"You little brat, did you offend some big shot? Normally, the Fengyue Pavilion wouldn't do something like this. The person you mentioned probably has some connection to the Fengyue Pavilion!"
Lin Heihu analyzed with a grave expression.
"Impossible, Dad! According to Xia Fei, that punk is just some bumpkin from the mountains. How could he possibly have connections to the Fengyue Pavilion?"
"The manager of the Fengyue Pavilion kicked us out probably just because we were the ones who started it."
Lin Tianbao voiced his own guess.
Seeing him so certain, Lin Heihu nodded. "What you're saying makes sense. Once that punk comes out, we'll test the waters first. No matter what, whoever beat my son Lin Heihu has to pay a price!"
"Dad, that's the punk!"
Just then, Lin Tianbao caught sight of a figure walking out of the Fengyue Pavilion and hurriedly pointed in that direction.
Lin Heihu looked over and saw that it was just a young man. He waved his hand at his subordinates behind him. "Stop him!"
Immediately, a group of subordinates rushed forward, tightly surrounding Su Lin, who had just stepped outside.
"What's going on?"
Su Lin frowned and swept his gaze over the people in front of him.
"Punk, you were pretty arrogant inside the Fengyue Pavilion just now. Let's see if you can still act high and mighty!"
At that moment, Lin Tianbao strode over.
"Oh, it's you!"
Seeing Lin Tianbao, Su Lin immediately understood.
Lin Tianbao let out a cold snort and said arrogantly, "Punk, let me introduce you. The person beside me is my father, and also the master of the Black Tiger Gate!"
"If you know what's good for you, you'd better kneel down right now, because my father isn't used to people standing while talking to him!"
Su Lin frowned and looked at Lin Heihu beside him. "You're not used to people standing while talking?"
A murderous intent flickered in Lin Heihu's eyes. "That's right. You got a problem with that, punk?"
"That's not a very good habit. You should change it from now on, you hear me?"
Su Lin ordered in a lecturing tone.
"Punk, are you teaching me how to do things?"
Lin Heihu's expression darkened!
"I'm not teaching you, I'm ordering you!"
Su Lin corrected him deadpan.
"Punk, you've got some nerve. Today I'm going to see just how capable you think you are, talking to me, Lin Heihu, like this!"
Lin Heihu was thoroughly provoked to kill, and he waved his hand at his subordinates nearby. "Crippled him!"
At this, the subordinates surrounding Su Lin moved in unison, iron pipes and machetes in hand, all slashing and swinging toward Su Lin!
"Scram!"
Su Lin couldn't be bothered to waste time on this bunch. He gave a casual wave of his palm!
Instantly, an invisible wave of air erupted, blasting the entire group of subordinates flying away!
"How is this possible?!"
Lin Heihu and Lin Tianbao stared in disbelief, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads!
Especially Lin Tianbao; this was the first time he had ever witnessed such a scene, and it felt as though his worldview had been completely shattered!
Lin Heihu, on the other hand, was a man who had seen big scenes and quickly recovered, realizing what kind of existence Su Lin was!
He turned to look at a lean, elderly man behind him and said in a deep voice, "Elder Hou, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to make a move today!"
"Leave it to me!"
Elder Hou gave a flat reply, then stepped forward toward Su Lin.
Lin Tianbao grew excited. This Elder Hou had been by his father's side for many years and rarely ever made a move!
Yet whenever he did strike, there had never been a single mishap!
According to Lin Heihu, this Elder Hou was some kind of martial artist. Even the top special forces operatives among ordinary people would be as fragile as children in front of him!
At that moment, Lin Tianbao felt as though he could already picture Su Lin kneeling on the ground, singing surrender to him!
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Fengyue Pavilion!
Xiao Qianmei called Feishuang up and instructed, "Feishuang, from now on, keep an eye on Young Master Su, the one I was just talking with. If he runs into any trouble, notify me at once!"
"Yes, Big Sister!"
Feishuang accepted the order, then couldn't help asking, "But Big Sister, what on earth is that young man's background? How could he possibly possess a Fengyue Token?"
"Feishuang, you've been at the Fengyue Pavilion for so many years. You should know that in this place, you just need to mind your own business. Don't ask questions you shouldn't!"
Xiao Qianmei cast a cold glance at Feishuang!
Feishuang's expression shifted instantly, and she quickly said, "I'm sorry, Big Sister. It was out of turn for me to ask."
"Alright, you can go out now."
Xiao Qianmei waved a hand, not pressing the matter further.
Feishuang turned around and was just about to leave when her phone suddenly rang.
After finishing the call, she slowly turned back, looked at Xiao Qianmei, and said, "Big Sister, the guards at the entrance report that a conflict has broken out at the door of the Fengyue Pavilion. The Black Tiger Gate people have surrounded Young Master Su. Do you need me to step in and chase those Black Tiger Gate people away?"
