In the hidden alley, Xue Kai smiled and beckoned to Yan Shouyi.
His body was enveloped by the aura of death.
Despite being alive, he was no different from a demon escaped from hell!
Xue Kai knew Yan Shouyi had seen him, so he casually pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt, turned, and disappeared into the darkness.
"Don't go!!"
Yan Shouyi wanted to chase after him, but the scene was too chaotic.
If he left now, what about Lin Zitong?
As Yan Shouyi hesitated, Lin Zitong suddenly shook the soul-summoning bell on her wrist.
"By the command of Ancestor Lu, I summon thee. The copper snake spits fire, the iron dog charges forth.
Safeguard the heavenly palace, inscribe my name in the imperial court. According to my will, swiftly pursue the soul."
As the incantation finished, a wisp of black mist emerged from the soul-summoning bell, like an arrow shot from a bow, chasing after Xue Kai.
Lin Zitong grabbed Yan Shouyi and said, "I'm using the Lu Shan Sect's divine tracking spell, 'Chasing Spirit Ghost,' to find Xue Kai's whereabouts. Don't worry, he can't escape."
The Lu Shan Sect's "Chasing Spirit Ghost" was similar to the soul-chasing spell Yan Shouyi had used against Zhong Qi before.
Once cast, it was like installing a GPS tracking system on the target.
Unless detected and removed by the target, Lin Zitong could directly know their location.
Xue Kai had been hit by the Chasing Spirit Ghost, so finding him later wouldn't be too late.
Yan Shouyi said gravely, "I don't know what Xue Kai's true intentions are. He's been tracking and monitoring us these past few days. Earlier, I wanted to step in and help you out, but Xue Kai acted first, leading two trucks towards Liu Quan and the others..."
He had to admit, for a moment, he had harbored a murderous intent.
After all, Liu Quan and Jiang Yunling were targeting the woman he loved most in his life.
But Xue Kai had gotten there first.
Lin Zitong looked back at the ruins with a touch of pity.
"Are they still alive?" Lin Zitong asked.
Yan Shouyi replied, "I don't know."
"I don't want Sister Yunling to die."
"Then I'll go take a look."
Killing was not Yan Shouyi's original intention. Now that the car accident had happened, his resentment had mostly dissipated.
Perhaps if Liu Quan and Jiang Yunling could survive, they might genuinely repent.
So Yan Shouyi called out to some passersby and began the rescue.
A dozen men tried to lift the overturned trucks.
Their strength alone was not enough to lift the trucks, but Yan Shouyi exerted his power from within, easily flipping the trucks aside.
Liu Quan's car had been crushed into a pancake, and most of its body was buried by mud and sand.
Someone discovered Liu Quan first, but unfortunately, his head had already been flattened.
There was no possibility of survival.
At this moment, Yan Shouyi heard a faint cry for help.
He dug through the sand and found Jiang Yunling, her face covered in blood, trapped in the car. She had miraculously avoided being crushed by the truck!
"Mr. Yan... save me... save me! I don't want to die!" Jiang Yunling pleaded, crying.
Looking at Jiang Yunling, half her body buried by sand, Yan Shouyi felt a slight relief.
But then his gaze turned cold.
Yan Shouyi squatted beside Jiang Yunling, casually picked up a handful of sand, and slowly sprinkled it onto her face.
The sand quickly covered more than half of Jiang Yunling's face.
"Mr. Yan, what are you doing!?" Jiang Yunling was terrified.
Yan Shouyi stopped and said coldly in her ear:
"At this moment, I could kill you if I wanted to, but I can also spare your life. This is for Zitong's sake. If you try to harm Zitong again, Liu Quan will be your fate!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yunling's already pale face turned several shades whiter.
She was so scared she dared not even cry out for help.
Yan Shouyi snorted, scattered the remaining sand in his hand, and then shouted loudly, "Someone's still alive!"
The people who came to help quickly gathered around, and Yan Shouyi quietly retreated.
The rest could be left to professional rescue personnel. He only needed to ensure Jiang Yunling was alive.
Brushing off the sand and dirt, Yan Shouyi got into the same car as Lin Zitong.
"Sister Yunling is alive, but she's bound to suffer a lot," Yan Shouyi said.
Lin Zitong breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She sighed, "For the sake of our past relationship, I won't do anything to her. But from now on, we're strangers, and we'll never see each other again."
"That's the best outcome," Yan Shouyi agreed with Lin Zitong's plan.
