Oh no! My grandmother made me shoulder the responsibility for eight households!

Chapter 19 Sister-in-law's Heart Flutter

Outside the door, a dozen burly men stood holding clubs. The leader was a man with a fierce face, none other than Wang Meng.

"Wow, so many people." Lin Chen pushed open the door and said with a smile:

"Are you here for a meal? Sorry, the restaurant is closed."

Wang Meng was taken aback: "Who are you?"

"I am Lin Chen, the new owner of Zuiyuexuan," Lin Chen said calmly.

"Lin Chen? That纨绔 (playboy) from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?" Wang Meng looked him up and down, then suddenly laughed.

"Kid, do you know who's got their eye on this restaurant?"

"I know, it's the Second Prince," Lin Chen said innocently. "But I've already bought it. The contract is signed. Why don't you take a look?"

He took out the contract from his pocket and waved it in front of Wang Meng.

Wang Meng's face darkened: "Boy, if you know what's good for you, hand over the contract and pay me ten thousand taels of silver, and I can pretend this never happened. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Lin Chen put away the contract.

"Hit me? Kill me? I am the legitimate son of the Duke of Zhenguo, about to inherit the title. Try touching me!"

These words were spoken with such confidence that Wang Meng hesitated.

Although the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has declined, it is still a Duke's mansion after all.

Moreover, there have been rumors lately that this Young Master Lin is not as simple as he seems on the surface...

"Wang Meng, why waste your breath on him!" A cold voice came from behind the crowd.

The crowd parted, and a young man in brocade robes walked out, waving a folding fan. He was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a handsome face but a sinister look in his eyes.

The Second Prince, Zhao Cheng!

Lin Chen had expected this, and remained calm on the surface: "So it is His Highness the Second Prince. This humble subject has failed to greet you properly."

Zhao Cheng sized him up, a cold glint in his eyes:

"Lin Chen, how dare you! Knowing full well that Zuiyue Pavilion is a place I've set my sights on, you still dare to interfere?"

"Your Highness is being disrespectful," Lin Chen said, looking aggrieved. "This humble subject truly had no idea. If I had known Your Highness had taken a liking to him, how could this humble subject have dared to compete with you?"

But the contract has already been signed and the money has been paid, so... we can't go back on our word, can we?

"I will buy it back for double the price," Zhao Cheng said calmly. "Hand over the contract, and I will give you ten thousand taels of silver, enough for you to live a life of luxury for a while."

"Your Highness is truly generous," Lin Chen smiled.

"However, I recently wanted to start a proper business and didn't want to be a playboy anymore. So this restaurant..."

"So you won't give in?" Zhao Cheng's eyes grew cold.

Lin Chen sighed: "Your Highness, you are of noble birth, what do you not want? Why bother competing with a commoner for this small restaurant?"

"How about this: once the restaurant opens, I'll reserve Your Highness's best private room, free of charge for life, what do you say?"

"You're asking for death!" Wang Meng roared, about to make a move.

Zhao Cheng raised his hand to stop him.

He looked at Lin Chen and suddenly smiled:

"Interesting, Lin Chen. You're much more interesting than your seven older brothers. All they know is fighting, but you know how to scheme."

"Your Highness flatters me."

"However," Zhao Cheng changed the subject,

"What this prince sets his sights on, I have never failed to obtain. If you won't give it to me today, you will tomorrow. Why make things difficult for yourself?"

Lin Chen said solemnly:

"Your Highness, if I may be so bold as to ask—did you really buy this restaurant for business, or for...the underground waterway?"

Zhao Cheng's expression changed drastically: "What do you know?!"

"This humble commoner knows nothing," Lin Chen said, shrugging.

"I've only heard that there's a waterway beneath Zuiyue Pavilion that leads directly to the Yulong River. It would be very convenient to use it to transport anything."

This statement is almost an explicit implication.

A murderous glint flashed in Zhao Cheng's eyes: "Lin Chen, you know too much."

"This humble subject knows nothing," Lin Chen repeated.

"This humble subject only wants to do some small business and make a little money. If Your Highness is willing to be lenient, this humble subject guarantees that the waterways and the Jade Dragon River will have nothing to do with this humble subject."

"Too late," Zhao Cheng said coldly. "Now that you know, I can't let you live. Wang Meng!"

"exist!"

"Take him down, dead or alive."

"yes!"

Wang Meng grinned maliciously and led a dozen guards to surround them.

These people were all elites from the Second Prince's residence, the lowest being a fifth-rank martial artist, and Wang Meng was even a third-rank martial artist.

Lin Chen sighed: "Your Highness, can't we really talk this out properly?"

"Maybe in the next life." Zhao Cheng turned and left, as if he had already foreseen the outcome.

However, he had only taken three steps when he heard a series of muffled thuds and screams behind him.

Looking back, Wang Meng and more than a dozen guards were all lying on the ground, unconscious.

Lin Chen remained standing in the same spot, his clothes perfectly in place.

Zhao Cheng's pupils contracted sharply: "You..."

"Your Highness," Lin Chen clapped his hands, as if brushing off dust.

"Although I am a spoiled brat, I am not someone to be trifled with. Let's pretend this never happened, shall we?"

Zhao Cheng stared intently at him: "When did you learn martial arts?"

"It's not important." Lin Chen walked up to him and lowered his voice.

