Money Over Love
Volume 2

Chapter 31: Flatten Black Tiger Hall!

"How dare you! Release Mr. Chen Biao at once!"

"Lin Fan, do you want your entire family exterminated? Don’t think you can walk out of the Black Tiger Building alive just because you’re a skilled fighter!"

"Do you have any idea what you’re doing? There are over three thousand of our brothers in this building!"

Seeing Chen Biao captured, the elites of the Black Tiger Hall panicked. Surprised and furious, they hurled threats at Lin Fan. Meanwhile, a pale and trembling Brother Dao frantically called for reinforcements.

"Wipe out my family?" Lin Fan’s expression darkened as he tightened his grip.

CRACK!

Instantly, a series of cracking sounds came from Chen Biao’s neck as his feet kicked wildly in the air. His handsome, smirking face turned a livid color, his expression filled with utter despair and defiance!

"Stop! Stop right now, or I’ll kill your wife!"

Everyone was frantic, terrified Lin Fan would strangle Chen Biao to death. Thinking fast, one of the men grabbed Su Mengqing by the hair and pressed a gun to her forehead.

"Go ahead. I have nothing to do with her anymore. Do as you please," Lin Fan said, shaking his head. With a fierce swing, he slapped Chen Biao across the face!

"You! You!" the man stammered, stunned. He instinctively slapped Su Mengqing across the face in retaliation.

"Let go of me! Let go! What does Lin Fan hitting your boss have to do with me!" Su Mengqing screamed, on the verge of hysterics as she struggled desperately.

"I don’t care! For every time Lin Fan hits Mr. Chen Biao, I’ll hit you!" the man shouted ferociously, gritting his teeth.

"Fine, then let’s see who suffers more." Lin Fan found this laughable. He raised his hand and slapped Chen Biao again.

SMACK!

"You like celebrating a dog’s birthday?"

SMACK!

"You like putting my mother’s things on a dog’s paws?"

SMACK!

"You like murdering people at the drop of a hat?"

Three consecutive slaps left Chen Biao bleeding from his mouth and nose, his body convulsing violently.

What a colossal humiliation! This was the greatest shame he, Haicheng’s Black Prince, had ever suffered in his life!

SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!

Unwilling to be outdone, the man immediately retaliated, slapping Su Mengqing fiercely across the face.

"You! Are you stupid? Are you insane?" Su Mengqing sobbed, her voice breaking into a shriek. "Can’t you see? Lin Fan doesn’t care about me anymore! He doesn’t care whether I live or die!"

"I don’t care! However Lin Fan treats Mr. Chen Biao, that’s how I’ll treat you!" the Black Tiger Hall elite stubbornly yelled.

The others exchanged uneasy glances, their faces pale.

Dammit, if this keeps up, Mr. Chen Biao is the one who’s going to suffer! No matter how they tormented Su Mengqing, Lin Fan clearly didn’t give a damn. They couldn’t win. They just couldn’t win!

"Lin Fan! I advise you to release Mr. Chen Biao. If you do, you might be allowed to die with your body intact!" Just then, Brother Dao mustered his courage and pointed at Lin Fan, shouting, "There are hundreds of men gathered outside right now. If you dare harm a single hair on Mr. Chen Biao’s head, you won’t escape this place alive!"

Sure enough, as soon as Brother Dao finished speaking, a loud thumping began at the locked door, as if countless hands were frantically pounding on it from the other side.

"I, Lin Fan, have no quarrel with the Black Tiger Hall. It was you who repeatedly crossed my bottom line." Seeing this, Lin Fan laughed, a sound devoid of humor and full of fury. He spoke, enunciating each word. "Since that’s the case, then today... I have no choice but to wipe out the Black Tiger Hall!"

He tossed aside Chen Biao, who lay unconscious like a dead dog. A fierce light gleamed in Lin Fan’s eyes!

In a flash, his movements became a blur. All anyone could see was a shower of silver light bursting forth like a sudden storm—a rain of death.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Countless slender silver needles shot out, becoming reaping blades that relentlessly pierced and tore through one throat after another!

THUD! THUD!

In the blink of an eye, the room filled with screams of alarm as bodies dropped to the floor. The ground was stained red with blood, and its metallic stench permeated the air. It was a scene straight out of hell!

GASP...!

Su Mengqing was stunned. Zhang Meili and Yang Tingting huddled together in terror. The three of them stared, their faces etched with the terror of someone who had just seen a ghost.

Is... is this the same Lin Fan who never fought back when hit, never talked back when scolded? In just a few moments, he had killed nearly a hundred elite members of the Black Tiger Hall! He was cold, merciless, and utterly ruthless!

Recalling how they had treated Lin Fan in the past, the three women exchanged glances. Their faces were ashen, their hearts pounding in their throats.

"Lin Fan! You’re a maniac! A demon!" Scared witless, Brother Dao finally shuddered violently as if waking from a nightmare. He stumbled backward, pointing a trembling finger at Lin Fan and letting out a hysterical shriek.

"I’m not killing you because I want you to watch the Black Tiger Hall fall with your own eyes," Lin Fan said, his face expressionless. He ignored Brother Dao and turned toward the closed door.

CRASH!

The locked door was finally smashed open from the outside, and a dense crowd surged in like a tide!

"No! Don’t come in! Run!" Face etched with despair, Brother Dao screamed at the newcomers, his voice cracking.

He was filled with utter and complete regret. Zhilong had called earlier, telling Mr. Chen Biao to run for his life, but Brother Dao had hesitated, trying to use their superior numbers to kill Lin Fan and wipe away their earlier shame. Now, he saw it was nothing but a foolish fantasy. It was far too late for regrets. It was all over.

Just then, the terrifying shower of silver light flashed from Lin Fan’s hand once more.

THUD! THUD!

There was no suspense. They didn’t even have time to scream. The countless figures rushing forward all crumpled to the ground, their bodies almost completely blocking the corridor.

