On the western side of Northern Liang City stood a vast residence that made everything around it seem rather dim.
This was the Ran residence.
As the foremost noble clan in Northern Liang, the Ran Clan had a hand in every field, and its influence was immense. Unfortunately, the Prince of Northern Liang was far too domineering, placing restrictions on them. Otherwise, they might already have conquered Northern Liang.
A family this powerful had always been the one to bully others. They had never imagined that one day they would be bullied themselves.
"What an heir the Prince of Northern Liang has! He truly has enough gall to fill the heavens!" Ran Zijin sneered.
Even he had to see Lin Yi in a new light. The fellow had killed more than three thousand people in one go-a measure of utter madness.
But the effect had been immediate!
Northern Liang City, which had been plagued by chaos only moments before, was now as calm as still water. Those responsible for the so-called chaos were either dead or had drawn in their heads like turtles, terrified that someone would come knocking.
To put it bluntly, the killing had frightened them.
From this, it was clear that although Lin Yi's move had involved excessive slaughter, it had been remarkably effective.
Beside him, Ran Chao could not help saying angrily, "Hmph, that fellow killed so many people in one go. This time, I doubt even the Prince of Northern Liang can protect him. I hope the emperor kills him!"
Lin Yi's earlier attack had caught him off guard, and many of his businesses had suffered losses. How could he accept that?
Though the losses were not much to him, they had still cut to the bone, enough to make even him wince. That was gleaming silver!
"Hmph, what the hell do you know!"
Hearing him, Ran Zijin's eyes flashed with displeasure. He sneered, "If you had half of Lin Yi's resolve, I'd be satisfied. Killing on such a sweeping scale now will bring impeachment, but the effect is immediate. Have you considered what would happen if Lin Yi did nothing?"
The boy was still far too shortsighted. He could not even see how formidable Lin Yi was. With such poor judgment, he would probably suffer for it sooner or later.
"If he did nothing?"
His father's tone made Ran Chao shudder. He instinctively followed his father's words and thought it over, and the result sent a chill through him.
If Lin Yi did nothing, everyone would probably think him easy to bully. In that case, Northern Liang City would likely become a place where demons danced in wild abandon and a hundred ghosts roamed the night.
Did that mean Lin Yi had made the right choice after all?
Damn it!
He was somewhat unwilling to accept it. "Father," he said angrily, "whatever the case, that bastard Lin Yi caused us heavy losses. We have to teach him a lesson, or he'll be climbing onto our heads to take a shit!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Ran Zijin glared at him, a warning flashing in his eyes. "Watch what you say!" he snapped. "The Lin Clan can cover the sky with one hand in Northern Liang. Do you think there are no men of Lin Rusong's in this residence?"
His own son still lacked seasoning!
Lin Rusong was practically an emperor in Northern Liang, with eyes and ears everywhere.
If he had not sent everyone away, those words would likely have reached Lin Rusong's ears before long, and the consequences would have been unimaginable.
That was the Prince of Northern Liang, a man even the emperor feared. If anyone dared underestimate him, they might die without even knowing how.
"Don't worry, Father. I only said it because no one else was here," Ran Chao said quietly, shrinking back.
He was usually the sort who feared neither heaven nor earth, but he was still very afraid of his own scheming father, because he had several younger brothers.
If his father stopped favoring him, the Ran Clan would fall into one of his younger brothers' hands.
Ran Zijin glanced at him and said gravely, "You and Lin Yi are known as Northern Liang's two great heirs. Look at where he is now, then look at yourself. Don't you think you should have something to say?"
Uh!
Ran Chao's face immediately turned green. That was a stab to the heart. His own father looked down on him!
"What's wrong with me?" he said awkwardly. "I brought three of Northern Liang City's major gangs to heel. They've done so much for our Ran Clan. Can that boy Lin Yi compare?"
He was not worthless. He was very capable.
Ran Zijin took a sip of tea and looked at his indignant son. "You did a good job of that," he said calmly. "Unfortunately, Lin Yi has wiped them all out now!"
That was right. The gangs that had attached themselves to the Ran Clan had all been wiped out.
That was why Ran Chao was so angry. It was as though one of his arms had been broken. How could he not be furious?
"Hmph, isn't that boy just relying on his father? If he hadn't used his father's army, who knows whose hands the deer would have fallen into?" Ran Chao was furious.
The gangs under him had all been quite strong, but when a regular army attacked, they had been beaten back at every turn. It made him want to jump up and curse.
What was so great about Lin Yi?
To put it bluntly, the boy was still relying on his father. Without his father, he was nothing.
"Relying on his father?"
Ran Zijin sneered and slapped Ran Chao across the face. "Weren't you relying on me, your father, to bring those gangs to heel? Or do you think your father is inferior to his, and that's why Lin Yi got the better of you?"
The dangerous tone of those words made Ran Chao shudder. He immediately shook his head like a rattle drum.
"Father, I never said that."
"Hmph, I trust you wouldn't dare. Then what if I told you that army was Lin Yi's own?"
"His own army? How is that possible?"
"Why wouldn't it be possible?"
Ran Zijin snorted. Now, no matter how he looked at his son, he found him wanting. Why was Lin Rusong's son so capable, able to build a force of elite cavalry on his own?
His own son was decent enough, but in the end, he had lost to Lin Yi.
Argh!
Ran Chao was going mad. His father really did look down on him.
But Lin Yi was a wastrel. How could he possibly have built an army himself? It had to be impossible.
He began to question his life.
He had always been the one looking down on Lin Yi, but now Lin Yi had surpassed him. That left him rather unhappy.
Ran Zijin paid no heed to his son's feelings. Instead, he said gravely, "Keep a low profile for a while. The assassination attempt has clearly enraged Lin Yi. If you provoke him, I'm afraid even I won't be able to save you."
At the mention of the assassination attempt, Ran Chao's expression stiffened, but he concealed it in an instant.
He nodded gloomily and muttered, "Don't worry, I'm not stupid. That fellow is a madman right now, and I'm not about to provoke a madman!"
Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded, snapping father and son to attention. They fell silent.
"Who is it?"
"Master, it's me!"
Hearing the steward's voice, Ran Zijin breathed a sigh of relief. Somewhat displeased, he said, "What is it? Didn't I tell you not to disturb us while my son and I were talking unless it was important?"
Today, he had meant to teach his son a lesson and have him learn from Lin Yi. Yet this fellow had dared interrupt his instruction. Had he lived his life backwards?
"Master, something serious has happened!"