C4 What Is a Loser Doing?

"What do you wish to report?"

Lin Batian's gaze was icy and narrowed, his heart a tumult of emotions. He had never given his son much, and had only ever been a spectator to the hardships Lin Xi endured.

The mother of Lin Xi, a deceased maid, was somewhat attractive, but he hadn't truly loved her. It was nothing more than a drunken mistake, yet deep down, he had to acknowledge that Lin Xi was indeed his son.

Back when the Qiu family caused an uproar at the Lin residence, demanding the maid's execution, it was Chef Lin who took the fall for him. Lin Batian had promised the Qiu family that he would never acknowledge Lin Xi as his son.

He couldn't afford to refuse; with the Qiu family's Peak Realm of Essence Martial Master, they could obliterate the Lin family in an instant if provoked.

Still, he persisted in giving Lin Xi a name.

Lin Dong, Lin Huan, and the other sons of the Lin family were all he could offer.

Lin Xi was born weak, and Lin Batian could do nothing but turn a blind eye to the abuse and humiliation he suffered at the hands of his brothers and the servants.

Over the years, he had nearly forgotten he even had such a son.

But now, this worthless son stood before him, nonchalantly announcing he had something to report, and it irked him greatly.

Lin Xi swayed, seemingly unable to stand straight, which only added to Lin Batian's irritation.

"If you have something to report, then out with it. Must you sway like that? You're already a disappointment, and now you're embracing it, trying to imitate street swagger? You truly are..."

Lin Xi's expression contorted oddly, showing no sign of altering his behavior.

"Patriarch, are you... intending to lecture Lin Xi?"

"Hmph!"

The mocking tone grated on Lin Batian, making his skin crawl.

"Speak if you have something to say, otherwise, leave!"

A slight smirk played on Lin Xi's lips, tinged with derision.

Lin Huan nearly exploded with anger at the sight of Lin Xi's insolence.

"This worthless cur dares to disrespect our Patriarch. He should be punished!"

Meanwhile, Lin Dong's gaze was frosty and penetrating as he whispered to himself.

"It seems... something has changed..."

Lin Xi chuckled as he surveyed the Lin family disciples, his gaze tinged with mockery and challenge.

"Patriarch, Lin Xi is a disgrace, a blight upon the Lin family's honor. This is a sin I was seemingly born with..."

"However, Patriarch, regardless of my faults, it's a fact that Lin Xi has put in considerable effort working at the Lucky Mug over the years."

Lin Xi raised his arms, attempting to show off a few muscle bulges.

"I've been working at the Lucky Mug for eight years. I can understand a smaller paycheck, but at least I should be fed, right? To open a restaurant and not provide meals for the workers? That doesn't seem right, does it?"

The Lin family disciples murmured among themselves:

"Is he trying to embarrass the Patriarch? Everyone at the restaurant gets meals. Is he the only one going hungry?"

"It's not that he gets nothing. Does he even want the leftovers? I've heard the restaurant's manager is a direct relative of Young Master Lin Dong. It'd be odd if he got a proper meal..."

...

Lin Batian lifted his cool gaze.

"Is this what you wanted to discuss?"

Lin Xi spread his hands wide:

"Isn't it obvious? A beating is a minor issue, but dying of hunger would be a blot on the Lin family's reputation, wouldn't it?"

Lin Batian huffed coldly:

"Make sure he gets three square meals a day. Steward, inform the Lucky Mug's manager that Lin Xi's meals are not to be withheld!"

Lin Huan bared his teeth, hissing venomously:

"Eat? How much can a waste like you possibly consume? If you're so capable, eat the Lucky Mug out of business!"

Beside him, Lin Fan shivered, sensing something amiss.

"Third Young Master..."

Lin Huan, still seething, snapped:

"We'll talk about it later!"

Lin Xi's smile was radiant, his eyebrows nearly dancing.

