Chapter 28: The Unusual Old Man

This was an ancient structure, with its surroundings laid out with extreme precision. Dense trees concealed the perimeter, and the area around the pavilion was deathly quiet.

Li Mu sensed something amiss at a single glance; this place was far from ordinary. The wealth-attracting tree planted before the courtyard alone was enough to suggest that the inhabitants not only cherished seclusion but also possessed an intense fixation on money.

Upon closer inspection, Li Mu confirmed that this was indeed an exceptional location. Living here would not only prolong one's life but would also offer significant benefits to one's physical health. He could not help but cast a glance at Baili Yanhong. The background of this woman, he mused, was likely not as simple as it seemed.

Baili Yanhong was secretly observing Li Mu. Seeing his indifferent demeanor, she felt a jolt of alarm. It was strange; given that Li Mu was dressed in such plain, almost shabby attire, he should have been visibly nervous upon arriving here. Yet, she detected no such anxiety in him. On the contrary, he carried an air of nonchalance. Her curiosity and suspicion were piqued, as if someone had stirred her thoughts. Was he really just a charlatan? No, absolutely not. This man was definitely not simple.

Seeing that Baili Yanhong remained silent, Li Mu smiled faintly. "Miss Baili, shall we discuss the matter at hand?"

Baili Yanhong nodded. "Sir, please do not be impatient. My grandfather is waiting in the main hall. Please, follow me."

With that, she led the way, her hips swaying rhythmically as she walked in her high heels. Li Mu followed behind, appreciating the movement of her waist. He had to admit, her figure was superior to Jiang Wan's—especially her beauty, her grace, and those long, elegant legs. Truly top-tier.

Baili Yanhong, walking ahead, was well aware of Li Mu's gaze. Sensing it, she intentionally increased the sway of her hips, moving with a deliberate, seductive gait. She sneered to herself; men were all the same. With just a little teasing, she could bring any man to his knees.

Reaching the entrance of the first villa, Baili Yanhong stopped and turned to face Li Mu, her lips curling into a bewitching smile. "Sir, my grandfather is inside."

Li Mu, seeing her turn, could not help but take in the view once more, his expression one of appreciation. "Very well. I will take care of this for you. The fee is fifty million. After we are done, will you also be giving me a personal reward?"

Baili Yanhong caught his drift and smiled. "Oh? You want a reward from me, sir? And what exactly would you like?"

Li Mu did not answer directly, instead fixing his gaze on her figure, the profound look in his eyes speaking volumes. Baili Yanhong felt a flush of shyness; she shivered, her face turning crimson, and she quickly turned away to avoid his gaze.

"Very well. We will talk again once the task is finished."

No sooner had Li Mu spoken than the heavy doors slowly creaked open, the scene inside immediately putting him on high alert. In the center stood an elderly man in a Zhongshan suit. Owing to his military background, he held himself perfectly straight, his expression sharp as a hawk’s as he stared intently at Li Mu. Beside him stood a phalanx of bodyguards—at least fifty of them.

The hall was expansive, yet despite its size, it felt stifling, charged with a palpable aura of killing intent. Li Mu frowned. He could sense that the men surrounding the elder were no mere hired muscle; they radiated genuine malice. The old man himself was clearly a powerhouse, his presence overwhelming. Li Mu grew wary; these men had all tasted blood, and the layout of the room had been carefully orchestrated. His mind raced, and eventually, one name surfaced: the Nine Yin Pavilion.

"Please, sir!" Baili Yanhong strode inside, and Li Mu followed without hesitation.

Baili Yanhong approached the old man and whispered something in his ear, causing the elder’s expression to flicker. Li Mu remained calm, standing to one side and preparing to light a cigarette.

The old man, noticing his movement, shot him a piercing look before schooling his expression. "Young man, if you can solve the problem, smoking here is fine. But if you cannot, you will pay a heavy price for lighting up in my villa."

Li Mu ignored the threat entirely and lit his cigarette. After a long moment, he exhaled and said, "Old man, you haven't even told me the problem yet, so how am I supposed to judge if I can fix it? Besides, I'm in a good mood today, so I might just help you out."

As the words left his lips, the quiet room was instantly flooded with an oppressive, murderous aura directed straight at Li Mu. In all his time in Banyang City—or even across the entire Dragon Kingdom—no one had ever dared to treat him with such blatant disrespect!

Baili Yanhong turned pale, and the surrounding bodyguards glared at Li Mu, their gazes as cold and piercing as blades.

Had this been an ordinary person, they would have collapsed in terror, shaking and wetting themselves. But to Li Mu, it was nothing. They were just bodyguards; he could take them all down with a single blow. Back when he completed his missions, countless foreign experts had intercepted him; over seventy organizations had sought his life, and thousands of assassins had poured out just to kill him. Yet, he had stood his ground, slaughtering them until not a single one remained to tell the tale, cementing his fearsome reputation. And he hadn't even broken a sweat.

"Speak up," Li Mu said, stretching his arms. "I don't have all day to waste on you. If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

The bodyguards, who had been on the verge of attacking, were frozen in place by a single glance from Li Mu. His eyes were those of a demon from the underworld, utterly devoid of mercy, as if he could snuff out their lives in an instant. The men felt the weight of that gaze, and their complexions shifted drastically. Even the old man’s eyes changed, turning deep and contemplative.

Baili Yanhong whispered something to the elder again, and the old man gave a slight nod.

"Young friend, please forgive my earlier rudeness. Since you were brought here by Yanhong, I shall get straight to the point."

The old man coughed lightly and began to recount his plight. Over the past few months, both he and his granddaughter had been involved in a series of car accidents. They would suffer inexplicable injuries, but worse were the nightmares. Every time he fell asleep, he felt a crushing weight on his chest, and—

The old man was interrupted by Li Mu. "And you keep seeing unclean things outside your window, don't you? Sometimes you even feel someone by your bedside, trying to claim your life. That’s why you wake up in a panic every night, unable to find peace, right?"

Li Mu paused, then continued, "It’s not just at night; you have nightmares even during your midday naps. Your once-robust health has withered away because of this, hasn't it? Old man, am I wrong?"

The old man, who had initially dismissed Li Mu as a common charlatan, was left stunned.