The other families present were also whispering among themselves.
At that moment, the guard emerged from the gate.
“Family heads, the Prefect has invited you inside. Follow me,” the guard announced.
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
The family heads eagerly stepped forward.
“Rong’er, make sure to perform well later. We must leave a good impression on the new Prefect,” the Mo family head instructed repeatedly.
“Don’t worry, Father,” Mo Yangrong nodded confidently.
The two quickly followed the others.
Led by the guard, the group crossed the plaza and arrived before the main hall.
“The Prefect is just ahead. Please proceed, family heads,” the guard said, pointing forward.
“Finally, we’ll see the new Prefect’s face.”
The crowd looked up eagerly.
“I wonder what he’s like!”
Mo Yangrong also lifted his gaze with anticipation.
Screech!
When he saw the figure in prefect’s robes, he froze!
Wasn’t… wasn’t that Lin Yun?
They couldn’t be more familiar with that silhouette!
In utter disbelief, Mo Yangrong rubbed his eyes hard, confirming he wasn’t seeing things.
At that moment, his mind buzzed as if it had exploded.
“How… how could it be him!” The Mo family head stared at Lin Yun ahead, his eyes wide, his expression one of complete bewilderment.
“That… that’s Lin Yun? A few years ago, he won the Dongyuan Prefecture martial examination and went to the Divine Capital. How… how did he become the new Prefect!”
“To become a prefect in just a few years—his rise is… it’s terrifying!”
Many of the family heads gasped, clearly recognizing Lin Yun.
After all, when Lin Yun competed in the prefecture’s martial examination, several of them had been in the audience. They knew him well.
“Father, look! It’s Brother Lin Yun! It’s really him—I thought I was seeing things!” Zhu Xu, after a stunned pause, cried out in disbelief.
“Fellow Lin Yun is the Prefect?” The Zhu family head stood dazed, feeling as if he were dreaming.
If they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes, how could they believe it? How had Lin Yun become the new Prefect?
At that moment, Lin Yun stepped forward to face the group.
“I suppose many of you recognize me. That’s right—I’m the new Prefect of Dongyuan Prefecture,” Lin Yun said, looking at the assembled family heads.
“Greetings, Prefect Lin!”
“Hail, Prefect Lin!”
The crowd saluted him in unison.
The Zhu family father and son bowed excitedly as well.
Only the Mo family father and son remained rooted in place, dazed.
“What’s this? Mo family head, do you and your son look down on me? You won’t even salute me?” Lin Yun asked, eyeing them.
The Mo pair jolted awake at his words.
At that moment, they felt as if the world were spinning, as though doomsday had arrived…
“G-Greetings… Prefect Lin!”
The Mo family head and Mo Yangrong gritted their teeth and saluted.
Their emotions in that instant were beyond words.
Lin Yun walked up to them.
As he approached, the Mo pair’s hearts raced, sweat beaded on their foreheads, and anxiety gripped them. They had no idea what Lin Yun intended…
“Mo family head, you once tried everything to kill me. Now that I’m back, you’re welcome to continue your revenge plans, right?” Lin Yun said with a playful smile.
The Mo father and son’s faces twitched, their bodies trembling.
“Prefect, we were wrong! Please… please spare our Mo family!” The Mo family head pleaded, sweat pouring down his face like soybeans.
Lin Yun didn’t respond. Instead, he moved on, stopping before the Zhu family.
The Zhu pair looked thrilled.
“Zhu family head, Brother Zhu Xu, we meet again,” Lin Yun said with a warm smile.
Back in Dongyuan Prefecture, Lin Yun had enjoyed a good relationship with the Zhu family.
After offending the Mo family, the Zhu family had sheltered him fully.
Lin Yun remembered all of it.
“Brother Lin Yun, you’re actually our new Prefect? I still feel like I’m dreaming!” Zhu Xu said, his excitement overwhelming.
“Xu’er, mind your manners! Address him as Prefect!” the Zhu family head scolded.
“Zhu family head, it’s fine. Let Zhu Xu call me Brother Lin Yun. You can address me as you used to as well,” Lin Yun said with a laugh.
“Then I’ll take that liberty, Fellow Lin Yun. I never imagined you’d be our new Prefect—you’re incredible!” The Zhu family head gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
In their eyes, Lin Yun’s meteoric rise was nothing short of miraculous!
“Now that I’m Prefect, I’ve got your Zhu family’s back. If anyone troubles you, just let me know,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Great! Great! Great!” The Zhu family head nodded eagerly.
They’d come worrying about how to build ties with the new Prefect.
Now, that concern was gone.
As for the Mo family, they clearly posed no threat to the Zhu family anymore.
The other family heads watched with envy. The Zhu family was poised to soar!
They only regretted not befriending Lin Yun back then.
“Oh, Fellow Lin Yun, here’s the congratulatory gift we prepared. Since you’re the new Prefect, we’re even more thrilled to celebrate!” The Zhu family head quickly offered a storage ring.
“I appreciate the gesture, but I can’t accept it,” Lin Yun said, waving it off with a smile.
He then turned to the other family heads.
“Everyone, as the new Prefect of Dongyuan Prefecture, I won’t accept any congratulatory gifts. If you’ve brought something, take it back. Rest assured, I won’t target anyone for not offering gifts. That’s not how I operate,” Lin Yun declared loudly.
His words earned a ripple of admiration from the crowd.
By tradition, new prefects always used their arrival to amass wealth—who didn’t?
“Alright, you can all head back now. As I take up my role here, I hope your families will support my work,” Lin Yun said.
He then instructed the guards to escort them out.
“Zhu family head, Brother Zhu Xu, you head back too. I’ve got some matters to handle here. Another day, I’ll visit your home for a drink,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Great! Great! Great!” The Zhu family head nodded excitedly.
The other family heads were green with envy.
Soon, the families departed, leaving only the Mo father and son behind.
“Anything else?” Lin Yun asked, looking at them.
“Lord Lin, please spare our Mo family!” The Mo family head gritted his teeth and knelt before Lin Yun.
They no longer harbored any thoughts of revenge against him.
After all, Lin Yun was now the Prefect of Dongyuan Prefecture!
Their only hope was that he wouldn’t wipe out their family.
“I took your Tribulation Pill back then, and all past grudges were settled. As long as you behave, cause no trouble, and leave the Zhu family alone, I won’t destroy your Mo family,” Lin Yun said.
His tone shifted. “But let me be clear: if you dare pull any tricks behind my back, I guarantee your Mo family will be finished!”
“Yes, yes, yes!” The Mo family head nodded frantically, like a pecking chick.