Brother Dao collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face.

Mr. Chen Biao, who had just come to, watched with eyes that looked ready to split with rage!

Gone. It was all gone. The elites the Black Tiger Hall had spent years carefully cultivating had been wiped out by Lin Fan in a single stroke!

"AH... AHH!! Lin Fan! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!" Losing all control, Chen Biao lay on the ground and roared with defiance, his eyes bloodshot.

However, the tall figure remained unmoved. Stepping over the corpses and blood, he strode out the door like an emotionless God of Killing!

"Ah!"

"Shoot! Everybody shoot!"

"Mercy, please, have mercy!"

Screams and pleas echoed from down the hallway, but they soon faded into a dead silence.

Brother Dao slumped to the ground, picked up a handgun, and pressed it to his temple.

The Black Tiger Hall was annihilated by Lin Fan, and Mr. Chen Biao’s death was certain. There was no way he himself could survive. Even if Lin Fan didn’t kill him, Chen Heihu would surely make him accompany his son in death later!

BANG!

"Mr. Chen Biao, we were wrong... we were all wrong..." Brother Dao muttered, his head lolling to the side as his pupils gradually dilated. "We never should have provoked... Lin... Fan..."

"No, impossible! I am the Black Prince of Haicheng! How could I lose to Lin Fan? Hahahaha, HAHAHAHA!" Seeing this, Chen Biao devolved into a madman, laughing and crying as he furiously pounded the ground.

Just then, Lin Fan strode back into the room, his body radiating a murderous aura. He stopped before Chen Biao. "Alright, everyone outside has been dealt with. Now, it’s your turn."

"Lin Fan, you can’t kill Young Master Chen!"

Before Lin Fan could make his move, Su Mengqing’s face went pale. She rushed forward to shield Chen Biao.

"If you kill him, our Su Family won’t survive either!" Veins bulged on her pale neck as she glared at Lin Fan and screamed, "If you want to kill him, you’ll have to kill me, Su Mengqing, first!"

Chapter 32:  How does the life or death of the Su family concern me?

"Right, right, Lin Fan, you can’t kill him! If you kill him, you’ll destroy our Su family!"

"Lin Fan, have you gone mad? Do you have no compassion? You’ve already reduced Young Master Chen to this state. Do you have to exterminate him completely?"

As Su Mengqing finished speaking, Zhang Meili and Yang Tingting exchanged a glance from the corner. As if waking from a dream, they also rushed to stand in front of Lin Fan.

They knew that while Lin Fan was certainly formidable, the Black Tiger Hall was even more notoriously fierce. This bastard was reckless and had nothing to lose, but the Su family absolutely could not withstand Chen Heihu’s fury. If they could desperately protect Chen Biao, not only would they be blameless, but they would also be owed a life-saving favor.

"Lin Fan, don’t you kill without blinking an eye? If you’ve got the guts, then kill the three of us women, too!" Zhang Meili’s chubby face was dark and sinister as she subconsciously reverted to her usual disdainful expression toward Lin Fan.

"Young Master Chen, don’t be afraid. Even if we die, we’ll shield you from Lin Fan!" Yang Tingting turned her head to smile at Chen Biao, comforting him in a soft voice.

Stunned for a moment, Chen Biao pointed at Lin Fan and burst into manic laughter. "Hahaha! Oh, Lin Fan, you are both pitiful and pathetic. Even your wife’s family is on my side. You’ve lost, completely and utterly!"

"Who said I’ve lost?" Facing three pairs of wary eyes, Lin Fan laughed in fury, as if he were looking at three colossal idiots. "Su Mengqing, do you all really think that by saving Chen Biao, you can latch onto a powerful connection and revive Su Pharmaceutical?"

Her scheme exposed, Su Mengqing’s face burned. She turned her head and snorted angrily. "Hmph, so what? Unless you step over my dead body, don’t even think of laying another finger on Young Master Chen!"

"And you two," Lin Fan laughed again, turning his gaze to Zhang Meili and Yang Tingting, "do you think I was so weak before, so easily manipulated by you?"

"So what if you can fight? Is that supposed to be impressive?" Zhang Meili’s face was flushed red as she shrieked in anger. "If you have the nerve, then kill me! If you don’t, you’re a spineless coward, and I’ll still look down on you!"

"Lin Fan, you wouldn’t dare kill a woman, would you? If you do this, how can you face your mother’s spirit in heaven?" Yang Tingting shrank back for a second before jutting out her chin and questioning him harshly.

SMACK!

The next moment, Lin Fan’s palm connected with Yang Tingting’s face, sending her flying through the air and tumbling several meters away.

"You’re not worthy of mentioning my mother’s spirit in heaven," he snarled, the corner of his eye twitching violently, his gaze burning with rage.

SMACK! SMACK!

Lin Fan raised his hand again, sending Su Mengqing and Zhang Meili screaming and tumbling away as well.

"The three of you, did you ever spare a single thought for whether my mother lived or died?" Lin Fan pointed at them as they huddled together, their eyes filled with terror and panic. "I shouldn’t have fucking intervened! I should’ve just waited for Chen Biao to torture you all to death! And now you turn around to protect scum like him? You threaten me with your own deaths?"

A towering rage churned in his chest, threatening to explode.

"What does the survival of your Su family have to do with me?"

CRACK!

Ignoring the horrified expressions on the three women’s faces, Lin Fan lifted his foot and stomped down, crushing Chen Biao’s right hand.

"Ah... Lin Fan! You motherfucker, you’ll die a miserable death! You... you’ll regret everything you’ve done today!" Chen Biao’s sneer froze on his face, replaced by a wretched scream as his body convulsed violently. His face went deathly pale, and he struggled desperately under Lin Fan’s foot, but it was no use.

