Money Over Love V3

Chapter 71: Trapped together!

The atmosphere in the private room became suffocatingly tense. The Su family’s relatives and friends were all dumbfounded, looking left and right, unsure of who to believe.

"You dare spout such nonsense without any evidence? Do you really take everyone else for idiots?" Lin Fan demanded, staring straight at Su Mengqing with an expressionless face.

"...Lin Fan! A person should take responsibility for their own actions. Could you be any more shameless?" Su Mengqing finally snapped, her face turning menacing and her eyes filling with bitter resentment. "We all saw you on your phone, posting and leaking the prescription online, and now you refuse to admit it? You make me regret the four long years I spent living with someone like you!"

As she spoke, her anger surged. Her eyes grew red, and her entire body began to tremble uncontrollably. Her voice became shrill, finally cracking into a heart-wrenching scream.

"Sorry, I learned it all from you," Lin Fan said after a moment of silence. He shook his head, his indifferent expression unchanged. "Weren’t you the ones who were always saying that everything requires evidence? The prescription belonged to my mother, but you refuse to acknowledge it. My mother secretly helped the Su Family rise, and you refuse to acknowledge that either. Last night, you were caught red-handed stealing my White Dragon Grass, and you *still* refuse to acknowledge it!

"So now you’re saying I’m the one who caused the Su Family’s stock price to collapse by leaking the prescription? Fine. As  you always demand, present the evidence! Otherwise, why the hell should I admit to anything!"

BOOM!

His cold expression and forceful words exploded in the room like a clap of thunder.

Zhang Meili and the other two were shocked and furious, their faces flushing crimson. Su Mengqing’s own face burned as she bit her lip so hard it nearly bled. Her vision swam with dark spots, as if she had just stepped off a cliff into an abyss.

Can you be any more vicious, Lin Fan? To think you’d expose all our dirty laundry in front of all the Su Family’s relatives and friends! And the worst part is, we really don’t have any evidence to force him to confess. The hatred... It's all-consuming!

"I think Lin Fan has a point. He’s just a menial worker at the pharmaceutical company. How could he have possibly gotten his hands on the Injury Ointment Prescription?"

"Could Su Mengqing and her family be deliberately deceiving us?"

"That must be it! They’re just looking for an excuse to sell their shares to cash out!"

Whispers spread through the room as everyone began to speculate. In an instant, the way they looked at Su Mengqing and her family changed completely.

"Are you all stupid? It was obviously Lin Fan who did it. How dare you doubt us?" Zhang Meili’s blood pressure skyrocketed, and she looked ready to burst with rage.

"Where’s the evidence? Show us the evidence!" Lin Fan demanded, cutting them off before anyone else could speak.

"Humph, it was you, Lin Fan, who stole our family’s prescription!" Su Gang’s eyes darted around before he blurted out what he thought was a brilliant accusation. "Then, after we threw you out with nothing, you held a grudge and leaked it online!"

"Alright, so now you’re saying I stole the prescription? Same question as before: show me the evidence!" Lin Fan retorted, his expression unwavering.

"Uhh..." Su Gang’s face went scarlet, and he nearly choked on his own words, completely flustered. The stares from the crowd felt like daggers, as if they were all looking at an idiot. He was rendered speechless, bowing his head so low in utter shame that he nearly buried it in his lap.

"Evidence, my ass!" At that moment, Zhang Meili’s chubby face twitched ferociously as she completely lost her composure. She pointed a finger straight at Lin Fan and began to shriek, "I said you stole the prescription, so you stole it! It was you who leaked it online and caused the stock price to plummet!"

She planted her hands on her hips, adopting a truculent, shrewish posture.

"Zhang Meili, do you take us for fools?"

"That’s hilarious. You’re still trying to pin the blame on Lin Fan?"

"Cut the bullshit! Compensation! Give us our compensation now!"

"If you don’t give us a proper explanation, don’t blame us for getting physical!"

Her tantrum was useless. The crowd, looking as though they had seen through the entire charade, began to shout angrily. They advanced menacingly, forcing Su Mengqing and the other three to back away in a panic.

"Lin Fan, you son of a bitch! I... I curse you to a horrible death!" Zhang Meili could no longer act tough. She could only retreat while spewing curses at Lin Fan.

"You should be more concerned with whether your family can walk out of this room alive," Lin Fan said coldly, preparing to turn and leave with Xiao Jie.

"Ahem! Everyone, please listen to me for a moment!"

Suddenly, Stubborn Su Gang, who had been hiding behind Su Gang, finally mustered the courage to stand up. He forced a smile that looked more painful than a sob and coughed loudly to draw everyone’s attention.

I have no choice. If these people get their compensation, the Su Family will lose a fortune! And wouldn’t that mean I get less money from my own scam?

"FUCK! It’s Su Guang!"

"You’ve got some nerve, Zhang Meili! You too, Su Mengqing! That damn scammer Su Guang is back in Haicheng, and you dared to hide it from us!"

"Just great! Tonight, we settled all accounts, new and old! You’re going to pay back the money you scammed from us four years ago, too!"

BOOM!

The sudden appearance of Su Guang, who had been missing for four years, stunned everyone. A moment later, the room erupted. Many people’s eyes turned bloodshot as they glared at him with a predatory fierceness.

"What are you all getting so worked up about? I go by Stubborn Su Gang now! You just want money, right? I’ve got plenty!" Stubborn Su Gang yelled, angered by their hateful stares.

"Su Guang, you have the fucking nerve to yell at us? Pay us back! Pay us back now!" someone roared, spittle flying from his mouth.

"I told you, my name is Stubborn Su Gang now!" he reiterated furiously, his face twisting with rage.

"Fuck you! I don’t care if you’re called Su Guang or Stubborn Su Gang! If we don’t see our money tonight, all five of you can go to hell!"

"Enough talk! Let’s beat them up first to vent some steam! Beat the shit out of these scammers until they start talking straight!" more people roared, their eyes red with fury as they teetered on the edge of losing control.

As the crowd became  more agitated and the situation spun out of control, Su Mengqing’s face turned deathly pale. She was pressed against the wall with nowhere to retreat. Zhang Meili and the others trembled, the urge to urinate becoming overwhelming. They all shot desperate glances  at Stubborn Su Gang, praying he could somehow turn the tide.

"If you dare lay a finger on us, I guarantee you’ll regret it for the rest of your lives!" Stubborn Su Gang bellowed, though the shaking in his own legs made it clear he could barely stand. He thrust a finger towards Xiao Jie, who was standing beside Lin Fan. "Open your damn eyes and look carefully! That is His Highness Abdullah Alger, the noble Prince of Sha Country! And I am now his personal advisor from Xia Country!"

As his words fell, the room plunged into silence. The crowd’s expressions shifted, and they exchanged uneasy glances, suddenly at a loss. They were just ordinary citizens; no one dared to act recklessly in front of such a distinguished foreign guest.

Seeing that he had intimidated them, Stubborn Su Gang breathed a secret sigh of relief as a plan formed in his mind.

If I’m going to scam them, I might as well scam them all. I’ll make one massive score and then disappear for good!

"You’ve all been clamoring for compensation, right? Well, now there’s an opportunity to strike it rich right in front of you!"

With newfound confidence, he adopted an arrogant demeanor, clasping his hands behind his back. He strode proudly to stand before Su Mengqing and the others, sweeping his gaze across the crowd. "Let me tell you, our Su Family is preparing to cooperate with the Sha Country Royal Family! Not only will we continue to supply Su Pharmaceutical’s products, but we also plan to raise money to bid for the mining rights to a large oil field! Invest your money, and we can all grow rich and powerful together. I guarantee you’ll all make a fortune!"

Chapter 72: Who asked for your kindness?

"Su Guang, do you really think we’d fall for your tricks so easily? Exactly! You find some random guy to impersonate the Prince of Sha Country? Hell, I might as well be your dad! Cut the crap! Pay up or pay with your lives. The choice is yours!"

Snapping back to their senses, the crowd erupted in angry curses, refusing to believe a word of Stubborn Su Gang’s nonsense.

