Chapter 64: Getting to the Bottom of Things

"Vegetable Knife Team, get the hell out!" Sister Fang ordered, her voice laced with killing intent.

The members of the Vegetable Knife Team, who had been knocked to the ground, scrambled away.

The fact that so many of them couldn't take him down proved one thing: Mu Lin was not someone to be trifled with.

In moments, the dance floor had cleared out. Only the background music kept up its pounding rhythm.

"Xiaofang, what happened? I want to know everything, from beginning to end!"

Guo Lei's voice boomed, his tone severe.

Power truly is a human amplifier. When Mu Lin killed Pang Dahai, Guo Lei was just a meek, subservient godson.

But now, having taken over Pang Dahai's turf and even his woman, he radiated the full-blown aura of a man in charge.

Zhao Ling'Er and Hu Xi clung to each other in fear.

They had no idea what would happen next, and could only draw warmth and comfort from each other.

Mu Lin raised his hand and slapped Guo Lei across the face, making him see stars.

"You're too loud," Mu Lin said to Guo Lei. "You're scaring them."

Sister Fang's eyes instantly reddened. Guo Lei was her pillar of support; seeing him get hit was worse than being killed herself. In a flash, she whipped a small pistol from her waistband.

Sister Fang aimed it at Mu Lin and yelled, "You must have a death wish!"

Guo Lei reached out, disarmed her, and followed up with a backhanded slap.

"It's an honor for Brother Mu to hit me! What the hell does it have to do with you?"

Zhao Ling'Er and Hu Xi were stunned. 'Guo Lei respects Mu Lin that much?'

Sister Fang was reeling from the slap, but one thing became clear: the relationship between Mu Lin and Guo Lei was anything but ordinary, far beyond her ability to comprehend.

She really couldn't say she didn't deserve those two slaps.

She dropped her arrogant, domineering attitude and looked at Guo Lei with meek submission.

Guo Lei wasn't overly angry. He turned to Mu Lin.

"Brother Mu, what happened here? Why is everyone so worked up?"

Mu Lin pointed at the bloody, mangled man on the floor. "This guy's called Baldy, right? He wanted to publicly humiliate my friends, so I taught him a little lesson."

Guo Lei glanced at Baldy's crotch, felt a wave of physical revulsion, and quickly looked away.

It wasn't the first time Baldy had caused trouble. Back when Pang Dahai was still around, the man was a lecherous fiend, constantly dragging waitresses into the locker room.

Guo Lei had taken over Pang Dahai's operation so recently that he hadn't had time to clean house, and now it had led to this mess.

"Serves him right! He should be castrated! Men!"

Mu Lin held up a hand. "No need. My kick was precise. The 'family jewels' are completely shattered. He won't be reoffending in this lifetime."

Guo Lei nodded. "As expected of you, Brother Mu. Always thorough."

"And what's his name?" Mu Lin asked, pointing at the flashy-looking man.

"Huo Tong," the man in question hurriedly volunteered. He could read the room. He decided to just take whatever was coming to him and accept Guo Lei's judgment.

"Huo Tong saw his pal get neutered and got anxious. He came at me with a knife, so I put him on the ground with two silver needles. He's still stuck like that."

Guo Lei had a flash of understanding. He'd been wondering why Huo Tong was frozen in such a bizarre pose. So, he'd been immobilized by Mu Lin.

"Then, Sister Fang showed up, called in the Vegetable Knife Team to take care of me, but I took care of them instead."

Guo Lei nodded emphatically. "I get it! So, Brother Mu, how do you want to handle them?"

Mu Lin said, "No need. I've already taught them their lesson. Just keep your men in line from now on."

Guo Lei nodded again. "Yes! Brother Mu, please, come up to the private room. Let me buy you a drink!"

Mu Lin exchanged a few words with Zhao Ling'Er and Hu Xi, telling them to wait there and have fun.

Guo Lei also offered to comp their entire bill and gave each of them a 100,000-yuan gift card.

Mu Lin was satisfied with how he'd handled things. He went upstairs with him and sat down. "So, you called me here. What did you want?"

Guo Lei said, "Chairman Wu has been really pissed off by a big out-of-town real estate developer, so he wants me to teach the guy a lesson. But I don't know much about the real estate world—Chairman Wu doesn't let me get too involved, probably afraid I'll strike out on my own."

"So I really don't know where he is," Guo Lei said, scratching his head. "I've checked every hotel, and he's not registered at any of them."

"I'm completely stuck, so I had to come to you, Brother Mu!"

Mu Lin's eyes narrowed. "So you went to all this trouble to find me just so I could help you with your dirty work?"

