Chapter 81: Do We Need to Pay More?

So Lin Yu’s target is Little Uncle?

Or perhaps the siblings Lu Linglong and Lu Lin?

And how did Lin Yu know there was a child inside him?

Did he accidentally discover it during their contact in the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Valley, or was the other present during the Biyou Village incident?

In just a few seconds, Zhang Chulan’s mind flooded with countless questions.

At the same time, everyone present had also seen Lin Yu appear suddenly.

Zhang Lingyu and Lu Lin both startled; the hardened expert Chai Yan’s heart sank, and he immediately broke off his struggle with Feng Baobao and Lu Lin, leaping backward to create distance.

Xiao Xiao was pinned to the ground by Lu Linglong, struggling desperately.

The purple-haired youth also refused to give up; taking advantage of everyone’s attention on Lin Yu, he quietly circled toward the side forest.

Feeling the force beneath him, Lu Linglong flipped her hand and seized Xiao Xiao’s wrist, urgently saying:

“Xiao Xiao, stop struggling, or I’ll break your arm!”

“...It’s useless.”

Lin Yu’s hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the purple-haired youth who had sneaked from the side, and said calmly: “Haven’t you realized yet? They’ve already prepared to die alongside Zhang Chulan!”

“Die alongside me?”

Zhang Chulan froze at these words; Lu Linglong and the others also looked utterly confused.

Lin Yu tilted his head slightly, glancing at the purple-haired youth he held by the throat: “Isn’t that right?”

“Huh… huh…”

The purple-haired youth emitted muffled sounds, forcing a faint smile onto his lips.

In the next instant, all his pores opened, spewing forth torrents of scorching white vapor; extreme heat and pressure built up inside him, turning his entire body into a bomb ready to explode.

“Still trying to self-destruct in front of me?”

Lin Yu sneered, then clenched his fingers tightly; a vast suction force instantly formed, like a miniature black hole, devouring every last bit of ignited Qi within him.

“Thud!”

Lin Yu released his grip, letting the purple-haired youth collapse to the ground, staring at him in shock and fury.

But unfortunately, he was now completely drained, powerless—even if he raged, he couldn’t move an inch.

Lin Yu looked down at the purple-haired youth beneath his feet and said: “This guy’s name is Jiang Liu. He’s a primordial anomaly with the ability to detonate Qi. Because his innate ability is hard to control, he caused numerous accidents in the past; the company once even took him into the Dark Fortress.”

“Ask your people back home—they should be able to find his records…”

Hearing Lin Yu’s words, Zhang Chulan blinked and asked cautiously: “You know about the Dark Fortress’s records?”

Lin Yu looked at him with a half-smile: “What, trying to extract secrets from me on behalf of the company?”

Zhang Chulan chuckled awkwardly: “I’m just a company employee—duty calls, you know~”

Lin Yu thought for a moment, then nodded: “Since it’s you, I won’t make things hard. Go ask Erzhuang—does he still remember that masked knight who passed by?”

“Masked knight?”

Zhang Chulan looked utterly baffled, unable to see any connection.

Lin Yu glanced at him: “I’ve given you face. Just repeat my words exactly—she’ll understand what I mean.”

As the two spoke, Lu Linglong, distracted by their conversation, slackened her grip slightly.

Seizing the chance, Xiao Xiao roared, dislocating his own arm to violently throw Lu Linglong off, then retreated to Chai Yan’s side.

Lu Linglong was startled, rolled midair, and landed beside Feng Baobao and Lu Lin.

“Xiao Xiao!” Lu Linglong stared at him, furious and confused: “Why? Why are you willing to sacrifice yourself just to kill Zhang Chulan?!”

“Why?”

Xiao Xiao reattached his dislocated arm, his expression calm: “Linglong, your question is strange.”

“Does killing Zhang Chulan even need a reason?”

At these words, Lu Linglong and Zhang Chulan and the others instantly widened their eyes in disbelief.

Zhang Lingyu frowned; the black yin thunder beneath his feet spread like sludge, encircling the two.

“Master Chai,” Zhang Lingyu said calmly to Chai Yan, “You’re a senior, but under these circumstances, do you really think you can kill Zhang Chulan from us?”

“Not easy?”

Hearing this, Chai Yan couldn’t help laughing.

He shook his head, glancing at Lin Yu beside Zhang Chulan: “Master Zhang, you overestimate me. From the moment Lin Mr. appeared to protect Zhang Chulan, we’ve had no hope at all…”

Zhang Lingyu froze, turning to look at Lin Yu.

Lin Yu wasn’t surprised; he smiled and said: “So you know me.”

Chai Yan’s expression remained calm: “Lin Mr., though I don’t know why you’re protecting Zhang Chulan, as you said, we have no actual conflict of interest.”

“If possible, we hope to become friends… with Bai Yujing.”

Said it!

He said that name!

Zhang Chulan’s heart jolted; he immediately watched Lin Yu’s reaction.

Lin Yu smiled and shook his head: “I appreciate your goodwill, but unfortunately, I have no interest in you.”

