Lin Ao only managed to get away after having lunch with Gu Wanqing at noon.
"Uncle Zhang, have you finished looking into it?"
The night before, Lin Ao had asked Uncle Zhang to find out where he could buy those top-grade protective materials.
"Young Master, I've contacted the world's top suppliers of various materials. Once they heard what you wanted, they all sent over quotes. The total comes to 22 billion Huaxia yuan."
Uncle Zhang wondered if Young Master really needed to go this overboard. Spending 22 billion to build a world-class defensive fortress.
A few Great Grandmasters wouldn't be enough to make a difference. A hundred wouldn't, either. Unless they were True Martial Realm experts—but how many of those were there in the world?
"What about the weapons? Even if they can't kill a Great Grandmaster, they should at least be able to injure one, right?"
Lin Ao was also planning to upgrade every weapon system at the Manor.
He wanted Xiao Fan—or anyone else—to leave with a layer of skin missing if they dared come in.
He'd install all kinds of traps inside, just to make their lives miserable.
"Young Master, through your grandfather's connections, we've obtained a batch of military weapons. You can have them whenever you like."
The quantity of weapons Lin Ao wanted was enough to make even a Great Grandmaster think twice about coming here.
"But... your father and mother told me to inform you to stay home and wait. If you don't give them a satisfactory answer, then..."
Since Lin Ao needed weapons, he was obviously going through channels that weren't exactly ordinary. His maternal grandfather was a retired high-ranking state official, and it was only through his help that they could easily get hold of such advanced weapons.
So Lin Dad and Lin Mom had definitely found out. They thought Lin Ao was planning a rebellion and were rushing over to give him a good beating.
Lin Ao was a little panicked, but not completely. He just needed to explain properly.
Lin Ao lounged comfortably on the sofa, sipping tea and scrolling through Douyin, enjoying some rare downtime and chatting with netizens along the way.
"Fierce One, let me tell you, I was so annoyed this morning."
Lin Ao was typing a message on Feixin to a netizen he'd met through Douyin.
Every video she posted was about watering flowers, growing flowers, and arranging them.
Some people in her comments weren't happy about it. They called her videos boring and said all sorts of nasty things. They demanded that she show her face, since her flower-arranging videos showed her hands—slender fingers as white as jade. They kept wanting to see what she looked like and even attacked her personally.
Lin Ao hadn't been able to hold back, and spent the entire night arguing with one of them. The video creator then sent him a private message to thank him.
Somehow, they got to chatting and added each other on Feixin, becoming online friends. Her username was I'm Super Fierce, so Lin Ao called her Fierce One.
He'd discovered that she was nothing like her videos. They were elegant and classical, but once he got to know her, he realized she was a sweet little girl.
"What happened? My morning was a mess, too."
Lin Ao was just about to ask when a gust of wind swept past.
By the time he realized what was happening, that familiar feeling had returned. He was already tied up with a belt, once again playing the role of a caterpillar.
"Dad!! What are you doing this time? And Mom, why are you holding a feather duster?"
Lin Ao looked horrified. Could his parents be Great Grandmasters? They were frighteningly good at tying people up!
"What am I doing? You asked your grandfather to get you all those weapons. What are you planning to do with them?!"
That morning, Li Wanyu had received a call from Grandpa Li, who told her that his darling grandson wanted to get his hands on weapons and asked what he planned to do with them.
Lin Ao still hadn't told them he was renovating the Lin Family Manor. He'd only said he wanted to do some remodeling, and she'd agreed, telling Uncle Zhang to handle it. Uncle Zhang had assumed that the master and madam had approved.
"Mom! Hear me out! It's just for the renovation, remember? I told you!"
Lin Ao twisted and struggled in midair. I'm tearing down that moon gate with the latticework as soon as I get free!
"What kind of renovation needs that many weapons in the house? Are you planning a rebellion? And your grandfather—he actually agreed to this!"
Lin Dong swung the belt hard, making it crack through the air. The sound left Lin Ao stunned.
"Listen to me! It's just in case something happens. Last time, I almost got killed at the amusement park. A Great Grandmaster even showed up! We have to protect the house. We can't have Uncle Zhang and the others standing guard around the clock."
