Legendary Son-in-Law: The Man with Poison Talismans

He put down his teacup, his tone calm: "As for Lord Huo... he just bought that acorn, and I imagine his most important task now is to bring it back to the right person. This sentiment is more worthy of respect than a meeting. If we have time another day, we can talk again."

He didn't explain much, nor did he deliberately avoid the topic.

Having said all that, there was neither refusal nor eagerness; the rest was up to the other party to respond.

Manager Sun didn't ask any more questions, gave a slight bow, and left the private room.

The door closed gently behind me, and the footsteps in the corridor gradually faded away.

After Lin Mu waited in the private room for a while, the same steward from before came in with a tray on it, on which was a heavy Qiankun bag.

He presented the item to Lin Mu with both hands and announced a number: "Young Master Lin, after deducting the 30,000 gold coins you spent on the Heavenly Venerable Daoist Robe and the handling fee, you will actually receive 175 million gold coins from this auction. Please verify."

Lin Mu took the Qiankun bag and probed inside with his consciousness.

A golden pile, neatly stacked, he glanced at it and the number matched.

Including what he already had, he now has a total of 236 million gold coins.

He carefully put away the money bag and left the auction house.

-

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Gu Changfeng's private room was not so calm.

Gu Changfeng leaned back in his chair, his face expressionless, but the fingers holding the teacup tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white.

Huo Yan, who was standing nearby, waited a while before speaking, his voice not loud: "Your Highness, although what that person said was unpleasant to hear, it may not be all bad."

Gu Changfeng raised his eyelids slightly but did not speak.

Huo Yan continued, “You’ve just ascended the throne, and there are many people watching you, both openly and secretly. Instead of getting angry with a sword seller of unknown origin, why not do something he suggested? Organize a large-scale operation to eliminate the monsters, one that’s big enough to cause a stir and yields great results. Have the Mengzhong tabloids write about it from beginning to end. Then all of Mengzhong will see Your Highness leading the charge and slaying demons. Your prestige among the people will be more effective than any imperial edict. As for that sword, once you’ve gained enough fame, if he still doesn’t give it to you, then he’s just being ungrateful.”

He paused, then lowered his voice and added, "Moreover, the items that Lin Yichen of the Fengmo Lin family has brought out for auction today are all extraordinary."

As he spoke, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a milky-white Spirit Gathering Pearl, twirling it in his palm: "Your Highness, look, this Spirit Gathering Pearl is from the Fengmo Lin family. It's much cheaper than the ones from the manor, but the quality is just as good. Our Mengzhong doesn't have a furnace like the Bich Manor to produce Spirit Gathering Pearls, so we desperately need the help of the Fengmo Lin family. This person has just arrived in Mengzhong and is making such a big fuss, as if he's afraid people won't know about him. Your Highness, think about the Bich Jiang Prefecture. Aren't there many people who want to come to Mengzhong to avoid disaster and find another way out? I think the Fengmo Lin family also wants to establish themselves in Mengzhong, so they're deliberately creating a stir to attract attention from all sides and try to get in touch with Your Highness."

After listening, Gu Changfeng remained silent for a moment, tapping his fingers twice on the edge of the table before speaking: "Then why didn't he come when I invited him?"

Huo Yan shook his head slightly, softening his tone: "Your Highness, he wants to test your character. A newcomer to Mengzhong, holding the Spirit Gathering Pearl and the Overlord's Blade from the Fengmo Lin family, would appear frivolous if he easily came to pay his respects. The less he comes, the more it shows he's waiting for an opportunity, waiting for Your Highness to present something truly worthy of his attention. If Your Highness gets impatient then, you'll be at a disadvantage. It's better to go along with his words, make a good impression, and then the initiative will be in Your Highness's hands."

After listening, Gu Changfeng paused for a moment on the edge of the table with his finger, and finally nodded: "Then let's do it your way."

He paused, then changed the subject, "What about Qingyi? Is she still unwilling to budge?"

Huo Yan shook his head: "Princess, I still maintain that marriage is out of the question."

Gu Changfeng didn't say anything more, but his gaze darkened.

-

Meanwhile, on this side...

Lin Mu had just stepped out of the side door of the auction house when the afternoon sun shone brightly on the bluestone pavement, carrying the dry heat and scorching light unique to Mengzhong.

Instead of taking the main street, he turned into a narrow alley, intending to circle back to the inn.

The alley is not long, with high gray brick walls on both sides, blocking most of the sunlight, leaving only a narrow strip of blue sky overhead.

