Chapter 88: Chen Lingxin

“Clear the way. I’ll handle this.”

A crisp, commanding voice rang out from the edge of the crowd.

At the sound of it, the tense atmosphere shifted. The students, still reeling from Lin Xiao’s unexpected display, brightened visibly. They stepped aside at once, clearing a path as a wave of murmurs spread through the group.

“Senior Sister’s here.”

“That guy’s done for. Remember the last time someone provoked her? She beat him so badly he couldn’t get out of bed for weeks.”

A moment later, a young woman in her twenties stepped into view. Her hair was cut short at the ears, and her face held a striking blend of sharpness and grace. Though petite in stature, she carried herself with unmistakable vitality. Her presence was impossible to ignore.

There was strength in the way she moved—quiet, but coiled beneath the surface. Most of all, her eyes stood out: clear, intense, and full of focus. They gave the impression that nothing escaped her notice.

“This thief is toast. He might have some skills, but he’s out of luck bumping into Senior Sister. With her level of martial ability, this’ll be a disaster for him.”

A few students were already mourning Lin Xiao’s fate.

The young woman, known as Senior Sister, strode toward Lin Xiao with easy confidence. She looked him over from head to toe, then gave a short, amused laugh.

“You look capable,” she said. “But just because you’ve got some skill, you think you can cause trouble in Chen’s Martial Arts Hall? Pretty bold of you.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m actually a guest of Elder. Chen,” Lin Xiao said, his tone calm, though faintly exasperated. It was the first real chance he’d had to speak. “I’m not a thief. And besides…”

He glanced at the girl calmly, leaving his sentence unfinished.

Despite the calmness in Lin Xiao’s eyes, the girl had an uncanny feeling of being seen through, which annoyed her.

Though she had a straightforward, tomboyish personality, Chen Lingxin’s looks and figure were undeniably striking. Her long, toned legs alone had earned her more than her share of admirers.

Precisely because of this, she loathed being stared at—especially by men. And the way Lin Xiao looked at her—not leering, but calm and penetrating—unnerved her in a way she couldn’t quite explain. It stirred her irritation.

“Besides what?” she snapped, her voice turning cold.

“Besides,” Lin Xiao said, unfazed, “you’re no match for me.”

The words dropped like a stone into a still pond.

The surrounding students stiffened, expressions shifting instantly—shock, disbelief, even a touch of admiration flickering across their faces.

“Incredible! Honestly incredible! To talk to Senior Sister like that—I almost admire this thief.”

“No kidding. He must not realize how strong she actually is. Sure, she looks petite and cute, but calling her a female Tyrannosaurus wouldn’t even begin to cover it.”

“Hey, are you trying to die? Talking about Senior Sister like that—keep it down! Don’t let her hear you.”

But despite their lowered voices, Chen Lingxin caught every word. She shot a fierce glare at the crowd, and then turned her attention back to Lin Xiao. Her pretty face had gone cold, her eyes sharp with determination.

“I hope you’re not just talk,” she said flatly. “The last guy who mouthed off to me is still stuck in bed. If you’re not the real deal, you’ll end up worse.”

She took a step forward.

“You make the first move. Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.”

Lin Xiao stood with his hands by his sides, his expression serene, showing no inclination to act.

“Fine, fine. If you won’t act, don’t blame me for being rude,” Chen Lingxin said coldly.

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she burst into motion. With a powerful push off the ground, she shot toward Lin Xiao like a cheetah. In a flash, she closed the distance, her fists driving straight for his chest and abdomen.

But just as her fists were about to land, a thunderous voice rang out:

“Chen Lingxin, what are you doing?” It was Chen Tianxing.

At the sound of his voice, her body froze. Her fists stopped just short of Lin Xiao—mere inches from his body. The air between them pulsed with the force she’d built up.

Lin Xiao remained exactly as he had been—calm, composed, unmoving. His hands hung loosely at his sides. He hadn’t even flinched.

From beginning to end, his expression hadn’t changed.

Chen Lingxin pulled back her fists with a hint of frustration. Her eyes locked onto Lin Xiao—fierce, unyielding, yet oddly captivating.

The crowd parted as Chen Tianxing stepped forward. Noticing that a fight hadn’t broken out, he exhaled, though his expression darkened as he turned to his daughter.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he snapped.

