Chapter 212 211: No, I Have to Go

Zhao Ling'Er had pretty much recovered. She stood up and said, "Oh, it's dinnertime. Brother Mu, is there anything you'd like to eat? I'll go buy groceries."

Mu Lin smiled. "You don't have to go to any trouble. Anything homemade is fine with me."

They knew each other well enough that there was no need for such formalities.

Compared to what he ate on the mountain, everything down here was a feast of exotic delicacies. Mu Lin genuinely wasn't a picky eater.

But Zhao Ling'Er pressed him seriously, "No, really, what do you like to eat? Just name two dishes?"

Resigned, Mu Lin named two relatively simple dishes that also happened to be favorites of Zhao Ling'Er.

"You got it!"

Mu Lin asked, "By the way, you were just knocked unconscious. Are you sure you're up for this?"

Zhao Ling'Er paused for a moment, then laughed heartily.

"I'm fine! With your amazing medical skills, Brother Mu, how could anything still be wrong with me?"

Mu Lin wasn't entirely convinced she was okay and still felt a bit worried.

He extended his divine sense and scanned Zhao Ling'Er from head to toe. Only after confirming that she was indeed fully recovered did he finally feel a bit relieved.

Seeing how close Mu Lin and Zhao Ling'Er were, Lin Shishi thought, 'She's a serious threat. I can't just stand by; I need to get involved.'

She smiled and said, "Miss Ling'Er, please wait. I'll go with you! You don't mind if I impose for a meal, do you?"

Zhao Ling'Er thought, 'Who do you think you are? Why wouldn't I mind?'

'I mind a great deal!'

But then she thought that as the young lady of the Holy Medicine Hall, she couldn't be so petty, especially since Brother Mu was such a warm and hospitable person.

'For Mu Lin's sake, I have to be more generous.'

"Great! Let's get going!" Zhao Ling'Er enthusiastically beckoned for Lin Shishi to join her.

The two left, happy as could be, while Zhao Yang stood behind them, looking worried.

Mu Lin had become a hot commodity. With the Lin Family and Wei Family both vying for him, Zhao Ling'Er's chances had instantly and visibly dwindled.

'Oh well,' he sighed. 'Let them be. It's all up to fate now.'

Everyone sat down to chat. The atmosphere was pleasant, and they all just waited for Zhao Ling'Er to bring out the food.

Suddenly, Mu Lin received a phone call.

"Mu Lin," came the voice of Elder Li. Mu Lin, not daring to be disrespectful, quickly answered:

"Grandpa!"

"Are you coming home for dinner tonight? I've been cooped up in this hospital for so long, and the family hasn't had a meal together in ages."

He had a point, Mu Lin thought. It really had been a long time since they all ate together.

"Okay, I'm heading back right now!"

Mu Lin stood up and said to Divine Doctor Zhao, "Grandmaster Zhao, please tell Ling'Er I'm sorry. I have to leave—Elder Li has asked me to come home for dinner."

Divine Doctor Zhao nodded. He understood the Li Family's situation all too well.

"Don't worry about it. Go on. I'll explain things to Ling'Er."

Mu Lin nodded, then turned and headed out.

Not long after, Zhao Ling'Er and Lin Shishi returned with the groceries.

Divine Doctor Zhao said to Zhao Ling'Er, "Ling'Er, Mu Lin went home for dinner. You can still cook up a huge feast if you want, but perhaps it's better to just keep things simple, don't you think?"

Zhao Ling'Er was dumbfounded. "Why? I was just about to show off my cooking skills!"

Divine Doctor Zhao sighed. "Elder Li is awake. You can't expect him not to go home for a meal, can you? That would be pretty heartless."

Zhao Ling'Er felt a pang of heartache. No matter what she did, it seemed she could never measure up to Li Xue and the Li Family.

Rumor had it that Mu Lin came down from the mountain specifically to repay a debt of gratitude to the Li Family on his master's behalf. Because of that, anything involving the Li Family was always his top priority.

"Fine, I get it," she said sullenly. "Let's just have salted vegetable and egg drop soup tonight!"

Divine Doctor Zhao's expression turned stern. 'Talk about going from one extreme to the other,' he thought, and hurriedly said:

"Ling'Er, even if you're unhappy, you can't take it out on everyone. Three dishes and a soup is the minimum, and at least one of them has to be a meat dish!"

Zhao Ling'Er waved a hand dismissively. "I know, I know! You're so annoying, Grandpa!"

This... Divine Doctor Zhao's expression soured. 'It seems Zhao Ling'Er's wings have grown stiff,' he thought.

But there was nothing he could do. He simply turned and went back to entertain his guests.

As Mu Lin approached the Li Family residence, Wei Jianjun leaped down from a tree. His movements were incredibly light, showing that his Qinggong was as sharp as ever.

