Chapter 205 204: Crippled

"You've fought me to this point, so you're strong," Sun Tiandang laughed heartily. "But no matter how strong you are, you still haven't been able to do anything to me, have you? Let me tell you, when I launch my next attack, you won't be able to stop me."

Mu Lin's expression was grim and solemn.

"Who knows?" Mu Lin said, his face cold.

From the start of the fight, he had been struggling to cope with Sun Tiandang's assault and hadn't gained any advantage.

Thanks to the old man's training, he had an extremely profound accumulation of aura. His foundation was incredibly deep, like a tortoise shell, which was why masters he'd faced in the past had struggled to break through his defenses.

However, this was merely a matter of stacking up brute force; he rarely had the chance to employ tactics and strategy.

His techniques were still a bit lacking, leaving him little room to use them.

He needed constant practice, and a high-intensity clash like this was an incredibly rare training opportunity.

'Last time against Mr. Chang, I was lucky he was a guy who focused on the spiritual path. His physical strength was weak. Otherwise, I probably would have suffered a major loss long ago.'

Mu Lin gritted his teeth. 'Time to get serious.'

While Mu Lin was still thinking, Sun Tiandang had already made his move. He threw a powerful hand viciously at Mu Lin, clearly intending to deliver the final blow.

Once this strike landed, the battle would reach its final chapter.

Mu Lin mobilized his Profound Ice True Qi and met the attack head-on.

Another cloud of white mist blotted out the sky.

After the white mist dissipated, Sun Tiandang looked stunned. He stared blankly at Mu Lin and said, word by word, "You're actually unharmed. Your defense is incredible."

Mu Lin chuckled. "You think my defense is the only thing that's strong? Why don't you check yourself and see if anything's wrong?"

Sun Tiandang was dismissive. This Mu Lin guy wasn't strong, but his ability to run his mouth was quite formidable.

"With a tongue like that, why even bother with martial arts?"

Suddenly, Sun Tiandang's expression changed. He discovered that the entire left side of his body was covered in white frost.

He couldn't move it at all.

And a biting chill was still drilling its way inside him.

To his astonishment, he found that even his heartbeat had slowed.

Not only had it slowed, it felt like it was starting to congeal...

The crucial part was his left arm—it was completely frozen.

'Damn...'

"Didn't you say I couldn't attack? Then I'll attack just to show you. It's getting hot out. Not only will I attack, but I can also help you cool down."

These words infuriated Sun Tiandang, but he was completely unable to move.

Mu Lin suddenly charged forward, leaped into the air, and kicked viciously at Sun Tiandang's left arm.

CRACK! The frozen arm was already brittle, and it shattered into two pieces in the blink of an eye.

Frozen numb, Sun Tiandang couldn't even cry out.

Mu Lin grabbed the severed arm and tossed it back, where it landed in a flowerbed.

At least the moist soil would keep the frozen arm from shattering to pieces.

"You're strong, so what?" Mu Lin flashed a triumphant smile. A one-armed Sun Tiandang was no threat.

"Don't beg me for mercy. I won't allow it. Who told you to hurt someone I care about?" Mu Lin said coldly.

Then he flew up and kicked Sun Tiandang directly in the chest.

With a howl, Sun Tiandang fell straight to the ground.

His body, not as solidly frozen as his limbs, didn't shatter, but it made a dull thud.

The expressions of the few people watching from the side all changed.

Jiang Lan's jaw dropped, forgetting her composure.

Luo Wanqing's face was mournful. "I miscalculated. He's far stronger than I thought. I'm afraid he won't need the favor I intended to give."

Mr. Qingshan said, "How incredible. Where did an expert of this caliber come from?"

Hidden Sword Manor saw all sorts of comings and goings; their information network in the Jianghu was considered quite extensive.

Even they had never heard of such a character.

Seeing that Sun Tiandang was no longer moving, Mu Lin couldn't be bothered with him and turned back towards the Holy Medicine Hall.

Zhao Yang was looking at Zhao Ling'Er, his face full of heartache.

"Mu Lin!"

Mu Lin stepped forward and replied, "Grandmaster Zhao! Let me!"

He took Zhao Ling'Er from Zhao Yang's arms. Divine Doctor Zhao stood up and said with extreme gravity, "Mu Lin, Ling'Er's face was pierced by shards. There are so many wounds... The rest of her life is ruined..."

A woman's face is her life. For a woman whose face is ruined, there's no hope at all.

