyss, Gardner inadvertently released the demonic energy, which could no longer be contained, leading to its spread and the resurrection of the demon army.

The storyline later glossed over how Gardner easily killed the Demon King and subdued the demon army. However, Mu Jin realized this ease was due to Gardner’s true power: his awakening wasn’t of all-element magic as everyone believed.

The so-called all-element magic was merely a façade created by the system. Gardner’s true awakening was to dark magic.

After killing the dragon, Gardner further absorbed its energy, becoming the most powerful dark magician. The Demon King wasn’t killed by him, and both the Demon King and the demon army were easily controlled by Gardner. Using the demon army, he unified the entire continent.

However, what wasn’t mentioned at the end of the story was that, despite all of Gardner’s cunning plans, this wasn’t his ultimate fate.

Though he was filled with pride, he still didn’t get the last laugh. After letting his guard down, he was unexpectedly killed by his own bedfellow—the Elven Queen, who had always held him in high esteem.

The Elven Queen had never loved him; in fact, she had always despised Gardner. For years, the elves and the treants had been close allies, coexisting in the forest and jointly protecting their homeland.

But Gardner, in his pursuit of the treant treasure, used a fabricated excuse to exterminate the entire treant race. The elves were no match for Gardner’s power, and the Elven Queen had no choice but to feign cooperation while secretly planning revenge for the treants.

Unfortunately, Gardner had too many powerful allies, and his own strength was formidable. The Elven Queen never found the right opportunity. Then, after the dragon was killed, the demon army ravaged the land, even destroying the forest and killing countless elves.

As she watched her people perish one by one, Gardner continued to make excuses and refused to help.

In the end, the Mother Tree of the elves was destroyed, and the entire elven race was nearly wiped out, leaving only a few beautiful elves who were kept by Gardner as playthings.

At this point, the Elven Queen had no other hope. In a desperate gamble, she poisoned Gardner when he thought no one could defeat him and, ultimately, killed him with a dagger.

However, after Gardner’s death, the demon army once again fell out of control, and the demonic energy spread throughout the world. War broke out again, and soon, the entire world was destroyed.

After finishing the entire storyline, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholy. Although the story was completely different from the one in the previous world, the endings were surprisingly similar. The small world was once again destroyed by the relentless flames of war.

It seemed that the goal of Qian Sha was still the same. However, Mu Jin wasn’t sure whether the other party would reveal their true nature in this world.

But now that he had taken the role of the final boss in this world, Mu Jin found himself a bit confused about who his lover actually was.

After all, in every small world he had been in, his lover had always been a prominent villain, the kind that made the protagonist suffer, only to eventually meet an unfortunate end.

However, in this world, he was the most powerful boss, so he had no choice but to ask 003 for help.

After hearing from 003 about the identity of his lover, Mu Jin had the urge to cover his face. His lover had actually become a prince.

And it turned out that this prince, Norris, was the same person who, in the original storyline, had gone to the abyss to try to persuade the dragon and stop the marriage between the dragon and the princess, only to be effortlessly killed by the dragon.

Mu Jin couldn’t believe that in this life, his man had become a mere cannon fodder. What made it worse was that in the original storyline, he had been killed by Mu Jin’s own character.

Just thinking about this made Mu Jin feel a bit guilty, but he quickly regained his composure. After all, that was part of the original storyline. Now that the role had shifted to him, such a thing would never happen.

Besides, how could he possibly go after the princess? He had absolutely no interest in her.

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Chapter 361- Fierce and Ominous vs. Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (27) END

However, Wu Po, standing nearby, had heard every word Mu Xuan said loud and clear—talk of an engagement and an elopement. Could it be that if nothing had gone wrong back then, Mu Jin would really have married this woman?

The thought that Mu Jin had once been engaged to someone else filled Wu Po with jealousy. He glared fiercely at Mu Xuan, his expression so menacing that it seemed he wanted to kill her on the spot.

Noticing the strange looks from those around her, coupled with Wu Po’s murderous gaze, Mu Xuan instinctively shrank back, not daring to utter another word.

With that, everyone’s attention shifted back to the group from the Gao Shan Tribe.

The Pingshan Tribe leader, observing the defeated and dejected captives, turned respectfully to Mu Jin and asked, “What do you plan to do with them?”

Mu Jin lowered his gaze to the sweat-drenched, yet still defiant, Lang Wei. A faint smirk played on his lips as he addressed the group:

“We’re already close to the Gaoshan Tribe’s territory, aren’t we? These individuals here are among their tribe’s most outstanding representatives sent to the gathering.”

“Yet, they kidnapped the young clan leader of the Pingyuan Tribe, drugged the members of the Pingshan Tribe, and nearly caused all of you harm. It’s only fair for the Gaoshan Tribe to know what their people have done. If they want to ransom them back, they’ll have to pay a price.”

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, the surrounding crowd finally understood his true intention behind setting up this elaborate trap. Their faces broke into smiles, appreciating the cleverness of his plan.

The Gaoshan Tribe had sent a sizeable group to this year’s gathering, and, as was tradition, each tribe selected its most promising young members to attend. However, among the Gaoshan contingent, there was one youth whose abilities were subpar.

That youth happened to be the Gaoshan Tribe leader’s child. Physically weak from a young age, he lacked the capability to succeed as the next clan leader, which had allowed others to exploit the situation.

The Gaoshan Tribe’s leader, upon receiving the news, hurriedly arrived with his people, visibly anxious. After a round of bargaining, Mu Jin managed to extract a considerable amount of valuable items from the Gaoshan Tribe.

For years, the Gaoshan Tribe had relied on their iron weapons to raid and plunder weaker tribes. Mu Jin decided it was time they tasted their own medicine. He not only confiscated all their iron weapons but also uncovered the location of their iron mines.

Mu Jin then arranged for members of the Pingshan and Pingyuan Tribes to take control of the iron mines, ensuring that even if the Gaoshan Tribe produced iron weapons in the future, they would no longer be able to use them to oppress other tribes.

Once the agreement was finalized, Mu Jin kept his promise and allowed the Gaoshan Tribe to reclaim their people.

As for the female lead, Mu Jin knew she no longer posed any significant threat and had no intention of keeping her around to annoy him.

Neither the Pingyuan Tribe, which she had initially fled, nor the Pingshan Tribe, which later took her in, wanted anything to do with her now. Both regarded her as a plague to be avoided. Left with no other choice, Mu Xuan had to return to the Gaoshan Tribe with Lang Wei.

However, life didn’t improve for Mu Xuan after her return. Lang Wei, who had spent years indulging in a hedonistic lifestyle with countless lovers, had been rendered impotent by Wu Po’s devastating kick.

Whenever Lang Wei thought about how all his misfortune stemmed from Mu Xuan’s ill-conceived schemes, which led him to provoke such a formidable enemy, he vented his anger entirely on her.

Though Lang Wei had lost his ability as a man, he found countless other ways to torment Mu Xuan. His cruelty knew no bounds—he even disfigured her face and took pleasure in abusing her daily.

After enduring Lang Wei’s relentless torment, Mu Xuan finally reached her breaking point. Seizing an opportunity when Lang Wei let his guard down, she poisoned him to death, finally freeing herself from his abuse.

However, by this time, the female lead’s face had been disfigured, her youth had faded, and she lacked any useful skills. She was left with no choice but to live a poverty-stricken life in the communal caves of the Gaoshan Tribe.

Of course, that is a story for another time.

At this moment, Mu Jin, having successfully dealt with the Gaoshan Tribe, was brimming with joy as he returned to the Pingshan Tribe with Wu Po. Together, they prepared to hold their bonding ceremony.

The decision to hold the ceremony in the Pingshan Tribe was deliberate on Mu Jin’s part. Wu Po had grown up there, and Mu Jin wanted Wu Po to stand proud before everyone, letting the tribe know that Wu Po was the one most favored by the gods.

On the day of their ceremony, Wu Po’s father and several members of the Pingyuan Tribe attended to celebrate. The ceremony was officiated by one of the Pingyuan Tribe members rather than the Pingshan Tribe’s elder priest.

Although the elder priest wore an expression of deep regret, clearly eager to take part in hosting the ceremony, Mu Jin was adamant in his decision.

After all, even if the priest’s past actions were unintentional, his words had once caused Wu Po to endure years of ostracization. Mu Jin was not one to easily forgive or forget. If officiating this ceremony was such a prestigious honor to the elder priest, Mu Jin was determined to deny him that privilege.

Instead, a skilled orator and apprentice priest from the Pingyuan Tribe took on the role, perfectly suited for the task.

On the day of Mu Jin and Wu Po’s bonding ceremony, they stood together on a specially constructed platform in the tribe. Before the gathered crowd, they exchanged cups of floral nectar and then shared a sweet kiss, sealing their union.

After drinking the floral nectar, Wu Po felt that Mu Jin’s lips were even sweeter than usual. Today, he had finally fulfilled his wish of holding a bonding ceremony with his partner under the witness of the gods. From this moment forward, he no longer needed to worry about being separated from Mu Jin.

But then, something extraordinary happened. The flowers arranged around the ceremonial platform suddenly began to grow wildly. Before long, the plants climbed up the platform, transforming it into a breathtaking sea of blossoms.

The onlookers, witnessing this divine miracle, couldn’t help but fall to their knees around the platform. They prayed with fervent devotion, proclaiming this as a blessing from the gods.

Seeing this, Mu Jin did not stop them. Instead, he turned to Wu Po with a tender gaze, pulling him into a gentle embrace. Whispering softly into Wu Po’s ear, he said, “Wu Po, I’ve always told you that you are the one favored by the gods. Believe me, we will always be together, and our life will be filled with happiness.”

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, Wu Po nodded firmly. He believed wholeheartedly that his future would be spent alongside this person, and their life together would be filled with endless joy and sweetness.

Mu Jin and Wu Po lived many years in this world. Mu Jin did not deliberately interfere with the natural progression of their primitive society. While he taught them some methods to improve their quality of life and ensure plentiful food, he mostly allowed them to explore and develop their world on their own.

Eventually, as the tribes began connecting with one another, Mu Jin finally realized his dream of living in a proper house. He used iron pots for cooking, acquired a variety of seasonings, and enjoyed the delicious meals he had longed for.

Although Mu Jin couldn’t find crops equivalent to the grains from his original world, he managed to ferment fruits into fruit wine. The wine wasn’t very strong, but it had a delightful taste. Thanks to Mu Jin’s efforts, this fruit wine became popular among the tribes and ultimately one of the most cherished beverages in their world.

Not long after Mu Jin and Wu Po became partners, Wu Peng and Wu He also held their bonding ceremony. This surprised Mu Jin a bit—he hadn’t expected the two of them to end up together.

However, seeing Wu He and Wu Peng standing on the ceremonial platform, their eyes filled with love for each other, Mu Jin couldn’t help but think they made a great match.

What’s more, after they became partners, Wu He and Wu Peng thrived together, building a happy and prosperous life. When the leader of the Pingshan tribe grew old, Wu Peng succeeded him as the tribe’s leader, managing the tribe with great order and effectiveness.

Many peaceful years passed in this way. With Mu Jin no longer hindered in his ability to monitor the world through 003, he remained aware of the female protagonist’s situation.

The moment Wu Wei disfigured Mu Xuan’s face, the small world trembled slightly. Mu Jin understood this as a reaction from Qian Sha, sensing that its chosen protagonist had completely lost her role and suffered a secondary major blow.

Having lost her “golden finger” and now her beauty as well, Mu Xuan was no longer able to enchant anyone. She was destined to live as an ordinary woman in this world, and no other tribes would ever experience turmoil because of her again.

