C16 Go and Meet Him

There was really no need for Xu Lin to refine such a crystal, but its powers were impressively potent. Should he encounter a couple of fools, he could use it to bolster the abilities of Yim Ningrou and Eoddrar.

With a slight smile, Xu Lin slipped the crystal into his pocket, ready to depart. But before he could make his exit, members of the Mysterious Sect approached, offering their respects.

"Senior, your mastery of the magic arts is truly profound!" they exclaimed.

"Indeed! May I ask which sect you hail from, Senior?"

Initially, some had been skeptical when the Yue Family brought in such a youthful figure. After all, weren't they all esteemed Patriarchs of the Mysterious Sect, influential titans in their own right? Xu Lin's youth hardly inspired confidence.

Yet, this very young man had rescued nearly all the Mysterious Sect families in Crismond, earning him their genuine admiration.

"Senior, should you ever need the Wang family's assistance, just give the word. We will brave any danger for you!" declared a man with a graying beard. In the Mysterious Sect, respect is given to those who demonstrate true skill, so addressing Xu Lin as 'Senior' was entirely appropriate.

The crowd murmured in surprise, for the Wang family, while slightly less prominent than the Yue Family, wielded considerable influence in Crismond's underworld and beyond. Their declaration made it clear: Xu Lin was now the preeminent figure in Crismond and its neighboring cities.

From this moment on, no one in Crismond would dare slight Xu Lin, regardless of their standing.

"Senior, should you wish, you are always welcome to visit my Hu family," interjected a flamboyantly dressed woman.

Heads turned at her invitation, for while the Hu family might not be core members of the Mysterious Sect, they were renowned in the Immortal Realm for their striking beauty.

While the practice of the Immortal Realm was typically found in the northeast, the stronghold of the Northeastern Tiger Mo Shengwen, there was also a Hu family branch in Crismond. To call it a branch, though, would be misleading—it had long since diverged from the Northeastern Hu lineage.

In the days to come, Xu Lin would undoubtedly navigate his path with ease. It was clear that from this day forward, both the Secular World and the Mysterious Sect in Crismond would have to afford Xu Lin a measure of respect.

Following the battle, Xu Lin declined Elder Yue's attempt to keep him and promptly departed the Yue residence, making his way back to Riverheart Villa. There, he summoned Yim Jiuge and handed him a blood-red crystal, no larger than a thumbnail, yet the intense aura of blood and death it emitted was enough to unsettle Yim Jiuge.

"Eat it. It's beneficial to you," Xu Lin stated unequivocally.

Yim Jiuge knew exactly what the crystal was, but bound by Xu Lin's command and his own thirst for power, he swallowed the blood-red crystal without hesitation.

"Aooo!" The crystal's entry into his stomach elicited a harrowing howl from Yim Jiuge.

The crystal's potent energy scorched through Yim Jiuge's insides relentlessly. Observing this, Xu Lin murmured to himself, "The zombie consumes blood to counteract the essence of moonlight. This pain he's enduring is inevitable."

With that thought, Xu Lin extended his hand, and strands of moonlight coalesced into a silken weave, slowly forming a milky orb that radiated a chilling aura.

Xu Lin then pointed towards Yim Jiuge, and the orb of light darted straight for his body. Yim Jiuge, initially startled—having once been killed by a mere flick of Xu Lin's finger—soon displayed a look of elation as he felt the rich Tai Hua power envelop him, his breath quickening with excitement.

"Aooo!" A ferocious roar erupted, and a formidable presence radiated from Yim Jiuge. His once pale green complexion subtly regained a hint of normalcy, making him appear almost indistinguishable from an ordinary person at a glance.

Yim Jiuge's eyes fluttered open, exuding the confidence of a true powerhouse. The air currents he generated sent papers and books swirling chaotically around the room, and even the heavier stools and desks shifted. The gusts ceased abruptly as Yim Jiuge leapt to his feet, his bones popping with a sound reminiscent of snapping beans. He felt significantly stronger—as if he could now easily best his former self in a single move.

The surge in his power had indeed brought him an excessive amount of self-assurance. His gaze was icy as he fixed his eyes on Xu Lin.

"The strength you have is a gift from me! If I choose to reclaim it, I can do so anytime!"

Xu Lin's response was frosty.

At that moment, Yim Jiuge seemed deflated, his mouth agape, yet he uttered not a word.

He was aware that Xu Lin's words were no bluff.

The more time he spent with Xu Lin, the more palpable Xu Lin's formidable presence became, to the point where Yim Jiuge couldn't muster the slightest desire for retribution.

"Mr. Xu, there's been a misunderstanding!" Yim Jiuge quickly interjected.

The recent boost to his power had deluded him into thinking he could overpower Xu Lin.

The following day, Xu Lin arrived at Chu Lan's company bright and early, albeit reluctantly, as he would have preferred to avoid meeting Chu Lan if possible.

Because this woman was just too much...

