Chapter 199: From Cloud to Rain in an Instant

Lin Dong realized that being polite to Qiao Tianhao meant being disrespectful to himself. When Qiao Tianhao got up from the ground and praised that kick as incredibly skillful with exaggerated flattery, Lin Dong waved his hand dismissively and said, “Stay right there and think hard about how to work hard at Lin’s Inn. Remember, if even one dish is too salty or too bland, I’ll skin you.”
“Of course, of course! If the food is wrong, it’ll affect the guests’ mood. If the guests’ mood is affected, it’ll hurt the inn’s business. Hurting the inn’s business is a grave offense—skinning and pulling muscles isn’t even too much.”
Qiao Tianhao nodded repeatedly, staying quietly in the corner and struggling to figure out how to avoid mistakes.
Lin Dong was now fully convinced of Qiao Tianhao’s abilities and didn’t bother paying him any more attention. He sat back down and waited for Feng Jingtang and his wife to bring people over.
As evening fell, the night descended. Qiao Tianhao was sent to KeLai Restaurant to fetch some food. Not long after everyone had eaten, hurried footsteps were heard outside the courtyard.
Soon, twenty or thirty fierce bailiffs armed with clubs rushed in, surrounding everyone in an instant and making the already fairly spacious courtyard feel crowded.
Seeing this, Feng Liang panicked and ducked into Feng Changzhai’s arms. Lin Dong and Yun Lan remained seated calmly, while Qiao Tianhao stood up abruptly, glancing at the bailiffs and shouting, “What are you doing? Don’t you know my boss is resting here? If you disturb his rest, do you think I won’t slap you to death?”
“What audacity!” Behind the bailiffs, a bearded man stepped forward. By his clothes, he was clearly the leader of this group.
“Master Qiao, it’s us, it’s us…” Feng Jingtang and his wife rushed in, smiling broadly. “Captain Ma has a misunderstanding. We’re all on the same side.”
“Who’s on the same side as you? Even look in a mirror before talking! How dare you claim to be on my side?” Qiao Tianhao rebuked them bluntly, then sneered at the bearded man, “Get lost, or face the consequences.”
Ma Dahu was furious but still controlled himself and asked, “We received a tip that there are criminals killing people here. Who are you?”
“Who I am?” Qiao Tianhao pointed at his nose, glaring at Ma Dahu and sneering, “Do you even deserve to know?”
Ma Dahu was enraged. Though he knew Qiao Tianhao must have some backing—either a high status or great strength—to be so arrogant—he still couldn’t help but wave his hand and order, “Arrest them all!”

As the officials rushed forward, Lin Dong said leisurely, “Qiao Tianhao, in fifteen minutes, if even one official remains standing, you’d better be ready to fall too.”
“Don’t worry, boss! Leave it to me!”
Although Qiao Tianhao was arrogant, he didn’t dare actually kill anyone. He flipped his right hand, holding the black iron kitchen knife with the back facing down, then pushed off and started running in circles.
When he came into contact with the first official, his arm instantly turned into countless afterimages, leaving cries of pain in its wake. By the end of the circle, not a single person could get close—nearly half of the thirty officials were already lying on the ground, groaning in pain.
After another circle, they were all lying on the ground, writhing in pain.
Yun Lan frowned. “This knife skill doesn’t seem like a high-level spiritual technique.”
Recalling how he had almost lost to Qiao Tianhao at Fenglin Restaurant in Xilan City back then unless it weren’t for the Ethereal Step, Lin Dong nodded in agreement. “This kid is probably naturally quick-handed.”
“He should learn assassination skills,” Yun Lan said calmly.
Lin Dong shook his head and laughed. “What would a chef need assassination skills for? He should practice his cooking more. No matter how good his knife skills are, it only means he can cut vegetables faster than others.”
Yun Lan was speechless.
“Good kid, daring to resist arrest?” Seeing his subordinates all fallen, Ma Dahu reached into his right hand and pulled out a shiny big knife.
With time running out, Qiao Tianhao didn’t waste a word and rushed forward eagerly.
The leaders of the yamen were all at around the fifth level of the Lingdong phase, while Qiao Tianhao was already at the seventh level, giving him a huge advantage. Coupled with his knife skills, which even Yun Lan found astonishing, he quickly sliced Ma Dahu’s big knife into dozens of pieces in just a few swings. Then, he flipped his wrist and struck Ma Dahu’s back with the back of the knife.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, Qiao Tianhao turned to Lin Dong and boasted, “Boss, it’s done. Not a single one is standing.”
“Go over there,” Lin Dong waved him away.
“Hey!” Qiao Tianhao nodded happily and sat down aside.
This situation left the Feng Jingtang couple utterly confused.
“Sir Qiao, why are you helping him?”
Qiao Tianhao glared at them, too lazy to pay attention.
Lin Dong tapped the wooden chair. When the Feng Jingtang couple finally reacted, he said meaningfully, “Are there any more helpers?”
Their faces turned pale—they simply couldn’t understand where this man came from. Destroying houses didn’t bother him, maiming dozens of people didn’t bother him, and now even knocking out officials didn’t bother him… Only a warrior or one of the prominent figures in Qiufeng City could act so carefree. Even the young masters of the seven major families wouldn’t have such composure.