With this, Mu Jin felt completely at ease. He found great joy in this peaceful way of life and spent his years in the small world as an advocate for peace. On rare occasions, when conflicts arose between tribes over resources, he didn’t hesitate to display minor miracles to resolve them.

The people of the primitive tribes, who had unwavering faith in the gods, naturally believed that peaceful coexistence would make their lives better.

The only regret was that even after Mu Jin and his beloved left this world, Qian Sha still hadn’t revealed its true intentions.

The shadow energy that Qian Chen had deliberately left on Shadow earlier seemed to have no effect. Qian Sha still chose to remain in hiding. However, its attempt to drain the fortune of the small world failed, leaving it even more gravely wounded.

After Mu Jin completely detached from this world, the voice of Teng Gen echoed in his sea of consciousness, saying to him, “Mu Jin, I can sense that Qian Chen has fully taken over this small world and set it back on the right path.”

Hearing Teng Gen’s words, Mu Jin let out a sigh of relief. A distorted small world forced to choose unsuitable protagonists was prone to chaos.

Now that Qian Chen had taken control, Mu Jin believed the world would soon produce a new, rightful person to inherit its fortune, ensuring no future disruptions.

Still, recalling how neither Shadow nor Qian Chen appeared in the previous world, Mu Jin found himself curious about their current circumstances.

At that moment, the two people occupying Mu Jin’s thoughts were locked in a confrontation.

In a temple floating in the void, Shadow stood helplessly as Qian Chen kept an unwavering gaze on him, refusing to leave his side for even a moment.

Shadow vividly remembered the memories of the previous small world and had come to terms with his feelings. After two lifetimes of deep connection, love, and growing old together, Shadow’s heart now belonged entirely to Qian Chen.

Yet, he couldn’t help but feel somewhat stifled. Because of Qian Sha’s prior schemes against him, Ying found himself under Qian Chen’s watchful eyes since leaving the world. It was as though Qian Chen couldn’t bear for Ying to be out of his sight for even a second.

Knowing that his constitution was especially prone to attracting Qian Sha, Shadow wanted to ease Qian Chen’s burdens. He couldn’t help but suggest, “Qian Chen, perhaps I should…”

“No!” Qian Chen interrupted Shadow’s words sternly. Even though Qian Sha had been injured in the last world and failed to absorb any fortune, Qian Chen still refused to let Shadow take any risks.

Yet, deep down, Shadow still felt guilt toward Mu Jin and Qiong Qi. He understood that if it weren’t for Qiong Qi, he himself would never have come into existence in this world.

After several lifetimes spent living within small worlds, Shadow was no longer naive. He now understood right from wrong and recognized that, in his earlier ignorance, he had indeed made some mistakes.

Now, seeing these two take risks for his sake, Shadow couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Qian Chen, noticing Shadow’s gloomy demeanor, instantly understood what was on his mind. But the mere thought of his beloved being in danger was something Qian Chen could not tolerate.

Seeing Shadow so downcast, Qian Chen could only gently coax him, saying softly, “Don’t worry. They will definitely succeed in defeating Qian Sha. I’ll protect them well and make sure they come to no harm.”

Hearing Qian Chen’s reassurance, Shadow opened his mouth to speak but ultimately swallowed his words.

If worst comes to worst and there’s truly no other option, I’ll secretly act as bait myself…

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Chapter 360- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (26)

On the evening before the gathering ended, all the members of the Pingshan Tribe gathered together. They prepared a feast filled with delicious food to celebrate the great harvest of this gathering.

They enjoyed fragrant roasted sweet potatoes and barbecued meat, accompanied by honey water made from the honey they had exchanged with other tribes. Life felt incredibly wonderful to them.

However, after eating and drinking for a while, everyone suddenly appeared to feel dizzy. This, of course, included Mu Jin. Slowly, he pretended to be groggy as well, choosing a comfortable position to “collapse” on the table.

When the members of the Gaoshan Tribe, who had secretly infiltrated the area, saw that everyone had truly been drugged and fallen unconscious, they boldly revealed themselves. Lang Wei, seeing the ease with which everyone was subdued, felt triumphant. However, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy when he noticed that Wu Po was not among them.

Noticing Wu Po’s absence, Lang Wei’s apprehension grew, but he quickly instructed his men to take Mu Jin away and hurried back to their designated area near the gathering site.

They packed up their belongings overnight and left with the unconscious Mu Jin, making their way toward the Gaoshan Tribe’s territory. The group traveled at their fastest pace for nearly an entire day, reaching the outskirts of the Gaoshan Tribe’s location by dusk the following day.

Once they arrived, Lang Wei finally allowed himself to relax a little. He reasoned that even if the others regained consciousness, they wouldn’t know where Mu Jin had been taken. By the time they awoke, it would already be mid-morning.

Moreover, by that point, most of the other tribes would also be packing up and leaving the gathering site. The resulting chaos would naturally prevent anyone from noticing that the Gaoshan Tribe had left earlier than expected.

Fortunately, their tribe wasn’t too far from this year’s gathering site. As the sky darkened, Lang Wei ordered his people to set up tents and decided they would rest here for the night.

Though their group was physically strong, the tense and hurried journey had left them exhausted. Only Mu Jin, comfortably carried by others, seemed completely unaffected.

The female protagonist, Mu Xuan, had also followed along with the group. Seeing Mu Jin, seemingly asleep and comfortably being carried, filled her with intense jealousy.

She thought to herself how well Mu Jin had been cared for during the entire journey while she had to run with the group, gasping for breath. The Gaoshan Tribe members appeared to pay her no attention at all.

Despite her simmering resentment, Lang Wei deliberately ignored her. At this moment, Mu Xuan held no further value in his eyes.

Gazing at Mu Jin, lying peacefully on the animal hide with an unusually serene sleeping face, Lang Wei couldn’t help but entertain other thoughts. Although his primary intention in abducting Mu Jin was to benefit the Gaoshan Tribe, someone as capable as Mu Jin would be far more advantageous as his personal ally—or perhaps, something more.

What’s more, Mu Jin’s good looks had not gone unnoticed by Lang Wei throughout the journey. His heart had long been restless with desire. Thus, Lang Wei ordered Mu Jin to be carried into his tent.

The tents they had set up were far from the sturdy structures used during the gathering. These were hastily assembled shelters made by tying together branches and covering them with animal hides, serving as temporary resting places.

That said, being able to sleep in such a tent was already considered a privilege. The space inside was small, barely enough for one or two people to lie down. Here, only the leader, Lang Wei, could enjoy such a luxury.

At this moment, however, Lang Wei had Mu Jin carried into his tent. Even though it was inconvenient to “take care of business” in the wilderness, he couldn’t resist wanting to take advantage of the soft-skinned, delicate youth.

The Gaoshan Tribe members who had followed Lang Wei knew his temperament all too well and naturally understood what he intended to do. They exchanged glances and smirked knowingly, but they retired early. After all, they needed to rise at dawn to continue their journey back to their tribe.

Satisfied with his followers’ tactfulness, Lang Wei entered the tent. Just as he reached out to pull back the animal hide covering Mu Jin, the young man, who was supposed to be unconscious and deeply asleep, suddenly opened his eyes.

At the same time, a shadowy figure appeared beside Lang Wei and grabbed the hand he had extended toward Mu Jin.

Lang Wei let out a blood-curdling scream as the figure kicked him with full force. The blow was so powerful that Lang Wei’s entire body trembled in pain, wishing he could lose consciousness to escape the agony.

Hearing Lang Wei’s scream, the Gaoshan Tribe members quickly rose and lit their torches.

However, as soon as the torches illuminated their surroundings, they realized that their resting area was entirely surrounded. The intruders were none other than the Pingshan Tribe members, who should have been left unconscious back at the gathering site.

But that wasn’t all. Even the Pingyuan Tribe had gotten involved, joining the group encircling them. With the addition of the Pingyuan Tribe, the number of people surrounding them far outnumbered those from the Gaoshan Tribe.

Surrounded by so many people armed to the teeth and glaring at them with hostility, the Gaoshan Tribe members didn’t dare even to breathe loudly.

Lang Wei, dragged out of the tent, writhed on the ground in pain. After a long while, he finally collected himself, only to be greeted by Mu Jin’s cold, towering gaze. Seeing the faint smile playing on Mu Jin’s lips, Lang Wei instantly realized he had been completely outwitted.

The person who had attacked him earlier was none other than Wu Po, who had been conspicuously absent from the supposedly drugged group. It turned out that Wu Po had been lurking near the Gaoshan Tribe all along, ready to ensure his partner’s safety at any moment.

Despite his injury to a critical area, Lang Wei forced himself to stay conscious. The dire situation his tribe was in left no room for him to pass out.

Summoning his strength, Lang Wei looked at the people surrounding them. When he noticed members of the Pingyuan Tribe among the group, he immediately perked up and addressed their leader, Mu Shan: “I recognize you—you’re from the Pingyuan Tribe! Our Gaoshan Tribe has no quarrel with yours. Why are you helping the Pingshan Tribe? You know as well as I do that the ties between our tribes are far stronger than those between yours and theirs.”

Lang Wei then pointed to Mu Jin and continued his pitch: “Maybe you don’t know this yet, but the reason we’re targeting the Pingshan Tribe is to take this man. He’s incredibly skilled—he knows farming, animal husbandry, and holds a wealth of knowledge. Surely you’ve heard of him.”

“If you help us take down the Pingshan Tribe, this man could belong to both our tribes. Imagine the benefits he’d bring us!”

Lang Wei delivered his words with what he thought was irresistible persuasion. But instead of seeing the expected greed or interest, he was met with stoic expressions from the Pinguuan Tribe members.

To make matters worse, Mu Jin, standing right beside him, couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

Lang Wei sensed something was amiss but couldn’t figure out exactly what.

Lang Wei then saw the Pingyuan Tribe leader, Mu Shan, glaring at him with a dark expression. Through gritted teeth, Mu Shan spat out, “You kidnapped my son and now have the audacity to suggest that our tribe shares him with yours? On what grounds?”

Hearing Mu Shan’s words, Lang Wei was utterly dumbfounded.

The heroine, Mu Xuan, was equally stunned as she turned to look at Mu Jin. No matter how she tried, she had never anticipated that this Mu Jin was, in fact, the very same young clan leader she had gone to great lengths to escape marrying.

But wasn’t that young leader supposed to have a scarred face, an ugly appearance, and a terrible temper? How had he transformed into this refined and handsome youth? And how had he also ended up in the Pingshan Tribe, just like her? Could it be that her actions had somehow triggered all of this?

Mu Xuan couldn’t wrap her head around how things had come to this point, but it didn’t stop the flood of regret welling up inside her.

Although Mu Jin was petite, his face was undeniably striking, and he clearly possessed extraordinary abilities. If she hadn’t run away back then, if she had agreed to marry Mu Jin and become his partner, wouldn’t she now be living a life of prestige, surrounded by admiration, instead of the dire, precarious existence she faced?

The thought made her chest ache with remorse. Unable to contain herself, she turned toward Mu Jin and shouted, “Young Leader! Young Leader, I know I was wrong! I shouldn’t have run away back then. I understand now—it was all my fault. Please forgive me! I’m willing to return and marry you!”

Mu Jin stared at Mu Xuan, utterly speechless. He couldn’t help but think that the heroine of this world was not only fickle and unprincipled but also rather dim-witted. He cast a disdainful glance at Mu Xuan, his expression filled with contempt, and decided he had no interest in entertaining this woman any further.

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Chapter 359- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (25)

For Wu Po, the most important person in his life now was only Mu Jin. As for this father who had suddenly appeared after more than twenty years, Wu Po didn’t feel much of a connection.

