Chapter 155: The Second Member of the Lin Family

As the words fell, Zheng Jiawen and everyone present were stunned by my sudden shout. Recovering his senses, Zheng Jiawen feigned composure, as if his trick had been exposed, and said, "Tampered with? What did I tamper with? You little brat, stay out of this. When adults are talking, keep your beak shut."

Hearing this, my face gradually darkened. The Feng Shui master, however, remained relatively composed, wearing an indifferent expression as he spoke, "You're not very old, but you sure know how to brag. In terms of seniority, you should still call me senior. I've seen plenty of ignorant juniors like you who have no real skills but plenty of talk. As long as I'm here, no one is touching this kid."

My expression shifted, and I let out a dark, cynical laugh. "Old codger, I haven't seen any remarkable skills from you either. Why bother putting on such a stupid act of a transcendent master? Tell me, aren't you ashamed at your age? I'd say you're already with one foot in the grave, so what's with all the barking?"

Hearing this, the Feng Shui master's expression changed. Gritting his teeth, he snapped, "Say that again!"

"Old codger, stupid act, feet in the grave, barking like a dog. What's wrong? Want to throw punches? Do you really think I'm scared?"

I didn't give him a pleasant look, repeating my previous words. Enraged by such insults and feeling his pride wounded, the Feng Shui master grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the holder on the table and hurled them straight at me. Without even turning my head, I caught them with both hands and slammed them heavily onto the table. With a loud bang, our verbal sparring finally escalated into physical confrontation.

Holding the two chopsticks, I stood up and glared at him. "Hey, there's not enough room to throw punches in here. If you've got the guts, take it outside. Don't go wrecking other people's property."

The Feng Shui master glared back at me, nodded, and said viciously, "Very well! Since you're courting death yourself, don't blame me."

I smiled. "Stop wasting your breath, old man."

With a cold snort, the Feng Shui master dashed out the door and vanished from the entrance. Startled, Zheng Jiawen ran out after him to keep up. Just as I was about to move, Hong Weiguo grabbed my arm. Puzzled, I turned to him and asked, "What is it?"

Looking at me with a worried expression, Hong Weiguo said, "Xiao Xuan, why don't we let it go? You've already broken the curse for me, and I don't want to argue with people like this. He runs his shop, I run mine; we can just mind our own business."

"Mind our own business? Didn't you hear what that Feng Shui master just said? Don't worry, that guy's skills are subpar. I'm fully confident I can handle him."

With that, I vanished right on the spot. Hong Weiguo stared at his hand in absolute shock—he had been holding my arm just a second ago, yet in the blink of an eye, I had disappeared into thin air. The woman, having come out earlier upon hearing the commotion, was once again left utterly dumbfounded by my instantaneous disappearance.

By this time, I was already standing face-to-face with the Feng Shui master outdoors. Zheng Jiawen stood behind him, wearing a beaming smile, as if eagerly anticipating how the Feng Shui master was about to beat me to the ground. Hong Weiguo rushed out shortly after, running around until he finally located the Feng Shui master and me.

With his hands clasped behind his back, the Feng Shui master looked at me with a gloomy gaze and said, "Kid, according to the rules of the pugilistic world, state your affiliation."

I smiled coldly. "If I tell you my background, I'm afraid it might scare you to death. You go first."

The Feng Shui master looked at me with utter contempt. "Lin Jianzhao, the third in the Jian generation of the Lin family."

***

I paused. Upon hearing the name "Lin family," I asked in disbelief, "The Lin family? Which Lin family?"

The Feng Shui master let out a dark chuckle. "Naturally, the powerful Lin family within our circle. What, little doll, are you scared?"

I paused again and asked, "Who is your family head?"

"Our family head is none other than the renowned Lin Boxu of the circle. Kid, know what fear is yet? It's too late now, heh heh." Lin Jianzhao laughed mockingly.

Looking at Lin Jianzhao opposite me, I suddenly burst into laughter. Lin Jianzhao frowned and demanded, "What are you laughing at?"

I shook my head. "Ah, people nowadays always love to mock others, completely oblivious to the fact that they are the absolute fools themselves."

Startled, Lin Jianzhao pointed at me and yelled, "Kid, if you've got the guts, say that insult again!"

I let out a cold smile. "Kid, who do you think you're talking down to? Do you even know who I am?!"