Beside him, Xiao Xiao smiled for the first time, softly saying: “Maintaining this basic level of goodwill is already enough!”

His meaning was clear: at least he hadn’t revealed Qu Tong or the Yaoxing Society’s existence.

Lin Yu would never casually expose Qu Tong’s identity—her secrets run through the entire One Man Under Heaven.

Even if he were to speak, he’d demand a high price first!

Lin Yu’s lips curled as he suddenly said: “You owe me one.”

Despite this abrupt statement, Xiao Xiao and Chai Yan both understood.

Chai Yan even nodded: “We’ve heard the Yinming Pavilion is collecting cultivation methods from anomalies across nations. If you need them, we’re happy to trade.”

“Good!”

Lin Yu nodded, smiling: “If there’s nothing else, you may leave…”

Leave?

Zhang Chulan hurriedly said: “Brother Lin, don’t let them go!”

Lu Linglong also rushed in: “At least keep Xiao Xiao—he must answer what happened to him!”

Did they bite?

Lin Yu smiled faintly, ready to use this chance to make the Lu siblings owe him a favor.

But at that moment, Zhang Lingyu suddenly shook his head, his tone grave: “Don’t rush—look closely. Do they look like they’re leaving?”

Zhang Chulan and Lu Linglong both froze, turning to Chai Yan and Xiao Xiao—and realized they were standing perfectly still.

Chai Yan looked at Lin Yu calmly: “Regardless, our deal with the Yinming Pavilion remains unchanged. Rest assured, Lin Mr..”

Then he moved—his right fist slammed forward like a cannonball toward Xiao Xiao’s head.

“Xiao—”

Lu Linglong screamed, but her voice cut off instantly; her expression shifted to stunned confusion.

Following her gaze, they saw Chai Yan’s iron-hard fist halted half an inch from Xiao Xiao’s nose—as if striking an invisible air barrier…

The howling wind splashed outward along the barrier; the atmosphere grew strangely awkward.

Xiao Xiao stared blankly at the fist before him.

Chai Yan frowned tightly, lowered his arm, and looked at Lin Yu: “Lin Mr., what do you mean by this?”

Lin Yu sighed: “I told you to leave, yet you insist on suicide? Are you treating my words as a joke?!”

At the last sentence, Lin Yu’s face turned cold; an indescribably terrifying pressure erupted from his entire body.

Chai Yan and Xiao Xiao’s eyes widened; they felt their limbs go limp, their heads spin, their bodies utterly paralyzed.

The next instant, invisible force surged into their minds; they were struck as if by a hammer, eyes rolling back, collapsing into unconsciousness.

Thus, all three of Qu Tong’s agents were now unconscious, completely incapacitated.

Lin Yu retracted his aura and turned to Lu Linglong: “Now you owe me one too.”

“...”

Lu Linglong snapped back to awareness, bowed respectfully to Lin Yu, then swiftly ran toward Xiao Xiao.

Zhang Lingyu and Lu Lin also moved, taking control of the unconscious Chai Yan and Jiang Liu.

Suddenly, only Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao remained beside Lin Yu.

“Baobao, we meet again~”

Lin Yu greeted Feng Baobao with a smile.

Feng Baobao reacted as if her fur had stood on end, immediately hiding behind Zhang Chulan and peering out cautiously from over his shoulder.

“...”

Lin Yu’s smile froze.

Zhang Chulan was puzzled: “Baobei-jie, what’s wrong?”

Lin Yu sighed: “Nothing. Probably scared by me just now.”

Zhang Chulan frowned: “Just now?”

Lin Yu glanced at her: “This girl’s perception differs from yours. What you can’t see doesn’t mean she can’t.”

So that’s it!

Zhang Chulan nodded, no longer surprised.

He chose his words carefully, forcing a smile: “Brother Lin, you seem to know something about the people behind these guys.”

“Still trying to pry information out of me?” Lin Yu grumbled. “That’s my partner, my trading counterpart!”

Zhang Chulan hesitated, then ventured, “Need more money?”

“…”

Lin Yu’s face darkened. “What gave you the impression I’m that kind of person?”

Isn’t that exactly what you are?

Zhang Chulan mentally scoffed, but smiled awkwardly. “But you did take them down, didn’t you? That proves you care more for us and the company than for them!”

“That’s because they didn’t respect me!”

Lin Yu declared solemnly. “I told them to leave. They chose to kill themselves. What was I supposed to do?”

Zhang Chulan exclaimed indignantly. “Exactly! Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!”

“Big Brother Lin, how about this—I’ll take these three back to the company and make them pay for you. I can also secure the cultivation technique the Yinming Pavilion wants on behalf of the company. What do you say… maybe share a little more info?”

Zhang Chulan cautiously studied Lin Yu’s expression.

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow, glancing at him. “So the company is willing to trade with the Yinming Pavilion?”

Zhang Chulan nodded vigorously. “Willing! More than willing!”

(End of Chapter)