I, Lin Shuguang, Am Overbearing

"Let him go, or don't blame me for being rude!"

His words were cold and harsh, and the aura around Hong Baiqing swelled steadily as he stared at Lin Shuguang with icy intensity.

No matter what had happened, the Special Management Bureau couldn't let things descend into chaos.

"Are you done with your nonsense?" Lin Shuguang turned his head, his gaze frigid. "You dared to arbitrarily dock my mission rewards, and now you're afraid of me coming to your door? If you had the guts to do it, don't play the coward and spout grand principles at me. Spit out every single cent of my money!"

Hong Baiqing furrowed his brow.

But Pang Xiaonian, his face bloodied, let out a miserable yell: "Lin Shuguang! I didn't violate any rules! I know you completed the mission, but this time, Branch One lost too many people. The Bureau needs to give them some closure. Most of your money was distributed to them—I never kept a single cent for myself."

At first glance, Pang Xiaonian's words seemed unobjectionable; it was only right to sympathize with fallen comrades.

But on closer thought, it was a venomous strike.

Why had Lin Shuguang come storming in with such murderous intent?

For the money!

But who had that money gone to?

To the brothers who had sacrificed themselves!

How was Lin Shuguang supposed to get it back?

By asking the families of those fallen brothers?

If he dared to do that, his reputation would be utterly ruined.

For a moment, the onlookers' gazes toward Lin Shuguang turned strange, mostly sympathetic—after all, Pang Xiaonian's underhanded tactics were indeed hard to counter.

Hong Baiqing said flatly, "Lin Shuguang, you've heard the facts now. Are you still going to keep making a scene? Let him go!"

Lin Shuguang's eyes were dark and deep. He turned his head to look at Hong Baiqing, staring at him expressionlessly, then withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, and crouched in front of Pang Xiaonian.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, who couldn't see his expression, he spoke slowly.

"If someone falls, they deserve to be treated well—there's no arguing that. But shouldn't that money come from the National Treasury? Since when does it have to be deducted from others' rewards?

"Every one of us who goes out on missions risks our necks. By doing this, you're telling everyone that no matter how much blood we shed, no matter how many contributions we make to Great Xia, in the end, what we earn can be taken away by scum like you with just a few words!

"Then who would dare to fight with all their might in the future? If I risk my life and my money goes to someone else, wouldn't it be better for me to just die?

"Even if I agreed, would the tens of thousands of brothers in the Great Xia Special Management Bureau agree?"

The crowd was shaken by his words.

Their looks toward Pang Xiaonian turned unfriendly.

They, too, went on missions every month. If things were done according to Pang Xiaonian's logic from now on, what were they fighting so hard for?

To send money to their fallen colleagues?

It wasn't that they lacked compassion, but no one wanted to be treated like a fool and toyed with!

Pang Xiaonian's skin crawled under their stares.

Lin Shuguang slowly rose to his feet. "A gentle horse is easy to ride; a kind man is easy to bully. You think I'm an easy target, but who gave you the nerve?"

The moment the words fell!

Boom!

A fierce howling wind roared in everyone's ears, a soul-shaking sonic boom that seemed to carry a sky full of thunder and fire, blazing through every heart.

Under the horrified gazes of the crowd, the clusters of lightning and flame writhing in midair suddenly expanded, exploding around Lin Shuguang. The scattered red light dyed the entire room a blazing crimson.

Lin Shuguang drew the Slaughter Blade, his momentum like a rainbow, as if a demon had descended!

Scorching Gale Force blasted against Pang Xiaonian's face, who bore the brunt of it. His expression twisted wildly, his hands and feet turning ice-cold!

He had imagined a thousand possibilities, but he never dreamed that Lin Shuguang would be so arrogant—and even more terrifying was his strength.

He had no chance of resisting!

Just as he was frozen in shock, Hong Baiqing charged forward.

"Clang!"

A metallic clash rang out, cutting through the terrifying noise and reaching everyone's ears with crystal clarity.

Pang Xiaonian, who had been standing still waiting for death, instinctively opened his eyes and witnessed a sight he would never forget.

Hong Baiqing stood in front of him, his war spear thrust forward.

The two faced each other.

Lin Shuguang's robes billowed as he stood with his blade raised, an image of extreme, domineering authority.

But Hong Baiqing's heart trembled. There was no joy in having blocked Lin Shuguang's attack.

This bastard had gotten even stronger!

His thoughts churned like a stormy sea.

It had only been a few days since they last parted, and now the power of this single slash far exceeded the last attack.

He had checked Lin Shuguang's file.

Transferring files from Huai City was far too troublesome, so all he could find were the missions Lin Shuguang had taken on during his time in Demon Capital.

From Zuo Rongfei to the Fist Demon, Yan Hai.

He understood the sheer magnitude of that leap all too well; it seemed Lin Shuguang had undergone his Second Awakening at Demon Martial.

"With talent like that, was helping the Zhao Family the right call or the wrong one..."

His thoughts shifting, Hong Baiqing suddenly put away his war spear and said in a low voice, "I knew nothing of this matter. Believe it or not."

Clang!

Everyone around froze.

Especially Pang Xiaonian, who stared in disbelief as Hong Baiqing stepped aside from in front of him, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

Hong Baiqing! Had chosen to back down?!

This scene left everyone utterly stunned.

Was this still the same Hong Baiqing who never went back on his word?

Lin Shuguang watched expressionlessly, saying nothing.

Hong Baiqing turned and gave Pang Xiaonian a cold glance, dropping a single sentence, "One day. Make it all up."

With that, he didn't even look at Lin Shuguang and walked away.

With a thud.

Pang Xiaonian fell to his knees, "Lord Lin, I swear I'll make it up to you! I guarantee it! I vow it!"

Lin Shuguang looked down at him coldly.

In truth, he knew he couldn't actually kill the man.

After all, with his identity in the Special Management Bureau, if he killed someone without following procedure, not even Si Qianjun could protect him.

And with Hong Baiqing shielding Pang Xiaonian, Lin Shuguang had no reason to expend that much effort.

He had only two goals in coming here.

First, to get the money!

Second, to establish his authority!

You people of Demon Capital may not know me, but if you cross me, you won't fare any better than Pang Xiaonian!

Lin Shuguang's silent declaration of dominance had indeed cowed the crowd.

"I want the money in my account before evening."

With that cold remark, Lin Shuguang sheathed his blade and left.

At those words, Pang Xiaonian's body went completely limp, collapsing to the ground.

Outside the Finance Department building, Cao Chao spotted Lin Shuguang approaching and quickly walked over, "I just saw Hong Baiqing leave. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Lin Shuguang said casually. "It's settled. The money will be in the account before evening."

Cao Chao's heart jolted.

Even with Hong Baiqing stepping in, the Finance Department had still bowed their heads. Lin Shuguang's methods were truly ironclad!

"Thank you, sir."

"No trouble. Did you drive? Give me a ride back to Demon Martial."

"I did. Are you leaving today, sir?"

"Yeah. Just need to grab my luggage and I'm off."

"Safe travels, sir..."