Chapter 474 473: Left with Nothing

Lv Ximing roared with laughter, a wild and arrogant sound.

He turned to size up Mu Lin, and the man's rustic air, from head to toe, made him deeply uncomfortable.

'How dare a hick like him challenge me? Who gave him the gall?'

"Who are you? Are you talking to me? What did you just say? I didn't hear you!" Lv Ximing scanned Mu Lin with contempt. In his eyes, Mu Lin was a nobody.

"That's right, I'm talking to you," Mu Lin said calmly. "I said the chairman of Xiguang Group is about to be replaced. It's a shame, really, but you're definitely not the best choice."

Lv Ximing put his hands on his hips and boomed, "Bullshit! What I do is none of your damn business!"

"Good choice, bad choice... Xiguang Group has been around for over twenty years. Since when did we need your advice? I'll give you a few minutes to get your story straight!"

Mu Lin replied, "Who said it was me? I'm not your daddy. How could I possibly have any say over your Xiguang Group?"

This sent Lv Ximing into a rage. Mu Lin was insulting him to his face!

"You're finished, kid! You hear me?" Lv Ximing yelled, pointing at Mu Lin.

"Lin Jin, is this guy with you? The Lin Family must be doing well for itself, daring to spout such nonsense! Looks like I've been letting you all off too easy!"

Lin Jin said, "The Lin Family has never had any intention of going against the Xiguang Group. You know very well we've never had that kind of power."

Lv Ximing was livid. He'd asked the question to scare Lin Jin into backing down.

But Lin Jin's reaction only made him angrier.

'He's not the least bit afraid!'

'How dare he!'

Lv Ximing stomped his foot and roared at Lin Jin,

"You, Lin! Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that!"

Relying on the might of Xiguang Group, Lv Ximing was fully prepared to throw his weight around and bully them.

And it wasn't just the might of Xiguang Group; his backing from the Jade Pavilion District played a crucial role as well.

Lin Jin's heart was racing with anxiety. 'What on earth is happening?'

He was about to urge Mu Lin to say less, but then he saw Mu Lin raise his wrist to check the time. "It's about time," Mu Lin said.

"What's about time?!" Lin Jin asked.

"They're about to arrive," Mu Lin said simply.

This only confused Lin Jin more.

Lv Ximing laughed heartily. "Kid, it doesn't matter who you call. I refuse to believe there's anyone in Di Yang who can help you."

But as if on cue, Ran Xiong and Ran Quan appeared at that very moment, walking over with grim expressions.

The look on Lv Ximing's face was as if he'd just swallowed a fly; he looked utterly disgusted.

He quickly forced a humble, amiable expression and scurried over, calling out obediently.

"Mr. Ran! Young Master Ran!"

Lv Ximing was as subservient as a dog. His status had been granted by the Jade Pavilion District, so he did everything in his power to curry favor with the Ran father and son.

Ran Xiong couldn't be bothered with Lv Ximing. Watching the man court death had sent a shiver down his spine; he had to distance himself from Lv Ximing, lest Mu Lin drag him into the mess.

Ran Xiong hurried over to Mu Lin and said, "Mr. Mu! This is your compensation! Eight billion in total. I've raised the funds!"

Ran Xiong was incredibly humble. To raise the money, he'd had to sell off a significant number of assets—an arduous task, to say the least. But now, it seemed to have been worth it.

Especially after watching Lv Ximing court death right in front of Mu Lin, he knew the trouble his own son had caused wasn't the worst of it.

'I need to cut ties cleanly. There'll be other opportunities later. If I'm stubborn now, things will only get worse.'

Hearing this, Wan Pengcheng and Lv Ximing, who were standing to the side, stared wide-eyed.

'How much? Eight billion? What the hell is going on?'

Mu Lin took the money, stuffing it casually into his pocket. "The Jade Pavilion District is far dirtier than I imagined... I truly didn't expect this. Ran Xiong, have you and your son truly atoned for your sins?"

The Ran father and son were scared to death. Heaven knows how much effort they'd put in just to resolve this matter.

Ran Xiong trembled, but there was nothing he could do.

Lv Ximing, on the other hand, was terrified. The fact that Mu Lin could have such a profound impact on the Ran Family filled him with panic.

"Mr. Mu, what are your instructions?" Ran Xiong asked with the utmost respect.

Mu Lin stated nonchalantly, "I think it's time for a change in leadership at Xiguang Group."

