Chapter 170: Return to the Peak

Zhao Ling'Er helped Wei Jianjun up and laid him flat on the coffee table.

That coffee table was certainly getting its money's worth, now moonlighting as a camp bed.

Mu Lin said, "Let him rest. An old man needs his rest, and he can't do without it."

You got it!

Zhao Ling'Er quickly and deftly pulled down the curtains, using them as a blanket to cover Wei Jianjun.

Wei Nianru could now see the scene inside. Her grandfather was lying on the coffee table with black blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and Zhao Ling'Er was draping the curtains over him.

She flew into a panic and charged into the room.

But Mu Lin happened to be walking out the door. "What are you doing?" he asked, looking at her calmly.

Remembering the needle, Wei Nianru hastily felt her own leg.

"What did you do to my grandfather?"

Mu Lin said, "Your grandfather's fine. The cold poison is completely gone. From now on, with a little recuperation, he'll be able to improve his strength. He might even reach a level higher than before!"

"You can go in and see him, but don't be too loud. You might wake him up."

Wei Nianru looked thoughtful, then hurried into the room. Seeing her grandfather breathing smoothly with a peaceful expression on his face, she finally let out a long sigh of relief.

"'So that's what happened! I guess I misjudged you, then?'"

Mu Lin waved his hand. "Misjudged me? You sure did. So, how are you going to make it up to me?"

"A dead man walking wants compensation? You should be thinking about how to escape being hunted down! Master Ning isn't so easy to fool."

Mu Lin sneered. "I don't need your concern!"

'What's so special about this Master Ning anyway? Mu Lin didn't believe it for a second. So many people had tried to teach him a lesson on his journey, and he'd ended up teaching them one instead.'

'There was no reason to believe this Master Ning would suddenly be that much stronger.'

Wei Jianjun woke up a short while later. The moment he did, he felt a sense of ease throughout his body. The chronic ailment of the cold poison was completely gone, leaving behind only a feeling of lightness in his step and boundless excitement.

"Ah! I'm healed! I'm completely healed!"

Wei Jianjun agilely vaulted off the coffee table and landed steadily on his feet. He reveled in the long-lost feeling of solid ground beneath him.

Wei Nianru was overjoyed. "Grandfather, Grandfather, how do you feel? Are you really all better?"

"I'm really healed! I really am!"

Wei Jianjun patted Wei Nianru's arm. "Don't you worry. Your grandfather is going to wait and see the day you get married!"

Wei Nianru couldn't help but blush. Wei Jianjun let her be and walked over to Mu Lin, bowing deeply and solemnly.

"Divine Doctor Mu! Thank you for the treatment. I don't know what would have become of me otherwise!"

Mu Lin waved his hand. "It's a small thing. Grandmaster Zhao told me about your service to the country! As for the unpleasant exchange earlier... words were said in haste, and I was also at fault. I hope you can forgive me, Elder Wei!"

"Not at all, not at all! It's all in the past!"

The two of them looked at each other and burst into laughter, and the unpleasantness between them vanished like smoke.

As for Wei Jianjun, he was filled with nothing but complete admiration for Mu Lin. Such a miraculous, life-restoring technique was truly unparalleled in this world.

Wei Jianjun had met many powerful experts, but almost none with such comprehensive abilities.

While dispelling the cold poison, Mu Lin had even helped him clear out the impurities in his meridians.

Wei Jianjun had a feeling that after a bit of recovery, he could truly return to his peak, or perhaps even surpass it.

"Seriously, Divine Doctor Mu is my savior! It's as if he gave me a second life! I'll remember this debt of gratitude for a lifetime!"

Wei Jianjun grabbed Mu Lin's hands and shook them over and over.

Mu Lin waved him off. "Honestly, you should be thanking Grandmaster Zhao. If he hadn't told me about your past deeds, I wouldn't have cared whether you lived or died."

Wei Jianjun laughed heartily. "Of course, of course! You are all my benefactors!"

Zhao Yang didn't understand why Mu Lin did this, but he didn't say anything.

Mu Lin was actually thinking far ahead. He would have to return to his mountain soon, and before he left, he naturally wanted to use his own methods to pave the way for Zhao Yang.

This would be helpful, whether for looking after the Li Group or for other matters.

The wider one's network, the more secure one's position.

When it came to matters like this, Mu Lin was quite pragmatic.

Wei Jianjun beckoned to Wei Nianru. "Nianru, come here! Apologize to our benefactor! I heard what you said earlier. Thank goodness Divine Doctor Mu is kind-hearted and didn't hold it against an old man like me. Otherwise, you would have been the death of me!"

Hearing her grandfather's stern tone, Wei Nianru pursed her lips. With a helpless sigh, she walked over to Mu Lin and said, "I'm sorry! I was wrong!"

Jiang Lan, who was standing to the side, was even more dumbfounded. She clearly remembered what Wei Jianjun had been like before—he could barely walk and had to rely entirely on Wei Nianru for support.

