No one had imagined Lin Yi would be so brazen—daring even to strike a scion of the Tang family from Qingfeng City.
After a moment, Jiang Yunzhou came back to himself. He drew a slow breath and said, grave as stone, "It seems our county mansion must act."
Tang Xuan had been crippled; the Tang family would be furious. Only by utterly destroying the Lin family and personally sending Lin Yi's head to the Tang clan could they hope to appease that wrath.
Jiang Yunzhou folded his hands behind his back and walked to the great hall's threshold. He looked in the direction of the Lin estate and said, cold and final, "Before the midnight hour tomorrow, let the Lin family be wiped clean from Qingshan County."
—
The next day, news that Lin Yi had crippled Tang Xuan and slapped the county lord's daughter Jiang Luo spread through Qingshan like a plague.
"Who would've thought the Lin family's eldest young master could be so fierce—he even provoked the Tang family of Qingfeng!"
"That's not fierceness. That's recklessness. He thinks a few victories make him invincible and goes around making enemies."
"He is powerful, yes, but far too arrogant."
"If he keeps this up, it's not just him who'll die—his whole house might fall."
All day long, every corner of the city—from tea houses to taverns—buzzed with the same rumor: the Lin family was finished.
—
Near noon, Lin Yi lounged on his recliner, basking in the sunlight as though the uproar beyond the walls were no concern of his.
At that moment, Gu Xi rushed into the courtyard, her pretty face creased with worry. She found Lin Yi sitting with one leg crossed over the other, humming a carefree tune. The sight made her blood boil.
With the Lin family on the brink, this man had the nerve to sun himself and whistle? How could he be so heartless?
She hurried to his side and scolded, urgent and sharp, "How can you lie there while this is happening? I've heard the Chen family, the Shen family, and even the county mansion have joined forces to destroy the Lin family. Aren't you going to do something?"
Lin Yi opened his eyes slowly and asked, languidly, "Oh? Is that true?"
"Of course it is—do I look like I'd lie?" Gu Xi snapped.
Lin Yi's mouth twitched—he could not quite hide a smirk. The thought crossed his mind: how many Violence Points would that combination be worth?
Seeing him grin where she expected alarm only made Gu Xi angrier. She stamped her foot and snapped, "Can you please be serious for once?"
Lin Yi spread his hands. "They really don't make me serious."
Gu Xi found herself wordless. Confidence was one thing; with three great powers aligning against them, his nonchalance felt like lunacy. This wasn't confidence—this was blind arrogance.
She turned her head away in irritation and muttered, "Hmph. I won't say more. Your life is yours—if you die, don't say I didn't warn you."
Despite her sharp words, worry still gnawed at her. Since the day in the Beastwood when Lin Yi had saved her, his figure had burned clear in her mind. When he tore down the Shen patriarch and butchered the Chen family's mine, that image only grew more vivid.
She couldn't quite name what she felt for Lin Yi.
Only that she wanted to see him every day, that the thought of him tugged at her without warning, that the idea of him getting hurt made her stomach twist.
Watching her pout in annoyance, Lin Yi couldn't help but smile.
There was no denying it—Gu Xi was beautiful. Even in another life, she would've been the kind of girl crowned school belle. His smile softened.
At thatmomentt the third eldest, Lin Zhou, came running into the courtyard, breathless and panic written across his face.
"Young Master—terrible news! The Shen family, the Chen family, and the county mansion have united against the Lin family!"
Lin Zhou was soaked in sweat, urgency making his voice ragged. "Young Master, the Lin family may truly be finished this time. You should leave—save yourself—"
Lin Yi cut him off. "Don't worry. The Lin family will be fine."
"But—" Lin Zhou tried again.
"There is no 'but,'" Lin Yi said lightly.
The third eldest fell silent, unable to press further. He had no choice but to stand there, brow furrowed, anxiety gnawing at him. The enemies were overwhelming—yet the young master refused to flee.
Lin Yi waved a hand. "You should go. Stay in the Lin residence and be at ease. Trust me."
Lin Zhou opened his mouth and sighed helplessly. He bowed and retired. Once outside the small courtyard, he muttered to himself, "If the Young Master won't leave, then we'll do our best to protect the Lin family."
Silence settled again in the courtyard.
After a moment, Gu Xi could not help but ask, voice small and anxious, "You really don't plan to leave?"
Lin Yi shook his head. "No."
She exhaled, resigned. "Then take care of yourself."
She said her goodbyes and left the Lin residence—but she did not walk far. Instead, she slipped into a teahouse opposite the Lin estate and took a seat by the window on the upper floor. From there, with only a slight turn of the head, she could see the Lin family gate.
After Gu Xi left, Lin Yi lay back on his recliner and closed his eyes.
As dusk crept in, the quiet was broken by the faint hum of dozens of footsteps drawing near the Lin gate. Lin Yi's hearing, sharpened now that he'd reached the Breath Condensation Realm first layer, could carry across a circle of miles. He opened his eyes slowly; a thin light passed through his dark pupils.
"Are they here?" he murmured.
He rose and strolled to the estate gate without hurry.
From the road came a wave of figures, dark with intent—the county magistrate Jiang Yunzhou leading them. His presence alone demanded respect. Behind him marched Deputy Magistrate Yuan Mo, Chen Hong of the Chen family, Shen Yuan of the Shen family, and several other family heads. More than a dozen Bone Forging cultivators were arrayed among them—a fearsome display.
Jiang Luo appeared among the crowd, her eyes alight with vindictive hope. She had come to watch Lin Yi die and to avenge the humiliation of last night.
From her vantage in the teahouse, Gu Xi watched the gate through the lattice, her brow drawn tight as a furrow. Nearly every Bone Forging expert in Qing County had gathered here. This force could sweep aside any local faction—let alone a single Lin family.