Chapter 318 317: Too Late for Regrets

The fear was real now. A sense of dread washed over Xie Chaoqun.

'To think I actually brought such a disaster upon myself.'

'Could it be that Mu Lin wasn't lying to me just now? The Uncle Lin he mentioned... could he mean *the* Lin Family from Di Yang?'

Only then did Xie Chaoqun realize what an untouchable titan he had crossed.

"Mr. Mu, Mr. Mu!" he yelled, scrambling to crawl toward him.

"Please, spare my life! Spare me!" Xie Chaoqun pleaded desperately.

Ye Chunshui was utterly stunned, her mouth agape.

Xie Chaoqun was also filled with immense regret. 'If I had known Ye Chunshui had connections like these, I would have showered her with praise! I would have put her on a pedestal and worshipped her like a star in the heavens!'

But it was too late now.

Ye Chunshui wondered, 'Besides being a good fighter, how does Mu Lin also know so many influential people?'

'The person he was on the phone with just now... was from the Lin Family, wasn't he?'

'It had to be *the* Lin Family of Di Yang.'

'Good lord.'

She had overheard a little from the phone call Xie Chaoqun just took. 'It sounded like the Xie Family's backer had been taken down?'

'And at night, too. To be brought down overnight... that was just too fast.'

'To call it a coincidence... there was no way the world had this many coincidences.'

This was clearly deliberate.

This was all the result of a single phone call from Mu Lin.

It was utterly terrifying.

She thought back to Li Xue's attitude toward Mu Lin, and her descriptions of him in their chats. It was as if... she was talking about a completely different person.

'Is Li Xue blind? Or is she keeping the good stuff to herself and sending me lies to throw me off?'

'It's entirely possible. And she calls herself my best friend. How scheming!'

Xie Chaoqun hadn't hung up the phone; a faint buzzing could be heard from the earpiece.

It sounded like Xie Zhulu wanted Xie Chaoqun to put the call on speakerphone immediately.

Xie Chaoqun quickly did so, tapping the speakerphone button.

"Mr. Mu, this is the Patriarch of the Xie Family, Xie Zhulu. My son has offended you, and as his father, I am deeply alarmed."

Mu Lin sneered. "Alarmed about what? Weren't you all acting so high and mighty?"

"My son was ignorant of your status, and for that, I am truly sorry! I will discipline him more strictly from now on. I promise not to disappoint you!"

"I'm begging you, punish him however you see fit, just as long as it's not permanent! He's my only son. Without him, the Xie Family is finished!"

Mu Lin glanced at the area between Xie Chaoqun's legs, a sharp glint in his eyes.

Terrified, Xie Chaoqun squealed like a pig at the slaughter. "Dad! He's going to castrate me!"

Mu Lin was baffled. 'This kid has some imagination. When did I ever say I was going to castrate you? Stop being so dramatic, will you?'

But Xie Chaoqun's words struck a nerve with Xie Zhulu. He had only one son; he couldn't let anything happen to him.

"Mr. Mu, I beg you to be merciful. I can give you money. Is it possible to use money to atone for my son's transgressions?"

Mu Lin turned his head, pretending to ponder the offer.

In reality, he was delighted. He had already taken compensation from plenty of wealthy families, and it was a very convenient arrangement.

Everyone was happy. The wealthy families got a convenient way out, avoiding long-term torment.

And the victims got paid.

A win-win.

"Alright. Then how much are you offering?"

Xie Zhulu said, "One billion! How does that sound?"

'One billion?!' Mu Lin thought. 'That much?'

Mu Lin couldn't help but frown, a reaction that Xie Chaoqun noted immediately.

Xie Chaoqun said frantically, "Dad! He thinks it's not enough!"

Xie Zhulu hurriedly raised the price. "Three billion! Three billion! Surely that's enough?"

Mu Lin tilted his head, saying nothing.

His silence was more threatening than any words, and Xie Chaoqun was genuinely terrified.

Xie Zhulu took a deep breath. "How about five billion?"

Mu Lin still didn't respond. He knew Xie Zhulu's pockets were far deeper than that.

He wanted to squeeze him for a little more.

He said slowly, "How about six billion? For good luck."

Hearing this, Xie Zhulu's face contorted, but compared to his bloodline, six billion wasn't actually that important.

Mu Lin knew the Xie Family's coffers ran much deeper than this.

He also knew they would never let this go. Looking for a chance to retaliate was standard practice for people like them.

