"Uh, it's you!" Lin Tang said, a little surprised. "Don't you know that your Chairman Wei was the one who invited me?"
"Hahaha—" Lu Liangfei sneered. "Still bragging when you're about to die. Men! Surround him! Don't let him get away!"
Having said that, he sprinted upstairs, screaming at the top of his lungs, "Chairman! Chairman!"
"What is it?" Wei Shanhe's expression was grim. The distinguished guest, Master Lin, was due to arrive any moment. For Little Lu to be shouting like this was a complete lack of decorum.
"It's like this..." Lu Liangfei hurriedly explained.
"Oh?" Wei Shanhe's eyebrows shot up. A powerful aura erupted from him as he immediately descended the stairs.
Lu Liangfei didn't even stop to catch his breath, following close behind. He wanted to personally witness Chairman Wei teach Lin Tang a lesson; only then would he be satisfied.
Back on the first floor, Lu Liangfei heard no sounds of a fight and was momentarily stunned. He couldn't have escaped already, could he? These useless fools can't even stop one person... Excellent, he's still here!
As soon as he reached the doorway, Lu Liangfei couldn't wait to point at Lin Tang. "Chairman, it's him—"
"Master Lin!" Wei Shanhe shoved him aside, then strode briskly toward Lin Tang. He bowed slightly and extended a hand for a handshake, a warm, enthusiastic smile on his face. "Ah, you're here too!"
"Yes, I just arrived," Lin Tang nodded.
Wei Shanhe's face was full of apology. "Master Lin, please wait just a moment while I deal with this small fry." Then, turning his head, he questioned Lu Liangfei, "Little Lu, where is this son-in-law of the Shen family you were talking about?"
"Uh... he... I..." Lu Liangfei stood there like an idiot, completely dumbfounded.
「VIP Suite.」
Once the truth came to light...
SMACK!
Wei Shanhe slammed his palm down, shattering the table. "Scoundrel!"
THUMP!
Lu Liangfei scrambled to his knees, kowtowing and pleading for mercy. "Chairman, I was wrong! It's my fault for being so blind! I deserve to die a thousand deaths, please just spare me this once..."
He never could have imagined that Lin Tang, despite his youth, was not only a martial arts expert but also possessed miraculous medical skills. And he had just happened to save Wei Shanhe's life!
Damn it... why didn't he say so earlier!
"Master Lin, I am truly sorry. It's my fault for not getting the facts straight. It's also this scoundrel Lu Liangfei's fault for not being able to tell right from wrong and twisting the truth," Wei Shanhe said, bowing apologetically to Lin Tang before kicking Lu Liangfei again. "I will immediately withdraw my men from the Shen family, and he is at your disposal!"
Lu Liangfei trembled, kowtowing frantically to Lin Tang for mercy. He added that the truly hateful one was that bitch Xie Yingying, as she was the one who spread the rumor that Lin Tang had called the True Martial Association trash. Lin Tang had never said such a thing.
"How audacious! Men, go and tie up everyone from the Xie family to atone for their crimes!" Wei Shanhe roared, his face flushing with embarrassment. He had actually been fooled by a young woman.
Wei Zichu quietly glanced at Lin Tang from the side, her feelings a little complicated; she wasn't sure if what she felt was regret. So he's the husband Shen Youling just married...
After a new table was brought in, fine wine and lavish dishes—all sorts of delicacies from land and sea—were served. Lin Tang happened to be hungry, so he didn't hold back, digging in heartily. If anyone else had behaved this way, they might have been viewed with contempt. But in the eyes of Wei Zichu and the others, his actions were a sign of a genuine and straightforward character.
"Come, come, Master Lin, let me toast you! Thank you for saving my life!" Wei Shanhe said, cheerfully raising his glass.
"Don't be so formal, Chairman Wei. You're my elder, so there's no need to call me 'Master.' Little Lin or Little Tang is fine." Lin Tang believed in returning courtesy with courtesy; he wasn't the arrogant type who looked down on others.
"How could I possibly..."
"Lin... Brother Lin, may I call you that?" Wei Zichu asked, acting very much like a proper lady in stark contrast to her previous brashness. "I'd like to toast you as well. Please forgive my earlier rudeness."
