Chapter 63: The Military Oath

Ye Tianci’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Qi Xian is nothing!”

His gaze was cold and proud, his presence like a peerless spear, sharp and unyielding.

Dong Yuan and Yu Feihu couldn’t help but click their tongues in astonishment, casting suspicious glances at Ye Tianci as they tried to guess his identity.

Shen Ying glared at Ye Tianci, her eyes wide with anger. “You slapped me and insulted my boyfriend. You really have some nerve!”

“I’ll have you know, my father is one of the most powerful men in Shu City...”

She swallowed her unfinished threat, gritting her teeth as she snorted, “Forget it, I won’t say more, lest I scare you to death!”

“Remember this: for the slap you gave me, I’ll make you pay back a hundred times over in the future!”

With that, Shen Ying stormed off in a rage.

Dong Yuan stepped forward, worry written all over his face. “Brother Ye, slapping her is going to cause big trouble for you!”

“So what? She’s so arrogant I can’t even hit her?” Ye Tianci’s expression remained calm.

“Shen Ying is the second young lady of the Shen family. You really shouldn’t have hit her!” Dong Yuan said gravely. “Brother Ye, have you heard of the Four Tigers and Three Dragons of Shu City?”

“I’ve heard those names. They say each one is not to be trifled with,” Ye Tianci replied.

Dong Yuan pointed at Yu Feihu beside him. “This is my brother-in-law Yu Feihu, one of the Four Tigers. Ask him if he’d dare slap Shen Ying.”

Yu Feihu shook his head like a rattle drum. “Shen Ying is the beloved daughter of Shen Wanshan, one of the Double Gods of Wealth. I wouldn’t dare lay a hand on her.”

Dong Yuan quickly added, “That’s right. Above the Four Tigers and Three Dragons, there are the Double Gods of Wealth. They are the true untouchables of Shu City!”

“Shen Ying’s father, Shen Wanshan, is the Southern God of Wealth. The Shen family commands a fortune worth billions, with countless retainers and a vast web of connections.”

“If Shen Wanshan finds out you slapped Shen Ying, he’ll definitely come after you. Even if my brother-in-law and I teamed up, we wouldn’t be able to protect you.”

Ye Tianci smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. I take responsibility for my own actions and won’t drag you two down with me.”

“Perhaps we’ll meet again someday.”

With the censer in hand, he strode away.

Dong Yuan and Yu Feihu watched him leave, shaking their heads, both feeling they couldn’t see through Ye Tianci at all.

Ye Tianci returned to Lin Qingqian’s car.

“You took your time. Did you buy anything good?” Lin Qingqian asked with a smile.

Ye Tianci showed her the censer.

“I thought you’d bought something valuable, but it’s just a regular censer.”

“This is a real treasure. You’ll understand in time.”

“Come on, let’s go to your uncle’s house.”

Lin Qingqian started the car and headed straight for the Lin family estate.

The Lin family villa was no longer what it once was. In the past, only ordinary cars were parked at the gate; now, there were three sports cars and even a brand-new Cullinan. Anyone unfamiliar with the Lin family would mistake this place for the residence of one of Shu City’s most powerful clans.

Lin Hao was sitting in his wheelchair, directing two servants as they polished the cars.

“Do a thorough job!” he commanded. “Careful now—this is my dad’s new ride. If you scratch the paint, you’ll never be able to pay for it!”

He looked every bit the young master of a wealthy family, exuding arrogance.

Seeing Ye Tianci and Lin Qingqian get out of the car, Lin Hao sneered, “Qingqian, I heard from Auntie that you two got thrown out of the house. Tsk tsk, how pitiful. Are you going to be sleeping on the streets with Ye Tianci now?”

Lin Qingqian shot him a cold look. “We won’t be sleeping on the streets. Sorry to disappoint you.”

Ye Tianci flexed his fingers as if divining something. “Lin Hao, if nothing unexpected happens, your family will be penniless and homeless by the end of this month.”