However, when Yan Da removed his hat and revealed his face, Mu Jin’s excitement was unmistakable. Seeing this, Mu Jin grew curious about this newfound father’s story.

The story partly aligned with Mu Jin’s previous guesses. Yan Da did indeed come from a distant land. In his homeland, people’s eye and hair colors varied greatly. Since the Pingyuan Tribe had broad knowledge of the world, they didn’t view such differences as a sign of divine disfavor.

But Yan Da knew that the tribes in this region, where most people had black hair and black eyes, were highly prejudiced against those with different eye colors. For this reason, he had intentionally concealed his appearance with a hat. He never expected to encounter Wu Po at this gathering.

Yan Da hailed from a southern tribe far from here, where he was once the tribe’s chief.

More than twenty years ago, his tribe in the south was extremely impoverished. Seeking new opportunities and ways to revitalize their tribe, Yan Da, his partner, and his brothers crossed the ocean to this continent.

They traveled with only a small group of people. While their homeland was barren, they were unprepared for the hardships that awaited them on the other side of the ocean.

Unexpectedly, Yan Da’s wife became pregnant during the journey. The conditions were harsh—they endured exposure to the elements, foraged for food, and slept under the open sky. Eventually, his wife gave birth after a grueling labor, but tragically, she passed away due to complications.

Grieving deeply, Yan Da buried his partner and, carrying his infant child, pressed on with his remaining brothers.

However, their journey took a tragic turn when they were attacked by a pack of wolves. The wolves scattered the group, and Yan Da, severely injured and clutching his infant, collapsed unconscious in the forest. When he regained consciousness, his child was gone.

The wolf attack cost Yan Da many of his brothers. Though he stayed in the area for days, desperately searching for his child, his efforts proved fruitless. Left with no choice, Yan Da returned to the southern tribe, battered and defeated.

However, Yan Da remained unwilling to give up. In the early years, he returned to this continent almost every year to search for his child. Although he never found his child, his efforts led to forming alliances with many tribes, which gradually strengthened the southern tribe.

Now that he had grown older, Yan Da passed the leadership of the southern tribe to the new chief and returned here once more. Having lost his beloved partner, the hope of finding his child became his lifelong wish—a goal he had never stopped pursuing.

Hearing Yan Da’s story, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel deep sympathy for him. No one would ever want to experience such a tragedy.

Yan Da’s arrival also allowed System 003 to fill in the gaps in Mu Jin’s understanding of the story. Just as Yan Da had recounted, he had collapsed in the forest with Wu Po in his arms and was later found by Wu Chan’s partner.

At the time, Yan Da was gravely injured, and Wu Chan’s partner assumed he had died. Taking the child, Wu Chan’s partner brought him back to their tribe. Since Wu Chan and her partner had been unable to have a child of their own for a long time, they decided to raise the baby as their own and announced this to the tribe.

However, not long after, Wu Chan’s partner died in a hunting accident, and rumors of the child being a bad omen began to spread.

Overwhelmed by the situation, Wu Chan had developed some affection for the baby after caring for him for several months. Yet, with her partner gone, she feared being burdened by the child. She ultimately chose to acquiesce to the tribe’s judgment and allowed the chief to send Wu Po to live in the communal cave.

Neither Wu Chan nor the chief revealed Wu Po’s true origins, worried that if others discovered he was an outsider, they would be even more determined to drive him away. Wu Po was only a helpless infant, and without the tribe’s protection, he would have had no chance of survival.

However, many years had passed, and Wu Po had grown into a remarkably strong and capable man. Seeing Wu Po’s achievements, Yan Da could not hide his excitement.

After recounting his story, Yan Da stood up, mustering a smile as he said, “Will you… would you be willing to return with me?”

“The southern tribe is doing very well now. We’ve united several neighboring tribes, and it has become the most powerful tribe in the coastal region. You are my child, and if you come back with me, the position of chief will be yours.”

The promise of becoming the leader of a powerful tribe without any effort would be incredibly tempting for most people. However, it didn’t appeal to Wu Po.

What mattered most to Wu Po was Mu Jin’s feelings. After Yan Da posed his question, Wu Po immediately looked at Mu Jin, wanting to know his thoughts.

Noticing Wu Po’s gaze, Mu Jin smiled warmly. Just as Wu Po cared deeply about his feelings, Mu Jin was equally considerate of his.

Mu Jin understood that Wu Po had grown up in this region, with close friends in the Pingshan Tribe. As for himself, he was the young chief of the Pingyuan Tribe, and they were committed to staying together.

If they were to settle in the southern tribe, the distance from both the Pingyuan Tribe and the Pingshan Tribe would be too great.

Furthermore, as Yan Da mentioned, the southern tribe already had a new chief. Even though Yan Da had enough influence to immediately have the current chief step down, Mu Jin was reluctant to see Wu Po get involved in political struggles.

After some thought, Mu Jin recalled how harshly cold it could get in the Pingyuan Tribe during the winter, whereas the southern tribe had a much warmer climate. He then promised Yan Da that he and Wu Po would travel to the southern tribe during the cold season to spend the winter there.

However, once the weather warmed up, they would return, as they had friends and family here who were equally important to them.

In this way, neither side would feel neglected, and they could also enjoy the scenic views surrounding all three tribes. It was truly a decision that pleased everyone.

Wu Po also thought Mu Jin’s proposal was excellent and immediately nodded in agreement.

Yan Da quickly agreed as well, as he had always been worried that his child might resent him for losing him all these years. Now that Wu Po was willing to return to their tribe for the winter, he was already feeling extremely excited and satisfied.

He was also grateful to Mu Jin, who had spoken highly of him, and immediately gave Mu Jin some special products from the southern tribe.

The southern tribe was known for its abundance of pearl oysters, which produced beautiful decorations. These were quite rare in both the Pingyuan and Pingshan tribes. However, what Mu Jin valued most was the salt that Yan Da had brought him.

The southern tribe was particularly skilled in salt production, unlike the Pingshan tribe, which only used coarse salt. They used sun-dried sea salt, which was snowy white and fine. It was far superior to the coarse salt they had used before, which was bitter, impure, and full of impurities.

Mu Jin immediately thought about the different resources each tribe had. Now that the important figures from the three tribes were all present, this was a perfect opportunity for collaboration. He quickly discussed farming and livestock matters with them.

Mu Jin was close to all three tribes, and naturally, he wanted to support them as much as possible. It was best if all three tribes could flourish and grow stronger together.

Both the people of the Pingshan tribe and Yan Da were excited when they heard about the valuable knowledge Mu Jin shared. With such knowledge, their people would never go hungry again.

Most importantly, the three powerful tribes were located far from each other, and without competition, they could exchange resources. Once they formed an alliance, they would all thrive in their own territories.

Of course, Mu Jin didn’t want these three tribes to monopolize the knowledge of farming and animal husbandry. However, if other tribes wished to learn this, they would need to pay a price. They could exchange other resources or knowledge in return.

Mu Jin didn’t go into too much detail. He provided them with sweet potatoes and informed them that other crops could also be cultivated, giving them a rough idea of how to go about it.

After all, each tribe was located in different regions, with varying environments. The methods of planting and raising livestock naturally couldn’t be generalized; they would need to explore on their own. However, despite this, Mu Jin still managed to facilitate cooperation between the tribes.

While the tribes were fostering friendly relations, the atmosphere in the Gaoshan Tribe, where Lang Wei was, became somewhat gloomy.

Lang Wei had originally thought he would easily win the competition, and without lifting a finger, he would obtain Mu Jin. At that point, all the treasures from the Pingshan Tribe would belong to the Gaoshan Tribe.

But who would have thought that not only did he lose the competition and embarrass himself, but now the Pingshan Tribe was openly collaborating with other tribes, setting up mutually beneficial agreements.

On the other hand, his own tribe had gained nothing, and they had even lost a significant portion of their resources. How could Lang Wei swallow this bitter pill?

Lang Wei was angry, and this frustration extended to Mu Xuan, causing him to lose patience with her as well. Seeing this, Mu Xuan grew even more resentful towards Mu Jin and Wu Po.

However, watching Lang Wei becoming increasingly indifferent to her, she began to worry. She feared that not only would Lang Wei not help her seek revenge, but he might also go back on his promise to take her away.

It wasn’t clear who spread the word, but now everyone in the Pingshan Tribe knew that it was Mu Xuan who had told Lang Wei about Mu Jin’s remarkable abilities, which had prompted Lang Wei to pursue Mu Jin and challenge Wu Po.

Although Wu Po had defeated Lang Wei, the tribe members were still upset with Mu Xuan for leaking this secret. They felt that if Wu Po hadn’t been strong enough, Mu Jin would already have been taken away. As a result, Mu Xuan’s life in the Ping Shan Tribe had become increasingly difficult.

Thinking about how Lang Wei had been avoiding her for days, Mu Xuan decided to find someone from the Gao Shan Tribe to arrange a meeting with Lang Wei. She told them she had an important matter to discuss and managed to meet him in the woods.

When Lang Wei finally arrived and treated her with indifference, Mu Xuan bit her lip and resolutely said to him, “No matter how strong Wu Po is, he can’t be by Mu Jin’s side all the time.”

“I remember that among the herbs brought by the Pingshan Tribe, there are some hallucinogenic grasses used to stun prey for easier hunting. I’ve already managed to obtain some. When the time comes, I’ll find an opportunity to add it to Mu Jin and Wu Po’s food. Once they’re unconscious, you can kill Wu Po and take Mu Jin away. After that, you can deal with him however you like.”

Hearing Mu Xuan’s words, Lang Wei’s eyes lit up. As long as they acted discreetly, no one would suspect the Gaoshan Tribe. With this thought, he immediately smiled at Mu Xuan, pulling her into his arms, and the two of them shared a tender moment once again.

However, what they didn’t realize was that everything they said was overheard by Mu Xiong, who happened to pass by.

Mu Xiong was shocked as he listened to their entire plan. He never imagined that the Mu Xuan he had always thought of as kind and innocent could be so malicious. Mu Jin had done nothing to wrong her—so why was she plotting to harm their young chief like this?

Mu Xiong couldn’t understand, but he felt that this version of Mu Xuan was a complete stranger to him. More importantly, he was determined not to let anyone harm the person who had helped him. After Lang Wei and Mu Xuan left, Mu Xiong immediately rushed to find Mu Jin and told him everything.

When Mu Jin saw that Mu Xiong had taken the initiative to inform him of this plot and seemed genuinely worried for his safety, he felt reassured and knew he hadn’t helped the wrong person.

Nonetheless, he calmed Mu Xiong and told him not to act rashly. Since they now knew about Mu Xuan and Lang Wei’s scheme, they might as well turn the tables and use it to their advantage.

---

Chapter 358- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (24)

After speaking, Mu Jin didn’t wait for Wu Po to refute him and took the initiative to step forward, addressing Lang Wei “We can agree to your terms. However, since we’ve placed a bet, shouldn’t the Gaoshan Tribe also bear some corresponding costs?”

As Mu Jin spoke, the people of the Pingshan Tribe beside him nodded one after another. Although they also felt that using Mu Jin as a wager was inappropriate, they remembered the priest’s instructions before their departure: they must follow Mu Jin’s lead.

Hearing this, Lang Wei’s eyes darted around. The chief of the Gaoshan Tribe was already old and had not come along this time, leaving Lang Wei in charge. Thus, he had the authority of a chief. While he could wager his personal belongings, Mu Jin’s capabilities were undeniable, and he had to show respect for him.

So, to curry favor with Mu Jin, Lang Wei followed his suggestion and offered most of the Gaoshan Tribe’s supplies as the wager.

The Gaoshan Tribe was quite large, boasting abundant resources and even iron tools. Although the output wasn’t high, it was enough to make Mu Jin covet them. This was why he was eager for Wu Po to agree to the contest with Lang Wei—he had been craving iron pot stews for a long time.

