Chapter 410 409: Close Protection

Mu Lin couldn't be sure if this whole affair was Elder Deng's idea.

After all, judging from the skeletons inside Celestial Dragon Temple, those seemingly benevolent fellows were no saints. They could cause a great deal of trouble in an instant.

For that reason alone, he couldn't let his guard down.

"The kidnappers must know that I've already rescued Miss Xiao. Uncle Xiao, you still need to be careful with Miss Xiao's safety."

Xiao Longjiang said seriously, "Mu Lin, I have an idea. I hope you can grant me this."

Mu Lin smiled. "Please, go ahead."

Xiao Longjiang said slowly, "I heard you defeated all the High Monks of Celestial Dragon Temple, is that right?"

Mu Lin nodded, still not understanding what Xiao Longjiang was getting at.

Xiao Longjiang's eyes lit up. He stared at Mu Lin and said, "I know how powerful Celestial Dragon Temple is. The fact that you could take them out just shows how powerful you are."

"Can you be Hong Ling's personal bodyguard? As for the price, name your fee."

Mu Lin hadn't expected Xiao Longjiang to suddenly suggest this. He said, "I'm sorry, Uncle Xiao. I'm too busy, I can't go to Di Yang."

Xiao Longjiang said, "Then, how about letting Hong Ling follow you? Wherever you are, Hong Ling will be."

He was very nervous, afraid Mu Lin would refuse.

Mu Lin fell silent, weighing the pros and cons. Meng Fang, watching from the side, couldn't say anything either and could only wait for Mu Lin to make up his mind.

Xiao Longjiang said, "Mu Lin, I know you're busy, and I know you think that with my money, I should be able to find an expert to protect Hong Ling... But I already hired a Grandmaster to protect her, and she was still kidnapped! Tell me, what am I supposed to do? I feel so helpless!"

Mu Lin was speechless for a moment. He hadn't considered that point.

'No wonder Xiao Longjiang has been so polite and trying to get on my good side ever since he arrived. His efforts have been so over-the-top they're almost sickening.'

'So that was his plan all along. Asking to have Xiao Hongling stick close to me probably wasn't a spur-of-the-moment idea; it must have been premeditated.'

'As expected of the top tycoon in Nanjiang. When it comes to scheming for his own benefit, he's truly a master.'

Mu Lin felt held hostage by this emotional appeal, unable to move for a moment.

"I suppose that's not impossible, but for the sake of our mutual safety and a smooth collaboration, Miss Xiao must listen to me. She must obey my orders absolutely. Can she do that?"

Mu Lin really hated trouble, especially from these arrogant young misses whose eyes were higher than their heads. Each one was more difficult to deal with than the last.

"Yes, yes, of course! I guarantee she'll be obedient. If she isn't, you can complain directly to me!"

Hearing this, Xiao Hongling shot her father a look, clearly a little displeased.

But her father had a point, and she had to listen.

At least for now, she had no other choice.

'If even a high-level Grandmaster couldn't protect me, then maybe only Mu Lin can, right?'

She smiled at Mu Lin. "Mr. Mu, I'm placing my safety in your hands. If you have any requirements, please just state them. I'll do exactly as you say!"

Mu Lin said, "Miss Xiao, you'd better remember what you just said. When a critical moment comes, don't take matters into your own hands."

"I won't! I'll definitely listen to you! You can just call me by my name. Calling me that all the time makes me feel very uncomfortable!"

Mu Lin chuckled. "Alright then, Miss Hong Ling."

Xiao Hongling's lips twitched, but she didn't say anything in the end.

'As long as he can protect me, he can call me whatever he wants.'

Xiao Longjiang was quite pleased to see this.

Seeing that everything was settled, he happily called for the waiter to bring the food, looking perfectly content.

As they ate and talked, Mu Lin came to realize just how formidable this tycoon was; his businesses seemed to span every industry imaginable.

Since Mu Lin was preparing to start a company himself, he listened very attentively, humbly asking for advice from time to time. This made Xiao Longjiang take a great liking to Mu Lin, finding the young man very interesting.

After the meal, Xiao Longjiang said he had to return to Di Yang and once again invited Mu Lin to visit.

Mu Lin smiled. "Uncle Xiao, I'll definitely visit when I have the chance."

Xiao Longjiang was very satisfied. He left happily, leaving Xiao Hongling by Mu Lin's side.

Xiao Hongling smiled, her lips pursed. "Mr. Mu, from now on, my safety is all up to you."

