Chapter 107: I’m Done Pretending, I’m Laying My Cards on the Table

Lin Li sat before them, completely unguarded, without even a hint of tension on his face.

When Luo Shanhe heard Lin Li’s response, his mental fortitude nearly crumbled. He had believed that coming here was a major service to Ye Aotian, one that would surely earn him praise from their old master upon his return. He never imagined that, through a series of unfortunate twists and ironies, he had actually sabotaged Ye Aotian’s plans and, to make matters worse, ended up effectively defecting to the enemy.

Cold sweat beaded on Luo Shanhe’s forehead. Looking at Lin Li, he was at a complete loss. He didn’t even know who to blame anymore. The whole situation had been such a string of coincidences; if Ye Aotian had been present at the scene, how could they have failed to cross paths? Regardless, under the current circumstances, they had to find a way out, and fast.

"You brat! You’ve been deceiving us for so long—do you really think we wouldn't dare lay a hand on you?" Luo Shanhe looked up at Lin Li, his fists clenching tight. He couldn't believe he had been used as a pawn, yet in this predicament, there seemed to be no better alternative.

"I know this is hard for you to accept, but this is the reality standing before you," Lin Li said calmly. "My name is Lin Li. I was once a subordinate of Qin Guosheng, and now I am the head of the Qin family. Consider this our official introduction."

Upon hearing this, Luo Shanhe’s face turned ashen. It was over. Everything was ruined. They had thought they were clearing obstacles for their young master, but they had inadvertently taken him down in the process. Looking at Lin Li, it was clear that he had known this all along, just waiting for this moment to lay his cards on the table. Luo Shanhe was furious, but anger alone was useless.

"You brat, we are from the Star Palace organization. In all our years of executing missions, this is the first time we’ve ever been played like this," Luo Shanhe growled through gritted teeth. "I don’t care who is backing you, but today, if I want you dead, I don’t think anyone here can stop me."

He stared at Lin Li with raw hatred, but Lin Li acted as if he hadn't heard a word, merely offering a faint smile.

"I’ve said it before: if you find this unacceptable, you are free to leave. I won’t stop you. Even if you choose to become my enemies afterward, that is fine by me. I’m only telling you this because, during our time together, I’ve found you all to be quite capable, and I’ve taken a liking to keeping you around. But whether or not you choose to serve under me is entirely up to you."

Lin Li remained nonchalant. His strength was such that even Ye Aotian would struggle to land a fatal surprise attack on him. As for these men, no matter how agile they were, they still lacked the necessary edge.

Luo Shanhe’s mind was in turmoil. As the military advisor of the Southern Kingdom branch, he understood the gravity of his crimes better than anyone. He slowly stood up, locking eyes with Lin Li, as if he had finally accepted his fate.

"You knew all of this from the very beginning," Luo Shanhe said, his voice heavy with despair. "Everything was just a link in your chain, and we were nothing more than toys in your hands." He felt utterly hopeless. He had thought he’d found a wise master, only to realize he had fallen into a deep trap. He had no idea how to navigate this.

Lin Li just smiled and tapped the armrest of his chair. "You could put it that way. But for me, bringing you under my command was simply part of the rules of the game I’ve set. I am a generous man, so I am giving you a choice: if you wish to leave, I won't stand in your way. But you’ve seen how I’ve treated you while you stayed."

That was the point that truly moved them. In the Star Palace, they worked themselves to the bone, often without pay, and sometimes even had to cover mission expenses out of their own pockets. They weren't just selling their lives; they were practically paying to work. That was one of the reasons their status had remained so stagnant for all these years.

But recently, following Lin Li had opened a new world for them. Who could have imagined such generous treatment? He had practically pampered them. As the saying goes, it is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury back to frugality. Having tasted a better life, it would be difficult for them to return to their old ways.

Lin Li, knowing this, watched them calmly, waiting for their decision. The four guardians—Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning—were whispering among themselves. Regardless of the circumstances, betraying Ye Aotian was a capital offense. If it had just been a simple case of a botched rendezvous, it might have been forgivable, but they had also beaten Ye Aotian to a pulp. That was a death sentence. Unless they could redeem themselves by eliminating Lin Li, they were finished. But they knew that while it sounded easy, it was nearly impossible to achieve.

Lin Li stood there, smiling, perfectly confident. He had no reason to fear that these men could turn the tables now. "Of course, you can choose to kill me right here and now. I’ll be waiting."

Luo Shanhe stood rooted to the spot, still unable to choose.

"Advisor, why are we still wasting breath on this brat?" one of the subordinates urged. "Since he is the one who caused our downfall, let’s take his life and be done with it! Once he’s dead, we can plead our case to the Young Master. I believe that with his magnanimity, he won’t hold our lives against us."

Lin Li immediately countered, "I recall that when Ye Aotian was at the border, he executed a soldier. Do you know why? Simply because that soldier had a moment of wavering confidence while fighting alongside him. He was killed for 'betrayal,' wasn't he?"

Ye Aotian didn't always appear to be a villain, but the bottom line was that one could never stand in his way. As for these five, they really needed to pray for their own survival. Even Luo Shanhe felt a sense of absolute despair.