"If you don’t believe me, you should at least believe Lin Fan. Believe Second Master Yuan Ruohai of the Yuan family, right?" Stubborn Su Gang said, not flustered in the slightest as he desperately signaled to Lin Fan with his eyes.

"Lin Fan, don’t tell me you’re in on this con with him?" someone asked, looking toward him.

"Hmph, stop bluffing! I heard Mr. Yuan Sr. already kicked the Second Master out of the family!" another shouted.

"This man is, indeed, the Prince of Sha Country," Lin Fan admitted with a calm nod. "However, all investments carry risks. You’d best weigh the decision yourselves."

With these words, everyone’s expression changed. Based on their knowledge of the Su family, Lin Fan had completely severed ties with them. He had no reason to cover for Stubborn Su Gang’s lies!

"Hmph, you all heard him. Lin Fan wouldn’t lie to you, would he?" Stubborn Su Gang snorted, beginning to gloat. "To tell you the truth, Second Master Yuan has already returned with us. He’s at the Yuan family estate right now raising funds. We’re aiming for tens of billions!"

What? Yuan Ruohai is back in Haicheng, too? That’s easy enough to confirm. It’s not something you could easily fake! For a moment, the crowd exchanged glances, their suspicion once again mixed with doubt.

"Moreover, the Prince cannot stay long and will be returning to his country soon. This trip to Haicheng was a secret, so ordinary people would never get wind of it," Stubborn Su Gang said with a sigh. "We weren’t originally going to inform you, but who knew you’d have the dumb luck to stumble right into it? The chance to make a fortune is right in front of you. The choice is yours.

"Once our family secures the oil field contract, don’t come crying to me that I didn’t cut you in!"

The private room fell into a dead silence. Relatives and friends frowned, clearly tempted.

"Hmph. You were all cursing our family just a moment ago. Realize your mistake now?" Seeing their hesitation, Zhang Meili sneered, taunting them mercilessly.

Su Gang and Yang Tingting, their confidence restored, looked at Stubborn Su Gang with admiration.

"Actually, one of the reasons we sold off so many of our shares was to raise capital for our partnership with the Sha Country Royal Family," an idea sparked in Su Mengqing’s mind, and she spoke without a change in expression. "We were planning to tell everyone and bring you all in on this huge opportunity once everything was finalized. But you were all too impatient and didn’t even give us a chance to explain!"

What? So that was the truth? No wonder the Su family had acted so suddenly. Come to think of it, who would be stupid enough to crash their own family’s stock price deliberately?

"Mengqing, I apologize for my earlier behavior!"

"Heh, we’re all family. It was our fault for jumping to conclusions."

"Meili, Su Guang, I admit I was biased against you two before. You have to forgive my family!"

Some began to apologize, others put on placating smiles, and still others looked ashamed as they begged for forgiveness. They had, after all, benefited quite a bit from the Su family over the past four years, not to mention the dividends they had earned from the family’s stock. Now, another opportunity  to make big money was right in front of them. If they missed this chance, the losses would be immense!

"If it weren’t for Mengqing’s sake, I would never forgive you ungrateful wretches!" Zhang Meili muttered, shooting an approving glance at Su Mengqing.

Su Gang and Yang Tingting wore expressions of pure superiority, looking utterly proud and vindicated. You had to hand it to Su Mengqing; she was incredible! With just a few casual words, she had transformed the disaster of the Su family’s crashing stock price into a grand money-making plan designed for everyone’s benefit! She had even made their estranged relatives and friends come groveling back! How wonderful! Simply wonderful!

"Alright, that’s enough talk. If you want to invest, transfer me the money now. This offer won’t last forever!" Seeing that the mood was ripe, Stubborn Su Gang nodded and proudly held up one finger. "I can’t guarantee how much you’ll earn, but I can promise you’ll at least double your investment within a month!"

Everyone gasped in shock.

Double their investment in a month? If that actually worked, it’d be more profitable than robbing a bank!

"Me, me, I want to invest!"

"My family has a few hundred thousand in savings! You have to count me in!"

"I’m calling my wife to have her mortgage the house right now!"

As reality set in, the crowd went wild with joy. They scrambled over each other to get to Stubborn Su Gang, whipping out their phones to transfer money.

"Aren’t you afraid he’ll take the money and run again?" Lin Fan, who had been silent for some time, suddenly interjected.

He saw right through Stubborn Su Gang’s scheme. While the fate of these Su family relatives was none of his business, he knew what would happen next. But if Stubborn Su Gang ran off with the money, these people would inevitably come looking for Xiao Jie. At that point, wouldn’t he be the one forced to step in?

"Lin Fan, you are truly a malicious person. You just can’t stand to see the Su family doing well, can you?" Su Gang sneered, shaking his head.

"I think he’s just bitter because we didn’t include him. Now he’s just jealous and resentful, pretending to warn us out of the ’kindness’ of his heart!" Yang Tingting jeered, her eyes filled with a haughty arrogance as if she saw through everything.

"Did you all hear that? He’s just offering a kind reminder," Zhang Meili laughed, feigning persuasion. "I think you should all just forget it, lest you get scammed again!"

"I’m not afraid to tell you all that our family plans to invest over five hundred million, with my dad managing all of it," Su Mengqing said, glancing at Lin Fan before turning to the crowd with a charming smile. "If any of you feel uneasy, you can get a full refund of your investment from me at any time. But let me give you all a fair warning: anyone who believes Lin Fan now will regret it later, and it will be too late!"

Her confident voice echoed through the room. The crowd of relatives and friends froze for a second, their expressions turning ugly.

"Lin Fan, shut your mouth! Who needs your kindness?"

"Exactly! You just can’t stand to see us make money, so you’re trying to sabotage it, aren’t you?"

"Serves him right for getting kicked out with nothing! You can just tell he’s up to no good!"

One after another, they hurled insults and ridicule at him, their gazes turning hostile.

"Fine. Suit yourselves," Lin Fan said, finding the whole situation utterly laughable as his eyes grew colder. Alright then. Since you’re so eager to believe Su Mengqing’s lies, you deserve to be swindled and lose every penny!

"I’ll give you a warning of my own. Your money is going to Stubborn Su Gang, not to Xiao Jie or me." He slowly swept his gaze over their angry, scowling faces and shook his head. "If you realize later that you’ve been scammed and dare to come cause trouble for us, don’t blame me for being merciless!"

His chilling words landed with force. A shiver went down their spines, and no one dared to say another word to him. Instead, they turned back and continued to clamor to transfer their money to Stubborn Su Gang.

"Hehe, Lin Fan was just joking, don’t take it to heart," Stubborn Su Gang said, secretly breaking out in a cold sweat. He had genuinely been worried that Lin Fan would blow his cover and expose Xiao Jie’s true identity on the spot. Fortunately, the danger had passed. Watching the endless stream of transaction notifications light up his phone, he struggled to contain his joy, but a smile spread across his face anyway.

"Dad, this is five hundred million. That's all I can pull out for now. I still need to leave some working capital in the company’s account..."

After a good ten minutes, everyone had finished their transfers. Clenching her jaw, Su Mengqing pulled out a bank card in front of everyone. She hesitated for a moment before taking out her phone and transferring the card funds to Stubborn Su Gang’s personal overseas account.

Chapter 73:A Storm Is Coming

"The contract is signed, and the money is in place. Everyone, go home and wait for my good news!"

After a moment, Stubborn Su swiftly signed the paper agreements one after another. He threw down the pen with an air of triumph and nodded at the eagerly anticipating crowd.

"Our guiding light—no, no, I mean, Mr. Su, it’s all up to you now."

"Your Highness, thank you for visiting Haicheng. Do come over to my house when you have time, haha."

"Mengqing, it was our mistake to misunderstand your family in the past. Please don’t take it to heart."

"Meili, you should set up the family group chat again. Without you as the group owner, we all feel something’s missing!"

As they were leaving, the group was lively and in high spirits, chatting away as if it were the New Year. But when they brushed past Lin Fan, they still glared at him disdainfully, as if scorning a plague god.

"Mengqing, Su Gang, you two go home first. I’ll be with the Prince for the next couple of days—we’ve already booked the presidential suite."

