Someone told Mrs. Hong that Li Mu had shone in the shooting range today and achieved an amazing result in his first shot. Not only did he hit 10 out of 10, but he also hit a bullet hole altogether.

After Mrs. Hong heard the news, she smiled faintly. He was far more mature and stable than ordinary people. It was not surprising that Li Mu could achieve such results.

The next news surprised her. Shen Xingyue had a private meeting with Li Mu. The two hid in the park and talked for a long time. No one knew what they had talked about.

Mrs. Hong immediately became nervous and annoyed. The woman had still seized the opportunity. What was the content of their conversation? Would it affect Lin Wan's marriage?

She instantly understood Third Grandaunt's intentions. It turned out that the old lady deliberately had put on a show to create an opportunity for her daughter. At the time, she had thought she was shallow, but now it seemed that she had played it brilliantly.

No, she must know what they had said as soon as possible. Mrs. Hong made a quick decision and hurriedly left the banquet hall.

She didn't dare to tell the truth to Lin Wan because she was worried that the latter would lose her temper and ruin her relationship with her husband after a big fight.

After returning to the villa in a hurry, Mrs. Hong found Li Mu, dragged him to her room, closed the door, and looked at him sullenly.

Li Mu asked cheerfully, "Why are you so secretive? Are you trying to hit on me?"

"F*ck you! I’m asking you. What did you do today?"

Li Mu knew in his heart that Mrs. Hong had been informed of his whereabouts and deliberately teased her, "What could I do? Shooting, of course. Mrs. Hong, that was my first shot, and it was accurate. Do you want to try it too?"

Mrs. Hong blushed, grabbed a pillow on the bed, and threw it at him.

Li Mu ducked around with his head in his arms, laughing while hiding.

Mrs. Hong threw the pillow on the ground, grabbed one of his ears, and twisted it hard.

Li Mu cried out in pain, "Oh, you crazy b*tch, be gentle. Spare my good ear."

"I’m asking you. Did you have a private date with Shen Xingyue?"

"Don't put it so bluntly. We old friends met and chatted for a while, that's all."

Mrs. Hong let go of her hand, pulled him to sit on the bed, and asked solemnly, "What did you talk about? Tell me now."

Li Mu no longer smiled and said sternly, "Even if you didn't ask me, I would still want to talk to you about this matter. The things we talk about are very important and even related to my life and death."

Mrs. Hong looked at him in amazement, not understanding his words at all.

"Don't worry. Let me explain to you slowly."

Li Mu spoke very slowly and meticulously. He explained what he had wanted to say, including the content of his conversation with Shen Xingyue as well as his own analysis and judgment. Mrs. Hong listened carefully and did not interrupt him from beginning to end.

"That's about it. That's what we talked about," Li Mu finally said.

"You think the Lin Family will hurt you?" Mrs. Hong asked.

"Not all Lin Family people will hurt me, but there are indeed many Lin Family people who plan to get rid of me. This is a fact, and you don't have to argue. At this stage, any false sophistry will harm me rather than solve the problem completely."

"Don't worry. I won't joke about your safety. I know what you said is the truth. After all, your previous behavior has made many people resentful. It is understandable that they want to deal with you."

"You are wrong, Mrs. Hong. You are from the Lin Family, and you will defend them subconsciously. Do they hate me because of that incident? No, my toughness scares them, and that's why they don't tolerate me. Don't deceive yourself!"

Mrs. Hong sighed and smiled bitterly, "Li Mu, even if I risk my life, I will protect your safety. Don't go, okay?"

"Mrs. Hong, I have to go. I’m also worried that they will attack my wife and child and you. They will not do that if I leave the Lin Family."

"We can slowly win them over and they will accept you. Absolute sincerity will move a heart of stone. As long as we show our greatest kindness, they will accept you sooner or later."

"It may be a lifetime thing to win them over, but it only takes three minutes to make an enemy of them. I have already made an enemy of the Lin Family. Do you think we can win them over before they decide to act?"

Mrs. Hong choked, "I can't bear to say goodbye to you, and Lin Wan definitely can't either!"

Li Mu held her shoulders with both hands and said seriously, "I can't bear to say goodbye to you either, but we both know that this is the only feasible way. Only in this way can I have the opportunity to slowly win them over and become strong enough for them not to dare to mess with me."

"Can you take me with you? I don't want to leave you." Mrs. Hong said softly.

Li Mu released his hand and only asked, "If we're all gone, what about Lin Wan?"

