23: You're talking about them.

The woman playing the zither, after hearing Lin Mu's shameless words, a look of disgust flashed in her eyes.

However, she hid it very well, immediately putting on a delicate and pitiful expression.

"Why does Young Master bully a weak woman like me? How about this humble one plays another tune for Young Master?"

Hearing this, a pearl the size of a goose egg suddenly appeared in Lin Mu's hand.

The pearl shone with dazzling light, clearly indicating its high value.

Lin Mu reached out and placed the pearl in front of the zither-playing woman, a sly look flashing across his face.

"This is a dust-removing pearl used exclusively by the imperial family, worth a fortune. As long as you accompany This Young Master for one night, it will be yours."

This pearl, being kept in Princess Tianning's storage ring, was certainly not an ordinary item.

The woman looked expressionlessly at the dust-removing pearl in Lin Mu's hand and spoke indifferently:

"If Young Master needs company, this humble one can summon Xia Hong and Liu Lü to serve Young Master."

She frantically broke free from Lin Mu's grasp and walked towards the door.

"How truly uninteresting. I had originally wanted to keep playing along with you for a while longer."

Lin Mu now stood calmly in place, not a trace of his previous unrestrained demeanor on his face.

Hearing this, the zither-playing woman turned back blankly, feigning ignorance, and asked, "What does Young Master mean by that?"

Lin Mu slowly sat down, the mocking expression on his face completely unconcealed.

"Let This Young Master guess, the Yunzhou Lin Family? The Yanshan Kingdom imperial family? Or the Tianmen Auction House?"

The zither-playing woman had been composed, but when she heard "Tianmen Auction House," a look of panic appeared in her eyes.

She stood at the doorway, her expression constantly changing.

A moment later, as if she had made a decision.

She closed the door again.

Then turned and returned to Lin Mu's front.

"This humble one, Liu Qin'er, the head of the Tianmen Yanshan Kingdom branch, greets Young Master."

"When did Young Master notice the anomaly?"

After Lin Mu drained the wine in his hand, he casually said,

"From the very beginning, from the madam to you, nothing was normal."

"The madam with a clear objective, Xia Hong and Liu Lü who came prepared, the banquet that was already set."

"And you, this courtesan, who faced a priceless dust-removing pearl without a change in expression."

Liu Qin'er gave a self-deprecating smile: "I didn't expect such an elaborate setup to be full of holes in Young Master's eyes."

"Actually, you were the biggest flaw."

Liu Qin'er looked puzzled: "How so?"

Lin Mu stood up, leaned closer to Liu Qin'er, and whispered in her ear:

"Such a peerless beauty, in a place like this, yet still able to preserve her chastity."

"Is that not worth suspecting?"

"Tell me, what is your purpose in seeking me out?"

Seeing Lin Mu get straight to the point, Liu Qin'er backhanded a soundproofing array in the room.

"Since Young Master Lin dislikes beating around the bush, then this humble one will speak plainly."

"That divine stone must already be in Young Master Lin's hands, correct?"

"How can you be so sure?" Lin Mu asked calmly.

"Our Tianmen forces are spread across every corner of the Nine Nether Continent. Anything the Tianmen wishes to investigate, it will find."

"Moreover, Young Master Lin never deliberately hid it from start to finish."

Lin Mu scoffed: "If your Tianmen can find out everything, why did you release that divine stone?"

"Releasing the divine stone was naturally to uncover its use. I believe Young Master Lin will enlighten our Tianmen," Liu Qin'er said confidently.

"I naturally know its purpose, but why should I tell you?"

Liu Qin'er's tone became somewhat urgent: "As long as Young Master Lin is willing to inform us, our Tianmen will fulfill any request Young Master Lin has."

"Any request?"

"Indeed, any request."

"I want all the remaining divine stones you possess."

Liu Qin'er finally lost her composure, feeling as if the hunter had become the hunted.

Lin Mu watched the changes in Liu Qin'er's expression. He vaguely sensed that his previous guess was correct.

The heavenly dao stone possessed by Heaven Sect Academy was indeed not just one.

He stood up again, closing in on Liu Qin'er's side.

"Keeping the divine stone in Heaven Sect Academy is a waste of heavenly resources. Throughout the entire continent, only I know its use."

"As long as you are willing to hand over all the divine stones."

"I will not only tell you the divine stone's purpose but also no longer pursue your offense this time."

Liu Qin'er took a step back, looking at Lin Mu with some disbelief.

What did he mean by "no longer pursue the Tianmen's offense"?

The Tianmen had stood on the Nine Nether Continent for thousands of years, with countless Venerable Realm Experts under its command.

Heaven Sect Academy was even the sacred land in the hearts of all martial artists in the world.

Even those high and mighty Great Emperor Experts would not dare to utter such words.

Liu Qin'er was also somewhat annoyed at this moment.

Her words were no longer polite, but rather cold:

"Young Master Lin, I know you are exceptionally talented and have a Venerable Realm Expert backing you."

"However, you know nothing about the Tianmen. The power of the Tianmen cannot be compared to a single Venerable Realm Expert."

"As long as you cooperate with us, the Tianmen's magical treasures, elixirs, and cultivation techniques are yours for the asking."

"You can even enter Heaven Sect Academy to cultivate."

"Such an opportunity is truly rare."

Lin Mu laughed heartily: "How do you know that what you've seen of me is merely the tip of the iceberg?"

"Young Master Lin, I know you have something to rely on to say such things."

"However, the person you rely on has probably already been restrained by our people and may be temporarily unable to free himself."

A confident smile appeared on Liu Qin'er's face.

But her smile lasted only a moment before disappearing completely.

The tightly shut door was kicked open from the outside.

An old man in black outside the door stepped in.

He was carrying two bloody heads in his hands.

"Are you referring to them?"

The old man threw the heads at Liu Qin'er's feet.

Liu Qin'er was scared out of her wits by the old man's actions.

She hastily retreated two steps, and after regaining her footing.

She quickly glanced at the two heads.

Immediately, her entire being froze in place.

She discovered with immense horror that these two heads were precisely the two Venerable Realm Experts they had sent.

A dignified Venerable Realm Expert could live for thousands of years.

Yet, they were so easily beheaded by the old man in black.

Liu Qin'er no longer had her previous composure and calmness.

Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her mind pondering how to respond next.

Lao Mo walked into the room and casually approached Lin Mu's side.

"These two indeed had some skill, making me draw two swords."

At this moment, Liu Qin'er's mind was completely blank.

Killing two Venerable Realm Experts with just two swords?

What kind of terrifying existence was this?

Liu Qin'er dared not think further.

She finally understood that Lin Mu's previous words were not empty boasts.

Lin Mu looked at the flustered Liu Qin'er and brought up the matter again.

"How about it, Miss Liu? Can you now seriously consider my words?"

Liu Qin'er gathered herself, forcing a deep breath.

"Young Master Lin, this matter is of great importance and not something I can decide. I need to report it to Heaven Sect Academy for a decision."

Lin Mu said with a slightly cold expression:

"I will only give you three months."

"If the Tianmen cannot give me a satisfactory answer within three months, I will personally go to Heaven Sect Academy."

"At that time, it won't be as easy to talk as it is now."