Chapter 104: The Ling Family Shadows the World

The "Protector’s Talisman" of old listed the great families of Jia, Shi, Xue, and Wang, who were once omnipotent in Jinling, capable of sweeping away even the most heinous crimes, such as when the young master of the Xue family beat a man to death.

In Jianghai City, a similar "Protector’s Talisman" circulated, inscribed with these words: "The Liu family’s roots run deep, the Li clan’s business is vast. The Lin gate is not to be trifled with, and the Ling family covers the world." This referred to the Liu, Li, Lin, and Ling families. Notably, several names were highlighted on it, with Ling Kun prominently among them.

Director Zhou was filled with regret. He had never imagined that Ling Tian might actually be a member of the Ling family. He desperately hoped that this Ling Kun was not the same one mentioned on the list, but judging by the man’s imposing aura, he knew there could be no mistake.

"I am Ling Kun of the Ling family; I am not someone you can afford to provoke. I will give you a chance to save face: name your price for my son's affairs. I will pay whatever is needed for the damage caused to your men. I am taking Song Ziyue and her subordinates with me. Release them now."

Ling Kun spoke as if he were bestowing a great favor upon the director, which made Ling Tian admire his father—the man was truly arrogant.

"This... Mr. Ling, please wait. The implications of this matter are too severe; I cannot make this decision alone." Director Zhou was drenched in cold sweat, terrified that he had truly run into the legendary figure who must never be offended.

Ling Kun sneered at this, saying, "You can't make the decision alone? It seemed to me you were very capable of making decisions when you wanted to arrest my son."

Director Zhou was rendered speechless. He knew little of Ling Kun, only that the Talisman had specifically marked him as untouchable. He felt deeply unsettled; the phrase "The Ling family covers the world" carried a weight no one could truly fathom—did it cover only Jianghai, or the entire H Province, or perhaps the whole world?

Personally, he would have been happy to release Ling Tian and Song Ziyue to avoid offending Ling Kun, but he was held captive by his own allegiances. If he released them, he would offend others. It was a dilemma.

"Ling Tian, is this your father? He’s so cool! A tiger father breeds no dogs, indeed." Seeing Ling Kun’s dominance, Song Ziyue was filled with admiration; he possessed a style entirely different from her own father’s.

"Heh, of course. You could say you’ve met your father-in-law today," Ling Tian teased with a grin.

"Go to hell! I am not ugly at all. Ling Tian, why don't we tear down this police station today and free Tiger and the others?" Song Ziyue had no patience for Director Zhou. When Director He had been in charge, this place had been her playground; she had never endured such humiliation.

"Very well, I do whatever my wife asks. In bed, you listen to me; outside, I listen to you." With that, Ling Tian walked up to Director Zhou.

He looked the director up and down before speaking slowly: "Director Zhou, I won't waste words. If you don't release my wife’s men, I will beat you up and then tear this police station apart."

"You... don't you dare! This is a police station. If you strike me, that’s assaulting an officer, and I can shoot you on the spot." Director Zhou, intimidated by Ling Tian’s aura, reacted in a way that hardly befitted a deputy director.

Ling Kun watched his son without intervening. A child of the Ling family must possess a spirit that fears nothing. They could bully others, but they would never be bullied. Based on this principle, he had always indulged Ling Tian’s fighting; boys needed to have blood in their veins.

"Shoot me? You don't have the capability! I’m slapping you now!" Ling Tian snapped, and with two sharp *thwacks*, he struck the director’s face.

Director Zhou’s face swelled instantly. He was stunned for a moment before reacting: "You... you dare strike me? I’ll kill you!" He reached for his gun. He was no pushover, and he had never suffered such indignity.

*Bang!* Before he could draw, Ling Tian kicked the gun out of his hand, followed by a kick to the chest that sent him sprawling to the ground, where Ling Tian stepped on him.

Song Ziyue smiled; he was truly the man she had chosen. Ling Kun remained indifferent, as if Ling Tian were not beating a police official, but a random passerby or a stray dog.

"I’ll ask you once: will you release them or not? Don’t think I don’t know that you and the Qiao Dong Longhun group are in cahoots, and that there are people even higher up behind you. If you don't want people to know, you shouldn't have done it. If you don't release them today, I will take your life. You may not know, but I am the world’s greatest physician. I can make you die of a sudden heart attack, and even the forensic report will confirm it."