He took a few steps, then suddenly stopped.

There was a person standing at the alley entrance ahead, of medium height, standing there like a tree with its roots firmly planted.

At the same time, footsteps came from behind, as if they were deliberately letting him hear them.

Lin Mu didn't turn around, nor did he rush to leave. He simply stood there, his hand hanging down from his sleeve, resting on the edge of his Qiankun bag.

A moment later, a voice came from behind, neither warm nor cold, but with a hint of politeness: "Young Master Lin, my city lord wishes to see you. Please come in for a chat."

Lin Mu turned to the side and glanced at the person behind him.

Wearing a dark gray short robe, with no weapon at his waist, he stood very steadily with his shoulders slightly hunched. He was clearly someone who had been following experts into dangerous places for many years, exuding an aura of "I won't bother you, but you better not make me lift a finger."

He turned to look at the figure standing motionless at the alley entrance ahead, but didn't rush to answer.

Seeing that he did not respond, the visitor added, "We mean no harm. The city lord has prepared a simple banquet on the second floor of the teahouse outside the alley, accompanied only by one attendant and... his daughter."

Lin Mu thought for a moment and realized that Huo Lie really didn't want him to leave.

But this is the second time already. As the saying goes, once is enough, twice is too much, but three times is not. If we refuse again this time, it will be difficult to talk to them a third time.

Let's meet then.

He nodded. "Lead the way."

The figure at the alley entrance made way, and Lin Mu followed the gray-robed attendant out of the alley, turned the corner, and entered a small but bright and clean teahouse.

The private room on the second floor, with the window half-open, let the afternoon light shine in obliquely, spreading a warm yellow hue across the table.

Several dishes were laid out on the table, not luxurious, but exquisite, and still slightly steaming, clearly having been served recently.

Huo Lie sat at the table with a pot of wine in front of him, but he didn't touch it.

Beside him sat a young girl in a plain white dress, holding the brown acorn in her hand, looking down as if counting the lines on it.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up and glanced at Lin Mu. Her gaze was neither too warm nor too cold, as if she were looking at someone who was just passing by.

When Huo Lie saw Lin Mu enter, he didn't get up, but nodded and gestured for him to sit down opposite him: "Young Master Lin, I apologize for disturbing you. Things happened in a hurry, and I didn't inform you in advance. I originally planned to visit you after things were settled, but the child kept looking at the fruit over and over for a long time and didn't know how to use it. We've never seen this before, and we don't dare to try it. After thinking about it, we had no choice but to shamelessly come and stop you."

Chapter 247 Little Loli

He spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, showing neither the airs of a city lord nor the posture of begging for help, as if he were discussing a very ordinary and serious matter.

The girl beside him remained silent, simply holding the fruit and quietly watching Lin Mu, neither in a hurry to ask questions nor showing any impatience.

Lin Mu glanced at Huo Lie, then at the girl and the fruit in her hand, and sat down opposite her without refusing.

He glanced at the girl. This must be Huo Lie's most beloved youngest daughter, as rumored.

However, the girl still looked somewhat immature and not as mature as Chunxing. If he didn't know that Huo Lie had an eighteen-year-old daughter, he would have thought that the girl was only fourteen or fifteen years old.

A perfectly legitimate little girl.

However, he didn't look at it for long and quickly returned his gaze to the table.

The dishes were neatly arranged, a few small plates of food, a pot of wine, steaming slightly, as if they had just been served when he arrived at the alley entrance.

Huo Lie didn't say any more pleasantries. Seeing Lin Mu seated, he picked up his wine glass and raised it to him, saying, "Young Master Lin is so generous. Let's begin the feast."

Lin Mu didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, nodded, and then took another piece. As he ate, he said, "This dish is good. Lord Huo, you've gone to great lengths."

He spoke casually, as if he were eating at home, his chopsticks never stopping, eating naturally and openly.

Huo Lie looked at him like this, but he wasn't displeased. Instead, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, as if he found this person interesting.

Most people sitting opposite the Lord of Shabak would be somewhat reserved, either acting stiff or pretending to be calm. But this guy just sat down and started eating, eating with a perfectly justified air.

He put down his wine glass, not in a hurry to bring up the fruit, and waited for Lin Mu to pick up two more pieces of food before speaking unhurriedly: "Young friend Lin, please eat slowly, there's no rush. It's just..."