Hearing himself addressed as a "kid," Lin Jianzhao froze in disbelief. "You dare call me a kid? Are you trying to mess up the generations?"

I looked at him with a constant smile on my face and replied, "That's right. In terms of age, you are older than me, but in terms of seniority within our circle, it's hardly strange for me to call you a kid. Heh."

"What do you mean by that? Do you really take me for a pushover? I have the Lin family backing me up! Saying things like that is an insult to the Lin family. Just an ignorant little brat, yet you dare utter such arrogant nonsense."

I sighed. "I would certainly never dare to slander the Lin family, nor would I ever do so. I'm just terribly curious why a degenerate like you managed to emerge within the Lin family. If my grandfather were to find out, he'd surely chop you down."

Lin Jianzhao furrowed his brow. "Grandfather? What do you mean?"

I smiled coldly. "My name is Lin Xuan, and the Lin Boxu you mentioned happens to be my grandfather. Therefore, it's hardly strange for me to call you a kid, and for you to address my family head isn't far-fetched at all!"

As soon as I finished, Lin Jianzhao's brow furrowed even deeper, and he stared at me in disbelief. "You claim the old family head is your grandfather? Absolute bullcrap! A little brat bragging away—just because your last name is Lin, you dare falsely claim to be a member of the Lin family? Slap on a fake title like that, and you won't last a day in this circle."

Hearing this, I didn't lose my temper. Instead, I smiled and asked, "How long have you been in the Lin family?"

Lin Jianzhao glared at me and answered, "I've followed the old family head since I was a child. My father was the old family head's right-hand man, right up until the old family head led the Lin family into seclusion."

***

I nodded. "Then you must know about the Yangming Jade."

"Everyone in the circle knows of the Yangming Jade; it's legendary. Furthermore, it belongs exclusively to the head of the Lin family in every generation. Do you really think dropping the name of the Yangming Jade can bluff me? I hold immense authority within the Lin family. Even if I've done something here, the old family head would only punish me, and that's a punishment I can readily endure!"

Lin Jianzhao spoke with absolute conviction. Still refusing to lose my temper, I shook my head and said, "Grandfather is grandfather, and I am me. Since you know the Yangming Jade, you must also know the iron law of the Lin family: any member of the Lin family who sees the Yangming Jade must obey its commands unconditionally, even unto death. Is that right?"

As I repeated our family's iron law, Lin Jianzhao's brow twitched slightly. He nodded and said, "So what? The Lin family has treated us well, what does death matter?"

At that moment, another smile appeared on my face as I asked, "If I were to order you to die right now, would you dare?"

Staring intently at me, Lin Jianzhao snapped, "What are you playing at? Do you take me for an idiot?"

"Hah, I am treating you as an idiot. Take a good look—what is this?!"

With that, I slowly drew out the Yangming Jade hanging inside my clothes. Lin Jianzhao's brow furrowed repeatedly as I pulled the jade out completely. I sighed and asked, "Did you see it clearly?"

Taking a careful look, Lin Jianzhao stumbled back several steps in sheer shock, uttering in sheer disbelief, "No, impossible! The Yangming Jade has always remained with the old family head. How could it possibly be with you? You must have forged this somewhere, you must be..."

Before Lin Jianzhao could finish, I cut him off with a stern shout: "Lin Jianzhao, upon seeing the Yangming Jade, you dare refuse to kneel? You're courting death!"

Having said that, I vanished from where I stood. When I reappeared, I was already right in front of him. Terrified, Lin Jianzhao dropped to his knees with a loud thud. This left both Zheng Jiawen and Hong Weiguo completely dumbfounded—seeing a man in his fifties dropping to his knees to kowtow to me was utterly absurd in their eyes.

I gazed coldly down at the kneeling Lin Jianzhao and said sternly, "Lin Jianzhao, you've got quite some nerve! Oppressing the common people and aiding evildoers—have you forgotten the precepts of the Lin family?!"

Startled by my thunderous shout and overwhelmed by the mystical suppression of the Yangming Jade, Lin Jianzhao shuddered violently. He raised his head, took one more careful look to verify that the jade was indeed genuine, and then panicked, crying out, "F-Family Head! I didn't mean to! I... I was blind and failed to recognize Mount Tai! I won't ever dare do it again, I..."

Before he could finish his sentence, I cut him off forcibly once more.