If people had merely submitted to Lin Mu out of fear after he killed Liu Xianhe to win the River City Martial Arts Gathering, then the battle at the Bolan River inspired true awe.

After Lin Mu cleanly executed Yun Xu and then demonstrated the effects of the Essence Cultivating Pill, their fear had transformed into reverence.

Half of River City's most prominent families had pledged their allegiance! Lin Mu had become the undisputed number one figure in River City, with both the criminal underworld and legitimate society at his disposal.

After they all expressed their fealty, Lin Mu discussed the matter of investing in his ventures with them.

Everyone present was a regional powerhouse in their own right, and they were all ruthlessly efficient. In just a few sentences, they had hammered out the major details of the arrangement.

At the same time, they once again witnessed the Venerable Master's commercial foresight and grand vision.

"The Venerable Master is truly worthy of the title! We cannot begin to match such ambition!"

After hearing Lin Mu's plan, even someone of Cheng Bugui's stature was left astounded. He was thoroughly convinced, and the slight reluctance he'd previously felt about acknowledging Lin Mu as his superior had mostly vanished.

With River City as the foundation, his plan was to connect to the Three Rivers Area and span east to west, encompassing the entirety of Huaxia.

And this was merely the first step...

"The Venerable Master's vision is as vast as the mountains and can contain all the rivers. This old man is truly humbled," Song Wen mused, reflecting on Lin Mu's words with a deep sigh.

"I've always said that following Lin... oh, the Venerable Master, would never lead to disappointment!" Liang Yue exclaimed.

The others nodded enthusiastically.

Previously, they thought a twenty percent share divided among them was too little. Now, they understood that once the first step was complete, that twenty percent would be worth an astronomical sum.

As everyone was discussing the allocation of shares, a commotion erupted outside.

「At the entrance of the River City Grand Hotel.」

Ye Tong bit her lip, her expression complicated as she looked at the security guard blocking her path. "Please, could you inform him... just say I'm looking for Lin Mu. He's my classmate."

"That's *Master* Lin!" Song Wenrou couldn't help but correct her.

Ye Tong nodded quickly. "Right, Master Lin."

"You say Master Lin is your classmate?"

The security guard chuckled and shook his head. "Miss, you should probably just go home. Master Lin isn't someone just anyone can see."

This hotel was Cheng Bugui's property, and he had given strict orders: no one was to be admitted without his express permission. Consequently, the head of security had placed his entire team on high alert, stationing his best men at every exit. He even had them report in every five minutes, ready to relay the slightest disturbance. His sole objective was to ensure the gathering between his boss and Master Lin's group was not interrupted.

The security chief wouldn't normally be so meticulous, but his boss had repeatedly stressed that the young man he'd personally escorted to the top floor was Master Lin, River City's newest celebrity. That was all the motivation he needed to be this diligent.

Seeing his disbelief, Ye Tong repeated herself, her voice tinged with desperation, "Master Lin really is my classmate. If you just tell him my name, he'll know."

After the battle on the Bolan River, she hadn't dared to speak to Lin Mu. But upon reflection, she felt she owed him an apology. However, Lin Mu had left so abruptly that she never got the chance. If Song Wenrou hadn't told her that her grandfather was meeting with Lin Mu today, she would have had no idea where to find him.

"I'm sorry."

The head of security shook his head firmly. "I cannot let you in. Master Lin is a distinguished guest of our hotel, not someone just anyone can meet. If he's really your classmate, you can give him a call right now."

Ye Tong's face froze.

She didn't have Lin Mu's phone number. How could she? Though they were once classmates, she had always looked down on him. Even at the Martial Arts Gathering, she'd been too busy disliking him to even think of asking for his number. The classmate she once loathed had become a towering figure in River City, a distinguished guest at a five-star hotel, while she couldn't even get past the door. What a bitter irony.

"Security guard, sir, my last name is Song, and my grandfather came with Master Lin today. Could you please let us in for a moment?" Seeing her friend's pain, Song Wenrou sighed inwardly and pleaded with the guard. "Don't worry, we really are Master Lin's classmates."

"Wenrou, I..." Ye Tong opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.

Song Wenrou grabbed her hand. "It's okay. Lin Mu isn't that petty. I'm sure he'll forgive you."

"Please, sir, just let us go up," Song Wenrou begged, trying to sound as cute as possible.

However, the head of security was unmoved.

"I'm sorry, but it's my duty. I can't let you in!"

Song Wenrou was about to protest again, but Ye Tong pulled her back, a bitter taste in her mouth. "Forget it, Wenrou. Let's go."

Just as Ye Tong turned to leave, a voice suddenly echoed in the security guard's mind.

"Let them come up."

Lin... Master Lin's voice? The head of security froze, looking left and right. But Master Lin is nowhere to be seen... He's not here, but I can hear him speak. It truly is Master Lin! A power like this... he's practically an immortal!

Shaking off his shock, he didn't dare hesitate for a second. He quickly called out to Ye Tong, "Wait! Master Lin will see you."

"Really?"

Ye Tong and Song Wenrou were overjoyed. They hurriedly followed the guard into the hotel and up to the private room where Lin Mu was.

When she saw the people sitting in the private room, Ye Tong's expression changed, and she hastily lowered her head. Many of them were influential figures she often saw on television, yet they were all treating Lin Mu with the utmost respect.

Is this his true status? Is this the real power of a Martial Arts Grandmaster?

As Ye Tong reeled from the shock, Song Wen's expression soured. He barked at his granddaughter, "Wenrou, what are you doing here?"

Song Wenrou flinched, feeling wronged. Grandpa adores me. Why would he scold me so loudly in front of so many people?

"Mr. Song, don't worry about it. I was the one who let them up." Lin Mu smiled, then turned an emotionless gaze to Ye Tong and said coolly, "Well? What do you want?"

His tone was neither cold nor warm, as if he were speaking to a complete stranger.

Ye Tong glanced at the crowd, then back at Lin Mu, but her mouth remained shut.

Guan Chengye chuckled. "Venerable Master, since we've settled most of the details, we'll take our leave."

"Wenrou, let's go home!" Song Wen said, standing and pulling his granddaughter out of the room.

His departure was the signal for the others, who promptly rose and left as well, leaving the room to Lin Mu and Ye Tong.

Lin Mu leaned back in his chair and said coolly, "Speak."

"I..." Ye Tong's mouth opened as she finally gathered her courage. "Lin Mu... I'm sorry!"

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