Chapter 88: The Grand Battle Scene

  The sky broke dawn, and Qingniu Town encountered a rare morning with heavy fog that had not been seen for several months.

  The undulating roof, the buildings shrouded in a veil of morning mist, vaguely visible as if hidden. At this time, if it were in the past, perhaps only early-rising vendors and housewives buying meat and vegetables at the market would be on the move. But today, people thronged, several main streets packed with crowds, surging towards the town center's square.

  Because today will be a century war explosion.

  "According to the latest news, Lin Heng has returned to Qili Gou at the last moment last night... To know more details, come and get some breakfast..."

  "Cao family's three powerful warriors, under the strict order of Young Master Cao, have sworn to kill Lin Huan within two moves! To showcase the power of the Cao family! We've obtained insider information about this and other secrets. Want to know more? Buy our new silk fabric, purchase twenty feet and we'll give you a copy of the secret message..."

  "All major casinos have released the latest odds, if Lin Heng dies within two moves, the payout is 1:3. If you'd like to discuss your thoughts, feel free to enter our tea house, where we offer free tea."

  Almost every store rushed to open early, opening their doors early, with loud shouts of hawkers constantly.

  It's no wonder they did so, encountering such a rare grand event, with crowds surging like fish, if they didn't seize the opportunity to make a profit, wouldn't they be fools?

  In Jiayuan City thousands of miles away, Cao Jie, the master of the Cao family, had just come out of a large mansion.

  "After much ado, this troublesome matter has finally been resolved satisfactorily. Although the Cao family suffered some losses, they were within bearable limits, and compared to the worst possible outcome, it's infinitely better." He let out a long sigh, releasing the pent-up frustration that had been bottled up in his chest for many days.

  He looked up at the sunlight in the sky: "I don't know what leaks have been made at home in these two months. Alas, it's time to choose a successor, and with this body, if I can hold on for a few more years, I'm afraid I'll collapse soon." He suddenly thought of Lin Heng, if he could recruit him into the Cao family and assist him. Even if his own sons were incompetent in the future, the Cao family should not fall apart. Right, what's the progress of recruiting him during my absence?

  Before leaving, he had instructed the general manager Cai to spare no expense in recruiting Lin Heng and buying his heart. However, on the way, he woke up to the fact that although Cai was loyal to him, he was arrogant towards those outside of the Cao family by nature, and his temperament was somewhat narrow, thus producing a feeling that this decision was not quite right.

  But since the words have already been spoken, it's not good to change people again. After all, Cai Lai is one of the few people in the mansion who has gained his trust.

  "Governor, an urgent message has arrived from Qingniu Town."

  Cao Guan lifted the curtain of the carriage and frowned: "Has something happened?"

  The Cao Mansion has a special team of informants and scouts at each major outpost, known as the Xinwei. They are directly led by the lord of the mansion, and no one else has the power to intervene. The urgent message from Qingniu Town came from afar, obviously something had happened.

  He lifted the sealed mud seal and looked at the contents of the paper, his face gradually turning icy.

  "Immediately send a letter to Qingniu Town, dismissing Cai Lai from all his positions and detaining him in the government prison. All his powers will be temporarily taken over by White Tian. Inform Fourth Miss and White Tian to cancel whatever dogshit duel they have planned! Everything will wait until I return to handle it!"

  Xin Wei was taken aback, it was the first time he saw this refined and gentle old master so angry that even his words were explosive. He immediately knew it was an important matter and flew back to the base.

  "Alas, is it destined that the Cao family will decline? Chen's failure was one thing, and now Lin has failed as well. In a few years' time, who will be left to support our family?" He felt a wave of despair wash over him, but suddenly realized that this trip had been utterly futile. Although they seemed to have recovered from their massive losses, they had lost the last chance to revive the Cao family's dying embers!

  At 10 o'clock in the morning, the area under the stage was packed with people, and it was impossible to get through. In the distance, on top of wine houses or house backs, many people who couldn't squeeze into a position were densely climbing.

  "I heard that Lin Heng has returned. Isn't he coming back to seek his own death? Facing the three latecomers, I estimate he'll be blown into meat powder by the Cao family with just one strike."

  "You know what, this is what I call a real man! Although he knew he was no match for them, he would never be a coward! Just for this point, I admire him! It's just a pity that such a genius offended the Cao family and ended up like this..."

  "Lin Huan's strength is not enough, but he is indeed worthy of being a seven-foot-tall man. Who dares to offend the Cao family in Qingniu Town? Who dares to fight back after being bullied by the Cao family? Who dares to unleash thunderous anger on the Cao family, who dares to kill the Cao family's heavenly guard, and dare to slap the Cao family's steward in public? In nearly a hundred years, only Lin Huan has done so! Even if Lin Huan loses his life, he is more worthy of respect than those lackeys of the Cao family!"

  "Good... good... well said! Lin Guang may die on the battlefield in the end, but he is still a pure and unmatched hero!"

  Affected by the spread and rendering of speech, the crowd suddenly boiled with excitement, and all of a sudden they changed to support Lin Heng.

