Chapter 706

The ambulance's sharp siren pierced the oppressive air of Rebirth Tower, sending the unconscious Li Hengbo, blood at the corners of his mouth, to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment.

In the boardroom, a mess remained uncleared, yet the transfer of power had already been completed in the silent, trembling show of hands.

The air lingered with shock, fear, and a hint of emptiness as the dust settled.

Lin Dongfan did not linger in the boardroom.

He brought Ye Jiaying and Lao Ba, and under countless complex gazes, left calmly.

As he stepped out of the revolving door of Rebirth Tower, the afternoon sun was somewhat blinding, yet it could not dispel the inward chill on him, freshly baptized by thunderous methods.

"Go to the hospital."

Lin Dongfan got into the car and told Lao Ba, his tone as flat as if he were saying they were going for a cup of tea.

Lao Ba blinked, glanced at Lin Dongfan in the rearview mirror: "Boss Fan, are you going to see that cripple? Aren't you afraid of bad luck?"

Ye Jiaying also frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.

Lin Dongfan watched the street scenery fly backward outside the window, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold arc: "I'm not going to see him. I'm going to let certain people see reality clearly."

On the hospital's VIP floor, the atmosphere was solemn.

Li Hengbo was sent into the emergency room; outside the door stood bodyguard He Qixing and several panicked senior executives of the group.

At the end of the corridor, Li Shuting had also arrived at some point, dressed in a plain-colored dress, her face expressionless, simply standing quietly by the window, looking down below.

When Lin Dongfan and his party appeared in the corridor, everyone's nerves instantly tensed.

He Qixing instinctively wanted to step forward to block them, but Lao Ba's gaze pinned him in place, daring him not to move. Lao He still had some self-awareness, knowing that in front of Lao Ba he could only be knocked out.

Li Shuting turned around, looking at the approaching Lin Dongfan, her eyes complex—surprised, wary, a lingering resentment, and some hidden calculation.

"Mr. Lin," Li Shuting spoke first, her voice calm, revealing no emotion: "Congratulations."

That "Congratulations" carried rich implications.

It was both like congratulating Lin Dongfan on winning an invisible business war, and like a tentative acknowledgment of his presence here.

Lin Dongfan stopped before her, gave a slight nod: "Miss Li is here too." His gaze swept over the closed emergency-room doors: "How is Director Li doing?"

"Still under resuscitation."

Li Shuting gave a brief reply.

She paused.

She added another sentence, her voice dropping a few degrees: "The doctor said it was a heart attack from sudden rage, triggering an old condition, plus… prolonged extreme mental tension causing severe disruption of the cardiovascular system."

Her words subtly linked Li Hengbo's collapse to Lin Dongfan's pressure, yet she spoke objectively, without blame.

Lin Dongfan seemed not to catch that nuance, nodding: "I hope he pulls through. Some scores are only meaningful when settled while awake."

That remark made Li Shuting's eyelid twitch slightly.

She looked at this man before her—younger than herself yet possessing an aura so overwhelming it felt suffocating—and suddenly realized her father Li Zhenyang's apprehension toward him was far from baseless.

"Mr. Lin, what do you plan to do with Rebirth Group next?" Li Shuting asked the most crucial question, which also represented what the Wu Zhou Li family cared about most at the moment.

"In accordance with law and regulation, integrate resources to get the company back on track."

Lin Dongfan's answer was impeccably proper, beyond reproach.

He turned to Li Shuting, his tone shifting slightly: "Of course, Rebirth Group's past cooperation projects with Wu Zhou, especially those involving Secretary Li's concern and guidance, we will, after evaluation, prioritize their continuation—provided they are lawful and compliant, able to withstand the test of time."

He was both sounding a warning and offering a vague promise.

It warned the Li family not to meddle again in Rebirth Group's old shady "cooperations," while hinting that if the Li family were sensible, there was indeed a possibility of continuing cooperation under a new, clean framework.

Li Shuting, being quite sharp, immediately understood.

She knew this was Lin Dongfan drawing a line, and also giving them a step down.

Her father Li Zhenyang must swiftly cut ties cleanly with Li Hengbo to avoid being dragged into the mire, and perhaps even secure a slim chance of some kind of "peace" with Lin Dongfan's side.

