Chapter 166: Eradicate the Root

Master Zhang stood frozen in place, afraid that Mu Lin would attack him if he tried to run.

Mu Lin turned to look at Master Zhang, who immediately dropped to his knees with a THUD.

"I'm sorry! I was wrong! I deserve to die ten thousand deaths! But I have an eighty-year-old mother and a young child to feed. Please, spare my life!"

"I'm just a hired fist, trying to make a living... Opportunities are scarce, so I have to do whatever my employer says! I won't dare do it again, sir, I swear!"

Mu Lin sighed. 'He's not wrong. That's just how it is. If you're not strong enough, you'll always be caught up in worldly troubles.'

'How many people are like that old timer, with transcendent strength but no desires, who just wants to lounge around in his village all day?'

'So it's hard to say what's right or wrong in this situation.'

Mu Lin reached out and struck him. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Master Zhang's mouth.

"I'm crippling fifty percent of your power. Go find a wealthy family to work for as a bodyguard; it'll be enough to feed your family. But if I ever see you aiding the wicked again, I will kill you without hesitation!"

'Fifty percent of my power... decades of bitter cultivation,' Master Zhang's heart bled at the thought. But there was nothing to be done. It was far better than being dead.

He couldn't muster even a sliver of hatred, only curse his own bad luck.

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you, Grandmaster Mu, for the mercy of sparing my life!"

"Get lost!"

Master Zhang scrambled away in a panic.

Mu Lin turned to look at Qi Shengyang, who had been vomiting so hard that only bile was coming up.

Mu Lin walked over to him.

Qi Shengyang scrambled to his knees, begging frantically. "Grandmaster Mu, be the bigger man and forgive my transgressions! Spare me! I'll get my dad to send business to the Holy Medicine Hall! That's good enough, right?"

Mu Lin smiled again. Qi Shengyang, thinking he had agreed, was overjoyed.

But then, Mu Lin said, "I'm sorry..."

Qi Shengyang panicked. "What are you sorry for?"

Mu Lin grinned. "I'm sorry that you'll have to die a hungry ghost!"

Qi Shengyang's face twisted in horror. He spun around, trying to get as far away from Mu Lin as he could.

But Mu Lin viciously struck him on the back. With a strangled YELP, Qi Shengyang collapsed, completely unconscious.

"Your turn. Were you the one running around, instigating everyone to kill Grandmaster Zhao?"

Shi Huiguang forced a smile, trying to plead his case.

"No, not at all! It was just a mutual appreciation between fellow physicians! I was concerned for him, I never wanted him dead!"

Mu Lin's smile widened. "Then allow me to show you some of my concern!"

With that, he raised his hand, and several silver needles flew out, embedding themselves in Shi Huiguang's body.

Shi Huiguang instantly collapsed, unable to move and unconscious.

Zhao Yang hesitated. "He is, after all, a decent doctor, just a bit narrow-minded..."

"I know," said Mu Lin. "That's why I just sealed their Eight Extraordinary Meridians for forty-nine days. Let them get a taste of the Netherworld and see if they're still so quick to cause trouble."

So neither of them was dead. Zhao Yang heaved a sigh of relief. 'That's good.'

"Let's go back. Chairman Li is still waiting for his medicine!"

But Mu Lin replied, "Not yet. There's something more important to do."

"What could that be?!"

'What could possibly be more important than this right now?' Zhao Ling'Er wondered.

"We're going back to Hidden Sword Manor to find Huang Fengnian and pull out this problem by the roots!"

Mu Lin's words were utterly ruthless, sending a thrill through Zhao Ling'Er.

'I never knew Brother Mu had such a cool side to him. I was almost fooled by his usual goofy grin!'

Divine Doctor Zhao said, "Is it really wise to commit more killing? Perhaps we should focus on accumulating some good karma for Chairman Li instead?"

Mu Lin countered, "If I try to earn karmic merit for Uncle Li now, Huang Fengnian will just send waves of thugs after us. Not only will the entire Li Family know no peace, but it will eventually affect you and your family, Grandmaster Zhao."

"When you pull a weed, you have to get the roots. It must be done quickly and cleanly, with no hesitation."

"Besides, Master Ning is backing Huang Fengnian. If I don't show Master Ning what I'm capable of, he'll think I'm an easy target."

Zhao Yang fell silent, pondering for a moment. He had to admit that Mu Lin's reasoning was sound.

In this situation, it might very well be the only choice.

'To be so young yet so calculating... ' Zhao Yang couldn't begin to imagine what Mu Lin had gone through in his past.

As Master Zhang limped away, he saw Zhao Ling'Er's Polo make a U-turn and head back in the direction of Hidden Sword Manor.

He grew uneasy. 'What's going on? They're actually going back?'

'Not my problem,' he thought, feeling a wave of relief. If Grandmaster Qiu hadn't shown up, he would have been the one fighting Mu Lin.

