Chapter 481 479: No Amicable Parting

"How dare he declare he's quitting the Jade Pavilion District? Where does he get the nerve? I can't just let him go. Otherwise, how is the Jade Pavilion District supposed to keep its people in line?"

The middle-aged man cursed as he paced back and forth in the room, furious.

Master Fu, having calmed down, began to placate the middle-aged man. "You don't need to be so angry. I'll make another move later. I refuse to believe that worthless punk can keep protecting Gu Qiang."

In the Gu Family home, Gu Qiang had finally regained a little of her spirit. She looked weakly toward her grandfather and Mu Lin.

"Grandpa! How long was I asleep? I'm so sleepy..."

Gu Qiang was exhausted and struggled to say a few words to rally her spirits.

Although Elder Gu was panicking internally, he said, "It's alright. If you're tired, just sleep! You're safe with Grandpa here! And even if Grandpa fails, you still have Mr. Mu to protect you!"

Mu Lin said, "Elder Gu, this isn't a long-term solution. The talisman can't protect you both forever. You can't be on the defensive indefinitely. If you really want to be safe, the best way is to strike first and settle this once and for all."

"So, Mr. Mu, in your opinion, what's going on here?"

Mu Lin said slowly, "The Jade Pavilion District. This is most likely their handiwork."

"It's them?!" Elder Gu's expression changed drastically. For a moment, he couldn't accept it.

'I clearly parted with them on good terms, so why are they still coming after me?'

'If they didn't want to let me go, they should have just said so!'

"Those two-faced bastards! First, they harm my granddaughter, and now they want to stab me in the back and kill her!"

'Why?!'

Elder Gu was so angry he couldn't stand it. His rage soared to the heavens, and he was filled with resentment over the Jade Pavilion District's backstabbing.

Mu Lin found it very strange. The Jade Pavilion District's existence was truly bizarre. It was hidden so well it could even elude the eyes of the Military Suppression Bureau.

'It wouldn't be surprising for an organization like this to do anything.'

"Elder Gu, there's something I don't quite understand. As a Grandmaster, I'd have thought the Jade Pavilion District wouldn't want to offend you. Since your mind was made up to leave, why wouldn't they just let you go and part amicably? Why resort to this kind of double-dealing?"

Elder Gu shook his head. "How should I know?"

Elder Gu sighed repeatedly. In that moment, he felt a desolate chill, the kind that comes when you realize that once you're gone, you're forgotten, like tea left to grow cold.

"The Jade Pavilion District is extraordinarily domineering. Once, a Martial Arts Grandmaster wanted to retire and go home to care for his elderly mother, but I never expected the Jade Pavilion District to cripple him directly."

Mu Lin said, "That's the very foundation of a Martial Artist's livelihood. To destroy someone's cultivation is completely ruthless. Wouldn't the other Martial Artists feel uneasy seeing that?"

Elder Gu said, "The Jade Pavilion District had their own justification for it! They said that since his Martial Dao was nurtured in the Jade Pavilion District, if he wanted to leave, he had to give back what they had given him."

Mu Lin thought that the justification, while tyrannical, was not far from his impression of the Jade Pavilion District. He said, "Since it's the Jade Pavilion District, that kind of action is actually pretty normal."

Elder Gu added, "There were also some rather inconvenient details... sigh... actually, that man really was out of line..."

"He only managed to advance to Grandmaster thanks to the Jade Pavilion District, but then he turned around and stole a treasure from them. The Jade Pavilion District! You see?!"

"Could they tolerate him stealing their treasure? Of course not. So the Jade Pavilion District has been retaliating ever since. But I never expected them to come after me."

Elder Gu paused as if he'd remembered something. "Speaking of which, a friend of mine also wanted to quit the Jade Pavilion District before. It seems he didn't succeed. I haven't seen him since. I think it's very likely he met with a grim fate."

A conjecture slowly formed in Mu Lin's mind, but he didn't want to sound too certain. "Elder Gu, I'm guessing this friend of yours was also a Grandmaster?"

Elder Gu said, "That's right! A great talent. He should have had a long life to enjoy, but now he's vanished without a word, without a trace."

Elder Gu sighed long and deep, lamenting the unfairness of the world, his sorrow difficult to bear.

Suddenly, Elder Gu asked, "Mr. Mu, you fought Vajra Zhenren. It's quite famous! Did Vajra Zhenren die by your hand?"

Mu Lin said, "Yes."