“None?” Lin Dong stood up, clenching his fist, which made a cracking sound.
“There are some, there are helpers,” the two jumped up in surprise.
“Then why not go find them quickly?” Lin Dong reminded them with a smile. “By now, the city gates must have been closed. Unless you get along well with the city guards and manage to escape, if you try to leave without returning, I guarantee I’ll dig three feet deep to find you two and make your lives worse than death.”
“City guards?”
Feng Jingtang and his wife exchanged a glance, seemingly understanding each other.
City gate guards!
They hadn’t been out for long—just half an hour. Outside the courtyard wall, torches lined up like a dragon began to glow.
“Qiao Tianhao, go out and knock out anyone you see. Also, guard the entrance.” With subordinates around, there was no need for him to do it himself. Lin Dong gave casual orders. “Remember to keep seven or eight of them alive, including Feng Jingtang and his wife, as well as the one leading them. If one is missing, cut yourself.”
Qiao Tianhao nodded eagerly, holding his black iron kitchen knife, and charged forward bravely.
Outside the courtyard, screams of battle filled the air, along with countless groans…
With the strength of the seventh level of the Lingdong phase, unless his spiritual energy was exhausted or he was surrounded by archers, he shouldn’t struggle against a group of ordinary guards. The chaos lasted for most of half an hour before gradually subsiding. Most of the residents in the vicinity were also disturbed and closed their doors and windows tightly.
After waiting a while longer, Lin Dong stood up and stepped out of the courtyard. Qiao Tianhao was still fighting, his arms swinging his black iron knife slowly as he panted heavily. Only a dozen or so guards remained around him.
“That’s him! Commander Zhou, he’s the one who killed my uncle and friends, and also injured the officials…”
Seeing Lin Dong come out, Feng Jingtang and his wife pointed at him, desperately introducing him to a burly man in armor who was frowning at the battlefield.
The burly man suddenly turned to look at Lin Dong, his big eyes wide, and shouted, “How dare you kill people in Qiufeng City!”
Lin Dong thought for a moment. A sixth-rank city guard commander was still a significant figure.
Flipping his palm, Lin Dong took out the elite card he had obtained from Fu Zizhou and said coldly, “With this in hand, can you still kill people?”
“You’re an elite?” Zhou Yueshan was stunned.
“And this too!” From Lin Dong’s left palm appeared Ren Qingsong’s warrior card.
“A warrior? Stop!”
Both an elite and a warrior—although Zhou Yueshan had never heard of such people in Qiufeng Mansion’s territory, he didn’t hesitate. He suddenly shouted at the guards still attacking Qiao Tianhao, then without hesitation slapped Feng Jingtang and his wife to the ground.

Immediately, under the terrified gazes of Feng Jingtang and his wife, Zhou Yueshan bowed to Lin Dong and knelt on one knee, saying, “I was reckless. Please punish me.” Lin Dong nodded, very satisfied with Zhou Yueshan’s behavior. Though scholars and warriors had no power and could not directly punish a sixth-rank city guard commander, no one, regardless of status, should provoke someone who had risen to that rank. This Commander Zhou had a good reaction time. “Those who act without knowledge deserve no blame. Get up.” Glancing at Feng Jingtang and his wife, Lin Dong said calmly, “These two are bandits hiding in Qiufeng City. They’ve committed countless murders. Please hand them over to the county office, Commander Zhou. There’s also a chest of gold and silver in the courtyard—evidence of their crimes.” “Someone, arrest them!” Zhou Yueshan waved, and several city guards stepped forward to tie the two up. “We’re innocent! This is a mistake…” “The silver was earned—we made it by selling spiritual materials…” The two cried desperately, but it had no effect on Zhou Yueshan or the guards. Lin Dong, though surprised, was secretly relieved. Qiao Tianhao claimed he had come all this way for spiritual materials, and the two said they earned it by selling them. While it was strange for an ordinary family to have access to spiritual materials, the possibility of them lying was extremely low. This meant the chest of gold and silver indeed wasn’t obtained through murder and arson. The crying outside could be heard in the courtyard as well. Feng Changzhai rushed out in panic, quickly pulling aside the guard who had only tied Feng Jingtang’s hands. “It’s a misunderstanding! This must be a misunderstanding.” “Father, save me! Father, save me!” Feng Jingtang struggled violently, shouting, “I’m not a bandit! Tell them I’m not a bandit…” Bandits? Feng Changzhai panicked—this was a capital crime. “I’m not a bandit either! How could I, a woman, be a bandit?” Liang Chuanzhen cried out in response, “My husband, save me! I’m pregnant with your unborn grandson.” How to save them? How? Feng Changzhai paced frantically before suddenly remembering Lin Dong and rushed toward him. “Shopkeeper Lin, it’s a misunderstanding! It must be. This scoundrel has always worked as an accountant at Wanjia Village. How could he be a bandit…” “Wanjia Village?” Lin Dong was stunned. “Yes, Wanjia Village,” Feng Changzhai nodded desperately, tears streaming down his face. “Though this scoundrel has a bad temper and done many evil deeds, he wouldn’t go so far as to become a damned bandit. Shopkeeper Lin, it’s a misunderstanding.”

Lin Dong nodded and turned to Zhou Yueshan beside him. “Commander Zhou, Old Feng and I are very close. He would never lie to me. What do you think? Should I investigate further before making a decision?”
“Let them go!” Zhou Yueshan hesitated not for a moment.
Elder Feng and his wife collapsed to the ground, crying with joy.
“Didn’t Old Feng say that this wicked son and his cruel daughter-in-law have always treated you and Xiao Liang badly?” Lin Dong said leisurely. “Why is he speaking well of them now? In my opinion, people like these can just be killed.”
“Please spare our lives, sir! Please spare our lives…”
The once invincible Lord Qiao knelt at the sight of him, while the mighty city guard commander was at his mercy. He could decide to impose severe punishments or lift them at will—cold-hearted and capricious. The couple couldn’t care less about anything else; they hugged Lin Dong’s thighs tightly from both sides.
Lin Dong kicked them away without hesitation and said coldly, “Don’t beg me. If you want to live, go beg Old Feng.”
“Father…”
“Father-in-law…”
The two crawled forward on their knees toward Feng Changzhai, desperately crying out about their sins.