"Thank you, Patriarch, for your compassion. Now, I won't go hungry. But Patriarch, I fear three meals a day might not suffice. Shouldn't there also be a late-night snack when we return home in the evening?"

Boom!

All the Lin family disciples erupted in anger.

"This good-for-nothing has really overstepped his bounds, asking for a late-night snack? And here we are, the other disciples, not even getting such a luxury!"

Lin Huan couldn't contain his anger any longer and bellowed:

"Lin Xi! You good-for-nothing! Still up for a midnight snack? What's next? Fancy some dragon liver or phoenix marrow? Do you have a death wish? Do you believe I'll end you right here and now?"

Lin Dong's gaze narrowed, and a chill spread throughout his body. He remained silent.

Lin Batian watched Lin Xi with narrowed eyes, unblinking.

Unperturbed, Lin Xi spread his hands and said, "When you're growing, you need to eat enough to have the strength to work hard. Clan Leader, I'm a valuable worker at the Lucky Mug. If I don't eat well, it could affect my performance, hehe..."

Lin Batian's face turned an ashen hue as he commanded in a deep voice:

"Butler, inform the owner of the Lucky Mug that Lin Xi is to have four meals a day. No skimping on his portions!"

With a thunderous noise, Lin Batian could no longer bear the situation. He stood up abruptly and stormed out.

"Clan Leader..."

Lin Xi called out hurriedly, as though he had more to say.

Lin Batian spun around, his presence flaring up so intensely that Lin Xi nearly stumbled backward.

"Have you said your piece?"

Lin Xi, panting heavily with a pale face, still managed a smile:

"Yes, hehe, about that... is it alright if I eat Level Three Demonic Beast meat?"

The question sent a shockwave through the Lin family disciples.

"Seriously? What's this failure thinking? With your blocked meridians, you dare to eat Level Three Demonic Beast meat? Aren't you scared that the essence and spiritual energy within it will blow you to bits?"

"Wow, he's got guts, doesn't he? Even a peak Realm of Might warrior wouldn't dare to eat Level Three Demonic Beast meat carelessly. For us at the early stages of the Realm of Might, just a bite could set our insides ablaze, causing unstoppable nosebleeds. It's literally to die for!"

A Level Three Demonic Beast is on par with the peak of the Realm of Might, even rivaling the early stages of the Realm of Essence. The energy it harbors is far more than what an ordinary Realm of Might warrior can withstand.

A warrior from the Realm of Might could at best handle the energy of a Level Two Demonic Beast. Engaging with a Level Three Demonic Beast was akin to seeking death.

Lin Batian was taken aback by Lin Xi's audacious request.

Cuisine prepared from a Level Three Demonic Beast was a staple for Martial Masters in the Realm of Essence. It not only gratified their hunger but also fortified their physique. The cost was astronomical—a single dish equated to one to three months' worth of cultivation resources for a Realm of Might warrior from the Lin family.

At that moment, Lin Batian felt that Lin Xi was deliberately making things difficult.

"You, a good-for-nothing, dare to consume the flesh of a Level Three Demonic Beast?"

"Hmph! If you have a death wish, go ahead and eat! Butler, inform the Lucky Mug to provide Lin Xi with unlimited access to their food!"

Lin Xi bowed respectfully, his voice subdued:

"Thank you, Patriarch, for your generosity..."

With a swish of his sleeve, Lin Batian stormed off, visibly seething.

Meanwhile, the butler, Lin Biyun, gave Lin Xi a penetrating look before heading to the Lucky Mug.

Lin Huan, seething with rage, strode towards Lin Xi:

"Lin Xi, you piece of garbage! How dare you make such a demand? What do you think you are?"

Lin Xi met Lin Huan's gaze with a taunting look.

"The restaurant's not concerned with feeding you, and you're trampling on the Lin family's reputation?"

He said, casting a disdainful look at Lin Dong, the instigator.

Lin Dong tensed but managed to contain his anger.

It was his directive to the restaurant to withhold meals from Lin Xi following Chef Lin's disappearance.