"I will inform my father," Li Shuting said, bowing slightly, lowering her posture a bit: "Also thank you, Mr. Lin… for showing mercy."

Those last four words were extremely hard to say, yet she had to utter them.

She understood that, given Lin Dongfan's current control of Rebirth Group and his heightened reputation after proving his innocence, if he truly wanted to pursue the Li family relentlessly, Wu Zhou would by now be a raging storm.

Lin Dongfan gave no reply, his gaze turning once more to the emergency room, as if he could see through the door to the dying opponent inside.

"After he wakes up…" Lin Dongfan's voice was not loud, yet clear enough for everyone in the hallway to hear, like a final judgment: "Tell him: the group, I have taken it. This is merely interest."

He paused, the arc at his mouth turning sharp: "The principal, I will soon go and collect it myself! He owes more than just this company!"

Having said that, he did not linger, turned and left.

Ye Jiaying followed closely behind, while Lao Ba gave a cold glance at the ashen-faced He Qixing and Li Shuting, then also followed.

In the hallway, only the suppressed breathing and the glaring red light on the emergency-room door remained.

Li Shuting stood where she was, watching Lin Dongfan's figure disappear at the elevator entrance, a chill running down her spine. She finally fully understood: Li Hengbo was finished, completely finished. And this young "Boss Fan" of the Lin family—his revenge had far from ended with the board's victory! His words "I haven't had enough fun yet" were no empty boast.

What exactly does this "principal" refer to? Is it Su Yuhong's life? Is it Lin Dongfan's three-year prison ordeal? Is it a blocked career path?

Or… more unknown grudges?

Li Shuting felt a pang of palpitation; she had to rush back and tell her father Li Zhenyang exactly Lin Dongfan's attitude and the implied, even more terrifying threat.

The Wu Zhou Li family must make the wisest choice.

In the car, Lao Ba drove while muttering: "Boss Fan, where are we headed next? Really waiting for that cripple to wake up? I think it's doubtful."

Ye Jiaying, lost in thought, said: "Dongfan, what did you mean by 'principal' when you said it to Li Shuting just now?"

Lin Dongfan closed his eyes to rest, then spoke slowly: "Rebirth Group is nothing more than a castle he built with ill-gotten wealth. Toppling that castle is merely taking back what was stolen."

He opened his eyes, his pupils glittering with cold stars, reflecting the flowing light outside the window.

"The real debt is a blood debt."

"The lives of Duan Xinhua, Duan Xiaobin, Su Yuhong… and countless fairness and justice trampled by him and those behind him."

"These are what he must repay as principal."

His voice was calm, yet carried a resolute, unyielding determination, like a nail driven home.

Tell Old Jin, Xu Qing, and the others how much Zhao Dezhu's mouth has been forced open; I need every detail.

Notify Lao Jin, Xu Qing and the others, how much Zhao Dezhu's mouth has been pried open—I need to know every detail.

Keep an eye on Li Zhenyang in Wuzhou; see what he does next. If he's smart, he'll know the right choice.

As for Li Zhenyang in Wu Zhou, watch his next move. If he's smart, he'll know what to choose.

As for Li Hengbo…

As for Li Hengbo...

Lin Dongfan gazed toward the hospital, his expression cold.

Lin Dongfan gazed toward the hospital, his eyes icy.

Let him stay alive.

Let him live.

Only by staying alive can he see clearly how everything he fought for, obtained by any means, is slowly turning to nothing.

Only by staying alive can he see clearly that everything he fought for, everything he gained by any means, is slowly turning to nothing.

Only by staying alive can he truly know what real despair feels like!

Only by staying alive can he truly know what real despair is!

The board is at the endgame, yet the player remains seated.

The board is at the endgame, but the player hasn't risen from his seat.

The merger consortium only cleaned up the board; what follows is the ultimate judgment of the player himself and the shadows behind him.

The merger consortium only cleaned up the board; what follows is the final judgment of the player himself and the shadows behind him.

Lin Dongfan's fangs have just fully shown.

Lin Dongfan's fangs have only just fully shown.

This feud, crossing two lifetimes and sweeping through business and politics, is far from over; the true storm may have only just begun to brew.

This grudge that spans two lifetimes, sweeping across the business and political realms, is far from over; the true storm may have only just begun to brew.