RNP Chapter 188 My Way: Killing Someone by Destroying Their Spirit
Chapter 188 My Way: Killing Someone by Destroying Their Spirit
Back at the resort hotel, Tang Liuqian helped Yang Xi'en, whose emotions were gradually stabilizing but whose face was still pale, and knocked on the door of Lin Yan's suite. Li Wenbin opened the door, and Lin Yan, Zheng Jiaming, and the others were sitting on the living room sofa, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.
Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en entered the room, exchanged a glance, and then bowed solemnly to Lin Yan.
"Xiao Yan," Tang Liuqian's voice was hoarse with the pain of surviving a disaster, and filled with utmost sincerity, "This time... I'm so grateful to you! Without you, Xi En... I don't know how I could ever repay this kindness, I..."
Yang Xi'en's eyes also reddened slightly as she said, "Xiao Yan, thank you for saving me."
Lin Yan was most uncomfortable with such overly formal expressions of gratitude. He immediately stood up from the sofa, waved his hand, and interrupted Tang Liuqian's next words, his tone deliberately relaxed:
"Stop, stop! Brother Liuqian, Sister Xi'en, I did this because you are my friends, people I respect. It's not to hear you say thank you, and it's not out of any sense of gratitude. I don't like this atmosphere; it's too heavy. Let's change the subject!"
His words instantly broke the tense atmosphere. Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming couldn't help but laugh out loud, and even Yang Xi'en's pale face showed a faint smile.
Just then, there was another knock on the door. Li Wenbin, who was closest to the door, went to open it; it was Lin Gang, who had returned from his investigation.
Lin Gang entered the room, bowed slightly to Lin Yan, and reported clearly, "Young Master, we've found out everything. The mastermind is named Thomas Jefferson Brown, the youngest son of the current California Governor Pat Brown, and is a notorious playboy in California. The other is a local gang leader named James. It's said that this morning, during Thomas's first hearing with the local judge, he was surprisingly cooperative and confessed to all the crimes."
He paused, then continued, "However, shortly after he was put in detention, he suddenly became a different person, flew into a rage, denied his previous statements, shouted that he was innocent, and strongly demanded to see a lawyer and be released on bail."
"Beast!" Upon hearing this, Tang Liuqian gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked. The thought of this bastard almost ruining Xi'en made him want to rush into the detention center and kill that scumbag himself! Yang Xi'en sensed the ferocity and pain emanating from her fiancé, and gripped his arm tightly, feeling both fear and distress.
Seeing the crowd's indignation, Lin Yan looked directly at Tang Liuqian and asked bluntly, "Brother Liuqian, I know you've studied and run businesses in the US for many years, so you must have some connections and networks. How do you plan to handle this matter? Or rather, what kind of outcome do you hope to achieve?"
Tang Liuqian was taken aback by the question, and a wave of immense sorrow and helplessness washed over him. What should he do? He desperately wanted Thomas to pay the ultimate price! If someone from an ordinary family had committed such a crime, Tang Liuqian would have given everything, exhausted his wealth and connections, to fight the case to the bitter end and bring the perpetrator to justice!
But... the other party was the Brown family! The "Emperors" of California! He knew all too well that in America, a place that seemed equal but was actually deeply divided, as the son of a Chinese businessman, even if the Tang family had a good reputation in Hong Kong, no one here would take such a huge risk for him and directly offend the deeply rooted and powerful Brown family! Those "friends" who usually had close ties with him would probably avoid him like the plague at this moment.
He opened his mouth, but something seemed to block his throat, and in the end, he couldn't utter a single word. He could only slump his shoulders in despair, as if all his strength had been drained away. He covered his face tightly with his hands and let out a suppressed, painful sigh. This kind of frustration—knowing who the enemy is but being powerless to retaliate—is more despairing than simple anger.
Seeing Tang Liuqian's expression, Lin Yan understood. He nodded, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable resolve:
"Brother Liu Qian, since it's not easy for you to handle, or rather, it's inconvenient for you to handle, then let's do it my way."
Tang Liuqian abruptly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Lin Yan, anxiously urging, "Xiao Yan! Don't be impulsive! The Brown family has deep roots in California; they're not to be trifled with! We can't fight a losing battle!"
"Hehe." Lin Yan chuckled lightly, his laughter revealing no fear whatsoever, but rather an indifference as if looking down on ants. He repeated the words that had left a deep impression on Tang Liuqian last night: "Brother Liuqian, do you remember what I told you last night? There's nothing the Lin family can't do if they set their mind to it."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the shimmering surface of Lake Tahoe. Sunlight shone on his young yet already dignified profile.
"My birthday is in a few days." He said casually, as if suddenly remembering something insignificant. "It's my seventeenth birthday. I should treat myself to a decent birthday present to do justice to this special day, shouldn't I?"
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room, finally settling on the dumbfounded Tang Liuqian's face, a cold and meaningful smile curving his lips:
"You are welcome to attend the ceremony."
