Chapter Forty-One: If One Repays Resentment with Virtue, How Shall One Repay Virtue?

Thud, thud, thud.

Bang!

After being pushed forward in a rush, his body trembling, Xu Lianyou collapsed to the ground.

With a clatter, the steel blade fell to the side.

Xu Lianyou had lost all his spirit; as a martial artist, he could barely hold his weapon.

The commotion drew the attention of those around, their gazes fixed upon the scene.

Behind, doors creaked open one after another.

One by one, people who had succeeded in their tests emerged.

Yet these people were disheveled, covered in dust, and looked utterly miserable, their bodies riddled with bullet marks.

Some bore claw marks on their faces, others had hands mangled and bloody, some had patches of hair torn clean out.

Most were busy blaming those around them.

“I was the first to break through the illusion! If you hadn’t barged in, the credit would have been mine. My performance won’t be accurately judged now—I should be recognized for my achievement!”

“Nonsense! That illusion can target multiple people at once. What does it matter who goes in first? I was the first to get out, so I broke it!”

It turned out that some had entered the ghost’s chamber first, only to have others who came in later seize the chance to break through the illusion and exit first.

Others, after dispelling the illusion, were exploited by those who followed, making it seem as if the two had cleared the challenge together.

The bickering and chaos were relentless.

It was only when several official members of the Paranormal Investigation Bureau near Lin Yi sternly barked, “Enough!” that the unruly crowd finally fell silent.

Suddenly, Lin Yi’s eyes lit up.

He clicked his tongue at Xu Lianyou, then, after apologizing to those around him, strode over in a few quick steps.

At this moment, Xu Lianyou was at a loss, not daring to meet Lin Yi’s gaze, looking quite pitiful.

“Xu Lianyou, I haven’t forgotten—our wager still stands. Ten million was the bet; you only gave me two million. Come on, hit me. Let’s see whose strength prevails, and whether that remaining eight million should be mine!”

“If you’re a man, stand up. Don’t cower like a bashful maiden. Do you hear me? Stand up—right now!”

Brandishing the Black Snow Sword, Lin Yi grinned mischievously.

“Go away, just go… I… I admit defeat… I’ll transfer the eight million to you right now…”

Xu Lianyou’s face flushed red as he answered through gritted teeth, humiliation thick in his voice.

Tears glimmered in his eyes, a picture of utter wretchedness.

The crowd behind grew even more silent. Xu Lianyou’s cowardly display left no doubt that he’d been utterly outmatched and was terrified.

Yet… hadn’t Xu Lianyou earlier claimed that Lin Yi had only performed so well because he’d taken some kind of extreme stimulant?

Clearly, that was a lie.

Not only was Lin Yi’s physical strength extraordinary—first place in both rounds—but his mental fortitude in the third was evidently just as formidable. Who could challenge that?

A snort of laughter escaped someone who couldn’t resist the sight of Xu Lianyou’s pathetic state.

“No way, Xu Lianyou—you have to fight. If you won’t, then pay me, and kowtow three times, calling me grandfather. Otherwise, you must fight…”

Lin Yi pressed his advantage relentlessly.

It may have seemed unreasonable, but he was settling a score. Since when did revenge require virtue?

If Xu Lianyou had won, would he have spared Lin Yi?

He’d probably have beaten Lin Yi senseless and still not let go!

“You… you go too far!” Xu Lianyou growled, darted to retrieve the fallen blade, and swung it at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi burst out laughing—Xu Lianyou was asking for it, and he’d oblige.

Swish, swish, swish!

A few blossoms of sword-light danced from the Black Snow Sword as Lin Yi faced Xu Lianyou’s blade.

With a mere flick, Xu Lianyou’s weapon was sent flying, embedding itself with a thud in a nearby wooden table.

The contents spilled to the floor with a crash.

In the next instant, Lin Yi’s Black Snow Sword was leveled at Xu Lianyou’s throat.

In a single move, Xu Lianyou was defeated.

Staring at the sword, terror overwhelmed him; he lost control of his bladder, a steady stream betraying his fear.

“Stop, stop right now… That’s the young master of the Xu family!”

Wang Changshan hurried down, shouting urgently.

Behind him, a few who had earlier spread news of Lin Yi and Xu Lianyou’s wager followed, their faces pale.

Lin Yi ignored them entirely.

With a few sharp sweeps, the Black Snow Sword shredded Xu Lianyou’s clothing, leaving him in nothing but his undergarments.

Then, Lin Yi returned the blade to his throat.

Xu Lianyou, trembling, dared not move, terrified that the slightest motion would be his end.

“I beg you all, please stop Lin Yi—our young master Xu…”

Wang Changshan was nearly in tears.

His cries roused the crowd. Seeing Lin Yi’s sword at Xu Lianyou’s throat, shock rippled through them.

An Miaoyi and Mu Yuqing both showed alarm in their eyes.

Could Lin Yi really intend to kill Xu Lianyou?

“Heh… No one can stop me. Xu Lianyou and I have a legitimate wager! Once again: kneel, kowtow three times, and call me grandfather!”

Turning, Lin Yi swept his gaze—especially at Wang Changshan and his ilk.