“Dad, that’s not fair!” Chen Lingxin protested. “You’re scolding me without even knowing the situation.”

She jabbed a finger in Lin Xiao’s direction, her irritation plain. “I was apprehending a thief. Isn’t that obvious? And you’re still asking what I’m doing?”

“Master, you’re finally here.”

“It’s not Senior Sister’s fault, Master. She was just trying to stop the thief. If she hadn’t acted, he might’ve gotten away.”

“Exactly! He even claimed to be Elder Chen’s guest. What kind of thief says that with a straight face?”

“Master, please check the school property. Something could already be missing!”

The surrounding students spoke up in quick succession, each eager to defend Chen Lingxin. Encouraged by their support, she gave a small nod of approval, then shot Lin Xiao a hard glare, as if to say: This isn’t over.

“Enough!” Chen Tianxing barked, though a hint of a bitter laugh slipped through his frustration. “A thief? His name is Lin Xiao, and he’s my father’s guest.”

“What?”

The once-boisterous crowd fell into stunned silence.

“He’s… actually a guest?”

“I told you all not to jump to conclusions,” one student muttered, stepping forward in a bid to claim the moral high ground. “Now look. We’ve completely misunderstood.”

“How were we supposed to know? Look at how simply he’s dressed. None of us had ever seen him before, and he walked out of the hall like it was nothing—he didn’t give off any kind of master’s presence. It’s not exactly strange that we thought he was an intruder.”

One by one, the students turned their attention back to Lin Xiao, their expressions mixed—awkward, puzzled, and a little uneasy.

Had Chen Tianxing not confirmed it himself, none of them would have believed that this plain-looking young man was truly a guest of the esteemed Elder Chen.

In Jinghai City, Elder Chen’s status was exceptional. Even the Chief of the city’s police department addressed him with deference.

Chen Lingxin’s sharp gaze gradually softened, shifting from defiance to surprise—and finally to quiet embarrassment. She gave Lin Xiao an apologetic glance. She hadn’t imagined that he was her grandfather’s guest.

As for the apology or astonishment in everyone’s eyes, Lin Xiao remained unaffected. Throughout the ordeal, he maintained an unruffled expression, indifferent to the entire episode.

Chen Tianxing turned to Chen Lingxin, his voice steeped in disappointment. “Why are you so impulsive? You act before you have the full picture. Lin Xiao is not only a guest of your grandfather’s but also mine. Yet you tried to attack him. If outsiders found out about this, would they think that this is how our Chen’s Martial Arts Hall treats our guests?”

Chen Lingxin’s face shifted between pale and flushed, her expression tight with embarrassment. After a moment, she stepped forward and offered a martial salute, fist clenched against her palm.

“I’m sorry. I misunderstood you. I offer my apology.”

Lin Xiao couldn’t help but reassess Chen Lingxin.

He had taken her for the headstrong type—someone who, even when clearly in the wrong, would refuse to admit it for the sake of pride. But it seemed he’d misjudged her.

While Chen Lingxin might be impulsive and hot-headed, her innate character was not inherently bad. When she recognized her mistake, she was able to own up to it rather than doggedly sticking to her guns.

This, coupled with Chen Tianxing’s personality, reflected well on the family values instilled in the Chen household.

Worried that Lin Xiao might hold a grudge, Chen Tianxing leaned in and whispered, “Lin Xiao, please don’t take a child’s rashness to heart. She’s just a bit hot-tempered, she didn’t mean any real harm.”

“Uncle Chen, it’s nothing,” Lin Xiao replied with a faint smile. “She’s already apologized. There’s no need to dwell on it.”

Lin Xiao was not one to be petty. Since Chen Lingxin had acknowledged her mistake, that was enough for him.

“Tch. What a show-off,” Chen Lingxin muttered under her breath, glancing away with a huff.

“I knew you were a generous man,” Chen Tianxing said with a smile, visibly relieved.

Then he turned to the gathered students, clapped his hands to draw their attention, and announced, “Since everyone’s here, I have something to share. Starting today, Lin Xiao will serve as the honorary headmaster of Chen’s Martial Arts Hall. From now on, you will address him as Master Lin. His status is equal to mine, and he is to be treated with full respect. Any form of disrespect will not be tolerated.”

“What?”

The students looked at one another, stunned. If the earlier revelation had shaken them, this left them utterly speechless.