Chapter 137: Let Me Take You to Meet Someone

These family generations were truly a complete mess.

If Lin Haixuan was his paternal cousin-uncle, then the man before him was his grandfather's younger brother.

What about his father, then?

Following closely behind Lin Yi, Lin Feng did not hesitate to ask, "Where is my biological father?"

It was yet another question devoid of proper decorum.

A flash of displeasure crossed Lin Yi's eyes as he glanced sideways at Lin Feng, replying with a blank expression, "He has passed away."

"Passed away?!"

Lin Feng gasped in astonishment, stopping dead in his tracks!

Wait, his father was already dead, so why bring him back here anyway?!

Making such a grand spectacle of it and turning it into public knowledge—what on earth was the Lin family playing at?!

Seeming to have anticipated Lin Feng's reaction all along, Lin Yi halted his steps and slowly said, "Your biological father passed away when you were one year old."

He offered no further elaboration, simply waiting for Lin Feng to probe deeper.

The less Lin Feng knew about these matters, the better, especially regarding family affairs. Bringing Lin Feng back with such fanfare—what his older brother was trying to achieve was crystal clear to him.

Right now, he could only hope that Lin Feng would ask as few questions as possible, so that his own son would retain a greater hope of inheritance.

Yet, Lin Feng would most likely continue pressing on.

Lin Yi sighed, his deep gaze falling upon Lin Feng as he said with a helpless resignation, "Ask whatever you wish to know. As long as it is within my knowledge, I will tell you."

Hearing this, Lin Feng found it somewhat amusing.

Under Lin Yi's rather nervous gaze, he quietly shook his "No need. He's already dead. What else is there for me to ask?"

Lin Yi froze instantly!

Was he... not curious at all?!

One had to bear in mind that the Lin family was one of the four great clans, commanding an incomparably lofty status.

How could a long-lost young master who had been wandering outside for years feel not even a shred of curiosity toward his own biological father, let alone the Lin family itself?!

"Didn't you say Grandfather wants to see me? Lead the way."

Lin Feng's calm voice rang out abruptly.

At that moment, Lin Yi was struck by the uncanny sensation of being outshone by his subordinate.

This Lin Feng might prove to be a difficult opponent to handle...

"Follow me."

Casting a deep look at Lin Feng without reprimanding him for his impudence, he turned around and led the way forward.

Following Lin Yi up to the second floor, Lin Feng spotted a middle-aged man in a suit with a full head of blonde hair standing guard outside the doors of the second-floor living room.

Unexpectedly, Lin Yi addressed this man with utmost respect, saying, "Lin Feng has been brought here."

The man raised a hand in acknowledgment, and Lin Yi nodded before turning to leave.

As soon as Lin Yi vanished by the elevator lobby, the man gave Lin Feng a thorough, searching look, then made a courteous gesture toward the door handle, inviting him in.

Noticing that the man did not offer to pull the door open for him, Lin Feng frowned, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach.

Yet, the arrow was already notched on the bow and had to be released; at this juncture, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward.

The instant his fingers brushed against the door handle, Lin Feng felt a numbing jolt shoot through his palm, causing him to instinctively jerk his hand back.

"My apologies. This door is electrified, and I forgot to switch it off."

Seeing this, the man offered an explanation and promptly flicked a switch on the door frame, pulling the heavy portal open for Lin Feng.

Every bizarre detail served to make the weight in Lin Feng's chest grow heavier.

The electric current had been faint, so he did not bother to press the issue, focusing his gaze instead on the newly opened doorway.

"Little Feng, you're back?"

As the door swung open, an aged, slightly raspy voice suddenly echoed.

Directly facing the entryway, Lin Feng saw an elderly man with slightly silvering hair seated on a sofa, looking at him with a beaming smile.

Lin Feng gave a slight nod and addressed him with due respect, "Grandfather."

"Mm." The old man nodded and issued a command, "Jason, close the door."

Lin Feng felt a sudden pressure on his back as his body was nudged forward into the living room, followed instantly by the heavy thud of the door closing behind him.

Jason simply stood off to Lin Feng's side, watching him like a human surveillance camera.

Everything in the room appeared completely normal to the naked eye, yet Lin Feng couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply amiss—especially the way his grandfather, Lin De, was looking at him, as though gazing at a piece of prey...

"Little Feng, come sit over here with Grandfather!"

Lin De beckoned to Lin Feng with a warm, grandfatherly smile, patting the vacant spot beside him on the sofa as his eyes crinkled in amusement. "Let Grandfather take a good look at what my eldest grandson has grown into!"

Given the circumstances, how could Lin Feng possibly dare to approach him?

Frowning as he stared straight at Lin De, Lin Feng asked in a flat tone, "Grandfather, is it true that my father has passed away?"

He had no intention of playing word games with Lin De.

He had already briefly observed and understood this household, so it was time to get his questions answered.

Hearing this, Lin De's expression faltered in surprise, and he cast a questioning glance at Jason standing nearby.

Jason promptly answered, "It must have been the Second Master who informed him."

Lin De let out a cold snort, instantly shedding his amiable facade as he sneered, "He certainly couldn't wait, could he!"

This situation was growing increasingly incomprehensible to Lin Feng.

However, since his biological father was dead, everything concerning the Lin family had nothing more to do with him. If they wanted information regarding Xia Qingqing, he could provide it, but as for making him stay—he could forget about that entirely.

Thinking along these lines, he voiced his thoughts directly.

"Grandfather, since my biological father has passed away, there is no reason for me to stay here either. The identity of a Lin family young master will only bring me a host of unnecessary troubles. I hope you will permit me to leave."

He spoke the absolute truth.

Furthermore, he harbored zero ambitions of fighting for family property. He needed to lay his cards on the table first before any further discussion could take place.

Hearing these words, Lin De stared at him in utter disbelief. "You don't want the Lin family to be your backing?!"

Lin Feng nodded, stating flatly, "Fighting over family estates is far too troublesome; I have no desire to get involved in such matters. All my life, I have valued my freedom, and after enduring so many hardships, I am thoroughly exhausted. Therefore, I sincerely hope Grandfather will grant my wish."

His words were well-reasoned, his tone earnest, and his demeanor carried an almost humble plea.

Yet, Lin De's eyes slowly grew dark and gloomy, resembling a crouching lion preparing to pounce as they locked onto Lin Feng with unblinking intensity.

That gaze made the hair on the back of Lin Feng's neck stand on end.

Could it be that he didn't believe him?!

Just as Lin Feng was about to speak again to prove his sincerity, Lin De's deep, resonant voice cut him off.

"Little Feng, let me take you to meet someone."

"Who?!"

"You'll know once we get there."

With that, Lin De made to stand up, and Jason immediately stepped forward to assist him into a wheelchair.

At that moment, Lin Feng found it difficult to utter another refusal and had no choice but to bite the bullet and accompany them into the elevator.

Seeing Jason press the button for Basement Level 1, a fresh wave of tension gripped Lin Feng's heart.

As the elevator descended slowly into the depths, the enclosed space filled Lin Feng with an inexplicable sense of suffocation.

Nothing was going according to his expectations. What on earth was the Lin family—or rather, Lin De—up to?!

When the elevator doors parted and they traversed a long, dimly lit corridor, Lin De raised his thumb and pressed it against a digital keypad lock.

With a soft click, the vault-like door swung open, and Lin Feng's eyes fell upon a horrifying sight beneath the harsh white lights: stretched across a soft bed, an emaciated figure of indeterminate gender was bound tightly by dozens of heavy iron chains...