Chapter 199 198: Protective Measures

Mu Lin walked up to Lin Tian's room and knocked on the door.

Lin Tian's voice came from inside. "Come in!"

Mu Lin quickly pushed the door open and closed it behind him.

The moment he went in, Lin Shishi tiptoed over to the door, pressing her little ear against the cool mahogany wood.

She had only taken a few steps from the dining table when she got the feeling her father was just teasing her.

It probably wasn't anything as serious as arranging a marriage for her.

She was quick-witted and had more or less figured that much out.

'But what else could it be?'

In an instant, her curiosity only grew.

Lin Tian gestured. "Here, have a seat."

Mu Lin pulled over a solid wood armchair and sat upright on the edge of the seat.

"Elder Lin, what did you need me for?"

Lin Tian asked, "You're the one who cured me, so you must know why I collapsed."

Mu Lin paused. 'I was right,' he thought. 'This is definitely what Lin Tian wanted to ask about.' "I do."

"What happened? Can you tell me?"

"I've actually told Uncle Lin and the other doctors already. There's no need to mince words. You were poisoned, and with a very sinister blood toxin."

Lin Tian's expression instantly turned serious. "A blood toxin?"

Mu Lin said, "That's right. It's an extremely sinister poison, and it's active. You might not notice it at first, but over time, it reveals its terrifying nature. However, it's been completely purged now, so you can rest assured."

Mu Lin had learned a thing or two. It was best to say everything at once and not leave people hanging, or else the patient would get scared.

Lin Shishi broke into a sweat as she listened. She never imagined it was so dangerous.

Hearing that it was completely gone, Lin Tian's expression relaxed slightly. "Oh, so that's what it was. Thank you, Divine Doctor Mu, for purging it for me."

But Mu Lin's face remained grim. "It's not over. When the mastermind behind this sees that you're perfectly fine, they'll definitely strike again."

Lin Tian thought for a moment. "That's true. Do you have a way to find out who the mastermind is? It would be best to pull them out by the roots."

Mu Lin tilted his head in thought. "That might be a bit difficult, but I'll do my best."

Lin Tian was no longer worried. Since Mu Lin said he would handle it, he surely would. There was no need to fret.

"But, this world is a big place. Trying to find them would be like finding a needle in a haystack," Mu Lin said slowly.

Lin Tian stared intently at Mu Lin, trying to read something in his eyes. "What's your plan, Mu Lin? Can you give me your word that you'll see it through?"

Mu Lin pursed his lips and said:

"Yes!"

Lin Tian's eyes lit up. "Tell me, how will we find them!"

His own line of thought was simple: there was nothing Mu Lin couldn't do. All he had to do was trust him.

Mu Lin said, "First, please try to recall. Have you had contact with any malicious people recently? Anyone who holds a grudge against you?"

Lin Tian slowly shook his head. "Of course not. To be honest, since returning from Anhua, I've rarely even left the house. I've also handed over the company's affairs to Lin Jin."

Mu Lin said, "You said 'rarely,' which means you still went out sometimes, right?"

Lin Tian nodded. "I still attend some basic social functions."

Mu Lin now had an idea. "I understand. I have to head back soon, my time is tight, so I can't stay by your side. Therefore, I'll leave a strand of Qi Force between your eyebrows. This Qi Force is harmless, but it will shatter upon contact with the blood toxin, and you'll feel a distinct pain."

"Let's put it this way: when the mastermind sees you're in no mortal danger, they will inevitably try to strike again."

"The moment you feel that pain, notify me immediately. And make sure you identify who the culprit is."

Lin Tian thought for a moment, then nodded. "No problem. I'll be extra careful."

Mu Lin stood up and strode toward the door. He pulled it open and was stunned to see Lin Shishi, her head tilted, in the obvious act of eavesdropping.

When Lin Shishi saw Mu Lin, she was so startled she quickly took two steps back, bumping right into Lin Jin, who was standing behind her.

Lin Jin's face darkened. He and his daughter, caught eavesdropping together... it was mortifying no matter how you looked at it.

He scratched his head awkwardly and put on a serious face for Lin Shishi. "Shishi, let's go. This is wrong!"

As he spoke, he gave Lin Shishi's delicate, slender waist a pat. "Shishi, hurry up and go!"

Lin Shishi pouted and turned to leave. 'Dad is so mean! The moment we get caught, he throws me under the bus. And he patted my waist! Doesn't he know I'm a grown woman now?'

