Chapter Fifty-Five: Trading on Age and Authority

“Make a move? I’d like to see if you, Lin Feng, dare defy your family and strike your patriarch, strike an elder. If you so much as touch me, by tomorrow all of Binhai will be abuzz with your disgrace. Everyone will know that Lin Feng isn’t just a coward, but a madman without a shred of decency or respect for his elders!”

Surrounded by more than fifty strong men, the old Master Yao showed not the slightest hint of fear. He tapped his cane against the ground, his posture that of a hero ready to sacrifice himself for justice—truly, willing to risk it all to drag even the emperor from his throne.

He was an old fox, playing the age card, threatening Lin Feng’s reputation, and behaving shamelessly. Wang Haiyang had never before witnessed such a brazen elder—could they really lay hands on him and give him a beating? But if something truly happened, what then?

For a moment, Wang Haiyang found himself caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.

“Hmph! I knew you wouldn’t dare. Now step aside. This is Yao family business—when did it become the place for a snot-nosed youth like you to meddle?” Old Master Yao hadn’t survived seventy years in vain; he understood that as property management, Wang Haiyang and his men wouldn’t dare touch him.

Should they lay hands on him today, the reputation of the entire Hualong Villa District would be tainted, their business surely damaged. Now, holding the dual positions of family patriarch and venerable elder, he was using his status to morally blackmail Lin Feng, making it nearly impossible for the young man to refuse.

Calculating shrewdly, Old Master Yao brushed past his third daughter-in-law and strode straight up to Lin Feng. Looking down on him, his words were sharp as knives:

“Lin Feng, don’t forget—your grandfather and I were sworn friends, equals in age and status. Striking me is as good as striking your grandfather. Are you really going to defy your elders and ancestors, ignore the natural order of respect?”

All for a villa worth three hundred million, Old Master Yao had abandoned all shame, invoking not only Lin Feng’s grandfather but also the sacred hierarchy of old and young.

Had he not mentioned his grandfather, it might have been better. But with that name, Lin Feng instantly recalled the humiliating scene of his grandfather kneeling before this old scoundrel, Yao Qisheng, begging him for a way out.

Lin Feng’s eyes narrowed, a frosty, murderous intent radiating from his gaze—sharp as a blade thirsting for blood.

Just as Lin Feng’s killing intent reached its peak and he was about to act, a deep voice sounded from behind:

“Well, well, Yao Qisheng, after all these years, you can still swallow your pride for your own gain. As shameless as ever, I see!”

“You are… Wang Jisheng!” Old Master Yao, seeing Lin Feng hesitate, thought his plan was about to succeed and was secretly delighted—until an old acquaintance walked out from the villa.

“Back when you betrayed your word and cheated the Liu family out of their assets, did you speak of respect between old and young then? Old Master Liu was well over eighty, kneeling before you, begging mercy for his family—did you show any?”

“You old fraud, now you play the age card and talk of respect to deceive the younger generation? Have you no shame?”

Wang Jisheng was an infamous figure in Binhai’s underworld, intimately familiar with the city’s affairs. With a single sentence, he struck at Old Master Yao’s weak point.

“You! Wang Jisheng, don’t you slander me! I never—”

“I still have the blood-stained letter Old Master Liu wrote. Do you want to see it, you shameless old dog?”

“You—” Old Master Yao’s face burned with humiliation. Who could have predicted that he’d be so close to victory, only for Wang Jisheng to appear out of nowhere?

“Yao Qisheng, Master Lin dislikes disorder. You have one minute. Take your pack of dogs and get as far away as you can!”

“Otherwise, within ten days, I’ll see to it that not a blade of grass remains in your Yao family’s name!”

“Who the hell are you to speak to my grandfather like that? I’ll smash your mouth!” Seeing his grandfather insulted, Yao Xingye tried to act tough and charged forward, aiming to slap Wang Jisheng.

But Wang Jisheng, a veteran of the streets, had no intention of giving face to a third-rate family whelp. He drew his knife without hesitation and drove it cleanly through Yao Xingye’s palm.

Unmoved, he withdrew the blade, smiling coldly as he kicked the howling Yao Xingye aside and strode to Old Master Yao. He slapped the bloodied knife against the old man’s face and whispered:

“Yao Qisheng, this villa was a gift from Elder Tang to Master Lin. If you want to steal it, you’d better ask yourself if you’ll live to enjoy it.”

Wang Jisheng’s words struck Old Master Yao like a dagger to the heart.

His legs trembling, Old Master Yao staggered and fell to the ground. His age and status might have cowed Wang Haiyang, but they were useless against Wang Jisheng.

This was a true underworld boss in Binhai City. If a small-time patriarch like him tried to cross him, his family would truly be doomed.

Wait—Master Lin?

He actually called Lin Feng “Master Lin.” Could it be that Lin Feng’s status was truly extraordinary?

And Elder Tang! Did the Lin family truly do the Tang family such a great favor that Elder Tang would give away a three-hundred-million villa in gratitude?

Yes, that must be it!

“Wang Jisheng, I’ll remember this. Hmph, we’re leaving!” Old Master Yao no longer dared challenge Wang Jisheng directly and could only slink away with his family in tow.

“Master Lin, let us go inside.” Wang Jisheng bowed respectfully, as deferential as a loyal hound, inviting Lin Feng into the villa.

But just then, his mother-in-law began to shout.

“Lin Feng, my dear son-in-law, what about us? Why didn’t you tell us you owned such a big house sooner? If you had, we could’ve moved in right away!”

“I’ll call the movers now. Tomorrow, we’re moving in—living in a mansion at last!” Her face was all smiles, as though she were gazing at a golden son-in-law, with not a trace of her earlier disdain.

And she was not alone—her husband and Yao Qianqian had also stayed behind.

Lin Feng’s gaze turned cold as he glanced at his mother-in-law, saying icily,

“Wang Jisheng, did you not hear me say to drive out all irrelevant people?”

“Yes, Master Lin. I’ll see to it at once!” Wang Jisheng had thought Lin Feng would at least show some concern for his wife’s family, but clearly, that was not the case. He had miscalculated.

Wang Jisheng ordered his men to block the path of the three.

“Sorry. This is a private residence. Irrelevant persons are not allowed inside.”

“Not allowed? Are you mad? Lin Feng is my son-in-law! This villa is his, which means it’s mine too. Is it a crime for me to enter my own home?”

His mother-in-law raged, unwilling to give up the life of luxury that seemed to be within reach.

“Lv Cuiyun, after all you’ve done these past three years, do you really think you’re worthy to enter my villa?”

“But—”

“Get out!” Lin Feng’s voice was low and forceful, the killing intent stirred by Old Master Yao erupting all at once. He was like an ancient demon king, chilling all who heard him.

“You…” His mother-in-law, a bully to the weak and a coward before the strong, had never felt such pure, overwhelming menace. She wet herself on the spot, collapsing in terror.

“Lin Feng, this is too much! Do you care nothing for the bond between husband and wife?” Yao Qianqian frowned, unable to believe that Lin Feng was truly the owner of Villa No. 1, and apparently connected to a Binhai big shot.

Was this really the Lin Feng she had known?

“Yao Qianqian, don’t forget—this was your own choice. You chose Wang Jie over me. Now, you must live with the consequences.”

“Wang Jisheng, see them out. I don’t want to see them again.”

“Yes, Master Lin!”

“Lin Feng… Lin Feng… wait!” Yao Qianqian cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The husband she had once cast aside as worthless was now a guest of honor to the Tang family, possessing wealth and a mansion beyond compare.

But she no longer had the right to share a roof with him.