Chapter 156

The night gradually deepened, and the lights inside Lin Gong Guan were all on.

Lin Yu leaned back on the leather sofa, his dark‑red silk robe making him appear even more composed. He played with a crystal goblet in his hand, the red wine inside glowing blood‑red in the lamp light.

"Bring them in." he said to Feng An, who stood beside him.

Soon, several people were escorted into the reception hall. Yang Chengdong, Sun Lingyun, Qin Chang'an, Liu Wen, and Lu Xiao—these figures who had called the wind and summoned the rain in Shen City—were now bound like prisoners.

"Reporting to the Commander." Feng An stood at attention and said, "The Jiangnan Four Young Masters were preparing to flee Shen City aboard a British merchant ship, but our people intercepted them at the dock."

Lin Yu gently swirled his glass, his gaze sweeping over each of the five faces, a hint of amusement playing at the corner of his mouth: "Gentlemen, please sit. What, you're leaving already? The good show in Shen City has only just begun."

Yang Chengdong's face was ashen. This Security Division Commander, who had hoped to seize power after Qin Dongzhi's death, never imagined he would end up like this. He stared blankly at Lin Yu, seemingly still unable to recover from this tremendous change.

"Lin Yu! You traitor!" Sun Lingyun thrashed violently, his eyes blazing with anger, "You're nothing but a lowly Fourth Bureau Chief, yet you dare betray the court......"

"Shut up!" Feng An bellowed, cutting him off.

Qin Chang'an stared fixedly at Lin Yu, his eyes full of hatred. His father Qin Dongzhi's death, the internal strife of the Security Army—everything was plotted by this man before them. Even now, captured, he refused to admit defeat.

Liu Wen, on the other hand, was unusually calm. He stood there expressionless, his gaze vacant, as if what was happening before him had nothing to do with him. But Lin Yu knew that this son of the garrison's mind was surely racing, calculating how to secure a sliver of survival for himself in this new situation.

"You'll die a horrible death! Lin Yu, you treacherous villain!" Lu Xiao thrashed wildly, shrieking hysterically, "I curse you......"

"Slap!"

The sharp slap cut off his cursing. Feng An lowered his hand, coldly looking at Lu Xiao: "Show some respect in front of the Commander."

Lin Yu waved his hand, signaling Feng An to step back. He rose and paced slowly before the five, saying: "Gentlemen, I doubt anyone expected that, in the end, I would be the biggest winner in this game of Shen City."

He stopped in front of Yang Chengdong, looking down on the former Security Division Commander: "Commander Yang, you've lain low for so many years, finally waiting for an opportunity—yet in the end, didn't it just benefit me?"

Turning to Sun Lingyun: "Young Master Sun, the court's power is indeed great, but sadly they're now preoccupied with their own survival—how could they still have the energy to manage Shen City's affairs?"

"As for the Jiangnan Four Young Masters..." Lin Yu's gaze swept over the remaining three, "First they joined forces against me, then, under pressure from the court, they united again—yet the result? Still, I caught them all in one net."

The reception hall was deathly silent, only the fire in the fireplace emitting a faint crackle. These few figures, who once commanded wind and rain, now all remained silent; they finally realized that, without noticing, they had already suffered a crushing defeat.

Lin Yu looked down at the five people before him, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery; he was no longer the petty Fourth Bureau Chief, but a powerful figure who held Shen City's fate in his grasp—a single word could decide the life or death of those who once commanded wind and rain.

After a long while, he finally spoke slowly.

"Yang Chengdong..." Lin Yu's gaze fell on this Security Commander, his voice tinged with mockery, "You eat the Qin family's food yet seek to seize their power. After Qin Dong Zhi's death, you were the first to jump out and seize power—you're a white-eyed wolf. People like you are a menace even if kept."

Yang Chengdong shuddered all over, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

Lin Yu's gaze turned to Sun Lingyun, his tone easing: "Young Master Sun can stay. After all, he is the sole son of Sun Dingyuan, the actual ruler of the Five Great Provinces, heir to a 250,000-strong army. He made a name for himself while studying at the French military academy, and now he commands the military deployment of all Jiangnan. Such talent would be a shame to kill."

"As for Lu Xiao..." Lin Yu looked at the young man still struggling, "The son of the Nanjiang Governor, though he looks dissolute, he is at least a useful pawn."

Liu Wen and Qin Chang'an exchanged a glance, both seeing despair in each other's eyes; they fully understood the subtext of Lin Yu's words—those with value could stay, while those who had lost their usefulness...

The atmosphere in the reception hall grew ever more solemn, only the fire in the fireplace still leaping joyfully, as if bearing witness to this turning point of fate.

Lin Yu's gaze finally settled on Qin Chang'an, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile.

"Qin Chang'an, how did your father Qin Dong Zhi die? I think everyone here knows it well." He said slowly, "That day at the Grand Triplet Restaurant, I killed Muto Chiaki right in front of your father. Then those foreign guards 'coincidentally' pursued and killed your father..."

Qin Chang'an trembled all over, his eyes bursting with bone-deep hatred. Yes, he would never forget that day. His father was beaten to death by foreigners, and all the evidence pointed to retaliation by Muto Chiaki's subordinates. But he knew this was all a meticulously designed scheme by the man before him.

"You must hate me, right?" Lin Yu continued, his voice tinged with amusement, "Your father originally wanted to use me and the foreigners to inflict mutual damage, but he never expected to die in his own scheme. And you, after his death, not only failed to hold onto the Security Command Headquarters, but you also gave that white-eyed wolf Yang Chengdong an opening."

He lightly waved his hand at Feng An.

"What a pity—I, Lin Yu, have always liked to eradicate the root. Keeping you would ultimately be a liability. So..."

Feng An immediately understood, waving his hand to the soldiers on either side: "Take Yang Chengdong and Qin Chang'an away and execute them on the spot."

"No! Don't!" Yang Chengdong collapsed instantly, frantically struggling, "Commander Lin, I am willing to defect! I can serve you! I still have thirty thousand elite troops under my command..."

The soldiers dragged him outward, his pleading voice growing more anguished: "Spare my life! I really know I was wrong! I'm willing to do anything..."

And Qin Chang'an was another story. His eyes bloodshot, he screamed hysterically: "Lin Yu! You beast! You plotted to kill my father and seized our Qin family's foundation! Even as a ghost I will not let you go!"

"Come on! Stuff his mouth!" Feng An shouted sternly.

Their voices gradually faded, finally disappearing into the night. Moments later, two muffled gunshots rang out from the courtyard.

Lin Yu raised his cup and took a light sip. From the scheme at the Grand Triplet Restaurant to today's purge, Shen City's power structure has finally been completely rewritten. From now on, this city will have no Security Command Headquarters, nor any Qin family influence.

The remaining three men were ashen-faced. Especially Sun Lingyun, he clearly remembered that just half a month ago, the four of them were still clinking glasses at Bailemen, chatting and laughing. Who could have thought that in less than a month and a half, the situation would undergo such a huge change.