Lin Yi still remembered Wang Changshan threatening him with the Changshan Martial Hall and the Xu family when Xu Liuxiang was taken away.

Retracting his gaze and seeing Xu Lianyou unmoved, Lin Yi pressed the Black Snow Sword a few centimeters closer.

Those few centimeters were enough—the blade nicked Xu Lianyou’s throat and pierced the skin.

Xu Lianyou had harbored hope that with Wang Changshan’s arrival, Lin Yi would relent.

He never expected Lin Yi to actually go through with it!

Just then, a long, drawn-out sigh drifted through the room.

Footsteps echoed as the door opened and another figure appeared.

This time, it was someone of weight—the Director of the Shenyang Branch of the Paranormal Investigation Bureau, Lin Tianming.

A powerful aura radiated from him, and as he entered, the oppressive force made it hard for everyone to breathe.

Within Lin Yi, the energies of the “Grand Void Sutra” circulated, dissolving the pressure like a mountain or ocean, and he turned his gaze calmly to Lin Tianming.

Lin Tianming’s eyes gleamed at Lin Yi’s composure.

His face was deeply lined, hair white as snow, his figure stooped and frail. His clothes were threadbare, the tea-stained suit a relic of decades past.

But the authority he exuded was overwhelming. As he walked in, it was as if a fresh breeze followed every step.

“Director Lin, you’re here.”

“Uncle Lin.”

“Grandpa Lin is here. Grandpa Lin, Lin Yi and Xu Lianyou are only playing around.”

“Yes, yes, An Miaoyi is right. I, Mu Yuqing, guarantee that Lin Yi has no intention of killing Xu Lianyou. Besides, Xu Lianyou is at fault as well—he deserves some punishment.”

An Miaoyi and Mu Yuqing rushed to explain on Lin Yi’s behalf.

Others in their camp quickly chimed in as well.

Lin Tianming smiled, and in a few swift steps, he was suddenly before Lin Yi like a flash of lightning.

“Impressive, very impressive. Amidst the surge of my aura, you alone can disregard the pressure—clearly the strength of a first-class, A-level martial artist, and yet you manage this. It seems your breakthrough isn’t far away…”

Most assumed Director Lin Tianming had arrived to stop Lin Yi from further harming Xu Lianyou.

Even Xu Lianyou thought so, looking at Lin Tianming with hope.

But Lin Tianming gazed at Lin Yi as if beholding a rare treasure—the same look An Yingxiong, Master Mu, and Liu Tianyu had once given him.

A handful with ties to the Xu family went white.

Clearly, Director Lin was partial to Lin Yi.

They exchanged glances and quietly slipped away.

Wang Changshan, however, lacked such tact.

Eyes bloodshot, he glared at Lin Yi, then turned to Lin Tianming.

“Director Lin, Lin Yi is lawless. He’s just passed the test, not even officially employed, and he’s already committing violence. How can such a person join the Paranormal Investigation Bureau? I suggest he’s never hired and is detained immediately!”

He shouted while signaling for backup from those behind, but glancing back, found himself alone.

Wang Changshan was left out in the cold.

“Ahem…” Lin Tianming looked coldly at Wang Changshan. “So, it’s acceptable for Young Master Xu to bully others, but no one may stand up to him? Is that just? Promises were made—shouldn’t a wager be honored?”

Wang Changshan fell silent, not daring another word.

Satisfied, Lin Tianming withdrew his fierce gaze and looked at the dumbstruck Xu Lianyou with disdain.

“With your arrogance, you’re doomed sooner or later.”

“That’s enough—I’m not interfering. Yi Yi, you handle this. I’ll have some tea—pretend I’m not here. Remember, Yi Yi, be fair and just.”

With those words, Lin Tianming nodded at Lin Yi and went to sit at a side table, pouring himself tea.

Though he spoke of fairness, he had already reprimanded Wang Changshan, Xu Lianyou’s supporter, and left the matter to An Miaoyi, who was firmly in Lin Yi’s camp. What chance did Xu Lianyou have?

But no one dared say a word.

Shaking, Xu Lianyou finally bit his lip and called out to Lin Yi, “Grandfather, I was wrong.”

Tears streamed down his face, the most humiliating moment of his life.

Lin Yi smiled faintly, though inside he was elated.

What a glorious feeling!

He resolved to thank Director Lin Tianming properly later—the man was truly dependable.

An Miaoyi shook her head at Xu Lianyou’s capitulation. “If only you’d realized this sooner.”

Mu Yuqing snorted in disgust.

“Grandpa Lin is right. Out in the world, someone like him would have been beaten to death long ago. Arrogance always meets its comeuppance.”

Lin Yi sheathed the Black Snow Sword, nodded, and said grandly, “Good boy, now kneel.”

Xu Lianyou knelt and knocked his head three times against the floor.

Afterwards, he transferred eight million to Lin Yi.

With the funds received, Lin Yi added, “Since you’ve been so obedient, I’ll spare your life this time. Now get out.”

“What, you think after so public a disgrace you can still stay in the Paranormal Investigation Bureau and work with me?”

Weeping and humiliated, Xu Lianyou fled in disgrace.