Under the escort of Su Mengqing and three others, Stubborn Su strode down the stairs with his hands behind his back, carrying the air of a successful man.

"Dad, come back home for a visit when you have time. We’ve always kept your room for you," Su Mengqing said with a radiant smile.

With Zhang Meili and two others, she waved Stubborn Su goodbye.

"Hahaha, I’m rich, I’m rich!"

Once inside a taxi, Stubborn Su, sitting in the front passenger seat, could no longer hold it in and burst into peals of ecstatic laughter.

"You’re just going to watch him swindle people like this?" in the back seat, Lin Fan’s lip twitched with frustration as he turned to ask Xiao Jie.

"Old Su isn’t exactly deceiving people, and besides, this bit of money is nothing to me," Xiao Jie said with a carefree shrug. "At worst, I’ll just pay them back in the future."

"...Fine. Money really can let you do whatever you want."

Lin Fan’s expression darkened, and he didn’t say anything else. After all, this guy had grown up in the lap of luxury and had never treated money as anything more than a plaything. A mere few hundred million in Xia Country currency, to someone like him, was probably just pocket money.

"Lin Fan, you’re not getting a cut of this money, you know," Stubborn Su said, turning his head from the front seat with a hint of wariness in his eyes. "If you want to join, you’ll have to wait until Second Master Yuan’s venture succeeds. Then we can discuss it!"

"I’m not getting involved. I’m just here to ensure Xiao Jie’s personal safety," Lin Fan replied, frowning slightly as he shook his head.

"Humph, even if you wanted to get involved, you’d still need Second Master Yuan’s approval!" Stubborn Su snorted and turned back around, gazing joyfully at his phone’s account balance.

"To the Suxin Clinic in Southern City."

Seeing the cab driver frequently glancing at them in the rearview mirror as if they were a bunch of lunatics, Lin Fan didn’t bother arguing with Stubborn Su and simply stated the destination.

"What? Why are we going back to that shabby clinic of yours? I have money now! I should be staying in a fancy hotel, in the presidential suite!" Stubborn Su snapped, surprised and immediately unhappy.

"Why don’t you ask Xiao Jie who he wants to go with?" Lin Fan asked coldly.

"I’m going with Lin Fan. If you don’t want to, Old Su, you can go stay in the hotel by yourself," Xiao Jie’s posture straightened as he firmly declared.

"You win," Stubborn Su relented, his expression shifting. "I’ve weathered greater storms than this. Enduring a little hardship is nothing!" He gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed.

A short while later, the three of them got out of the taxi at the mouth of an alley and walked to the clinic within.

Pulling out his keys, Lin Fan raised the rolling shutter and then pushed open the two transparent glass doors. As he scanned the clinic’s interior, a warmth swelled in his heart.

Everything was neatly arranged, clearly tidied up by someone with care. It must have been Yuan Youwei who asked someone to do it.

"Turn left outside and go two hundred meters; there’s a small supermarket. Go buy two sets of bedding," Lin Fan said without turning around after wiping his mother’s portrait and lighting a stick of incense. "There’s only one bed here. You and Xiao Jie will sleep on the floor."

What?! I’m a big shot with hundreds of millions now! And he has the nerve to tell me to sleep on the floor?!

Stubborn Su practically exploded with rage. "Xiao Jie! Come with me! I’ll take you out to enjoy the good life, and then we’ll head to the third floor of the foot-washing parlor for some real fun!"

Unable to bear it any longer, he immediately tried to pull Xiao Jie away.

"Old Su, we should listen to Lin Fan. Only he can protect us!" Xiao Jie broke free and urged earnestly. "Sleeping on the floor is nothing. It’s better than when we used to hide under bridges."

"Bullshit! Haicheng is my territory! If anyone dares to cause trouble, I’ll destroy them on sight!" Stubborn Su shouted, his lips quivering with anger as spittle flew.

"Have you forgotten four years ago, when you were being chased for gambling debts?" Lin Fan asked, walking over and giving Stubborn Su a cold glance. "It doesn’t matter if you get caught, just don’t drag Xiao Jie into it."

"...Fine, fine, fine! Sleeping on the floor! Before heaven bestows a great responsibility, it first makes one suffer!" Stubborn Su’s bravado faltered, a clear hint of fear in his eyes. Muttering and grumbling, he reluctantly went out the door.

"You need to be mentally prepared. The next few days might not be very peaceful."

Watching the figure disappear at the alley’s entrance, Lin Fan withdrew his gaze and looked at Xiao Jie. There was a rare seriousness in his voice.

There was no helping it; he had offended far too many people recently. The most dangerous among them was Chen Heihu of Black Tiger Hall. The grudge from his son’s murder and the destruction of his base... If he were in Chen Heihu’s shoes, he wouldn’t be able to swallow that either. The fact that his enemy hadn’t made a move yet could only mean one thing... They were waiting for the perfect opportunity to deliver a fatal blow!

"I trust your skills... and besides, where else could I go if not by your side?" Xiao Jie said with a bitter smile, shaking his head.

"Alright then. Rest assured, I will do my best to ensure your safety," Lin Fan nodded and said no more.

He pulled out a stove and a medicine pot from the corner, preparing to refine the White Dragon Grass to further suppress the toxicity of the Seven-Core Deadly Lotus.

After a while, Stubborn Su returned carrying two sets of bedding, his face dark as he began to make a pallet on the floor. Lin Fan ignored him, letting the prepared decoction cool before lifting the bowl and downing it in one gulp.

BOOM!

The amber-colored decoction rushed down his throat. An initially cool, bittersweet sensation instantly morphed into searing heat, as if he had swallowed molten magma!

"Hiss... What potent medicine," Lin Fan gasped, his face turning pale as beads of sweat poured down his forehead. He clutched the edge of the counter for support.

One second, two seconds, three seconds... Qi flowed tumultuously within his Dantian. It transformed into thousands of fine threads that reached every limb and bone. Then, they all converged within the lotus-shaped mark over his heart, dimming its dazzling, iridescent glow ever so slightly.

Not bad. I just need the Green Phoenix Vine and the Fire Fungus to completely suppress the Seven-Core Deadly Lotus.

Letting out a deep breath, Lin Fan wiped the sweat from his forehead, silently assessing the changes in his body. A satisfied smile touched his lips as he cleaned everything.

After making his pallet on the floor, Stubborn Su sprawled out on it and rolled his eyes at Lin Fan. "Humph, so young and yet so frail. No wonder Mengqing wants to divorce you. You’re a disgrace to all men."

"Keep blabbering, and I swear I’ll go straight to Su Mengqing and expose your true intentions with Yuan Ruohai," Lin Fan shot back coldly, his face turning green.

"Tsk, tsk. Can’t even mention it, huh?" Stubborn Su sported a triumphant smirk. He turned away and started scrolling through videos of beautiful women on his phone.

Xiao Jie, sitting beside him, craned his neck eagerly to watch, giggling foolishly.

"..."

Lin Fan looked away and pulled a chair to the door. He looked up at the sky. It was a starless, moonless expanse, oppressively dark, as if a torrential downpour was imminent.

Chapter 74: Kill Lin Fan tonight!

On the outskirts of town, outside the gates of the Yuan family estate.

Yuan Ruohai’s face was etched with unwillingness as he turned to gaze at the brightly lit manor behind the gates. Just moments ago, he had tried his best to persuade and coax the old man, but his grandfather simply wouldn’t take the bait.

He even patted Yuan Ruohai on the shoulder with a smile, encouraging him to be self-reliant and carve out a new world for himself in Sha Country!

As for investments, there was not a cent.

Even worse, he was forbidden from returning to the Yuan family and had to leave Haicheng immediately!

"Dad, if Grandfather doesn’t trust you, there’s nothing we can do... Sigh." Yuan Tao, who had walked him to the door, shook his head and sighed, a hint of pity in his eyes.

"I think the old man has just gone senile. He’s lost all his courage for taking risks!" Yuan Ruoshan snorted beside him. He pulled out a bank card and handed it to Yuan Ruohai. "Second Brother, I have several million here. Consider it support from your younger brother!"

"I’ll invest one million too!"

"Second Master, I don’t have much, but I’ll contribute five hundred thousand for now!"