Lang Wei didn’t hesitate to stake heavily to win Mu Jin’s wager, but he remained confident. After all, from his perspective, Wu Po, despite his imposing demeanor, was just a novice who had never participated in a contest.

Lang Wei, on the other hand, attended the annual competitions at the gathering and was almost always the champion. He couldn’t believe he’d lose to Wu Po.

Seeing Mu Jin’s determined stance, as if he wouldn’t give up until he agreed, Wu Po could only nod reluctantly. Lang Wei, unable to hear what Mu Jin and Wu Po were discussing, assumed he had guessed Mu Jin’s intentions.

When he saw Mu Jin even helping him persuade Wu Po to agree, Lang Wei felt smug. He gave Mu Jin a few suggestive glances before leaving with a pretense of casualness.

After Lang Wei left, Mu Jin noticed that Wu Po still looked visibly upset. Feeling guilty, he shrank his neck slightly and quickly said many flattering words, hoping to appease Wu Po’s anger.

However, Lang Wei was unaware that Mu Jin was actually the young leader of the Pingyuan Tribe. He merely thought Mu Jin was an ordinary member of the Pingshan Tribe; otherwise, he wouldn’t have assumed it would be so easy to win Mu Jin over.

In the entire Pingshan Tribe, only the chief, Wu He, and a few others knew the truth, and they had kept the information confidential.

Recently, Mu Shan had been visiting frequently. Everyone assumed that the Pingyuan Tribe wanted to negotiate some kind of deal with the Pingshan Tribe, and no one thought it had anything to do with Mu Jin.

Fortunately, Mu Shan was in the Pingshan Tribe’s tent when Lang Wei came to provoke them earlier. He witnessed the events outside and thus didn’t misunderstand that Wu Po had used his own son as a wager.

Still, seeing Mu Jin constantly pushing Wu Po to agree while Wu Po clearly appeared unhappy made Mu Shan feel a bit helpless.

But what could he do? His child was just too willful. However, Mu Shan was satisfied that Wu Po didn’t let pride get in the way and prioritized Mu Jin’s well-being above all else.

Mu Jin didn’t take Lang Wei seriously, even though Lang Wei had won the annual inter-tribal competitions each time. Mu Jin was confident that Lang Wei was no match for Wu Po.

Wu Po, however, couldn’t afford to be complacent. In fact, for the two days leading up to the match, he had avoided any intimate interactions with Mu Jin, focusing solely on honing his skills.

Wu Po had planned to participate in the tribal competition this time, but he had spent the previous days accompanying Mu Jin on leisurely outings. Now, with the contest approaching, he was determined to sharpen his abilities, fearing that even with his superior strength, something unexpected might happen.

When the match finally took place, things unfolded exactly as Mu Jin had anticipated—it was far too easy to defeat Lang Wei.

Lang Wei was indeed strong, comparable to Da Xiong (Big Bear) from the Pingyuan Tribe. Every year, the winner was usually one of the two.

However, the Pingyuan Tribe rarely attended these gatherings, as their settlement was far away, and they only participated once every five years. Additionally, Lang Wei’s combat style was more agile compared to Da Xiong, who relied purely on brute strength.

Lang Wei originally thought he was guaranteed to win against Wu Po this time, but he didn’t expect Wu Po to unleash such fierce and relentless attacks right from the start, holding nothing back.

When Wu Po’s iron-like fist landed squarely on his face, Lang Wei cried out in pain, spitting out a tooth. It was only then that he realized he could no longer afford to underestimate his opponent.

However, no matter how hard he tried, the gap in strength between him and Wu Po was simply too vast.

In the primitive era, people’s thinking was relatively straightforward. Even someone like Lang Wei, who could be considered somewhat cunning, was, in Mu Jin’s eyes, still not clever enough to pose a threat.

Lang Wei naturally didn’t think of tampering with the match or using hidden weapons. After enduring over twenty of Wu Po’s powerful blows, Lang Wei was finally sent flying off the platform with a heavy kick.

Lang Wei’s defeat was humiliating. While the previous competitors who had faced Wu Po also lost, Wu Po had gone easier on them, stopping short of causing serious injuries and leaving them with some dignity.

Everyone already knew that Lang Wei had previously boasted arrogantly, demanding that Wu Po wager his own partner. Now, seeing Lang Wei being utterly beaten down by Wu Po, the frustration of those who had lost to Wu Po earlier vanished entirely.

Some even felt vindicated. After all, Lang Wei had a habit of using his strength to bully others and compete for their partners. He had done this many times before, even intentionally humiliating his opponents after defeating them on the platform.

Lang Wei, accustomed to arrogance and pride, never expected to fall so hard in front of Wu Po this time.

His injuries were severe, making him feel as though his internal organs were shattered. He knew it would take a long time to recover fully. Moreover, he now had to hand over all the supplies he had promised to the Pingshan Tribe as part of the wager.

The thought of this loss made Lang Wei’s heart ache. He knew this failure would give his rivals in the Gaoshan Tribe a perfect opportunity to exploit his weakness.

Though filled with resentment, Lang Wei couldn’t act out publicly since Wu Po’s victory was fair and square. He could only glare at Wu Po with hatred before limping away, supported by his tribesmen.

None of them noticed that during the competition, a tall figure wearing a hood stood beside Mu Shan, the chief of the Pingyuan Tribe. His gaze was fixed intently on Wu Po, who was speaking with Mu Jin after winning the match.

Beneath the hat, a pair of pale amber eyes gleamed with excitement. This person was none other than Yan Da, the esteemed guest of Mu Shan, who had not made an appearance in recent days.

After the competition ended, Yan Da approached Mu Shan and asked him to arrange a meeting with Wu Po.

For days, Yan Da had been hearing his friend complain indignantly about how his son, Mu Jin, was involved with someone from the Pingshan Tribe named Wu Po. Yan Da hadn’t paid much attention to it initially.

But he never expected that Wu Po would turn out to be the person he had been searching for all these years. Upon seeing Wu Po’s face and those pale amber eyes, so similar to his own, Yan Da became absolutely certain.

When Mu Shan noticed Yan Da’s serious demeanor and saw his similarly colored amber eyes, he was stunned. Realizing what Yan Da might be implying, he quickly asked, “Could it be… are you saying he is…?”

Yan Da nodded in response. The sight of those eyes, nearly identical to his own, left Yan Da almost entirely convinced that Wu Po was the long-lost child he had been searching for all these years.

Mu Shan, hearing Yan Da’s words, couldn’t help but feel regret for his oversight. He understood how much this child meant to Yan Da. Nevertheless, Mu Shan discreetly informed Mu Jin of the situation before taking Yan Da to meet Wu Po and Mu Jin.

By then, Mu Jin had already brought Wu Po to the Pingyuan Tribe’s camp. There, they quickly encountered Yan Da, dressed in black animal hides with his face partially concealed by a fur hat.

When Yan Da removed his hat, revealing his pale amber eyes and rugged features, the resemblance between him and Wu Po was only slight. Yet, Mu Jin could still discern that this man was undoubtedly Wu Po’s father.

This conclusion was easily confirmed, as the tribe chiefs were aware of this secret.

However, Wu Po, having always believed he was a member of the Pingshan Tribe and having grown up relying solely on his own abilities, didn’t harbor any strong expectations regarding his parents.

When Mu Jin informed him that he wasn’t actually Wu Chan’s child, Wu Po was momentarily surprised but quickly returned to his usual demeanor, showing little reaction.

---

Chapter 357- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (23)

Wu He felt a little strange but, being naturally carefree, didn’t overthink it. However, hearing Mu Xuan’s accusations now, he couldn’t believe it had escalated to claims of him seducing a close friend!

The next moment, Wu Peng’s expression turned even colder as he faced Mu Xuan and stated firmly, “I’m the one who fell for him. Wu He doesn’t even know about my feelings yet.”

Hearing this, Wu He widened his eyes in shock. Recalling how Wu Peng had just been feeding him moments ago, his face flushed with embarrassment.

On the other hand, Mu Xuan, upon hearing Wu Peng’s declaration, trembled as she pointed a finger at him. Her face showed a tearful, pitiful expression, as if Wu Peng had committed some heinous crime and deeply wronged her.

Seeing Mu Xuan’s dramatic display, Wu Peng didn’t want Wu He to misunderstand the situation. He directly addressed her, saying, “Don’t put on that act. Yes, I did pursue you before, but didn’t you always avoid giving me an answer?”

“You’ve been stringing so many people along, hesitating and unwilling to make a choice. Do you really think I couldn’t tell?”

“I realized a long time ago that pursuing you was a mistake, which is why I stopped. Now, I’ve found someone I truly like. So why are you making such a scene?”

If Mu Xuan had taken a moment to reflect, she would’ve realized that everything Wu Peng said was true. However, as someone who never held herself accountable for anything, she only saw Wu Peng as being heartless and ran off crying.

But Wu Peng no longer cared about Mu Xuan’s feelings. Instead, he turned to Wu He, his gaze intense yet nervous, and asked tentatively, “So, what about you? Wu He, would you consider giving us a chance?”

“What?” Wu He was momentarily stunned, but he quickly processed what Wu Peng was asking. Thinking back to Wu Peng’s earlier statements, he realized there had never been anything between Wu Peng and Mu Xuan, so there was no betrayal involved.

Recently, Wu Peng had always been by Wu He’s side and had stopped seeking out Mu Xuan. Even when they crossed paths, Wu Peng treated her with a purely business-like attitude. Still, Wu He had never considered that Wu Peng might have feelings for him.

He hadn’t thought about it before, but looking closer now, Wu Peng was indeed a great person. Considering his own limited abilities, finding a woman seemed unlikely. Wu Peng, on the other hand, was an excellent candidate for a partner, and he was undeniably handsome.

Thinking about this, Wu He—who had never been entangled in romantic relationships before—couldn’t help but blush. However, he wasn’t the type to overthink or act overly coy. After seeing how happy Wu Po and Mu Jin were together, Wu He had longed for a companion of his own. So, he nodded in agreement to Wu Peng.

After all, Wu Peng was truly wonderful, and Wu He had no real reason to refuse, right?

Seeing Wu He’s nod, Wu Peng’s face immediately lit up with a wide smile. He continued to feed Wu He the roasted meat in his hands, but the atmosphere between them was noticeably much sweeter than before.

…

Meanwhile, after storming off angrily, Mu Xuan unknowingly wandered near the Gao Mountain Tribe’s territory. After some thought, she decided to seek out Lang Wei.

At this point, in Mu Xuan’s mind, Lang Wei was her only remaining option. Lang Wei was strong, held a high status, and was a likely candidate to become the next leader of the Gaoshan Tribe.

Mu Xuan believed that as long as she could firmly secure her connection with Lang Wei, her future would undoubtedly be far better than that of the people in the Pingshan Tribe. So, as soon as she saw Lang Wei, she threw herself into his arms, crying.

Of course, she couldn’t possibly admit it was because her former top admirer had fallen for someone else, leaving her feeling bitter. Instead, she claimed that the people of the Pingshan Tribe had been bullying her.

Mu Xuan couldn’t help but dwell on how everything had been going wrong for her in the Pingshan Tribe lately. In her mind, it was all due to the sudden appearance of Mu Jin. Both he and Wu Po seemed to exist solely to thwart her at every turn.

The ideas of farming, hunting, and crafting tools had been hers originally, yet these two had swooped in and stolen her thunder. If not for them, how could Wu Peng have fallen for someone else?

With this in mind, Mu Xuan deliberately began badmouthing Mu Jin and Wu Po to Lang Wei.

