"I'm the one who deliberately arranged for Qiao Zishan and Song Wenrou to interact. It was all to humiliate you."

Ye Tong's head hung lower and lower. She had always looked down on Lin Mu, and not just because she felt he was unworthy of Song Wenrou. She had her own selfish reasons, too. Given Lin Mu's status back then, he couldn't have helped her at all, even if he did end up with Song Wenrou. On top of that, his grades were poor, and his future prospects seemed bleak. The men she met later, like Jiang Xia and Qiao Zishan—weren't they all far more outstanding than Lin Mu?

So, when she ran into Lin Mu again, she couldn't help but subconsciously mock him. It confirmed her belief that he truly was good for nothing.

But then came the martial gathering in River City and the battle on the Bolan River. Lin Mu had become the Master of the Three Rivers Area, revered by all as Master Lin.

At that moment, Ye Tong felt like nothing more than a clown.

"Lin Mu, it was my mistake. I shouldn't have looked down on you, shouldn't have mocked you, and I certainly shouldn't have deliberately made Qiao Zishan resent you too."

Ye Tong lifted her head, her eyes red as she looked at Lin Mu. "Lin Mu, scold me, curse me, do whatever you want. I just hope you won't hold this against me."

Lin Mu laughed.

He looked at Ye Tong, his former classmate, and said flatly, "Are you apologizing because you're afraid I'll kill you?"

Ye Tong wrung the corner of her shirt, unable to utter a single word.

This was indeed her greatest fear.

At the martial gathering in River City, Lin Mu had killed so many people. In the battle on the Bolan River, Lin Mu had annihilated Yun Xu. This proved that Lin Mu was decisive, cold-hearted, and ruthless. He wouldn't think twice about adding one more kill to his name.

Lin Mu sneered, "If that's the case, you have nothing to worry about. It's beneath me to concern myself with a woman like you."

Ye Tong opened her mouth to say something more, but Lin Mu cut her off. "Enough. Let the past be the past. You can go."

The distance in Lin Mu's tone sent a shiver through Ye Tong's heart. But she didn't dare object in the slightest. She merely said thank you and quietly exited the room.

...

Over the next few days, the fallout from the battle between the two Grandmasters on the Bolan River slowly subsided. Aside from a few interested parties who were still discussing it, the news had been completely sealed off from the general public.

Lin Mu also enjoyed a couple of rare, peaceful days. Qin Luoli was managing the Qin Family, and Su Ke'er was handling Boheng Pharma. So, aside from his cultivation, he was completely idle.

「River City. The Luo Family.」

"It's over. It's all over."

Luo Jinping collapsed onto a stool, his face deathly pale.

"To think that Lin Mu was actually a Martial Arts Grandmaster... and he even killed Yun Xu! Damn him!" Luo Jinping clenched his teeth, his face contorted.

Luo Huai'an also wore an expression of bitterness and fear, but he did his best to remain calm in front of his grandson.

"What are you panicking for?" Luo Huai'an scolded. "Master Lin's strength may be immense, but even he can't cover the sky with one hand here in River City!"

"Grandfather, are you saying..." Luo Jinping looked at his grandfather in shock.

Luo Huai'an finally composed himself completely and scoffed, "Don't worry. The conflict between you two is just a minor squabble. If that Lin Mu knows what's good for him, we'll let it go. If not, does he really think there's no one in River City who can handle him?"

...

「In a suburban manor.」

Dao Wuming swirled the red wine in his glass but didn't take a sip. His brow was perpetually furrowed, as if weighed down by some trouble.

Sitting opposite him was an elder in a Daoist robe who looked to be over sixty. The elder was lean, with eyes as sharp as a hawk's and palms that were wider than an average person's. Most peculiar of all, two small, emerald-green snakes were coiled around his wrists.

"Has it been confirmed that he's the one who killed my disciple, Zeng Wen, and sabotaged our plans?" the elder spoke first, his voice hoarse as if something was caught in his throat.