Other Yuan family members who had followed them out also chimed in, pulling out their phones to transfer money to Yuan Ruohai.

"...I, Yuan Ruohai, will remember everyone’s kindness. One day, I will repay you a hundredfold!"

Yuan Ruohai’s nose tingled. He felt moved, yet also indignant and grieved. Once, he was the Second Master of the Yuan family, a man worth over a billion. Now, he had steeled his heart to grab the money and run, yet he had only managed to gather these bits and scraps!

What a disgrace! It’s utterly humiliating!

"Dad, I have thirty thousand here, think of it as a small token..." Yuan Tao hesitated for a long while before gritting his teeth and pulling out his phone, also intending to transfer money to his father.

"Forget it. Just keep it for yourself."

Yuan Ruohai’s body trembled, his face turning green. Is this kid really my son? He’s acting like pulling out thirty thousand yuan is going to kill him! Damn it all, that’s worse than tossing a few coins at a beggar!

"Oh, well, you take care of yourself, Dad. I’ll look after Mom and my sister." Yuan Tao breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly put his phone back in his pocket.

He couldn’t see if his father’s plan was real this time. But following the lead of his second sister, Yuan Youwei, and his grandfather was definitely the right choice. They all thought the Prince of Sha Country was unreliable and weren’t willing to put up any money. They’d rather waste the cash on a night out at a club than throw it away on this scheme!

"Alright, no need to see me off. I need to get back to His Highness the Prince." Yuan Ruohai ignored Yuan Tao, nodded to Yuan Ruoshan and the others, then got into the car and drove away.

Though he hadn’t raised a large sum, it was still a small gain. Plus, with the message from Stubborn Su Gang that he had secured over five hundred million from the Su family, their combined total would put his personal net worth back over a hundred million after they split it.

"Second Master, someone wants to see you."

After a while, as the car was driving toward the city, the Yuan family’s chauffeur suddenly glanced at the rearview mirror and spoke.

"What do you mean? Who wants to see me?" Yuan Ruohai’s eyes narrowed in the backseat as he forced himself to remain calm.

"Chen Heihu, Lord Hu."

"...Fine. I am willing to meet my old friend, Lord Hu." Yuan Ruohai’s brows relaxed, and he nodded.

SCREECH!

The car screeched to a halt before making a U-turn and heading toward the urban village in the eastern part of the city.

「Meanwhile.」

Deep within the Yuan family estate, in the master’s living quarters.

"Youwei, what do you think?" Mr. Yuan Sr., dressed in a loose robe, sat cheerfully on a spacious sofa and asked Yuan Youwei, who was seated beside him.

"Grandfather, even though Lin Fan said that man is genuinely the Prince of Sha Country... I still find it somewhat dubious." Yuan Youwei hesitated a moment but still shook her head.

"Ruohai’s little tricks can only deceive fools like Yuan Ruoshan," Mr. Yuan Sr. laughed, a sharp light glinting in his cloudy old eyes. "Anyway, let’s drop this... I heard Lin Fan made quite a scene at the Wang family’s place today and even produced nine invaluable prescriptions?"

Before Yuan Youwei could respond, Mrs. Xue jumped in, unable to hold back her complaint. "It’s true, Mr. Yuan Sr.! And on top of that, Lin Fan has a backup plan! He wants to use the special medicine boxes that preserve the herbs to force those nine families to pay up and secure the four-billion-yuan order!"

"Mrs. Xue, so you also think this Lin Fan fellow is unreliable?" Mr. Yuan Sr. was stunned for a moment, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.

He became  even more suspicious of Lin Fan’s true identity. Perhaps this young man wasn’t the person he had imagined. The Vermilion Bird Ring he possessed was probably just something he had obtained by chance.

"Grandfather, on the contrary, I think Lin Fan will definitely succeed!"

At that moment, Yuan Youwei’s beautiful eyes shone with confidence as she spoke decisively.

"Alright, let’s make a bet then." Mr. Yuan Sr. blinked, smiling meaningfully. "Youwei, don’t forget, you still have a marriage arrangement over in the Imperial Capital."

"...Weren’t you the one who told me to try and win Lin Fan over?" Yuan Youwei’s face flushed slightly as she replied, puzzled. "I never took that marriage arrangement seriously."

"That was then, this is now. I must have been mistaken before." Mr. Yuan Sr. narrowed his eyes and grunted. "However, it doesn’t matter. If Lin Fan can really secure four billion just by selling medicine boxes, then he is worthy of being the grandson-in-law of me, Yuan Tianguang."

"If I win, not only will I call off the marriage arrangement in the Imperial Capital, but I will also resign as vice president to help Lin Fan manage Yuandao Pharmaceuticals!" Yuan Youwei’s eyes flashed, and she replied with a sweet, coquettish smile.

"That boy really bewitches you... Fine, I agree!" Mr. Yuan Sr.’s face twitched. He was somewhat reluctant, but he still nodded.

***

"Brother Ruohai, long time no see."

The car stopped deep within the urban village in the eastern part of the city. The driver led Yuan Luohai into the dimly lit basement of a tube-like apartment building.

After knocking, someone opened the door from inside, revealing a brightly lit room.

Chen Heihu immediately stood up and strode forward to greet him with a booming laugh.

"Lord Hu, it’s been a long time. I’ve missed you." Yuan Ruohai smiled and gave Chen Heihu a big hug.

His gaze swept around, noting several scattered members of Black Tiger Hall. Surprisingly, two distinguished-looking strangers were also sitting in a corner, calmly drinking tea.

"I had you come here in person, Brother Ruohai, because of a fantastic opportunity." Chen Heihu clapped his hands.

Several people suddenly stepped inside, causing Yuan Ruohai’s eyes to widen.

The person in the lead was none other than the head of the Wang family and president of the Haicheng Pharmaceutical Association, Wang Tianchuan! The others with him were also of extraordinary status. In fact, they were all the top bosses of Haicheng’s nine largest pharmaceutical companies!

"We came to find Lord Hu tonight and ended up meeting Second Master Yuan. It must be fate!" Mr. Wang Sr. was beaming as he and the other executives nodded in greeting to Yuan Ruohai.

"Brother Ruohai, I won’t waste words. Everyone gathered here tonight has one purpose: to kill Lin Fan!"

Before a stunned Yuan Ruohai could ask any questions, Chen Heihu sneered and turned to bow to the two men in the corner.

"Gentlemen, a pleasure. I am Iguchi Watanabe, the vice president of the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group from Sakura Country." One of the stout men in a suit stood up and bowed deeply to the group.

What? Someone from Sakura Country? And from the infamous Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group, no less!

Yuan Ruohai’s body jolted, his expression stiffening as he stared intently at Chen Heihu.

It was a well-known fact that the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group was the public enemy of Xia Country’s pharmaceutical industry. The two sides had clashed repeatedly in the international medical market!

No wonder Chen Heihu had risen so rapidly from a small-time thug seven years ago to become the emperor of Haicheng’s underworld. It turned out he had a powerful backer like the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group behind him!

"To be honest, our Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group is affiliated with the great Holy Poison Sect," Iguchi Watanabe said, standing ramrod straight with a peculiar smile on his chubby face. "And this gentleman beside me is an external affairs elder of the Holy Poison Sect, Master Feng!"

He turned his head, his gaze reverent as he looked at the man by the tea table and announced loudly, "Master Feng came to Haicheng with me this time precisely to solve all of your problems by killing that damn fly named Lin Fan!"

Chapter 75: What’s the big deal about being a traitor?

"Mr. Iguchi is right. Master Feng is a grandmaster of martial arts—an expert in Qi Condensation!"

Seeing the crowd exchange bewildered glances, their expressions a mix of belief and doubt, Chen Heihu’s face beamed with pride as he deliberately bragged loudly. He had been extremely  frustrated these past few days. Not only had he been forced to hastily handle the affairs following his son Chen Biao’s death, but he also had to constantly fend off attacks from the major underground forces.

