Chapter 58: If You Are Heartless, I Cannot Be Unrighteous

“Lin Yang, what do you think you’re doing!”
Yu Ping’s face turned pale with fright, her stern words barely concealing her fear.
Liu Fuyu was even more terrified. She knew Lin Yang possessed some skills, but never imagined he was this formidable—defeating Chen Gongming in a single move.
“Don’t come any closer!”
Liu Fuyu cried out, her beautiful face drained of color. “Dad, please save us!”
Liu Chengzhi clenched his teeth and hurried forward. “Xiao Yang, your Aunt Yu was wrong in this matter. For my sake, could you let them go?”
He could hardly stand by while his wife and daughter were in danger. Swallowing his pride, he pleaded with Lin Yang.
“Uncle Liu, why are you so nervous? All I want is to eat the noodles Aunt Yu cooked.”
Lin Yang walked over to the dining table and sat down, calmly enjoying the steaming bowl of noodles before him.
Yu Ping and Liu Fuyu remained on edge, hearts pounding.
“Aunt Yu, after all these years, your cooking has only improved. I’ve been craving this taste for two or three years now.”
Lin Yang ate the noodles, praising Yu Ping’s culinary skills as he did so.
His serene, indifferent manner unsettled Yu Ping even more.
“If there’s not enough, I can cook another bowl for you,” she offered timidly.
Lin Yang drank the last drop of soup, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said, “That won’t be necessary. You’d rather feed the dog than let me eat these noodles. Even having this bowl is already more than I deserve.”
His words made Yu Ping tremble with fear; sweat glistened on her forehead, and her face was ashen.
“I… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things.”
Lin Yang smiled faintly. “Such insincere apologies aren’t needed. I don’t intend to do anything to you. Though you’ve been unkind, I cannot be unjust; though you’ve been ungrateful, I must still respect my elders.”
His gentle words struck Yu Ping like a slap across the face.
“Uncle Liu, I’ll be going now.”
Lin Yang nodded to Liu Chengzhi and left.
“Xiao Yang… Uncle Liu owes you an apology,” Liu Chengzhi said, face flushed with shame.
Lin Yang waved it off. “By the way, I’m living at Building Eighteen in Imperial Garden now. You may give my address to Liang Kuan, let him come for revenge whenever he pleases. I’ll be waiting.”
With that, Lin Yang walked out of the Liu family villa without looking back.
Only then did Yu Ping and Liu Fuyu finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Yu Ping’s body still trembled uncontrollably.
“He… did he just say he’s living at Building Eighteen in Imperial Garden? Isn’t that his old home?” she asked.
“That apartment was sold off by Qin Monong and has been vacant ever since. I don’t know who bought it,” Liu Chengzhi replied.
“Isn’t it obvious? He must be kept by some wealthy woman. How else could he afford a place in Imperial Garden? But how did that useless guy become so skilled?”
Though Liu Fuyu was startled by Lin Yang’s prowess, she refused to admit it.
“Defeating a fifth-rank expert in one move—is that useless? Go find me two such ‘useless’ people, then.”
Liu Chengzhi’s retort left Liu Fuyu speechless.
Ignoring Yu Ping and Liu Fuyu, Liu Chengzhi hurried to check on Chen Gongming.
Chen’s four fingers were broken, and Lin Yang’s palm had left him coughing up blood.
Liu Chengzhi knew Chen Gongming was finished, but he still called the driver to rush him to the hospital.
Yu Ping was not idle, either; she told Liu Fuyu to phone Liang Kuan and inform him of Lin Yang’s address.
When Liu Fuyu mentioned Lin Yang had defeated a fifth-rank expert in one move, Liang Kuan was astonished.
But he quickly replied, “So what if he beat a fifth-rank? In Luocheng, fifth-rank is nothing. I’ll find an eighth-rank expert and make sure he’s crushed beneath my feet.”
Lin Yang returned home, showered and changed clothes, and waited for Liang Kuan’s men to come seeking revenge.
At that moment, he received a call from Cao Yanling.
“Mr. Lin, are you all right? I heard you were ambushed by a skilled assassin last night.”
“I’m fine.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Are you free this afternoon? I’d like to invite you to a movie, and perhaps ask a few questions about martial arts.”
Cao Yanling spoke over the phone.
Lin Yang hesitated, then agreed.
They arranged to meet at the cinema.
Lin Yang lived nearby; a short drive brought him there, and he waited in the lounge, idly scrolling through his phone.
Lin Yimo suddenly added him to the class group chat, welcoming him with a message to the group.
Lin Yang opened the list of members and saw Dou Jun and Liu Fuyu among them, but not Liang Kuan.
He was about to send a greeting to his classmates.
Immediately, someone posted a surprised emoji and asked, “What’s going on? Which Lin Yang is this?”
“Who else? It must be Lin Yang from Starshine Group, the eldest young master. He’s still alive? Was he just released from prison?”
“We’re all old classmates here. Let’s be careful with our words. No need for sarcasm,” Lin Yimo quickly interjected.

A smile played on Lin Yang’s lips. These people knew he was once the eldest son of the Lin family—a legend in school—now fallen from grace, his family ruined, his reputation lost. Most were taking pleasure in his misfortune.
“He brought it on himself—drugs, gambling. Why should he care what people say?”
“This group is for the elite of our year. Lin, the class president, how could you let someone like that in?”
A chorus of mocking voices followed, heedless of any restraint.
“Would you all shut up for once? Everyone has ups and downs. When someone’s luck runs out, is it really necessary to kick them when they’re down?”
“Besides, you lot were always hanging around Brother Yang back in school, hoping for favors.”
“Once, you called him ‘Brother Yang’ at every turn, but now that he’s fallen, you mock him. Is that amusing?”
Suddenly, a classmate fired off several messages, putting the group in its place.
This was Zheng Nanxu, who had once shared a desk with Lin Yang and was a loyal friend.
After his rebuke, the chat fell silent for a moment, and Lin Yang received a friend request from Zheng Nanxu.
Lin Yang hesitated, then accepted. Zheng Nanxu quickly sent a voice message.
“Brother Yang, you’ve been off the radar for over two years, all your contacts vanished. Are you all right now? Where are you?”
Zheng Nanxu’s voice was clearly emotional.
Lin Yang felt a touch of comfort; at least someone still cared for him.
“I’m in Luocheng,” Lin Yang replied.
Zheng Nanxu immediately initiated a video call. When it connected, his face appeared on the screen.
“Brother Yang, you look even more handsome now.”
“Of course,” Lin Yang laughed.
“Don’t mind those people in the group. There have been plenty of rumors about you these past two years, but I don’t believe them. Where in Luocheng are you? I’ll come find you after work.”
Zheng Nanxu spoke excitedly.
“I’m busy today. Let’s meet tomorrow,” Lin Yang said.
He had already promised Cao Yanling a movie and dinner, so he had to refuse Zheng Nanxu for now.
“Then it’s settled. See you tomorrow.”
They didn’t chat much longer via video. Lin Yang had meant to ignore further messages in the group, but someone tagged him.
“Yimo, you brought Lin Yang into the group—is it so we can attend his memorial service?”
Dou Jun jumped in at this moment.
Then Dou Jun tagged Lin Yang, asking, “Which hospital are you in? Are you at death’s door?”