Chapter 154: The Whereabouts of the Spirit Medicine

Mu Lin's deep bow alarmed Divine Doctor Zhao.

"That's quite unnecessary! Just tell me what medicinal herb you need."

Just then, Mu Lin's phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Zhou Qianfan.

"Mu Lin, I received word that Li Tianxiang is dead." Zhou Qianfan's tone was extremely grave. "Tell me it wasn't you."

Mu Lin, however, replied, "I was the one who did it."

'How did the news spread so fast? I just got here, and Zhou Qianfan already knows.'

'Of course, the Third Young Master of the Di Yang Li Family was a sensitive position. With so many people keeping an eye on him, the news was bound to travel fast.'

When Zhou Qianfan heard this, his heart sank, but his tone remained calm and unchanged.

"Why don't you take refuge in the watchtower? I'll have my men send over some daily necessities right away."

Mu Lin gave a wry smile. "Patriarch Zhou, that watchtower of yours might be good for fooling yourself, but it's not actually of much use. You should stop using it in the future!"

Patriarch Zhou was taken aback. 'I'm discussing your dire situation, and you're talking to me about a watchtower? What's with this kid?'

"Then come to my home. The Zhou Family's connections are also extremely deep. Although we're a step below the Di Yang Li Clan, they still wouldn't dare to act recklessly against us."

"Even if they truly resort to force, the entire Zhou Family will risk their lives to ensure you leave Anhua safely."

This… Mu Lin hadn't expected Zhou Qianfan to say something like that.

As the patriarch of one of the three great families, his word was his bond. To say something like this meant Zhou Qianfan was already fully prepared.

"I've already ordered Zhou Ying to return to her school overnight. Come over quickly. No matter how fierce the storm, the Zhou Family will stand with you."

Mu Lin's eyes reddened as he listened.

He was truly moved. The Zhou Family genuinely treated him as one of their own.

"Uncle Zhou, it's alright. I have the Li Family's matter under control. Even if they come at me with everything they have, I can escape unscathed. There's no need to involve you all."

"There's something far more important. Please, you must listen carefully."

Zhou Qianfan braced himself. "Go on!"

"I need to find a Vermilion Fruit. It's a rather rare Spirit Medicine."

"Preferably within twenty-four hours, but at the absolute most, no more than a day and a half."

"Uncle Zhou, do you know where I can get one?"

Zhou Qianfan's face went pale. He already struggled just to get some life-extending supplements for the old man; now he was suddenly being asked to procure something on the level of a Spirit Medicine. He truly had no confidence.

"Are Vermilion Fruits very rare?"

"Extremely rare. Because their growing conditions are so harsh, they can't be cultivated artificially. So, they only grow wild, and only in very specific locations."

'Mu Lin had his old master to thank for this. He had stuffed all kinds of knowledge into his head; otherwise, Mu Lin wouldn't have been able to reel off such a long list of details so easily.'

Zhou Qianfan thought for a moment with a grave expression, then said, "I'll see what I can do to find some leads for you. The deadline is just too tight. Can't it be extended, even a little?"

"Any longer, and Uncle Li will be dead."

'So it's to save Li Yinhe?' Zhou Qianfan thought. 'This kid is really loyal.'

'The support I give him now will surely be repaid in the future.'

"I understand. I'll mobilize all my resources and give it everything I've got."

After hanging up, Mu Lin returned to the treatment room and continued to do everything in his power to extend Li Yinhe's life and preserve his vitality.

A full two hours passed. Around two in the morning, Zhou Qianfan finally called back. His voice was hoarse; it seemed he had been making non-stop calls for the past two hours.

"I have news! The Hidden Sword Manor in the next city is holding an auction, and a Vermilion Fruit is one of the items."

"What time does the auction start?"

"Ten o'clock..."

Mu Lin's heart was burning with anxiety. He desperately needed to get that Vermilion Fruit as soon as possible.

"Can we buy the Vermilion Fruit privately? Even if the price is higher? I have money!"

'The five hundred million from the Liu Family is still untouched. This is the perfect time to spend it.'

'The Li Family has treated me well, so of course I have to repay them with everything I've got.'

'What could I do with so much money back in my mountain village? Absolutely nothing.'

'It's better to spend it on the Li Family.'

Zhou Qianfan was moved by Mu Lin's earnest sincerity and said:

"I'll ask for you."

Another half an hour passed.

"Sorry, it's impossible. The Hidden Sword Manor has very strict rules, and the rules of the auction cannot be changed..."

"Then what should we do?" Mu Lin asked.