"Lin Fan, why are you doing this? Why must you push the Su family to a dead end?" Su Mengqing, her eyes red and swollen, screamed through her sobs.

Zhang Meili and Yang Tingting shivered uncontrollably, no longer daring to talk back as they desperately shrank into a ball.

"A dead end?" Lin Fan’s breathing grew ragged. "When you left my mother in the hospital to die, your Su family deserved to be pushed to a dead end!"

CRACK!

He lifted his foot and stomped down fiercely once more. In an instant, Chen Biao’s left hand was obliterated, turned into a mangled pulp of bloody flesh.

"Lin Fan, fuck you! You clearly hate the Su family, so why the hell are you torturing me?!" Chen Biao let out another squeal like a slaughtered pig, tears of agony streaming down his face as his pants grew damp.

His gaze shot past Lin Fan to glare daggers at Su Mengqing and the other two. He hated these three stupid women with a burning passion! If they hadn’t been so aggressive toward Lin Fan, he wouldn’t have had to suffer such humiliation and torture, even if he still had to die!

Trembling all over, Chen Biao snarled at the three women, "You three idiots, did you deliberately get Lin Fan to torture me? Just you wait, my father will never let your Su family off!"

"Ah... Young Master Chen, you can’t accuse innocent people! We were really trying to save you!" Hearing this, Zhang Meili’s plump face paled, and she scrambled to defend herself.

"Yes, Young Master Chen, this was all Lin Fan’s doing! You can’t hold it against us!" Yang Tingting was on the verge of tears, covering her swollen cheeks as she shivered.

"Young Master Chen, don’t worry! Even if Lin Fan kills you, we will expose his heinous crimes to the public!" Su Mengqing’s face burned again, but she forced herself to shout.

She never would have imagined that not only was he ungrateful, but he was actually blaming them for provoking Lin Fan? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you!

"Why don’t I leave you all some private space to have a nice chat?"

The next moment, murderous intent flashed in Lin Fan’s eyes. He had completely lost his patience.

CRACK!

Lin Fan lifted his foot and stomped one last time. With a violent convulsion, Chen Biao’s neck snapped.

His eyes bulged with resentment. In his dying throes, he used his broken, bloody hand to smear a crooked "Su" character beside him.

Lin Fan didn’t even spare him a glance. He grabbed the black plastic bag from the ground, turned, and walked away.

I’ve wasted too much time. I have to get to the Yuan family right away to oversee my mother’s funeral.

A long time passed before the footsteps outside finally faded away.

Zhang Meili snapped back to her senses and burst into tears with a loud wail. "Mengqing, what do we do? What are we going to do?"

Terrified and tear-streaked, Yang Tingting clung to Zhang Meili, and they both sobbed their hearts out.

"...First, get Su Gang to the hospital. Then we’re going to the Yuan family," Su Mengqing said, gritting her teeth as she got to her feet, her eyes fixed on Chen Biao’s corpse.

Who would have thought that the notoriously feared Black Prince of Haicheng would be stomped to death by that good-for-nothing, Lin Fan? He did it as casually as crushing an ant! This man... was he hiding his true self all this time, or had I completely misjudged him for the last four years? When I angrily signed the divorce papers... was I, Su Mengqing, the one who was wrong?

Her heart clenched violently. Her chest felt crushed by a massive boulder, making it hard to breathe.

Su Mengqing’s face darkened as she clenched her fists.

No, I’m not wrong. Lin Fan is the one who’s wrong! If you’d shown these skills sooner, would anyone have treated you like a weak, incompetent piece of trash? Are you showing off your strength in front of me now on purpose? Is this to humiliate me? To make me regret it?!

A moment later, the three women struggled to support the unconscious Su Gang as they left the Black Tiger Building and headed for the hospital.

"Mom, you stay at the hospital and look after Su Gang. Tingting and I will go to the Yuan family."

Standing at the hospital entrance, Su Mengqing gritted her teeth and stared toward the city’s outskirts.

"I’m going to expose Lin Fan’s true colors in front of everyone at the Yuan family!"

Chapter 33:  Forced the palace to ascend to the throne

On the outskirts of Haicheng stood the Yuan family estate.

The splendid, sprawling estate covered tens of thousands of square meters, and everything within had been decorated in stark white. To facilitate visitors coming to pay their condolences, the main gate was wide open, ensuring unobstructed access. Soul Banners, wreaths, and paper effigies of people and horses—various mourning items were piled as high as mountains, spreading out from the memorial hall deep within the manor.

In a side hall to the right, all members of the Yuan family were present. Their faces were grim as they tightly surrounded Yuan Youwei and Mrs. Xue.

A middle-aged man in mourning clothes pointed at Yuan Youwei and demanded, "Yuan Youwei, what are you thinking? Why are you hosting a funeral for an outsider?"

His name was Yuan Ruohai, the second master of the Yuan family. After Yuan Youwei’s parents had passed away, he should have become the heir. Unexpectedly, the Old Master, Yuan Tianguang, had doted on the second daughter of the main branch even more and was determined to make her the successor instead. Yuan Ruohai had long harbored resentment over this. Now, seizing the opportunity, the thoughts he had suppressed for so long could no longer be contained.

"Second Uncle, I am arranging the funeral for Lin Suxin, firstly to thank Lin Fan for saving my life," Yuan Youwei said, biting her lip as she calmly met the judgmental stares of the crowd. "Secondly, it is to conceal the news of the Old Master’s death so we can handle his arrangements at the same time, preventing any unforeseen complications!"

She had already explained these two reasons to everyone when she returned last night. Being forced to repeat herself now gave Yuan Youwei a terrible sense of foreboding.

