Chapter 10: Sacred and Untouchable!

"My name is Lin Haotian, and I am the manager of Shennong Workshop in Jiangnan City," the young man began speaking slowly. Not only that, he was the youngest manager at Shennong Workshop in Jiangnan City.

Though just a manager, Shennong Workshop had branches in every prefecture-level city across the country, and those who managed a branch were without exception individuals of remarkable backgrounds and outstanding abilities. Lin Haotian was no exception. Moreover, his father was the deputy director of Shennong Workshop, a man of great power and influence. This was no small matter.

"Since I took over as manager of Shennong Workshop, I established a rule: anyone causing trouble or fighting within the workshop will be severely punished without mercy! It seems you have taken my words as mere wind!" Lin Haotian's gaze, behind golden-rimmed glasses, radiated a chilling coldness, imposing and stern.

"Mr. Lin…!" Wang Defa, sprawled on the ground, eagerly propped himself up and bowed respectfully to Lin Haotian. The others in the hall followed suit. Lin Haotian belonged to the elite of Jiangnan’s aristocracy and powerful families. It was usually extremely difficult for anyone present to meet him, and yet today, they actually had.

"So it’s him!" Yu Mengmeng’s eyes shone with surprise and shock. She had often heard this name near Wang Defa, who had boasted extensively about his close relationship with Lin Haotian, taking great pride and excitement in it.

"And you are?" Lin Haotian furrowed his brow slightly.

"Don’t you remember me? Last month, I had the honor of dining and singing with you at Haitang Club. I even kept your business card!" Wang Defa quickly reminded him.

"Oh!" Lin Haotian’s eyes flickered with recognition, realization dawning. "Ah, you’re the boss of Niuma Construction." He had a vague impression of Wang Defa—someone adept at currying favor, skilled at serving others. The last time at Haitang Club, Wang Defa had even arranged for two young women from the nearby university town, a dancer and an English major. That night, Lin Haotian had practiced yoga and studied English all night long, paying a hearty tribute to his idol, Comrade Chen Qingquan. The next morning, his legs trembled uncontrollably.

"Yes, yes! That’s me!" Wang Defa exclaimed joyfully.

"Alright, then explain what just happened." Lin Haotian nodded slightly, signaling Wang Defa to continue.

"Mr. Lin, it’s like this—these two poor rascals wanted to buy some precious medicinal herbs. I tried to stop them, but they actually started a fight." Wang Defa’s face lit up with satisfaction. It seemed that his earlier sacrifice of sending those two campus beauties to Lin Haotian had been wise; otherwise, how could Lin Haotian treat him with such courtesy? Without hesitation, he threw a large basin of dirty water at Duan Lingxiao.

"Let me see their medicinal herb purchase list," Lin Haotian said, looking toward Doctor Li at the pharmacy counter.

Doctor Li quickly handed over the list. "Phantom Face Grass, Century-old Ganoderma, Four-leaf Fruit, Old Vine Root, Aged Tangerine Peel, Old Pearl from Clamshell… so many precious herbs!"

Lin Haotian glanced again at Duan Lingxiao, scrutinizing him from head to toe, then sneered coldly. "Looks like we have someone trying to swindle Shennong Workshop!"

All these rare herbs were worth at least ten million! Meanwhile, Duan Lingxiao and Xiao Mengxue’s attire wasn’t worth two hundred at most, and Lin Haotian, well-acquainted with Jiangnan’s influential figures, had never seen anyone like Duan Lingxiao. Judging by the facts, there was no way they could afford such herbs.

"Do you know what happens when you cause trouble and fight in Shennong Workshop without the means to back it up? Kneel and apologize now. I’m in a good mood today, so I might go easy on you." Lin Haotian’s voice was cold, filled with an undeniable indifference.

"Why should I apologize?" Duan Lingxiao’s gaze was indifferent.

"Because this is Shennong Workshop! In this small patch of land, whether you apologize or not is not up to you!" Lin Haotian said coldly, his tone arrogantly commanding, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He didn’t even care about right or wrong, nor did he inquire about the truth.

"I see you’re with Xiao Mengxue, and the herbs you’re buying are for treating disfigurement and injuries. Are you a remnant of the Xiao family? The Xiao family is no longer what it once was, and I doubt you’re any great figure. I advise you to be sensible and not bring trouble upon yourself!" Lin Haotian sneered.

Five years ago, Lin Haotian would have bowed low before Xiao Mengxue. But times had changed. The Xiao family had fallen, and Xiao Longhu was dead. Over the past five years, the Xiao family had suffered blow after blow and was no longer comparable to what it once was. Anyone could trample on them now.