Ran Xiong understood instantly, nodding repeatedly. "Ah, yes, of course! From this moment on, Lv Ximing has no affiliation with our Jade Pavilion District. All assets under his name will be repossessed by the Jade Pavilion District."

Lv Ximing panicked. He'd been rich and powerful for over twenty years; being forced back into the life of an ordinary citizen was a fate worse than death.

Besides, he'd done plenty of unspeakable things during that time. With the Jade Pavilion District backing him, it was manageable. But without their protection, he'd be torn to shreds by the countless enemies he'd made, all of them seeing red.

"Mr. Ran, you can't do this! Mr. Ran!"

Lv Ximing was beside himself with panic.

Mu Lin continued, "Who gave you the jade tokens? I want their file."

A jolt of fear went through Ran Xiong. He had expected this question and couldn't stop the panic from rising.

"Mr. Mu, I honestly don't know!"

Mu Lin stated flatly, "Impossible. Ji Fan and Lv Meng had identical tokens. That proves the person who makes them has a connection to the Jade Pavilion District. You can try to deny it all you want, but the connection is definitely there."

"I'm not one to be trifled with. I suggest you find this person for me, and quickly. Otherwise, I'll pay a visit to the Jade Pavilion District and demand him myself."

"If you choose to stonewall me, that's fine too. But you'll have to face the consequences."

Mu Lin's words placed immense pressure on Ran Xiong.

Ran Xiong pressed his lips together, remaining completely silent.

Mu Lin turned to Lin Jin. "Uncle Lin, let's go."

They went to the reception room to get Lin Tian, and the three of them left together.

Ran Xiong's forehead was beaded with cold sweat. He didn't dare utter another word, terrified that Mu Lin would fly into a rage.

After returning home the previous day, he had done a thorough investigation of Mu Lin. He'd discovered that this was the same Mu Lin who had killed Vajra Zhenren. Only then did he realize he had picked a fight with someone he couldn't possibly defeat.

"Mr. Ran, please, save me! I've followed you so loyally all these years, you can't abandon me!"

With a THUD, Lv Ximing dropped to his knees and began to wail. It was a pathetic sight.

"Go die in a ditch for all I care. You have nothing to do with the Jade Pavilion District anymore! You're on your own! If you were so scared of the consequences, you shouldn't have been doing such despicable, filthy things in the first place!"

Ran Xiong glanced at Ran Quan, and with grim faces, the father and son departed in a hurry.

Miao Ya watched in utter confusion, as if she had just witnessed some bizarre stage play.

"Captain, what's the deal with this Mu Lin? He's so... strange."

Wan Pengcheng replied, "What's so strange about it? All I know is he took care of Lv Meng. From now on, that bastard won't be able to use his family's influence to harm young women anymore."

On the way home, Lin Tian asked, "Mu Lin, what took so long just to view a body?"

"It wasn't just viewing the body. A few complications came up," Mu Lin explained. "I saw that a young master arrested for assault was also wearing a white token around his neck, similar to the one from before, so I asked some questions."

Lin Shishi chimed in, "Grandpa, you know what? The girl was in a terrible state! She'd been tortured so badly she barely looked human!"

Lin Tian frowned. "It was that bad?"

"Yeah! And that creep is a repeat offender. His father is Lv Ximing, the chairman of Xiguang Group. He's been using his family's money and power to harm who knows how many girls!" Lin Shishi said excitedly. "But Lv Ximing has been fired now, and the entire Xiguang Group has been transferred over to the Jade Pavilion District's management. The problem is completely solved!"

"It turns out Mu Lin has deep connections with the Jade Pavilion District. That guy, Ran Xiong, was as scared as a stray dog when he saw Mu Lin. It was hilarious!"

"So that's what happened..." Lin Tian's expression shifted repeatedly as he listened.

He was both angry and relieved.

'What kind of connections has this kid Mu Lin been building in secret? His wings are really starting to spread.'

Mu Lin, sitting in the car, paid them no mind, turning a deaf ear even to Lin Shishi's excited chatter.

He was contemplating a more serious problem.

'How to keep the Jade Pavilion District in check? The Ran father and son might act like frightened dogs in my presence, but their submission is only superficial. Sooner or later, they're going to cause trouble.'

'The question is how to foil their schemes.'

'But the even bigger problem was the Li Family.'