Chapter 396 395: Submission

Mu Lin narrowed his eyes. "You mean you want to work for me? To be my subordinate?"

Shi Huiguang laughed heartily. "That's right. What do you think?"

"You're one of the foremost doctors in Nanjiang, with a whole network of students of your own. Isn't it a bit beneath you to be reduced to working under me?"

Shi Huiguang had already done the math before making this choice.

His current skills still had room for improvement. If he could learn a trick or two from Mu Lin, his own status would become even more solidified. God knows how many benefits he could reap from that.

In any case, it was a good thing.

"That's because you're the incredible one. My meager skills are worth jack squat! Of course I should follow you."

"I see, so that's how it is," Mu Lin said with a small smile. "But let me be clear. I'm not going to teach you anything. No matter how long you follow me, it might just be a waste of time. If you're here to steal my techniques, you'd better scram now."

"No, no, of course not!" Shi Huiguang laughed. His only goal right now was to find a way to stay by Mu Lin's side. He could worry about everything else later.

"I understand."

Mu Lin glanced at He Zheng, who was standing nearby. "Miss He, you should head back first. I have some matters to discuss with Captain Bi. I'll return to Uncle Qiao's place afterward."

He Zheng said, "Alright."

"Be careful on your way. Don't go wandering off, or I'll have a hard time explaining it."

He Zheng retorted, "Do you think I'm a child? Get outta here!"

Mu Lin thought, 'How should I put this? Aren't you?'

Of course, he wasn't going to argue the point with He Zheng. It was meaningless.

Mu Lin walked by himself for a while before Bi Haitao drove up and called out:

"Mr. Mu!"

Mu Lin got in the car. "We need to make a stop first."

He had Bi Haitao drive to a spot two or three streets away from Su Nuan's house. He then took a roundabout path, arrived at her house, picked up some medicine, and circled back again.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Bi Haitao.

It was just that Su Nuan and her martial brother were too weak. They couldn't possibly withstand a truly powerful attack.

For safety's sake, it was better to be circuitous.

Mu Lin's Body Technique was still fast; Bi Haitao didn't even notice that Mu Lin had taken a detour.

"Let's go. Contact Captain Zheng and tell him to be ready for us."

Bi Haitao said, "I already spoke with Captain Zheng yesterday. He and his son are waiting at home."

Mu Lin was satisfied. "Alright then, let's go."

When Mu Lin and Bi Haitao arrived at the house, they quickly went inside.

Bi Haitao had a key to Zheng Ying's home and let themself in.

"Captain!" Bi Haitao called out, and a middle-aged man walked out.

The man had a square, honest-looking face and an air of righteousness about him, but his features were etched with exhaustion, and he seemed utterly depleted.

Mu Lin thought, 'It's probably due to overwork. That would explain his aura. After I treat his son, I'll prescribe some medicine for him too. That should be enough, right?'

On second thought, there weren't any major problems after that.

Zheng Ying said to Mu Lin, "Welcome, Mr. Mu. The place isn't much, but please, make yourself at home!"

Mu Lin smiled slightly. "You're too kind, Captain Zheng!"

As soon as Mu Lin sat down, Zheng Ying said to him, "Mr. Mu, I'm sorry about the matter with Lu Jing. However, if I had to do it all over again, I'm afraid I would make the same choice."

Mu Lin tilted his head. "So you think there's no way I can stand up to Gong Jintang?"

"Naturally. The power behind Gong Jintang is unfathomable. No rational person would choose to risk their life fighting him."

Mu Lin laughed. "I understand. Since that's what you truly believe, Captain Zheng, I can't blame you. Because you really are helping me."

Zheng Ying felt uncomfortable hearing that. Mu Lin made it sound as if he could actually win.

'God knows what skills he has. It'd be a miracle if he won.'

However, out of consideration for Mu Lin's pride, he didn't say it aloud.

"You're a special member of the Military Suppression Bureau?" Zheng Ying asked.

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "Everyone is just being generous. I don't have any real skills; I just get by."

Bi Haitao's scalp tingled. 'If even Mu Lin is just 'getting by,' then what does that make everyone else? Is he even giving others a chance to live?'

