Tang San swallowed the pill and sat cross-legged on the floor, circulating the Mysterious Heaven Technique to recover from his injuries.
Only after confirming Tang San was unharmed did Lin Mu turn his gaze to the surroundings.
Inside the inn, most of the tables and chairs had been crushed into wooden splinters and powder, scattered everywhere.
The walls bore the scorch marks left by the Phoenix Martial Soul, along with cracks and depressions caused by the Gravity Squeeze.
Especially where Zhao Wuji had been earlier, the floorboards were completely shattered and sunken, forming a conspicuous shallow pit.
The innkeeper and a few waiters were huddled behind the counter, trembling, distressed over the losses but not daring to step forward to demand compensation.
Lin Mu's expression was calm, but his eyes held a trace of cold severity.
His gaze swept over the wreckage before finally settling on Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
The two were already frightened out of their wits, terrified of attracting the attention of this senior suspected to be a Title Douluo.
Under Dean Flender's teachings, they had firmly remembered the school motto: "A spirit master who doesn't dare to stir up trouble isn't a good spirit master." They never imagined they'd kick an iron plate today.
No, it was more like a diamond-steel plate.
In this continent, the strong reigned supreme. Moreover, they had picked the fight first. Even if this senior took action against them, it would be perfectly justified.
"Se-Senior..." Dai Mubai's throat was dry, struggling to speak, trying to maintain the last shred of dignity, but his voice trembled uncontrollably, betraying the fear in his heart.
Ma Hongjun simply shrunk his neck, wishing he could hide his plump body behind Dai Mubai.
Lin Mu walked forward slowly, stopping before Dai Mubai. His voice held not the slightest fluctuation: "Tell me, how should I deal with you?"
Hearing this, Dai Mubai's heart felt like it was about to leap out of his throat. His brain worked frantically, trying to come up with a perfect line of reasoning.
Only now did he remember: the spirit masters they'd encountered before had all been weaker than them, so they never had to consider consequences—they just overpowered the other side with strength.
They had never anticipated a situation like today's.
Just as Dai Mubai's brain was about to overheat, Ma Hongjun behind him spoke up.
"Senior, you are magnanimous and broad-minded. Please just let us go like passing wind."
Dai Mubai's eyes widened, feeling an urge to curse inside. How did he end up with such a pig of a teammate?
In the current situation, the best outcome would be to pay some price to appease this senior's anger.
And this fool actually wanted to muddle through—since when was anything in the world that easy?
Now it was done. Probably even the chance for reconciliation was gone.
"Did I give you permission to speak?!"
Lin Mu's eyes sharpened, his aura instantly soaring, crashing down on Ma Hongjun like a collapsing mountain. With a thump, the plump body heavily hit the floor.
Ma Hongjun was merely a Great Spirit Master. Under the pressure of a Spirit Sage-level aura, he violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his face filled with terror.
"Senior, spare me! I know I was wrong!"
Seeing Ma Hongjun's miserable state, Dai Mubai felt an inexplicable sliver of satisfaction. This fool completely deserved it.
"Senior, we are willing to compensate."
Dai Mubai dared not show the slightest negligence, fearing he'd follow in Ma Hongjun's footsteps, and hurriedly spoke.
"It was you who initiated the attack. You are responsible for all damages to this inn. Additionally, for the fright caused to the innkeeper, the two of you will pay compensation: one thousand gold spirit coins."
Lin Mu stated unequivocally.
As the saying goes, when immortals fight, mortals suffer. This innkeeper had suffered this unwarranted disaster and deserved compensation.
However, he certainly wouldn't pay. The debt had its rightful owners; the money should come from Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
"One thousand gold spirit coins?!"
Ma Hongjun spat out another mouthful of blood. His originally chubby, plump face was now completely bloodless, almost fainting from heartache. How many trips to the brothel could one thousand gold spirit coins buy him?
Dai Mubai's expression was also very grim. Although he was the prince of the Star Luo Empire, he had fled. He didn't have much money on him, and one thousand gold spirit coins was already a significant sum.
"Senior, isn't that a bit too much? Even if you totaled the entire inn, it wouldn't be worth one thousand gold spirit coins."
"Is that so..." Lin Mu's eyes turned slightly colder. He suddenly clenched his fist and said, "Then let's be simple and direct. As long as you take one punch from me, whether you live or die, this one thousand gold spirit coin compensation will be waived."
Dai Mubai instantly shut his mouth, his face turning from pale to green.
Are you kidding?!
With this senior's ruthless methods, even Vice Dean Zhao Wuji, a Spirit Sage powerhouse, was sent flying with one punch and was still lying in that pit. With his Spirit Elder physique, forget keeping his life; he'd probably be pounded into mincemeat on the spot.
"We'll pay! We are willing to pay the money."
Dai Mubai gritted his teeth. In the current situation, he could only choose to spend money to avert disaster.
He immediately took out a heavy money pouch from his storage spirit guide and handed it to Lin Mu.
Although Lin Mu had said the two of them should pay together, Ma Hongjun himself only had the spirit master subsidy as his economic source. Add to that his frequent visits to the brothel, and he didn't have a damn cent on him.
Lin Mu took the money pouch but didn't put it into his own storage bracelet. Instead, he tossed it to the innkeeper.
Seeing the thrown money pouch, the innkeeper was both shocked and delighted, hurriedly catching it. Although the inn was severely damaged, the losses amounted to at most three to four hundred gold spirit coins. Now he'd made more than double that.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
The innkeeper hurriedly thanked Lin Mu.
Compared to other overbearing spirit masters, this spirit master was simply a great, good person.
Witnessing this scene, Dai Mubai only felt a sharp pain in his chest.
He was the one who gave the money, okay?!
But that wasn't important now. The priority was to get away as soon as possible. Staying an extra moment meant an extra measure of danger.
"Senior, the money has been paid. Can we leave now?"
Dai Mubai tentatively asked.
Lin Mu pointed behind him at Tang San, his tone unfriendly. "You haven't paid for my disciple's medical expenses yet, and you want to leave?"
Hearing this, Dai Mubai's heart sank. Sure enough, it wasn't that simple.
Having just coughed up one thousand gold spirit coins, now he had to pay medical compensation. An endless wave of regret instantly surged in his heart.
Had he known this would be the outcome, he would have rather died than picked a fight with strangers.
"Senior... how much is needed?"
"Not much. Ten times the previous amount will do."
"Ten times?!"
Dai Mubai was dumbfounded. Ten times meant ten thousand gold spirit coins. Even if he emptied his entire family wealth, he couldn't come up with that.
Besides, currently in the Star Dou Great Forest, even if he wanted to ask the Star Luo Imperial Family for money, it would be too late.
"Senior, I don't have that much money on me. Could it be put on credit?"
Dai Mubai had no other choice and could only say this.
"No money? Don't you know to borrow from someone?"
Lin Mu frowned slightly, his gaze shifting to the three people standing at the entrance: Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.
The three hadn't shown any intention to help throughout—of course, they wouldn't dare.
Oscar and Ning Rongrong were both auxiliary-type spirit masters. Lin Mu could send both flying with one slap. Zhu Zhuqing was about the same.