"The Shang family won't let this go so easily. They're a clan from Tangshan, but their influence is nothing to underestimate."
Autumn Zheng hadn't expected Mason Shang to actually pull strings and block the purchase of plane and high-speed rail tickets, effectively locking Old Man Liu's ID.
It might look like a minor thing, but to actually pull it off takes no small amount of power.
Most likely, Mason Shang had Old Man Liu's identity added to the blacklist for both the railway and aviation departments.
The level of authority needed isn't low, which means their attitude is pretty firm.
"Just stay here until the results come out."
Evan Lin didn't really care. He stood up from his chair, walked to the door, and said calmly, "They wouldn't dare make a move against Mr. Liu inside Clearwater University. As for the Shang family, once the results are out, all their problems will be dealt with."
"Are you planning to do something?"
Hearing Evan Lin's words, Autumn Zheng's expression changed slightly and she stood up at once. "The Shang family isn't like the others. Their background is deep. I don't want you risking yourself by going back."
"I could call home. The old man still has some old friends in Beijing, so at least we can guarantee our safety."
In the past, Autumn Zheng might not have said anything.
She had seen Evan Lin's strength, and knew he was Master Lin from Seacrest.
But now, she was facing the Shang family.
The Shang family had forced Old Man Liu out of Beijing decades ago, and now, in just a short time, they had blocked his identity. They're not to be underestimated.
Don't worry, it's all small stuff.
Evan Lin shook his head with his back to Autumn Zheng. "If Mr. Liu doesn't know about this yet, don't tell him. Let him enjoy Beijing for now."
Without giving Autumn Zheng a chance to say more, Evan turned and closed the door behind him.
Back in his own room, Evan Lin stood at the window, gazing at the city lights outside, his expression a bit cold.
Mason Shang.
If you don't die, who will?
Evan Lin muttered to himself. He didn't rush to settle things tonight, even though the moon was dark and the wind high. He wanted to vent Old Man Liu's anger first at the National Collegiate Math Modeling Championship.
Originally, Evan didn't have much of a killing intent. This was Old Man Liu's old grudge, and he just wanted to help vent it. But now, sensing Mason Shang's murderous intent, Evan no longer planned to show him any mercy.
Tonight, Evan also learned a bit about Ju Xing'an's influence from the words of Rong Yue and Lu Zi'ang, but he didn't plan to contact Ju Xing'an. He just felt that Beijing was deeper and more complicated than he'd imagined.
10 p.m.
Outside Illustrious Gate Arena, the crowd was buzzing. Everywhere you looked, people had gathered just to watch.
A woman in tight black leather, holding a big bag of tomato-flavored chips, looked up at the busy crowd outside Illustrious Gate Arena, her pretty eyebrows raised again and again.
The battle between Master Lin from Seacrest and the Teenage King of the Ring, huh?
She spoke as she stuffed chips into her mouth, her voice muffled: "This should be the place, right?"
That kid really knows how to stir things up. If I hadn't picked up a last-minute job, I'd have found you already.
Master Lin from Seacrest still refuses to join my Moonshade?
Her tone was full of dissatisfaction as she grumbled, "This time, I'll drag you back if I have to!"
Not joining? You dare refuse Moonshade's invitation?
Just wait and see how I deal with you!
As she spoke, she reached the bottom of her chips bag. Without caring about the countless men staring at her figure, she tipped the last crumbs into her mouth.
Waste is shameful. Tomato chips are definitely more satisfying than barbecue flavor.
After finishing her snack, she casually stuffed the empty chips bag into the mouth of a leering man nearby, clapped her hands, and swaggered into Illustrious Gate Arena.
She walked right in without anyone stopping her.
When she reached the hole formed by the pillar of fire, people were climbing up the ladder from below. Looking down, she could just make out a figure kneeling at the bottom.
The drop from here was about fifteen to twenty meters.
She didn't hesitate. With a tap of her toes, she jumped straight down, stunning the crowd around her.
Jumping from this height would cripple or kill an ordinary person.
But she landed steadily on the shattered boxing ring at the very bottom.
The broken stones beneath her feet were sharp and painful, but she raised her eyebrows and looked at the man before her.
Hey, you're Master Lin from Seacrest, right?
She called out, but got no response.
After Evan Lin and Master Lin finished their fight, the scene was chaos, and no one dared approach the kneeling Master Lin.
Who knows if losing the match put Master Lin in a bad mood? If you got too close and he killed you with a punch, who would you complain to?
Why so quiet?
Seeing that Master Lin stayed silent, she walked over and sized up the kneeling figure under the moonlight.
Hey, I'm talking to you. Why are you kneeling so steadily? Are you trying to make me your mother?
I'm not your mother. At most, I'm just recruiting you, hey.
She called out a couple more times, and finally stood right in front of Master Lin. Up close, she saw he looked older than expected, and curiously reached out to pat his shoulder.
I'm just recruiting you—joining Moonshade isn't such a hardship, is it?
I wanted to recruit a pretty boy, but you seem more like an old-timer. Still, you'll do. I'm not too picky.
You're so silent—do you want to help build socialism or not? Can't you be a little more responsible? Why act like helping out is costing you your life…
She kept rambling, but the moment her hand touched Master Lin's shoulder…
The kneeling Master Lin before her suddenly turned to dust, dissolving into drifting ash under the moonlight.
The scene was truly eerie.
The woman's outstretched hand froze in place.
Her face, once casual, now grew tense as she stared at the empty ground before her.
Is this... dust to dust?
She muttered to herself, startled and baffled.