Chapter 128: Provoked

The boss of Manhattan’s top gang, Higgins, died. Though this news didn’t spread everywhere for everyone to know, those who paid attention learned about it through various channels.

The next day, Jiang Chu naturally received this news. They had their own special channels of information and kept an eye on every little movement in New York, as any change could mean adjustments to their plans.

That gang had attacked Luo Huafu several times. Though Jiang Chu had long wanted to deal with them, he was on a mission and couldn’t act on his own. He had planned to eliminate this threat after the mission was over, but unexpectedly, someone else did it for him.

Dealing with a violent gang that only knew how to fight viciously wasn’t particularly difficult for people like them. However, the news said Higgins was silently assassinated inside his villa.

None of the hundreds of gang members around saw the killer’s figure, and no suspicious figures appeared on any surveillance footage. Achieving that wasn’t something an ordinary person could do.

While Jiang Chu was pondering this news, Ding Han walked into the room, carrying a strange aura around him.

“I heard that Higgins from Manhattan was killed? The gang boss who attacked Mr. Luo several times?” Ding Han looked directly at Jiang Chu as soon as he entered, clearly thinking Jiang Chu had acted privately. He couldn’t think of many people in Manhattan skilled enough to trouble Higgins.

“It wasn’t me. I’m also wondering who did it,” Jiang Chu shrugged and gave a helpless smile. He had mentioned this gang to Ding Han before, originally planning to act after the mission, so he wasn’t surprised by Ding Han’s misunderstanding.

Ding Han immediately frowned slightly. If Jiang Chu didn’t do it, then who did? He didn’t believe it was gang rivalry. In Manhattan, Higgins dominated; the other small gangs couldn’t handle him.

“Wang Qing said Lin Mu went out last night. Mr. Luo gave him a gold card, and he came back very late. Do you want to go see him?” After thinking for a moment, Jiang Chu suddenly said to Ding Han.

Ding Han raised an eyebrow and looked at Jiang Chu in surprise. As longtime partners, he understood Jiang Chu’s meaning. Could Higgins’s death actually be Lin Mu’s doing?

“Interesting. I really want to meet this young man. Acting so recklessly—didn’t he consider he might accidentally ruin our plans?” A gleam flashed in Ding Han’s eyes, and he snorted.

At that moment, Lin Mu was comfortably lying on a rattan chair swing in the garden, leisurely reading a magazine, completely ignoring the nearby patrolling security personnel.

Jiang Chu and Ding Han easily found Lin Mu. Ding Han observed Lin Mu from afar, but his expression was puzzled; he clearly didn’t see anything about Lin Mu that suggested he was an expert.

“Lin Mu, we’d like to ask you something,” Jiang Chu walked over and smiled politely at Lin Mu.

“So it’s Captain Jiang. What would you like to know?” Lin Mu shifted his gaze from the magazine and glanced at the two, asking very casually.

“Something big happened in Manhattan last night. Higgins was assassinated in his villa. We want to know if this has anything to do with you?” Jiang Chu smiled slightly and voiced his question.

“Higgins? I don’t know him. I had a great time in Manhattan last night and didn’t pay attention to such things.” Lin Mu naturally wouldn’t admit it and directly replied to Jiang Chu.

“Lin Mu! I hope you’ll cooperate! This matter is very important! We came all the way to New York not for fun but for a mission!” Before Jiang Chu could speak, Ding Han stepped forward and stared coldly at Lin Mu. “Acting on your own like this could very well disrupt our plan and lead to mission failure!”

“And you are?” Lin Mu slowly sat up, put down his magazine, and looked up at the furious Ding Han.

“Hmph! It doesn’t matter who I am. What’s important is that the higher-ups take this mission seriously, and we must complete it. Your unauthorized actions undoubtedly add great uncertainty to our plan!” Ding Han snorted angrily. “I don’t know why the higher-ups sent you, but as long as you’re here, you follow the rules. When your help isn’t needed, don’t go looking for trouble!”

Lin Mu wasn’t angry but laughed. He had never been scolded like this before; even Lu Shouyang always spoke to him politely. He never expected to be scolded by his own people after arriving in a foreign country.

“What I do doesn’t require explaining to anyone. If it causes any trouble, I’ll handle it myself. Who do you think you are, daring to shout in front of me?” Lin Mu slowly straightened up and spoke to Ding Han word by word.

Though he was slightly shorter than Ding Han, his presence was even stronger.

