It turned out that life was more important than anything else.
Even though Zhou Rushan was unwilling, he still swallowed his pride and conceded, agreeing to pay the enormous sum to save his own life. The problem was that most of his wealth was tied up in fixed assets. Producing five billion in cash imdiately was simply impossible. He offered to sign over so of his businesses to Lin Tang to offset the debt.
Lin Tang flatly refused. Managing those businesses would be a waste of his ti. Cultivating his power and growing stronger was his main objective.
"In that case, could you give so more ti to raise the cash..."
"You have one week. If the money hasn't arrived by then, for every day you're late, I'll cut off a piece of you."
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Watching Lin Tang strut away triumphantly, Zhou Rushan felt a hatred so deep that all the oceans in the world couldn't wash it away. Song Chaohu also looked aggrieved.
"Father-in-law, are we really going to gather five billion just to hand it over to him?"
"What else can we do? Let him kill so you can inherit the Zhou Family's fortune?"
"That's not what I ant..."
"This is all because you're so useless! If you were stronger than him, you would have killed him already! Would he have had the chance to extort ?"
Song Chaohu fell silent.
So it's all my fault, huh? And you, you old geezer, are blaless?!
Just then, Song Chaohu's phone rang. He answered it and then burst into wild laughter.
"Hahaha, this is fantastic!"
Zhou Rushan wanted to slap him across the face. "We're in this miserable state, and you have the goddamn nerve to laugh?"
"No, Father-in-law, listen to this..." Song Chaohu shared the inside information he had just received. Lin Tang had not only offended Hou Baoshu but had also verbally insulted Yan Renjie. He had signed his own death warrant!
"Yan Renjie is at the peak of the Innate realm! The True Martial Association is nothing to him! As long as he makes a move, no one can save this guy, Lin!" Song Chaohu concluded, his face alight with excitent.
Zhou Rushan was overjoyed. "Excellent! Once Yan Renjie gets rid of that little bastard, we won't have to pay him a cent!"
At that mont, they were both filled with eager anticipation for Yan Renjie's arrival. The sooner, the better—preferably right now.
「…」
Lu Liangfei personally drove all the antiques Lin Tang had packed up to Villa No. 1. Chen Yuyan, along with the elderly scavenger and the little girl, also followed Lin Tang there.
"This villa... it's magnificent!" Chen Yuyan said, her eyes wide with amazent as she took in the layout and environnt.
The elderly scavenger, anwhile, was completely overwheld, curling his toes as if afraid he might soil the pristine floor.
The little girl's jaw dropped. "Wow!" she whispered. "Is this a fairy-tale princess's castle?"
"You like it? Then you all can live here, too," Lin Tang offered generously.
"Ah? N-no, that's impossible, I... I..." The elderly scavenger stamred, frantically waving his hands.
"You all went through this ordeal because of . Think of this invitation as a form of compensation. If you feel bad about it, you can just help with laundry and cooking," Lin Tang said nonchalantly.
The elderly scavenger still tried to refuse, but Lin Tang's patience wore thin.
"What, you're going to turn down? Believe it or not, I can have you locked up right now."
Tears stread down the elderly scavenger's face. He knew that this disaster had turned into a blessing, for he had t a great benefactor.
The little girl was also ecstatic, flashing a sweet smile. "Thank you, Big Brother!"
Lin Tang asked for their nas. The little girl was Wu Xinyu, and her grandmother was Huang Jifen. They had both led difficult lives.
Just as Chen Yuyan was feeling touched by this act of kindness, Lin Tang turned to her. "If you're holess, you can stay too. I don't mind."
"...Who said I'm holess?" Chen Yuyan was speechless.
She was half-covered in blood and planned to clean up and find a change of clothes, but she discovered that in the vast villa, the walk-in closet was completely empty.
"Didn't you say you were married? How co there isn't a single item of won's clothing?" Chen Yuyan asked, astonished.
"I just got married and then divorced. We never actually lived together. As for this house, it was a gift. This is my first day moving in, too," Lin Tang explained.
Chen Yuyan was at a loss for words.
What does he an, he just got married and then divorced? Isn't that basically a one-night stand? To think he's into that sort of thing... He's so flippant!
Left with no other choice, Chen Yuyan had to pick a set of clothes from the new nswear Lin Tang had just bought. Fortunately, the bathroom was stocked with fresh towels and toiletries, which saved her from further embarrassnt.
As hot water stread down, Chen Yuyan bathed, her fingers brushing over the wound on her abdon. A wave of profound fear washed over her once again.
I almost died today!
At the sa ti, she marveled at Lin Tang's incredible dical skills. She had been stabbed, yet after only a short ti, the wound had already scabbed over, enough that she could take a shower. How on earth had he managed to accelerate the healing process so much?
But it's still going to leave a scar, isn't it? It'll be so ugly!