Lang Wei had initially only been interested in Mu Xuan because of her appearance. Over time, however, he found her increasingly troublesome and annoying. It was only when she boasted to him about her knowledge of farming and weapon-making that he decided to humor her a bit longer.

But now, hearing Mu Xuan constantly bring up Mu Jin and Wu Po, Lang Wei couldn’t care less about her attempts to slander them. What truly caught his attention was the information that Mu Jin had improved Mu Xuan’s farming methods and helped Wu Po refine a particular type of trap. Additionally, he’d heard rumors that the impressive items the Pingshan Tribe had brought to the gathering were largely thanks to Mu Jin.

This piqued Lang Wei’s interest. Compared to the half-baked talents of Mu Xuan, it was clear that Mu Jin was far more valuable. If he could bring Mu Jin back to the Gaoshan Tribe, their entire tribe would undoubtedly become stronger. That, in turn, would secure Lang Wei’s position as the future tribal leader.

As this thought crossed his mind, a glimmer of calculation flickered in Lang Wei’s eyes. Outwardly, however, he maintained a façade of tenderness and affection toward Mu Xuan. After all, with Mu Xuan now clinging to him and playing the helpless damsel, it was difficult for any man not to feel a pang of sympathy.

Following the logic that one shouldn’t waste an opportunity handed to them, Lang Wei continued to sweet-talk Mu Xuan. And since Mu Xuan had now decided to pin all her hopes on Lang Wei, she offered only half-hearted resistance before giving in. It wasn’t long before the two ended up entangled together.

That night, both Mu Xuan and Lang Wei were quite satisfied with the outcome. Mu Xuan was full of confidence, believing that Lang Wei would surely help her deal with Mu Jin and Wu Po. Lang Wei, on the other hand, was in high spirits after discovering the secrets of the Pingshan Tribe.

Lang Wei comforted Mu Xuan, urging her to return to the Pingshan Tribe and avoid arousing suspicion. He assured her that he would come up with a plan to help her.

What Mu Xuan didn’t know was that the very next day, Lang Wei went to the Pingshan Tribe’s stall, leisurely wandering around and casually inquiring about Mu Jin.

As fate would have it, that day, Mu Jin was returning from browsing the stalls of other tribes when he happened to run into Lang Wei. Seeing the youth before him, with his delicate features and fair skin, Lang Wei couldn’t help but be taken aback.

Although he had heard Mu Xuan repeatedly mention Mu Jin, he hadn’t expected Mu Jin to be this strikingly attractive. Compared to him, even the women Lang Wei had encountered before paled in comparison, not to mention Mu Xuan, whom Lang Wei had just won over a few days ago.

Lang Wei, someone who wasn’t picky about his conquests, had originally planned to seduce Mu Jin purely to use him and bring him back to the Gao Mountain Tribe. However, upon seeing Mu Jin’s appearance, his interest grew significantly. What had started as a passing idea now turned into an overwhelming desire.

A youth as beautiful as Mu Jin—regardless of whether he was capable or not—was someone Lang Wei was determined to have.

From that point on, Lang Wei, who had plenty of experience in matters of the heart, pulled out all the stops to pursue Mu Jin, showering him with gifts and flowers at every opportunity.

Mu Jin, suddenly faced with such an ardent suitor, found himself puzzled. After all, the people in this primitive world usually acted quite straightforwardly. To encounter someone like Lang Wei, with his scheming ways and endless tricks for courting, was a novelty to Mu Jin.

Having read the original plot, Mu Jin was well aware that Lang Wei, who had been loitering around him recently, was one of Mu Xuan’s many lovers in the original story. Furthermore, having overheard gossip in the tribe, he knew that Lang Wei had been romantically involved with Mu Xuan not too long ago.

For Lang Wei to suddenly shift his attention to him seemed far from a sign of genuine affection.

When Mu Xuan learned that Lang Wei had openly begun pursuing Mu Jin, she was furious and stormed off to confront him. However, Lang Wei, with his glib tongue, reassured Mu Xuan that everything he was doing was for her benefit.

He told her that once Mu Jin was successfully tricked into joining the Gaoshan Tribe, whatever happened to him afterward would be entirely up to Mu Xuan.

Hearing Lang Wei’s reasoning, Mu Xuan begrudgingly accepted it and decided not to intervene. In fact, she began to relish the thought of exacting her revenge on Mu Jin in the future and the satisfaction it would bring her.

Meanwhile, Mu Jin didn’t take Lang Wei seriously at all. Wu Po, however, was seething with rage, wishing he could tear apart the man who had suddenly appeared and was now trying to steal his partner.

Fortunately, Mu Jin showed no interest in Lang Wei and repeatedly stopped Wu Po from challenging him. This restraint was the only thing keeping Wu Po from acting on his fury.

Lang Wei, however, interpreted Wu Po’s inaction as cowardice. After yet another rejection from Mu Jin, Lang Wei glanced at Wu Po, who stood beside Mu Jin, and smugly assumed he had identified the “problem.”

With what he thought was a thoughtful smile, Lang Wei said to Mu Jin, “You don’t need to feel guilty about those around you. I’ll handle everything!”

Mu Jin, completely baffled by Lang Wei’s wild assumptions, could only watch in disbelief as Lang Wei, full of self-righteousness, marched up to Wu Po. With a serious tone, Lang Wei declared, “In two days, the tribes will hold their warrior tournament, where nearly all the tribes offer prizes.”

“Individuals can also place personal bets. Wu Po, I’ve heard you’re very strong, and I challenge you. If I win, Mu Jin must come with me.”

Wu Po’s anger was barely contained as he listened to Lang Wei’s outrageous demand. But he refused to accept the challenge because he would never treat Mu Jin as an object to be wagered.

Just as Wu Po was about to refuse, Mu Jin tugged at his arm, sensing an opportunity. He leaned closer to whisper something in Wu Po’s ear.

Even so, Wu Po hesitated, unwilling to agree. Seeing this, Mu Jin resorted to coaxing him, even playfully acting coy. He gently said, “Wu Po, I don’t trust Lang Wei’s intentions. Please accept his challenge and teach him a lesson during the fight. I know you can win.”

“Wu Po, please! To me, you’re the strongest. I want to see you defeat him and let everyone know that I belong to you!”

---

Chapter 356- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (22)

At that moment, Mu Xiong saw Mu Xuan standing very close to another man, their interactions seeming intimate. They appeared affectionate, and Mu Xuan was smiling brightly. Although Mu Xiong felt a pang of sadness, he consoled himself with the thought that at least Mu Xuan was safe. Now that he was crippled, he didn’t want to cling to the past.

Unexpectedly, his unsteady movements caused a noise, and Mu Xuan noticed him. What shocked him most was her reaction—she looked flustered and unwilling to face him.

The man beside her noticed something was off and asked Mu Xuan who Mu Xiong was. To Mu Xiong’s dismay, Mu Xuan denied knowing him, pretending he was a stranger. This deeply hurt him.

In truth, Mu Xiong had always suspected the truth. Mu Xuan never truly liked him. She had only been using him to escape the Plains Tribe. His current predicament was entirely of his own doing.

With a bitter smile, Mu Xiong reflected on the irony of it all. He had risked his life for Mu Xuan, only to end up crippled and abandoned, his efforts amounting to nothing.

Mu Jin, observing Mu Xiong’s dejected demeanor, could guess most of what had happened. After all, he had overheard some gossip from the Plains Tribe members about the scene back then, though none of them knew the full story between Mu Xiong and Mu Xuan.

In the original storyline, the female protagonist also encountered Mu Xiong after he became crippled. However, her attitude toward him was drastically different. In the original narrative, she not only showed great sympathy for Mu Xiong but also went out of her way to help him in daily life, further deepening his infatuation with her.

Mu Xuan’s change in attitude wasn’t surprising to Mu Jin. After all, in the original plot, by the time the female protagonist met Mu Xiong again, her life was going smoothly, and she already had several outstanding men devoted to her.

Through her skills in farming and livestock raising, Mu Xuan had quickly gained fame in the Pingshan Tribe. Naturally, she didn’t mind adding a handsome, albeit crippled, man to her list of admirers. After all, even with a limp, Mu Xiong’s face remained exceptionally handsome.

But now, Mu Xuan was just an unremarkable woman. As Mu Jin and Wu Po’s reputations soared, her followers began to see beyond her pretty face, realizing there wasn’t much else to admire.

Gradually, as people came to understand Mu Xuan’s arrogant and entitled nature, many of her admirers abandoned her.

Currently, not only had the number of people around her dwindled, but the quality of her remaining followers had also plummeted. Under such circumstances, the last thing she wanted was to have the crippled Mu Xiong entangling himself with her.

Mu Jin didn’t have a strong impression of Mu Xiong, except for knowing he was once quite skilled and had always been fond of Mu Xuan. However, it seemed that Mu Xiong had now realized Mu Xuan’s true nature, so Mu Jin didn’t mind lending him a helping hand.

Noticing that Mu Shan was happily conversing with the Pingshan Tribe leader, Mu Jin walked over to Mu Xiong with Wu Po and asked him softly, “What happened to your leg?”

It had been a long time since Mu Xiong had last seen Mu Jin. He had heard others speak of Mu Jin’s transformation, but he hadn’t expected the changes to be so profound.

Having taken Mu Xuan away, Mu Xiong had always felt guilty toward Mu Jin. However, seeing Mu Jin now with such an excellent partner, he felt slightly less burdened.

When he saw Mu Jin, he forced a smile and replied, “I got injured, and now I’ve ended up like this.”

Mu Jin nodded and asked, “Do you want to get your leg fixed?”

“What did you say?” Mu Xiong was stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief at Mu Jin’s casual tone. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. But knowing Mu Jin, he realized he wouldn’t ask such a thing without reason. Immediately, he became excited and responded, “Of course I want to! But how? Please, help me! Whatever it takes, I’ll do anything you ask!”

Mu Jin’s lips curled into a faint smile as he shook his head. “It’s not that serious. We’re brothers from the Pingyuan Tribe who once hunted and fought together—no need for such formal words. Your leg has healed now, but if you want to recover fully, it’ll take some effort.”

Hearing Mu Jin refer to him as a brother who had fought alongside him, Mu Xiong felt an overwhelming mix of emotions. After all, he had betrayed him by taking away his promised partner.

Mu Xiong thought Mu Jin was far too forgiving. His magnanimity only made Mu Xiong feel even more ashamed of himself. Hearing that recovery would require hardship didn’t faze him at all—if it meant fixing his crippled leg, he would endure any amount of pain.

Mu Jin noticed the gratitude in Mu Xiong’s eyes and smiled warmly. Together with Wu Po, he took Mu Xiong to a secluded area. Mu Jin instructed Mu Xiong to bite down on a piece of wood and then asked Wu Po to rebreak the injured leg so it could be reset properly.

After Wu Po secured the leg with splints, Mu Jin provided some medicinal herbs and reminded Mu Xiong to take them on time and get plenty of rest.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead caused by the excruciating pain, Mu Xiong nodded gratefully at Mu Jin. Seeing his leg now straightened and braced, Mu Xiong felt a surge of hope. The thought of being able to walk normally again filled him with excitement.

Grateful beyond words, Mu Xiong resolved to repay Mu Jin’s kindness, even if it meant working tirelessly for him. Though not eloquent, Mu Xiong silently vowed to serve Mu Jin faithfully when the young leader returned to the tribe. He would do his utmost to prove his loyalty.

Meanwhile, Mu Xuan’s recent experiences had been marked by constant setbacks. Her restless meddling within the Pingshan Tribe had diminished her appeal to potential suitors, leaving her anxious.