But now, Wei Jianjun's steps were light and his movements were nimble. He didn't look old at all.

Jiang Lan even suspected that Wei Jianjun's power had become significantly greater than before.

And there was an even bigger issue.

Previously, Wei Jianjun and Mu Lin had been at loggerheads, but now, Wei Jianjun's eyes were filled with warmth as he looked at him.

If Zhao Ling'Er hadn't been there, Jiang Lan had no doubt Wei Jianjun would have immediately tried to make a match with Mu Lin.

"Elder Wei, you're recovered?" Jiang Lan asked, stepping forward.

Wei Jianjun roared with laughter. "Of course I am! Divine Doctor Mu's medical skills are miraculous; he's truly incredible! From now on, Mu Lin's business is my, Wei Jianjun's, business! Anyone who wants to touch him will have to go through me first!"

"Steward Jiang, be a dear and spread the word for me, will you?"

Jiang Lan's mind was buzzing. Wei Jianjun was really making a grand gesture!

"Yes! Yes!" Jiang Lan knew she could no longer detain Mu Lin or the Zhaos, grandfather and granddaughter. Otherwise, Wei Jianjun would be the first to turn on her.

And he was simply too powerful; almost no one could stand against him.

"By the way, I recall Mu Lin killed some of Master Ning's men, so Master Ning will definitely come looking for trouble, correct?"

"Yes!" Still in shock, Jiang Lan could only follow Wei Jianjun's lead and answer.

"Good. Then tell him this: Mu Lin is under my protection. If he's foolish enough to touch him, then I, one way or another, will be paying Master Ning a visit to 'spar' a little!"

Jiang Lan could only agree numbly. In her eyes, Mu Lin had already been a dead man, but who would have thought that a backer as powerful as Wei Jianjun would suddenly fall into his lap?

And not just any Wei Jianjun, but one who was fully healed and on the verge of returning to his peak strength.

"Well, my business here is done, my injury is healed, so I should be heading back! Divine Doctor Mu, why don't we leave together?"

Wei Jianjun said with a smile, looking at Mu Lin. Mu Lin agreed. He was in a hurry to get back and treat Li Yinhe, after all.

The two had just walked a few steps when Jiang Lan's voice sounded from behind them again.

'Wei Jianjun was quite displeased. Does Jiang Lan not know what's good for her?'

'Has she been a steward for so long that she can't take a hint? He prepared to assert his authority, thinking he might as well set some boundaries with Jiang Lan and, in doing so, show Mu Lin what the bearing of a Grandmaster truly was. He couldn't let Mu Lin's only impression of him be of a sickly old man, could he?'

But when he turned, he saw Jiang Lan approaching Mu Lin with an earnest expression. "Divine Doctor Mu! I have a presumptuous request, and I beg for your help!"

Mu Lin frowned. "What is it?"

When Wei Jianjun saw that wasn't the case, he instantly retracted his imposing aura, lest Mu Lin mistake him for the type of person who throws their weight around.

"The Manor Master was injured while traveling to collect items for auction. He is extremely weak now, and I'd like to ask for your help in saving him!"

Mu Lin asked, "What are his symptoms? When did he fall ill?"

Jiang Lan opened her mouth, but she wasn't a doctor. How could she possibly explain it clearly?

"I don't know..." she said. "That's why I'm asking you, Divine Doctor Mu, to please go take a look!"

"But I'm very busy and on a tight schedule. How about next time, when I have a moment?"

Mu Lin didn't shut the door completely. "I'm busy today. I'll come back to see the Manor Master when I have some free time. In the meantime, please continue to actively seek out other doctors and treatments. Don't just give up."

Jiang Lan cast a pleading look at Zhao Yang. After all, he had just spoken up on Wei Jianjun's behalf.

'A healer's heart is a benevolent one; perhaps Zhao Yang would put in a good word?'

But Zhao Yang pretended not to notice. 'Hidden Sword Manor had gathered countless renowned doctors. If even they couldn't cure the Manor Master, why should Mu Lin go?'

'This was pushing him into a pit of fire. This was the Manor Master of Hidden Sword Manor, a man famous for holding grudges.'

'If Mu Lin accidentally made a bad impression, the Manor Master would likely unsheathe his sword and come for blood.'

'Besides, who knew how long a diagnosis and treatment would even take.'

Seeing that Zhao Yang was no help, Jiang Lan turned to Wei Jianjun. But he also pretended not to notice.

'To be honest, he had a rather poor opinion of Hidden Sword Manor. If he hadn't been taking a gamble, he never would have come here in the first place.'

'The fact that he could remain superficially polite was already a feat.'

'He couldn't care less whether the Manor Master of Hidden Sword Manor lived or died.'

'Besides, Mu Lin had shown no intention of staying to help. So why force the issue? It just wasn't worth it.'

Jiang Lan sighed internally, knowing her hopes were dashed.