"Today, I truly witnessed something extraordinary."

In a teahouse filled with ancient charm, Jiang Weiguo heaved a long sigh. Lin Mu held a teacup, gently spinning it. The only ones accompanying him were Fei Xiang, Jiang Weiguo, and Guan Xinhe. Yet these three figures, renowned for their extensive connections, were all extremely cautious and apprehensive in Lin Mu's presence.

The scene from half an hour ago had made a deep impression on them. Although Guan Xinhe knew Lin Mu possessed a multitude of miraculous abilities and was even called a Martial Arts Grandmaster, the feat of conjuring ice from thin air was so astonishing it seemed like the work of a Heavenly Being.

Fei Xiang had once seen Lin Mu in action in Wufeng County. With a single burst of his Internal Energy, dozens of ruffians had dissipated like dust in the wind. That scene had been scary enough, but what happened today was truly an eye-opener for him.

Lin Mu held his teacup, spinning it lightly. "Let's get down to business. You wouldn't have sought me out today just to have tea, right?"

Guan Xinhe had previously mentioned that the Jinan Military Region wanted him to take charge, but Lin Mu sensed it wasn't that simple; some kind of emergency must have occurred.

"Haha, Instructor Lin, you're a direct man, so I'll be blunt," Jiang Weiguo said, his smile suddenly vanishing. He heaved another long sigh, as if struggling with something difficult to express.

"Let me," Guan Xinhe said, setting down his teacup. "Actually, we came to find you, Instructor Lin, for two reasons. Firstly, the Southeast Military Academy does indeed need you to take command, and you will understand why once you get there. The second matter… requires you to save someone."

Lin Mu was slightly taken aback. "Save someone?"

"That's right," Jiang Weiguo spoke up. "To be frank, Instructor Lin, the person in question is the granddaughter of an old friend of mine, a junior I care about. She was kidnapped just a few days ago. So, I must be so bold as to ask for your help."

"Kidnapped?" Lin Mu frowned. "You don't need to come to me for something like that."

Guan Xinhe interjected, "Instructor Lin, you may not know this, but we've already made several rescue attempts. The kidnappers are powerful, and members of our rescue teams have been sacrificed.

"They even threatened that if we dared to send anyone else, they would kill the hostage."

Lin Mu said, "As far as I know, the army is full of experts. Surely it wouldn't be a problem to find someone powerful enough to handle this?"

"Instructor Lin, you have no idea," Jiang Weiguo sighed. "It's not that I haven't asked other experts to intervene, but they all failed."

Guan Xinhe added, "Even Master Qing Ni from the Emei Sect was injured. We suspect the enemy has a Grandmaster-level expert, so we were left with no choice but to come to you."

"A Grandmaster-level expert?" Lin Mu nodded. If that was the case, then regular military forces would indeed be outmatched.

"Instructor Lin, it was actually Elder Guan, Guan Chengye, who recommended you to me," Jiang Weiguo said. "I might have hesitated before, but after seeing you in action today, I believe you are the only one who can save that poor child."

Lin Mu didn't say anything, seeming to hesitate.

Just then, his phone rang. It was Qin Luoli.

"Lin Mu, my friend has been kidnapped! Can you save her?"

Hearing Qin Luoli's frantic and anxious voice, Lin Mu's eyebrows shot up. "Your friend? How do you know she's been kidnapped?"

"Yes, she's my best friend!" Qin Luoli pleaded. "Lin Mu, I'm begging you. I know you know many powerful people. Please help me save her. Lin Mu, she's my only good friend, I don't want to lose her."

Hearing the sob in Qin Luoli's voice, Lin Mu's heart ached for her. "First, tell me your friend's name and how you know she was kidnapped."

"Her grandmother called me," Qin Luoli's voice trembled with worry. "Lin Mu, I've never met my parents. My great-grandmother raised me all by herself. She's old, and in the Qin Family, I have no one to talk to. But my friend is different. From the first day we met, we became inseparable friends who could talk about anything. So, please, I'm begging you, will you save her?"

Lin Mu comforted her, "Luo Li, don't panic."

Lowering the phone for a moment, he asked Jiang Weiguo, "What's the name of the person you want me to save?"

"Li Qiran," Jiang Weiguo answered honestly, though he looked puzzled.

Lin Mu nodded, then spoke into the phone again. "Luo Li, is your friend's name Li Ziran?"

"Yes!" Qin Luoli replied, confused. "Lin Mu, how did you know?"

"Don't you worry about that," Lin Mu said with a smile. "Rest assured, I'll rescue her for you."

"Good, good, good," Qin Luoli was overjoyed. "Lin Mu, you must save her! Qiran's parents passed away when she was very young, and her grandfather disappeared when she was three. Her grandmother raised her all alone. Her life has been a lot like mine, and I can't bear to see her in danger."

"Okay, I promise you," Lin Mu said. He offered a few more words of comfort, got Li Qiran's grandmother's contact information, and then hung up.

"Instructor Lin, does this mean... you agree?" Jiang Weiguo looked at Lin Mu with anticipation, hoping for a definitive answer.

"Yes, I agree." Lin Mu had been hesitant before, but now, for Qin Luoli's sake, he would make the trip.

"Thank you, Instructor Lin!" Jiang Weiguo stood up and raised his teacup. "I offer this tea in place of wine to thank you on behalf of my old friend."

***

That very afternoon, Lin Mu set off for Sichuan-Shu.

Along the way, Qin Luoli called again. She explained that she had wanted to come with him, but the Old Madam wasn't feeling well and needed someone to look after her, so she couldn't get away.

"Lin Mu, even though Qiran is my good friend, you must protect yourself," Qin Luoli said hesitantly. "I can't live without you."

"Okay."

After hanging up, Lin Mu's heart filled with warmth. It was a nice feeling to be cared for.

Before dark, Lin Mu arrived in Sichuan-Shu, where someone was naturally waiting to pick him up.

"Mr. Lin, this way." The person who had come to meet him was, to his surprise, Guan Feifei, Guan Xinhe's son.

"Why is it you?" Lin Mu was taken aback. Even Guan Feifei had come personally. This Li Qiran's identity must be anything but ordinary.

Guan Feifei gave a wry smile. "It seems Mr. Lin isn't happy to see me."

"Not at all. I'm just a bit curious," Lin Mu said, shaking his head. "A simple kidnapping has alarmed Handong Province's top leader and Elder Guan. This person's identity must be quite significant."

Guan Feifei hesitated.

"If you don't want to say, then don't," Lin Mu said. "I'm not interested in knowing anyway."

"Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Lin." Truth be told, Guan Feifei was still somewhat afraid of Lin Mu. Although there wasn't much of an age difference between them, the gap in their abilities was substantial.

Just then, a man wearing gold-rimmed glasses approached, scrutinizing Lin Mu. His face wore a look of strong disdain, radiating an air of extreme arrogance and rudeness. Following him was another man, towering like an iron fortress, who looked down on Lin Mu condescendingly.

"So you're the expert Jiang Weiguo hired?" the man with glasses said, sizing up Lin Mu and curling his lip. "You don't look like much. Can you really save her? You've got to be joking."

With a small frame like that, he dares call himself an expert? Isn't he afraid of becoming a laughingstock?

When he heard Jiangling was sending an expert, the man hadn't taken it seriously. What kind of expert could they possibly send? In his presence, they would be nothing. Seeing Lin Mu now only solidified his opinion.

It was questionable if a guy like this could even take one of his punches.

"Whether I'm up to it or not is not for you to decide," Lin Mu smiled slightly. "We'll only know after we try."

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