Lin Fan walked out of the Qiao family villa.
Just as his thoughts sank into a haze, the ringtone on his phone—“All I wish is to win one heart, and stay together till old age…”—suddenly rang, cutting through his gloom.
He glanced at the screen. It was Meng Hedong, Chairman of the Dingyuan Chamber of Commerce.
He answered, “Old Meng, hello.”
From the other end came Meng Hedong’s respectful voice, laced with a light chuckle. “Tomorrow night, I will complete the signing ceremony for the 10 billion yuan investment in Phoenix City with your wife. At the same time, your wedding anniversary celebration will begin under the name of the signing ceremony. It will definitely be a surprise for your wife.”
Lin Fan’s gaze dimmed as he said quietly, “We’re divorced. Cancel the celebration.”
There was silence on the other end for a full fifteen seconds.
“Understood.”
After a pause, Meng Hedong added, “By the way, the head of the Xia family suffered a sudden illness this morning. He hopes you can come and take a look. He is willing to offer the Hundred-Venom Blossom Herb as consultation payment.”
A glimmer of light flashed in Lin Fan’s eyes. “Alright. Have someone from the Xia family come to the clinic to pick me up.”
Meng Hedong asked, “Should it still be kept secret?”
Lin Fan replied calmly, “No need.”
The three-year agreement with his master had already ended. Marrying Qiao Wanyan had been his way of repaying a hidden debt of gratitude. Now that mission was complete, though with regret, his greater goal still remained.
He possessed the Sacred Flame Evil Physique. One year of cultivation for him was equivalent to thirty years for an ordinary person.
However, he needed to gather eighty-one types of poisonous herbs to refine the Qilin Pill. Only then could he unlock eighty-one divine abilities.
And now… he was only missing nine more poisonous herbs.
After hanging up, Lin Fan walked into the clinic.
Inside, he found Qiao Wanyan’s younger brother, Qiao Yida, along with He Junhui.
He Junhui pulled out a slim cigar, and Qiao Yida immediately bent over to light it for him.
Taking a deep, satisfied drag, He Junhui pointed the glowing tip at Lin Fan and sneered, “You piece of trash. I thought you had some backbone. Refusing to sign the agreement earlier—you just wanted more benefits, didn’t you?”
Qiao Yida stepped forward aggressively, his voice booming, “Speak! Did you take the 10 million yuan my sister offered and this clinic? Spit it all out right now!”
At a glance, Lin Fan could tell that Qiao Yida had become He Junhui’s lackey.
He Junhui clearly intended to use this hot-headed fool to humiliate him.
Lin Fan had no interest in arguing. Turning his back, he began packing his belongings and said calmly, “I just came back to take some things. I didn’t take the money or the clinic.”
Qiao Yida raised his fist in front of Lin Fan’s face, cracking his knuckles loudly. “Chairman He said you already signed the agreement. You’d give up benefits just like that?”
He Junhui narrowed his eyes, clapped his hands, and three burly bodyguards emerged from the back door of the clinic.
Without hesitation, Qiao Yida stepped forward and began searching Lin Fan.
“Don’t move! Or I’ll have Chairman He’s bodyguards kill you!”
In the process, he yanked at Lin Fan’s collar and suddenly noticed the pendant hanging on his chest—a piece of red jade, crystal clear like ice.
With a savage grin, he snatched it away. “You useless piece of trash. You’ve eaten and lived off our family for so long—this isn’t even enough to compensate!”
Lin Fan could endure anything… but not this.
The jade pendant was his ancestral heirloom. Anyone who touched it was crossing his absolute bottom line.
“Give it back!” he roared.
Qiao Yida tilted his head mockingly. “I’d rather smash it than give it to you, garbage!”
Bang!
He slammed the jade pendant onto the ground with force.
The jade shattered instantly, fragments scattering in all directions.
At that moment, Lin Fan felt as if his heart had been torn apart. His eyes turned bloodshot.
That pendant had been passed down through generations of his family.
And now… it had been destroyed.
This was not just driving him out—it was destroying him from the inside.
Unforgivable!
Before anyone could react, Lin Fan’s palm struck Qiao Yida’s face.
With a loud thud, Qiao Yida was sent crashing to the ground, his head slamming into the floor hard enough to make it tremble slightly.
