Lin Mu immediately dialed a special number.
Fan Zhiheng was at home, looking through Lin Mu's family records, when his phone suddenly rang.
He took it out and looked at the screen. His heart clenched.
The phone rang fewer than three times before it was answered.
"Lin Mu?"
Fan Zhiheng's voice sounded tired, with a hint of confusion.
"Mayor Fan, I'm sorry to disturb you so late."
Lin Mu's tone was so calm it betrayed not a ripple of emotion.
"I... seem to have run into a little trouble."
Hearing this, Fan Zhiheng's heart gave a thump. His sleepiness vanished.
"Trouble? What kind of trouble? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine."
Lin Mu paused, then spoke as if stating a simple fact.
"It's just that the house you awarded me may need to be renovated."
Fan Zhiheng froze.
The house needed renovating?
What did that mean?
Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, only to be dismissed one by one.
At last, he asked in a low voice:
"Send me the address. I'll be right over."
After hanging up, Lin Mu casually tossed his phone aside.
He leaned quietly against the remains of the only sofa that was still more or less intact and closed his eyes to rest.
Less than twenty minutes later,
a sharp rush of air drew closer from a distance.
Fan Zhiheng didn't use the front entrance.
Instead, he brought two trusted aides and leaped in through the shattered window.
That alone showed he was definitely a high-level professional, too!
When he saw the scene before him,
even a man as calculating as he was couldn't stop his pupils from contracting sharply.
This wasn't a matter of renovation.
The place needed to be rebuilt!
He could even clearly sense that the internal structures of the walls and floor had been devastated.
What kind of terrifying power could have done this?!
"Tell me. What happened?"
Fan Zhiheng's gaze shifted from the wreckage to Lin Mu, whose expression was calm. His eyes were sharp.
"Someone attacked me."
Lin Mu opened his eyes and answered concisely.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Lin Mu shook his head, his face showing a trace of "helplessness."
"They wore black robes and masks. They were strong, and they attacked without a word."
"Probably some lunatics jealous of my talent, or... some organization that operates in the shadows."
He casually blurred the Soul Stealers' existence into "some organization."
Then he pointed at the Soul Stealers, who had been hacked into pieces.
"Look. Their bodies are right there."
Fan Zhiheng glanced at the scattered remains, then shifted his gaze to the masks.
His heart stirred. Clearly, something had come to mind.
His expression stayed calm as he stared into Lin Mu's eyes, as if trying to discern something.
But all he saw was a fathomless calm.
A thirteen-level boy.
After enduring such a terrifying attack and killing every attacker, he could still remain so composed?
That temperament, that strength...
He took a deep breath and stopped asking about the details.
He knew that some things were pointless to ask about.
Lin Mu had secrets of his own.
And his job wasn't to pry into every detail.
It was to demonstrate the value and foresight expected of someone in his position.
"I understand."
Fan Zhiheng nodded, his tone turning solemn.
"Lin Mu, you don't need to concern yourself with this matter."
He turned and gave orders to the aides behind him.
"Contact the Urban Construction Bureau and the best team of architects at once. Spare no expense. Restore this place as quickly as possible—and make it better than before!"
"Seal off the entire building. Tell the public... that the gas pipes were old and there was an accidental explosion."
"Everyone who knows the truth must sign the highest-level confidentiality agreement!"
"Yes!"
One of his aides immediately left to carry out the orders.
Fan Zhiheng looked at Lin Mu again, a touch of admiration—and the resolve of someone making an investment—showing in his eyes.
"Before you leave for Shengjing, I'll send an elite squad from the City Guard to protect you in secret."
"Also, I'll apply to my superiors to raise your clearance to the highest level."
"As long as I'm here, no one in this city can lay a hand on you—not even the Wang Family."
Fan Zhiheng spoke lightly.
But this was clearly more than a simple attempt to win Lin Mu over.
It was an almost reckless gamble!
A gamble on Lin Mu's future!
"Thank you, Uncle Fan."
Lin Mu stood up and, for the first time, gave the mayor a slight nod.
"You've earned it."
Fan Zhiheng waved a hand. Looking at the young man who remained composed no matter what he faced, he felt a surge of emotion.
He didn't linger. Turning, he leaped out the window and disappeared into the night.
He had to deal with this mess overnight and secure more resources and protection for Lin Mu.
The world grew quiet again.
Lin Mu sensed the City Guard members quietly taking up positions nearby.
The corner of his mouth curved upward.
"Power really is a wonderful thing!"
He sighed, then composed himself.
He focused all his attention on the black Jade Slip.
His spiritual sense entered it.
A vast, chaotic torrent of information surged into his mind.
The Soul Stealers could be called a group of fanatics who believed in the Soul Supremacy Theory.
They believed the body was a prison that confined the great soul.
They devoted themselves to using special methods to strip away, steal, and fuse the souls of powerful professionals.
Their goal was to achieve "eternal life for the soul" and "Ultimate Ascension."
The organization had a complex structure and a strict hierarchy.
Its ranks ran from the peripheral "Soul Slaves" to the core "Soul Envoys" and "Soul Priests."
Above them all was the legendary "Soul Lord."
They operated in secret and excelled at disguise and infiltration.
They could be found in any city, within any organization. The location of their main stronghold was unknown.
Almost all known high-ranking members were skilled in soul attacks, mind control, and curse techniques.
The information that followed made his heart sink.
His parents had once been the organization's most promising Soul Priest candidates.
Later, after a disagreement over its principles, they stole one of the organization's most important Sacred Artifacts and fled. They were eventually killed in secret!
A list of their pursuers was attached.
Soul Envoy Blood Crow (killed on the spot), Soul Envoy Ghost Face (killed on the spot), Soul Priest Qianhuan (escaped with severe injuries, suspected to be hiding in Shengjing).
"Soul Priest... Qianhuan..."
Lin Mu slowly opened his eyes.
He etched the name deep into his mind, stroke by stroke.
"Shengjing, huh..."
He raised his head and looked north, toward the ancient, bustling metropolis.
His gaze grew utterly resolute.
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