Ever since Lin Fan had razed the Black Tiger Hall’s headquarters, the remaining disciples had lost heart. Some ran, others fled. In an instant, the once-feared underground emperor had become a general without an army! As he watched his territories and businesses being snatched away one by one, including even the Black Tiger Building, Chen Heihu burned with anxiety but was utterly powerless. He could only hide here with a few loyal followers, waiting eagerly for support to arrive from the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group.

He had long known that the Iguchi family was merely one of the Sect Managers for the mysterious Holy Poison Sect, and he himself was just a pawn they had placed in Haicheng. The moment he lost his value, he could be abandoned at any time.

Fortunately, heaven helps those who work for it. Master Feng, a peerless expert, had finally arrived!

Lin Fan, oh, Lin Fan... you must die! You must be buried alongside Chen Biao!

"Mr. Chen is right," Iguchi Watanabe said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Master Feng rarely takes action, but when he does, he has few equals in this world."

In truth, he didn’t have the clout to call upon Master Feng. If it hadn’t been for a mishap within the Holy Poison Sect, which allowed a prisoner from Domatra Prison Island to escape, Master Feng would never have been alerted to personally track the fugitive down and rendezvous with him here in Haicheng.

"Master Feng, please forgive my boldness, but Lin Fan is very likely also a martial arts expert. You must not underestimate him!"

The room quieted for a moment. Yuan Ruohai and the others wore expressions of shocked doubt. Unable to hold back any longer, Mr. Wang Sr. was the first to break the silence. Recalling the various ways Lin Fan had made a fool of him, his old face burned with shame. He couldn’t help but step forward and whisper a reminder to Master Feng.

"As far as I know, the path of martial arts is divided into Dark Energy, Righteous Energy, Qi Condensation, mysterious energy, and the rumored God Realm," Mr. Wang Sr. said, his brows furrowed in hesitation. "I suspect Lin Fan can manifest his Qi to control needles from afar. He might also be a Hua Jing Grandmaster!"

What? Was Lin Fan that formidable? But how could someone so young possess strength on par with Master Feng?

Hearing this, the expressions on Chen Heihu and Iguchi Watanabe’s faces changed. Yuan Ruohai and the others stared with wide eyes, completely incredulous.

"Mr. Wang Sr., have you gone senile?" Chen Heihu’s face soured as he rolled his eyes and scoffed. "Lin Fan, a Hua Jing Grandmaster? What a joke!"

"I’m not talking nonsense! Lin Fan just outsmarted me today!" Mr. Wang Sr. blurted out, too desperate to care about saving face. He quickly recounted everything that had happened at the Wang family residence.

"Based on what you’ve said, the man does have some real skill."

The next moment, Master Feng, who had been sipping his tea, finally spoke, his head still unturned. His graying white hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his entire body was shrouded in a large black robe, making him resemble an oversized crow and emanating a chilling aura.

CRACK!

The white porcelain teacup in his hand shattered, sending fragments flying. With a swift grab, Master Feng snatched the horrified Mr. Wang Sr. and pulled him forward.

"Your body does indeed retain the fluctuating aura of Qi Condensation."

Before the old man could resist or struggle, Master Feng clamped down on his wrist, closing his eyes to sense it carefully. After a moment, he released his grip and let out a hoarse, sinister laugh.

"I originally came to capture that fugitive and handle your little troubles on the side. I didn’t expect to encounter a reasonably strong opponent. Not bad, not bad at all!"

BOOM!

The aura of a peak Qi Condensation expert erupted from him! The solid wood tea table instantly splintered and collapsed into a pile of debris. Standing closest, Mr. Wang Sr. and Iguchi Watanabe staggered backward, their faces as pale as paper.

"Master Feng is mighty! Nobody like Lin Fan will be captured in no time!" Chen Heihu exclaimed, his eyes wild with joy as he shamelessly flattered him.

"As long as Master Feng can kill Lin Fan, I, Yuan Ruohai, am willing to serve you loyally!" Yuan Ruohai shouted with excitement, his eyes gleaming.

"My Wang family will be eternally grateful to Master Feng for avenging us!" Mr. Wang Sr. said, forcing himself to look composed as his expression shifted to a broad smile. He wiped sweat beads from his forehead.

"Now that everyone has witnessed Master Feng’s power, I assume you no longer have any worries?" Iguchi Watanabe announced loudly as he walked back to his spot. "I hope to cooperate with all of you to take over the Haicheng Pharmaceutical Ordering Conference and counterattack the pharmaceutical market of Northern Daxia!

"Our Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group doesn’t require any of the profits. We just want to fully monopolize Xia Country’s entire medicinal herb export business!"

The room fell into a dead silence. Everyone’s expression changed as they collectively gasped. All eyes shot toward Chen Heihu and Yuan Ruohai. No wonder these two were colluding to kill Yuan Tianguang, the Chamber of Commerce Chairman. He had repeatedly refused partnership offers from the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group, adamant about preventing Haicheng’s high-quality medicinal materials from being monopolized by foreign merchants.

In recent years, countries like Sakura Country and Goryeo have fervently claimed that they were the true successors to traditional Han medicine. The Han-style remedies they registered were already causing a stir in the international pharmaceutical market, threatening to overshadow those from Xia Country. If they succeeded, wouldn’t the millennia-old orthodox tradition of Xia Country’s medicine be renamed and stolen? To participate in this... would be no different from becoming a traitor!

"What? Is no one willing to accept the goodwill of our Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group?" Seeing everyone just looking at each other in silence, even the previously enthusiastic Mr. Wang Sr. now wore a troubled, hesitant expression. Iguchi Watanabe exchanged a glance with Chen Heihu and grunted in displeasure.

"Do you all know why Yuan Tianguang suddenly fell ill six months ago, leaving the so-called famous doctors of the Yuan family completely helpless?" Iguchi Watanabe’s round, chubby face lost its amicable look, replaced by a sinister smile. "It’s because he was implanted with a Poison Insect from the Holy Poison Sect—and only the lowest-grade one at that!"

This was a blatant threat. If they didn’t agree, they might suffer the same fate as Mr. Yuan Sr.

"...My Wang family is willing to cooperate with you!" Mr. Wang Sr. finally said, gritting his teeth and nodding first.

Humph, it’s just business. What does it matter who I work with? It’s all about making money, so what if I become a traitor? Once I’ve earned enough, I can just emigrate. Who cares what they say about me back home!

"My Song family is also willing to cooperate!"

"My Fang family as well!"

"And my Meng family!"

Seeing that Mr. Wang Sr. had already accepted, the remaining pharmaceutical magnates exchanged glances, their hesitation giving way to temptation. One by one, they loudly voiced their agreement, their earlier concerns vanishing.

"Very good. I believe you will all soon realize that this was an extremely wise choice," Iguchi Watanabe said with a benevolent smile, nodding in satisfaction as he shot Chen Heihu an approving look.

"Brother Ruohai, what do you say?" Chen Heihu asked, turning to Yuan Ruohai, whose expression was still shifting. "Mr. Iguchi means that as long as you continue to cooperate and get rid of that troublesome old man Yuan Tianguang, he will not only ensure you take control of the Yuan family but also appoint you as the agent for the Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group’s branch in Haicheng!"

At these words, Yuan Ruohai trembled.

Since the old man looks down on me and thinks I’m incapable of handling great responsibility, I might as well throw my lot in with Sakura Country. At least they’re offering tangible benefits!

"I’m willing! Of course, I’m willing! Thank you, Lord Hu! Thank you, Mr. Iguchi, for making this happen!" Yuan Ruohai exclaimed, his face alight with ecstasy as he nodded frantically, afraid they would rescind the offer if he hesitated.

"Excellent! There’s no time to waste. I’ll take my men to the Yuan family tonight and finish off Yuan Tianguang!" Chen Heihu declared with a satisfied grin, then looked eagerly at Master Feng.

"I-I-I’ll take Master Feng to find Lin Fan right now! I know where he is!" Before Master Feng could respond, Yuan Ruohai, flushed with excitement, spoke up with a vicious smile. "That damned bastard... He’ll never imagine that from this day forward, tonight will be his death anniversary!"

Chapter 76:Grandmaster? They are nothing to me!

BOOM! BOOM!

Deep in Southern City, the only light was on in the Suxin Clinic.

