Chapter 228 227: The Person Behind the Scenes

"You forced her to sell herself, and you still have the nerve to call yourself her brother?"

Mu Lin was furious. With a single slap, he sent Hong Litian flying.

Hong Litian couldn't stop himself from tumbling across the ground. Mu Lin had infused that strike with a hidden technique; Hong Litian would likely suffer for the rest of his life.

Hong Litian clutched his face and lowered his head. Mu Lin guessed the man was still cursing him in his heart.

But Mu Lin didn't care. Was there even a chance he could retaliate?

Next up was Young Master Zhong.

Relying on his extraordinary family background, Young Master Zhong, though terrified, was still wondering if he could use his family's influence to stand against Mu Lin.

"You, you stay away from me!"

Mu Lin sneered. "What does it matter to you whether I come over or not? Can you stop me?"

He reached out and slapped Young Master Zhong. An agonizing pain instantly shot through his entire body, making him feel as if he were about to be torn apart.

"Tell me the truth. Otherwise, this will be the least of your worries."

Young Master Zhong howled, "Yes! Yes! I'll talk!"

He had been pampered his whole life and couldn't endure such torment. With no one to help him, his only choice was to spill all his secrets to lessen the pain.

"I've been gathering women, especially those from Chu, not for myself, but... but for..."

"It's for the 'Smiling Tiger,' Su Longfei!"

Hearing this name, Mu Lin was once again puzzled. He had truly never heard of him. 'Who is this guy?'

Mu Lin asked, "Who is he?"

Young Master Zhong frantically shook his head. "I don't know!"

Mu Lin raised his hand and slapped him again. "You just gave me his name, and now you're telling me you don't know?"

Young Master Zhong hastily explained, "It was always his subordinate who came to see me and give me orders! I've never met him myself!"

Mu Lin frowned. He had no way of knowing if this was true.

Tang Zhi spoke up, "Brother, he probably isn't lying. What he's saying matches the information I have."

Mu Lin glanced at Tang Zhi. He'd been beaten so badly that he probably didn't have the guts to lie.

So, it was most likely the truth.

"Oh," Mu Lin nodded.

'How can he just say "Oh" so casually?' Tang Zhi felt a little annoyed and quickly added:

"Su Longfei is the number one expert in Songyang. Even without his faction, he alone is powerful enough to challenge anyone in the city. Not even the Bai Family, Songyang's top family, dares to make a move against him."

Mu Lin said coolly, "I don't even know who he is, so it's impossible that I've offended him. Why would he target me like this?"

Tang Zhi replied, "Perhaps you offended someone else, not him. But if he was paid, he would naturally have to do the job, wouldn't he?"

So...

Mu Lin had never expected this possibility.

'It's certainly possible.'

Young Master Zhong chimed in, "That's right! Su Longfei is a total money-grubber. As long as you pay him, he'll do anything! If the price is right, he'd even sell his own wife."

'This is getting complicated,' Mu Lin thought. 'Just dealing with Su Longfei probably won't solve the root of the problem.'

He pondered for a moment, then struck again, hitting Young Master Zhong's meridians.

"I've placed a seal on you. It will flare up every five days."

'How can I live like this?' Young Master Zhong thought. 'Having this constant threat of pain hanging over my head will make it impossible to get anything done. This won't end well for me.'

"My lord, have mercy! A life worse than death... I can't take it!"

Mu Lin said flatly, "And what about the girls you abducted? How did they endure it?"

"As long as you cooperate, I will naturally give you the antidote periodically before it flares up. Someone will deliver it to you."

Mu Lin walked over to Tang Zhi and took his arm.

Tang Zhi thought Mu Lin was probably going to check his pulse, so he cooperated obediently.

Mu Lin released his hand, took out a small porcelain vial, and used an ear pick-sized spoon to scoop out a piece of something. He handed it to Tang Zhi.

"Eat it."

Tang Zhi was a little scared. 'What is this mysterious medicine?'

'It's only the size of an ear pick. What effect could it possibly have?'

For a moment, he didn't dare to move.

But he faintly smelled a peculiar fragrance. Upon sniffing closer, he realized the aroma was coming from the substance on the spoon.

"This is..."

Mu Lin glared. "No more questions. Eat it now!"

'This is a rare opportunity!' Tang Zhi swallowed the ear pick-sized dose of Spirit Medicine in one gulp.

