Xiao Mu was constantly observing Hua Muyun's demeanor. It was through Hua Muyun's arrangement that he could enter this exclusive club. Inside the private room, the facilities were complete, the food was good, and the drinks were plentiful. From the decor to the finished products, nothing was extravagant, yet everything was just tastefully right, perfectly suited for those of a certain age and status to gather.

"Xiao Mu, what do you think of this club? Isn't it much worse compared to the ones in the United States?" Hua Muyun put down the remote control, completely ignoring the images playing on the screen.

"It's nice abroad, but it doesn't have the comfort of home," Xiao Mu poured a cup of tea for Hua Muyun and handed it over.

"Have you met Xiao Lin?" Hua Muyun took the cup and placed it aside.

"Uncle Hua, you're asking where this tape came from, right?" Xiao Mu ejected the tape and placed it in the box nearby. He sighed, showing his helplessness.

"How it came isn't important; what's important is what you're trying to convey?" Hua Muyun couldn't help but start to feel a bit worried for Xiao Lin. This matter could be big, but it shouldn't be small. If there weren't such direct facial close-ups, perhaps it could be salvaged, but with such precise angles, it only showed the other party's ambition.

"I really hope the person on this tape isn't Xiao Lin, but when someone sent the tape to me, my feelings were the same as yours, Uncle Hua. In Yanjing, you were the only one I could think of, so I came specially to ask for advice on how to handle this matter."

Hua Muyun smiled without speaking. In the Xiao Family, if anyone could rely on brains to secure a position, it would be the third, Xiao Mu—meticulous, ruthless, capable of striking with deadly precision.

"According to the law, that's a serious crime." Hua Muyun declared promptly. "Given Lao Xiao's nature, he wouldn't bend the law for personal gain, right?"

"Uncle Hua, do you want me to hand over the tape?" Hua Muyun's decision caught Xiao Mu by surprise. He couldn't help but gaze deeply at Hua Muyun before his eyes fell on the black plastic box.

"Xiao Mu, there's no one else here. Why don't you just say your real intention? I know you've been here quite a while, dealing with the Wang Family's affairs. Even if others can't see it clearly, I guess you haven't been exactly innocent in the background. Could the young master of the Wang Family afford to hire 'Black Crow,' a top-notch assassin?" Hua Muyun turned his head, took a sip of the now-cold tea. "I'm telling you, this time you indeed have gone a bit too far."

"Is Uncle Hua upset about me dealing with Xiao Lin?" Hua Muyun snorted. "If Xiao Lin didn't have the skills, he wouldn't have taken that position, right?"

"Saying that, I should thank you on behalf of Lao Xiao." Despite Hua Muyun's sarcasm, Xiao Mu didn't show any dissatisfaction and merely replaced his tea with a fresh hot pot. "Do you know why some tea must be drunk hot, and some can only be drunk cold?"

"Because the environment where the tea leaves stretch is different, the temperature is different?"

"It's the different process and time of frying fresh leaves in the pan." Hua Muyun hinted, and Xiao Mu understood the implication. "You're a seed nurtured in a greenhouse; Xiao Lin is a sheep raised outside. Tell me, which one has the advantage?"

"To be honest, Uncle Hua, I've met Xiao Lin, and as you said, a sheep left outside long enough also becomes a man-eating wolf."

"The Wang Family is on the edge of a cliff, only a gust of wind away from falling. Do you know why the wind hasn't blown yet?" Hua Muyun questioned Xiao Mu. Although 'inone' looks like a trivial case, it reflects the Wang Family's numerous internal weaknesses beneath its glamorous surface; its downfall is inevitable.

"He's waiting for the Xia Family's growth." Xiao Mu understood Xiao Lin's intention. Before the Xia Family had firmly established themselves, he wouldn't let the Wang Family fall just like that. Otherwise, more enterprises would compete fiercely.

"You know but one part, not the other. Although you're smart, your understanding of things only lets you see three sides, ignoring the other three as a matter of course."

Xiao Mu, continually silent, didn't voice any opposition to Hua Muyun's words, facing the elder generation with respect and reverence.

"Uncle Hua, I have a question for you." Even though the topic wasn't interrupted, ending a conversation this way still caused Hua Muyun some dissatisfaction. "Do you know someone named Mu Rongyun?"

As soon as Xiao Mu said this, Hua Muyun's face changed color. He stared at Xiao Mu in shock, speechless for a long time. Watching Hua Muyun's loss of composure, Xiao Mu became more certain of his suspicion that Mu Rongyun's transformation was undoubtedly linked to the older generation. He didn't believe personality could change, but he saw it clearly in Mu Rongyun.

"How do you know this name?" Realizing his slip, Hua Muyun took a sip of tea, suppressing his shock. "Where did you hear this name?" His near-shouting voice forced even Xiao Mu to straighten up.

"Is this the taboo?" Xiao Mu looked directly at Hua Muyun, realizing that this taboo wasn't only from the Xiao Family.

"Never mind this person for now. What do you want me to do with this tape?" Older indeed, wiser. Hua Muyun, after recovering from his brief disorder, brought the topic back on track. "You're not trying to blackmail this old man into revealing some nonsense about taboos, are you?"

"Of course not. I'm not interested in that taboo. I'm not Xiao Lin; I'm only interested in what I want." Hua Muyun relaxed at Xiao Mu's response.

"Then what do you mean?"

"Uncle Hua, you must have heard of the legend of the 'Dharma Seal of Calamity and Joy'?"

"You're here for that." Xiao Mu nodded. "So your target is Fatty Wang, and it's you secretly buying Wang Family's shares."

"Yes, but unfortunately, Xiao Lin acted faster. What little I have is not enough." For this, Xiao Mu truly expressed regret. He underestimated Xiao Lin's action and planning ability.

"So you want to use this to blackmail Xiao Lin?"

"Yes, but he rejected it." Xiao Lin's stubbornness was something he knew well. When he made the request, he should have already guessed the answer. "I came here this time to hope Uncle Hua remains neutral in the actions afterward." (To be continued. If you like this work, please go to Qidian (qidian.com) and vote for recommendations, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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