When Luo Meixiang and the others finally arrived at the backyard, they saw that everything had returned to normal.
Xu Hongzhu stood in the pavilion, sitting opposite Lin Beichen, drinking tea. They were chatting and laughing, exuding elegance and ease, like the lords of Jiangnan.
In the bamboo forest of the backyard, the assassins had all disappeared. Those killed by Lin Beichen were either buried on the spot or thrown into the lake.
Lin Beichen summoned a gust of wind, dispersing the evil and blood qi in the backyard.
Xu Hongzhu watched this silently, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
An encounter where she was lucky to survive, but the old housekeeper who had served for many years and several outstanding disciples of her father had all perished.
These people were the backbone of the Xu Family, the wealth developed over many years.
And now, she had squandered it all.
However, Xu Hongzhu had no time for sentiment, as Luo Meixiang and the others would soon arrive.
Despite the servants handling things quickly, there were still some gaps.
Anyone observant would notice her unnatural grip on the teacup and the trace of fear in her eyes.
In the pavilion, it appeared as though Xu Hongzhu and Lin Beichen were conversing, but Xu Hongzhu merely echoed his words, never daring to initiate any topics, her eyes filled with submission.
Lin Beichen’s abilities completely surpassed Xu Hongzhu’s expectations.
To kill snipers and several top experts was a profound cultivation feat, but to control life and death with Withered Wood Spiritual Qi and instantly reverse aging was truly an Immortal’s means.
In this world, the powerful dare claim to control life, but not death.
Death is humanity’s final dignity and relief.
Life and death are merely moments apart, but with Lin Beichen’s abilities, he could control them at will!
"Sister, I heard gunshots just now, are you alright?"
Luo Meixiang rushed into the backyard, speaking urgently.
"It’s nothing, I just invited Mr. Lin to watch a play, the trouble has been resolved now."
Xu Hongzhu took a sip of tea to conceal her unease.
Seeing Xu Hongzhu reluctant to elaborate, Luo Meixiang suppressed her thoughts.
Lin Beichen beckoned her over with a water cup to join them for tea.
Seeing Lin Beichen so calm, Luo Meixiang breathed a sigh of relief.
Standing on the backyard bridge, Zhang Changhuai was utterly stunned.
What exactly was going on?
Wasn’t Xu Hongzhu planning to surround and kill Lin Beichen? How did they end up sitting together for tea?
Didn’t they just shoot? How did everything suddenly become fine?
Could he have misheard?
Lin Beichen was a Northerner, coming to the South with undoubtedly grand ambitions, while Xu Hongzhu, as Xu Jiangyan’s daughter, naturally sided with Southern interests, they were like fire and water, impossible to collaborate.
But try as he might, Zhang Changhuai couldn’t conceive of another possibility.
Xu Hongzhu did attempt to kill Lin Beichen, but was thoroughly defeated by him, now completely submissive, without a trace of defiance.
"Brother Lin."
When Lin Beichen approached, Zhang Changhuai hurriedly put on a smile to maintain a facade.
But in the next moment, a powerful gust hit him, a large hand suddenly slapped his face, and he was sent flying, crashing to the ground, utterly stunned.
"You hit me?"
Zhang Changhuai clutched half his face, angrily glaring at Lin Beichen.
Lin Beichen held back nine-tenths of his strength, but even so, the slap nearly cracked Zhang Changhuai’s skull.
The fiery pain on his face filled Zhang Changhuai with intense evil qi.
He was the heir of the Zhang Family, holding projects worth billions, a future prominent figure in the South.
From birth, he lived a life of luxury, pampered by everyone, never once being hit.
Yet Lin Beichen’s slap nearly killed him.
Evil qi flashed in Zhang Changhuai’s eyes, his face twisted, like a fierce ghost wanting to devour Lin Beichen.
"If you keep looking at me like that, I won’t just hit you, I’ll kill you."
Lin Beichen spoke coldly, eyes flashing with chilling light.
Zhang Changhuai froze on the spot, only reacting after a moment.
The person before him wasn’t a poor student from the Foreign Affairs College, nor an unremarkable wastrel, but a true powerhouse from the North.
His father never feared commercial competition but dreaded provoking the Ancient Clan, fearing total eradication.
What’s the use of having more money?
To the Ancient Clan, money was merely an external thing. If they desired something, they would take it directly!
And Lin Beichen could suppress even the Ancient Clan, let alone him.
Realizing this, a surge of fear exploded in Zhang Changhuai’s heart.
Next, he considered another possibility.
Xu Hongzhu, realizing the futility of challenging Lin Beichen, might have opted to ally with him, forming a super-force against the Zhang Family.
The Zhang Family, already besieged by the Bai Family, lacked the strength to fight back, and if backstabbed by the Xu Family now, their demise was inevitable.
Fear enveloped Zhang Changhuai’s heart, rendering him utterly void of ideas.
"Lin Beichen, what are you doing?"
Zhou Yixian and the others rushed over, angrily pointing at Lin Beichen.
"Who do you think you are? Daring to hit Zhang Changhuai, you must be tired of living!"
Furious, Zhou Yixian believed Lin Beichen’s public slap to Zhang Changhuai was courting death.
This was Zhang Changhuai, heir of the Zhang Family.
Publicly hitting Zhang Changhuai was tantamount to challenging the Zhang Family, which would never tolerate it.