Chapter 173: A Task of Loyalty

'But if the old Patriarch of the Bai Family isn't dead, why doesn't Zhao Yang just say so?

Holding his ground so stubbornly is just foolish.'

"Elder Zhao, may I ask why? This is no different from being a fool!"

Zhao Yang sighed. "I've been entrusted with this, so I must see it through. It's a simple matter of putting myself in their shoes."

"What if Master Bai gets fed up and really sends someone to take you out?"

Zhao Yang said, "I'll just have to be careful. If things truly get out of hand, I'm prepared to sacrifice myself. With you here, the Holy Medicine Hall will be able to endure."

'Mu Lin fell silent. So Divine Doctor Zhao has been planning for me to inherit the Holy Medicine Hall all along.'

'But I have to go back in a couple of months. Is it really right to rope me into this?'

Mu Lin pursed his lips and shook his head. "Aren't you afraid?"

"What's there to be afraid of? I'm happy as long as I can treat a few more patients."

Zhao Yang shook his head, unconcerned.

Zhao Ling'Er, however, said agitatedly, "Grandpa, you're wrong! If the Bai Family keeps making a scene like this, your reputation will be ruined! In the future, maybe even the people of Anhua won't come to you for treatment!"

"At that point, we'll have to close the Holy Medicine Hall!"

Zhao Yang smiled gently. "But we have you, don't we? If you study hard with me, you can make something of yourself too."

Zhao Ling'Er pouted. "But I've only been studying for a few years! I'm not up to such a difficult task!"

But Zhao Yang didn't see it that way. "As long as you're willing to work hard, you can do it. Besides, we still have Mu Lin!"

Zhao Ling'Er laughed. "That's right! We still have Brother Mu!"

'Mu Lin shook his head slightly. This grandfather-granddaughter duo is really latched onto me.'

'I'll have to make arrangements for them before I leave.'

When they arrived at the Holy Medicine Hall, Zhao Ling'Er got out of the car to open the door. Mu Lin took the opportunity to say to Zhao Yang:

"Elder Zhao, I'm a very busy man. I won't be helping you manage the Holy Medicine Hall, so you'd better make sure you stay alive."

Zhao Yang burst out laughing. "Of course, of course!"

Once the door was open and they were inside, Mu Lin immediately hurried to the treatment room.

Li Yinhe's vital signs were relatively stable, though he was a bit dehydrated. Mu Lin went to pour a glass of water.

After removing the silver needles from Li Yinhe, he slowly spoon-fed him some water.

"I'm going to prepare some medicine. Ling'Er, come and help me."

Zhao Ling'Er agreed and ran over briskly.

'Mu Lin asked me to help him right away! This means he trusts me!'

She was secretly overjoyed.

Mu Lin picked up a calligraphy brush. Its tip danced nimbly, leaving a row of elegant characters on the paper.

"Wow, Brother Mu, your handwriting is beautiful!" Zhao Ling'Er said in pleasant surprise. Divine Doctor Zhao's handwriting looked like a turtle's scrawl, yet he insisted on using a brush, something Zhao Ling'Er had never been able to accept.

Mu Lin said, "It's just some writing. As long as it's legible, it's fine. Time is short, hurry up!"

Zhao Ling'Er nodded hastily and hurried outside.

Mu Lin added, "Oh, one more thing. When you're preparing the herbs, use some force."

Zhao Ling'Er nodded emphatically. "Yes, with force. I understand!"

Mu Lin let out a long breath and took out the jade box.

For this Vermilion Fruit, he had spent nearly two hundred million.

He recalled that the profit from a single Li Group project was less than ten million. This was equivalent to the Li Group's entire annual profit.

Mu Lin couldn't help but feel emotional. These prestigious families were willing to pay such an immense price for the life of a core member. It was truly shocking.

He gently pushed open the jade box. The Vermilion Fruit inside glowed with a vibrant light. The preservation techniques of the Hidden Sword Manor were truly advanced. If it had been stored in a refrigerator, it would have long since withered and spoiled.

Only after opening it did Mu Lin take a moment to examine the material of the jade box.

The material was actually high-quality cooling jade, although it was far inferior compared to the one Mu Lin had dug out of the raw stone.

However, for many people in the Jianghu, it was still extremely attractive.

'If I sell the box later, I can recoup close to twenty million.'

He had spent one hundred fifty-one million at auction for the Vermilion Fruit.

All things considered, the Vermilion Fruit might have only cost him a little over one hundred and thirty million.

It was still an exorbitant, staggering price, but the thought made Mu Lin feel quite a bit better.