  For hundreds of years, they have been bullying the Cao family, daring to be angry but not speaking out. Lin's bloodline instantly made them resonate.

  "Support Lin Rong, bloody battle against Cao's family! Support Lin Rong, overthrow Cao's family!"

  The people of the Cao family, except for the three strong masters and the main character, arrived early, including two housekeepers and those young masters and misses.

  Seeing this scene, several young masters were not calm, their faces turned purple: "You bunch of lowly poor goods, dare to make noise and oppose our Cao family, do you want to die with the Lin family?"

  Just as they were about to jump out and scold, Fourth Miss Cao Hongjuan stopped them, saying: "The time for the duel is almost here, don't create unnecessary trouble."

  Things have developed to this point, and Cao Hongjuan has regretted it. She proactively sought out the battle and loudly publicized it in order to demonstrate the intimidating power of the Cao family. However, as the situation unfolded with twists and turns, until now when public sentiment is surging, she suddenly realized that she was wrong from the start. Lin Heng's open defiance against the Cao family has spread its influence far and wide, regardless of whether Lin Heng ends up being beaten to a pulp or crushed to pieces, it has stirred up a thread of resistance among the people of Qingniu Town. If they had handled things calmly from the beginning, perhaps the impact could have been suppressed to the smallest extent, but now it's out of control.

  At this moment, tens of thousands of people suddenly cheered and surged forward.

  Cao Hongjuan looked out and found that it was people from Qili Gou who had arrived, with the head of the Qili Gou clan walking in front.

  And behind him was Lin Heng, who had disappeared for two months and was the protagonist of today's final battle.

  It is said that when enemies meet, they are especially angry. The Cao family's reputation was greatly damaged, all because of Lin Huan. The several young masters of the Cao family saw this poor boy stealing the show and were so resentful that they gnashed their teeth, as if they wanted to rip out Lin Huan's heart and eat his flesh. Especially the outer affairs manager Cai Lai, who glared at Lin Huan with venom, recalling the humiliation of that day, his eyes seemed to be hiding a poisonous snake that had been accumulating resentment for many years.

  "You insignificant wretch, after you die, I will not only hang your corpse in the market to humiliate it, and crush your bones into ashes! But also put your family to death together with you. Everyone who knows you or is familiar with you will have to endure the most tragic outcome in the world! This is the price of offending me, humiliating the noble Cao family!"

  Lin's gaze swept across the opposing camp and soon locked onto Cai's distant gaze.

  For this arrogant and sinister little man, the intention to kill suddenly arose. On that day, Lin Huan had no choice but to spare his life because of the threat from the Cao family. However, today he is not what he used to be, and he is no longer afraid of the Cao family. For his enemy, he will never show mercy! Especially for an enemy who has been plotting to put himself to death!

  Cai Lai was intimidated by him and suddenly a strong chill ran down his spine, he hastily shifted his gaze.

  "How could this be? As a first-rate warrior, I didn't have this trembling feeling when facing him that day. Why did his gaze make me unbearable today, even from such a far distance? Could it be that he has undergone two months of bitter training and advanced from the early stage to the middle stage of second-rate?"

  He thought of this, and his mind to put Lin Yang to death was even stronger. So-called heart enemy, endless trouble. If it's really as guessed, Lin Yang's cultivation speed is indeed terrifying, neither he nor the Cao family can afford to keep such a disaster.

  Lin Heng's gaze turned inward, and he sneered coldly: "You think you can borrow the strength of three late-stage powerhouses to kill me? Unfortunately, you don't know that I've already entered the third rank, and today you'll find it hard to get what you want!"

  This battle was invited by Cao's family, before the decisive battle, when Cao's family members spoke and announced the decision to fight.

  It's extremely unfair for Lin Huan, but there's no help for it. In Qingping Town, the Cao family doesn't talk about fairness with anyone. For example, this time it's called a decisive battle, but in reality everyone knows that this is the Cao family's slaughterhouse! - Three second-grade late-stage against one first-grade early-stage, only bullying and killing, what's the point of talking about a decisive battle?

  Lin Heng listened to Cao Zhi, the young master of the Cao family, as he loudly listed his own crimes, but Lin Heng was unmoved. The crowd below also listened to Cao Zhi's feigned passionate criticism, but they were not convinced. In the vast crowd, only the Cao family's followers applauded and cheered whenever Cao Zhi finished a sentence.

  Unfortunately, in the midst of a dense crowd, it appears scattered and fragmented, which only increases the feeling of isolation and helplessness, leaving only a faint shadow.

  In a corridor of a wine house not far away, the shopkeeper of Duobao Hall, Mr. Liang Wan, and that mysterious Lu Fuzi were watching from a distance.

  "Are you really so certain that Lin Huan has entered the third rank?" Mr. Erwan couldn't help but ask another question, despite knowing it was impolite.

  Lufei's speculation was really frightening, a second-rate beginner, after two months of bitter practice, could directly enter the third-rate? If he didn't know Lufei's ferocity, he would probably take him for a madman.

  Lufu Zidam drank a mouthful of tea lightly, his gaze never withdrawing from Lin Huan's distant figure.

  "From the moment he appeared, there was no longer any question about this issue."