Struggle

News of Li Yao's victory in the Martial Arts Tournament spread through every corner of the Imperial Capital as if it had wings.

Almost every family with any standing had heard about it.

The Yang Family was no exception.

In the Yang Family's secret chamber, the atmosphere was stifling.

Lin Yun sat in the seat of honor, his face dark as thunder.

He held a confidential report detailing exactly how Li Yao had won.

"Li Yao defeated Ye Xiao in the Finals, revealing the strength of a Ninth Rank Martial Master and combat power comparable to a Martial Venerable..."

By the time Lin Yun finished reading, his hands were shaking.

Yang Mingyou stood beside him, huddled in a corner and hardly daring to breathe for fear of setting him off.

"Li Yao..." Lin Yun spat the name through gritted teeth.

"How could you have improved so fast?"

His voice held resentment, frustration, and a trace of fear.

He hadn't watched the Martial Arts Tournament, but his subordinates' reports made one thing clear: Li Yao's strength was already comparable to a Martial Venerable's!

How was he supposed to ambush Li Yao now?

After endless pleading, he had finally persuaded the father he'd only recently acknowledged to send him a Martial Venerable Realm expert.

But now, even that expert would have a hard time stopping Li Yao in a fight!

Lin Yun had imagined Li Yao arriving to collect the debt with a few guards, perhaps someone like Li Wenbin, but at most two or three Ninth Rank Martial Masters.

Once Li Yao arrived, Yang Mingyou would hold one of them off while the Martial Venerable Realm expert his father had sent killed Li Yao and the rest.

Then Lin Yun would return to his family and accept his punishment.

His father was the head of the family and surely wouldn't punish him too severely. At worst, he'd suffer a little physical pain to give the Li Family an answer.

After that, his future would be glorious.

A promotion, a raise, the general manager's job, a shot at CEO, a beautiful, wealthy wife—the pinnacle of success!

But now it had all gone wrong. All of it!

Li Yao had not only won the Martial Arts Tournament but also reached the Ninth Rank as a Martial Master, with strength comparable to a Martial Venerable's.

The more Lin Yun thought about it, the angrier he grew. He slammed his fist onto the table.

Bang!

A crack split the tabletop.

Yang Mingyou flinched so hard he nearly dropped to his knees.

"Um... Young Master Lin, perhaps we could think of another way?"

He could barely get the words out.

Lin Yun raised his head and shot him a cold look.

"Think of another way? Easy for you to say! You've seen how strong Li Yao is now. Do you think one Martial Venerable can handle him?"

Yang Mingyou had no answer. He could only shrink back.

Lin Yun took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

His mind raced through the possibilities.

Li Yao's strength had far exceeded his expectations.

With only one Martial Venerable Realm expert, they might not be able to beat him.

And Li Wenbin was at Li Yao's side. He was a Ninth Rank Martial Master himself, only a step away from becoming a Martial Venerable.

If it came to a fight, Lin Yun's chances were slim.

Unless...

A cold glint flashed in Lin Yun's eyes.

Unless he asked his father to send another person!

Otherwise, he would never be able to kill Li Yao.

"Lin Yun, darling~"

Yang Xiaoran suddenly spoke as Lin Yun weighed his options.

She hurried over and traced a few circles on his chest with her finger. "Why don't you bring a few more people over, darling~?"

Lin Yun caught her hand and stroked it lightly.

"All right. Anything you say, Xiaoran."

"You're so good to me, darling~"

Yang Xiaoran laughed and gave his chest a playful tap.

Lin Yun made a show of clutching it. "That hurt. I'll have to punish you."

With that, he swept Yang Xiaoran into his arms and carried her toward the inner room.

Yang Mingyou remained where he was, worry written all over his face.

"Oh, what am I going to do..."

He sighed, feeling sick to his stomach.

He had thought Lin Yun could deal with Li Yao. Instead, Li Yao kept getting stronger while Lin Yun had started to panic.

If Li Yao really came to collect the debt, what would the Yang Family tell him?

Three years' worth of Spirit Stones was no small sum!

The more Yang Mingyou thought about it, the worse his headache grew. He sighed again.

Inside, Lin Yun carried Yang Xiaoran into the room and set her on the bed.

Lying there, Yang Xiaoran gazed at him with dreamy eyes. "Can you really deal with Li Yao, darling?"

Lin Yun sneered. "Don't worry. I have a plan."

"But..."

"No buts."

Lin Yun cut her off.

"My father may be the head of the Lin Family, but I'm not his only son. That elder brother of mine has been against me at every turn since I returned to the family. I have to get rid of Li Yao this time, or I won't be able to hold my head up when I go back."

Yang Xiaoran nodded and said nothing more.

Lin Yun rose and walked to the window, looking out at the night.

"Li Yao, do you think winning the Martial Arts Tournament means you can rest easy?"

A cold smile curled his lips.

"Just wait. I'll show you what happens when you cross me."

He took out his phone and dialed a number.

The call was answered almost at once.

"Hello, Father. It's me."

"What is it?"

"I'd like you to send one more person."

The other end of the line fell silent for a few seconds.

"One more? The first isn't enough?"

"No." Lin Yun gritted his teeth. "Li Yao's strength is now comparable to a Martial Venerable's. I only have one Martial Venerable here, and I'm afraid he won't be able to beat him."

Silence followed again.

"Are you sure two can kill him?"

"I'm sure."

"All right. I'll send Lin Feng."

"Thank you, Father!"

Lin Yun hung up, his smile colder than before.

"Just you wait, Li Yao."

He put away his phone and turned to Yang Xiaoran.

"Xiaoran, I need you to do something else for me."

"What is it?"

"Spread the word that the Yang Family has gathered enough Spirit Stones. Tell Li Yao to come collect the debt."

Yang Xiaoran blinked. "But... we haven't gathered enough yet."

"Then pretend we have." Lin Yun sneered. "If Li Yao dares to come, I'll make sure he never leaves."

Yang Xiaoran nodded without asking more.

She didn't know exactly what Lin Yun was planning, but she would do whatever he asked.

After speaking, Lin Yun looked out the window again.

Lights flickered across the Imperial Capital like scattered stars.

He stared at them, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Just you wait, Li Yao."

He spoke through gritted teeth, each word deliberate.

"I'll show you what happens when you cross me."

Then he turned to Yang Xiaoran and pulled her into his arms.

"Thanks for your help today, Xiaoran."

Yang Xiaoran nestled against him. "It was nothing. Anything is worth it if it helps you, darling."

Lin Yun smiled and bent to kiss her.

"Good girl. Once this is over, I'll take you back to the Lin Family and make you a young mistress."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Yang Xiaoran was so happy her eyes curved into crescents.

Lin Yun looked at her, sneering inwardly.

What a foolish woman. She's so easy to fool.

With his arm around Yang Xiaoran, he lay down beside her on the bed.

"It's late. Time for sleep."