Chapter 46: The Qin Family's Final Day

The situation within the Qin family was undoubtedly more complex than anyone imagined. Lin Li knew that if he wanted to resolve these troubles once and for all, he would have to make an example of someone. Yet now, with Qin Guosheng removed from the picture, the Qin family was nothing more than a mess of loose ends; any action, however small, could easily spark chaos within the clan. Thus, even Lin Li, who typically acted decisively, had to tread carefully.

Of course, there were many ways he could rid himself of these people, but to avoid unnecessary complications, he restrained himself. In fact, one had to admit that his approach was the wisest: by turning them into the public enemies of the entire Qin family, he barely needed to lift a finger to see them eliminated.

At this moment, however, Zhou Huaji and Qiu Bisheng were still entirely oblivious to what was happening. As for Su Lan, she had assumed that even with Qin Lang growing up, she could still discipline him, teaching him his place. Yet reality was nothing like Su Lan had imagined. She thought she had the Qin family firmly in her control and was methodically reversing their predicament, but she had not foreseen that Qin Lang, that stubborn boy, would dare to defy her will.

A series of events had left the Qin family in a precarious and rather embarrassing situation. But for Su Lan to resolve all these problems alone was easier said than done, especially since the troubles arising during this process were far greater than anyone anticipated.

What she failed to realize was that Zhou Huaji and Qiu Bisheng, while seeking to prop up Qin Lang as their puppet, were at the same time secretly communicating with the Ning family. Many within the Qin family already suspected that the series of events was not solely the work of the Leng family, but that the Ning family was involved as well. For these two to now collaborate with the Ning family was nothing short of a slap in the face. No one could possibly accept such an affront, and the consequences would only become more disastrous.

Yet these two seemed completely unaware of the gravity of their actions, remaining almost naively optimistic. Lin Li did not know everything that went on in their minds, but from his perspective, whatever choices they made would not necessarily be to his detriment.

“As soon as we have enough evidence, we’ll quickly deal with those two,” Su Lan said. “Qin Lang is easily swayed by others’ words. If he really believes the nonsense those fools feed him, he’ll certainly come after us, which would be nothing but trouble.”

As she spoke, her gaze grew more serious as it met Lin Li’s. No matter how they’d considered the situation before, their current predicament was indeed worrisome. Zhou Huaji and Qiu Bisheng were fools, but Qin Lang was hardly any cleverer. Without sufficient evidence, if those two were to be betrayed by the Ning family, the Qin family would surely suffer as well.

“Don’t worry,” Lin Li replied, his demeanor far more composed than Su Lan’s. “Those two are hardly a threat to us. If the Qin family were so easily toppled, we’d never have managed to establish ourselves in Jiangcheng.”

Others might see the matter differently, but for Lin Li, the situation was another matter entirely. He was fully aware of his own circumstances and knew exactly what measures to take under the current conditions. What seemed complicated to others was, in his eyes, a different kind of challenge altogether.

Having reassured Su Lan, Lin Li immediately called Leng Ningxue.

“Has Ye Aotian shown any unusual behavior lately?”

Leng Ningxue thought for a moment before answering, “Last time, quite a few martial arts experts showed up, but once they learned of Ye Aotian’s identity, they immediately chose to ally themselves with him. These people are now some of his most trusted aides; many even owe him favors. He’s arrogant, and he’s preparing for the final reckoning with the Qin family.”

As expected of the protagonist—decisive and unhesitating. If the weeds are not uprooted, spring winds will bring new growth.

Since Ye Aotian was determined to destroy the Qin family, it was only natural that he would leave them no chance, and his current actions were well within Lin Li’s expectations.

“For now, you don’t need to do anything,” Lin Li continued. “Ye Aotian’s attention is on us, which means you have a brief window to catch your breath. Once he proves his strength, he’ll come to your family to ask for your hand. What you need to do now is use this time to secure control over the Leng family. If you need financial support, just let me know. I’ll do everything I can to cooperate with you.”

Now, Lin Li and Leng Ningxue were in the same boat. Whatever conflicts they had in the past, they now needed to work together. Nobody could say for sure what Ye Aotian’s ultimate aim was, but one thing was clear: with the situation so dangerous, they had no room left for hesitation.

“I know,” Leng Ningxue replied, her voice heavy. “I’ve been doing everything I can to take control of all our projects. But things are far more complicated than I imagined, and there are plenty who want to see me ousted.”

She had struggled for years to build up the Leng family to its current status, only to realize that all her efforts had simply made it easier for others to profit. In her father’s eyes, she was nothing more than a pawn. The thought chilled her to the core.

Still, defying her family now would take immense effort. Teaming up with Lin Li might be her only chance.

“Rest assured,” Lin Li said, “with the state your family is in, there are plenty of ways I can help solve these problems. As long as you trust me, in the end, we’ll emerge victorious.”

Lin Li then asked more about Ye Aotian. It had to be said, Ye Aotian trusted Leng Ningxue greatly. Perhaps, in a bid to show off his strength, he had confided much about his recent plans, allowing Lin Li to gain insight into Ye Aotian’s next moves.

Right now, the Qin family was beset by power struggles, and facing such formidable enemies was no easy task. Ye Aotian was surrounded by capable followers; from this alone, it seemed Lin Li’s defeat was all but certain.