Chapter 156: A Jealous Quarrel

After a moment, Qi Shengyang finally managed to collect himself.

'This guy must be Zhao Ling'Er's so-called boyfriend.'

'This kid doesn't look like anything special!'

'How dare he?'

Zhao Ling'Er's face was burning. She never imagined Mu Lin would just announce he was her boyfriend. He even took her hand.

He even interlocked their fingers…

'He's so smooth...'

"You! Get lost! Keep your filthy hands off Ling'Er!" Qi Shengyang shouted self-righteously.

Mu Lin tilted his head. "Are you just a glutton for punishment? Ling'Er already said she doesn't like you, but you're still hanging around. What's your deal?"

Qi Shengyang grew even more furious at his words. 'His dad is the director of the Health Bureau. Isn't dealing with Zhao Ling'Er and Divine Doctor Zhao child's play for him?'

'You call me a glutton for punishment? I think they're the ones who are even more shameless!'

'And you, for humiliating me, are the most shameless of all!'

"It's none of your damn business! Name your price. How much to make you leave Ling'Er?"

Qi Shengyang pulled out a checkbook and tapped it against Mu Lin's face.

Mu Lin took it and ran his thumb over the edge of the pages.

Qi Shengyang narrowed his eyes. "That's more like it. Name your price, and from now on, Zhao Ling'Er has nothing to do with you."

Zhao Ling'Er turned to look at Mu Lin. She knew he was very short on cash right now, and their relationship was fake anyway. It would be completely understandable if he sold her out.

However, if he did that, there would probably be no future for the two of them, ever.

Even if Mu Lin was genuinely interested in her, there would always be a barrier in Zhao Ling'Er's heart that she could never overcome.

But then, Mu Lin's hand shot out like lightning, and he shoved the checkbook directly into Qi Shengyang's mouth.

Qi Shengyang's eyes went wide. He never imagined Mu Lin would do something like that.

"Y-y-you… What are you doing!"

With the checkbook dangling from his mouth, Qi Shengyang was utterly stunned.

"Get lost! Scram now and you can avoid a beating. Otherwise, I won't be so nice!"

Qi Shengyang pulled the checkbook out and spat. "Alright, you damn mutt. You want to play dirty, huh?"

"Zhao Ling'Er, I'm warning you, tell me the truth! Is he your boyfriend or not!"

He was well-informed about Zhao Ling'Er's love life.

If she really had a suitor, he would have broken the guy's legs long ago.

But there hadn't been anyone before, had there? Now that one had suddenly appeared, Qi Shengyang had to consider other countermeasures.

Zhao Ling'Er hugged Mu Lin's arm and, leaning in, planted a kiss on his cheek.

"You think you're the only one who can get close to me? Even you're trying to woo me. The line of guys who like me is so long you can't even see the end of it!"

"Who the hell do you think you are, Qi Shengyang!"

Caught up in the moment, Zhao Ling'Er even said things she would never have dared to say in the past.

Qi Shengyang looked at Divine Doctor Zhao. "Old Zhao, your granddaughter is being so indecent, and you're not going to do anything about it?"

Divine Doctor Zhao frowned. "What's there to do anything about? It's not like they're getting it on in the middle of the street. Besides, even if they were, what's that got to do with you, huh?"

He had just thought it over. 'In the end, Qi Shengyang's father is just the director of the Health Bureau. His power is limited to that domain.'

'My, Old Zhao's, network is also very extensive. For one thing, Lin Tian was cured right here at the Holy Medicine Hall.'

'And since Mu Lin is so considerate, wouldn't it be perfectly normal for him to put in a good word for me?'

'It shouldn't be hard for Lin Tian to pull some strings for something like this. He could easily neutralize whatever little influence Qi Shengyang's father has.'

'So yeah, no problem at all.'

Hearing what Divine Doctor Zhao said, Mu Lin thought to himself, 'Is Divine Doctor Zhao really this unrestrained?'

'He'd actually say something like that?' he mused, quite surprised.

"Ahem…" He gave an awkward couple of coughs and shot Divine Doctor Zhao a meaningful look.

But Divine Doctor Zhao was very calm. He didn't take it seriously at all and, in fact, looked quite pleased with himself.

Seeing Divine Doctor Zhao's reaction, Qi Shengyang's anger reached its peak. "Fine, Zhao Yang! Fine, Zhao Ling'Er! So you've decided to throw away all face, have you?"

"And you," Qi Shengyang said, pointing at Mu Lin. "All of you, remember this: Zhao Ling'Er will be my woman sooner or later. If you don't want to die, get away from her!"

With that, Qi Shengyang walked away, presumably to take care of some business.