Xiao Qianmei shook her head indifferently. "No need. Young Master Su can handle himself."
"Big Sister, there's a Houtian Martial Artist among the Black Tiger Gate group. Can he really..." Feishuang looked unconvinced.
Xiao Qianmei coldly interrupted her. "Rest assured, that Young Master Su is far more formidable than you think. Never mind a tiny Black Tiger Gate, even if every single expert in the Fengyue Pavilion were dispatched, they might not necessarily be a match for him. Go attend to your own business!"
"Yes!"
Feishuang didn't say anything more and turned to leave.
Once she left the top floor, Feishuang came to a window from which the scene outside the Fengyue Pavilion was clearly visible.
Having been at the Fengyue Pavilion for so many years, it was the first time Feishuang had ever heard her Big Sister give such a high evaluation to a young man.
Therefore, she wanted to see if this Su Lin was truly as formidable as Xiao Qianmei claimed!
At the entrance of the Fengyue Pavilion.
Elder Hou had already reached Su Lin.
He looked to be in his seventies, with a hunched figure and gray hair.
Yet his gaze was exceptionally sharp, giving off a chilling sensation, nothing like an ordinary old man.
His entire person resembled a sword hidden in its sheath; once unsheathed, it would be utterly fatal!
"It's normal for young people to be ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. I can give you a chance today: surrender obediently, and perhaps you'll still have a chance to live. It will also save this old man from having to dirty his hands."
Elder Hou looked at Su Lin and spoke indifferently.
"You old immortal, do you think you're pretty hot stuff, huh?!"
Su Lin asked sharply.
"What did you call me?!"
Elder Hou's eyes widened, clearly not expecting Su Lin to dare address him this way!
"Looks like you really are an old immortal. Getting up there in age, even your ears are going bad."
Su Lin couldn't help shaking his head.
"You're courting death!"
A powerful aura suddenly erupted from Elder Hou. His clothes fluttered without any wind, and his palm struck directly toward Su Lin's chest, accompanied by the sound of rushing wind!
"This punk really doesn't know when to shut his mouth!"
"Offending me still leaves a sliver of survival, but offending Elder Hou means certain death!"
Lin Heihu couldn't help letting out a cold laugh!
As a Second Layer of Houtian Martial Artist, Elder Hou's palm strike could shatter ten centimeters of steel plate; there was no way this punk could withstand it!
And just as Lin Heihu was thinking this, Elder Hou's palm landed squarely on Su Lin's chest!
Yet, the expected scene of Su Lin being sent flying did not happen at all.
Su Lin stood there steadily, completely unphased, as if nothing had happened!
"Th-This is impossible! How are you completely fine?!"
Elder Hou wore a look of shock, doubting whether his eyes were playing tricks on him!
"Old immortal, with just this little strength of yours, it's not even enough to scratch an itch for me. That's not how you hit people."
Su Lin shook his head, then also threw out a palm.
The slap looked light and effortless, but Elder Hou's face filled with terror as he was overcome by a suffocating sense of impending death. He hurriedly raised his hands to block!
Crack!
The moment they made contact, Elder Hou's blocking right arm snapped instantly, the shattered bone even piercing through the flesh and skin!
And Su Lin's palm landed unobstructed right across the old man's face!
Slap!
Elder Hou's body flew off at an angle, crashing to the ground a full dozen meters away!
At this moment, half of his face had been mashed into a bloody pulp, and his entire body lay completely motionless like a dead dog!
Seeing this scene, Lin Heihu and Lin Tianbao felt as though their eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets in sheer shock!
Elder Hou, a martial artist, had actually been swatted away with a single slap?
Just what kind of person had they offended?!
Tap, tap, tap!
At that moment, Su Lin took steps forward, walking toward the two of them.
Lin Heihu snapped back to his senses, caught sight of Su Lin standing right before him, and his legs buckled as he dropped straight to his knees!
"What are you doing?"
Su Lin asked, looking at Lin Heihu with amused interest.
Lin Heihu squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying. "Young master, I suddenly feel like I'm not used to standing anymore. Kneeling like this feels much more comfortable."
"Your dad says kneeling is comfortable. What about you?"
Su Lin turned his gaze to Lin Tianbao and asked.
Thud!
Lin Tianbao dropped to his knees as well, fighting down the urge to cry. "Reporting to the young master, I also think kneeling is comfortable! Standing always makes my whole body feel out of sorts!"
Su Lin said with a half-smile, "You two might be comfortable, but the fact that you came looking for trouble with me has made me very uncomfortable!"
"Young master, this whole thing was our fault. As long as you spare us, we'll do whatever you want!"