The feather duster was lowered, and the belt stopped swinging. Another gust of wind swept past, and Lin Ao found himself back on the sofa. He seriously suspected that his parents were Martial Artists.
"You have a point. People are bound to let their guard down eventually. Mom agrees. Go ahead and do it."
Li Wanyu thought it made sense. A safer home was a good thing—though she had no idea how absurdly far Lin Ao was taking it.
"Mm, I agree too. Just have Uncle Zhang help you with it."
Lin Dong agreed as well. He'd already arranged for the Lin Family to work with the Liu Family to search Jianghai City for people from the Dragon Gate. But they'd gone completely underground, and the search had only turned up a few minor hideouts. It couldn't hurt to be better prepared.
"All right, get some rest. Once you're feeling better, go visit your grandfathers. They're worried about you."
Both old men kept asking after Lin Ao. His maternal grandfather had probably agreed to help him get all those weapons because he was worried about his grandson.
After Lin Dong and Li Wanyu left, Lin Ao breathed a sigh of relief.
All that commotion just to hang me up and yell at me?
Only then did he notice a few unread messages on his phone.
He opened it and saw messages from I'm Super Fierce and Gu Wanqing.
He ignored Gu Wanqing's messages and went straight to I'm Super Fierce's.
"How come you stopped talking, Howling?"
"I wanted to vent to you, and now you're ignoring me. Hmph~"
"If you don't reply soon, I'm really going to get mad~ Jerk!"
Lin Ao smiled faintly. He really liked chatting with this girl. With her, he could drop all his disguises.
Neither of them knew who the other really was. They could talk about anything.
Most importantly, she wasn't any of the heroines.
[Heavenly Mandate secretly revealed a meaningful smile.]
"Sorry~ My parents came in just now. I nearly got beaten up, sob sob sob."
"Tell me, what happened to you today?"
"Ding—!"
The reply came in an instant. She'd probably been waiting for Lin Ao to respond.
I'm Super Fierce: "My grandpa introduced me to some awful man first thing this morning. He was so full of himself, I nearly threw up."
Howling: "Your grandpa's being way too much! Isn't this the age of free love? He didn't take any liberties with you, did he?"
I'm Super Fierce: "As if I'd let him! He even said he knew medicine and wanted to examine me. I didn't even let him through the door. By the way, why were your parents going to beat you?"
Howling: "Fierce One, where are you feeling unwell? Should you go to the hospital? I can't take care of you, and I'm so worried~"
"My parents? Some bad guys attacked me before, so I wanted to renovate the house. They misunderstood and nearly gave me a beating."
I'm Super Fierce: "Huh? Are you okay? Do you need my help? I'm super capable, you know~"
Howling: "I'm fine~ I can handle it. You still haven't told me what's wrong with you, though. I'm worried sick, woman!"
I'm Super Fierce: "It's that time of the month~, so I was already in a bad mood this morning, and then I had to see that awful man. Poor me~"
Howling: "Fierce One~ I wish I could be there to make you a cup of brown sugar and ginger tea~ Pat pat~"
I'm Super Fierce: "Howling, is that your way of confessing to me?"
Howling: "Did you figure it out? Don't you like me, Fierce One~?"
I'm Super Fierce: "We've never even met. How could I like you~?"
Howling: "That's easy. We can get to know each other better, and when you feel ready, we can meet~"
I'm Super Fierce: "I'll think about it~ Let's see how you do~ Howling~"
Howling: "Sure thing~ My darling wife~"
I'm Super Fierce: "Hey~ Don't call me that~ You're so annoying~ I'm not talking to you anymore~"
Lin Ao wore a lovestruck grin, practically drooling.
Slurp.
So this is online dating~ It's awesome!
"Ding—!" "Ding—!" "Ding—!" "Ding—!"
Lin Ao checked his phone. It was Gu Wanqing.
What does this woman want now?
He casually opened the chat.
The other messages could be ignored. They were all about black stockings.
The last one was what mattered.
"Lin Ao, my parents want to meet you tonight~"
Before you continue