232: Chapter 232 Reflection, Coercion

Outside Zuixian Restaurant.

The scene was somewhat chaotic, with several shattered tables and chairs strewn across the ground, and a lingering scent of blood hung in the air.

Amidst the fearful gazes of the staff, Cao Yong and his entourage strode out of the main entrance in a grand manner.

As the most famous restaurant in the capital, not a single person dared to block them at this moment.

It was not that they did not want to resist; as soon as those people had approached earlier, guards had attempted to stop them, only to be killed by the other party before any words could be exchanged.

Now, they could only watch helplessly as they departed.

In front of the restaurant, a pristine carriage, engraved with delicate floral patterns, was parked.

A member of the City Defense Army stood in front of the carriage. Hearing the commotion from afar, he respectfully opened the carriage door and welcomed the gaunt man in the red python robe inside.

The carriage then moved slowly forward, carving a path through the gathered crowd.

Cao Yong sat inside the carriage, lifting the curtain to glance outside.

Beside the carriage, a man wearing a semi-red python robe, who appeared to be an adjutant, spoke with worry: "Lord Cao, what if the Family does not agree?"

Cao Yong toyed with the jade-like silk handkerchief in his hand, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Not agree?"

He sneered: "The Wang Family is an example."

The man nodded and asked again: "The Wang Family only had such power by relying on the imperial concubine in the palace; once that concubine falls out of favor, the Wang Family will have no say."

"But the Lin Family is, after all, one of the Four Great Families, with powerful strength, and there are Innate Realm Martial Artists sitting within them…"

Yan Feng asked in a low voice, clearly still hesitant.

The Cabinet's task for them this time was extremely strict: by any means necessary, force the Families to sign this Family tax decree.

Facing some smaller Families, they could leverage their position to suppress and forcibly threaten them.

But facing these Four Great Families of the capital, even as the elite specially selected by the Cabinet, they dared not lower their guard.

"That is why we must disintegrate them from within."

Cao Yong interrupted him, his tone carrying a touch of playfulness.

"Although the Lin Family is powerful, it has weaknesses. Once various conditions are laid out, they will naturally sign the decree."

"What does Lord refer to?"

"Lin Wan."

Cao Yong spat out these two words, a strange smile curling the corners of his mouth.

"The only legitimate daughter of the current generation of the Lin Family, she is pampered with thousands of affections. I heard the old patriarch of the Lin Family dotes on her the most."

Yan Feng's eyes lit up: "Does Lord mean…"

"Taking direct action against Lin Wan is inappropriate; after all, she is a Gold-Badge Constable of the Six Doors, and there are experts from the Lin Family protecting her in the shadows."

Cao Yong shook his head, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"However, the people around her do not have such good treatment."

"Doesn't she have a fiancé? It seems his name is… Chen Ran?"

Yan Feng immediately understood: "Does Lord want to start with that Chen Ran?"

"Correct."

Cao Yong nodded, his voice carrying a hint of coldness.

"As long as we control that Chen Ran, we can threaten Lin Wan. Lin Wan is the apple of the Lin Family's eye; as long as she speaks up, the old patriarch of the Lin Family will inevitably compromise."

He paused and continued: "Go investigate the background of that Chen Ran. Where he is, where he usually goes, who is around him—have everything investigated clearly for me."

"Yes."

Yan Feng bowed and replied.

"Remember, the action must be clean and swift; do not leave any traces."

Cao Yong lowered the curtain, leaned back in the carriage, and closed his eyes.

He was clearly placing great trust in his subordinates.

"Lin Family, oh Lin Family, I hope you can know the current times; otherwise…"

The carriage slowly drove away, disappearing at the end of the street.

Capital, Demon-Slaying Squad headquarters.

Chen Ran walked out of the martial arts training ground, the scent of blood still lingering on his body.

Although the sixth-rank Peak tiger demon just now was fierce, it could not last a few rounds under his hands.

However, this tiger demon brought him three years of cultivation, so the trip was not in vain.

He walked to the water pool, scooped up a ladle of clear water, and washed his face.

The cold water droplets trickled down his cheeks, washing away some of the fatigue and also rinsing off some of the scent of blood from his body.

After changing his clothes, he walked out of the Demon-Slaying Squad.

But before he had gone far, he suddenly felt something and looked up into the distance.

He saw that on the street a few meters away, he detected several faint gazes.

Those gazes lingered at the entrance of the Demon-Slaying Squad, as if observing something.

With his current perception, as long as someone stared for a bit too long, he could vaguely detect their gaze.

A flash of purple flame appeared in Chen Ran's eyes, and the Nether Eye was quietly activated.

With his attention focused, all scenery rapidly receded to the sides.

Through layers of obstacles, he saw several figures crouching on a rooftop in the distance.

Those people were wearing standard-issue armor with swords at their waists; they were unmistakably from the City Defense Army.

"The City Defense Army is targeting me?"

Chen Ran frowned slightly.

He had been staying in the Demon-Slaying Squad recently and had not gone out to cause trouble; why would he be targeted by the City Defense Army?

"Could it be because of Lin Wan?"

Chen Ran's thoughts turned, and he quickly thought of the reason.

Last night, Cao Yong led the City Defense Army to cause trouble on the street, threatening the Lin Family.

Now that the City Defense Army was targeting him, it was likely related to that matter.

"It seems the Cabinet wants to start with me?"

Chen Ran sneered.

He was not afraid of these City Defense Army members. If it really came to a fight, let alone these few minions, even if Cao Yong himself came, he would not be without the power to fight.

It was just that now was not the time to expose his strength; the only thing that posed a threat to him currently was that Innate Realm eunuch.

If he acted rashly, even he could not guarantee he could kill the other party in a short time.

And in this capital, if the two of them fought, the commotion would inevitably be huge.

At that time, it would certainly attract excessive attention.

If the people in the capital knew that his strength had surged again in such a short time, the subsequent handling of the situation would likely not be so simple.

However, in just a few days, after he also breaks through to the Innate Realm, it would be much safer.

"Let's see what they want to do first."

Chen Ran withdrew his gaze and turned to walk toward his room.

On the surface, he appeared completely unaware, but in reality, he had firmly memorized the positions of those few City Defense Army members.

Returning to his room, Chen Ran sat cross-legged casually and began to circulate his Cultivation Technique.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the heavenly book of prison suppression emitted a faint golden light, and streams of warmth traveled through his body, tempering his Meridians and Physical Body.

While Cultivating, a wisp of his Divine Thought was always monitoring the movement outside.

Seeing that those few City Defense Army members were still watching from afar with no intention of leaving.

"Interesting."

A cold smile curled the corners of Chen Ran's mouth.

I will meet force with force and water with earth.

If they really push me too far, I'll just leave the capital for a few days, and after I have a Breakthrough, I'll just slaughter that old eunuch Cao Yong.