Mrs. Hong smiled wryly. Yes, she could go with him, but after she left, what would Lin Wan do? Who else could help her whole-heartedly and become her most trusted spiritual support?

"You two are so selfish!" Mrs. Hong murmured.

Li Mu felt very guilty. He couldn't help holding her in his arms, and comforted, "Mrs. Hong, my departure is not to escape, but for everyone's safety. As long as I am alive, they will not dare to hurt you. You will be safe."

"I know. It’s just, how long are we going to be apart?"

Li Mu was silent, and he didn't know how long they would be separated. He didn't want to be away from his family, but he had no choice. Before the Lin Family completely accepted him, he could only keep a safe distance from them.

"I will come back to visit you often, and you can also come to see me. I just need to show my posture, and they won't deliberately target us again. So, we just don't see each other often, not ever again."

Mrs. Hong choked, "I understand, but if you leave us alone, I won't agree, and neither will Lin Wan."

"Then we can only split up!"

"Split up?"

Li Mu nodded and said seriously, "We will leave the Lin Family and build another family."

Mrs. Hong was hesitant. Although this method was good, it also meant that they had to give up everything they had at present, and the result of doing so would definitely make the Lin Family fall apart and never recover.

Not to mention Lin Wan, even Mrs. Hong did not dare to make such a big move and destroy the heritage that the ancestors of the Lin Family had worked so hard for.

No one could afford this sin, but this was indeed a way and the only feasible way.

There was already discord within the family, and several forces had their own plans.

The Fourth Brother was decadent yet not dead. The Third Brother had shown signs of estrangement. The Sixth Brother and Ninth Brother were uncertain. Along with the loyal supporters of Lin Wan, there had formed four forces. If they really fought, the result would probably be worse than separation.

Therefore, separation of the family was indeed a good method. There was no making without breaking. Since they could not be united, why should they be forced to stay together?

Of course, it was an obvious truth, but no one dared to take the initiative to propose it. For the Lin Family, this kind of behavior would be no less than treason, and it would definitely lead to the common condemnation of all the Lin Family people.

After all, Li Mu's departure was the best solution, because he was the fuse for the rivalry. If he was gone, the Lin Family would naturally settle down slowly, and these several forces would regain balance.

Li Mu looked at Mrs. Hong with a trace of disappointment on his face, but he said, "I can only think of these two ways. Mrs. Hong, you should know why I have to leave the Lin Family now!"

Mrs. Hong nodded.

Li Mu said with a wry smile, "It's impossible to separate the family, and the result of my stay is either being killed or causing an internal struggle within the Lin Family. To put it bluntly, I'm now a standard scumbag, the culprit!"

Mrs. Hong was amused and punched him lightly.

"Your solution is not impossible, but we can compromise."

"How do you want to compromise?"

"We can do one thing under cover of another, and quietly transfer some of our forces out. You will lead them to develop secretly outside. When you are strong enough, you can return to the Lin Family with your head high."

Li Mu's eyes lit up and couldn't help kissing Mrs. Hong's cheek.

"That's a good idea. You guys will continue to stay in the Lin Family, and I'll establish myself outside. When my power develops to a formidable level, I can come back openly and aboveboard. At that time, I will protect my family and act as my son’s regent."

Mrs. Hong said with a blushing face, "Don't be the regent, because a regent generally doesn't end well. You should be the emperor!"

It was true. The regents in history seemed to end up miserably. The emperor should be better. At the very least, it took a lot of courage for a son to kill his father.

A dark cloud cleared, and Li Mu said quickly, "Mrs. Hong, please talk to Lin Wan. I dare not communicate with her because I’m afraid it will cause a misunderstanding."

Mrs. Hong rolled her eyes at him and said helplessly, "I know, leave it to me. I'll talk to Lin Wan and tell her that it’s my idea. But I'm not sure I can convince her. If she disagrees, don't blame me."

The two chatted for a while, and Mrs. Hong suddenly asked, "I heard that you shined in the shooting range, is it true?"

"Yeah, didn't I tell you just now that I'm very accurate at shooting? Don't you really want to try it?"

Mrs. Hong punched him hard, and said in a sullen voice, "Don't say such things again. It's inconvenient here, and later..."

Li Mu looked confused and couldn't help but said, "Why wait until later? What's so embarrassing about trying out our marksmanship? Are you thinking it wrong?"

Mrs. Hong's face instantly flushed, and she punched Little Brother Li hard.

...