Dragon Emperor, Martial God

Chapter 363: Establishing Power in Qingshui (12) I’ll Shoulder All of the Consequences!

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

It was especially scorching in Qingshui City that day; as soon as it rose, the sun was like a huge red furnace that roasted the land. It was only eight o’clock in the morning, and the temperature had already soared to 86 degrees Fahrenheit!

After the quartet comprised of Ling Yun, Tang Meng, Cui Lao, and Dugu Mo had eaten their breakfast, Tang Meng drove their vehicle — taking all of them and Little White — to his own home, where he parked Xue Meining’s Ferrari in the garage before switching to his Hummer and ferrying them to Linjiang Road!

While they were en route to their destination, Tang Meng muttered, “Big Brother Yun, this… how are we going to demolish a house without a bulldozer and excavator?”

Cui Lao and Dugu Mo exchanged glances and echoed his concern inwardly. How were they going to demolish a house without a bulldozer and excavator?

Even if they hired someone to do it, the person wouldn’t execute the task according to plan for fear of being held liable for the demolition of someone else’s house.

Ling Yun laughed. “Who says that a bulldozer and excavator are required to demolish a house? Don’t worry, I only need to locate the house, and I guarantee that it will be razed to the ground!”

Ling Yun didn’t even need a bulldozer or excavator since he had the Shennong Cauldron, which weighed over two thousand kilograms, the Devil’s Underworld Essence Blade, Fire Talismans, and his own strength. Who needed an excavator?

Ling Yun was prepared to use the hefty Shennong Cauldron to smash the house. Whatever remained standing would be severed with the Devil’s Blade — the blade could slice through tough rock as though it were tofu, so which pillar or beam could withstand its destructive force?

It was his desire to put on a public display of him single-handedly demolishing the house as a warning to Xie Zhenting, Luo Zhong, and Gou Liancheng that he, Ling Yun, had returned and opposed the demolition of his house!

This time, Ling Yun wasn’t bothered by the prospect of cameras and other hi-tech photography equipment at the scene. Since he had intended to establish his authority, then it would be to his advantage if there were more people who knew about it. If that weren’t the case, how could he be considered to be establishing his authority?

Ling Yun wanted to show the whole of Qingshui City that he was untouchable and that the same applied to his house!

As it was the morning rush hour, the roads were congested. However, Ling Yun remained composed and was casually humming a tune beside the driver. He seemed oblivious to the fact that both Tang Meng and Cui Lao were already breaking out in a cold sweat.

Tang Meng’s nervousness could mainly be attributed to his excited state of mind. Along with an increase in his heart rate, Tang Meng’s hands on the steering wheel turned clammy. He was unsure whether his perspiration was due to the heat or excitement.

Their boss was planning to demonstrate his prowess and demolish a house by hand. It would be such a rare sight, and Tang Meng was understandably excited at the thought of witnessing it.

Cui Lao was nervous due to the intense turmoil that was churning within him!

The problem didn’t lie in Ling Yun’s plan to demolish the house. Now that Ling Yun’s identity had been verified as the son of Ling Xiao, the Ling Family would have the means of settling any issues arising from Ling Yun’s demolition despite their seemingly weak influence.

Instead, Cui Lao was wondering whether he ought to expose his own identity. Ling Yun was obviously demolishing the house for public viewing, so wouldn’t the reporters of Qingshui City arrive to cover the scene? Wouldn’t the city dwellers surround them as spectators?

As soon as any related videos or information were uploaded online, all the major clans in Beijing would draw the association between him and Ling Yun. They would immediately recognize the relationship between Ling Yun and the Ling Family!

Given that it was broad daylight currently, Cui Lao couldn’t possibly wear a face mask.

Although Cui Lao had initially tried to dissuade Ling Yun from carrying out his plans, he felt that it would be better to let him have his way. Based on his observation of Ling Yun’s temperament, Cui Lao knew that he wouldn’t hesitate to kill someone. Considering that Ling Yun had opted to demolish the person’s house instead of assassinating him, Cui Lao reckoned that it was still the lesser of two evils.

The young master has been suffering alone for eighteen years while roaming outside, it’d be good to let him have his moment…

At that thought, Cui Lao suddenly cleared his throat and spoke to Ling Yun, who was still humming a tune casually. “Ling Yun, your retaliation is justifiable since that person demolished your house, but I’m constrained by my identity and can’t accompany you on this mission in broad daylight, so…”

Ling Yun laughed. “Cui Lao, I told you to return home to rest last night, but you didn’t listen. Look at you, why do you want to bumble around in your pajamas with kids like us? Quick, go back and have a good rest, there’s still a fierce battle to face tonight!”

Zhuang Meifeng’s fate was still unknown as she remained in the Sun Family’s custody. Xiao Meimei was still missing, and they hadn’t received any news about Cao Shanshan. Ling Yun could no longer wait; he decided that after settling the scores with Luo Zhong and his gang, he would enter the Zhuang’s household and uproot the Sun Family completely in order to restore peace in Qingshui City.

Cui Lao chortled and remarked nonchalantly, “I’m not in a hurry to go back. When you’ve reached your destination, I will get out as well, and you guys can proceed with your business!”

With Cui Lao’s skills, an ordinary person wouldn’t be able to notice him if he were to conceal himself. Although Cui Lao wouldn’t be accompanying Ling Yun, he would certainly be protecting him in secret.

If the Sun Family caught wind of their mission and wanted to give Ling Yun trouble in broad daylight, then Cui Lao would have no choice but to reveal himself to defend Ling Yun.