"It's not that dramatic," Mu Lin said softly. "They're just minor injuries. I'll figure out a way to take care of it."

With that, he grabbed a cloth, propped up Zhao Ling'Er's head, and laid her down flat.

Hearing Mu Lin say this, Divine Doctor Zhao let out a long sigh of relief. "That's good! What about Sun Tiandang?"

Mu Lin smiled. "I froze him. He's not going anywhere."

"Mu Lin, listen to me. Don't be impulsive. Sun Tiandang is backed by the Ning Family. You absolutely must not touch him!"

Mu Lin pouted, dissatisfied. "He hurt you all this badly, and I can't even touch him?"

"You can't!" Divine Doctor Zhao's expression was heavy. "I know you're unhappy that he hurt Ling'Er, but that's just how things are in this world. Some things are beyond our control. The strong can bully you endlessly, they can beat you to death's door! And we can only take it. It's not fair, but the world was never fair to begin with."

Mu Lin's face darkened. "How outrageous."

Luo Wanqing walked into the Holy Medicine Hall and said earnestly, "Divine Doctor Zhao is right. You absolutely cannot harm Sun Tiandang. If not for yourself, then at least think of your family!"

Mu Lin turned his head and glanced at Luo Wanqing. "Are you threatening me?"

Jiang Lan said urgently, "You ungrateful fool! Our Manor Master is only saying this for your own good!"

Mu Lin couldn't be bothered to respond. 'For my own good? What a joke.'

Zhao Yang was startled to hear Jiang Lan call Luo Wanqing "Manor Master."

'Isn't the Manor Master supposed to be a man?' he thought.

"Is there some mistake?" Zhao Yang looked closely at Luo Wanqing. "Young lady, impersonating the Sword Concealment Manor Master is no joke."

Jiang Lan said sternly, "What are you thinking, old man? She is our Manor Master. My dad is just the public-facing agent who claims to be the Manor Master."

"You might have a point, but that doesn't mean Sister Luo isn't the Manor Master!"

"Oh, so that's how it is!" Zhao Yang's eyes widened in realization. To be honest, he really had no idea about this kind of thing.

His main sphere of activity was in Anhua, although he would occasionally visit the Hidden Sword Manor's auctions to see if there were any medicinal herbs worth his attention.

He had never delved deep into the upper echelons of the Jianghu.

He was completely unaware of such secrets.

Jiang Lan glanced at Zhao Yang, her eyes full of contempt.

Although Zhao Yang's fame shook Nanjiang, in her eyes, he was no different from an ant.

If it weren't for their desire to win over Mu Lin, she probably wouldn't have even come here.

Luo Wanqing held Jiang Lan back and said with a hint of sternness, "Jiang Lan, mind your manners! Divine Doctor Zhao saves lives and heals the sick; he is a physician deeply beloved by the people of Nanjiang."

Jiang Lan realized she had misspoken. She scratched her head and said, "Sorry, I was wrong!"

She obediently lowered her head.

Divine Doctor Zhao quickly waved his hands. He couldn't care less about such things.

Luo Wanqing turned her head to look at Mu Lin. "Sir, I implore you to let Sun Tiandang go. Otherwise, the one who suffers will definitely be you!"

Mu Lin's response was, "Heh."

That wasn't it at all.

"You! How can you be so ungrateful!" Jiang Lan pointed at Mu Lin and berated him.

Luo Wanqing blocked Jiang Lan. "She has a bad temper, mostly because we've spoiled her. Please don't lower yourself to her level."

Mu Lin gave a magnanimous smile. "How could I?"

"How you deal with Sun Tiandang is, in truth, none of my business. This was just a small piece of advice. I came to find you because I need you to save me!"

Mu Lin looked Luo Wanqing up and down. "What's wrong with you? Don't you seem fine?"

Luo Wanqing pursed her lips. "I've been poisoned!"

Mu Lin studied her again. "I can't tell! Are you for real, or are you faking it?"

Luo Wanqing said seriously, "I really am sick! Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to ask for your help!"

Mu Lin said, "So, you came here hoping I would lose, so you could step in and make me owe you a favor?"

Luo Wanqing was left speechless by Mu Lin's blunt words.

"The way you put it is so... but yes, that is indeed the case."

"Then where did you get such confidence? That I would definitely be defeated by him?"

"Because he's an ever-victorious general! I've never seen him lose!"

"And with the Ning Family behind him, I figured you wouldn't dare to go all out against him!"