Zheng Ying said, "You're joking, Mr. Mu. There are plenty of people in this world just 'getting by.' How is it that you're the only one who became a special member? It means you must have some extraordinary abilities. You're far too modest!"

"I'm sure you can cure my son's leg injury!"

Mu Lin waved his hand. "As a doctor, I'm not a god. Captain Zheng, you need to manage your expectations. Even if I can't cure your son, life has to go on, wouldn't you agree?"

Zheng Ying didn't find anything wrong with those words, but a faint sense of worry crept into his heart.

'Is Mu Lin implying he can't be cured? Is he trying to shift the blame in advance?'

'It seems this Mu Lin isn't as amazing as Bi Haitao claimed.'

He shot a sideways glance at Bi Haitao, thinking, 'Why did you bring this charlatan here? It's a complete waste of time.'

Bi Haitao was also panicking. 'Mu Lin has already said so much, so what now?'

Zheng Ying was about to give up, but Mu Lin suddenly said, "Captain Zheng, for your son's condition, some Spirit Medicine should be effective."

Zheng Ying replied, "Of course I know that. But how could someone like me possibly afford it?"

Mu Lin chuckled. "Don't panic. I brought some for you."

As he spoke, he opened two jade boxes, from which a rich fragrance immediately wafted out.

Zheng Ying was shocked. 'This is too valuable. Accepting it would be bad for everyone involved.'

Mu Lin said, "Right now, the most crucial thing is treating the child. Your son's leg was broken because you upheld justice. So naturally, I should help you heal him first, don't you think?"

Zheng Ying lowered his head, his mind a whirlwind of complex and conflicting thoughts.

Bi Haitao said, "Captain, don't hesitate. Mr. Mu has no ulterior motives, and he certainly wouldn't ask you to break the law! If you're still worried, can I give you my personal guarantee?"

Zheng Ying certainly trusted Bi Haitao. Hearing his words, he began to trust Mu Lin a little. "Since you've said so, I'll trust you. I'll have to trouble Mr. Mu to treat my son's injury! But if you don't want me to break the law, why would you use such precious Spirit Medicine to help me?"

Mu Lin said, "First, I know you're an upright and honorable man, and I came to help out of respect. Second, I need your help investigating the whereabouts of the Di Yang Xu Family's old Patriarch, Xu Jishan, and his son. This task was assigned by Team Leader Jiang Long of the Military Suppression Bureau. My main reason for coming to Lanyang is to handle this matter."

Zheng Ying replied, "I understand. If you encounter any obstacles during your investigation, just come to me. I'll definitely take care of them for you."

Mu Lin smiled. "Then I thank you in advance for your help."

"Not at all!"

Suddenly, a woman pushed open the bedroom door and walked out, holding a little boy in her arms.

She walked straight through the living room without acknowledging anyone.

Zheng Ying was very displeased. He didn't know if Mu Lin would mind, but such rude behavior could easily give Mu Lin a bad impression of his family.

'This is really not good.'

"We have a guest. You're just going to walk past without so much as a greeting?" Zheng Ying went over to her.

The woman said, "What's the point of a greeting? We're all going to be killed by Gong Jintang sooner or later anyway. It's all the same."

She was completely disrespecting him, but Zheng Ying couldn't say a single word in rebuttal.

Because he had stood up to the Baiju Group, his wife had nearly been violated, and their child had been left with a permanent disability.

This was Zheng Ying's permanent source of guilt. Even though he had now yielded to the Baiju Group, it still couldn't fix what had happened.

He would never be able to resolve it in this lifetime.

Bi Haitao hurriedly said, "Sister-in-law, the Captain didn't do anything wrong..."

Mu Lin pulled Bi Haitao back. 'This guy is usually so smooth with his words. How can he be so clueless right now?'

Bi Haitao was moved, but he still swallowed the rest of his words.

Mu Lin said, "Ma'am, please calm down. I am deeply sorry for what you and your child have been through. But what's past is past. You have to lift your head and look forward. I'm here today to treat your son's leg injury."

The woman scoffed. "You think I haven't taken him to see a doctor? We've been to every hospital, big and small, and they all said there's no cure! My son is going to be a cripple for life! And all because of this idiot, my boy, who's barely a few years old, is going to have a limp!"