The tribal gathering offered a chance to mingle with representatives from many major tribes. After much effort, she managed to secure permission to attend. Upon arriving, she quickly set her sights on Lang Wei, a formidable warrior from the Mountain Peak Tribe.

Lang Wei’s strength was undeniable; he frequently claimed victory in the warriors’ contests at such gatherings. Mu Xuan saw his power as a ticket to a better life. If Lang Wei liked her and brought her to the Gaoshan Tribe, it would be a significant improvement over her current situation in the Pingshan Tribe.

However, Mu Xuan was unaware of Lang Wei’s reputation. Despite his strength, he was notorious for being a philanderer with a poor reputation in his own tribe. Nonetheless, Mu Xuan deliberately showcased her gentler side to capture his interest. Her striking appearance caught Lang Wei’s eye, and he quickly reciprocated her advances. The two struck up a connection with ease.

The exchanges between Lang Wei and Mu Xuan appeared tender and affectionate on the surface. From the female protagonist’s perspective, she believed she had all but won Lang Wei’s heart. However, at this critical moment, Mu Xiong’s sudden reappearance left Mu Xuan feeling deeply uneasy. To avoid complications, she decided to feign ignorance of Mu Xiong.

Unbeknownst to her, her panicked demeanor did not escape Lang Wei’s sharp observation. Even the other Ping Mountain Tribe members nearby noticed Mu Xuan’s unusual reaction.

Lately, Mu Xuan had been lingering conspicuously near the larger tribes, clearly seeking opportunities. While the people in primitive tribes typically had simple thoughts, Mu Xuan’s brazen actions were too blatant, making her intentions easy to discern. Gossip naturally spread, eventually reaching Mu Jin’s ears.

Yet Mu Xuan paid no heed to these rumors. After seemingly winning over Lang Wei, her confidence soared. As for the situation with Mu Xiong, she believed she had concealed it well and dismissed it as irrelevant.

However, after a sweet rendezvous with Lang Wei, she returned to the Ping Mountain Tribe’s territory only to witness an unexpected scene: Wu Peng and Wu He together.

Wu Peng was gazing at Wu He with a look of utmost tenderness. In his hand, he held a piece of roasted meat that he was trying to feed to Wu He. Wu He, busy handling some herbs at the stall, naturally opened his mouth to accept the bite.

The intimacy between them was palpable. Mu Xuan could even see the overflowing affection in Wu Peng’s eyes as he looked at Wu He. This sight completely blindsided her. She had assumed that Wu Peng, who had previously pursued her ardently, would never be interested in someone else, let alone Wu He.

To Mu Xuan, Wu He was merely an ordinary man of the tribe—decent-looking but lacking in strength. He was nowhere near her level, or so she thought.

Mu Xuan had completely overlooked her own negligence in maintaining her relationship with Wu Peng. She had been preoccupied for so long with scheming against Mu Jin and Wu Po that she hadn’t noticed how much time had passed since Wu Peng had stopped showing her any attention.

At this moment, seeing the interaction between Wu Peng and Wu He, the female protagonist felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal. Without thinking, she rushed to stand before Wu He and Wu Peng, exclaiming in disbelief, “Wu Peng, what’s going on? Are you and Wu He…?”

Before finishing her sentence, Mu Xuan turned angrily toward Wu He, glaring as she accused, “It’s you! You must have seduced Wu Peng!”

Wu Peng’s expression immediately turned icy upon hearing Mu Xuan’s words. He understood that she had noticed the bond between him and Wu He.

Irritated, Wu Peng found Mu Xuan’s behavior infuriating. Wu He was a bit slow on the uptake and likely hadn’t realized Wu Peng’s feelings yet. Mu Xuan’s outburst might now make Wu He overthink the situation and even push him away. Worse still, Mu Xuan had the audacity to speak so rudely about the person he cherished. Wu Peng was thoroughly displeased.

Originally, Wu Peng had simply found Wu He to be a kind and pleasant person. But over time, he discovered that being with Wu He brought him immense joy. Wu He’s character was pure, kind, and full of positivity. No matter the situation, he always tried to see the bright side.

Spending time with Wu He was lighthearted and relaxing for Wu Peng. Although he hadn’t yet confessed his feelings, he enjoyed their slow-brewing connection and believed this gradual development would lead to something meaningful.

After so much effort and patience, Wu Peng had finally succeeded in making Wu He accustomed to his presence. Now, Mu Xuan’s sudden interference felt like a rude disruption to everything he had worked toward.

Wu He, on the other hand, was taken aback by Mu Xuan’s sudden accusations. Recently, Wu Peng had been helping him often and had become a good friend. Wu He initially admired Wu Peng for his strength and now valued him even more for his kind and considerate nature.

To Wu He, their relationship was purely one of friendship. Earlier, when Wu He struggled to handle his herbs and eat simultaneously, Wu Peng had offered to assist, feeding him out of thoughtfulness.

---

Chapter 355- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (21)

Mu Shan turned to Wu Po and said, “Compete against this man from our tribe. If you win, I’ll acknowledge that you have enough strength and aren’t just spouting empty words.”

Mu Jin glanced at the man Mu Shan was pointing to and twitched the corner of his mouth. He recognized this person instantly. From a young age, this man had always been particularly tall and strong, with immense physical power. He even had a nickname, “Big Bear,” and was considered one of the strongest individuals in the Pingyuan Tribe.

Even compared to the original owner of Mu Jin’s body, Big Bear wasn’t far behind. It was obvious that Mu Shan had called him out as an intimidation tactic against Wu Po.

However, Mu Jin wasn’t worried. Even though Big Bear was formidable, he wasn’t a match for Wu Po. But as Wu Jin’s partner, Mu Jin felt it necessary to take a stand, even if he was confident in Wu Po’s abilities.

He immediately stepped in front of Wu Po, glaring at Mu Shan with displeasure. “Father, this isn’t necessary. I’m with him not because of how strong he is but because I like him. No matter who he is or what he’s like, I want to be with him!”

Mu Jin, ever mindful of any opportunity, subtly expressed his feelings once again. Turning to Wu Po, he was rewarded with the sight of the man’s deeply moved expression, unable to hide his emotions.

Mu Shan, seeing this, felt the wrinkles on his forehead deepen. He had no desire to witness this impromptu display of affection, least of all from his own son. Displeased, he shot Big Bear a meaningful look.

Big Bear stepped forward, immediately taking his stance and preparing to attack Wu Po. However, before Wu Po could react, Mu Jin instinctively blocked Big Bear’s advance. With a swift kick, he sent Big Bear tumbling to the ground.

Seeing the towering man, as big as a small mountain, get kicked to the ground by the much smaller Mu Jin, Wu Po didn’t know how to react.

So, the delicate, fragile partner he’d always believed needed his protection was actually this strong?

Wu Po turned stiffly toward Mu Jin, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief. Across from him, Mu Jin clearly realized he had accidentally revealed himself again. Feeling guilty, he rubbed his nose and quickly moved closer, tugging on Wu Po’s arm and whining, “Wu Po, my foot hurts!”

As he spoke, Mu Jin lifted the foot he had just used to kick the man. His ankle was spotless—there wasn’t the slightest mark on it. Yet hearing Mu Jin say it hurt, Wu Po immediately set aside all other thoughts.

The man crouched down slightly, gently massaging Mu Jin’s ankle. His gaze carried a trace of reproach, as if blaming Mu Jin for being careless. Such matters should clearly be handled by him.

At the same time, Wu Po found himself thinking that if his partner was a little stronger, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Being strong meant Mu Jin was healthy, and he wouldn’t have to worry excessively about his well-being. Still, tasks like dealing with rough situations should be left to him.

Mu Shan, who had been eagerly anticipating Mu Jin’s blunder and ready to enjoy the show, now found himself at a loss for words. He cast an exasperated glance at his son, only to see Mu Jin sneaking a playful wink in his direction.

Looking at Wu Po beside him, who was tenderly massaging Mu Jin’s ankle with a face full of concern, Mu Shan suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for his future son-in-law.

However, sympathy was one thing—he couldn’t just skip the test of strength.

It was also clear that Big Bear hadn’t used his full strength earlier; after all, he knew that the opponent was their young chief’s future partner. Everyone in the tribe was well aware of how petty and vengeful Mu Jin could be, so nobody dared to cross him lightly.

Big Bear didn’t know exactly how strong Wu Po was, but he was certain of one thing: if he truly hurt the person their young chief favored, he would be in for a long period of suffering. Thankfully, he hadn’t even started fighting before the young chief himself kicked him to the ground.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Big Bear silently acknowledged that Mu Jin’s strength was formidable. Even though Mu Jin had held back, the force of his kick was still enough to knock him down awkwardly, though he wasn’t actually injured.

Big Bear thought he had escaped the situation unscathed, but to his dismay, Mu Shan wasn’t ready to let him off the hook. Reluctantly, he got back on his feet, prepared to face Wu Po in a proper bout.

This time, however, Wu Po wouldn’t allow Mu Jin to intervene again. He stepped forward alone to face the warrior from the Pingyuan Tribe.

The location of their duel was behind the tribe’s tents, a secluded area where few people would pass by. Any noise from their sparring wouldn’t draw attention, which is why Mu Shan felt at ease letting them fight there.

What happened next, though, surprised him greatly—Wu Po won. And not just won, but won with remarkable ease.

Mu Shan had heard from Mu Jin that Wu Po was very strong, even stronger than Mu Jin himself. Still, he had taken the claim with some skepticism, believing Mu Jin might have exaggerated in his fondness for Wu Po.

But after witnessing Wu Po go head-to-head with one of the tribe’s strongest warriors, Mu Shan realized how wrong he had been. Wu Po was genuinely powerful.

Mu Shan also knew that Big Bear wasn’t entirely helpless against Mu Jin; earlier, Big Bear had held back out of respect for Mu Jin, with more playful than serious intent given their history of growing up together.

When facing Wu Po, Mu Shan could tell that Big Bear initially intended to hold back. However, once Wu Po displayed his true strength, Big Bear gave it his all. Yet even then, he was no match for Wu Po.

Mu Shan noticed that during the fight, Wu Po appeared relaxed and unhurried. It seemed as though he was merely humoring Big Bear, finding it rare to encounter a somewhat challenging opponent and wanting to prolong the sparring for fun. Had Wu Po been serious from the start, Big Bear likely wouldn’t have lasted more than twenty moves against him.

The match ultimately ended with Wu Po’s clear victory. However, both sides exercised restraint—Wu Po released Big Bear after fully subduing him, and Big Bear emerged from the fight without any injuries.

When Mu Jin saw Wu Po’s victory, he immediately leaped into his arms, beaming with joy. Mu Shan let out a resigned sigh. It seemed his son truly was grown and no longer under his control.

Despite the defeat of the tribe’s warrior, Mu Shan refused to let the tribe’s dignity falter. Maintaining a stern expression, he approached Wu Po and said gravely, “This time, you’ve indeed won and proven your strength. But remember, no matter how strong you are, you’re dealing with the entire Pingyuan Tribe. If one day you betray Mu Jin, it will mean you’ve made an enemy of the entire tribe.”

Instead of being angered by Mu Shan’s words, Wu Po nodded earnestly. He raised his hand and solemnly swore, “If I ever betray Mu Jin, let the gods punish me. For the rest of my life, I will have only Mu Jin as my partner. Even in death, I will become a spirit and remain by his side to protect him.”

Hearing Wu Po’s heartfelt oath, Mu Shan finally nodded in satisfaction. He then removed the beast-tooth necklace from around his neck and placed it on Wu Po.

This necklace, passed down from Mu Shan’s father, symbolized duty and protection.

