"Lin Mu, you've made me search everywhere for you!"

A petite figure burst into Hundred Herbs Hall, her eyes bright with surprise as she looked at Lin Mu. The young woman was small but had pretty features, with curves in all the right places.

It was Guan Jiaojiao.

"Lin Mu, come with me, quick!" Guan Jiaojiao grabbed Lin Mu's hand and tried to pull him outside.

"What do you need me for?" Lin Mu asked, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. This Guan Jiaojiao had been overly familiar since last night, and now she seemed ecstatic to see him.

Ning Xian kept his gaze forward, pretending he saw nothing. Someone like Young Master Mu is naturally never short on female admirers.

"Of course I need you for something! Stop wasting time and just come with me!" Guan Jiaojiao insisted, pulling Lin Mu outside without any further explanation. "Xu Yan, bring the car around."

Following behind her was a man in a blue suit, wearing a wristwatch worth over six hundred thousand. He was clearly from a wealthy family. He had arrived with Guan Jiaojiao and seemed to be on good terms with her.

Xu Yan's expression soured when he saw Guan Jiaojiao dragging Lin Mu along.

"Jiaojiao, don't tell me this is the Lin Mu who's supposed to have superb medical skills? He doesn't look the part at all. Don't let him fool you," Xu Yan said, his tone dripping with hostility and disdain for Lin Mu.

"Xu Yan, are you going or not?" Guan Jiaojiao's face darkened with displeasure.

Just last night, her grandfather had told her that her father was injured. She had gone to see him, and the scene was something she would never forget. Her father, the man who had always been a hero in her eyes, lay in bed covered in bandages, his body riddled with wounds.

Worse, one of her father's hands was gone.

The moment she saw him, tears streamed down her face. But that pillar of her family reached out with his one remaining hand, ruffling her hair just as he always had, and told her not to cry. She fought back her tears and promised she wouldn't.

Later, her elder brother told her their father might not survive. Their only hope was to find the man named Lin Mu.

Hearing the name, Guan Jiaojiao immediately said she knew a Lin Mu and could find him. Her brother and grandfather didn't believe her; they just told her not to worry. But how could she not? Even she found it hard to believe that the Lin Mu she knew could be the expert her father had met.

Early that morning, she called Sister Qin Yan to ask about him. However, Qin Yan wasn't sure if Lin Mu actually knew medicine. She only took her to Qin Zhu Courtyard, but Lin Mu wasn't there.

Just as Guan Jiaojiao was feeling helpless, Xu Yan found her. He claimed to know an expert on Old Street and suggested they could ask a Mr. Ning to help, which might be the cure for her father. Since she couldn't find Lin Mu, Guan Jiaojiao decided to try her luck here, only to unexpectedly run into Lin Mu himself.

How could she not be overjoyed? Without a second thought, she grabbed him and started to leave.

Xu Yan, however, was clearly displeased. He didn't believe for a second that Lin Mu was some medical expert. The guy looked about his age; what skills could someone like that possibly have?

"Jiaojiao, I'm not trying to criticize you, but a true master is standing right in front of you, and you don't even see it," Xu Yan said, shaking his head with a meaningful look.

"A master? Who?" Guan Jiaojiao asked.

With a slight smile, Xu Yan walked up to Ning Xian, bowed respectfully, and said, "Greetings, Mr. Ning. I am from the Xu Family. My father is Xu Shirong."

Ning Xian just gave a faint grunt and said nothing. This Xu Yan! To think he dared call Young Master Mu a charlatan just now. The only reason I haven't thrown him out is out of respect for Xu Shirong. The Xu Family wasn't a local power in River City, but their influence was not to be underestimated. Ning Xian had met Xu Shirong a few times and had a cordial relationship with him, but that was all.

Xu Yan wasn't fazed by Ning Xian's coldness; in fact, he found it perfectly normal. If a master like Mr. Ning were actually warm and friendly, Xu Yan would be the one feeling anxious. No matter how much weight the Xu Family name carried, it meant little in front of Mr. Ning. Before he came to River City, Xu Shirong had warned him that if he ever met Mr. Ning, he must be impeccably respectful and never cause offense. Otherwise, he, the eldest young master of the Xu Family, would have to make himself scarce.

"Mr. Ning, my father instructed me to visit you upon my arrival in River City," Xu Yan said respectfully. "As it happens, a friend's family member is injured, and I was hoping Mr. Ning might lend a hand. The Xu Family would be deeply indebted for this favor."

"Your Xu Family's favor isn't worth much to me," Ning Xian said coolly. "Besides, a true treasure stands before you, yet you're blind to it. The Xu Family's judgment is as poor as ever."

The sarcasm was blatant, and Xu Yan's expression shifted. He was confused, unable to figure out how he had offended Mr. Ning.

"Mr. Ning, what are you trying to say?" Xu Yan's face grew grim. Being rejected by Ning Xian in front of Guan Jiaojiao stung his pride.

"I'm not trying to say anything. If there's nothing else, you should leave," Ning Xian said flatly, glancing at Lin Mu before addressing Xu Yan.

"Are you saying you won't even grant the Xu Family this little bit of face?" Xu Yan gritted out.

"Brat, didn't Xu Shirong tell you to speak to me with more respect?" Ning Xian's eyes narrowed, his voice turning to ice. The Xu Family might be powerful, but in his eyes, they were nothing special, let alone a mere junior from the family.

"Hmph! Jiaojiao, let's go!" Xu Yan snorted and turned to leave.

"Lin Mu, I'm begging you, please save my dad! I believe Sister Qin Yan wouldn't lie to me," Guan Jiaojiao cried, her eyes red as she clung to Lin Mu's arm, refusing to let go.

Xu Yan froze in his tracks, turning back in a fit of embarrassed rage. "Jiaojiao, I've already told you he's a fraud! Why do you still believe him? I promise you, I can find a better doctor to save Uncle Guan." He glared at Lin Mu. "You're Lin Mu, right? I advise you to admit it now. Tricking Jiaojiao is one thing, but if you delay us from our real business, that's a responsibility you can't bear!"

"Insolence!" Ning Xian roared, pointing a finger at Xu Yan. "You little whelp from the Xu Family, watch your mouth! What gives you the right to speak to Young Master Mu like that?"

Xu Yan was stunned, never expecting Mr. Ning to lash out at him. "Mr. Ning, I..." he stammered.

"You what? Get out of my Hundred Herbs Hall immediately! If I hear you disrespecting Young Master Mu again, I will personally go and ask Xu Shirong how he raised his son!" Ning Xian was livid. For a junior to be so disrespectful to Young Master Mu in his presence was a direct slap to his own face.

"Alright, why get so worked up?" Lin Mu, on the other hand, just smiled, unconcerned. He turned to Guan Jiaojiao and said, "I'll go with you and take a look."

"Ah? Thank you, Lin Mu!"

Lin Mu shook his head and started walking outside with Guan Jiaojiao. As he passed Xu Yan, he whispered, "While I'm in a good mood, you should get lost."

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