Before the security guard could even get close to Lin Ce, a red dot appeared on his forehead. Blood began to seep out, and he collapsed to the ground.
It was Qili who had struck.
Qili was a master of firearms, and Bahu was the king of close-quarters combat. With these two by his side, there was no need for Lin Ce to lift a finger.
The commotion soon attracted several people from around the corner, but these men were entirely different from the security guards. They wore martial artist attire, with the character "Hong" embroidered on their chests.
"Oh? So there are members of the Hong Sect holding down the fort?"
The corner of Lin Ce’s mouth curved upward. "Back away at once, or be killed without mercy!"
"How dare you commit murder in broad daylight! You have a lot of nerve!"
Lin Ce narrowed his eyes and waved his hand. "Enough talk. Kill them."
Bahu gave a cruel grin and shot forward like a cannonball. The moment he landed, the entire building seemed to shudder three times over. Two Hong Sect members were sent flying by the shockwave alone.
Bahu’s iron fists were unstoppable, smashing into the crowd like a giant axe. With a sudden kick, he crushed a man's leg bone as if it were nothing, and with one punch, he sent another flying over ten meters to collapse, vomiting blood.
Bahu carved a bloody path forward, while Lin Ce followed behind, walking with complete indifference.
The Hong Sect disciples were filled with terror. Who were these people? And who exactly was that young man?
"Oh, a US-made RT2530 heavy explosion-proof door. The same material used in Swiss bank vaults."
Bahu tossed aside a few Hong Sect disciples and reached the security door. The disciples watched the three figures and sneered. Hmph, even if they could beat them, so what? This door was as solid as rock. It wouldn't be damaged even by powerful explosives!
"You’ll never get in, so just give up!"
"The alarm has been triggered; in moments, you’ll be captured!"
However, their expressions suddenly shifted to pure horror. They watched as Bahu grabbed the handle of the door, his veins bulging, and literally ripped the massive door off its hinges. He tossed the twisted metal to the floor, where it landed with a heavy, thunderous boom.
*Gulp!*
The Hong Sect disciples looked at them as if they were demons. Good god, how could this guy have such strength? He had actually mangled and torn apart a door that even bullets couldn't penetrate, as if it were a child's toy!
"Lord Dragon Head, we can enter now."
***
**Chapter 11: Kneeling to the Side**
*Thud, thud!*
The remaining men dropped to their knees, no longer daring to resist. They knew clearly that with the terrifying power the opposition possessed, killing them would be as easy as flipping a hand.
The Hong Sect disciples trembled, and the cowardly ones even wet themselves in fear.
"Spare… spare us! Don't kill us, we are with the Hong Sect."
Lin Ce stood above them, looking down coldly at the survivors.
"Where is Zhao Hongguang?"
Terrified to the point of shaking like chaff in the wind, they pointed toward the inner door. "Mr. Zhao… Mr. Zhao is inside, talking with Master Wei."
"Oh? The alarm has been ringing outside, yet they sit there so peacefully."
The men shook their heads and stammered, "Mr. Zhao’s office has an independent design. No matter how loud it is outside, you can’t hear it inside. The alarm is connected directly to the security department; they will report it to the police, and the police will be here shortly."
Lin Ce had already anticipated this, which was why he had deployed the Hidden Dragon Guards. Today, no one would be entering the Beiyu Building.
At that moment, inside Zhao Hongguang’s office, an elderly man sat across from him. He was sixty or seventy years old, with white eyebrows and a white beard, wearing a traditional long gown—the very image of a reclusive master.
"Mr. Zhao, you need not worry. With the Hong Sect here, no one dares to touch you."
"I brought fifteen elite disciples today, and with me here, even the King of Heaven himself couldn't lay a finger on you."
The Hong Sect had branches in every province and city. Ever since the overseas branch returned to Huaxia, they had been expanding frantically. Elder Wei was an elder of the Hong Sect in Zhonghai, a man of great prestige who often helped people settle disputes, earning him the respect of the upper echelons of the city.
Zhao Hongguang donated at least 50 million annually to the Hong Sect to ensure their protection. His reputation for dealing with both the underworld and the establishment was not just talk.
