Everyone in the group other than Lu Xu had an enmity against Yao Changying. The Ming sisters were the same and thus showed hostility right away.
Their focus was also on Yao Changying rather than the fortune part which Lu Xu had noted. After all, while he had accepted the mission too, it was for the end result of obtaining a fortune too.
Lin Mu didn't forget to notice this divide and knew he would have to balance both to get the best results.
"Let's start with Yao Changying, since that is the more serious part." Lin Mu stated, wanting to get that in order.
"Please do tell." The Ming Sisters sat seriously.
"With Luo Liqin having fought Yao Changying already, I can safely say that all of you will be having a hard time." Lin Mu threw out the fact.
"Even if she is at the Fifth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal realm, we should at least be able to affect her with the tool that the Princess gave us." Ming Dandan replied.
"I wish it was that easy." Luo Liqin was the one to speak this time. "I didn't even manage to get close to her, not to mention use the tool. Her attacks are overpowering and won't let you get close that easily." He explained from his experience.
"Indeed. I've observed the battle too, and know that unless one can withstand that attack or avoid it entirely, getting close will be difficult." Lin Mu added.
"Then how are we supposed to do it?" Ming Aolian questioned feeling frustrated.
"I need to state this that, you all won't be able to defeat her at all." Lin Mu spoke, crushing their hopes. "But that doesn't mean she can't be defeated." He added.
"What are you implying, Brother Mu Lin?" Lu Xu asked, while others felt confused.
"In order to bring her down to the level at which we can fight her, you all will be needed. Each person will contribute in portions so that the weakening effect is applied to Yao Changying." Lin Mu answered. "So it isn't too obvious and by the time it happens, she will be greatly weakened."
"But you said that we have no chance at getting close to her. So how are we even supposed to use the tool?" Qian Wen responded.
"That's where I come in." Lin Mu replied. "I shall be assisting you all from outside the ring whenever you are fighting. I have a skill that can secretly interfere with the fight, and will hamper the abilities of Yao Changying." He revealed.
"WHAT!?" they couldn't help but shout out in shock.
After all, what Lin Mu had said could be considered almost impossible or even dangerous. If it was found out that someone was interfering in the fights like this, the Temple of the Guardian beasts would not take it kindly. Getting imprisoned would be the lightest punishment.
"Yes." Lin Mu confirmed.
"H—how… won't they know?" Lu Xu asked finding it unbelievable.
"Don't worry. I've already tested it a few times. Not even the contestants know something happened to them." Lin Mu assured them.
"This…" They didn't know what to think about this.
'If it really is someone like brother Mu Lin, then it might be possible. He is quite strong after all.' Lu Xu thought.
'He has various skills and his capability is high for him to be able to get acquainted with the Crown Prince. It might just be possible." Ming Aolian thought.
'Brother Mu Lin managed to find out about my poisoning, so perhaps he has a better grasp at this. He is certainly sensitive.' Qian Wen pondered.
Only Luo Liqin was someone who got on board fast.
"If Brother Mu Lin says so, then it is true. He's already healed me with ease, I don't think he'll be pretending to do this. Or is going in without a proper plan." Luo Liqin stated his opinion.
"You all can take some time to think, if you want to. You don't have to rush like him." Lin Mu didn't force them either.
After all, he just needed to see if they were willing. If they were not, the plan would only be defective.
They all went silent for a few minutes before Lu Xu spoke.
"I'm up for it." He stated. "Think about it this way, without Brother Mu Lin's plan, I don't think we had a chance in the first place."
"Yes! If not for my defeat early on, I think I would have been in the false belief that we could touch Yao Changying." Luo Liqin chimed in.
"Alright, if we really can get rid of that bitch, I'm up for it!" Ming Aolian said with determination.
"Yes! We'll get revenge for senior sister!" Ming Dandan also agreed.
Lin Mu saw the determination in all their faces and knew that his plan was working.
"Good. But the first thing we need for this is good communication and knowledge of whose fight is when. It will allow us to cooperate and for me to get to your rings. The main thing is that you all should be able to survive till you meet Yao Changying." Lin Mu explained.
"That is true." Qian Wen nodded his head. "If we meet some strong or complex cultivators, we might be defeated before we even meet Yao Changying."
"That is where I come in after all." Lin Mu smiled. "I won't just be interfering in fights with Yao Changying, but also your regular fights." He said much to their surprised.
"W-what… Won't that be too much?" Ming Dandan was stunned.
"We have to make the most of it. If you all lose before meeting Yao Changying, it will be a bust. So its in all our benefit that I push you all as far as possible." Lin Mu replied. "In addition to this, I'll also tend to your injuries and return you to your peak condition so that there is no disadvantage just due to a lack of resources." He added.
"This will cost a lot. Just the healing pills and immortal stones for restoration of Qi will reach in the high grade immortal stone range." Ming Aolian did a rough calculation.
"That is where my secondary plan comes in." Lin Mu said before taking out a booklet.
"The betting booklet?" Lu Xu recognized.
"Indeed. This is what will fund us for the entire thing." Lin Mu replied.
"How will that happen?" Qian Wen questioned but then a thought presented to him.
"Well it's simple. Since I'm already interfering in matches, I don't see why we can't turn the bets into our favor." Lin Mu spread his arms as if it was obvious.
"OF COURSE!" Lu Xu shouted. "HAHAHA! If we are already winning, we just need to bet on ourselves." He added.
"No wait! Brother Mu Lin can do this with other fights too. After all, our fights will only be handful out of the total." Luo Liqin thought further.
"That is exactly what I intended to do." Lin Mu nodded his head. "And also where I will need all your help." He said before gesturing to the booklet.
"What do you think can go wrong with all this?" Lin Mu questioned them first.
They thought for a few second before Ming Dandan spoke up.
"We or the other contestants can still lose a fight despite your interference?" Ming Dandan said first.
"That is indeed the first biggest concern." Lin Mu nodded his head. "I will try to turn it into our favor as much as possible, but to do that we will have to keep tabs on all contestants. Especially the ones we know are going to fight us."
"I think that'll be mostly easy. The bookies will be more than anxious about that too. And there should be plenty of people selling information." Lu Xu said after thinking.
"Yes. Plus after the main rounds start for the betting, we'll know about the fights plenty of time in advance." Qian Wen thought further.
"So we just need to communicate well with each other." Ming Dandan came to the gist of it.
"Yes… But there is another thing you all missed. What else can go wrong?" Lin Mu questioned them again.
This time though, it took them a couple minutes to think about it.
"The Bookies… They won't be pleased with one party winning again and again." Luo Liqin figured it out.
"Exactly!" Lin Mu patted the table. "It is something that will happen for sure if we do not take precautions."
"So what are we to do for that?" Ming Dandan inquired.
"There are six of us… We can simply take turns to bet?" Ming Aolian answered this time.
"Correct." Lin Mu was pleased. "We can simply transfer the funds accordingly and make the bets in different bookies too, for extra safety. As long as the funds are moving around, they won't be too suspicious." He explained.
"Brother Mu Lin has thought quite well." They couldn't help but praise.
