Chapter 430 429: Missed Opportunity

"That's right. Anyone who earns Mu Lin's favor has their future set."

He Chen sighed heavily. "I've got no hope of that anymore!"

He should have been the one with the best chance. Madam Qiao and Qiao Canhua had set things up perfectly between He Zheng and Mu Lin, and the two young people got along just fine.

But then his idiot wife just had to break them up. And now look, Mu Lin was gone.

The last time he went home, He Chen was so angry he almost hit his wife. Though he held back, he resolutely sent her back to her parents' house to reflect on what she'd done.

It was also to give his daughter some closure; otherwise, he was afraid He Zheng would bottle it all up and make herself sick.

Qiao Canhua had to suppress a laugh when he saw his unlucky brother-in-law. After a moment's thought, he said, "I have to go back to Di Yang. Help me keep an eye on Baiju Group."

He Chen panicked. "What are you doing? Mu Lin entrusted such a huge company to you, and you're just leaving without a care? How are you going to answer to him?"

Qiao Canhua smiled faintly. "Of course. We don't need to work ourselves to death. Otherwise, why would Li Hong have worked so hard to bring the whole area under control?"

"Why is he able to firmly control the entire situation in Lanyang? It's because Mu Lin helped him secure it. He's definitely grateful to Mu Lin, so he'll naturally give preferential treatment to all the businesses Mu Lin left behind. You don't need to watch things too closely, just check in from time to time. I doubt the people under us will dare to be too blatant. If anyone does have bad intentions, you can just give their names to He Zongshan, right?"

He Chen thought for a moment and nodded. "That's true... He Zongshan is Mu Lin's man now, and a die-hard loyalist at that. We can trust him completely."

Qiao Canhua said, "Listen to me carefully. Mu Lin did a great job this time, but he also offended a lot of people."

"What if something happens?"

At these words, He Chen's expression turned serious as well.

"He really did offend a lot," He Chen said with a long sigh.

"See? Didn't I tell you? Just keep an eye on the situation and don't be reckless."

He Chen nodded slowly. "But the same goes for you. You still have enemies waiting for you in Di Yang. If something happens to you, how will you answer for it?"

"It's all the same. Mu Lin's kindness to my family is a debt I can't even repay with my life. If they target me, they're ultimately targeting Mu Lin. If I can use my worthless life to give Mu Lin a warning, it'll be worth it."

"Why go that far..." He Chen sighed.

"Yeah, why go that far? But if Mu Lin had felt the same way back then and hadn't helped treat me and my wife, what would have happened?"

"I don't need to spell out what would have happened, do I?"

He Chen said, "I understand. For starters, you wouldn't have a child... Your family wouldn't be complete."

Qiao Canhua got married earlier than him, but He Zheng was already grown, while Madam Qiao had only just gotten pregnant. The difference between them was enormous.

His desperation was understandable.

As they spoke, Mu Lin's car left the Lanyang region.

The escort from Yun Cheng stopped.

They hadn't even told Mu Lin about the escort; they'd done it on their own initiative.

Mu Lin didn't refuse, either. He just let it be.

Mu Lin said, "Miss Luo, I haven't arranged a place for you in Anhua yet. I'll buy you a villa, you can all just live there."

A strange glint flashed in Luo Wanqing's eyes. She wasn't that naive.

Most importantly, it sounded like he was trying to keep a mistress in a gilded cage. It made her feel less like a person and more like a canary in a cage.

That was a problem. She found it very difficult to accept.

Luo Wanqing said, "That won't be necessary. I'll take care of my own living arrangements. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Mu!"

Mu Lin said, "Alright, then handle it yourself. If you run into any problems, come find me, and I'll help you sort things out."

The first thing Mu Lin did was have Jiang Lan drive to the Holy Medicine Hall.

Hearing the sound of a car, Zhao Ling'Er glanced outside and saw Mu Lin leaning out and waving at her. Thrilled, she ran out to greet him.

But before the car had even stopped, Zhao Ling'Er noticed there were other people inside.

Luo Wanqing and Jiang Lan.

Two more women. Zhao Ling'Er of course recognized Luo Wanqing, who had been there before.

She knew, moreover, that Luo Wanqing was the one and only Manor Master of Hidden Sword Manor.

'But now she's here with Mu Lin. What does that mean?'

'What's with that suitcase?'

'Does she not plan on leaving?'

This made the hostility in Zhao Ling'Er's heart skyrocket.

Luo Wanqing noticed the hostility in Zhao Ling'Er's eyes at a glance.

