The brute's expression was almost tearful, and a hint of pleading appeared in his eyes. "Brother, I truly know I was wrong. Please, can you give me another chance?"
"I promise I will never cause you any more trouble. And I'll leave right now, far away, and never appear before you again."
"I have nothing to do with the matters between the two companies. When I get back, I'll warn the Yao family to stop bothering you. If they don't, I'll deal with them myself without you lifting a finger."
Mu Feng smiled faintly. "Do you think that's enough? You caused me so much trouble, and now you think a few nice words will make me let you go. Haven't you painted too rosy a picture of the world?"
"Among martial artists, there's no such thing as sparring. It's a fight to the death. Since you're no match for me now and have fallen into my hands, your life is directly in my grasp."
"Tell me, how do you wish to die?"
The brute's fear grew more evident. He knew his pleas were useless and that he had to pay a price, or this day might truly be his last.
A slight tremor of fear appeared in his eyes, his gaze flickering. "My life belongs to you now. You must have a use for me. I'm a Grandmaster-level expert. It would be honorable for me to serve you and run errands."
"From now on, I will follow your lead. You are my master."
Mu Feng's smile held a hint of satisfaction. "That's a way to live. But are you truly willing to become a tool in my hands?"
The brute hesitated for a moment. He had intended to lie and say something pleasant, but when he met Mu Feng's gaze, his heart skipped a beat. He felt as if Mu Feng had seen right through his thoughts.
He could only force a bitter smile. "I am indeed unwilling, but what can I do? After all, I lost."
"As I said, I will be your tool without any hesitation. However, you cannot send me to my death directly, or I will still be unwilling."
"Everything I'm saying now is my true feeling. If you're not satisfied, you can kill me."
He had resigned himself to his fate. After all, a Grandmaster like himself was something Mu Feng would surely desire.
He hadn't done anything wicked, so he could be openly utilized.
Mu Feng's smile grew even more satisfied. "Very good. You've spoken the truth, and I can give you a chance."
"However, you are not someone I've trained, so I will naturally have reservations about you."
"Since you admit you've lost your life to me, I can do anything to you without regret."
"Take this pill!"
The brute accepted the pill Mu Feng tossed to him. He examined it closely and frowned at the fragrance emanating from it.
"You're so kind as to give me a pill to consume?"
"After all, I'm just a tool in your hands. Someone like me only brings you value, and you gain nothing from me until my usefulness is exhausted."
"Why give me a pill now? Are you cultivating me, or do you truly believe I can be loyal to you forever?"
He said this to test Mu Feng. They were both adults, and he wasn't a fool.
He hadn't accomplished anything yet, but Mu Feng was directly rewarding him with a pill. There had to be something amiss. Coupled with Mu Feng's earlier words, he had a very bad premonition.
Mu Feng's smile widened. "Once you take this pill, you'll know. It can indeed enhance your strength, even allowing you to reach the peak of your current realm."
"If you have talent, you could break through to higher levels soon. But your talent is somewhat lacking, especially since you're already over forty."
"You've long missed the prime years for cultivation. But it's okay, this pill can still double your strength."
"Now, I'm giving you a chance. Take this pill and use it for me. If you refuse, I'll send you directly to the underworld."
The brute hesitated for a moment, then a bitter smile appeared on his face. "This is probably nothing good, but it doesn't matter. Since I'm already your tool, the outcome is the same whether I take this pill or not."
With that, he popped the pill into his mouth.
The pill dissolved instantly, and he soon felt a vast medicinal energy spreading through his body. His expression changed as the energy made his meridians ache slightly. He was a Grandmaster, after all.
Ignoring his shock, he quickly circulated his internal energy to dissolve the medicinal power.
About half an hour later, he felt all the medicinal energy transform into his own strength, and his Grandmaster realm reached a state of perfect completion.
He looked up at Mu Feng in disbelief, his eyes filled with astonishment. "With just one pill, you've brought my strength to this level."
"I finally understand why you, at such a young age, possess such unfathomable power. It turns out you control such powerful medicinal formulas."
"No wonder those who sought to target you ended up in ruin. I was truly overestimating myself to come find trouble with you. But regardless, I must thank you."
His words were sincere. Mu Feng held his life in his hands and yet gave him such a precious pill. It was a reward and an opportunity.
Mu Feng's lips curved into a devilish smile. "Don't thank me just yet. In five minutes at most, you'll know why I gave you this pill."
The brute blinked but didn't take his words too seriously. A sheepish smile appeared on his face. "No matter what, you've made my strength improve so much. Even if this pill is a slow poison."
"I'll accept it. After all, to gain something, one must pay a price. I'm paying with my freedom. Even if the Yao family treated me like an ancestor, they couldn't have improved my strength this quickly."
"Relatively speaking, I prefer being your subordinate."
His words held a hint of exaggeration. He didn't want to lose his freedom, but he was currently under someone else's roof and had to bow.
Mu Feng said nothing and calmly lit a cigarette.