The night sky flashed with lightning and roared with thunder as the torrential rain hammered against the eaves. Lin Fan sat at the doorway, quietly watching the curtain of rain.

Inside, the room was stuffy. Stubborn Su Gang complained about the lack of air conditioning, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. Xiao Jie, on the other hand, lay sprawled out on his floor mat, sleeping so soundly that even the thunder couldn’t wake him.

"Lin Fan, what on earth are you looking at? It’s just rain. What’s so interesting?!" Stubborn Su Gang grabbed a chair, sat down opposite Lin Fan, and complained irritably. "If I’d known this damn place was so unbearable, I would’ve gotten a room at a five-star hotel by myself!"

He nonchalantly pulled out his phone, logged onto a foreign betting site, and began to place bets with a grin.

"Playing with your phone in a thunderstorm? Aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning?" Lin Fan asked casually, without turning his head.

"Hmph, my fortune is boundless. What’s there to be afraid of?" Stubborn Su Gang snorted, but just as he was about to say more, he suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, as if an invisible pair of hands were gripping his heart. A terrifyingly formidable aura began to descend upon them.

Stubborn Su Gang’s mouth fell open, his eyes widening in astonishment. At some point, Lin Fan had already stood up and stepped into the rain. Yet, the downpour was repelled in a three-foot radius around him, leaving him completely dry.

What the hell? Is this a magic trick...?

Stubborn Su Gang swallowed hard, a premonition of impending doom washing over him. He hurriedly put down his phone and rushed over to shove Xiao Jie awake.

"Stop fucking sleeping! Something big is happening!"

"Are the city management here to kick us out again?" Xiao Jie mumbled, rubbing his groggy eyes.

"It’s not them, it’s Lin Fan! He... he..." Infuriated, Stubborn Su Gang smacked the back of Xiao Jie’s head and turned to point outside. He froze.

The night rain poured down from a starless, moonless sky. Under the dim halo of the alley’s streetlamp, two figures holding umbrellas were walking toward them, treading through the pooled water on the ground. One was the stone-faced Yuan Ruohai. The other was a thin, tall middle-aged man cloaked in a black robe. He had graying white hair draped over his shoulders, and his gaunt face sported a sickly smirk.

"Yuan Second Master, why did you bring someone over?" Stubborn Su Gang shouted, a wave of relief washing over him as he moved to the doorway. "It’s too cramped in here! Xiao Jie and I already have to sleep on the floor; there’s no room for you two!"

Yuan Ruohai and Master Feng both jolted.

Who the fuck is here to sleep on the floor? We’re here to kill him! To exterminate Lin Fan!

"Old Su, this has nothing to do with you or Xiao Jie! Get as far away from here as you can, now!" Yuan Ruohai shouted back, his face grim as he stopped. He fixed his gaze on Lin Fan, who was just a few steps away, looking at him as if he were already a dead man.

"No, it is related to that person."

The next moment, Master Feng stepped out from under the umbrella, walking into the rain alone. The deluge pelted down, but it too was repelled just above his head. For a moment, Master Feng and Lin Fan stood in a standoff, each isolated in their own dry, man-shaped space within the gloomy curtain of rain.

"That person," Master Feng said, pointing a finger toward Xiao Jie inside the clinic, "is the target of my journey." He let out a sinister smile. "Good, very good. Coming here in the rain lets me kill two birds with one stone. Truly satisfying!"

"Master Feng, are you mistaken? Xiao Jie is just an ordinary person. How could he be the one you’re looking for?" Yuan Ruohai stammered, completely dumbfounded.

"An ordinary person? Do you have any idea who he really is?" Master Feng said without turning. He slowly took out a two-inch-long, pitch-black spike from his robes and fitted it onto a sheath on his right wrist. "His name is Abdullah Bulger. He is the youngest son of the current Emperor of Sha Country and a major criminal of the Holy Poison Sect deliberately imprisoned on Domatra Prison Island!"

BOOM!

At these words, both Yuan Ruohai and Stubborn Su Gang, inside the clinic, shuddered as if struck by lightning. They both turned stiffly to look at the shivering Xiao Jie.

What kind of joke is this? Was he telling the truth all along? A real, bona fide Prince of Sha Country?! Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. I really stumbled upon some outrageous fucking luck!

Stubborn Su Gang stared blankly, unable to snap out of his shock.

Yuan Ruohai’s eyes gleamed with ecstasy, but his expression soon turned to one of suspicion. Normally, I would have protected Xiao Jie at all costs. But now... He steeled his heart, gritted his teeth, and chose to continue standing with Master Feng. In any case, it doesn’t look like Lin Fan stands a chance against Master Feng. Once this guy is dead, Xiao Jie will be captured. Then, the Yuan family will have no one who can stand against Chen Heihu’s Black Tiger Hall. I will finally take control of the Yuan family and obtain the overwhelming power I’ve always dreamed of!

"So you really are from the Holy Poison Sect."

Finally, after a long silence, Lin Fan spoke. He looked Master Feng up and down and nodded. "Not bad. You’re at least at the peak of Qi Condensation. Worthy of my attention."

"What a joke! You, a mere upstart, dare to look down on me, Feng Zhengkuang?" Master Feng was taken aback for a moment before bursting into sinister laughter. "For that remark alone, you will die!"

BOOM!

Master Feng stomped his foot. The water on the ground rippled as if from a drumbeat, splashing in all directions. In an instant, he shot through the heavy rain like a pitch-black crow and appeared before Lin Fan. The dark spike became a blur of death, whistling through the air as it slashed toward Lin Fan’s throat.

"In your next life, remember this: A Hua Jing Grandmaster is not to be insulted!"

"A Hua Jing Grandmaster? To me, you are as insignificant as grass and weeds!"

SPLASH!

With his hands behind his back, Lin Fan lightly tapped his toes on the water's surface. His entire body blurred into a weightless shadow, instantly retreating ten yards and casually evading Master Feng’s killing blow.

"It’s a pity you came too late. If it were before, I might have been a bit wary." He flipped his right palm, and a fine silver needle appeared between his fingers. After ingesting the White Dragon Grass, the poison from the Seven-Core Deadly Lotus in his body had been further suppressed. As a result, much of his strength had returned. "Now, I advise you not to waste your time. Surrender, and you might at least leave behind an intact corpse."

HISS!

Lin Fan’s eyes darkened as he flicked his finger. The silver needle shot out like a sharp arrow, blasting through the sheets of rain and aiming straight for the space between Master Feng’s eyes.

"Hmph! Such a parlor trick, and you dare show it off before an expert!" Master Feng swung his spike to block, a contemptuous sneer forming on his lips.

The next moment, the smile on his face froze. He stumbled backward again and again, collapsing into the downpour. The indestructible spike had actually been pierced by the soft silver needle. Moreover, the overwhelming Qi Force carried by the needle had exploded just inches from his brow. If he hadn’t dodged in time, he would have been killed in a single move.

"Who are you? From which sect do you come?" Master Feng scrambled to his feet, his face as ugly as if he had just swallowed a dead fly. It had been years since anyone had pushed him into such a wretched state. This seemingly ordinary young man had to be a peerless, reclusive genius.

Chapter 77: Lord of Human Tower

"Me? I’m just an ordinary person." Hearing this, Lin Fan picked up another slender silver needle and shook his head. "First, you answer me. Seven years ago, why did your Holy Poison Sect plant the Seven-Core Deadly Lotus poison in a young man? And why was the Ying family of the Imperial Capital nearly driven to utter ruin?"

He stared intently at Master Feng, suppressing the turmoil in his heart as he asked in a deep voice.

"Heh, if you want to know the answer, you’ll have to beat me first!"

CRACK!

Master Feng stomped hard on the ground. The tiles under the standing water instantly shattered, sending large fissures snaking outwards. With a powerful leap, he shot high into the air. A short spike on the back of his hand emitted a one-inch-long blue light, flickering uncertainly like a candle’s flame.

"My patience is limited. I already gave you a chance."

Lin Fan’s eyes turned completely cold. He set down the silver needle, raised his fist, and unleashed a devastating punch at the approaching figure.

BOOM!