Chen Yuyan's mood soured. When she ca out after her shower, her spirits were still low. Lin Tang, who was about to prepare a dicinal brew, noticed her gloom and chuckled.
"Is that all? I thought it was sothing serious. Once it's fully healed, I'll just remove the scar for you. I guarantee there won't be a single mark left."
"Re... remove it? You an scar removal? You can do that?" Chen Yuyan was shocked.
"I can heal the wound inside your stomach. What's removing a little scar?" Lin Tang shrugged. For him, it was as simple as eating or drinking.
"Then it's a deal! I'll co find you then," Chen Yuyan said, beaming.
She was about to leave when another problem arose. Her old clothes were soaked in blood, torn, and beyond saving. She had already decided not to tell her grandfather about the near-death experience to avoid worrying him. But how could she possibly explain returning ho dressed in n's clothes?
He'll definitely assu I was... with so guy, right? That would cause a massive fight!
Chen Yuyan shivered and quickly grabbed Lin Tang's arm. "Can you please co with to buy so clothes?"
"Can't you see I'm busy?" Lin Tang replied impatiently. "Even if you change into new won's clothes, you won't be able to explain it when you get ho. You're an adult now. So what if your grandfather misunderstands?"
"He would definitely force to tell him who the man is and then drag him back to marry ! I can't possibly say that man was you, can I?" Chen Yuyan pouted.
Lin Tang glanced at her adorable face and teased, "Well, it's not entirely out of the question. I'm single now. I could reluctantly marry you, just as a good deed."
"Pfft! I wouldn't want a flippant man like you!" Chen Yuyan said with disdain.
In the end, Lin Tang agreed to go with her. The villa's garage housed several luxury cars, making travel convenient. When Chen Yuyan learned that Lin Tang couldn't drive, she had no choice but to steel herself and get behind the wheel. She had a license, but her driving skills were absolutely atrocious.
Lin Tang decided to bring Wu Xinyu and Huang Jifen along as well to buy them so new clothes and daily necessities.
After finally parking the car in a lot, Chen Yuyan wiped the sweat from her forehead and tossed the keys to Lin Tang. "You'd better hire a designated driver for the trip back. I'm not getting behind that wheel again. It's too nerve-racking."
Huang Jifen and Wu Xinyu were also pale with lingering fear. The ride had been a thrilling, perilous adventure, and they sincerely agreed they couldn't endure it again.
"I'm impressed you can even drive like that," Lin Tang said, shaking his head disdainfully before starting toward the nearby shopping mall.
A quick glance revealed that it was the very sa mall where he had first encountered Zhou Rushan. What a coincidence.
"Hey, it's this guy..." one of the guards muttered.
"What are you doing here again?" another demanded. "Get out! We don't welco broke-ass losers like you here!"
The mall security guards obviously hadn't seen Lin Tang get out of a luxury car. They still saw him as a ragpicker. Glancing at Chen Yuyan in her ill-fitting, off-brand nswear, and at the grimy-looking Huang Jifen and Wu Xinyu, they sneered. This was a high-end mall filled with luxury brands. What could people from the dregs of society possibly afford here?
Lin Tang truly couldn't comprehend the snobbery of these guards. He held up the antique sword in his hand. "Didn't you all hear before? The offer for this sword reached five million. How low does your IQ have to be to think I'm poor?"
"Well... that kind of makes sense, doesn't it?" one of the guards ventured.
"Sense, my ass!" another retorted. "He hasn't sold that worthless sword yet, has he? He'll only have money once it's sold!"
"Right, right!" a third agreed. "Unless you can prove you have money so other way, stop embarrassing yourself here!"
The security guards weren't necessarily trying to give him a hard ti. It was just that after the mall owner fired Zhao Dajun, he had turned around and chewed them out for a long ti. The boss had given them clear orders to be sharp. Don't offend powerful figures like Zhou Rushan, but also don't let any riffraff in to ruin the atmosphere. Naturally, they had to enforce this rule strictly.
"You need proof? Fine, as you wish." Lin Tang took out his phone and dialed a number. "Old dog Zhou, how's my money coming along?"
Zhou Rushan, on the other end, was bewildered. What?! Didn't he say one week? It's only been an hour!
"You have half an hour. Bring one hundred million to ," Lin Tang said, giving his location. "And rember, I want cash!" He hung up before Zhou Rushan could reply.
"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!" Zhou Rushan roared, cursing Lin Tang and all eighteen generations of his ancestors. Despite his fury, he imdiately summoned Song Chaohu to urgently gather the money.
Back at the mall, the security guards heard Lin Tang's call and stared in stunned silence for a mont before bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha, you're hilarious! Who do you think you're putting on this act for?"
"And... one hundred million in cash? One hundred million in Joss Paper, you an?"
"Who's this 'Old dog Zhou' you were yelling for? Don't tell it's that big shot who wanted to buy your worthless sword? You must have a death wish!"
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