Beneath the towering company building, Xu Lin allowed himself a resigned smile before stepping inside.

"Good to see you, boss!"

"Boss!"

"Morning, boss!"

...

The greetings came in waves as soon as Xu Lin walked in, especially from the young women, whose enthusiastic hellos were nonstop.

Particularly after the incident where Xu Lin had taken down a popular young idol, he had become the object of many a young woman's admiration!

That show of dominance had struck a chord, and these were not starry-eyed teenagers; they preferred a man of Xu Lin's caliber over a pretty boy.

Yet Xu Lin was taken aback by the unexpected attention. He couldn't fathom why these young women were looking at him with such suggestive gazes.

Their looks made him somewhat uneasy.

"Director Chu, isn't that a bit much? We're merely business associates, and you're suggesting something more... intimate?"

Xu Lin's face turned to stone as Chu Lan's voice, laced with irony, reached him from a distance, especially upon hearing the insinuation of intimacy.

"What's the matter?" Xu Lin approached Chu Lan and asked in a steely tone.

Chu Lan looked back, her face a picture of shock and hurt, "One of our partners said he'd approve our pitch if I spent the night with him."

Xu Lin's demeanor was icy. He hadn't expected anyone in Vleegas to dare cross the line with someone under his protection.

While he was talking, a man with green-dyed hair barged in and violently smashed the company's glass window.

"Crash!"

"What are you thinking? You do realize that's illegal, right?"

A third-rate actor eyed the troublemaker coolly. He was no stranger to such incidents. When those with clout committed such acts, no one dared to object. In Floania, it was relatively better, but in some countries, such occurrences were commonplace.

Particularly with major corporations and financial conglomerates, there were many shady figures who enjoyed "playing" with them.

Usually, when confronted with such situations, a payoff was the simplest solution. This was Xu Lin's first brush with such trouble, though. Since the founding of the nation, such incidents had been stamped out. Yet, here it was happening to him, leaving Xu Lin feeling somewhat resigned.

"Heh, sorry about this, but I'm just fulfilling someone else's request. I had no choice. I'm here to find a couple of people. Is there a Chu Lan here, and a girl named Yim Ningrou? Tell them to come out, or else, don't expect me to be polite!"

"Smash!"

He continued his tirade, destroying another computer. Hearing this, Xu Lin turned to Yim Ningrou and asked, "Yim? What's your connection to all this?"

If they were here for money, seeking out Chu Lan would make sense, but Yim Ningrou didn't seem like someone who would provoke such aggression.

Yim Ningrou shook her head as if recalling something, then stared blankly at the man before her and said, "Is it him?"

As it turned out, Yim Ningrou had recently snuck off to a bar without Chu Lan's knowledge.

And someone had taken a liking to her.

But Yim Ningrou was no ordinary character. She was the kind of person who could take down a master with a single touch. She was not one to be bothered by petty thugs.

So, a confrontation ensued, and from what the girl said, it sounded like they had been dealt with harshly.

"Is that what this is about?" Xu Lin asked, unimpressed.

Chu Lan, however, began to worry. Yim Ningrou was a key figure for them now!

Nothing could be allowed to happen to her. Anxiously, Chu Lan asked, "Ningrou, are you... are you okay?"

Yim Ningrou let out a playful giggle and said, "No worries, Sister Chu, they're just too weak!"

Chu Lan was inwardly cringing. Too weak? Surely they weren't so feeble that a child could handle them!

Yet, if Chu Lan only knew that the Vleegas big shots would deferentially call her 'Sister Yan' upon seeing her, what would her reaction be?

Xu Lin's brow furrowed slightly as he spoke with a chilly edge, "Stay away from bars from now on! And if you run into troublemakers, just eliminate them—it'll save us all the hassle."

"Xu Lin, could you try being a bit more civilized?" Chu Lan implored with a hint of exasperation.

...

A well-connected young upstart stepped forward, addressing the thug with a frosty tone, "Who do you work for? Ever heard of Yang Yunzhong? He's a friend of mine. If you're wise, you'll make yourself scarce."

The thug's lips twisted into a smirk as he responded with a chuckle, "Sure, Yang Yunzhong is a name around here, but in Vleegas, it's Director Chu who calls the shots!"

"Director Chu? Which one?"

"Chu Tianhao!"

"Chu Tianhao?"

Xu Lin, unfamiliar with the name, turned to Chu Lan and asked, "Who's Chu Tianhao?"

Chu Lan's complexion turned a shade paler as she explained, "Xu Lin, I'm aware of your influence, but Chu Tianhao is someone you don't want to cross. His standing in Vleegas might not quite match Mr. Du's, but he's still a significant player. He's not someone we can afford to provoke. You may have intimidated Yang Mingzhe before, but Chu Tianhao is at least ten times his superior!

Moreover, it's rumored he's got a band of ruthless followers, yet he fancies himself a paragon of virtue, insisting on being addressed as Director Chu. In this economic district, there's hardly a soul who doesn't show him respect."