A Visitor from the Jin Family

A few days later.

Feng San still hadn't managed to identify the mastermind. Uneasy, Lin Shuguang rarely went to the Martial Arts Hall anymore, staying at the restaurant whenever he had time under the pretext of helping out.

Fortunately, after what had happened that day, the mastermind seemed to have forgotten about him and never appeared again.

That evening, however, a middle-aged man in a smart suit and polished shoes came over from Master Jin's side.

"Mr. Lin, long time no see."

Two black-clad bodyguards wearing sunglasses followed behind the middle-aged man. Although Lin Shuguang looked very young, the man treated him courteously, respectfully addressing him as "Mr. Lin" and placing them on equal footing.

The moment the three entered the restaurant, they drew most people's attention.

Quite a few customers looked over curiously.

In particular, seeing the distinguished-looking middle-aged man treating a young man with such warmth and friendliness, they couldn't help imagining a melodramatic story about a wealthy young heir about to return home to inherit his family fortune.

Beyond the kitchen, Lin Shuguang's parents were still busy in the backyard. The two employees serving customers in the restaurant, however, froze at the sight.

The two stared at each other.

In an instant, Lin Shuguang's standing in their minds soared far beyond that of someone who made an example of one person to warn the rest...

Lin Shuguang had been eating noodles with his head down. Hearing the greeting, he looked over.

He recognized this middle-aged man. When he had escorted that little old man Li Yihai, this was the person who had handled matters on the Jin Family's behalf.

"Need something?" Lin Shuguang asked casually without getting up, lowering his head to take another large mouthful of noodles.

It was only natural that he had no liking for the Jin Family's people.

I did a job for you, and you turned around and leaked my identity?

If Lin Shuguang hadn't been concerned that the mastermind would return, he would already have stormed over to the Jin Family to demand an explanation!

The middle-aged man paid no mind to Lin Shuguang's icy attitude. Before he came, the family had specifically instructed him to establish a good relationship with this young man of boundless potential.

He dismissed the two bodyguards, pulled over a nearby chair, and sat down gracefully opposite Lin Shuguang. Looking at the employee standing dumbfounded beside them, he said, "A bowl of the same noodles."

The employee cautiously glanced at Lin Shuguang, not daring to move.

He vaguely sensed that his "young master" didn't seem to like this imposing middle-aged man.

He was still hesitating.

"What are you looking at me for? He wants noodles, so serve him some." Lin Shuguang glanced at him, then lowered his head for another mouthful.

"Oh, right." Coming to his senses, the employee hurried to the kitchen. "One bowl of Lin's Noodles."

The middle-aged man sat opposite Lin Shuguang without disturbing his meal. Soon, his own noodles arrived.

He blew on the steaming noodles and took a large mouthful.

"These noodles have a nice chew to them. A shame the flavor is a little lacking. Some lobster and abalone would make them even better."

Lin Shuguang snapped, "You expect delicacies in an eight-yuan bowl of noodles? Dream on."

The middle-aged man paused, then laughed at what he himself had just said.

Raising his eyebrows at Lin Shuguang, he introduced himself. "My surname is Zhou. You can call me Old Zhou. I'm Master Jin's steward."

Lin Shuguang said nothing.

Steward Zhou didn't mind. The two then lowered their heads and ate their noodles in large mouthfuls.

A few minutes later.

Only after finishing his noodles did Steward Zhou realize, to his surprise, that Lin Shuguang had finished long ago and was watching him with his arms folded.

Wiping the corner of his mouth, he smiled apologetically. "It's been a long time since I had noodles like these. Sorry for the wait, Mr. Lin."

"Actually, Master Jin sent me here this time..."

Lin Shuguang didn't want to discuss these matters with everyone watching. He glanced toward the kitchen. Lin Haiyang and the others hadn't appeared yet, so he said, "Let's talk outside."

Steward Zhou paused and looked around. "Very well."

He rose first. "After you, Mr. Lin."

Under everyone's startled, uncertain gazes, Lin Shuguang, Steward Zhou, and the two tall, fierce-looking bodyguards left the restaurant.

Mother Lin had just come out of the backyard when she saw this and froze for a moment.

She turned to an employee. "What happened?"

