The time Qin Shi spent with Lin Yun was arguably the least, and their relationship had been fraught with difficulties.
Su Yan also spoke up, “Lin Yun, this past month, being with you has truly made us happy. As long as we can be with you, even death doesn’t scare us.”
Seeing them like this, Lin Yun felt a pang in his heart.
“Alright, you can stay. These years, I, Lin Yun, have let you down,” Lin Yun said, his eyes slightly red.
In truth, this past month, Lin Yun had spent half his time practicing swordsmanship, carving, and cultivating his physical body, and the other half with them.
He knew he owed them so much, but compared to the time he’d been away, this month of companionship still felt insignificant.
“Lin Yun, thank you!”
Overjoyed that Lin Yun agreed, the five women rushed to him, embracing him together…
…
The news of Lin Yun’s removal from the prefecture lord position first spread within the lord’s palace and quickly reached the outside.
Three days later.
In the lord’s palace meeting hall.
Liang Yuan, Huo Zhen, Yang Wan, Wei Qi, Old Man Yan, Du Yuanzi, the Wanderer, Lone Wolf, and White Shark were all seated.
Two days earlier, Lin Yun had spoken with Lone Wolf and White Shark, and they, too, refused to leave.
As for his grandfather, Liu Zhizhong, he also decided to stay on the Cultivation Continent.
“Everyone’s packed and ready, right? We leave for the divine capital tomorrow,” Lin Yun said, looking at the group.
“Don’t worry, Big Brother, everything’s arranged,” Huo Zhen said.
At that moment, the steward rushed in hurriedly.
“Trouble! Trouble, my lord! Someone’s forcing their way into the lord’s palace!” the steward said urgently.
“Forcing their way in? Who’s so bold!” Lin Yun frowned.
Even if a tiger is old, its might remains!
Even as a cripple, who would dare cause trouble at the lord’s palace?
“Let’s go see,” Lin Yun said, standing and heading outside.
Huo Zhen, Liang Yuan, Wei Qi, Yang Wan, Old Man Yan, White Shark, and Lone Wolf followed immediately.
At the lord’s palace gate.
As Lin Yun arrived, a guard was sent flying, landing at his feet.
“Hmph, ignorant fool, daring to block me. Once I take office, you’ll see what happens!” a sharp voice scolded from the gate.
Lin Yun looked up and saw Shi Wen!
It was Shi Wen, who had once competed with Lin Yun for the position of Dongyuan Prefecture lord.
“Shi Wen, what are you doing in my Dongyuan Prefecture? The Dongguo faction’s dogs aren’t welcome here,” Lin Yun said, his gaze icy.
“Haha, so it’s the crippled Lin Yun. We meet again.”
Shi Wen stared at Lin Yun, grinning. “I’m here to take office, of course. Open your eyes and look—this is my appointment letter!”
As he spoke, Shi Wen brandished the letter.
“So it’s you,” Lin Yun’s eyes flickered slightly.
He had already suspected it might be Shi Wen taking over Dongyuan Prefecture.
“He’s the new prefecture lord?” The group behind Lin Yun was stunned.
“Lin Yun, this is called the wheel of fate turning. You’re a cripple now, while I’ve risen to become the lord of Dongyuan Prefecture. The heavens have eyes!” Shi Wen’s fleshy face was full of smiles.
Then, Shi Wen strode through the palace gate, followed by a few others.
In a moment, he stood before Lin Yun.
“Lin Yun, do you know how thrilled I was when I heard you’d become a cripple? How thrilled our Dongguo faction was? I hear you’ve only got a few decades left—tsk, tsk, such a pity for a genius like you to fall like this,” Shi Wen’s smile grew, clearly gloating.
Hearing this, the group behind Lin Yun’s expressions shifted, feeling both hurt and stifled.
“Shi Wen, stop spouting nonsense!” Liang Yuan said angrily.
Shi Wen looked at Liang Yuan. “Liang Yuan, who are you to speak here? Don’t you know the master you follow is finished? When he dies in a few decades, our Dongguo faction will make your life worse than death, I guarantee it!”
Liang Yuan’s eyes twitched.
“Liang Yuan, if you abandon Lin Yun now and beg at my feet, our Dongguo faction might spare you and let you be our dog. How about it?” Shi Wen laughed.
“You… you…” Liang Yuan’s face turned ashen.
Lin Yun’s expression also darkened to the extreme.
“Shi Wen, you have ten breaths to get out, or face the consequences!” Lin Yun’s sharp voice thundered.
“Lin Yun, do you not understand the situation? I’m the new lord of Dongyuan Prefecture. The one who should get out is you!” Shi Wen sneered.
“You take office the day after tomorrow. Today, I’m still the lord of Dongyuan Prefecture! Today, I, Lin Yun, am in charge!” Lin Yun’s eyes glinted with cold intent, his presence commanding.
Even an old tiger retains its might!
Lin Yun issued a command, “All hear this: anyone who trespasses in the lord’s palace is to be killed without mercy!”
“Yes!”
Liang Yuan, Huo Zhen, Yang Wan, and Wei Qi responded in unison.
Old Man Yan unleashed his Tribulation Realm aura.
Seeing this, Shi Wen’s eyes twitched, especially when he felt Old Man Yan’s aura, which he feared most.
“Lin Yun, you dare! Even if I haven’t officially taken office, I’m still a second-rank official of the empire! You dare touch me?” Shi Wen shouted.
“In terms of rank, I’ve been promoted to deputy first-rank. Your rank is lower than mine. Shouldn’t you be saluting me? How dare you!” Lin Yun’s voice boomed.
“You… you…” Shi Wen’s face turned green, momentarily speechless.
“Even if you’re second-rank, daring to trespass in the lord’s palace today gives me the right to kill you, and I’d have justification even if the empire investigates!” Lin Yun’s momentum didn’t waver.
Then, Lin Yun waved his hand. “Three breaths left. If they don’t leave, attack!”
“Lord Shi, let’s retreat!”
Shi Wen’s followers, pale with fear, were deeply intimidated.
With a grim face, Shi Wen had no choice but to retreat through the gate.
“Lin Yun, you’re ruthless! You don’t have many years left, so I’ll let you have your moment. In two days, when I take office, we’ll see how arrogant you are then!”
Leaving those words, Shi Wen slunk away with his men.
After Shi Wen left, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Yun’s fierce aura faded, his face showing a hint of paleness as the Soul-Breaking Poison tormented him.
“We leave tomorrow morning,” Lin Yun said, his voice tinged with weakness.
“Yes, Big Brother,” the group responded.