"With Master Wei’s word, I am at ease. Rest assured, Elder Wei, if this matter is resolved, I am willing to grant the Hong Sect free use of two floors of the Beiyu Building for ten years. You can set up a martial arts hall here."
Elder Wei nodded with satisfaction, accepting the offer.
But just then—*BANG!*
The office door was blown open, the heavy frame crashing to the floor. Both men looked toward the entrance, stunned. That kick had sent a steel-reinforced door flying; what kind of strength was that?
Seconds later, Zhao Hongguang grew furious. "Scoundrels! What are the people outside doing? Who are you to come here and cause trouble?"
He was livid. How could someone break in like this without any reaction from the people outside? A bunch of useless trash!
As the dust settled, Lin Ce, Bahu, and Qili stood before them. Lin Ce walked straight to Zhao Hongguang’s desk, placed a document on it, and said coldly, "Sign it."
Zhao Hongguang looked at the document. It was an unconditional transfer of equity. What a joke! This man wanted all of his shares in the company? He had seen arrogant people before, but never anyone this insane. To barge into his office without warning and demand his entire livelihood? Was there no logic to this?
"I think you’re looking to die!" Zhao Hongguang growled.
"Not signing? Very well. Qili, bring out the evidence."
Qili took out the recording of Brother Biao from the other night and pressed play. Not content with that, he threw a stack of documents onto the man’s face. Zhao Hongguang flipped through them.
"Zhao Group bribery records, five million…"
The documents contained records of every dirty deed he had committed over the years. The evidence was irrefutable, leaving no room for argument.
"You… you dare threaten me?" Zhao Hongguang was shocked and angry.
Lin Ce said indifferently, "I’m not threatening you. I’m simply finding a reason for your death."
Zhao Hongguang stared at Lin Ce’s cold, sharp face, feeling a strange sense of familiarity he couldn't quite place. He turned his head and shifted his expression. "Elder Wei, what do you think…"
Elder Wei stood up slowly from the sofa. "Enough. I will handle this matter." He pointed at Bahu, who had kicked the door down. "This man has a physique of iron. I assume the guards and my Hong Sect disciples outside were all defeated by you."
Elder Wei’s tone was slow and steady, yet carried an air of oppression. Zhao Hongguang breathed a sigh of relief, watching coldly. With Elder Wei stepping in, victory was certain. He had seen with his own eyes how Elder Wei could shatter a wooden dummy with a single punch. This big oaf might have brute strength, but he was surely no match for the master.
Elder Wei walked up to them and looked at Lin Ce calmly. "Young man, I am Wei Cheng of the Hong Sect. I don't know what misunderstanding you have with Mr. Zhao, but why not give me some respect, sit down, and talk this over?"
Lin Ce did indeed sit down. He took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a slow drag. Just as Elder Wei felt triumphant, Lin Ce spoke:
"Give you respect? Who do you think you are?"
*To not even know what the matter was about and yet demand respect—at your age, have you lived for nothing?*
Elder Wei was stunned. He thought that once he revealed his identity, the other party would show some restraint. It seemed they didn't take him seriously at all. *Heh, to think I, Wei Cheng, would be slighted one day.*
"Boy, this big fellow by your side is your only reliance, isn't he? If I take him down, you won't have any bargaining chips left."
Bahu looked at Elder Wei as if looking at an idiot. He turned to Lin Ce and said, "It seems… you’ve been underestimated."
Lin Ce said slowly, "Zhao Hongguang, this old waste cannot stop me. Crawl over here, sign the paper, and accept your death."
*Old waste?* Elder Wei’s face flushed red and then went pale. He could no longer restrain himself. "A truly arrogant brat! Die!"
As the words fell, the temperature in the office seemed to drop. Elder Wei, a master of the Hong Sect, was enraged. He moved like a phantom, bypassing Bahu and heading straight for Lin Ce.
Bahu looked at the old man with pity. If he had fought him, he might have had a chance to survive. But against the Dragon Head? He was on a one-way trip to the grave.
Lin Ce slowly stood up. With a single step, his aura surged. His eyes brightened, appearing to hold flickers of lightning, while his spine straightened like a bowstring.