The tremendous force of the punch made the surrounding rain explode violently, creating transparent, arc-shaped ripples in the air. Even Yuan Ruohai, Stubborn Su Gang, and Xiao Jie, who were a short distance away, turned pale and retreated several steps. The sheer power of the aura was overwhelming, as suffocating as if a great mountain was pressing down on them.

"You—you’re not a Qi Condensation Grandmaster! You wield mysterious energy... Pfft!"

The furiously charging Master Feng suddenly froze mid-air. He let out a hysterical scream, his eyes bulging as if he had seen a ghost. Sent flying backward by Lin Fan’s punch, he vomited a spray of blood.

SPLASH!

Master Feng crashed heavily into a puddle, struggling frantically to lift his head from the rainwater. His long hair was plastered to his head, and his black robe was soaked through, making him look like a giant, drenched black chicken.

GASP!

Seeing this, Stubborn Su Gang and Xiao Jie were left dumbfounded yet again.

Yuan Ruohai trembled, his heart leaping into his throat. He had known Lin Fan was formidable, capable of single-handedly wiping out the Black Tiger Hall’s headquarters. But he had never imagined that Lin Fan could overpower even Master Feng! Just two moves, and Master Feng had lost.

He instantly regretted meddling in this mess. But now he was in an untenable position. If Master Feng died here, he would be hard-pressed to escape the blame. How could he explain this to Chen Heihu and Iguchi Watanabe!

SPLASH. SPLASH.

Expressionless, Lin Fan waded through the water, approaching Master Feng step by step. A murderous intent surged in his eyes, so sharp it was hard to look at him directly.

"Lin Fan! Do you know who he works for?" Yuan Ruohai gritted his teeth and rushed in front of Master Feng, blocking Lin Fan’s path. "Even the renowned Mr. Iguchi Watanabe, the vice president of Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group, holds Master Feng in the highest regard!" he braced himself and shouted sternly. "If you dare lay a single finger on him, it’s not just you—the entire Yuan family won’t be able to bear the consequences!"

"Iguchi Pharmaceutical Group?" Hearing this, Lin Fan’s brow furrowed, his expression growing even colder. "Yuan Ruohai, I originally thought you had simply gone astray because you were unhappy with Yuan Youwei taking charge."

SMACK!

He suddenly raised his hand and sent Yuan Ruohai flying with a heavy slap.

"You dog. How dare you collude with a pharmaceutical company from Sakura Country? Who gave you the right to bark at me?"

"You... you bastard, you dare hit me? Who the hell do you think you are, lecturing me, the Second Master of the Yuan family!" Yuan Ruohai collapsed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood and broken teeth, his head buzzing. He shook it violently to clear his vision. Filled with shock and fury, he pointed at Lin Fan and screamed.

"Getting a beating is the least you deserve. For years, Mr. Yuan Sr. has refused to let foreign pharmaceutical companies get their hands on Haicheng’s medical market. But you? You went out of your way to suck up to them?" Lin Fan said, his eyes flashing with rage as he coldly raised his hand again. As a former soldier of Xia Country, he naturally despised such traitorous dogs. Even if this man is a member of the Yuan family, Yuan Youwei’s own uncle, if he dares to remain so stubbornly delusional... Lin Fan didn’t mind personally exterminating a traitor for his country.

"You—what are you doing? Lin Fan! If you kill me, do you think Yuan Youwei will ever forgive you!?"

Facing those cold, murderous eyes, Yuan Ruohai’s body trembled violently, and he fought the sudden urge to wet his pants. He was absolutely certain that Lin Fan genuinely wanted to kill him. In an instant, Yuan Ruohai scrambled with his hands and feet, crawling desperately toward the alley exit.

Where there’s life, there’s hope. To die here for nothing would be a tremendous loss!

"If Yuan Youwei knew she had an uncle like you, I’m sure she would support my choice," Lin Fan said, walking slowly and deliberately toward Yuan Ruohai.

"Don’t... don’t come any closer!" A chill shot through Yuan Ruohai’s entire body, and his heart turned to ice. In his terror, he had no choice but to scream at Master Feng, who was just a few steps away. "Master Feng! Save me, please save me!"

"Even if you scream yourself hoarse today, no one can save you," Lin Fan said, glancing at Master Feng without breaking stride as he continued to advance on Yuan Ruohai.

"Wait! Just a moment!"

Just then, Master Feng, struggling to his feet while clutching his chest, cried out. His pair of cold, triangular eyes was fixed intently on Lin Fan’s right hand.

THUD!

"This subordinate greets the Young Master!" Master Feng’s expression changed drastically. Trembling, he dropped straight to his knees before Lin Fan in the pouring rain.

The sudden turn of events plunged the alley into a dead silence, broken only by the raging thunderstorm overhead.

Inside the clinic, Stubborn Su Gang and Xiao Jie, who had mustered the courage to peek outside, were completely stunned. Even Yuan Ruohai, who was desperately crawling to escape, was instantly petrified. He gaped, his mouth wide enough to fit a large sausage.

What... What is happening now? It’s one thing to lose the fight, but how can you have the gall to kneel before him?! Some martial arts grandmaster, some external affairs elder of the Holy Poison Sect... What a colossal joke! Stunned, Yuan Ruohai was both shocked and enraged, cursing a blue streak in his mind.

"You also recognize this ring?" Lin Fan fell silent for a moment. He followed Master Feng’s gaze down to the precious ring in his own hand.

This relic from my mother... its origins are probably far larger  than I ever imagined. First, it terrified Yuan Tianguang into kneeling and wetting his pants. And now, even a fierce and haughty Qi Condensation Grandmaster is forced to bow his head and kneel?

"This... this is the symbol of the Human Tower Master! I would recognize it even if I were turned to ash!" Master Feng shuffled forward on his knees, stopping before Lin Fan and replying with his head bowed in terror and reverence.

SMACK!

He suddenly raised his hand and struck himself hard across the face. "This subordinate was blind not to recognize the Young Master earlier! I beg for punishment!"

"Hold on. ’Lord of the Human Tower’? What does that mean?" Lin Fan frowned, removing the ring to examine it closely.

On the ruby face of the ring, a small bird poised for flight was engraved using an intaglio method. The lines were smooth and fluid, a clear display of the Eight Blade Technique, making the bird look charmingly simple and delightful.

"The Human Tower is one of the three great towers of the Vermilion Bird Twelve Towers, alongside the Heaven and Earth Second Building. Together, these great towers command the nine lower towers," Master Feng explained, looking up with a mixture of doubt and astonishment. "Could it be that the Young Master has never heard that the Vermilion Bird Twelve Towers is a notorious assassination organization, known both at home and abroad? As long as the price is right, we dare assassinate anyone, from powerful dignitaries to the head of a state! And this Vermilion Bird Ring is the symbol of the Human Tower Master. To see the ring is to see the Human Tower Master!"

As he spoke, tears of excitement streamed down Master Feng’s face, and he prostrated himself before Lin Fan once more.

"This subordinate, Feng Zhengkuang, codename Han Ya, was the former Vice-Lord of the Human Tower! Alas, seven years ago, the Lord vanished. The brothers of the tower scattered, and the Human Tower now exists in name only! Please, Young Lord, revive the glory of the Human Tower and let us hold our heads high once more!"

Chapter 78: Serenity Powder

"...I think you must have mistaken me for someone else." After a prolonged silence, Lin Fan put the ring back on and shook his head. "This precious ring is a relic from my mother. She told me my grandmaster gave it to her long ago."

"No, your subordinate couldn’t possibly be mistaken! This is the Moderator’s token!" Master Feng quickly wiped away his tears, his face earnest as he spoke urgently. "The rule of the Vermilion Bird Tower is to recognize the ring, not the person!"

"Whoever holds this Vermilion Bird Ring is the Human Tower Master!"

"Alright, get up. Come inside so we can talk this over." With his mind in a whirl, Lin Fan exhaled heavily, deciding to go inside to get the full story.

"Young Master, these people now know the deepest secrets of our Human Tower. They cannot be left alive." Master Feng got to his feet, turned to the prostrate Yuan Ruohai, and made a throat-slitting gesture.

"Bring him in first. We’ll deal with him later."