Back when she still had Hidden Sword Manor, she would have never paid attention to such things.

But now that she had nothing and had to rely on Mu Lin to live, her heart had suddenly become sensitive to everything.

She gave Zhao Ling'Er a cool, indifferent glance. On the surface, her expression was unreadable, but its true meaning was something only another woman would understand.

'Whoever gets flustered first, loses.'

'A little girl like Zhao Ling'Er, with no subtlety at all, who jumps at the slightest provocation—how could she possibly compete with someone like me, who has weathered real storms?'

'She couldn't win even if she tried, could she?'

Zhao Ling'Er knew she was at a disadvantage. Her expression immediately turned serious, and she walked quickly to Mu Lin's side.

"Mu Lin, has Manor Master Luo's illness relapsed?" she asked, feigning ignorance to test Mu Lin's attitude.

Mu Lin said, "Hidden Sword Manor was wiped out. From now on, Manor Master Luo will be staying and working with me."

Zhao Ling'Er's expression turned ugly. 'What does he mean, "working with me"?'

'I can work with him too!' she thought. 'Why does it have to be them?'

But she carefully reined in her emotions. Mu Lin definitely wouldn't like a hysterical, willful girl.

Mu Lin, however, continued, "Ling'Er, help me unload those Cyan Jade Boxes."

Zhao Ling'Er glanced over and, remembering the kind of boxes she had seen at the auction, asked tentatively, "Are these Spirit Medicines?"

"Yes!"

"All of them?"

"Yes!"

Zhao Ling'Er was so shocked she trembled all over. Each of these Cyan Jade Boxes was worth at least tens of millions.

And there were hundreds of them here.

'You've got to be kidding me.'

'This is terrifying!'

Mu Lin said, "Don't just stand there gawking, help me move them! Be careful now, don't break anything."

Zhao Ling'Er immediately started moving the boxes with nimble excitement, her previous displeasure at seeing Luo Wanqing completely forgotten.

'This is so much money!' Zhao Ling'Er instantly turned into a little money-grubber, rapidly moving the boxes one by one.

As the medicine boxes were moved one by one, Shi Huiguang's face was revealed from behind them.

Zhao Ling'Er jumped in fright, nearly dropping the box she was holding.

"What are you doing here! What are your intentions! Are you trying to steal the Spirit Medicines!"

This Shi Huiguang was the one who had repeatedly made trouble in front of Patriarch Bai, trying to get him to kill her grandfather.

It was no wonder Zhao Ling'Er was upset to see him here now.

Shi Huiguang gave a wry smile and said, "Miss Ling'Er, I'm with Mu Lin now. From now on, we're all family."

Zhao Ling'Er was utterly shocked. Shi Huiguang was a famous physician who, along with her grandfather, was known as one of the Twin Heroes of Nanjiang. His medical skills were only a tiny bit inferior to her grandfather's.

'He's actually working for Mu Lin?!'

She looked at Mu Lin, only to see him smiling and nodding in agreement with Shi Huiguang's words.

This left Zhao Ling'Er somewhat astonished.

'I never would have expected this.'

'Times have changed!'

Divine Doctor Zhao came out from inside and was also stunned to see Shi Huiguang.

"Shi Huiguang, you old coot, what are you doing here? I... I... I!"

Shi Huiguang said, "Calm down, Old Zhao... We're all family now."

Hearing the word "family," Divine Doctor Zhao couldn't stand it.

"Who's family with you? Get away from me!"

It was simply outrageous.

Both men felt they had been offended and immediately started glaring at each other.

Mu Lin came forward and said, "Elder Zhao, it's a misunderstanding! We're all on the same side now!"

Zhao Ling'Er also ran over and tugged on her grandfather's sleeve. "Grandpa, Divine Doctor Shi is with Mu Lin now. We can't treat him like we used to!"

'With Mu Lin?' Divine Doctor Zhao's face was full of astonishment. This was something he had never, ever expected.

Shi Huiguang also said, "See, Old Zhao? I told you not to be hasty and to listen to my explanation, didn't I?"

Divine Doctor Zhao looked Shi Huiguang up and down. He figured it must be true, but in his heart, he still couldn't bring himself to forgive Shi Huiguang so easily.

Shi Huiguang said, "Ah, Old Zhao, we had many misunderstandings when we were young. My head was muddled and I did many foolish things. Even now, I regret them deeply, and I truly want your forgiveness!"

Divine Doctor Zhao waved his hand. "Forget it. There's no need for all this. I made my own mistakes in our younger days. We were both at fault. Let's just let it go."