Unrivaled Soldier in the City

"Good. To be able to see them before I die... I’m already quite content," Old Master Lin said with a smile, seemingly without any regrets.

"Father," Lin Guodong called out, his voice trembling with distress.

His once valiant father was now skin and bones. The sight was heartbreaking, and Lin Guodong felt as if his heart were being torn apart.

"Enough! No crying. A true man bleeds, he doesn’t cry. What is there to cry about?" the old master chided gently. "The only one I feel sorry for is Lin Zhan, and my only regret is not seeing my great-grandson. Still, I’m already very satisfied with this. That boy, Lin Kuang, has finally stopped blaming me."

The old master seemed very happy. At his age, he had come to terms with life and death. He didn’t speak of what would happen after he was gone, believing that if he could build such a vast enterprise, his son and grandson could do the same. He had always held this firm belief.

At that moment, the door opened, and Lin Zhan entered, dressed in a military uniform. He walked up to the old master, and upon seeing the gaunt figure on the bed, his eyes immediately reddened.

Suddenly, Lin Zhan dropped to his knees, gripping his father’s bony, lifeless hand.

"Father," Lin Zhan called out, his eyes bloodshot.

Lifting a weak hand, the old master gently caressed Lin Zhan’s resolute face. "Zhan, you’re here. After all this time, the person I’ve wronged the most is you, my boy."

In an instant, Lin Zhan’s tears fell like rain. "Father, no! You haven’t wronged me, Father! You haven’t!" he sobbed.

Lin Zhan wept. He knew this day would eventually come, but now that his father was truly about to leave, his heart ached tremendously. This was his father, after all.

"Alright, you’re a grown man, what are you crying for?" the old master said with a smile, though his own eyes were welling up. "Both of you are here, so listen to me. Don’t cremate my body. Remember to leave my corpse whole, understand?"

Hearing this, Lin Guodong and Lin Zhan nodded desperately. "Father, rest assured, we will," they said in choked voices.

"Good. You two should go out now. Let me rest for a bit. I need to save what little breath I have left. I still want to see my precious grandson," Old Master Lin said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Lin Guodong and Lin Zhan both nodded. "Yes, Father," they replied. Lin Zhan then stood up from the floor. After composing themselves, the two brothers left the room.

"Old friend, are you really not going to tell them the truth?" Diwu Baiyu asked with a hint of helplessness, looking at the old master lying on the bed.

"There’s no need," Old Master Lin said with a smile, looking back at Diwu Baiyu. "Telling them might expose our plans. I believe that when they find out the truth one day, they won’t blame me."

"But doesn’t it hurt you to see them in so much pain?" Diwu Baiyu asked again.

"What good is sorrow when we must confront the Demon Sect? Don’t you worry. I trust them," Old Master Lin said, his gaze fixed on Diwu Baiyu. "Did you bring what I asked for?"

"Yes, I brought it." As he spoke, Diwu Baiyu produced a Jade Vial from his robes and poured out a black pill. The pill had no sheen and was about the size of a marble, looking utterly unremarkable.

"This is the Turtle Breath Pill. After taking it, all signs of breathing will vanish for forty-eight hours. No one will be able to detect a thing," Diwu Baiyu said, handing the pill to Old Master Lin.

"Good. Give it to me," Old Master Lin said with a smile, taking the pill. "I’ll be counting on you during those forty-eight hours after I take it."

Hearing this, Diwu Baiyu nodded. "Why stand on ceremony with me? Rest assured, I know what needs to be done."

"Good. That’s a relief," the old master said with a smile.

Diwu Baiyu nodded again. He said no more, simply keeping Old Master Lin company in silence.

Meanwhile, Lin Kuang and his women arrived at Yanjing Airport, where cars sent by Lin Guodong were already waiting. The eight of them took two cars and hurried toward the Lin Family’s courtyard home. The closer he got, the more uncontrollably Lin Kuang’s body trembled. Thinking of the grandfather he was about to lose, his heart ached. This feeling was unbearable.

After more than half an hour, the cars stopped in front of the Lin Family’s gate. Lin Kuang eagerly threw open his door and stepped out. At the same time, Liu Shilin, Lin Guo’er, Mu Wan, and the others also exited the vehicles. Just then, Xu Yingying arrived with Huo Feifei, Shen Yanyu, Shen Yanxia, and Yao Wenwen. They had all received the news, and Xu Yingying had already contacted Lin Kuang.

"Lin Kuang," Xu Yingying said, hurrying over as he got out of the car.

"Sister Yingying," Lin Kuang replied, his eyes red.

Seeing his state, Xu Yingying’s eyes also reddened, her heart aching for him. "Come on, let’s go see Grandfather," she said, taking his hand.

Lin Kuang nodded and led his women straight to his grandfather’s room.

"Father, I want to see Grandfather," Lin Kuang said, his own eyes red as he looked at his father, who stood at the door with bloodshot eyes.

"Alright, go on in. Your grandfather is waiting for you," Lin Guodong said, looking at his son.

Lin Kuang nodded. With trembling hands, he gently pushed open the door and led his women into his grandfather’s room.

By this time, Old Master Lin had already swallowed the Turtle Breath Pill and was quietly waiting for Lin Kuang.

"Grandfather!" Lin Kuang cried out, bursting into sobs at the sight of the man on the bed. His once mighty and majestic grandfather had been reduced to this state. The pain in his heart was extreme. Kneeling on the floor, he buried his face by the bedside and wept aloud.

Hearing his agonized cries, the women who had accompanied him felt their own eyes redden, and some began to shed tears.

"Lad, what are you crying for? A real man doesn’t cry. Stop it, and let Grandfather get a good look at you," the old man said with a smile, his feeble hand gently patting Lin Kuang’s head. It was just like when Lin Kuang was a mischievous child and angered Lin Guodong; his grandfather would always pat his head dotingly, protecting him.

Feeling his grandfather’s weak touch, Lin Kuang’s body shook. He looked up, his eyes bloodshot. His grandfather’s face was painfully thin, little more than skin stretched over bone. He was almost unrecognizable. Yet his cloudy eyes still held the same doting affection as always.

"There, there. Everyone has to die sometime. I’ve lived a long life. What does it matter if this old man dies now?" the old master said lovingly, looking at Lin Kuang’s tear-streaked face. "As long as all of you are well, your grandfather will be happy, even in death."