*Moved like a landslide, struck like thunder!*
Elder Wei’s breath hitched; he couldn't gather his strength no matter how hard he tried. He had been suppressed by the sheer pressure of his opponent! As his eyes met Lin Ce’s, he felt a sting as if pricked by needles, almost crying out in pain.
Lin Ce had spent years crawling through mountains of corpses and seas of blood; he had trampled countless bones beneath his feet. He focused his spirit into his gaze, which became like lightning.
"You…"
Elder Wei realized in horror that his hands and feet were shaking uncontrollably. Just by standing there, Lin Ce felt like an immovable mountain. In mere moments, Elder Wei was so frightened that he lost the courage to fight.
"Kneel to the side and wait for judgment," Lin Ce said dismissively.
***
**Chapter 12: Zhao Hongguang, Die**
Wei Cheng’s knees went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud. Trembling violently in front of Lin Ce, a storm of terror raged in his heart.
*Death!*
There was only one outcome for daring to oppose this youth. Death!
"Tch, it turns out he didn't even deserve to make our leader lift a hand," Bahu said with a sneer.
"Zhao Hongguang, is this your reliance?"
At those words, Zhao Hongguang’s face turned deathly pale. He had never expected that at the first encounter, before a single move was made, Elder Wei would just kneel! What was happening? They hadn't even traded blows, so how was the outcome decided?
But there was no time to think. His strongest helper, Wei Cheng, was already on his knees. He scrambled toward the window and reached for his phone to call for help.
However, at that moment, the entire building seemed to shake as if there were an earthquake. A deafening roar followed.
*What the hell is going on now?*
Zhao Hongguang’s eyelids twitched violently as he looked down from the window. When he saw the scene below, his pupils contracted.
Outside, the area was packed with soldiers! Everywhere he looked, they were fully armed and standing at attention. Within a 500-meter radius of the building, there was a deathly silence.
What… what was this?
Zhao Hongguang’s legs shook, and he nearly collapsed. He finally realized how terrifying the young man before him truly was. His identity was far beyond anything he could have imagined. Could he be a frontier general?
"You… you are abusing your power! Unauthorized mobilization! This is a crime!"
Lin Ce laughed suddenly. "Oh? You’re passing judgment on me?"
"Very well. Then I’ll let you see who in Zhonghai dares to judge me, Lin Ce!"
For the first time, Lin Ce removed his black trench coat. In the eyes of Wei Cheng and Zhao Hongguang, they saw that Lin Ce was wearing a military uniform! On his back, the gold-embroidered characters for "Northern Frontier" were glaringly bright. On each shoulder rested a winged dragon.
Zhao Hongguang’s eyes widened in disbelief. These people were from the Northern Frontier! And when he saw the winged dragons on his shoulders, he collapsed onto his knees.
*Golden dragon on the shoulders denotes a Dragon Head; the winged dragon and 'Northern Frontier' insignia…* In this world, only the Northern Dragon Head was worthy of such a uniform.
"Dragon… Dragon Head! Zhao Hongguang of the Zhao Family, pays his respects to the Lord Dragon Head!"
Zhao Hongguang knelt, trembling so hard he didn't dare look up. Suddenly remembering something, he scrambled on his knees to the desk, grabbed a pen, and signed the document, pressing his thumbprint onto it.
"Lord Dragon Head, I… I have signed it. You can make me do anything! We have no grudge, I… I can be your dog. Everything in the Zhao Group is yours, just please, spare my life!"
Lin Ce gave a mocking smile and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window. Months ago, his foster father must have stood here, looking out at the scenery of Zhonghai. But now, it had all turned to smoke and mirrors.
Zhao Hongguang peeked at that man and shuddered. Why was there such killing intent coming from him? He found it hard to even breathe.
After a long silence, Lin Ce’s ice-cold voice echoed in the office.
"Zhao Hongguang, it seems you have truly forgotten who I am."
"Lin Ce, the foster son of the Lin Family. Do you remember?"
At these words, Zhao Hongguang nearly wet himself. He stared fixedly at the young man by the window. *No wonder that face looked familiar. It was Lin Ce, the foster son!*
*Wasn't he dead? How could he suddenly appear here?*
*Does this mean the helper behind Ye Xiangsi is Lin Ce?*
As soon as that thought struck, Zhao Hongguang’s back was soaked in cold sweat. He was a greedy man; after dividing up the Lin Beiyu Group, he hadn't been satisfied and had set his sights on the old Lin Family estate. After all, why not take advantage of such a bargain? In the dead of night, he had felt guilty, but the Lin Family had been wiped out—surely, they couldn't turn into ghosts to claim his life, could they?
