Chapter 5: Wherever i Go, Trouble Follows

After exploring the new villa, Xuen Ye retreated to his room for his customary cultivation session. Meanwhile, Lin Quirong chose a room adjacent to Xuen's.

Several hours passed, and night had fallen. Xuen, having completed his practice, descended the stairs to find Quirong waiting.

"Why are you always late for dinner? Hurry up!" Quirong exclaimed impatiently.

Xuen, without a word, joined her at the table and they ate together in silence.

Once the meal was finished, Quirong handed Xuen a card, saying, "Xuen, this card has 10 million yuan, given to you by my grandfather. He thought you might need some funds for now, so feel free to use it. If you run out, just ask for more."

Though Xuen was reluctant to accept too many favors, he took the card, deciding it would be useful for the time being.

Turning to Quirong, Xuen asked, "Can you take me somewhere to buy a car?"

Quirong nodded, "Oh, of course. You really should have one. It's difficult to get around now that you've moved so far out. Let me take you to Shen Car Dealers. The Shen family are good friends of ours, and you'll be able to find a quality car there."

Xuen gave a silent nod of agreement. "Let's go, then," he said, ready to depart.

Xuen and Quirong made their way to the car dealership, a grand establishment adorned with an array of luxurious vehicles. As they arrived, Quirong instructed Xuen, "Wait here, I'll be back after parking the car." Xuen stood silently, his gaze fixed on a particularly opulent SUV. Suddenly, a portly man in a suit approached him with a condescending tone.

"Hey, you can look, but don't touch. That's the most expensive SUV we have here," the man sneered.

Xuen, his eyes narrowing, retorted sharply, "Who the hell are you?"

The man puffed out his chest with pride. "I am Manager Jiang of Shen Dealership."

Xuen's voice turned icy. "Is this how a manager speaks to a client?"

Another voice chimed in, dripping with mockery. "A client? Hahaha! I've never seen someone so poorly dressed claim to be a client for the most expensive SUV."

Manager Jiang joined in the laughter. "You're right, Young Master Dong. This kid must have started drinking too early today."

The manager continued, gesturing to the young man beside him, "This is Young Master Dong, one of our regulars, and this is his girlfriend, Xia Mei. Only people like them can afford such a car."

Xuen, already irritated by the unwarranted insults, could no longer contain his anger. In a flash, he slapped Manager Jiang across the face. The manager staggered back in shock, shouting, "What the hell are you doing? Guards, take him down and call the police!"

The guards swiftly surrounded Xuen, ready to attack. Xuen, however, remained calm, his movements almost imperceptible as he effortlessly dispatched each guard with lightning speed. The scene felt eerily familiar to him, as if he had lived it before.

Manager Jiang, now trembling with fear, stammered, "Stop! You can't touch me or Young Master Dong! This is the Shen family's territory!"

Xuen, undeterred, delivered another sharp slap to the manager's face, his voice cold and commanding. "Say it again. Can I slap you or not? Huh? Tell me, you fat fool. Can I slap you or not? Do you realize I could reduce this dealership to ashes with just my hand?"

Young Master Dong, witnessing the scene unfold, began to regret his earlier mockery. He stood frozen, unsure of how to react.

At that moment, Quirong rushed over, her voice filled with concern. "Xuen, what happened?"

Xuen explained the situation, his tone calm but laced with frustration. Quirong's expression darkened as she turned to Manager Jiang and Young Master Dong. "You dared to insult an honored guest of the Lin family? Has the Dong family suddenly become so powerful that they can disrespect us?"

Young Master Dong lowered his head, visibly shaken by the revelation that Xuen was connected to the Lin family. Manager Jiang, now on his knees, begged for forgiveness, his earlier arrogance replaced by sheer terror.

Xuen, weary of the unnecessary drama, decided to let the matter rest. He turned his attention back to the SUV, intending to purchase it himself. However, Quirong intervened, her voice soft but firm. "Xuen, keep your money for the future. I'll buy this car for you."

Xuen hesitated, his pride surfacing. "I can't accept too many favors from the Lin family."

Quirong blushed slightly, her gaze softening. "No, I mean... I wanted to buy it for you on my own."

Xuen, understanding her intentions, felt a pang of reluctance to reject her outright. His cold demeanor and years of isolation had left him unaccustomed to such gestures, especially from a woman. Unable to bring himself to hurt her feelings, he nodded in acceptance, though his heart remained guarded.

After the tumultuous events at the dealership, Xuen instructed the staff to deliver his newly purchased car to Quirong's villa by the following day. With the matter settled, Quirong and Xuen made their way to the parking lot and entered Quirong's car.

As they drove through the city, Xuen remained silent, lost in thought. Quirong, sensing the weight of the day, broke the silence. "Xuen, I've gathered all the information about your sister," she said softly.

Xuen's eyes widened in surprise, his voice urgent. "Tell me everything. Don't leave out a single detail."

Quirong began to explain, her tone measured and compassionate. "Your sister, Zhao Linn'er, was rescued by the police after the car accident and taken to the hospital. She sustained minor injuries but suffered severe mental trauma. After losing your family, she couldn't bear to stay in the Zhao family home alone, so she was placed in a government-run orphanage until she turned 16."