"Hmph! A fine excuse to ’prevent unforeseen complications.’ I think you’re just a love-struck fool! To curry favor with some divorced man, you’ve thrown away the Yuan family’s dignity!" Yuan Ruohai flew into a rage, his voice rising sharply. "You took the Old Master to see Lin Fan last night, and what happened? Nothing changed! That bastard even desecrated the Old Master’s face, and not only did you fail to hold him accountable, you gave him one hundred million in cash? Then, early this morning, you handed over property worth tens of millions? What in the world are you doing, Yuan Youwei!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment before erupting into an uproar. One hundred million in cash, plus property worth tens of millions? So Yuan Youwei was willing to spend a fortune to keep a pretty boy!

"Yuan Youwei, you must give us a reasonable explanation!"

"That’s right! You’re so generous to outsiders but so stingy with us! Are you not ashamed to face the Old Master’s spirit in heaven?"

"The Old Master’s body hasn’t even been laid to rest, and you’re already in a rush to empty the Yuan family’s coffers?"

Everyone was furious, pointing at Yuan Youwei and cursing loudly. Even Mrs. Xue could only bite her lip, unable to say a word in her defense.

"Lin Fan saved my life twice last night." Yuan Youwei took a deep breath, and a frosty chill appeared on her beautiful face. She slowly swept her gaze over the familiar, angry faces, her heart sinking. "In your eyes, is my life not worth that much money?"

"Stop making excuses, Yuan Youwei! I think the Old Master spoiled you rotten! You’re simply not fit to lead the Yuan family!"

At a signal from Yuan Ruohai, a white-haired elder stepped out from the crowd and approached Yuan Youwei.

"I am a clan elder. Even Tianguang had to call me Seventh Brother. Now that the Yuan family is without a leader, I propose we strip Yuan Youwei of her status as heir!" Seventh Uncle announced, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Ruohai is capable and driven. We old-timers have all witnessed his contributions to the Yuan family over the years!"

The hall fell silent for a moment before bursting into shocked murmurs. Mrs. Xue’s expression tightened as she cast a worried glance at Yuan Youwei. The others exchanged looks, their expressions a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. Clearly, Yuan Ruohai was staging a coup to oust Yuan Youwei from power.

"Dad, are you insane? You’re trying to take over at a time like this?" Standing behind his father, Yuan Tao was visibly startled as he whispered the question.

"You little brat, what do you know? I’m doing this for you!" Yuan Ruohai snapped, then strode confidently to stand before Seventh Uncle. "Seventh Uncle, my abilities are humble. I am truly unworthy of such a heavy responsibility." He put on a look of shame, shaking his head. "However, I cannot bear to watch an ignorant junior like Yuan Youwei drag the Yuan family’s name through the mud and bring it to ruin!"

"...Second Uncle. I never thought it would be you." At that moment, Yuan Youwei, who had been standing frozen, clenched her fists and spoke through gritted teeth. "The Poison Insect in the Old Master’s body—was it you who colluded with Ah Tai to plant it?"

Yuan Ruohai’s face stiffened. "What nonsense about a Poison Insect? I have no idea what you’re babbling about!" he snapped, turning away with an angry snort. However, anyone with eyes could see the flicker of guilt in his.

"Second Uncle, Seventh Uncle, how can you do this? Do you have no respect for the Old Master?" Seeing this, Yuan Youwei’s beautiful eyes reddened as she choked back a sob. Her heart felt as if it had been plunged into ice.

"The one who has let down Tianguang is you, his unfilial descendant!" Seventh Uncle’s face darkened as he pointed a trembling finger toward the coffin in the outer hall. "You, an unmarried maiden, are brazenly hosting a funeral for an outsider’s deceased mother and daring to publicize it throughout the city?

"Yuan Youwei, have you no shame? You have utterly disgraced the Yuan family!" he roared, stamping his foot, his face contorted with rage as spittle flew from his mouth.

"That’s right! We never agreed to this! It was all your reckless decision!"

"Yuan Youwei, oh, Yuan Youwei, don’t you realize all of Haicheng is laughing at our family right now?"

"I agree with Seventh Uncle’s proposal! Let Ruohai take charge of the Yuan family!"

"I agree! It’s better than someone secretly transferring family assets to benefit an outsider!"

One after another, shouts of condemnation rang out. Yuan Youwei trembled, clenching her teeth in silence. Meanwhile, Yuan Ruohai and Seventh Uncle exchanged triumphant glances, their faces beaming with victory.

"The Black Tiger Hall also agrees that Brother Ruohai should inherit the Yuan family!"

The next moment, a loud, rough voice boomed from outside, accompanied by the sound of countless footsteps. Yuan Youwei and Mrs. Xue exchanged a look, their expressions changing drastically. Yuan Ruohai, however, was ecstatic and strode forward to greet the arrivals.

"Lord Hu, your presence brings great honor to the Yuan family!"

The newcomers were a group of menacing men in black suits. Their leader was a burly, bearded man in a black trench coat. His face was fleshy and fierce, twisted into a savage smile. This was Chen Heihu, the master of the Black Tiger Hall, which boasted thirty thousand followers. He was the infamous underground emperor of Haicheng.

"This... this..." The Yuan family members exchanged uneasy glances. It was well known that this man was the Yuan family’s archenemy. His brazen appearance now certainly meant he was up to no good.

BANG!

A smirk played on Chen Heihu’s lips as he dragged a chair over and sat down ostentatiously at the hall’s entrance. Beaming, Yuan Ruohai coolly took his place by his side.

"The Bright Moon Villa also supports Brother Ruohai!"

"As does the Divine Blade Sect!"

"And so do we, the Bamboo Union, the Eight Treasures Pavilion, the Sky Blast Gang..."

More voices thundered from outside. Group after group of men strode forward, packing the entrance tightly. It was a dark, overwhelming mass of people, like a surging black tide stretching as far as the eye could see.

The Yuan family members were aghast, gasping in shock. The top-ranking underground power, the Black Tiger Hall; the second-ranking Bright Moon Villa; the third-ranking Divine Blade Sect; and all the gangs that controlled Haicheng’s docks and ports—nearly every major figure in Haicheng’s underworld was present, and it seemed they were all here to back Yuan Ruohai.

