Old Man Liu was deeply moved. Sisi Shao turned to look at Evan Lin's face, hesitated for a long time, then finally asked, "Do... do you think Lynn knows about you being Master Lin from Seacrest?"
After so many years of living in comfort and privilege, asking them to give up their businesses and become ordinary people was even more painful than killing them.
"Isn't this a bit too harsh?"
Lily Liang's face twisted with conflicting emotions as she stared at Evan Lin, still hoping to bargain. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Evan casually raised his hand—and instantly, over a hundred gleaming qi swords materialized beside him, hovering in the air like a wall of death. (In this world, 'qi swords' are blades formed from condensed spiritual energy, a sign of overwhelming power.)
He said nothing, his expression indifferent.
Evan Lin yawned, his tone flat: "That money is useless to me. I won't keep a single cent; I just refuse to let your Liang family enjoy a comfortable life after what you've done."
"Fine! As the patriarch of the Liang family, I agree to your... your terms!"
With over a hundred qi swords pointed at him, Patrick Liang hurriedly opened his mouth, his words rushed and his pain obvious.
The other members of the Liang family were even more terrified, not daring to utter a word. Faced with the choice between money and their lives, they instinctively chose survival.
"You’re in charge of handling this. Convert everything that can be sold into cash," Evan Lin instructed Gavin Duan.
Evan Lin looked at Gavin Duan: "You don’t need to worry about security over at Jingtu." (Jingtu: Jill Jing's residence or base; Evan assures Gavin Duan that protection there is handled.)
"Okay!"
Lily Liang gritted her teeth, nodded, helped Patrick Liang over to the others, then turned toward her car, her movements tense with suppressed emotion.
"Split the money into three shares—one for you, one for Sisi Shao, and one for Old Man Liu."
A simple arrangement, just like that.
Evan Lin didn't bother looking at Sisi Shao's surprised face, nor did he care whether Old Man Liu would refuse.
Although Sisi Shao wasn’t always likable, at least in the moment of danger, she didn’t turn on Evan Lin and stayed on his side.
Ever since Evan Lin's identity as Master Lin from Seacrest was revealed, Old Man Liu found it increasingly difficult to maintain their teacher-student relationship, and he couldn’t help but feel some indescribable emotions.
This was Evan's way of thanking Old Man Liu for helping him back in Brightsea when he was still a nobody.
After all, Old Man Liu spent his whole life cooped up in Brightsea, losing his prospects. In a sense, the Shang family had a lot to do with it, so this could count as compensation from the Shang family.
"Your Liang family gets to live. I've agreed to it."
Evan Lin looked at Lily Liang. "Now, lead the way."
Lily Liang gritted her teeth, nodded, helped Patrick Liang over to the other family members, then turned and walked toward her car.
"If anything comes up, contact me."
Evan Lin gave Gavin Duan a quick instruction, then looked at Old Man Liu: "Mr. Liu, it looks like you'll have to stay here for another day or two. These matters will be settled soon."
"It's no trouble, really, it's no trouble. You... take care of yourself."
Old Man Liu looked complicated, nodded, and didn't bother saying anything about refusing the money—he knew it was pointless to argue.
"Honestly, I never expected this. At first, I just thought your math talent was impressive and hoped you'd have a bright future. But I never imagined..."
Old Man Liu gave a bitter smile. "You've turned out far more accomplished than your teacher ever imagined. Very good, very impressive."
"Having a student like you, really, as a teacher, my whole life was worth it. Worth it."
Old Man Liu was full of emotion. Sisi Shao turned to look at Evan Lin's face, hesitated for a long time, then finally asked, "Do... do you think Lynn knows about you being Master Lin from Seacrest?"
"She actually likes you a little. I can tell."
After Sisi Shao finished speaking, Evan Lin glanced at her. "Maybe she knows, maybe she doesn't."
Evan Lin didn't answer Sisi Shao's second question. After he finished speaking, he turned and got into Lily Liang's car.
Once Lily Liang started the car and left with Evan Lin...
Gavin Duan, tall and imposing, stepped forward and swept his cold gaze around: "You all know how much the Shang and Liang families' assets are worth."
"The next step is simple. Every family here, all of you, go raise money and buy up their assets."
"The price is heavily discounted. Whoever buys gets to take over. Got it?"
Gavin Duan's voice echoed. As soon as he finished speaking, the families who had been trembling in fear suddenly snapped to attention.
Only now did they realize that Master Lin from Seacrest hadn't even looked at them since the beginning. After wiping out the Shang family, and now holding both their assets, he planned to cash everything out.
Especially Gavin Duan’s comment about the heavy discount.
The Liang family may be small, but their real estate company is worth a lot. As for the Shang family, their profitable businesses cover the whole city.
This was basically a piece of meat laid out in front of everyone—whoever could buy it would make money!
Besides, even if the ancient-martial Rowe clan comes looking for trouble later, they're after Master Lin from Seacrest, not the buyers. The Rowes wouldn't stoop so low as to come demand their assets back from ordinary buyers!
"Alright, alright, alright!"
"I'll go raise money right away!"
One person's voice rang out, and instantly a whole group echoed in agreement.
They hurried to raise funds, while the Liang family—now reduced to helpless victims waiting to be stripped of everything—stood pale and trembling, eyes full of despair.
Lily Liang drove, speeding down the road.
She first stopped at a gas station to fill the tank, and kept glancing sideways at Evan Lin in the passenger seat.
Compared to when she first arrived, Lily Liang was feeling much heavier now.
"You don't even need money. Why do you have to go after our Liang family's business? Even if we pool all our assets, it's not even a fifth of what's in your bank account."
Lily Liang sounded resentful. She was used to a privileged life, but facing Evan Lin's hundred-plus qi swords earlier, she hadn't dared show anger or speak out.
Now that she knew Evan Lin needed her to lead the way, her courage grew a little.
"It's not much money."
Evan Lin yawned, his tone flat: "That money is useless to me. I won't keep a single cent. I just don't want to see your Liang family living a good life."
Hearing this, Lily Liang felt a tightness in her chest, almost as if she might cough up blood from anger.
But at this point, asking Evan Lin to take back his words was clearly impossible.
The car sped on down the road.
Just as they were about to reach the highway entrance...
Not far away, a pure silver Rolls-Royce appeared at the intersection.
The license plate read: Tang 88888.
Seeing the car, Lily Liang was stunned at first, then her face lit up with joy.
"Looks like you're in trouble now."
Lily Liang spoke softly, not hiding her schadenfreude at all.
Evan Lin turned to look at the car in front of them.
From that direction, a surge of murderous intent instantly locked onto Evan Lin.