Lin Heihu fawned all over him, his face full of ingratiation.
"What can two grown men like you do for me? I think it's better to just kill you off!"
Su Lin raised his hand, making a motion as if to strike Lin Heihu!
Lin Heihu was scared shitless. This was a ruthless figure capable of killing Elder Hou; if that palm landed on him, he'd definitely be a goner!
"Young master, I beg you to spare my dog's life! From now on, I'll be your loyal dog—I'll do whatever you tell me to do, please don't kill me!"
Lin Heihu collapsed onto the ground, weeping and snotting as he begged for mercy.
"Alright, stop crying, you act like a sissy!"
Seeing Lin Heihu's state, Su Lin withdrew his hand and gave him a kick. "I'll spare your life for today. Remember what you just said!"
Lin Heihu instantly felt as though he had leaped from hell to heaven. He scrambled up and knelt back down on the spot. "Thank you for your mercy, Young Master! From now on, I am Lin Heihu—no, right in front of you, I am Lin Heigou, and I guarantee I'll come whenever you call!"
"Alright, take your men and get lost!"
Su Lin waved a hand impatiently.
Granted a pardon, Lin Heihu left his business card behind, then hurriedly had his men carry away Elder Hou's body before beating a hasty retreat.
Su Lin twirled Lin Heihu's business card between his fingers, a playful curve tugging at the corner of his mouth.
While this Lin Heihu couldn't be considered a heavyweight overlord, he still carried some weight in Jiang City; he might just come in handy down the road.
Pockets containing the card, Su Lin didn't leave right away. Instead, he turned and looked up at a window of the Fengyue Pavilion!
"Pretty lady, I may be very handsome, but if you want to look at me next time, you can do it openly. There's no need to sneak around like that!"
Su Lin shouted toward the face behind the window, then turned around and strode away!
Behind the window, Feishuang watched Su Lin's departing figure, her pretty eyes filled with astonishment. "He actually noticed me all this time, and he easily dispatched a Level 2 Houtian martial artist. This person's strength is definitely extraordinary. I just wonder what kind of relationship he has with the master of the Fengyue Pavilion?"
The Xia family villa!
"Dad, why did you call me over in such a rush? What's going on?" Xia Fei returned to the villa and asked Xia Guodong with a puzzled look.
"Young Master Zhang is coming to our house to propose marriage!"
A trace of a smile hung on Xia Guodong's face.
"That's fantastic!"
Xia Fei's expression instantly lit up. "Young Master Zhang's influence is not something Xia Bingyu can handle. As long as she marries Young Master Zhang, the Xiashi Group will belong to the two of us father and son!"
Xia Guodong chuckled gloatingly. "Heh, it's more than just that. Xia Bingyu offended Sheng Lei, the president of Baihua Bank, last night. Word is Sheng Lei has already put out the word that he's going to blacklist her, and this matter has already spread through the circles."
"The Zhang family choosing to propose at a time like this definitely means they've caught wind of it, so they want to use this to coerce Xia Bingyu."
"This time, no matter how unwilling Xia Bingyu is, she'll have no choice but to obediently marry Young Master Zhang. The only thing I'm worried about is whether that bumpkin from the mountains is going to ruin our good thing!"
Hearing this, Xia Fei smiled as well. "Dad, don't you worry about that. That punk offended the son of the Black Tiger Gate master at the Fengyue Pavilion; by now, he's probably beaten into a half-dead dog!"
"There's such a thing? That's wonderful! After holding out for so long, our father and son are finally going to make it big!"
Xia Guodong couldn't help laughing out loud!
"Second Uncle, are you having a good time?"
At that moment, an icy voice rang out.
Following the voice, Xia Bingyu slowly walked into the living room.
She had returned upon receiving Xia Guodong's call and already knew that Zhang Shiquan was coming to propose.
Xia Bingyu had originally intended to flatly refuse the matter, but Xia Guodong had warned her that if she didn't come back, Zhang Shiquan would go straight to the Xiashi Group.
To avoid disrupting the company's operations, Xia Bingyu had no choice but to make the trip back.
"Bingyu, you're finally back."
"Zhang Shiquan and I have already talked things over. When they arrive to propose later, you just need to say yes right away."
"As for the wedding date, let's fast-track it and get it done in the next couple of days!"
Seeing Xia Bingyu, Xia Guodong immediately assumed the tone of an elder and gave his command!
"Xia Guodong, you can stop daydreaming. No matter what happens, I will never marry Zhang Shiquan!"
Xia Bingyu let out a heavy, cold snort!
"Miss Xia, isn't that a bit too absolute?"
A playful voice suddenly rang out.
Turning around, they saw a few figures walking in. Leading the way were a middle-aged man and a young man.