"Yuan Youwei, don’t blame your Second Uncle for being heartless. It’s just that the Old Master favored you far too much when he was alive!" Yuan Ruohai declared, beaming with triumph as he held his head high. He turned and clasped his hands in thanks to the crowd behind him. When he faced Yuan Youwei again, his smile had turned cold, the pretense finally dropped.

"Second Uncle, are you trying to push the Yuan family into a fiery pit?!" Yuan Youwei’s face was a mask of disappointment and despair, her heart sinking as if into an ice cavern. For him to have gained the support of so many underworld forces, the Yuan family would surely have to pay an enormous price.

"Enough of this nonsense! Today, whether you accept it or not, the result will be the same," Yuan Ruohai sneered, pointing toward the memorial hall outside. "Men! Go smash that worthless Lin Suxin’s memorial tablet and portrait! Destroy it all!"

Chapter 34:  Who would dare to touch her?

"I’d like to see who dares to make a move!"

At these words, a look of alarm crossed Yuan Youwei’s face. She and Mrs. Xue rushed to block the entrance to the hall. However, they were intercepted by grinning minions from the various factions, who blocked their path.

"What’s there to be afraid of? It’s just an outsider."

"Exactly! Why should our Yuan family hold a funeral for an outsider? What terrible luck!"

"Only the old master deserves such honors! Who the hell is Lin Suxin?"

Seeing that the situation was decided and Yuan Youwei’s defeat was certain, many members of the Yuan family stepped forward and began to taunt her sarcastically. Some even approached Yuan Ruohai with sycophantic smiles.

"Dad, I don’t want to be the successor! I just want to be a useless bum who eats and waits for death!"

Just then, the stunned Yuan Tao finally snapped out of it, his face etched with anxiety. He strode up to Yuan Ruohai and shouted in grief and indignation, "In terms of skill, strategy, and character, Second Sister is the most capable! Even Grandpa praised her! Without her, the Yuan family will fall apart!"

As soon as he finished, Chen Heihu and the others burst out laughing.

SLAP!

Yuan Ruohai’s face flushed red with fury. He viciously slapped Yuan Tao across the face. "You worthless wretch! Once I become the Family Head, won’t you be the one to take over after I’m gone?"

"Yuan Ruohai! If you continue this madness, I will sever our father-son relationship!" Yuan Tao exploded in anger. He clutched the red handprint on his cheek and yelled defiantly. Fuming, he stalked over to stand beside Yuan Youwei and Mrs. Xue, making his position clear.

"You’re making me furious! Absolutely furious! Fine! I’ll have you locked up first, along with Yuan Youwei and the others!" Yuan Ruohai’s breathing grew ragged, his chest heaving violently with rage. At his command, several expressionless Yuan family bodyguards emerged from the corners and advanced on the three of them.

Many more from the Yuan family scrambled toward the memorial hall, ready to wreak havoc and put on a good show for the new Family Head.

"Second Miss, Mrs. Xue, Third Young Master, my apologies," one of the bodyguards said coldly, reaching a hand toward Yuan Youwei’s shoulder.

"I’d like to see who dares touch her today."

SWISH!

An indifferent voice sounded from outside the hall, followed instantly by a flash of silver light. It shot forward and buried itself in the bodyguard’s palm, blasting open a bloody hole deep enough to reveal bone.

"Ah... Ah! My hand! My hand!"

The bodyguard stared in shock, his face turning deathly pale. He staggered back, clutching his mangled hand and letting out a series of squeals like a stuck pig.

The sudden turn of events left Yuan Ruohai dumbfounded. The other members of the Yuan family grew anxious and uncertain. The faces of Chen Heihu and the other underworld bosses, who had been enjoying the show, changed dramatically. They all shot to their feet, their eyes locked on the entrance.

"Miss, it’s Lin Fan! Lin Fan is here!" Mrs. Xue’s eyes widened with a mixture of shock and joy.

But what’s the use in him coming now? He’ll only get dragged into this mess.

Yuan Youwei, however, couldn’t feel any happiness as she watched the tall figure at the door.

The situation is hopeless; there’s no chance of turning things around. I don’t even dare reveal the truth that Grandpa faked his death! If Yuan Ruohai, Chen Heihu, and the others find out, Grandpa will surely be killed!

"Lin Fan! You’re the one who crippled Daozi’s hand!"

Holding a black plastic bag, Lin Fan pushed past several Yuan family members. He walked step-by-step from the memorial hall into the side hall. His eyes were like ice, and a palpable murderous aura swirled around him. A faint, pungent smell of blood clung to his clothes.

The minions blocking the doorway felt their eyes twitch and their hearts pound inexplicably. None of them dared to stop him. They subconsciously parted, clearing a wide path.

At this sight, Chen Heihu’s expression turned hideous. He pointed at Lin Fan and bellowed, "You killed one of my Black Tiger Hall brothers and ruined my plans, yet you still have the gall to show your face?!"

"Yes, I did it," Lin Fan said, his gaze hardening. "So, you’re the boss of the Black Cat Hall, Chen Black Cat?"

I actually arrived some time ago and have been watching from the shadows. If Yuan Youwei and the other two hadn’t been consistently trying to stop the Yuan family’s chaos, I certainly wouldn’t have stepped in to solve their problems for them.

"Haha, what an arrogant little punk! I haven’t even come to settle the score with you, yet you dare to come here and pull the tiger’s whiskers?" Chen Heihu was momentarily stunned before flying into a rage, his face twisting in fury.

It’s been years since anyone dared to provoke me, Lord Hu. The grass on the graves of those who did is already overgrown!

"Lin Fan, I know you’re skilled, but so what? What can one man do alone?" Chen Heihu sneered, clenching his fists as a savage light filled his eyes.

HISS...!!