But he had calculated everything, except for the fact that a Lin Ce still lived.
"You… you were supposed to be dead! How could you… how could you be the Northern Dragon Head? This is impossible!"
"Daring to question the Dragon Head! You seek death!"
Qili drew his pistol and fired a shot into Zhao Hongguang’s knee. Zhao Hongguang let out a piercing shriek of pain. Finally, the true terror set in.
"Lin Ce—no, Lord Dragon Head! The matter of the Lin Family… it really wasn't me! It’s not what you think!"
"I really only took a little advantage; I don't know anything else! I don't deserve to die, I really don't deserve to die!"
Lin Ce’s expression remained indifferent; he didn't even turn his head.
"The four great families of Zhonghai all participated in the ruin of the Lin Family. You are the first. Soon, the other three will join you."
"The road to the underworld is long and the path to hell is slippery. Start your journey."
Lin Ce waved his hand and walked toward the window to depart. Immediately, a gunshot rang out, piercing Zhao Hongguang’s temple. Zhao Hongguang slumped to the floor, his eyes wide open, but his pupils dilated—he was dead beyond any doubt.
Lin Ce put on his black trench coat and was about to lead his men away when he saw Wei Cheng banging his head against the floor.
"Lord Dragon Head, I, Wei Cheng of the Hong Sect, was blind! Please, do not blame the Hong Sect. Kill or punish me as you wish, I will take responsibility for it all."
The Hong Sect had finally found a foothold in Huaxia; if they had truly angered the Northern Dragon Head, the iron-clad torrent of his forces would flatten their headquarters in a single pass. That was a sin he could not bear.
Lin Ce glanced at him indifferently. "The Hong Sect has become increasingly arrogant in the past two years. Tell your sect leader: keep your tail between your legs. This is Huaxia; leave those overseas antics behind."
Wei Cheng nodded frantically, not daring to argue. Watching the three silhouettes walk away, he collapsed onto the floor, letting out a long sigh of relief. His old life had been spared. He felt no pity for Zhao Hongguang—if he had known Zhao was provoking the Northern Dragon Head, he wouldn't have come even if he had a hundred times the courage.
"Blind fool! You nearly got me killed, you deserve exactly what you got!"
***
In the lobby of the Beiyu Group:
"Sir, you can't go out right now. Some big shot has arrived, and the building is on lockdown," a few beautiful women approached to strike up a conversation as Lin Ce walked toward the entrance.
"Handsome, since we're stuck here, why don't we go get a drink? My treat." A woman who thought herself quite beautiful stepped forward. She was dressed provocatively, her peach-blossom eyes batting at Lin Ce.
Lin Ce’s heart was made of iron and blood, pledged to his country; he had never entertained thoughts of romance. Naturally, he had no interest in these mediocre women.
"Get lost."
Lin Ce’s cold command sent the beauties scrambling aside, clearing a path.
"Tch, no sense of fun. What's he so arrogant about? He'll be chased back in a minute," the woman scoffed, rolling her eyes. But the scene that followed left her and everyone else in the lobby frozen.
As Lin Ce stepped out, all the soldiers raised their right arms in unison, saluting at their brows.
"Greetings, Dragon Head!"
"Greetings, Dragon Head!"
***
**Chapter 13: Ye Xiangsi’s Parents**
Lin Ce nodded slightly. "Nothing to report. Disperse."
"Yes!"
One thousand Hidden Dragon Guards responded in unison and quickly scattered. Stepping into the car, Lin Ce said coolly, "Pass on my order: today’s events are under a gag order. Anyone who leaks a word will be sent to the Northern Frontier for hard labor."
"Yes, Dragon Head!"
Qili pulled out his phone and made a call. "The Hidden Dragon Guards are on duty. Clear out the filth on the 28th floor. Also, impose a gag order on the surroundings of the Beiyu Building."
The military green SUV drove steadily toward the Longyun Mountain villa.