Mu Lin took a clean piece of gauze, wrapped the Vermilion Fruit in it, then placed it in a mortar and crushed it, leaving behind the fine, pulpy juice.

Just then, the medicinal herbs Zhao Ling'Er had prepared were ready. Mu Lin set up a medicine pot and started to brew it, BUBBLE BUBBLE BUBBLE.

He simply poured the juice of the Vermilion Fruit into the medicine pot.

"You watch this. After half an hour on high heat, switch to low heat and let it simmer."

Zhao Ling'Er asked, "Brother Mu, what about the leftover pulp? After all, it cost over a hundred million. It's very expensive!"

Mu Lin said, "I have a plan! You watch the pot. I'll be right back!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he picked up a small bowl, placed the gauze bag in it, and turned to leave.

Zhao Ling'Er found it a bit strange, but she figured Mu Lin would explain later, so she waited patiently and got back to her task.

Mu Lin walked over to Divine Doctor Zhao, placed the porcelain bowl in front of him, and said, "Divine Doctor Zhao, this is for you. It's the pulp of the Vermilion Fruit. It still has some effects. It's quite good whether you infuse it in water to make tea or mix it into pastries to eat."

Zhao Yang was taken aback, feeling overwhelmingly flattered. Perhaps no one knew the value of this item better than he did.

'For Mu Lin to give this to me... he must truly see me as one of his own elders.'

"Aiyo, what have I done to deserve this!" Zhao Yang said.

Mu Lin said, "You have your own share of minor ailments. This is a good opportunity to treat them so you can live a few more years... To be honest with you, I won't be staying in Anhua for long. Once my worldly affairs are settled, I will leave. At that time, both the Li Group and the Holy Medicine Hall itself will need your care..."

"So, your health is also of the utmost importance."

Divine Doctor Zhao's expression grew solemn. He looked at Mu Lin seriously.

"Is what you say true? You'll be leaving soon?"

Mu Lin nodded gravely. "You were still hoping I'd become your grandson-in-law? I'm afraid it won't be that easy anymore."

Seeing his little scheme being so bluntly foiled by Mu Lin, Divine Doctor Zhao was momentarily quite embarrassed.

"My dear boy, the city is so bustling! Why go back to the mountains? Is that young lady from the Li Family not to your liking? Or is our Ling'Er not good enough? With your skills, nobody would dare say a word even if you had both of them!"

Divine Doctor Zhao rattled off a series of questions like a machine gun.

But Mu Lin just smiled. "Grandmaster Zhao, to each their own. You can't force these things!"

'Divine Doctor Zhao was lost in thought. Mu Lin's incredible abilities, his nigh-unthinkable Grandmaster-level combat strength... where did it all come from?'

'There must have been an immense amount of hard work behind it, right?'

'If he were to indulge in worldly pleasures, could he still possess such formidable martial strength?'

'The master he was always talking about must be a peerless expert, the likes of which are rarely seen. Letting Mu Lin come down from the mountain to experience the world was an extraordinary decision in itself.'

"Ah, I understand." Divine Doctor Zhao turned and grabbed a bag of sliced bread. He tore off a fist-sized piece, then opened the gauze bag and spread the Vermilion Fruit pulp evenly on the bread.

It actually looked a lot like strawberry jam.

Divine Doctor Zhao finished the bread in three bites. It tasted similar to strawberries, but with an added touch of pure sweetness.

"Interesting," Divine Doctor Zhao said, lost in the sensation. "Truly worthy of being called a Spirit Medicine!"

Mu Lin said, "This residual Spirit Medicine is just the right amount for you. Any more would be too much, and any less would be too little."

"How thoughtful of you, how thoughtful!" Divine Doctor Zhao could already feel a gentle energy rising from his Dantian, slowly circulating through his body as if cleansing something.

"What a comfortable feeling!"

Divine Doctor Zhao exclaimed in surprise.

Mu Lin smiled faintly, then took the porcelain bowl and walked back to the kitchen to wash it.

Returning to the pharmacy, Mu Lin saw that Zhao Ling'Er's eyes were red.

"Ling'Er, what's wrong? Are you too tired?"

Zhao Ling'Er said, "Brother Mu, I heard! Are you really leaving?"

'How are this girl's ears so sharp?'

But he still nodded. "Not right away. There are at least two or three months left..."

Zhao Ling'Er breathed a sigh of relief. Two or three months. But then she immediately realized that even two or three months was too short.

"So you're saying, even if I spend every day with Brother Mu, we still have less than a hundred days together?"

Mu Lin gave a wry smile. "Why would you put it like that?"

"Then how should I put it! I don't want you to go, Brother Mu! Can't you stay with me, Brother Mu?"