The Female Lead Brought Her Lover to the Wedding Banquet and Broke Off the Marriage; I Slaughtered Her Entire Family - Chapter 8:

Chapter 8: Bloody Reckoning, Underlying Currents of Power Struggle

“Fine, I’ll grant your wish.”

“Send her to the lowest ranks of the Lin family guards.”

“Let them ‘cherish’ her well.”

“Let her remember the price of betraying me.”

“No! Lin Chen! No!” Zhou Wanqing screamed, struggling like a madwoman. “I was wrong! I was truly wrong! Kill me! Please, just kill me!”

Lin Chen curled his lips into a cruel smile. “Death? That’s a release.”

“I want you alive to suffer.”

“Remember today, every day and night!”

With a wave of his hand, two squads of warriors immediately stepped forward, expressionless as they dragged Li Feng and Zhou Wanqing away.

In the grand hall, the air seemed frozen, the stench of blood overwhelming.

Those guests who had dared to whisper earlier now stood like quails, not daring to breathe.

This Lin family young master… his methods were too ruthless.

Gu Qingzhu walked up to her son and lowered her voice. “Chen’er, today’s actions are satisfying, but about Imperial Concubine Liu…”

“Mm.” Lin Chen responded, his eyes lowering. “Yue Huan and Imperial Concubine Liu have lost all face today; they surely won’t let this go easily.”

Lin Shan and Lin Hai also came over.

Lin Shan spoke first. “I’ll immediately inform Father and Elder Brother about today’s events so they can be prepared.”

Lin Hai, the hot-tempered one, said, “Let’s be straightforward! Mobilize the troops now! Strike first!”

Lin Chen shook his head. “Not appropriate.”

“We didn’t leave the royal family any excuse today. If we mobilize troops now, it’ll only give them leverage against us.”

He paused and continued. “We need to stay proactive and create trouble for them so they won’t have time to mess with us.”

Lin Shan thought for a moment. “Chen’er is right. With Imperial Concubine Liu’s personality, she will surely play dirty. She won’t dare openly break with the Lin family. After all, those hundred thousand brothers at the border are not to be trifled with.”

Gu Qingzhu nodded. “Then we must make arrangements. Send people to keep an eye on Yue Huan and Imperial Concubine Liu; strengthen our defenses at home to prevent anyone from fishing in troubled waters; send reliable men to the border to report today’s events in detail to the old master and your elder brother.”

Lin Chen listened, secretly praising his mother. This was the mindset of a true matriarch.

He added, “We must also go on the offensive. Secretly contact those forces in the palace who dislike Imperial Concubine Liu. Recruit whoever we can.”

Lin Shan and Lin Hai exchanged surprised glances.

This kid, not only ruthless but also skilled in scheming?

Could it be that this farce truly awakened him?

“Good!” Lin Shan made the decision. “We’ll do as Chen’er says. I still have some old friends in the palace. I’ll send them a message.”

As soon as he finished speaking, hurried footsteps echoed.

A warrior rushed into the hall, kneeling on one knee. “Young Master! Madam! General! The scouts just reported—Imperial Concubine Liu, after leaving, immediately sent a secret envoy to White Tiger Manor!”

Lin Chen’s eyebrows jumped.

White Tiger Manor, a notorious assassin den in the southwest of the Cloud Region.

Imperial Concubine Liu wants to kill me directly?

“They’re even more impatient than I thought,” Lin Shan’s face turned grim.

Gu Qingzhu instinctively gripped Lin Chen’s hand tightly. “Chen’er, you cannot go out alone these days. You must bring enough guards!”

Lin Chen patted his mother’s hand lightly, his tone relaxed. “Mom, don’t worry. Every Lin family member has licked blood off blades. White Tiger Manor? It’s nothing.”

Just as he spoke, that cold voice in his mind sounded again:

[Detected new fluctuation of destiny within the Cloud Region. Suspected appearance of the second Destiny’s Child. Host, please take note.]

Lin Chen’s heart skipped.

The second one?

Things were getting more interesting.

He steadied himself and immediately ordered, “Send the command—Lin family is now at level one alert!”

“And gather all intelligence on White Tiger Manor. The more detailed, the better!”

Lin Hai gave a thumbs up. “Nicely done! Truly a son of the Lin family! Boy, let me teach you—strike first, hit hard, kill without mercy!”

Gu Qingzhu shot him a glare. “Enough. Don’t stir up chaos in the city. Clean up the mess first and reorganize the house.”

She turned to Lin Chen again. “Chen’er, though today’s wedding was ruined, you’ve established your authority. In the coming days, you should go out, visit the city’s powers, and show them your attitude.”

Lin Chen nodded.

Indeed, he needed to make everyone understand that today’s Lin Chen was no longer the same.

Lin Shan, however, frowned. “I’m not only worried about Imperial Concubine Liu and Yue Huan. The border isn’t peaceful either. I heard neighboring countries have been making small moves. If they collude with internal enemies…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear—it would be serious trouble.

“See the guests out.”

Lin Chen’s voice was cold, echoing in the grand hall.

If I hear a word about today’s events from anyone else…

He didn’t finish the sentence, but the message was clear.

The guests didn’t dare linger. They lowered their heads, quickly fleeing, afraid to be stained by the bad luck.

Lin Shan and Lin Hai exchanged glances and led people to clean up the mess.

Gu Qingzhu approached her son, her voice softening. “Chen’er, now that the wedding is off, what about…”

Lin Chen’s lips curled with a bit of wickedness. “Mom, I need to use the Cloud Spirit Stone.”

Gu Qingzhu was stunned. “Didn’t you say it was taken by Li Feng…”

“That was for outsiders to hear.”

Lin Chen interrupted her. “How could our Lin family’s treasure be taken so easily?”

Gu Qingzhu looked at the unfamiliar expression on her son’s face, nodded, and didn’t ask further.

She felt that the Lin family might be heading for a storm, and the eye of that storm was her own son.

Night.

Lin family study.

Lights were blazing.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged, suddenly opening his eyes moments later.

“Phantom Step!”

With a thought, his figure turned into a blur, silently leaping around the study.

The candle flame on the table didn’t even flicker.

Not bad.

Lin Chen stood still, feeling the smooth flow of energy within him.

This Earth-grade movement technique, combined with his current strength, was like adding wings to a tiger.

He pulled out the real Cloud Spirit Stone from his robe.

The stone was warm, glowing from within, its radiance spreading, making every pore on his body relax in comfort.

This was truly one of the Lin family’s foundations, its power far beyond imagination.

Just then, an extremely subtle sound came from outside the door.

Lin Chen swiftly put the Cloud Spirit Stone back into his robe.

Who’s outside?

The door creaked open a crack, and Gu Qingzhu walked in.

She didn’t speak immediately, just walked closer, studying her son carefully under the candlelight.

“Chen’er.”

Her voice was soft but carried undeniable weight.

“Tell me the truth, what’s really going on with you?”

Lin Chen’s heart sank slightly. His mother was indeed not easy to fool.

He was silent for a moment before replying. “Mom, some things… you understand only after experiencing them. I was foolish before.”

“It’s not about foolishness.”

Gu Qingzhu shook her head. “When did it start? Your change… it’s too drastic, as if you’ve become a completely different person.”

Lin Chen avoided her gaze, looking out the window. “Probably when I saw Zhou Wanqing’s face clearly. Or maybe… when I no longer wanted the Lin family to be shamed because of me.”