Mu Lin waved his hand. "It's all good. As long as you're obedient, things will be much easier to handle."

Meng Fang suspected Xiao Longjiang had other intentions for leaving Xiao Hongling with Mu Lin. After a moment of speculation, he immediately reacted.

"I still have duties to attend to, so I'll be leaving now. I'll entrust Miss Xiao's matter entirely to you, Mr. Mu!"

Mu Lin said, "Of course. I will never let her be taken away again. If something like that happens again, I'll pay with my life."

Meng Fang thought, 'That's not what I meant. What's the use of making a military pledge to me?'

"Of course I trust Mr. Mu," he said, trying to smooth things over. "By the way, there's something else I need to inform you about, Mr. Mu."

As he spoke, he pulled Mu Lin aside. "You see, the families have started to come and claim the bodies dug up at Celestial Dragon Temple. They are all incredibly grateful for your contribution and asked me to pass that on to you."

Mu Lin smiled. "It's a small matter. It's best if I could be of help. The dead cannot be resurrected; their families must be the ones in the most pain right now, right?"

When Mu Lin's divine sense had first scanned those bodies, he had discovered they were all female, covered in numerous wounds. A rough judgment suggested they had been tortured to death.

Currently, the exact connection between these bodies and Celestial Dragon Temple was unknown.

He could only wait for the Patrol Officers' investigation. 'I need to apply enough pressure to make sure they don't go easy on this,' Mu Lin thought.

'Otherwise, it might be just like with Lu Jing, where they let the person go the moment my back was turned.'

"Alright, I'm off then. I really have a lot to do!"

After saying that, Meng Fang hurried away.

Then Mu Lin shook his head in frustration. Where on earth was he supposed to put Xiao Hongling?

If he brought her back to the Li Family, his peaceful days would be over.

Elder Li wouldn't let him hear the end of it.

The Qiao Family would be just as troublesome.

Madam Qiao was also dead set on pushing He Zheng on him. If he brought another woman over, Madam Qiao would be the first to object.

Thinking it over, Mu Lin realized he had to start fresh and find a new place to live.

"Miss Hong Ling, I haven't figured out where I can take you yet. How about I take you to Chen Martial Arts Hall for now? I need to think hard about where we can stay."

Xiao Hongling said, "I already told you, I'll follow your lead on everything. Whatever you say, goes."

Mu Lin was quite surprised. For a tycoon's daughter, Xiao Hongling was surprisingly reasonable, far more so than the other young misses he had met.

He quickly elevated his opinion of Xiao Hongling to the same level as Lin Shishi.

The two of them headed to Chen Martial Arts Hall. When Chen Dingshan saw Mu Lin, he became very excited and walked up, saying:

"Mr. Mu, you're here! Please feel free to use any of the hall's equipment. You are our great benefactor, so please, don't be a stranger!"

Mu Lin waved his hand. "No, I'm just here to find a place to sit for a while."

"Then please, make yourself at home!"

The disciples of the hall went about their training, but when they saw Xiao Hongling, their eyes were glued to her.

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

But with Mu Lin's prestige as the hall's savior hanging in the air, the disciples didn't dare say much. They could only sneak a glance before moving on.

Xiao Hongling, however, felt nothing about it. She had long known she was exceptionally beautiful. It was normal to be stared at, and it was also normal not to be.

She was simply indifferent.

But that just made them adore her.

They didn't dare linger any longer and all dispersed.

Mu Lin gave a wry smile. "Miss Hong Ling, your charm is really something."

Xiao Hongling just smiled simply without saying anything. For her, this was just another day; it was no big deal.

Just then, Yuan Kun and Yuan Zhen walked over.

"Brother Lin!"

Yuan Kun called out enthusiastically.

Mu Lin said, "Yuan Kun, what are you doing at the martial arts hall? I wouldn't have thought you'd be here at this time."

Yuan Kun laughed heartily. "I've got to learn a few moves myself! Otherwise, I can't even protect myself. My younger brother is already an Inner Strength Powerhouse, but I'm still just a hero at the dinner table. That's just too ridiculous!"

"Brother Lin, do you think I still have a chance?" Yuan Kun asked.

Mu Lin said, "'To learn the Way in the morning and die in the evening is acceptable.' As long as you have the heart to improve, it's never too late to start."

Yuan Kun's eyes lit up. Mu Lin's words were truly heart-warming.

It was just that, at a time like this, there were far too many details to sort out.