His vision spun, foam forming at the corners of his mouth.
In the next instant, Lin Fan grabbed him like a chicken and lifted him up.
Slap!
“You have never shown respect!”
Slap!
“You keep pushing people too far!”
Slap!
“You destroyed my jade pendant!”
Each strike echoed sharply.
Qiao Yida’s face swelled grotesquely, blood and saliva spilling from his mouth.
He Junhui rushed forward at once, but Lin Fan spun and kicked backward, sending him flying three meters away. He crashed to the ground, clutching his stomach and retching bitter fluid.
Covering his abdomen, He Junhui screamed hoarsely at the three bodyguards, “He’s killing someone! What are you waiting for?! Beat him to death!”
The three bodyguards charged together.
Lin Fan turned his head sharply, his gaze like a blade.
“Get lost!”
His voice rang out like thunder. His eyes were cold and venomous, like a coiled viper.
The three bodyguards froze in fear, instinctively stepping back, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Qiao Yida lay sprawled on the floor, staring at Lin Fan in sheer terror.
He could never have imagined that the usually gentle and tolerant Lin Fan—who had endured mockery without ever getting angry—would become this terrifying once provoked.
The aura of brutality he exuded made their scalps tingle with fear.
Struggling to his feet, He Junhui shoved one of the bodyguards and shouted, “Attack! I’ll give you a raise!”
Suppressing their fear, the three bodyguards stepped forward again, threatening, “Tired of living, huh? Get down!”
“Let’s see if I don’t beat you to death!”
They knew that as long as they crippled Lin Fan, Chairman He would reward them generously.
Just as they were about to strike—
Ten imposing men in suits stormed in like a gust of wind.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In the blink of an eye, the three bodyguards were kicked to the ground.
A stunning young woman stepped forward.
She wore denim shorts and a white tank top, her long legs flawless, her slender waist accentuating her figure. Her beauty was breathtaking, radiating youthful vitality.
Her voice was calm, almost casual, yet carried an unmistakable dominance, “Offend Mr. Lin Fan? How many heads do you think you have?”
Everyone instinctively turned to look at her.
Her every movement was captivating, her expressions lively and full of charm. Her skin was as smooth and luminous as polished jade, drawing every gaze.
With an air of effortless superiority, she walked up to Lin Fan, slightly bowed, and smiled, “Mr. Lin Fan, my name is Xia Ruoxi. I’ve come to invite you to the Xia family to treat my grandfather.”
The room fell silent in shock, waves of disbelief crashing through everyone’s minds.
This breathtaking beauty was none other than Xia Ruoxi, the Second Miss of the Xia family—one of the four great families of Binhai City.
Not only did she come from a powerful background, she was also a legendary figure in the city’s elite circles.
Gifted with extraordinary intelligence, it was said she possessed a photographic memory.
At thirteen, she had been admitted with exceptional results to the world’s top business academy.
At seventeen, she studied under the foremost financial master, becoming the youngest rising star in the nation’s financial world.
At twenty, she returned to Binhai City and took control of the entire Xia Group.
Within just three years, she multiplied the group’s market value sevenfold, becoming the undisputed business queen of the city.
Before anyone could recover from their shock, Lin Fan spoke calmly, dropping a bombshell, “Miss Xia, you were introduced by Meng Hedong, correct?”
He Junhui and the others nearly dropped their jaws.
Lin Fan, who spent his days in this small clinic, actually knew Meng Hedong—and even addressed him so casually?
Xia Ruoxi smiled warmly. “Yes, Uncle Meng asked me to pick you up.”
Lin Fan nodded slightly, his anger fading.
Carefully, he knelt down and picked up the scattered fragments of the broken jade, storing them away with utmost care.
Under the stunned gazes of He Junhui, Qiao Yida, and the three bodyguards, he followed Xia Ruoxi into the car and left.
Only after the car disappeared into the distance did He Junhui and the others dare to get up, still shaken.
Qiao Yida, furious, spat blood as he spoke, “Chairman He, that useless Lin Fan has the Xia family backing him. Did we just get beaten for nothing?”
He Junhui’s eyes burned with hatred. “He’s just a barefoot doctor. Once he leaves the Xia family, I’ll find someone to kill him. The Xia family and Chairman Meng won’t care about the life or death of someone like him.”