"It's nothing. It's all in the past," Lin Tang waved his hand magnanimously.
The atmosphere grew even more harmonious.
Wei Zichu grew curious. "Brother Lin, you're so young, how are your martial arts so much more advanced than mine? What realm have you reached? Don't tell me you're about to touch the threshold of the Innate realm?"
"Realm?" Lin Tang was taken aback. He couldn't very well admit that his Supreme True Dragon Art wasn't martial arts at all, but an extremely precious immortal Cultivation Technique. "I've just been practicing casually... I don't even really know how the martial arts realms are divided," he said vaguely.
"Huh?" Wei Zichu and Wei Shanhe were both astonished, but they were happy to explain.
They told him that the martial arts realms were divided into eight levels: Acquired, Innate, Master, Grandmaster, Heavenly King, Martial Saint, War God, and Human Immortal. In modern society, the martial path was in decline, and Grandmasters were exceedingly rare. Heavenly Kings and Martial Saints were even more exceptional, as elusive as phantoms. As for War Gods and Human Immortals... those were beings on the level of deities, beyond the comprehension or imagination of mortals.
"Oh—" A thoughtful look crossed Lin Tang's face. He wondered which level his sworn enemy was at. In any case, he certainly wasn't strong enough to face him now.
I'm not strong enough yet. I need to be patient. One day, I will avenge my family... he thought, clenching his fist silently.
Wei Zichu noticed the unresolved sorrow in his eyes and felt a sudden pang of sympathy. Brother Lin is so powerful, skilled in both medicine and martial arts, yet he still has worries? I wonder what's troubling him...
After dinner, upon learning that Lin Tang had just arrived in the city and had no place to stay, Wei Shanhe immediately produced a gold-trimmed black card, explaining it was the key to the number one villa in Jiangbei. He offered it as a wedding gift to Lin Tang, urging him not to refuse.
Lin Tang considered that he really did need a permanent residence, so he accepted it graciously without any false modesty.
Wei Shanhe had intended to give him a large sum of money as well, but Lin Tang shook his head. "Please don't! If I accept any more, I'll truly be embarrassed. How about this: help me keep an eye out for any potent medicinal herbs like the Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus. If you find any, we can discuss whether I'll buy them with money or do something else in exchange."
He had already broken through from the Qi Refinement Realm to the Foundation Establishment Stage and wanted to reach the next stage, the Golden Core Stage, as soon as possible. Potent tonic herbs were exactly what he needed.
Lu Liangfei, who had been cowering in a corner all this time, felt his heart stir at these words. Potent herbs? I have to do everything I can to find some! I can trade them for his forgiveness, and then ask him to heal my hand...
Wei Shanhe slapped his chest and promised, then instructed Wei Zichu, "See Master Lin out."
"Okay," Wei Zichu nodded happily and pulled up in a beastly SUV.
「Meanwhile, at the hotel.」
Shen Youling slowly awoke and hastily checked herself over. Seeing that she was untouched, she let out a sigh of relief. Then, she gave a self-deprecating laugh. After the shameless things she'd done with Lin Tang last night, it seemed it wouldn't matter much even if he took advantage of her while she was unconscious. They were already legally married, so what was there to be so nervous about?
Shen Youling shook her head, went to the restroom, and splashed her face with cold water to wake herself up. It's already dark. I wonder how things are at home.
She saw the note Lin Tang had left. It said he'd gone to see Chairman Wei and that she shouldn't worry. He'd told her to drink the bowl of medicine on the table, saying it was good for her health.
Shen Youling sighed. I told you to run, but you insisted on walking right to your death. There's nothing I can do now. A part of her hoped he truly had the courage to face the consequences, while another part wished he was just bluffing and had already fled.
She looked at the bowl of medicine. It's a black, murky sludge. Who knows what's in it. I'm already terminally ill, so what's the point of drinking it?
Shen Youling picked up the bowl and tossed it into the trash can.
She had no idea that, in monetary terms alone, that bowl of medicine was worth tens of millions. And even if she had the money, she couldn't have bought it. It was something money couldn't buy—far too rare.