Lin Jin remained where he was, seemingly with no intention of leaving.

Mu Lin asked, "Uncle Lin, is there something else you wanted to say?"

Lin Jin scratched his head, looking troubled. "Ah, yes. I overheard your plan, and I think there's a problem with it! You want to use my father as bait to lure out the villain, but doesn't that mean my father will be poisoned again?"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Lin Jin said with utmost seriousness. Mu Lin felt that if he didn't handle this well, Lin Jin might just throw him out.

Mu Lin thought for a moment, then said, "Uncle Lin, the True Qi I infused into Grandmaster Lin serves first and foremost as a protective measure. It will shield his heart meridian from the toxin's influence. Its secondary function is to act as an alarm."

"As long as we're careful, I don't think there will be any problems."

Only after Mu Lin said this did Lin Jin let out a long sigh of relief. "Mu Xiaoyou, I trust you to handle things, but could you give me a heads-up next time? Otherwise, you're going to scare me to death."

Mu Lin said, "If you hadn't been listening in, I would have explained the details to you afterward. You brought this on yourself, you can't blame me!"

This... Lin Jin was so incensed by the sharp-tongued Mu Lin that he nearly had a stroke.

"So in the end, it's my fault, is that it?"

Mu Lin turned his head away. "I never said that! On another note, there's something I want to ask you. Do you know who the Di Yang Li Clan's Divine Realm retainer is? Any details?"

Hearing this question, Lin Jin immediately sank into thought, gently tapping his head with his knuckles as if hoping the name would just pop out.

"Oh, right! It's Chen Dingsun, that's him, no doubt!"

Mu Lin nodded. "Then I'll have to ask you to keep an eye on him for me, Uncle Lin. Notify me at the slightest sign of trouble."

Lin Jin said, "Is there some conflict between you two? Perhaps I can mediate. I think the Li Clan would give our family that much face."

After all, the Lin Family was one of Di Yang's Upper Three Families. Although they had been on a decline recently, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. As long as it wasn't a life-or-death conflict, it could be resolved.

But Mu Lin said, "I'm afraid there's no chance for mediation. It's him or me. He's determined to kill me, and if he doesn't, he'll probably lose his position as a retainer."

Lin Jin was stunned. 'Has Mu Lin really picked a fight with the Li Clan's Divine Realm retainer?'

"Mu Lin, don't be rash! This is a Divine Realm expert! His strength is beyond what a Little Martial Artist like you can imagine!"

Lin Jin said nervously. Mu Lin had such a bright future ahead of him; he didn't want him to die from not knowing his own limits.

Mu Lin was very calm. "Uncle Lin, don't worry. He's just at the Innate level. I can handle him. Don't make a big deal out of it and complicate the situation."

Huh? Lin Jin was about to lose his mind. 'Is Mu Lin for real?'

"Mu Lin, do you really know what it means to be Innate?"

Mu Lin thought, 'I'm Innate myself, so how could I not know?'

But Lin Jin was already terrified. Mu Lin thought about it and decided not to frighten him any further.

"Uncle Lin, please keep an eye on the matter I entrusted to you. I'm leaving now, I have a lot to do!"

Lin Jin was in no position to stop Mu Lin. Seeing him in such a rush, he couldn't help but feel troubled.

Lin Shishi quietly came out. "Dad, did I hear that right? Mu Lin is going to fight a Divine Realm master? Where does he get the nerve!"

Lin Jin sighed. "Daughter, you're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask! Let's just help him by keeping an eye on things for now."

Lin Shishi gazed at Mu Lin's departing back, sighing worriedly.

Lin Tian wheeled himself out.

"Dad, why are you out here!" Lin Jin exclaimed.

Lin Tian spoke calmly and casually. "I couldn't sleep, so naturally, I came out."

Lin Shishi hurried behind him and grabbed the two handles of the wheelchair.

Lin Tian asked, "Why did he suddenly come all the way from Anhua to Di Yang?"

Lin Jin answered honestly, "I don't know. He said it was for personal business, so I didn't feel it was my place to ask more. Masters like him tend to have eccentric tempers. How could you be sure he wouldn't get angry?"

Lin Tian sighed. "Afraid of offending him? Keep dreaming! In your dreams, you can have anything you want."

"Mu Lin is one of us. If you offend him, you just apologize. He's not a particularly harsh person."