Chapter 157: Fifty Million Ransom

Lin Yu sat back down on the genuine leather sofa, took a Havana cigar from the cigar box on the table, and lit it leisurely. The rich cigar aroma swirled in the reception room, and together with the two gunshots from the courtyard, made the remaining three feel increasingly heavy.

Sun Lingyun, Lu Xiao and Liu Wen stood where they were, cold sweat soaking their clothes. They knew all too well their current predicament—like lambs awaiting slaughter, their lives rested on a single thought of Lin Yu. Especially after seeing the fates of Yang Chengdong and Qin Chang'an, fear completely dominated their hearts.

Lin Yu took a deep drag of the cigar, exhaled a smoke ring, and let his gaze linger on the three. Amid the haze, his expression grew ever more inscrutable.

"Young Master Sun," he finally said, his voice tinged with laziness, "Your Sun family has operated in the Five Great Provinces for years, vast in both household and enterprise. Especially you, you are Sun Dingyuan's only son."

Hearing this, Sun Lingyun's heart trembled, a foreboding feeling rising within him. He knew Lin Yu's character too well; behind such seemingly casual words often lurked the deadliest intent.

Sure enough, Lin Yu continued, "Thirty million dollars—how does that sound? If the Sun family produces that sum, I'll let you go back." He paused, a cruel smile curling his lips, "Otherwise…"

He flicked the cigar ash, his tone suddenly chilling, "Otherwise, I'll have people dismember you blade by blade. Let Sun Dingyuan see how his only son dies."

"You're dreaming!" Sun Lingyun finally couldn't hold back his roar, "Lin Yu, don't go too far! My father commands 250,000 troops, how dare you…"

Before the words finished, Lin Yu had already grabbed the crystal ashtray from the table and smashed it hard onto Sun Lingyun's forehead.

Bang!

Amid the crisp shattering sound, Sun Lingyun fell to the ground. Blood streamed down his forehead, staining his expensive silk vest red.

Lu Xiao and Liu Wen trembled in terror, daring not to breathe loudly. At this moment Lin Yu showed no trace of elegance or composure; his whole being radiated bloodthirsty malice.

"250,000 troops?" Lin Yu sneered, "You think I'd be scared? Just because your father commands that ragtag crowd?" He rose, looking down from above at the groaning Sun Lingyun on the ground, "Tell your father: within three days, either bring thirty million dollars to ransom him, or…"

He stubbed out the cigar, his voice icy: "…I'll come collect the corpse."

The atmosphere in the reception room dropped to freezing. Lu Xiao and Liu Wen stared at the blood‑splattered Sun Lingyun and then at Lin Yu's feral expression, feeling a chill run through them.

They knew that the man before them was not merely bluffing; he truly dared to put the Sun family's sole heir to death.

Sun Lingyun lay in the pool of blood, darkness flashing before his eyes. The wound on his forehead gushed blood, and the intense pain made his body convulse uncontrollably. The priceless silk vest was soaked through, leaving no trace of the dandy's former elegance.

Lin Yu ignored it, as if the groaning figure on the ground were merely a dying dog. He lit another cigar and turned his gaze toward the trembling Lu Xiao.

"Young Master Lu," he exhaled a smoke ring, his voice tinged with amusement, "I heard your father has a nickname in Nanjiang, 'Lu Rooster'?"

Lu Xiao's complexion turned deathly pale. The nickname stemmed from his father's extreme stinginess with money. Hearing it from Lin Yu now was clearly an ill omen.

"Your father may have two sons, and you're a useless second‑generation heir," Lin Yu said leisurely, "but I suppose your life is worth something. Twenty million dollars—does your 'Lu Rooster' father hesitate to pay that ransom for you?"

Lu Xiao trembled even more violently. He had watched Qin Chang'an being dragged out for execution, and seen Sun Lingyun beaten bloody. At this moment he had no trace of the swagger he displayed in Bailemen; his voice turned shrill and harsh.

"Yes! Yes!" he nodded repeatedly, "My father will definitely pay the ransom! Twenty million dollars, he will give! Please don't kill me…"

Lin Yu stood, strolling slowly to Lu Xiao's front. The latter, frightened, felt his legs go weak, almost kneeling to the ground.

"Is that so?" Lin Yu chuckled lightly, then suddenly seized Lu Xiao's right hand and pressed the burning cigar directly onto his palm.

"Ah!" a harrowing scream echoed through the reception room.

The charred flesh sizzled, accompanied by a nauseating odor. Lu Xiao's face twisted in pain, cold sweat pouring, yet he dared not struggle, only emitting a whimper like a small animal.

Lin Yu's expression remained icy as he said word by word, "It's best this way. Otherwise…" He increased the pressure, the cigar scorching deeper, "You'll become a pile of bones on Shen City's Chaotic Burial Hill."

Liu Wen, watching from the side, felt his heart race and nearly vomit. Within a single hour he had witnessed two childhood friends punished—one beaten bloody, the other scalded raw. All of this was merely Lin Yu's display of power.

Lu Xiao's pain nearly caused him to faint, but survival instinct made him keep nodding pleadingly, "I understand! I understand! I'll send a telegram to my family right now! Please don't kill me…"

Only then did Lin Yu release his grip, looking satisfied at the ferocious burn on Lu Xiao's palm. These pampered young masters, that's all the achievement they have.

Lin Yu finally turned his gaze to Liu Wen. The Jiangnan Four Young Masters who usually appeared the most shy and steady was now terrified, his face drained of color.

"Garrison Office…" Lin Yu sneered, "They're the most disgusting flies in Shen City."

He stood, paced to Liu Wen's side: "Your father Liu Xu, a second‑rank Garrison Officer of Shen City, a distinguished provincial official. He pretends to be lower‑profile than the Qin family, spending his days merely putting on a show."

Lin Yu's voice suddenly turned chillingly cold: "But this time, because of a single imperial decree, because of your petty selfishness, you dare to strike at me?"

Liu Wen trembled all over; he knew exactly what Lin Yu meant. That night's assassination was orchestrated by Garrison Office men in cooperation with the Zhou Special Envoy. Yet no one expected Lin Yu had already prepared.

"Unpardonable crime!" Lin Yu shouted suddenly, "Liu family… I want your entire family exterminated!"

Those words, like a death notice, instantly shattered Liu Wen's last defense. The young talent who had achieved much in administration could no longer stay calm; his whole body collapsed like a pool of sludge.

He knew Lin Yu never spoke empty words. The fate of the Qin father and son lay before them, and his own family likely faced an even more tragic end.

In the reception room, Sun Lingyun still convulsed in the blood pool, Lu Xiao clutched his burned palm and whimpered, while Liu Wen lay on the ground, eyes vacant. The once Jiangnan Four Young Masters now lay in a wretched state, devoid of any former elegance.

Lin Yu sat back on the sofa, watching the scene, a cold smile curling his lips.

From tonight onward, Shen City will usher in a brand‑new era, and these once‑powerful young masters are merely sacrifices of this new age.