Chapter 129: A Heavy Extortion

Cheng Kuo was injured. The moment those words left his lips, they left the Black Widow and Yin Weixiong utterly stunned beyond measure.

What weight did the title of "Mystic Master" carry? In Luocheng, there were no such experts. A Mystic Master was an elite figure that every major faction in the Southern Capital Province would fight to recruit as an honorary advisor; their status was truly transcendent.

"Mystic... Master? How could Father say he is a Mystic Master! That’s impossible!" Although the Black Widow had seen much of the world, she had never encountered a Mystic Master, let alone one so young.

"The palm strike he just used—he wounded Master from a distance. Projecting true energy to strike from afar is a capability only found in the Profound Mystic Realm," Yin Weixiong explained blankly, his heart filled with terror. If they had truly provoked a Mystic Master, the entire Cheng clan would be finished. A single word from a Mystic Master could wipe out their family.

Lin Yang sneered, feeling quite satisfied with his Air-Splitting Palm. Had Cheng Kuo been at his peak, he might not have been able to wound him; after all, he had not yet mastered the technique to perfection, and its power was still insufficient.

Cheng Kuo quickly composed himself, clutching his chest. "No, this isn't the method of a Mystic Master, but some kind of martial art that allows for long-range strikes."

"It seems you haven't been beaten into a fool yet," Lin Yang admitted with a cold laugh.

Even so, it was enough to leave Cheng Kuo in awe. A martial art capable of striking from a distance was a Mystic-grade skill, and its value was immeasurable. He never expected that Lin Yang would possess such a technique.

"To think you possess a Mystic-grade martial art—your lineage must be incredibly prestigious; otherwise, such a technique would be impossible to obtain."

At that moment, Cheng Kuo realized that he had not only lost in terms of strength but had also lost completely in terms of background and connections. In other words, with a Mystic-grade martial art at his disposal, even if Lin Yang were not his match today, he would never dare to kill him. This proved that there was at least one Mystic Master behind Lin Yang—who would dare to provoke such a figure?

Cheng Kuo accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. "I have lost. Do with me as you please."

Hearing this, both the Black Widow and Yin Weixiong lowered their heads. This time, the Cheng family had kicked a steel plate.

"Kill you? That's unnecessary, and there's no reason for it." Lin Yang truly had no intention of killing Cheng Kuo, as there was no deep-seated grudge between them.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Kuo cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Grandmaster Lin, for your magnanimity. I apologize for my previous offense."

"I like apologies, but I wonder, what kind of 'restitution' does Grandmaster Cheng intend to offer?" Lin Yang was not being polite; he didn't want to leave empty-handed. When it was time to extort, he would not hold back. There was no need to kill Cheng Kuo, but taking the opportunity to squeeze him for a profit was essential. Cheng Kuo was certainly wealthier than him, and if he didn't take advantage now, when would he?

Cheng Kuo was momentarily stunned. He had only spoken those words as a formality, a mere apology, but he hadn't expected Lin Yang to latch onto the word "restitution" and immediately start shaking him down. But with his back against the wall, Cheng Kuo had to bow his head; having been defeated, he had no choice but to submit to the extortion.

"Grandmaster Lin, just name your price. Gold, silver, treasures, or beautiful companions—all are yours to command." Cheng Kuo actually began to try and build a rapport, hoping to curry favor with Lin Yang. It was for no other reason than the Mystic Master behind Lin Yang; that alone was worth the effort.

Lin Yang laughed heartily and waved his hand. "Too vulgar, too vulgar. Gold and silver are worldly possessions that I lack for nothing. As for beautiful women, they only slow down the speed at which I draw my sword; a martial artist cannot be obsessed with such things."

"Then what is it that you desire, Grandmaster?"

Since he wanted neither gold nor women, Cheng Kuo was at a loss for what Lin Yang might want.

"I want heavenly treasures, century-old herbs, and rare medicinal materials. Grandmaster Cheng, you surely have a collection of these, don't you?" Martial artists required such items; even if Cheng Kuo did not know the method of medicinal bathing, he still needed precious herbs to maintain his energy and blood.

"Of course, I have them. I will return, take stock, and have them delivered to you by tomorrow," Cheng Kuo promised quickly.

"Very well. I will overlook the offense against me. However, the matter of your daughter kidnapping my woman still needs to be settled." With that, Lin Yang walked straight toward the Black Widow.

The once arrogant and infamous Black Widow, Cheng Wanqing, now faced Lin Yang without a shred of her former ferocity. Her face was pale, showing a trace of fear as she subconsciously retreated.

"Grandmaster Lin, I..."

Lin Yang had no desire for her empty words and grabbed Cheng Wanqing by the throat. "I hate it most when people use my family and friends to threaten me. You have touched my reverse scale—you deserve to die."

Although Cheng Wanqing was indeed beautiful, Lin Yang was unmoved by her looks and showed no trace of pity. He increased the pressure on her throat, lifting her off the ground. Cheng Wanqing kicked her legs in the air, her hands clawing desperately as the sensation of suffocation set in, filling her with immense terror.

"Let go of my Junior Sister!" Yin Weixiong had always been in love with Cheng Wanqing. Seeing her on the verge of death, he threw caution to the wind and tried to intervene.

Lin Yang glared at him, channeled his true energy, and launched another Air-Splitting Palm. The eighth-level expert, Yin Weixiong, was struck from a distance and sent flying, coughing up blood.

In the lounge, Lin Yimo and her family watched the scene through the gap in the door. Lin Yuanzhi, in particular, could not believe his eyes; the notorious Black Widow was now being toyed with by Lin Yang, who held the power of life and death over her.

"Xiaomo, since he is so powerful, why didn't you say so earlier? You made us worry for nothing." Lin Yuanzhi’s attitude toward Lin Yang had undergone a complete transformation. With Cheng Kuo defeated and the Black Widow at his mercy, in Lin Yuanzhi’s eyes, Lin Yang’s status in Luocheng had surpassed that of the Cheng family, meaning no one could ever shake his position again.

This was a massive pillar of support! If he could become his son-in-law, the Lin family would surely surpass the Cheng family and become a top-tier powerhouse in Luocheng. Just thinking about it made Lin Yuanzhi excited; the future was bright indeed!

"I told you, but would you have believed me?" Lin Yimo said coldly. She sneered at her grandfather and father's behavior as fair-weather allies and was deeply dissatisfied, though she knew exactly what her father was calculating at this moment.

"There was indeed a misunderstanding before, but it's resolved now. You must hold onto him tightly; a man like this is impossible to find even with a lantern. Our family will never object and will certainly support you." Lin Yuanzhi was already dreaming of his rise to power as a top-tier family in Luocheng.

"Xiaomo, listen to your father; he's right. From now on, our whole family will have to rely on you. The great task of bringing glory to our ancestors is in your hands," Lin Dehai stroked his beard, looking very pleased.

Lin Yimo remained silent, showing no reaction.

Outside, Cheng Wanqing inched closer to death, her eyes bloodshot. She had never experienced the sensation of dying before and was overwhelmed by terror.

"Grandmaster Lin, I beg you to show mercy and spare my daughter’s life for my sake." Cheng Kuo naturally could not watch his daughter die, but he knew that pleading from the start would have been useless. He had waited for the right moment, and now that Cheng Wanqing was on the brink of death, he finally stepped in to beg for her life.