The room was silent. Although Li Wenbin and Zheng Jiaming didn't quite understand what "attending the ceremony" specifically meant, they felt a sudden chill run down their spines looking at Lin Yan's resolute yet dangerous expression. Tang Liuqian was even more shocked. Looking at Lin Yan, he seemed to realize for the first time just how terrifying power and determination this seemingly lazy and carefree young man possessed.
That "birthday gift," needless to say, was aimed directly at the Brown family! Lin Yan was deliberately starting a war against California's top political families! And he seemed to have it all figured out?
Looking at the chilling aura emanating from his young master's calm face, an aura that seemed capable of freezing the entire Lake Tahoe, Lin Gang felt a surge of fervent loyalty and pride well up within him. He abruptly stepped forward, bowed deeply to Lin Yan, and clasped his hands in a resolute, metallic gesture:
"Young Master! Leave this matter to me! I guarantee I will eradicate the entire Brown clan, leaving not a single one alive!"
The phrase "not a single chicken or dog was spared" pierced the eardrums of everyone present like an ice pick.
Li Wenbin was startled by the sudden, overwhelming murderous aura, nearly dropping his cup. He looked tremblingly at Lin Gang, whose face now appeared unusually resolute, even somewhat ferocious, and stammered, "Lin...Brother Lin Gang...you...this 'not a single chicken or dog left alive' you mentioned...is it...the 'not a single chicken or dog left alive' I understand?"
Lin Gang, usually kind-hearted and taciturn, now had eyes as sharp as a hawk, radiating a terrifying aura like an angry Vajra. His eyes flashed with undisguised, tangible killing intent as he replied, word by word, "Young Master Li, anyone who dares to lay a finger on my young master, anyone who dares to harm someone approved by him, no matter who they are or where they are, will face only one fate—extermination of their entire clan!"
"Exterminate nine generations of their family..." Li Wenbin murmured, repeating himself, his legs trembling. Zheng Jiaming also gasped, instinctively adjusting his glasses. Tang Liuqian and Yang Xi'en exchanged horrified glances; they had never imagined that in this modern society governed by the rule of law, they would hear such classically bloody terms from the mouth of a seemingly ordinary "servant."
The group involuntarily turned their gazes to Lin Yan, their eyes filled with surprise and a hint of barely perceptible fear. It was as if they were realizing for the first time the terrifying and ruthless power and rules behind this seemingly lazy and carefree young man who was chatting and laughing with them.
Faced with Lin Gang's almost boiling killing intent and request for battle, Lin Yan simply waved his hand lightly, even showing a slightly helpless smile on his face, as if he were comforting an overly impulsive child.
"Calm down, Lin Gang." His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable composure. He not only disagreed with Lin Gang's bloody proposal, but also posed two seemingly unrelated questions:
"Lin Gang, tell me, does our Lin family have no money?"
Lin Gang was stunned for a moment, then straightened his back and answered loudly without hesitation, "Rich!" Even "richer than a country" wouldn't be enough to describe it.
"So, does our Lin family lack power?" Lin Yan continued to ask, his tone still calm.
"Powerful!" Lin Gang's reply was even louder, his eyes gleaming with pride. With Golden Core puppets spread across the globe and infiltrating every realm, this power far exceeded the imagination of ordinary people.
"That's right. Isn't the most common tactic of these people to bribe people with money and oppress them with power?" Lin Yan's smile turned somewhat playful and cold. "Before killing someone, you always have to destroy their heart first."
His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Lin Gang, as if illustrating a simple truth:
"Wouldn't it be too easy for them to just die? Let them watch helplessly as the power they rely on most and the wealth they are most proud of crumble little by little, watch as those around them abandon them one by one, fall from the clouds into the mire, and struggle in despair and fear... When their hearts are dead and they have completely become stray dogs, then..."
Lin Yan paused, his tone casual yet carrying a chilling undertone:
"It's not too late to take their lives later. Alright, I have my own plans for this; I'll have Alexander handle it. He's better at this kind of 'civilized' game. As for you, Lin Gang,"
Lin Yan looked at him, a hint of promise in his eyes: "Don't worry, you'll have plenty of opportunities to make your move. Someone has to clean up the mess afterward, right?"
Li Wenbin, Zheng Jiaming, Tang Liuqian, and Yang Xi'en stared blankly at the sixteen-year-old boy before them. He sat there, speaking as casually as if discussing what to have for dinner, yet his words revealed an absolute power and ruthless will that could decide the life and death of a political family that had dominated California for many years with a mere laugh!
For the first time, they realized with such clarity how fortunate and precious Lin Yan's status as a "friend" was to them. At the same time, a chill ran through them, and they silently mourned for the impending doom of the Brown family.
Of all people to mess with, they had to provoke this seemingly harmless boy who actually wields terrifying power. Their demise seemed destined from the moment Thomas extended his sinister hand.