Dao Wuming set down his glass and sat up straight. "The investigation is clear. The higher-ups have instructed us to handle it ourselves."

"Handle it ourselves?" the elder sneered. "The man just killed Yun Xu and rose to sixteenth on the Heaven List. His reputation is at its zenith right now. How are we supposed to deal with him?"

Dao Wuming suddenly spoke. "Master Ding, do you think there's any possibility of recruiting him?"

"Recruiting?" Master Ding's face darkened instantly as he roared, "This man killed my disciple and stole the Nine-Star Bloodshadow Worm I spent years cultivating, flushing all my hard work down the drain, and you want to recruit him?"

Dao Wuming tried to persuade him, "Master Ding, please quell your anger. This matter concerns our organization's grand plan. You know as well as I do how valuable a Martial Arts Grandmaster from the Heaven List is to us."

Master Ding snorted coldly. "A mere brat who thinks he can look down on everyone just because he killed Yun Xu and made it onto the Heaven List? Don't forget, I am also on the Heaven List!"

Ding Fengqiu, ranked twenty-second on the Heaven List!

He was a prodigy who had studied Gu poisons since childhood. His skill with them was nothing short of miraculous.

Ding Fengqiu gave a chilling smile. "That Lin fellow only killed Yun Xu. That Yun Xu may have seemed powerful, but on the Heaven List, his rank was still below mine. Besides, the Martial Alliance's announcement was just a deliberate diversion. It doesn't prove that Master Lin truly has the strength to be ranked sixteenth."

"Master Ding, what are you implying?" Dao Wuming seemed to understand.

Ding Fengqiu said nonchalantly, "I'll allow you to contact him. If he sincerely submits to our organization, hands over the Nine-Star Bloodshadow Worm and his Cultivation Method, I am willing to let bygones be bygones. Otherwise..."

"Don't blame me for issuing a challenge to Master Lin!"

Dao Wuming was aghast. "You want to challenge Master Lin?"

Ding Fengqiu chuckled. "Have you forgotten my methods?"

Grandmaster Ding Fengqiu, who killed without a trace!

Dao Wuming's resolve hardened. Master Lin, oh, Master Lin, I hope you make the right choice. Otherwise, you'll become the fastest Grandmaster to die in history!

...

"Lin Mu, get to the restaurant quickly! There's trouble."

That day, just as Lin Mu finished his cultivation, he received a call from Qin Luoli.

"What's wrong?"

Qin Luoli's voice was uncharacteristically tense. "Just get over here."

"Alright. I'll be right there."

Lin Mu threw on his clothes and hurried out the door. His mother's restaurant had been open for nearly a month. Everything should have been settled by now, so there shouldn't be any troublemakers.

Did a customer get sick from the food?

「Suqin Restaurant.」

A large crowd was gathered at the entrance, shouting things like "crooked business" and "death trap for profit!"

Lady Su and Lady Ye both looked anxious and utterly lost.

Qin Luoli stood in the doorway, looked at the unruly crowd, and yelled, "Everyone, be quiet!"

Though dressed casually, her appearance and presence had been elevated to their peak after taking the Ever Youth Pill. Combined with the dignified air she had cultivated over the years, she managed to stun the crowd into silence.

But it only lasted for a few seconds before a burly man waved his hand and shouted, "What? Your restaurant's food killed someone, and you won't even let us speak?"

"That's right!"

"Call the police! Hurry up and call the police!"

Lady Su panicked. "We can't call the police!"

However, Qin Luoli grabbed her hand and fixed her gaze on the burly man. "Fine. I agree, you can call the police. But before you do, can we please send the person to the hospital first? If our restaurant is at fault, we will take full responsibility. But if we are not, then don't blame me when I sue you for malicious slander and disturbing the peace!"

At her words, the entire place fell silent.

Her queenly aura was on full display.

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