Jiang Yunling's attempt to kill Lin Zitong had crossed a line.
If Lin Zitong still harbored feelings for her and kept Jiang Yunling around, Yan Shouyi would never agree.
A wolf is a wolf; no matter how much meat you give it, it won't become a docile sheep.
The moment you run out of meat, the wolf will be the first to eat you.
"You silly thing."
Lin Zitong suddenly said, "Although I don't know Xue Kai's identity, I have a feeling he's not simple. You must not do anything foolish alone. After I handle the press conference, I'll go with you to find him!"
Lin Zitong realized Yan Shouyi might be in trouble again.
But she didn't want Yan Shouyi to face it alone.
Yan Shouyi understood what Lin Zitong meant.
He gently patted her hand, "Okay, I promise."
...
The Grandeur Hotel.
Conference Room.
Countless reporters had already filled the conference room, making it impassable.
They had been waiting for a long time for Lin Zitong's appearance.
Everyone had received the news in advance: the eldest daughter of the Lin family in Licheng would use this press conference to formally announce her takeover of several large companies within the Lin family.
This wasn't a big deal for ordinary people.
But the capital market, the financial sector, and some local businesses in Rongcheng placed great importance on this matter.
Tomorrow's headlines for financial magazines were already secured.
However, ten minutes had passed since the scheduled time.
Lin Zitong had yet to appear.
This naturally surprised the reporters.
Soon, a piece of gossip spread among the journalists.
It was said that Lin Zitong's convoy had been involved in a car accident, and her fate was uncertain.
If this were true, the reporters' plans would be completely disrupted.
The news drafts they had prepared would all become waste paper.
At this moment, in the lounge behind the conference room.
A middle-aged man was enjoying a glass of expensive foreign liquor, paired with a strong cigar, reveling in a tranquility different from the outside world.
This man was Lin Zitong's uncle, Lin Fan.
He was the one who had orchestrated today's car accident.
Lin Fan was a libertine, with countless women outside and many illegitimate children, but not a single legitimate heir.
Lin Fan was very interested in the Lin family's business empire.
However, his brother had fathered Lin Zitong.
This made the once outstanding Lin Fan directly mediocre.
And Lin Fan, who was most likely to take over the Lin family's assets, directly lost his eligibility because the entire Lin family believed that only Lin Zitong was the true successor.
Therefore, the enraged Lin Fan had disliked Lin Zitong since childhood, even attempting to kill her several times.
This press conference was a crucial turning point.
As long as Lin Zitong died, then he, Lin Fan, would be the Lin family's only hope!
"Lin Zitong, Lin Zitong, you can only blame yourself for being too outstanding. A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind! I'll repay what I owe you in the next life!"
Lin Fan downed the foreign liquor in his hand and took one last puff of his cigar.
He adjusted his attire and pushed open the door.
When the reporters saw Lin Fan, their spirits, which had been somewhat dampened, immediately revived.
"Mr. Lin Fan, why hasn't Miss Lin Zitong appeared yet?"
"We heard Miss Lin was involved in a car accident on the road; is she safe now?"
"If Miss Lin has an accident, will you be the next heir to the Lin family?"
"Mr. Lin Fan, please answer our questions!"
Facing the reporters' questions, Lin Fan showed no sign of concern for his niece's safety as an uncle would.
Lin Zitong's safety?
Heh, of course, she was already dead!
Lin Fan was confident in his plan.
He simply said, "Regarding Zitong's safety, I have sent people to investigate. However, if she cannot continue to hold key positions within the Lin Group's companies, I am willing to recommend myself..."
The reporters understood Lin Fan's underlying meaning and immediately began taking notes.
However, just as Lin Fan finished speaking and was about to proceed with the next introduction, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open!
Lin Zitong stood at the doorway!
Behind her followed a group of core employees who had been working with her in the company these past few days!
Beside her stood Yan Shouyi, like a bodyguard!
"Miss Lin is unharmed!"
"It seems Miss Lin taking over the main companies of the Lin Group is a done deal!"
"Mr. Lin Fan, what are your thoughts on this?!"
Lin Fan's lips twitched involuntarily.
You ask me what my thoughts are?
Can I curse?
If I can't curse, then I have nothing to say!
Lin Fan stared intently at Lin Zitong. He hadn't expected Lin Zitong to survive.
And to be completely unharmed!
She walked slowly and with dignity from outside the conference room.
She walked all the way to Lin Fan.