"After much pleading, I managed to get them to move the Vermilion Fruit earlier in the auction order. That's the only thing I could do. I'm sorry, Mu Lin. Your Uncle Zhou is useless; I couldn't help you more."

Mu Lin's eyes reddened. "Uncle Zhou, don't say that. Just getting this information was already a huge help. It's so late... if you weren't helping me, you would have been resting long ago, right? Thank you for your hard work."

Zhou Qianfan said, "Mu Lin, the Zhou Family's doors are always open to you. If you feel you're in danger, just come over. Don't be afraid of implicating us!"

Mu Lin replied, "I appreciate the kind offer, but you should withdraw the experts you have on duty. It's not right to trouble them in the middle of the night. I'll be fine."

"But this is the Di Yang Li Family!"

"I wouldn't be afraid even if King Li of the Celestial Kingdom himself showed up!"

Mu Lin hung up the phone and continued administering acupuncture to Li Yinhe, staying up all night.

The next morning, when Divine Doctor Zhao woke up, he saw Mu Lin standing in the courtyard.

"Good morning, Mu Xiaoyou. Did you spend the night here?"

'He had been pondering how to get Mu Lin to stay the night at the Holy Medicine Hall to help Zhao Ling'Er and Mu Lin grow closer.'

Mu Lin said, "I was here all night, if that's what you mean. I spent it with Uncle Li."

Divine Doctor Zhao was dumbfounded. "You were inside giving Chairman Li acupuncture all night?"

Mu Lin nodded. "I only came out when I heard your footsteps."

'Mu Lin must be insane,' Divine Doctor Zhao thought. 'Others might not know, but I'm well aware that Mu Lin has jack-all to do with the Li Family.'

'Not even the tiniest connection!'

'Even his so-called title of son-in-law was fake.'

'Why would he do so much for someone completely unrelated to him?'

'Divine Doctor Zhao knew full well that Li Yinhe had been incredibly hostile toward Mu Lin; he was even the one who had come up with the fake marriage scheme.'

'Why?'

"Grandmaster Zhao, I need to go to the Hidden Sword Manor in the next city today. I'm not familiar with the area, so I was hoping you could take me?"

Divine Doctor Zhao paused. "Is this about the Vermilion Fruit?"

Mu Lin nodded. "This is the only way to get the Vermilion Fruit within a day. But I don't know my way around there, and if I go alone, I'm afraid I'll waste a lot of time just getting there."

Divine Doctor Zhao said, "In that case, I'll go with you... hmm... I can't drive either. Let's have Ling'Er take us."

Zhao Ling'Er had also just woken up. Hearing the conversation between Mu Lin and Divine Doctor Zhao, she was instantly wide awake.

"No problem, I'll take you!"

With that, she turned and went inside. A short while later, she reemerged, washed up and dressed in a smart-casual suit.

Mu Lin was taken aback. "Ling'Er, are you going on a blind date? Why are you dressed so formally?"

Zhao Ling'Er's pretty face flushed. 'This means Mu Lin thinks it looks good. That's great.'

Then she said cheerfully, "What are you talking about? Aren't we going to an auction? You're supposed to wear formal attire to an auction!"

It dawned on Mu Lin. He looked down at his own clothes. 'This probably won't do.'

'His outfit was nothing compared to Zhao Ling'Er's.'

Zhao Ling'Er laughed, then ran back into her room and brought out a suit.

"Look at this!"

Mu Lin was stunned. 'Isn't this the one I tried on at the department store?'

'Back then, he'd used the excuse of wanting to shop around, but in the end, he hadn't bought it because he was thinking about his meeting with Wu Long.'

'In any case, he hadn't bought it. So how does Zhao Ling'Er have it?'

"Did you go back and buy it?"

Zhao Ling'Er waved her hand. "Of course not! Why would I give business to that detestable Lu Family? I bought the same one online. It was more than fifty percent cheaper. I have to say, clothes in physical stores are just too expensive."

Mu Lin thought for a moment. 'Makes sense...'

There was no time to lose. He grabbed the clothes, hurried inside, and came out wearing the suit a moment later.

Zhao Ling'Er's eyes lit up, and she quickly took out her phone to take a picture.

"Brother Mu, you're so handsome!"

Her Polo had already been warmed up. She waved to Mu Lin and said, "Get in the car, Brother Mu! I've already put bread for breakfast in the car! You can eat it on the way!"

Mu Lin replied, "Alright!"

With that, he got in the car. The last one to get in was Divine Doctor Zhao, who had been delayed by closing up the hall and turning away patients.