Mu Jin knew how much Mu Shan valued the necklace. The beast teeth on it came from a ferocious predator deep within the forest. Only a warrior who successfully defeated such a beast in single combat could claim its fangs to craft a necklace. Over the years, only Mu Shan’s father had managed to accomplish this feat.

The beast teeth had been polished smooth from years of wear, a clear testament to the love and importance the necklace held for its wearer. By giving it to Wu Po now, Mu Shan was entrusting him with the duty of protecting Mu Jin.

When Mu Jin saw his father hand over the necklace, he realized that Mu Shan had finally relented and given his blessing for their relationship. Moreover, in the Pingyuan Tribe, the significance of this necklace was well-known, making Mu Jin deeply moved.

Although Wu Po didn’t fully know the necklace’s origins, he could tell from Mu Jin’s expression and Mu Shan’s careful gesture that it was of great significance.

He raised his right fist to tap his left shoulder and bent down to perform a deep bow to Mu Shan, expressing his gratitude for being accepted as Mu Jin’s partner.

With this, Mu Jin was reunited with his family, and Mu Shan had accepted Wu Po. The atmosphere was joyful as they stood together, chatting happily for a while.

Mu Jin recounted some of the events that had taken place in the Pingshan Tribe recently and informed Mu Shan that there were still some unresolved matters there requiring his attention. He promised that after finishing those tasks, he and Wu Po would return to the Plains Tribe to stay for a while.

Hearing that Mu Jin would return with Wu Po after handling his affairs, Mu Shan’s mood visibly improved.

Even though their conversation was brief, and Mu Jin soon needed to return to the Pingshan Tribe, Mu Shan wasn’t upset. He casually nodded and, with a stern expression, waved Mu Jin off to handle his business.

Only after Mu Jin left did Mu Shan allow a smile to spread across his face, unable to hide his joy.

The tension that had been building for so long finally eased. His child had returned to him unharmed and even received blessings from the gods. Mu Shan felt immense joy, so much so that he almost didn’t want to let Mu Jin leave.

But his child had grown up and found a partner. As a father, he needed to maintain his dignity.

Oh, right. Mu Jin had mentioned that after the gathering, they might hold a bonding ceremony. He needed to start preparing for that and ensure that no one looked down on his precious son!

After meeting his father, Mu Jin, together with Wu Po, went to inform the Pingshan Tribe’s chief about the situation.

The Pingshan Tribe’s chief was shocked upon learning Mu Jin’s true identity. Although the Ping Mountain Tribe was not small, it was still incomparable to the Pingyuan Tribe.

What astonished him even more was that, not long after, the Pingyuan Tribe’s chief, Mu Shan, personally arrived with his people to visit. This left the Pingshan Tribe’s chief feeling both honored and flattered.

While the two sides engaged in friendly discussions, Mu Jin noticed someone standing beside Mu Shan: Mu Xiong, the same person who had previously helped the female lead escape her arranged marriage. However, Mu Xiong now seemed to be in poor physical and mental condition.

Back when Mu Xiong decided to help Mu Xuan escape the Pingyuan Tribe, he had taken care of her throughout their journey in the forest. He was genuinely willing to give up everything for her, just to stay by her side.

But when they encountered a ferocious beast, Mu Xuan abandoned him and fled on her own. Mu Xiong narrowly escaped death but injured his leg in the process. Later, he was found unconscious by passing Pingyuan Tribe members, who brought him back to the tribe.

Later, although Mu Xiong’s leg injury healed, the bone had set improperly, leaving him with a limp. He could no longer walk normally, let alone join the hunting parties like he used to.

Mu Xiong initially didn’t want to attend the gathering, but Mu Shan insisted on bringing him along, saying there might be herbs or remedies from other tribes that could heal his leg.

Mu Shan hoped that Mu Xiong, once one of the strongest warriors in the Pingyuan Tribe, could recover and return to his former self.

Mu Xiong hadn’t expected that, even after helping Mu Xuan escape, their tribal chief would still care enough to help him. He was deeply moved by Mu Shan’s kindness.

However, Mu Xiong bore no resentment toward Mu Xuan. The beast they encountered back then was incredibly fierce, and the situation was dire. Mu Xuan was just a defenseless woman with no fighting skills. Mu Xiong reasoned that even if Mu Xuan had stayed, she wouldn’t have been able to help him and might have even lost her life.

But ever since his return to the tribe, Mu Xiong had been mentally unwell. Part of it was because of his crippled leg, which made him feel like a useless burden, and part of it was because he couldn’t stop worrying about Mu Xuan.

After recovering somewhat, Mu Xiong had ventured into the forest several times in search of Mu Xuan but never found any trace of her.

Who would have thought that just yesterday evening, while wandering around the gathering, he would see Mu Xuan—together with someone else.

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Chapter 354- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (20)

Seeing Mu Jin’s pitiful expression and hearing how much his son had wanted to return to the tribe—and that he had even thought of him—Mu Shan felt slightly better.

He hadn’t expected that Mu Jin’s runaway adventure would lead him alone into the forest, where he suffered so much hardship. Mu Shan’s heart ached a little as he glanced over his son’s current appearance.

However, as he listened to Mu Jin’s story and looked more carefully at his now soft, smooth complexion, Mu Shan couldn’t help but think his son didn’t look like someone who had endured much suffering…

Mu Jin noticed the doubt in Mu Shan’s eyes and immediately explained, “Father, my appearance now is because, back in the forest, I was starving for days and accidentally ate some strange-looking grass out of desperation.”

“After I ate it, I felt excruciating pain all over my body and passed out. I don’t know exactly what happened, but when I woke up, I looked like this—my scar was gone, too.”

“After that, whenever I fell asleep, I would see all sorts of knowledge appear in my mind. Sometimes, in my dreams, I’d also see the blurry figure of a person. I believe it’s a gift from the gods.”

“Father, the person I saw in my dream is Wu Po. In the dream, we were together. I think this might be the will of the gods, which is why I chose to stay with Wu Po. But it’s not just that—he’s been so good to me. Father, I truly care for Wu Po now!”

Mu Jin’s explanation sounded fantastical, but Mu Shan couldn’t bring himself to doubt it. After all, his son’s transformed appearance, especially the disappearance of his scar, was not something that could be easily explained. Moreover, Mu Jin mentioned gaining knowledge in his dreams.

Over the past few days at the tribal gathering, Mu Shan had paid close attention to the offerings from various tribes, including the Pingshan Tribe, which he’d gone to see personally. That tribe had presented a new type of plant that caused quite a stir due to its abundance and ability to satisfy hunger.

This plant, called sweet potato, was easy to store, tasted good, and filled people up quickly. If the tribe could store a large amount of it for the cold season, they would no longer have to worry about a shortage of game.

Not only that, the Pingshan Tribe was also selling a variety of medicinal herbs. While it’s true that herbs can be found in the forest, they are far from abundant. Yet the Pingshan Tribe somehow managed to bring out such a large quantity all at once.

If any tribe truly had access to such an extensive supply of medicinal herbs, their hunters injured in the wild could receive timely treatment. This would be an incredible advantage for any tribe.

Although gatherings like this only happen once every five years, Mu Shan clearly remembered that five years ago, the Pingshan Tribe didn’t have anything nearly as impressive as these offerings. However, if these remarkable changes were related to divine blessings, then everything would make sense.

Thinking about this, Mu Shan felt a little annoyed. He glared at Mu Jin and said with dissatisfaction, “With such good things, instead of bringing them back to benefit your own tribe, you’re sharing them with outsiders!”

Hearing this, Mu Jin chuckled, fully understanding the reason behind Mu Shan’s displeasure. He quickly attempted to smooth things over, saying, “It’s not like that, Father. Wu Po and I are about to become partners. Our union isn’t just a personal matter—it’s a union of two tribes.”

“In the future, the Pingshan Tribe and the Pingyuan Tribe will undoubtedly strengthen their relationship. What I know, he’ll know too. Benefiting both tribes and forming an alliance is a good thing, isn’t it?”

Upon hearing Mu Jin’s reasoning, Mu Shan reluctantly nodded, grudgingly accepting his explanation.

Looking at Mu Jin’s smiling face, Mu Shan let out a helpless sigh. Ever since his son had run away from home, Mu Shan had been in a state of depression, fearing that something terrible had happened to him.

Mu Shan only had this one child, whom he deeply cherished. Night after night, he had been filled with regret. If only he hadn’t forced Mu Jin to find a woman to carry on the family line, perhaps his son would never have left.

So now, Mu Shan no longer had any insistence on Mu Jin being with a woman. When he first saw Mu Jin with Wu Po, he was indeed angry. But if this union was ordained by the gods, there was nothing he could do to stop it.

Moreover, according to Mu Jin, Wu Po had treated him exceptionally well. Without even knowing Mu Jin’s true identity and believing him to be weak, Wu Po had still gone out of his way to care for him. This seemed to show genuine affection for his child.

Mu Shan had also noticed Wu Po’s protective behavior toward Mu Jin earlier. Wu Po was carrying numerous heavy bags in his hands, while his son had nothing at all in his.

Even if his son was determined to choose a male partner, it was always good to find someone who would treat him with kindness and care. Thinking this, Mu Shan’s heart began to soften.

However, he didn’t feel the need to meet Wu Po just yet. As he collected his thoughts, he smirked with a hint of mischief and said to Mu Jin, “That young man doesn’t know you’re the heir to the Pingyuan Tribe, does he?”

Mu Jin’s expression instantly fell at these words.

Despite this, Mu Jin wasn’t overly worried. While he had indeed concealed this fact from Wu Po, he believed that once he explained everything, Wu Po would understand and forgive him.

Seeing his father’s rare expression of satisfaction at having the upper hand, Mu Jin couldn’t bring himself to dampen his mood. Instead, he sighed theatrically and said to Mu Shan, “Alright, Father, I’ll explain everything to him. But when I bring you to meet him, you must treat him kindly.”

“Wu Po is my savior and incredibly strong. Winning his favor for our tribe would only be beneficial.”

To Mu Jin’s surprise, Mu Shan snorted coldly and retorted, “That’s not necessarily the case. Don’t forget, you’re the heir to the Pingyuan Tribe. The future of this tribe will rest in your hands.”

“I don’t care whether he’s someone blessed by the gods or not. What matters to me is that he’ll be your partner. I need to see for myself whether he’s worthy of you.”

Hearing this, Mu Jin could only nod helplessly. He recognized his father’s insistence on this matter. However, in a world where everyone believed so devoutly in the gods, Mu Shan’s priority was still Mu Jin’s happiness, which touched him deeply.

When Mu Jin and Mu Shan exited the Pingyuan Tribe’s tent, they found Wu Po waiting outside, clearly anxious after what had felt like an eternity. Mu Jin nodded to the other tribe members and walked toward Wu Po.

Upon seeing Mu Jin emerge, Wu Po finally relaxed a little. But as he considered Mu Jin’s newly revealed identity, he still felt as if he were dreaming. While Mu Jin had been inside speaking with his father, the surrounding tribe members had explained to Wu Po exactly who Mu Jin was.

From Mu Shan’s commanding presence, Wu Po had already guessed that his status was high. Yet he hadn’t imagined that Mu Shan was the leader of the Pingyuan Tribe, making Mu Jin the tribe’s heir. Moreover, Mu Jin was said to be well-loved and highly respected within the tribe.

Wu Po had always believed Mu Jin to be an exceptional person, but now, knowing his noble identity, Wu Po couldn’t help but question whether he was worthy of Mu Jin.

For a brief moment, hesitation flickered in Wu Po’s eyes. But the moment he saw Mu Jin, his resolve returned, firm and unwavering.

Wu Po clenched his fists, silently vowing in his heart. No matter who Mu Jin truly was, he would never let him go. Since Mu Jin had come into his life, he would ensure he stayed by his side forever. As Mu Jin walked toward him, Wu Po reached out, intertwining their fingers together.