The surrounding Yuan family members paled and scrambled to get away, intimidated into silence by Chen Heihu’s overwhelming ferocity.

"Let me tell you, my Black Tiger Hall has thirty thousand disciples, and every single one is a ruthless, bloodthirsty killer!" Chen Heihu noted the crowd’s reaction and proudly lifted his bearded chin. "If you don’t want to end up as scattered ashes, you’ll get on your knees right now and beg for mercy until I, Lord Hu, am satisfied!"

"...Have you not gotten the news yet?" Lin Fan asked, looking at him as if he were an idiot. "From now on, there’s no such thing as the damn Black Tiger Hall in Haicheng."

He shook his head and wagged a finger. "I went to retrieve my mother’s relic and, while I was at it, I leveled the Black Tiger Hall’s headquarters."

His indifferent voice wasn’t loud, but it struck the ears of everyone present like a clap of thunder on a clear day.

What? He single-handedly destroyed the Black Tiger Building?

The hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted in roaring laughter. Chen Heihu placed his hands on his hips and laughed manically. The other underworld bosses and their lackeys bent over, howling with laughter. Even Yuan Ruohai and his faction sneered, looking at Lin Fan as if he were already a dead man.

What a colossal joke! Daring to brag like that right in front of Lord Hu? He was courting death!

Has Lin Fan lost his mind? What on earth is he talking about... Mrs. Xue stared blankly, then gritted her teeth in frustration, mentally rolling her eyes at him. I thought he might work a miracle, turn the tide. But it turns out he’s all talk, just a nonstop braggart?

"No, he wouldn’t lie," Yuan Youwei said, her beautiful eyes shining as her heart filled with a deep sweetness.

That infuriating man! On the surface, he acts so cold and clueless, but in reality, he secretly went to the Black Tiger Hall’s headquarters and eliminated the Yuan family’s greatest threat! Hmph, he must have done it for me, Yuan Youwei! This has to be his way of repaying me for arranging his mother’s funeral!

"Miss! This is hardly the time! How can you...!!" Seeing Yuan Youwei gazing at Lin Fan with an infatuated look, Mrs. Xue’s lips twitched, and she was left speechless.

Just a moment ago, you were worried, saying his arrival was useless. Now he makes one boast, and you’re suddenly smitten and full of admiration? A mind clouded by love is truly a terrifying thing... it makes people lose all sense!

"Lord Hu, leave this brat to us at Bright Moon Villa! We’ll beat him so badly he’ll be seeing red!"

"Our Divine Blade Sect is also willing to lend a hand!"

"This is hilarious! We at the Bamboo Union love tough-talkers like him. We’ll make him wish for death but deny him even that!"

Just then, the laughter died down. The underworld bosses’ smiles vanished, replaced by looks of displeasure as they sized up Lin Fan.

This kid isn’t even flinching. He hasn’t pissed his pants in fear? Shit, did he really think we all came out in force just to pay respects at his mother’s funeral?

Amid the rising clamor, the minions outside got the message and began to circle Lin Fan with menacing grins.

"Good. Since everyone is so eager, I, Chen Heihu, thank you for your generosity!" Chen Heihu nodded, his expression incredibly grim. He raised a hand, and the dozen or so Black Tiger Hall elites behind him tensed, ready to move.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew heavy. The temperature in the room seemed to drop to freezing. Yuan Ruohai and the others quickly retreated to a corner, while Yuan Youwei and Mrs. Xue watched Lin Fan with tight, worried expressions.

"Relax," Lin Fan said, shaking his head and giving the two women a reassuring look. "They’re just a bunch of pests."

He turned back to the crowd, his eyes turning glacial as he tightened his grip on a bundle of silver needles.

These people dare to cause a scene at a funeral? Then they’ll all pay. It’s time to continue the slaughter.

"Lord Hu! Lord Hu, terrible news! Our Black Tiger Building has been wiped out!"

THUD!

A bloody, disheveled figure burst in from outside, instantly shattering the tense standoff. He collapsed to his knees before Chen Heihu, trembling as he let out a miserable wail. "They’re all dead! Everyone’s dead! Even Mr. Chen Biao... he, he... Aaaahhh!!"

Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of Lin Fan, who stood just a few steps away. Cold sweat poured down Brother Zhilong’s bald head as he pointed a horrified finger at him, looking as though he had just seen a ghost.

Chapter 35:  One person dominates the entire field!

"Who the hell are you to come here spouting nonsense and messing with my men’s morale?"

Seeing this, Chen Heihu was stunned. With a fierce kick, he sent Brother Zhilong tumbling to the ground.

There was no helping it. Black Tiger Hall was a massive force with numerous disciples, and as the Hall Master, he couldn’t possibly remember everyone.

"Lord Hu, it’s me, Zhilong! I’m usually the one leading the boys to keep the peace on the commercial pedestrian street!" Brother Zhilong endured the pain, scrambling forward to grab Chen Heihu’s pant leg.

"Lord Hu, he really is one of ours," one of the Black Tiger Hall elites said, his expression changing after taking a closer look at Brother Zhilong. He leaned in and whispered to Chen Heihu.

What? He’s really from Black Tiger Hall? Chen Heihu’s eyes flew wide open, his heart sinking. Damn it, when did my Black Tiger Hall start recruiting such garbage?

"Hmph! Even if you are one of us, you don’t get to run your mouth in front of me!" Chen Heihu snapped, raising his foot again to kick the terrified Brother Zhilong away.

"No, no, I’m not making things up! I rushed here to deliver a message!" Brother Zhilong trembled, on the verge of tears.

"It was him! It was Lin Fan!" he shouted, his voice shaking as he clenched his teeth and pointed at Lin Fan.

"He went to Jucaili Pawnshop to stir up trouble, saying he was going to Black Tiger Building to find Mr. Chen Biao!

"I had a bad feeling, so I called Brother Dao... but I was still uneasy, so I followed him.

