One little finger pointed, and life or death hung in the balance!

"Zhao Tong, head of the Zhao Family, pays his respects to the City Lord."

The middle-aged man in the lead bowed in greeting, and the Zhao Family members behind him followed suit.

"Family Head Zhao, I have some free time today. Would you care to accompany me on a stroll around your estate?" Lin Xiao asked with a smile.

"Since you are in the mood, City Lord, I would be honored to accompany you," Zhao Tong replied respectfully, a modest smile on his face.

"Oh, right. This is my son, Lin An," Lin Xiao added.

A sharp gleam flashed through Zhao Tong's eyes. He naturally knew that City Lord Lin Xiao had a son, but he had heard that the boy had fallen ill and rarely spoke.

He had only met him in the early years and had heard nothing about him since.

He had not expected Lin Xiao to bring him to the Zhao Family today.

"Zhao Tong pays his respects to the Young City Lord." Zhao Tong bowed to Lin An.

Lin An merely gave a slight nod in response.

Then Zhao Tong stepped aside and gestured with his hand. "City Lord, Young City Lord, please follow me."

Lin Xiao and Lin An stepped forward, with Zhao Tong close behind. The Zhao Family members made way, respectfully watching the three walk ahead.

The Zhao Family estate covered a vast area, its courtyards artfully arranged, with rockeries, flowing water, and lush flowers and trees lending it an air of great elegance.

As Lin Xiao walked, he surveyed the scenery with interest, nodding in praise from time to time.

"The Zhao Family estate certainly lives up to its reputation. As expected of one of the city's foremost families," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

Zhao Tong hastily replied with humility, "You flatter us, City Lord. The Zhao Family merely benefits from our ancestors' legacy and your protection, barely maintaining a little dignity. It is your capable governance that allows the people of the city to live and work in peace."

Lin Xiao laughed and waved a hand. "There is no need to be so modest, Family Head Zhao. The Zhao Family has been a great clan in this city for generations. I, too, rely on you a great deal."

The two chatted as they walked, the atmosphere quite harmonious.

Lin An watched it all.

He understood why his bargain-bin dad had arrested the Sin Beasts outright instead of marking them first. He clearly intended to put the Zhao Family in its place.

The Zhao Family certainly lived up to its standing as a family that had endured in Shenglin City. Even though Lin Xiao had subdued his people, Zhao Tong had not questioned him, remaining respectful and courteous instead. His thoughts clearly ran deep.

Meanwhile, Zhao Tong privately pondered the City Lord's sudden visit today, accompanied by the Young City Lord, who had not appeared in public for a long time.

He had subdued members of the Zhao Family before even entering the gate. His intentions were probably far from friendly.

He carefully observed Lin Xiao's expression, trying to glean some clues.

"Father, there's something wrong with those two," Lin An said just then.

Lin Xiao stopped, and Zhao Tong and the others looked in the direction Lin An was pointing.

They saw a manservant and a maid.

Before Zhao Tong could speak, Lin Xiao acted, subduing the two on the spot.

The Zhao Family members frowned deeply at this. Even Zhao Tong could not keep his eyes from flickering.

Could the City Lord have come today just to help the Young City Lord establish his authority over our Zhao Family, preparing him to take over Shenglin City in the future?

"Family Head Zhao, there really are quite a few problematic people in your estate," Lin Xiao said with a smile.

Zhao Tong naturally had no idea what problems Lin Xiao was referring to, but he did not dare argue.

"You are right, City Lord. Thanks to the Young City Lord's discerning eye, these problematic people were discovered in time, restoring purity to our Zhao Family."

As he spoke, Zhao Tong bowed to Lin An again. "On behalf of the entire Zhao Family, I thank you, Young City Lord."

At this moment, he was certain that Lin Xiao was helping Lin An establish his authority. This was telling him that, to the City Lord's manor, whether the Zhao Family had problems was merely a matter of a word.

"Thank you, Young City Lord."

Although the other Zhao Family members were inwardly furious, seeing their family head's attitude, they dared not make a move.

"Hahaha! Your Zhao Family certainly knows what's what. You really do owe An'er a favor this time," Lin Xiao said with a hearty laugh.

Zhao Tong's eyelid twitched. They were clearly putting the Zhao Family in its place, yet now the Zhao Family even had to owe them a favor...

Watching this, Lin An also found it amusing.

His dad could clearly have told Zhao Tong and the others that these people were Sin Beasts, yet he deliberately said nothing, letting the Zhao Family misunderstand and think they were throwing their weight around.

But since his dad had not said anything, he naturally would not undermine him. He knew his dad was taking the opportunity to put the Zhao Family in its place while also establishing his authority.

Once the Zhao Family's resentment reached its peak in a little while, only for them to discover that these people were all Sin Beasts, they would behave themselves much better in the future, even if they did not feel deeply grateful.

At the same time, Lin An also felt the extent of his dad's power.

The head of the Zhao Family, someone he could only look up to when he entered the game in his previous life, now had to stand by, trembling and forcing a smile.

His dad had been right. He was the heavens over all of Shenglin City.

The stroll continued. Whenever Lin An discovered a Sin Beast, he pointed them out.

The sight sent chills through the Zhao Family members' hearts. With one point of the Young City Lord's finger, life or death hung in the balance.

Lin Xiao subdued the Sin Beasts one by one. Eventually, there were so many that he simply had the Zhao Family members help escort them.

This made the Zhao Family members even angrier.

The people being arrested were members of their Zhao Family, yet they had to escort them themselves. What kind of compliance test was this?

Seeing that they had toured most of the Zhao Family estate, Lin An looked at the Sin Beasts they had uncovered. There were thirty-six in total.

What a haul.

And this was only the Zhao Family. They had yet to visit the Zhang Clan and the Wang Clan.

Lin An had not expected that on his very first day after transmigrating, he would already have a chance to break a hundred attribute points.

That was more attribute points than he had earned over several months in his previous life.

Lin Xiao glanced at Lin An. Seeing him nod, he knew they had found all the Sin Beasts in the Zhao Family.

He was just about to speak when a burst of laughter like silver bells suddenly rang out.

"Little Miss, slow down! We can't keep up!"

Lin An looked toward the voice and saw a little girl of six or seven running merrily ahead, with several servants chasing after her.

When Lin An saw the little girl, his brows rose involuntarily.

There was a skull symbol above her head as well, but it was pale red rather than blood-red.

A blood-red skull meant that the person had been possessed by a Sin Beast for more than twenty-four hours.

A pale red skull, however, meant that twenty-four hours had not yet passed. In other words, this little girl could still be saved.

Lin An was just about to speak when Zhao Tong, who had been watching him all along, felt his heart jolt.

"My daughter has disturbed the City Lord and the Young City Lord. Please forgive her," Zhao Tong said hurriedly.