Guo Lei held up his hands, waving them frantically. "No, no, no! I wasn't planning on doing anything serious to him. A few threatening phone calls at most, and that would've been the end of it. Our Chairman Wu is forgetful. If I stall long enough, he'll just forget the whole thing."

"But if I can't give him a real location, I'm afraid I'm the one who's going to be in hot water!"

Mu Lin sighed. "I can't promise I'll know, but go ahead."

Seeing Mu Lin's willingness to help, Guo Lei was ecstatic. "Brother Mu, you're incredibly resourceful! I bet there's nothing you don't know."

He paused. "Qiao Canhua. You know him, right? The chairman of Shengding Group."

Mu Lin's expression instantly turned to ice.

'Wu Long wants to go after Qiao Canhua?' This was the first he'd heard of it.

'It was a good thing Guo Lei came to me first. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have found out until after a disaster had already struck.'

'Qiao Canhua had treated him well. Sure, he was always trying to poach him, but there was no real malice behind it.'

Because of that, Mu Lin didn't want to see anything happen to Qiao Canhua.

Guo Lei sensed the shift in Mu Lin's demeanor. "Brother Mu, what is it...?"

Mu Lin said, "He's a client of mine."

Those few simple words landed in Guo Lei's ears with terrifying weight.

Guo Lei wasn't sure if Qiao Canhua was someone he could afford to cross, but he knew for a fact that Mu Lin was absolutely not.

'If one of his clients was targeted... wouldn't all hell break loose?'

"Ah... Brother Mu, I'm sorry. I was in a tough spot... How about we just drop the whole thing?"

Mu Lin waved a hand. "No. Just wait for my word. The owner's number on the bar's sign—is that Sister Fang's cell? Can I reach you by calling her?"

"Yes! Yes!" Guo Lei nodded vigorously.

Mu Lin turned and went downstairs. He saw Zhao Ling'Er and Hu Xi playing a dice game, looking quite happy.

He walked over and lifted the dice cup. "Time to go. I'll take you home."

Hu Xi felt she should probably leave on her own. It seemed like there was something going on between Mu Lin and Zhao Ling'Er, and she didn't want to be a third wheel.

But still shaken from the earlier ordeal, she really wanted some company.

"Ling'Er, I'm a little too scared to sleep alone. Can I stay at your place tonight?"

Zhao Ling'Er smiled. "Of course! You're more than welcome. My place has a hot spring. I'll take you for a dip!"

It turned out to be quite convenient, as all three of them were headed to the same destination: the Holy Medicine Hall.

Mu Lin hailed a car with his phone. After the three of them got in, he decided this was a good time to lecture Zhao Ling'Er.

"Zhao Ling'Er!" he said, his tone heavy.

Zhao Ling'Er jumped. 'What's wrong?' she thought, quickly replying, "I'm here! What is it, Brother Mu?"

Mu Lin said, "I saw the whole confrontation. You could have just left with Hu Xi. Worst case, you find another bar. Why did you have to get into a fight with them?"

"If I hadn't been there, you two would have been violated in public today."

Zhao Ling'Er stuck out her tongue. 'Oh, so that's what this is about.' "I saw you the second you walked in! I just knew Brother Mu wouldn't stand by and watch us suffer! That's why I had the guts to stand up to those two thugs!"

"If you hadn't been there, I would've been long gone!"

Mu Lin was momentarily speechless. 'So, in the end, I'm the one to blame, huh?'

A short while later, they arrived at the Holy Medicine Hall.

Mu Lin followed Zhao Ling'Er as she headed inside.

Zhao Ling'Er found this strange. "Brother Mu, you can just drop us off here! We're not scared!"

"I need to discuss something with Boss Qiao. It's just a coincidence," Mu Lin sighed. "Don't get the wrong idea."

Zhao Ling'Er blushed, lowered her head, and hurried off toward the front hall of the Holy Medicine Hall.

Zhao Yang was sweeping the grounds in the fading light. When he saw Mu Lin and Zhao Ling'Er return together, his eyes narrowed. "Something going on between you two?"

Mu Lin said, "Why are you getting the wrong idea just like Ling'Er? Is Boss Qiao in? I have business with him."

Zhao Yang replied, "Oh, he's here. He should be in the courtyard with his wife, stargazing."

Mu Lin strode inside and immediately saw Qiao Canhua's hand inside his wife's neckline, moving slowly.

'I must have come in the wrong way.' Mu Lin retreated a few steps, then deliberately made his footsteps heavier as he entered again.

This time, Qiao Canhua was perfectly composed. He turned his head to see Mu Lin. "Young friend Mu Lin! I didn't expect you! Quick, have a seat!"

Mu Lin said, "Boss Qiao, I'm afraid you're in grave danger."