Chapter 486 484: Impossible to Agree

Ning Zuoren winced. A billion was already an exorbitant price, and now Mu Lin wanted to raise it?!

But if he didn't get a handle on this quickly, things would definitely escalate further.

So he had to make a decision, and fast.

Ning Zuoren's expression shifted multiple times before he finally suppressed his fury. "Fine!"

But Mu Lin raised a hand. "Don't be so quick to agree. Hear me out."

Ning Zuoren could only wait patiently for Mu Lin to continue.

Mu Lin said, "I don't know what your Ning Family has been doing to the Xu Family, but it all ends here. Stop, right now! As for the matter with Zhou Qianfan, I'll let it slide."

Ning Zuoren was furious. "Mr. Mu, you have no deep connection to the Xu Family! On what grounds are you protecting them? Making an enemy of our Ning Family for their sake is simply unwise!"

"If you wish to associate with major powers, our Ning Family can make the introductions for you! We have connections with almost anyone you'd want to meet."

"The Ning Family has always treated experts like yourself with the utmost respect. Elder Ning can overlook our past conflicts."

Hearing Ning Zuoren's words, Xu Tianming, who was standing to the side, suddenly grew tense.

What Ning Zuoren offered was a huge temptation. After all, the Ning Family's capabilities were on a completely different level from the Xu Family's. The benefits of befriending the Ning Family were far greater than anything the Xu Family could offer!

Honestly, anyone who wasn't a complete idiot would have switched sides at this point.

Xu Tianming was extremely nervous.

If Mu Lin actually went over to the Ning Family, then from that moment on, there would be no one left to speak up for the Xu Family.

Mu Lin narrowed his eyes as if in thought. He drew out his words, "That's actually... a pretty good idea. However, I don't have a single good feeling about the Ning Family. I feel more of a connection with the Xu Family."

Xu Tianming was so frightened his heart skipped a couple of beats; he almost thought Mu Lin was about to switch his allegiance to the Ning Family.

Only after listening carefully to the rest of what Mu Lin said did Xu Tianming let out a long sigh of relief.

'Thank goodness Mu Lin is an unshakeable guy. He's completely reliable.'

Ning Zuoren sized Mu Lin up and down, unable to comprehend what was wrong with his brain to make him stick to this path.

'So much has built up to this point; the slightest setback could derail everything.'

'How could he let that happen?'

"Mr. Mu, why? The Xu Family is just the weakest of the six great families. There's no point in you insisting on protecting them."

"And making an enemy of the Ning Family for their sake is even more foolish."

Mu Lin said, "No need to waste your breath. I will definitely protect the Xu Family. I'm going to pay them a visit in a bit. If you still don't back off, then I'll handle it myself. If anyone gets hurt because of this, I won't be taking any responsibility. It will be all your fault."

Seeing that his words were completely useless, Ning Zuoren was so angry he wanted to hit someone. He pointed at Mu Lin and snapped, "Mr. Mu, since you've put it that way, I have nothing more to say! You'd better watch yourself!"

With that, Ning Zuoren led Ning Xingyuan away, and the small restaurant returned to its usual tranquility.

Xu Tianming thought that there was finally a glimmer of hope for resolving the crisis, but he remained deeply uneasy, afraid that the future was still full of uncertainty.

"Mr. Mu, thank you for always standing on the Xu Family's side. If you had decided differently, the Xu Family might have ceased to exist!"

"You're being too polite!" Mu Lin smiled and waved his hand dismissively, then turned to Gu Qiang.

"Qiang'Er, you should head back first. Xu Tianming and I are going to the hospital to take a look at his parents."

Gu Qiang thought for a moment. She was rather curious about how Mu Lin treated illnesses, so she smiled and said:

"To be honest, I don't have much to do at home. I might as well go with you and see."

Mu Lin didn't object.

Xu Tianming, however, was very surprised. "Mr. Mu, you know medicine?"

Mu Lin said, "Are you surprised?"

Xu Tianming's mouth fell open, and he nodded repeatedly. "Of course, I am! I'm very surprised."

'There's a lot you don't know, kid!' Mu Lin thought. He waved his hand. "Lead the way."

Xu Tianming immediately took the lead, thoughtfully looking back at Mu Lin, afraid he might walk too fast for him to keep up.

Though this concern was entirely unnecessary.