Lin Mu finished chewing and swallowing a mouthful of food with his chopsticks. Before Huo Lie could finish speaking, he spoke up, saying slowly, "Lord Huo, let me guess. You saw that the usage level of this item is indeed written as '0', but your daughter is just a mortal. She can't even see the attributes of an item, so how would she know what the word 'use' means?"

Huo Lie paused, his gaze lingering on Lin Mu's face for a moment, before setting down the glass. His voice held an barely suppressed urgency: "Exactly, exactly. The attribute does show level 0, but the child has been examining the fruit for a long time, turning it over and over. He still doesn't know how to use it."

He spoke plainly and directly, like a father asking about something he truly didn't understand.

The girl beside him remained silent, simply holding the fruit and watching Lin Mu with interest. Her gaze was neither urgent nor indifferent, as if she was waiting for him to speak.

Lin Mu finished chewing the food in his mouth, put down his chopsticks, picked up his wine cup and took a sip. His gaze lingered between the girl and the fruit for a moment before he spoke: "Lord Huo, I never said that this thing was for mortals. The exact words I said to the auction house were: I don't know the specific effects, it's just that the fruit's usage level is a bit strange, it's only level 0."

He paused, then said calmly, "As for the claim that 'ordinary people can awaken after eating it,' that's just something people spread themselves; I've never acknowledged it."

Huo Lie paused, his smile fading slightly. He put down the glass, his gaze darkening as if he were suppressing something.

The girl beside her looked slightly saddened, and the fingers that were gripping the fruit loosened a little. But she quickly perked up and spoke in a low voice with a hint of composure: "That's true. It's all just speculation. The auction house never said that this thing would awaken a mortal's powers."

She looked down at the fruit in her hand, then looked up at Lin Mu, as if she was trying to help him out of a predicament, or as if she really didn't care.

Lin Mu glanced at the girl, and a thought suddenly popped into his mind.

Huo Lie's daughter is not very old, but she is quite insightful.

She clearly wanted this fruit more than anyone else, and although she cared about it a lot, she just wouldn't show it on her face.

Her words just now deflected half of his criticism, neither embarrassing his father nor forcing him to explain further.

This cleverness doesn't seem like something someone was spoiled growing up; it seems like something they honed little by little on their own.

He dropped some of his joking intentions, and after glancing at Huo Lie's face, which was about to break down, he knew he had said enough. If he continued to be forceful, he would offend people.

He put down his wine glass, his tone softening slightly: "However, since Lord Huo paid for it, we can't let this fruit sit idle and gather dust. I have a method we can try..."

Lin Mu paused for a moment, then glanced at Huo Lie and the girl beside him.

The father and daughter were both leaning forward, craning their necks, widening their eyes, holding their breath, and straining their ears, eagerly waiting for him to continue.

He then slowly continued speaking:

"Grind the fruit into powder, mix it with warm water, and drink it."

Huo Lie's expression softened slightly after hearing this.

He thought to himself, since this person dared to explain the specific usage to his face, it meant that the fruit had some effect, otherwise he wouldn't have explained it in such detail.

But his pretentious manner is really annoying; he beats up people by going around in circles before finally getting to the point.

He remained silent for a moment, then nodded, picked up his wine glass, and didn't ask any further questions.

The girl held the fruit in her hand, as if she had memorized the words in her heart.

After Lin Mu finished speaking, he didn't mention the fruit again. He looked down at the dishes on the table, picked up his chopsticks again, put a piece of braised pork knuckle into his mouth, and then picked up a piece of stir-fried vegetables, chewing them with ease and comfort.

Lord Huo has already booked a banquet for you, so you should eat as much as you like. Not eating would be disrespectful to the host and a waste of food.

Seeing how confidently he was eating, Huo Lie's expression relaxed even more, thinking that this time it seemed very promising.

……

The next morning, new messages were posted on bulletin boards at major intersections in Mengzhong.

The prince will personally lead the team to the depths of the stone tomb to wipe out the monsters and put the people at ease. All members of the Imperial Guard and major guilds are welcome to sign up.

The article in the tabloid was particularly cleverly written.

It modified Lin Mu's statement, "A hegemon is not one who acts with tyranny, but one who acts with benevolence," and incorporated it into the article, writing it as Gu Changfeng's own words: "The prince said that bravery is not about showing off one's abilities, but about protecting the people of a city. The trip to the Stone Tomb is not for fame, but only to take responsibility."

The article concludes with the statement: "Such a magnanimous spirit makes him the bravest man of our time."