Tang Meng drove the Hummer eastwards, and after they exited the eastern outer ring, the traffic had thinned. Tang Meng stepped on the accelerator and managed to stop the Hummer at the entrance of the original public clinic after forty minutes.

While he was still in the Hummer, Ling Yun surveyed the clinic and confirmed that it had been utterly flattened!

They’re so highly efficient — my mother purchased this rundown courtyard, which is estimated to be around two hundred square meters, and they only needed two days to reduce it to this state. They’re d*mn professional!

Ling Yun was amazed by the sight and wondered about his own speed of demolition.

However, he wasn’t the least bit sorrowful over the flattened clinic. Now that he had two villas and a clinic, and had even “purchased” a clothing store, Ling Yun wasn’t upset by the destruction of this rundown courtyard.

“Ling Yun, just follow your heart’s desires. I will bear all the consequences on your behalf! I’ll make a move first!”

After he had finished speaking, Cui Lao got out of the vehicle and vanished without a trace.

Ling Yun was highly confused by his words, and his curiosity in Cui Lao was ignited. He thought to himself, Had my own mother or Miracle Doctor Xue uttered those words, I wouldn’t have found it bizarre. But this mysterious old man only spent a night with me, and yet he’s willing to let me have my way?

And he’s willing to bear any of the consequences of my actions? He can’t be thinking of accepting me as his disciple, right?

Tang Meng and Dugu Mo were even more intrigued than Ling Yun. After witnessing Cui Lao’s departure, they asked Ling Yun perplexedly, “I say, Big Brother Yun, who exactly is this formidable old man? Although he has attained a powerful realm, why do I feel that he is so audacious with his words?”

Ling Yun looked upon Tang Meng with disdain. “You could also be as audacious as him if you had his martial arts capabilities!”

Despite his remark, Ling Yun sensed that there was a hidden meaning behind Cui Lao’s words. Judging from Cui Lao’s tone, it didn’t merely seem as though he would protect Ling Yun if the latter were to battle with an expert from the enemy lines, but that he had a powerful backing to tackle anything!

Could it be that the Green Dragon sent someone to help me? I would be overjoyed if that were the case…

Ling Yun laughed and simply dismissed that thought. He led Tang Meng, Dugu Mo, and Little White in getting out of the vehicle and began walking towards Li Hongmei’s shop.

Li Hongmei had noticed the Hummer’s arrival earlier on and recognized that it was Tang Meng’s car due to his frequent visits to the area.

Ling Yun sauntered majestically towards the shop and was flanked by the bald Tang Meng on his left, as well as a long-haired and robed Dugu Mo on his right. Each of them was at least 180cm tall and formed an awesome trio.

“Ling Yun, you’ve come. I tell you, something big has happened to your family…” Li Hongmei was still the same warm-hearted lady as before and quickly whispered those words to Ling Yun as he entered the shop.

Ling Yun nodded his head and smiled faintly. “Auntie Li, I’ve already seen what happened. Do you know who demolished my mother’s house?”

Li Hongmei gave a deep sigh. “Who else could it be? On Thursday afternoon, the Street Administration representative, Hades Tian, brought his nephew and personnel from the demolition company along, drove a bulldozer, and flattened your house before we could even have a chance to react!”

Ling Yun exchanged glances with Tang Meng and assumed that it would be an easy case if Tian Botao and Tian Xiaoguang were the culprits behind the demolition.

Ling Yun gave a dismissive laugh and asked casually, “Since they came to demolish the house, do you mean nobody even bothered to probe or attempted to manage the situation?”

Li Hongmei pursed her lips and sighed deeply once more. “They had an official warrant for the demolition and were accompanied by tens of city management personnel, so who’d be able to take charge of the situation? Hades Tian has been dominating this street for so many years already. Even if your entire household of three were there, you guys wouldn’t have been able to stop him, not to mention demolishing a vacant house!”

Pausing for a moment, Li Hongmei sighed and said, “I had spoken a few words to Hades Tian and told him that even if he had an official warrant for the demolition, he was still required to obtain prior consent from your mother and compensate her accordingly. After all, it’s your mother’s housing property. But Hades Tian retorted that your mother wasn’t in Qingshui City at present and was uncontactable. Claiming that he couldn’t delay the progress of the demolition works, he had decided to proceed with it!”

Ling Yun laughed bitterly as he thought about how thoroughly informed Hades Tian was with regard to his personal affairs. Cui Lao had been correct, this was indeed a well-orchestrated plan!

The plan included the demolition of Ling Yun’s house, the cordoning of his villa by the Public Security Bureau, the investigation into his financial sources, the arrest of Tie Xiaohu, and Xie Junyan’s audacious harassment of Ling Yun’s sister Lingyu — it was all part of a chain stratagem!

“Oh yes, Ling Yun, where has your mother gone? I tried calling her so many times, why couldn’t I get through?”

Li Hongmei expressed her concern for Qin Qiuyue.

Ling Yun knew that Li Hongmei had friendly relations with his mother, and he smiled faintly. “My mother has gone out to run an errand and didn’t bring her mobile phone along, so there isn’t any cause for concern. Thank you, Auntie Li!”

Li Hongmei modestly accepted his expression of gratitude and heard Ling Yun asking her, “Do you know the location of the demolition company, as well as the house of Hades Tian?”

“That’s a well-known fact to everyone. Oh, you can continue walking six hundred meters eastwards on the right side of the road to reach the temporary office of the demolition company. My shop is going to be demolished and relocated soon…

“Hades Tian’s home is even more apparent to everyone. I heard that he has a house in the city, but because it is too far away, he usually resides at the triple-suited grand villa in Linjiang Garden with his nephew, Tian Xiaoguang!”