Mu Lin's spiritual sense was incredibly powerful. Even if Xu Tianming sprinted all the way to the hospital, Mu Lin could track his exact route without issue.

Mo Cangsong stared intently at Mu Lin's departing group, his deep eyes filled with a thousand thoughts. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Mo Yu, we're going to the hospital too. I want to see for myself what level this Mr. Mu's medical skills are at."

"Yes!" Mo Yu agreed obediently. He had made such a huge mistake, and the fact that his grandfather wasn't blaming him already made him feel very lucky.

A while later, the group arrived at the hospital.

Mu Lin noticed Elder Mo and his grandson following nearby, but he didn't say anything.

Xu Tianming found the attending physician, a middle-aged man named Liu Guangyuan.

"Dr. Liu, I want to see my parents. Could you take me to the intensive care unit?"

Liu Guangyuan looked at Xu Tianming sympathetically. The young man's parents were in critical condition; it wouldn't be long before he was left all alone in the world.

This display of filial piety truly moved him.

But he had to tell the truth, or else Xu Tianming probably wouldn't let it go.

"Young Master Xu, your parents are in very poor condition. A sudden disturbance might put them in even more danger."

Xu Tianming said, "This Mr. Mu says he can save my parents. I want to let him try!"

Liu Guangyuan sized up Mu Lin. He couldn't see a single thing about Mu Lin that suggested he had anything to do with healing people.

'He's probably a fraud.'

Liu Guangyuan frowned angrily. "Do you not trust the hospital? Let me remind you, these are your own parents! You dare find some quack to treat them? Have you lost your mind?"

"We have a full set of instruments in the ICU monitoring their every move. The hospital can see everything. If there were any chance to cure them, why on earth wouldn't we take it?"

Xu Tianming was so thoroughly chided that he didn't dare to talk back, because what Liu Guangyuan said made a lot of sense.

"I do trust the hospital, but just having my parents lie there like this is no solution. That's why I hope to try a different approach."

Liu Guangyuan said with a stern face, "Impossible. I understand your filial piety, but don't take it too far. I am responsible for my patients, and I cannot possibly agree to let you harm them!"

Mu Lin looked at Liu Guangyuan. The doctor was speaking with genuine emotion, fully invested and without a hint of pretense.

'He's truly a good doctor,' Mu Lin thought. 'He just doesn't understand the full situation.'

Mu Lin patted Xu Tianming's shoulder and said gently, "Young Master Xu, don't be anxious. Dr. Liu means well for your parents. He's not wrong; an unlicensed physician like me certainly can't compare to them."

Liu Guangyuan felt a sense of relief. He hadn't expected Mu Lin to actually speak up for him.

But even so, he wouldn't bend the rules and let Mu Lin into the ICU to cause trouble.

Liu Guangyuan said to Xu Tianming, "There is absolutely no way I can agree to this. However, Young Master Xu, I do have some good news. If you can afford it, there's a chance to have a National Medical Master take a look."

Xu Tianming took a deep breath, his whole body tense. "Doctor Liu, please explain! What National Medical Master?"

"A National Medical Master from Beijing. He's come to Di Yang on business. It took me a great deal of effort to find out about this, but if he agrees to treat your parents, the chances of their recovery will increase dramatically!"

Xu Tianming's eyes lit up. "Doctor Liu, where can I find him?"

Liu Guangyuan said, "I will help you make the arrangements, but whether or not you can convince him to help is entirely up to you."

Xu Tianming's heart was pounding. This was a National Medical Master, someone with countless people waiting for his treatment.

'Why would he get his turn? He would just have to do everything in his power, even if it meant kneeling until he couldn't get up. He had to risk it all to get the master to treat his parents.'

Xu Tianming pressed his lips together, secretly making a resolution.

'This isn't the time to worry about face. I have to be willing to go all out!'

While they were talking, a very young-looking assistant doctor ran over, calling out, "Director Liu, Elder Liao is here!"

Director Liu shot to his feet and walked over to a full-length mirror to quickly tidy his appearance.

"I'll be right there!"

Hearing the name "Elder Liao," a flash of awkwardness crossed Mu Lin's face. "Dr. Liu, the National Medical Master you were talking about... is it Liao Boguang?"

Liu Guangyuan's mouth hung open. "Yes, yes, that's him! He came to Di Yang for some business and just arrived today."