Chapter 155: A Slim Hope

Inside the Yang Family residence, Yang Qitian was trying with all his might to contact his sect.

Ever since he had barely escaped with his life, he had been trying to find a way to reach them.

But, like a kite with a broken string, he received no response.

Just as he was about to give up hope, the call finally went through.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Master, it's me, Qitian! Yang Qitian!"

"You've only been back a few days and you already miss the sect? Such a dutiful disciple!" The old man sounded pleased.

But Yang Qitian's voice was choked with sobs. "Master, please, you have to come save me, Master!"

He recounted everything that had happened over the past few days, and the old man on the other end of the line erupted in fury.

"What audacity! To think there's someone so arrogant in this world! He knew you had a sect backing you, yet he still dared to kill my martial brother..."

"If I don't settle this score, people will think our sect is a pushover!"

"Don't you worry, my disciple. I'm on my way. But before I get there, you must hold back. Do not get into any conflict with that Mu Lin!"

"Master, are my martial uncles coming too?"

"Of course they are. No matter what, we have to get justice for our dead martial brother!"

Yang Qitian was ecstatic. His grandfather was still with him, but his condition was worsening by the day, which had been tormenting Yang Qitian.

If his Second Martial Uncle arrived, his grandfather's illness could be easily cured.

After only two days, Yang Qitian was already at his wit's end.

If his grandfather didn't get better soon, he felt like he would be driven mad.

"Master, you all have to hurry! I'm afraid my grandfather can't hold on for much longer!"

Yang Qitian said this tearfully, his eyes brimming with emotion.

Watching this scene, Patriarch Yang was filled with emotion. The money he had spent back then to have Yang Qitian learn martial arts had not been wasted.

Otherwise, the Yang Family would have long since lost all hope of a revival.

After hanging up, Yang Qitian hugged his grandfather.

"Grandfather, there's still hope for the Yang Family! You have to hold on! You must live to see the day Mu Lin's head falls to the ground!"

Mu Lin, however, wasn't thinking about the Yang Family's affairs at all. The matter at hand was clearly more important.

Li Yinhe was the current pillar of the Li Family. If he were gone, it would be as if the entire family was annihilated.

It could be said that Li Tianxiang had achieved his intended effect with his life. Now, Mu Lin was giving his all, trying to turn the tide against impossible odds.

Sitting in the passenger seat, he ate a few pieces of bread to stave off his own hunger, then tore off more pieces and fed them to Zhao Ling'er.

Zhao Ling'er was busy driving, and breadcrumbs fell all over her clothes, but she couldn't be bothered. After all, Mu Lin was racing against time to save Li Yinhe.

Divine Doctor Zhao sat in the back, frowning. "Mu Lin, are we going to make it in time? Are the other medicinal ingredients ready?"

Mu Lin replied, "I've asked Uncle Zhou to gather the other ingredients. As for time, I managed to buy Uncle Li just under twenty more hours last night. Unfortunately, with the night already passed, it means we only have a little over ten hours left..."

Divine Doctor Zhao sighed repeatedly. Mu Lin was already doing everything he possibly could. He hadn't slept a wink all night.

"You should get some sleep. If you keep this up, your body will collapse," Divine Doctor Zhao told Mu Lin.

Mu Lin sighed. "Alright, I'll rest my eyes for a bit."

He closed his eyes, and fatigue quickly overwhelmed him.

Following Divine Doctor Zhao's directions, Zhao Ling'er drove to Hidden Sword Manor. The manor's parking lot was full, so she had to turn around and park in a paid lot at a nearby farmhouse.

Zhao Ling'er looked at Mu Lin and said to Divine Doctor Zhao, "Grandpa, what about Mu Lin? Should I wake him up?"

Divine Doctor Zhao sighed. "Let's wait. Let him sleep a little longer. We'll go to Hidden Sword Manor first and register for the auction."

Zhao Ling'er brushed the breadcrumbs from her clothes and straightened her jacket until it was immaculate.

The two of them arrived at Hidden Sword Manor. The area outside was filled with all sorts of people, all waiting to register.

Zhao Ling'er had already printed out all the registration materials for Mu Lin and was holding them now. All she had to do was walk up to the counter, present them, and get them scanned.

She would receive a numbered paddle, which she could use to bid. The exchange of goods afterward would also be handled using this paddle.

Zhao Ling'er got in the back of the line and waited patiently.

Divine Doctor Zhao stood a short distance away, getting some fresh air.

At his age, the fatigue from the long journey was quite uncomfortable for him.

As Zhao Ling'er was waiting, a man suddenly hurried over, looking very excited.

"Ling'Er, I knew it was you!"