"And then... I saw our men lying all over the ground. Even Mr. Chen Biao and Brother Dao... they... they died horrible, horrible deaths!"

The room fell deathly silent for an instant before exploding into chaos.

Yuan Ruohai and the others were dumbfounded. Yuan Tao’s body trembled as he stared at Lin Fan in disbelief. The underworld bosses exchanged skeptical glances, while Mrs. Xue’s mouth fell open in shock.

Only Yuan Youwei’s bright eyes lit up fiercely once again as she quietly let out a long sigh of relief.

I knew it. I absolutely knew it. It must have been Lin Fan who wiped out Black Tiger Hall’s main base! As long as Black Tiger Hall’s strength is crippled, Chen Heihu won’t be able to make any more trouble. In fact, he’ll have to watch his back for other underworld forces looking to swallow his territory!

Lin Fan, are you the noble benefactor heaven sent me...? In that moment, Yuan Youwei felt a wave of relief, and she could no longer suppress the smile playing on her delicate lips. Her gaze, as it rested on Lin Fan, was filled with tenderness and profound gratitude.

My choice was right. It was all worth it, no matter the pressure, no matter the gossip! Mr. Yuan Sr. can be saved, and so can the Yuan family!

"No, impossible! Absolutely impossible! I left hundreds of my best men in Black Tiger Building! How could they all be dead!"

At that moment, the stupefied Chen Heihu jolted awake with a hysterical roar. Shocked and enraged, he fumbled for his phone and frantically dialed Chen Biao’s private number.

One second, two seconds, three seconds... A full half a minute passed. Still, no one picked up.

Something’s wrong. Something has gone terribly wrong!

Chen Heihu’s pupils constricted. Steeling himself, he clenched his teeth and dialed Brother Dao’s number. After a long wait, that call also went unanswered.

BOOM!

Chen Heihu’s face went white as a sheet, and a bomb seemed to go off in his head. His large, formidable body trembled violently. He gripped his phone, glaring at Lin Fan in utter disbelief. His tiger-like eyes turned bloodshot, glowing with a murderous light as if he wanted to eat the man alive.

"It was you! You did this! Lin Fan! I’ll fucking annihilate your entire family as a funeral offering for Chen Biao and the others!"

"I’m afraid you can’t do that," Lin Fan said indifferently, shaking his head. "If you dare cause a scene before my mother’s memorial tablet, I don’t mind sending you down for a father-son reunion."

His icy voice echoed like thunder through the hall.

Everyone gasped, their faces changing color. Yuan Ruohai’s eyes looked ready to pop out of their sockets. The underworld bosses and their men drew sharp breaths, their expressions like they had just seen a ghost.

How is this possible? How could a single man take down Haicheng’s number one underworld force all by himself? The very thought was enough to make one’s skin crawl!

Instantly, a chill ran down everyone’s spines, and a strange sense of regret began to bubble up. It was supposed to be them, the many, against him, the one. Yet, standing before that unyielding, mountain-like figure, they had the absurd feeling that they were the ones who were cornered.

CRACK! CRACK!

In the next moment, the sound of Chen Heihu’s cracking knuckles filled the air as he teetered on the edge of losing control.

"Everyone, attack! Whoever kills Lin Fan, I, Chen Heihu, will give them half of Black Tiger Hall’s territory!"

His hysterical roar resounded through the hall, but even after ten long seconds, there was no response.

The underworld bosses glanced at each other. The flicker of interest in their eyes was replaced by a look of tacit understanding. No one is stupid enough to go head-to-head with a tough nut like Lin Fan. Besides, Black Tiger Hall is already finished... why wait for Chen Heihu to hand over his territory? Can’t we just seize it all for ourselves?

"You... you cowardly bastards! I, Chen Heihu, am ashamed to have ever called you my brothers!" Chen Heihu’s face turned utterly foul, and he was practically bursting with rage. He glanced at his own underlings, only to see them shrinking back in fear, not daring to make a sound.

Chen Heihu was on the verge of madness. He wanted to charge at Lin Fan and fight to the death, but he was truly terrified of his power. All he could do was rage impotently, roaring and screaming.

"Are you going to fight or not?" Lin Fan’s voice cut through the air, laced with impatience as he slowly scanned the varied expressions in the crowd. "If not, then go pay respects to my mother and get the hell out!"

The atmosphere became incredibly strange and awkward.

"This..."

The faces of the underworld bosses burned with shame, and they remained silent. The members of the Yuan family exchanged glances and discreetly shuffled a few steps away from Yuan Ruohai.

No one could have predicted this. This obscure young man, Lin Fan, was the real powerhouse! He suppressed all of Haicheng’s underworld forces by himself! How utterly dominant! How brazen and arrogant! No wonder Yuan Youwei fought desperately to protect him. It turns out Lin Fan was the Second Young Miss’s greatest trump card all along!

"Don’t be fooled by Lin Fan! He’s nothing but a cold, ruthless, inhuman beast!"

Just then, a voice filled with resentment echoed from the doorway. Following it, a bruised and swollen Su Mengqing and Yang Tingting appeared, leading a large group of distinguished-looking individuals in at a brisk pace.

"Su Mengqing, what are you doing here? You’re not worthy to pay respects to my mother!" Lin Fan’s gaze hardened as he saw them.

He recognized the newcomers. Among them were Mr. Wang Sr. from the Haicheng Pharmaceutical Association and Mr. Huang Sr., Haicheng’s real estate magnate. The others were also prominent figures in the city.

Adding them to Chen Heihu and the supposedly dead Mr. Yuan Sr., it meant that almost all of Haicheng’s four great titans, along with a host of top power players, had now arrived.

Lin Fan scanned their unfriendly faces, his jaw muscles tensing. "If you’ve come to pay respects to my mother, I, Lin Fan, will be deeply grateful," he said in a low voice. "But if anyone is here to make trouble, then don’t blame me for being merciless!"