When that happened, he would just fleece them again.

"Fine!" Xie Zhulu shouted.

Then Mu Lin added, "I broke both of your son's legs. If they aren't treated soon, he might suffer permanent damage. Of course, if you insist, I can just send him back as he is."

"If you're truly worried about his injuries, I know Divine Doctor Zhao of the Holy Medicine Hall. I could ask him to treat your son."

Xie Zhulu felt a flicker of contempt upon hearing Divine Doctor Zhao's name. The man's reputation was rather poor; he was once said to have caused the death of the Bai Family's Elder Patriarch.

Although it later turned out that Elder Patriarch Bai had simply gone into hiding and hadn't died, the bad reputation had already stuck.

'Handing my son over to him... I just can't feel at ease.'

But time was of the essence. If he wanted his son to ever walk normally again, he had no choice but to ask for Divine Doctor Zhao's help.

"Then I must ask for your help, Mr. Mu!"

Mu Lin said slowly, "Divine Doctor Zhao's fees are not cheap. You should be prepared."

'So his real goal is to extort more money,' Xie Zhulu thought, grinding his teeth in anger. But with his son's fate in the man's hands, he had no choice but to agree with whatever he said.

"I am willing to pay a one hundred million consultation fee! I will make sure Divine Doctor Zhao is not slighted!"

Mu Lin nodded in satisfaction. 'The Xie Family is still ripe for the picking,' he thought. But he was getting tired of this game. 'I'll save it for next time.'

Mu Lin waved Guo Lei over. "Take him to the Holy Medicine Hall. You know the way, right?"

Of course Guo Lei knew the way. He had been a patient at the Holy Medicine Hall himself.

After dropping Xie Chaoqun at the Holy Medicine Hall, Guo Lei returned.

Mu Lin was surprised. "What is it? I'm done here."

But Guo Lei walked straight past him toward Hua Hai.

"Mr. Mu, this Hua Hai is one of Xie Chaoqun's dogs. How should we deal with him?"

Mu Lin said, "I don't have much experience in these matters. What do you suggest?"

"Usually, we cripple them and banish them from Anhua. After that, we don't care where they go."

Hua Hai trembled, horrified that he would be reduced to this.

The irony was too much.

"My God, Boss Guo, I've helped you so much! Have you forgotten that the celebration for the night you became boss was held in my bar?"

"You…"

Mu Lin was getting annoyed by the whining. Guo Lei stepped forward and punched Hua Hai in the face.

Hua Hai spun and crashed to the ground, landing hard. He was a bloody mess.

"Stop your damn whining in front of Mr. Mu."

Mu Lin raised a hand, pointing at Hua Hai. "You, continue."

Hua Hai scrambled to speak. "Mr. Mu, the truth is, ever since Pang Dahai died, the Anhua underworld has been in shambles. Boss Guo took over some of his territory and calls himself the boss, but not everyone submits to him."

"I'm willing to act as a go-between for Boss Guo and help him bring all of Anhua's territory under his control. After that, Boss Guo's status in the Anhua underworld will be completely different."

Mu Lin thought that made sense. But then he did a quick mental calculation. 'It's been a long time since I took care of Pang Dahai. How has Guo Lei made so little progress?'

'It's pathetic, really.'

"Aren't you a bit pathetic? You're so useless. Pang Dahai left you nothing but scraps on a toothpick, and you couldn't even manage to swallow them?"

Guo Lei felt utterly humiliated. He lowered his head, not daring to move, and cursed Hua Hai in his heart.

'Who the hell do you think you are, running your mouth like that?'

"Mr. Mu, don't worry. I will find a way to take over all their territory. My own power is much greater than it was before. I'm confident I can now crack the few tough nuts that remain."

Mu Lin said, "Fine, we'll do it that way. Hua Hai still has his uses, so take him with you. If he steps out of line, it won't be too late to kill him then."

Guo Lei nodded. "Yes, I understand!"

He sensed a test in Mu Lin's words.

'I have to perform well!'

Mu Lin was pleased. He turned to Ye Chunshui. "Miss Ye, let's go. It's getting late. I'll take you home."

Ye Chunshui pressed her lips together and gave a faint nod. "Okay."

Hua Hai watched Mu Lin and Ye Chunshui leave. Only then did he let out a long sigh of relief. He sidled up to Guo Lei, asking obsequiously,

"Boss Guo, what's the deal with this Mr. Mu? He's terrifying. His methods are just... on another level."