Lin Family Patriarch!

"Shut up!"

Lin Feng let out a low growl, cutting off his follower.

He forced himself to calm down and carefully recalled what had just happened.

That youth had not released a Soul Ring from beginning to end. Even his obvious Soul Power Fluctuation had been extremely faint, yet with nothing more than an ordinary bamboo stick, he had displayed such terrifying control and strength!

That could only mean the other party was far stronger than him, with a command of Soul Power already beyond his comprehension.

"Who exactly are they?" Lin Feng muttered to himself. "They look even younger than me. How could they possibly be that strong? Could they be Disciples from some Great Sect or Great Family traveling abroad?"

At that thought, Lin Feng's heart sank.

If that was true, then what he had done today might very well bring catastrophic trouble upon the family!

The other party had not tried to kill him; they had likely already shown mercy.

"No one is allowed to speak of what happened today!" Lin Feng suddenly turned around, his sharp gaze Swept Over his followers. "Anyone who leaks even half a word will be dealt with under Family Law!"

"Yes, Young Master!" His followers trembled in silence and hurriedly answered.

"Let's go, return home immediately!" Lin Feng did not dare delay. He had to report this to his father at once—Lin Xiaotian, the Lin Family Head and a Soul King!

Lin Family, study.

Lin Xiaotian was a tall, imposing middle-aged man. After hearing his son Lin Feng's still-shaken and heavily embellished account, he frowned deeply.

Lin Feng mainly emphasized how arrogant the other party had been, how much he had endured, and how he had ultimately been provoked anyway.

"A bamboo stick? It grazed past your ear and embedded itself in a wooden pillar?" Lin Xiaotian asked in a deep voice, lightly tapping his fingers against the table.

"Absolutely true, Father! That brat was bizarre. He didn't even use his Martial Soul—he flicked his hand, and it had that much power! And that Little Girl, although she didn't make a move, didn't seem afraid at all." Lin Feng hurriedly replied. Looking back on it now, he felt that the Maiden quietly eating roasted meat was probably Not Simple as well.

Lin Xiaotian fell silent for a moment.

A father knew his son best. He knew that while his son had some spoiled habits, his basic judgment was sound. Besides, the severed hair and red mark on his ear could not be faked.

"He did not use his Martial Soul, yet possessed such power through the Physical Body and Soul Power control alone... He is at least a High-level Soul Elder, perhaps even a Soul Ancestor!" Lin Xiaotian reached his conclusion, and even he was alarmed by it.

A Soul Ancestor so young?

It was simply unheard of!

"Are you certain they looked very young? They did not use some Youth Preserving Technique?" Lin Xiaotian asked again.

"They were definitely young! That Boy looked no more than twelve or thirteen, and the girl was about the same age! Their bearing was extremely unusual, especially that Boy. He was... he was even prettier than a woman, but his eyes were terrifying." Lin Feng said with certainty.

For some reason, as he recalled it again, he felt his heart stir at Tang San's appearance.

Damn it, he was a man. He could not like men.

His sexual orientation was normal.

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaotian's expression grew even more solemn.

A twelve- or thirteen-year-old Soul Ancestor?

This was no ordinary Genius. Such a monster could only be nurtured by Factions standing at the very pinnacle of the continent!

"They went to Old Zhang's Barbecue Stall?" Lin Xiaotian caught a detail.

"Yes, Father. That Old Zhang seemed to know them as well, and he even spoke up for them."

A sharp gleam flashed in Lin Xiaotian's eyes.

That Old Zhang had run a Barbecue Stall in Qingfeng City for decades. He appeared entirely ordinary, but the Lin Family had secretly investigated him before and had never managed to uncover his background. They only knew that he was absolutely Not Simple.

And now he was connected to those two mysterious youths...

"Feng'er, this time... you may truly have offended someone you should not have." Lin Xiaotian sighed. "Fortunately, they showed mercy. Otherwise, your throat or head would have been pierced."

At his words, Cold Sweat broke out on Lin Feng again. "Father, what should we do now? Will they retaliate against the Lin Family?"

Lin Xiaotian pondered for a long time before slowly saying, "From now on, restrain the Family Disciples. Everyone is to keep a low profile for the near future, and no one is to cause trouble again! Especially you, Feng'er. You will remain confined and reflect on your actions!"

"Yes, Father!" Lin Feng hurriedly agreed.

"Additionally..." A trace of resolve flashed in Lin Xiaotian's eyes. "Prepare a Generous Gift. Tomorrow, I will personally visit Qingya Residence."

"Father, you will go in person? This..." Lin Feng was somewhat shocked. His father was a Soul King, one of Qingfeng City's foremost experts!

"Idiot!" Lin Xiaotian rebuked him. "If they truly come from a force such as the Upper Three Sects or Spirit Hall, then our Lin Family is no more than ants before them! Taking the initiative to apologize and resolve this grudge is our only path to survival! If we can use this chance to befriend them, that would be an immense blessing for the Lin Family!"

Only then did Lin Feng come to a realization, while a wave of lingering fear washed over him.

Meanwhile, within the small courtyard of Qingya Residence.

Tang San and Xiao Wu had already returned after eating and drinking their fill.

Xiao Wu rubbed her round belly and lay contentedly in a wicker chair in the courtyard.

"Burp~ It's been so long since I've eaten this well! That old grandpa's roasted meat was absolutely incredible!" Xiao Wu narrowed her eyes, savoring the aftertaste.

Tang San sat on a stone stool, idly playing with an Amber Blue Gold Blue Silver Grass Leaf between his fingertips, deep in thought.

"Little San, what are you thinking about? Still thinking about that Lin Family?" Xiao Wu tilted her head and asked.

"Mm." Tang San nodded. "Lin Feng himself is nothing to worry about, but the Lin Family behind him is the Local Tyrant here. We are not afraid of them, but we do not want trouble for no reason. I acted to intimidate them because I did not want them to keep pestering us and ruin our meal. However, judging by the way Lin Feng left, he likely will not let this go. He may bring even more troublesome people."

He did not regret acting. When dealing with spoiled brats who bullied others through their backing, the best approach was to display even greater strength and make them retreat in the face of difficulty.

"What's there to fear? If one comes, we beat one. If two come, we beat both!" Xiao Wu waved her Little Fist, completely unconcerned.

Tang San smiled but did not argue.

He was not bloodthirsty, but neither was he someone afraid of trouble.

He simply did not like having his plans disrupted.

"We will leave Qingfeng City early tomorrow morning and take a carriage to Vast Sea City." Tang San made his decision. "The fewer problems, the better."

However, events always seemed to develop beyond expectations.

Early the next morning, just as Tang San and Xiao Wu had finished packing and were preparing to leave Qingya Residence, the Shopkeeper of the inn hurried over and respectfully said, "Honored guests, Lord Lin Xiaotian, the Soul King and Lin Family Head, is waiting in the Front Hall. He says he has come specifically to visit you two."

Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a look, both seeing the surprise in the other's eyes.

The Lin Family Head, a Soul King, had come personally?

That response was somewhat more... "clever" than Tang San had expected.

"It seems this 'Farewell Tea' cannot go undrunk."

The Corner of the Mouth of Tang San's lips lifted into a faint, inscrutable curve.

He wanted to see what this Lin Family Patriarch was plotting.

This sudden visit seemed to have made what was supposed to be an uneventful morning departure rather interesting.