"The important thing is that if Your Highness continues to covet Zuiyue Pavilion, or the Lin family... this humble subject would not mind if Your Highness were to lie down and get some sleep as well."

These words were spoken casually, but the underlying threat sent chills down Zhao Cheng's spine.

He, a prince, was actually threatened by a spoiled brat!

"Fine, very well." Zhao Cheng gritted his teeth. "Lin Chen, this prince will remember you."

"It is my honor," Lin Chen said, bowing slightly. "Your Highness, please take care. I will not see you off."

Zhao Cheng's face turned ashen. He turned and left, ignoring even the guards on the ground.

Lin Chen watched his departing figure, his eyes growing colder.

"System," he murmured to himself, "view the current strength assessment."

"Ding! Host's current strength assessment:"

Individual combat strength: Grandmaster (perfected) (hidden)

His top combatants include: Yuan Tiangang (half-step Celestial) and Li Chunfeng (early Celestial).

Available forces: 100 Bad Guys (Rank 1), 300 Heavenly Guards (Rank 3, not summoned).

• Family support: 60% (continuously rising)

• Hostile forces: Second Prince (initial clash), Cui Family (covertly), White Tiger Gate (hostile), Yama Palace (potential), Mysterious force (???)

not enough.

To deal with behemoths like the Cui family, Zhao Yuan, and the Yama Palace, we need more trump cards.

However, you have to eat one bite at a time.

First, settle things with Zuiyue Pavilion, then train the guards, and then...

"Eighth Brother!" Xiao Yulou ran in through the back door, stunned to see a group of people lying on the ground. "This...you did all this?"

"Yes," Lin Chen said with a smile, "Fourth Sister-in-law is late; the show is already over."

Xiao Yulou walked around those people, his expression complex:

"Wang Meng is a third-rank martial artist, plus a dozen or so sixth- and fifth-rank martial artists... and you took them all down by yourself?"

"I used a little trick," Lin Chen said vaguely. "Fourth Sister-in-law, is Boss Zhao settled in?"

"You're all settled in. In a safe house outside the city." Xiao Yulou stared at him.

"Eighth Brother, tell me honestly—what level of cultivation have you reached?"

Lin Chen blinked: "Fourth Sister-in-law, guess?"

"At least a third-rank, maybe even a second-rank," Xiao Yulou affirmed. "Otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible to resolve this so easily."

"Then let's just say I'm a third-rank official." Lin Chen said noncommittally. "Fourth Sister-in-law, we need to hurry up with the guard training. I reckon the Second Prince won't let this go easily."

"Don't worry." Xiao Yulou's eyes gleamed with excitement.

"With the movement techniques you taught me, I'm confident I can train those twelve people into top-notch fighters within three months."

"Then I'll leave it to Fourth Sister-in-law."

When the two left Zuiyue Pavilion, it was already late at night.

On the way back to the manor, Xiao Yulou suddenly said, "Eighth Brother, thank you for today."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for showing me that there is still hope for the Lin family," Xiao Yulou said softly.

"I used to think that once the Lin family was finished, we women would eventually go our separate ways."

But now... I think, maybe we can pull through."

Lin Chen's heart skipped a beat: "Fourth Sister-in-law is willing to stay?"

"Nonsense." Xiao Yulou rolled her eyes at him. "I already promised to help you train your guards, where else could I go?"

She paused, then whispered:

"Actually... I've thought about what Grandma said carefully. If it were you... it doesn't seem so hard to accept."

After saying that, she quickened her pace and walked ahead.

Lin Chen watched her retreating figure and smiled.

This fourth sister-in-law is adorably straightforward.

Upon returning to his residence, Lin Chen did not rest immediately but went to his study.

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were already waiting for him.

"Your Majesty, the Second Prince returned to his residence in a rage, smashing many things," Yuan Tiangang reported.

"But he didn't retaliate immediately; he seemed to be waiting for something."

"We'll wait for the Cui family's birthday banquet," Li Chunfeng interjected.

"I predict that the Second Prince will make trouble for His Majesty at the birthday banquet. The Cui family and Zhao Yuan will both be present, making it an excellent opportunity."

Lin Chen nodded: "Perfect, I also want to meet these people on that day."

He looked at Li Chunfeng: "Mr. Li, how are the formation preparations going?"

"The Qiankun Array Plate has been set up in the main areas of the mansion, capable of withstanding attacks from masters below the Grandmaster level," Li Chunfeng said.

"Furthermore, I have deduced the Nine Palaces Spirit Locking Array in the Cui family's secret chamber and have found a way to break it. However, the Azure Dragon Key and Cui Yongnian's bloodline remain the key."

"Azure Dragon Key..." Lin Chen pondered, "I'll go to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School tomorrow."

"My lord, please be careful," Yuan Tiangang said.

"The Azure Dragon Sect Master, the Old Man Canglong, has an eccentric temper and is unyielding to both soft and hard approaches."

However, I've heard that he's recently been searching for a medicinal herb called "Dragon's Saliva Grass," which might be a good starting point.

Ambergris?

Lin Chen's heart stirred, and he took out a medicinal herb that was entirely green, shaped like a dragon's whiskers, and emitted a faint, exotic fragrance.

Is this it?

Li Chunfeng's eyes lit up: "Exactly! Where did Your Majesty obtain it?"

"It was a chance encounter," Lin Chen said with a smile. "Looks like I'll be getting a gift tomorrow."

The three discussed the details for a while before parting ways at midnight.