Chapter 251 - 43: Targeted

Chapter 251: Chapter 43: Targeted

Her lips curved into a slight smile. It was no longer the perfunctory expression from before, but a genuine one, gentle and tinged with relief. Her limpid eyes held a spark they’d lacked just moments ago.

But then, confusion flickered across Bai Ruo’s brow.

’I didn’t ask anyone to notify Lin Yan, so how did he know the family was in trouble?’

Her gaze traveled past Lin Yan and fell upon the butler trailing him, who was offering her an awkward smile. Then, it all clicked. ’Father must have sent the butler to get him.’

’Father and I really are different.’

’I hadn’t wanted to trouble Lin Yan, but Father must have seen it differently. With my older brother beaten and Lin Xiao making things so difficult for the Bai Family, calling on Lin Yan was the logical choice, especially after our family gave him so many Contribution Points.’

"Lin Yan, I accepted the mission to guard the fishery. Everything I’ve done is according to clan rules."

There was a false bravado in Lin Xiao’s voice. He had thought that with Brother Minghao’s backing and his own justifiable actions, he wouldn’t be flustered seeing Lin Yan.

But in reality, Lin Yan’s mere presence was enough to exert immense pressure on him.

"I’ve come to challenge you."

Lin Yan’s tone was as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.

"You and I are both from the branch families. I regret that we didn’t get a chance to fight during the last competition. So I’ve come here today specifically to invite Brother Lin Xiao to the Combat Platform for some guidance."

Bai Ruo’s eyes instantly lit up, sparkling as if filled with starlight. Her lips parted slightly in an expression of stunned delight. She never imagined Lin Yan would use such a method to resolve the situation.

As fellow branch clan members, Lin Yan’s reason for the challenge was perfectly valid.

If Lin Xiao didn’t accept the challenge, he would be utterly humiliated.

Lin Xiao’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.

The first image that flashed through his mind was the miserable sight of himself being beaten to a pulp by Lin Yan on the Combat Platform.

’Refuse?’

’I’m not as strong as Lin Yan, so there’s no shame in refusing...’

"If Brother Lin Xiao feels I am unworthy of his guidance, then my only option is to spread the word throughout the clan."

Lin Yan’s words cut off any path of retreat. Lin Xiao’s expression turned foul. Refusing in private would be one thing, but if Lin Yan spread the news and he still declined, it wouldn’t just be his own reputation on the line—the entire Fifth Branch would be disgraced.

"Lin Yan, aren’t you afraid of causing a dispute between the Third Branch and the Fifth Branch? You’d better think through the consequences!"

Lin Xiao gritted his teeth. At this point, his only option was to use the Fifth Branch to intimidate him.

For Lin Yan to humiliate him was to humiliate the Fifth Branch.

"Consequences?"

Lin Yan smiled, a faint, cool smile. "When you were doing all this, did you ever consider that you might be provoking a conflict between the Third Branch and the Fifth Branch?"

Those words left Lin Xiao speechless.

He had only been focused on targeting the Bai Family and Lin Yan. With Brother Minghao backing him, it had never even occurred to him that his actions could provoke a conflict between the two branches.

It wasn’t until Lin Yan pointed it out that he realized what a huge mistake he had made.

If he lost, it was hard to say if the Fifth Branch elders would resent Lin Yan, but one thing was certain: he himself would be completely ruined in their eyes.

He was the one who had targeted the Bai Family first. No elder of any clan would look kindly upon a junior who started trouble he couldn’t finish.

Moreover, having come up from a collateral branch, there wasn’t much familial affection between him and the Fifth Branch elders to begin with.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on Lin Xiao’s face.

"Lin Yan, let me off the hook. I’ll go back to the clan and forfeit this mission right away. I swear I’ll never target you or the Bai Family again."

Having thought through the consequences, Lin Xiao chose to back down immediately.

If this blew up and angered the Fifth Branch elders, his future in the clan would be completely ruined.

Seeing Lin Yan remain unmoved, Lin Xiao turned his gaze to the siblings, Bai Ruo and Bai Feng. "Young Master Bai, if you’re still upset, you can have that kick back. I absolutely won’t dodge."

Bai Feng was indeed tempted.

However, Bai Ruo immediately held her older brother back.

It was Lin Yan who had forced Lin Xiao to submit, and he had done so under the pretext of a challenge.

But if her brother were to actually strike him, and word of it reached the Lin Family, it would bring unbearable consequences for both Lin Yan and the Bai Family.

The Lin Family was the main family, the superior one.

Lin Yan could beat Lin Xiao because they were both clan members, but if her older brother hit him back, it would be crossing the Lin Family’s bottom line.

Lin Yan looked toward Bai Ruo. He had come to stand up for the Bai Family, so it was only natural that they should have the final say.

"Since Young Master Lin Xiao is feeling unwell, it’s understandable that he can no longer guard the fishery. It’s just that, some time ago, my Bai Family gave Young Master Lin Xiao..."

"I’ll return it! I’ll return it right now!"

Lin Xiao immediately pulled several silver banknotes from his robes, afraid that if he were a moment too late, Lin Yan would go back on his word.

Bai Ruo looked to Lin Yan, and he gave a slight nod. ’Lin Xiao clearly doesn’t have the guts to accept my challenge. If I really publicize his cowardice, it would be a slap in the face to the Fifth Branch.’

’The enmity between the Third and Fourth Branches is already quite deep; if I can avoid it, I don’t want to get entangled with the Fifth Branch as well.’

Seeing Lin Yan’s approval, Lin Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. He had come to a realization: in the future, no matter who asked him to target Lin Yan, he wouldn’t be tempted—not even for a Spiritual Weapon.

He could concede directly to other clan members, but Lin Yan, with his status as a fellow branch-family member, had a stranglehold on him.