Lin Hao flew into a rage. “You superstitious charlatan, how dare you curse my family!”

Ye Tianci ignored him and walked into the villa with Lin Qingqian.

“Tianci, will Uncle’s family really end up homeless by the end of the month?” Lin Qingqian whispered.

“I can only say it’s possible. Why, are you looking forward to it?”

A smile curled on Lin Qingqian’s lips. “Yes, I am looking forward to it.”

“Then I’ll look forward to it with you.”

The two exchanged a smile and entered the living room.

Lin Changren briefly explained the two projects the Lin family had recently lost. Both projects were signed with the Tiger Group, and after the Lin family had fronted over ten million yuan, the Tiger Group had forcibly terminated the contracts and refused to acknowledge the debt.

“Qingqian, this isn’t complicated. The Tiger Group broke the contract, so by law and reason, the responsibility is theirs.”

“If you can recover the ten-plus million in project funds, your whole family can return to the Lin family.”

“You can see for yourself—the Lin family is booming now. We’re about to step into the ranks of Shu City’s second-tier families!” Lin Changren declared, full of self-importance.

Hearing this, Lin Qingqian frowned. “Tiger Group? That’s Yu Feihu’s company—the ‘Cold-Faced Tiger’ among the Four Tigers of Shu City?”

“That’s right,” Lin Changren nodded.

Lin Qingqian shook her head in distress. “I can’t do it. There’s no way to get that money back.”

“If you can’t, your family will never be restored to the Lin family tree. This is your only chance,” Lin Changren threatened with a harsh glare.

“But—”

Before she could say more, Ye Tianci interrupted, “How hard can it be to collect a debt? I’ll promise on Qingqian’s behalf.”

Lin Changren’s lips curled in mockery. “How hard can it be, you say? Ye Tianci, you really do talk big.”

“If you’re so confident, do you dare sign a pledge?”

Ye Tianci looked at him calmly. “What kind of pledge?”

“If you can pull this off, I’ll kneel at the gate to welcome you and Qingqian’s family back in front of everyone!”

“But if you fail, you must leave Qingqian, get out of Shu City, and kowtow a hundred times at the Lin family gate!”

“And I’ll livestream the whole thing, so everyone can see you make a fool of yourself!” Lin Changren said with a sinister laugh.

Ye Tianci smiled. “I’m willing to sign. I’m just afraid you won’t have the guts.”

“Bring paper and pen!”

With a wave of Lin Changren’s hand, a servant immediately presented paper and pen. Lin Changren personally wrote out the pledge, clearly spelling out the terms, signed his name, and pressed his fingerprint, unable to hide his eagerness.

Then he looked at Ye Tianci provocatively. “Your turn. Sign and stamp it, if you dare!”

He thought Ye Tianci would never do it.

But Ye Tianci only glanced over it before swiftly signing and stamping his fingerprint.

Lin Changren’s smile turned even more sinister. “Ye Tianci, I look forward to your performance!”

Lin Qingqian dragged Ye Tianci outside, her face grave.

“Qingqian, what’s wrong?”

“How could you pledge yourself to my uncle? Don’t you realize this is a trap?” Lin Qingqian was a little angry.

“Why do you say that?” Ye Tianci asked with a smile.

“You don’t understand. The owner of Tiger Group is Yu Feihu—the most formidable of the Four Tigers! Over the years, Tiger Group has owed many people money, but I’ve never heard of anyone actually collecting a debt from them. That ten million is as good as gone!”

Lin Qingqian’s brows knitted in frustration as she shook her head in despair.

Ye Tianci smiled. “I’ve heard of Yu Feihu. Don’t worry—leave it to me.”

Lin Qingqian glanced at him and said no more, but her mood grew heavier still.

When the two reached the gate and were about to get in the car, they discovered Lin Qingqian’s Hongqi had been smashed. Its windows were shattered, the hood dented, and it was nearly totaled.

“Lin Hao, what happened here?” Ye Tianci asked coldly, fixing his gaze on Lin Hao in the wheelchair nearby.