Chapter 36:  Already too high to climb!

"Hmph, pay respects? Your mother, Lin Suxin, no matter how you put it, was just a clinic physician. What makes her worthy of our respects?"

Hearing this, Su Mengqing gritted her teeth, pointed at Lin Fan, and shrieked, "Members of the Yuan family, don’t you dare believe his nonsense! He’s not only a heartless monster who intentionally leaked our Su Pharmaceutical’s product formulas, causing our stock to plummet and bankrupting countless people, but he’s also a murderer! Just now, at the Black Tiger Building, Tingting and I saw it with our own eyes—Lin Fan killed Young Master Chen and several hundred others!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was utterly shocked.

So the shocking collapse of Su Pharmaceutical’s stock was also his doing? Who on earth is this kid? When he makes a move, he wipes out billions from the Su family’s market value! And on top of that, he even eliminated the notoriously vicious Black Prince of Haicheng!

Noticing the stunned looks on everyone’s faces, Su Mengqing’s lips curled into a malicious, triumphant smile. "Lin Fan, I don’t know what sweet nothings you’ve used to deceive that young lady from the Yuan family."

On the way here, they had run into Mr. Wang Sr. and his group, who were also rushing to the Yuan estate to see what was happening. Su Mengqing had immediately told them everything, instantly inciting public outrage against Lin Fan. Everyone declared that he must be punished severely as an example to others.

Seeing Lin Fan become the target of public criticism made Su Mengqing feel incredibly smug. Once the Yuan family isn’t backing you, what can you possibly do, Lin Fan? You’ll never be able to withstand the wrath of the Black Tiger Hall and the other tycoons of Haicheng!

"Lin Fan! You can’t hide your crimes from everyone any longer! Today, I’m going to ruin your reputation and make you the shame of Haicheng!" Su Mengqing yelled, tilting her chin up defiantly.

"That’s right!" Yang Tingting chimed in, stepping forward and nodding emphatically. "The Yuan family can’t let a scoundrel like him through your doors! Lin Fan is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Who knows, he might cause your family’s ruin next!"

Just then, Mr. Wang Sr. stormed forward, his face livid with fury. He pointed at Lin Fan and roared, "Lin Fan! So it was you who burned the ancient formula for the Bixia Pill! You fool! You absolute prodigal son! That night, I walked right past you! I was just a step too late to stop you from committing such a sacrilege!"

The old man was so furious that veins bulged on his forehead, his face twisting in rage, as if Lin Fan had just run off with his wife.

Lin Fan glanced at Mr. Wang Sr., finding the whole situation absurdly comical. He shook his head and retorted coolly, "They were my mother’s things. Why couldn’t I burn them?"

"You! You incurably stupid bastard!" Wang Tianchuan was so choked with anger he nearly coughed up blood. Clutching his heaving chest, he seemed on the verge of a complete breakdown. "As long as I, Wang Tianchuan, am the president of the Medical Association for even one more day, I will never allow you to set foot in the Haicheng pharmaceutical industry!"

The ancient formula for the Bixia Pill was a treasure he had coveted for more than half his life! Fate had finally, miraculously, let him encounter it, yet it had been burned to ashes by the fool standing right in front of him!

An imperious-looking old man stepped forward and gently patted Mr. Wang Sr.’s back. Turning his head, the old man’s face was cold, and he didn’t even deign to glance at Lin Fan as he spoke. "Lin Fan, you freeloaded off the Su family for four years, yet you caused their stock to crash, instantly destroying four years of Director Su’s painstaking effort. I, Huang Jiacheng, put my word to it right here. None of the properties owned by my Haipu Industry will ever be sold or leased to you!"

This statement sent another stir through the crowd. This man was one of the four great tycoons of Haicheng, the famous real estate king, Huang Jiacheng! The Haipu Industry he founded controlled more than half of all the real estate in the city! To be blacklisted by him... Lin Fan would truly have nowhere to go. He would have no foothold left in this city at all!

"Yes, our Apparel Association will do the same!"

"Our Food and Beverage Association also refuses you, Lin Fan!"

"As will our Automotive Association, our Funeral Services Association, and our Aquatic Products Association!"

More and more business magnates stood up, glaring at Lin Fan in unison. These people controlled nearly every aspect of daily life in Haicheng—from clothing and food to housing and transportation. Now that they had all declared their stance, it was tantamount to the entire city rejecting Lin Fan’s very existence.

Seeing Lin Fan utterly discredited, Su Mengqing and Yang Tingting exchanged a look of triumphant victory. Su Mengqing pointed a finger at him, her eyes filled with supreme arrogance. "Lin Fan! Do you see this? This is the painful price you pay for betraying me, Su Mengqing! Even if you have hidden your true colors well, I, Su Mengqing, am still an existence you can never hope to reach! I gave you chance after chance, but you’ve done unforgivable things. Don’t you ever dream of remarrying me or setting foot in the Su family’s home again!"

Hearing this, Lin Fan was silent for a moment before he suddenly burst out laughing. "Su Mengqing, are you delusional? I already cut all ties with your family. Who the hell would want to go back to that pathetic household of yours!"

Ignoring Su Mengqing’s frozen, disdainful sneer, Lin Fan turned to scan Mr. Wang Sr. and the others. "As for the rest of you," he said, his gaze sweeping over them, "you’re a complete joke to me. You think you can join forces to crush me?" He raised a single finger and wagged it slowly. "Sorry, but you’re simply not qualified."

The bustling hall fell deathly silent in an instant. The expressions on the faces of Mr. Wang Sr. and the others changed drastically.

Arrogant! The man is utterly, unbelievably arrogant! He’s just a blind fool, a prodigal son who stupidly burned the ancient Bixia Pill formula! Where does he get the nerve to think he can stand against the entire Haicheng business community?