Make Lin Ming a Guard Dog?

The first to step out were six guards dressed in matching black combat uniforms, their auras fierce and their gazes sharp.

They quickly spread out and secured the surrounding key positions. Their movements were well-trained; they were clearly experts, most of them at Tier Two or above.

Next, two elderly men in gray robes stepped out of the elongated hovercar in the middle. Their faces were stern, and their auras were as deep as an abyss.

The two merely stood there quietly, yet they seemed like two insurmountable mountains, radiating a heart-pounding pressure—Tier Four! And at least mid-Tier Four, perhaps even late-Tier Four!

Finally, a young man who looked twenty-seven or twenty-eight stepped down leisurely from the car. He wore an expensive white suit with an impeccable cut, his hair slicked back without a strand out of place, his face carrying a hint of arrogance and frivolity.

He toyed with a strange gemstone the size of a pigeon egg, which emitted a soft white glow. His gaze casually swept over the wreckage on the ground and Li Qiang's corpse before finally settling on Xia He and Lin Ming.

His eyes lingered for a moment on Lin Ming's bloodstained, tattered clothes and the Silver Frost Spear in his hand. The corner of his mouth curled into a faint, ambiguous smile.

The instant Xia He saw the young man, her face turned even paler. She looked worse than when she had faced Li Qiang.

She unconsciously retreated half a step, moving slightly behind Lin Ming's side, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Young... Young Master Gao." Xia He's voice was somewhat dry, filled with undisguised nervousness and a trace of... disgust?

"Oh, Researcher Xia. Long time no see." The young man called Young Master Gao—Gao Bancheng—spoke in a lofty, teasing tone.

"I heard you've been having quite a good time in the Wilderness? You even brought the institute's most important project results out with you. You had the family worried sick."

Though he spoke of being worried, there was not the slightest concern in his eyes, only scrutiny and calculation.

"Young Master Gao, I..." Xia He tried to explain.

"Enough. The process doesn't matter." Gao Bancheng waved a hand and cut her off. His gaze shifted to Lin Ming as he looked him up and down, as though evaluating a commodity—or rather... a particularly vicious wild dog.

"You're Lin Ming? The one who killed Chen Dabiao, fought his way from South River to East Forest, and even slaughtered Li Qiang?" Gao Bancheng asked, his tone still carrying that unpleasant condescension.

Lin Ming said nothing. He merely looked at him calmly, his eyes like a deep pool without a ripple. The Silver Frost Spear remained in his grasp, its tip angled toward the ground.

"Tsk, quite the temper." Gao Bancheng raised a brow. He seemed displeased by Lin Ming's silence, but he did not lose his temper.

He glanced at Li Qiang's corpse on the ground, then sensed the aura Lin Ming had restrained but which still made him feel a trace of danger. His mind began calculating rapidly.

He had come this time ostensibly to "bring" Xia He back, but in truth, he was here for the Water of Life.

Certain people within the institute had long reached an understanding with the Gao Household. An idealist like Xia He, who refused to know her place, should never have left the Wilderness alive with the results.

He just had not expected a meddler to appear halfway through. Not only had he protected Xia He all the way here, but he had also displayed such astonishing combat power.

Now, most of the Water of Life had supposedly fallen into Lin Ming's hands... Take it by force? Looking at Li Qiang's fate, that seemed somewhat risky. Besides, this kid was clearly a ruthless character.

Then... he would use another method.

"Xia He, where's the item?" Gao Bancheng stopped looking at Lin Ming and directly questioned Xia He, his tone commanding.

Xia He gritted her teeth and took out the now-empty miniature crystal tube that had held the Water of Life's raw solution from the inner pocket of her protective suit. After hesitating for a moment, she still handed it over.

Gao Bancheng took the crystal tube and probed it with his spiritual power. His expression immediately darkened.

Only one drop remained!

He suddenly looked up, his blade-like gaze shooting toward Lin Ming. His voice turned cold as well. "Lin Ming, where is the Water of Life?"

"Drank it." Lin Ming's answer was brief and plain.

"Drank it?!" Gao Bancheng's voice suddenly rose, filled with barely restrained fury and pain.

"Do you fucking know what that was?! It was a priceless treasure! It could change—"

"I drank it. That's my business." Lin Ming cut him off again. His tone remained flat, yet it carried an unquestionable coldness.

Gao Bancheng's chest heaved violently. He was clearly furious. He stared fixedly at Lin Ming, his eyes flickering as though weighing the pros and cons.

Kill Lin Ming? Was it worth making a mortal enemy of this clearly troublesome madman, perhaps even losing men, over Water of Life that had already vanished?

Besides, this kid had killed Li Qiang across tiers. His talent and combat power were undoubtedly terrifying. If he could be brought under his command...

At that thought, Gao Bancheng forcibly suppressed his anger and squeezed a slightly stiff smile back onto his face. He coughed, adopting a tone that suggested he had Lin Ming's best interests at heart.

"Lin Ming, young people having pride is a good thing. But you also need to understand the situation." Gao Bancheng clasped his hands behind his back and paced a couple of steps, striking a recruiting pose.

"I've heard about your situation. You killed Chen Dabiao and were targeted by that old madman Chen Haidong, who put a one-hundred-million bounty on your head, right? In the Wilderness, you might still be able to jump around for a few days. But once you enter human society, without anyone to back you, you won't be able to take a single step. The Chen Household may not be top-tier, but they still have a Fifth Tier Chen Haidong. If he truly sets his mind on killing you, can you escape him once and escape him again?"

He looked at Lin Ming with a patronizing air in his eyes. "How about this? For saving Researcher Xia from my household, and... ahem, for 'using up' the Water of Life, I'll point you toward a way out."

"Join the Gao Household. Under my Gao Household's name, we'll vouch for you. I doubt Chen Haidong would dare touch you so openly again. And besides,

my Gao Household has abundant resources. In genetic serums, cultivation techniques, martial skills, and cultivation resources, we can give you the best support. With your talent and the Gao Household's nurturing, breaking through Tier Four, Tier Five, or even higher in the future won't be a dream!"

He made it sound magnificent, as though he were granting Lin Ming an enormous favor.

Xia He's expression became even uglier as she listened from the side. She knew Gao Bancheng too well. She knew the Gao Household too well.

This so-called "recruitment" was merely because they had their eyes on Lin Ming's potential and combat power. They wanted to turn him into an even fiercer dog for the Gao Household! And the terms would surely be extremely harsh.

Sure enough, Gao Bancheng changed his tone and revealed his fangs. "Of course, there's no such thing as a free lunch. You also used up the precious Water of Life. You'll need to compensate for all that."

He raised two fingers and said leisurely:

"First, sign a soul contract and serve the Gao Household... Hmm, twenty years should do. For twenty years, you will obey the Gao Household's orders. Second, the 'reward' you took from Xia He will count as an advance on part of your compensation. What do you think? This is an opportunity others could only dream of. I, Gao Bancheng, am personally recruiting you. I'm giving you face."

He wore a confident smile, as though certain Lin Ming would agree.

After all, on one side was the relentless pursuit of a Fifth Tier powerhouse and a dead end with enemies everywhere; on the other was the protection of the massive Gao Household and a "bright" future. Even a fool knew which to choose. As for a twenty-year contract of servitude?

If it meant surviving and growing stronger, what was wrong with being the Gao Household's thug for twenty years? Countless people wanted such a chance but had no way to get it!