It wasn't a secret, and he wasn't concerned about Lin Xi finding out.

Yet, the derisive look from Lin Xi sent shivers down Lin Dong's spine.

"This worthless trash, living like a dog, now thinks he can stand tall and act like a person? He's on a path to self-destruction!"

Filled with a murderous rage, Lin Dong could no longer bear the sight of Lin Xi's smugness.

With a contemptuous snort, Lin Dong turned to leave.

Just then, Lin Xi fixed his gaze on the four cronies behind Lin Huan and chuckled.

"Well, well, if it isn't Young Master Lin's four loyal henchmen? Come over here, let's discuss something..."

Lin Huan halted in his tracks, his desire to thrash Lin Xi thwarted by being blatantly ignored. It was an unpleasant experience.

"Lin Xi, what are you trying to do?"

Lin Xi, shaking one leg and folding his arms, tilted his chin up at Lin Fan and taunted, "Hey! Big lackey, you were so eager to empty my chamber pot this morning. Don't you think it's a bit rude to leave before finishing the job?"

Lin Fan's cheeks twitched with rage. "You worthless piece of trash, don't assume I'm afraid to beat you. Do you really think I won't do it right here, right now?"

Repeatedly being called a big lackey by Lin Xi, Lin Fan was utterly humiliated.

Lin Xi scoffed with contempt. "Oh really? I've been considered trash for years, and just yesterday, I took a stroll at the gates of the underworld. I've already died once; what do I have to fear from you? Come on, fight me. If I lose, I'll crawl out through the dog hole myself, no need for you to say a word!"

Lin Fan bellowed in anger, "You heard him, everyone! This piece of trash is challenging me. If he gets hurt, don't accuse me of being too harsh!"

With that, he charged at Lin Xi with the technique known as Falling Leaves Flying Flower Steps.

"Stop!"

Lin Xi extended an arm, halting Lin Fan's advance. "You're attacking before I've even finished talking. Are you that eager for reincarnation?"

Lin Fan paused, pointing at Lin Xi, "You... What more do you have to say? Witness my skills!"

Lin Xi smirked, "So, if I lose, I crawl through the dog hole, but if you lose, you walk away scot-free? Does the world work that way?"

Lin Fan pointed to his nose with his thumb, "Me, lose? You must be joking! Do you have any idea what level I've reached? The peak of the early Realm of Might, a Warrior with the strength of three pythons—I can't lose!"

Lin Xi rubbed his nose, "How do you know you won't lose if we've never fought?"

Lin Huan, witnessing the scene, wore a sinister expression and whispered to Lin Fan, "Just agree to whatever he says. Later, beat him senseless. Let's see if this trash can leave his bed within the next six months."

Lin Fan, catching on, sneered in response, "Alright, what are your terms for starting this fight?"

Lin Xi's mouth twisted into a sly grin, as if to say, "Gotcha."

"Speaking of which, I've heard that the Lin family disciples get three fasting pills each month, right? I skipped breakfast and I'm starving. If you lose, all the fasting pills on you are mine!"

Boom!

The Lin family disciples erupted in disbelief.

"What's gotten into this loser today? He wants to eat Level Three Demonic Beast meat and now fasting pills too? One pill can stave off hunger for ten days. Nobody has that kind of surplus. Why does he want them? Can he even make use of them?"

"Perhaps this good-for-nothing is planning to sell them for a profit. Our Lin family's fasting pills are renowned for their quality among the Four Great Families. He can't possibly consume them; he must be aiming to flip them for cash!"

Lin Huan's eyes twitched as he turned to Lin Xi.

With eyes as fierce as a wolf's, Lin Huan declared, "Deal! If you beat Lin Fan, not only will his fasting pills be yours, but I'll throw in mine as well! Let's get this fight started!"

Emboldened by Lin Huan's support, Lin Fan felt a surge of adrenaline.

"You worthless piece of trash, let's battle!"