"My friend fought Vajra Zhenren once before, but he was no match and had to flee in a hurry. He said it was a good thing Vajra Zhenren was busy chasing someone else, or things would have ended badly for him."

Mu Lin's eyes couldn't help but light up. He knew full well how formidable Vajra Zhenren was. Even just clashing with him and managing to escape was an incredible feat.

You can see someone's skill in how they handle a crisis.

Moreover, he recalled what Su Nuan had said before. She had been saved because her master's close friend helped delay Vajra Zhenren, allowing her to escape with her life.

The two stories matched up. This meant there was some connection between Elder Gu and Su Nuan's master.

"Did your friend have friends in Lanyang?"

Elder Gu thought for a moment, his mind distant. "Yes, he did. He mentioned it over drinks once. But that person is gone now, leaving behind a pair of disciples that he always had to take time and energy to look after."

Now Mu Lin was even more certain. "Elder Gu, if you get any new information about that friend, please let me know. Preferably, the moment you hear anything."

Seeing how serious Mu Lin was, Elder Gu figured there must be something very important at play.

"I understand. I will."

Gu Qiang pushed herself up and, with great effort, walked over to Mu Lin and bowed deeply. "Mr. Mu, thank you. You've saved my life yet again."

Mu Lin waved his hand and smiled. "Miss Gu, you're being too polite. I was already on my way to see Elder Gu when I got his call. It was quite a coincidence."

Gu Qiang's gaze was soft as silk, her eyes reflecting Mu Lin's silhouette. A subtle, lingering affection flowed from her. "Mr. Mu, you're the one being too polite. Just call me Qiang'Er. 'Miss' and all that is just too formal!"

Mu Lin smiled faintly. "Alright."

'The relationship between Mu Lin and Gu Qiang is developing quite nicely,' Elder Gu thought, feeling very pleased.

"Mu Lin, if you don't mind, you can call me Grandmaster Gu. If that feels awkward, calling me Old Gu is fine too."

Mu Lin smiled. "Grandmaster Gu!"

Hearing this, Elder Gu was overjoyed. 'Mu Lin is such a good kid. I never imagined I'd have such a powerful junior in my life.'

"Mu Lin, if there's anything you need my help with, just say the word! Even if you need to storm an execution ground, I'll go with you!"

Mu Lin chuckled. "It's not something as difficult as storming an execution ground. It's actually quite simple. Li Ba also wants to leave the Jade Pavilion District and work for me, but he's afraid of retaliation. I was hoping you could protect him for me."

Elder Gu was quite startled. Li Ba had worked for the Jade Pavilion District for so many years that everyone had pretty much become set in their ways about him.

Elder Gu was used to it too. But in an instant, Li Ba had apparently become Mu Lin's subordinate.

To say this was a big change would be an understatement. It was the kind of turn of events that would give many people whiplash.

"But Li Ba is an Executor for the Jade Pavilion District. You actually managed to win him over?"

Mu Lin said, "A big shot's son in the Jade Pavilion District wanted to sleep with his sister. He refused, and the son sent Liang Fuhu to kill her."

"Liang Fuhu is already dead by my hand. Partly to repay the favor and partly out of admiration for the strong, he decided to work for me. But I can't protect him all the time, so I need someone to step in..."

Elder Gu said, "Say no more. I'll take responsibility for Li Ba. For every dog the Jade Pavilion District sends, I'll slaughter one. They and I have a deep-seated grudge to settle!"

After they agreed, Elder Gu left immediately to find Li Ba, leaving only Mu Lin and Gu Qiang in the room.

Gu Qiang shifted her body, a little uncomfortable, and said, "Mr. Mu..."

Mu Lin said, "You can just call me by my name. Didn't you say you were afraid of being too formal?"

Gu Qiang pursed her lips and said, "Mu Lin, you've saved me twice now. I'm so grateful. Please, let me treat you to a meal!"

Mu Lin was straightforward. It was about dinnertime anyway, and since Gu Qiang's family was well-off, there was no need to be overly polite with her. Letting her repay this favor sooner rather than later was for the best.

Gu Qiang's soul had been locked by the Jade Pavilion District for nearly two years. She had been in a state like the living dead, completely unaware of the quiet changes happening in the world.

This was something Mu Lin couldn't really help her with. He hadn't been down from the mountain for very long himself, so how could he help?

Gu Qiang didn't know which restaurants were good, so she just picked one that looked clean and tidy and casually ordered a few dishes.