Chapter 920: Negotiating with a Tiger for Its Skin

In Anyang City, within the study of the Ling residence.

Ling Hongfeng reclined weakly in his armchair, his eyes listlessly fixed on the ceiling.

Once, sitting in the position of the family head for the Ling family had been his greatest aspiration.

A significant reason for Ling Hongfeng’s youthful debauchery and downfall was the realization that he could never outshine his brilliant older brother, leading him to abandon all restraint.

But when his dream materialized and he took control of the Ling family, he understood the naivety of his past self.

This position was not for the faint-hearted!

The internal machinations of the family and the overt and covert business rivalries had left Ling Hongfeng utterly drained.

In just half a year, he felt as though he had aged a decade.

Most critically, after Ling Hongyun’s death, the Ling family’s influence had waned significantly, severing several collaborations with other families and resulting in substantial losses.

Furthermore, many within the clan were dissatisfied with Ling Hongfeng, viewing him as nothing more than a direct descendant with no real merit.

With his prestige severely lacking and his abilities limited, how could he possibly resolve the Ling family’s internal and external crises?

Ling Hongfeng now regretted his decisions daily.

If only he had known it would come to this, he would have acted differently!

Bang!

Just as he was lost in thought, the door to the study was thrust open with force.

Without even lifting his eyelids, Ling Hongfeng lazily inquired, “What’s going on?”

His tone carried a hint of irritation.

Only one person in the entire Ling family dared to barge into his study so rudely, and he had to placate that individual.

The intruder was Manager Zhang.

Observing Ling Hongfeng, who was slumped in his chair like a lifeless heap, Manager Zhang’s eyes flickered with disdain as he stated in a deep voice, “Qiankun Building has located Ling Zhiyuan!”

“Found him?”

Ling Hongfeng immediately straightened up. “Where is that little rascal now?”

The plan had gone awry, allowing Ling Zhiyuan to escape. This matter had been a constant source of anxiety for him, fearing that the latter might suddenly return and depose him.

Although Ling Zhiyuan was not particularly capable, he was the rightful heir to the family head!

Moreover, if Ling Zhiyuan were to return, there was a high likelihood that Ling Hongfeng’s schemes would be exposed.

Manager Zhang did not answer Ling Hongfeng’s question directly. Instead, he arrogantly seated himself in front of the desk and leisurely poured himself a cup of tea from the teapot on the table.

Ling Hongfeng was momentarily stunned.

Though he wanted to lash out, he knew he couldn’t afford to offend him, so he swallowed his anger and said, “Manager Zhang, didn’t you mention last time that your nephew wanted to venture into the grain business? We have a rice shop in the east of the city; why not let your nephew manage it?”

When this suggestion was first proposed, Ling Hongfeng had been reluctant to make further concessions, so he had evaded the issue.

Manager Zhang had remained silent at the time, but now he was tightening the noose around his neck!

Ling Hongfeng had no choice but to appease the other party’s insatiable greed.

In any case, it was something that would happen sooner or later.

"Thank you, boss."

Manager Zhang showed a slight smile and set down his teacup as he said, "Ling Zhiyuan is currently in Linjiang County."

"Linjiang County?"

Ling Hongfeng looked puzzled. "Where is that?"

He had never even heard of it.

"Linjiang is a top county in Taiping County…"

Manager Zhang patiently explained to this unlearned fellow, "Ling Zhiyuan is now a Blood Guard and is working at the Wei Hall in Linjiang County!"

"What?"

Ling Hongfeng could hardly believe his ears. "How is that possible? How could that little rascal be a Blood Guard?"

Although he was unaware of Linjiang County, he knew quite a bit about the Blood Guard.

What qualifications did a mere martial novice like Ling Zhiyuan have to join the Blood Guard?

Impossible!

"The higher-ups don’t believe it either, but Qiankun Building has confirmed it clearly; there is no mistake."

Manager Zhang spoke in a deep voice. "Ling Zhiyuan first went to Taiping County, joined the Blood Guard there, and after three months of training in Iron Furnace Camp, he was assigned to Linjiang County."

"He is the top student among the new recruits and has received a silver emblem!"

Ling Hongfeng felt as though he was listening to a fairy tale.

Was Manager Zhang really talking about Ling Zhiyuan?

He was dumbfounded.

Manager Zhang felt somewhat helpless.

To be honest, when he first received the information, he was not much better than Ling Hongfeng.

Everyone knew Ling Zhiyuan; the saying "A tiger’s cub" referred to him. He had an excellent family technique and a high martial arts talent, yet he preferred knowledge over martial skills, wasting his potential!

"Ling Zhiyuan must have hidden his cultivation level…"

Manager Zhang said coldly, "He has deceived everyone. This must be Ling Hongyun’s idea, wanting to protect his son."

The Ling family had many enemies in Anyang City. If Ling Zhiyuan performed exceptionally well, it would surely provoke others’ jealousy and schemes.

"Ling Hongyun is very clever. To be honest, even if you gathered a hundred of yourself together, you wouldn’t compare to him!"

"So what!"

Manager Zhang’s ruthless mockery made Ling Hongfeng explode with rage. "He is dead now, and I am the one sitting in this position!"

In his frustration, he swept everything on his desk to the floor!

Manager Zhang coldly watched the furious Ling Hongfeng, saying, "Since we found the real deal, we need to eradicate the root cause."

"Now he is a Blood Guard!"

Ling Hongfeng suddenly calmed down and shrank his head, saying, "If we assassinate a Blood Guard without reason, our entire family will be wiped out!"

"So what if he is a Blood Guard? People have been killed before!"

Manager Zhang sneered, "Have you thought about why he fled and didn’t return to Anyang City but went to the distant Taiping County to join the Blood Guard?"

"The Qiankun Building also found out that he has won the favor of a Lord Baihu!"

"Once he has higher strength and status, he can return to Anyang City and crush you without lifting a finger!"

After hearing this, Ling Hongfeng’s face turned pale, and he slumped back into his chair.

"Don’t worry."

Manager Zhang said, "This matter can be entrusted to Qiankun Building. They have always been at odds with the Blood Guard. As long as the money is in place, it definitely won’t implicate you."

Ling Hongfeng perked up slightly. "How much do they need?"

Manager Zhang raised a finger.

Ling Hongfeng was taken aback. "Ten thousand taels is so much?"

Manager Zhang scoffed, "One hundred thousand taels!"

Ling Hongfeng nearly spurted out blood. "One hundred thousand taels? Is Qiankun Building crazy?"

Manager Zhang replied indifferently, "That’s the market price. Do you think killing a Blood Guard is easy?"

"Then just kill me instead!"

Ling Hongfeng shouted, "It took several thousand taels to rebuild the ancestral hall. You’ve siphoned off so much already! Where do you expect me to find another one hundred thousand taels?"

Manager Zhang said fiercely, "Who told you to be so useless? You haven’t found the Ling family’s real secret vault in all this time, and we lost a fortune because of the absence of the Bloodshed Wheel technique!"

"In any case, it’s one hundred thousand taels. Whether you sell your shop, sell your house, or even sell your sons and daughters, you need to come up with this money."

"Otherwise, you’ll know what regret really is!"

And in reality, Ling Hongfeng was already filled with regret to the extreme.

He truly experienced the consequences of negotiating with a tiger for its skin, and things were far from over!