Chapter 98: The Strategist and the Four Protectors

**Misfortune Card!**

For Lin Li, this was a treasure—if used properly, it could place him in an impregnable position in this venture.

Lin Li knew this all too well.

Since the Star Palace Organization had sent a strategist, they would undoubtedly place great importance on this matter.

So he had to stand out and convince the strategist beyond any shadow of a doubt that he was Ye Aotian.

The Star Palace Organization did have some knowledge of the Four Great Families of Jiangcheng. After all, the Four Great Families were their primary targets.

But as for the Qin family, which had always kept a low profile, they knew very little.

And that was precisely the window of opportunity Lin Li intended to exploit—leaving these people with no way to call his bluff.

*Ding! You have successfully used the Misfortune Card on "Ye Aotian." Duration: 48 hours.*

He hoped this card would prove helpful to his upcoming actions.

After all, this time Lin Li was going to deceive the people of the Star Palace Organization. Ye Aotian absolutely could not show up during the process, or everything would be ruined.

Soon, Lin Li arrived at the meeting place with the Star Palace Organization.

Leng Ningxue was the first to arrive.

"These people haven't shown up yet?" She looked around. The place was empty and quiet—it seemed the Star Palace people had not arrived.

"That's for the best. It gives us time to prepare in advance, so we can deal with them properly."

At this moment, Lin Li was also trying his best to stay calm. After all, the people he was about to face were some of the more formidable experts in the Star Palace Organization.

If someone could be called a strategist, he certainly had some brains.

Meanwhile, Ning Yurou arrived just in time.

"It's not that I can't help you this time, but this will count as extra compensation," Ning Yurou said to Lin Li with a smile.

The latter nodded. "Naturally. But first things first—we need to resolve what's in front of us."

The three of them sat down at the agreed spot and waited quietly.

Time passed bit by bit.

Lin Li gradually calmed himself during the wait. Though this strategist would likely not be easy to fool, Lin Li believed that with his own abilities, dealing with them wouldn't be a problem.

Just then, Lin Li saw a middle-aged man in a long robe appear at the entrance.

It was him, no mistake!

With that kind of attire, carrying the air of a master sage—this had to be the strategist the Star Palace Organization had assigned to Ye Aotian.

Luo Shanhe!

In addition, there were the Four Guardians.

At that moment, the Wind Guardian whispered, "Strategist, could something go wrong at this meeting? After all, the Master never gave us a portrait of the Young Master. He just said we'd recognize him at first sight by his appearance."

Luo Shanhe was also at a loss at the moment. But since the Master had said so, he must have his reasons.

On the other side, Ye Aotian was hurriedly making his way there.

"Chen Along, not done yet?"

His car had broken down on the road, and Chen Along was on his knees, fixing the engine.

"Rest assured, Young Master. Give me another half an hour, and I'll have it fixed for sure."

Ye Aotian looked at Chen Along, growing more irritated by the moment. Of all days, why did the car have to break down today?

And today had truly been cursed with bad luck. Nothing had gone smoothly since he set out—all kinds of troubles kept piling up one after another.

Ye Aotian felt like his head was about to explode.

"You keep fixing it... I—I have a stomachache." Ye Aotian looked around, frantically searching for a restroom.

"Foster Father really screwed me over this time. If you're arranging a strategist to come, at least give me his phone number!"

"Now I have to run around like this, with no idea what's going to happen next."

Ye Aotian had never imagined the situation would become this serious.

But mostly, he just felt that today was incredibly unlucky.

He hoped no more unexpected mishaps would occur.

...

Luo Shanhe had indeed been somewhat confused at the start.

With the Four Guardians chattering incessantly beside him, he didn't know what to do.

Just then, a figure appeared before Luo Shanhe.

When Luo Shanhe laid eyes on the newcomer, his eyes widened in astonishment—this man was extremely handsome.

His striking features carried a hint of roguish charm, making him seem anything but stiff and proper. Most striking of all were the two beautiful women by his side.

This immediately filled Luo Shanhe with admiration.

As expected of the old Master. He always liked to make people guess riddles, but there was no denying that sometimes he had a real flair for the dramatic.

Just like now—the moment Luo Shanhe saw Lin Li, he felt the old Master had been absolutely right.

This was the Young Master, no question about it.

"You must be Luo Shanhe, sent by my foster father, right?"

Cold sweat was beading on Lin Li's back. Though he knew this part of the plot, he was terrified that something might change. Even calling this man's name wrong could put him in extreme danger.

Fortunately, Lin Li had gambled correctly this time.

The instant he called out Luo Shanhe's name, Luo Shanhe became even more certain of his earlier conviction.

This suave and dashing man before him was indeed his Young Master.

Across the entire world, who else could possess such bearing?

"Subordinate Luo Shanhe."
"Accompanied by the Four Guardians, I pay my respects to the Young Master."

As he spoke, Luo Shanhe began to kneel before Lin Li.

But Lin Li reached out and caught him by the arm, stopping him mid-motion.

"Between us, there's no need for such formalities."

"Come, have a seat first."

Once she confirmed the man's identity, Leng Ningxue and Ning Yurou began to play their parts.

"Brother Lin, who is this?" Ning Yurou wrapped her arm around Lin Li's, asking in a soft voice.

"He's the strategist of the Southern Chapter of the Star Palace Organization. Not only is he brilliant, but his strength is formidable as well—my foster father's right-hand man."

"And behind him are the Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning Guardians."

"These four are no pushovers either. With them around, I can easily crush anything in my path."

Lin Li had suddenly transformed into a flattery machine, showering the Four Guardians with praise left and right.

Not only the Four Guardians—even the strategist was grinning ear to ear.

Leng Ningxue took all of this in.

Then she took the initiative to raise her glass. "I've long heard of your reputation as the strategist. I never expected to meet you in person today."

"Indeed, the strategist stands out as ever—one can pick you out of a crowd at a single glance."

Her words carried a faint hint of mockery, but the strategist didn't pick up on it at all.

"And this is..." The strategist looked at Lin Li, asking with some curiosity.

"The eldest young lady of the Leng family in Jiangcheng—Leng Ningxue. Also my woman," Lin Li said with a smug grin.

By this time, Luo Shanhe had gradually cooled down from the initial excitement of their first meeting.

When it came down to it, this matter still had to be handled with caution. If there were any mistake in identifying the wrong person, it would invite major trouble.