Fan Zhiheng's Gamble, Chunxuan's Death

Lin Mu dialed a special number directly.

Fan Zhiheng, who was still at home reviewing Lin Mu's family records, heard his phone suddenly ring.

He pulled it out and felt his heart tighten at the sight of the caller ID.

The phone was answered quickly, before it could even ring three times.

"Lin Mu?"

Fan Zhiheng's voice was laced with a hint of confusion amidst his exhaustion.

"Mayor Fan, I am truly sorry to disturb you so late at night."

Lin Mu's tone was so calm that not a single ripple could be detected.

"I... seem to have run into a bit of minor trouble."

Upon hearing this, Fan Zhiheng's heart skipped a beat, and his sleepiness vanished instantly.

"Trouble? What kind of trouble? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

Lin Mu paused, then continued in a tone that sounded like he was stating a simple fact.

"It's just that the house you rewarded me with might need a bit of remodeling."

Fan Zhiheng was stunned.

The house needed remodeling?

What was that supposed to mean?

Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, but he dismissed them one by one.

Finally, he asked in a deep voice:

"Send me the address. I'll be there immediately."

After hanging up, Lin Mu tossed the phone aside.

He simply leaned back against the remains of the only sofa that was still somewhat intact and closed his eyes to rest.

Less than twenty minutes later.

A sharp, rushing sound cut through the air, approaching from the distance.

Fan Zhiheng did not use the front door.

Instead, he brought two of his trusted subordinates and leaped directly through the shattered window.

From this, one could tell he was certainly a high-level professional himself!

When he saw the scene before him.

Even with all his composure, his pupils could not help but constrict violently.

This didn't need remodeling.

It needed to be rebuilt from the ground up!

He could even clearly feel that the internal structure of the walls and floors had been subjected to devastating destruction.

What kind of terrifying power could achieve such a feat?!

"Speak, what happened?"

Fan Zhiheng's gaze shifted from the chaotic scene to the calm-looking Lin Mu, his eyes sharp.

"Someone attacked me."

Lin Mu opened his eyes, succinct and to the point.

"Who?"

"I don't know."

Lin Mu shook his head, a trace of "helplessness" appearing on his face.

"They were wearing black robes and masks. They were very strong and attacked without a word."

"They must be some lunatics jealous of my talent, or... perhaps some organization that prefers to stay in the shadows."

He casually blurred the existence of the Soul Stealer into "some organization."

He gestured toward the Soul Stealer, which had been hacked into pieces.

"There, their corpses are right there."

Fan Zhiheng glanced at the scattered remains, and then his gaze landed on the masks.

He felt a jolt inside, clearly having recalled something.

His expression remained calm as he stared into Lin Mu's eyes, seemingly trying to discern something from them.

But all he saw was a bottomless, tranquil depth.

A thirteen-level youth.

To have encountered such a terrifying ambush and successfully counter-killed every single assailant, yet remain this composed?

Such temperament, such strength...

He took a deep breath, deciding not to press for details.

Because he knew that for some things, asking was a waste of time.

Lin Mu had his own secrets.

And what he needed to do was not to dig to the bottom of them.

It was to display the value and foresight expected of someone in his position.

"I understand."

Fan Zhiheng nodded, his tone becoming incredibly solemn.

"Lin Mu, you don't need to worry about this matter anymore."

He turned and issued orders to his trusted aides behind him.

"Contact the Urban Construction Bureau and the best team of architects immediately. Spare no expense and restore this place to its original state as quickly as possible—no, make it even better than before!"

"Seal off the entire building and announce to the public that... a gas pipeline aged and caused an accidental explosion."

"Everyone who knows the truth must sign the highest-level non-disclosure agreement!"

"Yes!"

The aide immediately acknowledged the order and left.

Fan Zhiheng looked at Lin Mu once more, his eyes filled with a touch of admiration and... the resolve of an investor.

"Before you leave for Shengjing, I will dispatch a squad of elite City Guard members to protect you from the shadows."

"Furthermore, I will apply to my superiors to elevate your clearance to the highest level."

"As long as I am in this city, no one can touch you, including the Wang Family."

Fan Zhiheng said it nonchalantly.

But this was clearly no longer just a simple act of wooing.

This was a gamble, almost like placing a bet on a horse!

Betting on Lin Mu's future!

"Many thanks, Uncle Fan."

Lin Mu stood up and, for the first time, gave a slight nod to the mayor.

"You deserve it."

Fan Zhiheng waved his hand, his heart filled with complex emotions as he looked at this youth who remained calm regardless of the situation.

Without lingering further, he turned and leaped out of the window, disappearing into the night.

He had to spend the night dealing with this mess and securing more resources and protection for Lin Mu.

The world grew quiet once again.

Lin Mu sensed the presence of the City Guard members who were rapidly setting up their posts in the shadows.

A curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Power, truly is a wonderful thing!"

He sighed, then gathered his focus.

He directed all his attention to the black jade slip.

His divine sense probed inward.

A massive and chaotic torrent of information instantly flooded his mind.

The Soul Stealer could be described as a group of lunatics who believed in the "Soul Supremacy Theory."

They believed the physical body was a cage that imprisoned great souls.

They dedicated themselves to stripping, stealing, and fusing the souls of powerful professionals through special means.

To achieve their own "soul immortality" and "ultimate ascension."

Their organizational structure was complex and strictly hierarchical.

From the peripheral "Soul Slaves" to the core "Soul Envoys" and "Soul Priests."

All the way up to the legendary "Soul Lord."

They operated in secrecy, excelling at disguise and infiltration.

They could exist in any city or any organization, with their core strongholds unknown.

Known high-level members were almost all proficient in soul attacks, mental control, and forbidden curse arts.

The content that followed made his heart sink abruptly.

His parents had once been the most outstanding reserve Soul Priests within the organization.

Later, due to irreconcilable differences, they stole a vital Sacred Artifact and defected, only to be secretly murdered in the end!

Attached at the bottom was a list of the pursuers.

Soul Envoy-Blood Crow (died on the spot), Soul Envoy-Ghost Face (died on the spot), Soul Priest-Qianhuan (severely wounded and escaped, suspected to be hiding in Shengjing).]

"Soul Priest... Qianhuan..."

Lin Mu slowly opened his eyes.

He carved this name, stroke by stroke, into the depths of his mind.

"Shengjing, is it..."

He looked up toward the ancient and bustling super-metropolis to the north.

His gaze became incomparably firm.