[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lawful-tyrant":3,"chapter-lawful-tyrant-lawful-tyrant-chapter-69":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lawful Tyrant",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2284953,4469,"Chapter 69: Step Back, and the Sea and Sky Will Widen","lawful-tyrant-chapter-69",69,"\u003Cp>\"Coercive sales?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren smiled, nodded at the chess set on the coffee table, and said, \"Can you play chess? A game?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing ignored him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren wasn’t annoyed; he casually picked up a pawn and said softly, \"I was born at the beginning of civilization’s reconstruction. Back then, it wasn’t as chaotic as the End Times, and there weren’t constant 'storms' that could kill you on the spot—but people eating people wasn’t uncommon… Just having the right to buy and sell was already something to be grateful for.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing said nothing, only casually placed his hand beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already ready to strike at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he didn’t know how strong this invisible woman beside him was, since Zhao Jiayi said her life field matched his own level, that meant she was merely at the level of the Seven-Seven Training Method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The threat posed by her suspected genetic ability remained uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If Captain Lin agrees to provide us at the Yanhong Society with some trivial intelligence, then Captain Lin becomes a friend of the Yanhong Society.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren smiled, \"If Captain Lin agrees, tomorrow I’ll inform the Gongan Bureau and the Patrol that the lost item has been recovered—it was a mistake by my Yinghai Group, causing Captain Lin to suffer unjust suspicion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added, \"Also, I hear Captain Lin has just recently mastered the Seven-Seven Training Method. I can offer you one set of EPS-series high-energy sustained-release fluid, plus one hundred sets of MY-series high-energy sustained-release fluid. What do you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The MY-series high-energy sustained-release fluid is a weakened version of the EPS-series; though it doesn’t restore physical potential, one hundred sets are worth over twenty million! The EPS-series high-energy sustained-release fluid sells for eight digits per set on the black market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren knew none of these patrol officers wanted their unexplained funds traced—unless the money came from an extraterrestrial civilization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the best choice was always high-energy sustained-release fluids that aided cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, these terms were already extremely generous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A substantial offer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing looked at Zhang Zhiren. \"But is that all?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren laughed. \"Business is about haggling, of course—but Captain Lin doesn’t seem familiar with this system?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately smiled. \"Then let’s make it final: Captain Lin, I’ll add a VIP card for the Suolong Black Market, plus ten million extraterrestrial currency per year. How’s that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anything else?\" Lin Qing asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren shook his head slightly. \"I said it’s final—that’s the upper limit. That’s my rule. I won’t add even one more coin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Lin Qing. \"This is the upper limit of what you’re worth. Only this much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing paused, then asked, \"Do you know how many years you’d get for bribing a patrol officer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course I know.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren smiled. \"But what does that have to do with me? Did you record this? Should I put your recording device on the table? Otherwise the audio might not be clear enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re right.\" Lin Qing nodded slightly, pulled out his phone, opened the recorder, and politely asked, \"Can I record video too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can, but personal video recordings have limited evidentiary value—it’ll make my legal team work harder.\" Zhang Zhiren shook his head. \"Captain Lin, just stick to audio.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew recordings in this era couldn’t serve as evidence—not even as reference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, he was careful and never left evidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if this patrol officer was strong, without proof, what could he do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, recording has started.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing spoke seriously: \"Mr. Zhang Zhiren, as chairman of the Yinghai Group and second-in-command of the underground faction Yanhong Society, you just offered me one set of EPS-series and one hundred sets of MY-series high-energy sustained-release fluids as a bribe. What if I refuse?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren reminded him, \"Captain Lin, you forgot the ten million extraterrestrial currency per year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for the reminder—I missed one point.\" Lin Qing nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No problem. But… Captain Lin is refusing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren chuckled. \"I didn’t realize Captain Lin was such a righteous and incorruptible patrol officer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head slightly. \"If Captain Lin refuses, that’s truly a pity… this deal is off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Current Order Level decreased by 0.7 levels】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a blood-red prompt suddenly appeared before Lin Qing’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Deal?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing glanced at the prompt, then said seriously: \"Mr. Zhang Zhiren, I refused your bribe. This isn’t a deal.\" Zhang Zhiren looked at Lin Qing and said slowly, \"Business may fail, but goodwill remains. I’m sure we’ll have opportunities to cooperate again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you for your cooperation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing glanced at him, put away his phone, and stood up to walk out of the reception room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Lin Qing left, Zhang Zhiren spoke: \"7489.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light on the sofa twisted and shifted, slowly revealing a tall woman with short red hair, her lip and nose piercings glinting in the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re too slow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tall red-haired woman said coldly, \"This young fool who doesn’t know his place—I only need to teach him a lesson. Pluck out one eye, tear off his ears—he’ll obey then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren frowned slightly. \"Don’t kill him. A dead patrol officer is a major incident.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" the red-haired woman said coolly. \"If you're truly afraid, let Chu Tianyao handle it. He only has one command left anyway—let him kill Lin Qing, then let Chu Tianyao die publicly. That way, the Yanhong Society won't be implicated.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s not worth it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren shook his head slightly. \"He’s just a newly promoted patrol officer—got lucky and encountered an A-class evolution radiation. There are plenty of ways to deal with him. Why waste Chu Tianyao, a good piece?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then let me handle him.\" The red-haired woman sneered. \"A patrol officer who knows two or three combat techniques—thinks he’s something special?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had absolute confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her direct combat strength was barely at the level of an average team leader, her genetic ability could bend light to achieve invisibility!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plus, one of her combat techniques silenced sound, and another excelled at assassination. In a single instant of ambush—even if the target had defensive techniques—it wouldn’t matter. He wouldn’t have time to activate them. She was certain that in the entire Lin’an City, no more than three people could survive her assassination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why she had been granted a \"number.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your strength is certainly sufficient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren paused, then said, \"But it’s strange—why did he come here at all, if he rejected such generous terms? Why insist on refusing me face-to-face?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Maybe he thought your place was a street stall,\" the red-haired woman scoffed. \"Pretended to refuse just to drive up the price?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren shook his head slightly. \"Then you go and lower the price for me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added, \"Also, you should keep watch on that shipment—it’s due for delivery tomorrow. No mistakes allowed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red-haired woman stood up; light twisted, and she began to vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only her voice remained echoing in the reception room:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you have any message you’d like me to deliver to him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Zhiren heard this, shook his head, and said: \"Tell this Captain Lin… Step back, and the sea and sky will widen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing stepped back one step, expressionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His metallic-gleaming hands instantly blurred into afterimages—one hand blocking in front, the other sinking into the air, then slowly pulling out a bloody, still-beating heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light flickered chaotically; blood gushed forth, revealing a pale-faced, tall red-haired woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impossible… how could you know…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stared at Lin Qing, eyes filled with disbelief and terror, blood pouring relentlessly from the massive wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This patrol officer, barely three months since his official promotion, had mastered so many combat techniques—but how could he sense her ambush??\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Foolish. And arrogant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing felt the fading intuitive warning, murmured softly: \"You came after me just because I refused? I heard you’re delivering cargo tomorrow… Thank you for the merit points.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You…\" A flicker of incredulity appeared in the red-haired woman’s dimming eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Farewell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Qing watched the red-haired woman stagger and collapse onto the floor, his fingers loosening slightly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The still-warm heart thudded to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1362,"2026-06-20T02:41:34.488Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","104ce519b4b0e9dc225d490d0eb4ae9de6dd7af27a25836ae49b5e2fe64ae1d2","lawful-tyrant-chapter-70","lawful-tyrant-chapter-68",442,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flawful-tyrant-cover.jpg"]