Yet, unexpectedly, Duan Lingxiao said nothing. More precisely, he ignored Lin Haotian entirely. His heart was filled with rage. Xiao Longhu had fought alongside him, earning countless merits, and yet after death was treated with such contempt!

A remnant of the Xiao family? No, he was the family of a martyr!

"If you’re just here to show off, I wouldn’t bother with you. But you had better not make a joke of my brother’s honor." Duan Lingxiao glanced at Lin Haotian with a cold, killing intent deep in his eyes.

At the same time, Lin Haotian raised his eyes to look at Duan Lingxiao, frowning. To him, Duan Lingxiao was just an insignificant ant to be crushed at will. Originally, he had planned to let Duan Lingxiao kneel and apologize before showing him mercy. But to his surprise, Duan Lingxiao dared to defy him?

"Brilliant! Brilliant! Those who deserve to die will die! Especially a fool who’s looking for death!" Wang Defa grinned excitedly, trembling all over. He hadn’t expected Duan Lingxiao to be so foolish as to trample on Lin Haotian’s face. Who else here would dare to ignore Lin Haotian like that? No one, except Duan Lingxiao.

"Heh, looks like I won’t need to send my bodyguards from Niuma Construction this time. Lin Haotian will deal with him himself! Heh heh, I’m going to have fun with this little bastard! And that stinky bitch too!" Wang Defa’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.

Yu Mengmeng was also full of expectation; after being beaten to the point of losing teeth today, she was determined to get revenge. Everyone present was stunned. Without exception, they all thought Duan Lingxiao must have lost his mind! No, probably his head was full of nonsense!

Lin Haotian’s father was the director of Shennong Workshop, and the Lin family’s enterprises in Jiangnan City were extensive, spanning entertainment, tourism, the internet, and e-commerce, with a corporate valuation nearing ten billion. Yet Duan Lingxiao dared to disregard such a formidable figure. Everyone was speechless.

"Heh, you really have guts! In over twenty years of my life, you’re the first person I’ve seen this stubborn!" Lin Haotian’s gaze was playful as he looked at Duan Lingxiao, a cold smile curling on his lips. "I only wanted you to kneel, but it seems you want to lose your head!"

To Lin Haotian, crushing a few ants was a matter that didn’t even require legal responsibility. This world was harsh and realistic, especially in a world of martial artists.

"Your babbling annoys me like a horny toad croaking wildly in a pond. Say one more word, and I’ll shut you up for good!" Duan Lingxiao turned his head toward Lin Haotian.

His voice spread out sharply, and everyone winced, thinking they misheard. The young elite of Jiangnan City described as a toad? This guy must be mad! Absolutely insane! To insult and provoke Lin Haotian so openly was like courting death.

"Alright, alright, alright!" Lin Haotian sneered coldly, his expression turning icy. He snapped his fingers sharply, about to order the Shennong Workshop security to move in.

Suddenly, Duan Lingxiao moved.

In a flash, he appeared before Lin Haotian like thunder and lightning, too fast for anyone to track his movement, faster than an Olympic sprinter.

Lin Haotian’s eyes widened as Duan Lingxiao’s figure seemed to descend like a ghostly deity, utterly incredible and beyond reaction.

"I…" Lin Haotian stammered, unable to speak, feeling every hair on his body stand on end, his ears ringing like a drumbeat.

Boom!

A tremendous force exploded. Lin Haotian felt a sharp pain in his chest as if it were torn open. He was sent flying, smashing through four or five glass display cases before crashing into a wall and collapsing weakly to the ground.

His face went pale, muscles convulsed, his nose broken, jaw dislocated, chest caved in. Blood gushed out, staining his clothes red.

Though Duan Lingxiao’s punch was less than ten percent strength, it felt like Lin Haotian had lost a life. He groaned incoherently, barely able to speak.

Everyone fell silent, eyes fixed on Duan Lingxiao, wide-eyed, not daring to utter a word.

"Remember, some words should never be spoken," Duan Lingxiao said coldly, each word like a sword piercing Lin Haotian’s heart and ringing in everyone’s ears.

"Some people should never be defiled."

"You make money off the people, yet you insult the heroes who sacrificed themselves for peace. People like you are unworthy of being human!"

The crowd’s faces flushed with shame, but many remained indifferent.

"Someone, quickly! Subdue this thug!" Lin Haotian spat blood and shouted fiercely.

In an instant, the Shennong Workshop security department responded swiftly, mobilizing dozens of fully armed guards, shields in their left hands and retractable steel batons in their right, surrounding Duan Lingxiao tightly.