“Good! Good! So you really are an expert, no wonder you dared to kill Higgins alone!” A light appeared in Ding Han’s eyes. The moment Lin Mu’s aura burst forth, he was sure of it. From start to finish, he was convinced Lin Mu killed Higgins and hadn’t really meant to ask.

“But we’re a team. Since you’re so eager to act, it’s simple: strength is what matters. If you can beat me, you’ll be in charge here!” Ding Han twisted his neck and stared deeply at Lin Mu.

“Ding Han, you…” Jiang Chu was slightly stunned. He hadn’t expected a simple inquiry to turn into this situation, but before he could finish, Lin Mu interrupted him.

“So you want to fight. Good, I also want to see how capable you are, sent here on this mission, and whether you can withstand the coming attacks.” Lin Mu chuckled derisively. He could tell Ding Han was an expert no weaker than Jiang Chu, but he wasn’t afraid. One of his purposes in coming to the United States was to meet more experts.

Since those Superpower Users hadn’t arrived yet, he was more than happy to spar with other experts. It would also showcase his strength, so minor figures wouldn’t dare act disrespectfully in front of him.

“I’ll be waiting in the gym! I hope your strength is truly that powerful!” Ding Han snorted, then ignored Lin Mu and turned to leave on his own.

Jiang Chu gave a helpless bitter smile. He knew Ding Han’s temper all too well. Ding Han hated people who didn’t follow discipline, and Lin Mu’s actions had clearly crossed a line for him.

“Lin Mu, this is a critical time. You really shouldn’t act on your own. Now you’ve angered Ding Han. If you fight and someone gets hurt, wouldn’t we be weakening ourselves?” Jiang Chu sighed and shook his head.

“It’s fine, Captain Jiang. The enemy will attack the Luo Family soon. I’m just helping everyone warm up so we aren’t caught off guard.” Lin Mu stood up and laughed, his gaze becoming intense as he looked toward Ding Han. When he returned to the villa, he ran into Wang Qing, whose face still looked somewhat bruised.

“Are you serious? Challenging Ding Han? Do you know who he is? Don’t think just because you beat me, no one in the Luo Family can match you! He’s a truly formidable person!” Wang Qing pulled Lin Mu aside and whispered quickly.

“Haha, fighting you was just for fun. How could I underestimate other experts because of that? Sparring with someone like Ding Han is actually interesting.” Lin Mu grinned, patted Wang Qing’s shoulder, and continued toward the gym.

Wang Qing’s face turned red with anger. He had come with a warning out of goodwill, only to be disdainfully dismissed, leaving him feeling stifled and wronged.

Watching Lin Mu’s retreating figure, he snorted indignantly and followed, wanting to see how Lin Mu would lose to Ding Han.

Within the Dragon Protection Corps, Wang Qing wasn’t a combat personnel; he had only learned some fighting skills. Ding Han, however, was a true frontline fighter with extensive combat experience.

In the gym, Lin Mu stood casually, not at all like he was facing a formidable opponent. In Ding Han’s eyes, this attitude seemed somewhat frivolous and undisciplined.

This greatly annoyed Ding Han, who always strictly adhered to discipline. He believed that as a special department and elites of Huaxia, they should have iron discipline and willpower.

But this young man in front of him seemed to disgrace the Dragon Protection Corps’s name—showing no respect for rules or mission discipline. If outsiders saw, it would surely bring shame to the Dragon Protection Corps.

“What’s wrong? We haven’t even fought yet, and you look like you hold a deep grudge. This is our first meeting, isn’t it?” Seeing Ding Han’s stern face, Lin Mu casually asked with a smile, showing no sign of nervousness.

In every battle Ding Han experienced, he was extremely cautious. No matter who the opponent was, giving his all was his principle, because using full strength was a form of respect for the opponent.

This was another reason he disliked Lin Mu: previously, during a spar, Lin Mu had thoroughly toyed with Wang Qing.

In Ding Han’s eyes, such bullying behavior was despicable and something he scorned; it showed none of the grace an expert should possess.

That’s why he deliberately provoked Lin Mu today. What Lin Mu did wasn’t extremely serious, but it depended on how one defined it.

When he went with Jiang Chu to find Lin Mu, Ding Han immediately accused Lin Mu of violating the Dragon Protection Corps’s discipline and hindering their mission, forcing Lin Mu into a corner.

His goal was to teach the younger members of the Dragon Protection Corps a lesson—to let them know there’s always someone better, and more importantly, to absolutely obey the organization’s discipline and management.

This mission was crucial, and the higher-ups were closely watching; there could be no mistakes. With internal and external troubles, they needed unity more than ever, not troublemaking.