Chapter 140: Don't Go

"Second Martial Uncle can?"

"Of course. He started out studying medicine and only entered the Martial Dao later. After he combined the two, his skills in both skyrocketed."

"He's incredibly strong."

Hearing Jin Guangshi's words, Yang Qitian's eyes lit up. "I see! In that case, I'll contact Second Martial Uncle right away!"

Jin Guangshi turned to walk out, and Yang Qitian hurriedly asked, "Martial Uncle, where are you going? You just got here, why not stay for some tea?"

Jin Guangshi said, "No need. I have to take care of business first. Elder Zhou is a cautious man. The longer we wait, the more defenses he'll put up."

'Elder Zhou?' Yang Qitian was shaken. This was the man who single-handedly controlled the power dynamics of all of Anhua.

In his wheelchair, Patriarch Yang's eyes flashed with a strange excitement.

He knew full well how powerful Jin Guangshi was. If he made a move, Elder Zhou was as good as dead.

It was a foregone conclusion.

"It's him!"

Jin Guangshi said calmly, "That's right. It's him!"

Patriarch Yang struggled to clench his fist and pumped it once in the air.

"I'll be waiting for your good news, Mr. Jin!"

"According to our backer, the higher-ups failed the last few times because they waited too long. It's better to strike fast and hard."

Yang Qitian excitedly raised his hand. "I'll go too! If we kill Elder Zhou, the Yang Family can use the Zhou Family's assets to rise again!"

Jin Guangshi glanced at Yang Qitian. "You're not cut out for this. Just stay put."

Yang Qitian was furious. "Says who?"

"Because I can do it alone. If you come along, I'll just be distracted protecting you."

Yang Qitian was stunned. He never thought his Martial Uncle would reject him.

Senior Brother Tang stopped Yang Qitian. "Why make a fuss? He's just looking out for you!"

"Just focus on avenging our family. Stop getting distracted!"

Senior Brother Tang held Yang Qitian back, preventing him from following Jin Guangshi.

Only after Jin Guangshi had disappeared from sight did Senior Brother Tang let go.

"Let's go. I'll go with you," Senior Brother Tang said.

Yang Qitian took a deep breath and bowed deeply to his grandfather.

But he saw Patriarch Yang waving his hands repeatedly, his expression anxious.

"Grandfather, what are you trying to say?"

Patriarch Yang said, "Come back! Don't go after Mu Lin!"

"Grandfather, what are you afraid of? Senior Brother Tang is the strongest of our generation. Taking out some practitioner of Wild Fox Zen will be easy."

With that, he laughed heartily and left.

The paralyzed Patriarch Yang was completely unable to stop them.

Patriarch Yang was frantic. 'What a joke.'

'Chen Zhengyang was so powerful, yet he still got taken out. This Senior Brother Tang is so young. How could he possibly be a match for Chen Zhengyang?'

Zhou Qianfan was working in his office when his secretary came in. "President Zhou, the young man you mentioned has arrived. He's waiting downstairs. I've prepared some tea and snacks for him."

"You've done well. You may go. I'll be down in a moment."

After speaking, Zhou Qianfan quickly gathered his things and went downstairs to greet him.

"Mu Lin, you're a true friend! You really came when I needed you!"

Mu Lin smiled. "You and Elder Zhou have been very good to me. With your help, many problems were solved in an instant. There's no reason I wouldn't help you!"

"I'll take you there. We can't use the villa this time. I've arranged for another place."

The two of them headed for the parking lot.

"Uncle Zhou, do you know who the mastermind is yet?"

When the topic came up, Zhou Qianfan immediately waved at the people around them, dismissing everyone.

Only after everyone was a good distance away did he sigh and say:

"How could it be that easy… I said publicly that we've found them, but in truth, we've made no progress at all."

"Then what should we do?" Mu Lin asked, turning his head.

"We can only play for time. The people under me are in a panic. I have to give them some confidence so they can work in peace."

Mu Lin sighed. It seemed every family had its own troubles.

The bigger the family, the more people who resent you, and the more who want you dead.

'Perhaps in the end, they'll find it wasn't even the same mastermind, but a string of copycat criminals.'

Zhou Qianfan said, "Right now, you're the only one who puts my mind at ease. This time, I only had Captain Chen pick a few men to help you. I've dismissed everyone else… After so many people died last time, never mind the compensation, my conscience can't take it."

Mu Lin nodded. The casualties last time were indeed heavy. Even he thought it was excessive.