Ling Tian was finished wasting time. If the man refused, he would truly make him die of a heart attack—he was not bluffing.

Before the director could speak, Song Ziyue stepped forward, sneering, "Rest assured, if you die, I will take good care of your wife and daughter. Your wife can try some of the drugs sold by the Jin Gang, and as for your daughter, she’s fourteen, right? Just the right age for the Black Dragon Gang to sell her to the East, into one of those adult film training bases."

Seeing the director’s face turn deathly pale, she continued, "Of course, even if you don't die, I can look after your wife and daughter whenever I like. I own many nightclubs; I can find them work."

Having heard them out, Director Zhou was completely paralyzed. He realized he had provoked two demons. Even without the backing of the Ling and Song families, these two individuals were not people he could afford to cross.

"Spare me, please! I—I will release them right away." The director had learned his lesson. He was terrified. While he doubted Ling Tian could induce a heart attack, he had no doubt that Song Ziyue would carry out her threats.

A powerful dragon cannot suppress a snake in its own home, and Song Ziyue was the local snake of Jianghai. He had thought her powerless without her father, forgetting how many subordinates she commanded.

"Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Don't think about revenge later; the Ling family is not someone you can provoke. There are a thousand ways to take your life." Ling Kun saw the resentment in the director’s eyes and issued a warning.

"Yes, I won't provoke the Ling family. Absolutely not." Seeing the murderous intent in Ling Kun’s eyes, the director shuddered again. What kind of people were these? They had no regard for the law, threatening and beating a deputy director, yet he was truly powerless against them.

Ling Kun sighed inwardly. He hadn't wanted to use such brute force, hoping instead to apply pressure through his connections, but his son and future daughter-in-law were too aggressive. He had been forced to add his own weight to the situation.

Ling Tian had brought his father hoping to resolve things without bloodshed, but he had ended up resorting to violence anyway, all because the woman he liked wanted to act. For the smile of a beauty, he would gladly strike a corrupt official.

Ling Tian removed his foot from the director’s chest, pulled Song Ziyue close, and kissed her on the cheek. She glared at him fiercely.

Director Zhou stumbled to his feet and picked up the phone, ordering his men to release Tiger and the others. He dared not leave his office; he was too humiliated to be seen in such a state.

Ling Tian, along with his father and Song Ziyue, left the office with swagger to retrieve Tiger and the others.

Once they were gone, Director Zhou slumped into his chair. He couldn't swallow the insult, yet he feared the Ling family’s power. After long deliberation, he made a phone call.

After Tiger and his men were rescued, they returned to their gang. Ling Tian, his father, and Song Ziyue went to a restaurant for a meal, with Song Ziyue insisting on treating them to thank them.

The meal was lavish, accompanied by fine liquor. Song Ziyue poured drinks for Ling Kun and Ling Tian, then raised her glass.

"Uncle Ling, thank you for your help today," Song Ziyue said with a smile. Even with her naturally cool demeanor, she beamed in the presence of Ling Tian’s father.

"I didn't actually do much; you and Xiaotian handled it yourselves. No need for formalities; we are all family now. If you need anything in the future, just speak up." Ling Kun found Song Ziyue quite agreeable. She was steady and capable, a perfect match for Ling Tian. Though she operated in the underworld, she maintained order, which was commendable.

"Thank you, Uncle." Song Ziyue blushed; she understood that by calling them "family," he was acknowledging her relationship with Ling Tian.

Initially, she had only wanted a bed partner in Ling Tian, but the entanglement had grown, and now she had even been accepted by his family. She felt flattered; even her own father had never truly accepted her.

"Yue'er, you only thank my father—shouldn't you thank me too? I put in all the hard work today, offending that director for your sake," Ling Tian said, fishing for credit.

"As my boyfriend, that was your duty." Song Ziyue was blunt. Ling Tian wanted to "teach her a lesson" with his body right there, but with his father present, he could only restrain himself and mutter, "I'll collect my reward tonight."

Ling Kun smiled faintly at his son and turned back to Song Ziyue: "Before we entered, I heard the director say that Director He and your father are under investigation. I suspect there is more to it than meets the eye. If it is convenient, I would like to pay your father a visit."

Ling Kun viewed Song Ziyue as his future daughter-in-law. Since her family was in trouble, he would not sit idly by.