Chapter 417: The Incident Spreads

“Mr. Jiang, it’s your turn.” Lin Xiao stopped in front of Jiang Shiliu, his eyes deep, his body slightly leaning forward. “I’m very curious. Why did you go to such lengths to set up this trap against me?”

Jiang Shiliu’s expression twisted. He forced himself to stay calm.

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand. Today it was you who disrupted my gathering. Don’t think you can slander me.”

“Well, it doesn’t matter if you won’t say it. I wasn’t expecting you to admit it anyway.” Lin Xiao turned to leave. “I’m not killing you this time. But next time, when you think about taking revenge on me, remember the pain you suffered today and ask yourself if it’s worth it.”

Jiang Shiliu stood frozen in place, thinking Lin Xiao was going to let him go, a wave of surprise and delight washing over him.

But in the next moment, Lin Xiao, after taking just two steps, suddenly lifted his left foot and kicked Jiang Shiliu squarely in the chest.

Caught completely off guard, Jiang Shiliu was sent flying seven or eight meters by the kick. No one knew how many of his ribs were broken. His eyes bulged, nearly popping out of their sockets. He hit the ground and passed out without even making a sound.

“Young Master!”

Two sharp cries rang out from afar. The twin girls Jiang Shiliu had sent to the villa to pack earlier had just returned, only to witness him being kicked away by Lin Xiao. Their eyes filled with tears on the spot.

“How dare you hurt Young Master! We’ll fight you to the death!”

The twin girls’ eyes blazed with hatred. With a flick of their wrists, they each revealed a gleaming dagger and charged at Lin Xiao. Their daggers stabbed toward Lin Xiao’s back, showing impressive skill.

Lin Xiao didn’t even look back. Two kicks shot out, sending the twin girls flying, landing right beside Jiang Shiliu. Blood seeped from the corners of their lips, and their faces turned deathly pale.

There was no tenderness in Lin Xiao’s kicks. To him, an enemy was an enemy—regardless of gender.

If you’re an enemy, there’s no need for mercy.

With Jiang Shiliu kicked away, this farce finally came to an end.

Looking around, the entire grass field was scattered with people Lin Xiao had knocked down. Although none were fatally injured, not one of them had gotten up even after so long.

The spectators didn’t leave. They looked at Lin Xiao with varying emotions. Awe, resentment, fear. But regardless of how they felt about him, none could deny—

Lin Xiao was a terrifying man, unlike any they had ever seen.

How terrifying?

The dozens of fallen bodies said it all.

Everything that happened today was destined to become a lasting topic of conversation.

Returning to Wan Caixuan’s side, the first thing Lin Xiao said was, “Sorry. What I did might bring you some trouble.”

Wan Caixuan raised an elegant brow, half-smiling. “If it was going to bring me trouble, would you not have done it?”

“No. I still would’ve done it,” Lin Xiao said without hesitation.

“Then there’s no need to apologize. You were just following your heart, doing what must be done. As for their current state, they brought it on themselves.”

Wan Caixuan handed the suit jacket in her hand to Lin Xiao. “As for trouble, they’re not enough to cause that.”

Lin Xiao took the jacket and carefully put it on. “Then I can rest easy. What do we do next?”

Wan Caixuan’s clear eyes swept over Wu Donglai, Nangong Hao, and Li Chengkun. The three of them quickly looked away, avoiding her gaze.

“I originally had some things I wanted to say to them,” she said, “But now it seems words are unnecessary. The fear you’ve given them is far more effective than anything I could say.”

She took Lin Xiao’s arm. “These people care most about their own lives. You scared them today; unless they’re completely confident, they won’t dare provoke you again.”

“I understand. I’ve seen plenty like them from these so-called great families.”

A hint of mockery appeared at the corner of Lin Xiao’s mouth. “Always thinking they’re above others, but once their lives are in danger, their true nature is exposed. No exceptions.”

Wan Caixuan gave Lin Xiao a proud sideways glance and pulled him toward the parking area.

“Hmph, don’t forget I’m part of the kind of family you’re talking about. Watch your words.”

“Alright.”

With soft conversation, Lin Xiao and Wan Caixuan walked farther and farther away.

Only after the two of them completely left did the others in the estate collectively breathe a sigh of relief, feeling like a heavy burden had been lifted.

The pressure Lin Xiao gave them was simply too much.

“This grudge will not go unavenged! I, Nangong Hao, swear I will not rest until it’s repaid!” Nangong Hao’s eyes flashed with fury as he slammed his fist into the ground.

Elsewhere, Wu Donglai helped Li Chengkun up from the ground. With a broken leg, Li Chengkun hobbled along, face streaked with snot and tears.

Though Wu Donglai hadn’t broken a leg, the trauma he suffered was no less than Li Chengkun’s. The two of them were practically blood brothers now, united by shared misery.

Jiang Shiliu, who had passed out, was slowly brought back to consciousness by the twins who had rushed to his aid. He’d broken four or five ribs and could only lie stiffly on the ground, unable to move.

“Lin Xiao… you just wait! You wait!” Jiang Shiliu weakly roared in anger.

After leaving the estate with Wan Caixuan, the two first went to a high-end restaurant for dinner. Thanks to Jiang Shiliu’s interruption, they hadn’t eaten a single bite.

After dinner, Wan Caixuan had to stop by the company for something. Lin Xiao accompanied her, and after she finished her tasks, he took her back to her villa, then drove home himself.

By the time he got back to Maple Leaf Street, it was already past 10 p.m.

Parking in the community lot, Lin Xiao went upstairs and opened the security door, only to be greeted by a scene that brought warmth and heartache to his face.

Yuan Yu was sleeping quietly on the sofa. She had probably tried to stay up and wait for him, but had fallen asleep midway.

Lin Xiao knew very well that because she was in her final year of high school, Yuan Yu had been working extremely hard lately—nonstop homework and tests, with less than six hours of sleep a night.

Carefully, he closed the door and tiptoed over to pick her up, carrying her into her room, doing his best not to wake her. Only after gently placing her on the bed did Lin Xiao finally breathe a sigh of relief.

After taking a shower, Lin Xiao returned to his room and went to bed.

Meanwhile, several hours later, the incident at Jiang Shiliu’s banquet had already begun to spread.

***

Jinghai City, a private hospital.

Jiang Shiliu lay on a hospital bed, his chest wrapped in bandages. His face was pale, his eyes dull as he stared out the window. Compared to his earlier confident self, he looked like a different person.

It was to be expected. After being kicked by Lin Xiao and having five ribs broken, he rushed to the hospital, was sent straight into surgery, and tormented by pain—how could he possibly be in good spirits?

Sharp pain in his chest constantly reminded him of what had happened earlier. But compared to the hatred and rage burning in his heart, the physical pain meant nothing.

Across from Jiang Shiliu were two other beds, occupied by the twin girls. Their injuries were lighter than Jiang Shiliu’s, but they’d still be bedridden for a week or more.

A burly man in a black suit entered the room. One arm hung in a sling, and a thin stack of documents in the other hand.