Chapter 478: Letting You Keep Your Status

A flicker of confusion crossed Li Ba's eyes. "Mr. Mu, I know you're powerful. I know you can take out a lot of people with ease."

"But we're just common folk. We can't be like you. The Jade Pavilion District will never let us go! My sister and I could be finished at any moment."

Mu Lin waved his hand. "Don't worry about that. Just tell me, if I insist on helping you maintain your position, what do I need to do?"

Li Ba was stunned for a moment. "Mr. Mu, why do you value me so highly? I'm clearly no one special."

Mu Lin said, "I need manpower. A lot of it. Times like these require the support of many people, and you are indispensable!"

Hearing Mu Lin's words, Li Ba froze, deeply moved.

'What on earth have I ever done to deserve such favor from Mu Lin!'

Li Ba was so overcome with emotion that for a moment, he couldn't meet Mu Lin's intense gaze.

"I never thought that after all my years of struggling, I, Li Ba, would actually earn Mr. Mu's recognition."

Mu Lin gave a dry cough. "Don't get carried away. Your skills are just average... Don't try to be a hero..."

He was afraid Li Ba would get hot-headed and try to clash head-on with a powerful enemy, which would be a tragedy.

Even Mu Lin himself might not have that kind of courage, let alone Li Ba.

"I won't be a hero!" Li Ba waved his hands frantically. Although he knew Mu Lin was simply worried about him getting himself killed, it was still a sign of deep concern!

"But I don't have any backing. Why would anyone be willing to support me?" Li Ba asked worriedly.

Heaven knows when he'd ever experienced something like this. In the past, he was always looked down on, liable to lose any opportunity at a moment's notice.

It was utterly miserable.

In any case, the current objective was still quite incredible. For his own benefit, he had to think in terms of a collective project.

Maybe he could actually challenge his reality. The potential benefits at a time like this were just insane.

"I'll arrange for a Grandmaster to be your guard. That should put you and your sister's minds at ease, right?" Mu Lin said.

Li Ba's whole body trembled. Heaven knows what good deeds he'd done in a past life to suddenly receive such incredible fortune.

"You saved my sister and me. Whatever you say, goes. Even if I have to give my life back to you, I'll do it willingly!"

Mu Lin raised an eyebrow. "In that case, I won't send an expert to protect you."

"No, no!" Li Ba cried out in alarm. "That's not what I meant! I'd rather serve you for a good while longer—I don't want to die so soon!"

Mu Lin chuckled. "You... It's settled. Don't worry, I won't let you get a raw deal."

"But even if I die, my sister has to live! Can you promise me that, Mr. Mu? I know it's a lot to ask, but I just really hope she can live a peaceful life..."

Mu Lin smiled. "You can rest assured on that front. It's a small matter. I'll do my best to make sure nothing happens to you. But if it really comes to that, I'll get your sister out safely at the first opportunity."

Li Ba's eyes instantly turned red. He was too moved for words.

Mu Lin also found Li Ba to be a very honest person. A character like that, true to the bone, was refreshing.

"Besides, I'll do everything in my power to heal you, so the chance of you actually dying is pretty slim."

Li Ba pressed his lips together. Recalling Mu Lin's miraculous medical skills, a great surge of confidence suddenly rose in his heart.

'If even Mu Lin couldn't save him, he really didn't know who in the world could.'

"Yes! I am completely at your disposal, Mr. Mu!"

Mu Lin thought for a moment, then asked, "Do you know Elder Gu?"

"Elder Gu?? Never heard of him. Who's that?"

Mu Lin said, "He's a Grandmaster from the Jade Pavilion District."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Mu. There are a lot of people in the Jade Pavilion District, and I don't know all of them, so I have no idea who you're talking about."

Mu Lin said, "It's fine."

He was planning to have Elder Gu protect Li Ba and his sister.

Elder Gu's granddaughter had been targeted in a plot by the Jade Pavilion District, so he was unlikely to be loyal to them anymore—making him the perfect candidate.

Moreover, his strength was more than sufficient. He was worth recruiting.

Mu Lin had done Elder Gu a favor, so the old man would most likely agree. In fact, if the pay was high enough, Elder Gu would probably be quite happy to take the job, and Mu Lin might not even need to call in that precious favor.

"Also, from now on, if anyone gives you trouble, just tell them you were saved by the person who killed Vajra Zhenren. Tell them to come find me if they have a problem with it."

Li Ba still looked a little dazed, but he slowly nodded. "Yes, I understand!"

Mu Lin said nonchalantly, "Oh, right..."

He pulled out a stack of cards.

"Find a way to withdraw the money from these. Try not to leave a trail."

"Yes!" Li Ba responded immediately. He was indeed an expert at this sort of gray-area business, having done plenty of it for the Jade Pavilion District in the past.

'He never would have imagined that he'd now be using those skills against the Jade Pavilion District.'

Mu Lin left.

Li Ba remained standing at the door, watching his retreating back for a long time.

Li Yan asked in amazement, "Brother, who on earth is this Mr. Mu? His medical skills are incredible. I don't feel any discomfort at all now."

Li Ba said, "I don't know his origins either, but I'm sure he's no ordinary person. I think turning our luck around is all up to him now!"

Li Yan was astonished. She watched Mu Lin's distant figure, never having expected things to turn out this way.

Suddenly, they had a powerful backer, someone to rely on.

The feeling was amazing.

Just as the two of them were marveling at their good luck, Liang Fuhu's phone rang.

In an instant, Li Ba broke out in a cold sweat.

'This is going to be a real problem!'

"What is it?" Li Ba answered coldly.

The voice on the other end was furious. "Is this Li Ba? How are you still alive? Where's Liang Fuhu?"

Li Ba's teeth chattered—CLACK, CLACK, CLACK. His jaw ached, but he was completely oblivious.