Chapter 28: Young Master?

Perched atop a relatively high hill, a sprawling campsite stretched for several hundred meters below. In the dwindling light of dusk, martial artists emanating formidable auras shuffled in and out of the camp, their expressions fraught with sadness and worry.

Amidst the camp, a warm fire blazed, its flames casting a flickering glow that cut through the encroaching darkness. Within one of the most opulent tents, the fire burned brilliantly, illuminating the glum faces of those gathered inside.

At this moment, a man clad in a form-fitting suit spoke in a low voice, delivering his report. "Elders, Young Master, thus far, nearly ten search teams have gone missing, with some members suffering severe injuries."

Seated in the highest position, Lin Ming's face wore an expression as gloomy as a raincloud, with a hint of a burgeoning headache. For the first time, he felt a tinge of helplessness, realizing that matters were spiraling out of his control. Earlier, his subordinates had reported the disappearance of Lin Yang's personal maid, and now their search teams were encountering unforeseen difficulties.

What distressed him most was the loss of nearly ten search teams, a sizable blow equal to approximately one-twentieth of the Lin Family's strength.

Rubbing his temples, which throbbed with increasing intensity, Lin Ming inquired in a subdued tone, "Have you obtained any clues as to the identity of the culprit?"

The suited man hesitated momentarily before responding. "The person responsible did not attempt to conceal their identity. According to the accounts of several severely injured experts, it seems that the Ninth Young Master is behind these incidents."

"The Ninth Young Master? How could he inflict injuries on so many people? Are you certain?" Lin Han, seated at the bottom of the gathering, leapt to his feet in astonishment.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, the man with the solemn expression nodded and affirmed, "It is the truth. Multiple peak early stage spirit awakening realm experts have positively identified the Ninth Young Master as the culprit. Armed with a bronze cauldron weighing over a thousand pounds, he dealt severe injuries but refrained from killing. Instead, he resorted to robbery."

"This is preposterous! How could a useless individual like him wield a cauldron weighing over a thousand pounds as a weapon? Isn't he only at the initial stage of the early spirit awakening realm? His strength couldn't possibly match up to such a feat!" Lin Yun protested incredulously, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"You speak the truth. It is inconceivable. As we all know, he has been stagnant at the initial stage of the early spirit awakening realm for nearly a decade. Lifting a cauldron weighing over a thousand pounds is no easy task. Some exceptional experts at the peak of the early stage might barely manage it. However, to wield such a cauldron as a weapon... it surpasses the capabilities of ordinary early stage spirit awakening realm experts," opined a voice tinged with gloom.

The speaker donned a tall hat and a gray-feathered coat, his face exuding an air of coldness. It was none other than Lin Han, a man who had long held disdain for Lin Yang and bore a deep-rooted grudge against him. Lin Yang had been beaten to death by him and his men, an unfortunate event that led to Old Demon Lin seizing control of his body.

Of all individuals, Lin Han harbored the most vexation and fury.

"That means this kid managed to reach the peak of the early spirit awakening realm in just one night!" Lin Shu, seated on the left, sighed thoughtfully, his eyes filled with a mix of admiration and envy. They shimmered with a hint of uncertainty, as if he was pondering his own abilities.

"Damn it! This guy truly has no regard for the family's interests and shamelessly takes our treasures for himself!" With a furious bang, Lin Yun's fist collided with the table, shattering it into pieces. His face twisted in a mixture of jealousy and resentment, his eyes blazing with a fiery intensity.

The majority of the Young Masters present struggled to contain their own emotions. Unwillingness, envy, and even a tinge of murderous intent flickered in their eyes.

But beneath those volatile emotions lay an insatiable greed, fueled by the burning desire to seize the opportunities that had fallen into Lin Yang's lap. In their eyes, he was nothing more than a ripe fruit waiting to be plucked. His sudden surge in cultivation to the peak of the early spirit awakening realm only confirmed their suspicions that he had stumbled upon some extraordinary fortuity.