Yan Shouyi followed by Lin Zitong's side, exuding a subtle and ominous aura.
People shied away from him all the way.
Finally reaching Lin Fan, Lin Zitong smiled slightly, "Uncle, hello."
Lin Fan's originally ashen face immediately broke into a smile, "Zitong, I'm relieved to see you're alright. The reporters have been waiting for a long time; please go on stage!"
"Okay, Uncle. Thank you for helping me save the situation. You can go relax wherever you're comfortable from now on."
Lin Zitong dropped her words and walked directly to the stage to take her seat.
Yan Shouyi remained by Lin Fan's side.
Lin Fan's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold expression.
This girl survived...
It seemed today's plan had been completely declared a failure.
But Lin Fan did not despair. Even if Lin Zitong weathered today's crisis, he still had many ways to take everything from her later.
With the principal figure having arrived, the reporters eagerly bombarded her with questions.
And Lin Zitong completely shed her girlish demeanor from beside Yan Shouyi.
Instead, she transformed into a true business magnate.
Her answers were flawless, each sentence carrying a wealth of information. The reporters couldn't stump Lin Zitong; instead, they were somewhat flustered by her responses.
In short, due to Lin Zitong's outstanding abilities, she had turned three loss-making companies under the Lin Group into profitable ones over the past two weeks.
Therefore, she would now take over the thirteen core companies of the Lin Group!
Her status within the Lin family had risen infinitely, second only to her father, Lin Ruofu!
Watching Lin Zitong's triumphant display on stage, Lin Fan's eyes were filled with envy.
That position should have been his, Lin Fan's.
"Lin Zitong, you wait and see. This position is not so easily held!"
"In the end, you're still a woman. As long as you're a woman, there will come a day you get married!"
"The Lin family's vast empire cannot be married away with you. In the end, this wealth and power still belong to the men of the Lin family!"
"And you... you are already betrothed, so you'll have to leave sooner or later!"
Lin Fan thought of many things and had already begun to implement his next plan.
He intended to make Lin Zitong's engagement public at this press conference!
This would be even more explosive news!
However, just as Lin Fan was about to walk onto the stage to sabotage Lin Zitong, Lin Zitong suddenly tidied the documents in front of her and said softly:
"I have answered most of your questions. Now I would like to say a few words outside of the topic."
The reporters were flustered, unsure what other major news Lin Zitong was about to reveal.
Only to hear Lin Zitong say loudly:
"I, Lin Zitong, am getting married soon!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Fan nearly lost his footing.
What was this move?
He hadn't made a move yet, and Lin Zitong was ruining her own future?
She was completely playing by the rules!
As expected, after hearing that Lin Zitong was getting married, the reporters' expressions changed.
If Lin Zitong was getting married, then she couldn't truly become the heir to the Lin family.
Therefore, the person who would lead the Lin family in the future would not be Lin Zitong, and today's interview seemed somewhat meaningless.
Everyone was more curious about who Lin Zitong's fiancé was.
"The person I am marrying is here today. However, to protect our relationship from outside interference, I apologize, but I cannot reveal his name."
"But I can tell you all that we have been childhood sweethearts, deeply in love, and no one can tear us apart."
"And one more thing, even if I get married, I will still be the sole heir of the Lin family. If I don't want to leave, no one can make me move!"
"That's all!"
Lin Zitong finished speaking and霸气ly scattered the documents in her hand.
The reporters frantically pressed their camera shutters, the flashbulbs incessantly flashing in the conference room.
Amidst the flying documents, her gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi also looked at Lin Zitong, a smile on his face.
This could be considered the most high-profile declaration of love.
Lin Zitong tightly held onto this hard-won fate.
Yan Shouyi would absolutely not let this fate slip away.
He patted Lin Fan's shoulder beside him.
Lin Fan, filled with anger and surprise, turned his head and asked, "Who are you?"
"You don't need to know who I am. I just want to tell you that if you ever try to harm Zitong again, even if you are her uncle, I will make your fate miserable. As for what kind of fate that is—when you have time, go visit Liu Quan's body at the funeral home."
Yan Shouyi's threat was clearly effective.
Lin Fan froze, his throat constricting, unable to utter a word for a long time.
Although Liu Quan was not killed by Yan Shouyi, Lin Fan didn't know that.
He only needed to know that someone would protect Lin Zitong.
Anyone who wanted to harm Lin Zitong should be prepared to face that person's wrath.