Zhao Ling'er looked up to see a young man in a Versace suit. His outfit and immaculate hairstyle clearly marked him as a rich young master.

Recognizing him, Zhao Ling'er couldn't help but take half a step back.

"Qi Shengyang? What a coincidence..."

The moment the words "what a coincidence" left her mouth, she wanted to slap herself.

This Qi Shengyang had relentlessly pursued her back in the day. She'd had to grit her teeth to keep him from succeeding.

Qi Shengyang's eyes, filled with greedy desire, roamed up and down Zhao Ling'er's body.

'A few years have passed, and she's become even more beautiful than before. She even has a touch of mature charm now.'

Qi Shengyang was Zhao Ling'er's high school classmate. His family was so wealthy that he didn't even need to take the college entrance exams to secure a high-level position in his family's company.

Back in school, he had pestered her endlessly, proclaiming himself to be her Prince Charming.

Zhao Ling'er, weary of his advances, had constantly rejected him. They hadn't seen each other since graduation.

However, Qi Shengyang had never given up and had been secretly keeping tabs on her.

He craved Zhao Ling'er desperately. He had even found several girlfriends who looked like her, but they never quite compared to the real thing, so he would break up with them hastily.

"Ling'Er, it's been almost two years, hasn't it? Why don't we find a place to catch up?" Qi Shengyang strode forward, reaching for Zhao Ling'er's hand.

Zhao Ling'er quickly pulled her hand behind her back. Just then, Divine Doctor Zhao walked over.

"Ling'Er, who is this?"

Zhao Ling'er quickly pulled her grandfather in front of her. "Grandpa, he's a classmate from my high school, Qi Shengyang."

Upon hearing the name, Divine Doctor Zhao's expression soured.

Zhao Ling'er had mentioned him before—a complete hooligan who used his family's wealth to act like a thug.

If she hadn't learned a move or two from him, Qi Shengyang might have already succeeded.

When Qi Shengyang saw Divine Doctor Zhao, he excitedly came forward. "Divine Doctor Zhao, hello! I've heard so much about you!"

Qi Shengyang had thoroughly investigated Zhao Ling'er's background.

He knew every last detail about her Divine Doctor grandfather and had already thought of how to suck up to him.

Divine Doctor Zhao kept a straight face and didn't extend his hand. "Hello. We're busy. Ling'Er can't go catch up with you."

Qi Shengyang was displeased. "Divine Doctor Zhao, I don't like the sound of that. Ling'Er and I are kindred spirits, deeply in love. How could you be so cruel as to break us apart!"

'Who's deeply in love with you?!' Zhao Ling'er's expression was grim, but she was afraid that offending Qi Shengyang would bring trouble to her grandfather, so she said nothing.

Divine Doctor Zhao said, "Ling'Er doesn't like you! Stop pestering her!"

"Now that's not right. Ling'Er isn't a child anymore, is she? When considering marriage, the first thing is a good family match. You are the renowned Divine Doctor of Anhua, and my father is the director of the Health Bureau. What's so wrong with me dating Ling'Er?"

Divine Doctor Zhao's face instantly grew grave. This Qi Shengyang was not simple. His words sounded casual, but the threat was perfectly clear.

As the director of the Health Bureau, his father essentially held Divine Doctor Zhao's livelihood in his hands. If Divine Doctor Zhao treated him even slightly poorly, the Holy Medicine Hall could be met with an unceremonious shutdown for "rectification."

A single word would be enough.

Divine Doctor Zhao was left speechless. Qi Shengyang smugly reached for Zhao Ling'er's hand again. "Come on, Ling'Er..."

But Zhao Ling'er snatched her hand back. "I'm telling you, I have a boyfriend!"

Qi Shengyang's face fell. 'How could I not know about this?'

'I've been watching her constantly! I haven't missed a single one of her movements.'

How could he accept that Zhao Ling'er had secretly gotten a boyfriend?

But after a moment's thought, 'So what if she has a boyfriend? So what if she's married?'

'Why do I feel even more excited?'

Qi Shengyang took another step forward, feigning a look of deep emotion. "So what? Time is a panacea. After a while, you'll..."

Zhao Ling'er, caught in a dilemma, didn't want him to take advantage of her, but she also didn't want to offend him. She was in a terrible bind.

"She'll what?"

Mu Lin's voice suddenly cut in. He appeared, dressed in a suit, looking dashing and confident.

'Brother Mu arrived at the perfect time!' Zhao Ling'er thought in astonishment.

Mu Lin took Zhao Ling'er's hand, lacing their fingers together. A blush spread from her face all the way down to the base of her neck.

Qi Shengyang's face twisted in fury. 'Who the hell is this guy? Where did he pop out from?'