Chapter 99: Cao Kun's Orphaned Child (Vote and Collect)

  "Our Cao family has been rooted in Qingniu Town for hundreds of years, and it's not easy to keep this family business going. If you become my son-in-law, not only will Hongjuan have a secure future, but I think you should be able to help the Cao family prosper even more. Of course, I'm not asking you to change your surname, you're still a member of the Lin family, and Hongjuan is still the daughter-in-law of the Lin family. My request: let Hongjuan continue to assist the Cao family for another ten years! After ten years, you can decide whether to become a member of the Cao family or have the Cao family give you a large dowry!"

  He looked serious and solemn, clearly not joking.

  Lin Heng's eyes floated in front of him, and Cao Hongjuan's bright face appeared. In terms of appearance alone, she was undoubtedly born with a beautiful and elegant temperament, and no girl in Qingniu Town could compare to her. Even Ruan Ruan seemed slightly dull in comparison. However, Lin Heng didn't have any particularly deep feelings for her, which was everyone's lifelong matter, and he naturally couldn't be perfunctory about it.

  Moreover, Cao Guan suddenly brought up this matter, and it's probably not as simple as that.

  Even if Cao Guan thoroughly wants to win himself over, he won't sacrifice his own daughter? Moreover, according to his meaning, it seems that he wants to indirectly hand over the management rights of the Cao family into his own hands.

  Cao Guan's move was indeed difficult to guess, and he slowly said: "Thank you, Master, for your kind intentions. The fourth young lady is a rare beauty with both looks and talent. I'm deeply honored to have received your recognition. However, I'm still young and devoted to the martial path, so I don't want to be bound by this aspect for now. As I've gotten to know the fourth young lady for some time, our personalities clearly don't match, and I don't want to hold her back from her future. So, regarding your high regards, I can only feel grateful in my heart and slowly repay you in the future."

  Cao Guan's eyes were filled with disappointment, hoping he would change his mind. But staring at him for a while, Lin Heng was resolute, and could only let out a long sigh.

  "Alas, it was my mistake in using people. If I hadn't sent Cai to recruit you back then, but had chosen someone else instead, you and the Cao family wouldn't have developed such a deep-seated grudge. All the blame lies with me for not thinking things through, which led to this situation."

  "In this final battle, you publicly killed the top three strongest Heaven Guards of my Cao family, and then beheaded five more Heaven Guards with one swing of your axe. Although you didn't personally kill Cao Jian, you still bear all sorts of responsibilities for it. Most importantly, you made our Cao family lose face completely, losing all credibility in Qing Niu Town. You must think that we wouldn't let you off scot-free? So you have sinister intentions and are on guard against us, right?"

  Lin Heng saw that he spoke directly and didn't beat around the bush, so he nodded his head and said: "Regarding the harm I caused to your Cao family, I apologize to the master. At that time, the situation was such that I had no choice! The Cao family used three late-stage cultivators against me, a single second-grade early-stage cultivator, clearly intending to kill me. If I hadn't resisted and shown you my killing intent, it would have been me who died on the spot!"

  "Let me ask you, putting aside Cai's death for now. In this great war, not only did you not die, but you miraculously entered the third rank. Does this result count as a pressure to survive in the midst of death, and did you break through because of it? To put it simply, was this battle one of the factors that led to your entry into the third rank?"

  Lin Heng nodded thoughtfully and said, "It can be put that way."

  Without Cao Hong's appointment, there would be no confrontation with the three latecomers' life-and-death pressure. He might have entered the Tiger Mountain to cultivate in seclusion just like before, and perhaps he would have quickly reached the third rank as well. However, without a doubt, this appointment has indeed provided him with great assistance. In front of Cao Guan, he does not need to deny this point.

  "I value you so much that I even gave you my most cherished 'Wu Nian Mo Zhuang'. But you killed eight of the Cao family's Tianwei strongmen, three of whom were top-level strongmen. You also killed Cao Jian. No matter what the reason was for killing them, but as a result, you broke through from early second-grade to third-grade in one go. Do you owe me or not?"