At that moment, the young man was looking at Xia Bingyu with a playful grin, as if eyeing some toy of his own!
"Young Master Zhang, you're finally here!"
Xia Guodong hurried forward to greet them respectfully!
Xia Bingyu, meanwhile, looked coldly at the man. "Zhang Shiquan, I'll say this one more time: I will never marry you, no matter what. You're wasting your time, so you can turn around and go back!"
Zhang Shiquan chuckled teasingly. "Miss Xia, as far as I know, Baihua Bank is currently preparing to blacklist you, isn't it?"
"If you're willing to marry me, my father's ties with Baihua Bank can definitely help you sort this out. Are you sure you won't reconsider?"
Xia Bingyu's expression shifted slightly; she had already learned of this matter and hadn't yet found a solution.
Yet Xia Bingyu was not one to yield so easily. She said coldly, "Zhang Shiquan, you can drop that pipe dream. I already have a husband. No matter what conditions the Xia family throws at me, I will never agree!"
Zhang Shiquan sneered. "Xia Bingyu, stop deluding yourself. I've already heard from your Second Uncle that your so-called husband, Su Lin, is just some bumpkin, a shield you dug up from the mountains!"
"He's got no right trying to snatch a woman from me!"
Xia Bingyu frowned, but just as she was about to speak, a displeased voice cut in:
"I seem to hear someone talking trash behind my back. Don't they know that's unethical?!"
Along with the voice, Su Lin strode into the room!
Catching sight of Su Lin, Xia Bingyu felt an unexplained wave of relief wash over her.
It was as though as long as he was around, no problem whatsoever needed to be worried about!
"Punk, how come you're back?"
Xia Fei asked in surprise when he saw Su Lin.
Given that this brat had offended Lin Tianbao, under normal circumstances, there was simply no way he could have returned safe and sound!
"This is my home, why wouldn't I come back?"
Su Lin retorted irritably, marching straight up to Xia Bingyu and wrapping an arm around her waist. "Wife, are you alright? I thought I heard someone trying to bully you out there."
"I'm fine."
Xia Bingyu leaned against Su Lin's embrace and shook her head.
The intimate sight, witnessed by Zhang Shiquan, made his blood boil instantly, as if he could already see a verdant green grassland sprouting on top of his head!
"Punk, you'd better let go of Bingyu right now, or don't blame me for being unpolite!"
Zhang Shiquan stepped forward and barked coldly.
"What business is it of yours that I'm hugging my wife? What makes you think I should let go?"
"Not only am I not letting go, I'm going to kiss her too!"
Su Lin looked at Zhang Shiquan as if he were an absolute moron. With that, he turned his head and planted a loud, heavy kiss right on Xia Bingyu's cheek with a distinct *pop* sound!
Xia Bingyu couldn't help rolling her eyes at Su Lin. This guy really knew how to seize any opportunity to take advantage of her!
Zhang Shiquan was driven nearly insane with rage, itching to rush over and murder Su Lin on the spot.
Yet soon enough, Zhang Shiquan reined in his temper, calming himself down as a playful grin crept onto his lips. "Punk, I have to admit, you've got some good luck to be picked by Xia Bingyu as her shield."
"But do you really think this is a good thing? Use your brain and think about it—right now, Xia Bingyu is only keeping you around because you still have some utility value!"
"Once your value has been squeezed dry, Xia Bingyu will kick you aside without a second thought. When that time comes, you'll still be a nobody!"
Su Lin frowned. "What are you trying to say?"
Zhang Shiquan smiled, pulled out a card, and tossed it right at Su Lin's feet. "It's simple. There's a million bucks on this card. As long as you leave Bingyu, this money is yours."
Hearing this, Su Lin looked as though he had been deeply insulted. He said indignantly, "What kind of person do you take me for? Bingyu and I may not have been childhood sweethearts, but we are absolutely in love, and our bond is stronger than steel! Thinking you can make me leave her with just this pocket change is pure daydreaming!"
Zhang Shiquan frowned in displeasure. "Punk, by the sound of it, you're turning down my offer?"
Instead, Su Lin shook his head. "Who said I was turning it down?"
As soon as those words left his mouth, Xia Bingyu, Xia Guodong, and the others all froze in place, clueless as to what Su Lin was getting at.
Especially Xia Bingyu, whose pretty eyes filled with a trace of nervous tension, worrying that Su Lin might actually choose to leave her over Zhang Shiquan's money.
"Punk, what are you trying to express here?"
Zhang Shiquan asked, growing impatient.
Su Lin's expression turned serious instead, and he said in a deep voice, "My meaning is very simple: Bingyu is the love of my life, but if you want me to leave her... you've got to pay more!!"
"Did I do a good job?"