Chapter 782 - 783
Meeting the women’s gazes, Lin Kuang smiled and nodded. "Yes, I’ll definitely be back. Wait for me at home."
With that, Lin Kuang turned and left. He didn’t want to stay any longer, afraid their pleading eyes would make him unable to leave.
He and Lin Guodong headed straight for the Yanjing military region.
At that moment, the military region was in turmoil. With such a major incident, it was only natural that some people would begin reconsidering their allegiances. After all, when faced with the temptation of money or power, relationships aren’t worth much. This was especially true for the heartless and ungrateful, for whom such betrayal was only natural.
Upon arriving at the military region, Lin Guodong convened an emergency meeting, and all the generals attended. He just quietly observed everyone present. These were all once his father’s subordinates.
Facing Lin Guodong’s aggressive gaze, some couldn’t help but lower their heads, keenly aware of what they had done. Now, under his scrutiny, they felt a mix of awkwardness and shame, and so they dared not meet his eyes.
Watching them bow their heads one by one, Lin Guodong couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. He now had a clear picture of where everyone stood.
How fickle people are. The Old Master is barely gone, and they’ve already betrayed us. Heh, this is how the world works.
His gaze swept over everyone, taking stock of the situation. Then, without a single word, he stood up and left. He already knew everything he needed to. There was nothing more to say.
Watching his father leave, Lin Kuang remained silent and followed him out of the meeting room.
Seeing Lin Guodong go, those still seated couldn’t help but breathe a collective sigh of relief. The ones who had betrayed the Lin Family turned and left immediately, not lingering for even a moment. They had to report what had just happened to their new masters.
"Father, why didn’t you say anything?" Lin Kuang asked with confusion, looking at Lin Guodong, who had taken a seat.
"I already have my answer," Lin Guodong replied. "There was no need to say anything more. As it stands, two-thirds of our supposed allies have already deserted us. The remaining third seem to be holding firm for now, but that’s not guaranteed. If we can’t quickly reveal a few of our trump cards and give them some confidence, I suspect they’ll leave too."
Hearing this, Lin Kuang nodded in understanding. "I get it, Father. So, what’s your plan? Are you saying we should reveal our true strength?"
"Of course not. As for those who want to leave, even if we could persuade them to stay, it would only be temporary. There’s no point in keeping such fence-sitters. Let them make their choice. In fact, this is a good opportunity to purge those who are just trying to fish in troubled waters."
Lin Kuang paused for a moment, then nodded again. "I understand, Father. So what do we do now? Just wait?"
"Yes, all we can do is wait," Lin Guodong said with a laugh tinged with derision. "We wait for the Gao Family to make its move. For now, don’t worry about anything else."
"Okay, Father. Then I will wait here with you," Lin Kuang replied, finding a chair and settling in to wait quietly.
This was not a problem that could be solved with Martial Power. These matters were complex, and frankly, Lin Kuang had little patience for them. If force had been an option, he would have loved to simply crush their opponents directly. It would have saved so much time and effort.
Looking at his son, Lin Guodong couldn’t help but smile, deeply satisfied with the man he had become. "Just wait," he said, his tone growing calm. "I expect the Gao Family will send someone by tomorrow morning. If the Zheng Family can’t restrain themselves, they’ll probably show up too."
"I understand, Father," Lin Kuang said with a cold laugh. "Does the Gao Family intend to take this place over? Or just show off their might? Heh, they won’t succeed."
Lin Guodong simply nodded, saying nothing more. Father and son sat facing each other, waiting in silence.
This night was destined to be a restless one, a night of upheaval in Yanjing. The factions led by the Gao Family were stirring, contacting various parties and preparing to swallow all of the Lin Family’s influence the next morning. They believed that as long as they could buy off all of Old Master Lin’s former subordinates, what threat could Lin Guodong and Lin Kuang possibly pose on their own? None at all.
The Shen Family also made its move. Old Master Shen ordered his family to begin preparations in the shadows, and their allies followed suit. The Wang Family did the same, though their actions were more clandestine. For now, the Wang Family was a hidden trump card that could not be revealed.
"Father, this time, the Lin Family is utterly finished," said Gao Wude, the Family Head of the Gao Family.
Before him stood the elder of the Gao Family, Old Master Lin’s lifelong rival.
"Hmph. The old fool is finally dead. This time, I will see the Lin Family completely obliterated!" the elder said coldly.
He had struggled against Old Master Lin for many years, always finding himself at a disadvantage. Now that he finally had a chance to turn the tables, he was naturally eager to wipe out the Lin Family in one fell swoop. It might seem dishonorable to strike only after his rival had passed away, but Elder Gao didn’t care. History is written by the victors. A win is a win, and that’s all the proof that matters.
"Wude, go and make the preparations," Elder Gao said indifferently. "Tomorrow morning, head directly to the military region. That is the center of the Lin Family’s power. Once we control it, the Lin Family will be completely ruined."
"Yes, Father. I know what to do," Gao Wude replied with a heavy nod before turning to leave.
Gazing out the window at the night sky, Elder Gao spoke to himself, his voice laced with ice. "Old friend, you’ve finally died. Since you’re gone, don’t blame me for what comes next. Don’t worry, I’ll leave a path for your descendants. I won’t annihilate your entire line."
Time passed. For most, the night flew by, but for the members of the Gao, Shen, and Wang Families, it was an agonizing wait.
As soon as dawn broke, Gao Wude personally led his men and set off for the military region.
At the same time, Old Master Shen of the Shen Family also led his people toward the military region. This time, he was making a personal appearance. With Gao Wude, the head of the Gao Family, taking action personally, only Old Master Shen could truly keep him in check.