He would have been the one to fall at Mu Lin's hands.

He glanced at Grandmaster Qiu's corpse, then at the unconscious forms of Qi Shengyang and Shi Huiguang nearby.

After a moment's thought, Master Zhang decided to leave them be.

'A kind-hearted passerby will surely report this to the authorities eventually. Why should I get involved?'

Hidden Sword Manor was a scenic destination in its own right. In an elegant courtyard within, Huang Fengnian was sipping tea, idly watching the flowers bloom and wilt.

'Grandmaster Qiu's strength is formidable,' he thought. 'He'll surely be bringing me Mu Lin's head soon.'

When he had finished the pot of tea, Huang Fengnian stood up and began to pace back and forth in the courtyard.

He had given specific instructions: spare the Zhao family members, kill only Mu Lin.

'That way, after weighing the pros and cons, the Zhao Family will surely stand aside and do nothing.'

'Plus, he wouldn't have offended Zhao Yang, leaving the door open for future dealings if necessary.'

The bell at the courtyard gate chimed. Huang Fengnian called out, "Gouzi, get the door! I'll brew another pot of fine tea for Grandmaster Qiu!"

The devilishly handsome young man answered and walked to the gate. He opened it respectfully, ready to offer a few polite words.

But the smile on his face vanished.

Huang Fengnian emerged with the tea, calling out warmly, "Grandmaster Qiu, come and sit! We can chat over tea!"

But when he looked up, he saw a sight he couldn't believe.

Mu Lin, along with Zhao Yang and his granddaughter, stood at the entrance to the courtyard.

'Where was Grandmaster Qiu, the man sent to kill Mu Lin? Did they not cross paths? Or... has he already been...'

Huang Fengnian was stunned and uncertain, not daring to make a move.

But Zhao Yang spoke up, "Huang Fengnian, you're a real piece of work! If you have the guts, then buy things at the auction! What kind of lowlife resorts to robbery afterward?!"

Huang Fengnian's lips trembled. The fact that Zhao Yang could say this proved that they had already encountered Qiu Qianhe.

'How else could they know so much?'

He sighed heavily. He hadn't expected that even Qiu Qianhe would fail.

'But how is that possible? Zhao Yang only has Zhao Ling'Er and Mu Lin with him. Who else could there be?'

'Could it be he has a hidden expert protecting him in the shadows?'

'But could Zhao Yang afford that? He's just a doctor who runs a small clinic. His profits are usually meager, subsidized by the fees he charges the rich and powerful.'

"Qiu Qianhe actually failed to take care of you?" After a moment of intense internal debate, Huang Fengnian leaned toward the conclusion that Qiu Qianhe had simply taken the money and run.

"Fine then! I'll do it myself!" With that, he reached for his waist.

'He might be going for a gun!'

Sensing danger, Mu Lin flicked out two needles that struck Huang Fengnian.

Huang Fengnian shuddered. The silver needles struck with incredible force, feeling less like needles and more like sledgehammers slamming into him, making his entire body convulse.

His body was immediately sent flying backward.

Gouzi, who was beside him, let out a roar and lunged at Mu Lin. Without even looking, Mu Lin sent him flying with a single kick.

Gouzi rolled over twice before collapsing, his mouth filling with blood and fragments of his internal organs. He was clearly not going to make it.

"He... he's a Grandmaster!"

Gouzi used the last of his strength to cry out, making sure Huang Fengnian knew.

"Gouzi!" Huang Fengnian cried out in shock. Gouzi had been with him for a very long time; they were practically inseparable. He even occasionally let Gouzi help him make decisions.

The last piece of information Gouzi gave him, paid for with his life, was that Mu Lin was a Martial Arts Grandmaster!

'What a joke! He's so young!'

'I thought there were no other martial arts geniuses like Gouzi in the world!'

Huang Fengnian stared at Mu Lin in stunned disbelief, enunciating each word. "Did you... kill Qiu Qianhe?"

Mu Lin chuckled. "What do you think? Weren't you insistent on having me killed? If he hadn't died, how could I have come here to send you on your way?"

Several silver needles appeared between Mu Lin's fingers, and he was just about to throw them at Huang Fengnian.

"Stop!"

Hearing a pleasant female voice, Mu Lin turned his head. He was surprised to see it was the sharp-tongued, beautiful auctioneer, Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan approached with a serious expression. According to the manor's rules, killing was strictly forbidden on the grounds.

To do so would be a direct slap in the face to the Manor Master of Hidden Sword Manor.

Mu Lin just chuckled, deciding to act anyway.

Huang Fengnian desperately cried for help, "Miss Jiang! This man is breaking the manor's rules! Have your men kill him, quickly!"

He was desperate. 'Might as well try to take one down with me. It'll be nice to have company on the road to hell.'

Jiang Lan yelled urgently, "Stop him!"

At that moment, a blurry figure lunged toward Mu Lin.