The employee answered timidly, "We're not sure either. They seem to have come to see the young boss."

Mother Lin's expression shifted slightly. She was about to follow them when the employee hurriedly added, "Don't worry just yet, ma'am. They seemed very polite. They probably need something from the young boss."

Those words did much to dispel Mother Lin's urge to grab a knife and charge outside.

Someone patted her shoulder just then. Turning, she saw that Lin Haiyang had come over too. "They're probably people Shuguang met through martial arts. Let's not disturb them. We can ask him when he comes back."

Mother Lin nodded.

Outside.

Lin Shuguang and Steward Zhou walked side by side, as though taking a stroll after dinner.

The bodyguards followed a few meters behind them.

In the darkness, they weren't particularly conspicuous.

"We already know what happened that night. It was our mistake, and your family was dragged into it. Please accept these two million as a small token from us."

Steward Zhou took out a card and offered it to Lin Shuguang.

But Lin Shuguang didn't take it. His cold gaze flashed like lightning. "You knew about all of it?"

He hadn't sunk so low that a mere two million could make him overlook the fact that his whole family had nearly been bullied.

Steward Zhou wasn't embarrassed and kept holding out the card. "I know you resent us, but these two million aren't all we're offering. The traitor in the family who leaked the information has already been dealt with under our family rules. And just yesterday, Master Jin recovered from his injuries and even achieved a breakthrough in one go. He personally led a team to the other party's place overnight to seek justice for you."

Lin Shuguang frowned and asked coldly, "Who is he?"

Steward Zhou gave Lin Shuguang a searching look. "His name is Baisha. He's the Crimson Sand Gang's young master, with the cultivation of a Martial Artist. Last night, Master Jin went there in person and broke one of Baisha's legs in front of all the Crimson Sand Gang's senior members... His martial progress has now suffered a setback. He won't be making any moves for the next six months.

"You don't need to worry about retaliation from the Crimson Sand Gang, either. Master Jin has declared that if your family loses so much as a hair, he'll wipe the Crimson Sand Gang out of existence."

Lin Shuguang raised an eyebrow and let Steward Zhou slip the bank card into his pocket. "Does Master Jin's word really carry that much weight?"

Steward Zhou laughed at that. "Even the Special Management Bureau has to show Master Jin respect, let alone now that he's achieved a breakthrough."

Then he quietly revealed another piece of news. "Just this morning, the Governor of the Provincial Capital specifically sent someone over with a lavish gift."

Lin Shuguang looked thoughtful.

Steward Zhou continued, "Master Jin's misfortune turned into a blessing, and your help back then played an essential part in that. Master Jin said he owes you a favor. If you need anything, feel free to ask."

A glint passed through Lin Shuguang's eyes, and his expression finally warmed a little.

He raised an eyebrow. "Anything?"

At those words, Steward Zhou's heart lurched.

After a moment's hesitation, he still nodded. "Go ahead."

"I want a Martial Artist Cultivation Method!"

No sooner had Lin Shuguang delivered his firm demand than the corner of Steward Zhou's mouth twitched.

You really have the nerve to ask!

But remembering how highly Master Jin regarded Lin Shuguang, he considered it for a while before saying, "I'll pass your request on to Master Jin, but I can't guarantee whether he'll agree. A Martial Artist Cultivation Method is different from other things. Besides, if Master Jin does agree, he certainly won't give you a flawed method. This will take some time."

Lin Shuguang asked without betraying anything, "How long?"

Steward Zhou thought for a moment. "I'll give you an answer within half a month at the latest."

Lin Shuguang worked out the timing. That would be the end of the month, so there was still time. He nodded. "All right. I'll wait to hear from you."

Steward Zhou turned to get into the car.

Suddenly, Lin Shuguang called from behind him, "Give me a copy of the intelligence on Baisha."

Steward Zhou stopped at that and turned to give Lin Shuguang a searching look. "No problem. I can also throw in a copy of the intelligence on the Crimson Sand Gang."

PS [Thanks to AyranH for the 500 Qidian Coins~ I recently found an interesting TV drama, "I Am Yu Huanshui." I only rewatched the bit at three minutes and fifteen seconds into episode three a dozen times or so. Seriously, hats off!]