If only they could obtain that same opportunity, their own cultivations would soar to unprecedented heights. They could easily surpass their current rivals and become the most formidable contenders in the family.

"Cough, cough…" A hunchbacked old man behind Lin Ming cleared his throat dryly, drawing the attention of everyone in the tent.

Dressed in a humble black garb, the old man's hunched figure blended into the shadows cast by the flickering candlelight. Yet, despite his unassuming appearance, his mere presence elicited a noticeable shift in the atmosphere, quelling the greed and fervor that had consumed the Young Masters moments earlier.

This old man was none other than Lin Zhong, the personal steward of the current family head, Lin Qingshan. While his bent posture suggested physical frailty, the air of mystery surrounding his true strength remained impenetrable.

Lin Zhong had weathered countless storms alongside Lin Qingshan, contributing greatly to the latter's rise as the head of the Lin family. Through years of self-cultivation, he had remained by Lin Ming's side, his true power veiled from public knowledge. Regardless of which Young Master encountered him, they could not help but address him with the utmost respect, a mark of the influence he wielded within the family.

"Young Masters, there is something that requires your attention. May I have the privilege of sharing it with you?" the hunchbacked old man spoke in a gentle tone, his voice carrying a soothing melody. The flickering firelight cast a soft glow upon his creased face, lending him an air of wisdom and experience.

"Grandpa Zhong, please proceed. We are all ears," Lin Shu, the eldest among the Young Masters, responded with utmost respect. While he knew that the position of family head was not likely to fall to him, he still held the title of eldest brother and commanded a certain amount of authority amongst his peers.

The hunchbacked old man nodded, his wrinkled features displaying a benevolent smile beneath the dancing flames. "The Ninth Young Master has predictably displayed a shocking level of self-centeredness, completely disregarding the family's interests. It is evident that he has been embezzling the family's treasures for his own personal gain. Moreover, he has proven himself ruthless and lawless, causing grievous harm to some of our most promising talents. This individual poses a significant threat to the Lin family, especially considering the valuables he carries. It is of utmost importance that we swiftly recover those treasures."

"I implore all the Young Masters to put the family's interests above all else and collaborate to capture this disloyal son. Our success in bringing him to justice will earn my eternal gratitude, and I will not hesitate to report this accomplishment to the family head, offering any assistance required."

The assembled Young Masters were immediately enticed, their desires reignited. Lin Shu, possessing a more level-headed temperament, pondered for a moment before voicing his concerns. "However, Lin Yang is now a lone wolf. With his considerable cultivation advancement, his maliciousness, and cunning ways, I fear that capturing him within the forest will prove to be an arduous task."

The hunchbacked old man raised his head, his eyes locking with Lin Shu's, emitting an inexplicable intensity. In that split second, Lin Shu felt his muscles freeze, a wave of terror rising from the depths of his being. The old man's gaze was unfathomable and possessed an unforgiving chill that sent shivers down his spine.

Beads of sweat formed on Lin Shu's forehead, despite his cultivation at the peak of the early spirit awakening realm. The intensity of that single glance from the hunchbacked old man proved too overwhelming to bear.

However, as swiftly as the intimidating gaze appeared, it dissipated, replaced by a cold indifference. The old man's eyes only softened when he looked upon Lin Ming, assuming a fatherly kindness that masked his true nature.

"Young Master, there is no need to worry. I have assembled a team of elite enforcers from the Law Enforcement Hall. Each member boasts a cultivation surpassing the mid stage of the spirit awakening realm. Capturing a mere peak early spirit awakening realm cultivator is well within their capabilities," the old man declared, clapping his hands with an air of finality.

Suddenly, a group of formidable experts entered the tent. Each individual exuded an aura of profound power, their tight-fitting garments emphasizing their lean and muscular frames. Their expressions remained aloof and detached, emanating a palpable sense of authority and dominance