Ignoring Yuan Ruohai’s panicked expression as he desperately scrambled on the ground, Lin Fan turned and strode back into the clinic.

THUMP!

Master Feng grabbed Yuan Ruohai by the collar and threw him heavily inside, as if tossing a large garbage bag.

Seeing Lin Fan and Master Feng inexplicably reconciled, Stubborn Su Gang was utterly bewildered, hiding in a corner and not daring to get any closer.

Xiao Jie’s eyes glazed over. He let out a terrified wail, trembling as he pointed at Master Feng. "Brother-in-law, save me! He’s the one who’s been hunting me!"

"Reporting to the Young Master," Master Feng explained awkwardly, his face filled with embarrassment, "this person is a key fugitive designated for strict surveillance by the Holy Poison Sect. He escaped by accident, and I chased him all the way to Haicheng to bring him back."

"Aren’t you the Vice Moderator of the Human Tower? How did you end up with the Holy Poison Sect?" Lin Fan asked in confusion, shielding Xiao Jie behind him.

The man’s revelations were a tremendous shock. Even now, Lin Fan’s head was still spinning. My mother, whom I had always regarded as gentle and kind, was once the leader of a notorious assassin organization. It would be incredible for anyone to believe, let alone me. My mother, who couldn’t even bring herself to kill a chicken during the holidays... Lin Fan shook his head. The idea was utterly preposterous.

"Young Master, you may not know this, but to ensure our loyalty, the Tower bestows Serenity Powder upon us annually," Master Feng said, his expression bitter as he gazed at the Vermilion Bird Ring in Lin Fan’s hand.

"It is both a miraculous medicine that can relax the muscles, invigorate the blood, strengthen the body, and enhance one’s martial arts cultivation. But if you stop taking it for a long time, your qi and blood will flow in reverse, causing unbearable pain!

"Seven years ago, the previous Human Tower Master suddenly lost contact with us," he sighed helplessly. "To suppress the adverse effects of the Serenity Powder, I had no choice but to take my brothers and join the Holy Poison Sect, relying on their elixirs to alleviate the pain."

Hearing this, Lin Fan’s heart stirred. He touched the face of the ring and, slowly twisting it, managed to remove it completely. The ring face was hollow, filled with specks of scarlet powder.

"Young Master! This is the Serenity Powder! Please bestow some upon your subordinate; just a little bit will do!" Master Feng’s pupils shrank as he stared at the scarlet powder, crying out in a mixture of shock and joy.

Serenity Powder... I should be able to replicate this. Lin Fan nodded, bringing the powder to his nose and sniffing it carefully. With a plan forming in his mind, he looked at Master Feng, who was swallowing repeatedly in anticipation.

"Gather the old members of the Human Tower and pledge your loyalty to me. In return, I will continue to supply you with Serenity Powder."

"Of course! On behalf of all our brothers, I thank you for your immense grace, Young Master!" Overjoyed, Master Feng once again prostrated himself before Lin Fan, kowtowing repeatedly.

"From now on, no killing without my command. And don’t take on any of those messy assassination bounties." Lin Fan used the tip of a silver needle to carefully pick up a tiny amount of Serenity Powder and handed it to Master Feng.

The latter eagerly took it and licked the needle clean, an expression of blissful relief spreading across his face.

"Does the Hai City Yuan Family have any relation to the Human Tower?" Lin Fan asked, his eyes sharp as he recalled Mr. Yuan Sr.’s strange deference.

"This... your subordinate does not know, Young Master," Master Feng said, standing up and shaking his head awkwardly.

"Years ago, the Tower did invest a great deal of money to support Sect Managers in various regions, having them help with finances and daily expenses.

"However, as the assassination bounties we accepted became more numerous, the status of these Sect Managers became less important, and we gradually fell out of contact."

Sect Managers... I see now. Lin Fan’s brow furrowed as the pieces fell into place. Mr. Yuan Sr. only knelt and called himself ’this humble servant’ after he saw my ring. I thought it was baffling at the time, but now it’s clear. The entire Yuan family must be an asset of the Vermilion Bird Tower’s Human Tower!

Suppressing these thoughts, Lin Fan turned to Xiao Jie. "What’s the situation in Sha Country? Has the Holy Poison Sect taken complete control of the royal family?"

"Reporting to Young Master," Master Feng interjected, bowing respectfully. "The situation in Sha Country is merely one of the Holy Poison Sect’s schemes. They aim to prop up the Crown Prince as a puppet to gain control of the entire country’s mineral resources!

"Speaking of which, the people in charge of detaining the Sha Country Royal Family are basically our brothers!"

"Very well. I want you to sever ties with the Holy Poison Sect immediately and take back royal authority in Sha Country from the Crown Prince’s hands." Lin Fan hesitated, but he ultimately couldn’t withstand Xiao Jie’s pleading gaze.

An image of Adele’s smiling face flashed through his mind. A pang of pain struck his heart. Steeling himself, he gave Master Feng a stern command.

"I’ll give you one day. Assemble in Haicheng and pledge your loyalty to me."

"Rest assured, Young Master! I will contact our Human Tower brothers in every region immediately!" Master Feng hesitated for only a moment before nodding firmly, his jaw set.

The Holy Poison Sect’s elixirs could alleviate the pain from the Serenity Powder, but they never treated us as their own. We were just lowly enforcers. Otherwise, they certainly wouldn’t have made the Vice Moderator of the dignified Human Tower personally chase down a fugitive.

"As for these two..." Master Feng looked toward Stubborn Su Gang and Yuan Ruohai, once again making a throat-slitting gesture.

THUMP!

Yuan Ruohai’s face turned deathly pale as he dropped to his knees before Lin Fan. "I... I am willing to join the Human Tower and pledge my loyalty to Young Master Lin!"

His forehead was drenched in cold sweat, his back completely soaked. At this moment, Yuan Ruohai’s face burned with shame, and he was sick with regret. After hearing so many secrets, if I don’t become one of them, death is the only other path! If only I’d known how formidable his background was, I would have never dared to oppose him!

"I’m willing too! I’m willing!" Under four pairs of watchful eyes, Stubborn Su Gang shuddered and scrambled to his knees beside Yuan Ruohai, forcing a smile that was more painful than a grimace.

"If you want to join the Human Tower, you must consume the Serenity Powder," Master Feng said with a sinister smile before Lin Fan could speak.

"Alright, alright, we’ll take it... we’ll both take it..."

After taking the small bit of powder Lin Fan scraped off with the needle, Stubborn Su Gang and Yuan Ruohai exchanged a look and, with pained expressions, consumed it.

"...You’re an exception," Lin Fan said, patting an eager-looking Xiao Jie on the shoulder. "You’re the Prince of Sha Country; there’s no need for you to get involved in the struggles of the Jianghu."

The so-called Serenity Powder is just a tool for control. I trust Xiao Jie’s character; there’s no need to use it on him. Besides, I’ll eventually have to return to the Imperial Capital to face the Ying family head-on. Having a wealthy supporter like Xiao Jie on my side will give me a huge advantage.

Xiao Jie chuckled, nodding with a crafty smile. "Heh, you’re going to be my brother-in-law sooner or later anyway. We’ve been on the same side for a long time."

Lin Fan pretended not to hear him. He turned to the kneeling Yuan Ruohai and Stubborn Su Gang, rubbing his fingers together suggestively. "Since you’re pledging loyalty," he began, "you two must have made quite a bit of money by now, right? I don’t expect you to charge into battle, but you can certainly contribute some funds."

Chapter 79:  Who said I’m dead?

What, what? After taking the Serenity Powder, we still have to cough up money?

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ruohai and Stubborn Su Gang were both shocked, their faces instantly freezing. I have to say, Lin Fan, you really are a scoundrel! You knew we just got our hands on the money, and now you’re extorting us? Doesn’t this mean we did all that work for nothing, and you get to reap all the benefits?

"I... I am willing to offer nine million!" Yuan Ruohai’s expression shifted repeatedly as he gritted his teeth and reluctantly produced a bank card, holding it high above his head with both hands.

"You went back to the Yuan family, and this is all you managed to get?" Lin Fan asked with a frown as he took the bank card.