Xuen interrupted, his voice tinged with frustration. "What about the Zhao family's property and business? We were the wealthiest family in Shenzhen before."

Quirong sighed, her expression somber. "All of the Zhao family's assets were seized by the Li family, who pressured other influential families in Shenzhen to comply. Your sister lived in poverty after that. She left the orphanage at 16 and took on various odd jobs to pay for her high school tuition. Now, at 17, she is studying at a school founded by the Lin Family Foundation."

Hearing this, Xuen was overwhelmed with a mix of sorrow and anger. He felt a deep sense of guilt for not being there for his sister during those difficult years. Now that he had returned, he resolved to muster the courage to explain everything that had happened over the past decade. He asked Quirong to arrange for his sister to live with them at her villa, hoping to provide her with the stability and care she had been denied for so long.

To relieve the stress of the day, Xuen decided to visit a bar, bidding Quirong farewell for the evening. Quirong, in turn, headed to the Lin Family estate to attend to her own responsibilities. The weight of the past and the challenges of the present lingered in the air, but Xuen was determined to face them head-on, one step at a time.

In the dimly lit ambiance of the bar, Xuen sat quietly, nursing a bottle of whiskey. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on a familiar figure—his sister, Zhao Linn'er, working as a waitress. Though she recognized him as the man who had saved her at the Song Family party, she remained unaware of their blood ties. Xuen called her over, his voice tinged with concern.

"Why are you working here?" he asked, his tone firm yet gentle.

She smiled faintly, replying, "I've always worked here and there."

Their conversation was interrupted by a crude voice from a nearby table. "Hey, little girl, come join us for a drink. I've already cleared it with your manager," a man sneered, addressing Linn'er.

Without a moment's hesitation, Xuen's rage erupted. He stormed over and delivered a fatal blow to the man, silencing him forever. The bar fell into stunned silence, the air thick with tension.

The manager, visibly shaken, shouted, "What the hell are you doing? You've killed someone in Brother Tiger's bar! Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Xuen, his fury unabated, slapped the manager across the face. "You're the one who agreed to sell her to that filth," he growled.

The manager stammered, "Sell her? I only told her to have a drink with him! Do you even know who you've killed? That man was part of Brother Tiger's gang. You're a dead man!"

Xuen's anger intensified. "You have fifteen minutes. Call Brother Tiger or whoever you need. Tell him to come here."

The manager, with a sly grin, made the call. "Brother Tiger, you need to come immediately. It's urgent."

As Xuen slapped the manager again, he mused to himself about having slapped two managers in one day.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and in walked Brother Tiger and Brother Ba, the formidable leaders of Shenzhen's underworld. The crowd parted nervously as they approached.

"Who's causing trouble here?" Brother Ba demanded, his voice dripping with menace.

Xuen stepped forward, unflinching. "I'm the one causing trouble. Got a problem with that?"

Brother Ba sneered, "Do you know who I am? I could kill you and feed you to the fish, kid."

Brother Tiger, however, seemed more composed. "I'll forgive you today because I'm in a good mood. Lady Quirong praised me earlier," he said, attempting to de-escalate the situation.

But Xuen was not appeased. "That man insulted her and tried to force her to drink with him," he said, pointing to Linn'er.

Brother Ba's temper flared. "How dare you!" he roared, lunging at Xuen.

In one swift motion, Xuen slapped Brother Ba, sending him flying across the room. The crowd gasped in disbelief.

Brother Tiger stepped forward, his men closing in. The manager urged him to kill Xuen, but to everyone's astonishment, Brother Tiger knelt before the young man and apologized profusely.

The room was in shock. How could the mighty Brother Tiger bow to this stranger?

It was then that Brother Tiger recognized Linn'er as the girl Lady Quirong had tasked him to protect. Realizing Xuen's true identity—the man who had aided the Lin family and dismantled the Song family—he ordered his men to apologize and explained Xuen's significance.

The bar fell into a hushed silence as Xuen, his authority now unquestioned, instructed Brother Tiger to meet him the next day at Lady Quirong's villa. He then left with Linn'er in tow.

As they walked, Linn'er teased him, "Big brother, who are you? Why do you always help me? Are you interested in me?"

Xuen knocked her head lightly, his tone exasperated. "Shut up, kid. You shouldn't be working in a bar."

She sighed, her voice softening. "I need to work to pay my fees. I don't have a family. They died when I was seven. I barely remember them."

Xuen's heart ached, but he still couldn't bring himself to reveal the truth. Instead, he said, "Come live with me. You don't need to work here anymore."

Linn'er was taken aback. "Live with you? What do you mean? I'm not that kind of girl."

Xuen sighed, knocking her head again. "You kids these days only think of the worst. I'm offering you a place to stay. If you need work, I'll find you something. Your college is nearby anyway."

After a moment of contemplation, Linn'er agreed. There was something about Xuen that felt familiar, a lingering sense of safety and warmth she hadn't felt in years.

And so, the two walked into the night, their fates intertwined once more, bound by blood and a shared past neither had fully uncovered.