Standing not far away, Mu Shan watched his son blatantly holding hands and displaying affection with another man. A sour feeling crept into his heart.

Striding forward and ignoring Mu Jin’s pleading gaze, Mu Shan addressed Wu Po directly, “So you’re the one confessing your love to Xiao Jin, saying you want to be with him?”

Wu Po nodded without hesitation. It was true that he had initiated their union. Even though the man before him was Mu Jin’s father, he would not falter.

But Mu Shan pressed on, “I’ve heard from Xiao Jin. I know you saved him. But so what? Saving him doesn’t mean he’s obligated to be your partner.”

“He’s my son, Mu Shan’s son—the heir of the Pingyuan Tribe. One day, the entire tribe will be his. What makes you think you’re worthy of him?”

Mu Shan’s tone was anything but friendly, but it did nothing to shake Wu Po’s resolve. With unwavering determination, Wu Po replied earnestly, “I am the strongest man in the Pingshan Tribe. I will work hard to give Mu Jin the best of everything and care for him with all my heart. I love him more than my own life!”

After Wu Po finished speaking, Mu Shan let out a derisive snort. “Anyone can say pretty words,” he scoffed. Clapping his hands, he gestured toward a particularly tall and imposing man standing behind him. “You, come forward,” he commanded.

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Chapter 353- Fierce and Ominous Top VS Pretend Weak but Actually a Big Boss (19)

Of course, this was something Mu Jin had not been aware of initially. After ensuring that the Pingshan Tribe had set up their stall properly and observing how orderly everything had been managed over the past few days, leaving no need for his assistance, Mu Jin decided to wander around the gathering with Wu Po, hand in hand.

Not long after, as they strolled to a stall belonging to another tribe, Mu Jin spotted a familiar face—Mu Shan. It was then that Mu Jin was shocked to realize that the Pingyuan Tribe had also come to attend the gathering.

As Mu Jin noticed Mu Shan, Mu Shan also saw the young man whose appearance bore a striking resemblance to his son. If it had been anyone else looking at Mu Jin, they might not have immediately recognized him as the young leader of the Pingyuan Tribe.

However, Mu Shan was Mu Jin’s father and had watched him grow up. Even though Mu Jin’s face was now free of the scar, his appearance was neat and clean, and his skin had become smooth and fair, Mu Shan still recognized his child at first glance.

Mu Shan’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at Mu Jin, unable to comprehend what had happened to cause such a drastic transformation in his son’s appearance.

Following the initial shock, however, Mu Shan quickly transitioned to dismay as he noticed Mu Jin’s fingers intertwined with Wu Po’s.

Back then, his son had clearly agreed to hold a bonding ceremony with Mu Xuan. Yet here they were—both Mu Xuan and Mu Jin had run off.

If it were only Mu Xuan who had left, it wouldn’t have been a big deal—just a beautiful woman in the tribe; finding another partner wouldn’t be hard.

But his child was the young leader of the Pingyuan Tribe, the hope for its future. How could he act so recklessly? Leaving the tribe without a word, simply because Mu Shan wanted him to find a woman and ensure the continuation of the family line?

Mu Shan was no longer young, and over the years, he had only had one child—Mu Jin. So when his son left without a word, it naturally broke his heart.

Mu Shan had always been deeply affectionate and indulgent toward Mu Jin. Seeing Mu Jin now only made him angrier. After being gone for so long, did his son even still consider him a father?

Without thinking, Mu Shan stormed forward, intending to teach his ungrateful son a lesson. However, as he approached, he was stopped by the tall, imposing man standing in front of Mu Jin.

Wu Po, noticing the authoritative-looking man from the large tribe rushing aggressively toward Mu Jin, immediately stepped in front of him.

He didn’t understand why this man was glaring so fiercely at Mu Jin, but no matter who the person was, Wu Po would never allow anyone to harm his partner.

Mu Shan, meanwhile, had been entirely focused on Mu Jin. Although he had noticed the man beside his son, he had paid him little attention.

But now, seeing this man daring to block his way, Mu Shan’s temper flared. He locked eyes with Wu Po, only to realize, to his annoyance, that this young man was significantly taller and more imposing than himself.

The thought that this guy had “stolen” his son infuriated Mu Shan even more. Naturally, his tone toward Wu Po was far from friendly. Seeing Wu Po standing like a wall between him and Mu Jin, Mu Shan snapped coldly, “Step aside!”

As the chief of the Pingyuan Tribe, Mu Shan naturally carried an air of authority from his many years in power. While most people might have been intimidated by his imposing demeanor, Wu Po was clearly not among them.

Wu Po furrowed his brows, unshaken by Mu Shan’s harsh tone or presence.

Mu Jin, sensing the tension, realized things were about to spiral. He had originally planned to return to the Pingyuan Tribe after resolving everything with the Pingshan Tribe and neutralizing the female protagonist’s threats. If conditions in the Pingyuan Tribe were favorable, he had even considered settling there with Wu Po.

However, he hadn’t expected to encounter the original host’s father at this gathering. Judging by Mu Shan’s reaction, it was clear that despite his changed appearance, Mu Shan had recognized him. Deciding there was no point in running from this any longer, Mu Jin quickly began considering how to handle the situation—especially given his relationship with Wu Po and the original host’s reasons for leaving in the first place.

The original host’s personality had always been too stubborn, but Mu Jin could tell from Mu Shan’s expression that, beneath the stern façade, there was a mix of excitement and worry. The man was nothing more than a “paper tiger¹.”

Recalling from the original host’s memories that the father and son had always shared a strong bond, Mu Jin understood Mu Shan’s feelings. To ease the situation, he squeezed Wu Po’s hand reassuringly and offered Mu Shan a bright, conciliatory smile as he called out, “Father.”

Wu Po, who had been bracing himself to confront this “stranger” charging toward his partner, froze in shock. He had assumed that something had happened to Mu Jin’s former tribe, leaving him alone and wandering. But now, hearing Mu Jin call this man “Father,” he was stunned. Not only did Mu Jin have family, but judging by the way the other tribesmen deferred to Mu Shan, his father clearly held a significant position.

In hindsight, Wu Po realized he should have figured it out. Someone as knowledgeable as Mu Jin, who had studied under his tribe’s priest, couldn’t have come from a weak or insignificant tribe. He had simply assumed too much.

Even though Mu Jin had many traits that might arouse suspicion, Wu Po deliberately chose to overlook them.

The time spent with Mu Jin was the happiest and most fulfilling period of Wu Po’s life. Deep down, the man feared unexpected events that might disrupt their harmony.

No matter how many questions Mu Jin’s origins raised, Wu Po decided to deceive himself and ignore anything that could cause doubt. He didn’t care who Mu Jin was or where he came from; all he wanted was for Mu Jin to stay by his side.

But now that Mu Jin’s family had appeared, Wu Po was momentarily unsure how to react.

When he saw Mu Shan’s shocked expression after hearing Mu Jin call him “Father,” followed by Mu Shan’s angry glare in his direction, Wu Po instinctively bowed deeply toward Mu Shan. Then, mimicking Mu Jin, he earnestly called out, “Father!”

His attitude couldn’t have been more sincere.

Mu Shan froze at Wu Po’s sudden change in demeanor and, hearing him use that form of address, stiffened in shock.

With many people around, Mu Shan refrained from immediately losing his temper, but his face darkened noticeably. He glared at Wu Po, silently cursing, ‘This shameless brat! Who wants to be your father?’

Meanwhile, the members of the Pingyuan Tribe who had accompanied Mu Shan were equally astonished. Hearing Mu Jin call Mu Shan “Father” left them shocked and unsure of what to think.

They had already felt that the young man seemed somewhat familiar. After their leader’s reminder, they took a closer look and realized—wasn’t this their tribe’s young chief?

“Wait, how did the young chieftain’s appearance change? Even the scar on his face is gone!”

The once disheveled and untidy hair had been neatly combed, and Mu Jin was dressed in a pure white animal-hide outfit. Paired with his refined features, he looked even more attractive than the women in the tribe.

However, just as they began doubting their eyes, Mu Jin turned his head and flashed a grin at them. The clear and unmistakable warning in his gaze confirmed it: this was indeed their mischievous young chieftain!

Seeing that his father, Mu Shan, hadn’t lashed out at him in front of everyone, Mu Jin inwardly sighed in relief. He knew the gathering wasn’t the right time or place to explain things to his father, so he cheekily winked at him.

Mu Shan glared at Mu Jin in annoyance, but he couldn’t bring himself to berate him. With a huff, he strode ahead.

Mu Jin chuckled at his father’s reaction, then tugged at the sleeve of the visibly nervous Wu Po, signaling him to follow Mu Shan toward the tents set aside for the Pingyuan Tribe at the gathering.

Upon arriving at the tents, Mu Jin stopped everyone else, including Wu Po, from entering. “Don’t go in yet. I need to speak to my father privately,” he said, giving Wu Po a reassuring glance.

Though reluctant, Wu Po pressed his lips together and stayed behind, casting a worried gaze at the closed animal-skin flap of the tent. His heart was filled with anxiety as he waited for Mu Jin.

Inside the tent, Mu Shan had heard Mu Jin’s instructions. Though dissatisfied, he didn’t object, partly out of consideration for Mu Jin’s reputation and partly because he had his own questions to ask.

As soon as Mu Jin entered, he approached Mu Shan with a wide grin, almost playfully, and called out, “Father!”

Hearing Mu Jin call him that, Mu Shan softened a little, seeing his usually rebellious son suddenly showing such a rare gentle demeanor. For a moment, he was tempted to forgive him.

But then the memory of Mu Jin disappearing without a word for so long reignited his anger. He had feared that Mu Jin had met some terrible fate in the forest, perhaps even ending up in the stomach of a wild beast.

Thinking back on all the worry and fear he’d endured over such a long time, Mu Shan decided he wasn’t going to give Mu Jin an easy pass. With a stern face, he said, “Explain yourself. Where have you been all this time? And who’s that strange man outside?”

“A strange man? Really, Father…” Mu Jin felt a wave of exasperation at the description.

Still, he understood that Mu Shan was upset with him and probably held some disdain for Wu Po. So, Mu Jin quickly offered a mix of truth and embellishment, saying, “Father, it’s not that I didn’t want to return to the tribe. It was my fault for storming off into the forest in a fit of anger. But I got lost and then ran into a wild beast.”

“I hadn’t eaten properly in days and didn’t have the strength to fight back. Luckily, Wu Po—yes, the man you just saw—appeared and saved me!”

Hearing that the man outside was Mu Jin’s savior, Mu Shan’s expression softened slightly.

Noticing this, Mu Jin seized the opportunity and pressed on, “After that, he took me to a place called the Pingshan Tribe. Wu Po is incredibly skilled; he’s the strongest fighter in their tribe.”

“Ever since he rescued me, he’s been nothing but kind. He assumed I was weak and made it his duty to take care of me. He hunted for me every day and wouldn’t even let me join the foraging teams.”

“I didn’t know how to explain to him that I wasn’t actually weak. His strength far surpasses mine, and he was my savior. At the time, I was exhausted, hungry, and unwell from wandering in the forest for so long.”

“Having someone willing to care for me, I decided to stay in the Pingshan Tribe temporarily to recover.”

“In fact, I miss home and you very much! But when I think about how angry you were when I left, I don’t dare to go back to the Plains Tribe to face you. And then, it has been delayed until now…”

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Note :

1. “Paper tiger” (纸老虎, zhǐ lǎo hǔ) is a Chinese idiom used to describe something or someone that appears threatening or powerful but is actually weak and ineffective. ↩︎

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