Lin Chen's movements seemed unhurried, every gesture visible to the naked eye. Yet Xie Tu stood frozen, unable to dodge as the slap landed squarely on his face.
THUD!
Xie Tu was sent flying by the force, crashing heavily to the ground. SPLAT!A mouthful of blood sprayed out. He stared at Liang Haoming in horror, convulsed once, and fell unconscious—alive or dead, no one knew.
Gu Ruohan's eyes widened in shock. No red mark?A single slap had felled a seventh-grade Grandmaster!
"Daring to hurt my Second Wife?" Lin Chen's voice cut like ice. "You deserve death."
To him, a Grandmaster was merely a beginner. He'd crushed hundreds like ants.
THUD!
Seeing Lin Chen's terrifying power, Liang Haoming collapsed to his knees. Xie Tu—his final trump card—lay broken. Liang Zhu, already bleeding from his gunshot wound, fainted at the sight.
"Young Master Lin! My fool of a son was blind! Iwas blind!" Liang Haoming kowtowed frantically, forehead soon smeared with blood. "Spare me! Treat me like garbage you discard!"
Dou Qiankun watched grimly from the shadows. With Xie Tu defeated, challenging Lin Chen was suicide. The Liang family had fallen.
Lin Chen tossed the gun at Liang Haoming's feet. The man trembled, cold dread seeping into his bones.
"He dies today. Pull the trigger yourself, and you walk away."
Liang Haoming's jaw clenched until blood dripped from his lips. Kill his own son?
"Husband…" Murong Qingcheng breathed, but Lin Chen silenced her with a look. His gaze pinned Liang Haoming like a blade.
"Three seconds."
Had Lin Chen lost tonight, not only the Lin family but Murong Group and even Gu Ruohan would have been destroyed. Mercy wasa gift.
Liang Haoming snatched the gun. No hesitation. BANG!
The bullet tore through Liang Zhu's temple.
"Leave." Lin Chen's voice was arctic. "Next time, you join him."
Liang Haoming didn't dare utter a word. Hollow and broken, he slumped beside his son's body.
Murong Qingcheng slid into the driver's seat. Lin Chen took the passenger side. Gu Ruohan, abandoning her own car, climbed into the back.
"Husband! How are you so strong?" Gu Ruohan blurted out, eyes shining.
"You weremagnificent tonight!" Murong Qingcheng added, admiration gleaming in her gaze. Securing the Long Group deal, crushing the Liangs, defeating Xie Tu—Lin Chen had been breathtaking. Beneath her CEO exterior, she'd always yearned for someone to lean on. Now he was here. Her husband.
"They were just…utter trash." Lin Chen shrugged. "Drop me at Lin Corporation. I need to dig for clues."
Murong Qingcheng nodded. "Of course." She understood the weight he carried—released from prison only to shoulder the Lin family's ruin.
"I'll escort you," Gu Ruohan insisted.
Lin Chen shook his head. Sparing Liang Haoming wasn't mercy; it was bait for bigger prey. "Handle your boardroom wars first," he told Murong Qingcheng, opening the door. "Announcing our marriage won't have pleased them."
Before she could protest, he was out. Gu Ruohan followed swiftly. "I'll guard him!"
But Lin Chen had vanished. Three strides carried him blocks away.
An alleyway. Lin Chen pulled out a burner phone. Dialed.
In a luxurious study, an old man jolted as a secured line rang. Hands trembling, he answered.
"Hello…?"
"Lin Chen. Disciple of Long Aotian, Dragon Emperor of the Dragon Emperor's Hall."
The old man shot to his feet, bowing instinctively. "He Tianchi of the Shadow Guard, at your service, Young Master!"
He Tianchi—the richest man in Jiang City, a sleeper agent planted by Lin Chen's master.
"You know the Lin family's situation. I'm reclaiming it. Restore its glory."
He Tianchi's blood ran cold. The Lin heir is the Young Master?!Panic surged. Had he ever slighted the Lins? Then, a darker thought: The Lin family was targeted by those above… This changes everything.
"Young Master," He Tianchi stammered, "the Lin matter… higher authorities forbade intervention. Assisting them requires approval—a week, at least."
Lin Chen's eyes narrowed. His masters had promised these agents were trustworthy. Why the obstruction? Master Taoist's calculations… This must be part of his celestial plan.
"Forget it. I'll handle it myself."
"No, wait!" Desperation edged He Tianchi's voice. "While I cannot aid Lin Corporation directly… I acquired their headquarters building at the liquidation auction."
He took a steadying breath. "It belongs to you now. Everything inside remains untouched. My granddaughter, He Ling, oversees it. She'll handle the transfer."
The richest man in Jiang City was just a pawn. And the board was finally in play.