Mu Lin flicked his finger slightly, and a nearly invisible silver needle landed on Qi Shengyang's back.

"That guy might be trouble. Shall I handle him for you?"

A large drop of sweat trickled down Divine Doctor Zhao's forehead. 'Handle him... How exactly would he handle him?'

Divine Doctor Zhao waved his hand. "He's just a kid who doesn't know any better. He'll probably forget about it later. But if he takes it too far, it's not a big deal. We can just ask Chairman Lin for a small favor."

"He operates within Di Yang City, so Chairman Lin's influence will definitely come in handy!"

Mu Lin thought for a moment. 'That makes sense.'

Since Divine Doctor Zhao already had a solution, it was no longer an issue.

The crisis had passed, and joy quickly filled Zhao Ling'Er's heart.

'Mu Lin actually admitted so openly that he's my boyfriend…'

'Wow, this is huge!'

She couldn't help but hug Mu Lin's arm. "Brother Mu, you've admitted it now. You have to be responsible for me from now on!"

This gave Mu Lin a headache. "Ling'Er, how am I supposed to be responsible for you? You're clearly the one who took advantage of me first."

"If you want me to be responsible, that's fine. But shouldn't you show me something in return?"

'Show him what…'

Zhao Ling'Er's face turned even redder than before. "You perv!"

The words were harsh, but her tone was surprisingly soft and sweet, laced with a young woman's budding affection…

'This is great…'

Divine Doctor Zhao broke out in a sweat listening to them and didn't dare to turn around.

'These young people really are too unrestrained,' he thought. 'Thankfully, I trust Mu Lin. He's not the kind of man who would mess around recklessly.'

As Qi Shengyang walked, his resentment grew more venomous.

'Zhao Ling'Er, you'll never escape my grasp. Now that I've found you, you can't get away!'

'Just you wait. It won't be long before I have you begging for mercy beneath me!'

He turned and went upstairs in the hotel. He wanted to take a shower and change his clothes before meeting a client.

He wanted to make a good first impression.

However, just a moment later, his body was wracked with excruciating pain.

The intense pain lasted for a moment and then disappeared. But after a while, just as he was starting to think it was a hallucination, the pain returned.

This constant cycle left him feeling awful all over; it was almost unbearable.

The feeling of intense pain was about to drive him mad.

"Why is this happening…" Just as Qi Shengyang thought about getting treatment, the excruciating pain washed over his body again.

Mu Lin and the others smoothly completed the procedures, paid the one million deposit, and received their number plaque.

Zhao Ling'Er touched the plaque, which felt incredibly heavy. She held it carefully with both hands, afraid she might drop it and chip a corner.

"This is ridiculous. Over a million for a single plaque."

Divine Doctor Zhao said, "The Hidden Sword Manor's auctions are very famous. They attract a lot of attention, and all sorts of people come, from the upright to the unsavory. To maintain order and protect the auction items, they need to hire many masters."

"Just think about it, how much does that cost? That's all covered by the deposit. Besides, the deposit can be used to offset the cost of any items you win. It's not like the money is just gone."

Zhao Ling'Er slowly nodded. That was something she really hadn't known.

'I guess I still don't have enough experience in the Jianghu. I really don't know much about this stuff.'

Halfway there, many people recognized Divine Doctor Zhao. "Hey, Doctor Zhao is here!"

Outside of Anhua, Zhao Yang's fame wasn't quite as great, but he was still a renowned doctor of his generation. It was perfectly fine for people to call him Doctor Zhao.

Zhao Yang responded to each of them in turn, "Hahaha! That I am!"

The deeper they went into Hidden Sword Manor, the more grand and imposing the decor became. There were all sorts of sculptures several stories high, so breathtaking they made one feel like an ant, wanting to kneel in submission before them.

Zhao Ling'Er was mesmerized. She couldn't imagine who would spend so much money on such useless structures.

'Are they crazy?'

Mu Lin, however, felt nothing. Ever since he came to the city, he had been shocked and battered like this every day. His worldview had long been shattered to pieces, so what was there to worry about anymore?

Zhao Yang tugged at Zhao Ling'Er. "Watch your composure. You look like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. It's so embarrassing!"

Zhao Ling'Er pursed her lips. She was just really shocked.

"Grandpa, what do you mean? Am I not even allowed to be shocked now?"

Zhao Yang pouted. "I never said that! Don't go putting words in my mouth. I'm shocked too, but you need to… be a little more reserved…"

Halfway there, someone suddenly called out, "Well, if it isn't Zhao Yang? Finally crawled out of that cozy nest of yours in Anhua? Daring to see the light of day?"