23: Lin Feng suffers another setback

Ling Xian, sipping red wine, had noticed all this long ago. The corner of his mouth lifted as he thought, 'Just as expected, it's pretty much the same as the original plot.'

Several strong martial artists took to the stage, their blades gleaming and movements swift and powerful.

Just as the performance was nearing its end, one martial artist, perhaps due to nervousness or maybe fate's influence, lost his grip on the single saber he was brandishing. It flew out with a whistling sound, heading straight for the area where the female guests were gathered.

There, several elegant ladies and young misses were chatting and laughing, including Leng Yunyan, who was standing relatively close!

According to the original plot, this was where Lin Feng would start showing off, winning the favor of countless beauties.

'Watch out!'

A cry of alarm rang out!

In that split second, Lin Feng moved.

He had been waiting for this exact opportunity!

His figure shot out like a shadow, incredibly fast. His military training honed on the battlefield was on full display as he reached out to grab the flying saber by its hilt.

In that moment, he was confident he would catch it firmly, winning the applause of the entire hall!

However, almost simultaneously, Ling Xian, standing on the other side, also moved.

His movements didn't seem fast, even appearing somewhat leisurely. He simply flicked his wrist, sending a delicate metal coaster he had been fiddling with, meant to accompany the drinks, flying out.

'Ting!'

A light sound!

The coaster, though launched later, arrived first, striking the side of the saber blade with a clever, spinning force.

The flying saber's trajectory was instantly deflected. It grazed the hem of Leng Yunyan's dress and fell with a 'clang' onto the thickly carpeted floor.

Meanwhile, Lin Feng's hand closed on empty air, frozen mid-reach, looking rather awkward.

Leng Yunyan, recovering from her fright, set aside her grievances with Ling Xian and hurriedly thanked him, 'Thank you... Young Master Ling.'

Leng Yunyan also noticed that Ling Xian was vastly different from before.

She seemed to feel a slight flutter in her heart for Ling Xian.

'No, no, no! A good-for-nothing I looked down upon... Leng Yunyan, how can you be so cheap? Getting interested just because the engagement was called off?'

Compared to Leng Yunyan's inner turmoil, the others watched with great interest.

Yue Cailan was dressed in casual clothes. While not particularly exquisite, she didn't look as destitute as Lin Feng.

Leaning in a corner, she took in the whole scene, curled her lip slightly, and muttered, 'All flash, no substance.'

It was unclear whether she meant the martial artist who lost his weapon or Lin Feng who missed his catch.

However, her gaze towards Ling Xian held a bit more interest.

'This guy's skills are much better than before. I just wonder if he can take a beating as well as he used to.'

As for Su Wenyuan, a glint flashed in his eyes as he glanced at Ling Xian, inwardly astonished.

That level of control over force just now was definitely not something an ordinary martial artist could achieve.

Lin Feng withdrew his hand, clenching his right fist, feeling as if he had just tried to grasp a speck of dust.

Suffering setbacks one after another, Lin Feng felt utterly frustrated and aggrieved, his sense of humiliation reaching its peak.

Was this right?

Wasn't this supposed to be his moment to shine?

Why was he failing repeatedly?

But soon, he calmed down. Losing his composure in such a setting would only make him look worse.

He forcefully suppressed his anger, telling himself there were still opportunities.

He had saved the Su Family head's life. That was his biggest bargaining chip.

Adjusting his expression, Lin Feng proactively walked towards Su Wenyuan and several wealthy businessmen he had previously noted might be involved in overseas business.

'Uncle Su,' Lin Feng raised his glass, 'It's been a while since we last met. You look much better.'

Su Wenyuan smiled and clinked glasses with him, 'Mr. Lin, apologies for the inadequate hospitality.

I owe you a great deal from last time.'

Though polite, his attitude clearly maintained a sense of distance.

A life-saving favor is as weighty as a mountain.

But precisely because Lin Feng kept bringing it up openly as a hint, it became irritating.

Su Wenyuan was a businessman, naturally prioritizing profit. When a debt of gratitude outweighs one's life, history books had already provided the answer.

Of course, the current Su Wenyuan wouldn't go that far.

As for the future, it depended on whether Lin Feng had the sense to read the room.

If he didn't know when to back off... 'Uncle Su, you're too kind. It was just a small effort,' Lin Feng tried to steer the conversation elsewhere. 'I've also been paying attention to the overseas market lately. I have some channels abroad...'

Upon hearing this, the wealthy businessman smiled politely, 'Oh? However, our group is currently undergoing adjustments and has no expansion plans for the time being.'

His tone couldn't have been more perfunctory.

Anyone with eyes could see that Lin Feng and Young Master Ling were at odds.

Offending Young Master Ling for the sake of Lin Feng, whose value they couldn't discern, wasn't worth it.

Sensing this, Lin Feng turned to another person, mentioning a certain Southeast Asian project. The other party simply laughed it off and turned to chat with someone beside him.

Humiliating!

So humiliating!

It was as if he had run into an invisible wall.

These people were superficially polite but actually distant and scrutinizing.

The reason was simple: first, he had provoked the Ling Corporation, and later, he got embroiled in a smuggling scandal.

In business terms, no one was willing to offend the currently thriving Ling Group for the sake of someone with shallow roots and a host of troubles.

In contrast, look at Ling Xian.

He didn't even need to move around proactively; people kept coming up to greet him.

'Chairman Ling, so accomplished at such a young age! We're very interested in that new energy project you mentioned last time...'

'Young Master Ling, I heard the Ling Corporation is recently consolidating media resources? Our company might be able to collaborate.'

'Nephew, send my regards to your father. Once he recovers, we must get together.'

Ling Xian handled them all with ease, speaking lightly, even casually mentioning the other party's proud achievements or inquiring about their children's academic progress.

This made these businessmen feel exceptionally comfortable, thinking Ling Xian truly cared about them.

'President Wang, I heard Miss Wang recently won an award at an international piano competition? Congratulations.'

'Ah, Uncle Li, about that painting you fancied last time, I asked around. It might appear at a private auction overseas next month.'

Watching this scene unfold made Lin Feng's eye twitch.

Only then did he realize the depth and breadth of the Ling Family's foundation and connections in Donghai City, far beyond what he could compare to.

It was a network of relationships built up over time, intricate and deeply rooted.

What stung Lin Feng's eyes even more was that Qu Shuiyun stayed almost constantly near Ling Xian, occasionally chatting and laughing with him in low voices, her attitude intimate.

Although Leng Yunyan's expression was unpleasant, she also stood by her mother's side without leaving.

This scene, in the eyes of everyone present, undoubtedly sent a message: the Leng Family still stood on the Ling Family's side.

Lin Feng felt a wave of powerlessness. The martial prowess, knowledge, and even favors he relied on for survival seemed utterly out of place in this circle.

It was like being a dwarf in a land of giants, feeling only oppression and exclusion.

Just as Ling Xian was drinking and conversing, a familiar figure hooked her arm through his, 'You rascal, long time no see!'

This figure was none other than Yue Cailan.

Although the Three Great Families and the Ling Corporation were at odds, there were no such barriers among the younger generation.

When Yue Cailan was little, she often bullied Ling Xian.

'Violence-prone woman!' Ling Xian exclaimed in surprise.

'Hey, who are you calling that?' Yue Cailan leaned closer. Instantly, a surging, constantly shifting sensation made Ling Xian's thoughts wander a bit.

Damn, Yue Cailan's figure was so exaggerated.

The arm wrapped around his felt like cotton candy. Ling Xian gave a mental thumbs-up for that.