In the corner of the Ju family ancestral hall.
A young man about the same age as Evan Lin.
He sat in a bamboo chair, with a pot of freshly steeped pre-rain Dragon Well tea by his side. The tea was made from the very top buds of each Longjing tea tree, giving it a rich fragrance.
Until now, it seemed no one had paid much attention to that corner.
That young man also didn’t seem interested in interfering with anything happening over here.
He just quietly drank his tea and watched. There was no sign of any powerful aura or aggressive posture about him.
Beside him, Logan Lu looked a bit uneasy.
Especially when he saw Grandpa Ju, seated in the ancestral hall, glance their way—Logan Lu instinctively shivered.
"Brother Beixun, I think we’ve been found out?"
Logan Lu felt nervous deep down—this was the Ju family ancestral hall, after all.
Normally, this place is considered forbidden ground for the Ju family.
On ordinary days, no one but Ju family members are allowed to step inside.
But today is an exception.
Because of the Southern Court Club incident, Nightstar came to the Ju family.
For all those troublemaking types who hang out in Beijing’s elite circles, this was a huge spectacle.
But not many dared to actually show up for the excitement.
When Logan Lu got the news, he immediately ran over to Blake Lin’s Michelin restaurant.
At that time, Blake Lin was wearing his chef’s uniform, about to make a sirloin steak.
Ever since Blake Lin made his name as a Pointing-to-Mystery Realm prodigy, challenging top experts throughout Beijing, earning a reputation as a freakish talent, he’s become more laid-back.
Most of the time, Blake Lin just stays in his own little restaurant, sometimes cooking, mostly zoning out.
If he’s in a bad mood, he just shuts the shop and naps on the sofa by the window.
Sometimes he’ll sleep for an entire day.
Aside from that, Blake Lin rarely attends banquets or parties—he’s not the social type.
Even though countless people try to find him and win his friendship, Blake Lin generally isn’t interested.
He’s lazy and relaxed, living a carefree life.
His favorite time of day is probably when Logan Lu comes over with all sorts of gossip and news to chat.
Usually, Logan Lu talks nonstop while Blake Lin quietly sips his wine and listens.
No special reason—just feels nice to have someone around.
This time, when he heard about the Southern Court Club incident, Logan Lu focused on how Third Young Master Ju stood up in front of everyone to back his friend surnamed Lin.
He told the story so vividly, you could practically see it happening.
Originally, Logan Lu figured Blake Lin would just listen and let it go, like always—never digging deeper, just treating it as entertainment.
But this time, Blake Lin actually asked two words.
"Surname Lin?"
Logan Lu was stunned at first, then after a moment’s thought realized Blake Lin was asking about Allen Ju’s Lin-surnamed friend, and nodded right away.
Then...
What surprised Logan Lu was that Blake Lin—who almost never left his Michelin restaurant—actually invited him to come watch the excitement.
To the Ju family ancestral hall, just to watch the show.
Before coming, Blake Lin even brought his own tea table, teapot, and cups. Even the mountain spring water for brewing tea was something he’d brought himself.
He also packed some food—just dry rations.
Once they arrived, Blake Lin set up the table, boiled the tea, and sat down like it was nothing.
He wasn’t afraid of being seen—or maybe he just didn’t care.
In fact, Blake Lin had already been here for several days. During those days, he watched Allen Ju kneel, watched him get drenched in the rain, watched him get bullied and cursed.
But it was all ordinary stuff—nothing that could really grab Blake Lin’s attention or stir his emotions.
Blake Lin didn’t care much about Allen Ju, but he was curious about the person Allen Ju was so determined to protect.
Blake Lin was waiting, so Logan Lu naturally didn’t dare leave.
He just nervously stayed by Blake Lin’s side.
If the Ju family found out they’d snuck in, Blake Lin wouldn’t be troubled in the slightest.
No matter how powerful the Ju family was, they could never match the Orthodox Lin Clan.
The Orthodox Lin Clan could wipe out the Ju family with a single sneeze.
But Logan Lu had to worry about himself—if Blake Lin ever left Beijing and the Ju family came after him for payback, he’d really be done for.
Luckily, in these past few days, even though Blake Lin's chosen spot wasn't exactly hidden, it seemed like nobody ever noticed that corner.
It was like a blind spot in everyone's field of vision—no one paid attention, so it stayed peaceful and undisturbed.
Logan Lu had been bored out of his mind these days, just spacing out, until Master Lin from Seacrest showed up—then he finally snapped to attention.
He'd chatted with Blake Lin before about Nightstar's instructors and their strength, but Blake just smiled and said nothing.
Either he just didn't care about Nightstar, or he thought it wasn't his place to comment given his status.
But no matter what, Blake Lin's power was just sitting there, plain as day.
Now, feeling the Ju patriarch's gaze, Logan Lu instinctively shrank his neck, trying to make himself smaller.
Meanwhile, Blake Lin, lounging in his chair, met the Ju patriarch's eyes and gave a calm nod.
The Ju patriarch's expression changed for a moment, but quickly returned to its usual calm.
He nodded back at Blake Lin with a faint smile, then turned to watch Evan Lin step toward the Four Seasons Grand Array, his heart tightening.
"Blake Lin barely shows up since he made a name for himself—so why did he come this time?"
"This is Master Lin from Seacrest. Is there some special connection between his Lin and Blake Lin's Lin?"
Several thoughts flashed through the Ju patriarch's mind.
He wasn't even a little bit angry at Blake Lin suddenly appearing here.
Where is Blake Lin from, anyway?
He's from the Orthodox Lin Clan.
Being able to show up in the Ju family ancestral hall is actually giving the Ju family face.
The Ju patriarch wouldn't be angry—in fact, he felt a kind of unspeakable joy.
But now, the situation seemed to be getting more complicated.
Blake Lin, Master Lin from Seacrest.
These two looked about the same age, and both had extraordinary strength.
And they both had the surname Lin.
But the Orthodox Lin Clan and Seacrest are separated by hundreds or even thousands of kilometers.
The Ju patriarch couldn't figure this out no matter how hard he thought.
The steward beside him also shifted his gaze away from Blake Lin, not daring to look any longer.