"Elder Wei, thank you for your trouble."

Wei Jianjun chuckled and waved a hand. "It's nothing. Braving the wind and dew is a form of cultivation in itself!"

Mu Lin said, "You should go rest at the Holy Medicine Hall. I don't feel right having you stand guard like this all the time."

Wei Jianjun replied, "In that case, I'll come back late tonight. You just focus on getting some rest!"

Mu Lin sighed. 'Does Wei Jianjun really think he's my bodyguard?'

"Elder Wei, you are a man of great prestige and reputation. How could I possibly have you do something like this? If word got out, everyone in the Jianghu would laugh me to death."

Wei Jianjun said, "Don't worry about it. As long as you are safe, young friend, I'll be fine."

Mu Lin's expression darkened. "Elder Wei, you're putting me in a morally compromising position. Word always gets out, and someone will eventually learn that you're helping me. If you're going to such lengths for my sake, what will other people think of me?"

Wei Jianjun was stunned; he hadn't considered that.

He quickly said, "Young friend, please don't misunderstand. That wasn't my intention at all!"

Mu Lin said, "I know you didn't mean any harm. But still, please make resting your priority. If your old injuries were to flare up, it would be very difficult for me to handle."

"Besides, I've already found someone to be my guard, so you don't need to trouble yourself any longer!"

Wei Jianjun nodded. 'In the end, Mu Lin just thinks I'm getting old,' he thought.

Sigh.

Wei Jianjun lifted his spirits and said, "I understand. Well then, I'll be off!"

Mu Lin quickly raised a hand to stop him. "Elder Wei, this list of medicinal herbs... contact me once you've found them, and I'll help you."

Wei Jianjun gave it a quick glance before putting it away. He didn't need to look twice to know it was the prescription Mu Lin had written for him.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness, young friend. I'm off!"

Mu Lin turned and walked into the villa.

"Ah, come on in, Mu Lin, come," Elder Li called out. He had already set up a game board and was just waiting for Mu Lin to play.

Mu Lin smiled and walked over to play a game with the old man and catch up.

"Why is Xue'Er so late getting home? Mu Lin, do you know if something's happened at the company?"

Mu Lin shook his head. "I've been running around outside for the past two days, not at the office. But the company just dealt with the Lu Family's interference and is trying to restore order, so it's normal for things to be busy."

They continued their game until nearly eight o'clock, when Li Xue returned home.

Elder Li called out, "Come, come, everyone! Time for dinner!"

"Grandpa, aren't we waiting for Dad?" Mu Lin asked.

Elder Li replied, "That's right, we're not waiting! We'll eat first. He can have the leftovers later."

Mu Lin helped set the table, laying out chopsticks and arranging the dishes.

Once everything was ready, Mu Lin walked over to Li Xue and noticed she looked unwell.

"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?"

Elder Li glanced at Li Xue and asked, "Xue'Er, what's wrong?"

Li Xue said, "Our upstream construction materials supplier suddenly announced they were cutting off our supply. Dad went to negotiate with them, which is why he's so late."

Elder Li's eyes narrowed. "How could that be? Didn't we just have trouble with this? Is Wu Long that blind to the situation?"

Mu Lin shook his head. "Grandpa, it can't be Wu Long. He's behaving himself right now to save his own skin."

"What makes you say that?" Elder Li asked.

Mu Lin said, "I crippled him. If he tries to court death again, his blood vessels will rupture and he'll be dead in a few days."

Elder Li paused for a moment, saying nothing.

'After all, Mu Lin is that person's disciple,' he thought. 'Such methods were only to be expected.'

"That makes sense. Then who could it be?"

Mu Lin shook his head.

When Li Xue heard her grandfather simply say, "That makes sense," she was furious.

'How could that possibly make sense?'

'What kind of logic is that?'

But Elder Li didn't intend to explain. He just continued, "Have you heard any rumors lately?"

"No," Li Xue replied. "Even while I was at the hospital with you, I was keeping an eye on things. There's been no indication that anyone is targeting us."

"Several of our projects are in critical phases right now. The upfront investment and labor costs are already sunk. If this material issue causes a scheduling failure, our losses will be catastrophic."

Li Xue wearily rubbed her forehead, trying desperately to clear her head.

Mu Lin reached out to her. Li Xue saw the movement and looked at him warily. "W-what are you doing?"

Mu Lin smiled. "Just helping you relieve some stress. Trust me with your neck, I'll give it a little massage."

Li Xue waved his hand away forcefully. "Get away from me. Do I need you to give me a massage?"

Mu Lin's eyes narrowed. "Don't you? It feels really good. Why not give it a try?"

Li Xue looked pale, but she still frantically waved her hands. "No, really! Just... go do whatever you want!"

Mu Lin pursed his lips.