Chapter Five: Sibling Reunion

The morning mist draped itself over the old district of Jiangcheng like a soft veil, muffling the sounds of the waking city. At the entrance of a narrow alley, a black Rolls-Royce rolled to a silent stop. The polished exterior gleamed under the faint light, its presence incongruous in this worn-down neighborhood. The car door swung open, and a man stepped out.

Lin Feng wore simple, unassuming casual attire, his shoulders burdened by a weathered backpack that had clearly seen better days. He blended in seamlessly with the ordinary residents of the area, but there was something about him—something in his posture, in the quiet intensity of his gaze—that made him impossible to ignore. His dark eyes held a weight, a depth that spoke of battles fought in the shadows, victories earned at a price only he knew.

His footsteps were slow, measured, as he approached an aging house. The walls bore the scars of time—peeling paint, exposed bricks, cracks that spiderwebbed across its façade. The stone steps leading up to the entrance had worn down over the years, each imperfection a silent witness to the past.

This was his childhood home. The last remnant of his former life. The place where his parents had once laughed, where his family had been whole before tragedy struck.

Three years. Three years since the Lin family had crumbled, since he had been forced into the abyss. But now, he had returned. And there were debts to settle.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Feng reached out and pushed open the wooden door. It creaked in protest, revealing the dimly lit courtyard beyond. A musty scent filled his nostrils, a mixture of dust, damp wood, and forgotten memories.

Inside, soft footsteps echoed, followed by a hesitant voice.

"Who's there?"

A young woman emerged from the small house, dressed in simple clothing that had been mended more times than he could count. A woven basket dangled from her fingertips, filled with vegetables she had likely bought from the morning market. The moment her gaze fell upon him, the basket slipped from her hands. Vegetables tumbled onto the stone floor, rolling in all directions.

Her eyes, wide and disbelieving, shimmered with unshed tears.

"Brother… is that really you?"

Lin Feng barely had time to react before she flung herself at him, clutching him tightly as though afraid he would disappear if she let go. Her shoulders trembled, and when she spoke, her voice cracked with emotion.

"Brother, they told me you were dead! I searched for you, I never stopped looking, but Uncle and the others said you had vanished without a trace. I wanted to believe you were still alive—I had to believe it—but…"

She broke into sobs, her frail body shaking against his chest.

Lin Feng wrapped his arms around her, his grip firm yet gentle.

"I'm here now, Xue'er. I never stopped fighting to come back." His voice was steady, but beneath it lay a quiet fury. "You've suffered enough."

He led her inside the house, his sharp eyes taking in the details of her living conditions. The small space was painfully modest. A few bags of rice sat in the corner, and an old-fashioned radio rested atop a weathered wooden table. The walls bore signs of neglect, and the thin mattress in the corner told him everything he needed to know about the hardships she had endured.

Lin Xue'er wiped her tears and quickly busied herself with boiling water on a small gas stove. As she worked, she spoke, her voice softer now but laced with bitterness.

"After the Lin family fell, Uncle Lin Zhengxiong seized everything. He didn't just take our assets—he made sure I had nowhere to go. I tried to survive by working odd jobs, washing dishes, tutoring children. I struggled, but I never gave up looking for you." She hesitated before continuing. "Recently, I overheard Uncle talking on the phone. He mentioned something called the 'Shadow Consortium.' I don't know exactly what it is, but it sounded like they were the ones supporting him. Brother… I think they had something to do with what happened three years ago."

"The Shadow Consortium…" Lin Feng repeated, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. This confirmed what his sources had uncovered just the night before.

He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to worry about them. From now on, I'll handle everything. I'll make sure we get back what's ours."

Just then, the sharp sound of hurried footsteps filled the air. Lin Feng turned his head slightly, his expression darkening. The next moment, the door was thrown open, and over ten men in black suits stormed in. They spread out quickly, their presence suffocating the small space.

Leading them was a burly middle-aged man with a scarred face. He sneered, his thick arms crossed over his chest.

"Well, well… Lin Feng. I never thought I'd see the day you crawled back from the grave." He smirked cruelly. "Master Lin Zhengxiong has given us clear orders—if we see you, we're to break you. You won't be walking out of here in one piece."

Lin Feng slowly rose to his feet. His movements were unhurried, his expression unreadable. He glanced at Lin Xue'er and spoke in a calm, almost casual tone.

"Stay behind me."

The scar-faced man let out a bark of laughter. "Still pretending to be tough?" He turned to his men. "Get him!"

The thugs charged forward, confident in their numbers.

They never stood a chance.

Lin Feng moved like a shadow—silent, lethal, precise. His strikes were swift, devastating. In mere moments, agonized cries filled the room. Bodies crumpled to the floor, some clutching their ribs, others groaning in pain from dislocated limbs.

The scar-faced man, once so smug, now trembled as he stumbled backward. His confidence had been shattered in the blink of an eye. The stench of urine filled the air as his knees buckled.

Lin Feng stepped forward and placed his foot on the man's chest, pinning him down effortlessly. His voice, though quiet, sent chills down the man's spine.

"Go back and tell Lin Zhengxiong—three days from now, I'm coming for him."

The man nodded frantically, scrambling to his feet and fleeing with what remained of his men.

Lin Xue'er stared at her brother, awe and disbelief evident in her gaze. "Brother… what happened to you in these three years? How did you become so strong?"

Lin Feng ruffled her hair lightly, offering a small, almost nostalgic smile. "Some things are better left unsaid, Xue'er. Just know this—anyone who wronged us will pay."

He turned towards the window, pushing it open. The morning mist had begun to dissipate, revealing the towering skyscrapers of the city beyond. His phone vibrated, and he answered.

"Boss," came the voice of his subordinate, "Lin Zhengxiong knows you're back. He's gathering his forces."

Lin Feng chuckled, his tone filled with quiet amusement. "Let him. I'd love to see what he can do."

Ending the call, he turned to Lin Xue'er.

"Come. We're leaving."

As they stepped out of the house, the sunlight broke through the mist, casting golden light on their figures. Lin Feng's shadow stretched long across the ground—steady, unyielding, like a mountain that no force could shake.