  Lin Heng thought for a moment, although the other side had some strong words, but the result was indeed so, nodded: "Yes, I owe you an apology."

  Cao Guan smiled slightly, his faint smile on his pale face seemed full of comfort.

  "Then I want you to promise me one thing, the first thing is to marry Hong Juan and become my son-in-law? Will you or won't you?" He said word by word, his eyes fixed intently on Lin Heng's gaze.

  Lin Heng didn't know why Cao Guan insisted on doing so, but he also sensed that this move would bring him far more benefits than harm. As long as he agreed, the advantages would be unimaginable. After all, the Cao family was the number one family in Qingniu Town, with astonishing industries. And Cao Hongjuan was his most beloved daughter, if they really got married, the Cao family would fall into his hands.

  But he still shook his head resolutely: "I'm afraid I must decline."

  Cao Guan's eyes dimmed again, but he slowly said: "Alright, I won't force you! If you don't agree to this matter, then the second one can't be declined."

  "I want you to guarantee with your life that for the next ten years, our Cao family will not collapse! Hmm, or if you can't do that, just promise me that you'll help our Cao family preserve a shred of its legacy and bloodline!" Cao Zhen's expression was solemn, and he started coughing again: "Consider this as repayment for what you owed me before."

  Lin Heng was even more suspicious, being a third-rate strongman was not bad, and his future prospects were indeed brilliant, but he couldn't compare to the Cao family's deep foundation. He casually invited a strong person to be a guest elder, and they might be better than himself. In just ten short years, with Cao Guan's means and charisma, as long as Cao Guan was around, would he encounter any danger? If there really was danger, Cao Guan couldn't handle it, and Lin Heng wouldn't be able to either!

  His heart suddenly skipped a beat, no, this sounds like it has a hint of abandonment.

  He glanced at the handkerchief in his hand, and although the other party tried to cover it up, he still saw the faintly visible blood threads on it.

  "Master Cao, you..." Lin Heng finally understood what was going on: the other party's life was coming to an end, and the purpose of this trip was precisely to entrust his orphan.

  Cao Guan had a total of fourteen sons, and the only one who could bear some heavy responsibilities was his fourth daughter, Cao Hongjuan. To be honest, she was just moderately capable. If this big tree of Cao Guan were to fall, internal strife would inevitably arise, and if there were to be external enemies invading, it's likely that the Cao family would truly collapse and face the danger of being uprooted.

  No wonder he would invite himself as a son-in-law, apparently he also saw this hidden worry, so he made preparations in advance.

  As soon as he understood the whole situation, Lin felt a surge of emotion. Cao Yun was indeed too proud of himself, and unexpectedly, without considering past grudges, he even gave his most excellent daughter to him in marriage as a means of recruitment. To put it more extremely, he used the entire Cao family as a stake to pressure him. If he had any ulterior motives, the Cao family would face the most terrifying danger.

  Cao Guan revealed a wry smile: "You finally see through it, I knew you wouldn't be fooled... Cough cough..." After finishing speaking, he started coughing again, but this time he didn't avoid Lin Hong.

  Lin Hong looked at the black congealed blood he had coughed up and asked with concern: "Master, are you..."

  Cao Guan waved his hand, interrupting him from continuing, and only said: "I have investigated your character, I know that you are extremely responsible to both your family and the Seven Li Gully. Your integrity is impeccable. Moreover, considering your future prospects, you wouldn't even look at those small industries of the Cao family, which is why I sought you out. My time is limited, and after careful consideration, there's only one person who has the ability and is trustworthy - that's you. If I were to find someone else, it would be hard to guard against external threats, and I fear that the Cao family's industries would be taken away first."

  He had another fit of severe coughing, and Lin Huan hastily poured him a cup of hot boiling water.

  "I know this is a bit of an imposition, but I hope you can lend a hand and give the Cao family some support."

  PS: New day, where are your votes!!! Seeking support, the last rush before going on shelves! The next update will be around 4 pm.

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  The Strongest Red Alliance