Chapter 326: Waiting

After ending the call with Wan Caixuan, Lin Xiao put down his phone. By then, the noodles he had ordered were ready, so he began eating.

Not far from Maple Leaf Street, a black Mercedes was parked by the roadside. A middle-aged man with a fierce demeanor stepped out of the car under the blazing sun. He wore a brightly colored T-shirt, two gold necklaces around his neck, and had a ferocious scar across his face. His sharp gaze darted around as if waiting for someone.

Because of the scorching heat, his face and head were drenched in sweat. He didn’t bother wiping it away, letting the droplets soak into his obviously expensive clothes.

Two younger men in floral shirts stood beside him, also sweating profusely.

One of them wiped his face and muttered, “Boss, why are we standing around in this heat? What’s so important about this dump? Just send us instead.”

The middle-aged man glared, raising his hand to smack the back of the man’s head.

“You think I enjoy roasting under the sun like an idiot? I have my reasons. Shut your mouth and wait. No more nonsense.”

The younger man clutched his head, aggrieved. “Boss, why hit me? I was just looking out for you. Besides, with your status, who’d dare make you wait like this?”

“Get lost! One more word, and I’ll cripple you!” The man kicked him to the ground, seething with anger.

“Y-yes, Boss… I won’t say another word,” the younger man stammered, eyes filled with panic.

Still, he couldn’t help but wonder—who were they waiting for?

Their boss, after all, was now the undisputed ruler of Jinghai’s underworld. Most people couldn’t even get a meeting with him, not even the city’s elite. Yet here he was, standing in this rundown place, baking under the sun like a lackey.

But the little brother wasn’t the only one surprised. Old Jin himself was full of complicated emotions.

Ever since Lin Xiao killed Wang Lin, the former top boss of Jinghai, Old Jin’s life had been smooth sailing. He took over Wang Lin’s territories and businesses, rising to become the city’s new underground king.

But his triumph was short-lived. The moment the Hundred Seat Society—the dominant underworld force in Jiangnan Province—started investigating Wang Lin’s death and targeted Lin Xiao, it was like a bucket of cold water dumped over Old Jin’s head, shattering his dreams and dragging him back to harsh reality.

Old Jin knew his position was entirely thanks to Lin Xiao’s power. If Lin Xiao fell, he’d surely be dragged down with him.

But challenging the Hundred Seat Society? That was unthinkable.

So, after encountering Lin Xiao at a private club and passing along the news, Old Jin quietly prepared to flee. He stuffed millions in cash into suitcases, bought plane tickets, and was ready to leave Jinghai at a moment’s notice.

Yet deep down, he clung to a sliver of hope—that Lin Xiao might somehow pull off another miracle and take down the Hundred Seat Society, just like he did with Wang Lin.

It was wishful thinking, but Old Jin couldn’t bear to abandon the wealth and power he had struggled so hard to obtain.

Then something unexpected happened.

The Hundred Seat Society suddenly went quiet, halting all operations. Through his sources, Old Jin learned that the Hundred Seat Society had failed in an attempt to assassinate a female police officer and was now under scrutiny, too fearful to make a move. Relieved, he shelved his escape plans.

Still, the anxiety lingered. It often woke him in the middle of the night, like a death row inmate waiting for the final call.

Recently, the Hundred Seat Society’s sudden resurgence reignited his urge to flee. But just as he was about to leave Jinghai for good, shocking news arrived—Fang Haoyan, the head of the Hundred Seat Society, had been killed, and the entire organization had collapsed.

The weight lifted from Old Jin’s shoulders. He spent days celebrating before the question hit him—who could’ve possibly taken down the Hundred Seat Society?

The Hundred Seat Society didn’t dominate Jiangnan’s underworld for years by luck. They ruled with overwhelming strength, crushing all challengers without exception. Yet now they were gone, just like that.

That’s when Old Jin recalled his previous warning to Lin Xiao about the Hundred Seat Society. He could still picture Lin Xiao’s calm expression back then.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind—one so absurd it seemed impossible.

Could it have been Lin Xiao who killed Fang Haoyan?

The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became. As unbelievable as it sounded, Old Jin had witnessed Lin Xiao’s strength firsthand.

The timing was too perfect. The Hundred Seat Society collapsed right after they targeted Lin Xiao. What were the odds of that being a mere coincidence?

Still, Old Jin didn’t dare confirm it. Facing Lin Xiao terrified him. He wouldn’t have sought Lin Xiao out if it weren’t necessary.

Even so, he didn’t have the guts to disturb Lin Xiao directly. So here he was, waiting patiently like a hunter by a rabbit hole.

Under the relentless sun, Old Jin sat drenched in sweat.

Unbeknownst to him, Lin Xiao had already finished his meal and was heading to Yuan Yu’s house.

Maple Leaf Street wasn’t long. A brisk jog would take seven or eight minutes from end to end. But Lin Xiao wasn’t in a hurry. Having just eaten, he strolled, enjoying the walk.

After about ten minutes, he reached the end of Maple Leaf Street and spotted Old Jin and his men standing by the roadside.

“Why is he here?”

The moment Lin Xiao saw Old Jin’s sweat-soaked face and tense expression, he understood Old Jin was waiting for him.

Normally, Lin Xiao would’ve ignored him and walked past without a second glance. He was well aware that the world wasn’t simply black and white, but he had little regard for underworld figures like Old Jin.

However, Old Jin had once warned him about the Hundred Seat Society and always treated him with respect. After rising to power, Old Jin also followed Lin Xiao’s instructions, keeping his men from engaging in illegal activities.

After a brief moment of thought, Lin Xiao decided to hear him out.

He stepped toward Old Jin’s group at an unhurried pace.

At that moment, Old Jin, half-dizzy from the heat, was sitting on the roadside. He was unaware of Lin Xiao’s approach.

His two younger men, however, noticed Lin Xiao. But since they didn’t recognize him, they assumed he was just another passerby. After all, how could someone as young and ordinary-looking as Lin Xiao possibly be the person their boss was waiting for?