"I'll have Captain Chen and his men get out of the way quickly. If we assume the enemies are getting progressively stronger, then this time, the foe will be someone Captain Chen is completely unable to fight."

"I'm afraid no matter how they try to defend themselves, they'll likely be taken out in a single blow."

Zhou Qianfan's face paled. "Really? Then doesn't that mean we have no chance at all?"

Mu Lin shook his head. "I'll take care of the enemy. I've never heard of anyone in this world I can't handle."

His words gave Zhou Qianfan a bit more confidence, but his heart was still filled with unease.

'Last time,' he recalled, 'if Dad's bodyguard hadn't accidentally stumbled into the Li Family's courtyard, Mu Lin probably wouldn't have even intervened.'

Then the pillar of the Zhou Family would have collapsed long ago.

The car stopped, and Zhou Qianfan led Mu Lin out.

They were deep in the mountains. The ride had been bumpy for a while, but the car's suspension system was good, so Mu Lin hadn't really felt it.

Zhou Qianfan pointed to a dark brick blockhouse. "See that? It's a pillbox left over from the old days. It's quite large inside. I bought it specifically to use as a shelter this time."

Mu Lin nodded slowly. These dark, interlocking bricks were clearly specially treated, making them far sturdier than ordinary ones.

As long as the main entrance and the upper floor were guarded, there was almost no way for anyone to break in.

Zhou Qianfan pushed the door open and, once inside, bowed from a distance toward the back of the room.

"Dad, I've brought Mu Lin!"

Zhou Qishan's eyes lit up. "Mu Lin, come over here!"

Mu Lin walked into the blockhouse and greeted Zhou Qishan earnestly, "Hello, Elder Zhou."

Zhou Qishan smiled. "Don't be so formal. Sit. My life is in your hands tonight."

The huge blockhouse was now filled with people.

"Dad, why is everyone… Didn't you say…" Zhou Qianfan's mouth hung open in surprise.

'Usually, Dad would have sent the rest of the family away.'

Zhou Qishan said, "It's not safe outside lately. It's hard to say where is more dangerous, so it's better to stick together. If today really is the last day for the Zhou Family, at least we'll all die together."

The old man's words were so pessimistic that no one knew how to respond.

"Come, come, Mu Xiaoyou, let me introduce you to our family."

As he spoke, the old man led the way in his wheelchair.

When they reached the second floor, Mu Lin saw a woman and a young girl standing beside the old man.

'Are these family members?'

Mu Lin was a little shocked. Aside from Zhou Qianfan and Elder Zhou, he hadn't met any of their other relatives.

He was introduced to the wife and the girl, and they were all very polite to each other.

Elder Zhou said, "The Zhou Family is actually quite large, with many members, but these are the only ones who are truly close…"

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "A distant relative is no match for a close neighbor! It certainly makes sense for us to help each other."

Elder Zhou thought for a moment and said, "That's true!"

'They live in Phase One and Phase Three, after all,' he thought. 'Can't get much closer than that.'

"Hey, you! Can you not try to get so chummy with our family? It makes you look really pathetic!"

The girl's voice was clear, but her tone was overbearing. She looked down her nose at Mu Lin.

Zhou Qianfan's expression changed. "Mu Xiaoyou, this is my daughter, Zhou Ying. We've spoiled her, so she has a bit of a temper. Please bear with her!"

Mu Lin laughed. "It's fine. This is our first time meeting. It's normal to be wary of strangers."

Then he slowly added, "Even the cows back in the village are wary of strangers!"

Zhou Ying ignored Mu Lin at first, but then she suddenly caught on. "Who are you calling a cow! You're the cow!"

Mu Lin shrugged. "I never said that. You're the one who assumed it was about you! If that's what you think, there's really nothing I can do about it."

Zhou Ying was so angry her nose scrunched up. "Dad, how could you pick someone like him to be a bodyguard!"

Zhou Qianfan said hurriedly, "Ying'Er, don't be ridiculous! What bodyguard? Mu Xiaoyou has a kind and generous heart. He's here to help. This isn't a normal employment relationship."

Zhou Ying pouted. "Helping? We're in a life-or-death crisis! If he's just here with a 'helping' attitude, how much is he going to mess up?!"

Although Elder Zhou usually doted on Zhou Ying, this time, he had no choice but to step in.

"Ying'Er, what is this attitude? Apologize to your Uncle Mu right now!"

'Uncle?!' Zhou Ying was absolutely livid.