Mu Lin placed a hand on Tang Zhi's waist. "Follow my guidance to regulate your breathing. Don't try to be clever."

Tang Zhi was already in awe of the Spirit Medicine's origin. He nodded quickly, calmed his mind, and followed Mu Lin's guidance.

After some time, Mu Lin released his hand. Tang Zhi was astonished to find that his internal injuries had mostly healed, and his external wounds were seventy to eighty percent recovered. A little more time, and he'd be fully healed.

"Brother, this great kindness... I, Tang Zhi, will never forget it as long as I live!"

Mu Lin smiled. "It's nothing, just a small matter. But can you take me to find Su Longfei? I have some questions for him in person."

Recalling Mu Lin's methods, Tang Zhi worked up the courage to ask, "Friend, I have a very presumptuous question. Are you a Grandmaster?"

'What's so presumptuous about that?' Mu Lin thought. He smiled faintly. "Yes, I am."

Yes. He admitted it so readily! Tang Zhi's jaw dropped. To be honest, he had rarely met such individuals. They were all transcendent Immortals who came and went like ghosts. He'd never heard of one so young and ordinary-looking.

"Friend, you look to be about my age. I never imagined you'd have achieved so much! It really goes to show you can't compare one person to another."

Mu Lin smiled. "Besides personal effort, cultivation also depends on opportune encounters. When fortune arrives, one can advance by leaps and bounds. Without it, one can fail at any moment."

Mu Lin spoke with great humility, which only made Tang Zhi feel more inadequate.

Tang Zhi said, "Su Longfei only does things for money. He has little interest in matters that don't involve it. If he knew that you were a Grandmaster, little brother, he would surely weigh the pros and cons and choose to make peace with you."

Mu Lin nodded. "That's possible. Why do you bring this up, Brother Tang?"

"Oh, I have some contact with Su Longfei, but we're not close. If you're interested in reconciling with him, I'm willing to act as a go-between."

'Having one less enemy is always a good thing,' Mu Lin thought. 'And it's rare for someone to offer help so proactively. I might as well let him try.'

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Tang! I'll be waiting for your good news!"

Tang Zhi chuckled happily. "It's no big deal."

A moment later, he rubbed his hands together and asked awkwardly, "Grandmaster Mu, do you know medicine?"

'Another request?' Mu Lin thought. But since it was a small effort, he didn't mind.

"I do. Why do you ask?"

Tang Zhi sighed heavily. "My sister's leg was injured by Young Master Zhong's goons. She's bedridden now. Could you please take a look at her?"

Mu Lin said, "A small matter. Where is your sister? Let's go! But before that, I need to get my friend settled."

Mu Lin picked up Lao Xiang, and Tang Zhi drove them to the hospital.

Tang Zhi even helped arrange for a caregiver, which finally put Mu Lin's mind at ease.

Tang Zhi then led Mu Lin to an old residential complex.

"Grandmaster Mu, please follow me!"

As Mu Lin followed Tang Zhi, Tang Zhi said guiltily, "I'm sorry, my place is so rundown."

Mu Lin shook his head. "Not at all. No matter how big or nice a house is, its main purpose is to provide shelter from the wind and rain. Any function beyond that is just for show."

As he said this, he thought of his own humble hut in the mountain village. It was simple, but life there was countless times more comfortable than life down here.

He couldn't understand why the people of the outside world would blindly pursue so-called wealth and status.

Tang Zhi sensed the sincerity in Mu Lin's words and continued, "This apartment may look old, but it's the only inheritance my parents left me."

"I'm usually quite busy with work, so I'm not home often. Most of the time, my sister lives here in Songyang all by herself."

"She's a peaceful person who usually keeps to herself. I never imagined she'd be targeted by that animal, Young Master Zhong."

Mu Lin sighed as well. It was indeed outrageous how these rich kids treated people like playthings for their own amusement.

"Let's go."

Tang Zhi opened the door. The moment it swung open, a hoarse, weak girl's voice called out from inside.

"Brother?!"

Tang Zhi quickly answered, "Yes!"

He walked to his sister's room. The door was ajar, but he still knocked lightly twice.

"Sis, may I come in?"

"You can!"

Tang Zhi pushed the door open and invited Mu Lin to enter with him.

The first thing Mu Lin saw was a young woman sitting on the bed, her eyes filled with tears.